Dereck Lively II works out at the Duke University campus during Duke Brotherhood offseason sessions. | Courtesy Dallas Mavericks
We polled the Mavs Moneyball readership a couple of weeks back on how many games the readership expected Dereck Lively II to play in 2026-27, a year removed from a lost season of just seven games.
I was shocked at how many of you answered “zero” and seemed to mean it.
If Lively plays zero games this year, keeping him around for the promise of “next year” after two straight full seasons lost would seem like a fool’s errand.
But perhaps you were wise to keep your expectations at a minimum. After all, our Feed post came roughly a month after Lively himself admitted, on June 26, that he’s “not able to run and jump yet” and that he’s “taking my time… more time than I need to make sure that I don’t have to deal with this foot again.”
Dereck Lively talks about how he’s feeling physically:
“I’m not able to run and jump yet. I’m taking my time. I’m taking more time than I need to make sure that I don’t have to deal with this foot again.” pic.twitter.com/oSnInhFXoy
Those were not inspiring words at the time. Lively played his final game of the 2025-26 season on Nov. 21 last year against the New Orleans Pelicans, in what ended as a 118-115 win. The team announced Lively’s season-ending surgery on Dec. 10 after persistent discomfort and swelling dogged his recovery.
So what do these photos of Lively working out on campus at Duke, where he played his lone season of college basketball, as part of this year’s Brotherhood offseason sessions, mean? Lively certainly appears to have put in some upper-body work while his right foot has been out of commission.
Mavericks center Dereck Lively II works out on campus at Duke University in September 2026. | Courtesy Dallas Mavericks
Sure, the photos of Lively from last weekend are still images. He’s not featured in the scrimmage highlights that the Duke social media team has put out there, like his teammates Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg are. He’s still not ready for that kind of run, which, yes, still gives massive doubt as to whether and when he’ll be able to return to full-speed action on an NBA court any time soon.
But we’re searching. We’re seekers. We’re searching for any signs of optimism in Lively’s recovery arc here. And we’re finding it at the Gun Show. He looks absolutely yoked, relative at least to the skinny, athletic youngster we knew him as when he last consistently gave the Mavs any real minutes.
We love to see it. They put a little more wind in our sails as the offseason begins to feel more and more like the preseason.
Dereck Lively II works out at Duke University’s offseason Brotherhood sessions. | Courtesy Dallas Mavericks
Irving and Lively are our last link to that recent iteration of the Mavericks that made fans feel anything at all. We need to see them contributing to something worthwhile on the basketball court, if only for our own sanity at this point.
The next hopeful signal from the Mavericks’ front office or coaching staff concerning Lively’s recovery from the foot injury will be the first. We don’t expect him to be ready to go when the season starts on October 21 at the Houston Rockets, which is just over a month from now, by the way.
But we need to see more from Lively in relatively short order, and these recent photos are the only thing delivering at the moment. There’s literally more of him, get it? Because of all the added muscle?
Dominican professional baseball catcher Will Smith and his wife Cara Smith attend the Harold & Carole Pump Foundation 26th Anniversary Celebrity Dinner honoring the 2025 World Champions Los Angeles Dodgers at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California on August 20, 2026. (Photo by Connor Terry / AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images
Dodgers catcher Will Smith was the team’s nominee for the 2026 Roberto Clemente Award, the annual honor that recognizes players for their contributions both on and off the field, named for the legendary Hall of Fame former Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder.
Smith and his wife Cara founded Catching Hope, “a nonprofit organization working to help underprivileged children with critical skills needed for leadership, self-advocacy, and self-sufficiency.” Among the projects by the organization this year include an art installation at Marquez Elementary School in Los Angeles in April, a comedy night in Beverly Hills in May as part of the Netflix is a Joke Fest, a community clinic for an elementary school at Dodger Stadium in May, and a visit to UCLA hospital in August.
Will Smith stopped by the @UCLAHealth Santa Monica Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Clinic to surprise some special Dodger fans. 🥹 pic.twitter.com/3FpwRKY7Y0
Fans can vote on the Clemente Award through September 27, the final day of the regular season. The fan vote will count as one vote in a panel that also includes members of the MLB commissioner’s office, MLB.com writers, MLB television media partners, and members of Roberto Clemente’s family.
Old friend Justin Turner, who won the Clemente Award in 2022 and was also the Dodgers nominee for the honor in 2017, 2018, 2020, and 2021 as well, won another title on Tuesday night. His Tijuana Toros beat the Tabasco Olmecas four games to two to win the best-of-7 Serie del Rey to win the Mexican League championship.
The Columbus Blue Jackets have 14 days until opening night at Nationwide Arena. Today, we look at the history of jersey #14.
Let's take a look.
Ray Whitney - 2001-2003 - Drafted by San Jose in 1991.
Whitney played 151 games as a Jacket and was the Captain for one. During the one year he was the Captain, he scored 24 goals and totaled 76 points, which set a CBJ record. Ray Whitney is the best player to have worn #14 for the Blue Jackets.
When Ray Whitney was traded to the Blue Jackets, the 28-year-old had already played 528 games in the NHL spanning 10 seasons. But he had never played a full 82-game season; he only averaged 53 games a year. So, when the CBJ traded for him in 2001, fans were as excited as ever for the fledgling franchise. They were getting a goal-scorer and a relatively young playmaker.
After his time with Columbus, he went on to play for another 10 years and a total of 1,330 games. He played a total of 22 seasons in the NHL and had over 1,000 points. He would retire in 2015.
In a game at Nationwide Arena in November 2001 against the St. Louis Blues, Whitney scored this goal, which is still a legendary goal in CBJ history. The radio call from play-by-play icon George Matthews, with his partner Bill Davidge, still gives me chills.
Greg Mauldin - 2004 - Drafted by Columbus in 2002.
Played 6 games for Columbus and had no points. He went on to play 30 more NHL games after leaving Columbus.
Mauldin left for Europe in 2012, where he played in Switzerland, Russia, Germany, and Norway. He played until 2024 before retiring.
Raffi Torres - 2009-2010 - Drafted by the New York Islanders in 2000.
Torres played 111 games for the Jackets and had 51 points. He was traded to the Buffalo Sabres on March 3, 2010.
Torres retired on November 5, 2016.
Grant Clitsome - 2011-2012 - Drafted by Columbus in 2004.
He played 93 games for Columbus and had 36 points before being put on waivers on February 26, 2012.
On June 1, 2016, Clitsome retired after suffering a serious shoulder injury.
Blake Comeau - 2013-2014 - Drafted by the New York Islanders in 2004.
Comeau played 79 games and had 21 points for the CBJ. In the summer of 2014, he left in free agency to join the Pittsburgh Penguins.
He would go on to play 909 games in the NHL and retired during the 21-22 season.
Dean Kukan - 2015-2022 - Kukan is undrafted out of Volketswil, Switzerland.
Dean Kukan made his NHL debut in March of 2016 after playing the majority of the season with the Lake Erie Monsters. After playing in 8 games near the end of the season, he was sent back to Lake Erie and would help the Monsters win their first-ever Calder Cup. He had 5 points in 17 playoff games.
Kukan would bounce up and down between Columbus and Cleveland until 2022. He would play a total of 153 games for the CBJ and total 30 points. He excelled in the minors, though. He played in 142 games for Lake Erie/Cleveland and totaled 59 points as a fairly skilled two-way defenseman.
After the 2022 season, Kukan made the decision to return to Europe. He returned to his home country of Switzerland to play for his original club, the ZSC Lions, on a five-year contract.
Kukan is also routinely chosen to represent the Swiss in international competitions. He played in the 2025 IIHF World Championships, where he scored 9 points in 10 games. He also played in 5 games for Switzerland at the 2026 Olympics.
Gustav Nyquist - 2020-2023 - Drafted by the New York Islanders in 2004.
Nyquist played 200 games as a Jacket before being traded to the Minnesota Wild in 2023. During his time in Columbus, which included a missed season due to injury, he scored 43 goals and had 117 points.
After being traded to the Wild, he would leave that summer and sign with the Nashville Predators in 2023 on a two-year deal. On 1 March 2025, he was traded back to the Wild to finish the season. On 2 July 2025, Nyquist signed a one-year contract with the Winnipeg Jets. He is currently unsigned.
Gus Nyquist and his family still live in the Columbus area.
Joseph LaBate - 2025 - Drafted by Vancouver in 2011.
LaBate played a total of six games for the Blue Jackets during the 2024-25 season. He originally signed a PTO with the Cleveland Monsters, but in November, the CBJ signed him to a one-year deal, which allowed him to play for Columbus.
LaBate signed a one-year deal with Vancouver this past offseason.
There are 14 days left until opening night at Nationwide Arena.
Well, if you have a burr under your saddle about how a player is doing, send me a note. I’ll write a few paragraphs about how bad they are doing. Then in the next game, he will explode (i.e. PCA, Monday night). You’re welcome.
In the meantime, I’ll work my “magic” on Seiya Suzuki. PCA’s problems were prominent as the lead-off hitter. Suzuki’s troubles were slightly covered up by PCA and Alex Bregman’s successes, but actually are worse.
