Los Angeles, CA - California - September 04: Pitcher Edwin Diaz #3 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws a simulated batting practice prior to a baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Washington Nationals at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, September 4, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images
The Dodgers on Friday activated Edwin Díaz off the injured list, with a week and a half remaining in the regular season to see if his slim chance of pitching his way onto the postseason roster comes to fruition.
In 16 appearances with the Dodgers this season, Díaz has allowed runs in nine of them, with an 11.85 ERA, 6.37 xERA, 19 strikeouts and 10 walks in 13 2/3 innings. In nine games after returning from elbow surgery, Díaz had a 19.6-percent strikeout rate, down from 30.3 percent in seven games before surgery, and well below his 39.9-percent career strikeout rate through 2025.
The latest malady for Díaz was neck inflammation, sidelined since August 18. His rehab assignment with Oklahoma City didn’t go well at all, throwing more balls than strikes in three of his five appearances, with six runs allowed in 4 1/3 innings, seven walks, and four strikeouts. Manager Dave Roberts told reporters on Thursday in Cincinnati that Díaz will need to throw more strikes, and quality ones at that, in order to be considered to pitch in October.
“Like anything, it should be a meritocracy. You have to earn the right of opportunities, and you’ve also got to perform. Eddie understands that,” Roberts said, as shown on SportsNet LA. “Where we’re at now, we need guys to buy in, perform and go from there. That’s what he’s about.”
In Knack’s three stints in the majors this year, he pitched in four of the eight games for which he was active, with a 3.86 ERA and 4.09 xERA in build relief, with eight strikeouts and two walks in his 11 2/3 innings, plus one save of 2 2/3 innings, the Dodgers’ longest save of the season.
At just 20 years old, 2024 Vegas Golden Knights first-round pick Trevor Connelly can’t order a drink in the US or rent a car without getting hit with an underage driver’s fee. But when he’s on the ice, he plays with a maturity that far exceeds his age.
It’s been two years since the Golden Knights selected Connelly with the 19th overall pick. However, because of a string of bad injury luck, he’s just now attending his first training camp.
His energy is contagious.
“It’s exciting,” beamed Connelly following Thursday’s skate. “[There are] a little bit of nerves with it being the first time, but it’s exciting. It’s so fun to be out there on the ice. It’s great energy and a great group. It’s a lot of fun.”
The nerves Connelly spoke about weren’t evident on the ice. Of course, it probably didn’t hurt matters that the young winger opened camp skating on a line with two established veterans in Tomáš Hertl and Victor Olofsson.
“It’s an incredible experience playing with [Hertl] and Olofsson,” Connelly gushed. “With it being my first camp, having those guys talk to me between drills and stuff helps a lot… There were different times on the ice today where Hertl was giving me little tips on things that will work better at the next level. I’m just trying to be a sponge around these guys and listen and learn from them.”
Hertl and Olofsson aren’t the only players to go out of their way to make Connelly feel comfortable.
“This whole room [has helped],” said Connelly. “There are so many great leaders in this room; Nic Dowd is one of them. He’s a louder guy, and he’s always coming to check on guys. You see it every day in the gym; he says hi to everybody. He’s a guy I feel really comfortable around, and he’s definitely helped me a lot.”
Connelly is fresh off a summer where he focused on bulking up. That has certainly helped– on Thursday, he told the media that he’s put on “about 12 pounds since Development Camp,” and it shows– but he’ll never wow you with his size. Instead, he commands attention with his pure, raw talent and playmaking abilities.
“[I’m trying to] just be myself,” said Connelly. “[I want to] play the game that I’ve always played and be smart, use my IQ. I look to make my teammates better, and, when I get a chance, put the puck in the back of the net. And I’ve worked a lot on my 200-foot game and my compete over the years as well.”
Connelly is an exciting player, and he’s the most talented prospect that the Golden Knights have had in their system for quite some time. Both general manager Kelly McCrimmon and head coach Ryan Craig said as much in their separate media availabilities on Thursday.
