The game's Ultra Edition cover will feature former NBA player Derrick Rose, and the Deluxe Edition will have Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark gracing the cover. The three cover athletes have each been the No. 1 overall pick in their drafts and went on to win the Rookie of the Year award in their respective leagues.
Wembanyama is coming off a season in which he averaged 25 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks per game.
He was named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year and a first-team All-NBA selection, helping the Spurs reach the NBA Finals, which they lost in five games to the New York Knicks.
We are not alone 👽
Victor Wembanyama has landed as your NBA 2K27 Standard Edition Cover Athlete
"When you're truly obsessed with basketball, the game doesn't stop when you leave the arena. NBA 2K is the court that never locks up, it's always open whether you're in Paris or San Antonio. It's how you study the game, sharpen your IQ, and live basketball 24/7," Wembanyama said in a statement. "To be the face of a game that fuels that hunger for hoops and whose covers immortalize the all-time greats, that’s a dream come true for me."
NBA 2K27 will launch on Sept. 4, 2026, on PlayStation 5, XBOX Series X|S, PC via Steam, and Nintendo Switch. The standard edition of the game will cost $69.99; the Deluxe Edition will be $99.99, and for the Ultra Edition, consumers will have to fork over $149.99, with limited availability through Sept. 6.
This game is priced as a coin flip, with Chicago and Texas both carrying -110 odds on the moneyline.
Anthony Kay is not pitching as well as his results indicate, and the lefty-mashing Rangers should take full advantage of that.
Let's break it all down with my White Sox vs. Rangers predictions and MLB picks for Wednesday, July 22.
Who will win White Sox vs Rangers today: Texas Rangers moneyline (-110)
Anthony Kay’s 3.15 ERA has masked the fact he owns a 4.85 xFIP over the last 30 days.
The southpaw is playing with fire, and there’s real potential he gets burned against the Texas Rangers.
They have hammered left-handed pitching unlike any other team, ranking first in average, OPS, and wOBA since June 1.
The Chicago White Sox sit 21st in wOBA vs. right-handed pitching this month. They’re in a bit of a rut, which should help Cal Quantrill avoid a blow up.
Back the Rangers to take the rubber match up to -125.
White Sox vs Rangers Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (-120)
Kay has posted an xERA of 5.05 or worse in three of his last four starts. He’s allowing a lot of quality contact and it’ll be tough to get the cat back in the bag against an offense feasting on lefties.
While the White Sox haven’t lit it up of late, this is a good spot to get on track. They’ll see a lot of Quantrill, who ranks in the 21st percentile in barrel rate and has allowed 2.14 homers per nine innings the last month. That should play well for their power.
Bet to -130.
Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 62-50, +1.15 units
Over/Under bets: 62-45-5, +9.34 units
White Sox vs Rangers weather
This game will be played in a dome.
White Sox vs Rangers odds
Moneyline: Chicago -110 | Texas -110
Run line: Chicago -1.5 (+150) | Texas +1.5 (-175)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-120) | Under 8.5 (+100)
White Sox vs Rangers trend
Texas has hit the Game Total Over in 18 of the last 24 home games (+11.35 units, 42% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for White Sox vs. Rangers.
How to watch White Sox vs Rangers and game info
Location
Globe Life Field, Arlington, TX
Date
Wednesday, July 22, 2026
First pitch
8:05 p.m. ET
TV
CHSN, RSN
White Sox starting pitcher
Anthony Kay (6-4, 4.24 ERA)
Rangers starting pitcher
Cal Quantrill (3-2, 3.93 ERA)
White Sox vs Rangers latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Los Angeles (64-38) tied up the series with Philadelphia (56-46) after a 2-1 win thanks to a base running blunder from JT Realmuto in the bottom of the ninth inning.
The Dodgers are 3-2 in the five games since the break and scored two or fewer runs in three of those five games. Los Angeles is holding a .218 batting average in the second half of the season (24th) and have the seventh-fewest amount of hits (36). Eric Lauer takes the mound for the Dodgers as they are a perfect 7-0 since acquiring him. Lauer has a 3.12 ERA with Los Angeles over seven starts after a 6.69 ERA in eight starts with Toronto this year.
Philadelphia has alternated wins and losses over the last five games to start the second half of the season. Despite hitting .244 (15th) to start the second half, the Phillies are tied sixth with nine home runs over five games and eighth in SLG (.476). The Phillies have lost four straight games with Aaron Nola on the mound as he's surrendered 15 combined runs in that span. Nola has a 5.60 ERA over his last five games and is coming off a June where he posted a 6.67 ERA.
Let’s dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.
Game details & how to watch Dodgers at Phillies
Date: Wednesday, July 22, 2026
Time: 6:40 PM EST
Site: Citizens Bank Park
City: Philadelphia, PA
Network/Streaming: MLB TV
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
Odds for the Dodgers at the Phillies
The latest odds as of Wednesday:
Moneyline: Los Angeles Dodgers (-120), Philadelphia Phillies (+100)
Spread: Phillies +1.5 (-156), Dodgers -1.5 (+129)
Total: 9.5
Probable starting pitchers for Dodgers at Phillies
Wednesday's pitching matchup (July 22): Eric Lauer vs. Aaron Nola
The Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani is hitting .287 with 102 hits, 22 home runs and 60 RBI over 356 at-bats
The Dodgers’ Mookie Betts is hitting .234 with 60 hits and 34 strikeouts over 256 at-bats
The Phillies’ Brandon Marsh is hitting .290 with 104 hits, 16 home runs, and 47 RBI over 359 at-bats
The Phillies’ Alec Bohm is hitting .222 with 80 hits and 60 strikeouts over 360 at-bats
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Dodgers at Phillies
The Dodgers are 45-57 ATS, ranking fourth-worst
The Phillies are an MLB-worst 40-62 ATS
The Dodgers are 55-47 to the Under, ranking ninth-best
The Phillies are 55-42-5 to the Under, ranking second-best
The Dodgers are 27-25 ATS on the road
The Phillies are 20-31 ATS at home, ranking fourth-worst
Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Phillies and the Dodgers
Rotoworld Bet Best Bet
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Wednesday's game between the Phillies and the Dodgers:
Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Dodgers on the Moneyline.
Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Dodgers at -1.5.
Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Under on the Game Total of 9.5
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The first-place Tampa Bay Rays (58-42) will look to make it three straight this week against the struggling Toronto Blue Jays (46-55) tonight at Rogers Centre. Tampa Bay has dominated the first two games of this series, outscoring Toronto 19-3. With the Yankees rained out yesterday, the Rays’ lead in the AL East is now two games. Meanwhile, the Jays are firmly entrenched in the AL East cellar, 12.5 games behind Tampa Bay.
Last night was all Tampa Bay beginning with a three-run first. The Rays pounded out a 12-2 victory, following up Monday's 7-1 win with another offensive explosion. Yandy Díaz led the charge, going 2-for-6 with a home run, three RBIs, and a run scored. On the mound, Drew Rasmussen earned the victory, allowing just two runs on seven hits over five innings while striking out five. Toronto starter Kevin Gausman never found his rhythm, surrendering five runs (four earned) on nine hits in only 3.1 innings, suffering his ninth loss of the season.
Griffin Jax (5-7, 4.08 ERA) gets the ball for Tampa Bay tonight seeking his sixth win of the season. Through 26 appearances, the right-hander has logged 75 innings with 77 strikeouts and a respectable 1.27 WHIP. He is looking to right the ship after a brutal outing last week in which he allowed seven runs on eight hits over just five innings in a 10-0 loss to the Red Sox in Boston. His previous two starts this month yielded better results: one run allowed in five innings against Seattle on July 11 and three runs over five innings against the Yankees on July 6.
It’s a bullpen game for Toronto who counters with right-hander Braydon Fisher (3-3, 3.65 ERA). Fisher has quietly been one of Toronto's more effective pitchers this season but has yet to pitch more than 1.2 innings in any outing this season. He did throw one inning Monday against the Rays giving up a couple hits and a run. The Rays have limited history against Fisher, though Yandy Díaz is 2-for-4 (.500) with a 1.100 OPS against him.
Lets dive into tonight’s matchup and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
The Latest Odds: Rays vs. Blue Jays
The latest odds as of Wednesday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Tampa Bay Rays (-107), Toronto Blue Jays (-112)
Spread: Rays -1.5 (+159), Blue Jays +1.5 (-194)
Total: 8.0 runs
Probable Starting Pitchers and their Stats: Rays vs. Blue Jays for July 22
Blue Jays: Braydon Fisher Season Totals: 49.1 IP, 3-3, 3.65 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 50K, 22 BB
Who’s Hot? Who’s Not! Rays vs. Blue Jays
George Springer has done damage against Griffin Jax with 2 home runs and a .429 average in 7 ABs
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is just 1-for-9 (.111) against Jax
Junior Caminero has hit safely in 6 straight games (10-26)
Jonathan Aranda is 3-11 in this series
Andres Gimenez is 0-9 over his last 3 games and just 5-38 (.132) in July
Nathan Lukes is 3-8 in this series
Chandler Simpson is 5-8 in this series
Simpson has hit safely in 4 straight games (9-16)
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top Betting Trends & Insights: Rays vs. Blue Jays
The Rays are 59-41 on the Run Line this season
The Blue Jays are 45-56 on the Run Line this season
The OVER has cashed 46 times in Tampa’s 100 games this season (46-49-5)
The OVER has cashed 52 times in the Blue Jays’ 101 games this season (52-45-4)
Expert picks & predictions: Rays vs. Blue Jays
Rotoworld Bet Best Bet
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for tonight’s game between the Rays and the Blue Jays:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Rays on the Moneyline.
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Rays on the Run Line.
Total: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Game Total OVER 8.0.
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The NHL has entered the “mostly quiet” portion of the off-season. Some contracts have been signed and arbitration cases avoided, but nothing major has happened in a while.
With that in mind, a lot of good players are still free agents looking for new NHL homes. Some of them are former New Jersey Devils players who got regular playing time back in the day.
Whether it is with the Devils or elsewhere, these five are looking for work within the National Hockey League:
Adam Henrique
Adam Henrique is the most well-known out of every player on this list. He was once a part of New Jersey’s core and one of their leaders on and off the ice. Henrique scored two series-clinching goals in overtime for New Jersey during the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs, including the Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Rangers.
Now, at age 34, he is hoping for another ride with an NHL team. He would be nothing more than a solid bottom-six forward if he were healthy, but he has plenty of experience in the league to help someone out.
Luke Glendening
Luke Glendening started the 2025-26 season as a member of the New Jersey Devils before being claimed on waivers by the Philadelphia Flyers. They became the 5th NHL team that he played for once claimed, and he managed to play 70 total games between the two clubs.
The 37-year-old is looking for work in a bottom-six role, much like Henrique. Although his offensive output was never as high as Henrique’s, he knows how to play a smart game as a role player just the same.
