DETROIT, MICHIGAN - AUGUST 30: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts to striking out in the fifth inning while playing the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on August 30, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As the dog days of August turn into September, the Los Angeles Dodgers hope to turn the rough patch that they’ve gone through around and finally start scoring again.
This is the third year in a row that the Dodgers have gone through a slide like this, something that Bill Plunkett of the OC Register posits has become the feature and not a bug. This season has been especially egregious. The Dodgers were last in all NL teams in runs scored since July 1, and went 13-14 in August.
With the team having the highest average age for position players, Plunkett wonders if we are expecting too much of the Dodgers lineup?
“No. I don’t think you can expect too much of us. And we like that. We like that you think we should be scoring more,” first baseman Freddie Freeman said to that. “If you were content with us scoring three, four runs then we wouldn’t have a very good offense. I’m okay with you guys expecting more out of us. We expect more out of ourselves.”
Mookie Betts thinks that maybe fans expect a little too much, that they will always hit like they have in the past, or that they should be able to hit any pitcher at any time.
“That was when guys were throwing 92, 93 when we did that. And we were younger, yes,” Betts said of the prime years of the Dodgers’ stars, exaggerating how quickly velocity has jumped in MLB.
“I don’t care who you are. You can be Shohei or anybody, the best player in the league. You’re not hitting 100 (mph) consistently every day. Nobody is doing that. We’re facing 97, 98 every day. Then the guys who are 92, 93 – there’s something to it. Sometimes we hit it. Sometimes we don’t. That’s part of the human element of the game. But I think that part is getting missed. Y’all expect us to score six or seven (runs) every day, you know what I’m saying?”
If the Dodgers are going to three-peat, they need the offense to at least do something. The offense did barely enough last year, and there’s no reason to expect that ‘barely enough’ could get them that coveted third ring in a row.
The pitching has been phenomenal as always, and as long as it stays that way, the offense is the only thing standing in the way of another World Series win. Only one little hiccup there, hitting is always harder in the postseason. It remains to be seen if the Dodgers can eek their way to another ring.
Going into this upcoming season, the Detroit Red Wings will have plenty of players under the microscope, but one storyline may go largely unnoticed. Mason Appleton, a 30-year-old veteran entering the final year of his contract, is set up for one of the more underrated arcs on the roster this season.
Heading into his tenth NHL season and second with Detroit, Appleton will be looking to prove himself ahead of his next contract, ideally with a season that gets him back closer to his career-high 36 points, a mark he set back in 2023-24 with Winnipeg. He's expected to slot into the third line and spend most of the season in Detroit's bottom six.
The Green Bay, Wisconsin native has never signed an NHL deal longer than three years, and his next contract, which would be his fifth as an NHL veteran, could be the one that carries him into his mid-30s if he can put together a strong platform year.
That won't be easy coming off a rough first season in Detroit as Appleton battled a lower-body injury for much of the year, appearing in just 65 games and finishing with six goals and eight assists for 14 points, his lowest full-season output since 2022-23. He also posted a minus-4 rating, his first negative plus/minus mark in five years.
With a full, healthy season ahead of him, Appleton will be looking to reestablish himself as a reliable NHL depth piece, whether that means a new deal in Detroit or elsewhere around the league.
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The Vancouver Canucks are just a few weeks away from kicking off the 2026–27 season. In honour of the upcoming campaign, The Hockey News’ Canucks team will be previewing Vancouver’s Pacific Division opponents. Today’s team is the rebuilding Calgary Flames.
Calgary Flames 2025–26 Season:
Record: 34–39–9
Division Ranking: 7th
Playoffs: No
Goals For: 208
Goals Against: 256
Power Play: 16.2%
Penalty Kill: 80.4%
2026 Off-Season Storylines:
Calgary was involved in one of the more notable trades conducted this off-season, intriguing fans when they acquired defenceman Šimon Nemec and forward Maxim Tsyplakov from the New Jersey Devils ahead of the 2026 NHL Entry Draft. The move raised questions about the Flames, who currently look to be in contention for the rights to drafting first-overall in the 2027 NHL Draft, as Calgary gave up two first-round picks, prospect Etienne Morin, and a second-round pick for the two players.
