On Wednesday, the New Jersey Devils called up Colton White from the Utica Comets of the American Hockey League (AHL).
Earning four assists, White has contributed in over 23 games with the Devils this season.
Drafted 97th overall in the 2015 NHL Draft by the Devils, the 28-year-old is now back with the team.
Over six seasons, White played 107 NHL games: first with the Devils, then with the Anaheim Ducks after signing as a free agent in July 2022, before returning to New Jersey in July 2024. He has earned 14 points, all assists.
White, a defenseman, spent his first four NHL seasons with the Devils, then joined Anaheim as a free agent on July 14, 2022.
On July 1, 2024, he rejoined the Devils as a free agent.
Meeting the Devils in Vancouver, the defenseman prepares for Friday’s match-up against the Canucks.
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Fox Sports unveiled the bulk of their 2026 schedule on Friday, which includes six planned exclusive Saturday games on Fox and two more games on FS1.
Saturday games on Fox are exclusive broadcasts, which means no local telecast for those games, no SportsNet LA broadcast for the Dodgers games. The Dodgers’ six games exclusively on Fox include facing each of their last two National League Championship Series opponents as well as a 2024 World Series rematch against the Yankees in The Bronx. All of these Saturday games starting at 4:15 p.m. PT, except for July 18 against the Yankees:
April 25 vs. Chicago Cubs
May 2 at St. Louis Cardinals
May 23 at Milwaukee Brewers
July 18 at New York Yankees (5:08 p.m. PT)
July 25 at New York Mets
August 15 vs. Brewers
The Dodgers also had exactly six games exclusively on Fox each season dating back to 2022, the first four years of the network’s seven-year contract with Major League Baseball that runs through 2028.
Two other Dodgers games in 2026 will be on FS1, which are non-exclusive broadcasts and available locally, offering the rare dual-broadcast option for folks in the home markets for these games. Both of the FS1 Dodgers telecasts are road games — Monday, April 6 at the Toronto Blue Jays, and Thursday, August 27 at the Atlanta Braves.
Blistering knocks by skipper Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan led India to a crushing seven-wicket win over New Zealand on Friday, giving them a 2-0 lead in the five-match T20 series.
Here are all the Los Angeles Dodgers games during the 2026 season that will be available to watch on television or streaming nationally.
NBC Sports is the newcomer among Major League Baseball’s broadcast partners this season, signing a three-year deal to take over the former ESPN ‘Sunday Night Baseball’ slate as well as Sunday leadoff games on NBC, NBC Sports Network, and Peacock. ESPN will still have exclusive games this season and through 2028, but those will now be during the week.
Other national broadcasters are Fox Sports, Apple TV+, and TBS.
Six Dodgers Saturday games will be exclusively televised by Fox this season, beginning on April 25 against the Chicago Cubs. Two more games will be on FS1, though those games aren’t exclusive, which means the Dodgers’ own telecast on SportsNet LA will be available locally as well.
Apple TV+ has not yet announced any of its exclusive Friday Night Baseball broadcasts. Typically, Apple TV+ announces the first half of its schedule before the season, then announces each successive month over the course of the season.
Seranthony Dominguez, the long time Baltimore Orioles reliever whom the Blue Jays acquired at this past season’s trade deadline, has signed a deal with the Chicago White Sox. Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports that the deal is for two years and $20 million. Dominguez has been a steady performer throughout his career, with an ERA between 10 and 30% better than league average in all but one season and a 3.50 mark overall in 306.0 innings. Since missing 2020 and most of 2021 with injury, he’s managed at least 54 appearances and 50 innings in four straight seasons. His 10.5% career walk rate and very good but not elite 27.9% K rate aren’t quite high end closer material, but he has consistently limited hard contact and fits as a high quality setup man in a contender’s bullpen.
After being traded to Toronto in exchange for Juaron Watts-Brown, the Jays’ 2023 third round pick, he posted a 3.00 ERA in 24 appearances with 12 hits, 12 walks and 25 strikeouts in 21.0 innings. He also appeared in a dozen games during Toronto’s playoff run, allowing four runs over 11.1 innings.
This winter, he entered free agency in the second tier of the relief market, behind elite closer Edwin Diaz. His contract is 10th in AAV and seventh in total value among relievers who have signed.
The White Sox seem like an unlikely landing spot for an expensive 31 year old reliever. They project as one of the three worst teams in the league and solidly the worst in the American League. They have money to spend, though, with only four players making over a million dollars. The signing will push their payroll up from 30th in the league to 28th, ahead of the Miami Marlins and roughly tied with the Cleveland Guardians. They’ll also likely be able to flip him at either this deadline or the next, especially if they’re willing to keep some money. That’ll secure some prospect capital to continue their never ending rebuild. From Dominguez’s point of view, he lands a solid payday and a closer job, and while he isn’t going to get a chance for a ring in Chicago he might wherever they inevitably deal him.
