Scaling the Rocks: 400 losses in four years

Jul 5, 2020; Denver, Colorado, United States; A general view of Coors Field during workouts. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Good morning, Purple Row!

The Colorado Rockies will finish their penultimate series of the year today with a final game against the Arizona Dimaondbacks. They’ve already lost the series by dropping the first two games but will look to avoid a sweep before heading east to Chicago where they will finish off their season against the White Sox.

Notably, today’s game will be the final home game of the 2026 season for the Rockies. One last baseball game in Denver before settling in for an offseason of uncertain length. Despite the Rockies crossing the 100 loss mark for the fourth straight season, the impending end to the daily routine of baseball will still be a loss for many. Take advantage of these last few chances to watch live Rockies baseball.

First, though, let’s dig into some news from around the league.

Rockies News & Links

  • Rockies hit latest low, become fifth team with 4 straight 100-loss seasons | ESPN.com — As mentioned, the Rockies reached triple-digit losses on Wednesday. As it turns out, this streak puts the franchise into rare and undesirable company. If you can’t remember a team having matched this four-season streak previously that’s because the Rockies are just the fifth team ever to have done so and the first since the expansion New York Mets in the early 1960’s.
  • Rockies lose 100 games in four straight seasons as Colorado joins ill-famed MLB fraternity | Denver Post ($) —  Kyle Newman of the Denver Post digs even deeper into the state of the franchise in the wake of their extremely poor four season streak. Where ESPN provides the cliff notes for a league wide audience, the Post dives into the ins and outs of how the 2026 team collapsed in the final two months of the season. It ends with a reminder that it’s possible that the Rockies could become only the second team in MLB history to extend a 100 loss streak to five straight seasons without a drastic turnaround next year.
  • Freeland deals with ‘rush of emotion’ in possible final home start at Coors | MLB.com —  It’s very possible that Kyle Freeland pitched his final outing for the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday. After the game, the ten-year veteran who has spent his entire professional career with the organization, did not hold back the emotional impact the possibility of his time with the Rockies having come to an end had on him.
  • Rockies GM Josh Byrnes sees progress at Coors Field, but ‘it’s not good enough’ | Denver Gazette ($) —  As we enter the offseason it’s important for fans to understand that the folks in charge of baseball operations in the Rockies organization are being realistic about the amount of work remaining to turn the club around. Rockies GM Josh Byrnes speaks on that topic with Kevin Henry and is open about how far the team still has to go before becoming a competitive team. It’s a refreshingly self-aware interview for a fanbase that had become accustomed to hearing that the team was in a better shape than their record indicated under the previous leadership team.

Around Baseball

  • After Rockies secure fourth straight 100-loss season, Angels aim to avoid first | The Athletic ($) —  While the Rockies may have the most losses in the league for a second straight season, they are not the only team struggling to avoid ending the season on a low note. Fabian Ardaya takes a look around MLB and highlights the Los Angeles Angels attempts to avoid their first 100 loss season, the Athletics struggles to put together a winning ballclub before their impending move to Las Vegas, and the St. Louis Cardinals who are at risk of posting consecutive losing seasons for the first time since 1959.
  • Queens Crowned Baseball Royalty, Beat Firebells in WPBL Championship | Fangraphs —  The inaugural season of the Women’s Professional Baseball League concluded on Tuesday night. Kiri Oler of Fangraphs breaks down the Championship series game by game. If you didn’t catch the games while they were on this is a great way to catch up on how the leagues first championship was won. The final game in particular was a perfectly poetic capstone to a thrilling first season.
  • The MLB Strike Zone Got A Lot Smaller In 2026 | Baseball America ($) —  If you entered the season thinking that the addition of the ABS Challenge system would alter which pitches are called strikes, you’d be correct. J.J. Cooper breaks down how the effective strike zone has noticeably shrunk in the first season of the Challenge system. Most fascinatingly, the piece also goes into how pitcher’s have adapted to this changing zone.
  • This Wave Of Japanese Talent Is The Beginning Of A Pipeline | Baseball Prospectus ($) —  Robert Arthur looks into a recent spike in the total percentage of MLB innings and plate appearances that Japanese born players are contributing. As it turns out, a increasingly reliable performance data on players outside the US has given MLB front offices the confidence required to make investments that would have seemed risky just a decade ago.

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NBA Western Conference rankings 1-15 entering 2026-27 season

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Is Western Conference superiority over in the NBA? For the first time in two decades, there’s an argument to be made that the Eastern Conference is stronger 1-10 heading into the season. The bottom end of the West playoff picture feels a little softer than normal, but that shouldn’t detract from the fact that the top-6 of the conference is absolutely loaded, led by perhaps the two best teams in the NBA.

The West has some upstart contenders this season who didn’t feel like threats at this time last year. The Phoenix Suns and Portland Trail Blazers are coming off overachieving seasons, and will be looking to make the next step. The Utah Jazz are finally done tanking, and they want to start winning right now with star rookie Darryn Peterson on board. The Golden State Warriors may or may not have one more run left in them. If any of these teams can breakup the conference’s top-six teams from last year, it would be a major accomplishment.

Let’s rank every team in the Western Conference heading into the 2026-27 NBA season. These projections are for the regular season only. For more NBA preview content, check out my list of the 25 most explosive athletes in the league today.

1. San Antonio Spurs

The Spurs arrived ahead of schedule last year to jump from 34 to 62 wins, but they’re not catching anyone by surprise going forward. San Antonio should be well positioned to be one of the best teams in the league for the next decade around 7’5 superstar Victor Wembanyama. Wembanyama is by far the best defensive player in the game, and there’s not many offensive players better than him, either. I still think Wemby needs a mid-range game, but he might be the best player in the league regardless. I’m fascinated to see how the Spurs will manage the De’Aaron Fox/Dylan Harper situation. Harper feels like he should be ready for primetime entering his second season, but Fox can still be a very good player when he’s not hampered by a sprained ankle like he was in the NBA Finals. While Wemby will get all of the attention, I really like the Spurs’ collection of role players too, led by Julian Champagnie, Devin Vassell, and the newly signed Tobias Harris. Harper’s ascent will only make the Spurs more terrifying. If Wembanyama stays healthy, there’s no way this team finishes below the No. 2 seed.

2. Oklahoma City Thunder

I still think the Thunder probably would have gone back-to-back if Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell weren’t hurt in the playoffs. There’s a ton of pressure on Williams in particular to regain his top form as he starts a new max contract, and coming back from a hamstring strain is always tricky. The Thunder lost some key pieces over the offseason including Lu Dort, but the formula for this team remains unchanged with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s on-ball creation brilliance plus an elite defense. Assuming Chet Holmgren’s Western Conference Finals yips only come out in the matchup with Victor Wembanyama, OKC should be a monster regular season team once again.

3. Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers have won 103 regular season games in their two seasons under JJ Redick, and while this year’s team loses LeBron James, it also significantly upgrades its rim protection. While I don’t think Walker Kessler is worth what the Lakers gave up for him, he does give LA a starting center who can cover up for Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves’ defensive deficiencies a bit while also providing extra possessions on the offensive glass. Los Angeles’ forward room is potentially pretty bad, I can talk myself into one or two of Matisse Thybulle, Ziaire Williams, Adou Thiero, and Chris Mannon suddenly becoming a key piece for their defense and play-finishing. Ultimately, the case for the Lakers starts and ends with Luka Doncic’s ability to be one of the five best players in the league, and I feel comfortable taking that bet. Luka + a good coach + better rim protection has me believing in the Lakers’ floor if not their ceiling.

4. Minnesota Timberwolves

I’ve talked myself in the Wolves’ potential playoff ceiling with Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball providing a degree of pull-up shooting significant enough to add variance into a potential matchup with the Spurs or Thunder. The regular season might be a different story. The Wolves are heavily banking on Rudy Gobert to stay healthy and effective at age-34, but it does seem like he keeps himself in great shape. The trio of Gobert, Edwards, and Jaden McDaniels has consistently produced winning basketball for Minnesota, and the addition of Ball could take them to the next level. If Ball’s ankles can stay in one piece, he’s one of the league’s best handlers and passers who can also take over a game as a scorer when he has it going. I kind of like the addition of Jonathan Kuminga even if I should know better, and I feel like the bench will be pretty solid with Ayo Dosunmu, Jaylen Clark, Terrence Shannon Jr., and Joan Beringer. There’s definitely some risk in being high on the Wolves this year, but their potential upside is still too sweet to ignore.

5. Houston Rockets

The Rockets didn’t just miss Fred VanVleet last season, they also didn’t have Steven Adams for the stretch run. Adams’ injury took away Houston’s greatest strength (offensive rebounding), and returning both players should make this team a lot stronger than it was during their first-round playoff loss to the Lakers last season. Houston is full of young players who could take another step forward this year, with Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., and Reed Sheppard all 24 years old or younger. Ime Udoka has proven to be a high floor coach throughout his time in the NBA. Oh yeah, Kevin Durant is here too, and he’s still really good. Houston could get as high as the No. 3 seed and it wouldn’t surprise me.

6. Denver Nuggets

The Nuggets had a terrible and frustrating offseason, but their core is still rock solid. Nikoka Jokic still has a case as the best player in the world, and his offensive creation and defensive rebounding will give this team a high floor as long he’s healthy. Jokic has special chemistry with Jamal Murray, who was really good last year in finally making his first All-Star team. Aaron Gordon is quietly one of the league’s most important injury stories this year. It felt like Gordon was still peaking as a player with his recent three-point shooting improvements, but he just can’t stay healthy. If Gordon is fully available, the Nuggets will still be really good. The issue for Denver is everyone else. Christian Braun has one of the worst contracts in the league if he keeps playing like he did last year, and the bold trade for Cameron Johnson immediately backfired. DeMar DeRoza can probably still eat some innings off the bench, but he’s a weird fit with Jokic and won’t factor into the team’s best lineups. The backup center behind Jokic is .. Marvin Bagley III, which feels troubling. I’m always waiting for a Julian Strawther breakthrough that never comes, and it’s hard to keep holding onto my DaRon Holmes’ stock after a quiet year coming off a torn ACL. The Nuggets could be in big trouble, but they still have Jokic, so they probably won’t be.

