BRONX, NY - AUGUST 12: Will Warren #29 of the New York Yankees pitches during the game against the Seattle Mariners on August 12, 2026 at Yankee Stadium in the Borough of the Bronx, New York. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
It was a tumultuous weekend for the Yankees. Cody Bellinger returned Sunday, providing a much-needed jolt to a lineup that’s been anemic in his and Aaron Judge’s absences. But Giancarlo Stanton suffered a setback that could end his season (and, with it, perhaps his tenure in pinstripes). And Ryan Weathers, who had posted a 2.27 ERA in seven starts since the All-Star break, landed on the shelf with a forearm strain.
Amid the injury news, the Yankees quietly went on a heater, winning six of their last seven while taking series against two AL East foes, Baltimore and Toronto. This week, they’ll be hosting the Astros, a sub-.500 team that just fired GM Dana Brown after dropping six of their last eight despite still tying for first place in a tight AL West. Let’s take a look at the likely starting pitching matchups for this midweek set.
Tuesday: Will Warren vs. Ethan Pecko(7:05 pm ET)
Just over a week ago, it looked like Will Warren was about to lose his rotation spot, bouncing either to the bullpen or the minors upon Carlos Rodón’s return. Now, with Max Fried and Weathers on the IL, he’s the Yankees’ No. 4 starter. After a strong start to the year he’s struggled, going 1-1 with a 6.08 ERA since the All-Star break and turning in just one quality start since the end of May. Last time out, he needed 90 pitches to get through four innings of work in Baltimore, allowing six baserunners and two runs.
He’s lined up to face Ethan Pecko. The right-hander will be pitching on his 24th birthday, six days after making his MLB debut against the Angels in which he allowed two runs in 3.2 innings. He featured a four-seamer and a sinker in that start, mixing in four complementary pitches. Pecko was 4-6 with a 4.94 ERA in 17 outings (15 starts) at Triple-A before getting the call.
Wednesday: TBDvs. Peter Lambert (7:05 pm ET)
With their rotation thrown into flux by recent injuries, the Yankees are yet to announce their probable starter for Wednesday. After optioning Brendan Beck down to Triple-A Monday, their only minor-league option on the 40-man roster is Elmer Rodríguez. Rodríguez, who has made four spot starts for the Yankees this season, last pitched on August 18th and would be on plenty of rest to start if called upon. Another option would be a bullpen game, with Ryan Yarbrough the likeliest option to provide multiple innings behind an opener.
The Astros are slated to hand the ball to Peter Lambert. After making 74 appearances for the Rockies between 2019-2024, Lambert spent last year rebuilding his arsenal with the Yakult Swallows of the NPB. The Astros took a flier on him this offseason and he’s been a real find, posting a sturdy 3.68 ERA and 113 ERA+ through 22 starts, helping stabilize a rotation that’s struggled with both health and performance. Lambert’s strong numbers on the season are despite his getting torched last time out, allowing nine runs in 3.2 innings to the Angels in what was easily his worst start of the year.
Thursday: Gerrit Cole vs. Hayden Wesneski (7:05 pm ET)
Gerrit Cole will make his 17th start of the season Thursday. After a layoff of a year and a half due to a UCL injury, he hasn’t missed a beat, posting a 3.11 ERA and striking out 100 in 92.2 innings. The 35-year-old held Baltimore to one run in six innings his last time out en route to his seventh win of the year.
The Astros will turn to Hayden Wesneski in the series finale. Like Cole, the former Yankee farmhand is recently recovered from Tommy John surgery. Wesneski is 3-1 with a 4.23 ERA in his first five starts back. He was particularly dominant in his last outing, keeping the A’s off the board through five innings while permitting a single hit (and three walks) in an eventual victory.
May 9, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; New York Mets pitcher Nolan McLean (26) throws water on left fielder Carson Benge (3) before a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Meet the Mets
The Mets were off on Monday after dropping two of three in Chicago. Their reward for a return home will be a showdown with the best team in baseball, the 81-50 Brewers.
Tim Britton examined whether Carson Benge or Nolan McLean have a case for NL Rookie of the Year on This Week in Mets.
Anthony DiComo argued that Benge indeed belongs in the NL Rookie of the Year discussion.
Mike Vaccaro wrote that the shine coming off McLean early in the year only solidified his importance to the team.
Nate Lavender talked about his current opportunity with the Mets.
Peter Sblendorio looked at how ex-Mets prospects Brandon Sproat and Jett Williams are doing with the Brewers after being traded there during the offseason.
Around the National League East
It’s the little things that Ronald Acuña Jr. does, as well as his smile, that makes him a fan favorite.
Paul Casella identified the ten best moments from the Phillies’ remarkable run.
The Phillies saw their nine-game winning streak end with a 9-2 loss to the Mariners. Wheeler took the mound in search of his first win since July 12, but a five-run first and four home runs derailed those efforts as his troubling trends continued.
The Nationals put up 13 runs in the final four innings to bludgeon the Rockies 13-3, as the Nationals’ bats woke up after scoring just six runs in their previous four games and being no-hit through four innings. The outburst coincided with CJ Abrams’ return to the lineup.
The Marlins allowed a run in the eighth and two in the ninth to lose 4-2 to the Red Sox. Pete Fairbanks exited with an apparent injury for Miami after facing just one batter in the ninth inning.
The Marlins did get some positive injury news as they reinstated Kyle Stowers from the injured list following a left hamstring strain.
Around Major League Baseball
The Brewers took down the Dodgers at the top of the MLB Power Rankings ahead of their visit to Queens.
Rob Manfred assured fans that they want to play baseball in 2027.
The Astros and GM Dana Brown mutually agreed to part ways, even with Houston in first place in the historically-weak AL West. The team released a statement about the decision.
Sam Dykstra looked at the ten best farm systems by outfield prospects.
It’s never too early to start thinking about the Arizona Fall League, and now you can with a look at the teams and schedule.
Edwin Díaz understands that he has not done his job this season as he prepares for a new role for the Dodgers.
The Rangers pounded the White Sox 11-2. In the victory, old friend Brandon Nimmo went to the apex of his leap to rob a home run. Joc Pederson, meanwhile, was ejected from the dugout in the second inning of the game.
The majority of Boston’s runs in their 4-2 against Miami came courtesy of the bottom of their lineup.
Cal Raleigh homered three times in Seattle’s win last night, becoming just the second Mariners’ catcher (along with his current manager Dan Wilson) to accomplish the feat while with the franchise.
The Rays beat the Tigers 4-1 as Drew Rasmussen made it seven straight winning starts.
The Guardians doubled up the Angels 4-2 for their fifth straight victory.
The Cubs blanked the Diamondbacks 7-0 as Kevin Gausman spun a scoreless gem for Chicago.
The Pirates outlasted the Padres 3-2 in 12 innings.
The Twins withstood a furious ninth inning rally by the Athletics to win 9-6.
Los Angeles, CA - August 11, 2026: Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tyler Glasnow sits in the dugout before an MLB game against the Kansas City Royals at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Even though the Los Angeles Dodgers have the second-best record in baseball, this summer has seemed like a slog to get through. It hasn’t quite felt like the big bully of a team other fans and talking heads like to complain about.
At least from the rotation part, the band is (almost) finally getting back together. On Tuesday, Tyler Glasnow will rejoin the rotation after being on the IL for over 3 months dealing with back issues. The Dodgers have been without their entire original starting rotation for all of the summer, and now, they also have Tarik Skubal.
Shohei Ohtani is slated to return on September 1st.
Doug Padilla of the OC Register covers the state of the Dodgers rotation going into the playoffs.
“We feel good about it,” Manager Dave Roberts said in the most understated of ways. “I’m excited to see Tyler back. I know he has missed competing, worked hard to get healthy, got his pitch count up and is now finally ready to participate. It’s going to be a fun series against the Braves. It will be good to get Tyler back in the mix.”
With Glasnow, and soon Ohtani returning, there will need to be some shuffling of the rotation. Justin Wrobleski went on the IL last week, and Eric Lauer has been moved to the bullpen.
When Ohtani returns, they are going to slow play him as they have done in the past. The team is moving Lauer to a “piggyback” role, and he will most likely be following Ohtani as the hope is to have Ohtani back to five innings by time the playoffs roll around.
Overall, it’s an exciting time for those who enjoy watching their team at full strength. Not just for the fans, but for the players themselves.
“Glasnow on Tuesday and then Sho’s working his way back,” Snell said. “I mean, yeah, it’s going to be a lot of good competition within the starting rotation. I’m really excited about it.
“Being able to watch some of the best pitchers in the game and learn from them – their mentality, the way they attack – having those conversations are very big. I’m definitely grateful to be on the same team but a lot to learn.”
PITTSBURGH, PA - APRIL 11: Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Rutger McGroarty (2) looks on during the first period in the NHL game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Washington Capitals on April 11, 2026, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Rutger McGroarty, last season’s top prospect in the Pensburgh rankings, slips back to No. 4 in the 2026 rankings after playing 24 games with the Penguins last season.
McGroarty is still looking to find solid footing in the NHL despite an extended call-up with the Penguins last winter.
He missed training camp due to an upper-body injury and began the season rehabbing before starting out the campaign with Wilkes/Barre-Scranton.
The winger was called up to the NHL from Dec. 1 to Jan. 3, a span over which he posted three points (two goals, one assist) in 16 games while averaging 12:13 per game with minimal time on special teams.
This first stint in the NHL ended with a concussion diagnosis, after which McGroarty was reassigned to Wilkes/Barre.
McGroarty played four AHL games after recovering from his concussion. He was called back up to the NHL on Jan. 29 and played another four games with the Penguins before the NHL split for the Olympic break.
He got his third recall of the season once the Penguins had already clinched a playoff spot in late March, scoring his third goal of the season in a regular season finale loss to the St. Louis Blues.
In part due to his usage, McGroarty wasn’t always an impact player in the NHL.
The same couldn’t be said for his work in the AHL last season. McGroarty celebrated his return to the WBS lineup at the beginning of the season by racking up four goals in his first four games back from injury in November.
McGroarty put together a point-per-game AHL campaign before playing a key role in helping Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on a run to the Eastern Conference Final.
— Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) June 4, 2026
McGroarty told Inside AHL Hockey’s Tony Androckitis after the season he saw the 2025-26 campaign as “a year of learning.”