For the Jays, this further reinforces that they’re probably done on the free agent market. The position player market is all but barren, with arguably no one left who would crack the starting lineup. Barring a shocking move for Framber Valdez, the same is true of the rotation. Dominguez coming off the board also means that there’s no remaining reliever who would move the needle. Any additions at this point will have to come from trades, if they don’t feel like they’re ready with the roster they currently have.
This would be a significant change on the trade winds rumor front.
According to former Fox 26 Houston Sports Director Will Kunkel, the Astros are not currently in trade discussions with the Boston Red Sox for OF Jarren Duran:
The Houston Astros are NOT in trade talks for Red Sox OF Jarren Duran , per source.
Now, trade talks and rumors are a fickle entity, as not currently being in trade talks doesn’t mean they weren’t previously in trade talks, nor does it mean they cannot be involved in future trade talks. However, at the current time, it would appear these trade talks have stalled/ceased.
The Astros have also been linked to another Red Sox player, OF Wilyer Abreu. While not possessing Duran’s offensive upside, Abreu is also a lefthanded hitter, is younger, and has won 2 consecutive Gold Gloves in the outfield. Abreu is not arbitration eligible until 2027, making him far cheaper than Duran.
As posted on Crawfish Boxes yesterday, the Red Sox may be transitioning off of Isaac Paredes and looking for a more defensive-minded player for 2B instead. You can see that information here:
The Astros are still considered likely to clear up their current logjam in the infield by trading either Isaac Paredes or Christian Walker. Paredes has far more value, and a Walker trade would be more of a salary dump.
Though it has been no secret that the Senators’ goaltending has left a lot to be desired this season, statistics have come to the fore to highlight exactly how bad.
Not since the Ottawa Senators' second season in the league, when they won 14 games out of 84, have the Senators had a lower combined team save percentage than they had a few days ago (.865).
One could hardly compare the lineup that suited up that season to the 2025-26 team that currently sits 8th in the Atlantic with a 23-20-7 record through 50 games.
The Senators have not had a great track record as an organization with drafting goaltenders.
Steve Warne and Gregg Kennedy discuss why James Reimer has been so quickly embraced in Ottawa.
In fact, they have never drafted a goaltender who has occupied the status of #1 starter for the Ottawa Senators. Robin Lehner in the second round in 2009 and Joey Daccord in round seven in 2015 both went on to start elsewhere but played very little for the Senators.
No sense crying over spilled milk. It’s time to examine the pipeline and see if help is on the way. For argument’s sake, Leevi Merilainen will not be part of this evaluation.
Mads Sogaard, Age 25, Belleville Senators – Selected in 2nd round of 2019 NHL Draft
Though Sogaard is on a one-way deal, he has never shown the ability to stay healthy at any level, nor has his play been consistent at the NHL level.
He has moved from the status of prospect to suspect, and unless he can seize the reins and put the B-Sens on his back for a nice playoff run, his future with the Senators could be coming to an end.
As it stands right now, his numbers in the AHL this season are very pedestrian, though injuries have limited Sogaard to only 15 starts. There is still time to make something of this season, but the sands in Sogaard’s hourglass are running out quickly.
Jackson Parsons, Age 21, Belleville Senators/Allen Americans – 2025 free agent signing
Parsons has only played 12 games thus far this season and is currently back in Allen, Texas, where he can start more regularly. He spelled Sogaard during his injury absence and acquitted himself nicely.
Parsons is something of a late bloomer who was never drafted, yet he won goalie and overage player of the year for the 2024-25 OHL season.
For a rookie season, he got on the radar in a good way, and now that Hunter Shephard is back in the AHL, Parsons can continue his development with regular work. The 21-year-old Embrun native is a work in progress, but his trajectory is headed in the right direction. His numbers have been very respectable, and at 6’2” and 200 lbs, he has the frame of an NHL goalie.
The real issue is that the Senators need an NHL goalie, and right now, Parsons is still proving himself as an ECHL starter.
Definitely a prospect, but a starter prospect? Time will tell.
Kevin Reidler, Age 21, Penn State University – Selected in 5th round of 2022 NHL Draft
The 6-foot-6 Swedish netminder has never had a save percentage below .900 since being drafted. But except for his time in Dubuque (USHL), he hasn't been a starter.
