One of Australian sport’s most recognisable voices is headed to Kayo Sports’ cricket coverage with Gerard Whateley set to join the Fox Cricket commentary team for the Summer of the Century.
PensBurgh Top 25 Under 25: No. 3 Sergei Murashov
PensBurgh’s 2026 edition of the Top 25 Under 25 countdown rolls on with a look at goaltending prospect Sergei Murashov.
Catch up on the previous entries for this year:
Pensburgh Top 25 Under 25: Graduates and Departed players in 2025
Top 25 Under 25: The best of the rest
#25: Chase Pietila, D
#24: Ryan Miller, F
#23: Finn Harding, D
#22: Peyton Kettles, D
#21: Zam Plante, F
#21 (bonus): Brady Peddle, D
#20: Melvin Fernstrom, F
#19: Tanner Howe, F
#18: Tomas Galvas, D
#17: Pierce Mbuyi, F
#16: Jake Livanavage, D
#15: Owen Pickering, D
#14: Tristan Broz, F
#13: Avery Hayes, F
#12: Ville Koivunen, F
#11: Hendrix Lapierre, F
#10: Markus Ruck, F
#9: Mikhail Ilyin, F
#8: Joel Blomqvist, G
#7: Liam Ruck, F
#6: Will Horcoff, F
#5: Bill Zonnon, F
#4: Rutger McGroarty, F
#3: Sergei Murashov
- 2025 Ranking:No. 10
- Age: 22 (April 1, 2004)
- Acquired Via: 2022 NHL draft; fourth round, 118th overall
- Height/Weight: 6-foot-2, 190 pounds
Sergei Murashov’s 2025-26 season provided both him and Penguins fans an appetizer to what could be the main course in 2026-27.
Murashov entered the 2025 preseason with an outside chance of making the NHL roster, going 2-0-1 in three preseason appearances with a 1.72 goals-against average and a .935 save percentage.
His preseason performance surely reinforced the belief that he could eventually become Pittsburgh’s goaltender of the future. But that time had not yet arrived. Murashov was assigned to the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Oct. 4.
In northeastern Pennsylvania, Murashov opened the AHL season by playing in seven games, earning a 5-2-0 record to go with a sparkling 1.73 goals-against average, a .930 save percentage and one shutout.
An injury to Tristan Jarry turned into an opportunity for Murashov. He was called up for five NHL games in early November after Jarry was placed on injured reserve.
He made his NHL debut on Nov. 9, saving 31 of 33 shots in a 3-2 loss to the Los Angeles Kings.
A week later, Murashov notched his first career NHL win and shutout in a 4-0 victory against the Nashville Predators in Stockholm, Sweden, on Nov. 16.
Murashov was returned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Nov. 26 after Jarry was cleared to return. The 22-year-old would remain in the AHL for the remainder of the season, save for one emergency recall on Dec. 13.
Over that brief November cameo, Murashov posted a 1-1-2 record, a 2.56 goals-against average, an .897 save percentage and one shutout.
His NHL sample wasn’t flawless, but these numbers aren’t enough to draw firm conclusions about his ability to translate his AHL success to the NHL.
The bulk of Murashov’s season was spent platooning with fellow goaltending prospect Joel Blomqvist. The Yaroslavl native finished the regular season with a 24-9-4 AHL record, a 2.20 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage, earning an AHL All-Star nod and being named to the AHL’s All-Rookie team.
Murashov’s rise also came at the expense of Blomqvist. Their proximity in the AHL made the comparison inevitable, and Murashov’s stronger regular-season numbers and NHL opportunity ultimately helped separate the two in 2025-26.
As the Baby Penguins saw continued success on the ice, Murashov served as the team’s top goaltender for the Calder Cup playoffs, helping the Penguins reach the Eastern Conference Final for the first time since 2014.
In 15 postseason games, he earned an 8-7 record, a 2.11 goals-against average, a .931 save percentage and one shutout.
His .931 save percentage ranked as the fifth-best in the Calder Cup playoffs, providing another indication that his regular-season success was no fluke.
So, what comes next after all the accolades and seemingly reaching his ceiling in the American Hockey League?
Arturs Silovs re-signed with the Penguins on a one-year, $2.8 million contract through 2026-27, while Stuart Skinner, acquired in the Tristan Jarry trade, departed as a free agent this summer.
That leaves an opening for Murashov or Blomqvist to compete for the backup job behind Silovs.
“My full expectation is that the two of them, Sergei and Joel, will be competing for a roster spot here this year,” Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas recently told NHL.com. “I think they both have earned, over years now, the chance to compete for that.”
All that to say, the time appears to be right for Murashov to make a serious push for a permanent NHL spot, potentially splitting the workload with Silovs this season.
A year ago, Murashov was a promising fourth-round pick trying to establish himself in the AHL. Twelve months later, he enters the season as Pittsburgh’s top goaltending prospect and one of the organization’s most important young players.
If all goes well, he could become what the Penguins’ front office has long believed he could be: the organization’s long-term answer in net.
What should we expect when Aaron Judge returns?
A couple weeks ago, as the Yankees got decent injury news regarding their trio of injured sluggers, Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger, and Giancarlo Stanton, I posed the question: what would Stanton in particular look like when returned? The idea was that among those recovering stars, Stanton was the player with the widest error bars. Anything, from a scorching hot late summer like the one he produced in 2025, to the tepid batting line he posted at the start of this season, to devastating re-injury, seemed possible.
