The Milwaukee Brewers play big. The zythophilian juggernauts of the NL Central have the same number of division titles as the Dodgers over the past half decade. They’ve been punching down on the incompetent and/or uncompetitive clubs in their division, while managing to outmaneuver the Chicago Cubs, and pushing the St. Louis Cardinals into their first period of irrelevance in the 21st century. Many of those haymakers have come from a vaunted pitching development program, generating aces from unexpected places. Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff, and Freddy Peralta have benefited from brilliant bullpens, too, with Josh Hader, Devin Williams, Abner Uribe, and Trevor Megill blossoming on the West Coast (of Lake Michigan).
The newest focus for the Brew Crew, however, has been on punching up. While they can frequently outfox their low-effort division-mates, what’s put Milwaukee in perennial competition in recent years has been the capacity to literally punch up. Milwaukee had the shortest position player group in MLB last year, in particular on the infield dirt. None of 3B Caleb Durbin (5’7), SS Joey Ortiz (5’10), 2B Brice Turang (5’11), nor 1B Andrew Vaughn (5’10) clear the six-foot line. Both OF Isaac Collins, since traded to Kansas City, and OF Sal Frelick, are also just 5’8. These are normal sized human beings, even on the taller end in some cases. But like Leo Rivas, clocking in at 5’8, 150, they are players against the grain of the modern, tools-oozing Adonises who will often earn the centerfold from scouts and analysts.
MLB has always had room for the little guy. Unlike basketball and football, which have the occasional pint-sized performer (or have narrow, specialized niches for such players), baseball players have always been able to more easily walk down the street without being immediately identified as athletes. It’s an endearing feature of the game, one that allows people of all ages and sizes to identify more easily with those on the field. There is an immense amount of work that goes into being a pro athlete in any sport, but most of us could simply never be Aaron Judge or Rob Gronkowski, Josh Allen or Victor Wembanyama.
But Leo Rivas? Leo Rivas could be anybody.
The good-natured Venezuelan turned 28 this past October, famously celebrating his birthday with one of the biggest hits in Seattle Mariners history. His game-tying pinch-hit RBI single capped a stellar second season, with Rivas performing his way into a key role late in the season as the 2B and backup infielder.
With Jorge Polanco gone, there’s a case for Rivas to take on the starting 2B spot. After all, in half a season of total big league games, he’s mustered a 107 wRC+ with a patient approach, steals bases frequently and efficiently, and can cover the entire infield capably. Switch-hitting makes him more versatile than many utility players, and yet Seattle seems unlikely to give Rivas the pole position.
Cole Young, no towering titan himself, is much younger and more heralded than the man who came to Seattle as a minor league free agent. Despite a disappointing debut season, Young has shown higher capacity to hit the ball hard, and has on paper and otherwise similar profile to that of Little Leo. I can’t say I disagree ferociously with Seattle’s assessment. After all, for nearly a decade, Rivas struggled to separate himself as a minor leaguer. The area in which hitters who lack meaningful big league power can still be successful is a target you’d want George Kirby or Bryan Woo to be aiming for.
Still, I am concerned Rivas is being literally overlooked. Much of Milwaukee‘s lineup has been effective, not just because of their skill, but because they have been given consistent opportunities. Rivas does not look like most of the sport’s best players. And yet, everything he did last year looked at least like a solid big leaguer. Going out on a limb for players who looked like Rivas has been a boon for the Brewers. In Seattle, soft line drives and free passes are the bread and butter of their long time stalwart shortstop, J.P. Crawford. Why shouldn’t it be the foundation for their keystone as well?
Rivas will likely start 2026 in competition with Miles Mastrobuoni for the utility spot on the bench. Because he still has minor league options remaining, it’s likely the switch hitting Venezuelan starts his season in Tacoma. I can’t help but wonder if he’s capable of more.
Scoring ability in the NBA is most often discussed by looking at who is among the league leaders in points per game.
The assumption that players who score the most must be the best scorers makes sense on the surface, but that method of evaluation does nothing to discriminate between efficient scorers and those who simply have a high-usage role. Looking at raw points per game is also an improper way to compare scoring ability across eras.
Put another way – players who score a lot simply because they shoot a lot aren’t the most effective scorers in the league.
Using FTN’s new NBA StatsHub, we can identify underrated scorers and potential breakout stars by looking at Field Goal Percentage Over Expectation.
Explaining Field Goal Percentage Over Expectation
FGOE measures how much better or worse a player’s field goal percentage is compared to league expectation after adjusting for shot location, shot value, and the quality of the defensive contest on the field goal attempt.
In more digestible language, FGOE isolates pure shot-making skill by accounting for more than simply whether or not the ball went in the basket.
Unlike field goal% or true shooting%, FGOE:
Adjusts for shot difficulty
Removes free throws from the equation
Accounts for the quality of the defense on the shot attempt
A player who has a high FGOE is making a higher rate of similar shot types than his peers.
Removing Volume Privilege
Not all high-volume scorers have their numbers inflated simply based on opportunity. Nikola Jokić (+12.6% FGOE), Kevin Durant (+8.9%) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (+8.1%) are widely regarded as some of the league’s best scorers, and for good reason. Their teams trust them to take a lot of shots, in large part, because of how skilled they are at making them.
Yet, they are not the only players who deserve to be held in high regard for their shot-making ability.
NBA StatsHub has a filter function that allows us to look exclusively at players in smaller roles, who are quietly delivering impressive results over expectation for their respective teams.
Lower Shot Volume (FGA) + High Field Goal Percentage Over Expectation (FGOE)
DeMar DeRozan, Sacramento Kings
During the 2021-2022 campaign, DeMar DeRozan ranked seventh in the NBA in scoring, averaging 27.9 points per game. Since that point, his per-game scoring has taken a major hit – all the way down to 19.0 per game this season — but he’s still making the most of his opportunities.
DeRozan is averaging 6.7 fewer field goal attempts per game than he did in 2021-2022, but he would likely still be putting up big numbers if he was on a team that allowed him to shoot more frequently.
Among 73 players averaging between 10-15 FGA per game this year, nobody has a higher FGOE than DeRozan (+7.0%).
Kon Knueppel, Charlotte Hornets
Is it possible that Kon Knueppel is part of the NBA’s next class of superstars? The fourth overall selection in this past summer’s draft is having a superb rookie season for the Hornets, averaging 19.0 points. Even more impressive, he’s doing so on only 13.6 field goal attempts per game.
Only seven players are averaging more points per game than Knueppel on fewer than 15 shot attempts this season. All seven of those players are established veterans who are well beyond their rookie contracts.
Miles McBride, New York Knicks
Miles McBride is a fan favorite in The Big Apple, and for good reason. Since entering the league, McBride has seen his playing time increase in each subsequent season – all the way up to a career-high 28.3 minutes per game this year.
He’s making the most of his opportunities for the Knicks, averaging 13.1 points while shooting 43.1% from beyond-the-arc. In fact, McBride has the highest FGOE of any New York player so far this season.
