The Detroit Tigers are -113 home favorites for today's series finale against the Tampa Bay Rays at Comerica Park, with first pitch scheduled for 1:10 p.m. ET.
While neither starter is in great form, my Rays vs. Tigers predictions back Tampa behind trade-deadline acquisition Freddy Peralta. Find out more in my MLB picks for Wednesday, August 26.
Who will win Rays vs Tigers today: Rays moneyline (+105)
The Tampa Bay Rays are worth backing as a small underdog, even with Freddy Peralta carrying some recent risk. The right-hander owns a 5.49 FIP over his last two starts, but he has still limited opponents to a manageable 37.5% hard-hit rate.
That matters against a Detroit Tigers lineup with a 68 wRC+ over its previous six games, which helps soften Peralta’s recent volatility. Troy Melton brings similar concerns for Detroit, posting a 5.49 FIP over his last two appearances while allowing 1.80 HR/9, a 45.9% hard-hit rate, and a 10.8% barrel rate.
Tampa’s offense is not exactly rolling, but its 96 wRC+ over the last two weeks gives the Rays a slight edge.
Play this pick down to +100.
COVERS INTEL: Tory Melton has shown some vulnerability at home this season, posting a 4.43 FIP compared to a 3.40 mark on the road.
Rays vs Tigers Over/Under pick: Over 7.5 (-112)
Despite the lack of offensive firepower for both teams right now, I’m eyeing the Over with this total sitting at 7.5.
Detroit’s bullpen has been a major liability lately, posting a 5.65 FIP over its last 23 frames while giving up 2.35 HR/9. Tampa Bay’s pen has been better with a 3.38 xERA over the last week, but it has still had some home run trouble.
Neither starter is exactly lights out, either, with both Peralta and carrying recent FIP concerns. With the inconsistency late in games, especially from Detroit, this contest can get Over the number.
Play this pick up to -130.
Rays vs Tigers home run prediction: Junior Caminero (+365)
Junior Caminero may not have gone deep lately, but he's still hitting .346 with loud contact numbers, and the matchup against Detroit gives him a real power path.
The youngster has a 52.2% hard-hit rate over the last week, while Melton has been giving up too much home-run damage. Detroit’s bullpen has also had serious long-ball issues, creating another route for Caminero to leave the yard.
Caminero’s power travels, too. He has clubbed 17 of his homers on the road with a .277 ISO, compared to 18 at Tropicana Field.
Play this pick down to +300.
Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 57-69, -20.38 units
Over/Under bets: 69-54, +5.94 units
Rays vs Tigers weather
Weather looks clean in Detroit, with partly cloudy skies and temperatures rising from 75°F to 78°F. Winds are noticeable at 14-15 mph, while rain chances sit at just 0-1%. There’s no delay concern, though the breeze could slightly affect carry if conditions are exposed.
Rays vs Tigers odds
Moneyline: Rays +105 | Tigers -116
Run line: Rays -1.5 (+178) | Tigers +1.5 (-186)
Over/Under: Over 7.5 (-108) | Under 7.5 (+104)
Rays vs Tigers trend
The Rays have cashed the moneyline in 14 of their last 21 road games for +6.80 units and a 25% ROI. Find more MLB betting trends for Rays vs. Tigers.
How to watch Rays vs Tigers and game info
Location
Comerica Park, Detroit, Mich.
Date
Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026
First pitch
1:10 p.m. ET
TV
Rays.TV, DSN
Rays starting pitcher
Freddy Peralta (5-11, 5.33 ERA)
Tigers starting pitcher
Troy Melton (7-2, 1.60 ERA)
Rays vs Tigers latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
CHICAGO, IL - AUGUST 25: Danny Jansen #9 of the Texas Rangers hits a one-run double in the sixth inning during the game between the Texas Rangers and the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field on Tuesday, August 25, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Kyle Sheridan/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
White Sox 11, Rangers 7
Well that was exciting (derogatory).
Let me start out by saying that Jacob deGrom was not good on Tuesday.
That being said, that six run first inning was bullshit.
A bunch of dinks and dunks with a couple of walks mixed in.
Here are the exit velocities on the five hits the White Sox got in the first inning off of deGrom: 69.0, 71.5, 78.1, 71.3, 74.3.
A bunch of weak contact, a bunch of Texas Leaguers, and the Rangers are down a half-dozen runs.
Its a traveshamockery.
deGrom was, to be clear, not good. He walked five batters in all, which is very uncharacteristic of him. He ended up getting lifted for Cole Winn, who allowed a pair of inherited runners to score, then allowed a pair of his own runs to score.
Winn faced 10 batters in all and retired four of them, which is not a good.
Peyton Gray, behind Winn, struck out the side but also allowed a home run, the fourth he has allowed in his past five appearances.
The Rangers were down 8-1 after four but still managed to come back and make a game of it, bringing the tying run to the plate in the 9th inning. I guess that’s something.
Jake Burger, Danny Jansen and Justin Foscue all homered, so, you know, the Rangers got some offense from some not entirely expected places.
Prior to Monday’s 11 run outburst, the Rangers hadn’t scored 7 runs in a game since July 27. They’ve now done it two games in a row.
Its the first time the Rangers have scored at least 7 runs in a game in back-to-back games since July 9-10.
Its only the second time all year the Rangers have lost a game where they’ve scored at least 7 runs.
Overall, the Rangers are 22-4 when scoring six runs or more. They are 36-7 when scoring five runs or more.