Nathan Bastian
Nathan Bastian spent the first couple of years of his NHL career with the New Jersey Devils before the Seattle Kraken selected him in their expansion draft. Then, after a few months of playing there, he was placed on waivers, and the Devils claimed him back.
He then signed a one-year deal with the Dallas Stars ahead of the 2025-26 season, but he only appeared in 36 games. Now, he is an unrestricted free agent again, looking for a role somewhere.
An NHL team would be getting a fourth-line forward who brings some physicality in Nathan Bastian. He has also shown the ability to score goals from time to time, which is valuable for a player playing that low in the lineup.
If he can contribute 7-12 goals for his next team as a physical bottom-line player who makes the team harder to play against, he will make his next organization happy to have him.
Tomas Nosek
Tomas Nosek, who played in 36 games for the New Jersey Devils in 2023-24, has been a journeyman in the NHL, playing for five total teams since making his NHL debut in 2015. Now, the 2025 Stanley Cup champion (Florida Panthers) is looking for the next team that he can have a bottom-six role with.
Nosek has never been a prolific player, mostly being a fourth-liner during his NHL tenure, but he has proven valuable as a good team's 13th forward who can hop in and out of the lineup.
Evgenii Dadonov
Evgenii Dadonov has played for six NHL teams over the course of his career, with a KHL stint in the middle. In the NHL, he has been a great offensive player. In 641 games played, he has 164 goals and 198 assists for 362 points.
He is no longer a middle-six forward, as his 2025-26 season with the New Jersey Devils would show. He scored 1 goal (no assists) in 24 games played with them. Now, he is looking for one final run in the NHL at 37 years old.
New Jersey wishes things had gone differently for him in 2025-26, but not every signing is going to hit. If he doesn't find work, he is likely going to return to Russia.
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Did someone with the Miami Heat leak LeBron James' decision before he did? The Heat deny it, but in a vacuum of information about where LeBron will play next season and when it will be announced, it took on a life of its own.
Someone with the Heat posted a link to a YouTube stream titled "LeBron James Introductory Press Conference | July 27, 2026" and that quickly took off on social media.
The Miami Heat’s official YouTube channel had LeBron’s introductory press conference scheduled for July 27
The Heat instantly denied it, telling the Miami Herald and ESPN’s Shams Charania that this was simply Miami's social media team preparing for the possibility of LeBron choosing the Heat and they accidentally put the link live for a minute. The Heat deny it has any meaning.
LeBron James going to Miami, joining forces with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo, has reportedly been one of the frontrunner options for the 41-year-old four-time champion and four-time MVP. Cleveland, Philadelphia and Golden State also have been frontrunners at various points, and Minnesota is still in the mix according to reports.
But nobody really knows. LeBron and his agent Rich Paul have kept a tight circle — anyone saying they have a "source" who knows when the announcement is coming or where he is going is just going for clicks. Everyone around the league has guesses — people NBC Sports has spoken to expect Cleveland — but nobody really knows, and if LeBron wants to be somewhere that can compete to win the East Miami is a good bet and a good basketball fit for him.
Brandon product Matt Calvert is heading back to the NHL.
The Nashville Predators have announced that the former big league forward has joined the organization as its new Forward Development Coach, where he'll work closely with the Predators' forward prospects.
Photo by Joe Camporeale/USA Today
Calvert, now 36, played 11 NHL seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets and Colorado Avalanche, recording 95 goals and 203 points in 566 career games before retiring in 2021 due to injury.
Prior to his time in the NHL, Calvert made his name as a hometown kid on the Brandon Wheat Kings, where he put up well over a point-per-game in three full seasons of WHL play.
Since ending his playing career, Calvert has served as co-founder and director of recruitment and development for CAL Sports Management, a player agency based out of Winnipeg and Brandon.
The hiring reunites Calvert with Predators' recently hired president of hockey operations and general manager Chris MacFarland, who was part of Colorado's front office during Calvert's time with the Avalanche.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 12: Kevin Alvarez #17 of the Houston Astros runs to second base in the seventh inning during the 2026 MLB All-Star Futures Game at Citizens Bank Park on July 12, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Another day of minor league baseball is in the books. See the results below.
AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (48-48) won 3-2 (BOX SCORE)
Sugar Land got on the board in the 2nd inning on a Guillemette groundout. Hendrickson started for Sugar Land and pitched well allowing 2 runs over 6 innings while striking out 7. Sugar Land tied it up in the 6th on a Brooks RBI single. The bullpen pitched well keeping the game tied at 2 and in the bottom of the 10th, Biggio walked it off as Sugar Land won 3-2.
Note: Ullola has a 1.47 ERA in relief for Sugar Land.
Michael Knorr, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
Logan VanWey, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
Alimber Santa, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
Miguel Ullola, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K (WIN)
AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (42-49) lost 7-6 (BOX SCORE)
The Hooks got on the board in the first inning scoring 3 runs on an Austin RBI single, an error and a Call solo home run. They got another run in the 4th inning on a Whitaker solo home run. Dombroski started for the Hooks and allowed 3 runs over 4.1 innings. Perez came on in relief in the 8th but struggled allowing 3 runs as the Sod Poodles took the lead. The Hooks got one back in the 8th inning on an Encarnacion RBI single. David allowed a run in the 9th and in the bottom of the 9th, the Hooks got a run on a Call RBI single but that was it as the Hooks fell 7-6.