Well, we know how that turned out. Stanton indeed re-injured himself, and his season is likely over. Bellinger has returned, leaving Judge as the last, and most important, domino to fall. So, with rumors swirling about a possible Judge comeback in the next two weeks: what should we expect from the Captain?
As Judge (hopefully) approaches a healthy return, I think it’s worth remembering just how excellent the 34-year-old still looked prior to his injury. Judge first suffered a rib fracture against the Astros on April 26th, and told reporters later that he may have aggravated the fracture when he crashed into the right field wall on May 3rd against the Orioles. Judge had a robust .264/.403/.628 slash line that day, good for a 1.037 OPS. His OPS actually peaked a few days later, at 1.067 on May 6th.
That, to me, is the best-case scenario. Judge was, prior to his injury, by all accounts still among the very best in game, if not the best. Homing in on that May 6th peak, Judge had a 190 wRC+, a .442 wOBA, and a .457 expected wOBA. For context, Judge had a .463 wOBA and .459 expected wOBA for the entirety of his sensational 2025 campaign. All of this is to say, Judge at the start of the season was still Aaron Judge.
But the rib injury obviously impacted Judge as he attempted to play through pain. He had an .888 OPS in 31 games post-injury, great but entirely non Judge-like. He struggled much more as time went on and the injury presumably worsened, running a paltry .665 OPS in the three weeks before he finally withdrew from the lineup on May 31st. That latter figure feels like an almost inconceivable outcome for Judge as long as he’s not seriously injured. The former figure feels more plausible as the kind of production Judge could provide if he is still somewhat compromised or rusty when he returns.
For what it’s worth, public projection systems paint an optimistic picture. ZiPS pegs him for a 173 wRC+, and 1.2 fWAR in 101 plate appearances. While it’s unlikely Judge actually eclipses 100 PA’s in the remaining regular season games, that WAR figure is noteworthy. ZiPS essentially forecasts Judge at this very moment to be worth over 8 WAR per 700 plate appearances, which is another way of saying that ZiPS still projects Judge, even after this absence, as the best position player in the world on a rate basis.
How realistic is such a forecast? Obviously, it’s hard to say from the outside, with so little information about Judge’s health and how much time he’ll need to get back up to speed after a three-plus-month layoff. But we can gauge expectations using the clues available to us. Judge struggled mightily when compromised, but was still positively incredible when health earlier this year. Even accounting for his time on the sidelines, projections give us a rosy forecast. What do you think? Can Judge be a world-beater when he gets back?
Tonight, the series with the Astros continues in the Bronx, and on the site this morning, John profiles a Yankee legend (?) in Jayson Nix, who turns 44 today. Also, Andrew runs through what you may have missed on Tuesday night, Josh analyzes Mark Walter and The Dodgers Of It All, and Maximo discusses the challenges that come with a top-heavy lineup.
Today’s Matchup:
New York Yankees vs. Houston Astros
Time: 7:05 p.m. EST
TV: Amazon Prime Video, Space City Home Network
Venue: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
Cris Rodriguez goes deep in first A-ball game, Peyton Graham sets stolen base record
St. Paul Saints 8, Toledo Mud Hens 3 (box)
Sawyer Gipson-Long was mauled again, and the Hens couldn’t get much going offensively on Tuesday.
Gipson-Long surrendered three homers in this one, and gave up four runs in the bottom of the first. The first season after Tommy John can be tough, but it’s hard to believe the right-hander is going to hang onto a 40-man roster spot much longer.
In the third, Seby Zavala drew a leadoff walk. A Max Burt double got him to third, and a Cal Stevenson ground out scored him to make it a 4-1 game.
In the fourth, Max Anderson led off with a double and moved to third on a John Peck single in his first game back off a rehab stint. Peck drew an errant pickoff throw and Anderson scored, but that’s all they’d get. Gipson-Long gave up a solo shot in the fourth to make it a 5-2 game.
In the top of the seventh, the Hens closed the gap when Josue Briceño singled off the wall in right with two outs and Peck smoked an opposite field double to move him to third. Good to have Peck back. He’s going to be a factor in 2027. A wild pitch scored Briceño, but again they couldn’t sustain a rally.
Hayden Minton’s second outing as a reliever went poorly, as he surrendered two runs in the bottom of the seventh. Jack Little gave up a run in the eighth with help of a passed ball on Zavala, and that was that.
Peck: 2-3, 2B, K
Anderson: 2-5, R, 2B, K
Gipson-Long (L, 2-6): 4.2 IP, 5 ER, 7 H, BB, 5 K
Coming Up Next: It’s an 8:07 p.m.. ET start, because why be normal, in St. Paul on Wednesday.
Altoona Curve 7, Erie SeaWolves 6 (box)
Zyhir Hope hit an absolute nuke in this one, while Peyton Graham set a new single season stolen base record for Erie as he stole his 59th and 60th bases of the season. However, the pitching staff let them down late as the Curve walked this one off.
Woody Hadeen opened the game by drawing a walk and stealing second. Thayron Liranzo singled him in and took second on the play. Peyton Graham lined out, but E.J. Exposito singled him in for a 2-0 lead.
Carlos Peña got the start, and the lefty surrendered a solo shot in the bottom of the first, and then three runs in the second.