“Trevor is different from any player in our organization,” McCrimmon said on Thursday. “Elite hockey sense, elite talent. What he did last year in the American Hockey League as a 19-year-old… his ceiling is tremendously high.”
“Trevor has a skill set that he brings to our group that not a lot of people in our organization have,” Craig agreed. “I saw it firsthand last year in Henderson; I thought he took big steps as a player, a person, and a teammate.”
In Kelly McCrimmon’s eyes, it’s not a matter of if Connelly will become a mainstay in the NHL lineup, but when.
“It’s going to be a matter of what the timing is. Does he kick the door down immediately, or does it take a little more time? Those are the things that we’ll watch play out,” said McCrimmon. “I think he’s going to be an exceptionally good player. It’s just a matter of what the timeline looks like between now and then.”
As for Connelly, he’s just taking things day by day.
“Every day, practice or game, I try to go out there and give it my best effort,” said Connelly. “Don’t try to do too much or too little; just go out there and try to be confident in my game.”
So, who is this guy the Lakers mortgaged their future on?
Here’s what we know about Walker Kessler.
The 7-foot-2, 245-pound center is considered one of the NBA’s elite rim protectors and rebounders. Luka Dončić made it clear to the Lakers he wanted him as his center.
And the Lakers responded by emptying their treasure trove, giving up two unprotected first-round picks and two first-round pick swaps in a sign-and-trade with the Jazz, signing Kessler to a four-year, $130 million deal.
Los Angeles Lakers Walker Kessler throws out the first pitch before a game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026, in Los Angeles. Wally Skalij for CA Post
That means the Lakers don’t have a tradable first-round draft pick for the next seven years.
How should Lakers fans feel about this?
They should be relieved.
The Lakers needed to make Dončić happy. They had to get an elite center. And they needed to pay whatever it cost. It’s a gamble they had to take.
The 25-year-old Kessler only played five games last season after suffering a torn labrum in his left shoulder that required season-ending surgery.
So, we don’t have a large enough recent sample size to judge Kessler’s growth.
Kessler, who was selected by the Grizzlies with the 22nd pick in the 2022 draft before he was traded to the Jazz, has career averages of 9.5 points on 68.1% shooting, 9.3 rebounds and 2.4 blocks.
Having him down low makes the Lakers much better defensively. He’s the type of player who takes up space and has great footwork. According to NBA.com, he contested 7.5 shots per game at the rim in 2024-2025, which tied him for the fifth most in the NBA.
Los Angeles Lakers’ Walker Kessler is seen as the team visits Ljubljana, Slovenia, for camp on Friday, August 21, 2026. REUTERS
But with the price tag the Lakers paid, they don’t just need a solid center. They need a star down low.
In order for Kessler to make good on the deal, he needs to turn into an All-Defensive player. He needs to be a borderline All-Star. He needs to be great.
The good news is that Kessler is fully aware of what his development means to the Purple-and-Gold.
“It definitely makes you feel a certain way when you know an organization believes in you,” Kessler said during his introductory news conference in Las Vegas in July.
“And I think what they’ve invested, they’re showing that belief in a monetary value, not just with money, but … assets. And for me, I’m somebody that if I know that they have that belief in me, I’m gonna run through a brick wall for them. That’s just how I’ve been wired my whole life.”
Kessler has a lot to prove.
He needs to be the team’s defensive anchor. He needs to set screens that open up Dončić and Austin Reaves. He needs to become a pivotal piece of the Lakers’ Big Three.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - SEPTEMBER 13: Chase Burns #26 of the Cincinnati Reds throws a pitch against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on September 13, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Chase Burns makes his final home start of the year on Friday night in Great American Ball Park as the Cincinnati Reds open a weekend series against their NL Central rivals from Chicago.
