It’s one of the biggest two-year rebounds among modern-era teams that lost at least 110 games.
USA TODAY analyzed ballclubs two seasons after a 110-or-more-loss season and found that Chicago currently has the third-best, year-2 winning percentage in the modern era (1901 or later).
Better than the White Sox’s current .524 winning percentage is the Baltimore Orioles, who went 52-110 in 2021 and then posted a 101-win, .623% season in 2023.
The 2013 Houston Astros also held a better second-year season: After going 51-111 in 2013, Houston went 86-76 in 2015, good for a .531 winning percentage.
All told, only four of the 21 previous 110-loss teams with a completed second season finished above .500.
Chicago could be the fifth to join that subset if it doesn’t suffer a collapse in the final weeks of the season. To surpass .500, the White Sox will need to go at least 16-20 the rest of the way.
The other two clubs that improved to a winning record were the Boston Braves/Bees in 1935-37 and the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2021-23. The 1932 Boston Red Sox also managed to reach .500 in 1934 but did not pass it.
Every other team had a losing record in year two.
However, it’s notable that 20 of the 21 teams analyzed did improve upon their 110-loss record two years later. The one that didn’t: the New York Mets, who went 51-111 in 1963 and then 50-112 in 1965.
In terms of postseason success, only the 2023 Diamondbacks went on to win a multi-game playoff series; Arizona went on to lose the World Series to Texas that year.
The 2015 Astros and 2023 Orioles also reached the postseason, but neither won a multi-game series (Houston did win the AL Wild Card game, however).
So, if the White Sox were to make a deep playoff run reminiscent of their 2005 World Series win — the last time Chicago won a postseason series — they’ll need to buck another trend. But, as it turns out, this team is already used to ignoring historical precedent.
Methodology: Modern era (1901 or later) teams with 110 losses or more and their corresponding record two seasons later were pulled from the MLB Stats API. The 2025 Colorado Rockies team that went 43-119 were excluded from the analysis because they have yet to reach their year-2 season. The 2026 White Sox record is current through August 19 games.
DENVER, CO - MARCH 22: Peyton Watson #8 of the Denver Nuggets looks on during the first quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers at Ball Arena on March 22, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. The Nuggets defeated the Trail Blazers 128-112. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Denver Nuggets were already into the dreaded second apron before they re-signed restricted free agent Peyton Watson. The Cleveland Cavaliers were desperate after missing out on LeBron James in free agency. The Los Angeles Clippers were waiting to take advantage of a good deal that came their way. One of the biggest questions lingering ahead of the 2026-27 season found a resolution on Wednesday night with a three-team deal that accomplished an objective for everyone involved. The Washington Wizards and Charlotte Hornets got in on the action too to make this an even bigger trade.
The Cavs acquired Watson, but that’s just the start of this massive deal. Here’s the end result:
Wizards acquire: Tre Mann, 2027 Philadelphia 76ers second-rounder (via the Clippers)
Hornets acquire: Dennis Schroder
The Nuggets gained a valuable future asset, but could take a step back this season. The Cavs paid a heavy price for Watson. The Clippers picked up a good player for nothing, and the Wizards added a scoring guard who still has some upside. Let’s grade this deal for every side.
Cavs trade grade for Peyton Watson deal
Watson signed a new four-year, $88 million deal with a player option to complete his sign-and-trade to Cleveland. The Cavs have been looking for a fifth starter in their “core four” model for years, and in some ways it’s easy to see Watson’s appeal. A 6’8 wing with with a 7’1 wingspan, he’s had a strong defensive reputation as a wing stopper who has often drawn the toughest assignment on the floor during his early years with Denver. His impact numbers don’t necessarily match his reputation — 48th percentile defensive EPM, slight negative defensively in most other metrics — but it still feels like he has a lot of upside on that end now that he’ll have better interior defenders behind him in Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen.
The offense feels like a bigger question for Watson to me. Strus was a good fit in Cleveland as a super high-volume three-point shooter. Watson takes a lot of midrange shots — 80th percentile in mid-range frequency last season, per Cleaning the Glass — that seemingly won’t be available on the Cavs with the ball in Donovan Mitchell and James Harden’s hands. Watson was a knockdown corner three shooter at 52% last year without a ton of volume, so it will be interesting to see if Cleveland can get him more chances in those spots. Watson broke out in January of last season when Jokic was out with injury, averaging 21.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, and three assists per game on 49% shooting from the floor and 46.2% shooting from three. It felt like his hot shooting on that stretch was unsustainable, and then he suffered a season-ending hamstring strain once Jokic came back.
I respect Cleveland for getting aggressive to find a starting wing after missing on LeBron. I predicted the Cavs would land Watson earlier this month. But in some ways I feel like Strus was a better fit for what they needed than Watson. Giving up a far out unprotected first is a highly valuable asset, and I’m skeptical that Watson has done enough in his career to warrant that. I have no problem with the contract, and would laud Cleveland if they just signed him for money. Instead, they lost Dennis Schroder, Strus, and an unprotected 2031 first rounder just to add Watson during a time when depth is so important. Taken in full, this feels like an overpay to me.
Cavaliers grade: C
Nuggets trade grades for Peyton Watson deal
The Nuggets should be trying to win the championship in every season when Nikola Jokic is at this point in his career. Jokic turns 32 years old before the playoffs, and he still has a case for being the best player in the world, though it’s starting to feel like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Victor Wembanyama have passed him. Jokic is still good enough to be the best player on a championship team, but the Nuggets haven’t put a championship team around him. By trading Watson, they’re taking a step back for the upcoming season. It’s hard to argue with that.
The Nuggets painted themselves into a corner with their cap situation. They were going to be deep into the second apron if they kept Watson. Overpaying Christian Braun and Zeke Nnaji was their first mistake, and Aaron Gordon’s lack of availability feels even more problematic. I just don’t think Denver was going to be championship material even if they kept Watson. I had some questions about his fit with Jokic, and ultimately just don’t think Watson is that good. Getting this type of return for him could be critical for rebuilding the team around Jokic moving forward, assuming he signs an extension after this season.
Watson essentially got traded for the same thing as freaking LaMelo Ball, who grades out as a borderline top-20 player. Watson is nowhere near that level, so to be able to land an unprotected far out first rounder for him is great value for Denver in a vacuum. To me, this pick gives Denver a lifeline to make another big splash, even if it doesn’t happen this season. Trading Braun’s contract plus the pick could get them a good player eventually, especially if Braun can bounce back a little this season. I don’t think the Nuggets were really going to push the best of the West this year, and I’d rather have Cleveland’s unprotected 2031 first than Watson. People are crushing Denver for this deal, but I like it for them, even if it’s depressing that they are essentially punting Jokic’s age-31 season.
Nuggets grade: B+
Clippers trade grade for Max Strus deal
The Clippers are probably going to be bad this year. Kawhi Leonard is still likely off to the Toronto Raptors pending the NBA’s bogus investigation into his obvious cap circumvention, and the Clippers got an awesome return for him if the deal goes through as intended. Strus turns 31 years old in the second half of this season, and he isn’t helping the Clippers’ future. He’s still a good player who can contribute right now for a team that owes its 2027 first-round pick to the Thunder. Tanking is dead with the lottery changes, and the Clippers couldn’t even tank under the old system this year, so I like the idea of picking up a high-volume three-point shooter with some size to buzz around the floor splashing shots. Strus’ gravity should help out Keaton Wagler’s development in his rookie year, and also help balance the floor for all those Brandon Ingram mid-range attempts.