“I think that, being between two teams, kind of having a few different roles helped me a lot mentally… going through those growing pains of going up and down, playing well here, maybe playing well there and not producing,” McGroarty said in June.
McGroarty is currently signed through next season before he is set to hit restricted free agency ahead of his age-23 campaign in 2027.
Especially in the wake of Ville Koivunen’s eight-year extension earlier this offseason, will McGroarty be able to earn himself the increased NHL playing time that could give him a better shot at making an impact with the Penguins?
One skill that’s gotten in the way of McGroarty making a full-time NHL jump before now is his skating, an area in which Kyle Dubas said in May he has seen improvement.
“He’s put in a lot of work. I think it’s evident when watching the games, for me, anyway,” Dubas said about McGroarty in May. “Especially without the puck on the forecheck, able to generate much more speed, pressure the opponents. I think that’s the type of game he’s going to have to play.”
Dubas continued, “I think, with Rutger, he’s proven to be an excellent penalty killer, excellent netfront power-play guy with Wilkes/Barre. The skating has always been the thing with him, and he’s put in the work, and improved on it.
“So we expect next year that he’ll have every opportunity to earn a spot here. How high in the lineup that is will be up to him, and earning a spot at large will be up to him.”
The Penguins’ forward depth and McGroarty’s contract could make this close to a make-or-break year for the 22-year-old winger.
He’ll be looking to earn a roster spot, and potentially some special teams playing time, out of training camp this fall. That will start with him staying in good health that allows him to stay with the team for the entirety of training camp next month.
Los Angeles, CA - March 12: Mark Walter, left, a majority owner of the Los Angeles Lakers, and Jeanie Buss, minority owner of the Los Angeles Lakers, talk as the Lakers play the Chicago Bulls at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles Thursday, March 12, 2026. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
On August 12, 2026, ten months after he finalized the $10 billion deal to acquire the franchise from the hallowed and chaotic Buss family, Mark Walter sold the Los Angeles Lakers to a group led by Josh Kushner and Bob Iger at a valuation of just over $12 billion. His tenure at the helm is the shortest since the merger, by a factor of at least three: only Ted Stepien, who was possibly the most batshit decision-maker ever to own an NBA team, gets even close, and he lasted three years. This is without a doubt the most shocking sale of a franchise in my 25 years on this planet, and I’d guess that it’s probably the most shocking one anyone reading this can remember. This is theLakers, the runners and gunners and star chasers and champions and the NBA’s crown jewel and the home of a million MVPs and the NBA’s biggest glamour market, and there are people in the world who might really saw off their own legs for a 20 percent chance at taking the reins. And this is also Mark Walter, the billionaire owner of the Dodgers who’s managed to bring a couple World Series to LA by paying just about every superstar imaginable and whose pockets previously seemed to run so deep as to appear endless, and whose organization has proven so successful that the upcoming MLB labor negotiations will in all likelihood take aim at him specifically.
Walter was supposed to bring some of that magic to the Lakers. Gone were supposed to be the days of Ramona Shelburne exposés and palace intrigue and the dropping-and-reading-of-tealeaves that had so long defined the Lakers after family patriarch Dr. Jerry Buss passed away. They were supposed to have money again, and they were supposed to be smart, and now Walter is gone. The timing of this is strange, and the facts of it make it look even stranger: the FBI investigation into some of his business dealings at Guggenheim, his seemingly desperate search for cash as his Delaware Life company attempts to pay down the $16 billion in loans that have made it the second-most exposed life insurance company in America, the involvement of a Kushner brother, and the recent reports that not only did Walter decline to seek other buyers but also decided to sell the team in the span of 72 hours. All of this might be damning, and then again it might not, and at least a few of these facts likely explain some part of his decision to sell what is at worst the fifth-most valuable asset in sports, and the most iconic in the NBA.
We are not likely to get an especially detailed picture of what happened here: there is enough weirdness to assume that something shady is going on, and men like Walter and Kushner are not usually keen on telling us exactly what they are doing. But even if this sale is the product of the incredibly specific conditions of an FBI investigation, a demand for quick cash, and a potential need to curry favor with a family allied with the Trump administration, this sale sets a new and scary precedent for NBA franchises. Speaking yesterday about the Walter era, ESPN reporter Dave McMenamin said this: “They added two rows of courtside seats. They fired a bunch of folks. They raised season ticket prices 40% for some folks. And they made $2 billion. Like, not a very impressive resume there for his time being the principal owner of the Los Angeles Lakers.”
. . .
In 1973, America had a problem. The golden age of American capitalism had technically begun at the end of the Second World War in 1945 (it’s hard to really wrap your head around how powerful America was in 1945). For example, as Hitler bled out in his bunker, the United States held about half the planet’stotal capital and was the sole nation that could reasonably expect to exit the war intact. But its fundamental precepts—holding, in part, that strong labor protections, the so-called consumer economy, and greater public control over production would fortify the economic base and prevent the kinds of overzealous speculation that created the Great Depression—started gaining purchase in the early ‘20s.
The idea, with roots in the work of John Maynard Keynes, was that long-wave crises in the style of 1929 (and 1905, 1894, and 1877) were endemic to an unrestrained market economy. There would always be too much money going places from which it could not return, and consumer demand that would collapse at the first sign of trouble and banks that could not be trusted to act responsibly. And while some titans of industry had clearly begun to recognize this in the 1910s (on the back of other, smaller crises), the depression of ’29 had kind of sealed the deal. The depression was, of course, the worst in recorded history, and on the ground, many did not think it was actually going to end. Keynes himself, in 1930, in an essay claiming that the storm would pass away in the morning, could not help but notice how “Today we have involved ourselves in a colossal muddle, having blundered in the control of a delicate machine, the working of which we do not understand. The result is that our possibilities of wealth may run to waste for a time—perhaps for a long time.”
And while the conventional narrative generally holds that the Second New Deal rescued the economy, this is not exactly true: as early as 1937-1938, only a few years after its passage, a minor recession had once again cast doubt on the ability of the country to actually figure a way out. It was not until the outbreak of war, and really the stunning wartime mobilization, in which new, highly subsidized factories appeared overnight, production quotas in crucial industries were set, and wages fixed, that the true promise of public control appeared as something other than a fever dream or a corporate specter. It was here, it was effective, and by the war’s end, it seemed a kind of perfect solution. Not only to the problem of waging the most involved and expensive war of all time, but also to mitigating, eliminating, and weathering the myriad crises that just a few years prior had troubled the most basic and fundamental belief in the capital order.
. . .
On April 26, 2023, the National Basketball Association and the National Basketball Players Association came to an accord. To the players, it was supposedly a very good thing: they managed to protect the 49-51 split of basketball-related income, raised contract extension limits for veterans from 120% to 140%, removed cannabis restrictions, and created new eligibility criteria for end-of-season awards tied to contract values (this is how you get at least one of Jamal Murray and Jalen Johnson on all-NBA, instead of Anthony Edwards). And for the owners, it was a coup: the most famous provisions increased luxury-tax payments and created a two-apron system for teams that spent over certain thresholds. Offenders would not only have to pay outlandish tax bills, but they would also lose the ability to aggregate salaries in trades, lose access to draft picks in trades, and lose access to the mid-level exception—a crucial lever for teams in tax trouble to acquire veteran talent at competitive rates.
What this means, in essence, is that the players got a little more so that the owners could pay a lot less. Owners of small-market teams, owners with small pocketbooks, and owners who, for whatever reason, could not justify the $450 million bill for one year of basketball that Warriors owner Joe Lacob gladly paid in 2017 to build the greatest team ever were not only protected, but also rewarded for their cheapness. The propaganda for these measures has emphasized that they serve to create a parity of competition, in the style of the NFL, that the NBA has never seen before.
It is very expensive to pay a lot of good players what they deserve now, and because punishments range far beyond money, cheaply is the best way to build a good team. You managed to draft three stars, but you have to give them max deals, or they walk? Well, you better hope your second-rounders and Carter Bryant can give you enough production so you don’t run your max guys into the ground before they get to the playoffs, because we’re not going into the second apron. You just traded for a superstar wing, making 35% of the cap to pair with your up-and-coming 30% wing? You better pray to God Karl-Anthony Towns doesn’t eviscerate Adem Bona in the playoffs, and Labaron Philon can be a good sixth man right away.
Where the long-established logic of NBA team-building has generally held that veterans are more reliable — and thus a team of veterans is a team ready to compete — these new economics have flipped the math on its head such that only a team of young players, and more specifically, a team of young players whom you do not yet have to pay, has a chance of sticking around. And even then, as borne out by the unique faces of each champion since 2019, the dynasties of old do not have fertile soil from which to spring.
. . .
So let us go back to 1973. the year of the oil crisis in Tehran and a few years after the Europeans had recovered enough to begin competing in the marketplace again and a year before Nixon resigned and two removed from the 25th anniversary of the quasi-Keynesian order of postwar America and nine after Goldwater lost and seven before Reagan won. The crisis began with OPEC’s embargo of oil sales to any nation that’d supported Israel in the Yom Kippur War—raising prices of that most essential material across the Western world. But really the crisis began much earlier. Already, consumer spending, that essential fuel of postwar growth, had reached a plateau near the end of the 1960s, precisely when foreign competition, with which this order had never had to contend, had begun to nip at corporate profits; already direct foreign investment had begun to collapse, most acutely with the collapse of Bretton-Woods in 1971 and the emergence of OPEC at the end of the ‘60s, and also assuredly the wave of independence movements in the global south that defined the ‘60s; and already had cheap and plentiful supplies of skilled foreign labor brought into question the necessity of this enormously expensive american workforce. In fewer and clearer words: the order had already begun to fracture.
The solution, as written ad nauseam at the time and after the fact, was neoliberalism; the slashing of social welfare programs and the breaking of American labor and the relocation of industry off American soil, and the rapid opening-up of all previously protected corners of the American economy to capital. Conventional narratives will point to the ’81’s failed air traffic control strike and the weakening of Glass-Steagall all throughout the ‘80s and ‘90s as the flashpoints of the new order, and they are not wrong; neither the complete destruction of a worker’s organization representing such a vital segment of the American economy nor the rapid merger of commercial and investment banking would have been conceivable prior to the crisis of ’73. But the real story of ’73 is the story of ’08, with the subprime mortgage crisis that plunged the American economy into the worst recession since ’29.