Sadly, the Astros and the Guardians both won, so the Rangers are now a half-game back in the A.L. West and a full game back for WC3.
Jacob deGrom topped out at 99.1 mph with his fastball, averaging 97.2 mph. Cole Winn’s fastball touched 97.1 mph. Peyton Gray hit 95.0 mph with his fastball. Jordan Montgomery’s sinker reached 91.8 mph. Tyler Alexander maxed out at 93.5 mph with his fastball.
Jake Burger’s home run was 110.2 mph. Danny Jansen’s homer was 106.6 mph. Justin Foscue had a 103.5 mph fly out, a 102.8 mph double, and a 100.8 mph homer.
Its okay, Texas can still take the series with a win on Wednesday.
Milwaukee Brewers rookie Cooper Pratt learned a lesson the hard way Tuesday, Aug. 26, when he failed to run hard on a popup that dropped between three New York Mets fielders.
"You've got to be locked in if you're going to play at this level," Brewers manager Pat Murphy said in explaining his decision to remove Pratt for a pinch-runner immediately after the fifth-inning single.
Murphy said Pratt's lack of focus, coming after the 22-year-old failed to get a bunt down two innings earlier in a game the Brewers eventually lost 3-2 in 10 innings, was also a contributing factor in making the move.
"I've got to be better," he said. "It's stuff that can't happen. It's not winning baseball. I didn't help the team win, and it won't happen again, that's for sure.
"From not getting the bunt down to not running hard to first and turning it into a double, it won't happen again. I can promise you that."
Cooper Pratt was removed from the game after the Mets misplayed his pop-up. Here are two views. pic.twitter.com/a3LTb3ja3U
Pratt called his mistake "inexcusable" and said several teammates also pulled him aside to let him know, "Hey this is how we do it here."
Murphy said afterward he felt the message he was trying to send was received.
"I know who this kid is. He’s a great kid. It’s not laziness," said the two-time NL manager of the year. "You gotta have your head in the game. ... Whatever it may be, you’ve got to be locked in if you’re going to play at this level. So it was hopefully a good learning experience."
Although it is nearly September, there are a good amount of players who are still unrestricted free agents. This includes former Montreal Canadiens defenseman Mike Reilly.
Reilly still being a free agent comes after he won the Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes. The 33-year-old defenseman played in 42 games last season for Carolina, where he recorded one goal, nine points, and a plus-11 rating. He also posted two assists and a plus-2 rating in two playoff games for Carolina this past spring.
At this stage in his career, Reilly is more of a depth defenseman who can jump into the lineup when needed. When noting that the 33-year-old has 11 years of NHL experience and has had solid moments during his career, it would not be too surprising if he landed a PTO or a one-year deal from another NHL club with training camps starting soon.
Reilly spent three seasons with the Canadiens from 2017-18 to 2019-20, where he recorded three goals, 20 assists, 23 points, 85 blocks, and a plus-3 rating. His time with the Habs came to an end during the 2019-20 season when he was traded to the Ottawa Senators. Since his time with the Habs ended, he has had stints with the Senators, Boston Bruins, Florida Panthers, New York Islanders, and Hurricanes.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 25: Pitcher Jefry Yan #84 of the New York Mets and first baseman Christopher Morel #28 of the New York Mets celebrate winning in the bottom on the tenth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Citi Field on August 25, 2026 in New York City. The New York Mets won 3-2. (Photo by Benjamin B. Braun/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Meet the Mets
The Mets triumphed over the Brewers 4-3 in the tenth inning. The winning run scored when a throwing error by Brewers third baseman David Hamilton allowed Francisco Lindor to reach home safely.
There’s been a lot of discussion around Carson Benge as a serious Rookie of the Year contender, but it’d be unwise to sleep on Nolan McLean’s candidacy.
Laura Albanese examined the state of the Mets farm system after the roller coaster of a year it’s had.
Kodai Senga just might have what it takes to succeed as the new Mets closer.
Juan Soto remains on a deliberate running program but he’s still expecting to return next month.
Around the National League East
The Marlins were beaten by the Red Sox 7-3 after 11 innings. Cade Gibson gave up the go-ahead runs on a Jarren Duran grand slam.
The Nationals lost to the Rockies 3-1. Starting pitcher Andrew Alvarez gave up all three runs in his 4.2 innings, allowing five hits and issuing two walks while striking out six.
The Braves claimed a major victory over the Dodgers, winning 4-3. Ozzie Albies drove in the game winning run on an RBI single in the bottom of the eighth inning.
The Phillies were bested by the Mariners 4-1. Aaron Nola got the loss, allowing two runs six innings on three hits and three walks while striking out seven.
Around Major League Baseball
The Dodgers TV deal is an incredible competitive advantage that they further monetized with Mark Walter-owned insurers.
The late Dolly Parton visited Yankee Stadium nearly forty years ago as part of “Dolly”, her television series.
Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo apologized to Craig Counsell for the shouting match between the two teams during Monday night’s game.
Taj Bradley became a part of Minnesota Twins history Tuesday night, throwing what is believed to be the first immaculate inning in Twins history.
Despite parting ways with general manager Dana Brown, Jim Crane said Joe Espada will remain the manager of the Astros through the end of the season.