This trade won’t move the needle that much for the Clippers, but it’s still a good asset play, and they deserve credit for that.
Clippers grade: A
Wizards trade grades for Tre Mann deal: B. Mann grades out really poor in impact metrics, but he’s fun to watch when he gets cooking with his off-the-dribble shooting. Is it crazy to think I like him more than Bub Carrington? Just don’t expect anything other than buckets for him.
Hornets trade grades for Dennis Schroder deal: B+. Schroder is still pretty solid as a backup point guard. The Hornets are going to chuck a ton of threes, and didn’t really have a guard who could offer a changeup of generating paint touches. That’s what Schroder does, and I like the idea of Charlotte picking him for nothing as a backup to Coby White after Christian Anderson struggled so badly in summer league.
TORONTO, ON - MARCH 28: Oakland Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers (23) celebrates his grand slam with teammates, outfielders Denzel Clarke (1) and Tyler Soderstrom (21), and infielders Max Muncy (3) and Nick Kurtz (16), as Toronto Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk (30) looks on in the top of the seventh inning of an MLB game between the Oakland Athletics and the Toronto Blue Jays on March 28, 2026, at Rogers Centre in Toronto, ON. (Photo by Mathew Tsang/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Happy Thursday everyone! Friday is right around the corner.
Things have gone south of south recently for our A’s. Alone in first place in the American League West as late as May 26th, the club has since cratered. With how bad the AL was this year even hovering around .500 would have been enough to be playing meaningful baseball in September. Instead the club is the last team in the sport still looking for their 50th win as the Athletics own the worst record in the sport. Calling a minor league stadium their home add insult to injury, and currently they’re hoping to avoid a four-game sweep to the Royals this afternoon.
It wasn’t supposed to be like this. The team had the bones of a good squad. The A’s were a darkhorse playoff contender in many people’s minds, but what happened? Let’s briefly look back at the fate of all of our Opening Day starters.
Catcher Shea Langeliers: All-Star starter, now out for the year
First baseman Nick Kurtz: All-Star “starter”, now out for the year
Second baseman Jeff McNeil: 14% worse than league average, now playing first base part-time
Third baseman Max Muncy: struggled, demoted, returned, demoted again, now learning the outfield
Shortstop Jacob Wilson: took a step back this year, now injured and likely heading for shoulder surgery
Left fielder Tyler Soderstrom: was having a solid season, now out for the year with hip surgery
Center fielder Denzel Clarke: struggled before injuries cost him majority of season
Right fielder Lawrence Butler: hitting .211 after rushing back from double knee surgery
DH Brent Rooker: struggled before injuries cost him majority of season
If you had told me at the beginning of the year that that would be the ultimate fate for the Opening Day starting nine, I’d have called you a pessimistic jerk. That couldn’t happen to all of them by August. Alas, we’re living in the worst reality concerning our A’s. While the pitching was always suspect the offense was supposed to be a massive strength this season. Instead the club is middle of the pack in the league in most offensive categories.
There’s room for optimism though! We know how talented this position player group is when they’re healthy and firing on all cylinders. That evidently wasn’t in the cards this year with injuries affecting nearly every single Opening Day starter. Injuries are apart of the sport and every team deals with them, but the injury bug would not leave the A’s clubhouse this year. That just compounded the problem areas of the team and made the weaknesses much harder to overcome.
It’s going to come down to how lucky are the A’s. None of the injuries seem to be cause for long-term concern but you never know. No team is this unlucky back-to-back years so just getting all of our guys back next season should improve the club. The new general manager would be smart to remember how bad the injuries got this year though and act accordingly. Just because the A’s are a young team doesn’t mean they don’t need serious major-league quality depth.
We got the game starting here soon with first pitch at 11:10. Have a great day A’s fans.
Almost certainly won’t be seeing De Vries make his big league debut this season now:
Change of plans. Just been told that Leo De Vries is now being placed on the 7-day IL with a shoulder issue…. https://t.co/sGl778P549
— Bill Moriarity – A's Farm (@AthleticsFarm) August 19, 2026
Won’t be long until we see Arnold at the big league level:
Check out A’s top pitching prospect and our prospect of the day Jamie Arnold talking to Chris Townsend on A’s Cast Live @athleticscast24 from earlier today… https://t.co/jXuHil3Wg2
— Bill Moriarity – A's Farm (@AthleticsFarm) August 20, 2026
Recent first rounder Drew Burress is looking legit so far:
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 16: A detail of a Wilson glove and Los Angeles Dodgers hat in the dugout during a game against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium on April 16, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Between Easton Shelton’s record-breaking performance and Tyler Glasnow demolishing Triple-A hitters, there is plenty for us to talk about in action on this past Wednesday across the Dodgers’ minor league affiliates.
Player of the day
What do you say of a hitter with more runs batted in than games, one who broke a team’s record with time to spare? Easton Shelton had another one of his dominant performances, now reaching 105 RBI on the season, putting him past Cody Bellinger’s 2015 campaign for the most ever by an Ontario Tower Buzzers player.
Easton Shelton made Dodger Prospect history and surpassed Cody Bellinger’s 103 RBIs in California League season (2015)!
Right after Shelton’s 35th home run of the season to hit 104 RBIs, he launched a double in his next at-bat to bring in two more runs and now sits at 106 🤯 pic.twitter.com/sPYZwpxujf
For the second time this month, Shelton homered in back-to-back games. Even though the batting average has taken a hit as of late, no pun intended, the production is still very high given the amount of power he brings to the table.
Triple-A Oklahoma City
Tyler Glasnow made it clear he is ready to return to the big leagues, as he toyed with the Space Cowboys in an outing in which he allowed just a lone hit and run. Pulled after 5.1 innings and short of 80 pitches, Glasnow struck out nine, but that one run was enough for him to be the losing pitcher of record in a 2-1 defeat.
On the other side of the pitching matchup, Jason Alexander might not have been as dominant, but he was even more effective with five scoreless. The only run the Comets would score came on a Hyeseong Kim solo shot in the ninth inning.
As ready as Glasnow is to be back in the bigs, reliever Ben Casparius is not, once again allowing multiple walks in an outing, responsible for the other run the Space Cowboys scored.
Double-A Tulsa
Holding the Sod Poodles to just one run through nine, with multi-inning scoreless appearances out of the bullpen from Carson Hobbs and Jacob Kmatz, the Drillers still couldn’t avoid the 4-1 loss in extras. Starter Zach Root had a knack for navigating through trouble, allowing just one run in four innings despite a 2.00 WHIP in the game.
What’s unsettling about this loss is that even though the Drillers had a terrible offensive performance as a team, it’s not as if the whole lineup was lost all the way through. Each one of the nine hitters reached safely at least once; they just failed to do so when it mattered most.
High-A Great Lakes
The Loons scored more runs than the Drillers and Comets combined, but they also found a way to be underwhelming through the vast majority of the game in a 6-5 loss. Each side had a five-run rally early in the game, and in the seventh, an RBI single allowed to cleanup hitter Kerrington Cross cost the Loons the win.