Bobby Portis, Milwaukee Bucks
Giannis Antetokounmpo isn’t the only high-quality player stuck on a bad Milwaukee team. Bobby Portis doesn’t have the athletic upside of Antetokounmpo, but his shot-making ability is up there with the best role players in the league.
Portis is shooting a career-best 47.4% from 3-point territory this season, averaging 13.1 points on only 10.6 field goal attempts per game. If the Bucks choose to be sellers ahead of the league’s trade deadline, there will surely be a number of active suitors hoping to add Portis for their team’s playoff run.
Ivica Zubac, Los Angeles Clippers
Nikola Jokić isn’t the only big man in the NBA who makes tough shots look easy. Among centers averaging at least 10 field goal attempts per game this season, Ivica Zubac ranks second in FGOE.
Through 37 games this year, Zubac is averaging 14.8 points on 60.5% shooting – his fifth consecutive season scoring in double figures while shooting north of 60% from the floor. Since 2000, Zubac is one of only seven players to have at least seasons meeting such criteria.
The Takeaway
Through the conclusion of play Tuesday, there are 20 players in the NBA this season averaging at least 25 points per game. On this date a decade ago, only five players were averaging better than 25 points per game.
Suffice it to say, we can no longer simply look at points per game to determine who is a skilled scorer. We need metrics like FGOE to help us determine who is truly performing better than their peers.
Early on, against the Clippers, the Lakers’ offense was humming.
This was largely due to Luka Dončić. He was aggressive, like he typically is at the start of games, which helped LA jump out to a four-point lead midway through the opening quarter.
However, LA’s offense quickly stalled. While Luka’s shot diet consisted of double-digit attempts, no other Laker took more than four shots in the opening quarter.
With the Lakers struggling to stop Kawhi Leonard, who returned to the court, and scoring becoming a challenge, the Clippers took control of the game before the second quarter even began.
The Clippers led by as many as 26 points, but the Lakers didn’t go away quietly. They went on multiple runs in the second half and got to within two points of their rival.
After the loss, Lakers head coach JJ Redick broke down why his team couldn’t complete the comeback.
“Just a poor job of just defensive coverage execution and then just didn’t trust each other on the offensive end,” Redick said. “Not enough passing. That was a lot of the game, not enough passing. I think that’s a consistent thing when we don’t play well. We don’t pass to each other and we don’t execute defensively.”
Not a lot of passing from the Lakers? That sounds like something the team’s point guard, Luka, would be responsible for.
While it’s true that Dončić is the best player on the Lakers and is averaging the most points in the league, as the primary ball handler, he has to help keep the ball moving.
“There’s got to be a trust factor with all our guys just to trust the pass,” Redick said. “That starts with Luka. He’s going to have the ball the most of everyone. He’s got to trust the pass. He gets two on him and he’s playing in a crowd, he’s got to pass the ball. I think as much as we can talk about being connected on defense, you got to be connected on offense.”
It’s great to hear Redick calling out Luka needing to trust the pass and making the right play. This is almost certainly something he has told him privately, and making it public only hammers home the fact that this is a top priority.
Luka can do it all, but he can’t do it alone. He needs the role players to do their job, and that happens when they get looks at the basket and knock them down.
Also, when players don’t get the ball for long stretches, then when they do they might get a bit ansy and feel they have to take a shot even if it’s not a good look.
Afterall, it’s been a while since they’ve gotten the ball, who knows when they’ll get it again.
“I think it just goes back to the human element of everything,” Redick said. “Guys are worried about their futures and that’s what happens when you have a team full of free agents and player options. I think it’s just natural you’re going to worry about the offense. I’ve been there. You can get in your head a little bit. ‘I played five minutes. I haven’t got a shot yet.’ That’s a human thing. It’s not anybody’s fault.”
The Lakers are in a unique situation where the majority of their team is not under contract for next year.
So, things can go sideways for them if players start getting frustrated with a lack of ball distribution, start thinking about their numbers and begin looking out for themselves more than the team.
This is where LA benefits from Redick being a former player. He understands this situation and is sensitive to it. He should be able to navigate these potential issues and work through them.
More than anything, though, the ball needs to move. No one can move faster than the ball. If Luka and the Lakers focus on getting the best shot possible, that should lead to a faster pace, a better offense, more points and ultimately more wins.
Now that it’s been called out, it’s up to Luka to step up as the leader, trust his teammates and make that extra pass.
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The Suns are staring down the final stop of a six-game road trip, and after face-planting out of the gate with two losses, they have steadied themselves and ripped off three straight wins. That alone makes this a good trip. Beat Atlanta, and it turns into a great one. 4-2 on the East Coast is nothing to sneeze at. Gesundheit
The problem is history. The last time Phoenix won a game in Atlanta was March 24, 2014. A different era. Eric Bledsoe and Goran Dragic were cooking, the vibes were sneaky good, and that team felt fun in the same unexpected way this one does now. Since then, Georgia has been a house of horrors. Why Georgia? Why?!
Atlanta is different now, too. The post Trae Young Hawks are scrappy, annoying, and hanging around the Play-In picture. Jalen Johnson is turning into an All-Star in real time. Dyson Daniels is a full-blown menace. And the scars are fresh. Phoenix blew a 22-point fourth-quarter lead against this team earlier this season.
So this is not a scheduled win. This is an exorcism. A chance to close the trip strong and bury a few demons while they are at it. Grab your sword. This one is going to be a fight.
Probable Starters
Injury Report
Suns
Jordan Goodwin — AVAILABLE (Jaw Sprain)
Hawks
N’Faly Dante — OUT (Right ACL)
Kristaps Porzingis — OUT (Left Achilles)
Zaccharie Risacher — OUT (Left Knee)
What to Watch For
We will start on the Suns’ side of the ball, because that is where the intrigue lives. The big thing to watch is the continued integration of Jalen Green and how those minutes shake out. Ryan Dunn was the one who took the hit against Philadelphia, but Atlanta is longer and more athletic across the board. That opens up a different question. Is it Collin Gillespie? Is it Jordan Goodwin? Somebody is going to feel the squeeze as Green works his way back in.
As for Atlanta, do not let the 21-25 record lull you to sleep. This team is frisky. They are eighth in the league in three-point percentage on the ninth-most attempts. Even without Trae Young, they continue to move the ball as well as anyone, leading the league in assists. They play fast, second in pace, and they hunt passing lanes, ranking fourth in steals per game.
That puts a big red circle around one thing for Phoenix tonight. Ball security. If the Suns are loose with it, this game can get sideways in a hurry.
Key to a Suns Win
Stay focused. This is a tough one, not only because Atlanta can throw real problems at you, but because this is the final stop of a six-game road trip. From a human standpoint, you can feel it. Guys are ready to go home. Ready to get on a plane. Ready to land back in Phoenix and settle into a five-game home stand. That temptation is real.