While the Reds have made it mathematically certain that they a) can’t make the playoffs and b) can’t win more games in the 2026 season than they’ll lose, the Cubs roll into GABP at 85-68 and atop the National League Wild Card standings (alongside the Philadelphia Phillies). They do sit just a lone game above the surging San Diego Padres in that race, however, and have not even clinched a postseason bid given tha tthe pesky Arizona Diamondbacks remain just 4 games back at 80-73.
So, the Reds do have the ability to play potential spoiler this weekend if they can just find the time.
Burns will throw the game’s first pitch at 6:40 PM ET, and he’ll share the mound to start with Chicago starter Clay Holmes. Brandon Williamson typically piggybacks Burns now that the latter is on a pitch count, but with Williamson needed earlier this week in mop-up duty manager Terry Francona will need to alter his plans slightly.
Anybody hoping Kirill Marchenko might provide clarity about his desire to play for the Blue Jackets beyond this season should temper those hopes.
In fact, go ahead and shelve them for the foreseeable future. The Jackets' top goal scorer isn't interested in explaining why either agent Dan Milstein or somebody who works for Milstein told ESPN studio analyst Kevin Weekes on June 26 during the NHL draft that Marchenko isn't interested in signing a long-term extension with Columbus.
Marchenko, 26, met with reporters after practice Sept. 18 at Nationwide Arena.
Facing a line of questions requesting insight on why Marchenko appears to want a change of scenery, the jovial Russian forward rolled out a song-and-dance routine the likes of which hadn't been seen around the building since Artemi Panarin launched into a similar one with the help of a translator provided by Milstein in 2018-19.
"I forget all English ... in Russia," Marchenko said, smiling. "I know only words about hockey right now. Let's go."
"Whoa ... on the ice," Marchenko said. "On the ice, where I can play. On the ice. Puck, not ball. Puck hockey. Ice hockey, and, we'll see."
Asked about the ESPN report at the draft, Marchenko tried to play coy.
"Really?" he said. "I didn't see that."
The smile he flashed a second later begged to differ.
"No, guys, it's ... I don't know, my goal, I told you, I play hockey," Marchenko said. "I can talk only about hockey. It's not my side. Business side, it's on [Blue Jackets president/general manager Don Waddell] and Dan [Milstein], and they figure out everything. My goal [is] to be ready, on the ice."
After agreeing that ultimately he makes the call about where he'll play, Marchenko again deflected a direct question about whether he wants to play in Columbus.
"It's too many good questions right now," he said. "I want to play hockey. That's what I can say right now, and I don't want to give you guys a lot of things. I just love [my] teammates, I love to enjoy the practices and enjoy the hockey. It's my favorite thing in the world, and I just do my job."
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 14: Mike Yastrzemski #18 of the Atlanta Braves high fives Sean Murphy #12 after hitting a two-run home run against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on September 14, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This is an important weekend of games for the Atlanta Braves, who can clinch a playoff spot with a win (or Diamondbacks loss) on Friday night. A win would also trim the magic number to clinch the National League East to four (or even three) pending what the Phillies do at Citi Field on Friday night. Following a frustrating series loss in Chicago to the Cubs, the Braves will turn to deadline acquisition Tyler Mahle to right the ship.
In the series opener, manager Walt Weiss is sending out his usual cast of characters to face Astros righty Peter Lambert. Drake Baldwin is leading off and playing DH, Sean Murphy is catching and batting ninth, and Mauricio Dubon, who the Braves acquired from the Astros last November, is batting fifth behind Baldwin, Ronald Acuña Jr., Matt Olson and Michael Harris.
Lambert has been on quite the run for Houston, allowing three runs or fewer in all but one start since the beginning of July.
As for the Astros, AL MVP frontrunner Yordan Alvarez is in his customary No. 2 spot in the order. Jeremy Peña leads off, the dangerous Isaac Paredes hits third, and buzzer boy himself Jose Altuve bats cleanup.
