Australia were on the ropes halfway through day one against South Africa in Cape Town, but punched their way back into the fight to bring the third and deciding Test to life.
Trae Young and Anthony Davis rank among the NBA’s statistical leaders
The Washington Wizards’ 2026-27 regular season is young. And though AJ Dybantsa has still yet to make his season (and NBA) debut, the Wizards’ two established All-Stars, guard Trae Young and forward Anthony Davis, are producing the numbers fans expect.
Both Young and Davis are averaging 22 points a game each, both in the top 30 for the NBA. It should also be no surprise that Young and Davis are also taking the most shots per game. That said, Davis is making only y 44 percent of his shots so far this season, well below his career rate of 52.2 percent. That said, Davis has only played four games so this percentage should move up over time.
Young has started off on a hot streak with assists where he leads the NBA with 11.0 per game. Though he averaged just 8.0 assists per game last season though it was in just 15 total appearances with the Wizards and Atlanta Hawks. From the 2022-23 through 2024-25 seasons, Young averaged at least 10 assists per game though it also came with him averaging over 4 turnovers per game. This season, Young is only averaging 2.3 turnovers though four games is a small sample size.
If Young and Davis stay consistent, the Wizards should be a significantly improved team this season, even if they can’t carry Washington to a Top-4 finish in the Eastern Conference. Now, we’re just waiting on when Dybantsa to get cleared for his professional debut.
Kawhi Leonard also missed a week of games with the Raptors in 2019
Kawhi Leonard will undergo a treatment and rehabilitation program due to left knee swelling, according to the Toronto Raptors. Leonard will be reevaluated in one week.
Toronto also revealed that medical imaging revealed no acute injury.
The longest stretch of games Leonard missed during his lone campaign with the Raptors in 2019 was four games over nearly a week. At the time, he wasn’t listed with an official acute injury and his absence was described as load management. The Raptors went 3-1 during this stretch.
If he’s cleared in one week (Nov. 4), he’ll miss a total of four games, including matchups against the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers.
Leonard missed the first 34 games of the 2024-25 season with the Los Angeles Clippers due to chronic inflammation and right knee swelling. While Raptors fans can breathe a sigh of relief that it’s not the same knee, it’s impossible to ignore the dread this news brings.
In Leonard’s defence, the superstar made up for his absence by playing 37 of the final 48 games of the season. In the following year, Leonard appeared in 65 contests, the second most games he’s played in since 2016-17. During that year with the San Antonio Spurs, he played a career-high 74 games and was an All-Star.
Kawhi Leonard is out with swelling in left knee, will be re-evaluated in one week
Toronto knew exactly what the Kawhi Leonard experience would be like when it traded for him this summer: He is going to miss time with injury concerns and load management, and the team will have to win games without him.
That starts this week. Leonard is out with swelling in his left knee and will be re-evaluated in one week, the team announced Tuesday. Toronto said in its release that Leonard "will undergo a treatment and rehabilitation program to address swelling in his left knee. Medical imaging revealed no acute injury." (Leonard hasn't missed time with a left knee issue since before the pandemic, it's usually the right knee that needs management).
Don't be surprised if he misses a couple of weeks (ESPN's Shams Charania called it a "period of weeks"). The Raptors will have Leonard in bubble wrap all season. At a minimum, expect Leonard to be out when Toronto hosts Orlando for two games this week, then travels to Los Angeles for a back-to-back Sunday and Monday against the Lakers and Clippers. That means Leonard will miss his only game at Intuit Dome this season.
After that, the Raptors continue on the road against the Nuggets and Bucks, and Leonard may well miss those games, too.
Leonard being out came somewhat out of left field: He played 28 minutes in a win at Washington last Friday, traveled to Minnesota with the team and was going through his normal pre-game routine Sunday when he became a late scratch due to his left knee.
Leonard averaged 19.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game in the two games he has played this season, both wins for the Raptors. While he shot just 32.4% in those two games, he looked like his All-NBA self from a season ago in terms of process and getting to his spots, the shots just weren't falling. With Leonard and Scottie Barnes leading the way, the Raptors have a fierce defense that can win them a lot of games — and a lot of playoff games.
But that only works if Leonard is healthy, and that's the priority now.
Looking back at Dodgers TV & radio broadcasts in 2026
LOS ANGELES — With the Dodgers season now concluded, we have some distance to look back at the television and radio broadcasts for the team in the 2026 regular season.
The Dodgers had 17 games exclusively on national television or streaming, including games on NBC, Fox, ESPN, and Apple TV, and were 9-8 in those games. That left 145 games for SportsNet LA, in their 13th season televising Dodgers games locally, and the seventh year available more widely in and around Los Angeles after years of carriage disputes.
Joe Davis called 88 games on SportsNet LA, right in line with his 87 games in each of 2023, 2024, and 2025. The extra game locally this year came on July 19 at Yankee Stadium. The day before, Fox was set to televise Dodgers-Yankees with Davis on the call, but the game was rained out. The makeup game, during the day on Sunday, was televised by SportsNet LA with Davis and Orel Hershiser on the call, followed by a nightcap that was on NBC.
Davis, who also helms the No. 1 MLB team and the No.2 NFL broadcast team for Fox, called five regular season Dodgers games for Fox as well as six of their eight postseason games, missing only Games 3-4 of the National League Division Series in Atlanta after losing his voice.
He said one of his favorite parts of SportsNet LA broadcasts this year was doing profiles of former Dodgers players, giving a glimpse into sometimes obscure players and telling the stories of folks the audience might not have known.
Here’s one example of one of those in-game profiles by Davis, on August 28 when the Dodgers played the Tigers in Detroit. Davis came back from break to start the top of the sixth inning talking about Goody Rosen (who folks here might remember from a Dodgers Rewind in September 2022).
“Happy Dodger birthday to Goodwin ‘Goody’ Rosen, who was from Canada, played center field for the Dodgers in the late 1930s, from 1937 through 1939, and then didn’t appear in another major league game for five years,” Davis said on the broadcast. “He was in the minors for four seasons before World War II opened up a bunch of roster spots across every team. So he comes back up, in 1945 Goody hits .345 for the Dodgers, but he was in his mid-30s by now so he only played one more season, retired from the big leagues. Kept on playing though, he played some semi-pro baseball and some fast-pitch softball for the Canadian national team. Goody lived to be 81 years old.”
Rosen’s story was interwoven by Davis into the first three pitches of the sixth inning, while Tommy Edman was batting, and harkened back to an older era when baseball broadcasts included more storytelling.
Stephen Nelson was on play-by-play for the other 57 SportsNet LA games in 2026, and also called 59 games on AM 570 radio, plus four more radio games in the postseason when the Dodgers were on the road. He also called all three exhibition Freeway Series games against the Angels on March 22-24.
2026 SportsNet LA broadcaster pairings
Hershiser was the analyst for SportsNet LA for 85 games, similar to his 83 games in 2025, 83 games in 2024, and 84 games in 2023. He also called all four Dodgers games on NBC as an analyst, as well as the April 15 game against the Mets.
The most prolific TV pairing for the Dodgers on SportsNet LA this year was Davis and Hershiser at 58 games with Nelson and Hershiser next with 27 games.
Eric Karros called 34 games, 19 with Nelson and 15 with Davis. Karros was also in the SportsNet LA booth alongside Nelson for three Freeway Series games in March.
Jessica Mendoza called 17 games for SportsNet LA, 11 alongside Davis and six with Nelson.
Dontrelle Willis also made his return to local Dodgers broadcasts this season for the first time since 2023, calling all seven games of a road trip through Miami and Cincinnati from September 12-18, two games with Davis and five alongside Nelson. Willis was the analyst for all four Dodgers games exclusively on Apple TV, with Wayne Randazzo on play-by-play.
