| (All times Central) |
|---|
| Schedule subject to change and/or blackouts |
| Thursday, February 5 |
| COLLEGE BASKETBALL (MEN'S) |
| 6:30 p.m. |
Penn State at Michigan — FS1, Fox Sports App, Fubo Sports
| NBA BASKETBALL |
|---|
| 7 p.m. |
Washington at Detroit — FDSN Detroit, Monumental SN 2, NBA League Pass
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive TV listings provided by LiveSportsOnTV.
The NBA was busy yesterday afternoon with a handful of big names changing teams. The biggest of those trades saw James Harden on the move once again in his career. The 9-time All-Star is now a Cleveland Cavalier. Ironically, the Cavs (30-21) take the court tonight against his old team, the Los Angeles Clippers (23-26) in Southern California.
This is the fifth time the veteran has been traded in his career. In 2012 the former Arizona State Sun Devil was traded from OKC to Houston. In 2021 Harden went from Houston to Brooklyn before going from Brooklyn to Philly in 2022. His stay in Philly was brief as he was traded from the Sixers to the Clippers in 2023 before landing in Cleveland yesterday.
The backcourt in Cleveland is possibly the league’s best…on the offensive end.
The Clippers now employ Darius Garland, the son of former Clipper Winston Garland. The Cavs’ point guard has played well – 18PPG and 6.9AST – but has played sparingly due to foot and toe injuries.
Neither Garland nor Harden is expected to play for their new teams tonight, but we can expect to see the NBA’s 6th-leading scorer, Donovan Mitchell (28.8PPG), and a resurgent Kawhi Leonard (27.6PPG).
This is the second of two games scheduled between these teams this season. The Cavs won on November 23, 120-105, in Cleveland. Donovan Mitchell had 37 points to lead the Cavaliers to the win.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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The latest odds as of Wednesday courtesy of DraftKings:
This game opened Cavaliers -1.5 with the Total set at 221.5.
Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!
Read More: Winners and Losers from the Harden Trade
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SAN FRANCISCO — As the buzzer sounded and capped the Golden State Warriors' final game before the NBA trade deadline, Draymond Green was on the court sharing laughs and conversations with teammate Stephen Curry and Philadelphia 76ers guard Kyle Lowry.
Was the 113-94 loss on Tuesday, Feb. 3 at Chase Center Green's final game as a Warrior?
The Warriors have had multiple players' names swirling around the rumor mill ahead of the 3 p.m. ET (noon PT) trade deadline on Thursday, Feb. 5, and Green was one of them.
The Warriors' next game against the Phoenix Suns on Feb. 5 at 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT) is after the deadline.
Green has been mentioned in a potential trade that would send him and other Warriors players to the Milwaukee Bucks for Giannis Antetokounmpo, according to ESPN. NBA insider Marc Stein reported on Jan. 23 that Green would be included in a trade, rather than Jimmy Butler, who tore his ACL in a season-ending injury on Jan. 9.
Stein said the potential trade would include Green, Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski, who grew up in Greenfield of Milwaukee County in Wisconsin.
Green said after the loss to the Sixers that he doesn't know if he's played his last game for the Warriors.
"Maybe," Green told USA TODAY Sports. "I don't know. I don't foresee it that way. But if I have, like I said it's been an amazing run. But I don't know, we'll see. I don't sit and think about the possibilities of what may happen. It's gon' be what it's gon' be, regardless. That just, it is what it is."
Green finished the game with six points, seven rebounds and three assists in 25 minutes. He wore his jersey during his postgame conference with reporters as he does with most postgame scrums, nothing unusual. But he acknowledged that there's a "possibility" he could be traded.
"It's a possibility that I might get traded. It's kind of just what it's like −yeah but at some point it's going to come to an end," Green told reporters about being involved in trade rumors and his Warriors' tenure. "Whether it's a day or two or a year or two, it's going to come to an end at some point. You got to be okay with that. It's not something that I can hold onto forever because I can't play basketball forever. It's got to come to an end at some point anyway."
Green is 35 years old. He was drafted by Golden State out of Michigan State with the 35th pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. He's become a Defensive Player of the Year, four-time All-Star and a four-time NBA champion in 14 seasons with the Warriors.
Green told ESPN's Anthony Slater that Warriors head coach Steve Kerr talked to him before the game that his name has been mentioned in trade talks and asked how his wife was handling it. Green said "that's when it got real" to him and he spoke to his son about it on the way to Tuesday's game.
"I was like 'yo what if I get traded?' He was like 'well why would they trade you,'" Green said summarizing the chat pregame with his son. "I was like 'It's just the business. I've never been traded but it can happen to anybody.' He was like 'Oh, I just don't understand why they would do that.'"
He told reporters that he's spoke to the front office, but added, "it's probably not quite the conversation you think it was" and that he talks to them "pretty often."
Green didn't feel like he played his last game with the Warriors. But he reflected on his time in the Bay Area after 13 to 14 years.
He said "it's business as usual."
Green has been getting the question for the last couple days now and said "it doesn't wear" on him since he can't control it. If anything, he said, he can't wait for the deadline so people will stop asking him about it.
"A lot of people want to know how I feel about it, if I'm upset about it, I'm not at all," Green said. "If that's what's best for this organization, that's what's best for this organization. I'm not like 'aww man, they (expletive) me over' or something like that, I don't really feel that way."
Green has averaged 8.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.7 blocks in 42 games with the Warriors in the 2025-26 regular-season. For his 14-year NBA career, he averages 8.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.3 steals and 1 block per game.
He won the 2017 NBA Defensive Player of the Award after being named runner-up in 2015 and 2016. Green has made NBA All-Defensive team nine times.
Kerr said that Green will have a statue outside of the Chase Center for what he's meant to the franchise, on 95.7FM The Game's Willard and Dibs radio show.
"If you would have told me 13 and a half years ago like 'yo I'm going to hand you this sheet of paper and you can sign it to be in a place for 13 years and a half years, would you sign it?' I would've signed it faster than you can blink," Green told reporters. "So what do I have to sit and worry about? What do I have to be upset about? I've been here for 13 and 1/2 years. That's longer probably than 98% of NBA players have been in one place and a guy from Saginaw has been in one place for 13 and a half years. I don't know that it ends at 13 and a half, but if it does what a (expletive) run it's been."
He's seemingly content with whatever his destiny may be. There's no animosity from Green towards the Warriors, he said that he's "blessed," "lucky" and "grateful."
"My family hasn't had to move anywhere since I started my family," Green said. "That's incredible. I don't take that for granted. There's guys that's been on the move every year, moving their family two, three times in a year. So, I have so much gratitude for where I am in my career, the run I've been on here And I don't know that it ends or what not. We'll all see. But if it does, it does. All good things must come to an end at some point."
If it comes to a point where Green needs to say goodbye, then he'll say goodbye, he said.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Draymond Green reacts to trade rumors after Warriors vs 76ers game
New York—specifically Etihad Park, which is being constructed right next to Citi Field—will be hosting group stage soccer games during the 2028 Olympics.
Rest easy: Keith Hernandez has signed a new deal with SNY to return to the booth for yet another Mets season.
However, Keith will be cutting back on his workload this season, going from 110 games last season to just 91 this season.
Christian Scott, who should be returning from Tommy John surgery soon, has been throwing in Port St. Lucie.
The three players being inducted to the Hall of Fame have had their cap selections announced, and the speculation can be put to rest—Carlos Beltrán will be going into the Hall of Fame in a Mets cap.
Nolan McLean will be working on refining some of his pitches going into 2026.
There was very little doubt but it has been confirmed that Andruw Jones will be going into the Hall of Fame as an Atlanta Brave.
Jeimer Candelario agreed to a minor league contract with the Angels. Regardless of whether or not he makes it to the major leagues, he will still be getting paid a tidy sum by the Reds.
ESPN put out some season predictions for some of the top prospects in baseball going into 2026.
Pitcher Eduardo Salazar has signed a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins.
The result of Tarik Skubal’s arbitration case will likely have an affect on what the Tigers do next, says Ken Rosenthal.
First baseman Carlos Santana has agreed to a deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Chaim Bloom is rebuilding the future of the Cardinals to his vision, especially with the Brendan Donovan trade.
Both Rob Manfred and Ron DeSantis have approved of the Tampa Bay Rays’ plan for a new stadium and mixed-use development.
Things are awkward between the Pirates and Andrew McCutchen, but they might find each other once again in the end.
Brian Salvatore took a look at a potential Mets bullpen (side-)arm in Joe Jacques.
Steve Sypa has nearly concluded his list of the top 25 Mets prospects going into 2026, with outfielder Carson Benge taking second place.
Shea Stadium was given its name 66 years ago today.
Madison Square Garden has a way of turning basketball games into something closer to mythology, and for Jalen Brunson, it’s a feeling that still resists explanation. The New York Knicks’ All-Star point guard has played on some of the sport’s biggest stages, but when the Garden tightens into playoff mode, it becomes something else entirely. In a conversation for Boardroom’s latest Cover Story, Brunson tried to put words to the electricity that ripples through the building when the stakes rise.
“You can sit here and talk about how crazy it is and how it’s jumping and how you’re going to feel the energy, good or bad,” Brunson told Rich Kleiman. “You’re going to feel the energy. You can’t just explain it; you have to experience it.” He paused, then said what most players eventually realize. “It’s insane. There’s no better place to do anything, not just play basketball, to do anything, perform anything that goes on in that arena.”
For Brunson, that atmosphere isn’t just fuel; it’s responsibility. Still early in his Knicks tenure, he’s already acutely aware of what it means to carry expectations in a city that remembers everything. Legacy is part of the conversation, whether he invites it or not. But Brunson keeps his focus narrow.
“I know I got a lot more to do, a lot more,” he said. “This is cool and all, but my goal is to win. I want to win. I’m going to do whatever it takes, and I’m going to die trying.”
That same playoff intensity showed itself on the road, too. Brunson pointed to a night in Detroit, where clutch shots silenced a roaring crowd that refused to let up. “Their crowd was loud,” he said. “Detroit in the playoffs was crazy. That was a really cool moment.” When asked about Pistons star Cade Cunningham, Brunson saw a familiar trait: leadership without noise.
“He’s not loud,” Brunson said. “He gets the job done. He gets his teammates involved. He does everything you ask of him, and then he goes home.”
In New York, that quiet resolve plays just as loudly as any roar. And inside the Garden, Brunson is learning exactly how far it can carry him.
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Kevin Gausman is entering the last year of his five-year, $110 million contract. In his first four years with the Jays, he made 125 starts, posting a 48-41 record, a 3.48 ERA, and an 11.2 bWAR.
We don’t really need a ‘better know’ for him, we’ve been watching him for the last four years.
By bWAR, last year was his best, a 3.8, with a 3.59 ERA in 32 starts, 193 innings (a career high). Not bad for a 34-year-old.
He’s been very consistent in his 30s, making 31 or more starts in each of his last five years. 2024 was a bit of a down season for him, if a 3.83 ERA in 31 games could be called ‘down’. He said he should have started the season on the IL and he likely should have.
Gausman has been a two-pitch pitcher for his career, but over the last couple of seasons, he’s added a slider. In 2025, he used it 8.6% of the time (up from 6.2% in 2024). It was hit pretty hard this year; batters had a .605 slugging average on it. I still think it is a good idea for him to give batters another pitch to think about.
At 34, he hadn’t lost anything on his fastball. He’s still averaging 94.5 MPH on it and topped out at 98.8. At some point, he’ll start slowing down. Steamer still thinks he’ll start 31 games and throw 185 innings, with 11 wins (which would put him 9th in wins in team history) this year, but with a 4.02 ERA, which would be his highest in his time with the Jays.
He is entering his free-agent season. I’m sure he’d like to have a good year and set up another contract. Going into his age-36 season, though, he won’t be getting another five-year deal.
The Washington Senators set a precedent for reigning championship winning teams by visiting President Calvin Coolidge at the White House in 1925. Just over a century later, the Dodgers will arrive in our nation’s capitol in early April during their first road trip of the season— just like they did in 2025.
This time around, amidst national turmoil surrounding two fatal incidents regarding federal agents in Minnesota, the case for the Dodgers to visit the commander in chief is far from concrete.
Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times asked manager Dave Roberts and team president Stan Kasten about whether or not the team that continues to revere the legacy of Jackie Robinson would consider visiting the White House. Roberts confirmed that he intends to go while Kasten declined to provide a definitive answer.
Per Roberts: “I was raised — by a man who served our country for 30 years — to respect the highest office in our country. For me, it doesn’t matter who is in the office, I’m going to go to the White House.”
Per Kasten: “I don’t have any news for you on that.”
Shaikin argues that the decision for the Dodgers to accept or decline a visit to the White House will be based on their moral courage, especially as they honor a pioneer of baseball who used his platform to advocate for civil rights and liberties once they return to Los Angeles.
For me, going to the White House would feel more expedient than right. If the Dodgers do go, they ought to skip the tributes to Robinson’s grand courage, since they would not have been able to muster up a fraction of their own.
Edwin Díaz will once again be representing Team Puerto Rico for the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Díaz appeared in four games for Puerto Rico in 2017, allowing two runs and striking out nine over 5 1/3 innings. In 2023, Díaz secured the final out against the Dominican Republic to send his team to the quarterfinals against Team Mexico, but suffered a season-ending injury to his ACL while celebrating.
Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register shares a preview of how the starting rotation will shape up this season. The four-headed monster of All-Stars are cemented at the top with several young options vying to fill in that fifth spot. Plunkett notes that the Dodgers could reignite their interest in Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal should he be made available during the season.
If the Detroit Tigers put Skubal on the market at any point, the Dodgers will be at the front of the line looking to acquire him. They have the prospect capital to make a deal happen and the financial resources to give him the massive contract extension his agent, Scott Boras, will be seeking if Skubal is going to forgo free agency next winter.
Sonja Chen of MLB.com takes a look at how the Dodgers outfield is shaping up. The starters right now are the newly signed Kyle Tucker in right field, Andy Pages in center and Teoscar Hernández returning to left field. Chen breaks down the different depth options at play, while also noting that a reunion with Kiké Hernández is not off the table should the team need additional options outside of Alex Call, the recently re-claimed Michael Siani and rookie Ryan Ward.
It would not be surprising to see the Dodgers bring back fan favorite Kiké Hernández… Los Angeles has openly stated its interest, but because Hernández is recovering from left elbow surgery and expecting to miss time at the beginning of the season, it seems likely that a deal might not materialize until the 60-day IL opens at the start of Spring Training.
The Knicks extended their winning streak to seven last night, shellacking the Washington Wizards in what felt like a home game, 132-101.
It was the exact kind of win that inspires confidence, the kind of win where every single player who steps on the floor contributes in a big way. Four starters had 19 or more points – hold for Josh Hart, who added seven points and seven dimes of his own. Ariel Hukporti shined in a backup center role, posting 12 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 blocks. Shamet, Clarkson, and Kolek all made their marks off the bench.
The Knicks were far superior to a younger Washington team, and it showed.
Tonight, the win streak gets seriously tested as New York travels back home to take on the 33-18 Nuggets, the third seed in the West that just welcomed back three-time MVP Nikola Jokic to the lineup. They’re still a bit banged up, with Aaron Gordon and Cam Johnson sidelined, but it’ll be a formidable test nevertheless. Denver sustained their winning ways even with Jokic sidelined, and it’ll be interesting to see how the Knicks compete with them on the second end of a back-to-back.
Denver’s offense is one of the best in the league – as a team, they average 120 PPG on 49.5/39.8/81.4 splits. Jeez. That being said, their defense is only middle of the pack, which is to say that points should be abundant tonight.
Jokic leads Denver with 29.3 points, 12 rebounds, and 10.5 assists per game. Jamal Murray is a motor, scoring at 25.5 points per game. Peyton Watson contributes on both ends with averages of 15 PPG and 1.2 BPG, and Christian Braun delivers nine points and his three-ball has fallen off a cliff this season. Their likely starting five tonight:: Jokic, Murray, Braun, Jalen Pickett (8.2 PPG), and Watson.
The Knicks have been rolling as of late, and I truly believe they can continue their winning ways at the Garden. Denver is still working Jokic properly back into the lineup. No Mitch, no Deuce, no problem. It’ll be a close one, but the Knicks take this one by four tonight.
Teams: New York Knicks (32-18) vs Denver Nuggets (33-18)
Date: Wednesday, February 4, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Location: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
TV: ESPN, MSG
Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky
The Florida Panthers enter tonight's matchup with the Boston Bruins riding a four-game losing streak, and are desperate for points to hang around in the playoff race.
My Bruins vs. Panthers predictions expect them to get a much-needed win in a big divisional clash on home ice.
Let’s break down my NHL picks for Wednesday, February 4, with puck drop scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET on TNT.
Bruins vs Panthers best bet: Panthers moneyline (-140)
While the Florida Panthers haven’t gotten the results they’ve wanted, they have largely played good hockey since Matthew Tkachuk returned to the lineup.
In the eight games with Tkachuk healthy and available, the Panthers have controlled a 57.43% share of the scoring chances. That is the second-highest mark in the league, trailing only the Lightning, who won seven of their eight games.
They are spending a lot of time on the front foot and getting significantly more chances than they’re giving up.
That can’t be said of the Boston Bruins, who sit 26th with a 45.21% scoring chance share over the same period of time.
Part of that is the penalty trouble they’ve run into, but I’m not sure that can be dismissed. They lead the league in PIMs per game and sit 26th in PK% this season. It’s nothing new; it’s the norm.
Including special teams, the Panthers will likely earn an edge in the shot/chance department this evening. They might also get reinforcements as the returns of Brad Marchand and Anton Lundell are looming.
Look for the back-to-back Stanley Cup winners to give Boston their best shot in an attempt to get some crucial points before the break.
Tkachuk leads the Panthers in high-danger chances and expected goals over the past eight games. He’s creating a lot of looks, and that should continue tonight. He always seems to save his best for the Bruins, averaging 3.7 shots on goal over the past 23 meetings.
The Bruins have had a couple of days off since the Stadium Series game, which should benefit Hampus Lindholm. He has been very productive in similar situations, recording multiple shots in six straight following two days of rest.
Florida has won seven of the past 10 matchups with Boston. Find more NHL betting trends for Bruins vs. Panthers.
| Location | Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise, FL |
| Date | Wednesday, February 4, 2026 |
| Puck drop | 7:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | TNT |
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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Today, our topic for conversation is shortstop.
Which player do you prefer get the Opening Day nod as shortstop for the Cleveland Guardians – Gabriel Arias or Brayan Rocchio? And why?
Discuss in the comments below!
On this week’s episode of Rays Your Voice, we discuss the recent press conference led by Governor Ron DeSantis, where major power players came out in support of the Rays new stadium plan on the Hillsborough College Dale Mabry campus. While funding was not discussed, Tuesday’s presser feels like a big step in the right direction for building a ballpark in Tampa.
We also discuss the three-team trade that saw the Rays acquire infielder Ben Williamson in exchange for Colton Ledbetter and a comp pick. Williamson is not the blockbuster acquisition that fans have been dreaming about this offseason (there was a better player involved in this deal headed to Seattle), but he does have the tools to carve a spot on this roster. We take a look at where he fits and what he brings to the table.
If you love what we do on Rays Your Voice, consider becoming a Patreon member for as little as $1/month. Also, if you’ve been a podcast listener from the jump, subscribe to our YouTube channel as well! We go live on YouTube for almost every single episode. Make sure to turn on our channel notifications so you can join us when we go live.
The Wizards traveled to New York where they took on a savvy, veteran, professional team and got vanquished, 132-101. The home town crowd enjoyed the New York-sized victory, chanting “MVP” when Jalen Brunson shot free throws in the third quarter.
Editor’s Note: The game was played in DC.
Note back to the Editor: On TV, they showed entire sections of the stadium filled with people wearing Knicks regalia. Are you sure?!
Editor’s Note: Yes.
In the grand tradition of Wizards/Bullets seeing their home stadium taken over by the opposing team’s fans, this one lands near the bottom. Sure, Lakers games probably take the top (bottom?) spot, but the Knicks faithful gave them a good run for their money last night.
Bright side: at least I got to listen to Walt Frazier, who remains thoroughly unique. Just once, I’d love to hear him on a broadcast with Charlotte Hornets play-by-play man Eric Collins. For fellow veteran Frazier watchers, last night he wore a leopard print blazer and a leopard print necktie. This ensemble is actually somewhat tame by his standards. I hope there’s a social media account that posts pictures of his outfits.
In addition to entertaining with his one-of-a-kind rhyming and SAT-word vocabulary, Frazier is a worthwhile listen on basketball topics. Last night, he shared how he returned from a sprained ankle in half the expected time by spending his nights in a chair putting his foot in and out of a bucket of ice. He talked about how some of the players being honored on “Black Excellence Night” were “my nemesis.”
And, he quickly and correctly answered the evening’s trivia question, “When was the last time the Knicks had two All-Stars in the same season.” He did have something of a cheat, considering that the correct answer was himself and Dave DeBusschere in 1974.
He also had this observation, which sounded like it could have been ripped from my notebook every time the Wizards play: “You can tell these guys are young by the turnovers they make. So careless with the ball.”
Speaking of being a “veteran,” every time I see AJ Johnson, my brain says, “A.J. English.”
For those readers who are younger than LeBron James, English was a 1990 second round pick out of Virginia Union University by the Bullets. He played two seasons for the team— 1990-91 and 1991-92. He actually wasn’t bad — at least good enough to think he could be on an NBA roster for a few years. He signed with the Portland Trail Blazers after those two years in Washington, didn’t make the team and never played in the league again.
Other highlights from the game: late in the half, the Knicks broadcaster shared the news that the Los Angeles Clippers had traded James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Darius Garland and a second round pick.
Below are the four factors that decide wins and losses in basketball — shooting (efg), rebounding (offensive rebounds), ball handling (turnovers), fouling (free throws made).
The four factors are measured by:
| FOUR FACTORS | KNICKS | WIZARDS | LGAVG |
|---|---|---|---|
| eFG% | 61.7% | 47.1% | 54.3% |
| OREB% | 22.0% | 19.6% | 26.1% |
| TOV% | 8.9% | 12.9% | 12.7% |
| FTM/FGA | 0.233 | 0.233 | 0.209 |
| PACE | 101 | 99.5 | |
| ORTG | 131 | 100 | 115.5 |
PPA is my overall production metric, which credits players for things they do that help a team win (scoring, rebounding, playmaking, defending) and dings them for things that hurt (missed shots, turnovers, bad defense, fouls).
PPA is a per possession metric designed for larger data sets. In small sample sizes, the numbers can get weird. In PPA, 100 is average, higher is better and replacement level is 45. For a single game, replacement level isn’t much use, and I reiterate the caution about small samples sometimes producing weird results.
POSS is the number of possessions each player was on the floor in this game.
ORTG = offensive rating, which is points produced per individual possessions x 100. League average so far this season is listed in the Four Factors table above. Points produced is not the same as points scored. It includes the value of assists and offensive rebounds, as well as sharing credit when receiving an assist.
USG = offensive usage rate. Average is 20%.
ORTG and USG are versions of stats created by former Wizards assistant coach Dean Oliver and modified by me. ORTG is an efficiency measure that accounts for the value of shooting, offensive rebounds, assists and turnovers. USG includes shooting from the floor and free throw line, offensive rebounds, assists and turnovers.
+PTS = “Plus Points” is a measure of the points gained or lost by each player based on their efficiency in this game compared to league average efficiency on the same number of possessions. A player with an offensive rating (points produced per possession x 100) of 100 who uses 20 possessions would produce 20 points. If the league average efficiency is 115, the league — on average — would produced 23.0 points in the same 20 possessions. So, the player in this hypothetical would have a +PTS score of -3.0.
Players are sorted by total production in the game.
| WIZARDS | MIN | POSS | ORTG | USG | +PTS | PPA | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AJ Johnson | 24 | 50 | 148 | 19.9% | 3.2 | 136 | -1 |
| Will Riley | 25 | 53 | 114 | 25.8% | -0.1 | 93 | -1 |
| Marvin Bagley III | 16 | 33 | 124 | 27.0% | 0.8 | 119 | -4 |
| Alex Sarr | 25 | 52 | 92 | 26.8% | -3.2 | 47 | -31 |
| Sharife Cooper | 19 | 39 | 94 | 22.3% | -1.9 | 44 | 4 |
| Kyshawn George | 26 | 55 | 110 | 14.2% | -0.5 | 26 | -33 |
| Bub Carrington | 25 | 52 | 96 | 24.6% | -2.4 | 23 | -30 |
| Khris Middleton | 22 | 47 | 95 | 23.3% | -2.2 | 25 | -31 |
| Bilal Coulibaly | 24 | 51 | 65 | 10.7% | -2.8 | -4 | -30 |
| Justin Champagnie | 20 | 43 | 36 | 18.2% | -6.2 | -87 | -4 |
| Anthony Gill | 7 | 15 | 0.0% | 0.0 | 121 | 2 | |
| Skal Labissiere | 7 | 16 | 98 | 8.2% | -0.2 | 29 | 4 |
| KNICKS | MIN | POSS | ORTG | USG | +PTS | PPA | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mikal Bridges | 26 | 54 | 181 | 24.1% | 8.4 | 376 | 23 |
| Karl-Anthony Towns | 26 | 55 | 108 | 31.0% | -1.4 | 200 | 30 |
| Landry Shamet | 21 | 44 | 177 | 14.4% | 3.9 | 238 | 23 |
| OG Anunoby | 27 | 57 | 137 | 21.4% | 2.6 | 182 | 13 |
| Jalen Brunson | 31 | 66 | 122 | 25.0% | 1.0 | 156 | 32 |
| Josh Hart | 22 | 46 | 153 | 10.9% | 1.9 | 179 | 34 |
| Ariel Hukporti | 22 | 45 | 139 | 16.7% | 1.8 | 148 | 1 |
| Mohamed Diawara | 4 | 9 | 246 | 23.0% | 2.7 | 594 | 4 |
| Jordan Clarkson | 21 | 45 | 130 | 18.1% | 1.2 | 74 | -3 |
| Tyler Kolek | 21 | 44 | 67 | 20.4% | -4.3 | -46 | 10 |
| Dillon Jones | 9 | 20 | 97 | 6.4% | -0.2 | 64 | -6 |
| Trey Jemison III | 9 | 20 | 40 | 15.4% | -2.3 | -89 | -6 |
THIS IS A GUEST ROCKPILE BY CORY COHEN (@cocomajobo.bsky.social)
A lot has been written about the many ways in which the 2025 Colorado Rockies were not very good at baseball.
Most of the reasons come down to the usual suspect of poor talent that cannot easily be fixed. There is, however, one aspect of the team’s terrible performance last year that can, theoretically, be addressed without needing to overhaul the roster: good ol’ thievery.
Last year, the Rockies did steal 87 bases, which ranked a totally forgettable 23rd in the league. The problem is, they were caught a whopping 39 times en route to that total. That comes out to an abysmal 68.5% success rate, which ranked dead last. The second worst were the Kansas City Royals — a full 4% above them. Meanwhile, the New York Mets led the league all the way with an 88.4% success rate (more on them later).
The first instinct when seeing these numbers is to assume that the team was just slow.
In fact, the ‘25 Rox were pretty darn fast. All six players who got at least 100 opportunities had a sprint speed above the league average mark of 27.0 ft/sec. As a team, they ranked third in terms of average sprint speed at 27.9 feet per second behind only the Milwaukee Brewers (28.0 ft/sec) and Philadelphia Phillies (28.1 ft./sec).
So, if they’re fast, what makes them so bad at stealing bases?
There’s a ton of factors that contribute to something as messy as this, but let’s take a look at one that’s surprisingly simple.
Here’s Tyler Freeman attempting to run on Merrill Kelly:
Now compare that with Francisco Lindor against Quinn Priester:
Before the pitch, Lindor is already in motion, but Freeman remains static. By the time of the pitcher’s first move, Freeman only has a 10.7-foot lead while Lindor has already achieved a 15.5-foot one. That’s not even getting into how Lindor’s momentum lends itself to an easier time committing to the sprint.
Granted, Lindor is pretty fast (only 1.1 ft/sec slower than Freeman), so he’s perhaps an imperfect example, but you know who isn’t? Juan Soto.
After joining Lindor’s Mets, Soto started practicing an approximation of his patented home plate shuffle at first base. He proceeded to steal 38 bases in only 42 attempts despite sporting only the 549th sprint speed in the majors. The Mets as a whole had an average lead of 13.1 feet on stolen base attempts, which was comfortably the highest in the league, to go along with being last in sprint speed. That combination of furthest lead but slowest speed led to, as mentioned above, the best stolen base success rate in the game.
The Rockies average lead of 10.6 feet, on the other hand, was down at 24th — only 0.2 feet further than the league-worst Chicago White Sox.
Baseball Savant’s clip archive is full of stolen base attempts similar to the Freeman example above. Sometimes the pure speed of someone like Doyle allowed them to get away with it. Far too often, though, nearly everyone on the team from Ezequiel Tovar, to Jordan Beck, to even Zac Veen just ran themselves into an out using this technique.
What’s more, that lack of aggression does not actually appear to have saved the Rockies from being picked off. In ‘25, the New York Yankees (who Soto does not appear to have shuffled for at first base for in ‘24) were the only team to suffer more pickoffs than the Rockies while having a longer average lead on stolen base attempts. This is, perhaps, indicative of the runners having enough information on the pitcher to know when it’s safe to commit but the main point is that the formula isn’t as simple as: more lead distance equals more pickoffs.
What does this mean for this year’s Rockies?
Simply that their base stealing problems are solvable with the current roster. The foot speed is in place. With a few tweaks to their plan of attack and, dare I say, a little bit more confidence, they have the ability to turn at least this one weakness into a possible strength.
Come Opening Day, I know I’ll be watching first for any hints of Soto-esque shuffling.
Keith Law’s take on the current state of the Rockies farm system is tepid but optimistic about the combination of raw talent and a new front office. In terms of individual players, he is high on both Roldy Brito (3rd) and Jackson Cox (4th). On the flipside, Law throws some cold water on the idea of Roc Riggio as more than “an emergency call-up” long term and appears to be lower than the consensus on Cole Carrigg (17th) because he “hasn’t really made any adjustments since the Rockies took him in the second round in 2023.”
Top Five Black Players in Spokane Indians History | MiLB.com
Part of a series MiLB is running in celebration of Black History Month that looks back at standout Black baseball players for minor league clubs. This is a fascinating group of names that places former RoY/Cy Young/MVP Don Newcombe alongside Curtis “Big Rig” Terry, who only had thirteen games in the majors but absolutely raked for Spokane in 2018 en route to Northwest League MVP. Most notably for this crowd, Jay Gainer, whose only big league time came as a member of the Rockies in their inaugural season, makes the honorable mentions.
The Rockies AA affiliate announced on Monday that they’ll be hosting a couple throwback games using one of their old team names on May 27th & 28th. The New Britain Rock Cats, as they will once again (briefly) be named, was far from the first identity of the club as Declan Walsh explains. With the now Yard Goats having had three team names, multiple major league affiliates, and many northeast cities as their home, it makes for a fun quick read.
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The Detroit Tigers aren’t entirely running it back for 2026, but aside from adding Kenley Jansen, Kyle Finnegan, and Drew Anderson, we’re heading toward an Opening Day roster that is little changed form the 2025 edition.
There are reasons for optimism based on the club’s run as one of the top 3 teams in baseball from August 1, 2024 through August 1, 2025. However, those last two months of the season, and really from the All-Star break untll the end of the regular season, really soured the brew and left many wondering if the first half was just an extended hot streak.
My key reason for optimism, is that the Tigers actually have some top shelf prospect talent due to pitch in over the course of the season. That was sorely lacking in 2025 until Troy Melton gave them a boost down the stretch last year.
Still though, this is a fairly young roster, particularly in terms of impact players. Riley Greene is 25 years old and was mashing at a near MVP pace in the first half last year until he fell apart after the break. Spencer Torkelson is 26 and finally put together a complete season without any extended slumps. Colt Keith is 24 and has settled into the major leagues pretty nicely as a hitter, but he hasn’t started producing the power he was expected to bring to the table. Reese Olson has two good partial seasons under his belt heading into his age 26 season. Troy Melton is 25 and will open the season as a big leaguer for the first time.
You get the point. A lot of the Tigers more talented players are in that 24-26 year-old window when good players typically hit their prime years. Some may already be there, but the potential for some breakout seasons is certainly present as well.
Who’s your guy in 2026? Who on the 40-man roster would you bet on to be the breakout player for the Tigers this year?
Good morning, baseball fans!
We are less than a week away from San Francisco Giants pitchers and catchers reporting for Spring Training, which might be the best news I’ve heard in a year.
The organization has been busy over the last week, signing Harrison Bader and Luis Arráez, so it’s not an unfair assumption that there might still be moves to be made.
Earlier this offseason, the organization made statements that seemed to indicate that they were likely set with the rotation. However, the rumor mill is indicating that they might be planning a reunion with Justin Verlander for another season.
Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report in particular predicts that the team is the most likely landing spot for the 42 year old right-hander on a short-term deal.
As with any rumor, I’ll take this one with a grain of salt, but it is worth examining. Because it definitely feels like something they would do.
Personally, I wouldn’t mind it, depending on the specifics of any potential deal. While the team has already made moves to bolster the rotation over the off-season, it couldn’t hurt to have an additional arm for when someone inevitably gets taken out by the Marlins Death Fog or Coors Field.
Despite a rocky start to the 2025 season (a lot of which seemed to be truly awful luck), Verlander ended the year with a 3.85 ERA and FIP, with 137 strikeouts to 52 walks in 152 innings pitched. I’ll take another season of that, if the price is right.
Do you think the Giants should re-sign Verlander?