Suzuki cruised through August, where he hit .303 (33-of-109), 25 R, 10 2B, 6 HR, 20 RBI, 17 BB, 26 K, 2 SB. September has been a totally different story. Suzuki is hitting .170 (8-of-47), 7 R, 2 2B, 1 3B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 12 BB, 11 K, 0 SB. My calling on PCA was that he having a lack in power — this is a much better example of that. Eight hits, just three XBH, and a drastic decrease in runs scored or driven in. Come on, Seiya, prove my “lucky” comments does work out for you in the next few games.
The Cubs split two games with the Braves Monday and Tuesday, and had a 50% success percentage while having two excellent starting pitching performances, one marred by the One-Bad-Pitch error. I’m sure that every team has this problem, especially sporadically, or in short bunches. This has been an entire-season event for the Cubs.
If not for PCA’s big game, David Peterson would be the easy winner of Player of the Game Monday — I just might name him so, because it was his biggest performance thus far with the Cubs. Six innings of one-run ball, three hits, three walks and seven strikeouts, with 56 of his 85 pitches for strikes.
Kevin Gausman was on his way to an even better game. He entered the sixth inning Tuesday, having allowed just two hits, no walks and five strikeouts before it became unraveled. After his sixth strikeout, Gausman gave up a single, a two-run homer and an infield single before leaving with a 3-2 lead.
Daniel Palencia did his job, stranding the inherited runner and got the out to end the inning. But Jacob Webb and Edward Cabrera imploded, having each given up a two-run home run to put the game out of reach.
Offensively, outside of PCA’s 4-for-5 night with a double, home run, stolen base and four RBI, there wasn’t much there. The closest to having a good two games this weekend was by Michael Busch, who was 1-for-6 with three walks and three runs scored.
On Monday, Nico Hoerner went 2-for-4 with an RBI and two RS. Michael Conforto and Carson Kelly had RBI hits. Tuesday, Matt Shaw was 2-for-2 with a walk and a run scored. Pedro Ramirez had a hit and RBI, and Miguel Amaya had an RBI.
Tuesday, the Cubs didn’t get a runner in scoring position after the fourth inning and managed just five hits in the game.
Peterson, Gausman and PCA were definitely the stars of the two games. They just needed a bit more help on Tuesday.
I appreciate your reading.
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Jordan Bastian (MLB.com): PCA joins Hall of Famer Williams with 42nd homer on 4-hit, 4-RBI night. “Dating back to his early days with the Cubs, Pete Crow-Armstrong always showed a level of respect for the team’s icons when they would visit Spring Training or make a stop by Wrigley Field.”
Matthew Trueblood (North Side Baseball): Nothing the Cubs Have Tried with Edward Cabrera Has Worked. “When the Cubs acquired Edward Cabrera from the Marlins over the winter, everyone agreed that the team would make some interesting changes to his pitch mix. Unfortunately, none of the ones they’ve implemented have turned out well.”
Evan Altman (Cubs Insider): Jacob Webb’s Water Needs to Find Level Before Cubs Drown. “If the Cubs had the benefit of an even moderately reliable bullpen, Jacob Webb might have to be worried about finding a red tag in his locker soon.”
Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation): The Cubs’ Farm System Grade is Passing, But Barely. “There are always bright spots and hopefully some longer-term progress, but it’s inarguable that the system, on paper right now, doesn’t look like it’s one of the better ones.”
Matthew Trueblood (North Side Baseball): Can Pete Crow-Armstrong Resist the Temptation to Try to Save the Cubs? “It’s not selfishness. At this point in the season, it might not even be voluntary. One way or another, though, Pete Crow-Armstrong is back in swing mode, trying to single-handedly win games that must be won, instead, as a team.”
Evan Altman (Cubs Insider): PCA Sets Several New Precedents in Monday’s Win. “He set or tied at least two team records, joined an elite group of franchise superstars, and essentially created a new category for repeated offensive excellence during Monday’s win.”
Leo Morgenstern, Joey Peterson, Taylor Greenhut (Just Baseball): Who Matches Up Best To Take Down the Dodgers in the Playoffs?. “Simply put, while there are questions surrounding the pitching staff, this is the one team that could get past the Dodgers thanks to its ability to hit better than anybody else.”
Sam Caulder (North Side Baseball): The Biggest Winners and Losers in the Cubs’ Farm System in 2026. “From breakout performances to disappointing seasons, there was no shortage of storylines across the Cubs’ farm system this year. With the season nearly in the books, here are some of the biggest winners and losers from 2026.”
Since making his debut on CD as a singer/songwriter, John Fusco has proven himself to be as equally as talented a bandleader as he is a screenwriter and movie/TV producer. The filmmaker who gave us Young Guns, Hidalgo, Thunderheart and The Highwayman, he’s a storyteller with few peers as this disc, which delivers a blues-filled saddlebag of what he terms the “Wild West Soul of America” shows.
Raised in Prospect, Conn., Fusco spent his early adulthood in the South as a laborer and blues singer. He delivers a film-noire mix of blues and roots held together by gritty lyrics – in this case, the description of folks who find themselves trapped between past mistakes and an uncertain future. The songs unfold like a film script and are infused with coyote howls, mariachi horns and much, much more. Fusco plays keys throughout. His pleasant, well-worn voice fits perfectly with the theme of his material. Blues takes many forms, and John Fusco has a style that’s truly all his own. Check out this pleaser and I’m sure you’ll agree. It’s a winner on all counts.
Please be reminded that Cub Tracks and Bleed Cubbie Blue do not necessarily endorse the content of articles, podcasts, or videos that are linked to in this series.
Sep 4, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies center fielder Jake McCarthy (31) reacts with first baseman TJ Rumfield (7) after being driven in on an RBI in the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The first article I wrote for Purple Row was a look at the 2025 Rockies base stealing prowess… or lack thereof. In general, the 2025 Rockies were a very fast team across the entire lineup that kept running into outs on the basepaths despite their speed. I posited that the main issue had to do with their conservative approach to taking leads before attempting steals.
On the positive side, while the 2026 Rockies still remain near the bottom in the league in their lead distance they have managed to improve their overall base running by a pretty substantial margin.
The most surface-level means of assessing base running success is to look at a team’s stolen bases. With roughly two weeks remaining, the 2026 Rockies have stolen more bases (100) than they did last season (87). What’s more, they’ve done so with a higher overall success rate (72.5%) than they had last year (68.5%).
Stealing bases, however, is only one component of running the bases.
Fangraphs Base Runs above Average (BsR), which is an attempt to calculate the cumulative baserunning value, is the widest lens through which to get the full picture on the basepaths. Using BsR, we can see obvious improvement for the Rockies this year. While the 2025 version of the team was 30th in MLB at -10.3, this year’s squad has jumped all the way to 14th with a respectable 0.3.
The interesting thing is, almost all of their baserunning gains can be traced back to one player: Jake McCarthy.
Removing his 7.5 BsR would drop the Rockies from 14th in the Majors down to 28th.
Removing his 30 stolen bases would drop the Rockies from 15th in the Majors down to 27th.
Although McCarthy’s legs have lifted the entire team up, the legs of fellow newcomer TJ Rumfield appear to be dragging it down.
Last season, every single Rockies player that got at least 100 opportunities on the bases graded out with a sprint speed above the league average line of 27 feet per second. The highest was Brenton Doyle with a sprint speed of 29.5, and last was Hunter Goodman, who just barely clocked in above league average at 27.2 ft/sec.
This season, the team has a much larger disparity between the fastest and slowest runners on the team:
It should not come as a shock that Rumfield is the slowest runner on the 2026 Rockies by a wide margin. We’ve all seen him run. He’s a hitter not a sprinter.
The margin of his speed difference with the other players on the team, however, is noteworthy.
Rumfield is more than a full foot per second slower than the Rockies second-slowest runner, Troy Johnston. He’s a whopping 5.1 ft/sec slower than the Rockies aforementioned McCarthy, the fastest Rockie. Only four teams have a wider disparity between their fastest runner and their slowest, with the Kansas City Royals taking the crown for the incredible 6.4 ft/sec difference between the sprint speeds of Bobby Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez.
As covered this past spring, pure sprint speed isn’t everything when it comes to baserunning. For Rumfield, though, the results do not get prettier when looking beyond his raw speed tool.
While Rumfield hasn’t been caught stealing this season, that’s a result of his decision not to attempt stealing bases. At first glance, it would seem that he knows his limitations as a player and sticks to moving station-to-station on the basepaths.
Baseball Savant attempts to count a player’s full contributions on the basepaths with “Baserunning Runs.” This is counting stat that combines the total outs made on the basepaths (including caught stealing and thrown out trying to stretch hits) and successful advances (including both stolen bases and successful attempts to stretch hits into more bases) and translates them into an equivalent number of runs. Even without having been caught stealing a single time, Rumfield’s negative six Baserunning Runs are the worst in the league.
McCarthy’s six Baserunning Runs are tied for sixth overall in the Majors.
Conclusions
The 2026 Colorado Rockies base running looks wildly different than it did just last year. This is no longer a team full of only speedsters without the ability to make use of that tool effectively.