Willis during the series in Miami on September 13 was inducted into the Marlins Hall of Fame. In that same game, Josue De Paula hit his first major league home run, a towering 416-foot blast to right field.
“First of all, what a bomb for your first hit in the big leagues. But being with Dontrelle that road trip was so fun. He hadn’t called a game for SNLA since 2023, which was my first year. And we’ve been trying to get him back. Because it’s just pure energy and joy,” Nelson recalled. “So, D-Train’s energy, combined with the energy Josue brought with that swing an in general down the stretch, was just a fun thing to be part of. And I’m so pumped for his future. It couldn’t be brighter.”
The other two games on SportsNet LA featured Nomar Garciappara as analyst alongside Joe Davis on April 26 against the Chicago Cubs, and Clayton Kershaw making his broadcast booth debut on August 25 against the Braves in Atlanta, also alongside Davis. Kershaw was also a part of some NBC Sports telecasts this season as an analyst sitting near the dugout.
Here are the television broadcaster pairings for all Dodgers regular season games in 2026.
| Broadcasters | Games | W-L (Pct) | Runs scored | Runs allowed |
| Davis & Hershiser | 58 | 34-24 (.586) | 4.41 | 3.16 |
| Nelson & Hershiser | 27 | 20-7 (.741) | 5.30 | 3.78 |
| Nelson & Karros | 19 | 12-7 (.632) | 6.42 | 5.11 |
| National TV games | 17 | 9-8 (.529) | 5.00 | 4.06 |
| Davis & Karros | 15 | 12-3 (.800) | 527 | 3.13 |
| Davis & Mendoza | 11 | 4-7 (.364) | 4.73 | 5.82 |
| Nelson & Mendoza | 6 | 4-2 (.667) | 4.00 | 2.33 |
| Nelson & Willis | 5 | 2-3 (.400) | 4.60 | 4.00 |
| Davis & Willis | 2 | 2-0 (1.000) | 4.00 | 0.50 |
| Davis & Garciaparra | 1 | 1-0 (1.000) | 6.00 | 0.00 |
| Davis & Kershaw | 1 | 0-1 (.000) | 3.00 | 4.00 |
Six times this season Colorado Rockies third baseman Kyle Karros played against the Dodgers when Eric Karros, Kyle’s father, was calling games. Karros would go out of his way to avoid acknowledging the relationship, almost to comical effect, at times simply referring to “the third baseman.”
After a Karros single at Dodger Stadium on May 26, first baseman Freddie Freeman was laughing with him and continuously pointing up to the Dodgers broadcast booth, where Eric Karros was calling the game, trying to get a reaction.
“I’m obviously a few years behind EK in terms of being a father to two boys. So I look up to him in many respects there; how he and Trish have raised Kyle and Jared,” Nelson recalled. “But calling a game with him hitting as Kyle homered off [Miguel] Rojas at Dodger Stadium was just awesome. And hilarious. He was so so proud but he was trying to be impossibly professional those Rockies series.
“Then later in the year, at Colorado. Kyle was hurt. And we were talking about him. Our director cut to a shot of Kyle in the Rockies dugout and he was looking up. I’m looking at him, and I’m like ‘I think he’s looking at you,’ and we start waving and Kyle smiles and waves back. That’s the good stuff, man.”
Charley Steiner missed nearly all of the 2024 and 2025 seasons while battling multiple myeloma and a broken back. But he gradually worked his way back in 2026, calling 35 Dodgers games on radio. In the beginning of the year he called one home game per series, and started the year calling the first three innings, then four, five, six, seven, and eventually on August 15 he called his first complete game of the season, a game Steiner felt was among the most important calls of his career.
“I turned to him after it was over and gave him a fist bump. Neither one of us said a word,” radio analyst Rick Monday said of that August 15 broadcast, on a feature by Tom Rinaldi on Fox Sports that aired before Game 3 of the NLCS. “I knew my buddy was back.”
Steiner called 10 complete games over the final six weeks of the season, then called all four Dodgers home games on radio during the postseason.
Monday at age 80 was the most prolific of all Dodgers announcers in 2026, calling 155 regular season games and all eight postseason games on radio, after calling 27 spring training games with Tim Neverett on SportNet LA.
“I’m so fortunate to have Mo. I’m his partner, he’s my partner,” Steiner said. “We’re friends, and Duane [McDonald, producer and engineer] in the booth, it’s a nice — it’s family.”
“What a rare and special and unique character, and yet for twenty-something years we’ve been together, whether it’s in the booth, on the bus, in the airplane, at dinner. To be part of that, it’s a wonderful group,” Steiner added, on his long relationship with Monday. “When you do it for so long, and are so close, yeah, we just go out and play.”
The only games Monday missed this year were for trips to Cooperstown, both related to the 50th anniversary of his stopping a United States flag from being burned on the field at Dodger Stadium in 1976. James Loney filled in as radio analyst for the May 22-24 series against the Brewers in Milwaukee — his second year filling in, after calling two radio games in 2025 — and José Mota moved over from the Spanish radio booth to serve as the English analyst for May 25 at home against the Rockies. Mota then was the analyst alongside Nelson when the Dodgers played the Mets in New York from July 24-26.
Radio pairings here are fudged a little bit, as the 25 games that Steiner called but did not finish were also counted for Neverett (16 games) and Nelson (nine), so there’s some double counting here.
| Broadcasters | Games | W-L (Pct) | Runs scored | Runs allowed |
| Neverett & Monday | 89 | 53-36 (.596) | 4.87 | 3.98 |
| Nelson & Monday | 56 | 35-21 (.625) | 4.88 | 3.29 |
| Steiner & Monday | 35 | 22-13 (.629) | 4.97 | 4.29 |
| Nelson & Mota | 3 | 2-1 (.667) | 3.67 | 4.33 |
| Neverett & Loney | 3 | 2-1 (.667) | 5.67 | 3.00 |
| Neverett & Mota | 1 | 1-0 (1.000) | 5.00 | 3.00 |
New England Sportswatch Daily Listings
| (All times Eastern) |
|---|
| Schedule subject to change and/or blackouts |
| Wednesday, October 28 |
| COLLEGE SOCCER (MEN'S) |
| 3:30 p.m. |
American at Boston College — ACCNX
| SOCCER (MEN'S) |
|---|
| 7:30 p.m. |
MLS: New York Red Bulls vs. New England Revolution — Apple TV
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive TV listings provided by LiveSportsOnTV.
Kings’ $1 Million Gamble Hit With Another Injury Setback
The Los Angeles Kings thought bringing on an almost 40-year-old player would spark their offense, but instead, that player’s body has been sparked out twice by injuries.
Mats Zuccarello has been placed on injured reserve with an upper-body injury, the Kings announced Monday. He will miss the team’s matchup against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden, with head coach Peter Laviolette offering no further details about the injury.
The timing is unfortunate for Zuccarello, who spent the first nine seasons of his NHL career in New York and became a fan favorite. Monday’s game offered another chance to return to his former home, but he’ll have to wait for another opportunity.
Another Setback for Zuccarello
The 39-year-old already missed three consecutive games earlier this month because of an undisclosed injury. He returned to the lineup last Tuesday against the Washington Capitals and appeared in each of Los Angeles’ next three games before this latest setback.
His most recent appearance came Saturday, when he logged 13:20 of ice time in a 3-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils.
Unfortunately, the offensive numbers haven’t been encouraging either. Zuccarello has recorded just one assist through six games and has gone without a point in his last four appearances. He’s posted a plus-one rating while averaging 16:23 of ice time per game.
Los Angeles signed Zuccarello to a one-year, $1 million contract this summer after several injury-plagued seasons with the Minnesota Wild.