The Flames continued to make additions to their prospect cabinet by making five picks within the first two rounds of the draft, including selecting first-rounders defenceman Carson Carels (6th) and forward Jack Hextall (30th).
Biggest Storyline For The 2026–27 Season:
Calgary is in a very similar position to the Canucks in the sense that the 2026–27 season will likely be one focused on developing their youth while gunning to add more prospects to their shelves. The Flames are still looking for a break-out superstar to lead their offence, which was rated last in the NHL in 2025–26 with a 208 goals-for. The likeliest way for that to happen will be through the draft.
Player To Watch:
Given that he was arguably the Flames’ top ready-to-play acquisition during the 2026 off-season, Nemec will likely be the Calgary player on everyone’s radar. He will expectedly slot into one of Calgary’s top-two pairings and potentially make his way onto a power play unit.
Key Additions:
Winger Maxim Tsyplakov
Defenceman Šimon Nemec
Defenceman Jacob Middleton
Defenceman Carson Carels
Key Subtractions:
Winger Blake Coleman
Winger Ryan Lomberg
Defenceman Olli Määttä
Schedule Against The Canucks
October 3 vs. Calgary
December 26 @ Calgary
February 27 vs. Calgary
April 10 @ Calgary
Mar 28, 2026; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Vancouver Canucks left wing Drew O'Connor (18) controls the puck against the Calgary Flames during the third period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
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SALT LAKE CITY, UT - MAY 6: Utah Jazz fans take photos before Game Three of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Golden State Warriors during the 2017 NBA Playoffs on May 6, 2017 at vivint.SmartHome Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It’s a big day for SLC Dunk. Today, the SB Nation app is live, and it’s the best way to follow the Jazz.
You can download it by searching SB Nation for iOS or Android.
A year ago we made some big changes to our community, including offering fewer ads and the addition of the Feed. Today, we want to give you even more community tools and fewer ads with this app. It will make starting and joining conversations here as simple as posting to your favorite social media platform.
You can check out the video below showing off some of the useful features of the app, and we’ll dig into them below.
Why should I download the app?
The app will be the easiest way to interact with everybody else in the community:
All your favorite teams’ posts in one dedicated feed
Notifications when someone replies or recs your post
New game thread section, with an experience that’s smoother and faster
Fewer ads
Easily navigating between your favorite communities with a swipe
It will be the fastest way to read every post from our community.
How do I download the app?
Head over to the Apple store or the Android store to download the app. Today, the app is only available for US users.
BOSTON, MA - JUNE 16: (EDITOR'S NOTE: This image was taken with a disposable camera) Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors smiles while looking at this phone before the game against the Boston Celtics during Game Six of the 2022 NBA Finals on June 16, 2022 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Jenny Fischer/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Hey there, Dub Nation. I’m here to let you know that it’s a big day for Golden State Of Mind. Because today, the SB Nation app is live, and it’s the best way for you to follow the Warriors, read about the Warriors, comment on the Warriors, and argue about the Warriors.
You can download it by searching SB Nation for iOS or Android.
A year ago we made some big changes to our community, which included limiting our ads, and implementing the Feed. Today, we want to give you even more community tools and, yes, even fewer ads with the arrival of our app. It will make starting and joining conversations here as simple as posting to your favorite social media platform.
You can check out the video below showing off some of the useful features of the app, and we’ll dig into them below.
Why should I download the app?
The app will be the easiest way to interact with everybody else in the community:
All your favorite teams’ (not just the Warriors!) posts in one dedicated feed
Notifications when someone replies or recs your post
New game thread section, with an experience that’s smoother and faster
Fewer ads
Easily navigating between your favorite communities with a swipe
It will be the fastest way to read every post from our community, and any other communities that you’re a part of.
How do I download the app?
Head over to the Apple store or the Android store to download the app. The app is currently only available for US users.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - MARCH 08: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics reacts during the third quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena on March 08, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Celtics defeated the Cavaliers 109-98. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
When I wrote about the NBA teams with the most to prove last summer, the first entry on the list was the New York Knicks. The Knicks had just fired Tom Thibodeau coming off a conference finals appearance, and they struck out on numerous head coaching candidates to replace him before settling on Mike Brown. A final four berth wasn’t good enough for New York; they traded away too much to build a perfect team around Jalen Brunson, and anything less than a trip to the NBA Finals was going to be a failure in a diminished Eastern Conference landscape with Tyrese Haliburton and Jayson Tatum both recovering from torn Achilles injuries.
