MIAMI, FLORIDA - AUGUST 12: Carmen Mlodzinski #50 of the Pittsburgh Pirates delivers during the first inning against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot park on August 12, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Pittsburgh Pirates are back in action tonight as they take on the Detroit Tigers for the second contest in a three-game series.
The Pirates will hand the ball to All-Star Braxton Ashcraft, who is coming off arguably the best start of his career, on August 13. Ashcraft pitched his first career complete game, giving up just three hits and one earned run while striking out 10 in a 13-1 rout over the Miami Marlins at loanDepot Park. The Pirates hope he can continue the dominance as they face off against the Tigers, who find themselves in the thick of a very tight AL Wild Card race.
The Tigers are tossing the ball to third-year pro Kader Montero, who is enjoying a breakout season. Montero is also coming off a strong performance in his last start on August 13 against the Cleveland Guardians. Montero pitched 6.1 innings, giving up three hits and no runs as the team won 3-0 at Comerica Park. Montero has already surpassed his career high for innings pitched in a season and is throwing the best stuff of his career. He has been crucial for the Tigers in their rotation after the Tarik Skubal trade, and the team will rely on him heavily to get the job done.
TORONTO, CANADA - MAY 1: RJ Barrett #9 of the Toronto Raptors reacts after a basket against the Cleveland Cavaliers CLECAV during Game Six of the First Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on May 1, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The buzz around NBA2K27 is picking up ahead of its September 4th global release. In addition to early access, cover art, and first look images, they’ve finally released the top 100 player OVR ratings.
If you’ve played the game, or follow the global conversation, every year there are huge surprises and disappointments. More than ever if you’re a Raptors fan. While they haven’t released the full roster yet and many of the player ratings won’t be available until closer to the early access release date of August 28th, there’s already more than enough to have opinions on just in the top 100.
Some of the ratings were on par as expected. Back-to-back MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander having the highest OVR of 97 is respectable. Right there with him are the other top finishers in voting, Wemby and Jokic. Jalen Brunson edging Lebron James out of the top 10 also feels warranted with his performance and championship. But the longer you look at the list, the more you start to realize some things that are… not really anything that can be rationalized. While we could take all day and point them out, there’s enough just amongst the Raptors to get worked up about. So let’s break down the three most shocking:
Scottie Barnes is an 88 OVR.
You would have to have seen this coming. A huge leap from his 51st rank to start last year in 2K26, he now sits 23rd. Positionally I’m okay with this. Until you start to compare him to other 88 OVR players. Deni Avdija, whose post season numbers were substantially worse than Scottie, who only played 66 games last year, and whose defense is considerably worse than Scottie sits at the same OVR. The exact same can be said about Austin Reaves who also sits at an 88. To add insult to injury, Anthony Davis who only managed to play 20 games last season is two points higher at 90. The only solace in this situation is finally both Paolo Banchero and Evan Mobley are ranked lower than him.
My hot take: Scottie is an 89, and Jamal Murray and him should both be above Davis.
The 19-position fall of RJ Barrett.
So last year, RJ started at an 82 OVR. This year, he is starting as an 82 OVR. Already, I have some questions. Statistically, he may not have been as electric, but if you actually watched the games he played better. He had to share the scoring load with more ball-handling players. He had less touches. Still, he was efficient, played better in the clutch, and in some games, felt like the only reliable scoring option. Apparently that means you stay the same OVR. Since there’s so many guys that sit at 82 though, this means he’s actually fallen from 68th to 87th, suggesting he’s gotten worse. Even if that was the case, compare that to players rated more highly: Ajay Mitchell (a talented player, but genuinely, what am I missing here?), Payton Pritchard (absolutely not), and Paul George (????).
My hot take: If they’re all 82s fine, but there’s no way there’s 86 people in the league you’d rather have than RJ Barrett. Especially those three.
Kawhi Leonard erasure.