Virtually all of the Loons’ scoring came from shortstop Emil Morales, with a grand slam in the fourth, one of four hits Morales recorded in the game. Meanwhile, none of the other batters in the top five of the Loons’ order recorded a hit in this one.
Class-A Ontario
Need an RBI? Call 0800-Easton Shelton, and he’ll provide immediate assistance. The young first baseman now sits alone with the most runs driven in for a Dodger player in the California League, overcoming one of the more notable Dodger prospects of the last 15 years, Cody Bellinger.
Leading the way as the Tower Buzzers overcame an early 3-0 deficit, Shelton hit a solo shot in the fourth and then added a couple more RBI in the fifth to hand Ontario their first lead in this one.
Getting a day off from the field, Joendry Vargas shined as the team’s designated hitter as well, the only other player besides Shelton to record a multihit game.
Transactions
The Tulsa Drillers placed left-handed pitcher Luke Fox on the IL.
Wednesday’s scores
Sugar Land 2, Oklahoma City 1
Tulsa 1, Amarillo 4
Fort Wayne 6, Great Lakes 5
Ontario 7, Inland Empire 3
Thursday’s schedule
4:05 p.m. PT: Great Lakes (Will Gagnon) at Fort Wayne (Carson Montgomery)
5:00 p.m. PT: Tulsa (Aidan Foeller) vs. Amarillo (Avery Short)
5:05 p.m. PT: Oklahoma City (Gavin Stone) at Sugar Land (Mike Burrows)
5:35 p.m. PT: Ontario (TBD) vs. Inland Empire (Jack Bowery)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - AUGUST 19: Nick Sogard #20 of the Boston Red Sox turns a double play over Corbin Carroll #7 of the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning at Fenway Park on August 19, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
On Monday here at Over The Monster, Jake Reiser already asked “how do the Red Sox incorporate Roman Anthony, Trevor Story, and Isiah Kiner-Falefa?” But as we’re learning from this roller coaster Red Sox season, roster construction is both a complex and fluid beast that evolves by the day, and yesterday was a particularly interesting one.
But as compelling as it is to focus on all the guys coming back, something really interesting happened yesterday with all the guys who don’t want to leave. Namely, Nick Sogard, Jarren Duran, and Mickey Gasper all hit a home run. This is pretty amusing because you could argue that all three of these guys are at the top of the list in terms of people about to lose playing time when the cavalry comes back.
Gasper feels like the first man off the roster when somebody gets added. So what does he do this week? Hits a home run in every game of a three game series after have only having two major league home runs in his entire career (and none with the Red Sox). How about Jarren Duran? Do you think he feels Roman Anthony breathing down his neck? He went deep in the third inning yesterday.
And then there’s Nick Sogard, who is under pressure from the return of both Story and Kiner-Falefa, and led off the scoring with a home run of his own in the bottom of the first inning. But even before that long ball, Tyler Milliken was noting how much of a winning ballplayer Sogard has become, and I agree. At this point, Sogard needs to survive the upcoming roster tsunami. He does way too many little things to not be included as the bench/utility guy when all the dust settles.
Either way, isn’t it fascinating how human beings work? The guys on paper who all stand to get less playing time soon (or even get completely displaced off the roster) end up swinging the hottest sticks.
So with rehab assignments underway and a roster reshuffle immanent, where do you guys in the OTM community stand on this ever changing topic today? Use this thread to talk about that and whatever else you’d like, and as always, be good to one another.
So much feast and so much famine in 2026. 10-game winning streaks, a 10-game losing streak. A few prolonged winning periods. A few prolonged losing periods. On the net, the winning has significantly outweighed the losing, but still frustrating. The Cubs have dropped four of seven. A speed bump not particularly notable. But it is exactly the kind of reason why I haven’t gotten overly excited as the Cubs got within striking distance of the Brewers. It’s been a long time since the Brewers have had an extended downturn. Probably a few years. Maybe I’m forgetting a stretch or two. They aren’t going to come back to us. We have to run them down.
A week like this. The Cubs have scored 22 runs over seven games is why we have trouble keeping up with them. You might have noted the Brewers scored 22 runs in a game this week. It happens. It happens. It happens. I could fill a jar with donations every time I have to type those words. A journeyman not quite starter shut the Cubs down for six innings in this one. He wasn’t particularly stretched out, but the Cubs got no traffic and really didn’t make him work. And he was able to get deep into the game. It happens.
It always feels like either the Cub offense is completely overmatched or everyone is running for the bat rack looking to get some swings in while they are routing someone. The nine games before this seven, the Cubs were 8-1 and scored 67 runs. That stretch includes a series against the back-to-back champs. Wild. It comes. It goes. It’s gone right now.
Off day Thursday, then gotta gear back up. The Fangraphs team schedule feature shows upcoming probabilities. I’m amused looking ahead with them. They aren’t particularly accurate. Though in fairness, they are probabilities and if you really understand probability, a 60/40 matchup can look like a huge edge, but of course there is a lot of variance in there. Anyway, this upcoming six game trip to Seattle and Arizona looks at best like two wins. That’s taking a 50.6 percent game as a win when that’s basically a coin flip. Two teams fighting for playoff spots. They aren’t going to go away easily. It’ll be into September probably before anyone might show any amount of let up. Maybe the Reds series at Wrigley right before the end of the month, but I’m not banking on that.
I didn’t talk much about this game. But the team didn’t accomplish much of anything. I’m still impressed with Clay Holmes. And Alex Bregman played a good shortstop third base, to be sure. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a third baseman field so many balls in front of the shortstop. But it was a day where you saw all of the skills that have led to a previous gold glove there. Actually, you would expect that maybe he’d have won one or two more.
Let’s hit the numbers and then turn the page and try to forget this one.
Three Positives:
Tyrone Taylor had a single and a double (and a baserunning blunder) before leaving the game.
Seiya Suzuki took two walks.
Clay Holmes was less sharp than the last time, but allowed only one run over 5.1 innings.
Mini hat tip to one of my favorite pitcher accomplishments. Caleb Thielbar faced one batter and recorded two outs thanks to a pickoff.
Game 128, August 19: White Sox 3, Cubs 0 (73-53)
Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.
Goat: Ryan Rolison (-.179). 0.2 IP, 5 BF, 2 H, BB, 2 R
Kid: Alex Bregman (-.121). 0-4
WPA Play of the Game: Pete Crow-Armstrong batted with a runner on second and no outs in the sixth inning, the Cubs trailing by one. He lined out to right field and Tyrone Taylor was out trying to advance to third. (.177)
Cubs Play of the Game: Colson Montgomery batted with a runner on first and no outs in the fourth. He struck out and Braden Montgomery was caught trying to steal second. (.090)
Cubs Player of the Game:
Game 127 Winner: Alex Bregman 69 of 82 votes.
Rizzo Award Standings: (Top 5/Bottom 5)
The award is named for Anthony Rizzo, who finished first in this category three of the first four years it was in existence and four times overall. He also recorded the highest season total ever at +65.5. The point scale is three points for a Superhero down to negative three points for a Billy Goat.