The Knicks were good, not great, during the regular season, before finding a special level during the playoffs and winning their first championship since 1973. New York answered their biggest questions on the way to a title, but not every team was so lucky.
The upcoming 2026-27 season feels wide open. The NBA has had eight straight unique champions, and there’s a great chance that streak can extend another year. Some teams are facing more pressure than others. Here are the teams with the most to prove next season.
Philadelphia 76ers
Need to prove they can make the most of all this talent.
The Sixers haven’t even made the Eastern Conference Finals since before 9/11. Philly has been flirting with building a contender for Joel Embiid’s entire career, cycling through co-stars like Ben Simmons, Jimmy Butler, James Harden … dare I bring up Markelle Fultz? To say it’s been a wild decade for the Sixers would be an understatement, but in many ways it all feels like it’s built toward this season. Embiid is in a diminished state at age-32 due to injuries, but at this point he’s more of an extra ingredient than the meat and potatoes of Philly’s stew. The Sixers traded for Jaylen Brown, signed LeBron James, and added some nice depth pieces in Dean Wade, Anfernee Simons, and Labaron Philon over the summer. The expectation will be that the Sixers are the biggest threat to the Knicks in the East come playoff time, but with a loaded conference and legitimate questions about fit and durability, there are plenty of pitfalls before they get there. The Sixers won’t meet expectations if Embiid’s body keeps falling apart, and LeBron declines steeply at age-42. They need Jaylen Brown to buy into a lower usage role than the one he had last year in Boston, and they need the bench to plug the holes in a top-heavy starting lineup. It feels like Philly enters the season with more variance than the typical contender due to Embiid’s injury history, LeBron’s age, and Brown’s fit. Their championship window won’t be cracked open for long. That makes them the team under the most pressure this season.
Boston Celtics
Prove that trading Jaylen Brown was worth it.
The decision to trade Jaylen Brown was never about just this season for the Celtics. They got back potentially valuable first-round draft picks in 2028 and 2031 in the deal, which they hope will set them up with a younger co-star for the end of Jayson Tatum’s prime. Given how quick the public is to rush to judgment, though, it sure would help Boston if it at least maintains the level it showed last season. I’m buying the Celtics as a very good regular season team once again. They’re essentially replacing Brown with a full year of Tatum, Mitchell Robinson, and Paul George. I could see Payton Pritchard taking a leap in production with more on-ball opportunities, and I could see Derrick White shooting the ball better with more in-rhythm attempts available without Brown’s ball-dominant style around. It’s inevitable that anyone who hated the Brown trade for Boston will take a victory lap if and when the Celtics’ season ends in the playoffs, but it’s important to remember this team lost in the first-round last year even with Brown. The Celtics can come out of this trade looking great if they get one of the top seeds in the East, and potentially finish with more wins than Philly during the regular season. The book on this trade can’t be written until those future picks pay off, but it will be hard for the Celtics to deal with the bad PR if this team falls on its face. The East is loaded, and there’s certainly a chance Boston misses Brown’s rugged physicality, durability, and volume scoring. It may not be fair, but the Celtics can’t take a huge step back in their first season without Brown if they want to avoid a black eye.
Los Angeles Lakers
Prove that this is the best place for Luka Doncic long-term.
The Lakers were already going to be facing a ton of pressure this season even before their messy ownership changes. Lead executive Rob Pelinka made one of the boldest bets of the summer by trading two unprotected first-round picks and two first-round swaps to the Utah Jazz for Walker Kessler. It’s easy to see the vision: LA wanted a young, rim protecting center behind Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, and it’s hard to do better than Kessler in that regard. They just gave up a lot for him, and now can’t trade a future first-round pick for seven years. Doncic has a huge spotlight on him this season. In an era where everyone is winning championships — even Doncic’s former backup in Dallas — it would be odd and kind of embarrassing if he can’t get one. Luka will be extension eligible after this season. He’ll probably take the money and lock in long-term, but it’s no guarantee if things go sideways for the Lakers this year. It’s easy to forget that this team won 53 games last year even with Doncic missing a lot of time. They will have a way better center this year, but the forward room is a major question mark. The Lakers obviously need perimeter defenders around Doncic and Reaves, and I think they made a few good bets in there with Matisse Thybulle, Ziaire Williams, Adou Thiero, and Chris Manon even if they’re mostly long-shots. A first-round playoff exit won’t be good enough for the Lakers this season. They need to show they can push the Thunder and Spurs for being the best in the West.
