BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - AUGUST 31: Trevor Story #10 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates after defeating the Seattle Mariners at Fenway Park on August 31, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Paul Rutherford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Red Sox have had a discouraging run of late, dropping back-to-back series and six of their last games. Boston still has a solid hold on the second American League Wild Card entering a four-game set against the Baltimore Orioles, who have managed to hang around in the postseason conversation.
Losing three of four to the Yankees seemed to all but book a trip back to New York for the Wild Card series in a rematch of last year’s three-game set between the No. 4 and No. 5 seeds in the AL. That still feels like the most likely outcome again, but if the Red Sox continue to falter while veterans get a breather and the pitching staff tires, could Boston get passed by, for example, the Cleveland Guardians (4.5 GB) and find itself as the No. 6 seed?
To be honest, it actually may not be the worst thing to happen.
If the Red Sox stay set as the No. 5 seed, they’d battle the Yankees in another war of a Wild Card series. Should they advance, they’d meet another demon in the Tampa Bay Rays in the ALCS. Boston did conquer that path en route to an ALCS appearance in 2021, though this clash with one or both of those division rivals would be draining again in 2026.
Consider the alternative if the Red Sox hold on for a playoff berth (which would be their first consecutive berths since 2016-2018, by the way) as the No. 6 seed, the path is undoubtedly less daunting based on competition. Boston would get the winner of the American League West. Entering Thursday, that would be the Houston Astros, who sit just two games above .500 at 71-69. Take the bat out of Yordan Alvarez’s hands when possible and Boston should take care of business in that series.
From there, the Red Sox would face the AL Central champion Chicago White Sox. Chicago is a young team that performed above expectations this year with some familiar friends who would be extra motivated to eliminate Boston, the franchise that flipped multiple prospects in the Garrett Crochet trade two winters ago. In this ALDS hypothetical, the Red Sox are the better team again and should take care of business again.
The Red Sox shouldn’t be looking to back into the playoffs simply for seeding’s sake. To be honest, that’s a bit of a loser mentality. With that said, that’s clearly not what they’re doing at the moment, at least during the Seattle series. Giving Willson Contreras a breather on the IL and pushing back Sonny Gray’s start was the right call. Those guys need to be fresh for a playoff run and the decent cushion is great to take advantage of.
There’s something to say about real reinforcements for the Red Sox as well. Roman Anthony and Trevor Story are in rhythm at the plate since they reform while Garrett Crochet and Tanner Houck are nearing closer and should factor into the playoff bullpen.
Not to say September is irrelevant, because there’s still games to be won to clinch a spot, but a trip back to The Bronx still feels relevant. If things go slightly wrong, have no fear for the path ahead for the Red Sox.
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 12: Darius Garland #10 of the Los Angeles Clippers brings the ball up court during the second half of an NBA game against the Golden State Warriors at Intuit Dome on April 12, 2026 in Inglewood, 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 Ryan Sun/Getty Images) | Getty Images
What is a Clipper? Have you ever asked yourself that question? Well, my unnautically aware friend, it’s a ship. More specifically, a 19th-century merchant ship. And seeing as the Los Angeles Clippers originated in San Diego after moving from Buffalo in 1978, it makes sense that a team in one of the greatest port cities on Earth would be named after one.
Following the circumvention death sentence the Clippers received as a result of the Kawhi Leonard acquisition in 2019, that ship is doing more than taking on water. It’s sinking. They lost five first-round draft picks in the process, and those penalties don’t even begin until 2029 because they didn’t own their 2027 or 2028 picks to begin with. Their ability to build through the draft or utilize those picks in trades is essentially null and void.
I know plenty of people are concerned that the Phoenix Suns don’t control their own first-round pick until 2032. That’s a long time away. But that isn’t the same as not having first-round picks. The Suns still have them; they’re simply heavily swapped and will likely find themselves outside of the lottery. For the Clippers, those assets no longer exist.
Imagine being a member of that team. Imagine waking up this morning and thinking about your future as a basketball player. If winning matters to you, that ship may have sailed. Pun intended.
So as the Clippers try to figure out how to move forward and salvage something from the wreckage, there could be an opportunity for the Phoenix Suns to make a run at an asset or two if they deem one worth pursuing. And one asset worth exploring, the subject of today’s thought exercise, is Darius Garland.
It’s perceived as the primary concern for the Suns as they prepare for the 2026–27 season: the lack of a traditional point guard. The plan appears to be a backcourt of Devin Booker and Jalen Green, which on the surface looks like a pair of duplicative players. They’re both shooting guards, although they operate in much different spaces. Booker is a midrange assassin, while Green uses his athleticism to get downhill and put pressure on the rim. Both are below-average three-point shooters, and from a distribution standpoint, neither possesses elite passing as a primary skill. Booker probably doesn’t get enough credit for his ability to make those around him better, while that is something Green has struggled to do consistently throughout his career.
Add to that the fact that this is a full evaluation year for Green. The Suns appear ready to hand him the keys to the facilitation role and see what he does with it. He’ll make $36.3 million this season and has a $36 million player option for next year. With extensions beginning to kick in elsewhere on the roster, his production needs to match the expectations attached to that contract.
So the question becomes, do the Suns bypass all of that uncertainty and make a run at Darius Garland from a decimated Clippers organization?