Pete Crow-Armstrong +27
Alex Bregman +21
Shōta Imanaga +14
Trent Thornton/Carson Kelly +13.5
Phil Maton -10
Edward Cabrera -12.5
Jameson Taillon -13
Dansby Swanson -17
Caleb Thielbar -18.5
Scoreboard Watching: (will return following Friday’s game)
Up Next: The Cubs face the Mariners (59-67). As crazy as it is, the Mariners are only three games out of the last wild card spot. No caps here as the Twins are presently holding that third slot at two games under. I wasn’t sure we’d see a wild card with a losing record at three wild cards, but here we are. Almost everything that could go wrong for the Mariners has this year. But they are still 33-29 at home. So, no real push over.
Matthew Boyd (8-2, 4.02) will be next up for the Cubs. He got rocked last time out against the Cardinals, allowing seven runs over 5.1 innings. He’ll look for a bounce back here. Emerson Hancock should be due for the Mariners. Hancock (7-7, 3.30) has been quite good. Even better over his last seven (2-3, 2.89, 37.1 IP). So this is a tough matchup. He won his last game at Houston, allowing two runs over seven.
When the Cubs get into the Mariner pen in this series, the Mariner pen is 20th in team ERA (4.24). They’ve converted just 28 of 48 save opportunities. The Mariners have used fewer innings out of the bullpen than any other team, by a comfortable margin. The Cub bullpen, for instance, has thrown about 80 more innings (in three more games). So expect the Mariners to be patient with their starters.
The Mariner offense is 27th in team OPS. So this is where you rely on your pitching staff to shut it down.
It’s not going to be easy, but go find a couple of wins.
ST. PETERSBURG, FL - AUGUST 19: Yandy Díaz #2 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates his two-run home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during the first inning of the baseball game at Tropicana Field on August 19, 2026 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Yankees kept pace in a crowded American League playoff picture Thursday, felling the Orioles 5-3 on the strength of an eighth-inning rally to take their third straight. It was a mixed bag for their competition, with an intra-division matchup between the first place Rays and a Blue Jays squad still very much in the mix the marquee showdown.
Among the (many) other AL Wild Card hopefuls not listed below, Tigers closer Kenley Jansen blew a save opportunity and was walked off by the Pirates, Kody Clemens led the Twins to a sweep of the first-place Braves, and the Rangers were shut out by the Nationals, ceding the ever-changing last Wild Card spot to Minnesota in the process.
Tampa Bay Rays (76-50) 7, Toronto Blue Jays (62-66) 6
The AL-best Rays continued their torrid pace Wednesday, squeaking out a one-run victory against the Blue Jays, who still sit within a game of the third AL Wild Card spot despite the loss. It was not a banner day for two name-brand starting pitchers. Drew Rasmussen, the Rays’ ace who earned his second consecutive All-Star nod this year and carried a 2.78 ERA into play Wednesday, allowed just one run entering the fifth before imploding. After starting the frame with a strikeout, he allowed six of the next seven batters to reach first base in a textbook station-to-station rally that scored four more.
Fortunately for him and his Rays, Rasmussen was staked to a 7-1 lead before that inning got out of hand. Max Scherzer, the 42-year-old future Hall of Famer in the midst of a lost season, was torched yet again. Yandy Díaz started the party in the first with a two-run blast that traveled 414 feet out to center. The Rays’ offense exploded in the fourth, tacking on five more runs with some small ball of their own that ended Mad Max’s night. Wednesday’s game brought his ERA to 7.40 through 11 starts, calling into question the viability of inserting him every fifth day for a team clinging to its playoff hopes.
Nine-hole hitter Charles McAdoo brought the Blue Jays to within one with an RBI double in the sixth, but that’s where the score would stay. Three Rays relievers combined to throw 3.1 scoreless innings after McAdoo’s double, with Bryan Baker working around his own leadoff error in the ninth to secure his 36th (and a Rays record 25th straight) save of the season.
The two teams will face off in a rubber match at 1:10 ET Thursday, with Ian Seymour and Shane Bieber slated to start for the Rays and Blue Jays, respectively.
Other Games
Chicago White Sox (66-60) 3, Chicago Cubs (74-54) 0
The White Sox blanked the Cubs to avoid a sweep at the hands of their crosstown rivals. After Sean Newcomb pitched two innings to open the game, José Urquidy was the star of the show, holding the Cubs to two baserunners across six innings of work.
The South Siders struck first in the sixth on an RBI single off the bat of Andrew Benintendi, adding a pair of insurance runs in the eighth on a double from rookie Braden Montgomery. The pair of former Mets acquired by the Cubs at the deadline were their bright spots, with Tyrone Taylor recording both of their hits and Clay Holmes limiting the White Sox to one run in 5.1 innings.
Up next, the White Sox will keep their interleague run going, hosting a scuttling Braves squad for a one-game makeup before the Mets come to town for a three-game weekend set.
Arizona Diamondbacks (67-61) 7, Boston Red Sox (68-59) 6
The Red Sox came within a run of sweeping the Diamondbacks, falling just short in extras. After they were staked to an early 2-0 lead on homers by Nick Sogard and Jarren Duran, starter Payton Tolle and reliever Greg Weissert allowed five unanswered runs, punctuated by a two-run homer off the bat of the newly acquired Lars Nootbaar in the sixth. Mickey Gaspar answered back in the bottom half of the inning, swatting a three-run dinger to knot things up at five. That’s where the score would stay until the 10th, when Arizona scored two off Jovani Morán before the Red Sox were able only to plate their Manfred Man as old friend Jonathan Loáisiga closed things out.
After a day off Thursday, the Red Sox will continue their homestand, hosting a feeble Giants squad for a three-game series.
San Francisco Giants (52-74) 1, Cleveland Guardians (61-66) 0
Those feeble Giants toppled a playoff hopeful Wednesday, riding their much-maligned pitching staff to a shutout victory. Adrian Houser pitched five innings of bulk relief, with rookie Victor Bericoto knocking in San Francisco’s only run while Willy Adames collected three hits.
Parker Messick was excellent for Cleveland, holding the Giants to a single score in 6.2 innings of work to drop his season ERA to an exemplary 2.54. But his offense went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position, dooming his strong showing. The two teams will decide the series tomorrow.
Houston Astros (64-63) 3, Los Angeles Angels (50-77) 2
The Astros surged above .500 with a narrow win against the Angels. The scoring kicked off with a third-inning homer off the bat of Houston’s Christian Vázquez. After the Halos took a one-run lead in the top of the fourth, Houston answered back with a pair of their own runs in the bottom half of the inning, taking a 3-2 lead they would not relinquish. A series of five Houston relievers twirled 5.1 innings of scoreless ball to secure the victory, with Josh Hader pitching around a leadoff walk to notch his 18th save of the year.
PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 31: Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) turns up ice during the second period in the NHL game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Detroit Red Wings on March 31, 2026, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
We have one more round of over/unders for the 2026-27 Pittsburgh Penguins, and it includes the four big-money, big-name players at the top of the lineup — Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang and Erik Karlsson.
Here is a quick look at the other over/unders we have looked at so far:
Let’s get into today’s players and potential numbers.
Sidney Crosby: Over/under 90.5 points
At some point things are going to really start slowing down for Sidney Crosby. As great as he is, as great as he has been, as much of an all-time legend that he has become in NHL history, there is going to a come a time where he is not a 90-point player. Are we at that point? Is it getting closer? It does not seem to be.