It’s no secret that the investigation has complicated things for the Raptors, the trade still isn’t official, and Kawhi is listed in 2K27 as a Clippers player. But it already feels like he’s getting the Raptors treatment. Yes, he moved up and OVR point to 93 and from 15th to 11th, all great. But now, Cade Cunningham is above him, despite averaging 4 fewer points per game, fewer rebounds, a lower FG percentage, and his complete disappearance in game 7 against Cleveland. It feels like while previous years, 2K has valued the “grandfathered in” greats, giving guys like LeBron, Kawhi, KD, and Steph the edge, now they seem to be favouring the “younger talent” and the fresh faces in the League. Wemby being second after three years isn’t undeserved, just surprising. Cunningham being 8th this quickly also caught me by surprise. It seems like things are slowly changing.
My hot take: I’d have Steph 8th, KD 9th, and Kawhi 10th if it’s them over Cunningham (although honestly I think Maxey, Tatum, and Mitchell could all make a case for 10th over Cunningham too).
Let’s see how the rest of the Raptors OVRs stack up as more information is announced.
CINCINNATI, OHIO - AUGUST 6: Andrew Abbott #41 of the Cincinnati Reds pitches during the game against the Athletics at Great American Ball Park on August 6, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After a rocky start to the 2026 season, there was a time that Cincinnati Reds lefty Andrew Abbott settled into a rather great groove. That time, though, has sadly evaporated, and he’s been nothing more than mediocre – at best – for a little bit now.
Over his last 9 starts dating back to June 26th, he’s pitched to just a 4.66 ERA/4.41 FIP with an extremely discouraging 38/25 K/BB in 48.1 IP. He was shelled for 5 ER in his most recent outing (in just 4.1 IP), and the month of August has seen him allow 11 ER with a brutal 8/10 K/BB in just 16.0 IP (6.19 ERA).
The Reds will surely hope he can find a way to flip that script on Tuesday night against the St. Louis Cardinals, who boast the second lowest K% against southpaws among the 30 MLB clubs (just 18.3%).
Kyle Leahy gets the starting nod for the Birds, and first pitch is set for 6:40 PM ET.
Here’s how both clubs will line up to begin things:
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 14: Cody Freeman #39 of the Texas Rangers reacts before playing against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on June 14, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Paul Rutherford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Texas Rangers lineup for August 18, 2026 against the Washington Nationals: starting pitchers are Cal Quantrill for the Rangers and Jackson Kent for the Nationals.
The Rangers return home after a disappointing, to say the least, West Coast road trip. They play the Washington Nationals today. The Nationals are starting a lefthanded pitcher named Jackson Kent, who I had definitely heard of and knew was a real person before two minutes ago. The newly activated Danny Jansen is behind the plate.
The lineup:
Langford — LF
Seager — SS
Burger — 1B
Nimmo — RF
Duran — 2B
Foscue — DH
Jansen — C
Freeman — 3B
Carter — CF
7:05 p.m. Central start time. Rangers are -147 favorites.
SACRAMENTO, CA - APRIL 11: Phoenix Suns head coach Mike D'Antoni meets with Sacramento Kings head coach Rick Adelman before their teams take on each other at Arco Arena on April 11, 2006 in Sacramento, California. The Suns won 123-110. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2006 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Rockets fans and fans across the country.
You ready for this week’s question? It’s a good one. With former Houston Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni recently being named to the Basketball Hall of Fame, it’s time to discuss who was the second-best coach in Rockets history?
I had the luxury of being a senior in high school when the Rockets won their first title and a college freshman for the second, so it’s clearly Rudy T for me in the top spot. But both D’Antoni and former Rockets coach Rick Adelman (RIP) have a legitimate case for the number two spot.
Adelman finished with 195-135 Rockets record (.588), while D’Antoni was 217-101 (.682). However, it’s important to note that the Rockets only had a true contending roster until about 2009 for Adelman, with the next several seasons being mired in mediocrity. Adelman was 108-56 in his first two seasons (.659) until Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady fell to pieces.
