If you watched the Montreal Canadiens’ game against the Minnesota Wild on Prime on Monday night, you probably saw the excellent interview Christine Simpson did with Habs coach Martin St-Louis. The most interesting moment of that interview came when Simpson asked the bench boss how the coach-player relationship had evolved since he was an NHL player. He explained:
You know, I came into the NHL, and it was “You do it this way”, and I think with this generation, you have to be demanding, but not demeaning. When I came into the league, they were very demanding and demeaning; at the time, you would get it. And I know I annoyed some of my coaches by going to their office to say, “Why? Can we talk about this? Can I explain something to you?” I feel like I stretched some of my coaches a little bit, and I know I might have been annoying, but I was very curious. […] I encourage that from my players. For me, now I feel that this generation, you have to convince them. And if they’re not convinced, let’s talk about it because I have no problem with you convincing me the other way.
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Hearing a former player describe coaches as demeaning at one stage is unsurprising, especially when he played under a coach like John Tortorella, who was known for being tough. The secret to St-Louis' successful relationship with his players is that there’s tremendous respect going both ways. They respect him because everything they’re going through, he’s been through, and he respects them by treating them as he would have liked to be treated when he was in their shoes.
When you watch a practice, you can often see him get into animated discussions with his players, not because he’s yelling at them or getting annoyed, but because he’s trying to convince them that what he’s trying to teach them is the best way to go about something. Being passionate and believing in what you’re selling is the best way to be convincing.
St-Louis may be the boss, but he’s not a dictator; he’s a team player. He’s not on the ice anymore, but he clearly still sees himself as one of the guys working to achieve the same goal, bringing a Stanley Cup to Montreal. This is likely why it’s so rare to see him come out with punishing practices, even when his team suffers a big loss. He doesn’t believe in demeaning and punishing players; for him, the game has evolved, and that’s not how you’ll get the best out of your players.
Will that coaching style allow him to finally capture the 25th Stanley Cup that has eluded Montreal for so many years? Time will tell, but so far, the players seem to be reacting very well, and that may be the way to avoid a coach’s message not getting through anymore, because there’s dialogue and not just orders being given.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - DECEMBER 27: Ayo Dosunmu #11 of the Chicago Bulls dribbles past Ryan Rollins #13 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the second half at the United Center on December 27, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. 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 Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Recall that, despite all the off-court noise, actual professional basketball is still being played (you can debate the quality, but the fact is they’re still being paid!) by the Milwaukee Bucks, who return home tonight to face the Chicago Bulls. The Bucks are actually up 2-0 in the season series, taking them down pretty convincingly in early November and late December (Giannis’ first game back from his initial calf injury). Of course, Milwaukee had Giannis suited up in both contests and will not tonight.
Where We’re At
You know what everyone is talking about regarding the Bucks, and it’s not exactly their current on-court product, which remains bad. They’ve lost eight of their last nine and enter the day on a five-game losing streak—three of those Ls have occurred since Giannis’ second calf injury. Myles Turner and Ryan Rollins have looked good at times after assuming command of the sinking ship, but the only things that will stop Milwaukee from taking on water start with a healthy Giannis and a Doc Rivers firing. Neither seems likely to happen in the coming weeks, and if the Bucks want a high lottery pick, maybe that’s not a bad thing in the short term.
Chicago is still doing their thing: toiling around just under .500 and at the back of the play-in race. It’s what the Bulls do. They’re coming off an odd scheduling quirk that had them face the Heat for three consecutive games, thanks to a rescheduling necessitated by damp court conditions at the United Center on January 8; Miami took two of the three, including a 43-point blowout on Sunday. The Bulls have see-sawed recently: a four-game win streak crested them above .500 for the first time since Thanksgiving, but dropping four of their ensuing five has them essentially right back where they started. The Miami “series” came without leading scorer Josh Giddey, who the Bucks won’t see tonight either.
Injury Report
Milwaukee remains without Giannis (calf strain) and Kevin Porter Jr. (oblique strain), both out indefinitely. Taurean Prince is still out, perhaps for the season, after neck surgery. They’re joined by Gary Harris, who will sit with a hamstring strain.
Chicago has a laundry list of injuries. The following Bulls are out: Zach Collins (toe sprain), Noah Essengue (shoulder surgery), Josh Giddey (hamstring strain), Tre Jones (ditto), and recently-acquired Dario Saric (hasn’t gotten in yet). Kevin Huerter (back spasms), Julian Phillips (wrist sprain), and Jalen Smith (calf injury management) are questionable.
Player To Watch
After a mid-January swoon, Ryan Rollins is back to normal with 66 points in his last three, to go with a beautiful .565/.615/.667 (just 6/9, though) shooting line. He’s also racked up 19 assists to just four turnovers in that span, with five steals. He had 20 in each of his other outings against Chicago this season, hitting some big shots and making a few key plays late to secure that December victory. Maybe he likes playing the Bulls? Watching him play is one of our few joys this year.
How To Watch
FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin at 7:00 p.m. CST.
Jan 20, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; Boston Bruins defenseman Mason Lohrei (6) looks on during the game at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
The NHL is nearing a three-week Olympic break, which will allow players from the league to play in the Olympics for the first time since the 2014 edition in Sochi. For those not traveling over to Italy to play, it will allow for some time to recharge their batteries for the final month and a half of the NHL regular season.
While they won’t be heading to the Olympics, two former Ohio State hockey players have found success in the NHL this year. Montreal goaltender Jakub Dobeš and Boston defenseman Mason Lohrei have become important pieces of their teams as they make a run at the NHL playoffs, which start in the middle of April.
Both Dobeš and Lohrei were last on the Ohio State roster for the 2022-23 season.
Jakub Dobeš
When he was born it was destined that Jakub Dobeš was going to have some sort of career on the ice, as his father was a hockey player and his mother was a figure skater. During his freshman season at Ohio State in the 2021-22 season, Dobeš was the 2022 Big Ten Goaltender of the Year and co-Freshman of the Year.
In both 2022 and 2023, Dobeš was named a semifinalist for the Mike Richter Award, which is given annually to the best collegiate goaltender.
Prior to beginning his Ohio State career, Dobeš was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the fifth round of the 2020 NHL Draft. Following the 2022-23 season, Dobeš signed a entry level contract and began his professional career.
After playing with Laval of the AHL during the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons, Dobeš made his NHL debut at the end of December in 2024, becoming the fourth goaltender in Montreal history to register a shutout in their NHL debut.
Dobeš continued the hot start to his career a few days later, becoming the first Canadiens goaltender to allow one goal through his first two career NHL starts. After two more victories, Dobeš became the third goaltender in NHL history to win their first four games while allowing four or less goals during that span, and then he was the 13th goaltender in NHL history to win his five career games.
After Dobeš spent the rest of the season as Montreal’s backup, he was forced into action when starter Sam Montembeault was injured. Dobeš would help the Canadiens win the game Montembeault had to leave, but Montreal would ultimately lose the next two games, both of which were started by Dobeš, and Washington would advance to the next round in five games.
Following his play during the regular season and playoffs, Montreal and Dobeš agreed to a two-year contract extension. So far this season Dobeš has started 25 games, posting an 18-5-3 record with a 2.92 goals against average.
The former Buckeye was named the NHL’s third star of the month in October after winning all six of his starts in the month, allowing just 12 goals.
January was also a banner month for Dobeš, as he would again win all six of his starts. To close out the month, Dobeš beat the Colorado Avalanche, who currently have the most points in the NHL, followed by a win over the Buffalo Sabres, who are one of the hottest teams in the league right now.
As of Monday, Montreal has 69 points, which has them sitting in third place in the Atlantic division.
Mason Lohrei
Much like Dobeš, Mason Lohrei was selected in the 2020 NHL Draft. Even though the Boston Bruins selected Lohrei with the 58th pick, the defenseman decided to attend Ohio State.
In his first season with the Buckeyes, Lohrei was named to the Big Ten’s All-Freshman Team and was a Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year finalist. Then in his sophomore season, Lohrei was named Second Team All-Big Ten.
Following his sophomore season, Lohrei signed an amateur tryout contract with the Providence Bruins, appearing in eight games between the regular season and playoffs. Lohrei started the next season at Providence but would make his NHL debut in November 2023, recording an assist in his first game.
During the 2023-24 season, Lohrei shuttled between Providence and Boston, appearing in 41 games in the NHL, recording 13 points.
The 2024-25 season would see Lohrei earn a permanent spot on Boston’s roster, scoring five goals and recording 33 points over 77 games. Even though Lohrei finished with a -43, which was the lowest in the NHL, the Bruins haven’t lost faith in Lohrei.
Through 51 games this season, Lohrei already has six goals and 23 points, but more importantly he has posted a +7. In January, Lohrei had four goals, with two coming in a win over Chicago.
On Sunday night, Lohrei and the Bruins played the Tampa Bay Lightning at Raymond James Stadium in the annual NHL Stadium Series game. After building a 5-1 lead, Tampa Bay mounted a comeback and ended up winning 6-5 in a shootout.
Lohrei was on the ice for 16:28 in the game. Currently the Bruins hold the first Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference with 68 points, which is seven points better than the Columbus Blue Jackets.
ARLINGTON, TX - July 02: Dane Dunning #33 of the Texas Rangers pitches during a game against the Baltimore Orioles at Globe Life Field on July 2, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Gunnar Word/ Texas Rangers/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With the 2025 Texas Rangers season having come to an end, we shall be, over the course of the offseason, taking a look at every player who appeared in a major league game for the Texas Rangers in 2025.
Today we are looking at pitcher Dane Dunning.
Dane Dunning’s time with the Texas Rangers in 2025 was more interesting from a procedural standpoint than from an on-the-field standpoint, all things considered.
It started, really, a little before Thanksgiving in 2024. Dunning, coming off an ineffective and injury-plagued campaign, was entering what I believe was is next-to-last season of arbitration eligibility (he spent time in the majors in 2020 with the Chicago White Sox, but I don’t believe he earned a full season of service time). After making $3.325 million in 2024, Matt Schwarz’s arbitration projection system projected him to get $4.4 million in arbitration.
The Rangers apparently weren’t willing to even match the $3.325 million they paid Dunning in 2024, however, and on the day decisions had to be made whether to tender players on the 40 man roster contracts, Dunning apparently had to decide between getting a pay cut on a one year deal with the Rangers, or going out into the open market and seeing if he could do better, with the risk being that he could do worse.
Dunning opted for the bird in the hand, signing a one year deal for $2.66 million. That represented a 20% paycut from 2024, the most that a player’s salary can be reduced from the prior year, even by agreement, under the CBA. The upside for Dunning was that he had $985,000 in potential performance bonuses in the deal, giving him the opportunity to make more in 2025 than he did in 2024 if he hit those markers.
Those performance bonuses, of course, ended up being irrelevant.
An unimpressive spring resulted in the Rangers putting Dunning on outright waivers at the end of camp. We can debate whether the Rangers were hoping someone would claim him and take his salary off the team’s books or hoping no one would claim him so they could stash him in AAA as depth, but whatever the team’s preference, Dunning went unclaimed and started the season with Round Rock.
Dunning started the year in Round Rock getting knocked around twice by Corporal Klinger’s favorite team, the Toledo Mud Hens, before setting down with three decent starts that were apparently enough to get him tapped to come back up when the Rangers needed to swap out long men in late April. Or maybe there just weren’t any better options. Who knows?
Dunning made one appearance, pitching the final three innings in relief of Jacob deGrom in a blowout win against the A’s, and was designated for assignment the next day because the Rangers needed a catcher and didn’t have one on the 40 man roster, necessitating purchasing the contract of Tucker Barnhart. Such is life on in the fringe class.
Dunning cleared waivers and was outrighted once again, was bad in his first couple of appearances for Round Rock again, and then was pretty good again, earning him a return to the bigs in late June, an appearance in one game, a return to Round Rock (via option this time, gotta mix things up and keep it fresh), a return to the bigs a week and a half later, garbage time action in three blowout wins, followed by a return to the minors again.
Finally, apparently ready to be out of the Dane Dunning business, or maybe just wanting to shed some salary in advance of the trade deadline (and thus potentially being able to add more salary at the trade deadline than they otherwise would be able to add), the Rangers shipped Dunning off to Atlanta for Jose Ruiz, a reliever who had been outrighted earlier in the year by Atlanta and who was toiling unsuccessfully for them in AAA, and cash considerations, which is believed to be what Ruiz was owed for the remainder of 2025.
Thus ended Dane Dunning’s time with the Texas Rangers. His final line in his final season with Texas? 5 games, 10.2 innings, 10 Ks, 5 walks, a 3.38 ERA.
Dunning went on to bounce up and down between the majors and minors for Atlanta, and generally wasn’t good for them when he was in the bigs, allowing 13 runs in 10 innings. At season’s end, Atlanta waived him, Dunning became a free agent, and just a few days ago, he signed a minor league deal with the Seattle Mariners.
I’m sad about how Dunning’s time with the Rangers ended. He was one of the early additions to the team’s rebuilding project, coming over to Texas, along with Avery Weems, in exchange for Lance Lynn in the 2020-21 offseason. After a couple of mediocre seasons in the rotation for not-good Rangers teams, he was the Rangers’ Pitcher of the Year for 2023, being used as both a starter and a reliever in the regular season, and appearing in five games in the playoffs out of the pen.
ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 6: Hayden Harris #79 of the Atlanta Braves pitches in the seventh inning during the game against the Seattle Mariners at Truist Park on September 6, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin D. Liles/Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
🎶It’s the most wonderful time of the year.🎶
The drolls of the everlasting January are finally over and we enter the month of February with hope in the air as players begin to collect in Florida as Spring Training is right around the corner. Yesterday we saw who just missed out on top 30 list – a wide array of talent with a lot of promise. We’ve seen the Braves make sway away from the pitching dominant drafts from mere years ago, and shift towards adding much needed talent to the positional ranks. As a result, while the top of the list was pretty straight forward, we saw a much wider array of rankings – so without further ado let’s take a look at our Top 30. Make sure to leave comments, but the minor league crew will be also hosting a Q&A later this Friday.
How he got to the Braves: 2023 2nd round pick (59th overall)
At one point in time, Hackenburg looked like he could be a legitimate future piece for Atlanta in some capacity. Drafted in the 3rd round of the 2023 draft, Hackenburg immediately produced and showed great results in his first full pro season in 2024.
Over 25 starts and 129 innings, Hackenburg made his way from low-A Augusta to triple-A Gwinnett over the course of one season. During that stretch, he spun a 3.07 ERA, which resulted in him being listed in the top-20 Braves prospects on most lists by the beginning of 2025.
However, that all went south in 2025, as Hackenburg’s numbers took an abysmal turn.
While he was injured fairly often in 2025, when he was on the mound it didn’t go great for the righty. In 21 starts consisting of 74 innings, Hackenburg struggled mightily to an ERA of 6.81, striking out 67 batters with a brutal WHIP of 1.82. Hackenburg didn’t get demolished by batters in terms of the long ball as he only gave up nine homers over the course of the season. However, he was getting hit around on a fairly consistent basis, as opposing batters has an average of .279 on the season – a stark contrast from his organization leading number of .212 in 2024. Add to the fact he walked 54 batters in his 74 innings of work, and it’s not exactly a surprise the season went the way it did.
The book isn’t closed on Hackenburg by any stretch of imagination. There are a plethora of reasons you could chalk up one bad season, whether it be injuries, incosistent times on the IL and playing, etc. There’s still a decent chance he can right the ship and become a solid bullpen piece or a fringe rotation guy at the big league level. However, he’s going to have to show he can put last year behind him and bounce back in a hurry or else his prospect stock will take a huge nosedive once again.
29. Carter Holton – LHP
How he got to the Braves: 2024 2nd round pick (62nd overall)
A three year starter at Vanderbilt, Carter Holton finds himself at the back end of the list because after making one appearance in 2024, he was shut down and received Tommy John surgery. Coming in at 5’11” Carter doesn’t have the prototypical size for a starting pitcher which adds risk to his profile, add in the fact that he just had the surgery as well and…well it’s safe to say we don’t know what to really expect from Carter. Carter has a four pitch mix that is led by three average to plus off speed offerings – a plus slider, and an average to slight above average curveball and changeup. Having made just played one game it’s safe to assume he starts the season at Augusta, but at 23 years of age, expect a quick promotion should he succeed. That said, there are not high expectations for Carter to enter the season as the main goal will be to maintain health and getting used to being on the mound again.
28. Hayden Harris – RHP
How he got to the Braves:2022 Un-drafted free agent
There’s no way to go about it – Hayden Harris had one of the most dominant seasons a Braves prospect has ever had last year. Across 43 games Hayden registered a 0.52 ERA, 13.67 K/9 rate, and 3.29 BB/9 rate. He absolutely mystified batters shown by his paltry .118 batting average against. Hayden was able to use his unique fastball in the upper third extremely well, generating strong whiffs against a pitch that comes in at 90-92 MPH. We knew about his dynamite splitter that drops out of the zone, but last year saw Hayden locate his sweeper much better to both sides of the plate making at bats against him even more difficult. All of this resulted in Hayden being named an All-MiLB first teamer, and named to the MLB Futures game. As long as that sweeper command continues, look for Hayden to continue to put up extremely strong strikeout numbers -numbers that could begin to accumulate in Atlanta.
27. Cade Kuehler – RHP
How he got to the Braves: 2023 2nd round compensation pick (70th overall)
There might not be a player anticipating the start of the season more than Cade Kuehler who sat out the 2025 season recovering from Tommy John surgery. His ranking this season comes as pure projection as nobody is quite sure what to expect from the former Campbell standout. Cade has a strong fastball, and slider to go with what we will call a developing splitter. Cade will be 24 most of the season so while health is the most important thing for him this season, he must also show improvement with his pitch mix because he did look like it regressed back in 2024 (which absolutely could have been because of the injury). Signed for over $1M, Cade will be given every chance to start a starter, but if the splitter doesn’t develop there is a chance he could be a fast moving reliever.
26. Dixon Williams – 2B
How he got to the Braves: 2025 4th round compensation pick (136th overall)
The Braves drafted Dixon Williams in the fourth round out of East Carolina based on the strength of his bat and the growth potential of a player who didn’t start to focus on baseball full-time until college. Williams is a high end athlete with a football background who has shown growth every year during his college tenure. He went from just 15 plate appearances as a freshman to a .896 OPS as a sophomore, followed by a breakout while winning the New England Collegiate League MVP that summer, followed by a 1.012 OPS during his draft season featuring career highs in both homers and walks. After signing he went to Augusta, where he hit .269/.395/.462 with a pair of homers and 16 walks to 35 strikeouts over his 114 plate appearances. Williams is a potential four tool guy, lacking the arm strength only, with enough versatility to play every spot in the infield as well as even some time in center field in college, who probably projects best at second base long term. He’s going to need some time to continue refining his hit tool and his defense, which is to be expected for a player newer to full-time baseball that hadn’t consistently played one position in college – however he has the tool set to develop into the Braves next starter at second base now that we’ve started to see his power emerge. He is likely going to open this year in Rome, but could get a shot to earn a way up to Columbus with a good start to his season.
DIXON WILLIAMS 426 FEET OVER THE SCOREBOARD OFF OF CHASE BURNS
THERE WILL BE HUNDREDS OF KIDS NAMED DIXON STARTING KINDERGARTEN IN THE FALL OF 2029 AROUND THE GREENVILLE AREA pic.twitter.com/b6qq1Ov4Uh
— 11Point7 College Baseball (@11point7) June 1, 2024
25. Ethan Bagwell – RHP
How he got to the Braves: 2024 6th round pick (191st overall)
There might not be another prospect as excited for 2026 as Ethan who looks to make his name on the Braves farm system this year. Fully healthy, Ethan stands at 6’4” and an extremely muscle 230+ pounds – a specimen on the mound. Ethan worked in the low-to-mid 90s, and looked to be incorporating a two seam into his repertoire. Ethan features a dynamic slider, and a developing changeup to round out a very impressive arsenal that leaves a lot to like. While the whiffs weren’t there last season which resulted in a rough strikeout rate (6.86 K/9), Ethan did induce groundballs at a strong rate (47.5%), and was able to keep the walk rate down (2.9 BB/9). Ethan looks every bit the part of a starting pitcher, and should his newly incorporate two seam, and changeup continue to develop, there will be a lot more people talking about him.
Carson Benge grew up with two older brothers, Garrett and Tyler. All four grew up baseball rats and were mainstays on the fields across their native Yukon, Oklahoma. Garrett went on to attend Cowley Community College in Arkansas City, Kansas in 2015, was drafted by the Cleveland Indians with their 22nd round pick in the 2015 MLB Draft, did not sign and attended Oklahoma State University in 2016 and 2017, was then drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 13th round of the 2017 MLB Draft, playing in their system for three years. Tyler attended Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford, Oklahoma and played at the collegiate level for a pair of seasons. Youngest brother Carson may have the most potential and brightest future of the three.
From an early age, Carson was dedicated to baseball, following along in the footsteps of his older brothers. He would use his brothers’ equipment and would play with his brothers and their friends, who were anywhere between three to five years older than him. By the time he began his freshman year at Yukon High School, a growth spurt had left him a tall, lanky young man, and his wild, childhood swing had been refined into a powerful left-handed stroke. Benge had much of his high school baseball experience muddied by the COVID-19 pandemic, with his entire junior season cancelled and parts of his senior year as well, but he put up impressive numbers when he was able to get on the field. In his senior year, he was named OCABCA North Player of the Year and earned COAC Offensive Player of the Year honors as well, as a senior in 2021, hitting .490 and posting an 8-1 record with 124 strikeouts on the mound.
Benge had previously committed to Oklahoma State University prior to graduating and went unselected in the 2021 MLB Draft as a result, strongly preferring to attend college as opposed to going pro early. His freshman season winded up ending before it even began, as he injured his elbow just prior to the start of the 2022 season and needed Tommy John surgery to correct, costing him the year. He returned to the field in 2023, his redshirt freshman season, and immediately showed that he was a premium talent. Appearing in 59 games, Benge hit .345/.468/.538 with 17 doubles, 7 home runs, 8 stolen bases in 10 attempts, and drew 42 walks to 32 strikeouts, his batting average and on-base percentage leading the team. Additionally, he pitched 35.0 innings for the Cowboys and posted a 6.69 ERA with 38 hits allowed, 24 walks, and 35 strikeouts. Benge was named to the Big 12 All-Freshman Team, the All-Big 12 First Team as a utility player, and the All-Big 12 Second Team as an outfielder. He was also finalist for the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award, but the award ultimately went to Clemson senior Caden Grice.
That summer, he played for the Chatham Anglers of the Cape Cod Collegiate Baseball League. He appeared in 9 games and hit .345/.424/.414 with 1 triple and threw a scoreless inning on the mound, giving up a hit while striking out two. He returned to OSU for his redshirt sophomore season in 2024 and once again was a true two-way player. As a batter, he hit .335/.444/.665 in 61 games with 24 doubles, 2 triples, 18 home runs, 10 stolen bases in 14 attempts, and 49 walks to 51 strikeouts. As a pitcher, he appeared in 18 games and posted a 3.16 ERA in 37.0 innings, allowing 26 hits, walking 11, and striking out 44. Once again, he was a finalist for the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award but lost out on it for a second consecutive year, this time to University of Florida star Jac Caglianone.
Benge was selected by the Mets with their first-round selection in the 2024 MLB Draft, the 19th overall pick. Coming into the season, he had been seen as a player who would be selected in the back-half of the first round by most evaluators and analysts, and with the Mets’ selection, their prediction came to pass. Benge signed with the team fairly quickly, agreeing to a signing bonus worth $3,997,500, slightly below the MLB-assigned slot value for the 19th overall pick, $4,219,200. He was assigned to the Low-A St. Lucie Mets, where he would be focusing only on hitting. He appeared in 15 games and hit .273/.420/.436 with 2 doubles, 2 home runs, 3 stolen bases, and 11 walks to 14 strikeouts. On the power of his college season and his limited professional debut, Benge was ranked the Mets’ 3rd top prospect for the 2025 season by Amazin’ Avenue.
The outfielder began the 2025 season with the High-A Brooklyn Cyclones and had one of the better seasons by any player in a Cyclones uniform, short-season or full. Appearing in 60 games, he hit .302/.417/.480 with 18 doubles, 5 triples, 4 home runs, 15 stolen bases in 17 attempts, and drew 41 walks to 50 strikeouts. The Mets promoted Benge to Double-A Binghamton at the end of June, and he showed no signed of being overwhelmed by the tougher competition; in fact, Benge was better. In the 32 games he ended up playing in Binghamton, he hit .317/.407/.571 with 6 doubles, 1 triple, 8 home runs, 4 stolen bases in 8 attempts, and drew 18 walks to 23 strikeouts. In mid-August, Benge was promoted to Triple-A Syracuse. His time there got off to a rough start, as he was placed on the injured list a few days later for an undisclosed injury, but when he got back on the field at the end of the month, he really couldn’t get going. He ended up appearing in 24 games for Syracuse and hit .178/.272/.311 with 1 double, 1 triple, 3 home runs, 3 stolen bases in as many attempts, and drew 9 walks to 19 strikeouts. Overall, it was an incredible season for the outfielder, and he hit a combined .281/.385/.472 with 25 doubles, 7 triples, 15 home runs, 22 stolen bases in 26 attempts, and drew 68 walks to 92 strikeouts.
In college, Benge had mechanics at the plate that could have been regarded as yellow flags based on the history of being problematic in a professional wood bat setting. The 6’1”, 185-pound left-hander stood extremely open, holding his hands high behind his head and wrapping his bat behind his head at 10:00. As he would load up, he would raise his hands and angle his bat parallel to the ground before lowering them and angling his bat perpendicular to the ground at 12:00 before returning it back to its original position during his front leg strike and swing, sometimes with compensatory bat wiggle. At some point during his 2024 season with the Cowboys, the hand movement during his load became less pronounced and he got them back into hitting position much quicker, with most of the extra movement and momentum removed. As evidenced by his solid 2024 professional debut with St. Lucie and his strong 2025 season with Brooklyn, Binghamton, and Syracuse, his modified mechanics have been effective with a wood bat in a professional setting.
The left-hander has a lightning-fast bat that stays in the zone and makes a lot of quality contact because of a strong sense of the strike zone and an advanced eye for spin. His cumulative 42.4% Swing% and 8.1% SwingStr% were just under the 2025 MLB averages, while his 80.9% Contact% was just a little over it. When he makes solid contact on pitches and hits them squarely, he has produced exit velocities over 110 MPH as per publicly available statcast data with Syracuse. While he does hit the ball hard, Benge still needs to work on improving the damage that he does with those balls.
In his last year in college, Benge focused on hitting the ball in the air more and tapping into more of his power. He was more or less successful in doing so, running a 15% line drive rate, 46.5% groundball rate, and a 38.5% flyball rate in his last year with the Cowboys, as opposed to his 18.1% line drive rate, 53% groundball rate, and 28.9% flyball rate the year before. In 2025, the outfielder had a 24.7% line drive rate, 42.5% groundball rate, and 31.4% flyball rate, specifically with an 8.3% pulled fastball rate. Benge posted a suboptimal median launch angle of less than 10-degrees in 2024, and in 2025 averaged a 9-degree launch angle during his time in Syracuse, where publicly available statcast data exists. Lifting the ball more will unlock more of Benge’s natural power and continues to be his main area of improvement.
Because of his swing’s length, Benge naturally goes to the opposite field, shooting pitches middle or away to left-center. In totality in 2025, he pulled the ball at a 39.1% rate, went back up the middle at a 22% rate, and went to the opposite field at a 38.9% rate. His swing showed platoon splits at Oklahoma State, highlighting a weaknesses against left-handers, and while they did not manifest themselves in his brief professional debut in 2024, they reared their heads in 2025. Against right-handers, Benge hit .295/.379/.512, but against left-handers, he hit .232/.407/.326. He can be a pesky at-bat for southpaw pitchers, since he has a natural feel for going the other way, but pitches inside have been a problem for Benge, with a best case scenario of inside-outing balls that dunk in for hits instead of getting jammed.
Defensively, the wiry outfielder generally gets good reads off the bat, takes efficient routes to the ball, and has solid range thanks to his average-to-above-average speed. He does not have a dynamic first step or the afterburners that true above-average runners have, but he reaches his reaches his striding speed quickly and can cover plenty of ground. When he was drafted, scouts and evaluators were split on whether or not he had enough range to play centerfield in the long term. The slim, athletically built Benge has demonstrated that he has enough speed and range to play the position in the near long term, with future mass addition and how it develops on his body being the true deciding factor. In a corner, he has a plus arm and profiles well in right field as a result.
2026 Mets Top 25 Prospect List
3) Jonah Tong 4) Jett Williams* 5) Brandon Sproat* 6) A.J. Ewing 7) Jacob Reimer 8) Ryan Clifford 9) Will Watson 10) Jack Wenninger 11) Mitch Voit 12) Jonathan Santucci 13) Elian Peña 14) Zach Thornton 15) Nick Morabito 16) R.J. Gordon 17) Chris Suero 18) Dylan Ross 19) Ryan Lambert 20) Antonio Jimenez 21) Edward Lantigua 22) Eli Serrano III 23) Randy Guzman 24) Daiverson Gutierrez 25) Boston Baro
The road trip continues, as the Jazz are welcomed by our fellow bottom-of-the-league dwellers in Indiana. Viewers have been warned: This game will contain a substantial amount of unethical tanking. Utah is slowly sinking into what they were always meant to become, currently sitting 13th in the West with a 15-35 record. Whilst our fellow tank connosiours in Indiana are slightly ahead (or behind?) with a 13-37 record, dead last in the Eastern Conference. The Jazz won the first meeting between the two teams back in November, previously covered by our gorgeous, handsome staff writer Kato Parina.
The Jazz are going to squeeze as much juice out of this Keyonte injury as they possibly can; he’s out yet again, along with Jusuf Nurkic and the rest of the regulars.
Jazz Injury Report:
OUT – Keyonte George (left ankle; sprain)
OUT – Elijah Harkless (G League – Two-Way)
OUT – Walker Kessler (left shoulder; injury recovery)
OUT – Georges Niang (left foot; fourth metatarsal stress reaction)
It’s almost a certainty that the Jazz are severely held back without Keyonte on the floor, falling to 0-3 when he’s absent. Isaiah Collier will likely receive the starting role once again if nothing changes, and we need to start seeing an impact. Of course, he’s not the type to lead an offense or turn into a dangerous scorer, but it’s hard to be a serviceable NBA role player if you can’t shoot the ball, make smart decisions and play with confidence. Though he’s a valuable transition facilitator and an unselfish player. But at what point does a player become too unselfish? Tonight’s Pacers are near the bottom of the NBA (24th) in conceding assists in mid-range, where Collier facilitates the majority of his offense. If Collier can set up his teammates while limiting mistakes in his aggressive, downhill style, that’s a job well done for me.
Now don’t be fooled by the Pacers’ measly record in 2026 — they’re still capable of winning games, backed by their Finals supporting cast. The team has struggled to establish a consistent rotation, with more players often on the injury report than in the lineup. Beyond the obvious catastrophic injury to Tyrese Haliburton, injuries throughout the season, including Pascal Siakam, Aaron Nesmith, Bennedict Mathurin, Obi Toppin, and Andrew Nembhard, have disrupted chemistry.
If you needed to look out for one player, you’re going to find it in recently named 2026 NBA All-Star Pascal Siakam; ignoring the Eastern selections is a hilariously worse talent range than the Western Conference. He remains a reliable self-creator that can score in isolations, post mismatches and attack closeouts. The Jazz key: Don’t give him downhill angles. Make him operate sideways. His efficiency spikes when defenses give him space to build momentum — that’s when the spins, euro-steps, and foul-drawing come out like we’re all familiar with. The Jazz cannot allow themselves to get out-hustled, which has accounted for historically awful rebounding performances as we’ve this season. Just over a week ago, they allowed Miami to corral 26 offensive rebounds, resulting in 22 second-chance points. Pacers rank 21st in offensive rebounds, sitting at 10.7 a game — meaning it shouldn’t be too gigantic an issue for the Jazz to cover, but it greatly weakens the effectiveness of Siakam from the floor.
A second-straight hundred from Ollie Peake was not enough to save Australia’s Under 19 World Cup defence on Tuesday, as his side fell to England by 27 runs in their semi-final.
The Associated Press national player of the week in men’s college basketball for Week 13 of the season:
Brayden Burries, No. 1 Arizona
The freshman guard from San Bernardino, California, had a career-high 29 points with five rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks in an 86-83 win over then-No. 13 BYU last Monday night. He followed up with 17 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals in an 87-74 victory over Arizona State that kept the Wildcats unbeaten at 22-0 this season.
Burries is averaging a team-best 15.3 points along with 4.5 rebounds while shooting better than 50% from the field.
Arizona has a light week with only a trip to Oklahoma State on deck this weekend. But then Burries and the top-ranked Wildcats have six of their next seven against teams ranked in the top 16 of this week's Top 25 poll. The stretch includes a pair against No. 11 Kansas along with matchups against No. 10 Houston, No. 16 BYU, No. 13 Texas Tech and No. 7 Iowa State.
Runner-up
JT Toppin, Texas Tech. After the All-American forward had 31 points and 12 rebounds in a 90-86 win over Houston the previous week, Toppin poured in 27 points and 10 boards in an 88-80 loss to UCF. Toppin is averaging 22.4 points and 10.9 boards, and he has scored at least 16 points in eight consecutive games.
Honorable mention
Jeremy Fears Jr., No. 10 Michigan State; Richie Saunders, BYU; Alex Condon, No. 17 Florida.
Keep an eye on
Bennett Stirtz, Iowa. The transfer from Drake had 20 points, three rebounds and three steals in a 73-72 win over Southern California. Four days later, he poured in 32 points with seven assists in an 84-66 rout at Oregon. Stirtz played 78 of 80 minutes across the two games.
DALLAS, TEXAS - JANUARY 29: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks and Kon Knueppel #7 of the Charlotte Hornets talk after the game at American Airlines Center on January 29, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Mavericks were 0-3 this past week but remain in 12th place in the West. They lost to Minnesota (118-105) and Charlotte (123-121) at home, then traveled to Houston, where they lost to the Rockets (111-107). Cooper Flagg led the team in scoring with 33 points per game. P.J. Washington suffered a concussion in Houston and will miss tonight’s game against Boston. Kyrie Irving (knee) and Anthony Davis (finger) remain out.
Grade: B-
An 0-3 week may not usually warrant a solid grade, but Dallas played hard and had two incredible performances from Cooper Flagg in their last two losses. They were perfect games for the current state of the Mavericks: lose without lying down and get something inspiring from their top pick.
The battle between Flagg and his college roommate, Kon Knueppel, was a sight to behold. Flagg was just one point shy of a 50-point game, while Knueppel hit eight threes and the game-winning free throws. It was a display of two young players poised beyond their years, dueling it out until the final seconds. Truly, the highlights from this game are worth the 15-minute watch:
The Mavericks showed similar fight against Houston and nearly pulled off a 3-1 series win against them this year. But, as was their downfall against Charlotte, they could not execute in the last few possessions. The loss to Minnesota is not even worth discussing; it was one of the more boring games Dallas has played this season. They have an exciting week upcoming, however, where they play Boston in Dallas tonight on NBC and have a home-and-home with the Spurs this weekend. If they can play as they have over the last few days, there should be a lot of fun basketball to be had.
Straight A’s: Cooper Flagg
It is remarkable how much Flagg has improved in such a short period of time. In his first 15 games, he averaged 15.5 points on 45.5 percent shooting. He started the season at point guard and, because of that, had a steep learning curve before he got his feet under him. Since he adjusted (i.e., the last 30 games), he has put up 21.9 points on 49.5 percent shooting. The game has slowed down for him in real time, and this culminated in back-to-back masterpieces this week, where he had 49 points and 10 rebounds on Thursday and 34 points and 12 rebounds on Saturday. The kid has got serious game.
Out of high school, he was a defensive prospect. Now, it’s his offense that wows crowds and gives fans a reason to dream about what he can be. He has lived up to the hype on the defensive end as well. The Mavericks, as bad as they have been, still hold a top-10 spot in defensive rating, and Flagg is the anchor of that. He is an awesome, fun rookie, but he is also a unicorn of an asset. Having a player this good on a rookie deal (which lasts four seasons) speeds up the timeline quite a bit and makes it imperative that they build a solid core around him as quickly as they can.
Currently Failing: Trade Value
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – JANUARY 8: Anthony Davis #3 of the Dallas Mavericks holds his left hand as he reacts to pain after injuring it against Lauri Markkanen during the second half of their game at the Delta Center on January 8, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Chris Gardner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The trade deadline is this Thursday, February 5. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Dallas’ phone lines are “wide open”. This reeks of desperation from the Mavericks, which is disappointing but not surprising. Dallas’ main trade pieces (Daniel Gafford, Anthony Davis, Klay Thompson) have all had lackluster to mediocre seasons at best, and their best trade asset, Naji Marshall, seems to have a market value lower than the Mavericks’ asking price of a first-round pick.
It is not a good situation to be in. Dallas is a non-contender and a second apron team, an impossible combination of death sentences. As previously stated, with how good Flagg is already, increasing financial flexibility as soon as they can manage it is paramount. This starts with trading away their older players for expiring contracts and/or draft capital. If Dallas is unable to do this by Thursday’s deadline, it will be the second consecutive February of incompetence by the organization and could set them back more than they already are.
Extra Credit: Jason Kidd
Coach Kidd is not known for his demonstrative nature. In fact, he is notorious for his lack of emotion during games and in post-game press conferences. That’s why the internet went berserk when he lashed out after being asked about national criticism for playing Cooper Flagg at point guard:
Jason Kidd fined $35K for public criticism of officiating and using profane language during a media interview.pic.twitter.com/rR2e0xuHUa
This was refreshing to watch. I want my coach to stand up for himself and the players. I want Kidd to yell at referees. I want him to show that he cares. To this point, we have gotten virtually nothing of the sort. Whether you agree with fellow Mavs Moneyball staffer Brent Brooks and think Kidd has nothing to lose, or you have your tin foil hat on about the timing of the incident, this is a net good. I do not want the version of Kidd that says he’s “watching just like the rest” of us. I want this version who is passionate and fiery and defends his decisions, rather than leaving them up for interpretation. Plus, “I know what the f*** I’m doing” is great on a quote card.
The Philadelphia 76ers (28-21) visit the Golden State Warriors (27-23) tonight at the Chase Center, looking to extend their four-game winning streak and sweep the season series.
Philadelphia takes the court tonight for their third game in four nights in three different cities. Last night they were in Southern California knocking off the Clippers, 128-113. Tyrese Maxey led the attack, scoring 29 points (7-14 from deep). Starting in place of the suspended Paul George, Dominick Barlow added 26 points (10-16 FG).
The Warriors are dealing with substantial injuries including cornerstone players Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler III. Despite this, Golden State has won six of their last ten and remains tough at home (17-8) relying on high-volume 3-point shooting, averaging 16.3 makes per game.
The Sixers sit in sixth in the Eastern Conference, one game behind fourth place Toronto but only two games ahead of seventh place Miami. The Warriors sit firmly in eighth in the Western Conference, three games behind the sixth place Lakers and 3.5 games ahead of the ninth place Clippers.
This is the second of two meetings between these teams during the regular season. As alluded to earlier, the 76ers won the first meeting 99-98 on December 4. Tyrese Maxey scored 35 points for Philly and sealed the win with a block in the final seconds.
As we take a closer look at the matchup, keep an eye on Joel Embiid’s availability. At the time of publication he is probable, but it would be his third game in four nights.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game Details and How to Watch Live: 76ers at Warriors
Date: Tuesday, February 3, 2026
Time: 8PM EST
Site: Chase Center
City: San Francisco, CA
Network/Streaming: NBC Sports Bay Area, NBC Sports Philadelphia
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Game Odds: 76ers at Warriors
The latest odds as of Tuesday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Philadelphia 76ers (+130), Golden State Warriors (-155)
Spread: Warriors -3.5
Total: 220.5 points
This game opened Warriors -1.5 with the Total set at 217.5.
Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!
Paul George (susp) has been declared OUT for tonight’s game
Golden State Warriors
Moses Moody (knee) is listed as probable for tonight’s game
Stephen Curry (knee) has been declared OUT for tonight’s game
Seth Curry (back) has been declared OUT for tonight’s game
Jonathan Kuminga (knee) has been declared OUT for tonight’s game
LJ Cryer (hamstring) has been declared OUT for tonight’s game
Important stats, trends and insights: 76ers at Warriors
The Warriors are 17-8 at home this season
The 76ers are 13-8 on the road this season
The Warriors are 24-26 ATS this season
The 76ers are 28-21 ATS this season
The OVER has cashed in 30 of the Warriors’ 50 games this season (30-20)
The OVER has cashed in 26 of the 76ers’ 49 games this season (26-23)
Tyrese Maxey has buried 4, 3-pointers in each of his last 2 games
Dominick Barlow’s 26 points last night were his season high and just the second time this season he scored more than 20 (21 vs. Dallas, 12/20)
Brandin Podziemski’s PRA average the past 5 games is 24.4
Rotoworld Best Bet
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Here are the best bets our model is projecting for tonight’s 76ers and Warriors’ game:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Warriors on the Moneyline
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Warriors -3.5 ATS
Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total OVER 220.5
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WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 26: Dylan Crews #3 of the Washington Nationals bats against the Chicago White Sox at Nationals Park on September 26, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There are some players that just look the part. Dylan Crews firmly falls into that category. Despite not producing in his first year and change in the MLB, I still have a lot of faith in him. Some of that may be irrational, but Crews just looks like he should be a really good player.
His time at LSU was absolutely legendary. Crews is one of the best college baseball players of the 21st century. He hit .426 in his last year of college before being picked second overall in 2023. I have a hard time believing the player who did that could turn into a bust.
Crews, who turns 24 this month, is at a key point in his career. So far, he has not come close to living up to expectations. However, he is still young enough to turn things around. Crews needs to start showing something for fans to continue to believe in his star upside. He looks the part, but he also needs to produce.
His pedigree and tools will give him plenty of chances, but eventually he has to stop sucking. Crews has shown flashes of power, contact skills, speed and defense, but he has not put it all together.
This new development team is also giving me another excuse to believe in Crews. One of Dylan Crews’ biggest problems is that he puts the ball on the ground too much. His GB rate was 56% in his cup of coffee in 2024 and 50.2% last year. It is tough to do damage when you aren’t consistently elevating the ball. Crews is not ever going to be a pulled flyball guy, but hopefully the new regime can turn some of those ground balls into line drives.
It would be silly to give up on Dylan Crews
Especially now since the Nationals have completely revamped their coaching staff, he has new tools to enhance his game this offseason
I think the best version of Dylan Crews as a hitter is a line drive oriented guy. That is what I think Crews is at his core. Selling out for power just does not feel like it comes naturally to him. He should lean into being a gap to gap guy who has the power to punish mistakes.
Honestly, Crews should try to emulate Ryan Zimmerman as a hitter. Zimmerman always tried to pepper that right-center gap with doubles and homers. However, he was able to turn on those inside pitches. While pulling the ball in the air is optimal, it is not for everyone. It just does not feel like that is Crews’ game, and it does not have to be.
Brady House is the type of player who I think needs to be able to pull the ball in the air. He does not have great offensive tools outside of power, so he needs to maximize that power. Crews does have solid contact ability and a decent approach, even if it has not totally translated to the MLB yet.
Even if it is irrational, I have a ton of confidence that Crews will be a solid starter. My biggest question is if he still has that star potential. I still think it is in there, but it is a less likely outcome now compared to when he was drafted. While I am still very bullish about Crews, you can’t deny reality either.
He may have hit .208 with a .632 OPS last year, but there is still so much more in the tank for Crews. I think he can be a .255 hitter with a .750 OPS next season. At his peak, Crews has the talent to be a .270ish hitter with an .820ish OPS. With his defense in the outfield, that is All-Star level.
Dylan Crews may never be the Andrew McCutchen type MVP candidate we thought he would be when he was drafted. However, I cannot give up on him yet, not even close. Watching him move on the field just feels right. He looks like he should be really good. That may be totally unscientific, but some guys just have an it-factor. Dylan Crews has it, and it is why I cannot quit him.
I am up to two continents and three countries, which was just my 2025. In my lifetime, I have attended 126 regular-season Dodger games in 28 stadiums, 27 of which are MLB stadiums.
My most-visited ballpark is Oracle Park: 24 times, with the Dodgers prevailing 16 times. I have been to Dodger Stadium 14 times, with the Dodgers prevailing 11 times.
It is worth noting that this list is of the ballparks I think are the best in Major League Baseball, rather than where the best place is to watch a Dodger game. Moreover, if you can get to Dodger Stadium regularly, then of course, the answer is to go to Dodger Stadium if you want to enjoy a Dodger game.
However, if you cannot get to Dodger Stadium regularly, read on.
You will likely notice minor changes in this year’s list.
First, Sutter Health Park and the Tokyo Dome are omitted because this Guide is for MLB ballparks. If pressed, I would say the Tokyo Dome would be 11th, and Sutter Health Park would be dead last. I think my opinion on the Egg is open to being reexamined if I saw Nippon Professional Baseball teams play against the Dodgers or against each other, rather than the Tokyo Series, which felt like a different sport.
Sutter Health Park is a fine minor league stadium. It has no business hosting Major League games given its lack of facilities, size, and ticket prices. It would be one thing if the Sacramento Athletics were playing in West Sacramento due to a natural disaster, then you do what you have to do. It is a blunder of their own making. Dodgers fans should not subsidize stupidity.
Accordingly, the Coliseum still exists and merits a spot on this ranking. I have resigned myself to attending whatever monstrosity is built on the Las Vegas strip in a few years; that ballpark will likely be the 31st major league ballpark to end up in the Guide.
Second, there are some minor revisions to the Guide’s order due to changes in circumstances I experienced during my travels in 2025 and preparations for travel in 2026. Generally, if a stadium moved up, it is more a reflection of a stadium going down than actual improvement (see: Seattle, St. Louis). If a stadium’s name has a hyperlink, you can access the corresponding Guide entry.
The now-disputed king of MLB ballparks. Owner Bob Nutting has begun to let this gem on the Allegheny River fade, which is unconscionable given how poorly the Pirates have performed under his ownership. Plus, the Dodgers have somehow turned in some of their worst performances in Pittsburgh over the last three seasons.
In my estimation, there are five ballparks where one can say “it’s the best,” and while I would not necessarily agree with you, I could not credibly say one was wrong. PNC Park was leagues ahead; now, due to neglect, Petco Park and Target Field are now within a couple of car lengths.
Pros: Just about everything, but less as of late, including reasonable prices on food, views, tickets, and ease of access. PNC Park is one of the easier parks to reach, as visiting Pittsburgh is generally affordable.
Cons: It’s only one series a year. The weather can be fickle (muggy, rainy). The Dodgers have been inexplicably terrible in Pittsburgh the past few seasons.
Yes, Little Brother still has the best ballpark in the NL West. Petco Park is ranked highly nationally, but for good reason. In a neutral setting, I can see how one might argue that Petco is the best ballpark in the country.
It is not the king of ballparks for a couple of reasons. First, visiting PNC Park is still somehow cheaper even though Pittsburgh is on the other side of the continent. Second, outside of Toronto, I have not encountered a fanbase that feels more entitled to respect (outside of Toronto) without actually earning it, which is quite annoying. Those faults aside, it is a really good ballpark.
The Dodgers visit Petco Park on May 18-20 and June 26-28.
Pros: Imagine everything one would like about Dodger Stadium and make it better, which is an apt description of Petco Park.
Cons: Padres fans can be extremely, extremely annoying; ticket prices for Dodgers games are absurd (as there is no such thing as a cheap ticket to a Dodgers/Padres game at Petco), and can be region-locked, which is a minor league move.
This ballpark is fantastic if the weather cooperates, which is a mighty big if. Granted, you will be in Minneapolis, so by definition, the weather may not cooperate. Most folks will skip this ballpark due to its location, and they really should not.
Even at its worst (see freezing rain and snow, see also Midwest humidity), it’s a top-five ballpark in the country, and essentially a “cousin” ballpark to PNC Park, as it was made by the same design team and with similar materials. This ballpark has improved in the rankings basically by default.
The Dodgers visit Target Field on June 22-24.
Pros: It is pretty underrated as a venue. It has great fans, great value, and the best customer service in the League.
Cons: Heaven help you if the weather does not cooperate. Getting to and from the stadium is a pain if you did not pick a nearby hotel. Not the greatest neighborhood by the ballpark for families.
As the first retro-classic ballpark, Oriole Park at Camden Yards got a lot of things right about the experience, and you can see this stadium’s influence on half the parks in the league. It is not a perfect experience as the park is beginning to show its age, with its scoreboard and sound system, but upgrades are on the way.
As mentioned above, if you can navigate the logistical hurdles, you will likely have a great time at Camden Yards. Visiting this ballpark when the home fans have something to cheer about is an infinitely more fun experience.
The Dodgers do not visit Oriole Park at Camden Yards in 2026.
Pros: Now a classic stadium. Great fans. Decent value and food.
Cons: Still no tours. Getting to Baltimore can be a hassle. Baltimore has gone through some hard times. Not as much value if you have not seen “The Wire.”
The home of the perpetual inferiority complex, where an organization chases the sugar high of a fluke 2021 season. The only ballpark where one can be cold and get sunburned all in the same series.
In a neutral setting, Oracle Park is a very good park. For some neutral fans, it’s a bucket list destination, and if I squint very hard, I can at least understand that point of view.
The Dodgers visit Oracle Park on April 21-23 and to close out the regular season on September 25-27.
Pros: Snark aside, it is a nice stadium. It is relatively easy to get to and from if you do not drive yourself. Even if you park yourself, it’s expensive, and you must navigate the considerable traffic when leaving the stadium, regardless of how you leave.
Cons: It’s where the Giants play. Tickets cost an arm and a leg (and then some!) if the Dodgers are in town. It’s often cold and windy. Giants fans tend to be insufferable, especially when drunk, doubly so when the Dodgers win; triply so when the Dodgers lose.
T-Mobile Park has excellent food (not just for a ballpark) and is a decent value for a visit.
Why did the stadium drop in the rankings from last year to now? The stadium’s personnel have seemingly forgotten how to get patrons in and out promptly. For the games I visited in 2025, it took on average 35 minutes to enter the stadium, not find my seat, or get food (God forbid), but to go from outside the ballpark to inside, which is categorically unacceptable.
If I had not been swayed by the sheer variety of food options at relatively affordable prices, this stadium would have crashed out of the top ten.
The Dodgers do not visit T-Mobile Park in 2026.
Pros: If you like a stadium that ticks many boxes and is fun to visit with interesting things to see and eat, you will likely find much to love about this ballpark.
Cons: Good luck finding a decently-priced hotel near the ballpark or with access to the light rail. The Dodgers only visit every other year. Getting into and out of the stadium has suddenly become intolerable.
It’s still Our Blue Heaven and home to the back-to-back defending champions. One could argue it is like Hotel California: you can check out any time you like, but you can (seem to) never leave.
If we are being honest, assuming you live outside of Los Angeles, there are better stadiums to visit. Honestly, Dodger Stadium makes us, as fans, accept things I would not tolerate at other stadiums, which is unacceptable. Still, the stadium is a bucket list destination for a Dodgers fan.
You have 81 dates to pick from in the regular season to visit Dodger Stadium in 2026.
Pros: It’s where the Dodgers play. The views from the field and surroundings are some of the best in baseball. Liking the stadium is essentially a prerequisite to being a Dodger fan.
Truthfully, folks underrate the experience of going to Coors Field, and they really should not. I genuinely enjoy coming to this ballpark and believe you will too if you give it a chance. There is access to nature for those who like that sort of thing, and there are bars aplenty for those who like that sort of thing. No one is ever prepared for the elevation the first time, even with a warning.
Let us not kid ourselves: the Rockies are terrible, but they are starting to show signs of life and may finally improve to just bad over the next couple of seasons.
The Dodgers visit Coors Field on April 17-20 and August 17-19.
Pros: It’s a nice ballpark. It’s a fun ballpark. Where else can you eat bull testicles?
Cons: Do you have problems with elevation? Logistical problems are the biggest hurdle to enjoying a game here, i.e., where did you book your hotel? Did you not leave for the ballpark early if you are staying outside of Denver? Did you pay a premium to stay in downtown Denver?
If you go to St. Louis to see a Dodgers game, you will likely have a good time. If you are going to St. Louis for literally any other reason, I don’t know what you would do there.
This ballpark has the stadium-and-neighborhood model that baseball tries to emulate throughout the league. Here, the model is generally done right…except now ticket prices for Dodgers games have risen to levels that would be acceptable if the Cardinals were competitive. The Cardinals have been mediocre to bad for a couple of years now and are actively rebuilding. The days of $20 outfield tickets appear to be over.
Going to a game here is visiting an oasis of baseball in the sea of blight that is St. Louis. Busch Stadium, version 3.0, is a draw that might not otherwise exist. The area is starting to need some sprucing up, as affordable hotels near the ballpark are disappearing, and the stadium is starting to show its age.
The Dodgers visit Busch Stadium 3 on May 1-3.
Pros: Lots of things directly by and in the ballpark. Food, views, and tickets are a relative bargain. Fans are knowledgeable, too.
Cons: Generally, the rest of St. Louis, which is a lot. The weather can get muggy. Hearing about the Cardinal Way ad nauseam can get grating.
Someday, I will get over May 2021. It’s still not today, though. It is one of the last jewel-box stadiums in Major League Baseball, for better or worse. Compared with Fenway, Fenway has a better ballpark experience, but Wrigley is a better trip overall.
Still, Wrigley is a bucket list destination. As of now, Busch 3 has fallen off so far that Wrigley may reclaim its crown of best in the NL Central in the very near future. Whether that means time is a flat circle is an open question. Further investigation will likely be required in 2027 and beyond.
The Dodgers visit Wrigley Field on August 3-5.
Pros: It’s a bucket list destination. It’s a fun time for the most part. Something quite iconic about sitting in the sunshine with a Chicago Dog while the organ plays before the game.
Cons: It’s a bit pricey for what you get, the weather often does not cooperate, and if you have a bad seat, it’s legitimately bad.
“Going to Fenway Park” is a phrase that will always sound foreign to my ear.
However, it is a remarkable experience. It still costs far, far, far too much to go to the ballpark while staying in Boston. One could easily spend an entire year’s travel budget at Fenway, assuming no intercontinental travel. Still, seeing a game on the Green Monster is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
The Dodgers do not visit Fenway Park in 2026.
Pros: It’s on baseball’s bucket list for a reason. Sitting atop the Monster is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Cons: Dear God, my wallet is still hurting, especially from lodging and ticket costs. These costs easily exceed the cost of playoff tickets at Dodger Stadium. In some places, the stadium lacks modern amenities, like aisles.
Cleveland rocks. Progressive Field is a fun place to visit. There is good food, reasonable prices, and good crowds. Just pick a nearby hotel and walk to the Jake, which still persists as the stadium’s nickname. The stadium’s recent upgrades are complete and are a joy for the more social crowd.
One would be remiss for not visiting the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, down the street from the ballpark.
The Dodgers do not visit Progressive Field in 2026.
Pros: Good mix of value and amenities for the effort required to visit.
Cons: Some folks are hypercritical of the ground crew (they’re wrong). If the weather does not cooperate, things get challenging in a hurry. The stadium is near a rough neighborhood. Ohio, generally.
13. Comerica Park — Detroit, MI
Comerica Park is a solid ballpark. My trip to Detroit in 2024 was not successful by any reasonable definition, as the weather, hotels, Detroit Tigers, and Dodgers refused to cooperate.
The stadium, its history, and its denizens stuck with me long after I left. It’s a solid ballpark that most Dodger fans will never visit, and frankly, that statement is a shame. Honestly, the perfect road trip involving Detroit would also include a stop in Toronto, as the two cities are an hour apart by air.
The Dodgers visit Comerica Park on August 28-30.
Pros: Tickets are usually reasonable. The stadium has character and a nice mix of budget and luxury options.
Cons: Logistical minefield to navigate, as getting to Detroit is a pain. Hotels downtown are the best option, while safe, they can be pricey. Finding shade in the summer is not optional.
American Family Field is one of those parks where you definitely get what you pay for. If you try to scrimp on the experience, you get what you pay for. If you allow yourself to enjoy yourself, you will have a grand time in Wisconsin. If you are afraid of ghosts, do not stay at the city’s leading luxury hotel, the Pfister Hotel.
The Dodgers visit American Family Field on May 22-24 (Memorial Day Weekend).
Pros: Traffic seems to flow rather efficiently here. Tickets are usually reasonable. Great staff. You get what you pay for.
Cons: If you go super cheap on the experience, you get what you pay for. For the best results, you will need to rent a car. The Bernie’s Slide Experience will get you if you aren’t careful.
Kauffman Stadium has the best-smelling tailgate in Major League Baseball, easily.
This quirky baseball oasis serves as a counterpoint to the experience offered in St. Louis. While some would deride Kauffman as a jumped-up Triple-A stadium, it does have its own unique charm and character for those who reside in the second-smallest major league town by population (for now).
The Royals are attempting to move downtown, which is obnoxious, rather than build up the area around the ballpark. This entry of the Guide may become moot in a few years.
The Dodgers do not visit Kauffman Stadium in 2026.
Pros: Great sightlines, reasonable ticket prices, proximity to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. You have plenty of access to barbecue in the region.
Cons: The stadium is in the middle of nowhere, and the food at the actual ballpark is mediocre at best. If the weather does not cooperate, you must be prepared; otherwise, you will have a terrible time. Generally, you need to rent a car to visit.
Nationals Park is the baseball stadium equivalent of a ham and cheese sandwich – not great, not terrible. Sometimes all you want is a sandwich.
It is not a bad ballpark; it is not a good ballpark. It is logistically easy to go to a game in Washington, D.C., if you stay in the capital.
The stadium’s prices, food, and location are in the middle of the bell curve. It would rank higher if it were closer. This ballpark is the easiest to pair with other activities. If you want an excuse to spend a week in Washington, D.C., there are worse excuses than spending evenings at the Navy Yard and seeing historical sites during the day.
The Dodgers visit Nationals Park on April 3-5 in the first road trip of 2026.
Pros: Solid ballpark. Solid experience. Friendly staff through and through. Plenty of stuff to do in D.C.
Cons: The weather can be unforgiving. Getting to the East Coast is a large ask for some fans.
Domed stadiums are hard to do right. If you do it wrong, you feel like you are in a perpetual state of cavernous now. If you do it right, the elements of the dome add to the atmosphere of the proceedings. Rogers Centre is a mixed bag, even with the new renovations.
Going to Rogers Centre is not as financially onerous as you might think, unless it’s the World Series. For all its faults, Rogers Centre does have its charms. For as many times as Toronto Blue Jays’ fans have just missed out on free agents, there was an undeniable charm to Toronto, which most Dodger fans should at least experience once. Then the 2025 World Series happened…and a whiny fanbase to rival the Padres was born.
The Dodgers return to Rogers Centre on April 6-8.
Pros: When the US dollar is strong, costs are lower than expected. The stadium has its own quirky charm, and the Marriott is an actual part of the stadium, which has to be seen to be believed.
Cons: Going to Toronto is a pain from the West Coast. The lights inside the ballpark can be a bit irritating. Blue Jays’ fans can be surprisingly sensitive, which makes blowing a 3-2 lead at home even funnier.
18. Globe Life Field — Arlington, TX
One of the newer ballparks in MLB, Globe Life is both a marvel of engineering and a bit of a soulless husk. Building a retractable-roof stadium in Texas is a good idea given the weather. Yet the park feels simultaneously too small and too big for its surroundings.
Imagine going to American Family Field but having less to do and every seat apart from field level being more obstructed than necessary. Still, the barbecue nachos are not to be missed. The ballpark did turn into Dodger Stadium Southeast upon last visit.
The Dodgers do not visit Globe Life Field in 2026.
Pros: Decent food, reasonable prices for seating, and more Dodgers fans in Texas than one might think.
Cons: You need a car unless you stay nearby; otherwise, you do not have much to do. Obstructed views for any non-field level seat. Cavernous yet with narrow concourses.
Citi Field is just fine — especially if you take the 7 subway line, and do not pay $40 for parking at the stadium if you can help it.But the entire time you visit, you will likely be thinking of the following two phrases with some justification:
Am I technically a Lego minifigure in Steve Cohen’s lifesize model of Citi Field?
Why is everything so expensive? I thought Papa Steve was a billionaire; you would imagine some savings would get passed down.
In a few ways, this ballpark reminds me of Dodger Stadium, not in a good way, as there is literally nothing to do by the ballpark for now. However, Metropolitan Park (and casino) is coming. Still, there are worse reasons to visit New York City.
The Dodgers visit Citi Field on July 24-26.
Pros: It’s fine. It’s fun. It’s a great excuse to visit New York if you have never been.
Cons: Going to the stadium (including flights, lodging, and tickets) costs too much. There is not a lot to do by the ballpark. There’s no reason to stay in Queens, which necessitates a stay in Manhattan. The fans can be a bit much.
It is not a bad park, but it does feel like an aircraft hangar with the roof closed. If the choice is scorching heat or feeling like you got lost on the way to GenCon, I pick the latter. It might be worth coming back when I know the roof will be open.
The Dodgers visit Chase Field on June 1-4 and August 7-9.
Pros: Good starter ballpark to travel to for a newbie Dodgers game traveler. Essentially, de facto Dodger Stadium East.
Cons: Do you like being in the desert? Do you like dry heat? Did you forget sunscreen? Are you prepared to feel like you are trapped in a never-ending spring break while exploring Phoenix?
Honestly, imagine everything good about Dodger Stadium and then make it worse. Personally, the only draw to the Big A is sentimental. Specifically, I have friends from law school who are avid Angels fans, and meeting there is easier than meeting in the Bay Area or at Dodger Stadium.
The only person happy about an extended Freeway Series is Arte Moreno.
The Dodgers visit Angel Stadium of Anaheim on May 15-17.
Pros: It’s by an Amtrak station, so it’s easy to get to and from. If one lived in Anaheim, the stadium would merit more attention.
Cons: Imagine a bizarro Dodger Stadium, where everything bad is good,and everything good is bad. Now, the Dodgers will play three games a year here, which pleases no one but theAngels’ management. Then you get to watch a team that wasted two generational talents. Remind yourself that the Angels are (generally) charging you a mint to be there for a Dodger game. And even then, you can pay a mint, and things still weirdly feel cheap.
Great American Ballpark is like Skyline Chili, which one needs to try when visiting Cincinnati. It is not what I would call good, but it is food, so that is something. So goes Great American Ballpark.
Shade is your friend during day games. If possible, try to stay in Ohio; otherwise, you will need a car or the tolerance to withstand the weather while walking in from Kentucky. The ownership is still bad, but the Customer Service department on the backend is pretty good.
The Dodgers visit Great American Ballpark on September 14-17.
Pros: It’s a nice stadium from the outside. Opening Day in Cincinnati is essentially a local holiday.
Cons: Pretty much everything else. The ownership is cartoonishly bad. The food is enjoyable, mostly on an ironic level. If the weather is bad, forget it. The stadium layout is bad because they wanted more luxury boxes.
Generally, Tropicana Field is a shabby dump. It is a nightmare to get to the region. It is a nightmare to get to the game. And yet once you are there, odds are you will have a good time. This stadium will likely perplex the heck out of the average traveler. But, at least the roof is finally fixed!
It would be easy to relegate this stadium to the bottom of this list. But there is a quirky charm that is hard to convey in a blurb like this one. Going to a game here is quite memorable, for better or worse.
The Dodgers do not visit Tropicana Field in 2026.
Pros: The stadium experience does quite a few things right. The fans are a passionate, if few-in-number, bunch.
Cons: Just about everything else. Hurricane Milton wrecked Tropicana Field, but the repairs are complete. From lodging and flight costs to the actual gameplay experience, to the logistics of actually getting to the ballpark, the Trop serves as an endurance test and an abstract experience rather than an enjoyable baseball experience.
If Atlanta stopped the racist chant or stopped the price gouging for regular-season Atlanta/Los Angeles games, this stadium would be in the top ten of this list. If Atlanta fixed both problems, the stadium would be in my top five.
But they have not, and they likely will not. The stadium and surrounding area serve as the model that every MLB team is trying to emulate, for better or worse.
The stadium’s Customer Service department is second to none, though. Atlanta’s model of being a commercial landlord is being copied throughout the league to its detriment.
The Dodgers visit Truist Park on August 25-27.
Pros: It does have a neighborhood around it that the League seems to be emulating. The sightlines are nice. The ballpark itself is newer, and it shows.
Cons: Objective racism. Usual, outright gouging of ticket prices for Dodgers/Atlanta games (if on a weekend). Watch from home – your conscience and wallet will thank you when watching the Cumberland Baseball Team.
How can the newest ballpark in MLB be such an objective dump?
In theory, the ballpark would attract fans in South Florida. In actuality, it is a gaudy eyesore that is more famous for things other people have done, from the World Baseball Classic to Shohei Ohtani’s perfect day.
Finding positive things to say about this ballpark is genuinely hard, but it can be done. The tickets are relatively cheap when the Dodgers visit, but are inflated compared to normal Miami Marlins prices.
The Dodgers visit loanDepot Park on September 11-13.
Pros: I still never have to go back unless I want to.
Cons: It’s a dump. The lighting inside actively irritates my eyes, so I was in physical pain for three games. Getting to the ballpark, staying at the ballpark, and doing things at the ballpark are all objectively bad and needlessly hard to do.
26. Rate Field — Chicago, IL
Woof. It’s the worst ballpark in active service in the majors, but getting to it is easy. The Chicago White Sox fans are long-suffering but generally quite kind. If not for friends I want to see, I would never return to this ballpark.
Imagine you went to the dentist, but somehow there was a baseball game going on. That analogy best describes the physical sensation of going to Rate Field.
The Dodgers obligatorily return to Rate Field on June 12-14.
Pros: You get what you pay for. A stadium with a dedicated public transit stop does deserve some praise.
Cons: Just about everything else. The stadium is a decaying, unloved monument to Jerry Reinsdorf’s greed. I have never experienced such apathy radiating from a place. This ballpark is the only one that has managed to misspell my name when I wrote it out for them in large, friendly capital letters.
The Oakland Coliseum endured a lot in its troubled history. The current ownership of the Athletics is a blight upon the game of baseball, and what has been done to relocate this farce masquerading as a team to Las Vegas, Nevada, is absolutely disgraceful. Even in its current state, I would rather watch an MLB game at the Coliseum than endure another farce of an afternoon in West Sacramento.
The Athletics belong in Oakland. That declaration aside, the Coliseum is a decaying sore in Oakland that was only enjoyable for ironic, devout, or historic reasons.
The Dodgers will likely never visit the Coliseum ever again.
Pros: Some of the best and most loyal fans in the Major Leagues. It’s great if you like a dive bar.
Cons: The stadium experience is lousy if you hate a dive bar. Pretty much everything else. Friends do not let friends go to the Coliseum these days. MLB has abandoned the stadium.
Agree? Disagree? I am sure that you will tell me here or on social media. What stadiums have you been to? Where should I go next?
I make my own schedule, but if there is an outcry for me to go somewhere, I would be remiss not to listen. Three stadiums are left. In the coming weeks, I will publish my travel itinerary for the fast-approaching campaign as the road to 30 finally concludes.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 4: VJ Edgecombe #77 of the Philadelphia 76ers dribbles the ball against Buddy Hield #7 of the Golden State Warriors at Xfinity Mobile Arena on December 4, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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. The 76ers defeated the Warriors 99-98. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Philadelphia 76ers have a chance to notch their first five-game win streak of the 2025-26 season on Tuesday night when they face the Golden State Warriors.
The Sixers opened this back-to-back last night, defeating the Los Angeles Clippers (sans James Harden) thanks in no small part to a career-night from Dominick Barlow. The hero of the evening posted a career-high 26 points on 10-of-16 shooting along with 16 rebounds and two steals. Alright then, Dom.
The Sixers have now strung together four victories in a row for the first time since starting the season 4-0. Yes, tonight is unfortunately another 10 p.m. ET tipoff. It’s also another back-to-back for Philadelphia, their 10th of the season. For what it’s worth, the Sixers are 6-3 so far this year on zero days rest.
This game is going to offer a golden (pun intended) opportunity to keep momentum in Philadelphia’s favor, too, with the Warriors coming into Tuesday’s contest without their biggest stars. Steph Curry, who really needs no introduction at this point in his career, leads Golden State averaging 27.2 points (shooting 39.1% from long range on a 11.5 attempt per game clip in 39 games this season) but will be sidelined for this one due to knee soreness. Jimmy Butler, the team’s second-highest scorer posting 20.0 points per contest across 38 games, is out for the rest of the season after tearing his ACL back in mid-January.
Jonathan Kuminga, Seth Curry and LJ Cryer are also all out for the Warriors. Moses Moody is probable with left knee soreness.
This being the second leg of a back-to-back and a West Coast time zone game, the official injury report for Philadelphia will not be available until later today. The Sixers’ only absence on Monday was Paul George, out for another 23 games after being suspended for violating the league’s drug policy. Joel Embiid did play last night against the Clippers, posting 24 points. Embiid has not played a game on zero days rest all season, so one would expect him to be unavailable for Tuesday night’s contest.
We will bring you official availability information when it’s released.
Regardless, this is the perfect chance for the Sixers to keep momentum on their side, even on a West Coast road trip, a situation that can sometimes just be a matter of survival until you can get back home. The Warriors without Steph Curry are simply not the Warriors. The squad’s offensive rating goes from 119.3 with Steph down to 104.9 with him sidelined. He is responsible for 21.4% percent of the team’s total made triples the entire season despite having only played in 39 of 50 possible games. Curry has sunk 175 threes this campaign, with the next highest Warrior being Moses Moody with 112.
And, to be fair, even with Curry the Warriors have been a bit shaky this season to say the least. They currently sit in eighth in the Western Conference at 27-23 and have lost four of their last six games.
The only other meeting the Sixers have had with the Warriors this season, back on Dec. 4, 2025, ended in dramatic fashion with rookie VJ Edgecombe hitting the go-ahead shot down one end and Tyrese Maxey coming up with a huge block on De’Anthony Melton down the other end as time expired. The Sixers won 99-98. Curry was absent for that contest as well.
Back to tonight. Even if it is the second leg of a back-to-back for the Sixers, anything other than a victory on Tuesday night would mean a wasted opportunity.
The Sixers and Warriors tip off at 10 p.m. ET (sorry).
Game Details
When: Tuesday, February 3, 10:00 p.m. ET Where: Chase Center, San Francisco, CA Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia Plus Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic Follow:@LibertyBallers
BOSTON, MA - FEBRUARY 1: Neemias Queta #88 of the Boston Celtics arrives to the arena before the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Februray 1, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Mavericks are trying to scrape together some rhythm amid a four-game slide, hosting a Celtics team that’s found theirs. Boston enters 26–11 over their last 37 games with a plus-nine net rating, even while navigating their own key absences. What they haven’t lost is identity — relentless three-point volume, layers of guard play, and enough length inside to clean up misses. Dallas, meanwhile, is working with a skeleton crew in the paint and leaning more on Cooper Flagg every week. Can he carry the Mavs to a win or cover?
Let’s scan the lines in search of value.
🏀 Fixture: Boston Celtics (31–18, 14–10 Away) @ Dallas Mavericks (19–30, 11–12 Home) 📍 American Airlines Center — Dallas, TX 🕢 7:00 PM CST, February 3 📺 NBC Sports, Peacock, KFAA
💰 DraftKings Odds (as of 6:35 AM CST): Spread: BOS −7.5 (−105) | DAL +7.5 (−115) Total: 221.5 (O −115 / U −105) Moneyline: BOS −270 | DAL +220
🎲 Game Side Pick: Celtics −7.5
The Mavericks will need to win the math battle with rim pressure, transition, and a few hot hands from midrange. The problem? Boston shoots over 42 threes a game, ranks third in percentage, and won’t stop shooting even if they start cold.
Jaylen Brown has been cooking (29.4 PPG), but it’s the middle of Boston’s rotation — Payton Pritchard, Anfernee Simons, Neemias Queta—that keeps their machine rolling. If Dallas can’t generate turnovers or limit second chances, the game starts tilting early on and may not recover.
It’s enough for a lean.
📊 Player Prop: Cooper Flagg over 20.5 points (−122)
Flagg’s recent line against Charlotte wasn’t just 49 points — it was a message: he knows it’s his team now. Even more impressive? His 34 on the road in Houston against their defensive talent. Flagg will deploy a mix of post-ups, cuts, and self-created looks that Boston can’t fully erase, even with their elite wing defense.
With usage stable and minutes north of 36 in close games, Flagg has room to hit this without needing to shoot the lights out. Role meets rhythm—not flashy, but solid.
📊 Player Prop: Neemias Queta over 8.5 rebounds (−131)
Queta’s quietly become a reliable rebounder in extended minutes. The Celtics’ barrage from three-point range creates long rebound opportunities, and Dallas isn’t fielding much resistance on the interior right now.
He pulled 8 in 31 minutes vs. Milwaukee, and 15 the game before that vs the Kings. If he stays on the floor, he clears. It’s a volume spot, and the matchup says go.