7. Phoenix Suns

I thought the Suns were pretty screwed after they traded Kevin Durant, but they nailed multiple margin moves to become a legitimate playoff threat at the bottom end of the Western Conference. I’m buying Jordan Ott as a good head coach after a 45-win debut a year ago fueled by aggressive schemes to force turnovers defensively and crash the offensive glass. Devin Booker is surrounded by some pretty solid role players now, and a few of them should have even more to offer. I was sky high on Khaman Maluach coming out of Duke, and my optimism remains despite essentially getting redshirted as a rookie after a strong summer league showing. Collin Gillespie is one of the league’s great hidden gem findings, and I fully expect him to out-play the $48 million deal he’s starting this season. I hated the Miles Bridges trade, but I liked drafting Koa Peat and bringing back Jordan Goodwin to add toughness. Phoenix is going to play really hard every night and give their fanbase a team it can be proud of. That feels like the best they could have done climbing out of the Durant and Bradley Beal era.

8. Portland Trail Blazers

The Blazers feel like they’re in a turbulent place as new governor Tom Dundan gains contract for his first full season. Dundon’s cost-cutting moves were alarming as soon as he got power, and it’s no surprise he pushed out head coach Tiago Splitter after making the playoffs under tough circumstances because he didn’t to pay him. Micah Nori might actually be an upgrade on the bench, but it’s not right that he’s working with a one-year deal to start the year. The on-court product is every bit as fascinating. Damian Lillard is back off a torn Achilles at age-36, and his backcourt mate is suddenly Ja Morant. Both former stars need to learn how to play off Deni Avdija, who emerged as the best player on the team last year by being an on-ball battering ram who consistently got to the foul line. Donovan Clingan is one of the best young defensive bigs in the game, but does he have another step offensively? Jrue Holiday and Toumani Camara provide a strong defensive foundation next to Clingan, which could turn this into a top-10 unit despite Lillard and Morant being clear negatives on that end. Where does Scoot Henderson fit in entering his third season after missing much of last year with injury? I think the Blazers are going to struggle to put out lineups that can compete on both ends, but there’s enough of a foundation here that the bottom shouldn’t totally drop out.

9. Utah Jazz

The Jazz are finally exiting their tanking strategy, but it’s still hard to know what to make of their roster. Utah definitely has a lot of talent with Jaren Jackson Jr. and Lauri Markkanen in their prime joined by young players with varying degrees of upside in Darryn Peterson, Keyonte George, and Ace Bailey. There are a lot of bucket-getters here, but the playmaking and defense remains a question. I have always thought Will Hardy was a good coach who couldn’t show the full scope of his abilities during the tanking years, and that makes this season a big test for him. The Jazz don’t have to be a finished product yet after a great heist in the Walker Kessler trade, but the overall roster improvement is admirable and could land them in the playoffs.

10. Memphis Grizzlies

The Grizzlies turned one promising young core into another totally new one in the matter of just a few years. I think Memphis landed the best player in the draft with the third overall pick, and fully expect Cameron Boozer to be really good from day one. I love the potential pairing of Boozer’s high IQ passing and shooting alongside 300 pounds of Zach Edey bully ball at the rim, provided the 7’3 center can finally stay healthy. Cedric Coward could be in for a sophomore leap, and the backcourt has tons of interesting upside candidates even without an established headline name. Ty Jerome, Scotty Pippen Jr., and Cam Spencer are all underrated players with room to keep getting better, while the trade for Isaiah Stewart will raise the team’s level of competitiveness for just a couple second round picks. If Edey stays healthy, I could see Memphis getting into the top-8, even if their best player is literally the youngest guy in the league this year.

11. Golden State Warriors

Hope for the Warriors took a huge hit when Jimmy Butler tore his ACL in January, dooming Golden State’s bid for relevance last season and probably this season, too. Butler will push himself to come back quick, but at age-37 without a reliable outside jumper to fall back on, a speedy return to form feels like a lot to ask. The downfall of the Warriors is a bit depressing if only because Stephen Curry is still good enough to compete for championships in his golden years. Curry turns 39 at the end of this season, and while he can still be a top-5 player alive in short bursts, it’s hard to count on him to make it through a long regular season physically. I like some of the Warriors’ role players. I really believe Brandin Podziemski is underrated as a good three-point shooter who always seems to know where to be on both ends of the floor. Gui Santos is a legitimate diamond-in-the-rough find for this franchise as a 3-and-D wing, and I love Yaxel Lendeborg, who I had as a top-5 prospect in the 2026 NBA Draft. This team is just really old, and pretty unreliable injury-wise. I would have them way higher if Butler was totally healthy to start the season, but I just can’t get there for now.

12. Dallas Mavericks

The Mavs put Masai Uriji and Mike Schmitz in charge this past summer, and they immediately made some big changes. The Mavs shocked the world by pulling Dusty May from Michigan, and then they took his former player Morez Johnson Jr. with the No. 9 overall pick. The front office also traded for Santi Aldama and former No. 1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher. The aggressive mindset makes this year even more intriguing given all of the big questions tied to the roster. Kyrie Irving is back after missing last season with a torn ACL: what does he look like coming off major surgery at age-34? Dereck Lively II looked like one of the West’s best young centers, but he had foot injury in Dec. and still hasn’t been cleared to run. Cooper Flagg was pretty damn good for being the youngest player in the league last year, but he still has plenty of room to grow on both ends of the court before he fulfills his considerable expectations. The Mavs are in a tough place because they traded all of their future first-round picks to build around Luka Doncic, which leaves the cupboard bare for the start of the Flagg era. Their best move is feels like fully orienting around Flagg’s timeline, and that means trading Kyrie, as well as veterans like P.J. Washington and Naji Marshall. It’s hard to see a ton of upside in this Mavs season unless Flagg somehow morphs into an All-NBA player at age-19. He’ll get there eventually, and I can’t wait to see what the team around him looks like then.

13. New Orleans Pelicans

The Pelicans have threaded the needle between having some actual talent and lacking any sensible direction. New Orleans brings in Jamahl Mosley from Orlando to take over at head coach, and he’ll have some interesting pieces to work with. Herb Jones is one of the NBA’s best defensive forwards, Trey Murphy III is one of the league’s best big shooters, and Zion Williamson finally played a decent amount of games (62) while averaging 21 points on +6.7% rTS (true shooting percentage over league average). The Pelicans also have two 2025 lottery picks in Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen entering their second season, and they can tell themselves their bold trade for Queen didn’t burn them as badly as it could have. I’m just not sure how the Pelicans can put out lineups that are competitive on both ends, especially in the always unforgiving West. New Orleans got killed on the defensive glass last season, they were among the lowest-volume three-point shooting teams in the league, and they were below-average at forcing turnovers. These are things that tend to lose basketball games, and I don’t see them completely flipping with a similar roster this year. A Zion trade feels inevitable, and at this point it would be nice to see him get a change of scenery.

14. Los Angeles Clippers

The bad news for the Clippers is their future has been totally decimated. The good news (?) is that most of the pain will take place beyond this season. The Clippers still have a decent collection of talent, and I’m interested to see what a very good head coach in Ty Lue can do with it. Kawhi Leonard is out (did you hear about this?), and Keaton Wagler, Brandon Ingram, Max Strus, and Rui Hachimura are in. Darius Garland is starting his first full year with the keys to the offense, and could be in for a huge season with so much offensive freedom. Garland’s pairing with No. 5 overall pick Keaton Wagler will be fascinating to watch. Wagler is about as low on athleticism as possible for a guard picked in the top-5, but his deadly off-the-dribble shooting and solid feel for the game gives him enticing upside. Brook Lopez is still here at age-38. That’s cool. Why the hell is Bradley Beal still on this roster? More cap circumvention? The Clippers owe their 2027 draft pick to the Thunder of all teams, and then the real pain begins. I’m sorry, Clippers fans. Please make the tickets really cheap, Ballmer.

15. Sacramento Kings

It’s easy to overlook all the misfortune that was cast upon the Sacramento Kings last season, because this franchise permanently exists in an unfortunate state. Domantas Sabonis (19 games), Keegan Murray (23 games), and Zach LaVine (39 games) all played less than half the season. If those guys stay healthy this year, the Kings can’t be so bad again, right? I’m not sure. Sacramento still feels like it’s stuck between two eras, but at least the rebuild got a promising young piece in Darius Acuff in this year’s draft. I have some skepticism about how Acuff’s game translates to the league, but he was such a warrior last year at Arkansas, and the Kings badly need someone like that who the fanbase can rally behind. I like Maxime Raynaud and Dylan Cardwell as young bigs with polar opposite skill sets, and I’m interested to see what Nique Clifford can do in year two. It just feels like the Kings are biding their time to blow up this roster, and I just don’t think it’s going anywhere before that happens.

Dodgers notes: Postseason bullpen in a good spot

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 4: Roki Sasaki #11 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws in the bullpen prior to the game against the Washington Nationals at Dodger Stadium on September 4, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Tuesday night’s game against the San Diego Padres was reminiscent of the 2024 playoffs when the Dodgers were forced to employ a bullpen in the NLDS to keep their playoff hopes alive against those same Padres. Both outcomes were the same, with the bullpen shutting down the Friars and getting a big win.

