The Sharks will begin preparing for the 2026-27 NHL season shortly, hoping this is the year they return to the playoffs for the first time in eight seasons. And when training camp begins, they can go into it knowing they have rising star Macklin Celebrini locked in for the long haul.
Agreeing to a five-year, $94 million contract extension in July and earning over $18 million per season, Celebrini will become the NHL’s highest-paid player when the new contract kicks in next season. But despite receiving the recognition he deserves, coming off a 100-point campaign last season, the new contract still feels weird for the 20-year-old face of the franchise.
“I kind of still feels weird because that’s not really why I’m playing or anything like that,” Celebrini told The Hollywood Reporter’s Belmont Cameli. “It was a long negotiation and trying to just figure out what worked best for our young core and how special our group is and making sure everyone gets paid and where the cap is going. So kind of figuring out what makes the most sense and we landed on that.”
Celebrini was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft and immediately became the Sharks’ star player. Scoring 25 goals and 38 assists in 70 games in his debut campaign, finishing with 65 points, Celebrini was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team.
Celebrini broke out last season, highlighted by a dominant run for Team Canada at the 2026 Summer Olympics. Guiding Canada to the silver medal, he finished the tournament with five goals and five assists (10 points) through six games and was the leading scorer. For his efforts, he was named to the Olympic All-Star team.
The Sharks boast one of the NHL’s youngest rosters and to have their core player in Celebrini here for a long time is a major step in the right direction for a franchise that used to be a perennial playoff contender. The playoffs are the main goal for the franchise this season and as long as Celebrini is healthy and playing at a high level, the Sharks should be a team to watch all season long.
The Sharks open training camp on Sept. 17 before their first preseason game against the Anaheim Ducks on Sept. 20. From then on, it will be all about preparing for their regular season opener against two-time NHL champions Florida Panthers at home on Oct. 1.
KANSAS CITY, MO - SEPTEMBER 09: Michael Soroka #34 of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitches during the game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on Wednesday, September 9, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Tanner Gatlin/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Recaps
[Dbacks.com] Gallen, Soroka return, but D-backs fall out of 3rd NL Wild Card spot – In Arizona’s 5-2 loss to the Royals in the series finale, Gallen worked the opening 3 1/3 innings. He wasn’t able to get through the fourth because a 10-pitch at-bat against Nick Loftin with one out lifted his pitch count to 68. Gallen gave up four hits and two runs (one earned), including a solo homer to Carter Jensen. Soroka took over for the fifth in his first relief appearance of the season. Soroka struck out Kyle Isbel to begin his outing, but then surrendered a single to Isaac Collins and a walk to Jensen before Bobby Witt Jr. snapped a 2-2 tie with a three-run homer that proved to be the game-winner.
[SI] The Good And Not So Good From Zac Gallen’s Return from Injury – Gallen’s four-seam fastball has been the hinge point of his issues for multiple seasons. It simply has not been an effective pitch since the early stages of 2024. Unfortunately, that was the case again Wednesday. Gallen shied away from his fastball after the third one he threw was hit 106.5 MPH (albeit for an out). He threw only nine out of 68 total pitches, tied with his sinker for the least-used offering on the night. The fastball’s velocity was also significantly down. This is not a major concern after a lengthy IL stint and an elbow injury. But Gallen’s four-seam averaged 91.2 MPH, which is 2.2 MPH down from his 93.4 yearly average.
[Arizona Sports] Diamondbacks’ Corbin Carroll to get MRI on Thursday – Manager Torey Lovullo told reporters on Tuesday that Carroll would likely need imaging after he was scratched from the lineup in Kansas City. Lovullo said Carroll would not play in their series finale on Wednesday against the Royals. Carroll said he suffered a back spasm last week during Arizona’s home series against the Philadelphia Phillies. He made 44 start starts before taking a seat on Monday, when he came off the bench late in the D-backs’ 5-4 win. The All-Star has gone through his ups and downs this season both in terms of performance and health. At the plate, Carroll was great through mid-June, suffered a miserable July and started to tick back up in August before a late-month slump.
[ProPublica] The Dominican Baseball Factory – On an evening in late 2021, in a pristine baseball complex in central Santo Domingo, a baby-faced 14-year-old outfielder in athletic gear named Belfi Rivera huddled in front of a computer screen. Next to him was John Carmona, who had been Belfi’s trainer and de facto caretaker since he was 11 years old. In a nearby office, Belfi’s parents stared anxiously at a separate computer. On the screen, calling into the Dominican Republic, were representatives of the Arizona Diamondbacks, there for a conversation that promised to shift forever the fortunes of Belfi and his parents. The team, they would soon learn, had agreed to pay Belfi $1.8 million after his 16th birthday. It was a deal Carmona had negotiated without consulting Belfi or his parents. It was also a handshake agreement that skirted Major League Baseball’s rules that bar teams from signing players younger than 16.
[SI] Derek Jeter’s Most Meaningful World Series Was the One He Lost – Twenty-five years later, the 2001 World Series—a series he lost—resonates more deeply with Jeter than most any career highlight. It was bigger than the team. Bigger than the title that slipped away. Bigger than baseball. “But, the interesting thing is even to this day, if I run into people, Yankee fans, New Yorkers, they’ll mention how great that World Series was—and no one mentions the fact that we lost. It’s really fascinating because Yankee fans are like no other. It’s, ‘You win a World Series or it’s a failure,’ which I 100% agree with. But in that particular World Series, no one I run into mentions the fact that we lost.”
[NBC Sports] Don’t expect Burnes to return to form in 2026 – James Schiano breaks down Diamondbacks pitcher Corbin Burnes’ season debut, pointing to his inefficiency and velocity while tempering expectations for a return to form this season.
[ESPN] Early MLB free agency intel: Skubal, Chisholm, Arraez, more – It’s anyone’s best guess as to how owners handle the free market. In the days leading up to the last lockout after the 2021 season, there was a flurry of big-money deals, including Corey Seager and Marcus Semien to Texas for $500 million combined; Javier Baez to Detroit for $140 million; Max Scherzer to the New York Mets for $130 million; Robbie Ray to Seattle for $115 million; and Kevin Gausman to Toronto for $110 million. Unlike last time, however, the owners today are seeking a system that would fundamentally change the game and its salaries. And without a sense of how previously signed contracts would work in a capped system, the reticence might be strong.