Denver Nuggets
Prove they’re still a Western Conference Contender.
The Nuggets felt like a championship threat entering the 2026 playoffs. Then they lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round in six games, and had the rest of the league questioning whether they’ve been passed by their Western Conference rivals. Nikola Jokic remains as great as any player in the game, but it sure feels like the arrow is pointing down for most of his supporting cast. Aaron Gordon can’t stay healthy, Cam Johnson had a disappointing first season, and Christian Braun suddenly looks like one of the most overpaid players in basketball. The only real notable thing the Nuggets did this offseason was lose Peyton Watson to the Cavs in restricted free agency, and while I like that deal for Denver long-term, it provides another big hit to this year’s rotation. All things are possible through Jokic, so I’m not going to write the Nuggets off yet, but it sure feels like the vibes are bad heading into this season. If things go poorly, there could be some fretting over Jokic’s future as he enters a contract year without an extension. Jokic sure seems committed to Denver, but he also wants to win. Can he still do that with the Nuggets?
Minnesota Timberwolves
Prove they can beat the best of the West.
I’m old enough to remember when the Wolves were one of the worst franchises in the league, going 13 years between playoff appearances. Now Minnesota has been to the playoffs five straight years, and they’ve won five series over their last three trips. This is a consistently very good team with Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert, but they still haven’t gotten over the hump in the West. The Wolves made a bold trade for LaMelo Ball this summer for a few reasons. His elite playmaking should help cover up Edwards’ deficiencies in that area, his pull-up three-point shooting introduces more variance against elite defenses, and it’s possible his arrival could deter some of the vultures potentially circling around Edwards if he ever requests a trade. I hated the LaMelo trade for Charlotte. I liked it, didn’t love it, for Minnesota, mostly because his durability is such a big question mark. I already had Minnesota at No. 4 in my preseason power rankings even before they added Jonathan Kuminga. I’ve never been high on Kuminga as a player, but for some reason I find myself buying into the fit in Minnesota. The Wolves needed a little more size and physicality in the front court, and Kuminga is a bit underrated as a rebounder and defender when he’s not trying to be an iso scorer. It feels like so much of this season falls on the shoulders of Gobert, and I worry he could be starting to decline. There are some real question marks for this team, but their upside feels like it’s higher than anyone in the West this side of OKC and San Antonio. The pressure is on to put it all together.
Indiana Pacers
Prove they can get back to being an East contender.
The last time the Pacers were healthy, they went on one of the most magical NBA Finals runs in league history. They might have won it all if Tyrese Haliburton didn’t tear his Achilles in Game 7 against the Thunder. After a 19-win season as their star guard recovered, Haliburton is back and so are Indiana’s expectations. The Pacers made an extremely bold trade for Ivica Zubac at the deadline that ended up costing them the No. 5 overall pick in the 2026 draft. There was probably no path back to immediate contention without a center upgrade, though, and Zubac is very good even if he has a different skill set than Myles Turner, the man he’s replacing. Haliburton is one-man offense in many ways with his rare ability to push the pace without turning it over. Does that system still work with a slower, more rim-oriented big man in Zubac who doesn’t stretch the floor like Turner? Can the role players who were so key during the 2025 Finals run find the same magic again? It feels like Haliburton has a huge range of outcomes this year. He could be First-Team All-NBA, or he could fail to make the All-Star team coming back from the injury. The Pacers aren’t expected to be one of the East’s best teams by the sportsbooks, and Haliburton’s return game somehow got buried at New Orleans. No one knows what to do with the Pacers entering the season, but this team knows how good it can be.
Portland Trail Blazers
Prove that last year was no fluke.