Garland, a 6’1” combo guard who is 26 years old, carries some similarities to what Jalen Green brings. He’s quick, can get to the rim, and finishes with creative shot-making. He’s a smaller guard than Green, but he also brings something Phoenix could use more of. Shooting. Garland is a career 38.9% three point shooter on 6.1 attempts per game, and he can facilitate as well, averaging 6.7 assists across his seven-year career. He’s tough, tenacious, and someone who could potentially blend into the identity and culture the Suns established last season. He is also a more polished and consistent NBA player, someone who could elevate the offense immediately.
Defensively, the size is a concern. At 6’1”, there are going to be matchups where he can be targeted. But given the Suns’ current construction, with Dillon Brooks available to handle point of attack responsibilities and Khaman Maluach potentially providing rim protection behind him, Garland is someone Phoenix could hide when needed. He graded out as a C- in Perimeter Isolation Defense last season, according to BBall Index, landing in the 43rd percentile. For context, Green graded as a B- and finished in the 60th percentile.
When you look at Garland’s contract, that’s where the crux of the conversation really exists. He’s owed $42.6 million this season and $44.9 million next year before becoming an unrestricted free agent in 2028–29. So essentially, he’s on the same availability timeline as Jalen Green, only he costs roughly $6 million more per year. That means a straight-up swap for Green doesn’t work. Phoenix would have to add more salary, and with so many players re-signed this offseason, most of those contracts can’t be moved until January 15, 2027.
That doesn’t mean the idea isn’t worth exploring. So, like an admiral aboard a clipper, let’s explore it.
Any deal with Los Angeles would start with Jalen Green going out for Darius Garland, but Phoenix would still need to add roughly $6 million in salary to make the numbers work. The most logical piece is Luke Kennard. If the Suns sent Green, Kennard, and their 2027 first-round pick to the Clippers, that could get the framework moving. If Los Angeles wanted another first, Phoenix could also include its 2028 first-round pick. Both of those picks are heavily swapped.
Kennard is a newly signed free agent, so any possibility of pulling the trigger on a trade like this wouldn’t become plausible until at least December 15. That timeline could actually align with Phoenix’s plans. The Suns want to give Jalen Green some runway at the point guard position and see what he looks like in that role. If it works, great. If it doesn’t, a deal like this could become a potential out for the team.
One thing is clear. Any transaction involving the Clippers moving forward has to include draft assets. This is an organization that was stripped of half a decade of picks, so replenishing that draft cupboard is going to matter. In this scenario, the Clippers would get two players and at least one first-round pick, potentially two.
Adding Garland would also help define roles across the roster rather than asking Jalen Green to suddenly become a quality, consistent facilitator. It would give the Suns a player whose archetype better fits their needs and remove some of the uncertainty that comes with another year of Devin Booker’s prime.
Because one thing is certain. Booker’s prime has already been squandered to some degree by poor decisions and roster construction over the previous four years. Last season, the ship finally started moving in the right direction. If the Suns want to keep pushing that way, Booker should be allowed to play his natural position as a shooting guard rather than continually hoping that someone like Bradley Beal or Jalen Green can take over the facilitation role. Too often, that responsibility falls back on Booker as the season progresses, ultimately taking away from what makes him most effective.
In this hypothetical, I don’t know if the Clippers would bite. If they’re serious about moving Garland, there are probably teams that can offer more attractive draft assets. The Suns simply don’t have anything particularly sexy when compared to what other teams could put on the table. But given the situation the Clippers now find themselves in, it would still be worth picking up the phone and seeing whether there’s any interest.
The Clippers are sinking, and the Suns should be checking the water for anything valuable that floats their way. Garland would give Phoenix something it has been searching for since Chris Paul left: a legitimate point guard who can organize the offense while allowing Booker to be Booker. The price matters, especially with Phoenix’s limited assets, but the opportunity is worth exploring. If the Clippers are selling pieces to rebuild their ship, the Suns should at least see what it costs to bring Garland aboard.
With the Cubs now nine games behind the Brewers in the NL Central — Milwaukee’s magic number to clinch the division title is 14 — let’s turn our upcoming schedule attention to the team’s competitors in the Wild Card race.
As you know, the Cubs hold the tiebreaker over the three teams closest to them in the Wild Card race, the Phillies, Diamondbacks and Padres. What makes all of this more interesting is that the Marlins are sneaking up behind the latter two teams. Arizona now holds the third wild card spot, half a game ahead of the Padres. But the Marlins stand just two games behind San Diego.
The Cubs and Marlins have not yet met this year. They will play six times later this month, first with a three-game series in Miami that begins Friday. So the Cubs will have a big say in whether the Marlins can make the postseason or not.
Tankathon has the Phillies with the toughest strength of schedule (second). The Marlins are fourth, Cubs are fifth, Padres 20th and Diamondbacks 21st.
Here are the remaining schedules for all five teams. Home games in boldface.
Cubs, 22 games (10 home, 12 road)
Brewers (1), at Marlins (3), at Brewers (3), Pirates (3), Braves (3), at Reds (3), Marlins (3), at Red Sox (3)
That last grouping of games involves a lot of travel, a three-game trip, then a three-game homestand, then another three-game trip. Those last three games could be important for both the Cubs and Red Sox.
Phillies, 22 games (13 home, 9 road)
Braves (4), Astros (3), at Braves (3), at Nationals (3), at Mets (3), Brewers (3), Rays (3)
That’s 16 of 22 games against teams currently in first place. The Phillies are currently under .500 (32-33) against teams with winning records. That could help out the Cubs.