US President Donald Trump displays a ring presented to him by Los Angeles Dodgers owner Mark Walter (L) during a ceremony to honor the 2025 World Series champions in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, DC, on July 23, 2026. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images
It’s taken me a couple days to figure out what I want to say about Mark Walter, Guggenheim Baseball Management, and the ownership of the LA Dodgers. There’s plenty of people, including Jeff Passan, who have breakdowns of the facts and the allegations of the case. What we think we know is that Walter and Co., already enjoying an exemption in their TV deal following a bankruptcy judgement under previous ownership, further financialized themselves by taking loans from insurance companies also owned by W&C, then used the interest on repaying those loans to write off even more of their revenue sharing obligations, which are based around local TV revenue minus certain expenses.
In short, it seems the Dodgers borrowed money from themselves to lower the amount of money they owed the subsidized teams around the sport. They are under federal investigation but not really for anything baseball related, rather more inquiries into specific classifications of the various businesses Guggenheim controls. There isn’t even anything the Dodgers did that specifically goes against the Collective Bargaining Agreement — they seemed to have hired an army of accountants to find every gap in the rulebook and slip another $20 bill through it. It’s the same playbook that’s led the Ford Motor Company to be a lending service more than a car manufacturer.
At best it seems Bob Nutting might have been shorted a couple million dollars a year, but the object lesson you should be taking out of this is one of solidarity. Bob Nutting doesn’t care if Mark Walter cost him a couple million a year, if it means that together they can lower all MLB payrolls by a couple hundred million dollars.
I actually don’t think this is something that George Steinbrenner would have done. Capitalism has changed — you always bought an MLB team to make money off it, of course. But it used to be that you had to put a good product on the field to sell tickets and in-stadium ad dollars, or be the St. Louis Cardinals and take advantage of the country’s most powerful radio transmitter to reach farmers in 1960s Nebraska, or take on all the foreign currency risk of the Blue Jays and weigh it against the payoff of being the only game in the entire country.
Now, you inherit a court-ordered exemption from paying your fair share, and further financialize every element of the off-field operations to continually lower every possible obligation you have to the rest of baseball, and because those efforts will help champion the case for a salary cap, the 29 other men in your cohort will go along with it. Maybe, in March or May or August 2027, the knives will come out for Walter, but until the billionaire class has exacted every ounce of control they can over a new CBA, they’ll stand beside each other. What’s a few million when there’s a billion on the line?
This needs to be an object lesson for the union. Already, ownership has tried to drive a wedge between the young players who haven’t yet received their big multi-year deals and the veterans who have. The exact definition of labor in a baseball context is kind of tricky — once you sign for seven or eight hundred million dollars, the increasingly financialized world people who earn that much live in can’t really be classified as purely labor. Still, we pay for tickets and MLB.tv subscriptions and Substacks because of the players. I’m one of the few weirdos that cares about what the owners do. The value we seek in baseball comes from what the players provide.
It’s always easiest for the wealthiest cohort to stick together. There are fewer of them, and their interests are reasonably closely aligned already. If we think of who’s the least wealthy of the least wealthy baseball player cohort, we’d probably look at Latin players who grew up without the supports of Nice White Families and well-staffed prep schools. The backgrounds are not aligned, and the short-term interests aren’t either. But here we have the union’s equivalent of a couple million when a billion’s on the line.
The long term interests of the players, ones with nine-figure contracts and ones riding a shuttle between MLB and Triple-A, are the same, and that is preventing an artificial cap on the players’ share of baseball revenue. Yes, it’s easier for 30 men to stick together than 1200, but if Bob Nutting can forgive a few million dollars, the players need to learn from that example.
Seattle Mariners starter Bryan Woo brings one of baseball’s best home splits into the series finale as the Philadelphia Phillies visit the Seattle Mariners this afternoon. Philadelphia is a -126 favorite behind Jesús Luzardo, with first pitch set for 4:10 p.m. ET at T-Mobile Park.
Woo’s dominance at home shapes my Phillies vs. Mariners predictions, which back Seattle as a home underdog, lean Under a low total, and target the hottest bat in the series to go deep.
Who will win Phillies vs Mariners today: Mariners moneyline (+114)
Jesús Luzardo gives the Philadelphia Phillies a strong starter, but Bryan Woo’s dominance at T-Mobile Park and Seattle’s recent form make the Mariners worth backing as a home underdog. Woo has been a different pitcher in Seattle, striking out 69 batters against just 11 walks and allowing only four home runs across 64 1/3 home innings.
Philadelphia hasn’t solved Seattle’s pitching in this series, scoring only three runs through the first two games in losses of 9-2 and 4-1. Cal Raleigh is also scorching, with four homers over the first two games, giving the Seattle Mariners the hotter lineup.
Luzardo has been excellent, but at +114, I don’t need Seattle to hold the clear pitching edge. Woo’s home dominance and a struggling Phillies offense are enough to take the plus money. I’d play Seattle down to +105.
Phillies vs Mariners Over/Under pick: Under 6.5 (+109)
Woo and Luzardo both have real paths to controlling this game, and the plus-money price makes the Under at 6.5 worth backing. Woo’s home numbers are the foundation, with a 0.56 HR/9 at T-Mobile Park, and Philadelphia has been held down all series.
Luzardo gives us reason to expect Seattle’s scoring to cool as well. The Phillies left-hander owns a 3.35 ERA with 194 strikeouts and has gone 7-1 with a 2.06 ERA over his last 13 starts, and Seattle has scuffled against left-handers lately.
T-Mobile Park is one of baseball’s more run-suppressing environments, adding another layer to the pitching edge. I’d play the Under down to even money.
