CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - APRIL 02: Khaman Maluach #10 of the Phoenix Suns defends against the Charlotte Hornets during their game at Spectrum Center on April 02, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As we saw with the steep punishment that the NBA handed out to the Los Angeles Clippers earlier this week, one of the most valuable assets an NBA team can have is draft picks, especially lottery selections. While many people believe that Los Angeles is in the toughest situation in the NBA after getting stripped five first-round picks, one of the reasons many don’t believe so is because they got to select Keaton Wagler fifth overall out of Illinois in this year’s draft.
While the Phoenix Suns had to give up Kevin Durant last offseason, they acquired the 10th overall pick, where they selected Khaman Maluach, which at the very least, helped them add young talent with a roster thin on draft picks and young players. Similar to the Clippers, Phoenix is thin on picks, just not for the same reason as the Clippers, but just like Los Angeles, a lot of their future relies on the development of their young players, with the former Duke center at the forefront of their best and most valuable young players.
That is why Phoenix needs to consider starting him earlier than later.
Whether it’s fair to believe or not, considering what many may think to be lofty expectations, one of owner Mat Ishbia’s most consistent messages is that the plan is to win a championship around Devin Booker.
Suns owner Mat Ishbia: “I’ll ride into a fire with Devin Booker, and I’ll do it proudly… Devin Booker is not getting traded. Devin Booker is our franchise player. We’re going to win a championship here with Devin Booker. I’m excited to do it and be next to him when we do that.” pic.twitter.com/CtyNXnLehp
With his physical traits, flashes of being able to stretch the floor and an encouraging sign, because of the Suns’ lack of assets and abundance of cap space over the next few seasons thanks to a variety longterm deals and Nassir Little and Bradley Beal’s contracts still on the books, Maluach may be the person with the best chance to be Booker’s running mate to help achieve the franchise’s goal.
While he didn’t play a lot during his rookie campaign and most of his minutes came when games were decided or the team was dealing with injuries, a strong summer has many excited about his prospects coming into the season. With Mark Williams now signed to a three-year deal for less than the mid-level exception and his future under team control, the team can feel more free in how they operate at the center position, not having to think about contract negotiations with a player they traded two first-round picks to acquire. In 60 games last season, Williams averaged 11.7 points, 8 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks per game. He missed the playoffs with a foot injury, and his numbers dipped once the 2026 part of the season started.
Receiving 2026 NBA All-Summer League Team honors, the player they call “Man Man,” averaged 19.5 points, 2 blocks, and 12.8 rebounds per game, which led Summer League.
To get back to the Finals and for the franchise to win its first playoff game since 2023, major development will be required. Players who weren’t key contributors last season need opportunities to contribute in new ways, and thanks to his raw talent and strong Summer, Khaman Maluach could be the perfect player to help the team improve and accomplish its main goal.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 05: Justin Foscue #14 of the Texas Rangers hits an RBI double during the eighth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Globe Life Field on September 05, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Texas Rangers lineup for September 6, 2026, against the Tampa Bay Rays: starting pitchers are MacKenzie Gore for the Rangers and Ian Seymour for the Rays.
Its the final game of a disappointing homestand, with the Rangers needing a win to split the series against the Rays and avoid a losing record in the homestand.
The lineup:
Duran — CF
Seager — SS
Foscue — 2B
Nimmo — RF
Langford — LF
Burger — 1B
O’Hoppe — DH
Diaz — C
Freeman — 3B
1:35 p.m. Central start time. The game is a pick ‘em.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - AUGUST 19: Aaron Nola #27 of the Philadephia Phillies in action against the Miami Marlins at Citizens Bank Park on August 19, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jasen Vinlove/Miami Marlins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Phillies and Braves will square off on Sunday afternoon in the third game of their four-game series. The teams split the first two with the Braves winning on Friday and the Phillies rebounding to take the second game.
Aaron Nola will start for the Phillies. The veteran righty has been very good lately, going 3-1 with a 2.65 ERA in August.
Tyler Mahle goes for the Braves. The righthander was acquired via trade at the end of July and has been a solid addition to the Atlanta rotation with a 1.48 ERA in five post-trade starts.
My Yankees vs. Padres predictions and MLB picks for Sunday, Sept. 6, back New York as a 51% favorite.
After a 5-1 N.Y. win on Saturday, the Yanks look to Gerrit Cole to keep their winning ways alive. First pitch comes to you live from Petco Park at 4:10 p.m. ET.
Who will win Yankees vs Padres today: Yankees (51%)
For help understanding probabilities, see our odds calculator.
Very simple get-in-and-get-out reasoning: The San Diego Padres have been lifeless at the dish.
Over their last 12 games, they own an 82 wRC+, .128 ISO, and .631 OPS while producing just a 5.9% barrel rate.
That lineup now draws New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole, who has been nails over his last five starts, owning a 2.97 ERA and 3.02 xERA while allowing just a 3.49% barrel rate to opposing hitters.
Padres starter and former Yankee Michael King has been very solid over his last three starts as well, but the Yankees have been light-years better than the Padres at the dish this past week. Lean on the hot bats and the more consistent arm.
Play to 54%.
COVERS INTEL: Spencer Jones has been crushing right-handed pitching over his last 30 at-bats, owning a .538 SLG and .307 ISO while generating a 62.5% hard-hit rate and 25% barrel rate.
Yankees vs Padres Over/Under pick: Under 6.5 (44%)
With how poorly the Padres have been swinging the bat lately and how well Gerrit Cole and Michael King have been on the rubber, this game should stay under this low total.
Cole has been allowing a ton of hard contact over his last five starts, but that comes with being a heavy fastball pitcher.
He still has a 1.12 WHIP over that stretch. King has done a great job limiting hard-hit balls across his last five starts, where he also sports a 1.71 ERA and 1.04 WHIP.
This feels like a 3-2 ballgame.
Yankees vs Padres home run prediction: Ben Rice (18%)
Yankees young slugger Ben Rice was the one guy who really stood out to leave the yard in this matchup. I also didn’t mind Spencer Jones or Fernando Tatis Jr., but Rice has been making a ton of hard contact while posting a 15% barrel rate over his last 30 plate appearances against right-handed pitchers.
Over his last 10 games, he also sports a .600 SLG and .659 xSLG while elevating the ball 65.6% of the time.
Colby Marchio's 2026 Transparency Record
2026 MLB bets: 465-926, -6.9 units
Home run bets: 120-411, +25.3 units
Yankees vs Padres weather
Ideal baseball weather this afternoon, with temperatures in the mid-80s and a 9 mph wind blowing in. Should make for a beautiful day at the ballpark and a great game to take in.
Yankees vs Padres odds
Moneyline: Yankees 51% | Padres 50%
Run line: Yankees -1.5 (38%) | Padres +1.5 (63%)
Over/Under: Over 6.5 (57%) | Under 6.5 (44%)
Yankees vs Padres trend
The New York Yankees have hit the Game Total Under in 23 of their last 35 away games (+9.85 Units / 25% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Yankees vs. Padres.
How to watch Yankees vs Padres and game info
Location
Petco Park, San Diego, CA
Date
Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026
First pitch
4:10 p.m. ET
TV
YES, Padres.TV
Yankees starting pitcher
Gerrit Cole (8-7, 3.29 ERA)
Padres starting pitcher
Michael King (9-9, 3.11 ERA)
Yankees vs Padres 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.
The Buffalo Sabres have been considered to have one of the deepest prospect pools in the NHL, which is in part due to them selecting high in recent drafts because of their not qualifying for the playoffs. The Sabres have displayed an eye for talent, and the organization’s developmental model has begun to yield results, with 2023 first rounder Zach Benson making an impact in the playoffs, and 2024 top pick Konsta Helenius appearing as one of the AHL’s top prospects the last two seasons.
Leading up to the opening of training camp in mid-September, we will look at the club's top 40 prospects. These players are all 25 years old or younger, whose rights are currently held by the Sabres or are on AHL or NHL deals, and have played less than 82 NHL games.
Ziemer was the Sabres third-round pick at the 2024 NHL Draft in Las Vegas after scoring 70 points (27 goals, 43 assists) in 61 games as part of the US National Development Program’s Under-18 squad, and after posting a dozen points and serving as team captain of Team USA at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Under-18s.
Where will Connor Hellebuyck end up?
The Minnesota native was a standout for Team USA at the 2025 World Junior in Ottawa last January in their gold medal-winning effort, and he put up good numbers (12 goals, 11 assists in 38 games) as a freshman at the University of Minnesota. Ziemer is a high-motor player with good two-way skills and possesses leadership abilities.
Those abilities led to him being named captain of Team USA for the 2026 WJC, where he scored six points in five games. The 20-year-old winger led the Golden Gophers in scoring in his sophomore campaign, posting 36 points (23 goals, 13 assists) in 36 games.
After his third Development Camp in July, Ziemer indicated that he hopes to work on his skating during his junior season, and it is expected that the Sabres will try to get him to turn pro and sign his entry-level deal after his junior season.
It’s the end of the road for netminder Dustin Tokarski. The 36-year-old didn’t exactly leave his mark in the NHL, having played only 86 NHL regular-season games with the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Montreal Canadiens, the Anaheim Ducks, the Buffalo Sabres, the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Carolina Hurricanes. He finishes his career with a 27-36-12 record, a 3.08 goals-against average and a .902 save percentage. 26 of his regular-season contests were played with the Tricolore, but Tokarski will be best remembered by Habs fans for his role in the 2014 playoffs.
When Chris Kreider collided with Carey Price in the first game of the Eastern Conference Final against the New York Rangers, Peter Budaj came in relief. When it was announced that Price was done for the playoffs, fans and pundits alike believed that the Slovakian goaltender would be taking over between the pipes, but the Sainte-Flanelle opted to turn to Tokarski instead.
The then-24-year-old put up a great fight in the five games he started, and although the Rangers won the series 4-2, Tokarski earned the only two playoff wins of his career and posted a 2.60 GAA and a .916 SV. Those playoffs will forever remain one of the biggest “what if” scenarios for the Canadiens: just how far would they have gone had Price not been injured? We’ll never know. However, it’s not as if they were obliterated because of subpar goaltending; Tokarski did well, and when the Habs were eliminated in Game 6, it was by a score of 1-0.
The goalkeeper spent most of his career in the AHL, playing parts of 16 seasons in that league, and picked up 208 wins (ninth all-time), 30 shutouts (eighth all-time) and two Calder Cup championships with the Norfolk Admirals and the Charlotte Checkers.
Tokarski last played in the NHL with the Hurricanes in 2024-25, and he will now work with the organization as a goaltending scout.
Jamie Vardy has returned to English football after signing for Burnley in the Championship as a free agent.
Vardy, who will be 40 in January, has signed a contract until the end of the season, having spent last season at Cremonese in Italy. A return to Leicester, where he spent 13 years and was a Premier League champion in 2016 and an FA Cup winner in 2021, was mooted in the summer, only for Vardy to rule out a reunion.
The Seattle Mariners hope to snap a three-game losing streak when they host the Athletics at T-Mobile Park on Sunday, Sept. 6.
First pitch is set for 4:10 p.m. ET, and my top Athletics vs. Mariners prediction and MLB picks call for a low-scoring game.
Who will win Athletics vs Mariners today: Athletics moneyline (37%)
For help understanding probabilities, see our odds calculator.
Though Gage Jump has struggled in recent starts, this is a matchup in which he should be able to limit the damage done against him. The Seattle Mariners bats have struggled against southpaws during the last 30 days, ranking 28th in wRC+, 28th in ISO, and 28th in strikeout rate.
The Athletics have started to turn a corner at the plate, too. They rank sixth in wRC+, third in batting average, and fifth in ISO against right-handed pitching during the last 14 days. Bryan Woo has thrown the ball well recently, but he's been pitching through a lat injury and could be vulnerable on normal rest, compared to recent outings in which he's been on extended rest.
The Athletics once again have value on the moneyline as they seek a series sweep this afternoon.
Athletics vs Mariners Over/Under pick: Under 7.5 (52%)
Seattle's bats have not had success against left-handed starters since the All-Star break, ranking 24th in wRC+ during the first five innings of games when facing a southpaw. Gage Jump has been tagged for some crooked numbers in recent outings, but this matchup is still likely to be an uphill challenge for the Mariners offense.
Bryan Woo owns a 2.89 ERA and 4.25 xERA since the beginning of August, allowingtwo earned runs or fewer in four of his five starts during that span. He will have to contend with a surging Athletics offense this afternoon, but this doesn't appear to be a spot in which he's at risk of getting shelled.
Both teams have rested bullpens for the series finale, too, which should limit scoring opportunities in the latter frames.
Athletics vs Mariners home run prediction: Lawrence Butler (14%)
Lawrence Butler has been on a tear since the beginning of August, hitting .355 with a 137 wRC+. Butler has a 9.2% barrel rate and 51.7% hard-hit rate during that span, meaning that he's been elevating and celebrating a lot.
Bryan Woo has allowed a lot of loud contact to left-handed hitters during the last 30 days: 11.4% barrel rate and a 65.7% hard-hit rate.
Butler has a great chance to leave the yard today.
Athletics vs Mariners weather
Weather shouldn't have a significant impact on this afternoon's contest, with the temperature forecasted at 67 degrees around first pitch.
Athletics vs Mariners odds
Moneyline: Athletics 37% | Mariners 64%
Run line: Athletics +1.5 | Mariners -1.5
Over/Under: Over 7.5 | Under 7.5
Athletics vs Mariners trend
The Athletics have cashed the moneyline in six of their last eight road games for +8.85 units and a 111% ROI. Find more MLB betting trends for Athletics vs. Mariners.
How to watch Athletics vs Mariners and game info
Location
T-Mobile Park, Seattle, WA
Date
Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026
First pitch
4:10 p.m. ET
TV
NBCS-California, Mariners.TV
Athletics starting pitcher
Gage Jump (6-9, 5.15 ERA)
Mariners starting pitcher
Bryan Woo (10-9, 4.25 ERA)
Athletics vs Mariners 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.
Once one of the most efficient playmakers in the NHL, former Florida Panthers and current Calgary Flames winger Jonathan Huberdeau has faced another setback.
Huberdeau will not open training camp with the Flames after undergoing hip surgery in March for a resurfacing injury.
Since he was traded to the Flames in 2022, Huberdeau has failed to match the production that made him such an offensive threat with Florida. Originally drafted third overall by the Panthers in 2011, Huberdeau scored 263 goals and 807 points in 962 games with the organization.
Huberdeau was a consistent point producer, but he also had his highs, most notably notching 30 goals and 85 assists for 115 points in the 2021-22 season, just before he was traded. Since being dealt, Huberdeau's career high with the Flames is just 28 goals and 62 points, both of which came during the 2024-25 season.
Outside of that campaign, his point totals with the Flames have been 55, 52, and, most recently, just 25 in 50 games. The 33-year-old is already struggling, is beginning to age, and is now dealing with a major injury.
There have been conflicting reports surrounding Huberdeau's health situation, but Flames GM Craig Conroy recently cleared the air after he himself caused a stir.
Conroy mentioned that Huberdeau “had a little bit of a setback, maybe two weeks ago, with his skating," but Conroy wanted to clarify.
“It was a poor choice of words on my part,” Conroy told Sportsnet.ca. “It's not that there was a setback. It was more the hope in me that he was going to be ready for camp. What I meant was it was a setback that he won't probably be ready for the first day of camp. That's where I made my mistake.
“There’s an appropriate timeline for this, between seven and nine months, and obviously we were hoping for the earliest return possible. But everybody is different."
Conroy also mentioned that Huberdeau is skating with teammates, but no timeline has been set for his return.
The surgery Huberdeau has had is one that many NHL players have undergone. Players like Patrick Kane and John Klingberg have returned to action following the procedure, but others like Ed Jovanovski, Carl Hagelin, Ryan Kesler, and Niklas Backstrom had their careers end shortly after.
The hope is that Huberdeau can return for the start of the season, play pain-free, and return to his best. On a rebuilding Flames roster, that might be a tough ask, but entering the fourth year of his eight-year, $10.5 million AAV contract, he has ample time to make his mark in Calgary.
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Chris Fagan tried to warn his Brisbane players the game would be tough but he doubts his words sunk in
Chris Fagan was seething on Saturday night. His team had lost for just the second time since May. They’d lost to a club whose chair had just a few weeks ago declared their season “torpedoed”. But Fagan has been around football long enough not to buy into that. He spent most of the buildup to the qualifying final warning his players and the commentariat that Sydney shouldn’t be taken lightly.
Fagan knows his own players inside out, and he knows they’re at their most vulnerable when the task before them seems straightforward. He can tell early whether the imperial Brisbane has turned up, or the complacent Brisbane. He says he can tell by their reaction times, by their energy and urgency at stoppages, by whether his defenders are on their heels or their toes. Sydney had six goals on the board before Lachie Neale had touched the ball, and Fagan’s careworn face said it all.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 05: Clayton Beeter #39 of the Washington Nationals reacts as he hands over the ball in Blake Butera #10 with Keibert Ruiz #20, after allowing a three run home run to Tommy Edman #25 of the Los Angeles Dodgers, for a 5-4 Dodger lead, during the seventh inning at Dodger Stadium on September 05, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Washington Nationals did it again, and by it, I mean blowing another save. Last night, the Nats blew their 36th save of the season. That obviously leads the league, but is also only one off tying the all-time record. With about 20 games to go, it is very likely that the 2026 Nationals will grab this piece of unwanted history.
We saw why the Nats have all these blown saves last night. Throughout the season, walks and home runs have killed this bullpen. This bullpen leads baseball in home runs allowed and walks. That is about the worst possible combination you can ask for. It leads to free base-runners and those free base-runners scoring.
Nationals relievers have collectively issued the most walks and surrendered the most home runs of any bullpen in the majors. Which helps explain how you have 36 blown saves in 144 games.
Clayton Beeter blew his 7th save of the season last night, and he is the poster boy for this issue. When he is on, Beeter can actually be an effective reliever. However, he has been off far too much, especially lately. Beeter does a good job avoiding hits with a .209 average against.
The walks and home runs kill him though, as we saw last night. He walked the second batter he faced before allowing a single and a 3-run homer. For the season, Beeter has allowed 1.57 HR/9 and has walked 6.07 batters per 9 innings. That is a toxic combination and Beeter is lucky his ERA is only 4.50 to be honest.
I wrote a piece about which relievers I thought locked down spots on the 2027 team. Beeter was not included and that erratic command is the reason why. He cannot be trusted as a high leverage arm and is not a multi-inning guy either. Beeter’s slider can be filthy, but he has proven that he is not a trustworthy arm.
If this is who Clayton Beeter is, I guess I'm glad we're seeing it now so the team knows not to plan around him as being one of the guys next year
— Stars and Strikes – Daily Nats Content (@starsstrikesbb) September 6, 2026
Obviously Beeter is not the only problem in the bullpen though. He leads the way with 7 blown saves, but there are still 29 more. Somehow, Mitchell Parker remains second on the team with 5 blown saves. Orlando Ribalta, Richard Lovelady and Tom Cosgrove have each blown three. Brad Lord, Cole Henry, Yovanny Cruz, PJ Poulin and Gus Varland have all blown two. Finally, Ken Waldichuk, Matt Krook, Riley Cornelio, Paxton Schultz and Max Kranick have each blown a solitary save.
It has truly been all hands on deck when it comes to blowing games. A big part of this is due to not having an actual closer. That is something that needs to change next year in my opinion. All this stuff about platoon matchups has its place, but in the 9th inning, you need an alpha.
We have seen the consequences of not having one this season. Even a guy like Kyle Finnegan, who was far from perfect at least brought some stability. The new regime may be hesitant to admit it, but this year has shown that the 9th inning is different.
The Nats are likely to get two more blown saves this year and set the all-time record for blown saves. However, I think there is some room for optimism going forward. Between the trade deadline and some homegrown arms emerging, there is some solid depth. We are seeing that with the likes of Erik Tolman, Jared Simpson and Jack Sinclair.
However, the blown save problem will remain until the Nats find a real killer in the back end. David Bednar, Adrian Morejon and Raisel Iglesias are the big ticket items in free agency this offseason. While the first two are probably out of the Nats price range, Iglesias is a guy I think the Nats should go after. He is exactly the type of stable veteran closer the Nats need.
One of the many issues with this bullpen is that there are just not enough adults in the room. Outside of Orlando Ribalta and Erik Tolman so far, all of these guys are just so scary to watch. I am tired of seeing the likes of Clayton Beeter either spray pitches way out of the zone or throw pitches right down the middle.
Honestly, watching this bullpen has been a traumatic experience for me, and I know that I’m not alone in this feeling. It is time to throw real resources at the back end of the bullpen. If setting the all time blown saves record is not a wake up call, then nothing will be.
With the lack of proven commodities, this bullpen being bad was not a surprise. However, the depths of their ineptitude did catch me off guard. With an analytically minded front office, I thought there would be more hits on some of the waiver claims or smaller moves. Honestly, none of Toboni’s bullpen waiver claims have worked.
If this regime is unable to build a bullpen on the cheap, they have to throw resources at the problem. They did this at the trade deadline, targeting relief prospects in trades over higher upside pieces. However, they will have to do more and find real proven commodities. Otherwise, we will be writing the same story again next season.
HOUSTON, TX - JULY 01: Houston Astros left fielder Joey Loperfido (10) hits a single in the bottom of the sixth inning during the MLB game between the Minnesota Twins and Houston Astros on July 1, 2026 at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Another day of minor league baseball is in the books. See the results below. Check out the previous day’s recap here.
AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (70-66) won 9-2 (BOX SCORE)
Mayer got the start for Sugar Land and went 5 innings allowing 2 runs, 1 earned. The offense got on the board in the first inning scoring 2 runs on a Price 2 run home run. They got 2 more runs in the 2nd inning on a Spence 2 run home run. In the third, the offense scored 2 again on a Biggio sac fly and Dezenzo RBI double. The offense added on with a Cole solo home run in the 7th inning and back to back home runs from Delgado and Guillemette in the 8th. The pen was great tossing 4 scoreless innings as they closed out the 9-2 win.
Bryce Mayer, RHP: 5.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 K
Alimber Santa, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
Nic Swanson, RHP: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
Roddery Munoz, RHP: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (59-72) lost 6-5 (BOX SCORE)
DeVos started for the Hooks and pitched 4 innings allowing 4 runs, 3 earned. The offense got on the board in the 4th inning on a Bush RBI single. After the Cardinals got a run in the 5th, the Hooks responded with 4 runs to tie it on a Call solo home run, Whitaker solo home run and Schiavone 2 run double. Leach allowed a run in the eighth as the Cardinals took the lead, and the Hooks’ offense was unable to respond in the ninth as Corpus Christi fell, 6-5.
Nolan DeVos, RHP: 4.0 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
Joey Mancini, RHP: 3.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
Hudson Leach, RHP: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
A+: Asheville Tourists (43-86) lost 11-4 (BOX SCORE)
Smith started for Asheville and went 4 innings allowing 5 runs, 3 earned. The offense got on the board in the 4th inning on a Walker RBI double and a run on an error. They picked up another run in the 6th inning on a Garcia RBI single. The bullpen struggled as Baez allowed 4 runs and Ogando allowed 2 runs. Asheville got a run in the 9th on a Neyens RBI double but that was it as they fell 11-4.
A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (71-58) lost 2-0 (BOX SCORE)
Ardines started for the Woodpeckers and was solid allowing 1 run over 4 innings of work. He was relieved by Estridge who tossed 3 innings allowing one run. While the pitching staff only allowed 2 runs on 2 hits, the offense had a tough day as they were shutout in the 2-0 loss.
ATLANTA, GA AUGUST 26: New York Yankees left fielder Clint Frazier (77) wears a face mask while batting during the MLB game between the New York Yankees and the Atlanta Braves on August 26th, 2020 at Truist Park in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
After years of mediocre play, the New York Yankees finally recognized that their window of contention had closed in July 2016, becoming sellers at the Trade Deadline first the first time since before I was born. With Andrew Miller, Aroldis Chapman, Carlos Beltrán, Iván Nova, and more headed elsewhere, the team brought in a veritable army of young prospects which, added to a stable that included 2016 breakout star Gary Sánchez, the young pitcher Luis Severino, and the mammoth outfielder Aaron Judge, would hopefully usher in a new era in Yankees baseball.
Foremost among these new additions would be a player whose loud personality made him loved by some members of the fanbase and hated by others in equal measure: the Red Thunder himself, Clint Frazier.
Clint Jackson Frazier Born: September 6, 1994 (Loganville, GA) Yankees Tenure: 2016-21
Born a little less than an hour outside Atlanta, Frazier established himself as a top prospect while at Loganville High School, where he went up against fellow future big leaguer Austin Meadows, who attended the rival Grayson High School. As a junior, he received an invitation to the Under Armour All-American Baseball Game, and as a senior, posted a .485/.561/1.134 slash line en route to being named the Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year.
As the top high school player in the 2013 draft, Frazier was selected fifth overall by Cleveland, whose $3.5 million signing bonus convinced him to forego his commitment to the University of Georgia and embark on his professional career.
Thanks to his oft-memed “legendary bat speed,” Frazier steadily climbed through the Cleveland farm system, reaching Triple-A in the middle of July 2016. But while he had taken great strides at the plate over his three years in professional ball, he still needed some time in the minors before he’d be ready for The Show. 2016, though, looked to be Cleveland’s best time to strike, and so the front office pushed all its chip into the center of the table and sent a massive package to the Yankees for reliever Andrew Miller – a package headlined, of course, by Frazier.
The young redhead immediately became the organization’s top prospect, rivaled only by fellow newcomer Gleyber Torres, formerly of the Cubs and acquired for Miller’s bullpenmate, Aroldis Chapman. With Judge, Sánchez, Tyler Austin (who also celebrates a birthday today!), and Mason Williams already receiving regular at-bats in the Bronx, the Yankees opted to send their new outfielder to Scranton, where he posted a .228/.278/.396 slash in 25 games.
Heading into the 2017 season, Frazier projected as the Yankees’ left fielder of the future — assuming, of course, that he continued to develop his pitch recognition. Unfortunately, in what would become a sign of things to come, unnecessary drama — at least partially imposed by others — began to follow him. Articles about his long red locks and the Yankees’ age-old (and very outdated) grooming policy, plus a false report that he wanted Mickey Mantle’s No. 7, made him a lightning rod for criticism, as the media looked for the baseball equivalent of Odell Beckham Jr., i.e. a player guaranteed to generate outrage, and therefore, clicks.
Despite the noise, Frazier performed on the diamond, eventually making his MLB debut in July 1st after fellow Baby Bomber suffered a devastating injury in the first inning of his debut the day before. He notched his first career hit with a sixth-inning leadoff double, and his first career homer to lead off the next frame. Seven days later, a three-run-shot off Milwaukee closer Corey Knebel gave the Yankees a 5-3 victory, his first walk-off bomb if his career.
Frazier ultimately appeared in 39 games as a rookie, missing time with an oblique injury, and while the team left him off the postseason roster, it looked like a lock that he would fill some kind of role for the 2018 Yankees, with a chance to earn a starting spot out of spring training. And then, everything went sideways.
First, the Yankees added reigning NL MVP Giancarlo Stanton, giving the Yankees the most crowded outfield in baseball, with Judge, Stanton, Aaron Hicks, Brett Gardner, and Jacoby Ellsbury all under contract (at the time, we didn’t know Ellsbury had played his last game in pinstripes). Then, on February 24, 2018, Frazier suffered the first of many concussions after colliding into the wall. Not only did these injuries limit him to 69 games between Triple-A and the Majors, it also meant that, when the team broke camp in 2019, they wanted Frazier to spend more time in the minors. Of course, the 2019 Yankees being the #NextManUp squad, they needed to recall Frazier almost immediately. The Red Thunder ran with his opportunity, slashing .324/.343/.632 with six home runs in 18 games …. and then sprained his left ankle, becoming the 15th member of the team to hit the injured list.
Upon his return to the lineup in May, Frazier struggled defensively, piling up miscues and errors — and not hitting well enough to overcome the mistakes — to the point that the team sent him down on June 16th after the sudden and unexpected acquisition of Edwin Encarnación. Meanwhile, he reinforced a poor reputation with the media, as he refused to talk to reporters after games and pointedly taking his full contractually-allowed three days to report to Scranton after his demotion. Since Mike Tauchman, Mike Ford, and even Cameron Maybin had continued to rake in The Show, the Yankees kept Frazier in the minors the rest of the year, with him making a cameo as a part-time player once the division had been locked up in September to keep the starters healthy down the stretch.
After years of underperformance, controversies, and injuries, the 2020 season represented Frazier’s last chance at making a good impression and carving out a role in the Bronx. Fortunately for him, he delivered. Thanks to injuries to Judge and Stanton, Frazier — fully free of concussion symptoms for the first time since 2018 — found himself penciled into the lineup on pretty much a daily basis, and he responded with a .267/.394/.511 slash line while earning a Gold Glove nomination in what was a weak year for corner outfielders. More importantly, he proved that he could be a positive role model off the field, wearing a mask while playing in order to do his part to slow the spread of COVID-19 during some of the worst days of the crisis — earning him the nickname I still call him today, “The Masked Swinger” (hey, “The Masked Singer” was a pretty fun show to pass the time with during the COVID shutdown).
Unfortunately, that season would prove to be the high point of Frazier’s career, as the young outfielder made a critical mistake. In a game against the Blue Jays that September, No. 77 suffered another concussion, and, afraid of disrupting his breakout campaign, opted not to tell the team. Still suffering from concussion-related symptoms, he began the 2021 season as the team’s everyday left fielder, struggled at the plate and in the field, and was placed on the injured list on July 1st with vision problems and vertigo. When he pulled himself from a rehab game that August, his Yankees career was effectively over. Frazier was designated for assignment that November, as the team turned to trade acquisition Joey Gallo to man left field.
Frazier played the next two years in Chicago, splitting 52 games between the North and South Sides. Ultimately, though, the injuries caught up to him, and after spending 2024 in the Atlantic League with the Charleston Dirty Birds, decided to hang up the spikes.
These days, Frazier hosts a podcast, occasionally making waves as he talks Yankees baseball, and while he often draws ire from fans (and even occasionally former teammates), he has sometimes shed light on the behind-the-scenes workings of the Aaron Boone Yankees. He remains to this day a polarizing figure. Still, as I look back on Frazier’s career on his 32nd birthday, I can’t help but look at those few stretches in which he was healthy and wonder, “What would have happened if Clint Frazier had never crashed into that outfield wall?”
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
PHOENIX, AZ - SEPTEMBER 01: Jesus Luzardo #44 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches during the game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on Tuesday, September 1, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Brendon Baranov/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Some systems are simple and obvious. Put a piece of paper into a shredder and confetti comes out. Put a dirty car through a car wash and it comes out clean . Put a little tray of cake batter into an Easy-Bake Oven and a little cake comes out (or at least, I assume it does. I never had one, even though I always kinda wanted one).
Pitchers, however, are not a a simple and obvious system. A vast array of inputs— pitch type, location, arm angle, grip, and more— go in, and a vast array of outputs—K%, spin, break both horizontal and vertical, so on, so forth— emerge. But the story need not always be complicated. Jesús Luzardo is having the best season of his career, with what would be a career low ERA (3.02) and WHIP (1.12). The output is as good as it’s ever been. So it stands to reason that the input—the pitches he’s throwing— are better than ever before too.
And they are! Only, they’re not. It’s both. Half of them are. Half of them aren’t.
Pitch Type
wOBA, 2025
wOBA, 2026
4-Seam Fastball
.345
.364
Changeup
.278
.344
Sinker
.455
.352
Sweeper
.231
.165
If you’d prefer to think in terms of batting average or slugging percentage, those follow the same pattern. Luzardo’s four-seamer and changeup are worse than last year, and his sinker and sweeper are better. This raises two questions: how is he pitching better, when half of his arsenal got worse? And how did his pitches change?
Let’s start with the first, because it’s fairly simple. For one thing, he’s throwing what is now his worst pitch, his four-seamer, less. It was his primary offering until now (technically, it did dip just beneath his now-extinct slider in 2022) He offered it 33.3% of the time in 2025, and 25.9% of the time this season. The spotlight that was once given to his four-seamer has now been given to his sweeper (38.2% usage, up from 33.3%) and sinker (17.3%, up from 10.8). He’s also removed his sparsely-used slider from the equation. Throw what’s working better more, and what’s not less; that’s a simple recipe for improving your overall output even if not every piece is improving. It also helps that the biggest positive change, the improvement in his sweeper, is in one of his primary offerings, and that the biggest negative change, the decline in his changeup, is in one of his secondaries.
So with that out of the way, what’s happened to the pitches themselves? There is one underlying change that affects all of them: his arm angle has dropped from 32 degrees to 29. His velocity has changed for the changeup (nearly two MPH less than last year), but his other three pitches are coming in at the same speed. Spin-wise, three of his pitches look mostly unchanged, but the changeup is moving differently: last season the spin direction was 9:45 on a clock, and this season it’s 9:00. He’s getting a little more vertical drop on all of his pitches, too, particularly on the sinker.
The improved drop may explain the sinker’s improved performance, or at least part of it. But the sweeper isn’t so different from last year, in terms of movement and velocity. By Stuff+ (a model that measures most everything that goes into a pitch except for location), it’s not meaningfully different from last year. How is he getting better results with it? He’s using it differently, for one thing. He’s dramatically increased his usage of it as a tool to push an advantage over batters, using it 54.3% of the time when he’s ahead in the count (from 37.8% last season), and about half the time when he’s got two strikes on a batter (from 34.1%).
But how about his control? By Location+, (which measures how well the pitcher locates a pitch, but doesn’t take velocity, movement, etc. into account), he’s actually worse at placing it than last year. And by Pitching+, which takes everything into account, the pitch is simply worse than last year (though still above average). Unfortunately, the data for this gets a bit messy: it combines sliders and sweepers, and last year Luzardo was still throwing his slider 6.5% of the time. So he may not actually be worse, or at least, not as much worse as it seems, at locating the sweeper this year. Perhaps he was particularly good at locating the slider, and removing it from his arsenal simply made it look like his control of the remaining sweeper got worse. But as I don’t have the ability to remove the sliders from the 2025 data, that’s just conjecture. It’s just strange that he’s getting such better results with a pitch that might, by some models, be worse.
Some systems are complicated. Luzardo’s sweeper is one of those. It’s not immediately clear to me how he’s getting improved results with it this year. Maybe the arm angle has done something to it that makes it harder for batters to pick up on. Maybe a change in one of his other pitches has had some sort of domino effect. Maybe it’s the changes in how often and in when he’s using it. Maybe pure variance is having an effect. Maybe it’s something finer, something that you’d need a proper pitching guru to see.
I’d really like to know. But I’m also not complaining.
Aug 25, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves shortstop Mauricio Dubon (14) runs to third against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Mauricio Dubón’s versatile positional weekend in Philadelphia continues with Sunday afternoon’s third game of a four-game set between the Braves and Phillies.
After starting in center field Friday and left on Saturday, Dubón will play shortstop and hit fifth for this 1:10 p.m. ET game on NBC.
That’s one of only a small handful of changes from Saturday’s Atlanta lineup, with the top six hitters remaining the same. Sean Murphy is back behind the plate and hitting seventh, and Mike Yastrzemski takes Dubón’s vacated outfield spot in left and rounds out the lineup.
The Phillies also made only a few changes from their most recent lineup. JT Realmuto gets a somewhat rare day off behind the plate, replaced by Garrett Stubbs, who will hit ninth. Left-handed bats Brandon Marsh (left) Justin Crawford (center) are also both back in the lineup, hitting seventh and eighth, respectively, with the Braves starting right-hander Tyler Mahle on the mound.
Considering the Braves are facing a career Phillies pitcher in right-hander Aaron Nola, it’s no big surprise that collectively they have a lot of career at-bats against him.
Overall, Atlanta’s current hitters are 113-for-388 (.291) against Nola with 22 homers, 56 RBIs, 31 walks and 103 strikeouts.
Ronald Acuña Jr. (21-for-60, four homers, six doubles) and Austin Riley (23-for-66, six homers, five doubles) have had particular success against Nola, each hitting .348 or better against him. There’s no Braves hitter with a glaring weakness against the veteran, with everyone on the roster who has at least 10 at-bats against him hitting .235 or better
The current Phillies hitters are a combined 26-for-101 (.257) against Mahle, having already faced him twice this season back in April when he was with the San Francisco Giants.
Kyle Schwarber (6-for-20, two homers), Trea Turner (8-for-19) and Bryce Harper (4-for-12) have all had good success against the right-hander, but 22 of the 26 hits he’s allowed against them have been singles, with only two homers and two doubles surrendered.
COVERS INTEL: Spencer Jones has been crushing right-handed pitching over his last 30 at-bats, owning a .538 SLG and .307 ISO while generating a 62.5% hard-hit rate and 25% barrel rate.