Also, while the remaining Phillies schedule begins with a homestand, Philadelphia has a slightly better road winning percentage (.569) than at home (.559).
Diamondbacks, 21 games (9 home, 12 road)
at Astros (3), at Royals (3), Rangers (3), Marlins (3), Yankees (3), at Rockies (3), at Padres (3)
A combination of teams fighting for postseason spots and teams way out of it.
The D-backs are under .500 (33-36) away from Chase Field so this might hurt them down the stretch.
Padres, 22 games (12 home, 10 road)
Yankees (3), Nationals (3), at Giants (3), at Rockies (4), Marlins (3), at Dodgers (3), Diamondbacks (3)
Those last three Diamondbacks/Padres games could help decide one of the wild card spots.
Marlins, 22 games (12 home, 10 road)
at Royals (1), Cubs (3), Mets (3), Dodgers (3), at Diamondbacks (3), at Padres (3), at Cubs (3), Braves (3)
The Marlins have a tough schedule, even with a nine-game homestand. Then they have a nine-game trip, including two out west. Miami is 29-42 on the road, so their postseason hopes are probably a longshot.
It should be a fun final three weeks. Fasten your seat belts!
Slovenian wins stage 12 as Mas strengthens position
Tim Merlier claims stage two in Tour of Britain
Spain’s Enric Mas extended his overall lead in the Vuelta a España with a late attack on his rivals as Slovenia’s Jakob Omrzel won stage 12 to Calar Alto on Thursday.
Movistar rider Mas burst out of a chasing group including red jersey contenders Primoz Roglic and Felix Gall with around 13km of the mountainous 166.6km ride left and powered away. Roglic and Gall, who began the day second and third on general classification, could not respond as Mas finished 27 seconds clear of Roglic to strengthen his hold on the race.
With training camp now fast approaching, the Philadelphia Flyers revealed their rookie camp roster for their upcoming rookie camp, which will kick off with the 2026 Rookie Series against the New York Rangers prospects on Sept. 12.
Fans making the trip to the PPL Center in Allentown, Pa., for the Rookie Series or Flyers Training Center for camp will be in for a treat, as quite a few talented prospects and fan-favorites will be participating this year.
Included on the rookie camp roster are top Flyers prospects Porter Martone, Jett Luchanko, and Maksim Sokolovskii, as well as wingers Alex Bump and Denver Barkey, who starred down the stretch for the Flyers last season.
Right wing Devin Kaplan is the only other forward on the roster with NHL experience, and he will be joined by Riley Thompson, Alex Ciernik, invitee Sawyer Dingman, Noah Powell, Cole Knuble, invitee Brady Berard, Nathan Quinn, KJ Sauer, free agent Owen McLaughlin, Matthew Gard, and Ilya Pautov.
Having not agreed on an entry-level contract, the Flyers lost the signing rights to McLaughlin last month, but the 23-year-old former seventh-round pick will be back looking to fight for a future in the Flyers organization throughout rookie camp and training camp.
On defense, Sokolovskii, the Flyers' first-round pick in 2026, and Oliver Bonk are the crown jewels, and the latter will likely be pushing for an NHL roster spot throughout camp and the preseason.
Completing the group of defensemen are Spencer Gill, Brek Liske, Luke Vlooswyk, invitee Riley Steen, Jackson Edward, and Ty Murchison.
A suddenly deep goalie pool will feature Carson Bjarnason, Marek Sklenicka, and Martin Psohlavec, who returns from an adductor strain suffered at the end of development camp on July 3.
As they get ready for their respective pro and college seasons, the Flyers won't have prospects like Jack Nesbitt, Jack Berglund, Carter Amico, Shane Vansaghi, Jack Murtagh, Heikki Ruohonen, and Max Westergard available for rookie camp.
An aerial view shows Dodger Stadium in Elysian Park on Wednesday, May 27, 2015, in Los Angeles. The stadium, stands and surrounding parking lots are empty.
A dead man was found hanging from a bridge outside Dodger Stadium as the team played, an LAPD spokesperson told The California Post.
The unidentified male was found just off of Bernard Street and Stadium Way near Dodger Stadium at around 8:48 p.m. Wednesday night, the LAPD rep said. The location is just a few hundred yards away from where the Los Angeles Dodgers were taking on the St. Louis Cardinals.
The Dodgers vs. Cardinals game began at 7:10 p.m. and concluded at around 10:10 p.m.
The location is just a few hundred yards away from where the Dodgers were taking on the St. Louis Cardinals. Getty ImagesA dead man was found hanging from a bridge outside LA’s Dodger Stadium as the team played nearby. Getty ImagesSt. Louis Cardinals third baseman Ramón Urías (left) and Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Eric Lauer (right) react after Urías hit a home run in the second inning at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026. CHRIS TORRES/EPA/Shutterstock
Cops were initially called out to the scene after 911 callers said they saw a dead body “in plain sight,” according to police audio reviewed by The Post.
No foul play was suspected following an investigation, the LAPD spokesperson said.
The matter is still “pending identification and legal next of kin,” the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner added.
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or are experiencing a mental health crisis, you can call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org for free and confidential crisis counseling.
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Documents have been released and bombshell text messages have been revealed in the Kawhi Leonard salary cap circumvention scandal involving billionaire Clippers owner Steve Ballmer.
