ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 06: Yoshinobu Yamamoto #18 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts while pitching in the first inning during Game Three of the National League Division Series presented by Booking.com between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on Tuesday, October 6, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Los Angeles Dodgers find themselves down 1-0 in the NLCS to the Milwaukee Brewers, unable to muster more than one run. As is so often the case, Monday afternoon they will send Yoshinobu Yamamoto to try to even the series.
The Dodgers are 9-1 in his postseason starts and are undefeated in his six road playoff starts. The last time that Yamamoto faced the Brewers in the NLCS, just last season, he had his first career complete game in a 5-1 victory.
With Yamamoto being a right handed pitcher, expect Christian Yelich to be back in the Brewers lineup.
The Brewers will counter with rookie Logan Henderson, who was 11-3 with a 2.47 era during the regular season, and has only pitched 5.0 innings this postseason, with four strikeouts allowing one run on two hits against the San Diego Padres. He was pulled after five innings at only 71 pitches.
Henderson out-dueled Tarik Skubal in August at Dodger Stadium, going a career high seven innings in a victory that lead to the Brewers having the home field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Dodgers got just one against him in that game, a Max Muncy homer in the fourth inning. The Dodgers also faced him in Milwaukee, and did not get any runs. Henderson has 13 K’s in 12 innings against the Dodgers this season.
The Dodgers haven’t had much of an issue getting batters on base, it’s the getting those runners across the plate that continues to plague this team. Only Andy Pages has come through with a key hit that wasn’t a home run. The Dodgers have the pitching, but they need the offense to step up if they want to take this series from the Brewers.
Best values, sleepers and busts are all important when entering your draft. Doing the legwork to prepare for your draft by analyzing mock drafts, stats, projections and preseason rotations are all necessary. But, sometimes, you just have to go get your guy.
That's not to see there isn't any logic or reason behind these selections, because there certainly is. These are the players that we find ourselves drafting most often, sometimes ahead of ADP to ensure they make it on our teams.
In ADP order, here are eight of our favorite players to draft this season.
I’m really excited for the reincarnated version of the De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis two-man game, with Darius Acuff Jr. filling in for Fox. It won’t lead to as much success with a rookie point guard, but Sabonis is going to be heavily involved on offense. He’s still a premier rebounder and one of the best passing bigs in the league. The Kings should be more competitive this season, and Sabonis is going to be a big part of that. He should get back to being a fantasy star. - Noah Rubin
Jalen Williams — F, Oklahoma City Thunder
Following an injury-riddled season, JDub is ready to bounce back. Last year was rough when he was available, but a healthy offseason should allow him to get off to a much better start and get back to stuffing the stat sheet. He wasn’t an impactful defender last year, but he should get back to being elite on that end, and he should shoot the ball much better than he did last year. During his last healthy season, he averaged 21.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.8 triples per game on efficient shooting splits. - NR
Darius Garland — G, LA Clippers
With the Kawhi Leonard fiasco finally over, Garland has emerged from the wreckage in LA as the current face of the franchise. With Brandon Ingram (Achilles) set to miss some time, Garland should see an insane amount of usage early on. After being traded to the Clippers last season, Garland’s usage rate would’ve been the highest of his career if stretched over the course of a full season. Now, take Kawhi out of that. Garland should be in for the best season of his career, especially now that he has fully recovered from the toe injury that has plagued him in recent years. - NR
After a promising rookie campaign, Garland improved his production in Years 2 and 3, culminating in the best season of his career in 2021-22. That season, Garland averaged career highs in points (21.7), rebounds (3.3), assists (8.6), steals (1.3) and Usage Rate (27.9). He was a second-rounder in fantasy hoops for the first and only time in his career, but his production and Usage took an understandable dip the following season once Donovan Mitchell joined the Cavs. Now in LA, Garland has the upside to reach his pre-Spida numbers and push for a Top-25 season. The Clippers are bereft of go-to scoring options and playmakers, particularly with Brandon Ingram (Achilles) out indefinitely. Garland’s ADP has him going in Rounds 5 or 6, and given his projected boost for the lackluster Clippers, he should blow past that price and finish as one of the season’s best values. Garland is my favorite fantasy pick this season. - Zak Hanshew
Naz Reid — F/C, Charlotte Hornets
Reid has been an elite sixth man throughout his career, averaging 11.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.9 blocks and 1.5 triples in 406 games off the bench. The stretch big, however, has excelled when inserted into the first unit. In 77 career starts, Reid averaged 15.5 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.1 steals, 1.2 blocks and 1.8 three-pointers. With the ability to knock down triples, rack up defensive stats, score, rebound and facilitate, Reid has an elite fantasy skillset. Reid should be a full-time starter for Charlotte after Miles Bridges was dealt to the Suns. Additional usage could be coming Reid’s way as both Coby White (calf) and Kon Knueppel (hamstring) are banged up, and their status for Opening Night are uncertain. - ZH
Call me biased, but getting Anunoby at or around his current ADP (68 as of October 11) would be a major steal, regardless of league format. He has been a top-50 player the last two seasons, playing in 74 and 67 games. Availability was an issue in three of the four seasons before this two-year run, and I wonder if fantasy managers are still holding that against Anunoby. Given his play during the postseason, I expect the Knicks forward to build on that and be more aggressive on the offensive end of the floor. - Raphielle Johnson
Immanuel Quickley — G, Toronto Raptors
Quickley is another player I believe is undervalued, with his ADP outside the first 90 picks. This is a guy who was nearly a top-50 player last season. Kawhi Leonard is better than Brandon Ingram, but I don't expect his return to Toronto to hurt Quickley's offensive production. Also, adding a superior defender could benefit Quickley and the other Raptors on the defensive end of the floor. I expect another quality season from IQ, who played 70 regular-season games in 2025-26 after being limited to 33 in 2024-25. - RJ
Mitchell Robinson — C, Boston Celtics
Robinson is going on average at Pick 108, shockingly one spot behind the man who replaced him, Andre Drummond. The former is preposterously undervalued, as Robinson has been a per-minute menace throughout his career. Across eight seasons, Mitch Rob has averaged 11.2 points, 12.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.5 steals and 2.5 blocked shots per-36 minutes. He’s come off the bench behind Karl-Anthony Towns the last two seasons, but Robinson should have the inside track to winning the starting job in Boston ahead of incumbent Neemias Queta. The 2026 NBA champ signed a three-year, $47.4 million contract to join a team in need of an established big man, and Robinson should far exceed his ADP if he can see 25+ minutes per game. He’s got the perfect combination of opportunity and draft-day price, making him a strong value with tremendous upside. - ZH
Yaxel Lendeborg — F, Golden State Warriors
Sure, "it's just preseason," but his performances and the opportunity in front of him have me convinced of his fantasy value. He can create for himself or his teammates, and with Jimmy Butler III and Moses Moody both out with knee injuries, the Warriors will need the rookie to hit the ground running. Also, the Warriors don't have Kristaps Porziņǵis, and it's unknown when he'll be cleared to play. That's another reason to go all-in on Lendeborg in fantasy. - RJ
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 27: Justin Crawford #2 of the Philadelphia Phillies scores a run during the sixth inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on May 27, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Why is it so hard to find good outfield help these days?