While Crosby did not top the 90-point mark in 2025-26, that was largely due to the fact he missed extended time following an Olympics injury. But his 74 points in 68 games still put him on track for 89.2 points in an 82-game season, and 91.4 points in an 84-game season.
He topped 90 points in each of the three previous seasons.
Now, potential injuries are certainly a part of this game, and a 39-year-old forward could be more vulnerable to that sort of thing just because, you know, he’s a 39-year-old player in the NHL. But until the Olympic injury Crosby was going through one of the healthiest multi-year stretches of his career until a fluke play in an international tournament sidelined him. So who knows. You can’t really predict it.
Crosby may not always have that extra gear he had at his peak, but there is still enough there for him to be a major contributor offensively.
Enough to get back over the 90-point mark again?
Evgeni Malkin: Over/under 22.5 goals
Malkin is back for at least one more year, and a lot of the same points and questions listed with Crosby also apply here.
When will he REALLY start to slow down? How well will a 40-year-old player hold up over a full season? Does Malkin still have as much left in the tank as Crosby does?
Malkin’s 2025-26 season was a really nice bounce-back year when he was on the ice, scoring 19 goals with 42 assists and 62 total points in 56 games. But it was the second year in a row where he played in less than 65 games, and this time it was not just simply due to injury — he also missed multiple games for a suspension.
Over the past four years he’s scored at a 25-goal pace per 82 games, and was at a 27-goal pace in 2025-26. That is, by the way, the exact number of goals he scored in each of his past two full seasons.
Will he play in enough games to get back to that level?
Kris Letang: Over/under 5.5 goals
Of the Penguins big-three players, Letang is the one that seems to have slowed down the most over the past few years. Not just in terms of production, but also overall impact. There were times this past season where he seemed to be bordering more toward liability than productive player. There were still games and stretches where he showed something, but they were not as consistent as we have been used to seeing. His production also reached all-time lows for himself, both on a per-game level and in terms of the raw numbers.
Despite playing in 154 out of a possible 164 games the past two seasons, he has scored just 12 total goals during that stretch. He used to score 12 goals in a single season, even if he missed 15-20 games.
The brilliance just is not there as much.
Five goals is both a low bar for him given his career, but it also seems like it might be a high bar given what he showed a year ago and the reality that he is going to be a 39-year-old defenseman this season.
Erik Karlsson: Over/under 50.5 points (with the Penguins)
I am including Karlsson in with the big-three even though he has not been here as long or had anywhere near the same level of team success here. But he is a Hall of Fame player, he is their highest-paid player, and he is also one of their best players.
There is an argument to be made he was their best player in 2025-26.
Nobody seemed to benefit from the coaching change from Mike Sullivan to Dan Muse more than Karlsson, and he started to play like the player the Penguins thought they were getting when they traded for him prior to the 2023-24 season. He was sensational.
I would imagine some of that is still there for him this season.
He has tallied at least 53 points in each of his first three seasons with the Penguins, and went as high as 66 in 75 games this past season.
So I a confident in saying he is going to get to 50 points again.
The question is, will he do all of it with the Penguins?
Karlsson is in the last year of his contract and is a 36-year-old defenseman.
You do not need to work overtime to put the math together on that.
Could he be a potential in-season trade chip? If the Penguins are struggling as a team and not really in a playoff spot, it seems like it would be inevitable. Would they still do it if they are in the playoff race? Would they potentially extend him? There are a lot of options on the table here, but for the purposes of this exercise we are going to throw a curveball into the mix and set the over/under of 50.5 points with the Penguins, and not necessarily for the season overall.
The Columbus Blue Jackets have 42 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today, we look at the history of jersey #42.
Let's take a look.
Kevyn Adams - 2000-01 - Adams was drafted 25th overall in the 1993 NHL Draft by the Boston Bruins.
Adams was drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2000 NHL expansion draft. He would Adams would score 22 points in 66 games with the Blue Jackets before being traded at the trade deadline to the Florida Panthers alongside a 4th-round pick in the 2001 NHL entry draft in exchange for Ray Whitney and future considerations.
Although it felt like Adams played in Columbus for a long time, his stay was very short, and CBJ fans at the time were not happy about the trade initially. But when Ray Whitney stepped into Nationwide Arena, that all changed.
Adams went on to play until the 2008-09 season. In January of 2009, Adams retired from the league and became a player agent. He was hired by the Buffalo Sabres as a Development Coach in 2009 and has held various positions including Asst. Coach, Director, Youth Hockey Supervisor, Vice President, and Sr. VP of Business Administration. On June 16, 2020, however, he was promoted to the big job of General Manager of the Sabres. He was let go last season as GM, but is still a Senior Advisor for the Sabres.
Brett Harkins - 2001-02 - Harkins was drafted in the 7th round of the NHL Draft by the New York Islanders in 1989.
Harkins is a North Ridgeville, Ohio Native and attended the famed St. Edward High School in Lakewood, Ohio. Harkins also played four years at Bowling Green State University in northwest Ohio, where he was a star. He had 208 points in his four years at BGSU. Harkins is also the first Ohio-born player to play for the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Harkins played 25 games for the CBJ in 2001-02, after playing just over 50 career NHL games. he had a total of 2 goals and 14 points. After his year in Columbus, he would go to Europe and play six seasons in Finland and Sweden. He would retire in 2008.
Harkins has worked for the Boston Bruins for the past 10 seasons as the Head College Scout/Amateur Scout.
Duvie Westcott - 2001-08 - Westcott was undrafted and signed by the CBJ in 2001.
Wescott played in 201 games for the Blue Jackets from 2001 to 2008. He scored 11 goals and totaled 56 points. Wescott was described as "a gritty defenseman with a solid all-around game. Has good passing ability and power play skills."
After playing for Columbus, Wescott went to Europe and played the next seven seasons in the KHL, DEL, and Swiss National League. He retired in 2015.
Mark Hartigan - 2003-07 - Signed with the Atlanta Thrashers as an undrafted free agent.
Hartigan played in 48 games with Columbus after being traded by the Atlanta Thrashers to the Blue Jackets. He scored 11 goals and had a total of 19 points.
On January 26, 2007, he was traded to the Anaheim Ducks for Zenon Konopka and Curtis Glencross. He would leave for Europe in 2008 and retire in 2012.
Chad Kolarik - 2009-10 - Kolarik was drafted in the 7th round of the 2004 NHL Draft by the Phoenix Coyotes.
On March 3, 2010, Kolarik was traded from the Coyotes to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for Alexandre Picard. After playing in two games for Columbus, he was traded to the New York Rangers on November 11, 2010.
He left for Europe in 2013 and played until 2020. After coaching various levels of the USNTDP, he was hired by the Bridgeport Islanders as an assistant coach for the 25-26 season. He is now an asst. coach for Minnesota State University.
Artem Anisimov - 2013-15 - Anisimov was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2006 NHL Draft by the New York Rangers.
Anisimov was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets by the New York Rangers with Brandon Dubinsky, Tim Erixon, and the New York Rangers' 1st round pick in the trade that sent superstar Rick Nash to New York. After playing in 168 games for the CBJ, he was then traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in the trade that brought forward Brandon Saad to Columbus.
Anisimov announced his retirement in October of 2024.
Alexandre Texier - 2018-24 - Texier was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2017 NHL Draft.