But there is work left to do.
The Hawks are not going to roll over. They scratch. They claw. They hang around. They are fifth in the league in points off turnovers at 20.2 a night, and the Suns sit sixth-most in points allowed off turnovers at 19.7. That is not a coincidence waiting to happen. That is a warning sign.
If Phoenix gets loose with the ball, this game will turn fast. Ball security has to be the headline. Handle that, and the flight home feels a lot better. Ignore it, and Atlanta will make you pay.
Prediction
I want the good vibes to keep rolling. Coming into this trip, 3-3 felt like the reasonable outcome. Respectable. You take it and move on. But now there is an opening for 4-2, and that changes the conversation. That turns a solid trip into a great one.
So go finish it the right way. Lock in. Handle the ball. Do not let the end of the road trip creep into your head. Devin Booker pours in 28. Jalen Green gives you 20 off the bench and bends the game with his speed. Phoenix closes the book, boards the plane, and flies home with momentum humming.
Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll ranked ninth on MLB Network’s Top 100 Players Right Now countdown earlier tonight. The two-time All-Star, who was ranked 32nd on the Top 100 Players Right Now countdown last year, finished one spot ahead of five-time All-Star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Toronto Blue Jays and one spot behind 2025 American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers. On Carroll, MLB Network analyst Steve Phillips said, “He now is that combination of power and speed, and those are the most impactful players in the game. Those 30-plus homers, 30 doubles from him, the stolen base numbers from him, and he’s doing such unique things right now with what he’s done at the plate.”
In addition to Carroll, teammate Ketel Marte ranked 19th last night while Geraldo Perdomo ranked 24th on Monday on the Top 100 Players Right Now. Here is the top 25 listing, along with the previous year’s position in brackets.
Shohei Ohtani, DH/P, Dodgers (1)
Aaron Judge, OF, Yankees (2)
Bobby Witt Jr., SS, Royals (3)
Cal Raleigh, C, Mariners (59)
José Ramírez, 3B, Guardians (9)
Juan Soto, SS, Mets (4)
Paul Skenes, P, Pirates (15)
Tarik Skubal, P, Tigers (11)
Corbin Carroll, OF, Diamondbacks (32)
Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 1B, Blue Jays (13)
Francisco Lindor, SS, Mets (6)
Garrett Crochet, SP, Red Sox (56)
Yoshinobu Yamamoto, SP, Dodgers (63)
Ronald Acuña Jr., RF, Braves (16)
Fernando Tatis Jr., RF, Padres (22)
Julio Rodríguez, CF, Mariners (23)
Kyle Schwarber, DH, Phillies (65)
Mookie Betts, SS, Dodgers (5)
Ketel Marte, 2B, Diamondbacks (18)
Will Smith, C, Dodgers (60)
Kyle Tucker, RF, Dodgers (14)
Freddie Freeman, 1B, Dodgers (8)
Nick Kurtz, 1B, Athletics (no rank)
Geraldo Perdomo, SS, Diamondbacks (no rank)
Trea Turner, SS, Phillies (35)
Obviously, the Dodgers lead the way, with six (!) players on the list above. But nobody else has as many as the Diamondbacks, which is nice. The problem, of course, is not the top of the Arizona roster. It’s the sharp drop-off after that trio which is going to limit the D-backs. You have Gabriel Moreno, who should be solid. But otherwise? With all respect to the likes of Blaze Alexander, Alek Thomas, etc. I can’t feel they were unjustly overlooked for the top 100. The lack of pitchers is also apparent. Maybe next year, the Diamondbacks might have some listed here? Corbin Burnes and, perhaps, Ryne Nelson would be nice.
It’s also interesting to see Perdomo ranked below Carroll and Marte, even though by all metrics he was clearly more valuable than them last season. I think it’s Gerry’s lack of track record which is likely responsible for that. Perdomo was almost the highest new entry on the list this year, just one place beyond Nick Kurtz, who had a similarly unexpected breakout campaign. Anything close to the same season for Perdomo in 2026, and he could be looking at joining Carroll in the top ten.
The regular MLB Network Top 10 Right Now at each position gets under way on Monday. First up are the second baseman, and based on the above, Marte should be leading that group. But for now: what do you think – both of the Arizona player placements, and the top 25 in general?
The Pittsburgh Pirates are coming to the end of their offseason, which has been busy to say the least.
The Pirates have done a decent job acquiring offensive talent, including Brandon Lowe and Ryan O’Hearn, among others. Some members of the Bucs Dugout staff put their two cents in on the team’s grade for the offseason.
Austin Bechtold: B
The Pirates offseason is still incomplete, in my mind. They need to add a third baseman and left-handed fifth starter. Eugenio Suarez and either Tyler Anderson or Jose Quintana would be an A. Right now, it’s a B. They finally signed a free agent to a multi-year deal and I’m intrigued by O’Hearn. I like the Lowe and Garcia trades from Tampa and Boston. They need to solve third. I’m encouraged but what they’ve done and give Ben Cherington credit for the moves he’s made, but add one significant bat at third and it’s a great offseason.
Darren Yuvan: B+
That might be on a slight curve given that I wasn’t expecting the things that they did, but it was a successful offseason nonetheless. But not perfect, so that’s why it’s not an A. They still need help at third, maybe one more outfielder, and probably another left-handed arm, but there’s no doubt that this team improved.
Ethan Coulehan: B
They made more moves than I thought they would in the offseason. They didn’t sign anyone groundbreaking but I do think the moves they made and the pitching rotation that the Bucs have I think they could be a sneaky playoff team for 2026.
Jaiman White: B+
They added some good pieces on offense that should help to improve what was a terrible lineup in 2025. Adding two All-Stars like Lowe and O’Hearn was a very uncharacteristic move for the Pirates and it should give this lineup a much needed facelift. The Buccos sacrificed some starting pitching to get those pieces, but with one of the best rotations in baseball already the team should be in a good spot. Resigning McCutchen to one last contract will make this the perfect offseason.
Jeremy Brener: C
I think most of my Bucs Dugout comrades have been generous to Pirates general manager Ben Sherrington and what the team has done. The Pirates have made moves, but there’s no guarantee any of these will be a slam dunk. Lowe and O’Hearn are solid signings compared to what they have done in the past, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it will get the Pirates out of the doldrums of the NL Central standings.
They have missed on some opportunities, but have made a considerable effort to improve the roster. To me, that results in an average offseason, which explains the C grade.
BD community, what do you think of the team’s offseason? What grade would you give the Pirates for the offseason? Chime off in the comments section below.
“We are aware of the investigation, but at this time, we’ve not been contacted by the FBI or been served with any subpoenas,” the Colts said in Friday’s statement.
NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said the league would not comment on the report.
The Post reported Thursday that a federal grand jury subpoena it reviewed indicated the FBI is seeking records and information relating to Irsay’s death, his “substance (illegal and prescription) use,” and his “relationship with Dr. Harry Haroutunian,” an addiction specialist based in California. The subpoena was reportedly issued by the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California earlier this month.