Since 2012, the Phillies have struggled mightily to find quality baseball players to man that vast expanse of green. There have been 83 players who played at least 30% of their games in the Phils’ outfield since the 102-win, 2011 season. It’s a fascinating list.
While he’s no longer primarily an outfielder, Bryce Harper unsurprisingly leads the pack with 29.2 WAR and a 143 OPS+, and Kyle Schwarber is No. 2 at 13.4 WAR. Odubel Herrera, despite not playing for the Phillies since being released during the 2022 season, is still at No. 3, with 13.3 WAR. Brandon Marsh is No. 4, at 9.2 WAR and Ben Revere, their starting center fielder from 2013-15, is No. 5, at 4.9.
That’s right. Ben Revere. The 5th-best Phillies outfielder of the last 15 years. Soak it in.
Here are some other highlights from the list:
Johan Rojas (3.4), Marlon Byrd (3.3), Andrew McCutchen (2.8), Aaron Altherr (2.2) and Juan Pierre (2.1) are the only other outfielders to amass more than 2.0 WAR since 2012. Byrd and Pierre compiled theirs in just one season.
Derek Hill, a bench outfielder this year, was tied with former first round bust Adam Haseley for 12th with 1.4 WAR.
Daniel Nava (1.2), who played 80 games as a part-timer with the 2017 Phils, was worth more than Nick Castellanos (1.1).
Just 20 of the 83 players listed was worth at least 1.0 WAR.
Remember Bradley Zimmer? He played nine games for the ‘22 NL champs and put up 0.3 WAR, tied with Pedro Florimon, Peter Bourjos and David Dahl for 30th.
Darin Ruf is 9th on this list in HRs (35), but with a -0.6 WAR.
Corey Dickerson has the 2nd-highest OPS (.886) among outfielders with at least 100 PAs. The player with the lowest is Moniak (.386). Yep, that’s lower than Michael Martinez (.432) and Tony Gwynn Jr. (.455)
Odubel Herrera is 2nd in hits (791), Domonic Brown is 7th (333), Scott Kingery is 9th (239).
Nick Williams is the worst outfielder over the last 15 years in terms of WAR (-1.5). Tyler Goeddel (-1.3) and Cody Asche (-1.0), are the others with at least -1.0 WAR.
These 8 players played less than 10 games in the outfield: Oscar Mercado (1), Steve Susdorf (3), Jordan Danks (4), Steward Berroa (6), Jorge Bonifacio (7), Simon Muzziotti (9), Jason Pridie (9), Zimmer (9).
Remember these guys? Kyle Garlick, Casper Wells, Jose Pirela, Ezequiel Carrera, Brian Bogusevic, Dylan Cozens, Darnell Sweeney, Cameron Perkins, Matt Joyce, Ty kelly, Jimmy Paredes, Tony Gwynn Jr., Phil Gosselin.
The situation isn’t getting any better.
The minor leagues provide little hope of internal improvements. The Phillies tried to promote Felix Reyes and Gabriel Rincones this season and, to their credit, both made a pretty fun initial splash.
Unfortunately, neither proved they could handle big league pitching and were shuttled to Lehigh Valley not long after their arrival. They’re not in the plans for 2027.
The Phillies received just 1.1 fWAR from their outfielders last year. Only two teams got less production from that position: the Rockies (0.7) and Reds (0.4). Harper’s 1.1 fWAR while playing outfield saved them, otherwise Hill’s 0.7 would have led all Phillies outfielders last year. Their .686 OPS ranked 5th-worst and, again, that was only aided by Harper’s inclusion (.867) over the final two months.
Of all the areas on the field, this is the area that needs the most improvement but also has the greatest opportunity to see change. That being said, Dave Dombrowski needs to make some tough calls over the next few weeks.
What do they do with Brandon Marsh?
After starting in right field for the NL All Stars, Marsh’s end-of-year numbers ended up being the worst of his career (.260/.304/.408, 0.3 fWAR). His second half struggles have been well-chronicled and he’s due to see a raise in arbitration this year to around $8.3 million, which is a hefty price tag for a player 28-year-old coming off his worst season.
The Phillies have been trying to make a platoon with Marsh work for more than four years now. It’s not working. Time to shake things up.
Is Justin Crawford strictly a platoon player? And is he a long-term plan in center?
Crawford’s rookie season was… fine. He was not a disaster defensively in center field, but his -8 Defensive Runs Saved ranked 16th out of 17 qualified players at that position, and his -2 Outs Above Average was 14th. His 82 wRC+ ranked 37th out of 54 players with at least 100 plate appearances as a center fielder, but his one great attribute (that isn’t likely repeatable) was his ability to hit with runners in scoring position (35-for-100, .350 AVG).
He will never be a productive enough offensive player to shift to a corner spot, unless the Phillies were somehow to acquire an offense-first center fielder. Which means, you have to find major contributors in the corners and platoon Crawford in center, hoping his defense improves.
Bottom line, Crawford is not going to be an impact player, even if he hits his ceiling. He’s Ben Revere. Maybe.
Do they keep Bryan de la Cruz and/or Derek Hill?
If so, what are their rolls? Both played better than expected when called upon last year. De la Cruz actually had better numbers against right-handers (.333/.378/.513, .891 OPS) than he did lefties (.222/.317/.306, .623 OPS). Hill was better against southpaws (.781 OPS) compared to righties (.647), and would make for a decent pairing with Justin Crawford in center next year as a platoon-mate. Hill’s defense is well above average, as we saw on numerous occasions last season. But both could be solid bench contributors.
Surprisingly, there are a couple. Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki checks a lot of the boxes for a corner outfielder. He was worth 5.1 WAR in 143 games his season, with 26 HRs, 31 doubles, 86 RBIs and an .841 OPS. He’s a very disciplined hitter who routinely has one of the lowest chase rates in the Majors. He’ll be 32 next season.
Seattle’s Randy Arozarena had an even better year, in a more difficult park in which to hit. He led the AL in runs scored (113) and piled up 5.7 WAR for the Mariners, putting up an .865 OPS and 148 OPS+, the best season of his career. He will also be 32 in 2027. Both are right-handed hitters, something this Phillies lineup desperately needs.
The most likely landing spot for the veteran shortstop is a shift to second base, which would push Bryson Stott back to shortstop or third base. However, Turner has played center field in the Majors before (10 years ago).
If he turned into a good defensive center fielder, his .675 OPS would be a bit easier to swallow, although it would still fall short of what one would come to expect from a corner outfielder.
That being said, Turner is going to have to play somewhere in 2027, and it’s not going to be shortstop. If the Phillies decide to put him in the outfield, it’s likely you’ll see Marsh traded, Crawford/Hill sharing center, and one of Arozarena/Suzuki in the other corner. If they do put Turner in center, Crawford probably has to be moved. He’s not productive enough to be the strong side of a corner outfield platoon.
Are there any possible solutions in the minors?
Not for 2027. After Aidan Miller, Francisco Renteria, the team’s top international free agent signing this year, is the team’s top position prospect. He’s already a top 100 prospect at just 17 years old, but he’s still at least a couple years away from playing in the Majors. Like, 2029 or 2030. Dante Nori burst onto the scene during last year’s World Baseball Classic for Team Italy, but it turned out to be nothing more than an amusement. Nori dealt with injuries for most of the year, and didn’t play all that well when he was on the field.
Caden Bogenpohl is a 21-year-old outfielder drafted out of Missouri State and put up a .742 OPS in 20 games for Clearwater this year. Griffin Burkholder is a 20-year-old prospect who played for Clearwater and Jersey Shore last year and had a .674 OPS in 87 games. Again, both players, if they ever progress, are a couple years away.
So, no. There are no answers coming from the current prospect pool for 2027, and probably not ‘28 either.
Lots for Dombrowski to work on ahead of the work stoppage on December 1!
TUSCON, AZ - OCTOBER 10: Dominick Reid #11 of the Mesa Solar Sox pitches during the game between the Javelinas and the Solar Sox at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium on Saturday, October 10, 2026 in Tuscon, Arizona. (Photo by Jill Weisleder/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
It’s Monday and that means it’s time for another update from the Boys of Autumn on the Mesa Solar Sox in the Arizona Fall League.
In case you’ve forgotten what the AFL is all about, check out last week’s introduction. This year, the Mesa Solar Sox are a team consisting of players from the minor league systems of the Cubs, Athletics, Angels, Blue Jays and Red Sox.
We have a special event later today as Kate Preusser of our sister Mariners site Lookout Landing was down in Arizona and she managed to snag an interview with Cubs outfielder Kade Snell as a favor to us. That interview will run later this afternoon.
The Solar Sox went 1-3-1 this past week, with one tie on Monday. That makes their overall record for the season at 2-4-1 so far. The home team is listed last in these links.
So despite going 1 and 3 (and one!) for the week, all three losses were by one run and the Solar Sox outscored their opponents for the week, 29 to 28.
Here’s how the eight Cubs prospects on the Solar Sox did.
Infielder Juan Cabada: At 18, Cabada is the second-youngest player in the AFL this year and as such, it should not come as a surprise if he struggles. Cabada played in four games this week, although on Saturday, he only pinch-ran and went in to third base as a defensive replacement. He did not have a plate appearance in Saturday’s game.
But Cabada played second base on Monday and Tuesday and third base on Friday. He went 1 for 12 with a walk and a stolen base. Cabada was also hit by a pitch. He scored one run and had one run batted in.
On the AFL season, Cabada is hitting .133 with a .278 on-base percentage. He’s scored twice.
Outfielder Harrison Feinberg: Feinberg made his AFL and professional debut on Monday and he went 1 for 4 in that game. He also played on Saturday and Sunday and finished the week going 3 for 9 with three walks and a stolen base. Feinberg scored two runs and had one run batted in. He played left field in all three games.
Outfielder Kade Snell: Snell was the Solar Sox starting right fielder on Monday, Thursday and Friday, but he had a bit of a rough week, going 1 for 10 with a double. He did walk four times, which mitigates the batting average somewhat. He scored one run this past week.
For the young season, Snell is hitting .211/.348/.263 with the one double. He scored twice and drove in one run.
Right-hander Juan Cabral: Cabral just faced two batters this week, relieving his fellow Cub Anhuar Garcia in the fifth inning of Friday’s game with no one on and two outs. Cabral walked the first batter he faced and then got a grounder to first to end the inning.
Cabral has not allowed a run over 1.1 innings and two appearances so far. He has walked two and struck out one.
Right-hander Anhuar Garcia. As noted above, Garcia pitched on Friday, entering the game with one out and one on in the second inning. Garcia pitched 3.1 innings and allowed three runs, two in the third inning and one in the fourth. However, because of an error in the third and a passed ball in the fourth, none of the three runs were earned. Garcia allowed three hits and one walk while striking out two.
Garcia now has thrown five innings over two relief appearances and has an ERA of 7.20. Garcia has walked four and has struck out two.
Right-hander Yohendris Gonzalez: Friday was apparently the Cubs day to pitch as Gonzalez made his only appearance on Friday as well. Gonzalez entered the game in the eighth inning with the Solar Sox leading 6-5.
But Gonzalez had a rough outing. He walked the first two batters he faced but then bounced back to strike out the next two. But then Gonzalez allowed an RBI single to former Cubs farmhand Zyhir Hope to tie the game and then a three-run home run to Giants prospect Dakota Johnson. He left the game right after that.
So the final line on Gonzalez was four runs on two hits and two walks over two-thirds of an inning. Gonzalez struck out two.
Right-hander Dominick Reid: Reid is quickly becoming the ace of the Solar Sox. He started Saturday’s game and got the win after allowing one run on four hits over four innings. Reid’s command of the strike zone wasn’t quite as impressive as in his first game as he walked three and only struck out two on Satyrday.
Over two starts, Reid is 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA over eight innings. He’s struck out nine batters and has walked four.
Right-hander Luis Rujano: Rujano was the only Cubs prospect to pitch twice this week, giving the Solar Sox 1.2 innings on Monday and one inning on Saturday. Monday’s appearance was excellent—no runs on one hit over 1.2 innings while striking out three and walking just one.
Friday’s was less excellent but not terrible as Rujano allowed one run on one hit and one walk over one inning. He did not strike anyone out in that game.
Those were Rujano’s first two appearances in the AFL, which gives him an ERA of 3.38 over 2.2 innings.
CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 11: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers shoots a free throw during the game against the Orlando Magic during a 2026 NBA Preseason game on October 11, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Traditionally, the point guard has one job: make everyone better.
Few guards have embraced that role more than James Harden. He’s brought his masterful blend of scoring and playmaking to an 18th season, making it easier for all of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ moving parts to fall into place.
“You don’t have to worry about who is out there with [Harden],” said head coach Kenny Atkinson. “He makes the game look so easy… he makes everyone better, that’s the biggest compliment you can give someone.”
The Cavs look very different than they did a year ago.
In addition to seismic changes at the previous trade deadline, they also added a new member to their starting lineup (Peyton Watson) while pivoting to rely on a handful of unproven role players to fortify their bench. All of this means Atkinson is trying to push the right buttons with different lineup configurations to see what sticks.
“I don’t know if I call it experimenting, but just seeing what stuff looks like,” Atkinson said of his mix-matched rotations during the preseason.
Harden makes that process seamless. Whether it’s building chemistry with new teammates or polishing his relationship with the others. He can do it all.
“He’s one of those players for me; it’s kind of easy to play off him,” said Jaylon Tyson. “Just because [Harden] can make every pass in the book and, obviously, his scoring ability. Everyone is so worried about him offensively that a player like me, catch-and-shoot, just playing off the cut, it makes it so much easier when he’s on the court.”
Having a generational talent, even at 37 years old, is something that unlocks new possibilities for an offense.
Harden, paired with Donovan Mitchell, gives the Cavs two crowned jewels to play off of. Their creativity breeds innovation within an offense that can be hard for defenses to contain.
“Unpredictable,” answered Peyton Watson on how Cleveland’s offense differs from Denver. “In this offense, it’s all about instincts and knowing how to play the game around two elite offensive players — whereas with [Nikola Jokic], I knew every time down he was gonna have the ball… and the play would be for me to do this or that… here, there are more possibilities and things that I can do.”
Finding where you fit is easier when you have a leader like Harden. That’s one aspect of his game that his teammates say goes unnoticed.
“When you’re his teammate, it brings it to a whole new level,” said Donovan Mitchell. “Seeing his influence on the group, seeing his passion and intention behind what he does, it really puts into perspective how BS a lot of the narratives [about Harden] are.”
TORONTO, CANADA - AUGUST 16: Former player Garth Iorg #16 of the Toronto Blue Jays acknowledges the fansâ ovation during a ceremony commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Blue Jaysâ first division title before the start of MLB game action against the New York Yankees on August 16, 2015 at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Today marks Garth Iorg’s 72 birthday. He played for the Toronto Blue Jays from 1978 to 1987.
Born in Arcata, California, Iorg was selected by the Yankees in the eighth round of the 1982 amateur draft, but joined the Blue Jays in the 1976 expansion draft. Over nine seasons with Toronto, he batted .258/.282/.347, hit 20 home runs, and appeared in 931 games.
Iorg wasn’t a standout player. He joined the Jays as a second baseman and hit accordingly, showing little power, few walks, and limited speed (23 career stolen bases).
Iorg is best remembered as the right-handed half of the “Mullinorg” platoon at third base, paired with Rance Mulliniks, generally considered the stronger player. Iorg’s only standout season came in 1985, when he hit .313/.358/.469 with 7 home runs in 288 at-bats—coinciding with Toronto’s first playoff appearance. The Jays lost to the Royals in a seven-game ALCS, where Iorg struggled, batting just .133/.188/.133 in 15 at-bats. Aside from that year, he never truly excelled, even when facing primarily left-handed pitchers.
I recall him as a solid defensive player, though it may be that his lack of offensive production led me to assume he was more reliable with the glove.
The Jays often used platoon systems at third base, catcher, and designated hitter. In recent years, however, the increased number of pitchers on rosters has made platooning more difficult for teams.
Iorg debuted for the Jays in 1978, appearing in 19 games, mostly at second base. The team struggled that year, finishing 59-102, and Iorg hit just .163/.218/.163. He spent all of 1979 in the minors. In 1980, he returned as a utility player, appearing in 80 games at a variety of positions—2B, 3B, LF, 1B, and SS—and hit .248/.286/.329.
During the 1981 strike season, Iorg played 46 games at second base filling in for the injured Damaso Garcia, as well as a few games at third, but hit just .242/.269/.293. With Bobby Cox arriving in 1982, the Mullinorg platoon began. That year, Iorg played 100 games at third base and 30 at second, posting his best numbers to date: .285/.307/.365. The Jays also improved, finishing 78-84 as some future stars emerged.
In 1983, the Jays achieved their first winning season at 89-73, finishing fourth in the AL East. Iorg hit a hollow .275, with a .298 on-base percentage and a .376 slugging. The 1984 Jays finished second in the division, 15 games behind the World Series champion Tigers. That year, Iorg struggled at the plate, batting just .227/.244/.304. Rance Mulliniks arguably deserved the full-time third base job.
As previously noted, Iorg’s 1985 season stood out as his best.
In 1986, the Jays slipped to the middle of the AL East standings, and Iorg’s performance declined to .260/.303/.352. That year, Kelly Gruber was called up and began taking over at third base, while manager Jimmy Williams used Iorg more often at second as Damaso Garcia’s tenure waned.
In 1987, Iorg became the team’s primary second baseman but struggled offensively, hitting just .210/.262/.284. The season ended in disappointment, as Toronto was swept by Detroit in the final series, losing seven straight games and surrendering first place. Iorg made the final out of the deciding game, with the tying and winning runs on base.
That at-bat marked Iorg’s last appearance for the Jays. He became a free agent afterward but drew no interest from other major-league teams, ending his playing career with Toronto.
Following his playing days, Iorg managed at every minor league level in the Blue Jays organization. He also worked as an agent with Sosnick Cobb Sports Agency, representing many young players, and served as a roving instructor for the Milwaukee Brewers. Iorg is the brother of former major leaguer Dane Iorg and is a father of eight children.
Garth is also remembered for his unusual batting stance—standing on the toes of his front foot and leaning back toward the catcher as the pitch was delivered. As Rance Mulliniks succinctly put it: “It’s unique.”
Happy birthday, Garth. Wishing you a great day.
Nolan Reimold is celebrating his 43rd birthday today.
Reimold played 22 games for the Blue Jays in 2014 after being claimed off waivers from the Orioles, as the team hoped he would hit well against left-handed pitching. He posted a .212/.283/.404 line with 2 home runs before being lost on waivers to the Diamondbacks at the end of August.
Over eight major league seasons—seven with the Orioles—Reimold hit .246/.323/.422 with 56 home runs in 480 games.
Happy birthday, Nolan.
Tanyon Sturtze is turning 56 today.
A right-handed pitcher, Sturtze signed with the Blue Jays as a free agent before the 2003 season. He appeared in 40 games (8 starts), posting a 7-6 record and a 5.94 ERA. In 89.1 innings, he allowed 107 hits, 14 home runs, 43 walks, and struck out 54 batters.
Sturtze’s MLB career spanned parts of 12 seasons. He debuted with the Cubs, pitching 13 innings over 1995-1996, then had brief stints with the Rangers and White Sox, appearing in just one game for Chicago in 1999. The Rays acquired him midway through the 2000 season.
He had his best run with the Rays, spending three seasons there and compiling a 19-30 record with a 4.48 ERA in 91 games (65 starts).
Sturtze later spent three seasons in the Yankees’ bullpen, posting a 5.26 ERA in 110 games. He finished his career pitching 2.1 innings for the Dodgers in 2008.
Across 272 games (84 starts) for seven teams, Sturtze recorded a 5.19 ERA and a 40-44 record. I don’t recall much else about his career.
Rider was to take part in track world championships
British Cycling confirms Richardson was withdrawn
Matt Richardson has withdrawn from the Great Britain team for next week’s track world championships in Shanghai amid allegations of serious misconduct.
The 27-year-old, who switched allegiances from Australia after the Paris 2024 Olympics, had been seen as one of Britain’s strongest medal hopes, with chances in the team and individual sprints and the keirin. But after a Times story, which reported that there had been concerns about his behaviour from other riders, he is now in the process of leaving the team’s training base in China.
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 10: Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates with the puck in overtime during the game against the Dallas Stars at PPG PAINTS Arena on October 10, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Six games into the season, it’s time to have a conversation about Sidney Crosby and the first line.
The stats are what they are, and they’re not good. Crosby only has two assists on the young season – and no points in the last four games. His play hasn’t been as bad as the lack of stats might look, Crosby was strong in the last game against Dallas where he blocked three shots and also scored a shootout goal. In a positive sign, he has 13 shots on goal at 5v5 on the season and hasn’t yet been rewarded. The numbers haven’t been there lately, and the power play (0-for-12 in the last four games) has also grown cold at an unfortunate time, though Crosby’s lack of elevation on the power play is a contributing cause in that area.
The scene is similar for linemate Rickard Rakell, who like Crosby has no goals and two assists on the season. Rakell only has six 5v5 shots on goal and like Crosby has no points in the last four games and played even quieter at times, quite the departure from the last two seasons when he’s scored 59 total goals and been one of the more consistently dangerous players on the ice. Hasn’t been the case at all this year, Rakell’s been as pedistrian as they come.
The total goals scored with Crosby+Rakell on the ice at full strength is 5-5 right now, and 10-6 without them on it. On one hand, that’s a good sign the rest of the team has been pitching in. On the other hand, the Penguins are bound to struggle when their top line isn’t pulling their weight offensively. That’s been the case for the last five games (2-2-1 record) following the opening night blowout win over the deliciously hapless Philadelphia Flyers. Not much has come easily for the Pens after that, and it doesn’t take any time going down the roster to figure out where that is starting.
For now, the team is not making changes to the top line. It started out with Nick Richardson joining Crosby and Rakell then Bryan Rust took his familiar spot on that line soon after he returned from injury. That trio was in tact at practice on Monday in Pittsburgh, before the team heads out on a challenging road trip out west.
Coach Dan Muse said last week, the placement of wingers for Crosby was more game-to-game based on how the team would be best positioned. Yet the team remains opting for familiarity more than other directions. At the end of last season, Egor Chinakhov spent time on Crosby’s wing. Chinakhov, himself, hasn’t started out hot, with no goals in his last five games and no points in the last four either. Robertson added some energy but also got removed after he lost a puck battle in the defensive zone that directly led to a goal against.
Dan Muse, on the thought process behind reuniting Bryan Rust with Sidney Crosby and Rickard Rakell ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/zovUmdvXHr
As always, with Sidney Crosby, the takes of overreactions is instant and dramatic. He’s famously scored above a point per game all 21 of his seasons, yet this season has not gotten onto track, so it’s not all without merit. Troublingly, over the first few weeks of the season he’s looked every bit of his 39 years, without a lot of the sharpness, skating and creativity that’s been on display for the last 20+ years.
That presents something to track on this road trip and as the season moves along. What will the best version of the first line look like? Will Crosby get up to speed and find more ways to impact the game? It’d be hard not to, one would think, even though his days in the MVP chase are over. The power play (and Crosby’s performance on it) has to improve and will be another area to watch about Crosby finding ways to make plays and get back on the scoreboard. Is he old and greatly diminished or just starting uncharacteristically slow?
Overall, all this has to be weighed about seeing an all-time great in the winter of their careers. Crosby, after all, entered the season with only 417 games of his career where he didn’t record a point. That pales in comparison to the 517 games he has with multi-point games, so seeing even a couple week stretch or a few games in a row without standing out makes for an uncomfortable adjustment.
For now the Penguins are going back to chemistry and known familiarity (Rakell, Rust) instead of younger options to play with Crosby. Given Crosby’s playing style and the benefits of playing with known quantities, there’s a lot to be said for that approach. The question might become just when and how they decide to mix things up and how much longer it will take to get there.
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In other news: injured defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk was not on the ice for practice Monday. van Riemsdyk is said to be day-to-day, the team only has six defensemen healthy at the start of their trip, barring a move to IR for van Riemsdyk and calling up a defenseman from the AHL.
What a few days it has been in the life of Matt Renshaw. His comeback to the Test team had consisted of one innings, edged to slip for eight, before he made the trip to South Africa, where his job as opener suddenly changed to batting five.
His first two days of the first Test in Durban were spent compiling his epic 190 to rescue Australia. Then came his fourth day, hammering in the nails on a declaration by top scoring again with 82. Pulling out at 316 for six, Australia set South Africa 421 to win, then took four wickets for 102 by the close; Aiden Markram on 45 will be the main obstacle to an Australian series lead on the final day.
May 2, 2026; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Philadelphia Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet walk off the ice after their loss to the Carolina Hurricanes at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images
James Guillory/IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Tyson Foerster slid headfirst on the ice chasing a puck in a scoreless game and got tangled with Carolina’s Jordan Martinook.
Martinook did to Forester what the Stanley Cup champion Hurricanes and the rest of the NHL have done to the Flyers.
Used him as a punching bag.
Bam! One shot to the left side of Foerster’s face. Wham! A second shot to the left side of Foerster’s face.
Foerster had little fight and neither did the Flyers.
The Hurricanes scored only moments later — oh, there was no penalty called on the blows to the head — and went on to beat the Flyers 4-1.
The winless Flyers.
After teasing Flyers fans last season that perhaps a rebuild was yielding a promising future after they won their first playoff series since 2020, coach Rick Tocchet’s team is 0-5-2 and the only winless team in the Eastern Conference.
In the waning moments of the loss, pockets of fans that stuck around for another anemic loss chanted “Fire Tocchet! Fire Tocchet!” The rest, they simply booed the team off the ice.
“I think we go off the rails at certain points of the game,” Tocchet said. “I don’t know if it’s experience, pressure, I don’t know.”
The Flyers weren’t quite ready this season — especially after Anaheim matched Philadelphia’s five-year, $90 million offer sheet to Leo Carlsson — to move into the Stanely Cup conversation.
But play this poorly?
Flyers general manager Daniel Briere told reporters in Boston that “it’s not the time to panic because of a bad stretch.”
It’s getting close.
The Flyers were crushed by Pittsburgh 7-0 on opening night and have been outscored 28-8 this season en route to the worst start in franchise history. The Flyers had twice before in 1999-00 and 2008-09 gone six straight winless games to open a season. Both of those teams rebounded to make the playoffs.
Since taking a 3-0 series lead in the opening round of the playoffs against Pittsburgh, the Flyers have lost 13 of 14 games — including a 4-0 sweep in the second round to the Hurricanes.
The Hurricanes’ social media team even rubbed it in the Flyers’ faces with a post that read, “We’ve won more games in Philly in the last nine days than the Flyers, Eagles, and Phillies combined this month.”
“There’s still a lot of hockey left,” Flyers captain Sean Couturier said. “Of course, if we don’t figure this out soon, we’ll be chasing and it’s going to be too late. But yeah, there’s no quitting.”
The Flyers are playing undermanned with forward Travis Konecny, defenseman Cam York, and defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen out with injuries. Even with all three healthy, the Flyers suddenly aren't going to turn the season around.
“We can’t skill our way out of this one,” Couturier said. “We have a lot of talent, but we can’t skill ourselves out of it. We’re going to have to work and grind and it starts the next practice. We better figure it out.”
The Flyers signed forward Trevor Zegras to a four-year, $36.5 million extension after he had a career-high 26 goals and 67 points last season, the second-most on the team. He’s been perhaps the biggest disappointment this season with just two points and no goals.
“What happened last year was pretty cool, and maybe you feel like it’s just going to keep happening, and you’ve made it,” Briere said in Boston. “But the reality is we’re a team that needs to have everybody working in the same direction. The way we’re built, the full team is important to have everybody. We don’t have a superstar that’s going to come out and score four or five goals in a game to win a game by himself.”
Something has to change, and fast. The effort, the execution, the power play — maybe even the coach if Tocchet can’t find the solutions.
Zegras said the Flyers are “fully behind” Tocchet, who played parts of 11 seasons across two stints with the franchise and became one of their most beloved and gritty figures. That goodwill could be diminished as the losses pile up and the Flyers show little spirit in the blowout losses.
They have four losses by three or more goals.
“You start thinking about the long term, then you’re really going to be in trouble,” Tocchet said. “You’ve got to try to win. How you win the next game.”
Sep 22, 2026; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard Marcus Smart (36) talks during media day at Hilton Americas hotel. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
When Fred VanVleet went down with a season-ending injury before the start of the Houston Rockets’ 2025 training camp, the Rockets looked for a backcourt player to step up and replace their on-court leader.
The Rockets tried multiple players, including Amen Thompson, Reed Sheppard, and even Aaron Holiday. Each player had different levels of success, but overall, the Rockets couldn’t find anyone to replace the significant loss of VanVleet. The Rockets lacked the backcourt flexibility and depth to withstand the loss of their starting point guard.
That issue reared its ugly head in the playoffs as the Rockets watched multiple late-game leads evaporate. It played a big part in the Rockets’ second straight first-round loss, this time to the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers were without their best player, Luka Doncic, but they still had LeBron James, who did what he has done his entire career: led his team to a playoff victory.
However, it wasn’t just James who helped lead them to a series win; Marcus Smart also contributed significantly, especially early in the series. Smart did a little bit of everything in their first-round victory, and the Rockets coaching staff and front office had front-row seats to what Smart brings to a team.
Marcus Smart gives the Rockets the flexibility they need in the backcourt
In their first-round matchup, the Rockets saw a player who could run an offense one minute, grab an offensive rebound for an easy basket, guard a center the next, and then hound a point guard for 84 feet, forcing a turnover. Smart has built a career as a multifaceted player; like a utility player in baseball, he can do whatever a team needs.
Smart gives the Rockets not only backcourt insurance but also a player who can help win games in more than one way. Smart can play either guard position and, as needed, small forward. He can lead the offense or shut down the opponent on defense. In his Rockets debut on Sunday, Smart led the Rockets with 20 points and added five rebounds and four assists, but the Rockets fell to the Mavericks 132-117 in China.
Yes, it is just preseason, and you can never take too much from these games, but Smart did exactly what he’s done his entire career: fill the box score. The Rockets’ coaching staff, especially Ime Udoka, knows Smart’s game well, since he won Defensive Player of the Year in the 2021-22 season with the Boston Celtics, a team Udoka coached. Smart has made every team from the Grizzlies to the Lakers better, and even though that seems like a skill every player should have, it isn’t always the case.
That made signing Smart this offseason an easy decision, even with VanVleet returning. Smart gives the Rockets another defensive-minded veteran that you need to win close games, especially in the playoffs. Smart’s addition may have been buried by bigger moves this offseason, like LeBron James going to the Philadelphia 76ers or LaMelo Ball heading to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Still, it could be one of the offseason’s biggest moves.
A pair of low-payroll teams with similar styles will face off in the AL Championship Series.
It’s small ball vs. “Guards Ball” when the Tampa Bay Rays and the Cleveland Guardians open their best-of-seven series at Tropicana Field.
Two-time All-Star right-hander Drew Rasmussen takes the mound for Tampa Bay after dominating the New York Yankees in the opener of the AL Division Series. Lefty Foster Griffin will start for Cleveland.
The Rays won an AL-best 98 games in the regular season, swept New York in the ALDS and seek the third pennant in the franchise’s 29-season history.
Cleveland won 85 games, fell behind Chicago in the ALDS and became only the 11th team to overcome an 0-2 deficit in a best-of-five playoff series.
“I don’t think it’s really set in yet,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. “But we’re here. The guys are excited. We’re prepared. We’re ready to go. We’re playing some really good baseball right now.”
The Rays-Yankees matchup was David vs. Goliath in terms of payroll because New York opened the season with MLB’s third highest at $302.8 million and Tampa Bay ranked 26th at $90.5 million.
But the Rays are facing a team now that spent even less. The Guardians were last in the majors at $75.5 million.
Both teams emphasize contact at the plate, speed on the bases, strong fundamentals, solid pitching and doing whatever it takes to win.
Tampa Bay led the AL with a .258 batting average and had the fewest strikeouts in the majors. The Guardians only hit .239, didn’t have a hitter with more than 18 homers and had the fifth-fewest strikeouts in the league.
The two clubs bolstered their rosters at the trade deadline. Tampa Bay got starter Freddy Peralta, catcher Liam Hicks and reliever Tyler Wells.
Cleveland acquired Griffin, outfielder Jo Adell, and first baseman Nathaniel Lowe.
“I do think there’s more similarities than not,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “I feel Cleveland does mirror us or we mirror them. And I say that with the utmost respect to them, the way they develop pitching, the way they think about the game.”
Starting matchup
Rasmussen took a no-hit bid into the eighth inning of the ALDS opener, finishing with 10 strikeouts in a 1-0 victory. He was 16-5 with a 2.67 ERA and led the AL with a 0.91 WHIP. Rasmussen has been one of baseball’s best pitchers since an internal brace procedure in July 2023 that forced him to miss more than a year.
“I could really care less where people would rank me,” Rasmussen said. “I’m going to come in every single day, be as prepared as possible and I’m going to go out there and compete to the best of my abilities and do my best to execute and give our team the best chance to win.
Griffin was 3-3 with a 5.19 ERA in nine starts for Cleveland after the trade. The 31-year-old lefty was 12-3 went a 3.06 ERA with the Nationals after spending the previous three seasons with the Yomiuri Giants of Japan’s Central League.
Griffin had seven strikeouts and gave up one run in 2 2/3 innings of relief in Game 3 against the White Sox.
“They got some slug for sure, and also just have some really good just baseball knowledge-type players: get a guy over less than two outs, knowing when to hit the sac fly, put the ball on the ground in certain situations,” Griffin said. “Have some speed, as well. More of a complete team instead of just a 1-through-9, trying to hit you for a home run or slug.”
Run producers
Junior Caminero batted .276 with 42 homers and 101 RBIs and was 3 for 10 with one double and walked twice vs. the Yankees. Jonathan Aranda hit a career-best 22 homers in the regular season and was 4 for 12 in the ALDS with a homer in the opener.
Yandy Diaz (.293, 22, 85) and Chandler Simpson (.306, 48 steals) are integral parts of the lineup.
Chase DeLauter led the Guardians with a .287 average to go with 16 homers. Steven Kwan hit .282 and Angel Martinez led the team with 18 homers. Martinez wasn’t in the starting lineup in Game 5 vs. Chicago after going 0 for 15 and striking out eight times in the first four games. Jose Ramírez batted .235 in the regular season but homered twice against the White Sox, including a two-run drive in the 2-0 win in Game 5.
ALCS history
The Rays won their previous appearances in seven games, against Boston in 2008 and the Houston in 2020. They lost the World Series both times, to Philadelphia and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Cleveland is 3-3, including a five-game series loss to the Yankees in 2024, and have not won the World Series since in 1948 — the longest drought in the major leagues.
Sacramento Kings backup center Maxime Raynaud suffered a right knee patellar subluxation and will be re-evaluated in two weeks, the team announced. While he will miss the first handful of games this season, that is good news compared to how much time it looked like he would miss after colliding with Stephen Curry and going down in the second quarter of the Kings' preseason loss to the Warriors.
The average missed time for this injury is two weeks, and treatment primarily involves strengthening the muscles around the knee, reports Jeff Stotts of In Street Clothes.
Injury Update on Maxime Raynaud: A patellar subluxation is significantly different than a knee dislocation. Recovery will focus on strengthening the area to reduce the odds of a recurrence. Average time lost for in-season patellar subluxations in the NBA is ~14 days
Raynaud, 23, was a second-round pick out of France who impressed in his rookie season, averaging 12.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, earning him second team NBA All-Rookie Team honors. The Kings see him as the franchise's future at center, being the big setting picks for Darius Acuff Jr. and holding down the paint.
ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 29: Austin Riley #27 of the Atlanta Braves throws in the third inning during Game One of the Wild Card Series between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on September 29, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Jack Casey/Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Atlanta Braves may have spent another season navigating a multitude of pitching injuries, but it was ultimately the lineup that let them down in October.
Bounced from the postseason after falling in four games to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Division Series, the Braves will attempt to solve the individual and collective offensive issues that spelled the end of their season.
At the center of those struggles was All-Star third baseman Austin Riley, who experienced the most challenging season of his eight-year career as he saw his production drop for the third consecutive season. With his power down and his strikeouts climbing to an alarming high, Riley heads into a pivotal offseason.
How exactly did the club’s highest-paid player and a key member of their 2021 World Series championship team become one of the Braves’ biggest offensive liabilities? And how did such extreme regression set in during what should be the prime years of his career?
More importantly, how can he reverse these troubling trends and get his career back on track?
Both Riley and the Braves will be searching for the answers this winter.
“First and foremost, I’ve got to be better,” Riley said following Atlanta’s Game 4 loss to the Dodgers in the NLDS. “I was terrible all year. I had some stretches where I showed life, but this is a game of consistency, and I wasn’t that this year.”
Injuries were at least partly to blame the previous two years, but Riley’s 2026 campaign was a complete struggle across 159 games. The trademark power that made him one of the most prolific third basemen in the game was simply not there on a regular basis. Even more concerning was the amount of swing-and-miss. Riley set a franchise record by striking out 201 times in 630 plate appearances.
His career-worst year leaves the team and the third baseman searching for answers. Riley somehow went from one of baseball’s most prolific sluggers to one of the least productive everyday players in the game in a span of three seasons.
From 2021 through 2023, Riley produced a 5.5 fWAR annually while averaging 73 extra-base hits, 36 homers, 99 RBIs, and an .878 OPS. He was a two-time All-Star, two-time Silver Slugger, and produced three consecutive Top 10 MVP finishes. His 16.1 fWAR during that three-year run was fifth-best in the NL behind Freddie Freeman, Trea Turner, Mookie Betts and Juan Soto.
Riley was also one of the game’s premier power hitters during that stretch. He was one of only three NL players with 100+ homers – Pete Alonso and Kyle Schwarber were the other two. Riley was also the only player in the NL to amass more than 100 homers and 100 doubles while ranking fourth in the NL with 297 RBIs during that three-year span.
All of those accolades and accomplishments make what happened over the past three seasons even more baffling.
From 2024 through 2026, Riley averaged 1.7 fWAR per season while totaling 18 home runs, 61 RBIs, and posting a composite .718 OPS over the past three seasons, with 2026 marking the sixth consecutive year his OPS has fallen – from .898 in 2021 to just .654 this year.
Riley’s 31.9% strikeout rate was the worst in the NL and the third worst in MLB. He was also one of just 20 qualified hitters in baseball with a sub-.300 on-base percentage. Perhaps more alarming was the .365 slugging percentage which was the seventh lowest in the NL, contributing to that aforementioned .654 OPS. That ranked fourth worst among the 68 qualified NL hitters.
How it happened may be irrelevant at this point, but ways to fix it are what Riley and the Braves will explore this offseason.
“I’ve had some thoughts, because I know the capability I have and the player I can be,” Riley said. “There’s obviously got to be some changes with my swing and what that looks like. I’m not sure yet, but we’ll definitely dive into it and get it figured out… I’ve got to do some serious recon of how to get this thing back to where I know I’m capable of. From a working standpoint, I’ve got a long and hard offseason coming for me.”
Fortunately for Riley, there are at least some tangibles he can work with.
A look at Statcast illustrates a puzzling combination of rates and outcomes. Riley’s average exit velocity (91.3 mph), barrel rate (12.4%), and hard-hit rate (44.3%) were all strong while his bat speed (75.8 mph) remained elite, ranking in the 91st percentile.
The rest of his profile, however, was troubling to say the least. Riley was near the bottom of Major League Baseball in squared-up percentage (18.9%) and strikeout rate (31.9%) while his chase percentage (32.3%) was in the bottom third as well.
All of that points to one undeniable fact: Riley failed to make the kind of consistent hard contact that previously defined his game despite still possessing the requisite skillset to do so. The mechanics and timing of his swing as well as pitch selection all worked against Riley this season.
When the results are not there over a long enough period, a hitter’s natural response — whether consciously or subconsciously — is to start pressing at the plate and further compound the issues.
Even in the depth of his struggles, Riley remained outwardly optimistic. His teammates and manager likewise maintained their belief that he would eventually find his way through the slump through hard work and dedication.
“Look, I’ve seen him really good for a long time, and I see the work behind the scenes,” Braves manager Walt Weiss said. “I know the person. You bet on the person. Obviously, (he’s) a very talented guy, but you couldn’t tell this year if he was the leading MVP candidate in the National League or if he was struggling. I mean that. He’s the same guy every day.”
Riley tinkered throughout the year to make adjustments to his stance and swing. He went back to hitting notes, prompts, and routines he recorded during his three-year run of success from 2021-2023 to see if there was anything he’d missed or could reincorporate into his regimen.
When that didn’t work, Weiss shared some advice with Riley: the answers may have to come from a different source because he’s older, his body has been through several key injuries, and change is a natural part of the game. In essence, rather than reflecting on past success, Riley should focus on tangible and incremental adjustments in the present in order to find answers at the plate.
The injuries certainly played a part in Riley’s declining numbers. He entered 2026 coming off two years marred by substantial health issues that curtailed his production and ultimately ended each season early.
In 2024, Riley suffered a fractured right hand when he was struck by a 97-mph fastball from Los Angeles Angels reliever Jack Kochanowicz in August. He missed the final 38 games of the season and finished with a .256 average, 19 homers, 56 RBIs and a .783 OPS. After three straight seasons of 5.0 fWAR or better production, Riley finished the 2024 campaign with a 2.5 fWAR.
Riley’s power was slow to return in 2025. He batted .287 over the first 47 games with eight home runs and 28 RBIs. That’s a 162-game pace for 28 homers and 97 RBIs – totals that would represent a dip from his three-year prime of 2021-2023 but certainly acceptable production.
What lay ahead was a downturn that Riley is still trying to fight his way out of.
Over his final 55 games in 2025, Riley hit just .235 with eight homers and 26 RBIs while turning in an OPS of .693 as he battled a lower abdominal issue throughout the summer. He eventually underwent season-ending surgery in August to repair a double sports hernia.
With that injury addressed, the Braves were hopeful Riley would have a chance at a normal offseason and a bounce back season. It simply did not play out that way.
“There were flashes at times, but he’d be the first one to tell you that he did not have a good year,” Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos said. “He worked hard. We’ve definitely done everything we can on our end, and we’re going to continue to work at it.”
The work will start with Riley, who refused to deflect any of the blame or criticism for his season. He spoke highly of Atlanta hitting coach Tim Hyers and the work they put in throughout the season, even if the results never came as consistently as they’d hoped.
Once he gets a chance to recharge his batteries, Riley expects to get right back to work searching for fixes and changes that can get his swing back where he wants it to be.
“It’s a long season (and) you’ve got to let your body recover,” Riley said. “But at the same time, I think (the winter is) a really good time for me to sit down and really dive into what I need to do to get back to the production that I know I can (provide). I have some ideas on what I want to do, but there’s definitely going to be some marinating on just how I get back to that consistency showing up every day.”
Heading into his age-30 season, the Braves still believe in Riley’s ability and remain committed to helping him figure things out. Of course, Atlanta has a considerable vested interest in his turnaround. Riley has six years and $132 million remaining on the club-record 10-year, $212 million extension he signed in 2023.
With their third baseman at a crossroads, the Braves are hoping Riley can find a way to rediscover his stroke and contribute to a club that needs all of its star hitters pulling the rope in order to enjoy the kind of postseason success they tasted in 2021.
“He’s been one of the best third basemen in the game from an offensive standpoint,” Anthopoulos said. “He’s still a great defender and a great teammate. It was nice to get the health part put aside after back-to-back years of being hurt. From an offensive standpoint, he’s still a young player and is capable of so much more. He’s shown that, and we’re going to continue to work at it.”
MACAU, CHINA - OCTOBER 11: Kyrie Irving #11 of Dallas Mavericks shoots during NBA China Games 2026 between Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets at The Venetian Arena on the Cotai Strip on October 11, 2026 in Macau, China. 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 Zhizhao Wu/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks wrapped up a two-game preseason set against the Houston Rockets in Macau, China over the weekend, splitting the outcomes. Kyrie Irving had been ready to go for some time now, just awaiting the opportunity to take the court in an official capacity after sustaining an ACL injury on March 3, 2025. Despite fans and players alike anxious to welcome him back, the Mavericks sat a few players in the first of two games, extending the lengthy wait just a bit longer. When it was time to tip-off the second of the two games, there we found Irving, starting alongside Cooper Flagg for the first time.
In what easily could have been a cameo appearance where Irving saw a shot go down and maybe set up a teammate for an easy bucket before taking a seat, we instead got to see Irving get some real burn. In fact, only three Mavs’ players logged more minutes that Irving in the game, and none of them outscored him.
Let that sink in for a moment. A 34-year-old coming off an ACL injury that kept him sidelined for 586 days was the team-leader in scoring. That is not an indictment of the rest of the team, mind you, as the Mavs shot an impressive 48.2% overall, including 37.5% from downtown, while hitting nearly 90% of their free throws. Perhaps some consideration must be given to this being a preseason game in a foreign country, but even still, what Irving did left virtually nothing to be desired. As if to leave no doubt in anyone’s mind, Irving scored the first bucket of the game only 14 seconds into the contest. Better still, it came by way of his trademark wizardry in handling the ball, getting him a lane to drive and finish a reverse layup, then falling on the way down.
After 586 days… KYRIE. IS. BACK.
He led the @dallasmavs in scoring with 17 points in 22 minutes to help Dallas secure the Game 2 victory at the NBA China Games 2026 🔥 pic.twitter.com/yhaPrN9knv
It was as though Irving wanted to send a specific message immediately. As though he wanted to prevent anyone from saying “yeah, but he didn’t…” In that one play, Irving showed he still has the handle, still has a quick first step and can change direction, still can take it amongst the trees and still can get lift for a crafty finish close to the rim. From there, he showed just about everything else, including a shot-clock beating three-ball from well beyond the arc.
Although there may be some days off on back-to-backs and there will surely be the less impressive games that every player experiences, Irving left little to debate about whether or not he is back. If that painfully early (local time) game showed us anything, it’s that he most definitely is back. Irving finished 6-of-13, including 2-of-6 from deep and 3-of-3 from the free-throw line. He also had two rebounds, three assists and zero turnovers in 22 minutes.
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