Texier played a total of 201 games for the Blue Jackets. His career started with a bang when he came over from Europe and made his debut in April of 2019, just before the end of the season. He ended up playing in the legendary series against the Tampa Bay Lightning and four of the games against the Boston Bruins. He scored 2 goals and 3 points in the postseason that year.
Texier would return to France for the 2022-23 season after it was reported that he lost family members in a crash. He played one season for the ZSC Lions and then returned to Columbus for the 2023-24 season. He played in 78 games and had 30 points in his NHL return.
Unfortunately for him, the Jackets hired a new GM in Don Waddell, who traded him to St. Louis on June 28, 2024, for a fourth-round pick. His tenure in Columbus ended with him scoring 34 goals and totaling 79 points.
In his two seasons for the Blues, he played in 39 games and had 12 points. He was granted his release from the Blues and signed with Montreal on November 23rd, 2025. He went on to play 43 games for the Habs, scoring 8 goals and totaling 20 points. He also had 8 points in 19 playoff games last year.
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Two first place clubs, the Chicago White Sox (66-60) and the Atlanta Braves (74-53) take the field in the Windy City this afternoon. The Sox lead the AL Central by four games over the Twins. The Braves lead the Phillies by 4.5 in the NL East. This game was originally scheduled for June 11 but was rained out.
The Braves arrive in Chicago after a difficult three-game series against the Minnesota Twins. Atlanta dropped all three games as they struggled to get the timely hit the entire series scoring just seven runs in the three games. Yesterday, they did plate four, but starter AJ Smith-Shawver was not good. The 23-year-old righthander allowed four runs in just 4.1 innings. For a team averaging just under 3.2 runs per game over their last 12 games, the results on the mound were simply not good enough.
Run production has rarely been a problem for the White Sox this season. Their issues have more often been on the mound. Yesterday, though, a trio of hurlers combined on a two-hit shutout of Pete Crow-Armstrong and the Cubs in a 3-0 win. It was a bullpen game for the ChiSox. Jose Urquidy came on in relief of Sean Newcomb to start the third and threw six shutout innings allowing just two hits while striking out eight. Grant Taylor pitched the ninth for his seventh save. Braden Montgomery drove in a pair with a double in the eighth to secure the win.
Anthony Kay (9-5, 4.01 ERA) takes the ball for Chicago while Grant Holmes (7-5, 3.82 ERA) is expected to start for Atlanta. In his most recent outing, Kay allowed three runs over 5.1 innings last Saturday in Motown. It continued a stretch in which the southpaw has not allowed more than three earned runs in any of his last ten starts and has allowed three runs just three times in those ten outings. Right-hander Grant Holmes was torched in his last start allowing six earned runs over just 3.2 innings last Saturday against the Diamondbacks. Prior to that start, however, Holmes had not allowed any runs in his previous two starts (12 innings) and had not allowed more than three earned runs in an appearance since May 1.
Lets dive into today’s matchup and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.
Game Details and How to Watch: Braves vs. White Sox
Date: Thursday, August 20, 2026
Time: 2:10PM EST
Site: Rate Field
City: Chicago, IL
Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, BravesVision, CSN
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The Latest Odds: Braves vs. White Sox – August 20
The latest odds as of Thursday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Atlanta Braves (-108), Chicago White Sox (+101)
Spread: Braves -1.5 (+149), White Sox +1.5 (-181)
Total: 8.5 runs
Starting Pitchers and their Stats: Braves vs. White Sox for August 20
White Sox: Anthony Kay Season Totals: 121.1 IP, 9-5, 4.01 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 98K, 44 BB
Braves: Grant Holmes Season Totals: 117.2 IP, 7-5, 3.82 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 97K, 51 BB
Who’s Hot? Who’s Not! Braves vs. White Sox
Lane Thomas is 4-9 in his career against Anthony Kay
Matt Olson is 2-10 over his last 3 games and has struck out once in each of the three
Drake Baldwin saw his 6-game hitting streak snapped last night (0-5)
Miguel Vargas is riding a 6-game hitting streak (10-24)
Munetaka Murakami last night snapped a string of 6 straight games in which he had struck out at least once
Braden Montgomery picked up a couple hits yesterday and has now hit safely in 5 of his last 6 games (8-25)
Anthony Kay has struck out 4+ batters in 4 of his last 5 starts
Grant Holmes has struck out 4+ batters in 4 of his last 7 starts
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Top Betting Trends & Insights: Braves vs. White Sox
The White Sox are an MLB-best 76-50 on the Run Line this season
The Braves are 67-60 on the Run Line this season
The OVER has cashed 59 times in games involving Atlanta this season (59-62-6)
The OVER has cashed an MLB-best 71 times in games involving the White Sox this season (71-53-2)
Expert picks & predictions: Braves vs. White Sox for August 20
Rotoworld Bet Best Bet
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s game between the Braves and the White Sox:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the White Sox on the Moneyline.
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Run Line.
Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total OVER 8.5.
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 01: Spencer Jones #78 of the New York Yankees slides into third base covered by Kevin McGonigle #7 of the Detroit Tigers during the eighth inning at Yankee Stadium on July 01, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Tuesday night’s series opener against the Orioles followed the exact same script that we’ve seen the last several weeks with the Yankees. A comatose offense, an elite pitching staff, a close game late, and a battle of the bullpens where every run matters. In the seventh inning, when the Yankees ultimately found the go-ahead runs with a two-run single by Trent Grisham, I thought about some things at the start of the rally.
Spencer Jones started it with a single off Shane Baz, representing the go-ahead run. With the team’s innate struggle to score runs of late, I immediately thought of the possibility of the guy who is regarded as the fastest player on the team being put in motion to give you three cracks at a runner in scoring position. Instead, over the next two at-bats, Jones stayed put, only advancing to second on George Lombard Jr.’s single.
This wound up not mattering due to Grisham’s heroics, but what if he didn’t come through against the lefty? While trying not to fall victim to Michael Kay’s fallacy of the predetermined outcome, if Jones ran on a relatively poor thrower in Carlos Narvaez and got to second, he would’ve scored easily on the slow grounder through the left side.
It’s not the first time I’ve felt something like this watching the Yankees (try to) hit. As much as the optics look bad when you mess up on the basepaths, the Yankees are just not good enough offensively to trust themselves to get runners over and hit them in right now. With the most athletic roster they’ve had in quite a long time, the Yankees need to lean into their speed and use it to push the envelope offensively, even if it means risking more outs on the bases.
For much of the season, it was part of the Yankees’ identity to leverage their speed. Through the Fourth of July, the Yankees were second in all of baseball in stolen bases with 92, leading all American League teams by at least 10. They had a teamwide Baserunning Runs (BsR) of 5.8, which was already their highest since 2017 while at the season’s halfway mark. It was a stark reversal from years past, when baserunning was perhaps the least important aspect of the game to them.
Fast forward six weeks, and things have changed. Since July 5, they’ve slowed their pace of stolen bases to eighth in baseball with 28, but the more stark decline is going from one of the best baserunning teams in baseball to the worst, recording -1.6 BsR in six weeks, a number that rivals the old, unathletic Yankees teams we saw a few years ago. This is coming with the most athletic roster the team has ever had, particularly with Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton on the shelf due to injury.
