PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 10: Fans cheer as Zack Wheeler #45 of the Philadelphia Phillies walks back to the dugout after being relieved in the eighth inning during the game between the Houston Astros and the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Thursday, September 10, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Trevor Hayes/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
In these next few weeks, as the season winds down and playoff teams are put into their proper place in the bracket, a lot of words will be spoken about home field advantage. Our own John Stolnis will be talking about this in a little bit and you have probably already seen some things pop up regarding the Phillies and holding the advantage once their playoff season begins.
The question is: do you really even care about it?
Does home field advantage really matter to you as much as it may matter to others? The players probably prefer to have it, but the Phillies haven’t exactly set the world on fire when playing in Citizens Bank Park of late in October. There are probably a bunch of reasons for this, so maybe having the ability to bat last in a game isn’t truly that big a deal.
Maybe it is, I don’t know, but what do you think about it?
The Tides used a late comeback to win this one, tying the game in the eighth on a Bryan Ramos RBI single and then scoring two in the top of the ninth on a Creed Willems sac fly and Payton Eeles single. Nearly every Tides hitter contributed to the victory, led by Enrique Bradfield Jr. atop the order, who had two hits, stole a base, and scored two runs. Jud Fabian homered for the third time in the last two days. The Tides’ lineup was facing Cardinals prospect Jurrangelo Cjintje, who was drafted as a switch-pitcher but now appears to be exclusively right-handed.
Cade Povich turned in a quality start for the Tides — six innings, three runs — and the bullpen followed with three scoreless frames. The 27-year-old righty Jake Dykhoff was summoned all the way from High-A Frederick to Norfolk, and he responded by throwing two scoreless innings in his Triple-A debut. Left-hander Andrew Magno worked around two walks in the ninth to notch his 10th save.
As usual, a Baysox starting pitcher turned in a stellar performance. Right-hander JT Quinn twirled five scoreless innings in his final start of the year, allowing six baserunners and striking out three. He finished the season with a 1.96 ERA in five starts for the Baysox after a 3.75 mark in 20 starts at High-A.
Unfortunately, Quinn’s effort went criminally unsupported by the Baysox offense, which managed only four hits (all singles) against three Richmond pitchers. Wehiwa Aloy had one of them. Vance Honeycutt went 0-for-4 with a strikeout. Left-hander Jacob Bresnahan, the Giants’ #9 prospect, worked seven shutout frames. The game’s only run came on a solo homer by Gavin Kilen, the Giants’ #6 prospect, off Baysox reliever Brandon Downer in the sixth.
High-A: Greensboro Grasshoppers (Pirates) 7, Frederick Keys 5
Sadly, the Keys’ playoff run has come to an end. After winning Game 1 of the best-of-three North Division Series, Frederick dropped the last two, including a heartbreaker in this win-or-go-home finale. The Keys carried a 5-4 lead into the top of the seventh before Greensboro rallied for three runs against relievers Twine Palmer and Braeden Sloan. The Frederick offense couldn’t respond in the final three frames, and the Keys’ magical season is over.
Jaiden Lo Re contributed a pair of hits in the game, and Andrés Nolaya powered a pinch-hit homer. Ty Head went 0-for-2 but drove in a run on a squeeze bunt. Enddy Azocar took an 0-for-4. Starter Christian Rodriguez gave up four runs (two earned) in 3.1 innings, giving up two home runs to Pirates #5 prospect Wyatt Sanford.
The New York Islanders entered the 2026 NHL Draft holding just five draft picks, including only one pick inside the top 100.
In that type of scenario, it's crucial the Islanders do their best and take solid, potentially high-upside late-round dart throws in the NHL. That's always the case, sure. But that feeling only gets heightened in a year of scarce picks.
Everyone knew the Islanders could be targeting right-shot defenseman, the most obvious bare spot in their prospect pool at the time.
The Islanders drafted Dravecky, 18, in the fifth-round of the 2026 NHL Draft with the 141st overall pick.
Playing with an elite Brantford Bulldogs team last year, Dravecky posted nine goals and 28 points in 58 games, as well as three assists in 11 playoff games.
Dravecky also notched five assists in 11 games with the Czechia U20 team in international competition, but was held scoreless at the 2026 World Junior Championship.
At the time of the draft, people felt the Islanders landed incredible value with his work ethic and potential upside.