It is the “neoliberalism-response-to-crisis-of-accumulation-reagan-trickle-down-economics-offshoring-deregulation-austerity-death-of-the-middle-class-flint-michigan-we-don’t-make-things-anymore” story. Full of neighborhood bankers offering Americans ridiculous loans they knew they couldn’t pay back and selling that debt to other vultures who’d been told that it was safe and the constant gambling with all this debt on hospitals and tech companies and private prisons and oil concerns and a “real economy” that hadn’t actually grown in decades filled with ordinary Americans whose paychecks hadn’t risen either, and so when it crashed to the ground everything fell with it and no one knew if it could get back up, and this time nothing really changed, the banks got their money back and the gamblers were told to be more careful next time because there was sure as shit gonna be a next time because we sure as shit didn’t have any other ideas.
. . .
On August 13, 2025, on the precipice of a season that would end in their first playoff run in four years, the Portland Trail Blazers announced their sale, for a reported $4.25 billion, to Tom Dundon, a billionaire who made his cash as a subprime auto lender in the early 2000s. Since 2020, an unprecedented 25 percent of NBA franchises have changed ownership in the span of six years, owing in large part to the meteoric rise of franchise valuations; in 2025 alone, the Blazers, Celtics, and Lakers alone combined for an estimated sale price of $20 billion. This is a time of great change for the league, and upon Dundon’s arrival, the dimensions of this change would make themselves clear.
First was the announcement that Dundon had declined to pay for the travel and accommodations of Blazers support staff and their two-way players for the duration of their 2026 playoff run—a breach of the NBA’s long-established customs. Next were the rumors that interim head coach Tiago Splitter, who’d taken over for Chauncey Billups following his gambling arrest and who’d done a decent job coaxing a winning record out of a mismatched and mercurial roster, would not return to the Blazers the following season. The reason for the divorce, as alleged after the fact, was Splitter’s strange desire for a salary and contract length on the standard of other NBA head coaches. Finally, or at least most recently, are the troubling negotiations between Dundon and the city of Portland over the financing of the construction of a new arena (Dundon, of course, believes that the city should take much of the burden), with some not-so-subtle hints that Dundon aims to relocate the storied, though small-market, franchise.
I do not get why you would buy an NBA team if you did not want to, you know, run an NBA team, especially one like Portland with a long history of relevance, a legendary title, and a rabid fanbase. But I believe, taken together with the passage of the second apron provisions in the latest CBA, all this actually does make sense. For so long in the NBA, the idea has been that you can and should buy your way into relevance. Most every great and storied team in the league’s history has had an enormous payroll. You spend on talent, and you spend as much as you need to keep that talent around. But the second apron restrictions, with all their far-reaching implications, passed and agreed to precisely when valuations are reaching record highs and teams are being sold all over the damn place, have served to not only protect but also incentivize low spending. Every team certainly must pay at least 90 percent of the salary cap, but the logic of winning has clearly changed: the OKC Thunder won a championship with the 19th-highest payroll in the league; the Spurs and Pacers went to the finals in the last two years, each with the 17th-highest payroll in their respective seasons; and even the Knicks, the most recent champions who won with the seventh-highest payroll in the nba, were only able to secure the cap space necessary to build the team because Jalen Brunson left $113 million on the table. What is more, four of the teams with the 10 highest payrolls did not advance past the first round. For reference, only once during the fabled Bron-Steph years did either of those teams fall outside the top five in spending.
The problem is not that these owners are slashing budgets to raise profits, nor that the players are bearing the cost. Rather, what is happening is something far more insidious: the speculative turn of NBA team-building. With prices soaring, expansion looming, and more sales than ever before, there is a pretty obvious financial incentive for owners to cut costs where they can, especially owners who might soon put their teams on the market and don’t want to be dragging a $300 million payroll into negotiations. And for new owners, who again account for about 25 percent of league ownership—who bought in at this all-time high, and who, despite their vast individual wealth, have been frequently unable to amass the capital necessary to outright purchase their new teams on their own, some kind of austerity, or at least cost-deflation, probably looks appealing. The franchise is an asset now, and a ridiculously and increasingly valuable one at that. Considering all this, we are left with the big question: if the new logic of winning team-building just so happens to help out new highly leveraged owners, can all this focus on flexibility and cost-deflation really be divorced from the sales of franchises? Put another way, is it even possible to say anymore that these owners care about anything but the check they can get at the next sale?
. . .
This is a story of neoliberalism, but more specifically, it is a story of speculation. Where corporate butchers like Jack Welch began to understand that the numbers on the stock ticker were all that mattered, and the numbers didn’t care much for the reality of what a company was but more so the idea of what a company could be. Companies shrank their productive units or otherwise moved them to places where labor could be bought on the cheap; research and development budgets shrunk as corporations slashed their payroll and expanded to new lines of business, most especially financial. You know this story, but what matters here for our purposes is that this era no longer saw a future for itself. If the quasi-Keynesian tendencies of the old sought to address the root cause of crisis and calamity, the new order simply sought to survive.
Gone were the days ahead and the backward days behind; all that needed to exist here, in this increasingly wild domain, was increasingly unhinged capital. able to turn a profit in a jail cell and an operating room, and that did not care for the cities of the hungry and the shocked it left behind. And they certainly could not give less of a damn about the human meat it ground to a pulp across the pond. Because these actions looked good in the moment, the same as those piles of shit with the shine of the old-school blue chips that tore everything down in ’08. It didn’t matter if all our roads were so lined with shit that your car could barely move because the gamblers knew that they would be protected in the event of loss. And even if those subprime loans were now illegal, something close to it probably was, and as long as you stayed a few steps ahead of the crisis, you could do pretty well for yourself.
No longer was the nation willing to offer its citizens anything more than a pittance, and if they got sick or wanted a higher education or just looked a little funny at the powers that be, their lives were subject to complete upheaval. In ’97, just seventeen years after the collapse, 31 percent of Americans had no savings to cover surprise expenses; thirty years later, in 2026, the number of Americans fitting this designation may be as high as 67 percent. We understand that there is no one coming to save us and that if the whole thing falls down again, they’ll find a way to pick it back up and act like nothing ever happened. And all this means that there are no years anymore for millions upon millions of us, at least as we’ve ever been able to understand them; for us the horizon of the foreseeable future has slimmed to the few weeks just down the road.
. . .
We care about sports because the giants can fall down. In a second a man can be made a hero, and in less he can be made a villain, and every night twenty thousand of us gather in one place to yell and drink and boo, and it is all about luck and the gods, and even if these guys are kajillionaires and Adonis, we tell ourselves that they’re still like us, and we care about sports because we can absolutely ruin a billionaire’s night just by screaming. There is no reason I shut down for a couple of hours during Game 6 of the Nuggets-Wolves series last year and took a five-minute break in the middle of a rush at work to cry in the bathroom when my guys lost. We understand that our favorite players might have to leave one day and their bodies will break down, and glory doesn’t last that long. But for so long we understood that when you had a shot, you had to go all in, and if you got mad enough at the owner, you might be able to convince him to pay up.
Growing up, most of the team sales I recall were at least somewhat forced. Donald Sterling had to go, and so did Robert Sarver and so did Dan Snyder. The franchise was as much a public institution as anything else, and its owners were not good or generous people, but they were usually people who cared at least about the team and the city. and the better ones understood the business of sport was different than any other, where operating at a loss for a few years could be justified if you were winning and where there was a built-in consumer base that wasn’t going anywhere. There were easier ways to make a buck, and for many of them the franchise was something closer to a family heirloom than a business and a chance to have your name on a trophy and stand on a big parade float and wave at thousands of adoring lunatics. And so they would usually pay to keep our guys around, and they’d respect our little traditions and superstitions. They would be fixtures in our lives as much as anyone else, and for longer than any of the men they employed.
And of course, of course, of course, there were despots and union-busters and petty tyrants like Sterling and Sarver and Marge Schott. But you don’t have to mourn them to recognize that what they symbolized was a personal commitment to a city and a team with real obligations to both, and to recognize that the anonymous capital currently flooding the NBA does not see the franchise as anything but another asset in a portfolio, subject to the same economic pressures as anything else. Already they have been able to write off contracts and team purchases over 15 years using tax loopholes; already they have managed to squeeze cities for hundreds of millions in taxpayer funds for stadiums; already the franchise is an attractive investment vehicle.
Like any good investment vehicle in 2026, this one will hurt the masses hard. Our teams will be subject to complete upheaval the minute payroll sniffs the second apron. Our owners will jack up ticket prices, cheap out on contracts, and threaten their city with relocation for more favorable terms on arena funding, only to sell off for a tidy two billion in profit a year later to the highest bidder. All that we considered so fundamental to sports—all that we believed about the need to keep your guys around and to chase glory at all costs and to pay more than you should to get what you need—has been eaten alive by capital and its logic of speculation. And that just sucks.
If I was there this weekend, I definitely would have been “Sleepless in Seattle.”
Friday, the Cubs lost a winnable game on a walk-off single by a .130 hitter, Leo Rivas. Then Saturday, the Cubs see a definite win turn into a brutal loss. After that .130 hitter (Rivas) drove in a run with a two-out single, Randy Arozarena, who had a first-pitch HR to start the game, matched PCA from five days earlier by hitting a two-run walk-off HR.
One could say, “Whew, a 19-2 laugher, finally” Sunday, but it turned into an uncomfortable win after the implosion by Shōta Imanaga, which followed Matthew Boyd’s poor recent starts — the two pretty dependable pitchers Jed Hoyer built a solid four-man playoff rotation around. What now?
Well, let’s start with the good news on the pitching side. Saturday, David Peterson gave up the CSPSHR*, but went on to allow just two runs on four hits and two walks over six innings. Peterson added on eight strikeouts, as 62 of his 98 pitches were for strikes.
The only thing on Sunday that Imanaga matched Peterson on was giving up a CSPSHR* and two total runs allowed. Imanaga was pulled after 72 pitches following two consecutive singles to start the third inning. He allowed five hits, two walks and a HBP, getting pulled from the shortest start in his major-league career.
Aaron Civale took over for Imanaga with a 5-2 lead and was excellent over four innings of one-hit shutout ball. Trent Thornton, Caleb Thielbar and Carson Kelly pitched the final three innings in shutout fashion.