According to documents released by law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, notes from Clippers president Lawrence Frank dated April 2020 reveal that Leonard’s then-manager, the infamous “Uncle Dennis” Robertson, expressed frustration with the team for what he perceived as a lack of effort by the Clippers to make good on promised off-court business opportunities.
Steve Ballmer was smashed by the NBA on Wednesday in a bombshell report about alleged salary cap circumvention. AP Photo/Ryan Sun
Robertson reportedly complained to Ballmer about president of business operations Gillian Zucker making “introductions” for “bulls-t deals.”
“I can’t wait on [Ms. Zucker],” Robertson said, according to notes from Frank included in the documents published by the law firm. “I have to get paid.”
Balmer allegedly responded by telling Robertson that Clippers personnel were all “collective workers to try to help Leonard achieve his financial goals.”
Leonard entered free agency nine months before those conversations, so Robertson was presumably getting frustrated by the lack of movement after he signed.
Leonard inked a three-year deal with a player option for the third year in 2021.
The documents also reveal that Aspiration, the sustainability tree-planting company indicted on wire fraud and conspiracy charges in October 2025, agreed to pay Leonard $48 million in cash and stock ($12 million per year for four years) as part of his Clippers contract.
In return, Aspiration allegedly dangled business contract opportunities with the Clippers’ arena, The Forum.
Ballmer bought the Forum in 2020, and Aspiration was expecting a deal with the Arena.
Kawhi Leonard was given a relaitvely light punsihment all things considered. MediaNews Group via Getty Images
Aspiration founder Joe Sanberg sent an ultimatum to an unnamed business agent under retainer with the Clippers who appears to be one of the whistleblowers in the scheme.
“Kawhi deal is not happening without this Forum deal,” Sanberg said in texts to the unknown business agent. “ZERO CHANCE there is a Kawhi deal if this isn’t fixed. You know that right? I told Scott Sonnenberg [Clippers Chief Commercial Officer] that I’ll need to break the deal with Kawhi and explain why, which is that we got f–ked by the Clippers. Scott asked me not to do that.”
The closest that the documents come to implicating Balmer’s direct knowledge is Leonard’s willingness to stay with the Clippers, which comes from former CFO Eric Chan in an email on March 31, 2022.
“Steve knows that when this deal blows up, Joe is calling Kawhi and telling him his $12M deal is no longer because of Clippers management, right? I think so, but just double-checking,” Chan said.
Ballmer told investigators he was aware of Sanderg’s ongoing threats to blow up the endorsement deal with Leonard if the Forum Agreement was not executed in a timely manner.
The Clippers formally approved the execution of the Forum Agreement in April 2022, which investigators called an act of facilitation that violates the NBA’s circumvention rules.
The Forum Agreement was worth at least $28 million, and it was estimated that this sum was needed to offset the team’s carbon emissions, though the documents make it unclear whether that was the contract’s true value.
Ballmer previously said in a statement that the initial reports of the illegal tactics, reported by Pablo Torre on his podcast “Pablo Torre Finds Out,” were “provably false.”
Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer hands Kawhi Leonard his jersey as he and Paul George are introduced at Green Meadows Recreation Center in Los Angeles, California, on Wednesday, July 24, 2019. Getty Images
This latest bombshell report hasn’t stopped the former Microsoft CEO from pleading innocence despite the evidence presented.
“We vehemently reject the NBA’s findings, which are the result of a heavily biased investigation seeking to justify a predetermined narrative rather than facts and evidence,” Ballmer said in a statement.
“We intend to vigorously challenge these findings and penalties through every avenue available to us and look forward to an ethical and impartial arbitration process.”
“A credible witness with direct knowledge told investigators that the consulting agreement one company signed with the Clippers was in fact a ruse,” the law firm’s document stated, “designed and intended to be a vehicle for the team to provide the company with funds to be paid to Mr. Leonard.”
Here are five things to watch and predictions as the Yankees travel to San Diego to take on the Padres in a three-game series starting Friday...
5 things to watch
Lombard's return?
George Lombard Jr. has missed four straight games after injuring his right knee on a swing in the second of last Saturday's doubleheader with the Red Sox.
The Yankees maintain it's a day-to-day situation, and there's an expectation that the shortstop will return to the lineup when the series starts up on Friday, and New York could use the youngster.
Jose Caballero has valiantly started at shortstop, but he has not had a good road trip. He went 1-for-12 with seven strikeouts -- including two errors -- in the three-game series with the Angels. While Lombard wasn't hitting well when he got injured, 5-for-24 in his last seven games, he continued to put professional at-bats and get on base regularly.
And after Lombard's error streak came to an end, that elite defense began to show up again, which the Yankees can always use.
Bullpen tryouts
Since the injury to Fernando Cruz, the Yankees have had to use different pitchers to fill the bullpen.
John Schreiber, Michael Fulmer and Luis Gil are the new faces in the 'pen and vying to earn Aaron Boone's trust and make their way onto the postseason roster.
All three have been solid so far, and with Clarke Schmidt's return imminent -- and also pitching for a spot in the bullpen -- this weekend will be another testing ground for these three arms.
Jones vs. Grisham
Trent Grisham has struggled of late on both sides of the ball. So much so that Boone benched the veteran and used Spencer Jones in center field in the series finale with the Angels.
New York Yankees right fielder Spencer Jones (78) hits a two run home run against the Los Angeles Angels during the first inning at Angel Stadium. / Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Over his last seven games, Grisham is 2-for-22 while Jones is 6-for-18 with two home runs.