They are, instead, a team of extremes on the base paths. They are buoyed by a single baserunning star at the same time they are anchored by one of the least-valuable runners in the league.
Given the high value that both McCarthy and Rumfield have brought at the plate and in the field this season, both should be expected to remain fixtures in the lineup heading into next year. This dichotomy of extremes at either end of the baserunning spectrum is likely here to stay for the foreseeable future.
The Isotopes lose their second game in as many days to the Salt Lake Bees. Unlike Tuesday’s game, where the Isotopes lost in heartbreaking fashion in extra-innings, the Bees were in control from the very start of this one.
Jack Mahoney (No. 15 PuRP) continued his struggles at Triple-A. Mahoney started this game and only managed to get through the first two and a third innings before being pulled due to a right-leg injury sustained while fielding a grounder. On the whole Mahoney was charged with three runs, all earned, on four hits and a walk while striking out no one before departing in the third.
Valente Bellozo took over after the unexpected exit of Mahoney in the third and did his best to keep the Isotopes in it. Bellozo pitched until the ninth inning, five and two third innings all told, and allowed a further four runs on nine hits. Evan Shawver took the ball in the ninth, when the game was already out of hand, and threw a scoreless frame.
At the plate the Isotopes struggled to score runs all game long. They scored their first run in the bottom of the fourth when Sterlin Thompson (No. 16 PuRP) walked, advanced to third on a single by Vimael Machín, and then driven in by a Chad Stevens sacrifice fly. The only other Isotopes run of the night occurred after Tyler Freeman led off the eighth with a double and advanced on a couple of ground outs.
Every year MLB names a Roberto Clemente award winner for best representing baseball on and off the field through positive involvement within their community. This year the Rockies have nominated Kyle Freeland for his continued work supporting Special Olympics Colorado. Maddy Dickens of SI.com digs into what qualifies Freeland for the award now that voting has officially begun.
The MLB Pipeline crew go through every team in the league and name their biggest breakout prospect of the year. For the Rockies they have named Cristian Arguelles which shouldn’t be much of a surprise considering the 19-year old earned the DSL MVP award.
Ian Cundall goes through each organization in MLB and assigns their minor league systems with grades for the year. This isn’t comparative rankings between the systems, BA has already done that recently, but instead an assessment of how that system performed and improved from where it was at the start of the year. While the Rockies system only managed to reach the 23rd rank in BA’s midseason farm system rankings, Cundall gives them a high B+ grade for 2026 thanks to the improvements and talent influx this year.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 16: John Rave #16 of the Kansas City Royals reacts after hitting a two run home run in the fourth inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on September 16, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With the Guardians beating the White Sox yesterday, the Royals were mathematically eliminated from the playoffs.
Just in case you missed it, the Royals High-A affiliate, the Quad Cities River Bandits won the Midwest League championship on Tuesday night, capping an incredible second half.
Carter Jensen is wrapping up a one-of-a-kind type of season for the Royals.
Justin Lamkin named as the Royals breakout prospect of the year.
Brian Burrows of Kings of Kauffman talks about Bobby Witt Jr.’s all-time status as a Royal.
CLEVELAND, OH - SEPTEMBER 16: Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez (11) celebrates after driving in a run with a double during the sixth inning of the Major League Baseball game between the Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Guardians on September 16, 2026, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Cleveland baseball is back to its September highs and excitement. After taking the AL Central back from the White Sox in yesterday’s exciting game, Cleveland finds themself in first place and with a first round bye. Today is an off day for the Guardians, leaving plenty of time for scoreboard watching:
Kansas City @ Houston Astros – 7:15 EDT Detroit @ ChiSox – 7:40 EDT Boston @ Texas – 8:05 EDT
The Athletics will come to town for a weekend series, the last home series of the regular season, starting Friday. The pitching rotation is looking to be Espino, Bibee, Williams.
Guardians probables this weekend
Friday: Daniel Espino (likely opener) Saturday: Tanner Bibee Sunday: Gavin Williams
Last bit of good news for the morning – Ralphy Velazquez returned to the Clippers lineup last night.
Velazquez (lower body soreness) had been out of the lineup since Sept. 6 for precautionary reasons, given where we're at in the season. He's back in there today. https://t.co/ufEVKjok5n
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 29: A detailed view of the Jeff Kent Forever Giants patch featured on the hats of the San Francisco Giants during game two of a doubleheader against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Oracle Park on August 29, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Scott Marshall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning, baseball fans!
We are on the second to last week of the season for the San Francisco Giants. There are any number of ways to feel about this. Relief, joy, freedom. That’s kind of how I feel about it. Around this time of year, I usually tend to feel the same, but I try to remind myself that come December or so, I would usually start to miss it. But I don’t think that will be the case this year.
But we’ll have plenty of time to give our introspections about this season once it’s over. For now, there is still one question mark hanging over us. And that is what I want to talk about today. As you’re all likely aware, the Willie Mac Award will be given out before next Friday’s game, as is tradition.
Usually I’m pretty decent at guessing who will win these, but I must confess that I have absolutely no read on it this year. That is partially because of how cruddy the season has been, partially because of how cruddy some of the players have been on a human level, and partially because most of the team is…well, gone.
I don’t usually ask you guys to make a prediction that I won’t counter, but I am stumped this season. Not as to who deserves it, I could probably make a couple of solid guesses. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that that is how the team voting will play out. I am trying not to become so cynical as to believe that they will hand the award to a player like Landen Roupp, as one last middle finger to the fans. But at this point, it would not surprise me.
So forgive me, this one time, for not wagering my own guess. Instead, I’d like to know who you think will win this year’s Willie Mac Award?
What time do the Giants play today?
The Giants get a day off before heading to begin a three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers this weekend. Gird your loins.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - NOVEMBER 04: Ryan Dunn #0 of the Phoenix Suns controls the ball during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Footprint Center on November 04, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the 76ers 118-116. 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 Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Every day, we’ll take a closer look at another member of the 2026-27 Phoenix Suns, examining what they bring to the roster and what their role could mean for the season ahead as we count down to training camp and the preseason.
Ryan Dunn
Forward, 6’7”, 217 lbs., 23 years old, 3rd season
Oh, Ryan Dunn. Where do we start with you?
Dunn has had a very up-and-down two-year career thus far. The highs have been high, and the lows have been low. He enters a pivotal third season. This will be the first season he has had the same head coach since Budenholzer was canned after his rookie season.
Dunn was selected 28th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, and was joined by Oso Ighodaro (pick 40) as a pair of young, athletic, defensive-minded prospects hitting a roster which at the time had approximately *checks notes* zero players like that.
Now, with a year in Jordan Ott’s system, we can only hope that everything starts to “click” for him offensively. On defense, he was good, but was not the defender we had all hoped he would be.
Last Season
GP
MIN
PPG
RPG
APG
STL
FG%
3PT%
FT%
OFFRTG
DEFRTG
+/- (TOTAL)
70
19.4
5.8
4.2
1.5
0.9
45.3%
33.1%
48.9%
110.4
108.7
+4
Ryan Dunn appeared in 70 games for the Suns last season, including 16 starts. He did not take the leap that many had hoped for in year two, specifically on the offensive side. His free-throw numbers remained atrocious at 48.9%, giving him a sub-50 FT% for the second consecutive season. His three-point clip slightly improved from 31.1 percent to 33.1 percent.
He only had two games of scoring 15+ points all of last season, once against the Spurs (17 points) in November and the other time being that April regular season finale game against the Thunder (20 points). Dunn had 8 games of 20+ minutes played with 2 points or less. It’s not all about points per game, but when the efficiency is shaky and teams are sagging off you entirely, it’s a problem.
There were some positive moments without a doubt, especially defensively. It was easy to see a vision of him and Rasheer Fleming wreaking havoc together defensively. He still has the ability to be a very useful rotation piece, and could get there as soon as this season.
Contract and Roster Context
Dunn, the 28th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, remains on a rookie contract. He signed a 4-year, $12,998,353 contract with the Suns, including $5,188,560 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $3,249,588.
In 2026-27, Dunn will earn a base salary of $2,784,240, while carrying a cap hit of $2,784,240 and a dead cap value of $2,784,240. Phoenix has a $5,025,553 club option for 2027-28 that they have to exercise by October 31st, 2026. The clock is ticking!
What He Brings
Right now, the one thing you know Ryan Dunn will bring is effort and energy. Defensively, he has some serious flashes, whether it’s being a pest on the perimeter, deflecting passes, or meeting people at the rim for a weakside block. One thing I never question is his hustle or heart when he hits the floor. It’s always there.
The defensive instincts are there, but he just needs to learn how to piece it all together more consistently, and not let his offensive struggles creep into his confidence when he’s on the other side of the floor. He brings athleticism and has put several stars on posters, including Giannis. His fearlessness when in attack mode is a strong suit, and I wish he pursued entering that mode far more often.
To put it simply, Phoenix needs Ryan Dunn to be a (bigger) bodied forward who can defend multiple positions and not hurt them offensively. If he can get to the point where he’s even justnet-neutral offensively, and his defense continues to strengthen with experience, then the path to get there could be sooner than you think.