Put Hamilton Hammers Head Coach Jay McKee in that camp.
"With Vlad being a late pick, for me, it was one of the steals of the draft for sure at that pick," McKee said following Day One of Rookie Camp.
McKee continued with effusive praise for the right-shot defenseman.
"Vlad is a very highly skilled, offensive-minded defenseman. Just saying, he's one of the best practice players I've ever coached or even played with," McKee said. "He's intense. He does everything with a purpose. Snaps his passes. He's got an active stick. He's a very, very talented player. You know, like all of them [the prospects]. There's areas of improvement, but his potential and his upside is very high."
Praise doesn't come that strongly at a rookie camp for a fifth-round draft pick just days into working with the player, but that's what Dravecky's earned, both through rookie camp and McKee coaching against him in the OHL.
What should also stick out is the praise surrounding his drive and his practice effort. While it doesn't always work out, that's a telltale sign for a player hellbent on proving his worth and turning themselves into an NHLer over time.
While it was only one day of camp, the impression Dravecky left was followed by the effusive praise of McKee, which should only excite Islanders fans about Dravecky's potential.
After rookie & training camp, Dravecky is expected to report to the OHL's Guelph Storm, who made a major trade with the Bulldogs in June.
The Palestinian flag-waving idiot who sprinted onto the field at Yankee Stadium during the 9/11 25th Anniversary game after posting an unhinged rant about the terrorist attack is a self-described “revisionist-Marxist,” according to his OnlyFans page.
Kelly Marcucci, of Long Island, is facing misdemeanor charges for interference with a professional sporting event and trespassing, according to the NYPD.
Marcucci, 38, allegedly jumped from the stands onto the baseball field, cops said.
A man carrying a Palestinian flag disrupts the game at Yankee Stadium on Friday and was stopped by security. Robert Sabo for NY Post
He charged the field in the seventh inning of the Yankees-Mets Subway Series game in The Bronx on Friday at exactly 9:11 p.m. — before quickly getting tackled in centerfield by security, video showed.
Fans immediately broke out into chants of “USA!” when the man was brought down onto the grass.
Just hours before the stunt, around 4:30 p.m., Marcucci posted an unhinged, rambling rant on Facebook.
Kelly Marcucci, of Long Island, is facing misdemeanor charges for interference with a professional sporting event and trespassing, according to the NYPD. AP Photo/Noah K. Murray
He went off on a nonsensical tirade about capitalism, Zionism, Saudi Arabia and 9/11, mentioning a string of high-profile people including President Trump and Joe Rogan.
Marcucci also posted a brief video of himself at the baseball game before he allegedly stormed the field, showing off his personalized “K. Marcucci” jersey from the stands.
A streaker with a Palestinian flag disrupts the game when the New York Yankees played the New York Mets on Friday, September 11, 2026. Robert Sabo for NY Post
The front of the shirt reads “No Kings,” a widespread anti-Trump sentiment.
Marcucci is a self-described journalist and “spiritual tactician” who graduated from Stony Brook University, according to his social media accounts.
His Instagram is flooded with bonkers conspiracy theories, posts about sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and reposts of videos of political commentators such as Candace Owens.
The demonstrator was tackled by NYPD in centerfield during the seventh inning, sparking “USA!” chants from fans. Robert Sabo for NY Post
In one absurd post, Marcucci appeared to spiritually analyze Andrew Cuomo and Zohran Mamdani ahead of the 2025 mayoral election.
“It’s not just about left vs right. It’s not just about two candidates. It’s about what kind of energy is being installed over New York City,” he wrote in his bizarre caption.
Marcucci posted a video of himself at the baseball game before he allegedly stormed the field. Kelly L. Marcucci/Facebook
His Instagram account also links to an inactive OnlyFans profile, where Marcucci claimed to have made the page “as a joke.”
“Politically, I identify as a revisionist-Marxist, and the core values of this expression are very important to me,” the bio reads.
Marcucci and representatives for the Mets and Yankees did not immediately return requests for comment.
Marcucci, 38, faces misdemeanor charges for interfering with a pro sporting event and trespassing in the Bronx. Robert Sabo for NY Post
The Yankees went on to beat the Mets 6-4 during Friday night’s Subway Series matchup.
Married couple Brielle Saracini and Sean McGuire, who both lost their fathers on 9/11, threw the ceremonial first pitches.