That postseason saw a lot of bullpen usage, and in this one the Dodgers are stacked with starters. Still, the bullpen is always a big part of the postseason.

As Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic points out, 41 days ago manager Dave Roberts was asking the media what choices did he truly have to deploy in the ninth inning of games. Now, he could have several options.

Edwin Diaz, the closer they paid handsomely in the offseason, has not had a great season. He’s been on the IL twice and had an era over 11.00 at one point this summer. But since returning from his latest IL stint, he has faced 11 batters, struck out six and only allowed two to reach base.

“I think it’s one of those things where if you’re one of the 12 pitchers on a postseason roster, you’re in the trust tree,” Roberts said “He’s put himself right smack in that conversation. Given all that he’s had to go through this year to right the ship is a big credit to him.”

Roki Sasaki is also someone who will be in the mix for the ninth inning spot. He has also just returned from his own IL stint, pitching with dermabond on his blister. He allowed two singles, but worked around them for a scoreless inning in Tuesday night’s game. He will appear in Friday night’s game as he continues to work towards a spot in the bullpen that will likely vary as the postseason goes on.

Tanner Scott has been the Dodgers’ most reliable arm out of the bullpen this season, and Roberts has remarked how it would be nice to be able to use Scott in high leverage spots that may not come just in the ninth inning.

“I think if there’s an opportunity, for example, for Tanner to pitch a high-leverage inning in the seventh or the eighth inning, it’s just hard to pass that up if he’s the best option right there,” Roberts said. “You just don’t know where the ninth inning is going to be.”

Roberts also added that the team is sitting in their best position with regards to the bullpen as they have ever been. Evan Phillips and Brock Stewart round out the current options, and the team hopes that Edguardo Henriquez can recover from his back issues to appear in the playoffs. With the starters this team has overall this may be the best pitching staff the Dodgers have ever sent to the playoffs.

There’s still a slight chance the Red Sox don’t play the Yankees in the Wild Card round

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - AUGUST 31: Roman Anthony #19 of the Boston Red Sox looks on during the seventh inning against the Seattle Mariners at Fenway Park on August 31, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Paul Rutherford/Getty Images) | Getty Images

We’ve spent much of the last week discussing how the Red Sox won’t be playing much baseball in Boston this weekend thanks to an impending nor’easter. But what if I were to tell you it’s also still possible (however unlikely) that they might not be playing much baseball in New York next week either?

Don’t worry, it’s not weather related this time. Instead, it’s because there’s still a bizarre, long shot scenario teetering at the edge of the table where the Red Sox could fall to the No. 6 seed in the American League.

At first glance, this seems impossible. At 85-73, Boston is four games clear of the White Sox with four to play, and even if the Red Sox were to lose out with the White Sox winning all of their remaining games, Boston also holds the head to head tiebreaker by virtue of their 6-0 record against the South Siders this season.

So, it’s over, right?

Wrong!

There’s still one monkey wrench that can flip the board, and that’s Cleveland’s presence. If the 82-76 Guardians win the rubber game at Fenway Park today and then also end up in a theoretical 85-77 tie with both pairs of Sox at the end of the weekend, all sorts of kooky stuff happens.

First of all, in a three-way tie scenario where one of the teams is not in the same division, the tie to determine that division (in this case the AL Central), takes precedent, and must be broken first. Well, guess what? The White Sox hold the tiebreaker over the Guardians, which means if the Red Sox end up tied with both of them, Chicago takes the division, leaving Boston to face off against Cleveland in the tiebreaker for the final seeding.

Right now, the Red Sox hold that tiebreaker over Cleveland thanks to their 3-2 head to head record. However, if the Guardians win today, that becomes 3-3, and the tiebreaker flips to the Guardians on interdivision record. In other words, Cleveland would go to the No. 5 seed, the Red Sox would land in Texas to play either the Astros or Rangers (whoever wins that wretched AL West division) as the No. 6, and Guardians would get shuffled all the way over to New York to play the Yankees.

On one hand, this is far fetched. But if you break it down piece by piece, it becomes one of those things that gets less and less ridiculous the more you look at it.

Let’s start with the Red Sox. They will be throwing Ranger Suarez today against Cleveland, who will counter with Daniel Espino. With the way Suarez has been throwing the ball the last few times out, that looks like a Boston win at first. But remember, the Sox used both Whitlock and Chapman last night, meaning they might not want to push them too hard and go there again today. Additionally, Suarez’ start is coming exactly five days before Game 1 of the Wild Card series, which means they’ll probably pull him after 75 or 80 pitches like they did with Sonny Gray on Wednesday.

Break it all down, and the Guardians are probably going to get a shot at the weaker part of the Red Sox bullpen they didn’t see today. Throw in Ceddanne Rafaela and Willson Contreras possibly not playing, and all of a sudden this becomes a hard game to predict.

From there, the Red Sox are likely going to play a double header against the Cubs on Friday, trying to get as many games in as possible before the nor’easter arrives. Well, as we’ve discussed all week, the Cubs are going to need those games as they fight for seeding in the NL Wild Card race. They enter play today one game behind the San Diego Padres for the top Wild Card billing. Meanwhile, the Red Sox will be done with the Payton Tolle / Sonny Gray / Ranger Suarez part of the rotation for the regular season and will probably be throwing Patrick Sandoval in one of these games. Is it really that hard to see the Cubs taking both ends of that double header?

Meanwhile, back in Chicago itself, the White Sox would need a sweep at home over the weekend to keep any chance of this crazy scenario alive. Well, guess what? They’re playing the Colorado Rockies. And not just the Colorado Rockies, but the Road Rockies. The worst team to ever do it!

Years ago, when I was over at Purple Row, I wrote about how the game is rigged against the Rockies, and how they face a literal competitive disadvantage because of a Coors Hangover Effect that happens when their hitters travel. On that note, the 2026 Road Rockies have been striaght trash! They’ve already been swept in 28 percent of their series this year, and have lost ten games in a row away from Coors Field. They’re so bad, they haven’t won a road game since August 26th!

The point here is that it’s not that hard to see how they could go into a rowdy atmosphere in Chicago this weekend and get their doors blown off. The White Sox are just one game behind the Guardians for not only the AL Central crown, but also for the No. 2 seed and a bye, so they will almost certainly be throwing all their resources at this race right down to the wire.

Of course, they also have to win their game in Kansas City this afternoon to even get this lunacy off the ground, but if they do that, you don’t have to squint too hard to see how this snowball might start running downhill. Again, all this silliness probably gets quashed in the net 36 hours by one of several candidates, but if we’re still sitting here on Saturday morning and the possibility of all this still alive, things will get really, really weird, really, really quick. And that’s before you throw in the weather with the Red Sox possibility waiting through days of rain to play Game their 162.

Can you imagine if they have to come back on Monday and play one last game against the Cubs and they can literally pick their path with a loss (through Texas and the AL Central winner) instead of having to go through New York and Tampa?

It’s nuts, and it would be nothing short of a bonkers scenario. But this is the 2026 Red Sox, and bonkers has kind of been the theme of the season. We’ve already seen some of the worst Red Sox baseball of all time at Fenway Park early in the season, a historic winning streak to fuel a remarkable turnaround, a team that has a penchant for playing well with plane problems, and now a huge nor’easter threatening to upend the schedule. If there was ever a year where something this daft might play out, wouldn’t it be this one?

Then again, Kansas City might beat the White Sox in a handful of hours and everything you just read will be rendered moot. Man I love wacky baseball!

Shaikin: For the Dodgers, the varsity will take it from here

Teoscar Hernández singles during the game Wednesday
Teoscar Hernández singles during the game Wednesday, a game in which they had the 10 men you would expect to see start in Game 1 of the postseason in the lineup together for the first time. (Ronaldo Bolaños / Los Angeles Times)

You can’t say the Dodgers didn’t give the rest of the National League West a chance.

It wasn’t a great chance, certainly. But consider this: The Dodgers spotted their division rivals 157 games before rolling out their varsity lineup.

The Dodgers clinched the division a week earlier. They still could win 100 games.

On Wednesday, with that preferred batting order making its season debut and Yoshinobu Yamamoto on the mound, the Dodgers fielded the 10 men you might well see in Game 1 of the playoffs next week.

Or, as the Dodgers might say, Opening Day.

The Dodgers can say their schedule starts in October, and their goal is for everyone to be healthy and effective then. But that presumption depends upon the supporting cast: the boys of summer that might never play come fall but must play well enough so that the stars can play postseason ball.

“It’s just the depth,” Freddie Freeman said.

Everyone has depth, to some degree.

“We’ve got really good guys that can cover guys when they get hurt,” Freeman said. “You’re going to go through injury bugs over the course of the year. It’s on people to step up. We’ve got some guys that are on the bench that can fill in.

“You have guys that can potentially be playing every day on some other teams.”

In April, Mookie Betts and Tommy Edman were on the injured list. By the time both men had come off the injured list, Teoscar Hernández and Will Smith were on it. By the time Hernández and Smith had returned, Andy Pages was on the injured list, soon to be followed by Shohei Ohtani.

Alex Freeland has more at-bats than Will Smith this season.
Alex Freeland has more at-bats than Will Smith this season. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)

Rookie infielder Alex Freeland has more at-bats than Smith. In roughly the same number of at-bats, backup catcher Dalton Rushing has more home runs and a higher OPS than Smith, the starting catcher.

The Dodgers rank second in the majors in OPS.