The move offered relatively little financial risk, but the potential reward was significant. Zuccarello had recorded at least 50 points in each of the previous five seasons, making him an appealing addition for a Kings team searching for more offensive production.
So far, staying healthy has been the biggest obstacle. Los Angeles needs its veteran addition available consistently, particularly when the offense is struggling to find its footing.
Kings Face Another Challenge
Los Angeles enters Monday’s matchup with a 2-5-2 record, sitting seventh in the Pacific Division despite winning back-to-back games last week.
Without Zuccarello, other forwards will need to shoulder more of the offensive responsibility against the Rangers.
For the Kings, the hope is that Zuccarello’s latest absence will be a short one. On the bright side, things are looking a little more encouraging between the pipes, giving Los Angeles at least one reason for optimism.
Mariners Minor League Review: Everett AquaSox
Despite finishing with the second best overall record in the Northwest League this year, the Frogs were unable to clinch a playoff spot this season, falling just short with steady and consistent play that was unable to ever ascend high enough on the standings for a half-season crown. Playing in the compact confines of Everett’s home ballpark, the AquaSox offense posted absolutely massive numbers on the season, leading the league in multiple major categories at the plate including homers, runs, OPS, and stolen bases. The pitching, though fighting an uphill battle with the aforementioned home ballpark, held their own, and gave them a chance to win on a nightly basis. It’s obviously disappointing to miss the postseason with as good as they played all season, but the individual successes up and down this roster are impossible to ignore and deserve to be celebrated.
Team Performance
First Half Record: 33-33 (+22 Run Differential)
Second Half Record: 34-32 (+37 Run Differential)
Final Record: 67-65
Team ERA: 4.96 (fourth in Northwest League)
Team OPS: .834 (first in Northwest League)
Stat to Know: Led Northwest League with 193 home runs (29 more than second place)
Season Stars
Felnin Celesten
Where else to start than with the newly crowned Northwest League MVP? Celesten had the bounceback of all bounceback seasons and managed to take home some serious hardware this 2026 season after an outstanding year at the plate. Slashing .314/.409/.534 at the level with 18 stolen bases, Celesten’s ranginess at shortstop and switch hitting ability made him a massive threat for the AquaSox for much of the year and ultimately led to his well deserved promotion to Double-A. Despite struggling a bit after his promotion and ending the season on the IL, his 2026 was undoubtedly one for the ages and has positioned him as one of the best prospects in this system.
Luke Stevenson
After a successful stint with the Nuts after his drafting in 2025, Stevenson hit the ground running with the Frogs and got off to a torrid start to his 2026, and despite some struggles in the middle of the year, a strong stretch run to close out the season kept his season numbers in a great spot. Stevenson’s season was largely what most would have expected from the power-hitting backstop: lots of walks, lots of strikeouts, lots of homers, and great defense. The whiff is going to concern some evaluators and could in theory leave him off some Top 100 lists this offseason, but the floor is still rather high considering the quality at which he does everything else on the diamond, and his defense behind the plate alone might just be enough to get him to the big leagues one day. Stevenson is set to slate somewhere in the the top ten organizationally and will look to prove his approach can work against Double-A pitching next season.
Jonny Farmelo
With his first full season in his young professional career, Farmelo mashed his way through the Northwest League and earned his way up to Double-A by season’s end. The speedy centerfielder was aggressive in all facets of the game; his 41 stolen bases were second best in the entire system (five behind Nick Becker), and though his whiff was elevated, he managed to slug just enough to make it work and produce effectively. In an ideal world, Farmelo is able to maintain the level of thump he’s been able to reach while cutting back on the raw whiff rates, but that’s obviously much easier said than done and may prove to be an unsuccessful venture. Should that be the case, Farmelo will need to continue to show he can be an elite defensive centerfielder with major game power and game-changing speed on the basepaths in order to reach his fullest potential, and if his strong end to the year is any indication, he’s well on his way to doing just that.
Sleepers
Brandon Eike
Eike probably deserves to be in the “stars” section for the monstrous year he had for the Frogs, but given he isn’t considered a Top 30 prospect by most all outlets, we’ll highlight him here and show him the love he deserves. Launching 29 homers on the year and slugging his way to an OPS of .892, Eike was a consistent force in the middle of the Everett lineup and proved to be invaluable for this Frogs roster. There’s a ton of swing-and-miss in his profile and the overall abilities outside of the slug are somewhat limited, but if Eike can continue to hit the ball with authority as he ascends through the upper-minors, the raw production may prove to be too good to overlook.
Carlos Jimenez
Yet another deserved “star”, Jimenez’s 2026 was just as good, if not better, than the aforementioned Eike. After a few years of toiling in the low minors, Jimenez put together a truly outstanding year this season, revitalizing his prospect pedigree a bit after some general fatigue. The 23 year old posted a .926 OPS on the year with 20 stolen bases and a K-rate of just 21%. His 14.6% walk rate made him a constant threat on the basepaths, and his simple lefty swing managed to do a ton of damage for him at the plate. He’ll assuredly get a shot to shine at the Double-A level next season, and should he continue to find sustained success, he’ll undoubtedly play himself up prospect boards.
Colton Shaw
The best pitcher on this staff all season, Shaw’s sinker-sweeper combination was just what the doctor ordered for his homer-friendly home ballpark, and he used that tandem to lead the staff in just about every major pitching category. Shaw’s lower launch gives his sinker some wicked action and allows it to tunnel well with his secondaries, making him an incredibly interesting arm to watch for in 2027. The M’s have strongly gravitated toward high-command sinkerballers in recent classes, and though it may just be a blip, it seems to be an organizational preference that they’ve identified as a market inefficiency they can capitalize on. Colton Shaw’s certainly done his part in proving that notion right, and his outstanding 2026 makes him one of a handful in this organization with a very strong “up arrow” next to his name.
The Detroit Tigers should exercise Drew Anderson’s club option
One of the easier decisions Scott Harris will have to make about his roster for 2027 will also be one of the first of the offseason. The Detroit Tigers hold a $10 million club option on right-handed pitcher Drew Anderson, and they seem certain to exercise it. With a long lockout looming, and minimal free agent movement expected until a new CBA in place, the Tigers can’t really afford to let major league caliber pitchers walk at such a reasonable price.
After four years almost exclusively as a starting pitcher in Japan and South Korea, Anderson’s return to the major leagues went pretty well overall, despite him having to flex back and forth between the bullpen and a starting role. He made 11 starts for the Tigers, posting a 2.61 ERA with a 4.45 FIP as a starting pitcher. Out of the bullpen, he had a 4.63 ERA with a 4.11 FIP across 56.1 innings of work. That’s not far from a full season’s work out of the bullpen, and yet he managed 51.2 innings as a starter as well. That versatility is something the Tigers sorely need with a reasonably deep group of rotation options and a bullpen that is still weak on the right-handed side of the equation.
Anderson was a little too prone to free passes and home runs, but he also posted one of the team’s best strikeout rates in a relief role. His FIP numbers say he had things go his way in his time as a starter, but Anderson does keep the ball on the ground as well, posting a 48.4 percent ground ball rate on balls in play. Combined with a 12.4 percent swinging strike rate compared to the league average of 10 percent and a high chase rate, Anderson has plenty to operate with.
Over the course of the season, the Tigers helped him dial in his pitch mix, relying mainly on his fourseamer, nasty kick change, and his curveball. They experimented with his slider more in late April and May, but it did not go well and they rightly ditched that pitch more and more as the season progressed and turned to the curveball instead. He only threw the slider 4.8 percent of the time, yet it accounted for three of the 16 total home runs Anderson allowed on the year. More work is required before it’s more than a show-me pitch.