Hope got a run back with a moonshot over the batter’s eye in center field to open the third inning. Liranzo followed with a single but was stranded. Peña allowed one more run in the bottom of the fifth before his outing ended, and it was 5-2 Altoona.
In the top of the sixth, Roberto Campos singled with two outs and rode home on Seth Stephenson’s second homer of the year to tie the game.
In the top of the ninth, the SeaWolves seized control. Hadeen and Hope singled, and a sacrifice fly from Liranzo plated the go-ahead run. Unfortunately Graham struck out and Exposito popped out to end the inning.
Zane Barnhart entered the game, replacing Moises Rodriguez, and looking for the save. He got two quick outs, and then walked to hitters and gave up a single that tied the game, and Easton Carmichael stepped to the plate and lined a single to left to walk it off.
Hope: 2-5, R, RBI, HR, K
Liranzo: 2-4, R, 2 RBI
Hadeen: 2-4, 2 R, BB, 2 SB
Graham: 1-5, K, 2 SB
Pena: 4.2 IP, 5 ER, 6 H, 3 BB, 4 K
Coming Up Next: It’s a 6:00 p.m. ET start on Wednesday.
Peoria Chiefs 2, West Michigan Whitecaps 0 (box)
Rayner Castillo threw another good game and then just ran out of gas at the end of his outing, but it mattered little as the Whitecaps were held to just two hits.
Castillo punched out nine last time out and is really coming on strong late in the season as his breaking balls and changeup have been much sharper. The easy mid-90’s gas on the big right-hander’s sinker continues to be a little scarce compared to late 2024 and early 2025, but at least he’s finishing the season strong.
He cruised through five innings, before issuing a one-out walk in the sixth as he topped 80 pitches. A double followed to score the run, and a Samuel Gil error allowed the runner to take third. Logan Berrier took over and immediately gave up the RBI single. Beyond that, the ‘Caps bullpen was nails.
Doubles from Beau Ankeney and Cristian Santana were the Whitecaps only hits, and after leaving between the eighth and ninth innings of Sunday’s game, Bryce Rainer wasn’t in the lineup. Nothing really seemed amiss when he came out of the game, so I doubt it’s anything serious but we’ll have to wait and see.
Santana: 1-3, 2B
Strong: 0-2, 2 BB, 2 K, SB
Ankeney: 1-4 , 2B, K
Castillo (L, 2-10): 5.1 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 6 K
Coming Up Next: It’s a 6:35 p.m. ET start on Wednesday night.
Lakeland Flying Tigers 6, Clearwater Threshers 5 (box)
Caleb Leys struggled in his start, but the kids brought their hitting shoes and some serious pop to take the first of six in Lakeland on Tuesday.
The Flying Tigers had the lead early when Jordan Yost led off the bottom of the first with a single and then stole second base. Tigers 2026 second rounder Tyson LeBlanc was the DH in this one for his first pro at-bat and he grounded out. Jesus Pinto came through with a single to get Yost to third, and he scored on a grounder from Angel de los Santos that went for an error. Cris Rodriguez’s first A-ball at-bat did not go well either, as the center fielder grounded into a double play to end the inning.
Leys dug himself into a hole in the second, and a two-out error from Yost contributed as the Threshers came back with three runs. Leys bounced back with a better third inning, although a foul ball down the first base line was close enough to really irritated the Threshers, with an ejection of the manager to follow. LeBlanc spanked a single up the middle for his first pro hit in the bottom half, although that went nowhere. Leys was wild in the fourth and again dug himself a deep hole and couldn’t escape, while another error, this one from De Los Santos at second didn’t help the cause.
So it was 5-1 Clearwater, but at that point the Flygers pulled it together and began the comeback. In the fifth, Pinto singled but was forced on a De Los Santos grounder. That worked, as Rodriguez hammered a 423 foot shot to right center field for his first home run in full season ball.
Rodriguez’s strikeout rate in the Complex League really put me off my feed as far as his future. There aren’t any examples of players striking out 30 percent of the time against that level of competition and succeeding, even at age 18. But we’ll see if he can make signficant progress next year or not before getting too down on his chances.
In the sixth, Brady Ballinger doubled, and Javier Osorio blasted a 109 mph shot to left to tie the game. Between Pinto, De Los Santos, Anibal Salas, and Osorio, the Tigers have a really talented, athletic group down there alongside the better known names like Yost, Michael Oliveto, whose bat looks outstanding btw, and Rodriguez.
Frenny Grant, Jose Guzman, and Pedro Garcia did great work out of the pen to smother the Threshers offense. Finally, in the bottom of the eighth, Yost walked, and singles from Salas and Pinto plated the go-ahead run. Garcia locked it down to earn the victory.
Osorio: 2-4, R, 2 RBI, HR
Pinto: 4-4, BB
Yost: 1-3, 2 R, 2 BB, K, SB
Leys: 3.1 IP, 5 R, 2 ER, 3 H, 4 BB, 3 K
Coming Up Next: It’s a 6:30 p.m. ET start on Wednesday night.
The Spin | England’s troubles with spinners is leaving a generation behind
Dom Bess is one of many in a long line of England spinners to struggle for a sustained run in Test cricket. Why is there no lasting solution?
It is the eighth over of South Africa’s first innings in Gqeberha in January 2020 when Joe Root tosses the ball to 22-year-old Dom Bess. Three overs later, the decision pays off.