Phillies vs Mariners home run prediction: Cal Raleigh (+350)
Cal Raleigh has rediscovered his power stroke in a big way, and I’ll back the hottest bat in this series to keep it going. Raleigh homered four times through the first two games against Philadelphia, including a three-homer game on Monday, and his fourth blast gave him home runs in four consecutive official at-bats on his way to 18 for the season.
The left-on-left label is misleading, too, because Raleigh is a switch hitter and will bat right-handed against Luzardo. He has six homers in 143 plate appearances against lefties, and 13 of Luzardo’s home runs allowed this season have come from right-handed hitters.
Raleigh’s path is Luzardo’s four-seam fastball and changeup, more hittable offerings than his tough sweeper, with opponents slugging .473 against the four-seamer. With Raleigh seeing the ball as well as anyone in baseball, I’ll take his surge continuing at +350 or better for a quarter unit.
Ethan Diamandas' 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 3-5, -2.07 units
Over/Under bets: 5-3, +1.87 units
Phillies vs Mariners weather
T-Mobile Park is one of the most run-suppressing environments in baseball (92 Park Factor since 2024), which supports the Under pick. The retractable roof also keeps conditions steady for the 4:10 p.m. start.
Phillies vs Mariners odds
Moneyline: Phillies -126 | Mariners +114
Run line: Phillies -1.5 (+140) | Mariners +1.5 (-161)
Over/Under: Over 6.5 (-126) | Under 6.5 (+109)
Phillies vs Mariners trend
Seattle has produced just a .644 OPS against left-handed pitching over the last 30 days, a cold stretch against southpaws that backs the Under with Jesús Luzardo on the mound. Find more MLB betting trends for Phillies vs. Mariners.
How to watch Phillies vs Mariners and game info
Location
T-Mobile Park, Seattle, Wash.
Date
Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026
First pitch
4:10 p.m. ET
TV
NBCS-Philadelphia, Mariners.TV
Phillies starting pitcher
Jesus Luzardo (11-5, 3.35 ERA)
Mariners starting pitcher
Bryan Woo (9-8, 4.10 ERA)
Phillies vs Mariners latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
A former Pittsburgh Penguins is reportedly getting a shot from the Calgary Flames.
According to PuckPedia, the Flames are expected to sign forward Alex Nylander to a professional tryout (PTO) agreement.
Nylander spent this past season with the Toronto Marlies. In 65 games with the AHL club, the former Penguins forward posted 24 goals, 29 assists, and 53 points. He also appeared in 24 playoff games for the Marlies during their Calder Cup championship run, recording six goals and seven points.
Nylander last played at the NHL level during the 2024-25 season with the Toronto Maple Leafs, where he recorded zero points and four penalty minutes.
The Penguins acquired Nylander from the Chicago Blackhawks during the 2021-22 season in exchange for forward Sam Lafferty. From there, Nylander appeared in 14 games over two seasons with Pittsburgh, where he posted one goal and one assist.
Nylander spent the bulk of his time with the Penguins organization down in the AHL. In 142 games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins over three seasons, he recorded 56 goals and 112 points.
Nylander's time with the Penguins ended during the 2023-24 season when he was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Sounds like Alex Nylander will be coming to camp with the #Flames, likely on a PTO.
After the Senators made the 2017 Eastern Conference Final, it wasn't long before they began a major rebuild that seemed to take forever. As everyone knows, they missed the playoffs for the next seven seasons.
But six years earlier, also under Eugene Melnyk, the club attempted a smaller rebuild.
The Sens were well clear of their 11-year streak of making the playoffs and were about to miss for the second time in three seasons. So, at the 2011 deadline, GM Bryan Murray dealt away Mike Fisher, Chris Kelly, Jarkko Ruutu, and Alexei Kovalev for draft picks.
Steve Warne and Gregg Kennedy discuss whether there's now more pressure on Travis Green in his third year.
As we strolled through The Hockey News Archive this week, we found this season preview from our Yearbook issue 15 years ago as the Senators prepared for the 2011-12 season.
As Bruce Garrioch checked in on the state of the Sens in that issue, it sure looked like the club was in for some dark days. A quick glance at the Senators' depth chart, combined with their attempts at reinforcements (in red), fully supported the notion that they'd begun a rebuild.
But shockingly, the team that everyone thought had begun a rebuild actually made the playoffs that season with just 92 points, and almost upset the New York Rangers in round one.
Oh, those pesky Sens.
The Hockey News Yearbook 2011-12 August 2011
Sensing Danger: New Coach Needs to Focus on Baby Steps
By Bruce Garrioch
THE OTTAWA SENATORS started their rebuild in February with their season going nowhere and the team falling fast.
Acting on the advice of GM Bryan Murray and his staff, owner Eugene Melnyk made the choice to unload veteran players in the hopes of landing prospects who can build a bright future.
One-by-one, players – mostly with expiring contracts – were waltzed out of the dressing room. They were tough decisions, but the Senators hope it will pay dividends in the end. The road back to respectability is going to take patience and will include some long nights, but this is the route they’ve decided on and the fans have accepted it.
This season will be a huge challenge for new bench boss Paul MacLean and goalie Craig Anderson.
OFFENSE The Senators were the NHL’s second-lowest scoring team last season. Nobody is sure that’s going to change.
While Jason Spezza was one of the club’s most productive players at both ends of the ice, they’re going to need more out of him. He’s not alone.