[MLB.com] Ohtani placed on injured list to rest left knee, right biceps injuries – “It was more just really huddling up and saying, ‘Hey, how are you going to feel on Friday? How are you going to feel on Saturday?'” Roberts said. “Talking to the doctors and training staff, there was not much certainty that he’d be in a much better place. With that, just taking it off the table seemed like the best course of action.” As a corresponding move, the Dodgers will call up MLB Pipeline’s No. 6 overall prospect, Josue De Paula, from Double-A Tulsa. De Paula will join the team on Friday in Miami. L.A. will need to add him to the 40-man roster ahead of his Major League debut.Roberts previously described placing Ohtani on the IL as a deterrent because the minimum-length IL stint for two-way players is 15 days. But after Ohtani did not show sufficient improvement over the past week, the Dodgers felt that he would be better served by taking a more extended stint to recover.
[ProPublica] The Rising Baseball Star, a Fatal Car Crash and the Fixer – Six years ago, Pittsburgh Pirates star prospect Oneil Cruz rear-ended a motorcycle, killing all three of its passengers and jeopardizing his career. Cruz’s parents brought in a fixer to pay off the victims’ families so they wouldn’t sue and wouldn’t demand that prosecutors pursue the case. In making the case go away, that fixer, Santo Caraballo, saved Cruz’s career and launched his own as one of the most powerful figures in Dominican baseball.
WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 19, 2026: Walker Janek #6 of the Houston Astros bats during the fourth inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Miami Marlins at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on March 19, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Another day of minor league baseball is in the books. See the results below.
AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (71-68) lost 8-6 (BOX SCORE)
Sugar Land got on the board in the first inning on a Price 3 run home run. In the 2nd inning, Spence connected on a solo home run. Alexander start for Sugar Land but struggled allowing 6 runs over 3.2 innings. In the third, Dezenzo drove in a run on a groundout. Swanson pitched in relief and allowed 2 runs as the Comets extended their lead. The offense got another run in the 8th on a Delgado groundout but that was it as Sugar Land fell 8-6.
Nic Swanson, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
Christian Roa, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
Roddery Munoz, RHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (61-73) won 5-3 (BOX SCORE)
Shoemaker started for the Hooks and tossed 4 scoreless innings allowing just one hit. The offense got on the board in the 3rd inning scoring 4 runs on a Janek RBI double, Moss 2 run single and Holy RBI single. The pen allowed a few runs as the RockHounds made it close. The offense got an insurance run in the 9th on a Thomas sac fly and David tossed a scoreless 9th inning to close out the 5-3 win.
The New York Yankees beat the Colorado Rockies by multiple runs in the first two games of this series, and my Rockies vs. Yankees predictions expect more of the same in the finale.
New York's power should be front and center against Ryan Feltner, who bleeds home runs and will get no help from the favorable conditions at Yankee Stadium.
Let's break it all down with my MLB picks before first pitch at 7:05 p.m. ET.
Who will win Rockies vs Yankees today: Yankees -1.5 (58%)
For help understanding probabilities, see our odds calculator.
Ryan Feltner is one of the most hittable pitchers in the majors, ranking in the second percentile in xERA.
Pitching a healthy chunk of games at Coors Field hasn’t helped his cause but, unfortunately for Feltner, playing in warm weather at Yankee Stadium isn’t much better.
Feltner has posted a 5.91 ERA and allowed 1.86 HR/9 in hitter-friendly conditions. Things are unlikely to go well for him against a New York Yankees squad sitting third in ISO vs. right-handed pitching.
Max Fried should get a ton of run support, making the Yankees run line a buy up to 59%.
Rockies vs Yankees Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (53%)
Feltner has allowed nearly two baserunners per inning over the last 30 days. He's giving up a ton of traffic, and the Yankees certainly have the power to cash in.
They sit fifth in homers against righties — and third at home — despite playing a ton of games without Aaron Judge. Luis Garcia Jr. is also still relatively new to the scene and adds to their pop.
The Colorado Rockies quietly rank eighth in road wOBA vs. southpaws the past two months, and could cause headaches for Fried.
Play to 55%.
Rockies vs Yankees home run prediction: Aaron Judge (32%)
Aaron Judge hasn’t left the park since returning from injury, and this is the perfect storm for that to happen. Hot weather and wind blowing out create a great environment for homers, with a 22% boost projected for this game.
Judge also shines against Feltner’s pitch mix. Isolating the three pitches he uses at least 20% of the time facing righties, Judge owns a .270 ISO and a remarkably high 21.3% barrel rate. All rise!
Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 106-92, -7.4 units
Over/Under bets: 101-91-6, -2.61 units
Rockies vs Yankees weather
The bats will see a big boost with temperatures in the 80s and winds blowing out in an already hitter-friendly ballpark.
Rockies vs Yankees odds
Moneyline: Rockies 26% | Yankees 75%
Run line: Rockies +2.5 (55%) | Yankees -2.5 (45%)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (53%) | Under 8.5 (48%)
Rockies vs Yankees trend
The Yankees have covered the run line in 15 of their last 22 games for +11.15 units and a 42% ROI. Find more MLB betting trends for Rockies vs. Yankees.
How to watch Rockies vs Yankees and game info
Location
Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
Date
Thursday, September 10, 2026
First pitch
7:05 p.m. ET
TV
Rockies.TV, YES
Rockies starting pitcher
Ryan Feltner (5-9, 5.91 ERA)
Yankees starting pitcher
Max Fried (4-4, 2.73 ERA)
Rockies vs Yankees latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Tyson Jost is getting another chance to keep his NHL career going, and it comes with a return to an organization he knows well.
The former Colorado Avalanche first-round pick has signed a Professional Tryout Agreement (PTO) with the Nashville Predators, putting himself in position to compete for a contract when Nashville opens training camp.
The move also reunites Jost with Chris MacFarland, who served as an assistant general manager with the Avalanche during Jost’s time in Colorado and now holds the title of general manager and president of hockey operations in Nashville.
It is another opportunity for a player whose NHL career has taken him through several organizations since the Avalanche called his name with the 10th overall pick in the 2016 NHL Draft.
Jost spent more than five seasons in Colorado and established himself as a regular contributor during a significant period in franchise history. He suited up for 321 games with the Avalanche, collecting 45 goals and 58 assists for 103 points before the organization moved him at the 2021-22 trade deadline.
That trade created a connection between Jost and the Avalanche’s eventual championship that remains somewhat unusual.
Colorado dealt Jost to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for Nico Sturm, leaving behind a team that was beginning to look like a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. A few months later, the Avalanche were lifting the Cup—and Sturm was right there with them.
Sturm became a useful part of Colorado’s bottom six during the postseason, appearing in 13 playoff games and recording four points. He provided the type of reliable depth that can become invaluable over a long playoff run, making the trade one that ultimately worked out well for the Avalanche.
Jost, meanwhile, continued his career elsewhere.
After his stint in Minnesota, he eventually moved on to the Buffalo Sabres and Carolina Hurricanes before landing back with Nashville. The Predators claimed him off waivers in October, giving the veteran forward another opportunity to establish himself in an NHL lineup.