Last year at the University of Nebraska/Omaha appears to have been a write off with only eight starts due to some issues with his back. But he did post a .920 save percentage in those games.
Through the transfer portal, Reidler is now at Penn State, playing with the presumptive number one overall selection in 2026, Gavin McKenna. Reidler has also played more than half the games with some impressive results (9-3, 2.92, .910).
Again, until he proves himself capable of being a number one goalie in the NCAA, it’s hard to view him as more than a B-level prospect.
Reidler's height is intriguing, assuming he has the athletic ability to leverage it. But if the 6-foot-7 Mads Sogaard is any indication, Reidler may need extra time to adjust to his height before becoming a goalie who could suit up for the parent club.
More to follow on this one.
Vladimir Nikitin, Age 21, New Hampshire Mountain Kings (NAHL) – Selected in 7th round of 2023 NHL Draft
To say that Nikitin has taken the scenic route since being drafted would be an understatement.
The Kazakh goaltender has played in the BCHL (2023-24), RUS-MHL (2024-25 top junior league in Russia), back to the BCHL with the Nanaimo Clippers (2024-25), USHL (2025-26) and moving yet again to the NAHL (2025-26) where he currently resides.
He also represented Kazakhstan at the World Junior Hockey Championships in Ottawa in 2025.
Changing teams in two of the three seasons since being drafted does not scream prospect and his numbers are just okay.
His WJHC appearance revealed a vulnerable trapper.
Not writing him off, but like the Senators in the current NHL standings, Nikitin doesn’t just need to improve his play, but he also has other people ahead of him that he needs to catch.
Lucas Beckman, Age 18, Chicoutimi Sageneens, Selected in 4th round of 2025 NHL Draft
This one is a little intriguing. Up until recently, Beckman was playing for the worst team in the QMJHL, Baie Comeau, where he was getting shelled almost every night as their starting goalie.
Somehow, he still managed to post a .905 save percentage.
Beckman has now been traded to Chicoutimi, the best team in the league, and after missing some time with injury, he's now returned to the lineup. The Senators are hoping he can go on a long playoff run and get some valuable experience.
Still just 18, with a good run the rest of the season, Beckman could end up as part of Canada's World Junior conversation. He represented Canada at the World U18s last year.
The key point here is that Beckman has a starting goaltender pedigree and a potential championship QMJHL team thought enough of him to acquire him for their run.
It’s too early to ordain Beckman as the future but it seems clear that he has one.
Andrei Trofinov, Age 19, Magnitigorsk RUS-MHL, Selected in 7th round of 2025 draft
With the likes of Bobrovsky, Vasilevskiy, Shesterkin, Sorokin and even Askarov all starting in the NHL with pretty impressive starting goalie resumes, it’s hard to blame the Senators for wanting to see if they could strike gold in Russia as well.
That said, two of them were first round selections and none were chosen in the seventh round after being passed over in their first year of eligibility.
It’s early with this one and if the Russian Federation starts to take note of him, Sens Nation should as well, but not before then.
The Senators have not drafted a goalie in the first round since Mathieu Chouinard in 1998, and they drafted him twice.
Things could change, but looking at this stable of goalies, other than Beckman, it’s hard to see anyone who is currently tracking to be a potential starting goalie in the NHL. Regardless, their help is still years away, and barring a trade, the Senators have no choice but to rely on their current group to hold the fort.
Pat Maguire The Hockey News - Ottawa
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Charles Barkley said he’s “complained” to ESPN over scheduling of “Inside the NBA.”
During a Wednesday appearance on “The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz,” Barkley didn’t mince words while discussing his move from TNT to the Worldwide Leader — after both companies agreed to distribute “Inside the NBA” exclusively on ESPN and ABC for 11 years, starting with the 2025-26 season.
“We’ve complained, we’ve only been on ESPN four times in three months,” Barkley said referring to co-hosts Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson. “I don’t like that at all.
Charles Barkley in attendance for the Phoenix Suns-Minnesota Timberwolves game during an NBA Cup game at Mortgage Matchup Center November 21, 2025. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
“What I was talking about working all the time, because I love watching basketball – I’m not going to do all these damn shows … I’m not gonna be on ESPN One, Two, Three, Deportes, Nacho, Echo, whatever they call it. I’m not gonna be doing all that. But I wish we had been on more during the first half of the season.”
Barkley added that “Inside the NBA” is scheduled to air this Saturday (Jan. 24), next Wednesday (Jan. 28) and Saturday (Jan. 31).