Milan Michalek has to stay healthy to contribute and so does captain Daniel Alfredsson. Returning from off-season back surgery, Alfredsson, 38, is in the twilight of his career, but can still be the club’s best player. He is going to have to lead the charge with what is going to be a very young group.
Nikita Filatov, acquired from Columbus for a third round pick in the 2011 draft, is going to get a top-six shot. If he can do it, the club needs him to fill the net along with Bobby Butler.
DEFENSE This is an area of intrigue. Acquired from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for the club’s No. 1 pick in the 2010 draft, defenseman David Rundblad is expected to provide sizable offense from the back end, as fellow Swede Erik Karlsson already does. The Sens need more out of veteran Sergei Gonchar, who is back to fulfill the second year of his three-year, $16.5 million deal. His 2010-11 season was a disaster and ended when he sustained a concussion.
Ottawa also hopes to find a spot for highly regarded prospect Jared Cowen. He finished the year with the club’s American League affiliate in Binghamton and his 6-foot-5 frame would look good on the blueline, but he might get caught in the numbers game. Don’t be surprised if the Senators try to move Filip Kuba and Brian Lee at the end of camp.
GOALTENDING This is Anderson’s job. Signed to a four-year extension after being acquired from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Brian Elliott, Anderson is going to get a bulk of the playing time. The club signed Alex Auld to be a backup in every sense of the word.
Anderson was outstanding last year during his short stint with the Senators. He finished with an 11-5-1 record in 18 games with Ottawa playing mostly behind call-ups from Binghamton. But he is about to find out what pressure is really like playing in a Canadian market. The Senators aren’t expected to win, but the nation’s capital has been hard on goalies in the past.
If Anderson gets hurt, Robin Lehner will be called up from Binghamton to start. He won a Calder Cup as a 19-year-old last spring and the Senators plan to keep him in the minors to give him the chance to play.
All-time record: 638–620–188
SPECIAL TEAMS This is where Gonchar is going to have to make a difference. He was supposed to do that last year with Alex Kovalev, but it never happened and, as a result, Ottawa was one of the NHL’s worst teams. But their penalty killing has been surprisingly strong. Spezza has taken on more of a role in this area. Having a goalie who can stop the puck in Anderson will help, big time.
INTANGIBLES The decision to fire coach Cory Clouston was just part of the rebuilding program. His inability to communicate was considered a major issue and that’s why the change was made.
McLean has a good sense of humor and the players will like what he brings to the table. The big job is making sure they all buy into the program. He wants the team to have speed and toughness.
ROOKIES The Senators are going to be young. Butler, Colin Greening and Erik Condra got plenty of experience during the club’s late-season shift to youth and then they went down to the minors and won an AHL Calder Cup championship with Binghamton. Can they learn from that experience?
If Ottawa is going to have any rookie-of-the-year candidates it’s going to be either Rundblad or Cowen. Blueliner Patrick Wiercioch will also make a valiant push in camp for a permanent spot.
There is an opening on the second line and 2011 sixth-overall pick Mika Zibanejad from Sweden has a chance. If he impresses at camp, he will earn a spot on the roster.
CAP CRUNCH With so many kids, the Sens are a million miles from the cap. If they’re going to use some of that space, it would be best spent on scoring.
THE BRASS Melnyk hates to lose. He’d like this turnaround to come quickly. The Senators want to see where they stand after the next CBA negotiation. Murray is armed with a three-year contract and MacLean is on solid ground. All should make for an interesting year in Ottawa.
X-FACTOR It would take a Herculean effort from Anderson for this team to sniff a post-season berth. They aren’t going to fall short of any expectations because there aren’t any. Fans are being sold on a rebuilding process and it will be interesting to see if they buy tickets.
Where They’ll Finish
15th
The Senators have stars in Daniel Alfredsson and Jason Spezza, but beyond them is a team at the start of a slow, painful rebuild.
Subscribe to The Hockey News today and get access to the entire magazine archive dating back to 1947 (over 2,000 issues!)
This article was first published in The Hockey News. For more Sens coverage at The Hockey News, click on one of the latest headlines below:
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 18: Josh Hart #3 of the New York Knicks attends the New York Knicks Championship ticker tape parade and victory rally celebrating winning the 2026 NBA Finals on June 18, 2026 in New York City. The New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs in five games to win their first NBA Championship in 53 years. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The champs have been busy this offseason, continuing their media tours with new sponsorships, talk shows, and overall just enjoying the best few months anyone could ask for as kings of their respective worlds.
The extra media attention has given us some pretty cool opportunities at P&T. Kento talked to Karl-Anthony Towns last month, Russ got a chance to talk to the ever-mysterious OG Anunoby, and I got the opportunity to talk to everyone’s favorite glue guy, Josh Hart, as part of his recent ambassadorship announcement with Scouting America, formerly known as “Boy Scouts of America”.
Hart was in the Scouts program for much of his childhood, joining it to follow in the footsteps of his older brother, Moses, and one of his close friends. He gradually rose through the ranks before putting it off at age 13 as life and basketball started to pick up for him. At 16, he returned to the program at the wish of his father, who wanted him to keep his years-old promise to see things through. Josh eventually earned the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest honor, a week before his 18th birthday.
When asked why he decided now to be an ambassador for the program that shaped much of his upbringing, Hart cited what the program meant for him growing up.
“It’s always been an uphill climb in my career, but I’ve always had life lessons that I’ve gotten from scouting, and I think now is a good time to partner with them and try to influence other kids, parents, adults, and tell them, you know, you can do both.”