The issue with keeping Anderson is that while he was pretty useful as a starting pitcher, he’s going to have a hard time cracking the rotation next year without some injuries. Framber Valdez, Jackson Jobe, Troy Melton, River Ryan, Keider Montero, and, if finally healthy, Reese Olson, are probably all ahead of him on the starting depth chart. At least to start the year, Anderson is going to be in the bullpen, and he’s just not a great fit for high leverage relief either. He functions best as a fifth starter or as a bulk and middle relief arm, and he’ll have to be more consistent next year for that to change.
The Tigers have at least three lefties to hold down that side of the bullpen in Drew Sommers, who should be a high leverage option next year, Brant Hurter, and Tyler Holton. That leaves five spots for right-handers. Will Vest’s status is a big question mark, and the Tigers have Kyle Finnegan under contract already for 2027 after a tough 2026. The situation is really uncertain on that side of the bullpen. There’s clearly room for Anderson, and with free agency bound to be delayed this offseason, the Tigers will almost certainly keep him, but the only problem he helps solve for them is depth.
The issue with high leverage relief work is that Anderson’s curveball and kick change are his big swing and miss pitches. The changeup is clearly the nastiest pitch he’s got, but the big movement and the feel required to spot it down make him vulnerable to leaving too many hangers up in the zone under pressure. At least, that was how it looked this year. His fastball doesn’t get hit very hard, but it’s certainly not the type of whiff generating heater that most good high leverage relievers possess. The x-factor is his 80 mph curveball, which he used more and more as the year went on and he was moved into the rotation and really needed a strong third pitch. He racked up a 33.3 percent whiff rate on it, and while it has a similar tendency to get crushed when left up in the zone, it’s a lot simpler pitch to grip and rip under pressure.
One of the changes Anderson made in his years playing overseas was lowering his arm angle. He averaged 42 degrees this year, whereas in his major league seasons prior to going to Japan and South Korea, his arm angle was averaging 49 degrees. The lower arm slot, without other adjustments, can produce less induced vertical break, which usually leads to fewer whiffs. On the plus side, Anderson now averages over 95 mph with a few extra inches of extension than he did earlier in his career when he was averaging 92-93 mph. The tradeoff for more velo and extension is probably worth it, but with modest ride and not much run, it’s almost more like a cut fastball. It worked out, as hitters hit .215 with a meager .356 slugging percentage, and those numbers are backed up well by Statcast’s expected metrics, but it’s not that easy to see where more whiff inducing movement is going to come from.
Anderson gets 82 percent spin efficiency on the fourseamer, so they could possibly work on that to get more ride, but with his arm angle that may just add more run rather than ride, and sometimes that hurts a pitcher more than it helps them. Anderson’s fourseamer has pretty similar traits to Jack Flaherty’s fastball, and that bodes well for it as Flaherty’s fourseamer is rarely hit hard in the air either. They just aren’t going to miss a ton of bats with it either. Those slightly gyrospin fourseamers are more about getting a little late, seam-shifted movement to miss barrels rather than to generate big whiffs.
An argument in Anderson’s favor is that pitching late innings relief is not what he’s used to doing. He also had to deal with a different baseball than they use in South Korea. It’s possible that those factors just required more acclimation time than the Tigers could give him once the injuries started piling up left and right in April and May. Perhaps with his experience gained he’ll do a better job in setup situations with a lead next year and just feel more comfortable all around, no matter how the Tigers deploy him.
Anderson is worth the $10 million on the open market. There’s no buyout cost if the Tigers choose otherwise, but really it’s a pretty easy decision to pick up the club option. He may not fit perfectly into the Tigers needs in terms of specific relief roles, but he does in terms of their need for more right-handed depth, and he offers some bat missing ability and a solid ground ball profile. Figuring out exactly what to do with him in the bullpen is a little more complicated. Still, having him in house makes it a little easier to wait out the CBA negotiations and then try to target pitching in free agency once everyone knows where they stand with the new ruleset. And possibly Anderson’s improved second half says he was settling in and bound for a stronger second season back in the big leagues next year.
Pistons vs. Knicks preview: 3-0 Pistons take on 0-3 Knicks
The start of the 2026-2027 season has been polar opposites for the Detroit Pistons and New York Knicks. For the Pistons, they are 3-0 with three impressive wins over expected playoff teams in the East. For the Knicks, they have also faced three likely playoff teams in the East, but have lost all three games.
Championship hangovers are a thing and the New York Knicks could be suffering from one. But, they also have a Championship core of players that are locked in, so their only goal is to get into the playoffs healthy and regular season results don’t matter as much. But, starting off 0-3 and only averaging 102 points per game could be viewed as a bit concerning.
Luckily for the Knicks, they will be facing a short-handed Pistons team that will for sure be without Jalen Duren but could also be without Ausar Thompson and Isaiah Joe. That didn’t matter on Sunday against the Philadelphia 76ers, but the 76ers were also short-handed. Everything points to the Knicks being fully healthy for this game, so it will be a challenge as the Knicks try to avoid an 0-4 start and put a stop to the only remaining unbeaten team in the East.
Game Vitals
Where: Madison Square Garden in New York, NY
When: Tuesday, October 27 at 8 pm EST
Watch: NBC/Peacock
Odds: Knicks (-3.5)
Analysis
The Pistons put together an impressive game defensively with their rag tag group of bench players against the 76ers on Sunday. They held the Sixers to 93 points and shut down pretty much everybody except for Tyrese Maxey in the 4th quarter.
However, it was a bit of a struggle on offense with Cade Cunningham being the only offensive threat. The Pistons made a season-low 14 three pointers and also scored a season-low 106 points. Three-point shooting has been a huge part of the Pistons’ success this season and they could be without one of the players who helps a lot in that department, Isaiah Joe, who suffered a hip injury after a scary fall on a dunk.
Joe is listed as questionable today, but if I had to guess, he probably does not play since I am sure his hip hurts after the adrenaline wore off. Ausar Thompson is another Pistons player with the questionable tag, but there is probably a better chance of him playing since his injury was suffered against the Miami Heat on Friday and he is kind of a bit freaky when it comes to injury recovery.
The craziest thing for the Pistons 3-0 start is that they have done it withouot Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson for basically half of it. Duren suffered his injury in the 2nd quarter of Friday’s game against the Heat and Ausar Thompson suffered his in the 3rd quarter of the same game.
It just shows how impressive the Pistons depth is and how well put together their defensive infrastructure is. It doesn’t matter who is or is not playing, they are going to play lockdown defense. There is a noticeable drop-off on the offensive end, but you can win a lot of regular season games with a good defense.
There isn’t much to say about the Knicks as their formula is one that led them to a Championship last season. They have their wing defenders in OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, and Josh Hart and then their offensive hubs of Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns. Brunson is one of the most clutch players in the league who comes through in the biggest moments.
So far, they haven’t gotten the clutch baskets they need from Brunson, which explains the 0-3 start, but a slow start after a Championship is a pretty common occurrence. You play into late-June the previous season and then have an abbreviated offseason once the celebration concludes. For the Knicks, they have had to start this season playing the 76ers and Celtics, two teams that are expected to be near the top of the East, and then a Magic team that was also a playoff team last season.
The Knicks haven’t looked great in any of their games so far this season, but I still wouldn’t be waving the panic flag yet given the level of opponents they have played.
A short-handed Pistons team could be exactly what they need to get their first win of the season, but as the Pistons proved on Sunday, it won’t be a gimme.
Whether or not Ausar Thompson plays, the Pistons are going to have to grit out another win through the sheer force of their defense. It worked against the 76ers and the Knicks could suffer the same face given their offensive struggles this season. But, the Knicks are equipped with the wing defenders they need to slow down Cade Cunningham, who has to shoulder a huge offensive load without Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson.