Offensively between the two games, the Cubs scored 23 runs. Nineteen of those, however came only on Sunday. The leaders at the plate Sunday were based on a pair of grand slams, one each by Ian Happ and Pedro Ramirez. Happ only played Sunday, but went an efficient 2-for-4 with a walk and a total of five RBI. Ramirez on Sunday went 3-for-6 with three runs scored to go along with his grand slam, five RBI and a stolen base.
Two other players that played only on Sunday — Michael Conforto went 1-for-2 with a solo home run, and Kelly went 1-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI.
For players performing in both games, Seiya Suzuki went 3-for-7 with three walks, three runs scored and a stolen base. A nice surprise is that Tyrone Taylor doesn’t appear to be an all-glove player. He went 3-for-7 with two walks, a double, a run scored and an RBI. PCA went 3-for-8 with a walk, adding two runs scored, a double, a home run and three RBI. Michael Busch was just 2-for-7, but with two walks, three runs scored and a solo home run. And Alex Bregman’s only hit was a solo home run, but he did pick up a pair of walks, two runs scored and an RBI each.
Complimentary Starting Pitcher Solo Home Run*
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Jordan Bastian (MLB.com): Bregman, Busch get through top prospect Anderson, but Cubs stunned by Arozarena. “Jacob Webb had not allowed a run for the Cubs dating back to late June. That streak finally ended for the veteran reliever who has grown into Chicago’s closer and a trusted stopper in manager Craig Counsell’s bullpen.”
Jordan Bastian (MLB.com): Cubs’ reliable Webb has rare stumble in walk-off loss. “Jacob Webb spun around on the mound and kept an eye on Pete Crow-Armstrong as the Cubs center fielder raced back to the wall at T-Mobile Park.”
Matthew Trueblood (North Side Sports): Is Trent Thornton Good? “It’s the greatest thread in the history of forums, locked by a moderator after 12,239 pages of heated debate.“
Matthew Trueblood (North Side Baseball): Everything Sucks When It’s Not About You. “For the second year in a row, an admirably resilient and impressive Cubs team is suffering from an acute and inescapable syndrome that makes life genuinely unpleasant: secondary character syndrome.”
Garrett Kerman (ClutchPoints): Cubs’ Craig Counsell provides 2 big injury updates. “Craig Counsell revealed that both right-hander Ben Brown and left-hander Justin Steele came through a milestone step in their respective rehab programs without any setbacks.”
Food For Thought:
Rex Peoples is the 7x winner of the “Best Blues Vocalist” in Colorado. If you like the Blues, R&B, Marvin Gaye, Bill Withers, Koko Talyor then you will love Rex. The XFactr was created by singer, songwriter, vocal coach, and Blues in Schools educator Rex Peoples in 2007. It is intentionally spelled without the “o” to represent the intangibles that make the religious shout, the partiers dance, and remind us of the emotions that make us say, “That’s my song!” He wrote all lyrics and music for the CD : Fried Food / Hard Liquor. Rex was the 2nd most played single on Kai Turners “Strictly Blues station in 2016. The band was a semifinalist in the 2016 International Blues Challenge on Beale Street in Memphis. His title cut song was also covered on Chris Daniels and the Kings CD…Blues with Horns ” which so far has climbed the charts to #4 in the Contemporary top fifty chart in 2017. Rex has worked with Otis Taylor’s Trance Blues Fest for the last 4 years.
Please be reminded that Cub Tracks and Bleed Cubbie Blue do not necessarily endorse the content of articles, podcasts, or videos that are linked to in this series.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 12: Anthony Eyanson #24 of the Boston Red Sox on the American League Team pitches during the 2026 MLB Futures Game at Citizens Bank Park on July 12, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The minor league season is drawing closer to the finish line, but the action among the Orioles’ affiliates is arguably the most exciting it’s been all season. Between the debuts of a bunch of 2026 draftees and the arrivals of a slew of new prospects acquired at the trade deadline, the Orioles have added plenty of intriguing young players to their talent pipeline. Let’s check in on the latest minor league action from the past week.
Triple-A Norfolk Tides
Last week’s results: 2-3 vs. Nashville Sounds (Brewers)
Next week’s opponent: at Durham Bulls (Rays)
Second-half record: 17-31, last place (12.5 GB) in International League East
Overall season record: 45-78
The Tides started the week with a couple of high-scoring wins, plating eight and seven runs in their first two games, but then the offense disappeared. They scored only one run in the final three games combined (with rain washing out the other). Even more embarrassingly, they were the victims of a no-hitter on Sunday in a seven-inning game. Nashville’s Brandon Sproat and Tate Kuehner combined on a near-perfecto, with one walk and one HBP accounting for the Tides’ only baserunners.
No Norfolk hitter played more than four games this week, but the best of the lot was Heston Kjerstad, who went 6-for-12 with a double and triple. Kjerstad has been red hot for two months now, posting an .852 OPS in July and .947 in August. If it were up to me, he’d be getting DH at-bats in the majors, but the fact that the Orioles would rather carry three catchers instead of giving Kjerstad another chance tells you all you need to know about their opinion of him.
Another guy angling for a big league promotion, Enrique Bradfield Jr., had just three hits this week, all singles. With a .685 OPS, he’s not forcing a call-up, no matter how lousy the Orioles’ outfield may currently be. Neither is catcher Creed Willems, who took an 0-for-12 this week. Infielder Brandon Butterworth hit his first home run since his promotion to Triple-A.
Nearly everyone in the Tides’ rotation had a lousy week, as Trey Gibson, Nestor German, Juaron Watts-Brown, and Trace Bright each coughed up five or more runs. The only decent performance was from Michael Forret, who held the Sounds to two runs in five innings. Poor Cade Povich was robbed of a start on Saturday because the game was rained out after just four pitches, before he’d even completed the first at-bat. Why would they even start the game?? Did nobody look at a weather map? Get it together, guys!
A tip of the hat to right-hander Codi Heuer, a minor league trade acquisition at the deadline, who has thrown eight scoreless innings of relief since joining the organization. With 97 games of major league experience, Heuer could be a bullpen option for the Orioles down the stretch.
Last week’s results: 2-4 vs. Richmond Flying Squirrels (Giants)
Next week’s opponent: at Harrisburg Senators (Nationals)
Second-half record: 27-23, tied for second place (7.5 GB) in Eastern League Southwest
Overall season record: 56-62
The Baysox are showing some life in the second half, currently with an over-.500 record after finishing the first half 10 games underwater. They’ve been helped by some prospects promoted from High-A as well as key trade deadline acquisitions. The starting rotation has some of both. The recently promoted lefty Caden Hunter tossed another solid outing in his fourth Double-A start — five innings, one run — and batters are hitting .195 against him. JT Quinn, in his second start since coming up, allowed two runs in five innings, while Patrick Reilly had his most impressive outing since returning from Tommy John surgery: five innings, one run, six strikeouts.
Then there’s righty Anthony Eyanson, the prize of the Adley Rutschman trade and the Orioles’ new top pitching prospect. This week he delivered a superb performance, allowing only one run in seven innings and striking out eight. He has a 2.60 ERA and 1.04 WHIP in his three starts since joining the club. And how intriguing is this Baysox rotation if Joseph Dzierwa is the fifth guy I’m mentioning? The breakout southpaw was sharp yet again, with a solo homer his only blemish in five strong innings. His ERA with the Baysox is holding steady at 1.89.
Oh, and who was the sixth Baysox hurler to make a start this week? None other than Félix Bautista, making his long-awaited return to a mound for the first time since July of 2025. The rehabbing Mountain was clearly rusty, walking three batters, giving up a hit, and recording just one out. OK, so he’s not ready to jump back into the Orioles’ bullpen quite yet. But the fact that he’s even pitching is impressive for a guy who I didn’t expect to see again until 2027, if at all.
On the offensive side, top infield prospect Wehiwa Aloy is really settling in with the Baysox. He was 6-for-20 with two homers and two doubles this week, boosting his Double-A OPS to .860 in 24 games. The suddenly slugging Aron Estrada added another homer this week after bashing five the week before. And Vance Honeycutt contributed with five hits and only two strikeouts in 16 PAs, even if I’m not sure what earned him a promotion to Double-A in the first place.
Last week’s results: 3-4 at Wilmington Blue Rocks (Nationals)
Next week’s opponent: vs. Asheville Tourists (Astros)
Second-half record: 31-21, tied for first place in South Atlantic League North
Overall season record: 72-44
The Keys played an extra game this week to make up a rainout from early August, and the Blue Rocks took the series to slow down Frederick’s 10-1 hot streak. Still, the Keys are deadlocked with Greensboro atop the division standings. They don’t even need to finish in first to make the playoffs — they’re already assured a postseason spot because they won the division in the first half — but it would be a cool feat nonetheless.
The Keys’ offense went through a rough patch near the end of the series, when they lost three consecutive games by scores of 1-0, 2-1, and 1-0. But nothing could slow down Enddy Azocar, who has been laying waste to opposing pitchers since the O’s acquired him in the Rutschman deal. The 19-year-old outfielder racked up a whopping 11 hits this week, nearly twice as many as any teammate. In 17 games since joining the organization, Azocar is batting .357 with a 1.024 OPS, 11 extra-base hits, and 16 RBIs. Wowza.
The Frederick pitching staff coughed up 17 runs in a Wednesday doubleheader but otherwise excelled, holding Wilmington to two or fewer runs in the other five games. The biggest standout was righty Kyson Witherspoon — yup, yet another prospect from the Rutschman trade — who threw five hitless, scoreless innings. He struck out eight and walked three. You know, I’m never going to love the fact that the Orioles felt they had to trade Adley, but so far I sure am impressed by the return.
Also racking up the whiffs this week was 6’8” lefty Boston Bateman, who clocked nine Ks in six innings over two abbreviated starts. He allowed 10 baserunners but managed to escape without any runs. Bateman’s last six starts have all been three innings or less, so the O’s seem to be limiting his workload. He missed time earlier this season with right hip flexor discomfort and left triceps tightness.