Jack Dashwood, LHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
Railin Perez, RHP: 1.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
Ramsey David, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
A+: Asheville Tourists (32-57) POSTPONED
A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (45-44) won 7-0 (BOX SCORE)
The Woodpeckers got on the board in the first inning on an Alvarez solo home run. In the 2nd inning, the offense put up 2 runs on a Newman groundout and Wakefield RBI single. They scored 2 more runs in the 3rd inning on a wild pitch and Fielder RBI single. The offense continued to add on with an Alvarez RBI single in the 4th and Newman sac fly in the 6th. Fraide got the start and pitched well striking out 6 over 5 innings. The game was called in the 6th inning due to rain as Fayetteville won 7-0.
Note: Fraide has a 2.38 ERA this season in Fayetteville.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 21: A glove and ball in the dugout before the Los Angeles Dodgers faced the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium on September 21, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Without loads of individual brilliance, the player of the day pick was clear with a dominating outing in Single-A.
Player of the day
Will Gagnon was nearly untouchable for the Tower Buzzers, delivering his finest performance to this point, holding the Giants to just three hits on his way to winning the game with a season-high 10 punchouts.
Striking people out was never an issue for Gagnon this season, but limiting the opposition to no free passes came as a surprise, something he had not done since the middle of May.
Triple-A Oklahoma City
Waiting until the eighth inning to score all three runs they would in this game certainly didn’t help; nevertheless, the burden of remaining winless this season still falls on the shoulders of Jackson Ferris himself, allowing five runs, four of them earned, in a 7-3 defeat for the Comets.
It is not your day when your leadoff hitter, in this case Alek Thomas, strikes out three times. All the Comets’ scoring came from the bat of Ryan Ward with a three-run shot in the eighth inning.
The River Cats quickly answered with two in the bottom of that frame to keep the last frame drama-free.
Double-A Tulsa
Scoring nine runs, the Drillers’ offense gave the pitching staff a far bigger margin for error than they needed in a 9-2 win, holding the Travelers to a mere three hits the whole game. If Ferris remains winless in Triple-A, Roque Gutierrez knows no other result than a win, earning his seventh with 5.1 scoreless frames, punching out five and walking two.
Producing five hits in nine at-bats with a runner in scoring position, the Drillers offense didn’t even need many extra-base hits for this offensive explosion. Mike Sirota capitalized on the benefits of hitting in front of Kendall George and Josue De Paula with a 2-for-4 performance, driving in a third of his team’s runs.
Outhitting your opponent 12 to 7 doesn’t matter much when you allow a seven-run rally—this is what happened as the Loons were beaten by a score of 9 to 6 by the Lugnuts. A couple of ninth-inning home runs from Charles Davalan and Logan Wagner kept the final score close even if the Loons were not really in it.
Relievers Nicolas Cruz and Justin Chambers were the responsible parties for this seven-run sixth inning that took the Loons out of the game. Starter Sean Patick had a reasonably productive outing, allowing just a pair of runs in five innings of work.
Single-A Ontario
Will Gagnon struck out 10 in six scoreless innings and did so averaging fewer than 12 pitches per frame. With that level of production from its starting pitcher, the Tower Buzzers had to follow through and win this game over the Giants by a final score of 6-2.
There was never anyone on to make these more than solo shots, but leaving the yard three times, the Tower Buzzers scored in five different half-innings. Third baseman Easton Shelton is now one homer away from 30 on the season, responsible for one of those three long balls. One Ontario hitter who didn’t have a good time was Ching-Hsien Ko, striking out four times.
Transactions
Right-handed pitcher Landon Knack was optioned to the Comets, also activating recently acquired reliever Seth Halvorsen. Right-hander Brady Smith was assigned to the Tower Buzzers, while Aidan Foeller was assigned to the Loons.
Tuesday’s scores
Sacramento 7, Oklahoma City 3
Arkansas 2, Tulsa 9
Lansing 9, Great Lakes 6
San Jose 2, Ontario 6
Wednesday’s schedule
12:05 p.m. PT: Oklahoma City (Christian Romero) at Sacramento (TBD)
1:00 p.m. PT: Ontario (TBD) at San Jose (TBD)
4:05 p.m. PT: Great Lakes (Isaac Ayon) at Lansing (Samuel Dutton)
4:35 p.m. PT: Tulsa (Patrick Copen) at Arkansas (Ryan Hawks)
Jul 21, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers left fielder Alejandro Osuna (19) celebrates scoring a run with right fielder Brandon Nimmo (24) during the fourth inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jim Cowsert-Imagn Images | Jim Cowsert-Imagn Images
Morning, all!
The Rangers have agreed to deals with their top three draft picks and introduced them Tuesday.
Lefty reliever Marco Gonzales has joined the big league club, replacing Jose Corniell who is heading to the IL with a flexor tendon issue.
Kyle Higashioka is also headed to the IL with a flexor tendon issue and will be out for an unspecified amount of time.
And, if that wasn’t enough, Josh Jung exited last night’s game with a left calf injury.
Jung hopes to play in today’s finale against Chicago and says that he wanted to play through it last night.
It’s still unclear whether Corey Seager will be back from his tricky back before the August 3rd trade deadline.
Kumar Rocker and Brandon Nimmo were the heroes in last night’swin over the White Sox.
Rocker threw six innings of one hit ball on 10 days rest, and probably still has some left in the tank as he left the game after only 75 pitches.
For 15 games last season, Dylan Cardwell and Maxime Raynaud were part of the group that gave Kings fans something to smile and cheer for with their unique postgame celebrations.