There have been times when the Yankees are not as willing to push the envelope on the basepaths, likely due to the game situation. With the offensive struggles, they don’t want to risk giving away outs, which might make them intuitively less aggressive in certain situations. This doesn’t stop the speedy guys who get great jumps from stealing, but it tries to eliminate risk. Despite this, the team’s success rate has declined from a rate of 77.9 percent to just 70 percent while attempting just 1.08 stolen bases a game, compared to 1.34 before. Declining both efficiency and quantity is a no-go.
The decrease in BsR may also be correlated with the flip side, being too aggressive to try and steal a run. Two recent examples include Ryan McMahon attempting to advance to third last week against Seattle on a botched relay to ensure Jazz Chisholm Jr. scored, and this near-perfectly executed play by José Caballero to stay in a rundown long enough to get Chisholm to score an insurance run.
Both of these plays symbolize a team that wants to ensure they can get a singular run, at the expense of a larger rally, due to their current capabilities, but the second one was significantly wiser than the first and is the sort of thing you want to see. Not only did Charles McAdoo get the tag on by only a millimeter, but if Caballero didn’t slip on the rundown, he would’ve been safe at second while simultaneously scoring Chisholm. These are the kind of plays and the kind of players that you want to do this with.
The Yankees don’t have baserunning savants that can make slower players threats on the bases like Antoan Richardson did with Juan Soto last year in Queens, but they do have speed. On any given night, they boast at least three plus-plus runners: Chisholm, Caballero, Jones, and Lombard. These guys have some problems getting on base, for sure, but there have been situations almost nightly where they can contribute.
Getting thrown out trying to steal a base is brutal, especially for an offense that is struggling to score, but the upside is tremendous. One of these fast players leading off an inning with a walk or single and immediately getting into scoring position gives you three opportunities with RISP. Chisholm leads MLB in steals of third base, where the Yankees as a team are the best in baseball at (24-for-27). Those are especially valuable with less than two outs.
There’s also a formula that shows it’s worth it to have some risk attached. Look at the AL East-leading Rays. They almost always lead the league in outs on the bases and currently sit fifth this year while also being picked off a league-high 16 times. They get thrown out at home more than anyone but the Nationals. For a team that’s seen as the beacon of fundamental baseball, they make these mistakes way more often than the Yankees, but they do it with a method of aggressiveness that overall makes them a net positive.
Baseball Savant has more complex baserunning stats that show another side to this. The most aggressive teams in the sport at taking the extra base are among the best in their version of Baserunning Runs, while teams that are more passive are towards the bottom. The only thing that really stands out here with the Yankees is that they have -4 BsR on steals of second, which tracks with their mediocre 73 percent rate of successful steals. Part of that is likely dragged down by Cody Bellinger’s struggles this year (9-for-15) and Caballero’s propensity to overslide and get picked off.
All of this is an exercise in measuring risk. Is the benefit of trying to take the extra base and maximize RISP opportunities for an offense that consistently strands them worth the downside of giving away outs in an already perilous situation? For at least the time being, it just might be.
SACRAMENTO, CA - JULY 4: Malique Lewis #19 of the Milwaukee Bucks plays defense during the game against the Golden State Warriors on July 4, 2026 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. 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 Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
After being taken by the Bucks with the 60th pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, Malique Lewis is expected to reach a deal with the NBL’s Cairns Taipans for the upcoming season. Of course, Lewis knows the league well, having spent the last two seasons with the Southeast Melbourne Phoenix; last year, he averaged 6.9 PPG, 4.3 RPG, and 2.0 APG to go with nearly two stocks.
Malique Lewis is nearing a deal with the Cairns Taipans, sources told ESPN. Discussions between the Trinidadian forward and Taipans are in the advanced stages; there’s confidence a deal will soon be agreed for #NBL27. Lewis would be an import, and Cairns’ final roster spot.
As I’ve mentioned, the 21-year-old made real strides last season and started to look at least vaguely like a player who one day might play in the NBA. He’s a three-and-D player who can’t do much else—which caps his ceiling—but if he does that role well, which he did, there might be a role for him. Lewis took a huge step back in Summer League—as we noted in our player grades—but hopefully he can reclaim some confidence in a league he knows well and come back next year looking much better.
Crucially, Lewis will now be classified as an import, not an NBL Next Star, which was his classification for the last two seasons; once a player is drafted, they can no longer hold the Next Star title. For those who don’t know, the Next Star program is an NBL initiative that lets NBA prospects bide their time in the NBL instead of college or other overseas opportunities. They do not count as imports, nor does their salary count against their team’s payroll. As we know, Lewis is not the only Buck to have gone through the program; Ousmane Dieng was a Next Star, as was ex-Buck AJ Johnson.
NEW YORK (AP) — The Boston Bruins and Edmonton Oilers will each play two regular-season games in Germany next year as part of the NHL and NHLPA’s efforts to grow hockey in the country, the league announced Thursday.
The Bruins are to play two games in Munich, while the Oilers will play two matches in Leon Draisaitl’s native city of Cologne during the 2027-28 NHL season. The opponents have yet to be determined.
“These events represent an important step in our commitment to grow the game in Germany. By bringing more NHL games to one of Europe’s most dynamic hockey markets, we hope to continue to deepen engagement amongst our fans, partners and local communities, while at the same time creating a significant opportunity to grow the game throughout the country,” NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said.
The Chicago Blackhawks and Ottawa Senators were already slated to play two games in Düsseldorf in December. Those Global Series games are the second and third regular-season games the league has staged in Germany after the Buffalo Sabres and Los Angeles Kings played in Berlin in 2011.
More are to follow with the NHL and NHLPA committed to bringing regular-season games to Germany for at least the next three seasons.
Welcome to The Hockey News Vancouver Canucks site's 2026–27 player preview article series. This series will outline the expectations for every player projected to play for Vancouver during the 2026–27 season. Today's player is Canucks defenceman Victor Mancini.
Mancini’s 2025-2026 Season
Mancini was traded to Vancouver from the New York Rangers in 2025 along with Filip Chytil and a draft pick in exchange for JT Miller. Since then, he has played significant time in both Vancouver and Abbotsford, including helping to secure a Calder Cup championship.
In 2025-26, Mancini played 33 games and recorded 12 points in the AHL. He also played 24 games in the NHL, recording three assists. Mancini earned a two-year extension, signed this March, and is developing into a full-time NHL player.
Mancini’s 2025-26 Letter Grade
For his efforts in the 2025–26 season, The Hockey News' Canucks site gave Mancini a C grade. With Manny Malhotra becoming Vancouver's new head coach, we may see more of Mancini's skills next year.
Mancini’s 2026-27 Predictions
Mancini has both time and room to continue developing his game. His game can be described as NHL-ready, just not 100% established. At just 24, Mancini has a bright future.
Following last season, Mancini could be looking at a total of five to 10 points in the NHL. He will be in and out of the lineup and might even see time in the AHL. Mancini will most likely see time on the third pair and could even get some penalty-kill minutes.
Mancini's goal for next year should be to establish himself as a full-time NHLer. He is ready to take on a bigger role, but needs to show it. Overall, he has the potential to surprise this season.
Bold prediction: Mancini scores his first career game-winning goal at the NHL level.