Last week’s results: 1-5 at Hickory Crawdads (Rangers)
Next week’s opponent: vs. Fredericksburg Nationals
Second-half record: 19-35, last place (13.5 GB) in Carolina League North
Overall season record: 42-78
With a .350 overall winning percentage, the Shorebirds are the worst team in all of Low-A, and the second-worst team at any full-season minor league level (better only than High-A’s Asheville Tourists, an Astros affiliate). By the way, the Norfolk Tides are the fourth-worst minor league team. Not great for the O’s farm system!
It was another bad week for the Shorebirds, who went 1-5 for the third time in their last four series. The additions of the Orioles’ top two 2026 draft picks, Eric Booth Jr. and Ty Head, hasn’t boosted the team’s record, though not for lack of trying. Head, the second-round outfielder from NC State, collected seven hits and a homer this week, and has a .965 OPS in nine games to begin his pro career. Booth, the Birds’ first rounder, is off to a 5-for-23 start, though he has seven walks in as many games. Not bad for an 18-year-old who most recent experience was in high school ball. Fellow outfielder Jhonmardo Reyes, who’d started out with only seven hits in 41 at-bats since the O’s acquired him for Dean Kremer, had seven in 20 at-bats this week.
And on the mound, Esteban Mejia might be starting to salvage some hints of positivity out of an otherwise disastrous season. In his last three outings, the right-hander has been limited to short stints — two to three innings per game — and he’s responded with 8.1 scoreless frames and 11 strikeouts. Most promisingly, Mejia has walked only three batters in that span, a dramatic step forward for a guy who had issued 62 free passes in 42.1 innings before that. It’s a very small sample size and certainly too early to declare that Mejia has cured his season-long control problems, but it’s a step in the right direction.
Last week, Aron Estrada was the runaway winner of our player of the week poll with 70% of the vote. Hitting five home runs will do that. Estrada becomes the third repeat winner of the season, joining Caden Hunter and Ike Irish. One-time winners include Victor Figueroa, Payton Eeles, Braylin Tavera, Wehiwa Aloy, Jaiden Lo Re, Joseph Dzierwa, Luis De León, Heston Kjerstad, and Enddy Azocar.
For this week’s poll, well, it’s not like I intended to only include the prospects from the Adley Rutschman trade. But they all had stalwart performances this week, so here we are. Which one is your favorite this week?
DENVER, CO - AUGUST 17: Starter Tomoyuki Sugano #11 of the Colorado Rockies pitches in the second inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Coors Field on August 17, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images
When the Rockies signed Tomoyuki Sugano (菅野 智之), it came a surprise to many Colorado Rockies fans. The 36-year-old veteran was signed to bring leadership to a young pitching staff, which he has done quite well. However, coming to Major League Baseball just one year prior was something that he had been wanting for a long time after a storied career in Japan with Nippon Professional Baseball.
“The number one thing was that I didn’t want to regret looking back on my career, so that was the main decision factoring in,” Sugano said through interpreter Yuto Sakurai.
Heading into his decision, he did seek out other Japanese players to gain insights into their experiences before committing. Specifically, he spoke with Yu Darvish and Kenta Maeda.
“They both mentioned that the big leagues is a tough place, but it’d be a really good experience,” he said.
And he has noticed some differences between the NPB and MLB.
“To me, everything has been different,” he said, “starting with the schedule and what the organization expects for each and every player and their ability. So in my mind, everything has been different between the two leagues.”
Sugano signed with the Baltimore Orioles in December 2024, and he made 30 starts for them in 2025. In total, Sugano went 10-10 with a 4.64 ERA and 1.33 WHIP across 157 innings. However, he was also tagged for 33 home runs, which led the league.
“I think I was playing pretty well, especially the first part of the season,” he said. “In June, I kind of collapsed and realized how tough it was to pitch in the big leagues. I don’t really have too much [that surprised me], but I try to not think too far ahead. I try not to expect anything.”
So far in 2026, Sugano has been fairly steady.
He has made 23 starts, and has a 12-7 record with a 4.96 ERA, 1.332 WHIP and 0.3 fWAR (T-8th). Some of that has been inflated over his last two starts, which have not been great. On Sunday, he set a lot of dubious records, including a career-low-tying three innings pitched and a career-high 45 pitches in the first inning. In his previous start on August 17th, Sugano threw five innings but allowed seven runs (six earned). He had not allowed more than three runs in each of his last five starts. Those two starts bumped up his ERA from 4.43 to 4.96, and his WHIP from 1.25 to 1.32.
One thing that Sugano has had to contend with, like all Rockies players, is the altitude. But he’s been making adjustments, and actually has fairly even home/road splits.
In 12 home games, Sugano has a 7-5 record and a 5.00 ERA; in 11 road games, he has a 5-2 record and a 4.91 ERA. He also has a 1.33 WHIP at home and a 1.30 WHIP on the road. But he had trouble narrowing down one specific adjustment he’s made to account for the altitude.
“When I start speaking about one thing, there’s unlimited things that I can talk about,” he said. “But I guess the number one thing is I try to study the opposing hitters. And pitching in Denver is different from pitching away in different fields, so try to make that adjustment as soon as possible.”
But the biggest thing Sugano has noticed about the Rockies is how supportive the staff is, which has been echoed by many players.
“Everybody has been supportive, starting with Schaeff,” he said. “And I know the coaching staff is really you, but I think they’re trying their best and they’ve been really supportive as a whole.”
And he is most excited to “get as many wins as possible” to finish 2026.
“I want to be supportive both on and off the field,” he continued, “so whatever I can do to support this team and get any type of win.”
But if nothing else, Sugano has enjoyed his time in Denver and even made a stop at Elitch Gardens. Sugano is a well-known theme park enthusiast, making sure to seek out amusement parks in their different stops if time allows for it (he made sure to ride New York New York in Las Vegas).
His favorite part of the Denver park?
“The turkey leg that they were selling,” he said. “It was super expensive, so I was surprised by that. We didn’t really go on that many rides to have a comparison with each other. One of them was a free fall, and the other one was a roller coaster. It was probably like the scariest one there.”
It’s hard to say where Sugano will play in 2027, but he has at least provided some stability for most of this up-and-down 2026 season when the rotation desperately needed it.
The MLB season is wrapping up, which means the Arizona Fall League is just around the corner! The Rockies will once again send their prospects to the Salt River Rafters, who will share the roster with prospects from the Arizona Diamondbacks, Washington Nationals, Minnesota Twins and New York Yankees. Games will kick off on October 3rd and run through November 14th. Most games will be streamed through the AFL website. Be on the lookout for Purple Row’s continued coverage of the “top prospect finishing school.”
The Rockies have been looking for a spark for many years, and they seem to have found one in the form of Cole Carrigg. Drew Creasman makes his case for why Carrigg is the blueprint of the Rockies’ future.
BOSTON, MA - AUGUST 21: Nick Sogard #20 of the Boston Red Soz celebrates on first base during the game between the San Francisco Giants and the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Friday, August 21, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Joe Sullivan/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
As the Red Sox won yet another game that they trailed in the late innings on Monday night, a win that brought them to 40-13 in their past 53 games, the way the ninth inning unfolded has become a common theme the past two months: Role players, backups, castoffs, whatever you want to call them, were the key to the comeback.
It was Mickey Gasper’s fourth time on base on the day, contributions that we’ve seen night after night since his recall. And yet, I can’t tell you if Gasper will be on the Red Sox MLB roster tomorrow, never mind on the playoff roster.
In the coming days, there will be a bit of a “line change” within the Red Sox roster and it’s hard to know how to feel about it. Three position players, who at the start of the season were all firmly within the 13 rostered hitters, will all likely be returning within a week of each other. The discourse around those players varies quite a bit, and none of their situations are easy to unpack, especially when considering how they affect the other players on the roster who have defined the Red Sox’ success in 2026.
Roman Anthony is the easy one. As he moves his rehab up to Triple-A today, it’s likely that we will see him this week, prior to the pivotal four-game set against the Yankees this weekend. With Masataka Yoshida recently on the IL, Anthony slides into some sort of LF/DH hybrid role fairly easily. Management unfairly placed a lot of pressure on the 22-year-old Anthony’s shoulders heading into this season, but no one is saying that he should stay in the minor leagues once healthy.
It’s in the infield where things get tricky. Trevor Story has been out since May 14th, and Isiah Kiner-Falefa since June 18th. Both of them are currently rehabbing, and with rosters expanding on September 1st to allow for a 14th position player, it seems as if one of them will be activated prior to that date, and one would be activated on September 1st. Additionally, Story and Kiner-Falefa were on the team for the entirety of the “vibes are bad” portion of the season. If you are someone who takes a look at social media on a daily basis, fans aren’t exactly clamoring for the return of Story, who had a negative-0.5 fWAR and a 46 wRC+ in 41 games played with the team. However, he was playing hurt, and as Maura outlined, there’s a lot more here than meets the eye for a rehabbing player who doesn’t want to lose his job because of an injury. In Story’s case, many, many injuries.
Conversely, look at a player like Anthony Seigler. The Red Sox are 44-19 in games where Seigler is on the active roster, compared to the team having a 29-43 record when Kiner-Falefa was on the active roster. Seigler’s wRC+ is 99, Kiner-Falefa 98. Seigler’s fWAR is 0.2, and Kiner-Falefa’s is 1.1. What should win out there? In fact, look at this entire group and explain to me how we’re supposed to rank these players from one through nine:
In a 3-game Wild Card series, teams will sometimes go with a 12 pitcher/14 hitter mix. But for a 5-or-7 game playoff series, only four of the nine players in the list above would be on the 13-man roster of position players.
The two catchers would almost certainly be Adley Rutschman and Connor Wong, if healthy.
Five Outfield/DH from the following group of eight players: Roman Anthony, Ceddanne Rafaela, Wilyer Abreu, Jarren Duran, Jahmai Jones, Eli White, Mickey Gasper, and Masataka Yoshida (if he returns in time). Even if Yoshida does not return, cutting two of those players from the list will be tough, and that’s the easier task of the two.
That leaves us with six infielders, including Durbin and Contreras at the corners. Let’s make a case for the rest of them, in order of games played so far this season:
Andruw Monesterio: He’s been on the roster since Opening Day, and the everyday shortstop since the All Star Break. His 11 doubles since that date is tied for first in the American League. With a 1st percentile Outs Above Average, the defense isn’t starting shortstop caliber, but one would have to think he at least has a bench role.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa: Tallied 1.1 fWAR in just 47 games, thanks to strong defense (+7 OAA) and a .277 batting average that trails only Rafaela, Sogard, and Contreras (min: 100 AB). In the five weeks prior to his injury, Kiner-Falefa slashed .321/.391/.449.