“So they’re gonna start making up some of the days,” Barkley said. “But we only worked one day in December, that was Christmas Day… I wish we had worked more. The guys at ESPN have been great but we will know more when we get schedule heavy the last half of the season.”
Barkley also joked that ESPN will have to pay him for the seven years left on his contract if they fire him for calling his coworkers “idiots, punks, fools and jackasses.”
“I’m 100 percent retired, but if I can do something just a little bit stupid so they have to fire me, they’ll have to pay me for the whole seven years,” he said.
(L-R) Shaquille O’Neal, Ernie Johnson, Jalen Rose, Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley talk before the Knicks-Pacers Game 6 of the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals on May 31, 2025 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. NBAE via Getty Images
“Inside the NBA” will appear on ESPN and ABC surrounding high-profile live events, including pregame, halftime and postgame coverage of the NBA Finals on ABC, conference finals and NBA playoffs.
TNT Sports will continue to independently produce “Inside the NBA” from its Atlanta-based studios over the term of the agreement.
The Milwaukee Brewers play big. The zythophilian juggernauts of the NL Central have the same number of division titles as the Dodgers over the past half decade. They’ve been punching down on the incompetent and/or uncompetitive clubs in their division, while managing to outmaneuver the Chicago Cubs, and pushing the St. Louis Cardinals into their first period of irrelevance in the 21st century. Many of those haymakers have come from a vaunted pitching development program, generating aces from unexpected places. Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff, and Freddy Peralta have benefited from brilliant bullpens, too, with Josh Hader, Devin Williams, Abner Uribe, and Trevor Megill blossoming on the West Coast (of Lake Michigan).
The newest focus for the Brew Crew, however, has been on punching up. While they can frequently outfox their low-effort division-mates, what’s put Milwaukee in perennial competition in recent years has been the capacity to literally punch up. Milwaukee had the shortest position player group in MLB last year, in particular on the infield dirt. None of 3B Caleb Durbin (5’7), SS Joey Ortiz (5’10), 2B Brice Turang (5’11), nor 1B Andrew Vaughn (5’10) clear the six-foot line. Both OF Isaac Collins, since traded to Kansas City, and OF Sal Frelick, are also just 5’8. These are normal sized human beings, even on the taller end in some cases. But like Leo Rivas, clocking in at 5’8, 150, they are players against the grain of the modern, tools-oozing Adonises who will often earn the centerfold from scouts and analysts.
MLB has always had room for the little guy. Unlike basketball and football, which have the occasional pint-sized performer (or have narrow, specialized niches for such players), baseball players have always been able to more easily walk down the street without being immediately identified as athletes. It’s an endearing feature of the game, one that allows people of all ages and sizes to identify more easily with those on the field. There is an immense amount of work that goes into being a pro athlete in any sport, but most of us could simply never be Aaron Judge or Rob Gronkowski, Josh Allen or Victor Wembanyama.
But Leo Rivas? Leo Rivas could be anybody.
The good-natured Venezuelan turned 28 this past October, famously celebrating his birthday with one of the biggest hits in Seattle Mariners history. His game-tying pinch-hit RBI single capped a stellar second season, with Rivas performing his way into a key role late in the season as the 2B and backup infielder.
With Jorge Polanco gone, there’s a case for Rivas to take on the starting 2B spot. After all, in half a season of total big league games, he’s mustered a 107 wRC+ with a patient approach, steals bases frequently and efficiently, and can cover the entire infield capably. Switch-hitting makes him more versatile than many utility players, and yet Seattle seems unlikely to give Rivas the pole position.
Cole Young, no towering titan himself, is much younger and more heralded than the man who came to Seattle as a minor league free agent. Despite a disappointing debut season, Young has shown higher capacity to hit the ball hard, and has on paper and otherwise similar profile to that of Little Leo. I can’t say I disagree ferociously with Seattle’s assessment. After all, for nearly a decade, Rivas struggled to separate himself as a minor leaguer. The area in which hitters who lack meaningful big league power can still be successful is a target you’d want George Kirby or Bryan Woo to be aiming for.
Still, I am concerned Rivas is being literally overlooked. Much of Milwaukee‘s lineup has been effective, not just because of their skill, but because they have been given consistent opportunities. Rivas does not look like most of the sport’s best players. And yet, everything he did last year looked at least like a solid big leaguer. Going out on a limb for players who looked like Rivas has been a boon for the Brewers. In Seattle, soft line drives and free passes are the bread and butter of their long time stalwart shortstop, J.P. Crawford. Why shouldn’t it be the foundation for their keystone as well?