Adelman was 9-10 in the postseason, getting to the Western Conference Semis in 2009, where the Rockets had a legitmate shot at the NBA Title (Yao was playing out of his mind), until injuries did them in against the Los Angeles Lakers.
D’Antoni made it all the way to Western Conference Finals in 2018, where injuries also did him in against the Golden State Warriors. I think both of those teams wind up with hardware if they didn’t get hurt. But the history books show they both fell short. D’Antoni was 28-23 in the postseason for Houston.
D’Antoni did take home Coach of the Year honors in the 2018 season, and he was the architect of the best regular season Rockets record at 65-17, while Adelman peaked at 55-27, but was the man to turn a perennial first round out under Jeff Van Gundy to a legitmate title contender. He also won multiple NBA Coach of the Month awards, but never took home Coach of the Year trophy.
So what say you? On paper, it looks like D’Antoni has the edge. He also transformed James Harden into an offensive juggernaut. But Adelman brought the best out of that group in 2009 and had a coaching tour de force during 2008 and 2009, including the famous 22-game win streak.
So what say you, TDS?
Cast your vote, tell us in the comments, and we’ll be back soon with the results.
While he admitted that he initially thought that he would be returning to the Detroit Red Wings for a third straight full campaign, Patrick Kane is back where it all began.
Kane did not re-sign with the Red Wings and instead returned to the Chicago Blackhawks, signing a two-year, $16 million contract with the franchise that selected him first overall in the 2007 NHL Draft.
With Chicago, Kane won the Stanley Cup three times while cementing his status as one of the best American-born players in NHL history. And he'll be welcomed back in style on Tuesday evening when he throws out the first pitch at Wrigley Field as part of the Crosstown Classic series between the Chicago Cubs and White Sox.
PATRICK KANE FIRST PITCH AT WRIGLEY FOR CROSSTOWN CLASSIC GAME 2 ARE YOU KIDDING MEEEE pic.twitter.com/kC1LgzJAK9
Kane, who was traded from the Blackhawks to the New York Rangers at the 2023 NHL Trade Deadline, underwent hip resurfacing surgery that offseason and was out of action until December when he signed with the Red Wings.
It was former Blackhawks teammate Alex DeBrincat who played a key role in recruiting Kane to Detroit, where he would play until earlier this spring.
Kane, who signed consecutive one-year contracts with the Red Wings, admitted that he anticipated yet another extension in Detroit, but that circumstances changed.
While Kane did not specify exactly what circumstances shifted his mentality, it's not hard to make an educated guess. Not only did captain Dylan Larkin request to be traded after the club once again missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but GM Steve Yzerman vacated his role just over a month later.
Currently, the Red Wings are in limbo without a general manager and zero official updates regarding a timeline for when that position will be filled from the team. Meanwhile, Larkin has reportedly not budged from his trade request.
Shortly after returning to the Blackhawks, Kane penned a heartfelt letter of thanks to the Red Wings and to the fans for embracing him, saying that he'll always look back upon his time in Detroit fondly.
But the departure of Kane, who registered 57 points last season, leaves a massive hole for a team that already struggled to produce offense.
He'll make his return to Little Caesars Arena with the Blackhawks in late October, and he'll almost certainly receive a video tribute and warm reception from the fans.
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On this day six years ago and with this swing, Tim Anderson set some amazing leadoff home run records. | (Photo by Ron Vesely/Getty Images)
1910 Red Faber, pitching for the Class-B Dubuque Dubs in the Three-I (Iowa, Illinois, Indiana) League, threw a 3-0 perfect game against the Davenport Prodigals. Faber, 21, would make his MLB debut in 1914 for the White Sox, beginning a Hall of Fame career.
The Cascade, Iowa native never threw a no-hitter, much less a perfect game, in the majors, however.