Jones looked competent in center field on Wednesday and is athletic enough to handle the position, but how often will Boone have the rookie start instead of Grisham? They are both left-handers, so the starting pitcher may determine who plays.
San Diego will deploy Walker Buehler (RHP), Robbie Ray (LHP) and Michael King (RHP) this weekend. That could mean Grisham gets the start against the right-handers with Jones -- who is hitting southpaws better than Grisham -- to start the middle game. But we'll just have to wait and see how Boone handles the playing time.
Will Elmer get another shot?
Elmer Rodriguez's spot in the rotation is for Sunday's series finale and the Yankees have yet to announce who will start that game.
Rodriguez, after the best start of his big league career, had arguably his worst. Monday against the Angels, Rodriguez allowed four runs in 3.2 innings and set the Yankees back for the rest of the series with all the relievers they had to use in the opener.
Will Boone give the ball to Rodriguez one more time? Ryan Weathers could be activated for the following series, so this could be the last chance to make an impression for the rookie. Or, with the off day Monday, the Yankees could go with a bullpen game and activate Weathers for the home series against the Rockies.
AL East race
The Yankees enter play Thursday 3.5 games behind the Rays for the AL East crown. With a major four-game series with Tampa later this month, the Yankees hope to draw closer this weekend.
Of course, the Padres are in the midst of a playoff race of their own. They enter play 0.5 games out of the final wild card spot and every game is dire for them.
Predictions
Who will the MVP of the series be?
Cody Bellinger
Bellinger has been hot since coming off the IL. He's 12-for-29 over his last seven, including going 8-for-14 against the Angels.
Which Yankees pitcher will have the best start?
Max Fried
Fried struggled in his first start off the IL, unable to get out of the fourth inning, but he'll find his way this weekend.
Which Padres player will be a thorn in the Yankees' side?
Fernando Tatis Jr.
The shortstop has turned his season around after a slow start and that continues this weekend.
The players in this ranking do not have extensive NHL experience and are all 23 and under. Therefore, players like Jimmy Snuggerud, Dalibor Dvorsky, and Logan Mailloux, among others, won't feature in this ranking for those reasons.
The order of these rankings reflects a mix of their ceilings and potential, as well as how they've performed over the past year with their respective clubs.
Deciding between Carobonneau and Adam Jiricek was difficult, but it feels like Carobonneau has a more attainable floor than Jiricek, while having similar ceilings.
When at his best, Carbonneau plays physically, engages himself in the forecheck, and finds plenty of lanes to fire shots on goal. Listed at 6-foot-1, 203 pounds, Carbonneau isn't necessarily a true power forward like Tom Wilson, Brady Tkachuk or Matthew Knies, but he has shown a willingness to play that brand of hockey throughout his junior career.
The 19-year-old completed his final year of junior hockey with the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada in the QMJHL last year, scoring 51 goals and 80 points in 60 games. His 51 goals were tied for the league lead, although he did play three fewer games than Maxim Masse, the Anaheim Ducks prospect he was tied with.
Carbonneau was a surprise omission from Team Canada's world junior team, but it wasn't the first time Carbonneau was snubbed. Carbonneau's only international appearance for Team Canada was at the U-17s in 2022. He was left off the world junior Team, U-18s, and the Hlinka Gretzky Cup roster in each year of eligibility.
Nonetheless, Carbonneau is set to begin his professional career. He played in three playoff games for the Springfield Thunderbirds in the AHL to end last season, but failed to record any points. Carbonneau will have the opportunity to compete for a roster spot out of training camp, as he did last year, but with the sheer number of NHL-caliber wingers on the roster, it's more likely than not that Carbonneau will begin the season in the AHL.
In the AHL, Carbonneau should immediately find a role within the top six, alongside other prospects like Aleksanteri Kaskimaki, Otto Stenberg, Juraj Pekarcik, and Zach Dean. There is a chance Carbonneau excels and, due to injuries, earns a call-up and stays in the NHL, but the more probable case is that Carbonneau spends the 2026-27 season in the AHL before becoming a full-time NHLer in the 2027-28 season.
The former 19th overall pick of the 2025 NHL draft has all the tools of a top-six player and could become a complementary top-line winger as his game continues to round out.
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The Seattle Kraken spent the summer making sure their players will have more people in their corner when the 2026-27 season begins.
Some of the changes are obvious. Others will be noticed only inside the walls of the organization.
Seattle added a former NHL general manager to its front office, brought in a veteran coach with extensive NHL and AHL experience, promoted members of its performance staff and added new specialists in nutrition, mental performance, physical therapy, analytics and player development.
Perhaps the most notable addition is Patrik Allvin, who joins Jason Botterill as the Kraken’s vice president and assistant general manager.
Allvin spent the past several seasons as Vancouver’s general manager and was a finalist for NHL GM of the Year in 2024. He and Botterill also know each other well, having worked together for a decade in Pittsburgh while helping build three Stanley Cup-winning teams.
That relationship gives Seattle another experienced voice in a front office looking to take the next step.
The Kraken made a similarly significant addition behind the bench.
Pascal Vincent replaces Jessica Campbell as an assistant coach after spending the past two seasons running the Laval Rocket. Vincent won AHL Coach of the Year in 2025 after leading Laval to a 48-19-5 record and brings seven seasons of NHL assistant-coaching experience with him.
Head coach Lane Lambert was deliberate in finding Campbell’s replacement, and Vincent’s résumé ultimately checked the boxes Seattle was looking for.