Rivas will likely start 2026 in competition with Miles Mastrobuoni for the utility spot on the bench. Because he still has minor league options remaining, it’s likely the switch hitting Venezuelan starts his season in Tacoma. I can’t help but wonder if he’s capable of more.
Scoring ability in the NBA is most often discussed by looking at who is among the league leaders in points per game.
The assumption that players who score the most must be the best scorers makes sense on the surface, but that method of evaluation does nothing to discriminate between efficient scorers and those who simply have a high-usage role. Looking at raw points per game is also an improper way to compare scoring ability across eras.
Put another way – players who score a lot simply because they shoot a lot aren’t the most effective scorers in the league.
Using FTN’s new NBA StatsHub, we can identify underrated scorers and potential breakout stars by looking at Field Goal Percentage Over Expectation.
Explaining Field Goal Percentage Over Expectation
FGOE measures how much better or worse a player’s field goal percentage is compared to league expectation after adjusting for shot location, shot value, and the quality of the defensive contest on the field goal attempt.
In more digestible language, FGOE isolates pure shot-making skill by accounting for more than simply whether or not the ball went in the basket.
Unlike field goal% or true shooting%, FGOE:
Adjusts for shot difficulty
Removes free throws from the equation
Accounts for the quality of the defense on the shot attempt
A player who has a high FGOE is making a higher rate of similar shot types than his peers.
Removing Volume Privilege
Not all high-volume scorers have their numbers inflated simply based on opportunity. Nikola Jokić (+12.6% FGOE), Kevin Durant (+8.9%) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (+8.1%) are widely regarded as some of the league’s best scorers, and for good reason. Their teams trust them to take a lot of shots, in large part, because of how skilled they are at making them.
Yet, they are not the only players who deserve to be held in high regard for their shot-making ability.
NBA StatsHub has a filter function that allows us to look exclusively at players in smaller roles, who are quietly delivering impressive results over expectation for their respective teams.
Lower Shot Volume (FGA) + High Field Goal Percentage Over Expectation (FGOE)
DeMar DeRozan, Sacramento Kings
During the 2021-2022 campaign, DeMar DeRozan ranked seventh in the NBA in scoring, averaging 27.9 points per game. Since that point, his per-game scoring has taken a major hit – all the way down to 19.0 per game this season — but he’s still making the most of his opportunities.
DeRozan is averaging 6.7 fewer field goal attempts per game than he did in 2021-2022, but he would likely still be putting up big numbers if he was on a team that allowed him to shoot more frequently.
Among 73 players averaging between 10-15 FGA per game this year, nobody has a higher FGOE than DeRozan (+7.0%).
Kon Knueppel, Charlotte Hornets
Is it possible that Kon Knueppel is part of the NBA’s next class of superstars? The fourth overall selection in this past summer’s draft is having a superb rookie season for the Hornets, averaging 19.0 points. Even more impressive, he’s doing so on only 13.6 field goal attempts per game.
Only seven players are averaging more points per game than Knueppel on fewer than 15 shot attempts this season. All seven of those players are established veterans who are well beyond their rookie contracts.
Miles McBride, New York Knicks
Miles McBride is a fan favorite in The Big Apple, and for good reason. Since entering the league, McBride has seen his playing time increase in each subsequent season – all the way up to a career-high 28.3 minutes per game this year.
He’s making the most of his opportunities for the Knicks, averaging 13.1 points while shooting 43.1% from beyond-the-arc. In fact, McBride has the highest FGOE of any New York player so far this season.
Bobby Portis, Milwaukee Bucks
Giannis Antetokounmpo isn’t the only high-quality player stuck on a bad Milwaukee team. Bobby Portis doesn’t have the athletic upside of Antetokounmpo, but his shot-making ability is up there with the best role players in the league.
Portis is shooting a career-best 47.4% from 3-point territory this season, averaging 13.1 points on only 10.6 field goal attempts per game. If the Bucks choose to be sellers ahead of the league’s trade deadline, there will surely be a number of active suitors hoping to add Portis for their team’s playoff run.
Ivica Zubac, Los Angeles Clippers
Nikola Jokić isn’t the only big man in the NBA who makes tough shots look easy. Among centers averaging at least 10 field goal attempts per game this season, Ivica Zubac ranks second in FGOE.
Through 37 games this year, Zubac is averaging 14.8 points on 60.5% shooting – his fifth consecutive season scoring in double figures while shooting north of 60% from the floor. Since 2000, Zubac is one of only seven players to have at least seasons meeting such criteria.
The Takeaway
Through the conclusion of play Tuesday, there are 20 players in the NBA this season averaging at least 25 points per game. On this date a decade ago, only five players were averaging better than 25 points per game.
