KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - MAY 25: Pitcher Lucas Erceg #60 of the Kansas City Royals walks off the mound after the top of the 9th inning during the game against the New York Yankees at Kauffman Stadium on May 25, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Royals were hoping Lucas Erceg could be the shutdown reliever in their bullpen. Instead, he has struggled with his command all year and has been a big reason why they have the second-worst bullpen ERA in baseball. Today, the team finally optioned him to Omaha, calling up reliever Carlos Durán to replace him.
Durán was acquired from the Dodgers at the trade deadline for pitcher Kris Bubic. The 25-year-old right-hander had a 3.15 ERA in 40 minor league appearances with 64 strikeouts and 29 walks in 45.2 innings. He has appeared in one MLB game before, giving up one hit, three walks, and three runs, while retiring just one hitter in an appearances with the A’s last year.
Durán has a fastball that sits at 96 mph, but he features a plus slider that could make him a valuable weapon in the pen.
The Royals might have an absolute gem in Carlos Duran 👀💎
Durán was originally signed by the Dodgers out of the Dominican Republic, but was traded to the A’s in 2025 for outfielder Esteury Ruiz. The A’s let him go after the end of last year, and he returned to the Dodgers on a minor league deal.
Erceg got off to a decent start, but had three big blow ups in late May and has not recovered since. In his last 27 outings, he has given up 26 runs in 24 innings. Overall, the 31-year-old right-hander has a 6.23 ERA, fourth-worst among qualified relievers, his 13.9 percent walk rate is seventh-highest among relievers, and he has the worst strikeout-to-walk ratio in baseball. He has six blown saves this year, more than all but four pitchers.
Erceg had a notable drop in strikeout rate last year, but still maintained a 2.64 ERA. This year, opponents are hitting .333 against his 97 mph fastball. Preston Farr wrote this week about Erceg’s struggles, noting his lack of a change up.
While still mixing in both fastballs at a good rate, Erceg has essentially become a fastball/slider pitcher out of the pen. That drop in changeup usage has completely changed the effectiveness of his sinker against opposing hitters.
The Royals originally acquired Erceg in 2024 from the Athletics in what was a savvy move at the time to get a reliever with several controllable years remaining. But his future in the Royals’ pen is now in doubt unless he can rediscover his stuff in Triple-A. The Royals have him under club control through 2029.
The Little League World Series is arguably the biggest stage young athletes can find themselves on. While only a select few have gone on to enjoy professional baseball careers, every year, the utter joy and passion that these kids exude throughout the tournament in Williamsport captivates audiences.
Of course, their electric talent draws in audiences as well. Unforgettable performances from unlikely sources are always bound to make big waves at the Little League World Series, and this year, we might see yet another.
Rasmus is not only proving she belongs, but outperforming everyone she comes across.
In the regional tournament, Rasmus tossed a complete game shutout en route to a 4-0 win over Tennessee to secure the Southeast regional title. Her line? Just three hits allowed, no walks and eight strikeouts.
Rasmus is able to keep hitters off balance with a remarkable curveball, which she has attributed to her dad, former Major League pitcher Cory Rasmus.
She's not a bad hitter, either. Through the regional tournament, Rasmus hit .750, going 6-for-8.
Rasmus' efforts helped lift Alabama to their first trip to the Little League World Series in 27 years. That team was led by her father, Cory Rasmus, who went on to pitch for the Angels and Braves.
Does Kinley have any other famous relatives?
Yes, Kinley's uncle is none other than former MLB outfielder Colby Rasmus. The 10-year MLB vet played for five teams between 2009 and 2018, starting his career with the St. Louis Cardinals before joining the Toronto Blue Jays, Houston Astros, Tampa Bay Rays and Baltimore Orioles.
When does the Little League World Series begin?
The Little League World Series starts on Wednesday, August 19 and runs through Sunday, August 30.
Alabama plays their first game at 3 p.m. ET on August 19 against the Northwest representatives, Washington.
ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 16: Mauricio Dubon (14) of the Atlanta Braves chills in the dugout during his off day during the Sunday afternoon MLB game between the Atlanta Braves and the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday August 16, 2026 at Truist Park in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Braves are rocking with Sean Murphy at catcher and Mauricio Dubon at short against the righty Matthews for the Twins. I think they should do this more, with Jim Jarvis’ bat turning back into a pumpkin and Murphy in need of live plate appearances.