Four Dodgers pitchers started at least 20 games, but Yamamoto is the only one projected for the playoff rotation. Emmet Sheehan and All-Star Justin Wrobleski each started more games than Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow, combined.

Eric Lauer, who had won once in six starts for the Toronto Blue Jays, won six times in an eight-start stretch for the Dodgers.

The Dodgers rank fourth in the majors in earned-run average.

“We’ve had more injuries than we would have liked this season, but with that came opportunities for guys that gained a lot of valuable experience,” Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said.

“Now, going into October, we feel like we have a chance to have a roster as representative of the talent level we have as you can reasonably expect.”

The Dodgers buy depth, right?

“I won’t say anything about that,” Friedman said.

Miguel Rojas is hitting .269 with great defense this season.
Miguel Rojas is hitting .269 with great defense this season. (Ronaldo Bolanos/Los Angeles Times)

They buy everything else. And what other team would spend a combined $10 million on utilitymen Kiké Hernández and Miguel Rojas?

How about the farm system? The Dodgers traded three prospects for Tarik Skubal, the best player available at the trade deadline, and the league website nonetheless ranks the Dodgers’ farm system as the best in all the land.

So, we’ll ask again: What about buying depth?

“Obviously, we have a very high payroll,” Friedman said, “but I think leaving it at that diminishes the incredible work that our scouts, our baseball ops, our player development, our Latin American scouts — our entire department — and the success they’ve had in their respective areas, and how it’s all come together.

Read more:The Dodgers’ Josue De Paula can hit. Now he’s out to prove he can play defense, too

“I think it really minimizes it in a way that’s not fair to excellent people doing excellent work.”

That excellent work includes 97 wins, so far, from the 53 men to play for the Dodgers this season. On Wednesday, finally, the Dodgers had their A team: Freeman, Edman, Betts and Max Muncy starting in the infield; Teoscar Hernández, Pages and Kyle Tucker in the outfield; Smith at catcher; Yamamoto at pitcher; and Ohtani at designated hitter.

One of the charms of baseball is a cliche: Anything can happen — in a single game or in a short series. The Dodgers lost to the San Diego Padres on Wednesday. The A team is 0-1 this season, with October to go.

Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Phillies News: Postseason, Matt Klentak, Brad Lidge

Sep 22, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm (28), second baseman Luis Arraez (4), second baseman Bryson Stott (5) and shortstop Trea Turner (7) celebrate win against the Milwaukee Brewers at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Phillies will have to play at least one more game before they can officially punch their ticket to the postseason. Last night’s brutal showing with runners in scoring position made sure of that. But today is another great day to clinch.

On to the links.

Phillies news:

MLB news:

Orioles news: O’s sweep doubleheader, stave off elimination

Sep 23, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles players celebrate after Game 2 of a doubleheader against the Toronto Blue Jays at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Good morning, Camden Chatters.

It’s Sept. 24 and the Orioles are, technically, still alive in the postseason race. Will wonders never cease?

The Orioles’ elimination number remains at 1 after a productive Wednesday in which they swept a doubleheader against the Blue Jays to close out their Camden Yards schedule for 2026. Combined with a White Sox loss in Kansas City, it remain mathematically possible for the Orioles to claim the third wild card spot. All they need is to sweep their final series at Yankee Stadium while the White Sox lose every remaining game against the Royals and Rockies. Oh, and also the Orioles would have to leapfrog whichever of the Rangers and Astros doesn’t win the AL West.

Simple, right? Might as well start printing the playoff tickets now.

OK, OK, I get it. It’s not happening. The O’s will be eliminated, possibly as soon as tonight. But it’s nice that they didn’t have to suffer that ignominious fate in front of their home fans. They played a pair of well-played games — and officially knocked the defending AL champion Blue Jays out of playoff contention — to end their home season on a high note. Check out Mark Brown’s recap of the opener and Tyler Young’s write-up of the nightcap.

The twin bill demonstrated what the 2026 season could have looked like for the Orioles if they’d been clicking all year. The O’s got some effective starting pitching performances from unlikely sources, especially Trey Gibson, who tossed the finest outing of his major league career with 6.2 shutout innings. Their bullpen was solid, with six different relievers delivering scoreless outings. And Pete Alonso did Pete Alonso things, crushing his 41st home run and later leading the entire O’s team onto the field to acknowledge the fans before they left town for the year.

The Orioles ultimately are going to come up short for a litany of reasons that we don’t need to rehash here, but they’ve got a chance to finish the season at .500 if they take all three games from the Yankees this weekend. If not, they can at least try to sustain their recent competent play and hopefully bring some positive momentum into the 2027 season, whenever it might begin. For now, that will have to do.

Links

Holliday to undergo surgery on left wrist; Basallo to concussion IL – MLB.com

The Orioles’ two youngest players saw their disappointing 2026 seasons come to an end. If there’s any hope for a turnaround next season, it’s guys like this who are going to need to take a step forward.

Kyle Goon: The threat of a lockout looms over 2027. But in home finale the Orioles spark positive thinking. – The Baltimore Banner

The possibility of having games wiped out in 2027 is upsetting for so many reasons, not the least of which is: what the heck am I going to do with my time? Are you telling me I’m supposed to get another hobby? Get outta here with that.

Is it too late for the O’s to re-sign Trevor Rogers beyond this season? – Steve Melewski

It’s not too late until Rogers puts pen to paper with another team. Which might not happen for a while, considering the aforementioned lockout.

Would an Orioles general manager under Elias have autonomy? | MAILBAG – BaltimoreBaseball.com

I can venture a guess. The O’s have gone more than a year (and counting) without bothering to fill the GM role, so it sure seems like it’s not something Elias values highly.

Orioles birthdays and history

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! Five former Orioles were born on this day, including Rafael Palmeiro (62), one of the most prolific sluggers in O’s (and MLB) history. Palmeiro had two stints with the Birds in his 20-year career, hitting 223 of his 569 major league homers as an Oriole. He would be in the Hall of Fame if not for, well, you know. Happy birthday, Raffy.

Other former Orioles with Sept. 24 birthdays include infielders Travis Ishikawa (43), Jesse Garcia (53), and Kevin Millar (55), and the late outfielder Curt Motton (b. 1940, d. 2010).

On this date in 2000, Orioles ace Mike Mussina pitched a masterpiece in what turned out to be his penultimate start in an O’s uniform. Mussina dominated the Red Sox at Fenway, throwing seven scoreless innings and racking up an eye-popping 15 strikeouts without walking a batter. The Orioles managed to get him a win by scoring a run in the top of the eighth on Gene Kingsale’s sac fly, and closer Ryan Kohlmeier escaped a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the ninth to secure the 1-0 victory.

Random Orioles game of the day

On Sept. 24, 1984, the Orioles won two games for the price of one, sweeping a doubleheader against the Yankees at Memorial Stadium. Mike Boddicker led an easy 8-1 victory in the opener with a complete game, scattering 10 hits — all singles — and allowing only one run. The O’s also had 10 hits but turned them into eight runs, with John Shelby, Gary Roenicke, and Mike Young all homering.

In the nightcap, the Orioles pulled off a thrilling come-from-behind victory, scoring five runs in the bottom of the eighth to erase a 6-2 deficit. An error by Yankees reliever Jay Howell opened the floodgates for a Roenicke RBI single and a Benny Ayala three-run homer. Cal Ripken also homered in the game. Reliever Nate Snell worked a scoreless eighth and ninth for the victory. The doubleheader sweep gave the O’s and Yanks identical 83-73 records, though both had long since been eliminated from the AL East race.

Cavs season preview: Tyrese Proctor – More important than you think?

CLEVELAND, OHIO - DECEMBER 19: Tyrese Proctor #24 of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrates making a three-point basket during the first half against the Chicago Bulls at Rocket Arena on December 19, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers have a vacancy in their depth chart, and Tyrese Proctor might develop into the backup point guard they need to address it.

Given Cleveland’s offseason moves, which include trading both Max Strus and Dennis Schroder, the team will need someone who can handle the ball off the bench. As of now, Proctor is one of a few young guards jockeying for the position.

Craig Porter Jr. and rookie Meleek Thomas are his (friendly) competition. We’ll talk more about them as our season previews continue. For now, we’re all about Proctor.

Proctor was drafted 49th in the 2025 NBA Draft and enters his sophomore season with Cleveland. He played 50 games last year, averaging 5.4 points on 41.3% shooting from the floor. Nothing overly impressive, but he showed enough to make you wonder what might come next.

This leads us to our big question:

What would it take for Proctor to cement himself as Cleveland’s backup point guard?

A perfect fit, on paper

Proctor theoretically has all of the skills you’d want from a modern combo guard.

He has positional size at 6’4” and is comfortable playing with or without the ball. He’s got solid jump-shot mechanics and the physical tools to become a quality team defender. All of which makes him comfortable playing alongside anyone.

Versatility is a good skill to have. But it’s even more important in Cleveland, where the star-studded backcourt of James Harden and Donovan Mitchell will bury anyone who can’t play alongside them.

Proctor’s game pairs well next to either Harden or Mitchell.

With Harden, you need to space the floor and serve as a threat to knockdown jumpers. Proctor can check that box. He has experience playing without the rock and projects to be someone who can eventually nail jumpers at a high clip.

If paired with Mitchell, then Proctor has to lean into being a floor general. This means running the offense and being a creator. This skill is less refined, as of now, but something that’s still potentially in the cards for Proctor.

Above all else, Proctor has to put the full package together by being a stout defender at the point of attack. Covering for Harden and Mitchell defensively is arguably more important than coexisting with them offensively.

Proctor again seems to be the type of player who can accomplish this.

Doing so would not only make Proctor a contributor throughout the regular season, but also someone who can help stagger lineups in the playoffs.