There aren’t many positives that come with a 22-win season, but “The Beam Boys” did their due diligence after the 15 wins at Golden 1 Center. The then-rookie trio of Cardwell, Raynaud and Nique Clifford, and veteran forward Precious Achiuwa, assembled at the center of the G1C court after each home win, sunglasses on and energy up.
It became a wholesome tradition during a season that probably didn’t deserve one.
But The Beam Boys want to be more than a feel-good ritual. They want to impact winning and lead the charge of the cultural makeover in Sacramento.
Cardwell and Raynaud believe that starts with them in Year 2. They want it to.
“I think just the way our team is going right now, we had three young guys last year, we have three more young guys this year, that’s almost half of the team already,” Raynaud told NBC Sports California. “So, if the young guys who, ‘quote, unquote,’ will be the future of the team later on don’t try to buy in and don’t try to set their own culture, we can’t go far. We have a guy that’s been to multiple Final Fours, one championship in college. He knows what it takes to win. And clearly, if you don’t have a self-starter culture, there is no way for you to get it going. Your coaches can only do so much. Your GM can only do so much. We work as a group, and at the end of the day, it’s our responsibility to get it going on the floor, get it going at practice.
“So we just have to be able to set the tone, set that culture, and that is for us, and also for the organization as a whole. The Kings welcomed us with open arms, the city welcomed us with open arms, and that’s also our way to give back.”
After a strong rookie campaign, Raynaud has been viewed as a steal in the 2025 NBA Draft after Scott Perry and Co. snagged him in the second round at No. 42 overall.
With All-Star big man Domantas Sabonis dealing with various injuries last season, Raynaud played 74 games and started 56 for Sacramento. The 7-foot-1 French center averaged 12.5 points on 57.1-percent shooting, with 7.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 26.5 minutes.
While Raynaud has been a success story thus far, his team’s 60 losses in his first taste of NBA action weren’t.
But exit interviews with coach Doug Christie, Perry and B.J. Armstrong hope to spark the beginning of the change. The messaging from the Kings’ brass to Raynaud and Cardwell? Be more vocal.
They have taken that to heart, and they aren’t waiting for the 2026-27 season to start to implement their increased leadership roles. It started with NBA summer league. Dinners. Escape rooms. All the crucial off-the-court, team chemistry stuff. But, perhaps more importantly specific to this team, accountability — on the court — has been massive.
DeMar DeRozan and Russell Westbrook were the vocal veterans last season. With DeRozan gone and Westbrook’s future unknown, who is going to step up and fill that void?
“Why not you, Max and Nique?” Cardwell told NBC Sports California as he recalled what Perry told him at his exit interview. But Cardwell’s initial reservation was that they were only entering their second year in the league.
“So what?” Perry responded.
That is all Cardwell and Raynaud needed to hear.
Three months later in Las Vegas, after a blowout Summer League loss to the Brooklyn Nets, an unrecognizable Cardwell called his team “soft” and said they got “punked” while speaking to reporters. The guy known for his high vibes and positive energy looked and spoke like his team just lost Game 7 of a playoff series. But no, it was summer league.
“We’re trying to build something for next year,” Cardwell said after that game.
Yes, it was a summer league game. But that didn’t matter to Cardwell and Raynaud. They are trying to build good habits and maintain them in all games, regardless of severity. California Classic. Summer League. Preseason. It doesn’t matter.
They want to win.
And they want to win in Sacramento. It means more to them.
“That’s what Scott Perry brought us to do,” Cardwell told NBC Sports California. “It’s very rare that a GM in his first year has that many draft picks and brings that many guys in. And his first choices were Nique, Max, and I. We don’t take that very lightly. We know that with us three, that he was trying to build the foundation of what he wants to do, and so we kind of feel like it is our duty, not just to Scott Perry and B.J. Armstrong, but also to the city of Sacramento. Like, hey, like this is this franchise’s next phase of what we’re trying to do, and winning in Sacramento means a lot because obviously you hear about the 16-year drought. Everyone talks about the Beam Team in 2022, 2023, but it’s like, what can we do? What can our group do to help maintain a level of success, playoff success, hopefully Finals success in Sacramento?
“Sacramento is a great city. They’re a very loyal fan base, but we want to contribute to winning. We want to win here, and I don’t want to go anywhere else. It just goes back to we were Scott Perry and B.J. Armstrong’s first choice, and we don’t take that very lightly.”
It is easier for the guys to buy in and play for someone who’s been there and who gets it.
Christie, although inexperienced as an NBA head coach, was a part of some of the most successful and fun Kings teams in Sacramento.
When you walk into his office, you can’t miss the 2001 “The Greatest Show on Court” Sports Illustrated cover. It was the last time consistent success was showcased in Sacramento. The Kings have made one playoff appearance in 20 years. But walking into Christie’s office and looking at that magazine feature is motivation.
“Doug Christie was one of the guys that led these 2000 teams to one of their best runs in the playoffs for the past couple years, and on a personal level, whenever I get to meet in his office at the facilities, there is this one big poster of Sports Illustrated, which is the starting five, and I don’t know, it just inspires me to see guys that have done it in the past,” Raynaud told NBC Sports California. “There has been a drop ever since; I think it would be awesome for us to be able to bring it back a whole generation later. As competitors and as basketball lovers, that’s our duty. So that’s what we’re trying to do.”
Now it’s time to execute the leadership across a full 82-game season. Raynaud and Cardwell have accepted the challenge to lead a rebuilding team.
It won’t happen overnight. It likely won’t happen next season.
But building a sustainable winner is the goal. And The Beam Boys are eager to lead the way.