Anthony Seigler: Was the team’s leadoff hitter and starting second baseman against righties for the 15-game winning streak in late June/early-July. Entered Monday with a 104 OPS+ in 158 plate appearances. Vibes+ Ratings: off the charts.
Trevor Story: Just a season ago, played in 157 games, including 155 starts at shortstop, hitting .263 with 25 home runs, 96 RBI, 91 runs, and was 31-for-32 on stolen base attempts. Went 5-for-13, with the team’s only home run in the postseason.
Nick Sogard: Entered Monday with an .828 OPS and 1.3 fWAR with 20 runs scored in 35 games. His 16% walk rate would be 8th in all of MLB if he qualified. Has made countless great defensive plays, good for a +2 OAA.
Romy Gonzalez: Slashed .290/.329/.457 in 185 games over the 2024-2025 seasons for the Red Sox. Rushed his rehab through the minor leagues to hustle back to help a struggling lineup, on a team that was 36-46 when he returned on June 28th. Was rewarded with a demotion to Triple-A after just 65 at-bats, in which he hit .185 with one home run.
Tsung-Che Cheng: Perhaps an afterthought at this point, Cheng was with the team for the entirety of their 15-game win streak, and started at shortstop for the majority of those games, playing strong defense.
Curtis Mead: A major acquisition at the trade deadline from Washington, in return for Connelly Early, Mead comes to Boston with a 134 wRC+. Mead’s timeline seems to align with the final week of the regular season, and if he can get a few games under his belt, would be in the infield or even DH mix. If they choose to wait until 2027 to return Mead (a shaky defender) to the infield, then add him to the OF/DH smorgasbord above.
Franklin Arias: Even though I don’t expect to see Arias this season, I’m just putting him here because he’s, you know, one of the Top-3 prospects in the game and has 23 HR and 74 RBI in 98 minor league games this year, even though he wasn’t expected to hit for power.
If it were up to me, I would let Story and Kiner-Falefa rehab until September 1st when the rosters expand. Story is 4-for-21 in his rehab over six games, with no walks and five strikeouts. Kiner-Falefa is 1-for-13 with two walks and four strikeouts. They have been out for so long that getting a “spring training” worth of at-bats is entirely reasonable, especially after the team brought Gonzalez and Rutschman back from their rehabs earlier than was prudent. It will also give another week to let things play out at the big league level. A Mickey Gasper demotion after what he’s done over the past seven games just feels like bad karma.
Whoever Craig Breslow decides to put in front of Chad Tracy for the next (hopefully) two months, I expect Tracy will continue to push the right buttons. Seeing the way that he has moved the likes of Gasper, Jones, White, and Seigler in and out of the lineup, whether it be via in-game platooning or pinch-running has been masterful to watch. The team is now 62-42 under Tracy’s watch. Whether it’s the right 13 or 14 players that are there is going to be fascinating to watch unfold.
At No. 4 in this ranking of Toronto Maple Leafs prospects is Miroslav Holinka.
The players in this ranking do not have extensive NHL experience and are all under 23. Therefore, players such as William Villeneuve, Artur Akhtyamov and Easton Cowan, among others, won't feature in this ranking for either or both of those particular reasons.
In terms of where these players fall in the rankings, it is a mix of their ceiling and potential, as well as how they've performed in the past year with their respective clubs.
The Maple Leafs drafted Holinka in the fifth round of the 2024 NHL draft with the 151st overall pick. Ever since Toronto made that pick, the 6-foot-2 center has turned into a star at the Jr. level.
He made his first appearance in the WHL for the Edmonton Oil Kings in 2024-25 and had a solid rookie campaign. Holinka posted 19 goals and 26 assists for 45 points in 47 games. He finished sixth in team scoring and announced himself as a top prospect within the Maple Leafs' organization.
His following WHL campaign was even more impressive as he nearly doubled his scoring totals for the Oil Kings. Holinka notched 37 goals and 43 assists for 80 points in the regular season. He led Edmonton in goals and was second in scoring.
With that regular-season performance, he was named to the WHL's Eastern Conference second all-star team.
His impressive scoring rate carried through to the post-season when he recorded seven goals and 11 points in seven contests, leading the team in both categories. Holinka's ability to score goals seriously heightened in 2025-26.
Going back to 2024-25, he represented Czechia at the World Junior Championship. In seven appearances for the national team in this competition, Holinka registered a goal and four points. He and the team went on to win the bronze medal.
In a professional hockey sense, Holinka featured for the AHL's Toronto Marlies for one outing this past year. He was in the lineup on April 12 to take on the Syracuse Crunch and posted a secondary assist in that game.
He'll have a spot on the Marlies' roster this coming season and will take his first step to play a full year at the professional level in North America. Without a doubt, he's one of the best young prospects in the Maple Leafs' system, and next season will be a big measuring year for the 20-year-old.
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Jakub Dobes started last season as the Montreal Canadiens’ backup goaltender, and by the time the playoffs started, he had wrestled for the starting job away from Samuel Montembeault and outdueled Jacob Fowler to get the nod for the postseason. It was an eventful rookie season, to say the least; there were ups, there were downs, there was a crisis of confidence. At one point, the young netminder showed he was incredibly emotional, which earned him a break from the media, but at the end of the day, Dobes pocketed 29 regular-season wins and nine more in the playoffs.
In the offseason, he signed a three-year contract extension with a $5.6M AAV with the Canadiens, even though he still had a year left on his existing deal. That was a great confidence builder for the netminder, who might have felt last year like the organization didn’t trust him when the Habs kept going back to Montembeault even though Dobes was winning his games. Later that summer, NHL Network named him the league’s 10th-best goaltender, which can be seen as another confidence builder.
What can we expect from Dobes this season? A more focused goaltender who doesn’t have to worry about an expiring contract or a battle for the top job in net. Of course, Martin St-Louis would say that anything can happen at training camp, but realistically, as things stand, the job is Dobes’ to lose.
In The Hockey News 2026-27 Yearbook, THN predicts Dobes will improve his win total to 31. That makes sense, as the Habs are expected to keep improving organically, and it’s highly unlikely that he finds himself stuck in a three-goalie carousel. Montembeault is still around, and since Fowler can be sent down to Laval without clearing waivers, that’s likely where he will be unless the Bécancour native is traded until then. Fowler needs a lot of action to keep developing, and the last thing he needs is a three-way battle.
While the Canadiens will likely want to give Montembeault a chance to both bounce back and improve his trade value as he enters the last year of his contract, expect Dobes to get the lion’s share of the work, perhaps between 40 and 50 games. The 25-year-old has already established himself as a fan favorite, and he should keep building on that with a strong season to show he wasn’t just a flash in the pan. By signing him to an early extension, Kent Hughes has put him in the best environment to succeed, which was a wise move, especially with Montembeault’s contract expiring at the end of this season and the future looking like a Dobes-Fowler duo.
Visite spéciale à l'École de hockey des Canadiens, alors que Jakub Dobes est venu passer du temps avec la prochaine génération de hockeyeurs 🏒
A special visit at Canadiens Hockey School, as Jakub Dobes dropped by to spend time with the next generation of hockey players… pic.twitter.com/n4QTx0TFaU
DENVER, COLORADO - OCTOBER 29: Peyton Watson #8 of the Denver Nuggets handles the ball against the New Orleans Pelicans during the second quarter at Ball Arena on October 29, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. 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 C. Morgan Engel/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliersfinally made their move of the summer. A multi-team trade that ultimately landed Peyton Watson in the Wine and Gold.
So what’s the big deal?
Watson, on paper, fills the biggest hole this roster has had throughout the decade. A 6’8” wing with plus athleticism and legit upside on both offense and defense.
Today, we discuss three reasons why Watson can be the missing piece.
Defensive Versatility
It’s not an exaggeration to say the Cavs were the least athletic team that reached the conference finals last season. The Thunder, Spurs, and Knicks all ran laps around them in that regard. Cleveland wasn’t going to advance any further without addressing this.
Watson immediately steps in as the best athlete on the roster. His long frame and dexterity give Cleveland the versatility they need.
This will be most evident on defense, where Watson’s agility allows him to defend multiple positions and offer resistance to transition attacks. The Cavs ranked 17th in transition defense last season, according to Cleaning the Glass. Watson can bolster this aspect of their defense by being the most capable of getting back on D.
Welcome to Cleveland, Peyton Watson! 4 minutes of him blocking shots
Watson’s speed also allows him to recover and track down shots from behind. He ranked in the 99th percentile as a shot blocker from the forward position last season. Downhill drives will be more difficult than ever for opponents as Watson joins an elite rim-protecting frontcourt with Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen.
Cleveland will always be vulnerable defensively with James Harden and Donovan Mitchell in the backcourt. But Watson gives them an option to defend the opposing team’s best player. Watson is proficient at defending the point of attack and contesting perimeter shots. This is something the Cavs needed almost more than anything.
You might be thinking to yourself: didn’t Dean Wade provide most of the same defensive skills that I just listed as positives for Watson? And you’d be correct. Wade already filled some of those gaps for Cleveland — and with him gone, Watson is simply trying to replace what is lost without Wade.
That might feel like this is all a lateral move. But there is, however, one difference that makes Watson a more viable two-way option for the Cavs. It’s the other side of the floor.
Three-Point Shooting
This is in no way meant as disrespect towards Wade (who Fear the Sword has always been fond of). But having a wing who can check all of the boxes defensively while being a real threat to shoot the ball is something that Cleveland hasn’t had.
Watson hasn’t always been considered a shooter. Even now, this skill is an x-factor for his development. But Watson made a leap last season, ranking in the 97th percentile as a corner shooter. He shot 52% from the corner, which was 11% higher than Wade in each of his last three seasons.
There are two components to this:
First, Watson gets the benefit of projected development. He’s only 23, meaning this could be the tip of the iceberg in terms of his shooting potential. There’s no guarantee that he continues to improve, or even maintains the growth he showed last year. But if he does? The Cavs have a winning lottery ticket.
More importantly, confidence is key.