The jersey-wearing pair met at a camp for children whose parents were killed in the attacks.
Saracini shares a special bond with Yankees legend Derek Jeter, who was also at the game. After her father, Victor Saracini, a pilot of one of the hijacked flights, was killed, she wrote a letter to Jeter.
Jeter invited the then-10-year-old to the stadium to meet the team and feel a sense of normalcy amid the devastation.
“When we invited her to the stadium, you really don’t know what to say,” Jeter said during a news conference.
“So I don’t even know if I said ‘I’m sorry’ or anything like that. I just tried to make her day feel special…and you just try to make her feel as comfortable as you possibly can.”
Seven scintillating minutes set the tone as Brisbane kept their AFL three-peat hopes alive with a 53-point defeat of Adelaide at the Gabba.
The Lions, chasing a third straight premiership, will face Hawthorn in an MCG preliminary final after a rollicking 21.18 (144) to 13.13 (91) Saturday night semi-final triumph.
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 11: The Tampa Bay Rays celebrate as Junior Caminero #13 scores after hitting a two-run home run to walk-off the Houston Astros at Tropicana Field on September 11, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. The Rays defeated the Houston Astros 3-1. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Yankees kicked off the Subway Series with a win, scoring six on the Mets and managing to hold on despite the anomaly that was Paul Blackburn and Brent Headrick both struggling on the same night. David Bednar came in for the five-out save and got the job done, escaping a bases-loaded jam in the eighth before getting a game-ending double-play out of Juan Soto in the ninth. While they were handling business in the Bronx, they were also scoreboard watching with several key games going on simultaneously — so let’s see what the result of those out of town scores were.
Tampa Bay Rays (88-59) 3, Houston Astros (75-73) 1
The Rays looked like they could’ve slipped up and lost this game ceding some ground to New York, but they came around to walk it off instead. Houston had their chances against Drew Rasmussen, scattering eight hits against the Rays’ ace, but the only run they managed to score came in the fourth inning when Isaac Paredes doubled with one out and Daulton Varsho singled to put runners on the corners. Yainer Diaz hit a ball hard to second base, and while Ritchie Palacios made a fantastic play on the ball flipping it to the shortstop quickly enough for the force out keeping the potential double play alive, Diaz managed to beat the throw letting the run count. However, several other innings were cut short by double plays that did get converted, and the Rays tied the game back up in the fifth when Victor Mesa Jr. launched a home run to lead off the inning.
Things stayed quiet until the bottom of the ninth, when the Rays got the winning run aboard on an Aranda double before Junior Caminero stepped up to the plate. Bryan Abreu chose to start him off with a fastball up in the zone and Caminero made him pay, ripping a walk-off two-run shot to left.
The win not only kept the Rays three games ahead of the Yankees in the standings, but it clinched a playoff spot for Tampa Bay — the first team to secure a spot in the 2026 Postseason. The Brewers would join them a little later in the night with a blowout win on their part, but the Rays are, for now, the only American League team holding a ticket to the dance.
Other Games
Boston Red Sox (80-68) 2, Kansas City Royals (66-82) 3: The Yankees did gain some ground on Friday, as the Red Sox fell behind early to Kansas City and couldn’t dig themselves out of the hole. Carter Jensen led off the game against Sonny Gray with a double and later scored on a Salvador Perez single to left, and then the Royals added to their lead in the third as Isaac Collins and Jensen hit back-to-back doubles followed by a Vinnie Pasquantino RBI single. Mickey Gasper got Boston on the scoreboard in the fifth with a solo shot, and after Adley Rutschman walked Wilyer Abreu doubled him in to cut the lead to 3-2. The Sox struck out from there though, and Boston would get just one hit the rest of the way stranding a Trevor Story double in the eighth.
Chicago White Sox (75-72) 3, St. Louis Cardinals (73-75) 7: The White Sox are squandering their advantage in the Central, losing their fourth straight game. The Cardinals scored a run in each of the first three innings, but they delivered the knockout punch in the fifth as Jordan Walker, Alec Burleson, Joshua Báez, and Leo Bernal chained consecutive hits to drive in three runs. The Cardinal bullpen dealt with some traffic on the basepaths but managed to limit Chicago to just one run in the final 4.2 innings. Chase Meidroth showed up for the Southsiders, launching two home runs to briefly keep them within arm’s reach of St. Louis.