Mar 9, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Victor Mancini (90) skates against the Ottawa Senators in the first period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
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MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - FEBRUARY 23: Tyler Herro #14 of the Miami Heat looks to drive toward the basket while being guarded by AJ Green #20 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the second half of the game at Fiserv Forum on February 23, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to Volume II of our “Choose Your Own Adventure” starter series, where we explore the Milwaukee Bucks’ options at each position. Read along, make your choice, and share your pick in the comments—if you dare!
This season, the Bucks will start their best shooting guard in a decade.
Marinate on that.
For a franchise coming out of arguably its best-ever era, this is no small feat.
A decade ago, the Bucks hadn’t won a second title. John Hammond was GM. Jason Kidd was head coach. Jabari Parker averaged 20 a game. So did Giannis—for the first time in his career.
Over the last ten years, in reverse-chronological order, the Bucks’ primary starters at the two have been AJ Green, Andre Jackson Jr., Malik Beasley, Grayson Allen, Donte DiVincenzo, Wes Matthews, Malcolm Brogdon, and Tony Snell. Brogdon and DiVincenzo aside—and there are even arguments there—the archetype has been clear: 3-and-D, low usage spacer. Considering the staples in the other starting slots, this was logical. Of course, in reality, it’s more often than not been 3-or-D, especially over the last five years. And, honestly, the Bucks haven’t had a whole lot of options.
Now, Milwaukee has an abundance of choice. Need a 20-plus per Boy Wonder, who can create off the dribble and hit from the logo? They’ve got that. Rather unleash a blue-chip rookie with the potential to become a guy? Got that too. What about rolling with a secondary playmaker, circumventing traditional wisdom for an overpaid vet, or reverting back to the status quo with someone who can snipe from the farm and sky? Check, check, check.
But with so many options, who should it be?
Disclaimer: Ryan Rollins isn’t listed below. Perhaps he should be, he can certainly play the position. But it’s a safe enough bet that he’ll be starting at the point—at least as far as I see it.
Start your adventure, go on to OPTION 1.
1. The whodidit: Tyler Herro
The logic for starting Tyler Herro is simple: he’s instantly the best two-guard the Bucks have had since Michael Redd and the best option the Bucks currently have as a go-to offensive option. A flat-out scorer, Herro can and does hit from everywhere on the court—70% from 0-3 feet, 56% from 3-10, 52% from 10-16, 42% from 16-3P, and 38% from three (per Basketball-Reference)—leading to an elite true shooting percentage of 60%. But he’s more than just a shooter. Herro is also a legitimate shot creator for others, especially in a secondary playmaking role (career 21% assist percentage), and turns it over less frequently (10.2% turnover percentage) than all of the other ball handling guards on the roster—and even AJ “I don’t dribble” Green.
Stats aside, Herro is the most proven commodity the Bucks have at the two and you just know he wants a revenge tour after being the subject of trade rumours for what feels like the entirety of his career. Fostering that, inflating his output leaning on his winning tradition and monetising celebrating his homecoming, might be the best long-term play for the Bucks too.
If you need someone to talk to (especially online), choose Herro. If not, turn to OPTION 2.
2. The blue-chipper: Brayden Burries
I’m not one to spit hyperbole—or overreact to summer league—but if you’ve seen Brayden Burries in action with a Bucks jersey on it’s hard not to fall in love with his game. Dude just has it. On or off ball, Burries is a straight killer—a wrecking ball on the way to the cup and a marksman from deep.
“Buzzer-Beater Burries” already showed he’s not afraid of the moment. And with offence so sweet you can see him morph into Book and defence so mean you might confuse him with Jrue, he’s the perfect guy to build around moving forward. He just needs the time—and a starting gig. In fact, Burries has so much potential that he should only ever be written about in future tense.
If you’ve got a ladder to get to his floor, choose Burries. If not, go to OPTION 3.
3. The secondary playmaker: Kevin Porter Jr.
Talk about a whirlwind. After being traded for MarJon Beauchamp before the trade deadline in 2025, Porter has gone from backup to starter to injured on opening night to playing out of his mind to injured again to balling out (but forgetting how to shoot) to being shut down for good to the operating theatre. Caught your breath?
Now, with the Bucks reloaded in the backcourt, Porter finds himself on the outer once again. In fact, despite being arguably the team’s best player last year, his decision to pick up his player option was a curious one, with the general feeling of (a) surprise, thinking he could have gotten something more lucrative (salary or duration) elsewhere, or (b) disenchantment, thinking we’ve had that experience and it’s time to move on.
Anyway, I digress. Porter is a Buck and he’s still one of the most talented players on the roster (if not the most). And while not the shooter you’d like to see at the two, he’s perhaps the best combination of scorer (17.4 PPG), playmaker (7.4 APG, 33.8% assist percentage), and defender (2.2 SPG, third in the league; 4.3 DRPG, 14.6% defensive rebounding percentage) the Bucks have at the position. Now that’s a reason to start him.
If youlike your offence with a side of chaos, stick with Porter. If not, turn to OPTION 4.
4. The Klutch one: Gary Trent Jr.
This time last year, Gary Trent Jr. was the third-ranked Buck in our Ranking the Roster series. As it turns out, it was for the worse. But while we were wrong—so, so wrong—Trent isn’t the drongo he showcased last season, either. And, in case you missed it, he did just re-up with Milwaukee for four years and $64m—so at least someone in the Bucks front office thinks he’s pretty good too!
Realistically, Trent shouldn’t be the Bucks’ starting shooting guard. But he might be the purest two on the squad, at least in the traditional sense of the position. And this is his case. Herro certainly has more positional versatility, having played significant portions of his career at the point (51% of playing time in 2023-24; 38% in 2024-25) and at small forward (20% last season). Burries and Porter are far more suited to ball-dominant roles too. Trent, however, is purely an off-ball threat, recording a lower average time of possession than every Buck sans Gary Harris, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Amir Coffey, and Alex Antetokounmpo. It’s a good thing too—have you seen him try to break guys down off the dribble? At his best, Trent is also better than AJ Green and he has come up Klutch clutch in the playoffs, which is why we all ranked him so highly to begin with.
If you’ve got a firm handshake, choose Trent—just know it might come back to bite you!Otherwise, move on to OPTION 5.
5. The status quo: AJ Green
Some scares are of the jump variety—they catch you off guard (pun intended) and you can’t do anything about them. AJ Green starting at the two for the 2026-27 Milwaukee Bucks would be one of those.
But first the positives. Green is an elite shooter and floor spacer and, somehow, he always seems to find himself in the most effective Bucks lineups—Giannis, Green, Porter, Bobby Portis, and Ryan Rollins five-man lineups recorded a net rating of +30.7 last year, while Giannis, Green, Rollins, Myles Turner, and Kyle Kuzma recorded a +28.3. And before you ask, it’s not all Giannis either; Green, Porter, Portis, Rollins, and Jericho Sims lineups recorded a +20.8. It’s also important to acknowledge that, last season, Green was put in too many disadvantageous situations where he was miscast as a three.
Still, having him start at the two over Herro or Burries or even Porter would be quite the shock to the system and a terrifying sign of things going awry in Milwaukee.
QUICK! Make a decision, you’re near the end. Choose Green if you’re stuck in the past (and don’t like any of the alternatives). Otherwise, pull a rabbit out of your hat and tell us who it is in the comments.