Mike Gansey hasn’t even been running the Sixers for two months. Yet his first impression could not have been better as the offseason rolls on and we approach a bit of a dead time on the NBA calendar. Of course, we’re all waiting for the big shoe to drop as LeBron James remains an unrestricted free agent. The fact that the Sixers are even one of the reported finalists should speak volumes to Gansey’s ability to clean up what many would have called a salary cap mess upon his arrival.
Gansey’s three primary additions so far were Jaylen Brown, Anfernee Simons and Labaron Philion. You could lump Dean Wade in there too if you’re optimistic about Wade’s fit in Philadelphia. Gansey’s been busy, but he’s not just making moves to make moves. He’s doing things that should give Sixers fans an optimistic outlook both in the short-term and the long-term.
It goes without saying that adding Brown is an upgrade to Philadelphia’s current starting lineup. The move also makes the franchise’s long-term outlook much brighter with Brown, 30 when the season starts, replacing 36-year-old Paul George. It was always going to be a hard task for Gansey to unload the final two years of George’s contract, but to do so in a trade that brought back Brown should have Sixers fans feeling confident that Gansey can navigate less chummy salary cap waters in the future.
Then there’s the addition of Simons. At 27 years old, Simons signed a two-year deal with the Sixers worth just over $12 million. Simons should take the minutes vacated by the departure of Quentin Grimes and statistically looks like a better player than Grimes was. Gansey was able to cheaply add Simons to the roster in what could be a nice upgrade on the margins. Even if Simons doesn’t play in Philadelphia beyond the duration of this two-year contract, if he’s successful as a Sixer, fans should feel good about Gansey’s ability to make similar cost-effective upgrades to the bench in the future.
Drafting Philon showed another reason for optimism for Sixers fans concerning Gansey’s leadership in the front office. For as easy as it is to look at the current roster heading into a draft and deciding which prospects are the best fits for said roster, we all know that drafting the best player available is a better strategy for long-term sustainability.
Gansey could have prioritized a front court player who would have had a faster pathway to lots of playing time. He could have avoided a guard and dodged the criticism that comes with taking a guard with the top draft asset that came back in the Jared McCain trade. But Gansey must have seen a potential with Philon and the team’s starting guards Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe. He also likely viewed Philon as a player that could make a bigger long-term impact than some of the bigs that he would have selected and that’s what the draft is all about.
While you might not be as bullish on the acquisition of Wade, Gansey had a relationship with Wade from their time together in Cleveland that had to have helped in bringing the veteran forward to Philadelphia. Relationships, no matter how small, are always going to be a part of running a front office and Gansey has already displayed a good ability to maintain previous relationships.
These are all positive signs for the franchise moving forward. A lot of them probably factored into the Sixers getting a seat at the table when it comes to the LeBron James sweepstakes. If they’re in the conversation for LeBron, regardless of how old he is, that’s a sign that the guy in charge of the front office is doing a good job.
We have our cover athletes for NBA 2K27, and once again the three-tier system of NBA star, WNBA star, and recent Hall of Fame inductee is reigning supreme. 2K Sports gave SB Nation an early look at the covers, before releasing them to the world on Wednesday and here’s a full look at both the different designs, as well as what the different versions of the game entail.
Victor Wembanyama (Standard Edition — $69.99)
Base game, launching September 5, 2026
Caitlin Clark (Deluxe Edition — $99.99)
100,000 VC MyCAREER content (25x 6 Types of Skill Boosts, 25x 3 Types of Gatorade Boosts, Victor Wembanyama Jersey, Caitlin Clark Jersey, and a 2HR 2XP Coin.
MyTEAM content (Full ’27: Series 1Team Selection, Triple Threat Park Free Agent Pack, 5x ’27: Series 1 Packs, and a 2HR2XP Coin.
Includes Early Access starting on August 28, 2026, up to one week before worldwide release.
Derrick Rose (Ultra Edition — $149.99)
Includes everything in the Deluxe Edition, plus an additional 35,000 VC.
Season 1 ProPass, and the Summer Season Pass Pro Pass Bundle (Seasons 7–9 Pro Pass, releasing in Summer 2027)
Roses Oversize Hoodie in MyCAREER
Premium SKUMyTEAM Player Cards, which includes a guaranteed 98 OVR card (December 2026) and a guaranteed Invincible card (May 2027).
The decision to make Wemby, Clark, and Rose the cover athletes was explained by 2K
“Victor Wembanyama, Caitlin Clark, and Derrick Rose each come from different worlds, but they share the same obsession that has altered the trajectory of the game,” said Zak Armitage, SVP & GM of NBA 2K. “Wembanyama has broken the mold for what a big man can be and keeps breaking it. Clark is pulling up from the logo, not just redefining what range looks like, but thewomen’s game entirely. And Rose changed what it meant to be a point guard – explosive, physical, unstoppable – and when faced with setbacks, his hunger for the game is what brought him back. None of them have an off switch, and that same relentless drive is what defines NBA 2K27”
The first gameplay trailer for NBA 2K27 will release on July 28.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JULY 20: Joshua Kuroda-Grauer #44 of the Athletics lays in the batters box after getting hit by a foul ball against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the fifth inning at Chase Field on July 20, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Happy Wednesday A’s fans!
This afternoon, the Athletics will wrap up a three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks before flying to Minneapolis to take on the Minnesota Twins this weekend.
While there is a chance first baseman Nick Kurtz could return during the second half of this road trip, the A’s will be without hot-hitting rookie Joshua Kuroda-Grauer for the next several weeks, if not the rest of the season, as he recovers from emergency surgery to repair a ruptured testicle.