Cleveland Guardians (75-73) 5, Minnesota Twins (69-78) 2: Chicago’s faltering opens the door for Cleveland, who moved to within a half-game of first place after taking this one against the Twins. The game was tied at two in the ninth when a wild pitch and a two-run double from Brayan Rocchio put them up three in a heartbeat. Cade Smith entered looking for the save and got the job done quickly with a double-play ball to erase a one-out single from Trevor Larnach.
Toronto Blue Jays (73-75) 4, Baltimore Orioles (72-76) 7: The O’s jumped out to a 6-0 lead in this game, scoring five in the second inning with two-run hits from Colton Cowser and Dylan Beavers leading the procession. Toronto had a rally in them in the ninth, scoring two runs on a Brett Bateman homer before George Springer and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit singles to bring the tying run to the plate. Unfortunately for Toronto this all came with two outs, and when Baltimore went back to their ‘pen summoning Rico Garcia to pitch he managed to get Alejandro Kirk to ground out to end it.
Texas Rangers (72-76) 1, Arizona Diamondbacks (79-69) 9: Two innings were all Arizona needed to put up a nine-spot on Texas in a rematch of the 2023 World Series. A trio of doubles in the fifth led to four runs scoring for the Diamondbacks, followed by Corbin Carroll and Nolan Arenado launching back-to-back homers in the sixth to drive the dagger home. Justin Martinez had the highlight of the night for the pitching staff, tossing an immaculate inning in the top of the sixth shutting the door on any potential response from Texas after Arizona took the lead.
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SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 10: Devin Carter #22 of the Sacramento Kings dribbles the ball against the Golden State Warriors in the second half of an NBA basketball game at Golden 1 Center on April 10, 2026 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Celtics are reportedly interested in signing Devin Carter, per NBA reporter Jake Fischer. Carter, who was drafted 13th overall by the Kings in 2024, was traded to the Atlanta Hawks in June in a salary dump to help them escape the second apron. Then, on Friday, NBA reporter Michael Scotto reported that the Hawks were waiving Carter.
The Boston Celtics have shown interest in signing Devin Carter, sources say, once the Providence product clears waivers. https://t.co/xO4Ez6rQCj
The 24-year-old guard averaged 8.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in 18.4 minutes across 38 games played for the Sacramento Kings last season. He shot 41.4% from the field and 26.3% from three, while averaging 3.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists.
Carter had several big games in his sophomore season; in a win over the Indiana Pacers on March 10th, he finished with 24 points, 22 points of which came in the fourth quarter.
Before the NBA, Carter played for the University of South Carolina (2021-2022) and Providence (2022-2024). In his senior season, he was named the BIG EAST Player of the Year after averaging 19.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 3.6 assists.
The Celtics could add Devin Carter to their guard rotation
The Celtics currently have 14 players under contract entering the season, as well as two players under two-way contracts. Carter could become their 15th rostered player, but it’s also possible that the Celtics will waive or trade a player to clear up room for him.
The Celtics currently have Derrick White and Payton Pritchard as their lead guards, with free agent Mike Conley coming off the bench. But outside of that, the roster doesn’t feature a ton of guards; Baylor Scheierman and Ron Harper Jr. can both handle the ball, but they’re not traditional point guards.
The Celtics will introduce Paul George, Mike Conley, and Mitchell Robinson on Tuesday, and training camp is set to begin on September 28th. Whether they’ll bolster the roster by adding Carter before the year begins remains to be seen, but it has emerged as an intriguing possibility.
BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 08: Brayan Rocchio #4 of the Cleveland Guardians hits a two-run single in the seventh inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 08, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Somehow, some way, the Guardians find themselves a half game out of first in the AL Central.
The Guardians won 5-2 over the Twins last night as covered here by Jakhob. Today they will do a bullpen game with Daniel Espino opening and Joey Cantillo and Slade Cecconi pitching at some point. The Twins will open with Connor Prielipp and use Bailey Ober as their length guy. Then, tomorrow is Tanner Bibee vs. Joe Ryan who will be on a pitch limit. The Guardians would actually have to sweep this series to take the season series from the Twins. How is this team still in position to win a division and even get a first round bye, again??
They need to go get someone from Triple-A to take at-bats from Jo Adell vs. RHP. It’s not working but I also understand he’s currently the best option Vogt has on the roster.