The organization is also putting more resources into what happens away from the rink.
Nate Brookreson has been promoted to director of sports performance, while Jake Jensen becomes head strength and conditioning coach. Brandon Wickett returns to Seattle as an assistant strength and conditioning coach after spending last season with the Philadelphia Flyers.
Madison Yerigan has also joined the Kraken as their full-time lead dietitian, giving players dedicated support for nutrition, recovery, hydration and meal planning throughout the season.
There is a similar emphasis on the mental side of the game.
Matt Brown takes over a newly created position as director of mental performance. Brown has spent three decades working with elite athletes, including Canadian national team athletes, and will work with Kraken players, prospects and the Coachella Valley Firebirds.
Seattle is also adding physical therapist Mike Funyak to its athletic training staff and expanding its research and development department with Dan Cassario and Sabrina Escalona.
Then there is Dolan Gilbert, who may have the most unusual job of the group.
Gilbert will work in research and development while serving as Seattle’s emergency backup goaltender, a newly mandated NHL role that requires him to practice and travel with the team.
The Kraken have made changes to their development pipeline, too.
Former defenseman Justin Schultz has joined the player development staff and will work primarily with young defensemen, drawing on a 12-year NHL career that included two Stanley Cups.
Seattle also added amateur scout Brad Ginnell, while the Coachella Valley Firebirds hired Scott Ford as an assistant coach and Mike Crocock as a skills coach.
None of these moves guarantees anything once the puck drops.
But they do reveal where the Kraken believe they can improve.
The organization is adding experience, specialization and depth to the people responsible for developing, preparing and supporting its players.
Now comes the harder part: turning all of those additions into results.
HARTFORD, CT - JUNE 10: Jack Mahoney #23 of the Hartford Yard Goats pitches during the game between the Akron RubberDucks and the Hartford Yard Goats at Dunkin' Park on Tuesday, June 10, 2025 in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Ryan Desantis/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
Since the Colorado Rockies are enjoying a much-needed day off before welcoming the St. Louis Cardinals to Coors Field on Friday, I figured it could be a good opportunity to pay some attention to the farm system with a game discussion thread, as all four Rockies affiliates are at home this week.
We will update the article with lineups throughout the day and into the evening as they become available.
Triple-A: Albuquerque Isotopes (65-69) vs. Tacoma Rainiers (64-70): Carson Fulmer vs. Jack Mahoney
The dreams of making a playoff run aren’t likely to come to fruition for the Albuquerque Isotopes as they are 10 games back in the PCL East division in the second-half standings. While that may be the case, the Isotopes are still in the hunt for an overall winning record for the season for the first time since joining the Rockies organization in 2015.
This week, the Isotopes have lost the first two games of the series, trailing by three runs in each. Wednesday saw the Isotopes fall 5-2 in extra innings after giving up three runs in the top of the 10th.
Jack Mahoney (0-1, 4.76 ERA) takes the mound for the Isotopes, looking to continue finding his footing in Triple-A. Mahoney (No. 15 PuRP) has given up at least two runs in each of his five starts in August and has completed five innings only twice. Walks have been his biggest issue, as he allowed 13 walks in 22.2 innings last month against 18 strikeouts.
Carson Fulmer (5-1, 5.25 ERA) takes the hill for the Tacoma Rainiers. The veteran right-hander has found more consistency as a starter since being traded to the Seattle Mariners organization in June. Unfortunately, the consistency has mostly been in giving the Rainiers innings on the mound. Walks plagued Fulmer in August as he allowed 15 free passes against 13 strikeouts in 24.1 innings of work; seven of those walks came in his last start.
Double-A: Hartford Yard Goats (62-65) vs. Reading Fightin Phils (64-63): Gage Wood vs. Jackson Cox
After securing a playoff bid in the first half, the Hartford Yard Goats have struggled a bit more in the second half of the 2026 season with a 23-36 record. The main issue for the Yard Goats has been the struggle to score runs despite solid enough pitching. This series is currently tied 1-1 after Reading won Wednesday’s game 5-3, despite Hartford out-hitting them 11-6.
Jackson Cox (2-2, 3.89 ERA) is ready to make his first appearance since July 19, as he’s been on the injured list. Cox (No. 11 PuRP) was really starting to find his rhythm in Hartford in July, having allowed just two runs on five hits over 18 innings of work before he was shut down with an injury. In his second full season post-Tommy John surgery, Cox has impressed quite a bit, even more than he already did in 2025. He’s got the strikeout capabilities, but the command still needs to be honed to cut down on walks.
Gage Wood (0-3, 4.83 ERA) is the No. 1 prospect for the Philadelphia Phillies per MLB Pipeline but has struggled a little bit since being promoted to Double-A at the end of May. The swing-and-miss has been more than apparent with 84 strikeouts against 16 walks in 59.2 Double-A innings. However, he’s also given up a lot of contact and has been stung by home runs, which is a natural hurdle as you advance through the minors. There is plenty of talent, however, and the Yard Goats will have to be on their toes.
Game 2 First Pitch: 4:30 p.m. MDT
TV: MiLB.TV / Bally Sports Live
Radio: MiLB.TV
Lineups:
High-A: Spokane Indians (56-71) vs. Everett AquaSox(65-63): Mason Peters vs. Lebarron Johnson Jr.