Of course, this all has to be proven first.

Hurdles to clear

Proctor has shown flashes of everything that I listed above. But the full picture remains unclear. He’ll have to clear a few hurdles before officially being in the rotation.

So what’s holding him back?

For starters, his inexperience. Proctor is only 22 years old and hasn’t had much time in the league. Many of his minutes came in garbage time last season, and his most valuable reps were short-lived. That doesn’t give us a lot to work with.

Even with the limited sample size, it’s clear that Proctor has room to grow. All of his most exciting skills remain as untapped potential.

His jumper looks sweet, but he only shot 35% from deep last season. That won’t be good enough. Proctor will need to be closer to 40% for this to be the skill that he hangs his hat on.

On defense, Proctor seems like he can develop into a productive player. But how impactful can he be on a nightly basis? Can he fortify the point of attack? And can he make the correct rotations to fit into a team system? Consistency will be key.

Finally, what more can Proctor give as a creator?

He isn’t an elite dribbler or passer. Those skills feel tertiary right now — they aren’t at the core of his game. Creating advantages and causing defensive breakdowns will be the skill that ultimately determines Proctor’s ceiling.

Proctor’s sophomore season shouldn’t be sink or swim. He still has years of development on the table. But piecing some things together and being part of Cleveland’s rotation should be a serious goal for him. He might not get a clearer path towards playing time than this current season.

Don Cooper: 1956-2026

CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 27: Interim manager and pitching coach Don Cooper of the Chicago White Sox talks to a coach during a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at U.S. Cellular Field on September 27, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois.
IYKYK: Don Cooper as White Sox manager, 2011. | (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Most fans are aware of both the legend and the reality of Chicago White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper. And we as White Sox fans have committed so much of him to memory, most prominently “Coop’ll fix ’em” and the four straight complete games that polished off the 2005 ALCS.

So recounting his resumé is not the objective here, although I’d be remiss not to at least mention that the dominant 2005 rotation was largely of his making, from tutoring Mark Buehrle on his way up to the majors to creating the force that was Jon Garland to looking under the hood and tweaking the engines of Orlando Hernández, Freddy García and José Contreras to unleash their bewildering stretch of greatness on baseball’s biggest stage.

During my relatively brief time writing for and covering the White Sox — nearly Cooper’s entire, uncommonly-long 18-year tenure as pitching coach — I rubbed elbows with him, and get to know him a bit. So this is not an obituary, but a remembrance.

Three snapshots really stand out to me when remembering the man, and the first is not a pleasant one.

In Toronto in late May, anticipating soon having six starters to fit into five rotation spots, I’d written that Mark Buehrle could be the White Sox starter to take a short shift in the pen. Not should, but based on a slow start to the season, Buehrle’s consummately-amenable nature, and the fact that any “demotion” to the pen would last a turn or two before inevitable injury struck down one of the six starters, could.

When Coop saw me in the clubhouse, he was mad. Clutching a copy of my feature, he undercut me with defense after defense of Mark, All-Star this and Opening Day starter that. Was Don wrong? Of course not. Was he taking a spec piece probably intended to provide off-day copy by a writer interested in throwing ideas out there to see what stuck and perhaps blinded enough by a 5.12 ERA to miss a 3.88 FIP a bit too seriously? I … think so?

Honestly in the moment I felt both pride that Don was reading me, given that part of the them vs. us nature that pervades a clubhouse is the team pantomime that writers covering the team are not part of the White Sox “us,” nor can they pay enough attention to any one of us as to influence any decision-making. But also, there was bemusement that my feature had gotten him so riled. From there, with the knowledge that the White Sox were acknowledging me as a voice to reckon with, I could be a little more mindful of corralling my wildest ideas — but also take advantage of the existence of a wider communication pipeline that had opened, not just with players but Ozzie Guillén and his staff.


Rewind to 2010, and a trading deadline that saw the White Sox nab Edwin Jackson from the Arizona Diamondbacks, a pitcher everyone and his uncle knew was a key chip to flip to Washington to acquire GM Ken Williams’ most desired target for the second half, Adam Dunn. While the drama surrounding Nats GM Mike Rizzo upping his demands at the last minute and Williams’ colorful disgust over Rizzo’s unprofessionalism, Cooper steered us to another scoop.

The dugout was white-hot with front office disgust and true limbo for Jackson, by then already an MLB journeyman on his way to residence on a record 14 different teams, when Don tapped me and ESPN’s Doug Padilla out from the dugout and onto the infield for an impromptu hype session. With rapture in his eyes, Cooper explained how he knew he could “solve” mechanical issues that were keeping Edwin down in his career (earlier that very summer, EJax had thrown a very wild no-hitter, epitomizing his incredible potential and aggravating reality all in one start). Knowing Coop had already worked his magic with several pitchers on the South Side, both Doug and I came away convinced that the best days of Edwin Jackson were ahead. (And real talk, Jackson’s 30 starts in Chicago from trading deadline 2010 to deadline 2011 were worth 4.2 WAR, by far the best stretch of his 17-year career in the majors.)


But truly, my core memory of Don Cooper was sitting in the visitor’s dugout at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, water lapping at our ankles during one of those infamous torrents tearing through the middle of our country. Our conversation had started on the dugout steps, the game already delayed by drizzle, and as the drops pelted more aggressively we chose not to tear off and into the clubhouse or press box, but shift to the bench, and continue talking. I am not certain why that happened; perhaps as I was a relative newcomer to the White Sox beat Don was curious to get to know me, but I don’t think that was the case. It was two guys, just interested in talking for a while.

Recorder off, notepad mostly unscribbled, we had a casual conversation that likely started with me trying to mine Don for “all” of his pitching guru secrets but mostly spun into talk of family (inside the clubhouse and out) and distant career aspirations. Knowing of many pitchers/pitching coaches who successfully managed, as well as his impeccable reputation at the time, I brought up the topic of managing in the majors. Truly, my feeling was that it was only a matter of time, if Don wanted it, before he left Chicago to move into managing at Triple-A or straight into the majors; I was resigned to the fact that he wouldn’t be a White Sox coaching lifer. And Don did confirm, in a modest way, that he had considered it, and remained curious to see whether his leadership of arms could extend to stewardship of a full roster.

How interesting it turned out to be that by the end of 2011, his first (and as it turned out, only) managerial opportunity was with the White Sox, after Ozzie Guillén abandoned the team for Miami and right-hand man Joey Cora was then instructed to pack his bags as well. Not once thinking I was going to help spur Don into raising his hand for the interim gig by texting him “now’s your chance” and encouraging him to make sure the White Sox knew he wanted to be considered for the top job in 2012, that was in fact what happened.

Of course, Don’s response to that text, well remembering the encouragement I’d given him to aim higher during our damp dugout discussion months earlier: “Who is this?”

Always joking, always keeping it loyal, always keeping those outside of the 25 in the clubhouse on their toes.

Baseball, and especially those who were lucky enough to experience the sport through your eyes and words, will miss you, Don.

Ranking MLB's best lineups for 2026 playoffs: Who's built for October?

The Chicago Cubs scored more runs than anyone in baseball this year and their offense is still the strongest in the field by both raw production and park-adjusted numbers. Even with Alex Bregman questionable after taking a foul ball to the face.

Milwaukee has the best record in baseball, but fewer home runs than any other team playing in October, and by a wide margin.

The Yankees have as much raw power as anyone in this field, and none of it will matter much if Aaron Judge isn't healthy enough to be in the lineup, and right now, there's no guarantee he will be.

The Dodgers have more star power in one lineup than anyone else in the sport, if Shohei Ohtani, Will Smith and Kyle Tucker are all healthy by the time it matters, which right now, they aren't.

And Houston might have the single best hitter of any team in this field, Yordan Alvarez, an MVP candidate having one of the best seasons in baseball, attached to a team still fighting just to make the playoffs.

1. Chicago Cubs

The Cubs led all of baseball in runs scored heading into the final week, with the best raw production and the best park-adjusted offense in the entire playoff field. Pete Crow-Armstrong is having an MVP-caliber season, hitting around .280 with 40-plus home runs, stolen bases and elite center field defense. Seiya Suzuki has been a steady power threat in the middle of the order all year. Bregman, one of the lineup's most productive hitters, uncertain at least for the wild-card series after suffering multiple facial fractures on a foul ball on Sept. 20. He's hopeful to play in the final weekend, but even a return for the NLDS if the Cubs advance would be remarkable. Even missing a piece of its lineup for at least the first round, this remains the most complete offense of the 13 teams playing in October.

2. Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers rank second in both raw production and park-adjusted offense, but the number that matters most right now is how many of their best hitters have played healthy together lately. Shohei Ohtani, having an MVP-caliber year at the plate, has been on the injured list with a right biceps issue since Sept. 8, with his return timeline still uncertain. Will Smith broke his hand on a foul tip and is doubtful for the rest of the regular season. Kyle Tucker, brought in on a massive free agent contract, has struggled this season and now has a knee contusion. Mookie Betts missed time early with an oblique injury and struggled out of the gate before rebounding over the second half. Freddie Freeman has hit well most of the year, but the Dodgers have been managing a knee issue with occasional rest days down the stretch. If the Dodgers get their top hitters back in the same lineup or October, it can be the best in baseball. If they don't, it's a different story.

3. Milwaukee Brewers

Milwaukee's lineup produces, ranking second among the league leaders in runs scored. What it doesn't do is hit home runs. The Brewers have the fewest as a team of any of the 13 playoff contenders, and by a wide margin. That's not a new problem. It's the same offense that got exposed in a four-game NLCS sweep last October, when the Brewers scored one run a game, and hit .118, the lowest average in a postseason series of at least three games in MLB history. Jackson Chourio and Brice Turang are legitimate table-setters, both with real power and on-base skills. Christian Yelich has been streaky but he caught fire in September. A league-best record covers for a lot. It hasn't fixed the power problem that ended last October.