ROAD WARRIORS: Two wins this weekend will give the Cubs 42 for the season on the road, matching their total of last year, when they finished 42-39. They are 40-35 this year. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
MORE ON ROAD GAMES: This year vs. last year: First games of road trips: 7-5, 4-8. First games of series on road: 12-12, 9-17. First games on road after winning last game of previous series: 8-4, 4-10. Night games on the road: 30-19, 28-27. Road games on Friday: 7-5, 4-9 (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
RUN WATCH: The Cubs’ 817 runs scored are their most through 153 games in 91 years. They scored 846 in 1935, which is their third most since 1901, behind 965 in 1930 and 973 in 1929. The Cubs played 156 games in 1929 and 1930, finishing with 982 and a team-record 998 runs, respectively. They tallied 855 in 161 games in 2008 and 847 in 154 games in 1935. At their current rate of 5.34 per game, the Cubs will finish this year with 865, third most by 10 over 2008. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
WALK WATCH: The Cubs have 643 walks through 153 games. With nine games remaining, they need 14 more walks to break the franchise record of 656, which was set in 2016.
With one exception — a meltdown against the Marlins — Clay Holmes has been outstanding for the Cubs. He very well could be the Game 1 starter in a Wild Card series.
First things first, Holmes has not faced the Reds since July 19, 2025 in Citi Field, where they scored five runs (four earned) off him in 5.1 innings. Hopefully tonight will be better.
Current Reds are a small sample size 4-for-25 against him with five strikeouts.
Chase Burns is not only the Reds’ best starter, he’s been one of the best in the league this year, currently with a 2.80 ERA, 1.150 WHIP and 4.9 bWAR.
He held the Cubs to three runs (two earned) in 5.2 innings Aug. 30 at Wrigley Field. Pete Crow-Armstrong homered off him.
Burns has been held to three innings in each of his last two starts and the expectation tonight is that he’ll do the same, no more than about 50-55 pitches.
Please visit our SB Nation Reds site Red Reporter. If you do go there to interact with Reds fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.
The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.
You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).
At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.
The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.
You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 17: Jared Young #29 of the New York Mets is carried off the field on a stretcher after a collision at first base with teammate Nolan McLean during the sixth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citi Field on September 17, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Mets have placed Jared Young on the seven-day concussion IL and have called up Ronny Mauricio to take his place on the roster. Unsurprisingly, Young’s 2026 season is over following a scary collision in which he took Nolan McLean’s knee at full force to the head while both players tried to field a ground out in Thursday’s loss.
Andy Green confirmed the news on Young but expressed optimism at his prognosis, saying Young is doing “as good as expected or could be hoped for.” The really great news is that Young has full motion of his arms and legs and is able to walk, according to Green, which seems to indicate that he has avoided a worst-case scenario. Green added that they got the “right kind of results” from the tests that they ran on Young, and that his sense of humor remains in tact, though he appears to be suffering from some short-term memory loss and bad headaches. The team will run more tests to “understand all that he is dealing with” and Green noted that there is optimism “from a recovery standpoint and a getting back on the field at some point standpoint”. He expressed relief at the prognosis.
Young enjoyed a really terrific campaign for the Mets and lamented the fact that he would not be able to finish strong to Green. The first baseman posted career-best numbers across the board, hitting nine home runs, driving in 39, and scoring 46 runs while slashing .266/.330/.429 with a 111 wRC+ with 1.7 bWAR in 103 games. The 31-year-old has positioned himself to be in the conversation for first base heading into the 2027 campaign, and hopefully for Young, the injury recovery will not derail that journey, as he finally seemed to find a good situation that allowed him to thrive and gave him space to contribute.