What Needs to Improve
It’s pretty clear at this point that Ryan Dunn needs to improve offensively. More specifically, shooting the ball. He and Oso have been left wide open for extended stretches, which kills spacing and gives the defense an advantage to contain other offensive threats by sending extra bodies or having the help defense loom a couple steps closer. Those two steps could be the difference. He has to be a threat to the point where he at least has *some* respect from the defense.
As we noted above, his three-point clip slightly improved from 31.1 percent to 33.1 percent. Progress, right? Not exactly, once you realize it came on 1.2 fewer attempts per game.
Can we get the volume back up a bit on a 34.1% clip this year? I think most Suns fans would take that.
Confidence is everything for Dunn. He thrives off it. When it’s lost, it shows on both ends.
Prediction
I want to be optimistic on Dunn, but now with Koa Peat in the mix along with Miles Bridges and a more experienced Rasheer Fleming… it may be difficult for him to find consistent minutes. Royce O’Neale is gone and took a lot of his potential minutes, but Bridges figures to get more and slot into that same spot. Can those two co-exist?
Floor spacing is already a concern for this team, so that’s where things get tricky.
If he makes the rotation and gains confidence early, this could be a breakout season for Dunn. If he gets buried on the bench and doesn’t get consistent time and his confidence is shot, this could be a season where he fades into the background.
And that is why it is a make-or-break year for the Virginia product as he enters year three.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – JANUARY 14: Ryan Dunn #0 of the Phoenix Suns blocks a shot by Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks during the first quarter at State Farm Arena on January 14, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Final Word.
Success for Ryan Dunn looks like continuing to terrorize opponents defensively while showing he is not a complete offensive liability.
We don’t need him to shoot like Luke Kennard, but he must be some sort of offensive threat. If he isn’t, it will be tough for Jordan Ott to keep him on the court consistently.
Just play confident, show that you put a ton of work into your shooting with real results, and the rest will take care of itself.
TORONTO, ON - January 28 At the end of the game, former team mates Scottie Barnes (4) of the Toronto Raptors and OG Anunoby (8) of the New York Knicks head off the court together.The Toronto Raptors lost 119-92 to the New York Nicks in NBA basketball action at the Scotiabank Arena. January 28 2026 Richard Lautens/Toronto Star (Richard Lautens/Toronto Star via Getty Images) | Toronto Star via Getty Images
The NBA’s Eastern Conference has been clearly inferior to the Western Conference from the moment Michael Jordan called his second retirement after the 1998 Finals. That might finally flip this year. While the West is still home to the league’s top two title contenders in our preseason poll, the East feels stronger 1-10 entering the season for the first time since MJ won his sixth ring in Chicago.
There’s no doubt that the New York Knicks are the team to beat in the Eastern Conference come playoff time. Will that hold during the regular season? The Knicks won 53 games last year, good for the No. 3 seed in the conference. They didn’t find greatness until the playoffs, then put together one of the most dominant championship runs ever.
Let’s rank the Eastern Conference for the regular season only heading into the 2026-27 campaign. This was an incredibly difficult exercise. The Knicks might be the only team that feels like a lock to win at least one series in the East entering the season, and the teams ranked 2-10 in our projection truly feel like they could finish in any order. Check out our latest NBA power rankings for a full picture of the league based championship chances entering the season. Now, let’s predict how teams will finish the East this year.
1. Boston Celtics
I’ve convinced myself the Jaylen Brown trade was the right move for Boston after initially being lukewarm on it. Brown took a lot of shots and wasn’t super efficient with them, his off-ball defense has never been good, and he turns it over a little too much. The Celtics are basically replacing him with a full season of Jayson Tatum, plus Paul George and Mitchell Robinson. This team is really good in the regular season every year, and I don’t expect that to stop. I really think Derrick White is going to shoot the ball better this year, and I could easily see a big leap for Payton Pritchard with more usage. The Celtics’ formula of chucking threes, crashing the offensive glass, and playing tough defense is hard to beat. I wouldn’t pick them to go to the NBA Finals, but I think they will win a lot of regular season games.
2. New York Knicks
“Knicks or the field” is a fair way to frame the playoff race in the Eastern Conference. Mike Brown found something special with this group during the last postseason, and with most of the rotation back and no one expected to fall victim to age-related decline, the Knicks should be a juggernaut again. The Knicks can get the 1-seed if they really want it, but they don’t need it. Regardless of where they enter the playoff race, this is still the team to beat when the games count for real.
3. Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland has averaged 53.75 wins per year in their four seasons with Donovan Mitchell, with one first round exit, two second round appearances, and finally a trip to the conference finals last year. Do the Cavs have one more step left in them? Last year’s playoff run wasn’t all that convincing, and at this point Cleveland needs a few things to go right just to avoid being passed up by their conference rivals. Can James Harden stave off age-related decline for one more year at 37 years old? Will Evan Mobley show any growth in his offensive game from last season? Peyton Watson is the only real new addition this year, and it’s possible he can be the athletic wing defender and spot-up shooter the Cavs have always lacked in the Mitchell era. I’m not sold that Watson’s hot January last year is proof he’s a totally new player from earlier in his career, but he better be because Cleveland paid a heavy price to get him. This feels like Cleveland’s weakest bench in the last couple years, and that puts a lot of pressure on the stars to stay healthy. The Cavs will be tough again, but I could see them taking a small step back this year.
4. Orlando Magic
There’s a surprise team in the East every year based on the preseason over/unders, and I feel like that team is usually young and athletic. Orlando was my preseason Finals pick last year, which proved to be a terrible call. Yet when the playoffs rolled around, the Magic looked like a different team, and they should have pulled a 1-8 upset on the Pistons if Franz Wagner didn’t get hurt with a 3-1 lead. I truly believe Jalen Suggs is the skeleton team that unlocks this team. Suggs has battled constant injuries during his short career, and at this point it’s fair to wonder if he’s best deployed in a smaller role a la Alex Caruso. If Suggs can stay on the floor, the Magic could regain their status as an elite defensive team under new head coach Sean Sweeney. Sweeney was the only real change Orlando made over the offseason, and he has a ton of pressure on his shoulders to make this team work given their high payroll even before Anthony Black starts his extension talks. The pairing between Paolo Banchero and Wagner just shouldn’t be this bad even if both are poor shooters. I’m going to guess the results are finally better this year .
5. Toronto Raptors
Toronto had a top-5 defense last year behind Scottie Barnes and Collin Murray-Boyles, and they earned some valuable playoff experience by pushing the Cavs to seven games in the first-round. The main thing the Raptors were missing is someone who could score against a set defense in the halfcourt, and it’s hard to do better than adding Kawhi Leonard. The upgrade from Brandon Ingram to Leonard could make the Raptors a legit Finals contender … provided Leonard can actually finish the season healthy for once. It’s not a great bet. For whatever it’s worth, Leonard did cross the 65 game threshold in two of the last three seasons, but finishing a full playoff run might be an even tougher test. The Raptors could have a hole in the middle if Jakob Poeltl remains troubled by a bad back, which would mean CMB small-ball five minutes could essentially go from a changeup to a fastball. The shooting is a concern for sure after finishing 25th in three-point rate and 21st in three-point percentage last year, and it’s critical that Barnes keeps trending up in that department. The Raptors will make every game a rock fight, but it’s going to be really hard to score on Murray-Boyles, Leonard, and Barnes when it matters, and the offense has a real late-game scoring plan now. A lot can go wrong, but I’m buying the Raptors as one of the East’s top title contenders.
6. Philadelphia 76ers
I’m higher on the Sixers’ playoff ceiling than their regular season projection. It’s hard to count on LeBron James to play a full season at 42 years old, and it’s hard to count on Joel Embiid at all. The Sixers have some nice bench pieces, but they don’t really have a reliable backup center unless Adem Bona or Ariel Hukporti takes a step forward. I’m worried that this team will be soft defensively during the regular season until LeBron turns it up in the playoffs, and I’m a bit skeptical that a player like Jaylen Brown can take to a more off-ball role with so many other scorers around him. This team made the second round last year, and they feel significantly improved this season. Anything less than the franchise’s first conference finals trip since 2001 will be a disappointing, but you can’t blame Philly fans for thinking this season is championship-or-bust.
7. Detroit Pistons
The Pistons smashed their over/under last year by winning 60 games to claim the No. 1 seed, but it was easy to see the problems they were bound to encounter in the playoffs. After nearly losing to Orlando in round one, Detroit remade the look of the team a bit over the summer by adding John Collins, Isaiah Joe, and Taurean Prince, and subtracting Tobias Harris, Isaiah Stewart, and Caris LeVert. I’m not sure it’s going to be any easier for the Pistons to score in the halfcourt this year, and Harris feels like he could be missed as the second-best creator on last year’s team. The spacing is always going to be an issue with Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson sharing the floor, and while I’m bullish on the Joe addition, he won’t change the geometry of the floor by himself. The Pistons should win a lot of regular season games again, but I’m not convinced they took a step toward making it out of the East this summer.