If Thompson does play, he can at least take away some of the ball handling pressure that Cade Cunnigham has to take on and allow him to attack off-ball more. It also would help quite a bit on defense as well, as it would give them another player to throw at Jalen Brunson.
This could end up being a very ugly game on National TV.
Lineups
Detroit Pistons (3-0): Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, John Collins, Paul Reed
New York Knicks (0-3): Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, Karl-Anthony Towns
Question of the Day
What has impressed you most about the Pistons so far this season?
NHL 27 Predicts Utah Mammoth to Defeat Islanders in Stanley Cup Final
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was originally published on September 4.
EA Sports’ latest installment in their hockey franchise, NHL 27, is predicting the Utah Mammoth will win the Stanley Cup in 2026-27.
According to an in-game season simulation conducted by The Hockey News, Utah will defeat the New York Islanders in a seven-game series to capture the first Stanley Cup in franchise history.
This means Pete DeBoer would be handed another heartbreaking loss on the biggest stage. In real life, DeBoer previously reached the Stanley Cup Final as head coach of the New Jersey Devils in 2012, only to fall to the Los Angeles Kings.
This time, he would come up short with the Islanders.
Clayton Keller led the way for Utah and was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy after recording 14 goals and 12 assists for 26 points in 26 postseason games.
Dylan Guenther was right behind him, finishing the simulated playoff run with 10 goals and 10 assists in 26 games. Vincent Trocheck, who was acquired by the Mammoth during the off-season, also made a significant impact, tallying seven goals and 13 assists for 20 points in 26 games.
Karel Vejmelka could have easily taken home the Conn Smythe himself.
The Utah goaltender posted a spectacular 15-4-4 record during the post-season, along with a 2.23 goals-against average, .932 save percentage and two shutouts.
The Utah Mammoth ranks fifth in TheHockeyNews.com’s NHL off-season ranking. Here’s why we rated Utah’s off-season as the NHL’s fifth-best.
NHL Off-Season Rankings: No. 5, Utah Mammoth
While the Mammoth ultimately lifted the Stanley Cup, the Islanders received a huge contribution from an unexpected source.
Mikael Granlund, who was traded by the Anaheim Ducks to New York in the simulation, led the Islanders offensively with six goals and 16 assists for 22 points in 23 playoff games.
Avalanche Superstars Predicted To Lead Individual Awards
As for the individual awards, Colorado Avalanche superstar Nathan MacKinnon continued his reign atop the NHL’s scoring hierarchy.
MacKinnon captured his second consecutive Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy after scoring 55 goals during the regular season. He added 61 assists for 116 points in 83 games. The 116-point campaign was also enough for MacKinnon to claim his second consecutive Art Ross Trophy as the NHL’s leading scorer.
Colorado wasn’t done collecting awards, either.
Cale Makar finished his final season before his new eight-year, $163.2-million extension kicks in with his third Norris Trophy. Makar recorded 12 goals and 84 assists for 96 points, narrowly missing out on a 100-point season.
EA Sports’ upcoming release of NHL 27 will be bringing back a new online experience with its Connected Franchise game mode. What new features can players expect to see?
EA Sports Deep Dive Reveals New Features For NHL 27 Connected Franchise
Connor McDavid was a good sport as he picked up the Lady Byng Trophy. The Edmonton Oilers superstar had a down year by his standards, but plenty of players would love to have his version of a slump.
McDavid finished the regular season with 40 goals and 64 assists for 104 points. He also added eight goals and 12 assists for 20 points in 14 playoff games, although the Oilers came up short once again.
Philadelphia Flyers youngster Porter Martone won the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie, while 37-year-old Jacob Markstrom kicked off his tenure with the Florida Panthers by winning the Vezina Trophy.
For the second straight season, there were two winners of the William M. Jennings Trophy, and both came from the Tampa Bay Lightning: Andrei Vasilevskiy and Dennis Hildeby.
Lightning superstar Nikita Kucherov won the Ted Lindsay Award as the NHL’s most outstanding player, earning the honor for the second time in the last three seasons.
Nashville Predators defenseman Brady Skjei was awarded the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for exemplifying the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.
Lane Lambert won the Jack Adams Award as the head coach judged to have contributed the most to his team’s success, leading the Seattle Kraken back to the playoffs in this simulation.
At 39 years old, Sidney Crosby proved he can still play elite two-way hockey, winning the Frank J. Selke Trophy. Crosby posted a 40-goal campaign with 56 assists for 96 points.
While the individual awards are impressive, none would be more surprising than the one Utah ultimately took home.
If NHL 27’s simulation is any indication, the 2026-27 season could be one for the history books — with the Utah Mammoth sitting at the center of the biggest surprise of them all.
P.S. This game was horrific.
Mavericks vs. Heat Quoteboard: “That’s a bad dude.”
Dusty May said it best in his postgame comments following the Dallas Mavericks’ (2-2) 113-109 win at the Miami Heat on Monday. Cooper Flagg is “a bad dude.”
Flagg filled the stat sheet like few players can, finishing with a game-high 29 points to match Giannis Antetokounmpo’s point total for Miami, 11 assists, six rebounds, five steals and three blocked shots. He scored 12 of his 29 in the decisive fourth quarter.
But it wasn’t just Flagg. It was PJ Washington. It was Kyrie Irving hitting some big early shots. It was two-way find Walter Clayton Jr., who finished with 15 points in 17 minutes off the bench. Here are the notable quotes from Monday’s postgame press conference.
Head Coach Dusty May
Opening statement
I want to congratulate our guys on a very hard-fought road [win]. 31 assists on 43 made baskets. I thought the hustle plays by Risacher, the last possession by P.J. coming up with that, Gaff, I thought we played extremely hard, we were quick to the ball and when Miami would go on a run, we’d find a way to hang around and hang around, and then our guys simply made big, big plays and big shots at the end. It’s a lot of fun when your two superstars are as unselfish as they are, and they show as much grace as they bring along these younger players. It’s been fun to be a part of and see it so far. Obviously a long way to go, but this is a very, very good win for our team.
On the Mavs’ defensive tenacity and physicality:
Yeah, Zacc is finding himself now. He’s still so young. We really,really value and appreciate those plays. However many missed shots he had, he had twice as many loose balls and blocks and steals and rebounds, and the ones that don’t show up where he just gets a hand on it, where it’s maybe coming to Bam or Giannis, he just gets a fingertip and then our guards dig it out. There’s no stat for that, but those are valued in our program and within our team. Just to see how connected our group is, to see how they’re all so much for each other is fun, and the guys, they earned this.
What did you do in the fourth quarter that made it hard on Giannis [Antetokounmpo]?
We brought bodies to him, I think probably the wear and tear of him having to do so much, and I thought he made a couple nice kickouts and the shots didn’t drop. I thought early on we were playing better than the score indicated in the second quarter because a couple shots weren’t dropping, and late in the game, to be honest, I thought they played better than the scoreboard would indicate. I thought they generated some great looks late, and they just didn’t drop, and so that’s part of the game as well.
How did you see Flagg taking over in the fourth quarter?
Well, we were struggling to find different ways to just get him in some space, and I thought our guys had good off-ball movement and spacing, and he just needed a crease. I mean, that’s a bad dude to get in a paint like that and finish. I think there were three guys trying to block it late. That’s one thing when you do get an angle and get to the rim on their, I mean, they had their perimeter defenders in, and you have Bam and Giannis coming over to block it, just to have the creativity to get it up off the rim. He had a couple that, they brought the third defender and drew the charge on him, but he was making the right pass as he was fanning out. He was starting closeouts. That’s one thing about Cooper, the ball comes out of his hands at the right time. If we get to where we’re really finding a rhythm offensively, he’s going to have even, he’ll have some 15-20 assist games. There’s no question.
How did you see Walter Clayton take advantage of his opportunity?