Mauricio will get the final week-and-a-half of the season to showcase his talents and try to fight for a spot on next year’s team. Mauricio has struggled at the major league level, posting -0.5 bWAR in just 17 games played. He’s hitting .180/.180/.26o with one home run in 50 plate appearances.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 18: Kylor Kelley #61 of the Orlando Magic wears Nike shoes against the Dallas Mavericks in the first half of a 2025 NBA Summer League game at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 18, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Mavericks defeated the Magic 92-69. 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 Candice Ward/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Jose Sharks kicked off their 2026 Training Camp on Thursday, and didn't wait long to make a major announcement. Yesterday afternoon, the Sharks announced that they have signed head coach Ryan Warsofsky to a multi-year contract extension, but didn't elaborate any further.
Warsofsky was heading into the final season of his current contract and his status has been a major topic of debate on social media over the summer. Now, the Sharks have committed their future to the 38-year-old bench boss. Of course, as we saw with the Edmonton Oilers, there's little job security for an NHL head coach as they relieved Kris Knoblauch of his duties before his new contract even started. While the Sharks made it clear they think Warsofsky is their guy, results will be as important as ever moving forward.
Through 164 games as an NHL head coach, Warsofsky has a record of 59-85-20 for 138 points of a possible 328.
The Chicago Blackhawks were on the ice for day two of training camp on Friday. They continued to keep the NHL group separated from the non-NHL group.
They are also starting to get some strategies in order ahead of their first preseason game, which will come on Saturday night when they take on the Minnesota Wild at Grand Casino Arena.
One of those things that they worked on was the power play. Chicago struggled in this department in 2025-26, but they added a handful of players who will be able to help them with the man advantage.
The first unit to get reps was the exact unit that you'd expect to see, knowing that Connor Bedard can't be a part of it due to his continued recovery from shoulder surgery.
Tyler Bertuzzi
Patrick Kane - Roman Kantserov - Anton Frondell
Bowen Byram
A few weeks ago, the Blackhawks started to hint at the idea of Kantserov getting some time at center. Well, he hasn't played the position yet at even strength in practice, but he is getting chances there on this top power-play unit.
Tyler Bertyzzi is the net-front man, as he was elite at it last year; Bowen Byram is operating the point, and Patrick Kane and Anton Frondell are working the half-walls. Kane is a lot more creative with the puck when he has the time and space, but Frondell has a wicked one-time blast that he can bring from the dot.
When Bedard comes back, either Roman Kantserov or Anton Frondell will come off and move to the second unit, which will likely feature guys like Nick Lardis, Frank Nazar, Ryan Donato, and Teuvo Teravainen, amongst others. The depth that this team is capable of having on the power play should give their overall percentage a boost.
Although the new additions up front (Kane and Kantserov) are nice, it is Bowen Byram who will make the biggest difference. A puck-moving defenseman with his skills should open things up for every other player on the ice in that man-advantage situation. This is also his first opportunity to quarterback a number one unit in the NHL regularly, so there is motivation there.
The non-NHL group will travel to Minnesota, so this unit will have to wait to get some game action, but expect to see them at the United Center on Monday.
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WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 24: Cade Cavalli #24 of the Washington Nationals waits in the dugout for the start of a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Nationals Park on July 24, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After reports emerged last night that the Nats were closing in on an extension with Cade Cavalli, the team made it official this afternoon. The 28 year old right hander is signing a 4-year contract that includes a club option for a 5th year. Those first four years will cost $47 million and the team option is for $23 million.
The Nationals have finalized a four-year contract extension with starter Cade Cavalli, with a club option for 2031.
It will pay Cavalli $47 million guaranteed and $70 million if the option is picked up, source tells @TheAthletic.
This is not some super long term deal, but given Cavalli’s age and team control that makes sense. After this season, Cavalli had three more years of club control. That means that the Nats will be buying out at least one free agent year with a chance to buy out a second.
With that context, a five year deal always felt like the sweet spot. That is pretty much what this contract is. If the club option is picked up, it will be a 5 year $70 million deal. That is actually $10 million less than what I predicted this morning.