1977 He was a ship too late to save the drowning South Side Hit Men, but it wasn’t for lack of Steve Renko trying. The tall righthander was acquired from the Cubs for pitcher Larry Anderson and cash, and was basically unbeatable for the final six weeks of the season.
Renko went 5-0 (and the team was 6-2 in his starts, the only losses both by one run) with a 3.54 ERA (117 ERA+) and 3.13 FIP, adding up to 1.3 WAR in just eight starts.
As good as that late deal was in 1977, the White Sox helped curse their 1978 by swapping Renko and catcher Jim Essian to Oakland at the end of spring training for reliever Pablo Torrealba. The pair combined to put up 3.4 WAR for the A’s, while Torrealba was a -0.4 WAR pitcher in 28 games for the White Sox, released midway through the 1979 season and never to pitch in the majors again.
Also on this day, the White Sox held an open tryout at Comiskey Park, inviting some 250 amateurs in hopes of finding a gold nugget. The club found only one: Southpaw Kevin Hickey, who at 22 was already a 16´´softball legend, having led his club to a national title and facing off against many city notables — including Sun-Times columnist Mike Royko. By 1981, the “Hic Man” was in the majors.
1993 For the second straight season and the second time in less than a calendar year, Dan Pasqua broke up a no-hitter late with an extra-base hit.
On Aug. 26, 1992, Pasqua doubled off of Todd Sottlemyre in Toronto’s 9-0 pasting of the White Sox. And on this day Pasqua tripled off of Danny Darwin, who would end up spinning a one-hit complete game against the White Sox, 5-0.
In both cases, the soul-crushing hit came with one out in the eighth inning, putting the hurlers just four batters from immortality.
Also on this day, Frank Thomas drove in his 100th run, setting a new White Sox mark for quickest to 100 RBIs in a season. The mark wouldn’t last long; Thomas broke it one season later, on Aug. 7, 1994.
2020 Continuing an absolute barrage of leadoff home runs, Tim Anderson started another game off with a homer, this time in a 10-4 win over the Tigers in Chicago. Anderson’s homer made him the first White Sox ever to with three leadoff home runs in a six-game span. He also became the fifth player in MLB history to hit a leadoff home run in three straight games against one opponent.
Anderson victimized Matthew Boyd on August 12 and 17, and his record-setter on this day came against Tarik Skubal.
Incredibly, Anderson almost added another leadoff home run against Casey Mize leading off the next day’s game, but his fly deep to right field was caught short of the fence.
SAN FRANCISCO - JULY 10: Players stand attended during the National Anthem before the 78th Major League Baseball All-Star Game at AT&T Park on July 10, 2007 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Greg Trott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
On Friday, we got confirmation that San Francisco would be the host city for Major League Baseball’s 2028 All-Star Game. It’s very cool news and it gives us all something to look forward to as we wait for the Giants’ next competitive window to open in 2030. And, of course, it’s more than just the game itself. There’s the Home Run Derby, the Futures Game, celebrity interactions, the draft, and an All-Star village. So, I figured this would be a good place to gather everything we know about the event so far. I promise I’m not riffing through the entire article, but it’s a lot of riffing.
It will happen in July
No exact date yet, but it’s almost certainly the week of July 12th, which is when the Baseball portion of the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles will kickoff. That tournament runs July 13-19 at Dodger Stadium.
It will be a factor in the upcoming lockout
Last month, Bruce Meyer, who’s leading the negotiations on behalf of the MLB Players Association, indicated that he knew San Francisco had already been chosen as the site of the 2028 All-Star Game to which Rob Manfred responded, “With all due respect, Bruce does not pick the All-Star Games. He’s not necessarily correct.”
It would be funny if the situation wasn’t so dire. Commissioner Manfred has been a terrible ambassador of the sport, a true antagonist to playersand fans, a bad businessman, and now he’s going to carry water for the owners who want to try to bleed the sport for more profit.