The Blazers were one of the feel-good stories of the league last season, making the playoffs for the first time in five years despite their head coach getting arrested after the opening game of the season. It’s hard to feel good about anything that’s happened to the franchise since Tom Dundon bought the team, and that makes keeping their positive momentum going even more imperative this year. The Blazers have a deep collection of guards, but sometimes I think they might be better off starting the two that are slated to come off the bench in Scoot Henderson and Jrue Holiday. How do Damian Lillard and Ja Morant fit together? Can Donovan Clingan take a leap to turn into one of the West’s better centers? Can Deni Avdija’s All-Star brand of bully ball keep thriving with a different head coach and new supporting cast? The West is really tough as always, which means a step back is on the table for Portland. They need to prove that last year was just the start of something bigger.
CHARLOTTE, NC - FEBRUARY 16: Kevin Durant #35 of Team LeBron gets ready in the locker room before the 2019 NBA All-Star Practice and Media Availability on February 16, 2019 at Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It’s a big day for NetsDaily. Today, the SB Nation app is live, and it’s the best way to follow the Nets.
You can download it by searching SB Nation for iOS or Android.
A year ago we made some big changes to our community, including offering fewer ads and the addition of the Feed. Today, we want to give you even more community tools and fewer ads with this app. It will make starting and joining conversations here as simple as posting to your favorite social media platform.
You can check out the video below showing off some of the useful features of the app, and we’ll dig into them below.
Why should I download the app?
The app will be the easiest way to interact with everybody else in the community:
All your favorite teams’ posts in one dedicated feed
Notifications when someone replies or recs your post
New game thread section, with an experience that’s smoother and faster
Fewer ads
Easily navigating between your favorite communities with a swipe
It will be the fastest way to read every post from our community.
How do I download the app?
Head over to the Apple store or the Android store to download the app. Today, the app is only available for US users.
Milwaukee, WI - APRIL 20: Milwaukee Bucks mascot, Bango takes a 'selfie' with fans before Game Three of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Toronto Raptors of the 2017 NBA Playoffs on April 20, 2017 at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It’s a big day for Brew Hoop. Today, the SB Nation app is live, and it’s the best way to follow the Bucks.
You can download it by searching SB Nation for iOS or Android.
A year ago we made some big changes to our communities, including offering fewer ads and the addition of The Feed. Today, we want to give you even more community tools and fewer ads with this app. It will make starting and joining conversations here as simple as posting to your favorite social media platform.
You can check out the video below showing off some of the useful features of the app, and we’ll dig into them below.
Why should I download the app?
The app will be the easiest way to interact with everybody else in the community:
All your favorite teams’ posts in one dedicated feed
Notifications when someone replies or recs your post
New game thread section, with an experience that’s smoother and faster
Fewer ads
Easily navigating between your favorite communities with a swipe
It will be the fastest way to read every post from our community.
How do I download the app?
Head over to the Apple store or the Android store to download the app. Today, the app is only available for US users.
PHOENIX - FEBRUARY 14: (L-R) Tony Parker of the San Antonio Spurs looks at the cell phone of director Spike Lee as they attend NBA All-Star Saturday Night, part of 2009 NBA All-Star Weekend at US Airways Center on February 14, 2009 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It’s a big day for Pounding The Rock. Today, the SB Nation app is live, and it’s the best way to follow the Spurs.
You can download it by searching SB Nation for iOS or Android.
A year ago we made some big changes to our community, including offering fewer ads and the addition of the Feed. Today, we want to give you even more community tools and fewer ads with this app. It will make starting and joining conversations here as simple as posting to your favorite social media platform.
You can check out the video below showing off some of the useful features of the app, and we’ll dig into them below.
Why should I download the app?
The app will be the easiest way to interact with everybody else in the community:
All your favorite teams’ posts in one dedicated feed
Notifications when someone replies or recs your post
New game thread section, with an experience that’s smoother and faster
Fewer ads
Easily navigating between your favorite communities with a swipe
It will be the fastest way to read every post from our community.
How do I download the app?
Head over to the Apple store or the Android store to download the app. Today, the app is only available for US users.
CHARLOTTE, NC - FEBRUARY 16: Kevin Durant #35 of Team LeBron gets ready in the locker room before the 2019 NBA All-Star Practice and Media Availability on February 16, 2019 at Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It’s a big day for The Dream Shake. Today, the SB Nation app is live, and it’s the best way to follow the Rockets.
You can download it by searching SB Nation for iOS or Android.