He made the most of that opportunity last season, appearing in 69 games for Nashville and finishing with eight goals and eight assists.
Now, the Predators are giving him another shot to earn his way onto the roster.
Jost enters camp with considerable NHL experience on his résumé. He has played 564 regular-season games, recording 74 goals and 177 points. While his offensive production has never reached the level Colorado hoped for when it drafted him in the first round, he has carved out a career through his versatility, work ethic and willingness to play a supporting role.
Those qualities are now being put to the test once again.
A PTO does not guarantee Jost a place on Nashville’s opening-night roster. Instead, it gives him a platform to make an impression during camp and preseason action and potentially earn a contract before the regular season begins.
For a player who has already experienced the highs and uncertainty that come with an NHL career, it is another opportunity to control what happens next.
Jost’s connection to Colorado will always be tied to the 2016 draft and the years he spent developing into an NHL player. But his most interesting link to the Avalanche may be the trade that sent him away just months before the franchise won its third Stanley Cup.
Colorado ultimately got a championship contributor in return.
Jost got a fresh start.
Nearly five years later, he’s chasing another one.
Let’s state the obvious: Derrick White had a miserable shooting season last year. In fact, pick the meanest adjective you can think of, replace our word miserable, and it probably fairly describes White’s season-long shooting woes.
But lost in those shooting struggles — with White connecting on a grisly 32.7 percent of 8.3 3-pointers per game, and shooting a meager 39.4 percent from the floor overall — was that White still was an advanced metrics darling, finishing among the league’s elite in net rating despite his misfires. His defense remained top tier and he routinely impacted winning during his court time.
The shots just would not fall.
For Day 3 of our Ramp to Camp series, we asked our panel: What version of Derrick White will the Celtics get this season?
We suspect you’ll hear a lot of prognosticators talking about a potential “bounce-back year” for White. The reality is that it’s simply his shot that needs to rebound. White put up All-Star-caliber production in basically every other facet of the game. But, thrust into an elevated offensive role while Jayson Tatum rehabbed, it was hard to ignore the shooting splits.
White still finished third on the team in net rating with Boston outscoring opponents by 11.3 points per 100 possessions during his floor time. Among all NBA players that averaged at least 30 minutes per game last season, White ranked fourth in net rating, one spot ahead of Denver MVP candidate Nikola Jokic. The only three players ahead of him were the actual MVP in Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (plus-16.3), Detroit’s Cade Cunningham (plus-11.4), and San Antonio’s Devin Vassell (plus-11.4).
White, despite his shooting woes, ranked in the 95th percentile at his position while generating 29.6 points per game off scoring and assists. He averaged a career-best 1.3 blocks per game, earned a spot on the All-Defense first team, and was sixth in voting for Defensive Player of the Year.
Go find your favorite advanced metric acronym (there’s a lot out there nowadays) and it probably loved White’s season. DARKO had him as a +1.5 DPM (full daily plus minus), the same mark Jaylen Brown posted while finishing sixth in MVP voting. Dunks & Threes’ Estimated Plus-Minus had him at +4.4, which was the 14th best mark in the NBA (one spot behind Cunningham).
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Derrick White’s defense remained elite last season despite the shooting struggles.
The good news for White is that a healthier Jayson Tatum ought to take a bunch of stress off White’s offensive creation and maybe jolt his shot quality this year. The bad news is that, with the departure of Brown, there will be lingering pressure to be a secondary scoring option. Maybe Paul George and Payton Pritchard can help alleviate some of that stress.
White turned 32 in July. He’ll cross 20,000 total NBA minutes played this season. He has to prove that the shooting funk wasn’t tied to age. If those shooting splits bounce back early in the season, there’s a good chance he could earn the All-Star nod that has somehow evaded him in recent years.
The Celtics need the confident White who punishes teams when they stray from him at the 3-point line. They need the White who ranked in the 97th percentile among guards while shooting 59.4 percent on all 2-point shots in 2024-25, and not the guy who dipped to the 36th percentile while shooting 48.7 percent on 2s last season.
If White finds his floater, the entire perception of his season completely changes.
Our guess is that his numbers perk back up and that a lot of the consternation dissipates. His bond with Tatum is well established. If Tatum can take much of the playmaking duties off White’s plate, it might free him up to thrive in more familiar ways.
The shot might bounce back, but White’s ability to impact winning has never wavered. That can’t change regardless of how he shoots the ball this season.
Jason Levine: Executive Producer, Content Integrations
We might not get the 2024 D-White but he’ll be better than last season. He was pegged as the No. 2 with Tatum out, and I think that’s asking too much. He needs to think the game like he normally does, and I think his shooting will be what we’re accustomed to with the lower level of pressure on his shoulders.
A 37-plus percent shooter from 3-point range and an All-Defensive team selection. The Celtics won’t be a real contender if he shoots as poorly as he did last season.
That’s hard to say. The Celtics would like to get a more comfortable Derrick White this year, because the team probably asked too much from him last year in Tatum’s absence. I simply believe they have a roster that needs him just as badly this year. Paul George is the wild card here. If the newcomer can be effective and available, White can easily slide into a role that suits him better. But those are some big ifs.
Josh Canu: Editor
I am unfortunately not as optimistic about Derrick White’s offense returning to its previous form. White is once again thrust into needing to be option No. 2 or 3 in the offense and we saw how that played out last season. Tatum should provide more open looks for shooters than Brown did, but I think White’s best days are behind him. He will still provide elite defense and solid playmaking, but I would feel better if he was more of a complementary piece than a focal point.
We should expect White to bounce back offensively after shooting a career-worst 39.4 percent from the floor and 32.7 percent from 3-point range. Tatum’s return and George’s presence will allow White to settle back into his catch-and-shoot role. Last season, White felt the need to carry the offense alongside Brown while Tatum was sidelined. In 2026-27, he should return to form as a dependable shooter while earning yet another All-Defensive nod.
PHOENIX, AZ - MARCH 21: Logan Wagner #23 of the Los Angeles Dodgers bats in the seventh inning during the game between the Chicago White Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Camelback Ranch on Saturday, March 21, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Rob Leiter/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Two games and two wins, as the Comets and Drillers were the only teams in action on Wednesday.
Player of the Day
Logan Wagner hasn’t had the easiest of transitions to Double-A, which is to be expected given he began the year in rookie ball. However, in this particular game against the Naturals, he was as menacing a hitter as the Drillers had at the plate, with a pair of long shots.
Although Wagner had multiple displays of power this season prior to yesterday’s game, it was only his second multihomer performance of the season, taking his season total to 22 across three separate levels.