The reason why Oracle Park was chosen as the 2028 site had less to do with the city or the stadium or even that it had been a long time since the game had been hosted there and more to do with proximity to the Olympics. Being an hour away by plane really takes some of the pressure off for making sure as many great players can participate. The sticking point is that the league is trying to negotiate a new CBA along with the details of Olympics participation. If the negotiations drag on, it’s not wild to imagine the owners blaming the players for there being no MLB representation in the summer games or whatever.
A couple of months ago, the United States Department of Justice announced that they had opened a civil rights investigation into whether or not the Giants had violated the rights of the bigots on the roster by allowing dissent and criticism over their bigotry to be communicated in their general direction. As of this writing, this investigation remains open, and it’s entirely possible that it won’t be closed for some time because why should it be closed? As an open case, the Justice Department and the White House can extract concessions or fines from the team to avoid federal intervention of whatever feels right.
Don’t want ICE agents deployed throughout China Basin for All-Star week? Better not think about cutting Sam Hentges, Landen Roupp, JT Brubaker, or Ryan Walker. Yes, even in 2028.
And who knows where we’ll be by then in terms of federal overreach. I’m sure some very dutiful bootlicker is already cobbling together some sort of order relating to securing America’s Pastime against non-traditional values that are expressed or advertised throughout San Francisco. As paranoid as this might sound, there’s already precedent. ABC has filed a First Amendment suit against the FCC for matters pertaining to broadcast licensing and similar civil rights investigations into the company’s “DEI policies.” Plus, with the commissioner pitching it as being Olympics-adjacent, “security” or “public safety” can be invoked to do all sorts of wacky things. With the government always willing to threaten the sport’s antitrust exemption and Manfred having already demonstrated that he’ll throw the Giants under the bus at the first opportunity, it’s a recipe for more headaches, possible injustice, and disrupted entertainment.
The Giants will have at least one All-Star
By rule, each team must have a representative. Bryce Eldridge is confident that he’ll be able to participate in the Home Run Derby, but we’ll see. He’s going to sit an awful lot if the lockout drags on as long as the owners want it to, and that could impact his development. I’m sure most fans have penciled in Logan Webb already, but this year already showed a marked decline for the former ace. As I mentioned back in May, it’s possible that his best days are already behind him. Lincecum, Cain, and Bumgarner were all basically done by 30. Webb turns 30 in November.
I wonder if Webb and Eldridge will have a better opportunity to represent the United States on the Olympic Team rather than as All-Stars representing the Giants.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will be hounded to participate in the Home Run Derby
My one memory of the 2007 ASG in San Francisco is of Vladimir Guerrero Sr. winning the derby. He waws my white whale for many years and after the infamous Brian Sabean quote that killed the idea, I took my moments of watching Vlad very seriously. Watching him mash in the Home Run Derby was the only time I was able to imagine what it might’ve been like to have my favorite player (at the time) on my favorite team.
To be clear, I won’t be hounding Vladito, but the chance for a father-son story to crop up in this specific competition is too good to pass up. Obviously, it’s not a guarantee. It’s not that 2028 is far enough where things could change, it’s that 2026 has given us a Vladimir Guerrero Jr. who has evolved/de-evolved into a player who would be stealing a derby spot from a more deserving bat. He has just 7 home runs this season — his age-27 season! — and looks like he’ll just barely clear double digits. But also, after hitting 48 home runs in 2022, he’s hit just 118 since.
Some aspect of the team being in San Francisco will be celebrated
It’ll be the 70th anniversary of the team’s move from New York to San Francisco but its 71st season overall. That could mean it’s a San Francisco-tinged celebration or its a Giants history-themed one or if the Olympics of it all simply overwhelms.