8. Indiana Pacers
The Pacers are the hardest team to project entering the season, and I’m already worried I have them way too low. Tyrese Haliburton impacts winning nearly as much as any player in the league, and I’d expect Indiana to be really good again once he gets comfortable coming off a torn Achilles. Most of the 2025 Finals team around him remains in place with a couple key changes. Ivica Zubac won’t space the floor like Myles Turner did, but he does add more toughness and better rebounding on the interior. The bench feels a bit thinner than the last time Haliburton was healthy, but Kelly Oubre Jr. could be a decent free agent addition. The Pacers were a good-not-amazing regular season team when they reached the Finals two seasons ago with 50 wins, and I could see them outplaying their regular season record again come playoff time once Haliburton gets into a rhythm.
9. Miami Heat
The Heat have the most talented front court in the East with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo, but neither of them are outside shooters, and that’s bound to present some spacing problems offensively. Miami did well to land some shooting around them by signing Klay Thompson and Tim Hardaway Jr., but it still feels like Giannis will be seeing a lot of bodies in the paint this year. The Heat are arguably the best team in the league at finding hidden gems, and they will need to do it again this season to bolster the depth. I like Pelle Larsson as a potential deep breakout guy, and Ryan Conwell and Dru Smith should get plenty of opportunities, too. If Giannis is the best player in the East and Erik Spoelstra is the best coach in the NBA, then why is Miami so low? I don’t really trust Giannis to stay healthy for an entire regular season, for one. I could see Miami being really tough in the playoffs, and we already know they can reach the NBA Finals from the play-in because they did it in 2023. The Heat have some real questions, but chances are Spo will figure things out.
10. Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks missing the top-8 of the East playoff bracket in this projection might be the best example of the conference’s improvement. Atlanta is a very solid team that had a strong offseason coming off a playoff appearance where they were the only team to take multiple games off the Knicks. The trio of Dyson Daniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and newly added Lu Dort might be the best group of perimeter defenders in the league. Onyeka Okongwu started to turn into a legit stretch five last year, and Jalen Johnson could be a perennial All-Star as the team’s closest thing to a franchise player. I just worry that Atlanta will be really dependent on CJ McCollum again for halfcourt creation until rookie Kingston Flemings is ready for primetime, and he’s still a cut below the other star creators in the East. It’s possible I’m too low on Atlanta, but hey! The East is really good.
11. Charlotte Hornets
I hated the LaMelo Ball trade for Charlotte, but even I can see the vision long-term … especially if Ball’s ankles can’t stay healthy. The Hornets were the best team in the league by net-rating after Jan. 1 last year, so it feels odd to trade your best player for not the greatest haul of assets. There’s still plenty of reason to think this year’s Hornets will still be competitive even without the star point guard. Head coach Charles Lee has built a strong identity with a team that will chuck threes and crash the offensive glass. Kon Knueppel and Brandon Miller should be able to pick up a little bit of the creation burden, and Coby White is a solid veteran replacement at point guard. The Hornets lacked toughness inside last year, and while Naz Reid can help add more offensive firepower, they still need an enforcer down low. If Charlotte exceeds expectations, they have tons of assets to make a big deal. It sure seems like the Hornets are comfortable playing the long game, though.
12. Washington Wizards
I wish I could buy into the Wizards this year with Anthony Davis, Trae Young, A.J. Dybantsa and a slew of interesting young players in tow, but I can’t fully get there. Davis is famously unreliable, and I’m not convinced he’ll be on the team the whole season. Head coach Brian Keefe hasn’t shown me anything. I like Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George, Tre Johnson, and Will Riley, but it’s usually pretty hard to develop that many young players and still have playoff expectations. The Wizards finished dead-last in defensive efficiency last season, and they still have tons of questions on that end even with Davis. Dybantsa will be awesome, but I’m not solid on the Wiz yet.
13. Brooklyn Nets
I trust the Nets to beat their very low expectations coming into the season … provided they don’t trade Michael Porter Jr. before opening night. Porter enjoyed a career-year under Jordi Fernandez in Brooklyn last season one year after Cam Johnson enjoyed similar success. Fernandez is one of the best young coaches in the game, and he has a little more talent to work with this season with the arrival of Julius Randle. Add in a potential sophomore leap from Egor Demin, a possible center upgrade with Day’ron Sharpe taking over for Nic Claxton, and the arrival of rookie guard Mikel Brown Jr., and I like Brooklyn more than the early prognostications. Fernandez will get the most out of this group as long as it doesn’t sell off parts.
14. Chicago Bulls
The Bulls are beginning yet another rebuild under new lead executive Bryson Graham, but this one is already off to a more promising start after moving up in the lottery for Caleb Wilson. Wilson has the tools and the mentality to eventually become the franchise player Chicago has been desperate for, and his sudden improvement as a three-point shooter during summer league feels like a great sign for his ability to continue to improve. Wilson and Matas Buzelis should produce tons of above-the-rim plays on both ends of the floor this season, but the Bulls are still staring down a long road to contention. This team could be pretty weak on the glass after landing Nic Claxton as their new center, and the perimeter defense is going to be an issue with Josh Giddey and Norm Powell at the point of attack. The spacing around Wilson remains a question mark, and it’s likely going to produce an ugly halfcourt offense. No one is expecting the Bulls to be good this year, but it’s important that new head coach Tiago Splitter can show progress with this group as the season goes on. Expect the roster to look quite a bit different a year from now as Graham continues to put his stamp on the team.
15. Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks are going to be pretty sad in their first season without Giannis, but you don’t have to search too hard to find a few reasons for optimism. Kel’el Ware was a nice get in the trade as an athletic big man who can space the floor, rookie lottery picks Brayden Burries and Nate Ament will get a long runway to show their long-term talent, and new coach Taylor Jenkins has a history of getting the most of his teams. I love Ryan Rollins as a lead guard with more untapped upside, and I’m willing to buy Kasparas Jakucionis as an upsdie gamble for the backcourt. Milwaukee would do well to trim the fat here, starting with moving off Myles Turner and Kyle Kuzma. It’s hard to know what to make of Tyler Herro as he enters a contract year, but I’d be surprised if he’s around long-term. For now, the Bucks will probably be pretty bad, there’s already a decent collection of young talent on the roster with more assets coming down the pipe from the Giannis trade.
MINNEAPOLIS , MN - APRIL 23: Anthony Edwards (5) of the Minnesota Timberwolves shakes hands with Jaden McDaniels (3) during the second quarter against the Denver Nuggets at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Thursday, April 23, 2026. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post) | Denver Post via Getty Images
‘Internal development’ was up there as one of the key phrases of the Minnesota Timberwolves 2024-25 offseason. Alongside ‘continuity’, the two were constantly used as the main themes to describe how Minnesota would take another step forward after their back-to-back Western Conference Finals trips.
I think we can all agree that while it was fun to track this supposed ‘internal development’ and see the leaps and bounds that the young core took last season, by the time October rolled around, we were all fatigued by a term that had come to mean nothing.
It’s not like these supposed developments were a choice for the team; there just wasn’t much else to discuss, as the front office decided to run the team back in basically the exact same iteration as the year prior.
SAN ANTONIO, TX. – MAY 2026: Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle (30) and Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (27) react as they head into halftime against the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas, on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. Minnesota Timberwolves vs. San Antonio Spurs, NBA Western Conference Semifinals, Game 5. NBA Playoffs. (Photo by Carlos Gonzalez/The Minnesota Star Tribune via Getty Images) | Star Tribune via Getty Images
This year feels different though.
Because of how quickly the NBA moves, combined with the massive roster overhaul that Minnesota went through this offseason, it feels like the internal development aspect of the roster has gone by the wayside.
When the Julius Randle trade happened, it seemed like the internal improvement theme could have been even more prominent than before. With Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Naz Reid, and Ayo Dosunmu all seemingly in line for bigger roles, it felt like the Wolves were preparing for a youth movement, highlighting their assumed core.
That is, until LaMelo Ball became a Timberwolf and Jonathan Kuminga followed him to Minnesota. Because of the big changes, internal development was pushed down the priority list.
Still, it’s important to focus on the players who were already here and who will hopefully have a great impact on the team this season, as well as some things that they could add to their games as training camp nears.
This piece will zero in on the young players who have been in Minnesota for multiple seasons and are likely to have a larger role on the team this season – namely Edwards, McDaniels, and TJ Shannon.
Let’s dive into the ideal aspects of each of these players’ games, and I encourage you all to make your voices heard on each player to gather information on what you want to see added to these three players’ bags for the upcoming season. Fill the comments – maybe Chris Finch will take your words to heart!
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – MAY 15: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on during the game against the San Antonio Spurs during Round Two Game Six of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 15, 2026 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Anthony Edwards
As with everything else on this team, the starting place has to be with Ant. There have been easy storylines to track the last two seasons.
Two seasons ago, his focus was the three-point shot. He then became one of the best three-point shooters in the league. One season ago, his focus shifted to the mid-range. He then increased his mid-range field goal percentage by six percentage points, according to Cleaning the Glass.
What could be the focus this offseason?
Point of attack defense
With the changes to the roster this offseason, there is an opportunity for Ant to take the reins on the defensive side of the ball, especially at the point of attack. In years past, his offensive load and the energy he would have to expend on that end of the floor made it hard for him to ramp up his defensive impact. He would consistently be given the assignment of the fifth option and often left things on the table on that side of the ball.