The Associated Press left a message Friday seeking comment from Haroutunian, whom the Post reported had prescribed pain pills and ketamine to Irsay in the months before his May 2025 death.
In August, the Post reported Irsay was prescribed ketamine, which is most commonly used as a general anesthetic, in his final months and that police were called to the hotel room in Beverly Hills, California, where Irsay died. The Post's earlier report said Haroutunian, was staying at the hotel and overseeing Irsay’s treatment and that Haroutunian signed the death certificate.
The Post wrote that Irsay's official cause of death was listed as “cardiac arrest due to pneumonia and heart issues” but no autopsy was performed, and Beverly Hills police closed their investigation into the death days later.
When the first Post story was published in August, Irsay's three daughters who now run the Colts — Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Casey Foyt and Kalen Jackson — issued a statement saying their father “never claimed to be perfect” and acknowledging he used his voice “to reduce the stigma” of addiction and mental health issues to advocate for those who fought similar battles.
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AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi contributed to this report.
The battle for basketball supremacy in Los Angeles on Thursday night brought out plenty of big-name celebrities.
Chris Pratt and Jason Bateman were two of the many A-listers who pulled up to Intuit Dome to catch LeBron James and the Lakers take on Kawhi Leonard’s Clippers.
Chris Pratt was one of many celebrities at Lakers vs. Clippers on Thursday. Getty Images
Jane Fonda was in attendance, as was Zooey Deschanel, who came to the big event with her boyfriend, “Property Brothers” star Jonathan Scott.
Singer Jhené Aiko had courtside seats for the tilt, and at one point during the game, Clippers mascot Chuck the Condor swung by to snap a picture with her.
Zooey Deschanel and her boyfriend, Jonathan Scott, were at Intuit Dome on Thursday night. Getty Images
Comedian Jimmy O. Yang, Notre Dame football head coach Marcus Freeman and, of course, Clippers billionaire owner Steve Ballmer all also sat near the hardwood to catch the action.
Singer Jhené Aiko posed for a picture with the Clippers mascot. Getty Images
The celebs got to watch a pretty good game, though if they were there to back the Lakers, they went home disappointed, as the Clippers won, 112-104.
Luka Doncic led all scorers with 32 points. He added 11 rebounds and eight assists. James, meanwhile, poured in 23 points, five rebounds and six assists.
Jane Fonda sat with Steve Ballmer during the big game. Getty Images
Leonard was the Clips’ top scorer with 24, though Ivica Zubac was the star of the night for the home team with 18 points and 19 rebounds.
The drama off the floor might have been just as intriguing to fans, as the night was the first time James had been seen in public since an explosive report surrounding his relationship with his boss, Jeanie Buss, was published.
The Lakers ultimately lost to the Clippers, 112-104. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“Quite frankly, I don’t really care about articles,” he said. “I really don’t. I don’t care about stories. They don’t bother me. I’m 41 years old, and I watch golf every day. I don’t care about an article. I don’t care how somebody [feels] about me. If you know me personally and you know what I’m about, these guys know what I’m about, and that’s all [that] matters. I can care less how somebody feels about me.”
Lakers play next in Dallas on Saturday, while the Clippers get the Nets at home on Sunday.
Righty Chase Petty has the stuff to potentially end up #1 on this list at some point. He also had a poor enough 2025 season that a repeat of said production could see him off this list altogether by 2027.
Here’s hoping the uber-talented starter figured it out over the winter and shows up to Goodyear in February ready to take it to the next level. He’s the #9 prospect in the Cincinnati Reds system in this year’s Community Prospect Rankings according to you, the esteemed voters.
By now you know the new voting rules here. There will be an embedded poll at the bottom of this post where you can cast your vote until the poll closes, but if that’s stripped out for you for some reason there will exist a link right here to take you to Google Forms to vote. Both of those will magically disappear when voting closes, though, so that internet chicanery cannot come in after the fact, dump votes, and change the already created history of the world.
Here’s how the list has materialized so far:
Sal Stewart
Alfredo Duno
Rhett Lowder
Hector Rodriguez
Edwin Arroyo
Cam Collier
Steele Hall
Tyson Lewis
Chase Petty
A few new names have been added to the mix for spot #10. Have at it with the votes!
Aaron Watson, RHP (19 years old)
2025 at a glance: Drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 2nd round of the 2025 MLB Draft out of Trinity Christian Academy (FL); signed overslot $2.7 million bonus to forego commitment to the University of Florida
Pros: 6’5” frame; potential 60-grade slider; fastball that runs up to 96 mph from a three-quarter arm slot and already has a solid three-pitch mix with his change rotated in
Cons: Did not pitch professionally after being drafted, so he’s a complete unknown
One glimpse of Watson on the mound and you immediately think yep, I bet that guy can turn into a pretty dang good pitcher. He’s got an ideal frame to produce downhill offerings, and his fastball/slider mix is already something on which he can hang his hat.
However, command of all three of his pitches – specifically a very developmental changeup – will be what he needs to work on to begin to move quickly through the ranks. He possesses a good ‘feel’ at the moment in terms of what pitches to throw, which part of the zone to attack vs. which hitters, etc., but how well he can build in more deception with his offerings will be vital.
Jose Franco, RHP (25 years old)
2025 at a glance: 3.11 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 118/54 K/BB in 110.0 IP split between AA Chattanooga Lookouts (Southern League) and AAA Louisville Bats (International League)
Pros: Fastball that flirts with triple digits with ease
Cons: Secondary pitches need work, and that’s impacting his overall command (and ability to limit walks)
Franco turned 25 years old in November and earned a promotion to the 40-man roster of the Reds shortly thereafter due to his consistent performance across the upper levels of their farm system.
The Reds have a few hulks they’ve put on the mound in recent years, and Franco thoroughly qualifies. He’s listed at 6’2” and an oddly specific 257 lbs, and his size and frame allows him to tap into his excellent fastball velocity with ease. It’s the pitch he misses bats with the most, but how well he can differentiate his breaking pitches (and improve his changeup command) will determine whether or not he can a) get left-handed hitter out with aplomb and b) avoid ending up in the bullpen.
He’s been a late bloomer, in part due to injuries that cost him his entire 2023 season, and if he continues the path he’s been on since getting healthy there could be a whole lot more from him as early as 2026 for Cincinnati.
Carlos Jorge, OF (22 years old)
2025 at a glance: .251/.342/.355 with 6 HR, 40 SB in 469 PA with High-A Dayton Dragons (Midwest League)
Pros: Plus speed; former infielder moved to CF in 2023 and in 2025 looked like a natural there; plus speed; shaved 12.5% off K-rate from down 2024 season; 60-grade arm strength a weapon in CF
Cons: ISO declined for third straight year, this time precipitously; prone to extreme streakiness
If you threw out every other stop of Carlos Jorge’s pro career and just focused on the good ones, he’d already be ranked by now. The good parts of the best of his years have been quite tremendous, all told. He’s flashed great speed (40 steals in 2025), good pop for a small-ish CF (12 HR in 2023 and 2024; .483 SLG in the cavernous Florida State League in 2023), and the ability to play pretty elite CF defense (as recently as 2025).