The Guardians also have a two-game lead for the third AL Wildcard. What a pathetic American League this year.
Around MLB:
The White Sox, Astros, Rangers and Blue Jays lost, and the Orioles won.
A.J. Ewing has had to battle through ups and downs during his first big league season, like any rookie would.
The young slugger recently endured a dreadful two-month slump at the plate that saw him uncharacteristically expanding the zone, leading to an uptick in strikeouts.
As he’s done throughout this terrific campaign, though, Ewing appears to have found his way out the other side.
Like everyone else in orange in blue, the lefty was set down pretty easily by Carlos Rodon, but he was able to break through later in the ballgame against the Yankee bullpen.
Ewing delivered a big two-out RBI single against former Met Paul Blackburn, keeping a rally going and cutting into the deficit in the top of the seventh.
He then led off the ninth by jumping all over a first pitch fastball from star closer David Bednar, crushing it high over the bleacher creatures into the second-deck in right.
The Mets still ended up dropping the opener, 5-3, but it’s been encouraging to see the 22-year-old rounding back into form down the stretch in the regular season.
Ewing’s blast was his second during his five-game hitting streak, and he’s also added nine RBI during that span.
Looking further, he’s hitting .316 with a .355 OBP and .829 OPS over his last 15 games.
“I’m just trying to win pitches right now,” Ewing said. “Not trying to do anything more that the plan I have -- that’s the mental side of baseball, it’s difficult to not try to chase results, but just trying to stick to the plan pitch-by-pitch.”
WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 24: A detailed view of an MLB logo on an on deck circle is seen at Nationals Park on August 24, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) | Getty Images
One aspect of the upcoming labor battle this offseason, after the collective bargaining agreement expires on December 1, is Major League Baseballs desire to expand from 30 to 32 teams.
MLB’s last expansion was in 1998, and Jeff Passan at ESPN in his outline of potential new cities notes that commissioner Rob Manfred wants the league to decide on one west coast and one east coast team by January 2029.
It will be at least three decades before MLB adds more teams, the longest stretch without expansion since the first 60 years of the American League (1901-60) saw eight teams in each league for a total of 16 teams. Since then:
1961: 16 to 18 teams (Angels, new Senators added)
1962: 18 to 20 (Mets, Colt .45s)
1969: 20 to 24 (Expos, Padres, Royals, Seattle Pilots)
It’s a bit surprising to me that baseball, which has so many unwritten rules about what players should and shouldn’t do when the game is out of hand, has settled on such a bizarre, asymmetrical surrender when it comes to position players pitching. The pitcher throws the single worst pitch he can. The batter then takes a massive overswing.
Bill Shaikin at the Los Angeles Times argues that Major League Baseball, the Players Association, and LA28 should figure out a way to come to an agreement on making MLB players available to play in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles:
The league says play ball, but not without the authority to punish players that do not wish to play.
The union says play ball, but not unless the league eases up on mandatory participation, and unless LA28, the international baseball federation and the International Olympic Committee provides major league players with flexibility in areas such as accommodations, tickets and marketing rights.
TEMPE, AZ - MARCH 2: Koby Brea #14 of the Valley Suns looks on during the game against Salt Lake City Stars on March 2, 2026 at Mullett Arena in Tempe, 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Every day, we’ll take a closer look at another member of the 2026-27 Phoenix Suns, examining what they bring to the roster and what their role could mean for the season ahead as we count down to training camp and the preseason.
Koby Brea
Shooting Guard, 6’5, 215lb, 23 years old, 2nd season
Of all the draft picks the Phoenix Suns have acquired over the last three seasons, Brea has flashed the least at the professional level. Coming into the NBA Draft, Brea was touted as one of, if not the best, shooters in his group. At Kentucky and Dayton, he was an above-40 % shooter from 3 on high volume. That shooting has not carried over to his NBA career so far, but it will be his calling card if he has a long NBA career.
The Suns desperately need shooting on the roster and are putting their trust in Luke Kennard and Colin Gillespie to carry the majority of the floor spacing they need this upcoming season. Kennard has a player option at the end of the season and could go elsewhere, which would leave Phoenix with just one sniper on the team.
If Brea can return to form after a disappointing showing in his rookie season and in summer league, he has a chance to stay with the Suns long-term because the best version of himself is exactly what the Suns are looking for. If Brea cannot turn it around this season, this will likely be his last year in the organization on a two-way contract.