Yeah, Walt played in the stay-ready game called the Hunt Club earlier today, so he basically did a double-header. Obviously, it was an abbreviated one this morning, but that’s Walt. I mean, he’s a gamer. If anyone, obviously, this state, they’ve seen him a lot. He’s got ice water in his veins. He’s unfazed. Even when he doesn’t play up to his best, he’s the same way. I thought he dug deep, tried to defend. They were trying to go at him. I thought he held his own on the defensive end, and offensively, he just gives us so much because he can get wherever he needs to with the ball. He can create advantages. He can finish in the paint. I thought his shot fakes, obviously, have been such a great 3-point shooter. I thought he used his shot fakes well and just played really, really good ball.
Any concern for Sergio there?
Yeah, I don’t know what it is. He’ll have some imaging tomorrow, but obviously concerned because he’s such a tough kid. Whatever it is, we’ll be here to support him and get through it. Very unfortunate, like all these injuries, you look around the NBA, the first thing you think of is when there’s an injury, just how much time these guys spend to get their bodies right and how much time they’re going to have to spend just to get back to playing the game that they love to play. Hopefully, it’s minor, but we’ll know sooner than later.
What stands out to you about when PJ Washington is playing small-ball five?
I think PJ’s been great in stretches every game. For him to play 41 minutes tonight, and I haven’t reviewed the film, but I would say 39 of them were really intentional, focused, determined to do whatever it takes to win. Sometimes from my seat, it looks like he can just be in the game and not completely engaged. I thought he was engaged for almost the full 41 minutes. The last loose ball he came up with, there was five or 10 of those throughout the game that he just found a way to go get and then obviously made a huge three. He’s a weapon because he can stretch the defense, he gets in the paint, he’s physical with his bump-offs and little short shots, and then he’s got a nose for the ball too. He’s quick to loose basketballs.
On coaching in Florida and against Heat coach Erik Spoelstra:
Yeah, I feel better with the Mavericks going head-to-head against the Heat than the matchup of the head coaches. I had a lot of help tonight from the staff and also from our players, but obviously a lot of respect. They’re going to figure it out like I said earlier today. It’s not a matter of if, it’s just a matter of when. You think there’s 78 more regular season games, and you bring these new teams that all come from different defensive philosophies and offensive philosophies. It’s tough to get your guys on the same page and connected on both sides of the ball but we’re going to look up at whatever the amount of time is and they’re going to be playing great basketball and this will be a real quality road win.
On the closeout blocked shot by Flagg against Andrew Wiggins in the game’s final minute:
The thing with Coop, he’s trying to win. He’s never not — last year’s the first year of his life that he hasn’t won big, and he’s determined to get us back to where we’re playing extremely meaningful games at the right time of year, and each game matters a lot because the guy’s a winner. I mean, you see the plays he makes. He has a different gear. He has a different level of focus and attention; when he needs it, it’s there. But to see the plays he made, in the last biggest possession of the game, we just put it in his hands and knew he would make a great decision because of how unselfish he can play above the defense but also just his ability to get by people and finishing in the paint is incredible.
Do you appreciate your team’s next shot mentality, and is it important for a young squad like that to be able to keep shooting and not lose that confidence?
Yeah, absolutely and that’s something that over the course of my and our career that I’ve probably been a little bit loose with shot selection where some coaches how well you shoot it you earn the shots and with us if you’re playing the right way and the ball finds you then we trust you based on your work and practice and also the developmental plan of taking the right shots. Like I said, I wanted Zacc to keep shooting when he’s open, and most importantly, his teammates did too. I heard a couple of them say actually, I heard Kyrie say he’s playing so hard; I want him to keep shooting it and it wasn’t he’s doing this; he’s making 500 and not this he’s playing so hard. We appreciate that so much that we’re never going to tell him to stop shooting it and he made a big floater he made a huge three, and he’s a good shooter that’s the crazy part. Like, he’s a very good shooter that’s just not making them now but he’s finding so many other ways to impact the game and it looks like he’s having fun even though it’s not his best.
Collectively, what can a team learn from getting a road win against a talented Heat team early in the season to build on?
Each game is so different I think more than anything else just the belief that we can. You know, we won a game in Indiana where we had a little bit of margin and they came storming back and we held on. This one was back and forth, and we got a little bit of separation midway through the fourth, but it was a one-possession game and so it I think it gives our guys confidence that we don’t know what it’s going to look like. Maybe it’s a big time basket by someone, or maybe it’s a couple stops, but we have enough, and we got different ways to figure out a way to close the games, and so I think it just gives you confidence for later on when you’re in so many of these.
Cooper Flagg
What were you seeing in the fourth quarter that allowed you to get to the rim consistently?
I think just we did a better job at that late in the game just spreading the floor, getting into different actions and shifting the defense. You know, allowing for better driving lanes, angles and opening up the court a little bit.
You finished with 11 assists. What were some of the things you were seeing to be able to hit your teammates?
I mean they were mucking the game up. You know, being in the gaps heavy and trying to slow us down — make us just play through the pass and hit the easy one. So to start out early, just making the right play, and guys were knocking down shots.
Evaluating Walter Clayton Jr.’s night:
It was great. Walt was great. You know, obviously he hasn’t been with us for very long, but you know for him to just step up tonight and 6-for-7 from the field, but you know, I thought this is intensity and the way I mean — plus-22 — like for him to go out there and just play really really hard and unselfish basketball and just really give to the team in every single way, I thought it was a really big step for our team. Huge shout-out to Walt for just staying ready. I think honestly after shoot-around today he was playing — like he was in there playing with the guys in the stay-ready game, so a little double header for him. To be able to stay ready and come out tonight and just play and contribute like he did — it was it was really cool to see.
Did it mean anything additional playing in front of Spoelstra, who will be coaching the 2028 Team USA Olympic Team?
I mean I hadn’t really thought about that. Obviously for me, I’ve played for the country before, you know when I was younger um playing for Under-17 teams, stuff like that. For me you know it’s obviously a pleasure to be able to play for my country, any chance I get. I have no idea what it’s going to look like. It’s a good ways down the road so um obviously, you know, if I was ever asked to to be able to play for my country, that’s something I would love to do, and that’d be amazing.
How did you expect Wiggins to play you on that last drive for your last bucket of the game?
Like I said, just getting set. Once I had everybody set and everybody was in good positions, just taking advantage of the space that we had, being able to get downhill and challenge them at the rim. I was confident in my ability to get by him, create an advantage for our team and make the right play.
Does seeing Risacher and Washington playing hard on defense make the game more fun and also motivate you to play harder?
For sure, yeah, I mean I think just setting the tone early, being physical. Guys like PJ and Zacc you know those are things that they’re going to bring to our team every single night, so for them to just you know continue to step up these last couple nights and really just [show] how much they can provide us without even having to put the ball in the basket — that’s what I’m telling Zacc. I think obviously, nobody’s happy missing shots and stuff like that, but you know he makes us 15-20 points better when he’s being active and getting steals and playing his defense, so I have no doubt that his shots are going to start to fall, and there’s nothing to worry about there. So, with him contributing like he has been, it makes us so much better.
How valuable is it for Washington to be able to take on tough defensive assignments like guarding Victor Wembanyama and Giannis Antetokounmpo?
Like I said same with Zach I mean super valuable. PJ has been doing a lot for us on the defensive end. He’s been asked to take on some pretty tall tasks. I think he’s done an incredible job you know just you know doing whatever he can to help our team win and I mean PJ’s been knocking his shots doing what he does on the offensive end, but I mean defensively, he’s he’s been our anchor. With him and [Gafford] — they’ve been holding down the fort, so it’s been really big for him stepping up, Zacc stepping up, Gaff has been stepping up um on the defensive side of the ball. I think that’s that’s what’s making us better.