4. Tampa Bay Rays

The Rays have the best team batting average in baseball at .259, but their power ranks in the bottom half of the league. Junior Caminero is the exception, a legitimate star with well over 40 home runs and one of the better OPS marks on the roster. Yandy Diaz and Jonathan Aranda round out a solid top of the order. The bottom of the lineup is where this offense breaks down. Taylor Walls has struggled to get on base all year, and Jorge Mateo has been overmatched at the plate since Tampa Bay acquired him in August. A contact-oriented, low-strikeout approach has carried this offense to the best record in the American League. It won't matter is the bottom third of the order can't produce a run in October.

5. Houston Astros

Houston's raw numbers are strong, ranking among the top half of these 13 teams without the park inflation that flatters some of the offenses ranked above it. Yordan Alvarez is a legitimate MVP candidate, hitting over .300 with 40-plus home runs and one of the best OPS marks in the sport. Isaac Paredes and Jeremy Pena have both had solid seasons at the plate. The lineup's depth thins out fast beyond that group, and Carlos Correa's season-ending ankle surgery didn't help. Houston is fighting Texas for the AL West with the season almost over.

6. Boston Red Sox

Fenway Park is a good fit for hitters, and Boston's offense shows it. What looks like a top-half offense turns into almost exactly league average once the park adjustment strips it down. Willson Contreras, one of the best hitters on the roster, is the real deal regardless of ballpark. Wilyer Abreu has added real power to the lineup. Roman Anthony, one of the sport's top young players, missed nearly four months with a wrist injury and only returned in late August, a wild card for October readiness. Last year's trade that sent Rafael Devers to San Francisco left this lineup without a true middle-of-the-order force, and a full season and an offseason later, Boston still hasn't fully replaced it. Boston made the playoffs with this offense. It never got better than league average doing it.

7. Atlanta Braves

Matt Olson has been the engine for Atlanta all year, with 40-plus home runs and one of the better OPS marks on the team, but the offense around him tells a story similar to Boston's, a below league average unit once you adjust for park effects. Austin Riley is having down year following abdominal surgery, a real drag in the middle of the order. Ronald Acuna Jr. missed large chunks of the season to hamstring injuries but has been red hot in September. Atlanta clinched the division anyway. A below-average offense with a struggling third baseman doesn't leave much room for error once October starts.

8. New York Yankees

The Yankees have real thump, one of the best home run totals among these 13 teams, and among the best walk rates, and they built it largely without a healthy Aaron Judge. He fractured a rib in early June and didn't return until mid-September, then lasted barely a week before landing back on the injured list Sept. 18 with a right calf strain, an injury to the soleus muscle that's especially hard to play through. He's expected to miss the wild card series, maybe longer, with no guarantee he's back at all this postseason. Ben Rice has emerged as a legitimate offensive engine on his own and this lineup has already proven for most of the season is can produce without Judge in it. Cody Bellinger and Jazz Chisholm Jr. are complementary pieces, not lineup-carriers, and how much longer this offense can keep doing it without its best hitter is the real question entering October.

9. Chicago White Sox

Chicago's lineup is solid without being special, a bit above league average overall. Miguel Vargas and Chase Meidroth are both legitimately good complementary pieces. Colson Montgomery supplies real power, but strikes out more than almost anyone in the American League and was hit on the wrist by a pitch this month, his status uncertain for the stretch run, This offense performs about the same against left-handed and right-handed pitching, a rare balanced trait, but it doesn't have a true middle-of-the-order star to build around. A wild-card spot secured mostly on pitching and defense means this lineup will need to be better than its regular-season numbers suggest.

10. Texas Rangers

Texas ranks near the bottom of these 13 teams in raw production, though the underlying quality is a little better than the raw numbers show. The bigger issue is the profile, a high strikeout rate and a low walk rate, the kind of free-swinging approach that can get exposed against good bullpens. Corey Seager is a shell of the hitter he was a year ago after multiple injury absences. Marcus Semien is gone, traded to the Mets for Brandon Nimmo, a step down offensively. Josh Jung and Justin Foscue have picked up some of the slack. A division lead built mostly on pitching now has to hold up with a diminished lineup behind it.

11. San Diego Padres

Fernando Tatis Jr. and Jackson Merrill give this lineup a genuine top of the order, both with real power and speed. The raw numbers actually undersell this offense a little once you adjust for pitcher-friendly Petco Park. Manny Machado is in real decline, his power intact but his contract and on-base skills collapsed. The bigger problem is depth. Luis Rengifo tore his ACL, Gavin Sheets and Ramon Laureano have both been out for weeks, and San Diego is filling its bench with September call-ups. Fighting for the final postseason spots, this offense doesn't have much margin to make up for its own injuries.

12. Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies have gone from a top-10 power team through July to one of the coldest in baseball since August, a real, documented power collapse. Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber, among the leaders in home runs, remain excellent. Trea Turner has been a different problem all together, mired in one of the worst slumps of his career the last few weeks. A team that spent most of the summer near the top of the National League in offense is now clinging to the last wild-card spot with a lineup that's cooling off at the worst time.

13. Cleveland Guardians

Cleveland's full-season numbers are the worst of any team in this ranking. The Guardians have been genuinely better lately, an above-average offense since early August, led by a resurgent Steven Kwan. Jose Ramirez, normally the offense's best player, is having the worst year of his career since returning from a hamate fracture. Cleveland is in first place on pitching and defense. A better recent stretch doesn't erase a season of being one of the least productive offenses in baseball.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ranking MLB's best lineups for 2026 playoffs: Who's built for October?

NBA power rankings as training camps open for 2026-27 season: Who will compete for Finals?

It’s that time of the year.

A hectic NBA offseason full of blockbuster trades and player movement has concluded as training camps have started to slowly open. Teams playing international preseason games are already reporting to camps. Practices will soon follow, and then preseason games, and soon enough we will be tipping off the regular season openers in a month.

This also means that it’s time to turn the page on last season. So while the New York Knicks are indeed the reigning NBA champions, every team is starting with a clean slate, and last year’s results really don’t matter all that much. It’s all about who is set up to win the 2027 NBA Finals.

With NBA training camps opening within the next week, here are the USA TODY Sports NBA preseason power rankings:

NBA offseason power rankings: Nos. 30-21

30. Milwaukee Bucks, 32-50 (regular-season record in 2025-26)

What will life look like post-Giannis? Probably some early pain, but Milwaukee will need to see which of its young players are pieces for the long haul.

29. Sacramento Kings, 22-60

Sacramento still seemingly lacks a clear direction. It's not quite building for the future or in position to compete. And perimeter defense is still projected to be a nightmare.

28. Brooklyn Nets, 20-62

Julius Randle adds another veteran presence to a roster that badly needs it, but the Nets won’t compete unless young, recent draft picks take serious steps forward.

27. New Orleans Pelicans, 26-56

Another team that doubled down on its current roster construction, the Pels could take a jump … but they need health and cohesion to do so. And those, right now, are big ifs.

26. Memphis Grizzlies, 25-57

It’s a new day in Memphis, with culture-shifting moves now complete. This youth movement may take some time.

25. Los Angeles Clippers, 42-40

Now with the Kawhi Leonard drama behind them, the Clippers can move forward. But because they’ve been stripped of draft picks, it could be years before this team seriously competes in a tough Western Conference.

24. Washington Wizards, 17-65

The Wizards could see a bump this season, but they’re unconventionally constructed. A lot will depend on Trae Young and Anthony Davis, and whether they can complement the rising stars on the roster, namely No. 1 overall selection AJ Dybantsa and Alex Sarr.

23. Dallas Mavericks, 26-56

It’s Cooper Flagg’s team, and a full season of growth and stability at point guard with Kyrie Irving returning should elevate his game even further.

22. Charlotte Hornets, 44-38

The Hornets are a little tricky to interpret and project. They posted something of a breakout season last year, but traded away two of their top performers, LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges, in culture-shifting moves. They’re all-in on shooting, but they could potentially see a regression if attempts don’t drop.

21. Golden State Warriors, 37-45

The Warriors had a stagnant offseason, but they still have Stephen Curry, and Jimmy Butler should eventually return from his torn anterior cruciate ligament. Load management will be crucial for this team full of aging vets.

NBA offseason power rankings: Nos. 20-11

20.  Chicago Bulls, 31-51

This is a team that could surprise. New coach Tiago Splitter should inject plenty of speed and versatility into Chicago’s offense, which is suddenly balanced with Norman Powell offering some scoring punch, Josh Giddey anchoring creation and No. 4 overall rookie Caleb Wilson potentially emerging as a star.

19. Portland Trail Blazers, 42-40

What this team needs is stability. Three different coaches since the start of last season is not a recipe for success. But the Blazers are looking to revive the career of Ja Morant and Damian Lillard is a veteran presence.

18. Utah Jazz, 22-60

The Jazz are no longer in tank formation and have an intriguing blend of young talent and veteran leadership. Utah is a candidate to post the biggest differential in wins this year versus last, and No. 2 overall selection Darryn Peterson should bring plenty of play-making.

17. Phoenix Suns, 45-37

The Suns are flying under the radar and will hope to see the full benefits of a Devin Booker-Jalen Green backcourt, now that Green is once again healthy.

16. Orlando Magic, 45-37

New coach Sean Sweeney’s main task will be to revitalize an offense that struggled at times to cohere with Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner as its stars. Consistency with perimeter shooting is also paramount.