However, he’s added some real clunkers in there, too. He hit just .220/.291/.394 with a K-rate over 31% at Dayton in 2024, and that came on the heels of hitting just .239/.277/.398 in 23 games once he reached Dayton at the end of 2023.
Maybe it’s just Dayton, where he was again in 2025 in a much better all-around year, even though his power dried up again. He’ll surely begin with AA Chattanooga of the Southern League in 2026, and at 22 (with his position in CF now settled) the former 2B might finally have a one-track shot to focus on his all around game in a new locale. After acing his move on defense, shaving off a ton of strikeouts, and bumping his walk rate back up over 11.1% (where it’s been for most of his career), perhaps 2026 will have a lot more in store for him.
Zach Maxwell, RHP (25 years old)
2025 at a glance: 4.50 ERA, 5.64 FIP, 13/4 K/BB in 10.0 IP with Cincinnati Reds; 4.17 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, 59/32 K/BB in 49.2 IP with AAA Louisville Bats (International League)
Pros: Huge. Literally gigantic (6’6”, 275-ish lbs). Throws gas (100 mph+) with a devastating slider (70-grade). And he’s titanic.
Cons: Struggles with control (6.1 BB/9 across 172.1 IP in his minors career)
Maxwell, a former 6th round pick out of Georgia Tech, throws the ball up to 102 mph with his heater, and it’s clear that hitters have just about as little idea where it’s actually going to be as Maxwell himself. That’s the rub here, really, in that Big Sugar has the pure stuff to turn even the best hitters into guessers, and it comes down to whether they’ll guess wrong more often than Maxwell misses the zone in each and every PA.
If they swing, though, they’re likely going to miss, and that’s why he’s right in the mix for a spot in Cincinnati’s bullpen again in 2026 after making his debut there in 2025. He can be a bit wild if it’s effectively wild, and that’s a tightrope he’s been walking since his days back at North Paulding HS in Dallas, Georgia. When he’s locked in, though, the heater is backed up by an absolutely devastating slide piece, and that two-pitch mix – again, when he’s locked in – is good enough to be closer material. He’s just got to continue to refine his delivery.
Leo Balcazar, SS/2B (22 years old)
2025 at a glance: .263/.339/.381 with 12 HR, 8 SB in 560 PA split between A+ Dayton Dragons (Midwest League) and AA Chattanooga Lookouts (AA Southern League); .277/.340/.340 in 103 PA with Peoria Javelinas (Arizona Fall League)
Pros: Good strike zone judgement and plate discipline (52/75 BB/K in 2025); well-rounded tools, continuing to improve off ACL surgery
Cons: Not a ton of power yet; some question whether he’ll be able to stick at SS long term
It’s easy to forget just how good of a start Balcazar had to his pro career after signing with the Reds for $100,000 out of Venezuela. He posted an .882 OPS in 2021 in Dominican Summer League play, an .886 OPS in 2022 with the Arizona Complex League Reds, and was off to a wicked start (.897 OPS) across the first 18 games of his 2023 season with Class-A Daytona before he tore his ACL.
2024 was a bit of a rough year for him, however, as the layoff and working back from the surgery clearly impacted his performance (.264/.295/.354 in 410 PA). However, 2025 saw him look a lot more like his former explosive self – both at the plate and in the field – and he clearly was healthy enough once again as he logged a combined 663 PA across all leagues.
He’s still just 21 years of age (22 in June of 2026), and if he’s shaken the rust off completely and enters this season after a normal winter, there’s a chance we see a whole lot more from him, too.
Arnaldo Lantigua, OF (20 years old)
2025 at a glance: .268/.345/.519 in 206 PA with ACL Reds (Arizona Complex League); .261/.318/.445 in 129 PA with Class-A Daytona Tortugas (Florida State League)
Pros: Above-average bat speed and raw power; mashes left-handed pitching; good eye at the plate
Cons: Likely destined for corner OF as his range is a concern, though his arm continues to play
The Cincinnati Reds helped the Los Angeles Dodgers sign Roki Sasaki by shipping them international bonus pool money, and in return for it they landed Lantigua, who only turned 20 in December after holding his own across 32 games in the brutal hitting environment of the Florida State League (where right-handed hitters, in particular, are seriously stifled).
You wont see Lantigua winning sprint titles. You won’t see him making plays in the outfield that simply wow you. There’s not a batting title in his future, I don’t imagine. However, there’s a very real chance he continues to evolve into a classic bat-first corner outfielder who can swat over 30 homers a season, and that’s something the Reds have (as you may have noticed) really failed to produce off their farm for quite some time. He’s not on this list because he’s well-rounded, in other words, but the bat/power combo is a skillset where he’s really impressive already at such a young age, and that’s unique among this class.
Adolfo Sanchez, OF (19 years old)
2025 at a glance: .339/.474/.504 with 2 HR, 10 SB in 154 PA with DSL Reds (Dominican Summer League)
Pros: Left-handed hitter who profiles to have a plus hit tool and potentially plus power; arm good enough to play RF if he doesn’t stick in CF; shaved 20% off his K% year over year; plus runner
Cons: Questions whether he’s already physically matured to the point where projecting him to be much better exist
The Reds signed Sanchez for $2.7 million out of the Dominican Republic in 2024 and kept him there to ply his trade professionally in the Dominican Summer League. Things went quite poorly for him there during his age 17 season, and he subsequently stuck around there to repeat in 2025 – though this time, things went swimmingly.
He’ll undoubtedly play in the States in 2026, but the question now is just how quickly the Reds might try to move him up if he hits the ground running. At 6’3” and 200 lbs already, he’s not the kind of prospect where you say he’s X now, but when he gets bigger and stronger he’ll be Y in two years. In other words, if he looks the part now, he needs to be challenged immediately, and my hope is that he gets time with Daytona right off the bat.
He’s got a hit tool that comes with all-fields power, excellent patience at the plate, and I really do think his swing will continue to play. Still, it’s likely he ends up in a corner spot in the OF, which means the power’s going to need to continue to show up for him to project as an everyday regular – at least vs. RHP.
Don’t look now, but pitchers and catchers reporting to Spring Training is really and truly right around the corner. In less than three weeks, San Francisco Giants will be descending upon Scottsdale, ready for a new season and all the hopes, dreams, and platitudes that come with it. We won’t be done with our Community Prospect List by then, but we’ll be getting fairly close.
We’re into the 30s now, and the next name on the list is someone who is likely in consideration to be a non-roster invitee next month: it’s second baseman Diego Velasquez, who has been named the No. 31 prospect in the system. That’s a drop of 15 spots for Velasquez, who was No. 16 in last year’s CPL.
Velasquez’s fall is less about his 2025 performance, and more about the increasing strength of the system … after all, a full third of the 30 names above him are new to the organization, while a sizable handful are players who weren’t even in consideration for last year’s CPL before breakout campaigns. While the Giants handled those breakouts and welcomed in those newcomers, Velasquez simply held serve with a full season at AA Richmond.
A switch-hitter who was signed out of Venezuela in 2021, Velasquez showed off his outstanding contact skills and control of the zone in 2025 with the Flying Squirrels, as he struck out just 14.3% of the time, while sporting a 12.4% walk rate (for context, those rates were ninth and 24th, respectively, out of the 58 Giants prospects with at least 200 plate appearances last year). Despite the strong contact skills, Velasquez’s batting average took quite a tumble in 2025, which he can’t really afford given his lack of power. He ended the year with a .256/.362/.315 line, for a .677 OPS and a 107 wRC+, while hitting two home runs and stealing 19 bases in 128 games.
It was a bit concerning seeing Velasquez move in the wrong direction statistically, after he ended 2024 with a late season promotion, and posted a .763 OPS and a 127 wRC+ in 42 games with Richmond. But adjustment periods have funny trajectories, and the positive side is that Velasquez remains on the young side. He turned 22 after the season ended, and spent the season playing in the Eastern League, where he was two-and-a-half years younger than his average peer.
One of the notable things about Velasquez’s season was that the Giants finally committed to him having a spot on one side of the bag only. Velasquez had spent most of his prospect career splitting time between second base and shortstop, with evaluators pegging him strictly as a second baseman. Perhaps the Giants took until 2025 to agree, or perhaps it was a logistical matter (Velasquez had a natural shortstop partner in Richmond in Aeverson Arteaga), but he played just one game at the six last year, while manning second base 123 times.
He’s a decent enough defender at second that a path exists for him to make the Majors … albeit a slim path, given his lack of positional versatility and, more damning, his almost complete lack of power. If his profile remains as an all-contact, no-power player, he’ll need everything to go right to have a sustained MLB career. But he is young, so maybe there’s a little extra power hiding in there somewhere.
Given his so-so season, and that the Giants should have Tyler Fitzgerald and Osleivis Basabe manning the middle of the diamond in Sacramento, I’d guess that Velasquez is slated for a return to Richmond in 2026, though a promotion isn’t out of the question. It could prove to be a critical year for him.
Now let’s add to the list! As a reminder, voting now takes place in the comment section.
Note: Each player’s first name links to their Baseball-Reference page, and their last name links to their Fangraphs page.All stats are from the 2025 season.
With 2026 Topps Baseball Series 1 releasing on February 11, 2026, I took a look at its rookie cards and ranked them by their 1st Bowman Chrome Auto prices using recent eBay sold listings. The Series 1 base set contains 350 cards. Of those, 69 are rookie cards featuring players with the RC designation. I found 1st Bowman Chrome Auto sales data for 50 of those rookies. The remaining 19 do not have a 1st Bowman Chrome Auto or had no valid sales data available. All prices come from verified eBay sold listings for raw, ungraded 1st Bowman Chrome Autos. Graded cards, color parallels, and numbered parallels are excluded to keep comparisons consistent.
Below are the top 20 rookies ranked by their 1st Bowman Chrome auto prices. For the full list of the top 50 rookies, subscribe to my substack.
1. Roman Anthony (Red Sox) | $664 | 2023 Bowman
Roman Anthony entered the 2025 season as one of the most highly touted hitting prospects. He began his season at Triple-A, where he slashed .288/.423/.491 with 10 HR before making his MLB debut in June 2025. He slashed a .292/.396/.463 line with 8 HR over 71 games before landing on the IL in early September with a Grade 2 oblique strain. Prior to being placed on the IL, Anthony won AL Rookie of the Month for August.
2. Jacob Misiorowski (Brewers) | $223 | 2022 Bowman Draft
Misiorowski had an electric start to his MLB career in June 2025, going 4-1 with a 2.81 ERA over his first five starts and throwing triple-digit heat with a plus curve. He cooled off big time in the second half, however, posting a 5.40 ERA over his final 12 outings, and hit the IL in early August with a left tibia contusion from a comebacker. If he can refine his command and maintain consistency through a full season in 2026, he has frontline starter potential with that fastball-curve combo.
Caglianone tore through the minors in 2025, hitting .322/.389/.593 between Double-A and Triple-A with massive power numbers, but he struggled badly when he got to the majors, slashing just .157/.237/.280 with 7 HR in 41 games. He went on the IL in late July with a left hamstring strain, then came back and raked during his rehab stint (.385 with 5 HR in 16 games at Triple-A). His raw power is elite and exit velocities are solid, but he needs better plate discipline and a defined defensive position to stick as an everyday player.
4. Nolan McLean (Mets) | $218 | 2023 Bowman Draft
McLean absolutely dominated in 2025, posting a 2.45 ERA across Double-A and Triple-A with 127 strikeouts in 113.2 innings before getting called up in mid-August. He made an immediate impact in the majors, going 5-1 with a 2.06 ERA and 57 strikeouts in 48 innings, showing a rare combo of high strikeout rates (30%) and ground balls (60%+). Since 2026 will be his first full year in the majors, the big question is whether he can handle 150+ innings and keep lefties from exploiting him.
Chandler had a tale of two seasons in 2025, dominating early at Triple-A (2.03 ERA through his first 11 starts) before struggling badly from June on, finishing with a 4.05 ERA and 53 walks. He got called up in late August and was solid in seven MLB appearances (4-1, 4.02 ERA, 31 strikeouts in 31.1 innings), including five perfect innings against Washington. The fastball is legit, sitting 98-101 mph and touching triple digits, and he led the International League with 121 strikeouts, but the command and control issues are real.
Schlittler debuted in July 2025 and posted a nice 2.96 ERA over 14 starts with a fastball that averaged 98 mph and held hitters to a .178 average. He looked great in the Wild Card round (8 shutout innings vs. Boston), but his overall postseason was more mixed, including a rough ALDS start against Toronto. His biggest issue is pitch mix; he leans way too heavily on the fastball (55% usage), and his breaking stuff hasn’t caught up. The Yankees will likely keep him in the rotation to start 2026, but he needs to develop an off-speed pitch and improve command of his breaking balls to avoid becoming too predictable against good lineups.
7. Samuel Basallo (Orioles) | $142 | 2023 Bowman Chrome
Basallo crushed Triple-A in 2025 (.270/.377/.589 with 23 HR in 76 games) and got called up in mid-August, but he struggled at the plate in the majors (.165 with 4 HR in 31 games). He made some noise with a walk-off homer against the Dodgers and became the youngest catcher in Orioles history to go deep. His defensive tools are mixed (elite power and arm strength, but shaky receiving and blocking), so the Orioles might manage his workload by rotating him between C, DH, and 1B. If he can make adjustments against MLB breaking balls, the raw power gives him middle-of-the-order upside.
Beavers won the International League MVP in 2025 after slashing .304/.420/.515 with 18 HR and 23 SB at Triple-A, showing excellent plate discipline (68 BB, 76 K). He got called up in mid-August and flashed promise (.240/.383/.423 with 4 HR in 33 games), though he faded badly in September (going 5-for-43 with 14 K over his final 12 games). The power-speed combo and plate discipline are legit tools, and he can play all three outfield spots. He keeps rookie eligibility for 2026 and could be a Rookie of the Year candidate if he stays healthy and builds on the late-season experience.
9. Chase Burns (Reds) | $84 | 2024 Bowman Draft
Burns dominated at Double-A in 2025 (6-1, 1.29 ERA, nearly 12 K/9 over 42 IP) and got the call to the majors in late June, where he showed electric stuff but struggled with results (0-3, 4.57 ERA in 8 starts). He struck out the first five batters he faced in his MLB debut and finished with 67 strikeouts in 43.1 IP. The fastball-slider combo is legit, and he had great control in the minors, but MLB hitters adjusted to his patterns, and he gave up too many walks and mistakes over the heart of the plate.
Montgomery had a wild 2025, struggling badly in Triple-A early (.149 average through his first 103 PA), getting reset in Arizona, bouncing back briefly, then slumping again before finally getting called up in July. He made an immediate impact in the majors, hitting .239 with 21 HR and 55 RBI in 71 games, and finished 5th in AL Rookie of the Year voting. The power is undeniable (21 HR in 71 games), and he has the tools to stick at shortstop despite being 6’3″ and 225 pounds.
11. Jonah Tong (Mets) | $80 | 2025 Bowman
Tong absolutely dominated the minors in 2025 with a 1.43 ERA and 179 strikeouts in 113.2 innings across Double-A and Triple-A, posting the best K/BB% in full-season minor league ball at 29.9%. He got called up in August but struggled in five starts (7.71 ERA, though his 3.96 xFIP suggests he was unlucky), showing that his stuff can still miss bats but his command needs work. His fastball sits mid-to-upper 90s with elite vertical break, and his changeup is a legit weapon, but he leans too heavily on the heater, and his slider needs development.
Caissie crushed Triple-A in 2025 (.286/.386/.551 with 22 homers and a .937 OPS) before getting called up to the Cubs in August, where he hit just .192 in limited action across 12 games. In January 2026, he got traded from the Cubs to the Marlins in the Edward Cabrera deal, which changes his path to the majors and could give him more playing time opportunities. The power is real and his plate discipline improved down the stretch in the minors, but he needs to prove he can make consistent contact against big-league pitching and stay healthy. His strikeout rate is still high, and 2026 will be about whether he can translate his Triple-A dominance into MLB success with his new organization.
Tolle had a strong 2025 in the minors, posting a 3.04 ERA with 133 strikeouts in 91.2 innings across High-A and Double-A before getting called up in late August. He made his MLB debut against the Pirates and looked good (5.1 IP, 8 K, fastball near 99 mph), but finished with a 6.06 ERA in 7 games (3 starts) as MLB hitters adjusted. The big lefty (6’6″, 250 lbs) stayed healthy all year with no reported injuries, which is encouraging given his size and workload. His fastball sits 95-98 mph and touches higher, and he has a slider, changeup, and curve/sweeper to work with, though the changeup is seldom used and his command in the majors was shaky.
14. Kyle Teel (White Sox) | $44 | 2024 Bowman
Teel earned White Sox Minor League Player of the Month in May 2025 after hitting .333/.444/.613 at Triple-A, then got called up in early June and posted a solid .273/.375/.411 line with 8 HR and 35 RBI in 78 MLB games. He showed excellent plate discipline (high walk rates) and good defensive tools behind the plate, including a strong arm and solid blocking and framing. The power is decent but not elite, so developing more pop will be key to raising his ceiling.
15. Carson Williams (Rays) | $43 | 2021 Bowman Draft
Williams is the best defensive prospect in baseball according to MLB Pipeline (70 grades for both glove and arm), but his bat is still a major work in progress after hitting .213/.318/.447 with 23 HR at Triple-A in 2025. He got called up in August when Ha-Seong Kim went on the IL and struggled badly (.172 average with a 41-42% strikeout rate in roughly 100 plate appearances), though he did hit 5 HR. The strikeout issues are real and got worse as he moved up levels (35% K rate at Triple-A), and his contact problems against breaking balls are a major concern. If he can cut down the strikeouts and improve his pitch recognition in 2026, he has 20/20 potential.
16. Cole Young (Mariners) | $34 | 2022 Bowman Draft
Young crushed Triple-A in May 2025 (.366/.467/.673) and earned a promotion to the majors, but he hit just .211 with 4 HR in 77 games before losing playing time in September. The plate discipline is legit (strong walk rates, low strikeouts in the minors) and he has speed (23 steals at Double-A in 2024), but the power hasn’t translated to the majors yet. He can play both second base and shortstop, which helps his versatility.
17. Jakob Marsee (Marlins) | $32 | 2022 Bowman Draft
Marsee won NL Rookie of the Month in August 2025 after slashing .352/.430/.629 with 4 HR and 9 SB following his debut on August 1, though he faded in September (.231/.292/.327). Before his call-up, he hit .246/.379/.438 at Triple-A with 14 HR and 47 SB in 98 games, showing elite plate discipline and speed. His strengths are his elite eye at the plate (he walks more than he strikes out at times), plus speed, and solid center field defense, but his power ceiling is limited by lower exit velocities.
18. Brice Matthews (Astros) | $30 | 2024 Bowman
Matthews put up big numbers at Triple-A in 2025 (.260/.371/.458 with 17 HR and 41 SB), then got called up in July and hit just .167/.222/.452 with 4 HR in 42 AB. The power-speed combo is real, and he has positional versatility since he can play second base and center field. The strikeout rate balloons as he moves up levels, and his .167 average in the majors shows he needs to make better contact and improve his plate approach against big-league pitching.
Garcia posted solid numbers at Triple-A in 2025 (.271 average, .498 slugging, 18 HR in 88 games) and made his MLB debut with the Red Sox in late August, though he went just 1-for-7 in 5 games. After the season, he got traded to the Pirates in the Johan Oviedo deal. The power potential is clearly there (21 total HR across Double-A and Triple-A), and he can play all three outfield spots, but his strikeout rate is a problem at around 30%.
20. Alex Freeland (Dodgers) | $29 | 2022 Bowman Draft
Freeland hit .263/.384/.451 with 16 HR and 18 SB at Triple-A Oklahoma City in 2025 (115 wRC+), then struggled in his MLB debut with a .190 average and 36% strikeout rate in 29 games. As a switch-hitter, he is much stronger from the left side against righties, and his plate discipline (high walk rates) is a real strength.