Now that LaMelo Ball is in town, his defense becomes important twofold. First, Ball will most likely be the one that the Timberwolves will be forced to hide on defense. That will naturally increase Ant’s defensive assignment. Second, LaMelo’s ability to take off some of the offensive pressure and initiation responsibilities from Edwards should boost Ant’s energy on the defense.
Ant has shown great ability to be a true stopper on defense, especially on the ball. He is strong and athletic, and when he applies himself, capable of shutting down offensive superstars. His internal development path would be to take that challenge on more consistently and get back to the defender that he was as recently as the 2023-24 season.
This could also help take the burden off of Jaden McDaniels’ defensive responsibilities and allow him to be more of a Swiss Army knife game wrecker that he has the ability to be. If Ant can be the primary perimeter stopper, Jaden can be the help-side defender he has always been destined to be. Alongside Rudy Gobert, this would give Minnesota an immediate top-five defense with championship upside.
Playing in transition
Another great thing that Ant could get in the lab for this offseason would be to prepare himself to play faster. With the addition of LaMelo Ball, calling it vital would be an understatement.
Edwards has always shown a propensity to want to walk the ball up and prod the defense before making a decision on what he wants to do with the ball. Playing with the likes of Mike Conley Jr. and Julius Randle only furthered this habit that Ant created for himself.
Conley as the slow and methodical setup man and Randle as a prodder. With the addition of Ball, who thrives in transition, this could be a way that Ant could easily increase his scoring average. There are free points to be had; he just has to be willing to run for them.
The way that this roster is now constructed, it should lend itself to improving this part of his game – but he has to be along for the ride. In years past, you saw his willingness to get out and run in transition when the personnel on the floor set that tone.
In a way, Ant loves to enable the play style of those around him. When he was out there with Mike Conley and Julius Randle, he wanted to dissect. When he’s out there with LaMelo Ball, Jonathan Kuminga, the “Twin Turbos”, etc., it should lead to him running out more. He even said as much in a quote last season.
If this is the thing he focused on all summer, there is a real chance he leads the league in scoring.
The Wolves are clearly playing faster since acquiring Ayo Dosunmu.
Asked Anthony Edwards about the impact Dosunmu has had on the pace the Wolves are playing with lately.
"I'm not a fan of playing fast. But when I'm in with them, I don't have a choice because I want the ball,… pic.twitter.com/C3Qn1PfzJs
The last option that could be a great development from the summer is Ant’s consistency of effort on a night-to-night basis.
This has been well-covered and was a big quote from him on media day last year. He was hoping to bring it every night no matter the opponent. He failed to do so last year.
His ability to set the tone this year will also be a big part of his growth in leadership as he hits his prime. With the lack of veterans on this team and the quote from Chris Finch in his offseason interview with Britt Robson about “taking the diapers off,” this seems like a priority.
The good news with this part of his offseason development is that he’s shown all the signs that this is happening. He’s been in the gym all the time working out and has shown his willingness to set the example for the team in this regard. This commitment to effort, if added to his game this offseason, would have a massive trickle-down effect in the regular season: a more consistently locked-in Ant should lead to more regular-season wins, which means a higher seed and potential homecourt advantage for more of the playoffs, which is key if you’re wanting to make a run in the modern NBA.
ORLANDO, FLORIDA – APRIL 08: Jaden McDaniels #3 of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on against the Orlando Magic during the first quarter at Kia Center on April 08, 2026 in Orlando, Florida. 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 Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Jaden McDaniels
Jaden McDaniels may currently be the most overlooked player of the offseason. Early this summer, fans were clamoring over his breakout, only to go quiet when the focus shifted to LaMelo Ball. Still, his ability to take another leap could be a huge boost to this team’s title aspirations.
He has taken offensive leaps every season, with the biggest boon coming from his 32-point masterclass that sent the Denver Nuggets packing in the first round this past season. So what are some skills to bring in the next level of his development?
Efficiency off the catch
If you initially thought that Jaden would have the ball in his hands more after the Julius Randle trade, the addition of LaMelo Ball reduced that need by a large amount. The good news is, LaMelo is a ball mover while Randle was more of a ball stopper. There should be more of an opportunity for McDaniels to assert himself in this type of offensive ecosystem.
Ball and Edwards will command a ton of gravity and attention defensively, which should lead to McDaniels having one-on-one matchups against lesser defenders that he can take to the woodshed. While Rudy Gobert will still be at the rim, Ball and Edwards’ shooting ability will leave space for him to operate in his spots in the mid-range.
McDaniels has usually been the one to have to sacrifice his opportunities for the good of the team, but there is more space this year for him to command more on the offensive end of the floor. Though that may seem counterintuitive when you add a high-usage player in Ball, Jaden should get much more opportunities to play off the catch against a tilted defense.
His efficiency in these situations will be crucial to raising the ceiling of this offense and becoming a top third option in the league. If this is something he improves upon this offseason, this offense becomes even more potent.
Offense as a screener
While the addition of Jonathan Kuminga does answer a big question of the roster and fills a good amount of minutes at the power forward, there are still minutes available at the four that could be filled by a small-ball lineup with Jaden in that position. The advanced stats haven’t favored Jaden playing the power forward – he had -8.7 net rating in last season, and a -2.4 two seasons ago according to Cleaning the Glass – but the sample size has not been large enough to make any concrete conclusions.
I am very intrigued by this option of a small-ball lineup having Jaden play as a power forward. A big part of my rationale for this optimism is about his offense as a screen-setter.
The LaMelo addition could create great synergy between him and McDaniels, as well as Ant and McDaniels, in pick and roll/pop offense. This may be a fun wrinkle to the offense. Anytime Jaden has been used as a screener in the past, it’s looked shockingly good. His short roll game could be something that pops and is a way to get him involved in the offense while getting him the ball in advantage situations. He is a killer in the mid-range, which is exactly where this would get him the ball as screening situations.
If he were to develop this part of his game this offseason, it could lead to great profit.
My favorite change in the offense in Rudy Gobert's absence has been using Jaden McDaniels as a screen-and-roll threat.
Getting Jaden touches where he is most comfortable, giving Ant a release valve, and not forcing Jaden to over do his dribble.
The other offseason focus that would be a great addition to his game would be consistent rebounding.
Surprisingly, even when Minnesota deployed big lineups, they were mediocre in both offensive and defensive rebounding percentage over the past few seasons (outside of the 23-24 season, when they ranked ninth in defensive rebounding percentage).
This will be a point of emphasis this season, with the overall trend of wanting to create more possessions in general, and the rebounding battle is one of the main ways to do that. Jaden McDaniels has left a lot to be desired in this aspect of his game over the years. This could be attributed to his responsibilities as the primary point-of-attack defender. It often leaves him far from the basket in many possessions. If Edwards and Kuminga can help take some of the POA defending pie, it could allow Jaden more opportunities to clean the glass.
His rebounding peaked in the two seasons ago at 5.7 per game, but dropped back to 4.2 last year. With the three-point volume that LaMelo Ball and Anthony Edwards bring to the table, it would be great for him to find ways to create extra possessions on the offensive glass.
This quote is from 2025 and still rings true.
Tim Connelly on Jaden McDaniels expectations for next season
“…I’m always on him about rebounding, and he started rebounding this year and now we joke was it that simple just to yell at you to rebound? I think the sky is the limit, I think he’s one of the best young players in… pic.twitter.com/99XMJnrGpw
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – FEBRUARY 22: Terrence Shannon Jr. #1 of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on against the Philadelphia 76ers in the first quarter at Target Center on February 22, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The 76ers defeated the Timberwolves 135-108. 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 David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
TJ Shannon
Terrence Shannon Jr. had a brutal start to last season, with injuries and getting benched derailing any kind of rhythm he could find for himself. After finally returning to full health late in the season and playing a crucial role in beating the Nuggets in the first round, his role should be a big story to track this year. His ability as a play initiator was unlocked late in the season, but he will need to develop a different part of his game.
There is no longer any usage to go around. That will be his first and biggest test.
Recognition of role
This is broad, but it will be key for his ability to be a big part of the Timberwolves bench this season. Shannon needs to be malleable to many different play styles and know when to take more on-ball usage versus being impactful in an off-ball role.
He does have the ability to play with the ball in his hands, but his ability to click into the different parts of his offensive game depending on who he’s on the floor with has been a major issue to date and will determine how many minutes he’s able to play.
Without Ant and LaMelo, Minnesota will need his aggression and ability to effectively collapse the defense. When he’s out there with one or both of them, he’ll need to find his off-ball niche and kick up his defensive acumen to be a true, well-rounded rotation player. This cognitive recognition and ability to click into different play styles would be a big development in his offseason.
Shannon is an explosive player who, in theory, should be good at playing off the catch, but he struggled in an off-ball role last season. His improvement in that regard is what will help him to stick on this team and in the NBA.