With the final ball before drinks, Bess takes a return catch to dismiss Pieter Malan. In the final over before the close, he has Zubayr Hamza caught at short leg. The next morning, Bess removes Dean Elgar, Faf du Plessis and Rassie van der Dussen to become the first English spinner to take the first five wickets of an innings since Derek Underwood in 1975.
Continue reading...N&N: Steven Kwan 5-hit performance spurs comeback
it might be fragment time. we just watched baseball until 1:15 AM.
in the early innings of Tuesday night’s game, the Guardians loaded the bases with no outs and didn’t score any runs from it, and Gavin Williams got shelled.
game over, right?
NO!
Steven Kwan and Jose Ramirez responded by running the bases for 3 consecutive hours and Kurt Suzuki got to sit in the dugout and watch Jose thrive. His least favorite activity.
The result?
Slade Cecconi is rehabbing in AAA.
CDL feels better and PH in this game.
Around baseball
• Byron Buxton got injured. Taj Bradley threw an immaculate inning. And the Twins lost.
• Biebs hit the IL with an injured shoulder. 🙁
• My ability to form sentences improved as this post went on.
Warriors sign Georges Niang
The Golden State Warriors finalized their 15-man roster by signing veteran forward Georges Niang to a one-year, $3.9 million contract. Niang, who enters his 11th NBA season, brings much-needed frontcourt floor-spacing to Golden State.
Free agent forward Georges Niang has agreed to a one-year, $3.9 million deal with the Golden State Warriors, Mark Bartelstein and Andy Shiffman of @PrioritySports tell ESPN. Niang — a career 40% 3-point shooter — enters his 11th NBA season after missing 2025-26 due to injury. pic.twitter.com/XFD2t1XKNm
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 25, 2026
Known affectionately as “The Minivan,” the 33-year-old boasts a career 39.9% mark from three-point range. The Warriors plan to deploy him primarily as a stretch-four off the bench, complementing their core with reliable perimeter shooting and high-IQ veteran depth.
After missing the entire 2025–26 season recovering from a left foot injury, Niang arrives in the Bay Area fully healthy and eager to contribute. He previously posted solid reserve minutes across stints with Utah, Philadelphia, and Cleveland, averaging 9.9 points in his last full campaign.
For Golden State, acquiring a proven 40% long-range sniper on a cost-effective deal serves as a high-value perimeter addition.
Umyla Hanley was working as a builder two years ago. Now he hopes to play for England at a World Cup
It looked as if his rugby league career was going nowhere but Ellery Hanley’s son timed his rise to the top perfectly
Among the unlikeliest visitors to Leigh Leopards’ recent win at Leeds Rhinos was a tortoise. The animal stall was part of a family night at Headingley; presumably unleashing a rhino on the crowded concourse was considered unwise. The Leigh centre Umyla Hanley’s journey to the top has epitomised the tortoise’s approach to life.
While the career trajectory of his opposite number at Headingley, Ash Handley, was hare-like – he made his debut at 18 and was quickly heralded as the club’s next wing wizard – Hanley has taken the slow lane. He made his Super League debut for Wigan six years ago but, after appearing to have made a breakthrough in the 2021 season, was soon farmed off to Newcastle on loan, seemingly doomed to live in the shadows of his father, the hall of famer Ellery Hanley.
Continue reading...Counting down the 10 greatest Warriors transactions under Lacob, Guber: Part I
Counting down the 10 greatest Warriors transactions under Lacob, Guber: Part I originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
A relatively futile summer by the Warriors’ front office has left a vocal segment of Dub Nation rolling its collective eyes in despair, if not disgust. Their highest hopes were kneecapped by the failure to make a move that would stir the fan base back toward faith.
Golden State’s shot-callers, however, maintain belief in the roster they will have when training camp opens in less than five weeks. While no one upstairs is pleading for explicit trust, they would like to think they deserve a chance.
The Warriors on Tuesday made a move toward rebuilding that with the addition of Brandon Williams, a cat-quick guard with an elite first step. It’s not enough to put them near the top tier of the Western Conference, but it makes them a better offense.
How much trust, though, should the front office be afforded? Given the hits and the misses under the ownership of CEO Joe Lacob and co-chair Peter Guber, we examine what we consider their 10 shrewdest transactions since they took ownership of the franchise 16 years ago.
We count down from No. 10 to No. 6 today in Part I, with Part II coming on Thursday:
10) Sign-and-trade deal to acquire David Lee (July 2010)
This was Lacob’s way of announcing himself to the NBA, making a splash before the ink was dry on the league’s approval of new ownership. Golden State was in search of an impact power forward, and Lee was coming off an All-Star season – averaging 20.2 points (on 54.5-percent shooting), 11.7 rebounds – with the New York Knicks.
The cost of obtaining Lee was Kelenna Azubuike, Ronny Turiaf, Anthony Randolph – the three played a combined 81 games for New York – and two future second-round picks. Then-GM Larry Riley did the grunt work.
Lee was one of the building blocks behind the Warriors escaping NBA purgatory, as he averaged 16.7 points and 9.3 rebounds over 327 games. He became in 20213 Golden State’s first All-Star in 16 seasons (Latrell Sprewell, 1997) and was a significant rotation member on the franchise’s first championship in 40 years.