“You can do sports, you can do arts, you can do engineering, or whatever walk of life you want to do as a kid, but you can also do scouting,” he added. “You don’t have to pick between one or the other.”
I followed up asking him about that sort of balance that he mentioned of being able to do both scouting and pursue things like basketball, as he did growing up. For him, it was about time management and sacrifice.
“The big thing is sacrifice,” Hart said. “There’s going to be times you might not be able to hang out with friends, or there might be times when you can’t go to a camping trip or a basketball camp or a football camp. There’s going to be sacrifices, but as long as you’re good with managing the time and saying, ‘I got to do X for this merit badge; I got to put the work in on the court this week. Let me lock in for this.’ You’ll put yourself in the best position to be successful.”
Scouting wasn’t for me, personally, growing up. I tried it once because one of my close friends was super into it, but it just didn’t stick for me. A lot of people I know learned valuable lessons there, so it was nice to pick the brain of someone who went through the system and has applied what he’s learned to everyday life and, particularly, his role as a “glue guy” in the NBA.
“You have to have that teamwork mentality,” Hart said about applying his lessons in scouting to his basketball career. “It’s not always about you, and sometimes that’s hard to realize, but scouting helps you understand that more and more.”
“You can’t be out on a trail, 15-20 miles from civilization, when someone gets hurt and think about yourself, he added. ” You’ve got to make sure you’re not focused on yourself, but on how you can help this person, how you can help the group, and navigate where you are and the dangers. I think that [scouting] definitely helped with the foundation of being a servant.“
The purpose of this interview was to, of course, bring light to Josh’s Scouting America ambassadorship, but we’d be remiss not to talk ball. I first asked him a question about both scouting and basketball, giving him a chance to make a basketball merit badge, which he said would require being able to “dribble, shoot, have lateral quickness, leadership”, while adding that the latter aspect would be earned through certain game situations. I can think of a guy who’d get this badge quite easily.
We got some physical media attached to the interview opportunity, which came with the following image of Hart doing the Boy Scout sign, which entails raising three fingers on your right hand. See if you can find what piqued my interest here:
Josh Hart doing the Boy Scout sign with his busted ring finger. | Scouting America
The ring finger on his shooting hand was a topic of discussion in Knicks circles all season long, particularly when he had his low points from the perimeter. He underwent a procedure on the finger after the 2024-25 season, but aggravated it during training camp, electing to play through it with a splint all of the following season. With the finger still appearing to be busted, I asked if he had any plans to repair it, whether now or in the future:
“No, I’ll let it go,” Hart said. “At the end of my career, when I’m done hooping, I’ll probably have to get a joint replacement in it, but for now it’s fine.”
He agreed with my subsequent comment about not messing with what’s working, and I can see why. Hart notably shot a career-high 41.3 percent from downtown on reasonable volume, attempting 3.7 per game. Game 2 against Cleveland was a perfect example of how he didn’t let the injury impact his efficiency:
I stayed away from asking about Hart’s contract situation, in which he’s currently eligible for an extension with a team option currently on the books for 2027-28, but I asked about what it’s been like to have stability in New York, particularly after winning a title and seemingly entrenching the core of this team even further.
“When you’re young in the league, you’re trying to prove yourself and have a long career in the league, and that gets harder and harder the more you’re moving around,” he remarked before adding that he was always traded for a star prior to coming to NY. “It’s tough to try to solidify yourself when you’re going from team to team. Before I came to New York, I had six different coaches in my six years in the league, so it was tough.”
“But now, I’m in New York. I feel like I have a home here, and I’m extremely happy.”
Before getting to the good stuff about the championship, I also touched on the slog of an NBA season and how a guy like him, renowned for his tremendous hustle, sticks with it over the course of the season.
“I think it’s family, obviously my wife is a huge part of that, I’m with her almost every day, so she always keeps me grounded,” he said, touching on a few things that keep him in it. “Having close friends on the team—Mikal, JB— me and JB sit on the plane, so we talk about a lot of game or family stuff, so there’s that, but also my faith.”
“Friends, family, faith, those are the three ‘F’s’ that ground me and help me through tough times, whether that’s tough times on the court or off the court.”
His Twitter feed is always entertaining, but what stood out this week was the rehashing of that moment in Game 4, where the Knicks were on the verge of taking their first lead after the 29-point comeback on a steal and a Hart breakaway, but he missed the layup before committing a foul on the other end. After the whistle blew, he sat frustrated on the ground, only for his teammates to help him up and keep him focused on the end goal.
“They just told me to get up and move on,” Hart said about that moment. “Jose, KAT, JB, pick me up. You can see Landry yelling and motioning for me to get up, and I think that just shows the togetherness we had, where it’s like, ‘Okay, there was a mistake, but now let’s regroup, let’s figure out how we’re going to overcome that mistake and persevere in the moment.’”
“I think that just shows the tight-knit culture and team that we had, and I think that’s a big reason why we won.”
Lastly, I wanted to ask him about what it’s been like to essentially achieve basketball nirvana. It was said for decades that when big stars were linked to the Knicks, “Just imagine what winning a title there will do for their legacy.” How they’ll never have to pay for a meal again in the greatest city in the world. To be elevated beyond the pantheon of champions to being forever beloved in the city that never sleeps.
He used that opportunity to talk about what’s it felt to feel that kind of love by directing it back at the fans and seeing what it means to them.