His development and how he could be deployed should be similar to that of Jaden McDaniels. While Jaden did have a much higher defensive ceiling, it’s easy to see how they could be used similarly on the offensive end. Early in Jaden’s career, his offensive role was also limited to playing out of the corner, which made it hard for him to be as effective as he could be on that end of the floor because of his below-average corner three-point shooting. It was when Chris Finch moved him to playing above the break more that he really started to flourish.
This could be a similar way to help TJ be more effective. Shannon plays way better when he has options available to him rather than just the linear progressions that a player out of the corner is expected to do. This could be a way to marry his on-the-ball ability with the usage issue and get him with a head of steam heading to the basket and making plays out of that. This kind of offseason development could solidify him in a seventh-man role this season.
Off-ball defense
TJ Shannon has had his struggles defensively. Specifically, he fouled way too much. However, he does have the size and athleticism to make a difference on that end of the floor. While the coaching staff could entrust him with some point-of-attack responsibilities, it would be a huge development if he could find ways to make things happen off the ball.
If he astutely plays passing lines to force turnovers, it can really help generate transition opportunities where he is incredibly lethal.
Cutting down the fouling while being a key cog on the defensive end could also help him see the floor more and more. If he worked on creating these opportunities himself, it would only make him even more impactful.
This possession really woke the building up. Watch Terrence Shannon Jr. close the space against Devin Vassell and cut off his water. Then, switches onto Dylan Harper to force the heave.
Internal development is one of the hardest things to track, but it makes a big impact on the on-court product. The Timberwolves mostly focus on integrating external additions, but internal improvement will also be key in reaching the level they want to get to.
BROOKLYN, NY - APRIL 7: Pete Nance #35 of the Milwaukee Bucks looks on during the game against the Brooklyn Nets on April 7, 2026 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
You love Pete Nance. I love Pete Nance. The Milwaukee Bucks love Pete Nance. Yet, here we are. Life support.
Nance’s story is one of perseverance and it doesn’t take much digging to work out why. From the beginning, his NBA career has been in and out of the ER. Heck, his personal transaction list even looks like an ECG:
January 18, 2023: Signed a 10-day contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
September 13, 2023: Signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
October 21, 2023: Waived by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
February 19, 2024: Signed a two-way contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
October 19, 2024: Waived by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
December 3, 2024: Signed a two-way contract with the Philadelphia 76ers.
January 7, 2025: Waived by the Philadelphia 76ers.
January 14, 2025: Signed a two-way contract with the Philadelphia 76ers.
February 6, 2025: Waived by the Philadelphia 76ers.
Signed, waived. Signed, waved. Up, down. Up, down. Then, just when you think he’s stable:
February 27, 2025: Signed a two-way contract with the Milwaukee Bucks.
March 23, 2026: Converted from a two-way contract to a regular contract by the Milwaukee Bucks.
Full-blown arrhythmia:
July 3, 2026: Waived by the Milwaukee Bucks.
July 8, 2026: Signed a multi-year contract with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Oh, and that contract is non-guaranteed—and therefore the easiest way for the Bucks to start to solve their roster crunch. Talk about a heart attack.
Naturally, then, Nance’s value is hard to pin down. How can he be trusted in the playoffs if he can’t be trusted with a guaranteed contract? And if that makes your blood boil—or increases your blood pressure—you wouldn’t be alone. After all, on court, Nance is a stud; every coach’s dream player.
Offensively, Nance is the ultimate glue guy. Need the right extra pass? He’ll make it. Need movement off ball to free up space? Or a screen to right a broken possession? Nance has you covered. And from a process point of you, he’s elite; you’d be hard pressed to find a clip of him making the wrong decision.
He has some game too. Beyond the little things, Nance is a marksman from deep, boasting a career 42% mark from three and an elite overall true shooting percentage (career 61.8%; 63.9% last year), making him both a valuable spacer and pick and pop threat. In turn, he’s a fine cutter, timing his off ball movement well, and a savvy passer who seldom turns it over (11.6% turnover rate). But he almost never gets to the line—just 11 times last year and 15 total in 68 career games—and can too easily become Hollow Man. But, hey, that’ll happen when you’re limited to a lowly 13.5% usage percentage.
On the defensive end, Nance is, you guessed it, solid. He won’t wow you with on-ball thievery or come-out-of-nowhere blocks, but he’ll hustle and play the angles and fight hard. Having said this, his board work leaves a lot to be desired. Last year, his total rebound percentage (9.6%) was closer to his point guards than his bigs: Cole Anthony was at 9.3%, Kevin Porter Jr. 8.9%, and Ryan Rollins 8.0%, while Jericho Sims was at 15.9% and Myles Turner 11.2%. Part of this is size, part of it is athleticism. Both of these contribute to Nance’s pedestrian block (1.9%) and steal (0.9%) rates, too, and also limit his defensive versatility—he’s not someone who can guard up or down all that effectively. But, again, he’s steady, thanks in large part to his nous.
So, while Nance may be destined for an NBA career in and out of proverbial health care, it’s fitting. Primum non nocere.
PHOENIX − When they retire Sandy Alcantara’s jersey with the Miami Marlins, when they build a statue of him outside loanDepot Park, when fans tell their kids and grandkids about his legacy, they’ll talk about the night of Sept. 16, 2026
This was the night Alcantara, the Marlins’ 2022 Cy Young winner, one of the greatest pitchers in franchise history, who has thrown more innings than any pitcher in baseball this year, made the ultimate sacrifice for his team.
The last time Alcantara made a relief appearance
Alcantara, just two days after throwing 101 pitches as a starter, not only made his first relief appearance in nine seasons Wednesday, but produced the first save of his illustrious career Wednesday, preserving the Marlins’ 4-3 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Marlins’ season still is on life support, sitting 7 ½ games out of a wild-card berth with just nine games remaining, but thanks to Alcantara, they’re still alive.
“It’s a testament to him wanting to win,’’ Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said, “and keep us in this thing until there’s no pulse.’’
The Marlins players, clinging to a one-run lead in the ninth, actually couldn’t believe what they were seeing when Alcantara emerged from the bullpen. He hadn’t pitched in relief since his 2017 rookie season while he was with the St. Louis Cardinals. He was traded that winter to Miami with Zac Gallen and two other prospects for All-Star outfielder Marcell Ozuna.
Why Alcantara's save was a monumental moment
And never once did he pitch in relief with the Marlins, making 201 career starts and pitching 1,272 innings.
In fact, no pitcher in baseball history had ever recorded a save while leading the league in innings since Dodgers pitcher Orel Hershiser in May, 1987, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The only other pitchers to achieve the feat were Hall of Famer Phil Niekro in 1978 and Andy Messersmith in 1975.
Yet, he was, 48 hours after starting Monday, willing his body, his arm and his mind to secure the Marlins’ victory.
“When you’re a franchise player, and someone who’d been the face of your franchise for this many years and is willing to do that,’’ McCullough said, “it’s great for the rest of our group to see that. He’s creating his own legacy.
“He’s going to have his own wing one day at loanDepot, and rightfully so, for what he’s done.’’
How the Marlins players reacted to Alcantara's save
The moment the final out was made, the Marlins acted almost as if they just clinched a playoff berth, with McCullough saying he hadn’t felt such an adrenaline rush since his first day on the job.
The Marlins made sure they were going to savor this moment for posterity, with Alcantara climbing into a laundry cart after the game and getting sprayed with adult beverages before boarding their flight to San Diego.
“I think that was the best thing in the world for this team to watch him go out there and get the first save of his career,’’ Marlins starter Ryan Gusto said. “I can’t even explain how fired up we were. I mean, to be watching him in that situation on one day rest is insane. I mean, we were loving every single second of it. …
“The dude is an inspiration. He’s a leader in the clubhouse. Everybody loves him.’’
How this moment ranks in Marlins history
The Marlins certainly have had fabulous moments with two World Series championships, but this was a moment that will live in Marlins’ fame, with one of the biggest stars in their franchise history showing the ultimate sacrifice for his team.
“I think you saw the excitement from the group because of what he’s meant to this franchise,’’ McCullough said, “but also certainly to go out there at a moment like that. …
“Everyone in our organization and everyone in this clubhouse has an appreciation for Sandy and what he’s done, and this is just another way, with his unselfishness, and his desire to win, and win in Miami.’’
Will Alcantara spend the rest of his career with the Marlins?
Alcantara, who had been on the trade block in past winters, but not this last trade deadline, made it perfectly clear after the game that he wants to spend the rest of his career in Miami. This is the final year of his five-year, $56 million contract extension. The Marlins have a $21 million club option in 2027 on Alcantara that they plan to exercise, but if it’s up to Alcantara, he’d love to work out another extension and never leave.
“This is an organization that gave me an opportunity since 2017,’’ Alcantara said, “to establish myself as a starting pitcher. So, I trust and I believe everything this team has been doing. I want to be here for a long time. I just want to win for this team.’’
Certainly, the Marlins are slowly moving towards respectability, after losing 100 games just two years ago. And if they’re going to get back to the postseason, they’ll have to jump on Alcantara’s shoulders. He is 13-10 with a 3.84 ERA this season, pitching an MLB-leading 206 innings, and yes, with a save, too.
How did Alcantara do in his previous start?