Triple-A Oklahoma City
What did Gavin Stone, Edwin Díaz, and Kris Bubic all have in common as the Comets outhit the Space Cowboys on their way to an 8-6 win? All three of them failed to complete a full inning; Stone was removed with two outs in the first after seeing his pitch count rise over 30 in an inning in which he allowed three runs. Díaz’s pitch count climbed over 20 to secure a pair of outs as he allowed multiple walks, and lastly, Kris Bubic came into the game just to finish off the third inning started by Díaz.
The lack of length from several Comets pitchers led to Jackson Ferris coming in early and completing six innings of work as the Comets rode the hot hand all the way to the end of this game. Ferris had the incredibly rare six-inning save, allowing fewer hits (2) and runs (1) than the pitchers for the game’s first three innings combined.
Scoring six of their eight runs in the first two innings, the Comets were aggressive early and didn’t require a lot of slugging to reach this impressive total. Their most important hit came in the second when Ryan Fitzgerald knocked a bases-clearing double to make it 6-4 and give OKC its first lead of the game. James Tibbs III led the team with three runs scored, twice walking and also recording a hit.
In his final game with the Drillers before joining the big league club on Friday, Josue De Paula showed why he is one of this game’s most promising prospects. The Dodgers’ number one prospect homered as part of a blowout win for the Drillers. It was his 27th long shot of the season and one of four for the Drillers against zero from their opponent.
While the batting average has taken a big hit for Logan Wagner in his second promotion of the season—this one to the Drillers—the third baseman had his best game at this new level, securing a pair of long balls, now with six in 29 games in Double-A.
Alex Walsh, Christian Suarez, and Jacob Kmatz did a fantastic job behind starter Aidan Foeller, each of them delivering two-plus scoreless frames to keep the Naturals from even scoring multiple runs. Foeller ran into some problems early on, allowing four of the Naturals’ five hits in just 2.1 innings, but kept the damage minimal, not that it mattered much with the offense scoring 10.
High-A Great Lakes
There was no game in High-A, as the Loons return to postseason action this Thursday, visiting the Dragons.
Class-A Ontario
The Tower Buzzers also had an off-day, with Game 2 of their Division Series against the Storm coming this Thursday.
Transactions
The Dodgers extended Gavin Stone’s rehab assignment with the Comets.
Wednesday’s scores
Oklahoma City 8, Sugar Land 6
NW Arkansas 1, Tulsa 10
No games scheduled
No games scheduled
Thursday’s schedule
4:05 p.m. PT: Great Lakes (Brooks Auger) at Dayton (Kyle McCoy) – Division Series (GL up 1-0)
4:35 p.m. PT: Oklahoma City (TBD) vs. Sugar Land (Brandon McPherson)
5:05 p.m. PT: Tulsa (TBD) at NW Arkansas (Grant Grambell)
6:05 p.m. PT: Ontario (TBD) at Lake Elsinore (Kruz Schoolcraft) – Division Series (ONT down 1-0)
AMARILLO, TX - AUGUST 13: Leo de Vries #12 of the Midland RockHounds bats during the game between the Midland RockHounds and the Amarillo Sod Poodles at Hodgetown on Thursday, August 13, 2026 in Amarillo, Texas. (Photo by Elisa Chavez/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
Hello folks! Happy Thursday to you all.
Yesterday, Kade Anderson got his first big league win in a 3-2 Mariners victory over the Rangers. You’ve got to enjoy the little things once you realize a season is lost. Perhaps we’ll see some more encouraging signs from the team in today’s series finale kicking off at 1:10pm PT.
The A’s received devastating news on top prospect Leo De Vries, who will undergo shoulder surgery which is expected to have an eight month recovery timeline.
A’s left-handed pitching prospect Jamie Arnold was diagnosed with facial fractures after being struck by a line drive during Tuesday’s game. He will not require surgery but there is no timetable for his return to baseball activity.
Marc Normandin at Baseball Prospectus gave the optimist’s case for us getting to enjoy baseball games in 2027. ($)
Kent Babb at ESPN wrote about how Mike Trout is passing the baton to Pirates superstar shortstop Konnor Griffin.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - SEPTEMBER 9: Jonathan Aranda #8 of the Tampa Bay Rays reacts after scoring during the seventh inning against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on September 9, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Led by a George Lombard Jr. grand slam, a good Will Warren outing, and Aaron Judge’s first two hits since returning, the Yankees cruised past the Rockies on Wednesday night. It wasn’t a victory to remark on for too long considering the opposition, but it was exactly the type of game they needed as they try to make their way in the playoff race.
With the Yankees taking care of business, did any teams do them some favors to add onto the win? Let’s take a look back in today’s Rivalry Roundup.
Tampa Bay Rays (87-58) 7, Atlanta Braves (85-61) 2
The Rays timed yet another victory well, downing the Braves and preventing the Yankees from gaining a game in the AL East race.
Led by a Victor Mesa Jr. home run, the Rays struck early, putting up three runs in the second inning. Two frames later, they put up yet another three spot thanks to a combination of three hits, a walk, and a sacrifice fly. Those six runs proved to be plenty for the Rays.
That’s because Griffin Jax was very solid on the mound for Tampa Bay. He allowed just two hits in five innings, with the one run he allowed coming on a Drake Baldwin home run. Atlanta eventually got another run back as well, but the Braves managed just one baserunner over the final three innings as the Rays won fairly easily.
Other Games
Los Angeles Angels (56-90) 6, Boston Red Sox (80-67) 4: Homers from Zach Neto and Jose Siri allowed the Angels to put up a five spot in the third inning, carrying them past the Red Sox. The Angels jumped all over Red Sox starter Jake Bennett, picking up six runs on nine hits in 5.1 innings off him. For the rest of the game, Boston began to slowly chip away at their deficit. They brought the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the ninth, but it proved to be too late.
Pittsburgh Pirates (73-73) 4, Chicago White Sox (75-70) 2: After a tight contest, a three-run seventh inning from the Pirates, including two RBI from Konnor Griffin, helped Pittsburgh pull away and secure the win. That being said, all that was overshadowed by the benches clearing after a bit of some jawing following a double play turned by Pittsburgh. The White Sox were kept off the board for most of the game by a Pirates bullpen game, but did score a couple runs late to make things interesting, although not interesting enough.
Athletics (59-88) 2, Toronto Blue Jays (73-74) 0: The Blue Jays fell back under .500 as they were shutout at the hands of the lowly A’s. Starter Brady Basso threw four scoreless frames before the A’s bullpen finished things off, holding Toronto to no runs on six hits, as they left seven runners on base for the game.
Seattle Mariners (68-78) 3, Texas Rangers (72-74) 2: The Rangers dropped a winnable game in the AL west race as they managed just two runs against the Mariners. Seattle starter and highly rated recent callup Kade Anderson had his best game so far, holding Texas to one run in six innings, as the M’s offense did enough to squeak out the win.
Baltimore Orioles (71-76) 9, Cleveland Guardians (74-73) 5: The Orioles did most of their damage in an eight-run third inning that led to the Guardians failing to gain ground in the standings. Cleveland took a 2-0 lead in the first, but the O’s recorded eight hits, two walks, and a hit by pitch to take the lead and never look back.
Philadelphia Phillies (82-64) 11, Houston Astros (74-72) 7: Kyle Schwarber’s sixth inning grand slam proved to be the difference maker in a high-scoring game against the Astros. The teams traded runs early, with the Astros getting the better of that and holding a lead. However, the Phillies scored six runs in the sixth and held on from there.
The gang of kids in a scene from the film 'The Sandlot', 1993. (Photo by 20th Century-Fox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
When news broke over a week ago that Arte Moreno had reached an agreement to sell the Los Angeles Angels to Stan Kroenke, my buddy who lives in Mississippi texted me the—dare I say—iconic GIF from Angels in the Outfield:
That child actor is Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and he’s gone on to quite the acting career from starring in the sitcom 3rd Rock from the Sun to portraying Batman’s sidekick in The Dark Knight Rises, among many other credits. He’s a good actor.
The more I thought about it, the more I realized that the cast for Angels in the Outfield is stacked. I mean, you have JGL in one of his earliest roles, if not his first; then you have established movie stars at the time like Danny Glover and Christopher Lloyd; sitcom star Tony Danza; and future stars Adrien Brody and Matthew McConaughey.
And that’s not even it!
Does Angels in the Outfield boast the best movie cast of all the baseball movies? It’s off to a strong start, for sure. But I wanted to make sure, so I first listed all of the baseball movies I could think of, then narrowed it down to 11 of them. After that, I wrote down every actor I could think of from that movie before turning to IMDb to see if I missed anyone.
Today’s mission: decide which of these 11 baseball films, listed alphabetically, has the best cast, regardless of how good the movie actually is. Readers can vote at the end.
42
Released in 2013, this Jackie Robinson biopic boasts Marvel star Chadwick Boseman in the title role with Harrison Ford portraying Branch Rickey, the Dodgers GM who signed Robinson. That’s a heck of a 1-2 punch. The cast also includes Nicole Beharie, who’d go on to star in the television show Sleepy Hollow, as Rachel Robinson, plus two doctors from Grey’s Anatomy, the always underrated Hamish Linklater, Christopher Meloni as Leo Durocher, Lucas Black, Andre Holland, Alan Tudyk, John C. McGinley (aka Dr. Cox from Scrubs), and an actor with just an incredible last name, Brett Cullen.
Heck of a first entry. Let’s see if it can be topped.
A League of Their Own
Two titans of modern-day acting in the first two films: Harrison Ford vs Tom Hanks as Jimmy Dugan, the manager of the Rockford Peaches of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League during World War II. Accompanying Hanks: Geena Davis and Lori Petty as sisters who star for the Peaches; pop star Madonna; 47’s BFF Rosie O’Donnell; The Third Cusack; Jon Lovitz; famed director Garry Marshall as the owner/creator of the league; David Strathairn as his right-hand man; Bill Pillman as Davis’ character’s husband; and early TéaLeoni.
Angels in the Outfield
I went through a good chunk of these actors in the beginning, but to recap: Danny Glover, Christopher Lloyd, Tony Danza, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Adrien Brody, Matthew McConaughey. But joining them: Brenda Fricker, who just passed away and was famous for her role in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York; Jay O. Sanders; my father’s favorite cowboy actor, Ben Johnson, as the owner of the Angels; Neal McDonough; and Dermot Mulroney (not to be confused with Dylan McDermott).
Brewster’s Millions
I love this stupid movie. I have seen it entirely too many times. Richard Pryor stars as Montgomery Brewster, a minor-league pitcher who must spend $30 million in thirty days to inherit $300 million. I’m laughing as I write this because one of the tags for the movie on IMDB is “high-concept comedy.” Sure.
Anyway, starring alongside Pryor is the great John Candy, who plays Spike Nolan, his battery mate and best friend. Other actors include Lonette McKee, Mr. Law & Order himself, Jerry Orbach, Pat Hingle (who played Commissioner Gordon in the Batman movies from 1989 to 1997), and—get ready for this—RICK MORANIS!
One million points awarded.
Field of Dreams
This is probably the best movie on this list, but does it boast the best cast? It’s certainly a strong one with an in-his-prime Kevin Costner starring as an Iowa farmer who hears voices in his head that convince him to create a baseball field in his corn. Then some ghostly baseball players come out of the corn, one played by Ray Liotta, another by Art LaFleur (we’ll see him again), and one by Frank Whaley. Whaley’s character is also portrayed by the great Burt Lancaster in one of his final films. Newly minted scream queenAmy Madigan plays Costner’s wife while her real-life husband, Ed Harris, is The Voice.
Last but certainly not least, James Earl Jones portrays Terence Mann, an early foil to Costner’s Ray Kinsella who then helps solve the mysteries spoken by The Voice.
(Uncredited as fans at Fenway: Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, but they’re just extras here, so I’m not counting them.)
Brief interlude here to recognize two movies that feature baseball to a much smaller degree:
Bit of a cheat here as I’m considering all three of the Major League movies. The original’s cast is stacked with the likes of Tom Berenger, Charlie Sheen, and Wesley Snipes, but the first sequel brings in Omar Epps to replace Snipes while the second sequel—a very awful movie that you should at least watch once—stars that guy from Quantum Leap, a young Walton Goggins, and Ted McGinley of Married…with Children and Shrinking fame.
Corbin Bernsen is Roger Dorn in all three films while Dennis Haysbert also shows up in the trio. Rene Russo plays Berenger’s significant other in the first and then is barely in the second while Margaret Whitton excellently mocks Marge Schott. James Gammon, Chelcie Ross, David Keith, and everybody’s favorite announcer, Bob Uecker, also shine in these flicks.
Moneyball
Quality over quantity for Moneyball, which makes sense. Brad Pitt leads as Billy Beane, the general manager of the cheap Oakland Athletics. Jonah Hill co-stars as his right-hand man not named Paul DePodesta while the late Phllip Seymour Hoffman captures the disgruntled manager, Art Howe. Robin Wright, Chris Pratt, and Reed Diamond—shoutouts to Homicide: Life on the Street and The Shield, two of the best cop shows ever—also star. Arliss Howard plays Red Sox owner Johny Henry for one memorable scene. Howard will show up again later in this list.
The Natural
After two very strong candidates in Major League and Moneyball, we have The Natural, which may top both of them. Three Roberts lead the way: Redford as Roy Hobbs, Duvall as journalist Max Mercy, and Prosky as the majority owner known simply as The Judge. But that’s far from all: Glenn Close, Kim Basinger, and Barbara Hershey are also in the movie alongside the likes of Wilford Brimley, Joe Don Baker, Michael Madsen, and Richard Farnsworth.
Folks, I think we may have a new leader in the clubhouse.
Rookie of the Year
Daniel Stern directed this movie about a boy named Henry, played by Thomas Ian Nicholas, who breaks his arm, but when it heals, he can suddenly pitch as fast as Jacob Misiorowski. More believable than The Miz, Henry is a bullpen arm. Eddie Bracken, who plays the owner of the Cubs, has his son, played by Dan Hedaya, sign Henry. Amy Morton stars as Henry’s secretly ballplaying mother while Bruce Altman is truly slimy as her boyfriend.
Lest we forget, Gary Busey, always a wildcard, plays the team’s aging ace, Chet Steadman.
The Sandlot
Interesting candidate here as the main characters are all played by child actors who a) do an amazing job playing kids of a bygone era who love playing baseball during the summer and b) unlike Joseph Gordon-Levitt in Angels in the Outfield and Thomas Ian Nicholas of Rookie of the Year, didn’t do much afterward. Still, these kids are all brilliant.
Of the adult actors in the movie, Karen Allen plays, uh, Mom, who is the mother of the main character, Scotty Smalls. Denis Leary plays Bill, Smalls’ stepdad. Art LaFleur makes the list for the second time, this time as the specter of Babe Ruth. Arliss Howard, also in Moneyball, plays an adult version of Smalls, now a broadcaster for the Dodgers. And James Earl Jones makes his second appearance, this time as the owner of the misunderstood Hercules, the dog who loves to collect baseballs.
The Scout
Last and least, we have The Scout, which stars two of my favorite actors: Albert Brooks as a scout for the Yankees who finds an incredible, Shohei Ohtani-esque baseball talent portrayed by Brendan Fraser. Also in this film: Diane Wiest, the subject of the joke of one of the best cold opens in recent sitcom history:
Those are the eleven contenders. I have to say, I think I’m going with…The Natural by a smidgen over A League of Their Own followed by Field of Dreams. I’m going with Moneyball and Angels in the Outfield to round out the top five.
But now it’s your turn to vote. Poll limited to six options, if it’s an option not listed, feel free to speak up in the comments!
The Lake Elsinore Storm completed their regular season schedule with a 4-1 record for the week and a cancelled game. Unanticipated weather conditions made the Lake Elsinore field unplayable. The tarp had not been deployed the day before the night and early morning rain arrived.
The championship playoff, a best-of-three series against the Ontario Tower Buzzers, started Tuesday, today and Friday, if needed.
Multiple roster moves occurred at the end of the Bridge League in Arizona and the end of both A-level seasons.
RHP JP France and RHP José Leclerc were released from El Paso. Outfielder Kai Murphy and catcher Victor Duarte were returned to the development list.
Outfielder Braedon Karpathios, LHP Luis Gutierrez, and catcher Anthony Vilar were promoted from San Antonio to El Paso.
RHP Trevor Gott was signed to a minor league contract and assigned to El Paso.
RHP Carson Montgomery, infielder Kerrington Cross, and RHP Will Varmette were promoted from Fort Wayne to San Antonio.
The Lake Elsinore Storm received 2026 first-rounder Coleman Borthwick for their playoff roster. The righty has been pitching in the Bridge League. LHP Jeronimo Palmeros was sent to Arizona to open a roster spot for Borthwick.
El Paso Chihuahuas (56-82 record, last in PCL East)
The Chihuahuas split their week’s series while continuing to struggle with enough pitching to hold opponents in check. RHP Evan Fitterer was their most effective starter for the season with a 4.38 ERA in 88.1 innings pitched in 26 appearances and 20 starts.
RHP Hunter Stratton, acquired at the trade deadline, has pitched in 11 games and 14.2 innings with a 1.23 ERA.
RHP Jhony Brito, called up to the Padres briefly with the roster expansion, returned to El Paso with the activation of Nick Pivetta. He has started and relieved in his 42.1 innings pitched since coming off the injured list. Brito should have a more defined role with next season’s Spring Training work.
The Chihuahuas never really had a chance for a winning season with the constant flow of players back and forth with the parent club. Their offense was robbed of all their effective hitters while the pitching was also in flux and underperformed.
Of the remaining players on El Paso’s offensive roster, outfielder Nick Solak has had the best season. In 105 games, Solak is hitting .316/.379/.505 with 26 doubles, two triples, and 16 home runs for 73 RBI.
San Antonio Missions (58-74 record, last in Texas League South)
The Missions also split their series this past week.
Outfielder Braedon Karpathios, who struggled for most of the season after breaking out last year, has surged over the past month. In the first two games of the week, Karpathios had 7 hits with 2 homers and 9 RBI. He finished the six games hitting .636 (three doubles, two homers, 13 RBI) for a 1.712 OPS. He earned Texas League Player of the Week honors for that outburst. He was also promoted to El Paso for the last two weeks of their season.
LHP Luis Gutierrez, working to get back into form after missing most of the season with a shoulder injury, had a good start. He threw three innings with two hits and four strikeouts, not allowing a run. He was promoted to El Paso for their last two weeks and could see time in the AFL to continue to work back into form.
RHP Francis Peña, who has struggled with command most of the year, is finishing strong for the Missions. In two appearances, Pena struck out four over four innings pitched. He has a 27.6% K rate but also has a 14.2% walk rate for the year.
Fort Wayne TinCaps (56-74 record, last in Midwest League East)
The TinCaps went 4-2 for the week, with third baseman Kerrington Cross finishing his Single-A stint with a good week. He had a 1.073 OPS for the week and has been hitting for more power of late. Over his last 27 games with Fort Wayne, Cross hit .269/.382/.441. After a dominant start in Lake Elsinore, Cross struggled when promoted to Fort Wayne but looks to have adjusted as the season ended for the team. He was promoted to San Antonio to finish out the season. Quite the first pro year for the 2025 7th-rounder.
RHP Winyer Chourio, 22, signed with the Padres in 2024 as an international player. He played in the ACL in 2025 and began this season with Lake Elsinore, promoted in June. Over those two levels, Chourio has a 6-5 record and a 4.56 ERA in 92.2 innings pitched. Also finishing strong, Chourio has a 2.29 ERA over his final five appearances after struggling to begin his time with the TinCaps.
Catcher Robbie Lavey, the only 2026 Padres draftee to start his pro career in Single-A, played in 16 games with Fort Wayne, hitting .241/.302/.431 with five doubles and two homers for 12 RBI.
Lake Elsinore Storm (66-65 record, 2nd in California League South)
The Storm finished strong after struggling for all of the second half of the season. Shortstop Jorge Quintana, acquired at last year’s trade deadline, got some time at third base after new draftee Elliot Lascelles joined the team, playing at short. Quintana, 19, is still growing into his 6-2 frame. He might be a better fit at third base in the long run. He has just begun to come into his power swing, hitting nine homers in 103 games.
Outfielder Qrey Lott, 21, is an undrafted free agent signed in July 2025. His first full pro season resulted in a .272/.385/.420 batting line with 14 doubles, two triples, eight home runs and 42 RBI in 95 games. He is not in the Padres’ top 30 prospect list but bears watching.
2026 second-rounder SS Elliot Lascelles and seventh-rounder IF Joe Tiroly both did well in their pro debuts after signing their contracts. Lascelles hit .321/.406/.429 in 15 games with only 10 strikeouts in 64 plate appearances.
Tiroly hit .323/.380/.692 with seven home runs and 16 RBI in 17 games and 71 plate appearances. He struck out 14 times.
RHP Jesus Castro, 19, completed his first stateside pro season with a five-inning outing, allowing four hits and one run. In 90.1 innings pitched, Castro has a 4.18 ERA in 22 games and 20 games started with 100 strikeouts to 31 walks.
LHP Kruz Schoolcraft had a very inconsistent first season as a Padres prospect. In 22 starts and 79.1 innings pitched, Schoolcraft has a 5.90 ERA with 82 strikeouts and 57 walks.
The Instructional League begins in Arizona before the start of the Arizona Fall League. AFL begins on Oct. 3.
Feb 23, 2026; Scottsdale, Arizona, USA; Athletics shortstop Leo de Vries (83) prepares to play the San Francisco Giants at Scottsdale Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Good morning A’s fans!
The A’s got hit with more bad injury news recently concerning two of the team’s top two prospects. Young infielder Leo De Vries is set to undergo the knife and be down longer than people expected, possibly as long as eight months:
Can confirm A's No. 1 prospect Leo De Vries will undergo right shoulder surgery to repair an anterior labrum tear. Recovery time could be up to eight months.
The surgery isn’t the surprise, it’s the time he’ll be down for. It is major shoulder surgery though so the timeline shouldn’t come as a complete shock when you think about it. Most of the recent examples that have undergone a similar surgery like Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe or Toronto’s Anthony Santander missed at least eight months. Shohei Ohtani was only down for roughly four but that was to his non-throwing shoulder, which De Vries’ is.
If he does end up missing eight months that’ll see him getting back into the swing of things by mid-May. After a strong year at Double-A there was the expectation he’d begin next year with the Aviators but with the extended time off he may return to the Rockhounds for a rehab stint before his promotion to the last level of the minors. And from there it’s one call from the Athletics’ dugout.
On the bright side the 19-year-old is still incredibly young for the level he played at this year and with youth on his side he should be able to recover from this with no issues or setbacks. No news is good news regarding our top prospect this offseason because that’ll mean his recovery is going smoothly. We’ll see where he is come spring.
Things take a darker turn for the Athletics from here. Left-handed pitching prospect Jamie Arnold was struck in the face by a comebacker in his second Triple-A start by the fourth batter he faced, He was immediately removed from the game.
Per A's: Jamie Arnold was taken to the hospital by the team's medical staff after getting hit by a comebacker on the face tonight with Triple-A Las Vegas. The club will provide another update when one is available.
Not a great day for injuries, or year for that matter. Good news though is that Arnold was able to walk off under his own power. He did make that trip to the hospital though and it was discovered he suffered intra orbital and maxillary sinus fractures. That’s your face bones, people.
It definitely could have been much worse though. Older A’s fans may remember what happened when Brandon McCarthy got hit right in the head with a line drive. Arnold seems to have dodged the worst of it but we’ll have to wait and see what the rest of his year looks like. Surgery won’t be required, so that’s good, but there’s also no time line for his return to the mound. And frankly, it may be a blessing in disguise to end his season here. He’s surpassed his career-high in innings pitched, has reached the final level of the minors and looked good in his first start with the Aviators. Call it a season and have a good offseason. He’ll be needed next year.
And it sounds like a family member shared some good news on X as well:
Thank you to everyone who has reached out to us and prayed for Jamie. Considering he took a ball to the face at 107mph, he’s doing well. Has a few broken bones on his left side cheek and a corneal abrasion, but could’ve been so much worse. God is good 🙏❤️ https://t.co/7w55fjAQTv
Looks like Shea just really wants to make it back:
Shea Langeliers will begin a rehab assignment Thursday with Triple-A Las Vegas. Could return as early as next week’s road trip. Will only see playing time as the DH.
Earlier today, Shea Langeliers completed some baserunning drills to continue rehab on his surgically repaired knee. Looks like he's moving around well. 🔜#Athleticspic.twitter.com/aEd2MUPNwH
ICYMI find out what A's farm director Ed Sprague has to say about top A's prospects like Leo De Vries, Jamie Arnold, Drew Burress, Devin Taylor & more on our latest podcast – only on A’s Cast @athleticscast24… https://t.co/7W0fCoFngN
Gage Wood of the Reading Phillies warms up before a Minor League Baseball game at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater, United States, on July 7, 2026. (Photo by Dan Squicciarini/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images
It wasn’t a good night for Lehigh Valley, but the news was much better out of Reading, where Gage Wood was backed by four home runs, and the Fightin’ Phils reached the precipice of a spot in the Eastern League playoffs.
Worcester 8, Lehigh Valley 3
The IronPigs fell into an early hole on Wednesday, giving up seven runs in the first four innings. Starting pitcher Brian Keller had a rough game, as he was responsible for all seven of those runs.
The ‘Pigs offense was quiet for most of the game before a too little, too late three-run eighth inning. Gabriel Rincones was one of the few players to have a good game with two hits, including his third home run of the season.
Reading 11, Erie 3
The Fightin’ Phils reduced their magic number for a playoff spot to one by bashing the Erie Seawolves on Wednesday. Gage Wood had another encouraging start, giving up two runs in his five innings to earn his first win of his career.
The Phils backed him with plenty of offense including four home runs. Aroon Escobar, Bryson Ware, Raylin Heredia, and Carson DeMartini all went deep in the game.
AN ABSOLUTE BOMB FROM AROON ESCOBAR 💣
The @Phillies No. 6 prospect CRUSHES his 10th homer of the year!
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 06: Head coach Nick Nurse of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts during the first quarter against the New York Knicks in Game Two of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 06, 2026 in New York City. 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 Dustin Satloff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
When Nick Nurse took over as the Sixers’ head coach ahead of the 2023-24 season, players were buzzing with excitement about his energy and creativity. But with Joel Embiid and Paul George cycling in and out of the lineup over the past two seasons, Nurse hasn’t gotten many chances to show off that side of himself. His experimentation with lineups was more out of necessity than anything else.
That shouldn’t be the case this coming season. Between Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown, VJ Edgecombe and some guy named LeBron James, the Sixers have more top-end talent than they’ve had arguably in decades. But their talent doesn’t just stop at their starting five. They’re far deeper than they’ve been at any point in the Nurse era, too.
After an up-and-down regular season last year, Nurse already started getting back in the good graces of Sixers fans by helping orchestrate the Sixers’ thrilling 3-1 series comeback against the Boston Celtics in the first round of the playoffs. Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla was so rattled by the end of that series that he started Baylor Scheierman, Luka Garza and Ron Harper Jr. in Game 7. On purpose!
Granted, the good vibes didn’t last long. A second-round sweep at the hands of the eventual champion New York Knicks left the Sixers looking rudderless heading into the offseason. Of course, that was before new president of basketball operations Mike Gansey pulled off the coup of all coups by landing both Brown and James.
Those two were the headliners of the offseason for obvious reasons, but they weren’t the Sixers’ only key additions. Dean Wade, Anfernee Simons, Ariel Hukporti and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope could all play key roles off the bench this season. Gansey also resisted the temptation to draft for fit over talent when he took Labaron Philon Jr. at No. 22 overall, giving the Sixers another ball-handler behind Maxey and Edgecombe.
It’s now on Nurse to figure out how all of these pieces will fit together.
Will the ‘mad scientist’ show up?
Nurse made a name for himself in Toronto when he helped guide the Raptors to their first-ever championship in 2019. His decision to deploy a box-and-one defense against Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry in the NBA Finals that year was some true sicko stuff.
“Trying new stuff, being innovative, is who Nick is,” then-Raptors president Masai Ujiri said about Nurse during his introductory press conference in Toronto in 2018. “You can tell he’s a tactician who really thinks the game.”
That innovation hasn’t been on display as much as expected in Philly… yet. The Sixers had 54 different starting lineups in 2024-25 (!), but that was a byproduct of injuries more than anything else. Much like Doc Rivers before him, Nurse flirted with the idea of double-big lineups featuring Embiid and either Andre Drummond or Adem Bona, but Embiid and Bona played only 46 minutes together last year, while Embiid and Drummond shared the floor for only eight minutes.
This season, Nurse should have plenty of chances to lean back into his experimental nature.
Nurse already confirmed that he plans to deploy LeBron as an “offense creator” who will “bring the ball up the floor and try to create for himself and others,” but Maxey and Edgecombe should get some ball-handling reps as well. Being able to use LeBron, Maxey and Edgecombe both as on- and off-ball weapons should make the Sixers that much more unpredictable on offense, so it’ll be imperative for Nurse not to lean solely on LeBron as the main ball-handler.
Nurse already began moving away from Embiid as the Sixers’ offensive fulcrum last season, and the Sixers’ offseason overhaul should only further expedite that process. This will be the first time in Embiid’s career where he doesn’t have to score 20-plus points on any given night to give the Sixers even a puncher’s chance of winning. Can Nurse get him to buy into scaling back his offensive role even more and instead get him to spend his energy on defense, rebounding, screen-setting and boxing out?
And how will he deploy Brown, who’s fresh off a career year as the No. 1 option in Boston? Brown’s handle isn’t tight enough to merit running the offense through him again, but he’s a legitimate weapon in isolations. He’s also big and physical enough to back down smaller defenders. Finding the balance between that and keeping the ball moving might be among Nurse’s greatest challenges this year.
Pace is the other big question looming over the Sixers offense. Maxey, James and Brown were second, third and fourth, respectively, in transition points per game last season, and Edgecombe’s youth and athleticism should make him a dynamic weapon in the open floor as well. Embiid… not so much. How does Nurse blend those two styles together?
While the Sixers’ starting five figure to open and close games together, they’ll also have plenty of time intermingling with bench players. It’ll be on Nurse to figure out which combinations and skill sets fit best together.
He did lean into more three-guard lineups with Maxey, Edgecombe and Quentin Grimes last year—again, mostly out of necessity—but will he try out units with three of Maxey, Edgecombe, Simons, KCP and Philon? How will the forward rotation shake out behind Brown and James? What’s the optimal role for Wade and Dominick Barlow this year? Do Jabari Walker and Justin Edwards factor into the rotation at all?
While it’s imperative for the starting five to develop chemistry—after all, they’ll be playing the lion’s share of the minutes if (when?) the Sixers make it to the playoffs—Nurse needs to lean into his experimental side during the regular season, especially early on. The Sixers will have an opportunity to address any holes in their roster at the trade deadline or on the buyout market, but they first need to identify their biggest needs before looking to rectify them.
Luckily, Nurse’s experience with integrating Kawhi Leonard into the 2018-19 Raptors could help him this season.
“Nurse was brought in to deliver outside-the-box thinking to a group that had grown stagnant, and accordingly, he was all over the map in his first go-around,” William Lou of Yahoo Sports wrote in 2019. “He treated the entire regular season as one great experiment, shuffling through 22 different starting lineups while managing a never-ending slew of injuries.” (Sound familiar?)
“The Raptors lacked the consistency and continuity that powered them under [former head coach Dwane] Casey, but it was a concerted sacrifice made in the name of versatility,” Lou added. “The ability to adapt was thought to be an advantage come playoff time.”
During his introductory press conference with the Raptors, Nurse specifically said that he wanted to get more creative defensively “so we can try to be ready for more things in the playoffs.” The box-and-one in the 2019 Finals was a total wild card, but Nurse used a double-big lineup with Serge Ibaka and Marc Gasol in the Raptors’ second-round series against the Sixers to flip the script after they fell into a 2-1 hole.
The Sixers will face a variety of threats throughout the Eastern Conference this year, all of whom present different challenges. The Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers will all trot out double-big lineups, while elite guards and wings and a five-out starting unit will be the New York Knicks’ calling card. Befitting their name, the Pacers figure to push the pace and overwhelm opponents with depth, while the Boston Celtics will once again likely look to leverage the math battle by bombing away from deep.
The Sixers need to be prepared for all of the stylistic challenges that their potential playoff opponents can present. The regular season is an 82-game crucible to get them ready for that. While they need to focus on winning as many games as possible for playoff-seeding purposes, using the same lineups and combinations night after night won’t do much to get them ready for the postseason.
In 2022, Ujiri described Nurse as a “mad scientist” who “lives, sleeps and drinks the game.” He’s had plenty of time this offseason to be in his lab figuring out the best ways to deploy the new talent he has at his disposal. In a few weeks, we’ll get to see what he’s cooked up.
COVERS INTEL:
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