Last Season
In Brea’s rookie season, he played 12 games and just 85 minutes for the NBA squad and 34 games with the Valley Suns. In a very limited sample size at the NBA level, Brea did connect on 43.3% of his attempts from long range. He played the second-fewest minutes of anybody in the organization last year, only ahead of CJ Huntley.
With the G-League affiliate Valley Suns, Brea had a much more impactful role. He played 34 minutes per game and scored 16.4 points on 39.8% from the field and 34.9% from 3 on 10.0 attempts per game. In the G League, Brea showcased his ability to shoot off the dribble as well as off the catch, and got to the free-throw line at a decent clip, but his efficiency was far too low for the level of competition he was facing which carried over into Summer League.
As a defender, Brea did not excel at either level because of his lack of athleticism, and for a player that at best projects to be an off-the-bench sniper in the NBA, that is expected as long as you consistently hit over 40% from long range. The good news for Brea is that he made it through an entire professional season healthy because of his medical history. In 2023, when he was playing for Dayton, he had stress fractures in his legs that limited him to using a wheelchair.
The bad news is that the shooting has to improve for him to survive at the NBA level.
GP
MIN
PPG
RPG
APG
STL
FG%
3PT%
FT%
OFFRTG
DEFRTG
+/- (TOTAL)
12
7.0
3.8
0.7
0.8
0.1
41.7%
43.3%
1.00%
101.8
106.0
-15
Contract and Roster Context
Brea enters the 2026-27 season on a one-year two-way contract after re-signing with the Suns in July. It will be his second two-way contract with the Suns, and he will have one two-way contract available to sign for the 2027-28 season to remain in Phoenix unless he earns his way onto the Suns on a standard contract.
What He Brings
Shooting. The most important skill in basketball. Brea is not an elite athlete, a high-level creator, an elite defender, or a dribble-drive guy, but if he can shoot it, he’ll have a spot on the Suns. That’s the main reason Collin Gillespie earned a big payday this offseason, and why the Suns went out and aggressively pursued Luke Kennard this offseason. Brea’s career in Phoenix and elsewhere in the NBA will come down to just how elite of a shooter he can be at the professional level.
While the make-or-break aspect of Brea’s game is his 3-point shooting, he does offer more than that. While Brea is undersized and an average athlete, he also sees the game at a high level. Rarely is Brea ever rushed and out of control. While he is not a player who is going to pressure the rim, he has shown flashes as a crafty midrange scorer. Brea is as polished as you can be when it comes to creating his own shot off the catch, off the dribble, and off movement; it all comes down to how consistent he is as a shooter.
What Needs to Improve
Brea has to show more consistency shooting the long ball. In an extremely limited sample size this season at the NBA level, he did shoot over 40% from 3, shooting 13-of-30 in the 2025-26 season. At the G League level, Brea did not shoot above 35% from 3 on 10.0 attempts per game. Most recently, Brea showed how streaky of a shooter he has been as a professional, scoring in single digits in multiple games and then exploding for 29 points in another game. Brea has to be a more reliable shooter to remain on the Suns roster.
If Brea can develop another skill outside of shooting, that will greatly improve his chances of remaining a Phoenix Sun past this season. Whether he improves as an isolation scorer, a playmaker, or becomes a better defender, it will help his case immensely. But again, it really comes down to Brea and his confidence in himself as a shooter.
Prediction
If you have made it this far, you can already guess how I feel this season goes for Brea. Unfortunately, the Suns are even deeper this season than they were last year, and this is likely Brea’s last year on the roster unless he makes a significant jump from his rookie season. The Suns now have even more guys on the roster that need playing time, especially at the wing position. The Suns’ newest two-way signing, Pat Spencer, fills more of a position of need as an on-ball creator and facilitator, as well as more grit and toughness that the Suns want from their role players. So Brea’s opportunity to contribute is getting squeezed out.
However, if Gillespie or Kennard miss significant time due to injuries this season, Brea may get a chance to have a role because he is the only other stereotypical shooter on the Suns bench. If he gets that opportunity, he will need to contribute similarly to how Jamaree Bouyea played last season to remain a Sun long-term.