15. Atlanta Hawks, 46-36

Atlanta was the biggest surprise in the East last season. Now with an identity and core in place, a bump in perimeter scoring could be the key to go even further.

14. Indiana Pacers, 19-63

The team to watch here is the Pacers. They’re returning Tyrese Haliburton, will have Ivica Zubac anchoring the middle and should be plenty motivated. They could even rise to the top of the conference if coach Rick Carlisle allows the offense to flow with pace and efficiency.

13. Detroit Pistons, 60-22

They led the East in the regular season but collapsed in the playoffs because Cade Cunningham simply didn’t have help on offense. It doesn’t help that Jalen Duren’s contract dispute is stretching this deep into the offseason.

12. Toronto Raptors, 46-36

Toronto feels like a team that could creep into the top third of the East if Kawhi Leonard stays healthy. He and Scottie Barnes create an intriguing duo that excel on both offense and defense.

11. Cleveland Cavaliers, 52-30

The Cavaliers’ addition of Peyton Watson boosts their chances, but this feels like the last shot for this build to prove it can compete for a championship. The Cavs finally got out of the second round of the postseason but were swept in the conference finals. With jobs on the line, perhaps even including coach Kenny Atkinson’s, that alone won’t be enough.

NBA offseason power rankings: Top 10

10. Boston Celtics, 56-26

The Celtics took a calculated gamble. But there’s no way to spin that Jaylen Brown is a massive loss, even if Boston didn’t want to pay him long-term. Either way, the Celtics need Derrick White to bounce back from his down season.

9. Denver Nuggets, 54-28

Strapped for salary cap space, the Nuggets had to make some difficult choices. Losing Peyton Watson will sting, but Denver looked slow and old during the playoffs, when it was bounced in the first round. The Nuggets absolutely need Christian Braun to bounce back and players like Spencer Jones and Cameron Johnson to develop further. This is a window to win that may be shrinking — and quickly.

8. Miami Heat, 43-39

The defense will be the identity and the Heat should continue their emphasis of fast-break offense. But any time you add a top-10 player (top-5?) there are plenty of reasons to be excited. No team has been better at reinventing itself on the fly than the Heat, who have one of the game’s premier tacticians in Erik Spoelstra.

7. Los Angeles Lakers, 53-29

It’s now Luka Dončić’s team, and Austin Reaves will be the clear No. 2. But can the role players provide enough of a spark to keep the Lakers competitive?

6. Houston Rockets, 52-30

The Rockets are an interesting case; they’re getting Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams back from injury, and VanVleet is the key piece. Houston could not find consistent play at point guard, and he should fill that void instantly.

5. Minnesota Timberwolves, 49-33

Credit the Timberwolves for understanding that running it back simply wasn’t going to get it done. Now, Anthony Edwards has a sidekick who can create his own offense in LaMelo Ball. And with Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels, Minnesota has enough to mask Ball’s defensive deficiencies.

4. Philadelphia 76ers, 45-37

The clear winners of the offseason, the 76ers suddenly have the best starting five in all of basketball. Getting LeBron James and Jaylen Brown to assimilate and the health of Joel Embiid will be the big priorities in training camp and beyond.

3. San Antonio Spurs, 62-20

They have all the talent in the world and are young enough to keep improving, provided they learn from their mistakes in the NBA Finals. Mistakes like relying far too much on the perimeter shot and taking their foot off the gas. But with Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper all 22 years old or younger, the future is incredibly bright in San Antonio.

Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks shoots the ball between Julian Champagnie #30 and Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs during the fourth quarter in Game 2 of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center on June 05, 2026, in San Antonio, Texas.

2. New York Knicks, 53-29

The Knicks are the kings of the NBA, but recent history shows how challenging it is to repeat; the last team to do so was the Warriors in 2018. New York does have its core in place, but the East got much deeper.

1. Oklahoma City Thunder, 64-18

Out West, the conference does feel top-heavy, with Oklahoma City and San Antonio as the clear, established threats. But the Thunder are entering the season healthy, after injuries derailed them in the Western Conference finals. While key role players like Luguentz Dort, Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins have moved on, no team has been better than the Thunder at getting young players to step up.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA power rankings as training camps open for 2026-27 season: Who will compete for Finals?

What changes can the Pirates make to get over the hump?

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 12: Ryan O'Hearn #29 of the Pittsburgh Pirates bats in a game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on September 12, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Matt Dirksen/Chicago Cubs/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Pittsburgh Pirates are about to complete their best season in a decade, but it’s still far short of their goals to compete for a World Series. Though this year is coming to a close for the Buccos, there are several things they can try to do next season to finally get them over the hump and back into the playoff picture.

Consider a pitching coach change

The rotation of the Pittsburgh Pirates was supposed to be their marquee position group in 2026, but instead it fell as flat a pancake on the griddle. There were too many stretches this season where the Pirates’ starters could not get things going. Ace Paul Skenes was uncharacteristically inconsistent, citing that his involvement in the World Baseball Classic may have hindered his outings during the year.

“Usually, that time of year, you’re kind of ramping up and it’s a little bit slow. You can kind of get onto the slope and find your body,” Skenes said. “One live [batting practice], you’re topping at 97 [mph], and then the next you’re 98, 99. And that wasn’t the case this year. … Looking back, I don’t think that really helped.”

The Carmen Mlodzinski saga did not help matters either, and when it was apparent that he wasn’t going to be in the rotation longterm, he too fell apart. Bubba Chandler did not effectively build on his experiences as a rookie last season to improve this season and was largely average for the Pirates, while veteran Mitch Keller looked outmatched and over the hill throughout the year before landing himself on the IL.

The bullpen of course was a disaster all year round too, and only got slightly better after some very aggressive moves at the trade deadline. However, that would prove to be too little too late as the pitching staff began to watch their wheels fall off. First year Pirates’ pitching coach Bill Murphy was not a welcomed addition to the Pirates’ staff, following the organization’s decision to not bring back Oscar Marin. Murphy’s squad blew 16 saves and was all over the place. This group, specifically the starters, is far too talented to have taken such a large step backwards since last season. Perhaps the Pirates would be best suited with another man at the helm of the pitching staff.

Find a consistent presence at catcher

The Pirates have tried, tried and tried again to find their every day catcher for years now. The writing should be more clear than it is, but they really need to think about cutting ties with someone like Henry Davis. Although he’s arguable the best defensive catcher on the team, he’s been and continues to be a liability on offense, to the point where part of the team’s strategy is to get him to bunt instead of pulling balls.

Despite the struggles, General Manager Ben Cherington envisions a future where Davis, Rafael Flores Jr. and Endy Rodriguez are all on the Pirates’ roster and being key contributors .

“We believe all three can be primary catchers on a Major League team,” Cherington said of Davis, Flores and Rodríguez. “The offensive side of Henry’s game hasn’t been at the level we anticipated it would be. It doesn’t mean it won’t get there. We see a guy who’s not striking out, who’s hitting the ball hard and generally making contact. Sometimes guys like that are only an adjustment or two away from putting up much better numbers. We all know the defensive side of his game is a strength.“Flo has come up and really looked like a big piece of the lineup offensively. He’s done some really good things defensively, too. … We see it as a strength going forward. I just hope that group of three continues to challenge each other.”

Now not every catcher is going to be hitting in the .300s like Arizona’s Gabriel Moreno, but Davis hitting .169 is a serious problem. There are enough talented catchers in Major League Baseball these days where there’s no need to keep an anchor attached to your roster. Undoubtedly the organization is trying to at least break even on the former first overall pick, but his defensive prowess might not be enough to keep Davis on as a Bucco.

Remain aggressive on the market

This team is close. At the very least, the Pirates are far closer than they’ve been in a long time. A lot of 2026’s success is a result of last winter. They made a splash trade for Brandon Lowe, Mason Montgomery and Jake Mangum with Tampa Bay. They signed Ryan O’Hearn to a multi-year contract. It is imperative that the front office keep their feet on the gas pedal and not dial back and settle into old ways.

The Pirates need to add one more above average hitter to their everyday lineup. If they can find another hitter in the trade market or free-agency that can deliver on a 20-25 home run season, that instantly puts the team in a far better situation moving forward. If they can add another veteran presence while also resigning Brandon Lowe, 2027’s squad could enter as one of the most dangerous lineups in baseball.

Not to mention this young core is already looking like one that with enough time can grow into something very exciting. Konnor Griffin could be a generational superstar, Esmerlyn Valdez has emerged as a serious power threat at the plate, and Nick Gonzales quietly performed far beyond expectations in 2026. This is not the time for the Pirates to blow things up or to stay stagnant. With one or two more pieces, this team can build off of this season accordingly and take this platform to the next level in 2027.

What do yinz think the Pirates should do to get over the hump? Let us know in the comments!



Should the Yankees activate a recovering Aaron Judge in the playoffs?

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 14: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees looks on during the singing of the national anthem prior to Game 1 of the ALCS presented by loanDepot between the Cleveland Guardians and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Monday, October 14, 2024 in New York, New York. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

I do feel a little bad for Ben Rice and Ryan McMahon. Yes, Tuesday’s nightcap rendered yesterday’s Yankees/Rays game largely irrelevant, but these guys are still playing for pride out there. Rice zoomed into a tie for the American League lead in homers, joining a trio of others at 41, and McMahon showed signs of life with the bat for the first time in what’s felt like ages, driving in a run with a single before curling a grand slam around the right-field foul pole. The Yankees are so desperate for something from third base that they’re probably going to give the inexperienced Anthony Volpe a look in at least a one or two of these final few games; McMahon needed to show signs of life.