It is a significant blow for both the team and the player. JKG’s big-league career was off to a blistering start, with the 23-year-old infielder collecting 25 hits, including his first home run, in 60 at-bats for a .417 batting average.
With Kuroda-Grauer joining fellow infielder Zack Gelof on the shelf, expect Max Muncy and Tommy White to receive playing time at third base over the next several games. Will the A’s defense take a step back with these two less-than-stellar defenders manning the hot corner, or will one—or both—of them impress defensively?
As a result of how the team played going into the All-Star Break, the A’s now face a steep climb back to .500 and playoff contention. As things stand, it seems likely they will do at least some selling ahead of the Aug. 3 trade deadline.
Left-handed pitcher Jeffrey Springs and second baseman Jeff McNeil could both be traded, as each can become a free agent at the end of the season if the Athletics decline their club options. Springs has struggled this season, but part of that can be attributed to being a fly ball pitcher in a hitter-friendly home ballpark.
On a team that plays in a more pitcher-friendly environment, Springs could return to the form he displayed last season with the A’s and earlier in his career with the Tampa Bay Rays. At the very least, he could provide value as a bullpen option to neutralize left-handed hitters. Likewise, McNeil could give a contender a valuable utility infielder and veteran bench bat.
There have also been rumblings surrounding the A’s increasingly crowded outfield, as well as catcher Shea Langeliers, who would likely command the biggest prospect return of any A’s player currently mentioned in trade rumors.
With trade season approaching and the club’s 2026 MLB Draft class beginning its professional careers, the Athletics’ farm system is about to receive a fresh infusion of talent. It will be interesting to see how many of those newly drafted players make their professional debuts before the season ends and what levels they’ll be assigned to.
How many A’s players do you think will get traded? Do you think this team still has a realistic chance to turn its season around as the end of July approaches? If so, what needs to happen?
Get well soon, JKG. His injury should remind his teammates and other MLB players to wear cups to help prevent similar injuries. It will also hopefully lead to him no longer swinging at pitches that are about to hit him.
"No balls and one strike"
Joshua Kuroda-Grauer fouled a ball directly off his nuts, then recovered and got a base knock pic.twitter.com/wtFcxBXjKd
Will Mark Leiter Jr.’s latest hip injury change the Athletics’ trade deadline strategy? If so, how aggressive do you think they’ll be when it comes to buying or selling?
Sucks because JKG was playing great.
Also sucks because they can’t flip MLJ for a flier prospect at the deadline.
A’s 2026 first-round pick Drew Burress is already integrating himself with the team.
A’s 2026 first-round pick Drew Burress signed his contract at the A’s Spring Training complex in Arizona and is here today at Chase Field taking batting practice with the team. pic.twitter.com/TyvSK6geGq
ATLANTA, GA - JUNE 06: Ronald Acuña Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves celebrates with teammates after scoring a run in the first inning during the game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on Saturday, June 6, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kathryn Skeean/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Ronald Acuna Jr. got seven innings in the field and recorded four at bats for the Gwinnett Stripers, and in that time he looked fantastic. Acuna had a first inning single and two more hard hit balls while also being active on the defensive end. Ha-Seong Kim also had a hit in his rehab appearance.
Patrick Clohisy, CF: 3-4, 2 2B, 3B, RBI, .565/.600/1.130
Herick Hernandez, SP: 3 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 1 K, 8.31 ERA
Hayden Harris, RP: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 5.00 ERA
It was a solid day for Ronald Acuna Jr. at the plate and it was also the most he has been tested defensively. Acuna is obviously not putting his best effort out there in the field or on the bases to avoid aggravating his hamstring, but a few times he had to chase down fly balls in right field and he was able to do so safely and with little trouble. He shot a single through the left side of the infield in the first inning, and after a double from Ha-Seong Kim and a ground out from Carlos Santana he was able to come around to score the Stripers first run. He reached on an error in the second inning, then in his final two at bats had similar outcomes. In both cases he hit hard fly balls to center field, but he just got under them both too much and they fell harmlessly for fly outs. Acuna’s timing at the plate looks good and he is making solid contact, and though the Braves have reason to be patient with his return it also wouldn’t be a surprise nor the first time if they made the push to bring him up very soon. Kim hit the ball decently as well, just missing a home run in the second inning on a fly ball that died at the wall in right center field. Patrick Clohisy had another huge day at the plate with three hits — all of them for extra bases — and it’s incredible the start he has gotten off to at Gwinnett. He has hit safely in all six games at Triple-A with four multi-hit games and eight extra base hits, and he is suddenly in the top five in the system statistically. With numbers like that there is clearly an element of luck involved, but Clohisy has just been flat out good even if you take variation out of the equation. Dating to the last month or so of his time in Columbus he has been hitting the ball the hardest he has in his career and really making an impact on the pull side more often. He has managed to make the jump to Triple-A and so far is not having issues with the increase in pitching quality, maintaining the low whiff rates he has had throughout his career, and everything lately seems to be coming off of his bat hard.
For as much positive as there was on the hitting side of things in this game, Herick Hernandez added negatively on the mound. Hernandez didn’t really have command of any of his pitches and was consistently missing his locations up, and for someone who relies on fastballs up in the strike zone that meant a lot of times he was just missing wildly above the zone. This has been the experience with him throughout his professional career, with flashes of brilliance and other days where he can’t find any sort of rhythm with the strike zone. He is one of the few pitchers in the system that has the talent to imagine him in a key rotation roll in a distant future playoff run, and that intrigue carries his profile, but there is so much room to improve his command and so little you could tweak without messing with the quality of his pitches that it’s difficult to see him in a consistent starting position. Even with his problems though he is one of my favorite prospects in this system and a joy to watch work when he is on, and with a team that shuffles through arms the way the Braves do he is going to get his shot.