“The thing that’s super cool for me is that about 90 percent of the people that have talked to me about it, they always mentioned either their dad or their son, and I think that’s the coolest thing.”
“You never want to have a 53-year-long championship drought, but that’s generations. There are people who’s dad’s watched 1973 who were waiting for another one and raised their kids to be Knicks fans, and now they watch those games together. It’s so cool, because it really seemed like it just united families; it gave families that thing throughout all of New York, so it was super cool to hear that.”
That part really hit home with me, even as someone who’s too young to have witnessed the Patrick Ewing era, let alone the ancient (in basketball terms) championships in the 1970s. The second the buzzer sounded in Game 5, I immediately hugged my 39-year-old brother, who’s the reason I became a Knicks fan. He was alive for the 90s; he was alive to see all the pain and failure from the 2000s and early 2010s while I was way too young to understand the game like I do today.
It’s really a powerful moment to have decades of heartbreak spill out, and it’s nice to know that the people who provided us with this happiness that some never thought would come appreciate the love the same way we appreciate them for ending a decades-long nightmare.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - AUGUST 25: Tyler Glasnow #31 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches during the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on August 25, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Tuesday’s contest against the Atlanta Braves featured a disappointing ending where the Dodgers left the tying runner on third base in a 4-3 defeat, snapping their six-game winning streak.
Before the uneventful finish, Tyler Glasnow made his return to the mound, making his first start since May 6 against the Houston Astros. Although he allowed three earned runs in the first inning, Glasnow, like Tarik Skubal on Saturday, managed to settle in and didn’t allow another run the rest of the way. Glasnow ended his night tossing five innings against Altanta, allowing six hits and those three runs while striking out seven and not allowing a walk.
Glasnow discussed his change in sequencing after a laborious first inning, helping him settle into a groove where he struck out six over four shutout innings onward, per Courtney Hollmon of MLB.com.
“I think just switching up a little bit,” Glasnow said. “I think it was pretty fastball-heavy the first inning. A little bit predictable. Not a ton of hard-hit balls, but it’s just how it goes sometimes. But I think coming out in the second, I just felt more in rhythm and my slider was working a lot better. … The slider felt good today, too. So I just tried to start some guys off with it and throw it in middle counts and just not be so predictable.”
After spending parts of five seasons with the division rival Arizona Diamondbacks, Alek Thomas has had a nice start to his time as a Dodger. Thomas put the Dodgers on the board in the second inning of Tuesday’s matchup with an RBI single, and the outfielder has a .300 average with three RBI and a walk over his first three games with his new team.
Prior to the start of Tuesday’s game, Thomas spoke with Kirsten Watson of SportsNet LA about getting acclimated with his new team and getting a first-hand understanding of how “next-level” the Dodgers really are.
“I’ve heard that everything is next-level, and it was very eyeopening to see that firsthand, even in the minor leagues. Everything has been just on another level to what I’ve been used to in the past. They’re in the future, it seems like. It’s been really great.”
Maddie Lee of the Los Angeles Times notes that Shohei Ohtani is scheduled to throw another bullpen either Thursday or Friday before he makes his return to the mound, which could be in a short start over the weekend in Detroit.
Ohtani is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Thursday or Friday, pitching coach Mark Prior said. Then Ohtani and the Dodgers will finalize next steps. But Roberts didn’t rule out the possibility of Ohtani making a short start Sunday in Detroit.
ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 25: Ozzie Albies #1 of the Atlanta Braves singles in the eighth inning during the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on Tuesday, August 25, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Cole Carter/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Atlanta Braves won their second straight after Tuesday’s 4-3 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Atlanta jumped out front early, plating three runs in the first inning and later scoring the game-winning run in the eighth. Ozzie Albies came up big, knocking in Matt Olson to give the Braves the edge.
On the other side of the ball, Bryce Elder turned in a start that began shakily, but he ultimately settled in. Over six innings, he allowed three runs on eight hits. He recorded five strikeouts.
Tuesday’s win made for Atlanta’s 77th win of the year. They go for the series win tonight at 7:15 ET.
More Braves News:
The Braves currently have a 4.5 game lead over the division, but the NL East has taken some unexpected turns.
MLB News:
The Miami Marlins placed right-hander Pete Fairbanks on the 15-day injured list with right median nerve irritation. Lefty Dax Fulton was recalled in a corresponding move.
The Toronto Blue Jays placed right-hander Shane Bieber on the 15-day injured list with right teres major inflammation. The move is retroactive to August 21.
From the Feed:
Cast your vote here for Braves Player of the Game.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MAY 10: Stephon Castle #5 of the San Antonio Spurs shoots a free throw during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves during Round Two Game Four of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 10, 2026 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Spurs guard Stephon Castle posted a video of his summer workout.
The post starts with Castle responding to this question- “What’s been your focus this summer?” His response is that shooting has been a top priority. While working on his shot, he is refining his rhythm.
From there, trainer Olin Simplis takes over explaining what Castle is doing. “Working his pickups off his dribble off the deep ball his gather his shot line.”
Simplis is described here on the “About” page of his Guard Whisperer site:
“Olin Simplis is not just a trainer. He is a development architect. His work sits at the intersection of skill, psychology, biomechanics, character, and pro-level preparation — built across three decades of work with NBA professionals, WNBA champions, NCAA standouts, and elite prep talent.”