The Suns have as deep a bench unit as any team in the NBA, which is a good problem to have. There are casualties because of that, and Brea’s development may be one of them. Even if the Suns do move on from Brea, I believe he will still get more bites at the apple because of how well he could be as a shooter. The key for him will be to make the most of his opportunity, whether it’s in the G League or at the NBA level. If he does that, then it will be a successful season.
On October 15, 2026, NBA legend Robert Parish will be in Dallas talking about his book “The Chief”, which was published earlier this year. The event is part of the Dallas Jewish Bookfest and will be hosted at the Aaron Family JCC. Dallas Mavericks radio play-by-play announcer Chuck Cooperstein will emcee, while legendary broadcaster Brad Sham will give an introduction to the evening. Tickets are $36 (found here) and include dessert and a copy of the book, which can be signed by Parish afterward.
Parish was a Hall of Fame center, best known for his time with the Celtics in the 1980’s. He won three championships there as their defensive anchor, and one more with Chicago at the end of his career. He is a nine-time All-Star, a member of the NBA’s 75th anniversary team, and one of the game’s most iconic figures. His memoir talks about all of this, as well as getting drafted, his life before the NBA, and his upbringing in Louisiana.
Any time a legend of the game talks about their experiences, it is a treat. When you add in a guy like Cooperstein, who has worked in basketball for over 30 years, to run point on the operation, there are no limits to the insight those two will provide. It will be a very special night with plenty of incredible stories and new perspectives on some of the most important moments in NBA history. Getting more behind-the-scenes on Larry Bird, one of the most important players the NBA has ever had, will be like Christmas morning for fans of all ages. Hearing him speak about his experiences growing up in a vastly different and largely fragmented world is something you can only get from someone who lived it. It is going to be awesome, and if you live in Dallas, consider going. If you don’t, the book can be found online, most easily on Amazon.
I wish I just saw the 8-6 final score from Wednesday game. That meant that my comment from Tuesday of that the Cubs could hang with the Brewers was accurate.
Um, nah. That’s a case of spinning something positive out of nothing ending up kicking your tail.
Kevin Gausman is the next Jekyll and Hyde performer for the Cubs. What do they really have with him?
The best offense and defense in baseball was held to three hits over eight innings and committed two uncharacteristic errors.
Digging for a plus …. the bullpen allowed a hit and an unearned run over four innings. At the time, it was just clean-up work, low leverage.
That was all that could be rung out of Wednesday’s loss. Thursday’s day off may help. We’ll see.
Complimentary Starting Pitcher Solo Home Run*
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Anthony Mason (MLBTradeRumors): Phil Maton To Undergo Knee Surgery. “The team hasn’t provided many more specifics but it’s fair to assume this will end his season.”
Assorted Stories:
Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): The Cubs have a clear plan for Dansby Swanson’s return. “Cubs manager Craig Counsell provided a surprising level of detail about Swanson’s program during Friday’s pregame media briefing at Wrigley Field.”
Daniel Curran (Just Baseball): How Pete Crow-Armstrong Put It All Together. “It took a mixture of improvements to get to this version of PCA, but the final product is a star center fielder staring down an MVP season.”
Yirsandy Rodriguez (North Side Baseball): Michael Conforto Is A Flawed Hitter, and the Cubs Couldn’t Care Less. “Michael Conforto has regained the impact he once had against fastballs, but off-speed pitches continue to expose a weakness that could prove a problem for the Cubs.”
Food For Thought:
Samuel Gene Maghett (February 14, 1937 – December 1, 1969), known as Magic Sam, was an American Chicago blues musician. He was born in Grenada County, Mississippi, and learned to play the blues from listening to records by Muddy Waters and Little Walter. After moving to Chicago at the age of 19, he was signed by Cobra Records and became well known as a bluesman. He was known for his distinctive tremolo guitar playing.
Maghett moved to Chicago in 1956, where his guitar playing earned him bookings at blues clubs on the West Side. He recorded singles for Cobra Records from 1957 to 1959, including “All Your Love” and “Easy Baby”. They did not reach the record charts but had a profound influence, far beyond Chicago’s guitarists and singers. Together with recordings by Otis Rush and Buddy Guy (also Cobra artists), the West Side Sound was a manifesto for a new kind of blues. Around this time Magic Sam worked briefly with Homesick James Williamson. Magic Sam gained a following before being drafted into the U.S. Army. He served six months in prison for desertion and received a dishonorable discharge.
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