Golden State Warriors shooting guard Moses Moody is facing a lawsuit from his former landlord, who claims the NBA player racked up thousands of dollars in damage to a San Francisco condominium he rented early in his career allegedly due to his poor laundry skills.
The lawsuit, filed this week in small claims court by property owner Amir Tabarrok, alleges that Moody’s failure to use the required ventilation during laundry caused extensive water damage to the Mission Bay unit’s hardwood floors, ceilings, walls and carpeting.
The complaint also cites damage to electrical switches and window frames, which the landlord says resulted from holes drilled into the surfaces.
According to the filing, Moody rented the 7th-floor condo from 2021, when he was drafted by the Warriors, until October 2025, and paid $6,495 per month. After he moved out, Tabarrok said he discovered damage that he estimated at $28,053.90.
Because of the limits of small claims court, the landlord is seeking $12,500, the maximum allowable, plus about $870 in unpaid rent.
The former San Francisco landlord of Moses Moody (right) alleges that the NBA player’s improper laundry ventilation caused extensive water damage and that holes were drilled into the condo’s window frames and electrical switches (Getty Images)
The Warriors’ 2021 first-round pick, 14th overall, now lives in downtown San Francisco’s Millennium Tower, a 419-unit luxury building. Each unit features hardwood floors, and marble or quartzite countertops. Leases range from about $3,200 per month for studios to over $18,000 for high-floor luxury units.
This year, Moody is set to pocket $11.57 million under his contract as the Warriors hold a 25‑21 record, sitting 8th in the Western Conference.
Moody rented the 7th-floor Mission Bay condo from 2021 to 2025 for $6,495 per month, according to the lawsuit (Google Images)
Moody also has a growing interest in real estate, having interned with San Francisco’s Shorenstein Properties in the summer of 2024 and invested in the real estate tech company Drafted, the suit noted.
The Independent has contacted representatives for Moody, the Golden State Warriors and the condo owner for comment.
The Washington Wizards play the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday. Here is the preview.
Game info
When: Saturday, Jan. 24 at 12 p.m. ET
Where: Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC
How to watch: Monumental Sports Network, League Pass
Injuries: For the Wizards, Bilal Coulibaly (back) and Tristan Vukcevic (rest) are questionable, while Trae Young (knee, quad) and Cam Whitmore (shoulder) are out.
For the Hornets, Mason Plumlee (groin) is out. Grant Williams, KJ Simpson and Tre Mann are questionable because they missed yesterday’s game against the Orlando Magic.
What to watch for
The Wizards will look to do two things tomorrow afternoon. First, they need to snap this eight-game losing streak. And the Hornets are a team Washington could defeat. They are coming off a 124-97 win against the Magic yesterday. And the Hornets also had some impressive road wins against the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets!
Charlotte is now on a two-game homestand and may be looking to feel a bit comfortable at home before an ice storm hits Saturday evening. But for the Wizards, they may be a bit excited about winter weather, because the same storm will dump at least 6 inches of snow locally. The less …. distracted team will win this one in my opinion. Hopefully, Washington comes out on top.
The New Orleans Pelicans are rebuffing most trade conversations despite being in the Western Conference cellar. That is a choice.
Meanwhile, the Memphis Grizzlies are atop most trade conversations in the NBA, though the traction in those conversations is quite debatable.
My Pelicans vs. Grizzlies predictions and NBA picks assume these rosters may not remain as they are, but one New Orleans shooter should be trusted on Friday, January 23.
Pelicans vs Grizzlies prediction
Pelicans vs Grizzlies best bet: Trey Murphy III Over 21.5 points (-105)
Only two teams have given up more 3-point attempts in the last 10 games than the Memphis Grizzlies have, opponents pulling up from deep 42.0 times per game.
That has been survivable because opponents are hitting only 34.5% of those looks, but here comes Trey Murphy III.
No one on the New Orleans Pelicans roster is more equipped to take advantage of that defensive choice than Murphy, taking 11.9 shots from long range per game in his last nine games, helping him average 27.8 points since New Year’s.
He has made 39.3% of those 3-point attempts. No wonder the Pelicans refuse to entertain trade overtures for Murphy.
Pelicans vs Grizzlies same-game parlay
Murphy has scored at least 22 points and hit at least four 3-pointers in six of his nine games since New Year’s, a data set chosen only to align with Memphis’s defensive trend in the last 10 games.
And yet New Orleans is just 3-6 against the spread in those nine games.
Pelicans vs Grizzlies SGP
Trey Murphy III Over 21.5 points
Trey Murphy III Over 3.5 threes
Grizzlies -6
Our "from downtown" SGP: Treys!
Adding Herbert Jones’s made threes prop is entirely a reflection of Memphis’s defense and very little a reflection of Jones’s shooting.
He has taken 4.2 threes per game this season and hit just 33.3% of them, but against the Grizzlies, Jones could easily take six, at which point there is a reasonable chance he hits multiple shots from deep.
Pelicans vs Grizzlies SGP
Trey Murphy III Over 21.5 points
Herbert Jones Over 1.5 threes
Trey Murphy III Over 3.5 threes
Grizzlies -6
Pelicans vs Grizzlies odds
Spread: Pelicans +6 | Grizzlies -6
Moneyline: Pelicans +185 | Grizzlies -225
Over/Under: Over 239.5 | Under 239.5
Pelicans vs Grizzlies betting trend to know
Despite Murphy’s hot shooting, New Orleans has gone 3-6 ATS in his last nine games. Find more NBA betting trends for Pelicans vs. Grizzlies.
How to watch Pelicans vs Grizzlies
Location
FedExForum, Memphis, TN
Date
Friday, January 23, 2026
Tip-off
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
GCSEN, FDSN SE-MEM
Pelicans vs Grizzlies latest injuries
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This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
As winter storm warnings continue to reshuffle college basketball schedules, one particularly high-profile matchup is going to tip off an hour earlier than expected.
Rick Pitino's St. John's Red Storm and Richard Pitino's Xavier Musketeers will now play at 1:30 p.m. ET on Jan. 24 from the Cintas Center in Cincinnati as the father and son face off for the fifth time in their respective coaching careers.
"Due to the impending winter weather warning throughout the BIG EAST footprint, tipoff for Saturday's game featuring St. John's at Xavier has been moved forward one hour to 1:30 p.m. ET.
St. John's is entering the game 14-5 (7-1 Big East) while Xavier comes in 11-8 (3-5). St. John's has won five consecutive games after dropping a game to Providence, whereas the Musketeers are looking to build on a two-game winning streak after dropping the previous three.
Cincinnati weather forecast
Cincinnati is projected to have a high of 14 degrees and a low of 11 degrees on Jan. 24, with snow expected to start around 3 p.m., per Weather.com. The winter storm warning is in effect from 10 a.m. Saturday to noon Monday.