That feels like a great length and takes Cavalli right through his prime years. By the end of the fifth season, Cavalli will be 33 years old. This deal means that Cade Cavalli will spend his prime years in DC. That should be music to Nationals fans ears.
In their announcement of the deal, both Paul Toboni and Mark Lerner were quoted. They spoke of Cavalli’s resilience and character, as well as his baseball ability. That resilience was really tested in Cavalli’s journey. As we know, his Tommy John recovery was less than smooth. About 18 months ago, this day felt very unlikely, but here we are.
This contract has been well earned and feels like a great deal for both sides. For the team, they lock up their ace for four to five years. Meanwhile, Cavalli gets long term security after his career looked to be in jeopardy only a couple years ago.
If Cavalli continues to pitch like he has this year, the deal will be a bargain. On the season, Cavalli has a 3.12 ERA with 194 strikeouts in 164.2 innings. The newly extended Cavalli will have a chance to get his 200th strikeout tonight against the Cardinals.
This is a massive day for both Cavalli and the Nats. It is a statement that the Nats are actively looking to keep core pieces in the building long term. You can question whether the deal should have been longer, but it is done and Cavalli will be a National for the foreseeable future.
Tonight will be a celebration of Cade Cavalli and his new contract. Hopefully he can continue to do what he has been doing all season and deliver another quality start. This is a big win for the Nats and hopefully this is the first of many extensions.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 12: Starting pitcher Kumar Rocker #80 of the Texas Rangers walks to the dugout during the second inning of the MLB game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on September 12, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Texas Rangers lineup for September 18, 2026 against the Toronto Blue Jays: starting pitchers are Kumar Rocker for the Rangers and Dylan Cease for the Jays.
Its the beginning of a three game set at home against the team that is currently tied with the Rangers in the Wild Card race. Exciting September baseball is on tap.
The lineup:
Duran — 3B
Seager — SS
Jung — DH
Nimmo — RF
Langford — LF
Burger — 1B
Lopez — 2B
Diaz — C
Carter — CF
7:05 p.m. Central start time. Rangers are +115 underdogs.
The Mets placed first baseman Jared Young on the injured list with a concussion and called-up Ronny Mauricio from Triple-A Syracuse, but the news was positive after Young's scary injury in Thursday's game.
"All the tests that were ran, he got the right kind of results," Green said. "He has got his sense of humor in tact, I've texted back and forth with him quite a bit today, he also lamented not being able to finish the season on the active roster and continue playing; he was gonna finish strong.
The Mets announced Young had feeling in his extremities and was being taken to the hospital for further evaluation. He flashed a thumbs-up to the crowd as he was exiting the field on a cart.
Young was discharged from the hospital sometime in the early hours of Friday morning and able to go home. He has "full motion of his arms and legs," and is dealing with a concussion, the manager said on Friday, adding he is experiencing some "short-term memory loss" and a "pretty bad headache."
"More tests over the next few days to really understand all that he is dealing with," the skipper added. "But everything we have heard has been really optimistic from a recovery standpoint, from getting back on the field eventually standpoint.
"Relieved, I think everybody is. His family, all in all, about as good as we could hope for."
Young, 31, was having a breakout year for the club. In 103 games, he has tallied 29 extra-base hits (nine home runs) with a .266/.330/.429 slash line for a .759 OPS (112 OPS+ and 111 wRC+). Before the 2026 season, Young had played just 44 big-league games for the Mets and Cubs since his MLB debut in 2022.
The Mets plan to use Mark Vientos and Brett Baty at first base for the remainder of the season. Christopher Morel could also see time at first, Green added.
Mauricio, 25, has played 17 games this year for the Mets, with nine hits in 50 at-bats (.180) for a .440 OPS. In 71 games with Syracuse, he has 18 home runs and 57 RBI while batting .261 with a .795 OPS.
Since making his big league debut in 2023, Mauricio has posted a .226/.278/.345 slash line for a .623 OPS in 104 games. A natural shortstop, he has also spent time at second base and third base.