One of the long-standing criticisms of Wade was his fear of shooting the ball. Everyone watching could tell that Wade wanted nothing to do with scoring the rock. His lack of confidence was undeniable. And once you build that reputation for yourself, it’s nearly impossible to erase. Opponents no longer respect you.
Watson doesn’t have that issue just yet.
His volume isn’t much higher than Wade’s — but his progress from last season is fresh in our minds. He doesn’t have a track record for being hesitant. Teams haven’t watched him suffer from record scratches like Wade.
Watson is a more willing and able shooter who made the most of his opportunities in Denver. That will cause the defense to respect him more than they did Wade.
We understand that playing next to Nikola Jokic means you’ll reap the rewards. Watson was given high-quality shots on a nightly basis. While the Cavs don’t have a singular force as powerful as Jokic — the rim pressure provided by Allen and Mobley has proven to be enough to collapse the defense. I think Watson will receive similar shots in Cleveland, as a result.
From there, all he has to do is shoot with confidence. Watson can stamp himself as a premier 3-and-D wing with one more solid season.
On-Ball Flashes
It’s one thing to be a defensive stopper. It’s another to add three-point shooting to the mix. But completing it all by being a competent on-ball creator is the type of stuff that makes you a star.
Does Watson have All-Star potential?
I want to refrain from getting too carried away. At the same time, what else is summer for if we can’t get overexcited about Cleveland’s newest additions?
Watson flashed some important skills last year. Particularly when Jokic was on the sidelines. Watson averaged 23.1 points per game on above 50% shooting as Denver leaned on his shot creation to carry them during this difficult stretch of the season.
Some highlights include his pull-up jumper from the mid-range, where Watson shot 50% during the season. He also showed some budding skills for attacking the basket, euro-stepping and spinning to quality looks at the rim. This is a work in progress, but a flash in the pan nonetheless.
Watson’s handle is encouraging. He’s a confident dribbler who looks comfortable navigating the floor. He utilizes a variety of moves from hesitations to crossovers to create space for himself.
Playing in Cleveland will push Watson to step deeper into that role. He no longer has to fit around an otherworldly offensive hub like Jokic. Instead, he’ll be asked to create more for himself as a tertiary option. It will be sink or swim. The potential rewards of that ultimatum are what make this addition so exciting.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - JUNE 3: Victor Wembanyama #1 & Stephon Castle #5 of the San Antonio Spurs high five during the game against the New York Knicks during Game One of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 3, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE(Photo by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
File this the “ah-doy” column, but CBS Sports posted a list of the top NBA duos going into the 2026-2027 season, and the San Antonio Spurs earned themselves the top spot.
The above post is not 100% accurate. For one, it is a Top 12 list, not a Top 10. But #12 are Golden State Warriors legends Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. #11 is Cade Cunnigham and Jalen Duren.
Though the actual article list the Philadelphia 76ers at #5, it says “Sixers choose your own adventure” meaning that on any given night, their best two players may fluctuate. Between Jaylen Brown, LeBron James, Tyrese Maxey, V. J. Edgecombe, and Joel Embiid, there is a lot of firepower coming out of the City of Brotherly Love.
And at #1, the Spurs list Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle/Dylan Harper.
For so many years now, the Spurs flew under the radar of national attention. Even back in the days of Timmy, Tony, and Manu, there never seemed to be recognition at the national level of just what was transpiring in San Antonio.
The Spurs 2026 Final appearance has garnered them plenty of attention as well as an increase in nationally televised games. Victor Wembanyama, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, made the NBA2K27 cover.
It should come as no surprise that the 2023 and 2024 back-to-back Rookies of the Year are a tandem to be reckoned with considering the advances they have made since their respective rookie seasons. The addition of Harper just underscores (a) how well the Spurs have drafted over the last three years, (b) how great these players are, and (c) how great they are together.
A few opinions (through Silver & Black colored glasses):
Out of eighteen teams, there has to be a better duo than Curry and Green. Thoughts?
I love me some Derrick White, but is Jayson Tatum and Derrick White a better duo than Tatum and Jaylen Brown?
Luka Doncic and Austin Reeves sounds like step down from Luka Doncic and LeBron James. Does Reeves truly have what is takes to be Robin to Doncic’s Batman?
2025 NBA Champions Shai Gilgeous -Alexander and Jalen Williams in the fourth spot seems to make a statement about where they were and where they are going.
Two of these duos have yet to play together. After being kicked out of the playoffs in the Western Conference Finals for two years, the Minnesota Timberwolves decided to shake things up. The last time the Timberwolves shook things up, they traded KAT to the Knicks. Worked out well for the Knicks (s0rt of, more on that below). They have paired their generational superstar Anthony Edwards with LaMelo Ball. Ball and Edwards have the most anticipated pairing this season, so there will be eyes on them throughout.
Meanwhile in the East, Giannis Antetokounmpo has moved to South Beach to give the Miami Heat another star player. Paired with Bam Adebayo, these two will be a menace in the paint and on the boards.
As for Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns in the third spot, it’s difficult to think of KAT as a top tier player based on his fourth quarter scoring in the Finals (he scored five points in total for all five games). While that’s a a small sample size, it’s the Finals, the highest stakes version of a small sample size.
What else stuck out to you all on the list?
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Aug 22, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles right fielder Dylan Beavers (12) hits a walk off RBI double during the tenth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: James A. Pittman-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Happy Tuesday, Camden Chatters!
After an off-day yesterday, the Orioles will be back in action tonight. They kick off a nine-game, three-city road trip against three teams a playoff team should be able to beat: the St. Louis Cardinals, Sacramento Athletics, and Colorado Rockies. The Cardinals have a .500 record, while the A’s and Rockies are the two-worst teams in baseball. The problem is, the Orioles aren’t really a playoff team.
It’s kind of a joke around these parts that every series is declared pivotal. And really, they have been. When you’re a team on the fringes of a playoff spot, every series is pivotal. Theoretically, this could be a pivotal road trip. But in reality, I have to admit I just don’t see it.
On July 8th, the Orioles lost to the Cubs, falling to a season-worst eight games below .500. Since then, they have gone 21-17. Today, they are five games under .500. At this point in the season, they have established themselves as, at best, a .500-caliber team. It seems silly to imagine anything more than that.
The only saving grace is that there are five other teams whose fan bases are saying something similar about their favorite team. And the Orioles are setting off to play three teams who are a combined 59 games under .500. So I can see how people might say this is their big shot.
The problem? The Orioles are exactly .500 against teams with losing records this year. And that won’t cut it in the pathetic race for the third AL Wild Card.
Now, will I be rooting for the Orioles to win the battle for mediocrity? Of course I will. I root for them all the time, and I’ll be thrilled to cheer them on in the postseason if they manage to get there. Every single night when I sit down to watch the Orioles, I am hopeful they’ll win. But I also know that time is running out and they have already shown us who they are.
These 10 farm systems have the best outfield prospects – MLB.com MLB Pipeline ranks the Orioles as having the third-best outfield prospects in baseball, thanks to names like Eric Booth, Jr, Ike Irish, Nate George, Ty Head, Enddy Azocar, and Enrique Bradfield, Jr.
Albert Suárez Elects Free Agency – MLB Trade Rumors The Orioles have DFA’d Suárez three times this season. He has cleared waivers and elected free agency rather than going to Triple-A. If you like Big Al, I predict he’ll be back. He always comes back.
Birthdays and History
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! You have four Orioles birthday buddies, including Albert Belle (60). Belle was signed to a five-year contract in the winter of 1998, but only played two of those seasons. After 2000, Belle was diagnosed with degenerative hip disease and was forced to retire.
Other former Orioles born on this day in history are pitcher Chandler Shepherd (34), outfielder Gary Matthews (52), and catcher Darrell Johnson (b. 1928, d. 2004).
Today is also the birthday of both Max Muncys. Muncies? The older Muncy, who plays third base for the Dodgers, is 36. And the younger Muncy, who plays third base for the Athletics, is 24.
On this day in 1961, the Orioles defeated the Twins 5-2. Pinch hitter Dave Philley singled, giving him 23 pinch hits on the season, which set a Major League record.
In 1968, the Orioles and Red Sox played an 18-inning game, which the Orioles won. Starting pitcher Tom Phoebus pitched seven innings and winning pitcher Roger Nelson pitched seven innings. The Orioles tied the game in the bottom of the eighth. In the bottom of the 18th, Boog Powell doubled, then scored, on a single from Brooks Robinson. The game lasted five hours, 27-minutes.
In 2014, the Orioles beat the Rays 9-1. in the third inning, Nick Markakis and Steve Pearce hit back-to-back home runs. In the fifth inning, Delmon Young, J.J. Hardy, and Chris Davis hit back-to-back-to-back home runs.
And on this day last year, the Orioles lost to the Red Sox 4-3. Tomoyuki Sugano pitched six innings and allowed all four runs. Colton Cowser had a three-hit game and knocked in all three runs.
MESA, AZ - MARCH 22: Eric Bitonti #48 of the Milwaukee Brewers celebrates with Handelfry Encarnacion #94 at home plate after hitting a solo home run in the seventh inning during the game between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Athletics at Hohokam Stadium on Sunday, March 22, 2026 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Welcome back to the Minor League Roundup!
As a reminder, you can find this roundup — covering everything you need to know about each of the Brewers’ minor league affiliates — every Tuesday morning right here on Brew Crew Ball. For consistency, all organizational prospect rankings will reference MLB Pipeline unless otherwise noted.
Triple-A Nashville Sounds
Current record: 68-55 Record this week: 3-2 This week’s opponent: @ Norfolk Tides Next week’s opponent: @ Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
Standout performances:
Eric Brown Jr.: 6-for-11, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 2 K Sal Frelick: 5-for-14, 2 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 0 BB, 2 K Brock Wilken: 6-for-18, 3 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 2 BB, 5 K Tyler Black: 5-for-18, 1 2B, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 3 BB, 4 K Coleman Crow: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 6 K Tate Kuehner: 4.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K Tyson Hardin: 4.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 K
Now that we’re just under a month from the end of the minor league regular season, the Sounds’ roster is a bit less stacked than it was going into the year, with four of the Brewers’ top seven prospects entering the season (Cooper Pratt, Brandon Sproat, Luis Lara, and Logan Henderson) earning call-ups to the big leagues and graduating from prospect status.