9) Trading for Jimmy Butler III (February 2025)
After winning 12 of 15 games to open the 2024-25 NBA season and then losing 12 of 15, the Warriors needed a roster upgrade. They spent January straddling the mediocrity line (.500) when second-year general manager Mike Dunleavy went shopping.
After Kevin Durant, toiling in Phoenix, expressed no interest in rejoining Golden State, Dunleavy turned to a former teammate: Butler, a veteran forward who had become a malcontent in Miami.
The cost of obtaining Butler was Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson and a top-10-protected first round pick in the 2025 draft. Also departing in what was a four-team trade were Dennis Schroder and Lindy Waters III.
Butler made an immediate impact, joining with Stephen Curry to lead the Warriors to 23-8 record over the final 31 games, second only to eventual champion Oklahoma City in the West.
The hope is that Butler, rehabbing a surgically repaired torn right ACL, can return by midseason.
8) Trading for Andrew Wiggins (February 2020)
KD left after three seasons. Klay Thompson was rehabbing after ACL surgery. Curry sustained a broken hand in Week 1. The 2019-20 season was a disaster before November.
Durant did the Warriors enough of a favor for them to bring in DeAngelo Russell, a defective guard who was allergic to defense. He was, however, a talented scorer. That was enough of a lure for then-GM Bob Myers to engineer a trade that became thievery.
The Warriors obtained Wiggins along with a 2021 first-round pick (used to select Jonathan Kuminga) and second-round pick later moved, with Russell, Jacob Evens III and Omari Spellman going to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Wiggins came to Golden State and soon shed the label of being an underachiever. He was a solid two-way wing who in 2022 made his first All-Star team. Moreover, he was the star member of Curry’s cast as the Warriors won the 2022 NBA Finals.
7) Trading for Andre Iguodala (July 2013)
After four consecutive losing seasons, Golden State reached the NBA playoffs for the first time since 2007. The No. 6-seed Warriors upset Iguodala and the third-seed Denver Nuggets in the first round and put a scare into eventual champion San Antonio in the conference semifinals.
Iguodala was impressed enough to become a free agent bound to leave the Nuggets, who responded with a sign-and-trade deal that gave him a future by the Bay. Myers oversaw a deal that acquired Iguodala for Andris Biedrins, Richard Jefferson, Brandon Rush and four future draft picks.
This was a huge win for two reasons. One, the Warriors obtained an athletic wing who was a stellar defender and possessed leadership qualities. Two, the move signaled that Golden State’s status within the league had risen enough to become a destination.
Iguodala was a four-time champion whose jersey now hangs in the rafters at Chase Center.
6) Trading for Andrew Bogut (March 2012)
The Warriors quickly realized they needed to improve their defense even if it meant sacrificing some offense. Lacob and Riley decided at the trade deadline to break up their dynamic but small backcourt featuring Monta Ellis and Curry.
Golden State considered moving Curry – true story – but ended up trading Ellis to the Milwaukee Bucks for Bogut, a 7-foot center who was a terrific defender and passer but struggled with injuries.
For the first time since they were coached by Al Attles, the Warriors had a defensive presence. Bogut missed the rest of the season but played 67 games in 2013-14 and again in 2014-15. He was the anchor of a defense that was an unappreciated aspect of the 2015 championship.
Lacob one week after the trade was showered with boos at Oracle Arena for trading a fan favorite for a man in street clothes. Three years later, those boos were replaced by a championship parade. He got the last laugh.
Yankees news: Aaron Judge takes another step in the right direction
MLB.com | Bryan Hoch: The Yankees’ captain, Aaron Judge, is slowly working his way back from a rib fracture sustained in late April. He took a significant step towards returning in September on Tuesday, taking some swings against overhand pitching for the first time in months. He has been throwing at distances of 100 feet, running, shagging fly balls, and performing other baseball-related activities, including tee-and-toss drills.
SNY | Phillip Martinez: Yankees left-hander Max Fried, currently in the midst of his second bone bruise-related IL stint of the season, has a chance to return this weekend. The Bombers will have a busy schedule this week, including a doubleheader against the Boston Red Sox on Saturday, and manager Aaron Boone suggested that we could see the southpaw that day. The veteran threw four innings, about 60 pitches, of live batting practice on Monday. “We’ll see where we are as the next couple of days unfold,” Boone said.
New York Daily News | Gary Phillips: With Ryan Weathers hitting the injured list, the Yankees needed some good news on the pitching front. They definitely got them on Tuesday: not only is Max Fried on the way back and potentially an option for the weekend, but Clarke Schmidt threw about 20 pitches, with velocity in the mid-90s range. Per the reports, as long as his arm and body recover well, he should start a rehab assignment in the coming days. The right-hander will return as a reliever this year.
Schmidt, recovering from Tommy John surgery performed last summer, posted a 3.32 ERA in 2025 after making playoff starts for the 2024 team’s pennant run.
Yankees PR: The Yankees made a procedural move early on Tuesday, selecting recently-signed reliever Justin Topa’s contract to the active roster. Joel Sherman had reported that this move would be made. To make room for him, the organization transferred DH/OF Giancarlo Stanton to the 60-day injured list after a recent setback seriously jeopardized his chances of returning this season.
Also of note: Triple-A prospect Elmer Rodríguez reportedly has a locker in the Bronx this week, and since tonight’s starter is TBD, that could very well be him in his fifth career appearance (or at least serving in a bulk role). Bradley Hanner is a candidate to be demoted after throwing 25 pitches last night.
Celtics Reacts Survey: does Payton Pritchard win his starting role back next season?
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Celtics fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
With the departure of Jaylen Brown, it seems like a no-brainer: Payton Pritchard will be a starter next season.
But let’s not forget that prior to Jayson Tatum’s return last season, Pritchard ceded his starting role to Baylor Scheierman after starting 47 out of the first 48 games. At the time, it was a move made in an effort to replace Anfernee Simons’ scoring in the second unit after he was traded for Nikola Vučević.
Now, Brown is in Philadelphia, but his spot will presumably be filled by the player he was traded for, Paul George. So unless PG13 is that veteran punch off the bench, it would seem reasonable to assume that the six-year pro might be part of the opening lineup.
Or maybe, he returns to the same role that earned him Sixth Man of the Year in 2025.
Recently, CLNS Media and CelticsBlog’s Bobby Manning sat down with PP to discuss early workouts with teammates new and old and what he’s looking forward to next year.
Individually, Pritchard wants to reach the free throw line more often in 2026-27. As a team, they want to make better reads while maintaining their hard-playing identity.
“That’s the biggest thing, and we need everybody to take a step,” he said. “Regular season wins, you win by playing hard and then in the playoffs, you win by playing harder and smarter. That’s really the recipe.”
If more free throws is one of Pritchard’s goals, it might make sense for him to enter the first quarter with opposing teams in foul trouble. He hasn’t been much of a foul grifter to date, but with just two more years left on his team-friendly contract, a boost in his numbers could land a bigger payday, regardless if he starts or not.
Assessing Warriors' Georges Niang signing to complete team's 15-man roster
Assessing Warriors' Georges Niang signing to complete team's 15-man roster originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
At long last, the Warriors’ 15-man roster for the 2026-27 NBA season was completed on Tuesday.
The Warriors went nearly two months without making an outside move, aside from their two draft picks. On Tuesday, they changed course and added not one but two veteran players to round out the roster.
Point guard Brandon Williams agreed to a one-year contract in the morning to start off the day. Hours later, veteran forward Georges Niang came to terms on a one-year contract in the afternoon. The Warriors, for the first time since their 2021-22 championship season, are going into the season with a full 15-man roster.
Yet the real number is 13 as Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody will miss at least the opening months of the season rehabbing from injury.
Niang being the final touch to the Warriors is a reunion of sorts nearly a decade in the making. He spent training camp with the Warriors in 2017 after playing 23 games for the Indiana Pacers as a second-round pick the season before. Niang then played 26 games for the Warriors’ G League affiliate in 2017-18 and averaged 18.4 points and 6.7 rebounds per game with a 42.1 3-point percentage.
Last season, Niang, now 33, didn’t play at all.
He missed the entire 2025-26 season after fracturing his foot in September. Prior to a missed year, Niang was a reliable forward who could stretch the floor at a high clip. Over 79 games between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Atlanta Hawks in the 2024-25 season, Niang shot 40.6 percent from 3-point range.
Niang in his past seven seasons has been a 40.1-percent 3-point shooter on 4.3 attempts per game. His offensive traits as a passer and knock-down shooter at an elite level from the corners make Niang an easy fit for Steve Kerr.
Now that the Warriors’ 15-man roster is settled a month ahead of training camp, let’s first break it down by groups, starting with guards.
The group consists of Steph Curry, De’Anthony Melton, Brandin Podziemski and Williams, plus Gary Payton II defensively. The Warriors’ wings already are behind the curve without their top two in Butler and Moody. Will Richard is more of a wing than a shooting guard, but the Warriors’ biggest hole is clearly at the 3.
Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg likely will play a lot of small forward because of Butler and Moody’s absences, though he’s naturally a power forward. As is Draymond Green, Gui Santos and Niang, as well as Payton offensively out of the dunker spot.
A center trio of Kristaps Porziņģis, Al Horford and Charles Bassey completes the puzzle. There still will be scenarios where Green plays center, but he shouldn’t have to as much, and he should be surrounded by more size. Horford can play with Porzingis, and Bassey believes he can complement them both.
Unlike years past, the Warriors can throw size on the court while spacing the floor. They have six players at 6-foot-4 or under, including LJ Cryer on a two-way contract, but going down the line of Lendeborg, Green, Porziņģis, Horford, Santos, Bassey and Niang is new kinds of length Dub Nation is not used to.
And almost all are at least threats from long distance, minus Bassey and Green for the most part.
Defensively, the Warriors will need Melton to be at his best guarding on the ball. They will need Lendeborg to be better than what he showed in summer league. They will need Payton to be even better and Green to be at his best just enough. They will need Frank Vogel to be as important of an addition as anybody this offseason.
Curry offensively will continue needing to be heroic as ever. Who his main sidekick will be as Robin waits is everyone’s best guess. A rotation of sorts is the first answer. If that’s enough is the wait-and-see of this all.
Bringing in a player like Niang who missed all of last season easily looks like another red flag when it comes to health. Last season also sure looks like an outlier for Niang, who rarely missed games in years past. The Warriors are hoping for a glass-half-full approach for a handful of players.
It starts with Steph, who got a long offseason to get his body right. So did Draymond, his longest tenured teammate. Melton finally had a summer without rehab, and same with Podziemski after undergoing two surgeries a year ago. Horford gets a normal offseason where he can be around the Warriors from the jump instead of the start of training camp.
Seen internally almost as an offseason addition, Porziņģis, starting with his team debut, played in 15 of a possible 27 regular-season games (55.6 percent), compared to just 17 of the Hawks’ 53 games (32.1 percent) earlier in the season.
Nobody is going to see the Warriors as favorites. Inking Williams and Niang wasn’t going to change anybody’s mind about that. The two are positives off the bench and add more balance throughout the roster.
Staying afloat and riding the waves as opposed to letting them crash and sink the ship is the game the Warriors will be playing in a little less than two months when the season opens in Los Angeles.
Zac Thornton showing he can be key option for Mets’ 2027 rotation
Eighteen pitchers in Mets history have concluded their first 10 major league starts with a sub-3.00 ERA.
There have been rocket ships such as Tom Seaver (2.64), Nolan Ryan (2.80) and Matt Harvey (2.73).
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Try it freeThere is at least the making of a promising arm in Nolan McLean (2.16).
There have been footnotes such as Masato Yoshii (2.25) and Charlie Puleo (2.94).
And now there is a curiosity who might be turning into something more because through his first 10 major league starts, Zac Thornton’s ERA is 2.88.
With the 2026 season unofficially over, the 2027 rotation is looking a bit more promising every time the lefty is given the ball.
Tuesday that meant Thornton holding down the Brewers — who entered as the fourth-highest-scoring offense in the sport — for six innings in which he allowed just one run during a 3-2 victory at Citi Field.
“I thought I did a fine job just kind of changing speeds on them, basically one through nine, kind of used all the pitches,” said the left-hander, who mixed in seven distinct pitches, six of which induced a swing-and-miss.
He did not issue a walk and threw 62 of his 89 pitches for strikes.
A pitcher known for guile had a bit more gas, maxing out at 95.4 mph and later acknowledging with a smile, “I’m definitely seeing those 95s up there.”
He would love to maintain that velocity, but it’s possible he was a bit fresher pitching on six days’ rest.
Whether he has the extra tick or not, he continues to impress for a club that might be beginning to pencil him in to the 2027 rotation.
“I think he is who we thought he was: a fearless competitor who doesn’t care who gets in the batter’s box,” said interim manager Andy Green, “who might give up a home run on the first pitch of the game, and the rest of the game, he’s going to do what he does.”
Thornton only allowed one fourth-inning run — which probably deserves an asterisk, William Contreras awarded a double when a soft ground ball took a strange turn away from Bo Bichette — and otherwise, the Brewers did not have an answer for Thornton’s kitchen sink.
Virtually no one has since Thornton debuted with a four-run, 4 ¹/₃ inning clunker in Washington, which is the last time he has allowed four earned runs in a game.
Luis Robert Jr. drilled his sixth home run in his past 14 games, red-hot during a span in which his OPS has risen from .606 to .737.
Carson Benge tallied three more hits and an intentional walk, slashing .303/.363/.466 since May 1.
How Green will handle the playing time of his catchers the rest of the season will bear watching.
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For a second straight game, Francisco Alvarez sat in favor of Luis Torrens, this time against Brewers lefty Kyle Harrison.
Sometimes against opposing righties Green has played both, but against the southpaw it was Eric Wagaman who served as designated hitter rather than Alvarez.
Alvarez has been the typically unquestioned starter when healthy since 2023, while Torrens has been among the game’s best backups since arriving in the 2024 trade.
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Before going 1-for-4, Torrens — who is the superior defender — entered hitting .393 with six home runs and 13 RBIs over his past 10 games. Alvarez is in a 2-for-33 slide.
“I think we’re still going to see Alvy out there very consistently,” Green said. “I think both of those guys are continuing to see the field quite a bit as we wrap up this season.
“Alvy obviously has gone through a stretch where he hasn’t swung the bat the way he has traditionally, but he’s really received well.”
Green defended Alvarez’s “under the hood” defense, in which Statcast has believed him to be a roughly average framer, slightly above average at throwing out runners and poor at blocking.
The usually lighter-hitting Torrens excels at each defensive category.
“I still believe immensely in Alvy’s upside,” Green said of the 24-year-old, who has had nice seasons but not yet the breakthrough that reminds of his former No. 1-prospect-in-baseball pedigree. “He’s still going to get a lot of at-bats.”
Green said he had no real update on Juan Soto, who has been sidelined for over a month (since July 24) with a left calf strain, or Devin Williams, out since Aug. 7 with a right shoulder strain.
Green said the club still believes both will return this season.
Mark Vientos is “not particularly close” to being an option for the Mets, Green said.
Vientos has gone 0-for-8 with a walk in three games with Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Syracuse so far in his first action since fracturing his hand on July 9.
“We’ll let kind of his play, how he feels and kind of the progression in general be determined by what happens on the field a little bit,” Green said. “When you hurt your hand, you need to get some at-bats and get going.”
Martin O’Neill puts Champions League collapse among most painful Celtic nights
Celtic lose to Lask in qualifier from 4-0 up on aggregate
‘That’s my team and that’s my responsibility,’ O’Neill says
Martin O’Neill has admitted Celtic’s Champions League qualifying collapse from 4-0 up ranks as one of his most painful nights as the club’s manager.
Celtic held a four-goal aggregate lead against Lask on Tuesday when Callum McGregor scored in the 21st minute in Austria, building on a 3-0 first-leg victory, and appeared to be cruising into the league stage. But they lost 5-1 on the night after extra time to go out in extraordinary fashion.
Continue reading...NBA recruits boost GB bid for EuroBasket success
Great Britain's men's basketball team have turned to the NBA in their bid to progress into the full qualifying rounds for the 2029 EuroBasket campaign.
The side, led by Newcastle Eagles head coach Marc Steutel, has been able to name three players in his squad who are either current or recent players in the world's top domestic league for this week's double-header against Switzerland and Slovakia.
Boston Celtics centre Amari Williams is part of the squad, as is power forward Tobi Lawal who was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks earlier this summer.
Another addition to what is, on paper, the strongest GB squad in some time is forward Tosan Evbuomwan. The 25-year-old has this summer joined Barcelona following three seasons in the NBA and its reserve G-League.
"With every squad selection, you want to try to make sure that you are getting the balance of the most talented players available," Steutel told BBC Sport.
"Because of where our players play and the restrictions that has at times, it's not always as straightforward on the outside as people may think.
"We feel really excited about this group for sure."
The trio make up three quarters of the four most recent British players to feature in the league, alongside OG Anunoby of the New York Knicks.
Great Britain enter the second of three preliminary qualifying rounds for the 2029 EuroBasket tournament. They face both Switzerland and Slovakia home and away across three international windows in August, November and February.
Should GB finish top of the group, they will enter full qualifying for EuroBasket. Failure to do so will see them enter the final round of preliminary qualifying next year.
How have GB been able to land NBA players?
For Evbuomwan and Williams, 24, this double-header on Thursday in Switzerland and then at home to Slovakia in Newcastle on Sunday is set to mark their GB debuts at senior level.
But how the duo have been able to sign up for the latest fixtures is all about timing.
Four of GB's six first-round qualifying matches for the 2027 Fiba World Cup were in November 2025 and March 2026, which clashed with the NBA season.
But with this window opening in between NBA seasons, as well as those of its European counterparts, the stars aligned for Steutel and his team.
"In the season, guys in the NBA [and] the EuroLeague, we struggle to get. There's very little ability to be able to do that," added Steutel.
"We're right before the start of the season and our general manager has done an incredible job communicating with the Boston Celtics.Tosan is closer to home now with Barcelona.
"They've both been really supportive and want those guys to play, so [we're] really excited."
GB's coaching staff have long craved the opportunity to be able to cash in by adding recent NBA players to their squad.
Dan Clark, who featured at the 2012 Olympics alongside two-time NBA All-Star Luol Deng, is now GB's general manager and has stayed in contact with Newcastle-born Evbuomwan and Williams, awaiting the opportunity to be able to call on the duo.
"It's not just a 'this window' thing, it has taken years," explains Steutel.
"Tosan is someone who I've known for a long time and I've followed his journey. He's someone who has communicated really well with us and Amari likewise. Dan Clark has been communicating with Amari for years.
"We're able to get the timing right now and get them in a GB jersey. It's great for the team, but I think it's great for British basketball on the whole."
'To have our debuts at the same time is special'
While the journeys of Williams and Evbuomwan from English upbringings to reaching the NBA have differed in some ways, the crux of their stories is the same.
A school year apart, Evbuomwan moved to Princeton University in New Jersey in 2019. A year later, Williams made a similar move to attend Drexel University in Philadelphia.
Both were starting their basketball journeys that would ultimately tee up their senior international debuts.
"It was something I've been trying to do since I moved away to America seven years ago," said the Nottingham-born Williams, who was drafted by Orlando Magic in 2025 and traded to the Celtics.
"To have the opportunity to do it this summer is something I've been looking forward to."
Evbuomwan added: "It's exciting. All of us being able to commit to this window.
"Me and Amari talk a lot and it is something we have talked about for a while. For us to have both our debuts at the same time in the same window is special."
There is an added homecoming for Evbuomwan when GB face Slovakia on Sunday. It is being played at the Vertu Arena in Newcastle, the home venue of the Eagles, for whom he previously played at youth level.
Evbuomwan added: "Very meaningful. Being able to represent your country is one thing. Being able to represent your country in front of your family and friends is a bonus."
'We'd love to see Anunoby in a GB jersey' - Steutel
Across the three international windows in August, November and March, Great Britain, Slovakia and Switzerland will each get a window each of playing two matches.
GB have theirs this week and will want to take advantage of the star power available to them before the domestic season restarts.
But moving forward, there is another name Steutel and his supporting cast would love to add in OG Anunoby.
The 29-year-old was a key man for the New York Knicks as they won their first NBA title in more than half a century in June.
A two-time NBA winner, Anunoby is also eligible for the United States and Nigeria, having yet to play international basketball for any nation at senior level.
Great Britain remain hopeful of one day getting the London-born forward in their ranks.
"Our general manager is in communication with OG and his team," said Steutel.
"His season went way into the summer, winning the championship and playing a lot of basketball. Unfortunately, the timing is not right on this window - but we hope so.
"Our qualification now is for EuroBasket 2029 and we hope we can get there. It is a long way away. But he's someone else we'd definitely love to see in a GB jersey."