Politics will be inescapable
Maybe you’re bent out of shape when I mentioned Pride Night again, but I promise you that I’m not even the tip of the iceberg. I’m the water vapor that might freeze down onto the berg. 2028 is an election year, and July is usually a busy time, not just with party conventions but also big election-changing news. Joe Biden dropped out of the race in July 2024. Kanye West announced his candidacy in July 2020. The United States Postal Service, under full Trump control, and having cut costs to the extent that the service was hobbled, informed states that there would be delays with mail balloting ahead of the election. On July 12, 2016, Bernie Sanders endorsed Hillary Clinton. On the 23rd, Wikileaks released a tranche of documents to indicate the DNC’s bias against Sanders. We’re likely to be pelted, inundated, possibly overwhelmed by politics. The trendlines of reality don’t suggest that’s going to reverse anytime soon, especially if Donald Trump continues to suggest that he’ll run for reelection when he legally cannot.
This might be the last All-Star Game on FOX TV
All of MLB’s national broadcast rights have been synced to expire at the end of the 2028 season… unless a specific amount of time is missed due to a work stoppage. In that case, an extra year would be added. Still, it might be the last time that John Smoltz is inflicted on us.
Although the FOX Network has been a fine partner with MLB all these years, I’m still miffed about them putting the NFL theme over the baseball stuff to trick viewers into tuning in… and then there’s John Smoltz. But they actually broadcast the baseball game, far better than ESPN. Of course, nobody is as good as NBC/Peacock’s coverage. But what’s probably going to happen going forward is the Balkanization of the broadcast rights. Your MLB.tv subscription will continue to be diluted by other platforms you’ll need to subscribe to: Apple, Peacock, Netflix and then, who knows?
The national anthem will be performed by a Bay Area native
In 2007, Stockton’s Chris Isaak sang “The Star-Spangled Banner.” With all due respect to Chris Isaak, I think that can be topped; although, I’m having a tough time coming up with relevant Bay Area acts who will still be notable in 2028. Age has caught up with a lot of our faves, but then again, Patti LaBelle did this in Philadelphia last month and at 82:
Tim Lincecum will be there, right?
It’ll be the 20th anniversary of his first All-Star Game. Even with a large contingent of non-Giants fans in the crowd, that’s still homefield. Barry Bonds will definitely be there, Jeff Kent, too. Lincecum will be there. He’s got to be. I’m not sure in what capacity, of course. I don’t think Dave Roberts </s> would let him deliver the lineup card or whatever.
Aug 17, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies center fielder Derek Hill (49) high fives teammates after win against the Miami Marlins at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
El Segundo, CA - June 06: Siblings Joey and Jesse Buss (in black hat), from left, sitting in the front row during a press conferrence announcing new Los Angeles Lakers head coach Darvin Ham, at the UCLA Health Training Center, in El Segundo, CA, Monday, June 6, 2022. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
It looks like both sides are digging in their heels ahead of a fight between Jeanie Buss and her siblings.
Statement from Jim, Johnny, Janie, Joey and Jesse Buss after attorney of Jeanie Buss made clear she will battle her family members on selling their remaining 17.8% Lakers ownership stake:
The Los Angeles Lakers have never been just a basketball team. They have been one of the…
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.
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. We are confident they will honor everything this franchise stands for while building upon the foundation our father created.
Clearly, the family is focused on moving forward with the sale, which is to be expected since they were the ones who voted for it. Of the two sides, the non-Jeanie siblings are definitely winning the PR battle right now.
Both this statement and the one when the sale was initially reported were well-crafted and portray the family making the decision that’s best for the Lakers. Portraying it in that light is a great win in the court of public opinion.
On the other hand, Jeanie’s letter about her siblings’ decision didn’t have the same vibe. It felt much more aggressive and dismissive about their wishes with an attitude that she knows best. Because she was put on the back foot, it was always going to be hard for her to come off as anything other than defensive, but that’s how her letter came across.
Unfortunately, a public back-and-forth is likely how portions of this will play out. It doesn’t really serve anyone’s best interests in doing so, but given how the family has handled things throughout the last decade, it feels like it’s the path we’re heading down.
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.