Suffice it to say, we can no longer simply look at points per game to determine who is a skilled scorer. We need metrics like FGOE to help us determine who is truly performing better than their peers.
Early on, against the Clippers, the Lakers’ offense was humming.
This was largely due to Luka Dončić. He was aggressive, like he typically is at the start of games, which helped LA jump out to a four-point lead midway through the opening quarter.
However, LA’s offense quickly stalled. While Luka’s shot diet consisted of double-digit attempts, no other Laker took more than four shots in the opening quarter.
With the Lakers struggling to stop Kawhi Leonard, who returned to the court, and scoring becoming a challenge, the Clippers took control of the game before the second quarter even began.
The Clippers led by as many as 26 points, but the Lakers didn’t go away quietly. They went on multiple runs in the second half and got to within two points of their rival.
After the loss, Lakers head coach JJ Redick broke down why his team couldn’t complete the comeback.
“Just a poor job of just defensive coverage execution and then just didn’t trust each other on the offensive end,” Redick said. “Not enough passing. That was a lot of the game, not enough passing. I think that’s a consistent thing when we don’t play well. We don’t pass to each other and we don’t execute defensively.”
Not a lot of passing from the Lakers? That sounds like something the team’s point guard, Luka, would be responsible for.
While it’s true that Dončić is the best player on the Lakers and is averaging the most points in the league, as the primary ball handler, he has to help keep the ball moving.
“There’s got to be a trust factor with all our guys just to trust the pass,” Redick said. “That starts with Luka. He’s going to have the ball the most of everyone. He’s got to trust the pass. He gets two on him and he’s playing in a crowd, he’s got to pass the ball. I think as much as we can talk about being connected on defense, you got to be connected on offense.”
It’s great to hear Redick calling out Luka needing to trust the pass and making the right play. This is almost certainly something he has told him privately, and making it public only hammers home the fact that this is a top priority.
Luka can do it all, but he can’t do it alone. He needs the role players to do their job, and that happens when they get looks at the basket and knock them down.
Also, when players don’t get the ball for long stretches, then when they do they might get a bit ansy and feel they have to take a shot even if it’s not a good look.
Afterall, it’s been a while since they’ve gotten the ball, who knows when they’ll get it again.
“I think it just goes back to the human element of everything,” Redick said. “Guys are worried about their futures and that’s what happens when you have a team full of free agents and player options. I think it’s just natural you’re going to worry about the offense. I’ve been there. You can get in your head a little bit. ‘I played five minutes. I haven’t got a shot yet.’ That’s a human thing. It’s not anybody’s fault.”
The Lakers are in a unique situation where the majority of their team is not under contract for next year.
So, things can go sideways for them if players start getting frustrated with a lack of ball distribution, start thinking about their numbers and begin looking out for themselves more than the team.
This is where LA benefits from Redick being a former player. He understands this situation and is sensitive to it. He should be able to navigate these potential issues and work through them.
More than anything, though, the ball needs to move. No one can move faster than the ball. If Luka and the Lakers focus on getting the best shot possible, that should lead to a faster pace, a better offense, more points and ultimately more wins.
Now that it’s been called out, it’s up to Luka to step up as the leader, trust his teammates and make that extra pass.
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The Suns are staring down the final stop of a six-game road trip, and after face-planting out of the gate with two losses, they have steadied themselves and ripped off three straight wins. That alone makes this a good trip. Beat Atlanta, and it turns into a great one. 4-2 on the East Coast is nothing to sneeze at. Gesundheit
The problem is history. The last time Phoenix won a game in Atlanta was March 24, 2014. A different era. Eric Bledsoe and Goran Dragic were cooking, the vibes were sneaky good, and that team felt fun in the same unexpected way this one does now. Since then, Georgia has been a house of horrors. Why Georgia? Why?!
Atlanta is different now, too. The post Trae Young Hawks are scrappy, annoying, and hanging around the Play-In picture. Jalen Johnson is turning into an All-Star in real time. Dyson Daniels is a full-blown menace. And the scars are fresh. Phoenix blew a 22-point fourth-quarter lead against this team earlier this season.
So this is not a scheduled win. This is an exorcism. A chance to close the trip strong and bury a few demons while they are at it. Grab your sword. This one is going to be a fight.