The ratings for forwards in NHL 27 are out, and there isn't much of a surprise at the top of the Chicago Blackhawks roster.
Connor Bedard is the highest-rated forward at 90 overall. This is composed of his 93 overall acceleration, 92 speed, 92 deke, 93 passing, 89 slapshot, and 93 wrist shot.
Bedard is ranked as the 15th-best center in the game and 43rd overall player. EA Sports officially recognizes him as an elite player.
Right below Bedard is the newly reacquired Patrick Kane at 85 overall. Most of his attributes are in the mid-80s at this stage of his career, but they gave him a 92 passing grade, still recognizing him as an elite passer.
When playing the game as the Chicago Blackhawks, the combination of Patrick Kane and Connor Bedard should work well, considering both have well above-average passing numbers.
Frank Nazar is an 85, and Tyler Bertuzzi rounds out the top four at 84. For Nazar, that is a number that could continue to climb as long as he continues to get better on the ice for real.
For Bertuzzi, it is a high mark that is likely the result of his 30-goal campaign in 2025-26. Unless he does that again for Chicago, 84 feels like a flatline rating for him at this stage of his career.
How high can Connor Bedard take his rating? Well, Connor McDavid just became the first NHL player to ever receive a 99 rating from EA, but somewhere in the mid-90s is a great ceiling for Bedard in his career. There, he would find himself amongst other elite players like Jack Hughes, Jack Eichel, and Nick Suzuki, and others.
The top of the forward rankings is set in #NHL27 🔥
99 OVR Connor McDavid leads the Centers. Nikita Kucherov leads the Right Wings at 97. Kirill Kaprizov on top the Left Wings at 94.
EA Sports regularly updates its ratings for players, and it is based on performance in real life. When Bedard returns from injury, scoring goals, making plays, and team success would go a long way toward Bedard seeing his number climb.
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On the latest episode of The Mets Pod, Connor Rogers and Joe DeMayo find that hope is a good thing for the 2026 Mets and beyond.
The guys discuss a pitching staff that has stabilized behind young arms, the young psychopaths throwing guys out from the outfield, and a possible new life for Kodai Senga as a relief pitcher.
The Mets Pod Answering Machine delivers voicemails about the future of first base and Jonah Tong, and Joe sits down for an exclusive interview with shortstop prospect Sammy Stafura, a lifelong Mets fan who came to the team in the Luke Weaver trade.
The show wraps with a dip into the Mailbag that dives into questions about Ronny Mauricio.
Be sure to subscribe to The Mets Pod at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 18: Pitcher Corbin Burnes #39 of the Arizona Diamondbacks poses for a portrait during photo day at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on February 18, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/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 Diamondbacks fans and fans across the country.
Since the break, the Diamondbacks’ rotation has been more than a run better than it was in the first half. Our starter’s ERA has dropped from 4.39 (18th in the majors) to 3.31 (ranked 6th), through thirty games. If sustained, that would be the lowest second-half ERA in franchise history. A major factor in that has obviously been the resurgence of Brandon Pfaadt, who has looked – almost literally – like a completely different pitcher since he returned from his spell in Triple-A. But we have seen virtually everyone in the rotation, from Merrill Kelly through to Mitch Bratt, show themselves capable of shutting down the opposition, on any given night.
Things might yet improve further, with the return of Corbin Burnes coming up, with probably a couple of weeks to go for that. While there are no certainties after Tommy John, there’s potential there for the starting pitching to get a major boost down the stretch. So, presuming he takes Bratt’s slot in the rotation, if the Diamondbacks were to make the playoffs – ideally with enough time to get their rotation set for the post-season – it would present Torey Lovullo with a bit of a dilemma. Albeit a nice one: who should start Game #1 for Arizona? Below are the five candidates, good health being taken as read.
Corbin Burnes. The staff ace before he was injured, he has the best career numbers, and also the most postseason experience, with a 2.33 ERA across 27 innings.
Merrill Kelly. Proved his worth during the 2023 run to the World Series, with a 2.25 ERA across four starts, including seven innings of one-run ball in the team’s only WS victory.
Brandon Pfaadt. Has been astonishing during his recent run, but still has a career ERA+ of only 89. Five post-season starts, although still looking for his first W there.
Eduardo Rodriguez. An All-Star this year. Far and away the team’s most valuable pitcher this year (4.4 bWAR), having gone 12-4 so far, with a 2.73 ERA that’s a career best.
Michael Soroka. The best FIP (2.86) among the candidates, and a stellar K:BB ratio of better than four – nobody else in the rotation is even at three this year.
I suspect the poll is likely to skew for Pfaadt, largely because of recency bias (it’s amazing to think that less than two months ago, he wasn’t considered good enough to hold down a long-relief spot out of the bullpen). But y’know something? I’d not be unhappy with any of the five getting the ball. Let’s hope it’s a decision which needs to be made, following the series in San Diego which ends the regular season. There’s a poll below, and as usual, please explain your choice in the comments. Bonus points if you want to line up the rotation and, presuming we only need four man, tell us who would be left off it…
AKRON, OHIO - MAY 03, 2026: Seaver King #3 of the Harrisburg Senators runs out a double during the third inning against the Akron RubberDucks at 7 17 Credit Union Park on May 03, 2026 in Akron, Ohio. (Photo by George Kubas/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
In the 4th inning of Sunday’s contest between the Rochester Red Wings and Charlotte Knights, Seaver King fired a 90 mph rocket to first base to finish off an inning ending double play. After the play, the Nats star shortstop prospect was fired up, flexing on his way back to the dugout. This combination of athleticism and energy personifies Seaver King’s play style.
Just from watching the past couple games, I have noticed that Seaver King is a big personality on the field. Got fired up after turning an inning ending double play
The first thing that came out of manager Matt Lecroy’s mouth when I asked him about King was “Seaver is a sparkplug man”. He is one of those players that is easy to pick out as a casual observer because of his loud tools. King just plays the game faster and more aggressively than most players, which should endear him to fans.
However, that has not always been the case for the 23 year old. Last season was a disastrous campaign for the former 10th overall pick. He hit just .244 with a .631 OPS across two levels, particularly struggling in Double-A where he posted a .600 OPS. The chase rates were out of control and he was hitting the ball on the ground too much to tap into his power.
King admitted that his 2025 season was tough, but added that he “would not be here without last season”. It was a reality check for a player whose career had been a steady uphill climb to that point. King went from Division II Wingate University to Wake Forest, where he became a top 10 pick. However, baseball has a way of humbling players quickly.
It is not as if the success had gotten to King’s head. Rather, as he put it, he needed to learn what he can and cannot do. Following a successful stint in the Arizona Fall League and an offseason focused on building consistency, King once again looks like the player the Nats made a top 10 selection.
Right now King is knocking on the door of the big leagues. When I saw him this weekend, the bat sure looked big league ready. He was hammering balls to the opposite field and got on base five times in the two games. King’s biggest moment was a solo home run which he crushed to right field.
Using the whole field has always been a big emphasis for King and that remains the case even with a new hitting braintrust that emphasizes pulling the ball in the air. “Owning the right side of the field” is a motto that King has lived by for most of his baseball life. He wants to add more of a pullside element, but it is clear that he believes that he is at his best when he is using the opposite field.
While pulling the ball might not be King’s game, he clearly wants to hit the ball in the air more. He told me that every swing he takes in the cage is with the intent of putting the ball in the air. Elevating the baseball is at the core of the Nats new hitting philosophy, and King is a success story for this ideology.
Last season, he put the ball on the ground 52.4% of the time. This year that number is down to 44.5% and it has led to a massive surge in power. After hitting 6 homers in 125 games last season, King has 14 in 82 games this year, including 4 in his last 8 games. The explosive shortstop has always hit the ball hard, but now he is putting the ball in the air and doing damage.
That idea of doing damage is at the core of King’s offensive approach. His approach to hitting is both simple and effective, “hit strikes as hard as I can”. In an organization where data has become king, Seaver admits that he is not a guy who dives into the numbers too much.
Ideally, he wants his instincts and explosiveness to do the talking. However, when he does look at numbers, he said he tends to look at things such as chase percentage. That makes a lot of sense, as minimizing chase has been a big priority for the 23 year old.
In Double-A, he was swinging dramatically less at the beginning of the season. King had a lot of success with that approach. However, following his promotion to AAA, his swing happy nature re-emerged. Before his IL stint, King was chasing at 38.9% of pitches at the AAA level. Since he has come back, that number has dropped to the low 30’s but it is still something that gives the Nats some pause, which was mentioned in Spencer Nusbaum’s most recent article.
This weekend, King’s plate discipline was a mixed bag. There were some at bats where he came up with a great plan and forced pitchers into the zone. He did walk in both games I saw. However, there were other AB’s where he was clearly in swing mode. One at bat he swung at a pitch so wild that it got past the catcher and he got on base due to the dropped third strike.
What is different about this year though, is that King is not letting those at bats linger. One thing King told me he has gotten a lot better at is “Not letting bad days dwell into three in a row”. He will have the occasional bad at bat, but King learns from it and locks back in.
Those changes in his mental game are just as important as the physical ones. In fact, those are the changes that make me believe the 23 year old is big league ready. It is unclear if he will be called up this season, but I think he would help the team if given the opportunity.
His bat will be helpful, but I also think the way he plays would breathe life into a Nats team that looks out of gas. As Matt Lecroy put it, King is “an old timey player who gives everything he’s got every day”. The Nats need a guy who will puff his chest after turning a double play and play with reckless abandon. According to Lecroy, King is a guy who takes losses hard even at the AAA level.
In the dog days of summer, this Nats team is in need of a sparkplug. Seaver King’s aggressive and up tempo playstyle would be the perfect solution. If it were up to me, Seaver King would get a shot, but let’s see what the Nats decide to do next.
Shams Charania is not backing down after Jeanie Buss’ legal team accused the ESPN insider of inaccurately reporting the latest twist in the Lakers’ increasingly messy ownership saga.
Appearing Tuesday on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Charania addressed a letter from Buss’ attorney that accused him of falsely reporting that all six Buss siblings voted to sell the family’s remaining 17.8% stake in the franchise.
The statement specifically claimed Charania “falsely reported that the six Buss siblings voted to sell” the stake to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger and that Jeanie was “out” as controlling owner.
Mark Walter, left, a majority owner of the Los Angeles Lakers, and Jeanie Buss, minority owner of the Los Angeles Lakers, talk as the Lakers play the Chicago Bulls at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Thursday, March 12, 2026. Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
Charania took direct issue with that characterization.
“That letter included my name in it, which I do find interesting,” Charania said. “I do have to make it clear, I fully stand by my reporting.”
He then zeroed in on what he believes Buss’ legal team got wrong.
“The first line of the statement from the lawyer said that I reported that the six Buss siblings voted to sell,” Charania said. “That key sentence right there is inaccurate.”
Buss’ attorney, Adam Streisand, went further in Monday’s statement, alleging a “years-long pattern” in which Joey and Jesse Buss have leaked “false, defamatory and pernicious” information to Charania in an effort to damage the Lakers while Jeanie carries out what the attorney described as their late father Jerry Buss’ wishes.
Charania did not retreat from his reporting in response to those accusations, instead emphasizing that his report concerned whether the family had enough votes to move forward with the sale.
Shams Charania appears on ESPN’s NBA Draft coverage on June 23, 2026, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NBAE via Getty Images
That distinction has become central to the latest round of Buss family infighting surrounding the Lakers. In ESPN’s current report, Charania wrote that the family trust received enough votes to approve the proposed sale, with at least five of the six siblings voting in favor.
ESPN separately reported that Jeanie did not participate in the vote. According to Charania’s sources, four votes were required to trigger the provision allowing the sale.
That is different, however, from whether those votes can actually force Jeanie to give up the family’s stake.
Los Angeles Lakers president Jeanie Buss is seen during a preseason NBA game against the Golden State Warriors on Friday, Oct. 13, 2023, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California. ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA
Buss is challenging her siblings’ attempt to sell, with Streisand arguing that the family trust and a 2017 court ruling prevent a sale without approval from the co-trustees and require them to preserve enough ownership for Jeanie to remain the Lakers’ controlling governor.
Charania maintained that his reporting concerned the majority vote while acknowledging that interpreting the rules of the trust itself is another matter.
So while Charania is pushing back on the claim that his reporting was inaccurate, the larger question remains unresolved.
What began as another blockbuster Lakers sale is increasingly shaping up as a battle over exactly what the Buss family voted for — and whether that vote actually has the power to end Jeanie’s reign.
One day after Jeanie Buss contested her siblings attempting to sell the family’s shares of the Lakers, the rest of the Buss family made it clear they aren’t backing down.
Jim, Johnny, Janie, Joey and Jesse Buss issued a statement on Tuesday afternoon: “The Los Angeles Lakers have never been just a basketball team. They have been one of the greatest privileges of our lives. Our focus has always been on what we believe is best for the Lakers, the fans who have supported this franchise for generations and the greater Los Angeles community.
“Johnny, Jimmy, Janie, Joey and Jesse have made the decision to sell the family’s remaining stake, and we remain united in that decision. We intend to move forward thoughtfully, respectfully and through the appropriate process.”
Jeanie Buss, left, and Mark Walter attend a basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors. Getty Images
“We have tremendous respect for Bob Iger and Josh Kushner and believe they understand what the Lakers represent to Los Angeles and our incredibly loyal fan base,” the statement from the Buss siblings added. “We are confident they will honor everything this franchise stands for while building upon the foundation our father created.”
Lakers Governor Jeanie Buss is opposing her siblings’ vote to sell the family’s share of the Lakers, according to a letter from her lawyer, Adam Streisand, which was obtained by the California Post, arguing her siblings can’t legally execute a sale without her approval and that any vote of the Buss family selling would be “void”.
The Buss family trust includes six of the late Dr. Jerry Buss’ children: Johnny (69), Jim (66), Jeanie (64), Janie (62), Joey (41) and Jesse (37).
The siblings believe they simply need a majority vote (four out of six) to allow the trustees to sell the family’s shares.
Jim Buss and his sister Jeanie Buss of the Los Angeles Lakers attend a news conference. Getty Images
“Pursuant to the JAB Trust and the attached Court Order, the co-trustees are bound to vote the Los Angeles Lakers, Inc. shares to ensure that the minimum 15% ownership requirement is maintained in order to ensure that Jeanie Buss may remain Controlling Owner,” Streisand said in the letter. “Any attempt by the co-trustees to do otherwise, and any attempt to aid or abet the co-trustees as such, would constitute a breach of trust, breach of fiduciary duty and be in contempt of court.”
The letter added: “On behalf of Jeanie Buss, I demand that your clients make clear publicly that Jeanie Buss is the Controlling Owner of the Los Angeles Lakers and that your clients shall take no action on this supposed “vote” to sell the 17.8% stake.”
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The siblings took the opposite action, making it clear they still intend to sell their share of the Lakers.
What comes next remains to be seen.
Jeanie and her representatives didn’t issue a statement in response Tuesday.
The Buss family said in a statement Monday morning: “We have decided as a family to sell the remaining Buss Family Trust shares to the Bob Iger group as part of the ongoing transaction. We love the Lakers, Laker fans and will continue to support Los Angeles; but it is time to use this opportunity to move on and exit gracefully while we still can.”
Selling the Lakers would result in Jeanie no longer being the team’s Governor, since she would no longer have the qualifying 15% ownership stake in the franchise required told hold that position. She has been team’s Governor since 2013 after Jerry’s death.
When Walter purchased the majority ownership of the Lakers from the Buss family, the league announced that Buss would remain the team’s Governor for a period of at least five years (through 2030).
But on Monday, Jeanie’s attorney sent a letter to lawyers for the other siblings demanding that they retract the announcement of the proposed sale, insisting that rules of the family trust and a 2017 court ruling make clear that she will remain a controlling owner of the team for life.
The letter also called the announcement of a planned sale of the family’s stake in the Lakers, “just the latest instance of a years-long pattern whereby Joey and Jesse Buss leak false, defamatory and pernicious `information’…for the malicious purpose of doing harm to the Los Angeles Lakers so long as Dr. [Jerry] Buss’ chosen successor, Jeanie Buss, carries out her father’s wishes.”
Jerry Buss died in 2013. AP
Kushner and Iger are purchasing about 65% of the Lakers in their deal with Walter. The Buss family’s share of the Lakers would give Kushner and Iger about 83% of the franchise.
That sale needs to be approved by the NBA Board of Governors, which is scheduled to meet Sept. 15-16 in New York.
Kushner also must sell his minority ownership stake in the Heat before he can officially become the Lakers’ co-majority owner.
But after the latest update in this saga, how and when this will be resolved isn’t clear.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - MAY 29: Danny Jansen #9 of the Texas Rangers bats against the Kansas City Royals at Globe Life Field on May 29, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Texas Rangers catcher Danny Jansen has been activated from the 60 day injured list, the team announced today. To make room for him on the active roster, the Rangers have designated catcher Austin Wynns for assignment, leaving 39 players on the 40 man roster. In addition, the Rangers announced that Marco Gonzales, who was designated for assignment on Saturday, has rejected an outright assignment and become a free agent.
Jansen was signed as a free agent to a two year contract this past offseason, with an eye towards him splitting time with Kyle Higashioka behind the plate for the Rangers this year. Jansen has been on the injured list since early June due to an elbow issue that may require offseason surgery. He spent last week on a rehab assignment with Round Rock, for whom he appeared in five games. He was slashing .171/.277/.309 on the season before he went on the i.l.
Wynns was called up when Higashioka went on the injured list about a month ago, having previously played in the majors for the A’s and the Braves this year in short stints. Wynns hit .276/.323/.379 in 32 plate appearances over 14 games during his time in the bigs with Texas.
Gonzales, meanwhile, is again a free agent, having again been designated for assignment, cleared waivers, and rejected an outright assignment. I imagine he will be re-signed by the Rangers in the next day or two, and will return to the Express rotation.
Nandy: ‘As a fan myself, I share fans’ disappointment’
The culture secretary, Lisa Nandy, has urged administrators to strike a deal to allow this autumn’s Rugby League World Cup to be shown on a free-to-air broadcast after it was announced the event would be shown in the United Kingdom exclusively on subscription TV.
The BBC’s longstanding relationship with the sport has led to it consistently showing the Rugby League World Cup irrespective of where and when the tournament has been held. But that tradition will seemingly end this autumn, after it was confirmed the broadcaster would not bid for the rights to show the event, which will be held in Australia.
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 05: Pirates shortstop Konnor Griffin (6) watches from the dugout during the Pittsburgh Pirates versus Washington Nationals Major League Baseball (MLB) game on June 5, 2026 at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.. (Photo by Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Pittsburgh Pirates are finally getting healthy, though it might be just too little, too late.
After getting some positive news on Oneil Cruz, the Pirates are on tap to get Konnor Griffin back in approximately three weeks, according to MLB.com.
Griffin went on the 6o-day IL with a left ring finger injury and is eligible to return on September 4. Griffin tore his left ring finger sagittal band and forced him to wear a splint for six weeks. Pirates Senior Director of Sports Medicine Todd Tomczyk gave some positive injury news on Griffin, a much needed change of pace from the seemingly never-ending cycle of players missing time.
“Not surprisingly, Konnor’s a little bit ahead of schedule,” Tomcyk told the media this week. “He has been cleared to transition out of the splints that you’ve seen him in. You will still see his hand taped, and that’s part of this transition phase.”
The original timeline for Griffin’s return put him more likely to return around mid-September, so it’s encouraging to see that he is progressing towards full baseball activities.
Over the next 48-72 hours, you’ll see him putting his hand in the glove,“ Tomczyk said. ”You’ll see him gripping the bat fully.”
Griffin suffered the injury on July 5 against the Washington Nationals, just eight games after returning from an elbow injury. The 20-year-old rookie’s season that was full of promise has been cut short with two lengthy injuries that hasn’t allowed the staff or fan base to see Griffin’s full potential at the major league level.
In 59 games, Griffin is slashing .276/.332/.404 with a .736 OPS. He owns 10 doubles, five home runs, and 25 RBIs over 225 at-bats.
The speedy shortstop has stolen 20 bases and was on pace to steal over 40 bags as a rookie.
If he does return on time, Griffin will return to the team when the Pirates host the LA Angels at PNC Park.
The NBA rumor mill never stops, and the latest smoke concerns one of the purest scorers of this generation.
Year One of Kevin Durant on the Houston Rockets proved to be “frustrating and disappointing,” in the words of general manager Rafael Stone. Houston won 52 games, but was bounced in the first round of the postseason, after injuries took their toll.
That has led to Durant, who will turn 38 in late September, to pop up on the rumor mill as a potential trade candidate. This, however, should be taken merely as the work of high speculation from the corners of NBA message boards.
For the Rockets, this entire offseason was essentially the anticipation of the return of point guard Fred VanVleet, who missed the entire 2025-26 campaign with a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
Point guard was the biggest weakness for the Rockets, and competent play at the position should take considerable pressure off of Durant to be the one to create offense. Houston tried several different options at point guard. From Amen Thompson in the regular season opener against the Thunder, to Reed Sheppard later in the year, Houston could not find a consistent facilitator.
That led to Durant playing on ball more than coach Ime Udoka wanted, and it also led to frequent offensive stagnation.
The reality is the Rockets can still field an interesting and competitive team this season, so there simply is no incentive to bail on Durant — at least not yet.
Houston will also return backup center Steven Adams, and Durant himself missed five of Houston’s six games in that first-round series loss against the Lakers.
“We think the players in our locker room can win a lot of games and can be very competitive,” Stone said in May. “We have players coming back from injury; they will help us. If we bring back, largely, the same group, I think continuity will help us.”
All this to say: don’t expect the Rockets to move Durant.
No major outlet or NBA insider has reported anything about Durant being on the trading block. The only reason his name has come up in the rumor mill is because fans have conjured highly speculative potential trades involving him, most of which — frankly — make no sense at all.
Durant has one more season left on his contract and also has a player option worth $46.1 million for 2027-28. He averaged 26 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game across 78 appearances last season. He is still a steady scoring threat, though it’s clear he needs more help and facilitation at this stage of his career.
VanVleet should stabilize play-making and should get even more out of Durant. Houston still needs Thompson, Sheppard and forwards Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason to develop further. Center Alperen Şengün has to continue playing within the system.
But the Rockets did not ship all those assets (Dillon Brooks, Jalen Green, the 2025 No. 10 overall pick and five second-round selections) to simply pull the plug on Durant after one injury-riddled season.
Now, should Houston’s season absolutely implode and should it become clear that this roster is not in position to compete, the Rockets may then consider moving Durant before the February trading deadline to recoup assets. But if this hypothetical goes down, it’s likely because Durant is either injured or has drastically underperformed, either of which would lower his value, anyway.
And though he’s in the sunset of his career, Durant has been far too consistent for that to feasibly be an option.
It’s always a challenge to incorporate an elite star into a new system. Often, it takes time for these new teammates to jell. That’s only magnified when key injuries rob a team of its identity.
This is the time of the year when hoops fans are starved for any news or juicy trade scenarios. Treat anything you see about Durant as just that.
ARLINGTON, TX - JUNE 07: Luis Curvelo #57 of the Texas Rangers pitches during a game against the Cleveland Guardians at Globe Life Field on June 07, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Kai Kanzer/Texas Rangers/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Texas Rangers relief pitcher Luis Curvelo has cleared waivers and been outrighted to AAA Round Rock, the team has announced. As Curvelo has never been outrighted before, he does not have the option of rejecting the outright assignment, and thus will remain in the Rangers’ organization for the time being.
Curvelo, 25, was designated for assignment on August 14 so that the Rangers could add pitcher Marco Gonzales to the 40 man roster as part of adding Gonzales to the active roster. Gonzales was then designated for assignment a day later so that Jakob Junis could be activated from the 15 day injured list. That opened up a 40 man roster spot that I am guessing will be filled in the near future as a result of Jack Leiter being activated from the 60 day injured list.
Curvelo was originally signed out of Venezuela by the Seattle Mariners, and he pitched in their organization from 2018 through 2024. Curvelo became a minor league free agent after the 2024 season, and the Rangers opted to sign him to a major league deal that winter. After a somewhat promising 2025 season, where he put up a 3.76 ERA in 40 innings at Round Rock and a 5.68 ERA/4.66 FIP in 19 innings in the majors, he has regressed in 2026. In 10.1 innings over 9 games in the majors, he’s allowed 12 runs on 17 hits — including four homers — while walking seven and striking out six. Things haven’t been much better in AAA, as he’s allowed 27 runs in 25.2 innings for the Express this year, with 6 homers, 18 walks and 26 Ks.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - MARCH 25: Giancarlo Stanton #27, Aaron Judge #99 and Cody Bellinger #35 of the New York Yankees in the dugout before the game against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on March 25, 2026 in San Francisco, California. The Yankees defeated the Giants 7-0. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Yankees’ offense ranks 29th among 30 MLB teams with an 86 wRC+ since Aaron Judge went down in late May, and 27th with a 78 wRC+ since Cody Bellinger’s injury (July 26th). The two former MVPs are of vital importance for Aaron Boone’s lineup, as is a healthy Giancarlo Stanton, another past recipient of the honor. The three sluggers are expected to return at some point this season, with Bellinger and Stanton projected to beat Judge as things stand.
How would the Yankees’ lineup look when they are fully healthy? They added Luis García Jr. and Heliot Ramos before the Trade Deadline, not to mention Spencer Jones and George Lombard Jr. from their own minor league system in recent weeks. There will be a lot of movement, but the rosters expanding to 28 players in September will definitely help accommodate most of those who deserve a spot.
Our community evidently believes that the injuries to the star players and the inconsistent offense are certainly concerns heading into the stretch run, so it doesn’t hurt to look at the picture when everybody is fit to play.
Here’s a peek at how the Yankees’ offense would look against righties most nights when the injured stars return:
Ideal lineup vs. RHP:
1B Ben Rice RF Aaron Judge LF Cody Bellinger DH Giancarlo Stanton/Luis García Jr. CF Trent Grisham 2B Jazz Chisholm Jr. SS George Lombard Jr. 3B Ryan McMahon C Austin Wells
Rice has hit second most of the season, but he does have 16 starts from the leadoff spot. It would be quite a statement by the Yankees: here’s our 143-wRC+ hitter to open the lineup. Judge, Bellinger, and Stanton comprise a formidable heart of the order, provided that they can reach peak form at some point. Remember, this is a hypothetical exercise.
Stanton, of course, won’t play every game vs. righties. When he rests, the Yankees could just use Rice a DH and García at first. If he’s still on the roster (unclear if everyone is back) Amed Rosario is also a candidate to get some starts from that spot or at third base, and José Caballero would spell Lombard, McMahon, or Chisholm if they are unavailable.
Bellinger will probably alternate between the outfield and the DH spot in his first few games back (with an offday sprinkled here and there), coming off a lower-body injury.
It remains to be seen what the Bombers will do with García in the event that everyone is healthy. Will Boone primarily keep in the lineup at first base against righties? Could they try him at second base, where he had -17 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) last year?
Ideal lineup vs. LHP:
1B Paul Goldschmidt RF Aaron Judge LF Cody Bellinger DH Giancarlo Stanton/Ben Rice 3B Amed Rosario/José Caballero SS George Lombard Jr. 2B Jazz Chisholm Jr./José Caballero CF Trent Grisham C Alí Sánchez/Mitch Garver
Note that Rosario has been particularly productive vs. southpaws this year (68 wRC+, vs. 133 against RHP), but he has usually been much better vs. lefties over the course of his career. He will play in these situations — again, if he’s still on the roster.
Rice is actually solid vs. lefties (118 wRC+), so he will get starts. Ramos is also an asset against southpaws, with a 129 wRC+ during his career, and is expected to get some playing time there, too, either from the left field spot—where he is a subpar defender—or at DH.
Obviously, the idea is that players such as García, McMahon, and Wells don’t sniff the plate when there’s a left-handed pitcher on the mound. I did include the recent minor-league signee Garver as a possibility behind the plate against lefties because Sánchez has been so anemic that it might be worth trying the recently-dismissed Mariners backup in the bigs. He only reported to Triple-A on Friday though, so the Yankees may take a beat to assess him before making a move.
Caballero will be a super-utility guy who will get some starts here and there, plus some pinch-running and late-game appearances as a potential defensive replacement. Jones, who is currently part of the picture, will probably be squeezed out since he has minor-league options left. Both he and Rosario are candidates to depart the big-league roster upon Bellinger and Stanton’s returns — to say nothing of Judge, who likely won’t be available until rosters expand in September regardless.