But no, none of the game stories from the Yankees’ 9-2 win on Wednesday matter much. So, Aaron Judge. On Tuesday, manager Aaron Boone said that he didn’t expect the captain to be available for the Wild Card Series. Pretty reasonable, considering that almost all calf strains take a few weeks to recover from and he only hit the IL effective September 17th. However, the man wants to play in the Wild Card Series even with a busted calf! In fact, he disputes that the strain that Boone described as “moderate” is not exactly, well, moderate. “What’s moderate for others is not moderate for me,” he essentially says.

In Yankee days of yore, conflict between players, managers, and the front office was far from unusual. They didn’t call it “the Bronx Zoo” because of Sparky Lyle’s sometimes-walruslike mustache (though it was luxurious). Compared to both then and what you occasionally see in other leagues, it’s nothing. In the post-Derek Jeter vanillassance days though, this is what passes for acrimony. And at minimum, it is a storyline to follow as Tuesday’s Game 1 of the Wild Card Series creeps closer.

The Yankees will have until early Tuesday to finalize their roster. So is there a world where it even makes sense to put Judge on there, even if he’s compromised? Despite the man’s insistence, I think that it is safe to say there’s not a snowball’s chance in hell that he’s going to be in tip-top shape, let alone manning his customary right field. But could it still make sense to throw him on there?

It’s a tough situation because if this was another year, then there might be a possibility to hide him at DH, even if he can’t run (which: no, don’t try that Aaron). Even with his pal Giancarlo Stanton injured and trying for his own long-shot bid, the DH spot is occupied by a legitimate option. Ben Rice is tied for the AL home run lead and is fairly locked in there Luis García Jr. and Paul Goldschmidt sharing time at first base in a platoon-ish role. Rice is Rice, García has 27 homers against righties, and Goldy has a .990 OPS against southpaws. Obviously, healthy Judge is better than all of them, but that’s not who we have. As much as I like the guy, it’d be foolish to start the guy who most recently hit .174 off the IL with K’s in over half his at-bats over any of them. I really believe that.

There is one possibility where it could maybe work. Judge can’t start, sorry. He might have merit as a pinch-hit option, lurking in the background for the Red Sox to consider in any late-game moment. By the numbers, no, he wouldn’t be much of a challenge. And yet it’s extremely difficult for pitchers to square that thought with staring down No. 99 in the batter’s box. It’s harder than one would think to simply throw strikes, let alone when a three-time MVP is hitting. Even the threat of him looming on the bench could mess with the right coach’s strategy.

So suppose you buy into this. Is there roster space for him? I think it might get tight if we’re in later round, but one could squint and see it for the best-of-three Wild Card Series. You really don’t need that many pitchers if you have three real starters. And even if you throw in the three most reliable relievers (David Bednar, Paul Blackburn, Brent Headrick) as well as both the fourth and fifth starter and some flyers on other arms, you’ll still be covered. The bench is bigger and teams sometimes even carry a third catcher for this. Is this wild card of Judge being intimidating in the box and on the bench worth the trade-off for a designated pinch-runner, extra utilityman, or a J.C. Escarra cameo? Maybe. Maybe.

The concern is that playing it too fast and loose with these gambles could have consequences on Judge’s 2027 if this turns into something really bad (and the soleus muscle is a tough one). The man’s not young at this point in baseball terms. The safest path is indeed probably just to tell him to take it easy. He won’t, but that’s why tough decisions have to get made. Although everyone wants to have their Kirk Gibson Pinch-Hit Moment, far more often than not, it’s just not in the cards.

What do you think?


Today on the site, Madison will run through the Rivalry Roundup as we officially bid farewell to one particular nemesis from last year. Nick will argue why potentially missing Judge for the Wild Card Series shouldn’t doom the Yanks, Jonathan will celebrate the birthday of a South Side fan favorite who closed out his career in the Bronx, and Peter will break down some excellent work from Carlos Rodón for his Sequence of the Week.

Today’s Matchup:

New York Yankees vs. Tampa Bay Rays

Time: 7:05 p.m.

TV: YES Network, Rays.TV

Venue: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY

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YouTube Gold: From Navy To San Antonio, David Robinson Was Brilliant

David Robinson #50, Center for the San Antonio Spurs prepares to shoot a free throw during the NBA Pacific Division basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers on 2nd December 1994 at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Oregon, United States. The Portland Trail Blazers won the game 104 - 92. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Allsport/Getty Images) | Getty Images

David Robinson was never supposed to be a star. A high school nerd, Robinson was one of the last great sleepers. His college coach, Paul Evans, recruited him to Navy because he was 6-6 and had big feet.

Seriously. He thought Robinson’s feet suggested that he was going to grow some more, and at the time, Navy had a height limit. Getting a taller player in would have been a real coup.

He never expected to get a 7-1 Hall of Famer, but that’s what Robinson turned into.

He soon emerged as a surprise talent at Navy, and in 1986, only Duke kept the Middies from the Final Four, knocking Navy out in the Elite Eight.

In the NBA, he went toe-to-toe with players like Patrick Ewing, Shaquille O’Neal, and Hakeem Olajuwon. Ultimately, he also played on the Dream Team and won two NBA championships before having his #50 retired by the San Antonio Spurs.

Later, his son Justin became a preferred walk-on at Duke, where he was a fan favorite and was emerging as a critical player for the Blue Devils just as Covid hit.

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The 2026-2027 NBA Season should be make-or-break for Rockets Ime Udoka

Do you have to play sports to understand them?

It’s a question at the center of too many bad internet debates. “I bet you don’t even play ball.”

Does that matter?

Where is the line? Is the worth of an opinion weighed by the level of basketball? A D1 rec league player is allowed to comment on the NBA, but D3 is out?

It’s an ad hominem. The opinion is independent of the opinion holder. Still, we plebeians ought to remember that we don’t always know. There’s something strange, optically, about a high school social studies teacher publicly declaring that an NBA head coach ought to have one more season to prove his worth. Yet, here goes:

Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka should only have one more season to prove his worth.

Rockets’ Ime Udoka has been a strong coach

It won’t be an unpopular opinion in these quarters!

You guys really, really don’t like Udoka. Opinions vary, yes, but the consensus leans heavily in one direction.

Perhaps my eyes don’t work so well. I’m not as low on Udoka. I think he’s, at a minimum, a top-15 coach in the NBA:

But creeping into the upper half isn’t a sound approach to job security as an NBA head coach.

We should all agree that Udoka is a strong defensive coach. There’s been some dispute over the extent to which he relies on lineups to bolster that defense. It’s been argued that if he can’t scheme around Alperen Sengun and Reed Sheppard, his defensive success is less about acumen and more about putting good defenders on the floor.

It could also be argued that God his -or-her self could not design a scheme that protects Sengun and Sheppard at the same time. Udoka has proven his ability to maximize Sengun on that end of the floor. His inability to draw blood from a stone should not discredit his ability to smelt iron from one.

It’s Udoka’s offensive know-how that’s rightly questioned; however, the numbers do not support that line of questioning. In Udoka’s two seasons at the helm, the Rockets ranked twelfth (114.9) and eighth (117.5) in Offensive Rating.

So, on paper, the question becomes “What are we even talking about?” Udoka has hovered around a top-ten offense in two consecutive seasons, and a top-five defense in each (sixth in 2024-25, fifth in 2025-26). If that’s enough to get his seat hot, almost every coach in the NBA should be developing back problems from constantly standing.

So what are we doing?

Rockets’ Ime Udoka’s seat should be getting hot

For Udoka critics, it’s less about the offensive results and more about the process.

Last year’s 36.3% Offensive Rebounding % was the highest in the NBA by a country mile. The gap between Houston and the second-place Portland Trail Blazers (33.2%) was roughly the same as the gap between the Blazers and the eighth-ranked Charlotte Hornets (30.8%).

In 2024-25, the recipe was rebounding and turnover repression – in the vernacular of the youth, “possession maxxing”. Last year, Fred VanVleet was out, but Kevin Durant replaced Jalen Green offensively, so the recipe was tweaked – more turnovers, but better shots, and the same offensive rebounding dominance.

In theory, 2026-27 could combine the best of both worlds. The Rockets will be formidable:

But if they don’t escape the first round, it’s a moot point.

That’s the real reality of Udoka’s situation. If a coach is eliminated in the first round in three straight seasons, the “why” is less relevant than the “what” – you fire them.

Those process-focused critics will argue that Udoka’s approach is not playoff-viable. The data is on their side, although the causation is unclear. It could easily be argued that other variables have hurt the Rockets’ playoff success.

In 2024-25, it made sense for an aging dynasty to beat an unproven upstart. The Rockets ran into the Warriors, triggering PTSD for every Rockets fan who was not born roughly yesterday.

Last year was both simpler and more complicated. Durant played one game. That’s worth noting, but injuries to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves mitigate that excuse. Getting beat by Luke Kennard and Marcus Smart was a bad look. At least Smart is a Rocket now:

So prepare yourself for his shooting regression.

What if everyone had been healthy? Could Houston have exploited Reaves defensively to such an extent as to offset his offensive ability? Would Doncic have carried the day, or would Durant overcome him down the stretch? We don’t know; we can’t know; we won’t know.

Here’s what we do know: Udoka has one more season. It doesn’t matter where you land on him. It doesn’t matter if his offensive approach has playoff viability.

Frankly, his iso-heavy approach, paired with an insistence that his team outworks the other team, feels more playoff-friendly than some kind of elaborate system anyway, but if it doesn’t yield playoff results, it doesn’t matter. When you lose in the first round for three consecutive seasons, you lose your job:

It doesn’t matter what any of us think.