DENVER, COLORADO - APRIL 6: Matisse Thybulle #4 of the Portland Trail Blazers reacts to a play in the fourth quarter against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena on April 6, 2026 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 Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After the Lakers’ four presumed starters, all other spots in the rotation are up for grabs as training camp begins. A summer defined by change and considerable turnover moved in a hopeful direction toward more defense with some key acquisitions.
Veteran Marcus Smart walked to Houston in free agency, leaving behind a clear position of need. Enter Matisse Thybulle, who on arrival instantly becomes the highest-pedigree perimeter defender on the roster. Health permitting, he brings elite disruption ability with an improved outside shot for much-needed two-way play around Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves.
Thybulle entered just 30 games last season for the Trail Blazers and 15 the season before that. That’s why he was available to LA to sign on a minimum contract. While still just 29 years old, he’s a player LA will need to manage throughout the regular season.
When he’s on the floor, he’s no short of a defensive monster. The 6’5” wing boasts a 7’1” wingspan to terrorize offensive players. He made Second Team All-Defense in 2021 and 2022 as a Philadelphia 76er.
One of the league’s most chaos-inducing defensive playmakers. His excellent hands help obstruct diverse offensive actions. Watch below as he defends the guard-to-guard screen against superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The screener slips the screen to counter the switch. Thybulle not only reads it, but also times it to put his hand out, deflect the pass and catch the turnover.
He can also prey on unsuspecting offensive players. Watch below as Giannis Antetokounmpo looks to take advantage in the post near the baseline. Thybulle quickly rushes over to swarm and his cat-like swipe pokes the ball out of his hands before he can begin his attack.
For players averaging under 20 minutes per game, Thybulle led the league with 3.9 deflections per game. Alex Caruso came in second with 3.1. He also led the Blazers’ talented perimeter defensive personnel with two steals per night.
Throughout his career, Thybulle has been a thorn in the side of the league’s top ball-handling playmakers. In his limited games, Portland matched him up on all types of stars and he held his own. Whether it’s against isolation or ball screen actions, his wingspan and textbook technique give him the tools to be an elite on-ball defender.
In the clip below, he’s matched up with Jaylen Brown. He chases him around the screen, negating any first-step advantage. While attached to the hip, he contests with his right hand and blocks the shot, forcing a jump ball.
In the next clip, he does the same to Jamal Murray coming off a dribble handoff action. Thybulle goes under the screen, beats Murray to the spot, and gets the block.
Thybulle gave up just 0.54 points per possession when defending pick-and-roll ball handlers, putting him in the 100th percentile league-wide. He has a knack for getting timely blocks on contests from behind when players think they’ve created separation.
Portland had a 113.5 defensive rating, good for 12th in the league last year. It shifted to an elite 99.8 when Thybulle was on the floor, where he led the team in overall net rating at a +9.
Not only the numbers, but his reputation and resume have Thybulle as one of the best defenders on the roster, if not at the top behind big-man addition Walker Kessler. The offense is where he, like many others vying for minutes, will need to be serviceable to earn ample playing time.
He will not be asked to do anything outside of his comfort zone. Playmaking and shot creation are accounted for, allowing him to do what he does best. He shot 38.8% on catch-and-shoot 3-pointers last season, including 44% on wide-open attempts.
Thybulle should get more of those attempts than he could dream of on this roster. Defensive schemes haven’t caught up to or respected the percentages, and he will likely still be the guy teams leave wide open when given the choice.
He has limited offensive versatility, as 69% of his shot attempts came from behind the arc. He drives less than three times per game and doesn’t get to the line often.
Even with those offensive limitations, the Lakers desperately need a player with his skill set and playoff experience. With the offensive load Luka and Reaves will carry, finding defensive talent to pair around them was crucial this summer. Thybulle slides in as an elite option…if he can stay relatively healthy.