A year ago we made some big changes to our community, including offering fewer ads and the addition of the Feed. Today, we want to give you even more community tools and fewer ads with this app. It will make starting and joining conversations here as simple as posting to your favorite social media platform.
I grabbed it this weekend, and I’m typically not an app guy, but it’s way simpler to do pretty much everything if you’re accessing TDS on your phone at all. All your registered sites appear, you can scroll sideways right through them, then up or down to engage with an article or Feed post. Really cool. And you never know, there may even be a KD burner or two!
You can check out the video below showing off some of the useful features of the app, and we’ll dig into them below.
Why should I download the app?
The app will be the easiest way to interact with everybody else in the community:
All your favorite teams’ posts in one dedicated feed
Notifications when someone replies or recs your post
New game thread section, with an experience that’s smoother and faster
Fewer ads
Easily navigating between your favorite communities with a swipe
It will be the fastest way to read every post from our community.
How do I download the app?
Head over to the Apple store or the Android store to download the app. Today, the app is only available for US users.
US film director Spike Lee takes pictures with his mobile phone of the New York Knicks players ahead of the NBA basketball game against The Detroit Pistons at the O2 Arena in London on January 17, 2013. AFP PHOTO / ADRIAN DENNIS (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS / AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images
It’s a big day for Posting and Toasting. Today, the SB Nation app is live, and it’s the best way to follow the Knicks.
You can download it by searching SB Nation for iOS or Android.
A year ago we made some big changes to our community, including offering fewer ads and the addition of the Feed. Today, we want to give you even more community tools and fewer ads with this app. It will make starting and joining conversations here as simple as posting to your favorite social media platform.
You can check out the video below showing off some of the useful features of the app, and we’ll dig into them below.
Why should I download the app?
The app will be the easiest way to interact with everybody else in the community:
All your favorite teams’ posts in one dedicated feed
Notifications when someone replies or recs your post
New game thread section, with an experience that’s smoother and faster
Fewer ads
Easily navigating between your favorite communities with a swipe
It will be the fastest way to read every post from our community.
How do I download the app?
Head over to the Apple store or the Android store to download the app. Today, the app is only available for US users.
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 16: A fan takes a picture on an iPhone during the game between the Washington Nationals and the Pittsburgh Pirates at Nationals Park on June 16, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s a big day for Lone Star Ball. Today, the SB Nation app is live, and it’s the best way to follow the Rangers.
You can download it by searching SB Nation for iOS or Android.
A year ago we made some big changes to our community, including offering fewer ads and the addition of the Feed. Today, we want to give you even more community tools and fewer ads with this app. It will make starting and joining conversations here as simple as posting to your favorite social media platform.
You can check out the video below showing off some of the useful features of the app, and we’ll dig into them below.
Why should I download the app?
The app will be the easiest way to interact with everybody else in the community:
All your favorite teams’ posts in one dedicated feed
Notifications when someone replies or recs your post
New game thread section, with an experience that’s smoother and faster
Fewer ads
Easily navigating between your favorite communities with a swipe
It will be the fastest way to read every post from our community.
How do I download the app?
Head over to the Apple store or the Android store to download the app. Today, the app is only available for US users.
TORONTO, ON - MAY 27: Boston fans share some smartphone time together before the MLB game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Texas Rangers on May 27, 2017, at Rogers Centre in Toronto, ON. Canada. (Photo by Jeff Chevrier/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
It’s a big day for Over the Monster. Today, the SB Nation app is live, and it’s the best way to follow the Red Sox.
You can download it by searching SB Nation for iOS or Android.
A year ago we made some big changes to our community, including offering fewer ads and the addition of the Feed. Today, we want to give you even more community tools and fewer ads with this app. It will make starting and joining conversations here as simple as posting to your favorite social media platform.
You can check out the video below showing off some of the useful features of the app, and we’ll dig into them below.
Why should I download the app?
The app will be the easiest way to interact with everybody else in the community:
All your favorite teams’ posts in one dedicated feed
Notifications when someone replies or recs your post
New game thread section, with an experience that’s smoother and faster
Fewer ads
Easily navigating between your favorite communities with a swipe
It will be the fastest way to read every post from our community.
How do I download the app?