Probable Starters
Injury Report
Suns
Jordan Goodwin — AVAILABLE (Jaw Sprain)
Hawks
N’Faly Dante — OUT (Right ACL)
Kristaps Porzingis — OUT (Left Achilles)
Zaccharie Risacher — OUT (Left Knee)
What to Watch For
We will start on the Suns’ side of the ball, because that is where the intrigue lives. The big thing to watch is the continued integration of Jalen Green and how those minutes shake out. Ryan Dunn was the one who took the hit against Philadelphia, but Atlanta is longer and more athletic across the board. That opens up a different question. Is it Collin Gillespie? Is it Jordan Goodwin? Somebody is going to feel the squeeze as Green works his way back in.
As for Atlanta, do not let the 21-25 record lull you to sleep. This team is frisky. They are eighth in the league in three-point percentage on the ninth-most attempts. Even without Trae Young, they continue to move the ball as well as anyone, leading the league in assists. They play fast, second in pace, and they hunt passing lanes, ranking fourth in steals per game.
That puts a big red circle around one thing for Phoenix tonight. Ball security. If the Suns are loose with it, this game can get sideways in a hurry.
Key to a Suns Win
Stay focused. This is a tough one, not only because Atlanta can throw real problems at you, but because this is the final stop of a six-game road trip. From a human standpoint, you can feel it. Guys are ready to go home. Ready to get on a plane. Ready to land back in Phoenix and settle into a five-game home stand. That temptation is real.
But there is work left to do.
The Hawks are not going to roll over. They scratch. They claw. They hang around. They are fifth in the league in points off turnovers at 20.2 a night, and the Suns sit sixth-most in points allowed off turnovers at 19.7. That is not a coincidence waiting to happen. That is a warning sign.
If Phoenix gets loose with the ball, this game will turn fast. Ball security has to be the headline. Handle that, and the flight home feels a lot better. Ignore it, and Atlanta will make you pay.
Prediction
I want the good vibes to keep rolling. Coming into this trip, 3-3 felt like the reasonable outcome. Respectable. You take it and move on. But now there is an opening for 4-2, and that changes the conversation. That turns a solid trip into a great one.
So go finish it the right way. Lock in. Handle the ball. Do not let the end of the road trip creep into your head. Devin Booker pours in 28. Jalen Green gives you 20 off the bench and bends the game with his speed. Phoenix closes the book, boards the plane, and flies home with momentum humming.
Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll ranked ninth on MLB Network’s Top 100 Players Right Now countdown earlier tonight. The two-time All-Star, who was ranked 32nd on the Top 100 Players Right Now countdown last year, finished one spot ahead of five-time All-Star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Toronto Blue Jays and one spot behind 2025 American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers. On Carroll, MLB Network analyst Steve Phillips said, “He now is that combination of power and speed, and those are the most impactful players in the game. Those 30-plus homers, 30 doubles from him, the stolen base numbers from him, and he’s doing such unique things right now with what he’s done at the plate.”
In addition to Carroll, teammate Ketel Marte ranked 19th last night while Geraldo Perdomo ranked 24th on Monday on the Top 100 Players Right Now. Here is the top 25 listing, along with the previous year’s position in brackets.
Shohei Ohtani, DH/P, Dodgers (1)
Aaron Judge, OF, Yankees (2)
Bobby Witt Jr., SS, Royals (3)
Cal Raleigh, C, Mariners (59)
José Ramírez, 3B, Guardians (9)
Juan Soto, SS, Mets (4)
Paul Skenes, P, Pirates (15)
Tarik Skubal, P, Tigers (11)
Corbin Carroll, OF, Diamondbacks (32)
Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 1B, Blue Jays (13)
Francisco Lindor, SS, Mets (6)
Garrett Crochet, SP, Red Sox (56)
Yoshinobu Yamamoto, SP, Dodgers (63)
Ronald Acuña Jr., RF, Braves (16)
Fernando Tatis Jr., RF, Padres (22)
Julio Rodríguez, CF, Mariners (23)
Kyle Schwarber, DH, Phillies (65)
Mookie Betts, SS, Dodgers (5)
Ketel Marte, 2B, Diamondbacks (18)
Will Smith, C, Dodgers (60)
Kyle Tucker, RF, Dodgers (14)
Freddie Freeman, 1B, Dodgers (8)
Nick Kurtz, 1B, Athletics (no rank)
Geraldo Perdomo, SS, Diamondbacks (no rank)
Trea Turner, SS, Phillies (35)
Obviously, the Dodgers lead the way, with six (!) players on the list above. But nobody else has as many as the Diamondbacks, which is nice. The problem, of course, is not the top of the Arizona roster. It’s the sharp drop-off after that trio which is going to limit the D-backs. You have Gabriel Moreno, who should be solid. But otherwise? With all respect to the likes of Blaze Alexander, Alek Thomas, etc. I can’t feel they were unjustly overlooked for the top 100. The lack of pitchers is also apparent. Maybe next year, the Diamondbacks might have some listed here? Corbin Burnes and, perhaps, Ryne Nelson would be nice.
It’s also interesting to see Perdomo ranked below Carroll and Marte, even though by all metrics he was clearly more valuable than them last season. I think it’s Gerry’s lack of track record which is likely responsible for that. Perdomo was almost the highest new entry on the list this year, just one place beyond Nick Kurtz, who had a similarly unexpected breakout campaign. Anything close to the same season for Perdomo in 2026, and he could be looking at joining Carroll in the top ten.
The regular MLB Network Top 10 Right Now at each position gets under way on Monday. First up are the second baseman, and based on the above, Marte should be leading that group. But for now: what do you think – both of the Arizona player placements, and the top 25 in general?
The Pittsburgh Pirates are coming to the end of their offseason, which has been busy to say the least.
The Pirates have done a decent job acquiring offensive talent, including Brandon Lowe and Ryan O’Hearn, among others. Some members of the Bucs Dugout staff put their two cents in on the team’s grade for the offseason.
Austin Bechtold: B
The Pirates offseason is still incomplete, in my mind. They need to add a third baseman and left-handed fifth starter. Eugenio Suarez and either Tyler Anderson or Jose Quintana would be an A. Right now, it’s a B. They finally signed a free agent to a multi-year deal and I’m intrigued by O’Hearn. I like the Lowe and Garcia trades from Tampa and Boston. They need to solve third. I’m encouraged but what they’ve done and give Ben Cherington credit for the moves he’s made, but add one significant bat at third and it’s a great offseason.
Darren Yuvan: B+
That might be on a slight curve given that I wasn’t expecting the things that they did, but it was a successful offseason nonetheless. But not perfect, so that’s why it’s not an A. They still need help at third, maybe one more outfielder, and probably another left-handed arm, but there’s no doubt that this team improved.
Ethan Coulehan: B
They made more moves than I thought they would in the offseason. They didn’t sign anyone groundbreaking but I do think the moves they made and the pitching rotation that the Bucs have I think they could be a sneaky playoff team for 2026.
Jaiman White: B+
They added some good pieces on offense that should help to improve what was a terrible lineup in 2025. Adding two All-Stars like Lowe and O’Hearn was a very uncharacteristic move for the Pirates and it should give this lineup a much needed facelift. The Buccos sacrificed some starting pitching to get those pieces, but with one of the best rotations in baseball already the team should be in a good spot. Resigning McCutchen to one last contract will make this the perfect offseason.
Jeremy Brener: C
I think most of my Bucs Dugout comrades have been generous to Pirates general manager Ben Sherrington and what the team has done. The Pirates have made moves, but there’s no guarantee any of these will be a slam dunk. Lowe and O’Hearn are solid signings compared to what they have done in the past, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it will get the Pirates out of the doldrums of the NL Central standings.
They have missed on some opportunities, but have made a considerable effort to improve the roster. To me, that results in an average offseason, which explains the C grade.
BD community, what do you think of the team’s offseason? What grade would you give the Pirates for the offseason? Chime off in the comments section below.
“We are aware of the investigation, but at this time, we’ve not been contacted by the FBI or been served with any subpoenas,” the Colts said in Friday’s statement.
NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said the league would not comment on the report.
The Post reported Thursday that a federal grand jury subpoena it reviewed indicated the FBI is seeking records and information relating to Irsay’s death, his “substance (illegal and prescription) use,” and his “relationship with Dr. Harry Haroutunian,” an addiction specialist based in California. The subpoena was reportedly issued by the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California earlier this month.
The Associated Press left a message Friday seeking comment from Haroutunian, whom the Post reported had prescribed pain pills and ketamine to Irsay in the months before his May 2025 death.
In August, the Post reported Irsay was prescribed ketamine, which is most commonly used as a general anesthetic, in his final months and that police were called to the hotel room in Beverly Hills, California, where Irsay died. The Post's earlier report said Haroutunian, was staying at the hotel and overseeing Irsay’s treatment and that Haroutunian signed the death certificate.
The Post wrote that Irsay's official cause of death was listed as “cardiac arrest due to pneumonia and heart issues” but no autopsy was performed, and Beverly Hills police closed their investigation into the death days later.
When the first Post story was published in August, Irsay's three daughters who now run the Colts — Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Casey Foyt and Kalen Jackson — issued a statement saying their father “never claimed to be perfect” and acknowledging he used his voice “to reduce the stigma” of addiction and mental health issues to advocate for those who fought similar battles.
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AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi contributed to this report.