Simplis referred to Castle as “the best perimeter player” in a recent interview, praising his constant improvement and conditioning.
Welcome to The Thread. Join in the conversation, start your own discussion, and share your thoughts. This is the Spurs community, your Spurs community. Thanks for being here
Our community guidelines apply which should remind everyone to be cool, avoid personal attacks, do not troll and watch the language.
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 Kirill Kudryavtsev.
Kudryavtsev's 2025-26 Season
Kudryavtsev ran into some difficulties during the 2025-26 campaign. The 22-year-old suffered an injury which kept him out of the lineup for two months. Unfortunately, this also forced Kudryavtsev to miss the 2026 All-Star Classic, which he was scheduled to attend as the Abbotsford Canucks' representative.
As for when he was in the lineup, Kudryavtsev played a significant role for Abbotsford. He recorded 20 points in 44 games and, at the end of the year, earned a call-up to the NHL. Kudryavtsev played three games for Vancouver, where he recorded his first two NHL assists.
Kudryavtsev's 2026-27 Letter Grade
The Hockey News' Canucks site gave Kudryavtsev a B- grade for his 2025–26 season. He took a step in his development and proved that he can be leaned on at the AHL level. Kudryavtsev has become a fan favourite within the organization and has become a draft-day steal.
Kudryavtsev's 2026-27 Predictions
Kudryavtsev is going to be given every opportunity to make the NHL team this year. He has a strong relationship with Manny Malhotra, as the two have worked together in the AHL. Ultimately, Kudryavtsev could be one of the final cuts in the pre-season, as the organization clearly believes he is ready for a bigger role.
As for the most likely option, Kudryavtsev will probably find himself back in Abbotsford this year. He will most likely be on the first pairing, which also comes with plenty of special teams work. If he does head to the AHL, Kudryavtsev will be a candidate to be called up if injuries occur.
Bold Prediction: Kudryavtsev plays at least 15 games in the NHL this season.
Apr 14, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Kirill Kudryavtsev (59) handles the puck against the Los Angeles Kings in the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 27: Collin Gillespie #12 and Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns high five during the third quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Four of the First Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 27, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
For the Phoenix Suns, roster building has become as much about flexibility as talent. The Bradley Beal trade, followed by his buyout two years later, reinforced how quickly a massive contract can limit both options and leverage. That makes identifying movable deals increasingly important. Phoenix may not have a roster overflowing with trade assets, but it does have a few contracts that could return legitimate value if the front office ever decided to cash them in.
(For the sake of the exercise, any player on a rookie deal will not be included.)
1. Collin Gillespie
Contract: Gillespie signed a four-year, $48 million contract in June 2026 and will be a free agent after the 2029–30 season.
Despite some struggles at the end of the regular season, Gillespie earned himself the biggest and longest payday of his NBA career this offseason. He averaged 13 points and five assists while shooting 40% from three on seven attempts per game, and his offensive skill set is the type that NBA teams look for when evaluating the guard position. His deal is worth less than the Non-Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception (MLE) and comes in below those of some of the other top backup guards in the league, such as Dennis Schröder and Jrue Holiday (who is set to come off the bench for the Blazers). Gillespie is also significantly younger than many of them.
While he likely wouldn’t net Phoenix a massive haul in exchange for his services, his year-by-year progress, the need for his skill set and his age make his contract the team’s most tradable.
2. Devin Booker
Contract: Booker signed a two-year, $145 million max contract extension in July 2025. He has a player option for the 2029–30 season.
For any piece of media that contains Devin Booker and the word “trade,” it’s important to reiterate the objective of the piece. This is not meant as speculation about Booker’s potential exit from the team; it’s an exercise examining what the Suns would get in return for a potential deal. While much has been made about the value of his deal, which makes him one of the highest-paid players in league history, he remains an All-Star and one of only two players to average at least 25 points per game in each of the last eight seasons. Still scoring at an efficient level, he’s one of the league’s best shot creators, and the Suns went 8–10 without him in the lineup compared to 37–27 when he played.
The only reason Booker isn’t ahead of Gillespie is because of the history of teams dealing stars. Typically, when teams trade multi-time All-Stars, they’re dealt to teams that are already contenders, meaning their potential asset collections might be a tad smaller than those of other teams. They may also need to provide filler and expiring salaries to make deals work when such large contracts are being traded, like the Pacers did when they included Bruce Brown in a deal to acquire Pascal Siakam in 2024 and the Suns did when they included Jae Crowder in their deal to acquire Kevin Durant. It’s rare that a team gets as much as it gives up to acquire a star, and Booker would likely fall into that category because of his large salary.
3. Jordan Goodwin
Contract: Goodwin signed a three-year, $19 million deal with the Suns in June 2026. He has a player option for the 2028–29 season.
Just like Gillespie, Goodwin signed his deal after a career year and received the largest and longest deal of his career. He made improvements in nearly every major statistical category. A tenacious defender who started the one game he played during the team’s playoff run, he can guard multiple positions despite being undersized. With experience playing alongside major stars such as Booker, Durant, Luka Dončić and LeBron James, Goodwin knows how to contribute when the ball is not in his hands, and his improved three-point shooting over the past two seasons has helped him in that regard.
While he wouldn’t net the Suns a player who would be a surefire franchise changer, his deal positions him as someone for whom the team could get solid value if they decided to move him.
COVERS INTEL: Tory Melton has shown some vulnerability at home this season, posting a 4.43 FIP compared to a 3.40 mark on the road. 