On affecting the outcome of the game on both sides of the ball, in multiple stat categories:
It’s just kind of always how I played — just making the right plays and whether it was scoring, passing, rebounding, getting in the lane, steals, blocks — just trying to impact the game and impact winning and competing at a high level.
On his veteran teammates, namely Washington, Gafford and Irving:
It’s been great. Those are two guys Gaff, PJ, and then obviously Ky — just great vets who set the set the tone, set the example and I think it’s been great for for me and for all the other young guys just to learn from. They set a really good example. They’re great leaders, with their communication, and they really show up and do it every single day, so it’s been great just to learn from those guys.
Walter Clayton Jr.
On the stay-ready mentality:
As simple as that — stay ready. Just trying to stay engaged during the timeouts so I know what the game plan is before and then just — a big factor — just the guys trusting me to go out there and shoot the ball and play my game.
Do you feel there is an expectation for a guy like you to play at a certain level to have synergy with guys like Irving and Flagg?
For sure, I mean, just being here for about a week now — Ky, the way he prepares, man — it kind of forces everybody to be on their P’s and their Q’s and prepare the same way. So just being locked in, just watching them, and, you know, these guys got a good system going on here, so I feel like I’m just kind of blending in seamlessly.
What allowed you to make that impact right when you came in to the game?
Just space. I feel like we got a good amount of paint touches tonight. We [were] relocating off the ball well. We felt like they were a team that collapses a lot, so just finding that space to get those shots off.
What stood out to you about the way the team played in the fourth quarter to pull out the win?
We just locked in during the timeouts, so talking to each other, I feel like we rebounded the ball great, and we were just physical. I think we came out and played our brand of basketball, and it worked for us.
How much did they start to change on you defensively after you made a couple of 3-pointers?
They were definitely probably a little quicker to get out on the closeouts, but, you know, that’s a great team. I don’t think they were changing too much for me. Tt was probably more so for Coop and Ky.
Has the chip on your shoulder grown as a result of this being your third team in two NBA seasons?
Definitely. My last year in college I was a big fish in uh in a little pond, and then you come to a new level. I’m a little fish in a big pond, so just got to work my way back up, and I feel like this is gonna be a great spot to be able to do that.
What did you make of Flagg’s fourth-quarter performance?
How many minutes did he play tonight? 40? Yeah, I mean, that’s a lot of minutes to be able to do that in the fourth. Just having him persevere for us. Coop is great. He’s a great player, and he’s gonna continue to be that for us.
What did the team try to do defensively against Antetokounmpo?
Just tried to meet him early — force them tough ones at the rim. Giannis is Giannis. He’s gonna get there, but we just tried to make it as tough as possible, and I think we did a pretty good job tonight.
What are some of the ways Washington affects winning?
Main thing is he be hitting people. I think people don’t understand how big those little hits [are] as the game goes on — how important they are, and PJ’s done that every game. He’s just been constantly doing that, so PJ’s great for us, obviously shooting the ball well and a great rebounder, so he’s been great for us.
How would you describe May as a coach and as a tactician?
Dusty is great. He’s won everywhere he’s been. I think he’s planning on doing the same here, and just as a tactician, he sees the game well, and he’s willing to listen to our point of view as players on the court. If [Irving] sees something, Dusty’s willing to take it into account. Dusty’s been great, and I think he’s gonna be a great coach at this level.
An Early Look at Starting Pitchers the Guardians Could Pursue
In the end-of-season press conference, Chris Antonetti indicated the Guardians would be looking to make upgrades to their starting rotation and their bullpen this offseason. What could those upgrades look like?
As the month of November unfolds, we will do deeper dives into the names that become more obviously available, but this article is a chance to bring up some pitchers who may be a good fit for Cleveland for fans looking to do some searching and analyzing. In future articles, we will break down statistics, ages, and contract projections, but this post is “food for thought.” We know we will only have about one month before the lockout begins so it is possible that the Guardians make a move before baseball settles in for a long winter’s (and spring’s?) nap. Without further ado, here are some ideas to ponder:
Free Agent Options:
S-Tier: Tarik Skubal, LHP. Analysis: Not happening.
A-Tier: Trevor Rogers, LHP, Kevin Gausman, RHP, Freddy Peralta, RHP, Brandon Woodruff, RHP
Analysis: Very, very unlikely… but the Guardians can feel free to surprise me and sign one of these guys if they want (even Guasman who is old and I hate for hitting Jose intentionally). Rogers is my favorite of the bunch and has the best extension (a trait the Guardians’ love), but he’s getting a huge deal that is, obviously, highly unlikely to come from Cleveland.
B-Tier: Robbie Ray, LHP, Casey Mize, RHP, Patrick Sandoval, RHP, Jack Flaherty, RHP, Foster Griffin, LHP, Tyler Mahle, RHP
Analysis: It’s this part of the market where I can imagine the Guardians potentially deciding to put their hat in the ring IF those ALCS checks cleared and IF David Blitzer liked that taste of getting close to a World Series. Mize is my clear choice among this bunch (also has the best extension), but there is something to like about each option in here. Ultimately, I expect these players to get contracts longer than what the Guardians are comfortable offering, but they are definitely worth monitoring as the offseason progresses.
C-Tier: Shane Bieber, RHP, Matthew Boyd, LHP, Zac Gallen, RHP, Shota Imanga, LHP, Kris Bubic, LHP, Walker Buehler, LHP, Brady Singer, RHP
Analysis: I am very interested in Cleveland as a place where Bieber or Gallen could try to rebuild their values as starting pitchers for a year to try for one more free agent contract. We know what Bieber can offer and Gallen has good extension numbers and a strong track record…. up until 2025. Can he rediscover the ability to be a front of the rotation arm? That’s the question. A reunion with Boyd would be fun, and Buehler and Imanga both are decent pillow-contract/Guardians’ fix-a-pitcher options. Bubic and Singer both fit as “Guys the Royals Couldn’t Figure Out But Maybe We Could,” but, notably, the Dodgers couldn’t fix Bubic and the Reds couldn’t fix Singer, so Singer is probably the pitcher with more meat on the bone. Singer had HORRIBLE numbers last season but he does have an elite extension profile. I would keep an eye on him as someone the Guardians may be in on for a very inexpensive one-year deal or a minor-league contract. Of this bunch, count me as most excited about Imanga because it would be a chance to open a path into the market for Asian players… but, aside from that, give me a Bieber reunion counting on him and Carl to rediscover the magic.
Some potential trade candidates to monitor:
Reid Detmers, LHP, Angels
Sandy Alcantara, RHP, Marlins
Eury Perez, RHP, Marlins
Joe Ryan, RHP, Twins
Taj Bradley, RHP, Twins
Logan Gilbert, RHP, Mariners
Bryan Woo, RHP, Mariners
George Kirby, RHP, Mariners
Bryce Miller, RHP, Mariners
Jose Soriano, RHP, Orioles
Analysis: Aside from Alcantara, Detmers and Ryan, I don’t think anyone on this list is LIKELY to be traded, but all are in the realm of possibility. Understand that to get any of these arms, the Guardians would be parting with multiple top prospects. The one exception would probably be Alcantara who probably could be had for a package of lesser prospects if the team is willing to take on his contract… but the package would still need to be guys with some solid, major league potential. Every one of these pitchers has potential to pitch at the front of a playoff rotation, so I am on-board with the Guardians pursuing them and sacrificing serious prospect capital to get a deal done. Just know… it would hurt if they pulled it off. Detmers is my favorite of the bunch.