The Spokane Indians are just playing for pride at this point in the season, as the Northwest League championship match-up has already been decided. It’s been a tough year for Spokane on both fronts as pitching has struggled to prevent runs and the offense has struggled to score runs. The team is last in the overall standings and their -161 run differential is by far the worst in the league. In this series alone, they have scored just three runs while allowing 21.
Lebarron Johnson Jr. (1-7, 6.57 ERA) makes the start for Spokane, trying to find some sort of groove down the stretch. Johnson has dealt with injuries off and on throughout the season and has struggled immensely since July 10. Since then, he has worked more than three innings in an outing just once and has been hit hard for quite a few runs in that span. Like a lot of other pitchers, walks have been the big issue, and when the strikeout stuff isn’t working, it has led to a lot of damage in a small sample of work.
Pedro Da Costa Lemos (3-0, 2.86 ERA) will make his 12th appearance of the year and his first start since 2024. Da Costa Lemos has been excellent as a reliever in his career and has typically thrown two or three innings per outing this season. This season he has done well to pound the zone and limit walks. While he can give up a good deal of contact, he is able to mitigate damage and hasn’t been stung by the home run ball too often.
Game 3 First Pitch: 7:35 p.m. MDT
TV: MiLB.TV / Bally Sports Live
Radio: MiLB.TV
Lineups:
Fresno Grizzlies (69-59) vs. San Jose Giants (76-52): Ben Bybee vs. Izeah Muniz
Should the Fresno Grizzlies secure victory tonight, they will clinch a playoff spot for the second year in a row. The Grizzlies have enjoyed a strong overall year once again, despite some injuries and promotions of players through the system. Lately, they have enjoyed an influx of newly drafted players like Daniel Jackson and promotions of players from the ACL Rockies. This series is currently tied 1-1 after the Grizzlies won 6-2 on Wednesday.
Izeah Muniz (1-1, 4.66 ERA) will take the hill for the Grizzlies. Muniz has made just four appearances this season, spending the majority of the season on the injured list. He was recently activated on August 18 and has made two starts, though both were essentially as an opener. He has allowed two runs on three hits in three innings since returning.
Ben Bybee (3-3, 4.91 ERA) was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the eighth round in 2025, and he has worked a mixed role this season. He started the year as a bulk reliever before settling into the rotation in June. His usage has still fluctuated as he has worked as an opener for three to four innings or given the reins to work as deep into the game as he can go. In August, he mostly settled into the former, but overall has some nice qualities. He throws strikes and doesn’t give up a lot of hard contact.
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 28: Hunter Brown #58 of the Houston Astros pitches during the game between the Houston Astros and the New York Mets at Citi Field on Friday, August 28, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Michael Mooney/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
TODAY’S GAME: The first-place Houston Astros (71-69), who hold a slim 2.0-game lead in the AL West, will host the Chicago White Sox (73-66) for the finale of their four-game series today at Daikin Park.
RHP Hunter Brown (4-3, 3.33 ERA), who shut out the White Sox in 7.0 innings on July 25 in Chicago, will get the start today opposite old rival RHP Luis Castillo (4-10, 5.31 ERA) and the White Sox.
BROTHER BROWN: RHP Hunter Brown has posted a 2.63 ERA (12ER/41IP) in his last seven starts (since July 25), pitching through the 5th inning in all seven outings. Brown, who finished third in the AL Cy Young Award voting last season, has been limited this season, missing over two months due to a lengthy stint on the Injured List (April 1-June 15) with a right shoulder strain.
SLOW AND STEADY RECOVERY: Since starting the season with a 20-31 record after 51 games, the Astros are 51-38 (.573) in their last 89 games (since May 22). That is the second-best record in the AL in that span, behind the Red Sox (53-38).
MEASURING UP: The Astros are within a streak of playing four straight teams with winning records (CWS, ARI, PHI, TB). The Astros are an American League-best 27-18 (.600) vs. teams currently at .500 or above. Some clubs that the Astros have winning records against include BOS (5-1), CHC (3-0), CWS (4-2), CLE (4-2), MIA (3-0), and TB (2-1).
VS. THE WHITE SOX: Regardless of today’s result, the Astros have won the season series against the White Sox, going 4-2 so far with one game to play. The Astros are 26-15 vs. CWS over the past six seasons (2021-26), posting winning records in each of those years. Houston is 57-48 all-time vs. CWS.
ONE OF THE BEST: Astros prospect C Jason Schiavone has six HR and 13 RBI in his last eight games after homering again last night. In his combined 110 games at Single A Asheville and Double A Corpus, he leads the Astros system in HR (31) and RBI (84) while slashing .258/.396/.548 for a .944 OPS.
HADER EARNS AUGUST HONORS: Major League Baseball announced today that Astros LHP Josh Hader has been named the American League Reliever of the Month for August. It is Hader’s ninth career Reliever of the Month Award and his third as an Astro. In the month, Hader converted all seven of his save opportunities, while going scoreless in his 13 total appearances and 14.1 innings pitched.
STREAKING: LHP Josh Hader has worked 19 consecutive scoreless appearances, spanning 20.0 innings (since July 21). This is the longest streak by an Astros hurler this season and the second-longest active streak in the Majors. Opponents are just 5×65 (.077) vs. Hader during the streak.
THE CLOSER: LHP Josh Hader has 249 career saves, needing just one more save to become the 41st player in modern MLB history to reach 250 career saves. Hader has 22 of those saves this season, in 22 save chances.