Alcantara, who pitched five innings Monday, knew that the Marlins’ bullpen was fatigued after an 11-inning victory Tuesday. He told Marlins pitching coach Daniel Moskos when he arrived Wednesday afternoon that he would be available out of the bullpen if needed, the second time in two weeks that he volunteered. In the sixth inning, with the Marlins leading 4-2, he came into the clubhouse, put on his full uniform, changed into his spikes, and went to the bullpen.
He came into the game in the ninth with the Marlins clinging to a 4-3 lead against a team that leads the major leagues in comebacks and is still in the wild-card hunt. He gave up a towering fly ball to Pavin Smith that left fielder Heriberto Hernandez caught against the fence, and then a 396-foot blast by Tim Tawa that traveled to the warning track. He walked Laars Nootbaar, bringing up dangerous Ketel Marte, with speedy Jordan Lawlar inserted as a pinch runner. Marte fouled off the first pitch. Alcantara threw a 100-mph fastball that missed on the second pitch. Lawlar tried to steal second. Catcher Joe Mack threw a perfect strike to shortstop Otto Lopez, who applied the tag, and after the replay review was confirmed, the game was over.
And the celebration was underway.
There was no need for his teammates to even convince him to get into the laundry cart for the joy ride.
“It was a great experience,’’ Alcantara said. “I just get naked, get in the cart, and it was a good experience. We had fun together.’’
Said Gusto: “I mean, it was insane. There was much more celebration for his first career save than really any other win we’ve had this season.’’
When is Alcantara scheduled to pitch next?
Alcantara, who’s still scheduled to pitch Sunday against the Padres, says he’d be glad to keep volunteering for spot relief roles. The only difference is that he’d love his next future ones to be in the postseason, still admiring watching Dodgers ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitch in relief in Game 7 of the World Series after starting Game 6. And it was in this same building at Chase Field 25 years ago that Hall of Famer Randy Johnson also achieved the feat, winning Game 6 against the New York Yankees, and then coming into relief and winning Game 7 for the D-backs first World Series title.
“This is my first one,’’ Alcantara said, “so hopefully they keep giving me the opportunity. If we make the playoffs, I would do it.
“I’m here to win.’’
The man certainly proved that, in front of the entire organization, that will be talked about for generations.
“I think he’ll always remember this night,’’ Gusto said. “It was pretty special. I know I definitely will.’’
BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 06: Aroldis Chapman #44 of the Boston Red Sox high-fives Adley Rutschman #31 after defeating the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Sunday, September 6, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Alyssa Piazza/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Red Sox are basically locked into the fifth seed in the American League and, at this point, I can’t help but build out postseason rosters to fall asleep at night. Today, I wanted to look at the bullpen, where there are still quite a few decisions to be made. News comes in fast and furious on many of the names in question, which I’ve included below.
Assuming health, Ranger Suarez, Sonny Gray, Payton Tolle, and Jake Bennett will be the four starting pitchers needed in the postseason. While teams often go with a 12-man pitching staff (and just three starters) for the initial three-game series, I’d hope that the team has loftier goals than that this year, so we are trying to find 13 arms (nine relievers) for the numerous five- and seven-game series that follow.
A Capital-C Closer who has plenty of experience pitching in Yankee Stadium. Chapman is quickly becoming one of the great Red Sox relievers of all time, whose 2027 option has vested, meaning he’ll return to Boston at a very reasonable $13M. I enjoyed @RedSoxPayroll holding everybody accountable on Twitter about that fact.
This is the fourth time this season in national baseball writer has indicated Aroldis Chapman will be a free agent after 2026.
His vested option at 40 innings has already hit, he just needs to pass a physical after the season and he's under contract with Boston for 2027.
Only five pitchers in MLB (min: 40 IP) have a better K-BB% than Whitlock’s 27.4%. Those pitchers are Mason Miller, Jacob Misiorowski, Jhoan Duran, Josh Hader, and Mason Montgomery. Four of those guys are elite closers, and one is cruising to a Cy Young Award. Whitlock would have no issue taking over the closer role in 2027, however unlikely that may be.
Speaking of K-BB, Miller was 16.2% with San Francisco and is 27.4% with Boston (identical to Whitlock’s). Lefties are hitting .173 and slugging .247 against Miller in 2026. By the way, Marcelo Mayer has not yet made an appearance for the Giants as he continues to rehab his injuries.
Guerrero was unable to stay in the league beyond 2019 due to a 13.6 career BB%, but has remarkably cut that to 4.4% this season. It’s easy to forget that Guerrero didn’t even make his Red Sox debut until May 22nd of this season. Quickly entering the high-leverage picture, Guerrero has thrown ten games this season on no rest and entered with runners on base eleven times. His current IL stint was likely more about giving him some rest and getting him ready for October than a true shoulder injury.
Between the acquisition of Miller via trade and the emergence of the 35-year-old Guerrero, having four power arms like this at the back of the bullpen is essential for October success, with two throwing from the left side and two from the right side.
Crochet threw a 30-pitch bullpen session across two simulated innings at Fenway Park on Tuesday. Chad Tracy said, “Everything went well. That was the most volume he’s had, so we’ll see over the next couple of days how he feels and go from there.”
The Woo Sox season ends this Sunday, so it feels unlikely that he’ll go on a minor league rehab assignment. Personally, I’d feel better about things if Crochet made one relief appearance against the Cubs in the final weekend of the season. Sure, he’s “done crazy things before” and “isn’t Joe Schmoe” but I’d rather avoid a return in the seventh inning on the road at Yankee Stadium in a playoff game, if at all possible.
Justin Slaten
I had every intention of putting Slaten into this tier before the news in the past couple of days. Slaten has a “degenerative” arm issue in the flexor (forearm), which can’t be good news in the short or long term.
Tier 3: Something to Prove
With six relievers in the top two tiers, the Red Sox would have needed to choose three arms from the remaining tiers to make up a 13-man pitching staff. Without Slaten, they’ll need to choose four, most likely from this group of six.
Bello, Gamboa, Olds, and Moran all pitched on Tuesday night while trailing, which gives you a bit of an idea of what their “B” bullpen is right now. There will most likely be four pitchers from this group, and it will unquestionably be a difficult choice. The final 11 games will be a continued tryout for all of these pitchers.
Bello’s overall numbers are shaky, but in 63 ⅔ innings as a reliever, he has a 1.98 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and 15.1% K-BB. An absolutely remarkable juxtaposition.
After three poor outings in August, I had Moran on the outside looking in. He was likely overworked and has rebounded in September with five consecutive scoreless outings, totaling 5 ⅔ innings.
Weissert’s overall numbers are decent, but it’s the meltdowns that stick out, and he has ten of them. Other than Slaten (out of the year), no other reliever on the roster has more than six meltdowns.
Gamboa has been a pleasant surprise. He has started two games as the Opener, ahead of Bello. In recent weeks, he’s moved up the chain in leverage, partially due to injuries in the ‘pen, and partially due to success. Gamboa has given up just one run in 11 outings since returning to the team on 8/12 (16 innings). With Chapman, Miller, and Crochet as likely “locks”, it may come down to Moran vs. Gamboa as the final lefty.
Olds had a lot of trouble throwing strikes at every level of the minor leagues, usually sitting between six to seven walks per nine innings. He got to the Big Leagues and has slashed that to 3.3 walks per nine. The strikeouts have always been there, thanks to a unique arm angle and a 113 Stuff+ rating.
Houck was shaky at the start of his rehab but has locked in since. He threw three innings on Friday, allowing one run, and then struck out the side in an inning of work on Tuesday night.
Hello, Tanner Houck.
He strikes out the side in the 7th. Worked around a 1-out walk. 4 Whffs. Leaned on Splitter. Averaged 92.2 on the Sinker. 94 on 4SFB.
It was planned to be a shorter outing, with one in the 40-50 pitch range coming later in the week. pic.twitter.com/w5CDfZLfoo
Like Crochet, it would be great to see Houck throw at Fenway during the final week of the season to shake off the cobwebs.
If I had to guess which four arms the Red Sox choose, I’ll say: Brayan Bello, Tanner Houck, Jovani Moran, and Alec Gamboa. You can make the case for, and against, any of them.
Johan Oviedo: One appearance, out with an elbow injury since March 30th
Kutter Crawford: Last pitched Sept. 28, 2024
Oviedo and Crawford are on the 60-day IL, and the remaining three are the only other pitchers on the 40-man roster. Tommy Cassell reported yesterday that Oviedo and Crawford could pitch in Worcester this week, before the Triple-A season ends. It’s hard to imagine either of them leapfrogging the arms in the tier above.
I’ve made the case for Samaniego in enough Minor Lines articles this year that I won’t do that again here, but I’m surprised we haven’t seen him up since June 2nd.
Raymond Burgos had my two favorite non-Tolle pitching moments this season. He threw three innings in relief on TWO consecutive days in early August when the bullpen needed a reset. Then, in his next appearance a week later in Pittsburgh, he pitched two innings in relief, sat through a 2-hour and 34-minute rain delay, and then threw two more innings to finish the game. Not all heroes wear capes.
I wish Patrick Sandoval nothing but the best with a different franchise in 2027.