In the 2024 offseason, the Guardians needed starting pitching and managed to snag Luis Ortiz and Slade Cecconi, though neither pitcher seemed especially available. Some names to consider along these lines are Andrew Alvarez of the Washington Nationals, Gabriel Hughes of the Rockies, and Carmen Mlodzinski of the Pirates. Each pitcher has some interesting underlying metrics that indicate a better pitching group could get more out of them. Alvarez and Mlodzinski are both 27, so in the age range where a trade is something teams consider, while Hughes is only 25 and would cost more because of that. However, I’d like to, again, highlight Hughes who gets ELITE extension release as a pitcher the Guardians would be poised to maximize if they could pry him free from Colorado.
Which pitcher catches your eye as a Guardians’ fan? Let us know in the comments below
Brewers’ Robert Gasser spins World Series gem unlike any by a lefty since Sandy Koufax
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Robert Gasser delivered in the World Series unlike any left-handed starter since Sandy Koufax.
Gasser faced the minimum over six dominant innings, pitching the Milwaukee Brewers to the brink of their first championship in a 10-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday night.
He’s the first starter to face the minimum over six in a World Series game since Curt Schilling for the Arizona Diamondbacks in Game 7 of the 2001 Fall Classic.
The last lefty to do it was Koufax, a Hall of Famer who spun his gem in Game 5 of the 1965 World Series.
The 27-year-old rookie nicknamed Bobby Diesel allowed a single to Yandy Diaz leading off the game but erased him on Chandler Simpson’s fielder’s choice. Catcher William Contreras then threw out Simpson attempting to steal second after Simpson slid off the bag.
Gasser retired 12 in a row until a leadoff walk to Victor Mesa Jr. in the sixth. Nick Fortes followed with a double-play groundout, and Taylor Walls grounded out to second on Gasser’s final pitch.
Gasser, who began the season in Triple-A Nashville, earned the win with six scoreless innings on one hit, one walk and three strikeouts. He is the first Brewers starter this postseason to record an out in the sixth inning.
“It’s a special opportunity that we all have to be here,” Gasser said. “To be nervous or scared would only be cheating myself and my teammates.”
Second baseman Brice Turang, who helped Gasser with three hits and two RBIs, was hardly surprised Gasser kept his cool.
“He’s very chill,” Turang said. “He drives chill, too. He’s really slow at driving. Everything about him is just chill.”
A second-round pick by San Diego in 2021, Gasser joined Milwaukee in a then-maligned deal for All-Star closer Josh Hader in 2022. He made his major league debut in 2024 but had Tommy John surgery on his left elbow after just five starts.
He struggled to regain his form until late in 2026, when he finished the regular season with a 1.67 ERA in his final six appearances.
“A big word is belief,” Gasser said. “I haven’t changed much over the years from mechanics to velocity. I think it always comes down to, ‘Do you believe in yourself?’”
No question, the Brewers believe in him.
Milwaukee has won four straight road postseason games, three of them started by Gasser. That includes five scoreless innings in Game 3 of the NL Championship Series at Dodger Stadium.
Prior to this year, Milwaukee had lost 12 straight postseason road games since 2018, matching the longest skid in major league history set by the Washington Senators/Minnesota Twins from 1925-87.
“He’s been great for us all year, all postseason,” Brewers captain Christian Yelich said. “And he’s got that steady heartbeat. The moment’s never too big for him, and you know when he goes out there, you’re gonna have a great chance to win the game.”
Nets vs. Celtics preview: Brooklyn looks for its first win of season
It’s been rough for the Brooklyn Nets. Following a loss at Cleveland on Saturday night, they came home for a Sunday evening matchup against the Indiana Pacers and lost 136-109. Mikel Brown Jr. sat out (injury management) as things only got uglier.
The Boston Celtics look different this season after a busy offseason, but their early results have been encouraging. They enter Tuesday’s matchup coming off a 134-99 blowout against the Chicago Bulls.
Game Info & Broadcast Details
- Matchup: Brooklyn Nets vs. Boston Celtics
- Time: 7:30 PM EDT (6:30 PM CDT)
- Venue: TD Garden (Boston, MA)
- TV/Streaming: YES Network/DAZN
Nets vs. Celtics: Who’s Out?
Brooklyn Nets
- Joshua Jefferson: OUT – G League Assignment
- Drake Powell: OUT – G League Assignment
- Ben Saraf: OUT – G League Assignment
- Tyler Bilodeau: OUT – G League (Two-Way)
- Grant Nelson: OUT – G League (Two-Way)
Boston Celtics: TBD
This is the second night of a back-to-back for Boston so we’ll find out a few hours before tip-off.
The Game
Jordi Fernandez’s message after Sunday was simple: “The performance that we put on after the first quarter was just unacceptable. 112 points in three quarters — you’re not winning basketball games.”
Indeed.
As we noted in our season preview roundtable, bad defense is a killer and things have gotten pretty ugly already. Erik Slater of ClutchPoints discussed the amount of open threes the Nets have been allowing through the first week of the season, and teams have punished those mistakes early and often. The Celtics have been top-four in three-pointers attempted per game dating back to 2022.
If Brooklyn’s defense continues to spring leaks, this game could get ugly quick.
One of Boston’s newest faces has been around a lot longer than you’d think. This is Year 17 for Paul George and he’s been a solid hand for Joe Mazzulla’s squad. George is a versatile vet with lower usage compared to what we remember — he doesn’t need to do the heavy lifting on most nights.
The downside to being in the game this long is you’re gonna get got every so often.
Mikel Brown Jr is back against Boston and that should be a welcome sight for Nets fans.
The 20-year-old will be one of several guards chasing Payton Pritchard around tonight. Pritchard hit for 28 points and seven three-pointers last night as he had the Bulls in a blender. PP has been one of the best reserve guards in recent years and is someone Mazzulla and the team can count on to deliver no matter what the role is on a given night. His ascension allows for more flexibility and makes things easier across the board for his teammates.
For Brown Jr, Pritchard offers a great test against on the defensive side of the ball, while playing against elite competition overall. It should be fun to see how he shapes out against one of the most prepared teams in the NBA.
Player to Watch: Jayson Tatum
“He should stay ready at all times,” said former teammate Jaylen Brown.
As the face of the franchise, Jayson Tatum has a lot to think about it. He’s the lead option on a championship contender and faces all pressure to keep the team afloat in a treacherous Eastern Conference. And these days, he’s awfully busy discussing his former All-Star teammate.
Either way, it’s a lot to handle for one superstar to handle.
On the court, Tatum continues to be one of the best around. After shooting 0-for-7 night from three on opening night, he’s starting to regain his rhythm. Tatum can hurt teams in more ways than scoring. Even when his outside shot isn’t falling, he contributes as a playmaker and rebounder while still applying pressure on the defense. Brooklyn needs to make him work for his looks and avoid giving him easy opportunities to get going.
As for the Nets: When a team is going through an early rut like this, it takes a lot to turn things around. Losses pile up if you aren’t careful and three losses can turn into five, five turn into eight — you get the rest. The schedule doesn’t help either. Neither does playing against someone like Jayson Tatum.
From the Vault
My dear friend and colleague Lucas Kaplan is leaving NetsDaily to work for the Los Angeles Sparks. Lucas is the best of us and while I’m sad he’s no longer working with us, I can speak for everyone when I say I’m beyond thrilled he gets to begin such an exciting new adventure!
With that in mind, I wanna revisit the best, most fun night of basketball we ever got to cover together.
More reading: CelticsBlog, Sports Illustrated, SB Nation NBA, New York Post, New York Daily News, Clutch Points, Nets Wire, Nets Insider, SNY, Yahoo Sports, CBS Sports, Steve’s Newsletter
- Brooklyn Nets Game Notes – Brooklyn Nets
- Boston Celtics Game Notes – Boston Celtics
- Jordi Fernandez doesn’t hold back after ‘unacceptable’ performance drops Nets to 0-3 – Erik Slater – Clutch Points