ON THE OFFENSIVE: Among AL teams, the Astros rank second in home runs (184), second in total bases (1,917), third in slugging (.408), fifth in runs scored (633), and fifth in OPS (.723).
TRIPLE THREAT: DH Yordan Alvarez, who is a solid candidate for the AL MVP Award, currently owns at least a share of the lead in all three Triple Crown categories. He enters today leading the AL in batting avg. (.317) and RBI (94), while ranking tied for first in HR (37).
Rare Feat: Since Carl Yastrzemski won the AL Triple Crown in 1967, there has been just one Triple Crown winner in the Majors, Miguel Cabrera in 2012 (AL).
MATCHING HIS BEST: DH Yordan Alvarez has matched his career high by smacking 37 home runs on the season, reaching his total from 2022. His career-high in RBI is 104, set in 2021 (currently has an AL-best 94 RBI).
WALK OF FAME: DH Yordan Alvarez has been issued 29 intentional walks on the year, which is a franchise record, besting the 27 intentional walks for 1B Jeff Bagwell in 1997. Alvarez leads the Majors in intentional walks, topping second-place DH Shohei Ohtani (16) by a whopping 13 IBB. Lastly, the AL record for intentional walks in a season is in play for Alvarez, a record that’s currently held by RF Aaron Judge (36 IBB in 2025).
THE HIT MAN: 2B Jose Altuve enters today’s game needing just six hits to reach 2,500 for his career. Among active players, Altuve ranks second in hits, trailing only 1B Freddie Freeman (2,586).
BEHIND THE DISH: C Christian Vázquez has played in 999 career games as a catcher and is looking to become just the third active catcher to reach 1,000 career games behind the dish. He would join C Salvador Perez (1,427) and C J.T. Realmuto (1,382) in that exclusive group.
TODAY IN ASTROS HISTORY:2004 – Roger Clemens passes both Nolan Ryan and Don Sutton on the all-time wins list with victory #325 in an 8-6 win over the Pirates. Clemens lasts 6.2 innings to earn the win. Jeff Bagwell, Carlos Beltrán, Craig Biggio and Jose Vizcaino each homered in the win. Clemens improves to 15-4 on the year en route to another Cy Young.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Thursday, September 3, 1:10 p.m. CT
Location: Daikin Park, Houston, TX
TV: Space City Home Network
Radio: KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)
PITTSBURGH — Konnor Griffin is ready to get back to work.
The Pittsburgh Pirates rookie shortstop said he feels good and is hopeful of being activated off the 60-day injured list when Pittsburgh opens a three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels.
The 20-year-old Griffin hasn’t played since early July due to an issue with the knuckle on the ring finger of his left hand. Griffin wore a splint for about six weeks and has played a handful of games while on a rehab assignment.
“It’s been driving me nuts watching the games on my phone,” said Griffin, who signed a massive contract extension in April shortly after making his debut. “It’ll be fun to finally be back in there competing.”
The Pirates have fallen off the pace in the National League playoff race in Griffin’s absence. Pittsburgh is 5 1/2 games back of the final wild card spot.
Pittsburgh remains intent on having Griffin return this season. The team says the risk of re-injury is small and it’s important to get him more experience during the nascent stage of his career.
Griffin has been electric at times. He’s hitting .276 with five homers, 25 RBIs and 20 stolen bases in 59 games during a season that’s been disrupted by multiple trips to the injured list.
“It’s just cool to see how my body has been able to overcome these injuries,” he said. “I feel like it’s a good sign for me. I’m pumped to be back here.”
Perhaps most importantly, Griffin is pain-free.
“I did some grip strength testing,” he said. “Those numbers were actually a lot higher than they should have been, which was a good sign for me. That gave me a lot of confidence, squeezing a bat, squeezing a glove wasn’t gonna be an issue.”
CLEVELAND, OHIO - JUNE 21, 2024: Cleveland Guardians mascot Slider performs prior to a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Progressive Field on June 21, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by George Kubas/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
According to ESPN insider Brian Windhorst, the NBA received overwhelming cooperation from companies with ties to the Clippers’ investigation and even received key information from president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank without the use of a subpoena.
Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank was suspended by the NBA for six months without pay. NBAE via Getty Images
“There was even cooperation from within the Clippers’ own building. Lawrence Frank, their team president, he handed over notes that he took about making illicit deals with Dennis Robertson six years ago,” Windhorst said.
“He held the notes for six years and turned them over. And in response, he was given leniency.”
"These companies came forward and gave this information because they want to keep doing business with the NBA." @WindhorstESPN weighs in on the Clippers and Kawhi Leonard being punished over salary cap circumvention violations pic.twitter.com/eyXIJmgAUx
Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard poses with his uncle Dennis Robertson and his mother, Kim Robertson. AP
Robertson, who was Leonard’s uncle and business manager until this summer, played a key role in propelling an NBA investigation into the team and his nephew.
The league has since banned Robertson from engaging with any team for five years.
Los Angeles Clippers owner and former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer talks to reporters during a news conference in Los Angeles on Monday, August 18, 2014. AP
Owner Steve Ballmer is suspended from all league and team activities for one year, while Frank was accused of failing to report Robertson’s illegal requests and facilitating them. He is suspended for six months without pay.
The Clippers stand to lose much, including forfeiting five first-round draft picks and getting fined $30 million. Organization and personnel will also be subject to a compliance and monitoring program overseen by the league office for a period of five years.