Swing and Misses
Herick Hernandez – 6
Hayden Harris – 4
Blake Burkhalter – 3
Connor Thomas – 3
(42-43) Columbus Clingstones, (46-43) Pensacola Blue Wahoos POSTPONED
(43-45) Rome Emperors 2, (55-33) Frederick Keys 10
Cade Kuehler, SP: 4.2 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, 5.54 ERA
It was a troublesome game for Cade Kuehler even if his issues didn’t fully take form until his final two innings. From the first pitch Kuehler was having trouble commanding anything, and coughed up a leadoff home run after going down 3-0. The next nine outs came under shaky footing and a boatload of missed locations, and in the final two innings his luck wore thin. Kuehler gave up four runs, including a two-run home run that chased him from the game. Kuehler had that promising stretch of play in May that has gone quickly to the wayside as his command just is not good enough to get him the results he needs. He never has blow up games with regards to walks, but the consistency with which he allows baserunner and then makes mistakes over the plate that get hit hard is making good outings hard to come by. Kuehler has good enough secondary stuff to miss bats, but he rarely gets to it due to his issues commanding everything, and he often leaves sliders up in the strike zone that get crushed.
It was a quiet day at the plate for the Rome lineup, though it was only just so in the first inning. The Emperors had two infield singles in the inning that they weren’t able to cash in for runs, even though Eric Hartman barely missed taking advantage. Hartman had a nuke that drifted foul, another hard hit liner that just missed the right field line, and then hit a sharp liner to dead center field that the defender got a great jump on and was able to track down to avoid it falling for extra bases. Hartman would end up hitless in the game, extending his quiet streak at the plate. Though he still shows the power he has all season Hartman hasn’t had multiple hits in a game since June 28th, though if he keeps hitting the ball hard it’s going to happen sooner rather than later. Owen Carey was the only hitter in the lineup who had multiple hits in this game, and though he hasn’t really had a sexy streak of play this month he has been steadily producing for the Emperors. Carey is hitting the ball solidly and still spraying line drives everywhere, and beneath the big numbers of the guys ahead of him he has still produced well for a guy his age in this league. His power is progressing as hoped and Carey’s real remaining issue is that he just isn’t drawing enough walks yet to get on base at a high clip.
Swing and Misses
Cade Kuehler – 5
Tyler Schoff – 5
(50-41) Augusta GreenJackets 7, (38-52) Salem RidgeYaks 4
Davis Polo, SP: 6.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 3.84 ERA
It may have been rainy and Augusta may have needed a late rescue by the weather, but they were able to hold on and get the win behind good work from Davis Polo and a big offensive day. Alex Lodise had a couple of big swings in the game, though he also ended his game with two more strikeouts. In the first inning he smoked a single past the shortstop for a base hit, and after the left fielder bobbled the ball Lodise was able to get around to second easily with a double having never stopped at first base. His next time up Lodise hit a missile into center field that would have been a home run in most parks, but with the high walls in Salem he had to settle for just another double. The endpoints on this are arbitrary, but over his past 27 games Lodise is now up to 21 extra base hits following this game. Every bit of contact he is making is hard contact, it’s just that he hasn’t done a whole lot yet to improve on the swing-and-miss issues that have kept him from really breaking out this year. Conor Essenburg had a nice night at the plate with a walk in the first inning and a late-game hard hit single into left field. For a period there Essenburg was cutting back on his swing-and-miss just a bit though that trend has largely leveled out with him still showing extreme whiff rates. His age works in his favor here, but his whiff rates are staying on the wrong side of 30% which is a major concern for him. He draws a ton of walks and has the exit velocities to get away with that, but he is going to remain limited in his projections until he shows a better hit tool. We’re in an era though where guys with his profile are finding themselves much more valued at the plate and some of the top hitters in the league have elevated strikeout rates, but these are not problems you want to see at the Single-A level and typically only start getting worse at upper levels. Essenburg’s raw potential is off the charts and he has the ability to be an impactful hitter, but he’s on the razor’s edge right now where even a small regression in his contact could make a huge difference in his outcomes.
Davis Polo was terrific in this game, and if the weather didn’t become a factor late he very well had a chance to finish the full game. Polo didn’t rack up strikeouts in this game, but that was due to the RideYaks being extremely aggressive on his fastball the first time through the order. Despite the ugly weather Polo was lighting up the strike zone with his fastball and the RidgeYaks kept going after borderline pitches and htiting ground balls, leaving Polo at only 23 pitches through three innings of work. The next three innings were a bit more standard as Polo worked deeper into his bag and had to labor more as the RidgeYaks got some hits, but Polo’s slider was on point throughout the outing and his changeup was as good as its ever been. Relying on those two pitches he was able to escape a couple of tricky situations, but the game got slippery in the seventh inning. An error on a poor through and an infield single on a ball that squirted away from Cooper McMurray at first base ended Polo’s day with only one out, and Kade Woods struggled in relief. Woods gave up a grand slam to take a chunk out of the Augusta lead and then walked the next hitter, though thankfully the rain got too heavy to continue and the GreenJackets weren’t forced to try to pitch even more through unsafe and unfair conditions.
COVERS INTEL:
