The report, citing three sources familiar with discussions between the league and Clippers, suggested investigators are instead examining whether Los Angeles broke rules simply by connecting Leonard with team business partners.
Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard gestures to fans as he is shown on the stadium video screen during a break in the quarterfinal match between Naomi Osaka and Elena Rybakina at Sobeys Stadium on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (This asset – including all text, audio and imagery – is provided by Imagn Images. Reuters Connec) IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“ESPN’s article regarding the LA Clippers investigation — for which the NBA declined to cooperate — contains numerous and significant inaccuracies,” league spokesman Mike Bass said in a statement. “The results in this matter will be made clear once the investigation is concluded.”
The league did not specify which portions of ESPN’s reporting it considers inaccurate, leaving an already murky investigation with another major point of disagreement.
ESPN also reported that investigators are examining whether the Clippers failed to properly supervise employees and that attorneys representing Ballmer and the team have been engaged in “spirited” negotiations with the league since law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz presented initial findings in late July.
The investigation began nearly a year ago after allegations surfaced that Leonard received a four-year, $28 million endorsement deal from Aspiration, a now-bankrupt company that had major financial ties to Ballmer and the Clippers.
Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer celebrates with Derrick Jones Jr. on Thursday, February 19, 2026, at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. The celebration came after the Clippers defeated the Denver Nuggets. (Getty Images North America) Getty Images
The deal was alleged to have been a “no-show” arrangement designed to give Leonard additional compensation outside the salary cap. Ballmer and the Clippers have consistently denied circumventing league rules.
The probe has since reportedly expanded to examine Leonard’s relationships with other Clippers partners, including Daktronics and Boingo Wireless.
The Clippers maintain that introducing players to sponsors is standard NBA business and said they did not negotiate or dictate the terms of Leonard’s endorsement agreements.
The uncertainty has also complicated Leonard’s basketball future.
Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) is defended by Golden State Warriors center Kristaps Porzingis (7), guard Brandin Podziemski (2) and guard Stephen Curry (30) in the first half during the play-in rounds of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. (Imagn Images) IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
A blockbuster deal that would send Leonard back to the Toronto Raptors remains on hold while Toronto waits to learn what penalties, if any, could emerge from the investigation. NBA commissioner Adam Silver has publicly pushed for the matter to be resolved before the 2026-27 season begins.
Major League Baseball owners unanimously approved the San Diego Padres' new ownership group in a Monday, Aug. 17 conference call, shifting control of the franchise to primary owner José E. Feliciano and his wife and business partner, Kwanza Jones.
The Padres set an MLB valuation record by selling for $3.9 billion, a testament to the investment that Peter Seidler, the late former owner of the club, made in the roster and in making Petco Park a destination after the NFL Chargers' departure made San Diego a one-team major sports town.
The Padres agreed to nine-figure contracts with six members of the current team - infielders Manny Machado and Xander Bogaerts, outfielders Fernando Tatis Jr. and Jackson Merrill and pitchers Joe Musgrove and Yu Darvish - with a total valuation of $1.788 billion.
San Diego, despite toiling in the 30th-largest TV market in the country, is set to make the playoffs for the fifth time in the past seven years.
"On behalf of Major League Baseball, I thank John Seidler and the entire Seidler family for their stewardship of the San Diego Padres. Continuing the legacy established by the late Peter Seidler, the Padres reached the postseason four times in the last six years, energized one of baseball’s most passionate fanbases, and strengthened the club’s role as a cornerstone of the San Diego community," commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement, lauding them for the sort of aggressive maneuvering he says is impossible for smaller markets, a cornerstone of MLB's strategy in ongoing labor talks.
"We appreciate the Seidler family’s longstanding commitment to our national pastime and their many contributions to the game. It is my pleasure to welcome José E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones as the new majority owners of the Padres following today’s vote. José and Kwanza understand the unique place the Padres hold in San Diego and the powerful bond between the club and its fans. We look forward to their leadership of the Padres and to working with them to build on the club’s strong foundation in a market that is so important to Major League Baseball.”
Feliciano continues the trend toward major league ownership's roots stemming from private equity. He is co-founder and managing partner of investment firm Clearlake Capital and has a net worth Forbes recently estimated at $3.9 billion.
He's also an investor in the Chelsea football club, owned by Los Angeles Dodgers co-owner Todd Boehly. Dodgers owner Mark Walter is on the club's board of directors alongside Feliciano.
TORONTO, ON - AUGUST 14: Heliot Ramos #34 of the New York Yankees bats during a game against the New York Yankees at Rogers Centre on August 14, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Yankees fans and fans across the country.
There are quite a few factors the Yankees need to address to keep their AL campaign on track.
It’s impossible to ignore the hole that Judge, Bellinger, and Stanton left in the offense since they landed on the IL. Barely dodging the sweep last weekend, the Yankees recorded 15 hits, six runs, and 26 strikeouts in the three-game series against the Blue Jays.
New acquisitions Luis García Jr. and Heliot Ramos still have a lot to prove, especially after their questionable performance against Toronto. García Jr. committed an egregious double fielding error that brought in Vladmir Guerrero Jr. for the game-tying run in the series opener and has a .664 OPS since joining the Pinstripes. Ramos recorded a double in the extra-inning win on Sunday night, but he is maintaining a 26.2 strikeout percentage since arriving in the Bronx.
The Yankees remain 6.5 games back from the Rays as they head to Camden Park for a three-game series against the Orioles. If you had to choose, what would you argue is the biggest setback keeping the Yankees from securing the American League?
Test captaincy came too soon for 27-year-old but Pakistan series is latest chapter in year that could be the making of him
You have to hand it to Bazball. Even when seemingly killed off, and the England team it left behind is thousands of miles away, preparing for a series against Pakistan, it has still managed to muscle its way into the fallout from Bangladesh’s seismic victory over Australia in Darwin. Talk about main character energy.
By definition, that nine-wicket victory for Bangladesh was no fluke. Najmul Hossain Shanto’s men didn’t jag a tight one but rather dominated their hosts over four days. And in doing so, they also managed to unite Ashes rivals by demonstrating what a golden opportunity England blew against Australia’s greybeards last winter.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - AUGUST 26: A general view of a rainbow and a lightning strike during a rain delay in the second inning between the Minnesota Twins and Atlanta Braves on August 26, 2024 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I’m writing this from Kiawah Island, SC, where the heat index is an absurd triple-digit number like 113 or something. The Braves finished up a heat dome-esque homestand at 3-3 on Sunday, and now they’ll head to the relatively tolerable temperatures of the North Star state to kick off a wild four-city road trip that involves a makeup game on Chicago’s South Side, and a Sunday visit to Williamsport, PA.
But, before all that, it’s three with the Twins. As the Phillies played the Minnesota crew over the weekend, I found myself thinking, “Hey, have the Braves played the Twins yet?” Turns out the answer is, “No, they’re playing them next.” How are the Twins doing? It’s been another uneven season so far, with continuing tension amid the preferred paths forward of the Front Office and ownership. The Twins last made the playoffs in 2023; they won 82 games in 2024 and 70 last year. This year, they’re 60-65, but that means they’re just 1.5 games out of a Wild Card spot because the AL vis-a-vis the current playoff system is a farce. The Twins went on a heater with a 15-9 July, actually crawling above .500 on the month’s final day… before smashing right back to earth with a 4-10 August that was already problematic before the Phillies swept ‘em over the weekend.
Still, the Twins are in it. They’re actually a top-ten team by wRC+, though that’s the result of a top-ten xwOBA overperformance (they’re bottom ten by xwOBA). Where they’ve had issues is run prevention, as both their defense and pitching rank pretty poorly. Some guys (Joe Ryan, Andrew Morris) are having nice pitching seasons, but there’s not too much to talk about otherwise, so this will be a bit of a test on whether the Braves can actually outshoot the Twins.
For the opener, the Braves will throw out Martin Perez, who spent a season in the Twin Cities back in 2019. Also, insert my lamentation about how I cover nearly every Perez start and little else here. I’m shaking my fist at the universe, you just can’t see it. On the season, Perez’ line is 71/102/100 (ERA-/FIP-/xFIP-). The Braves have gotten what they paid for and much more, even if the end result is more generic than exciting. Perhaps emblematic of his season, Perez is riding a three-start scoreless streak, even though his line during the streak is 0/69/94 with an 11/6 K/BB ratio in 16 innings. His most recent start against the Mets was one of his most Houdini-esque, with a 2/3 K/BB ratio but zero runs charged. Once aspect of his scoreless streak that deviates from his earlier performance is a sky-high grounder rate. Two of his top four starts by grounder rate have come in these most recent three outings.
The Twins will counter with Bailey Ober, who has a very consistent, below league average-y line through 18 starts and 99 innings so far: 111/115/118, with an xERA right in that range as well. Like most of his teammates, Ober pitched considerably better in July, but has hit the skids in August. He was blasted by the Orioles in his most recent outing, and had a bizarre six-inning outing with zero walks or strikeouts the turn before that. He has a 137/125/133 line over his last four outings. Ober was an above-average starter until his velocity seriously dipped in 2025, and it’s collapsed further this year. If the Braves are going to stay frosty offensively, he’s a good guy to start the road trip against.
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - AUGUST 8: The Colorado Rockies celebrate after beating the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium on August 8, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Joe Puetz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Rockies fans and fans across the country.
As we enter the waning weeks of the 2026 season, one of the biggest questions remaining is if the Rockies will avoid 100 losses for the fourth straight year. There are 38 games left and the Rockies are 50-74, but they play the following teams:
Los Angeles Dodgers (74-51, 3 games)
Cleveland Guardians (60-65, 3 games)
Washington Nationals (60-66, 4 games)
Atlanta Braves (74-50, 3 games)
Baltimore Orioles (61-63, 3 games)
St. Louis Cardinals (63-61, 3 games)
New York Yankees (69-55, 3 games)
Detroit Tigers (60-64, 3 games)
San Diego Padres (67-58, 4 games)
Seattle Mariners (59-66, 3 games)
Arizona Diamondbacks (66-59, 3 games)
Chicago White Sox (65-58, 3 games)
With that remaining schedule, what do you think? Can the Rockies pick up 13 more wins? Let us know!
PHOENIX, AZ - MAY 25: The Arizona Diamondbacks mascot carries an Arizona Diamondbacks flag before the MLB baseball game between the Miami Marlins and the Arizona Diamondbacks on May 25, 2024 at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Kevin Abele/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Red Sox have now lost three straight series. They went 2-5 on the road trip. The starters struggled. The offense struggled. Garrett Whitlock and Justin Slaten hit the IL (although Aroldis Chapman and Erik Miller looked good). Now it’s time for the Arizona Diamondbacks to come to Boston. The DBacks had been in second place in the AL West behind the Dodgers but a hot Padres team has surpassed them recently. They’re also out of a Wild Card right now, sitting a game behind the Padres and Phillies. This series is big for them.
Mitch Bratt is a a southpaw in his rookie year. He’s made seven starts on the season and over 33.2 innings has allowed 28 hits, 5 homers, 19 walks, 14 runs, and has compiled 25 strikeouts. His FIP might paint a better picture as both righties (.214/.353/.369) and lefties (.263/.300/.553) have had some success reaching base or slugging against him. Brayan Bello and Alex Gamboa will both be available for game 1 after an opener. The plan, per Alex Speier of the Globe, is to give Jake Bennett extra rest with the bullpen start Monday and the off day on Thursday.
Merrill Kelly returned to Arizona after half a season on the Texas Rangers in 2025. Back where he belongs. Although things haven’t been great after the reunion. He’s put up an ERA north of 5.00 across 22 starts. One of those was, of course, a complete game. Last time out he allowed 6 runs in 5.0 innings. Skip a start back it was 5 runs in 5.0. He’s gone about 5.0 innings in each of his last five starts and in the other three appearances he allowed a combined 4 runs. Which Kelly shows up on Tuesday is anyone’s guess. With 82 Ks and 53 BBs across 125 innings he hasn’t helped himself much. Kelly will face Ranger Suarez. The Sox big free agent acquisition had an OK outing last time out against the Jays, showing progress in recovery from injury. He made it through 5 innings, allowed 1 run, but watched his team fall 6-4 as the bullpen took on a few innings. His last start of more than 5.0 innings was June 29th. Hopefully he’s turning the corner after his injury in July. Unlike a lot of the rotation he’s in fine shape regarding his innings as he’s in his 9th major league season. He’s been good overall but hasn’t always gone deep and has battled injuries.
Brandon Pfaadt is somewhere in between Bratt and Kelly: this is his fourth major league season. And it’s been something off a breakout. He doesn’t strike out many guys, just 61 in 92.2 innings. But he also only has allowed 24 walks, a much better rate than the Ks. A righty, he’s allowed a .697 OPS to lefty bats but just .581 to same-handed hitters. He’s opposed by the number two to Sonny Gray’s number one in the rotation: Payton Tolle. Tolle saved the series against the Jays and the bullpen last time out. Tossing 8.0 shutout innings after his 14 K start the time before what more can you possibly say about this guy? He’s dragging the Red Sox to the finish line.
Ketel Marte is hitting .251/.315/.448 with 21 homers.
Corbin Carroll had a tough July (.611 OPS) but has rallied in August (.976).
Their other big slugger, Nolan Arenado, is headed for an MRI. Take a few games off, buddy.
Probable Pitching Matchups
Monday, August 17: Mitch Bratt (3.74 ERA /5.31 FIP) vs. TBD (— ERA / — FIP)
Tuesday, August 18: Merrill Kelly (5.11 ERA / 5.72 FIP) vs. Ranger Suarez (3.25 ERA / 2.71 FIP)
Wednesday, August 19: Brandon Pfaadt (3.11 ERA / 3.80 FIP) vs. Payton Tolle (2.97 ERA / 3.21 FIP)
Buffalo Sabres prospect Stiven Sardarian did not sign with the club prior to the August 15th deadline, but was not an unrestricted free agent because he did not file paperwork with NHL Central Registry. On Monday, the Sabres traded Sardarian’s rights to the Carolina Hurricanes for future considerations.
The 23-year-old Russian winger played in the USHL after being selected 88th overall and two years at the University of New Hampshire before using the NCAA transfer portal to go to Michigan Tech, where he led the club with 35 points (11 goals, 24 assists) in 35 games as a junior and 44 points (12 goals, 32 assists) in 37 games as a senior.
Who had the best and worst offseason in the Atlantic Division?
According to a press release from the Hurricanes, Sardarian has been assigned to the Chicago Wolves, their AHL franchise, which would indicate that he will be signed to an AHL deal, which would not take up an NHL contract slot.
The Sabres have a history of passing on players that in the end turned out to be NHLers. All-Star and Canadian Olympian Brandon Hagel was a 2016 sixth round pick who was not signed within two years of being drafted, signed with Chicago in 2019, was traded to Tampa Bay in 2022 and has scored 30+ goals in three of the last four seasons.
Another example is 2021 fifth-rounder Viljami Marjala, whom the Sabres passed on signing to an NHL deal and who signed as a free agent with Edmonton in June 2025. The Finnish winger scored 60 points (17 goals, 43 assists) in his first season in North America for AHL Bakersfield.
It is unknown how good Sardarian will be, but clearly the Hurricanes saw something in him that the Sabres did not.
LeBron James nearly added another first to his résumé on Sunday — this time nowhere near a basketball court.
The Philadelphia 76ers star came within inches of recording his first career hole-in-one during a golf outing that included former Los Angeles Lakers teammate Austin Reaves, his son Bronny James and members of the Bob Does Sports crew.
James posted the video of the near-ace to Instagram, showing his tee shot tracking toward the flag before the ball rolled agonizingly close to the cup.
LeBron James and Austin Reaves of the Los Angeles Lakers smile during a game against the Utah Jazz on Monday, February 10, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. (NBAE) NBAE via Getty Images
“Almost had my first hole in 1 today,” James wrote. “I called it before I swung it too! Damn close.”
The shot came at The Preserve at Bandon Dunes, the Oregon resort’s par-3 course, as James’ relatively new golf obsession continues to grow.
The four-time NBA MVP has increasingly made golf part of his life away from basketball and recently launched a golf-focused YouTube channel. His debut featured a reunion trip to Scotland with members of the 2016 Cavaliers championship team, including J.R. Smith, Kevin Love, Richard Jefferson, Tristan Thompson and Channing Frye.
LeBron James comes within inches of his first-ever hole-in-one during a golf trip with Lakers teammate Austin Reaves.
Sunday’s round also served as another reunion.
James spent the day with Reaves and Bronny despite leaving Los Angeles this offseason to sign with Philadelphia. Reaves remained with the Lakers, but the two have maintained a relationship built partly around their shared enthusiasm for golf.
James has even said he hopes his growing interest in the sport can help make golf more accessible to kids who did not grow up around country clubs or traditional golf environments.
For now, his game appears to be progressing quickly.
HOOVER, AL - MAY 23: Outfielder Hayden Yost #16 of the Florida Gators hits a single during the SEC Baseball Tournament Semifinal game between Georgia Bulldogs and Florida Gators on May 23, 2026, at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium in Hoover, Alabama.(Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Tacoma Rainiers
The Rainiers have been rolling as of late, taking five of six against Reno this week in what was one of their best series all season. This offense has been firing on all cylinders and finally looks like it’s capable of carrying a team. It’s unfortunately too late for the Rainiers to have any realistic hope of a playoff run, but a strong end to the season would give the fans some good baseball they’ve been deprived of for much of the year.
Lazaro Montes is on another planet right now. The 21 year old slugger launched three more homers on the week (including one of the inside-the-park variety) and raised his season total to 35 on the season, breaking his career high of 32 from last season. In the month of August, Montes is slashing .340/.417/.792 with seven homers; he’s got a great chance of getting to the 40 homer mark on the year, putting him amongst the most formidable power hitters in all of minor league baseball. Laz’s extreme offensive approach makes him a bit of a polarizing prospect, but at some point, the results have to speak for themselves; given his track record of dominance, Montes is a strong candidate to contribute to the major league roster at some point next season.
Arkansas Travelers
It was a major let down for the Travs this week, taking just one of the six games against the always tough Tulsa Drillers. This was a real test between two of the best Double-A teams in the minors, and unfortunately for the Travs, they didn’t have any answers to this Drillers roster. Once in the thick of the playoff hunt, a postseason berth is now looking like more of a pipedream than a possibility, as they now sit seven games out of position.
Ryan Sloan was awesome tonight. Final line: 5.2IP, 5H, 1R, 1BB, 9K, 11 whiffs, 7 groundouts, 72 pitches, 49 strikes. pic.twitter.com/qcpVdZ84Xq
Despite the disappointing results from the series, both Kade Anderson and Ryan Sloan did their part in taking down the Drillers. Anderson (5.2 IP, 2H, 0R, 1BB, 7K) dazzled under the Friday night lights and tormented opposing batters all game, and Sloan (5.2 IP, 5H, 1R, 1BB, 9K), who’s had a magical year himself, shut down one of the best lineups in MiLB as a 20 year old. How the M’s choose to navigate the development of these two arms will likely play a large part in how they go about constructing the roster for next season, but from a performance perspective, they’ve certainly held up their end of the bargain. Hopefully the M’s can clear a pathway to the majors for the pair of hurlers and let them show off their lights out stuff against big league competition.
Everett AquaSox
The AquaSox took the series this week by a score of four to two, taking down a Spokane squad that’s struggled to get things going in the second half. The Frogs remain in the playoff race, standing just 2.5 games out of first place; Eugene, who won the first half title, is leading the second half standings as well, so as long as Everett can catch Vancouver and finish second behind the Emeralds, they’d get the chance at taking the title.
Korbyn Dickerson has adjusted well to High-A and looks more than comfortable at the plate right now. The speedy outfielder raised his OPS up to .876 this week, and his 31 stolen bases on the year puts him near the top of the system on the basepaths. Dickerson’s blend of speed and power make him a very fun prospect that should be on people’s radar as a breakout candidate next season. If he can find a bit more consistency with the bat-to-ball skills, he’s going to be a really special talent.
Inland Empire 66ers
IE managed a split this week, unfortunately unable to make up ground in the standings against Lake Elsinore. The 66ers have had the best run differential of any team in the California League this second half, and given their strong upward trajectory since the recent additions from the draft, it feels like a good bet that we’ll see the 66ers in the postseason. This team rakes.
Congrats to Ace Reese on his first professional HR! 3-hit game for the Mariners first round pick. pic.twitter.com/cenOeK4Sgm
First rounder Ace Reese has made mincemeat of the Cal League in his first go at professional baseball. The former Mississippi State slugger is rocking a .522 batting average across his first seven games, and his 1.272 OPS underscores just how dominant he’s been at the plate. A-ball is probably a step down from where Reese was in the SEC this past season, so to see him utterly dominate in his first handful of games is a great sight to see and puts him on the shortlist for players to monitor through the end of this 2026 season.
My goodness. Hayden Yost goes 470ft for his 2nd HR & 4th hit today. 4-5, 2HR, 2B, 3R, 5RBI. pic.twitter.com/UPQ9lyfJaY
Not to be outdone by SEC rival Reese, fifth rounder Hayden Yost has provided a jolt atop this IE lineup and looks like an absolute steal through his first three weeks of pro ball. Yost, an outfielder out of Florida, was one of the hottest hitters in college baseball to close out the season, and he’s carried that level of production into the California League. Slashing .368/.405/.737 so far, look for Yost to finish this season strong; he’s absolutely crushing the baseball right now and has shown few, if any, holes in his game thus far.
DSL Mariners
For all the attention that Gregory Pio and Juan Rijo have (deservedly) received this season, Jarvis Gomez might just be the best hitter of the three. Now up to a .996 OPS on the year with more walks than strikeouts, Gomez has tacked on 15 stolen bases and looks like a rather complete player at the plate. Getting to see him compete stateside next year is going to be a ton of fun.
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR - JULY 04: David Davalillo #20 of the Frisco RoughRiders pitches during the game between the Frisco RoughRiders and the Arkansas Travelers at Dickey-Stephens Park on Friday, July 4, 2025 in North Little Rock, Arkansas. (Photo by Braeden Botts/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
Texas Rangers righthanded pitcher David Davalillo has been named the Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Week for the week of August 11-16, it was announced today.
In addition, the Rangers are reportedly promoting two-way players Josh Owens and Seong-Jun Kim from the Arizona Complex League to low-A Hickory.
Davalillo was added to the 40 man roster this past winter after a breakout 2025 campaign. He started the year at AA Frisco and did okay, allowing a 3.86 ERA in 23.1 innings over five starts, with 36 Ks against eight walks. Things went south for him in AAA, however, as he allowed a 7.59 ERA in 21.1 IP over six appearances. Most alarmingly, given Davalillo’s history of being a control artist, he allowed 21 walks and hit 6 batters during that time.
Davalillo went to Arizona for a few weeks to work on things, after which he made a start for the ACL Rangers, a start for high-A Hub City, another start for the ACL Rangers, and then went back to Frisco. After two starts for the Roughriders, in which he struck out 8 and walked three in nine innings, he returned to Round Rock, making a solid three inning relief appearance and a not-so-great 4.1 inning start in the first two weeks of August.
On Friday, August 14, Davalillo had what was easily his best outing of the season, facing the minimum over six innings and allowing just one baserunner, on a single, while striking out seven and throwing 52 of his 76 pitches for strikes. This effort is what earned him the PCL Pitcher of the Week nod, and it was definitely deserved.
Owens, a 19 year old who hits lefty and throws righty, was the Rangers’ third round pick in 2025 out of Johnson City, Tennessee. He has been utilized as a two-way player in the complex league this year, hitting .255/.345/.469 in 168 plate appearances with 62 Ks against 16 walks, and putting up a 3.48 ERA in 20.2 innings over 12 appearances with 24 Ks against 7 walks. When Owens has not been pitching, he’s split his time between DH, shortstop and second base.
Kim, a 19 year old signed out of South Korea in May, 2025, throws and hits righthanded. In 160 plate appearances he slashed .303/.419/.546 in the complex league, with 51 Ks against 24 walks. He put up a 1.04 ERA in 8.2 innings over five appearances, with 10 Ks against 5 walks. He played shortstop and DH when he wasn’t pitching.
With ACL play completed, Owens and Kim will get a taste of full season ball to finish out the 2026 season, and likely will start the 2027 season with Hickory. Owens is ranked #3 on the latest Baseball America top 30 prospect list for the Rangers, while Kim is #20.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JULY 21: Joey Ortiz #3 of the Milwaukee Brewers bats during the third inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on July 21, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Milwaukee Brewers, in possession of the best record in baseball at 77-48, are set to return home and host the Seattle Mariners for three games this week. The Brewers are coming off a 3-4 West Coast road trip, as they bounced back from a sweep at the hands of the Padres to take three of four against the mighty Dodgers. On the other side, the Mariners sit at 59-66 but are just 2.5 games out of the final Wild Card spot in what has been a very week American League overall. Seattle is coming off a series win over the Astros in Houston, their first series win since the trade deadline.
The Brewers injured list currently features outfielder Sal Frelick (on rehab assignment), shortstop Cooper Pratt (late August return), and second baseman Brice Turang (day to day but hoping to return on Tuesday). Injured pitchers include reliever Abner Uribe (late August), JoJo Romero (close to a rehab assignment), Joel Kuhnel (August), Rob Zastryzny (TBD), Brandon Woodruff (out for season), Quinn Priester (out for season), Brian Fitzpatrick (out for season), and Angel Zerpa (out for season).
Seattle is without outfielders Victor Robles and Taylor Ward (both considered day to day), shortstop Colt Emerson (TBD), shortstop/third baseman J.P. Crawford (late August), and outfielder Luke Raley (out for season). Pitchers Logan Evans (out for season), Cooper Criswell (late August or early September), Cole Wilcox (TBD), Carlos Vargas (on rehab assignment), and Matt Brash (late August or early September) are also out.
Milwaukee’s offense is led by Jake Bauers, who is having a career year as he’s hitting .275/.384/.500 with a team-leading 21 homers. Jackson Chourio has 17 homers, and Brice Turang has added 16 homers. William Contreras had hits on both Saturday and Sunday to (hopefully) break out of his months-long slump, and Christian Yelich appears to be the victim of bad luck, as he’s hitting just .226/.307/.364. Joey Ortiz has been one of the best hitters in baseball over the last month and a half, and Andrew Vaughn is still hitting .300 through 80 games. Garrett Mitchell, Luis Lara, Gary Sánchez, David Hamilton, Brandon Lockridge, and newest addition Jonathan Ornelas round out the squad. As a team, the Brewers are hitting .250/.335/.392 (.727 OPS ranks tied for 11th), with 113 homers (last), 608 runs (fifth), and 122 steals (fifth).
Dominic Canzone is enjoying a breakout season with Seattle, slugging 19 homers to tie for the team lead with Julio Rodríguez, who also has 16 steals. Randy Arozarena has 17 homers and 20 steals, while surprisingly nimble Josh Naylor leads the team with 24 steals. Cole Young has been solid at second base, and Cal Raleigh has had a truly dismal season, hitting just .158/.268/.300 over 91 games. Trade deadline acquisition Taylor Ward has also struggled, with just five hits in 32 at-bats. Former Cardinal Brendan Donovan mans the hot corner, with Leo Rivas at second to round out the regulars. Robles, Weston Wilson, Brock Rodden, and Jhonny Pereda round things out. As a team, the Mariners are hitting .230/.309/.378 (.687 OPS ranks 27th), with 145 homers (16th), 489 runs (last), and 88 steals (13th).
In the absence of Uribe, the Brewer bullpen is led by closer Trevor Megill and set-up arms in Aaron Ashby, Chad Patrick, and DL Hall. Grant Anderson, Bryse Wilson, and Antonio Senzatela round the group out as Milwaukee continues to roll with a six-man rotation. As a staff, the Brewers have a 3.50 team ERA (second), including a 3.51 starter ERA (fifth) and a 3.48 bullpen ERA (third). They’ve struck out 1,211 batters (second) over 1,117 1/3 innings.
Eduard Bazardo leads Seattle’s bullpen with 59 appearances, turning in a 3.05 ERA across 56 innings. José A. Ferrer has a 3.71 ERA over 51 innings, Gabe Speier has a 2.78 ERA over 32 1/3 innings, and Andrés Muñoz leads the team with 22 saves, though he’s blown seven opportunities and has a 4.37 ERA over 45 1/3 innings. Seranthony Domínguez is another deadline acquisition, and he’s been roughed up to the tune of a 9.64 ERA over 4 2/3 innings. Michael Rucker (4.91 ERA over 25 2/3 IP), Nick Davila (4.01 ERA over 24 2/3 IP), and Josh Simpson (4.05 ERA over 6 2/3 IP) round things out. As a staff, the Mariners have a 3.85 team ERA (ninth), including a 3.78 starter ERA (eighth) and a 3.97 bullpen ERA (14th). They’ve struck out 1,060 batters (12th) over 1,104 innings.
Probable Pitchers
Tuesday, August 18 @ 6:40 p.m.: LHP Kyle Harrison (9-3, 3.47 ERA, 3.35 FIP) vs. RHP Bryce Miller (4-6, 3.39 ERA, 3.85 FIP)
Harrison has shown flashes of being a star (5 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 10 K on August 5 vs. Pirates) but he’s also had a few really rough outings (4 2/3 IP, 8 R, 10 H, 3 BB, 3 K on August 11 @ Padres). Overall, it’s balanced out as he has a 3.47 ERA, 3.35 FIP, and 114 strikeouts across 93 1/3 innings in what has easily been his best season has a pro. Of note: Harrison has been really good at home, with a 6-1 record, 1.38 ERA, and 70 strikeouts in 52 innings over 10 starts. This will mark Harrison’s first career appearance against Seattle.
Miller, 27, is in his fourth season with the Mariners. After a rough 2025 campaign where he had a 5.68 ERA and 5.17 FIP over 90 1/3 innings, he’s bounced back nicely this year, with a 3.39 ERA, 3.85 FIP, and 84 strikeouts over 85 innings. Miller hasn’t been great over the last month, though, as he has a 6.12 ERA, 5.65 FIP, and 22 strikeouts over his last 32 1/3 innings, spanning six starts, all of which the Mariners lost. Millers’ only start against the Brewers was a good one, as he went seven scoreless frames with seven strikeouts to pick up the win in Milwaukee back in 2024.
Wednesday, August 19 @ 6:40 p.m.: RHP Dustin May (6-7, 4.13 ERA, 3.30 FIP) vs. RHP Logan Gilbert (9-7, 3.28 ERA, 3.47 FIP)
May has gotten off to a solid start in a Brewer uniform. In a pair of starts (against the Pirates and Padres), May has totaled 13 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits and five walks while striking out 11. For the season, he has a 4.13 ERA, 3.30 FIP, and 117 strikeouts over 122 innings. The right-hander has faced the Mariners once in his career, back in 2021 while with the Dodgers. He took the loss in that game, allowing four runs (three earned) and striking out eight over five frames.
Gilbert, 29, is in year No. 6 and has been a reliable presence in Seattle’s rotation, with an ERA between 3.20 and 3.75 each of the last five years. This season is no different, with a 3.28 ERA, 3.47 FIP, and 152 strikeouts across 145 1/3 innings thus far. He went six scoreless innings in his last outing against the Yankees, allowing four hits and a walk while striking out seven to pick up his ninth win of the season. Gilbert has started against Milwaukee each of the last three seasons, totaling 18 innings with a 4.00 ERA and 25 strikeouts. The Brewers have won two of those three games, with their only loss coming in a 1-0 game last year.
Thursday, August 20 @ 1:10 p.m.: LHP Robert Gasser (3-5, 4.54 ERA, 4.59 FIP) vs. RHP George Kirby (8-9, 3.89 ERA, 3.78 FIP)
Gasser has been solid in his last several appearances, allowing no more than three runs in an outing since getting roughed up for seven runs in his last start before the All-Star break. Since then, he’s made five starts, totaling 27 innings with 10 runs allowed (3.33 ERA) and 25 strikeouts, as the Brewers have gone 4-1 in those appearances (his last time out against the Dodgers was a 3-1 loss). This marks Gasser’s first career appearance against Seattle.
Kirby, 28, is in his fifth season with the Mariners, and after a somewhat rough 2025 (4.21 ERA, though a still solid 3.37 FIP), he’s bounced back for a 3.89 ERA, 3.78 FIP, and 114 strikeouts this season. He’s allowed an AL-worst 148 hits over 136 2/3 innings, and he was the worst in the league in that stat in 2024 allowing 181 hits over 191 innings. He went 4 2/3 innings his last time out, allowing five runs on eight hits and three walks, striking out two in an extra-innings loss to the Astros. Kirby’s only start against Milwaukee came last year, when he took the loss after allowing four runs and striking out three across six innings.
How to Watch & Listen
Tuesday, August 18: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Wednesday, August 19: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Thursday, August 20: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Prediction
This is a matchup featuring a pair of teams who finished one step away from the World Series a year ago; one team has had a lot more success than the other in 2026, though. Give me the Crew to take two of three.
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Cubs fans and fans across the country.
Edward Cabrera’s start against the Cardinals Sunday was, in a word, awful.
This, you know. You also know that Cabrera said he had another blister issue during the game and that’s what led to his loss of command and three walks in the Cardinals’ six-run fourth.
After the game, manager Craig Counsell said they’d have to “talk about” whether Cabrera would make his next scheduled start, which likely would come up Saturday in Seattle.
I think you’re probably in agreement with me that Cabrera should not make that start.
And honestly, if it were me? I’d put Cabrera in the bullpen instead of David Peterson, who the Cubs announced was heading to the pen to make room for Cabrera in the rotation. If Cabrera has blister issues, wouldn’t they be lessened by throwing only one inning at a time? He might make a very good leverage reliever with that velocity and changeup (when they’re working).
So that’s what I’m asking you in this week’s SB Nation Reacts survey. Who should take that Saturday start? Or should it just be skipped, given that there’s an off day for the team Thursday (and another off day a week from Thursday)?
Vote in the survey below and we’ll have the final results later in the week.
Miguel Vargas received a papal blessing in Detroit last night. | (Getty Images)
The White Sox launched a stretch of 16 games in 16 days. Over the last seven days, the pitching staff posted a 4.11 ERA, 16th in the league, and their 50 strikeouts ranked 13th. On the offensive side, they tied with the Padres for the most home runs with 12 and hit .285, ranking just below Tampa Bay. With that in mind, the 4-2 record to end the week might feel good, but let’s take a better look under the hood.
Chicago started the week in the Windy City facing the Reds. Tuesday was the highly anticipated Pope Hat Night, and this team got no divine intervention. The game felt like an easy win from the start. The White Sox had an early 4-0 lead, and Sean Burke surrendered only one run and fanned eight batters in his seven innings of work.
Brenton Doyle, Edgar Quero and Miguel Vargas all launched home runs in the first half of the game to get fans excited, but the thrill would not last.
When he turned the game over to Bryan Hudson in the eighth inning, the wheels quickly fell off. The lefty reliever failed to record an out, but he did let three runs score to tie the game. The game went to extras, where the Reds got the ghost runner across the plate, but the Good Guys could not do the same.
Luis Castillo faced his former team on Wednesday, and the pitching staff shut the Reds’ offense out. In his second appearance with his new team, Castillo earned a quality start, tossing seven scoreless innings, allowing just two walks while striking out 10. Both Drew Romo and Chase Meidroth had two RBIs in the win. The catcher hit his sixth dinger in the third inning, and Meidroth followed up with a two-run shot of his own in the sixth.
Thursday was a game of catch-up the White Sox could never quite finish, losing 9-8. Down to their final out in the bottom of the ninth, Sam Antonacci hit a laser up the middle that would have extended the inning. Elly De La Cruz was simply too tall, too fast, and too well positioned to let the single through, and the game ended. Quero had a 3-for-5 day with two RBIs and a run scored. Do you know how he was rewarded? With a plane ticket back to Charlotte.
I understand the team had to make a roster move at catcher. The front office picked up Jake Rogers late in the week after the veteran backstop’s most recent DFA from the Red Sox. Why they sent Quero down instead of Romo is beyond me. Romo has only nine more at-bats than Quero in August, and Edgar has four more hits than his counterpart. This feels awfully familiar to a Danny Mendick shuttle situation from a handful of years back. I don’t wish ill will on Romo, but something has got to give for Quero to get his shot at staying with the team more consistently.
Friday also marked the start of a long-awaited rematch with the Tigers in Detroit. Flash back to June 19-21, and you’ll see highlights of the Motor City team kicking our butts. This time, it was the Second City’s turn.
After Davis Martin got ejected in Thursday’s matchup (just know it was an incredibly unfair toss, which is why I didn’t mention it sooner), the bullpen was already taxed. The series opener in Detroit seemed like the perfect opportunity to stretch them even further! Sean Newcomb opened the game before turning things over to one of the team’s newest arrivals, José Urquidy. The righthander, who played the 2025 season in the birthplace of Motown, allowed three earned runs in 3 2/3 innings.
His offense came to the rescue with a five-run fourth inning, putting the White Sox back in front and paving the way for the bulk reliever to earn his first win of the season. Tristan Peters and Munetaka Murakami both homered in the inning to account for three of the five runs. Vargas later took a ball for a spin out of the park in the sixth inning to add to the homer trifecta. This wasn’t the first time the third baseman and first baseman hit long balls in the same game during the weekend (OMG besties).
Saturday was a much tighter game. Chicago jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first, and they added on two additional runs in the third. The Tigers spent the fourth and fifth innings clawing back. An Andrew Benintendi single in the top of the seventh pinned the Felines down and kept the threat at bay.
Anthony Kay was on the hook for all three runs Detroit scored on the day. If he had gotten two more outs to complete the sixth inning, he would have earned the quality start and the win. Instead, Jordan Hicks and his 1 2/3 innings of shutout pitching earned him the W. Grant Taylor notched his 10th hold of the year, and Hudson picked up his fifth save.
The Pale Hose completed the sweep on Sunday with another comeback victory. Burke had a less-than-stellar 4 1/3 innings, giving up four earned runs, walking three and striking out just two. Hagen Smith came in for cleanup duty and held Detroit scoreless. His 1 2/3 innings of work were enough to earn him a second MLB victory. Newcomb, who opened the series on Friday, was also there to close it out, working the final 2 1/3 innings of the series finale, blanking the Tigers and earning the save.
Romo’s third hit of the month came in the form of a long ball in the fifth inning off Drew Anderson. Mune and Vargas each smacked their 28th dinger of the year in the seventh and ninth innings, respectively. They are the first pair to hit at least 28 home runs in a season for the White Sox since José Abreu and Eloy Jiménez in 2019.
The sweep gives the Chicago club a 5 1/2-game division lead heading into the second half of the Crosstown Classic. After things wrap up on the North Side, the White Sox will head back to Bridgeport to make up for their rainout against Atlanta before the Mets arrive in town for a weekend series.
I don’t want to jinx anything, but we are halfway through August. If they can make it through this week alive, they can make it through anything. I sincerely apologize to Steve Stone for not enjoying the ride before. I am having a great time now.
Russell Westbrook is rightfully proud following an 18-season Hall of Fame career during which he was an MVP, two-time scoring champion and nine-time All-NBA. He earned the right to walk away on his terms.
Westbrook was offered a two-year contract by the Washington Wizards this summer but chose to turn it down and retire, Marc Stein of the Stein Line.
It's understandable that Westbrook, 37, decided to walk away. First, this was very likely a minimum contract, and odds are the second year was not fully guaranteed.
However, the larger issue might have been the role. Westbrook wants to start and play meaningful minutes (he started 58 of 64 games for the Kings last season), but Washington is loaded with guards, particularly young guards. Trae Young was just handed an oversized contract this offseason and will start at the point, likely next to Kyshawn George. Behind them are Bub Carrington and Tre Johnson, plus Will Riley can play some two-guard/wing in big lineups. And that's not even getting to the team wanting to put the ball in No. 1 pick AJ Dybantsa's hands as much as possible.
Westbrook would have been a mentor and limited role player on this team, and that's just not how he sees himself, it's not the role he wanted to play. Westbrook reportedly had some talks about returning to Sacramento as well, but again, that would have been in a backup and mentor role behind rookie Darius Acuff.
So Westbrook chose to walk away. Next stop, Hall of Fame.