Head over to the Apple store or the Android store to download the app. Today, the app is only available for US users.
Jun 22, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Kansas City Royals pitcher John Schreiber (46) reacts after pitching the eighth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The reverse splits were attractive. Schreiber is not as effective against left-handed batters (opponents hit .326 against him) but he should help the Yankees down the stretch.
New York is responsible for the remaining amount on his contract. Schreiber is earning $3,715,000 this season.
The Royals will likely turn to young relievers in the bullpen. Guys such as Nate Pearson and Connor Thomas have gotten additional opportunities. Meanwhile, the Royals will see what they have in Carlos Duran — who was acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers at the trade deadline.
Caglianone swings 77.3 mph on average, which is faster than all but five qualified batters in the majors this year. That hasn’t changed since last year. What has changed is he’s now getting way more from his contact, squaring up the ball 31.2% of the time (compared to 25.9% last year). Maybe it’s obvious, but a fast swing and flush contact is why he’s posted a 54.6% hard-hit rate and 105.6 mph EV50 — each top 10 in the majors. This is the sort of in-game power potential we were promised in his (brief) tenure as a prospect, and it’s respected enough around the league to earn him an invite to the Home Run Derby this year.
Unfortunately, that’s still pretty much the extent of what Caglianone does well at the plate, at least consistently. Again, it’s awesome he’s doing anything well, given his struggles as a rookie, and he could have a very successful career without changing much. But the rest of his profile lags behind, limiting him to a merely top-100 batter in 2026.
One reason is all that ultra-hard contact generally isn’t going that far. Caglianone has done well to lower his groundball rate from 50.6% last year to 46.3% this year, but most of his extra exit velocity is still coming on the ground. Hitting balls on the ground while improving the contact of those groundballs is a fine tradeoff, but well-hit singles are still just singles.
David Lesky is ready for the remaining games, even if the recent hot streak doesn’t catapult them into playoff contention.
So here we are, with 24 games to go, and it does feel like even the tiniest hope is essentially gone, but that doesn’t mean it’s still not fun to watch them play better baseball down the stretch. If they want to start another nine-game winning streak, I certainly won’t turn that down. We’ll get to it at the bottom with what’s up next, but they’ve got a challenge this week at home with three teams fighting for the postseason. The Marlins are currently 3.5 out of the last Wild Card spot. The Blue Jays are currently 1.5 out of the last Wild Card spot. And the Diamondbacks are one-half game ahead of the Padres for the third Wild Card spot in the NL. So everyone has something to play for.
ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 28: Ronald Acuña Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves looks at a tablet in the dugout during the game against the Kansas City Royals at Truist Park on March 28, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Kevin D. Liles/Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s a big day for Battery Power. Today, the SB Nation app is live, and it’s the best way to follow the Braves.
You can download it by searching SB Nation for iOS or Android.
A year ago we made some big changes to our community, including offering fewer ads and the addition of the Feed. Today, we want to give you even more community tools and fewer ads with this app. It will make starting and joining conversations here as simple as posting to your favorite social media platform.
You can check out the video below showing off some of the useful features of the app, and we’ll dig into them below.
Why should I download the app?
The app will be the easiest way to interact with everybody else in the community:
All your favorite teams’ posts in one dedicated feed
Notifications when someone replies or recs your post
New game thread section, with an experience that’s smoother and faster
Fewer ads
Easily navigating between your favorite communities with a swipe
It will be the fastest way to read every post from our community. Whether you’re a Braves fan who loves all Atlanta sports (I salute you, brave sports fan) or you just so happen to be a Braves fan who roots for the Packers, Mavericks and Liverpool FC, we’ve got you covered.
Long story short, if you’ve enjoyed what we’ve been bringing you here not just on Battery Power but across the entire SB Nation network as a whole, then you’re going to love this. You’ll have all of your communities (or even just this one) easily accessible for you right there on your phone or tablet.
The blogs are right there, the comments (and a new focus on game threads) are there, The Feed is there and the conversation is there. I’ve enjoyed using it for the past few weeks before the official unveiling (and in fact, all of my Feed posts recently came from the app) and I’m sure that all of y’all are going to enjoy it if you give it a chance.
How do I download the app?
Head over to the Apple store or the Android store to download the app. Today, the app is only available for US users.