Even still, the Sounds’ lineup features a few guys who you might eventually see in Milwaukee.
Luke Adams doesn’t have the in-game or raw power that Andrew Fischer or Blake Burke possess, so he doesn’t generate as many headlines, but he’s shown a knack for getting on base, produced at every level, and currently has a .906 OPS in over 200 at-bats this year. Jett Williams has had a bit of a down year, but he’s still here and was ranked ahead of all four of the Sounds’ graduated prospects entering the season. So is Jeferson Quero, who made his major league debut at the beginning of the year.
I’d also be remiss not to mention the players who weren’t with the Sounds at the start of the season, including catcher Bo Naylor, acquired prior to the trade deadline, who has an .895 OPS in 40 at-bats with the Sounds and could see some time this September as rosters expand. It also includes Burke, who’s only hitting .190 in 42 at-bats with Nashville but had a .970 OPS with 30 home runs in a much larger sample at Double-A.
The Sounds’ pitching staff is still their strong suit, even after the graduations of Henderson, Shane Drohan, and Robert Gasser. Coleman Crow (who’s already thrown 18.2 innings in Milwaukee), Tyson Hardin, and Tate Kuehner all threw four-plus shutout innings this week, and all three are legitimate prospects. Kuehner, probably the least exciting prospect of the three, has only made eight starts this year due to injury but posted a 2.77 ERA over 110.1 innings between Double-A and Triple-A in 2025.
In other news:
— Sal Frelick continues to rehab in Nashville, going 5-for-14 with a pair of doubles and a home run.
— Sproat and Kuehner combined for a seven-inning no-hitter in the first game of Sunday’s doubleheader against the Tides.
(No) Hit City ⚾️🚫 Brandon Sproat and Tate Kuehner threw a combined no hitter in Norfolk yesterday, with Jeferson Quero behind the plate. pic.twitter.com/D6oV8QvFtU
Current record: 56-60 Record this week: 1-5 This week’s opponent: @ Rocket City Trash Pandas Next week’s opponent: vs. Knoxville Smokies
Standout performances:
Luis Peña: 7-for-24, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 BB, 7 K Damon Keith: 4-for-15, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 3 BB, 8 K Dylan O’Rae: 4-for-17, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 4 BB, 6 K Josh Adamczewski: 3-for-15, 1 2B, 0 RBI, 2 BB, 2 K Braylon Payne: 4-for-23, 1 2B, 3 RBI, 1 BB, 8 K Jaron DeBerry: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 K Manuel Rodriguez: 5.0 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 K Peyton Niksch: 4.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K J.D. Thompson: 9.0 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 6 BB, 15 K Stiven Cruz: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 10 K
In what was otherwise a rough week for the Shuckers, Luis Peña keeps doing top-20-prospect-in-baseball things.
The Brewers have a few other extremely talented infield prospects, and Peña’s missed a lot of time this year, so he’s gotten a bit lost in the shuffle compared to last year. With his first week in Double-A now in the books, let’s take a look at Peña’s High-A stat line:
In Peña’s first week in Double-A, he went 7-for-24 with a home run. Considering the health scares and the time that he missed, this season could have turned out so much better for Peña. At the same time, if hitting .298 in 200-plus at-bats is a less-than-ideal season, that bodes very well for the 19-year-old Peña’s future.
Peña’s .292 batting average led the Shuckers by a wide margin this week. Only three other Shuckers had more than three hits — Braylon Payne (4-for-23), Dylan O’Rae (4-for-17), and Damon Keith (4-for-15). Jesús Made went 3-for-21. Mike Boeve went 3-for-21. Josh Adamczewski went 3-for-15. Andrew Fischer went 1-for-19; his one hit was a home run, of course.
Biloxi’s pitching staff didn’t fare much better, either. J.D. Thompson led the Shuckers in innings with nine over two starts, striking out a whopping 15 Trash Pandas but walking six, giving up eight hits, and ultimately allowing five earned runs. Jaron DeBerry (6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 K) and Manuel Rodriguez (5.0 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 K) had the two best starts of the week, with Rodriguez picking up the staff’s lone win.
J.D. Thompson set a new career-high with 8 strikeouts!
Current record: 60-52 Record this week: 2-4 This week’s opponent: Lake County Captains (home, 2026-08-18 to 2026-08-23) Next week’s opponent: South Bend Cubs (home, 2026-08-25 to 2026-08-30)
Standout performances:
Eric Bitonti: 8-for-23, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 2 BB, 4 K Daniel Dickinson: 8-for-24, 2 2B, 1 3B, 3 RBI, 2 BB, 4 K Tayden Hall: 5-for-20, 3 2B, 0 RBI, 6 BB, 4 K Sawyer Strosnider: 5-for-21, 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 4 BB, 10 K Yannic Walther: 2-for-10, 0 RBI, 1 BB, 4 K Wande Torres: 4.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 K Josh Knoth: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 4 BB, 4 K Jayden Dubanewicz: 5.1 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 5 K Jacob Morrison: 7.2 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 11 K Ethan Dorchies: 4.0 IP, 9 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
It’s incredible how much talent the Timber Rattlers have had this year, just a couple hours away from Miller Park. Here are some of the prospects who have had at least 150 at-bats with Wisconsin this year:
Andrew Fischer: 1.118 OPS in 191 ABs, 173 wRC+
Josh Adamczewski: 1.036 OPS in 166 ABs, 165 wRC+
Braylon Payne: .930 OPS in 310 ABs, 130 wRC+
Eric Bitonti: .896 OPS in 354 ABs, 126 wRC+
Marco Dinges: .855 OPS in 220 ABs, 121 wRC+
Daniel Dickinson: .846 OPS in 347 ABs, 123 wRC+
Luis Peña: .804 OPS in 188 ABs, 109 wRC+
This list consists solely of players who were considered a top-30 prospect at some point this season, so it also leaves out Luis Castillo (.807 OPS in 330 at-bats) and Tayden Hall (.876 OPS in 265 at-bats).
Fischer, Adamczewski, Payne, Dinges, and Peña have all since earned promotions, but the Timber Rattlers somehow still have plenty of talent left. Bitonti’s 23 home runs speak for themselves, but Dickinson has now posted an OPS over 1.000 and a batting average over .300 in each of the last two months, raising his season-long OPS to .851 in the process.
Joining Bitonti and Dickinson in High-A a couple weeks ago was Sawyer Strosnider, the Brewers’ 2026 second-round pick who was widely mocked as a first-rounder leading up to the draft. Strosnider has one of the best power-speed profiles in the entire class, although he fell to Milwaukee after slumping late in the season with TCU. In his first 43 at-bats with the Timber Rattlers, Strosnider is hitting .302 with an .877 OPS and a home run (caught by his dad, how cool is that?).
As for the pitching staff, Wande Torres, Josh Knoth, and Jayden Dubanewicz all put together solid outings. Torres threw four scoreless innings with seven strikeouts, while Knoth allowed just one run across five innings. Dubanewicz went 5 1/3 innings, allowing two earned runs on three hits. Jacob Morrison also deserves a mention after striking out 11 over 7 2/3 innings, while Ethan Dorchies allowed three runs on nine hits in four innings of work.
Single-A Wilson Warbirds
Current record: 63-53 Record this week: 3-3 This week’s opponent: @ Salem RidgeYaks Next week’s opponent: vs. Hickory Crawdads
Standout performances:
Brailyn Antunez: 10-for-22, 1 2B, 1 3B, 8 RBI, 2 BB, 7 K Handelfry Encarnacion: 8-for-21, 1 2B, 1 HR, 8 RBI, 4 BB, 2 K Carsten Sabathia III: 7-for-19, 2 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 3 BB, 5 K Kevin Garcia: 4-for-12, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K Juan Ortuno: 7-for-22, 2 2B, 6 RBI, 5 BB, 4 K Diustin Mayorquin: 4.1 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K Miqueas Mercedes: 4.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K Jarrette Bonet: 4.0 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 5 BB, 3 K Tyler Renz: 4.2 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
Handelfry Encarnacion (.777 OPS on the season) is still here and doing his thing, but otherwise the Warbirds’ roster looks a lot different than it did to start the season.
Brady Ebel’s in High-A, but his brother Trey, the Brewers’ first-rounder this year, is now in Wilson. The younger Ebel is already looking comfortable, starting his career 6-for-21 with a double and four RBIs.
Jadyn Fielder is now with the Astros, but the Warbirds have another son of a former Brewers fan favorite on the roster. 22-year-old Carsten Sabathia III — son of CC — was drafted in the 20th round of this year’s draft out of the University of Houston. He’s outperformed that draft slot so far, going 16-for-39 (.410) with a pair of home runs.
Another newcomer is Brailyn Antunez, one of the Brewers’ top international free agent signings from last year’s class. Antunez is 35-for-85 (.412) with a 1.256 OPS, seven home runs, five doubles, and a triple. A whopping 12.5% of his plate appearances have ended in an extra-base hit so far in his tenure as a Warbird. That won’t last, and he’s still raw, but he’s shown tantalizing promise — including surprising opposite-field power for his age — and his production thus far is an exciting hint of what he could eventually become.
Wilson’s pitching staff has struggled this year; of the team’s top 11 innings leaders, 10 have ERAs over 4. The 11th is 20-year-old Miqueas Mercedes, whose performance this week brought his ERA down to 3.11 through 66 2/3 innings. Mercedes has struck out 68 batters, but he’s also walked a borderline-unbelievable 45 (6.12 BB/9).
Player of the Week
Eric Bitonti, who went 8-for-23 with three home runs this week. Bitonti bounced back this year after a rough 2025 that saw him slide down prospect rankings. Even though he hasn’t exactly quelled strikeout concerns (34 K%) that have followed him throughout his career, he’s raised his OPS from .762 to .896 while moving up a level and already has a career-high 23 home runs with just under a month left in the season.
Brewers prospect Eric Bitonti is criminally underrated. The 6-ft-5 20-year-old has slashed .289/.378/.684 with 5 HR over his last 38 ABs.
As we’ve seen with Andrew Fischer, if a player produces well enough, it doesn’t matter how much he strikes out. Bitonti’s not quite there yet, but he’s showing clear signs of growth. If there’s anyone to be patient with, it’s a prospect who’s still only 20 years old and can hit home runs like this:
