The top-seeded Detroit Pistons head west to face the banged-up Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena on Tuesday night.
The Nuggets’ injury report is lengthy, but Denver has stayed competitive, and my Pistons vs. Nuggets predictions call for the home team to cover the spread as the underdog.
Here are my best free NBA picks for this cross-conference tilt on Tuesday, January 27.
Pistons vs Nuggets prediction
Pistons vs Nuggets best bet: Nuggets +6.5 (-110)
The Denver Nuggets are 27-19 ATS this season, and they have covered in six of their last 10 games. Despite numerous injuries, Denver has found ways to stay competitive, and the team is 9-5 ATS across the last 14 games with Nikola Jokic on the sideline.
The Detroit Pistons are one of the best teams in the Association, and they are 24-19-1 ATS. Over the last 10 games, the Pistons are 6-4 ATS.
The Nuggets last played on Friday before Sunday’s matchup with the Memphis Grizzlies was postponed due to weather. Peyton Watson, Jamal Murray and Jonas Valanciunas are all probable tonight, and the trio should be closer to 100% after getting some extra time to rest.
For as good as the Pistons are, Denver has played too well recently to be spotted 6.5 points at Ball Arena. I'll take the home team and the points as the Nuggets continue to get the most from their deep group of role players.
Pistons vs Nuggets same-game parlay
The Nuggets are 27-19 to the Over this season, but they've hit the Under in nine of 14 without Nikola Jokic, including seven of the last 10 games.
The Pistons are 18-26 to the Under overall and 1-9 to the Under across their last 10 outings. Both teams rank in the top-10 in fewest points allowed, so I expect a low-scoring matchup at Ball Arena.
Peyton Watson's strong play is a big reason why the Nuggets have been competitive without Nikola Jokic. Over his last 13 appearances, Watson has averaged 32.2 PRA and gone for at least 27 in 10 of them.
He's expected to return following a one-game absence and should be well-rested after not playing since Thursday.
Pistons vs Nuggets SGP
Nuggets +6.5
Under 217
Peyton Watson Over 26.5 points + rebounds + assists
Our "from downtown" SGP: Robinson on a heater
Duncan Robinson is averaging 2.9 triples per game this season, and he's hit 3+ treys in 28 of 42 contests.
He's been on a heater over his last eight games, knocking down 3.9 three-pointers per tilt at a 50.8% clip and hitting the Over on this line seven times.
Pistons vs Nuggets SGP
Nuggets +6.5
Under 217
Peyton Watson Over 26.5 points + rebounds + assists
Duncan Robinson Over 2.5 made three-pointers
Pistons vs Nuggets odds
Spread: Detroit -6.5 (-110) | Denver +6.5 (-110)
Moneyline: Detroit -260 | Denver +210
Over/Under: Over 217 (-110) | Under 217 (-110)
Pistons vs Nuggets betting trend to know
The Denver Nuggets have hit the Moneyline in 16 of their last 25 games (+14.70 Units / 30% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Pistons vs. Nuggets.
How to watch Pistons vs Nuggets
Location
Ball Arena, Denver, CO
Date
Tuesday, January 27, 2026
Tip-off
9:00 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN-DT, ALT
Pistons vs Nuggets latest injuries
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Have the New York Knicks stopped their slide? Wins over Brooklyn and Philadelphia are encouraging, but only so much so. And beating the Sacramento Kings will fall into that same category.
My Kings vs. Knicks predictions recognize New York’s struggles and the supposed source of them, and they will always put faith in said source.
The best shooting big man in NBA history has cleared this prop in 10 of his last 16 games, including four of his last five. Falling short on Saturday was a reflection of foul trouble, not shooting struggles. Towns has shot 38.5% from deep since December 23.
For him, that is a bit modest, but it's also worth noting he's shooting better on fewer looks — down to 4.1 threes per game. Towns is picking his moments.
Against the Sacramento Kings, a couple of early looks could mean KAT cashes this prop before halftime tonight.
Kings vs Knicks same-game parlay
This looks quite counterintuitive, but that is the point.
This same-game parlay pays out at a higher rate than it should simply because it is odd to pair Towns’ threes Over with his points Under. But Towns has hit multiple 3-pointers and still fallen short of this points prop six times in the last month.
Kings vs Knicks SGP
Karl-Anthony Towns Over 1.5 3-Pointers
Karl-Anthony Towns Under 20.5 Points
Knicks moneyline
Our "from downtown" SGP: Streaking Knicks
After their four-game losing streak furthered consternation about the Knicks in general, they have at least rattled off two straight wins while covering the spread in both of them.
Kings vs Knicks SGP
Karl-Anthony Towns Over 1.5 3-Pointers
Karl-Anthony Towns Under 20.5 Points
Knicks -13.5
Kings vs Knicks odds
Spread: Kings +13.5 | Knicks -13.5
Moneyline: Kings +525 | Knicks -750
Over/Under: Over 231 | Under 231
Kings vs Knicks betting trend to know
The Kings are 1-4 against the spread in their last five games, falling short of bookmakers’ expectations by an average of 5.1 points in those five games, even including the sole ATS win. Find more NBA betting trends for Kings vs. Knicks.
How to watch Kings vs Knicks
Location
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
Date
Tuesday, January 27, 2026
Tip-off
7:30 p.m. ET
TV
NBCSCA, MSG
Kings vs Knicks latest injuries
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The Oklahoma City Thunder live a charmed life, one in which no one really even notices that they have lost their last two games despite being double-digit favorites in both.
But the Pacers were highly motivated, and the Raptors are quietly decent. Neither piece of backhanded praise can be given to the New Orleans Pelicans.
My Pelicans vs. Thunder predictions and NBA picks for Tuesday, January 27, recognize Oklahoma City’s defensive trends, which may be relatively backfiring but are still hardly a worry.
Pelicans vs Thunder prediction
Pelicans vs Thunder best bet: Trey Murphy III Under 3.5 made threes (-145)
Amid the Oklahoma City Thunder's relative struggles, its 3-point defense has actually improved. The Thunder have long forced opponents to take an abundance of long-range looks, but they have cut down on those in recent weeks.
Has that been why Oklahoma City has been laying some eggs? Perhaps.
The usual trend of encouraging 3-point attempts was a direct and delightful byproduct of making life miserable in the paint. Opponents did not want to drive or attack the rim.
If that is less of a misery now, that is a long-term worry for the Thunder.
Tonight, it could lead to New Orleans Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III living inside the arc more than expected. Fewer looks for Murphy should doom him to this Under.
Pelicans vs Thunder same-game parlay
Whatever is going on in Oklahoma City — most likely something as simple as fatigue and/or malaise — the Thunder are 4-8 against the spread in their last 12, a stretch that has also seen Shai Gilgeous-Alexander fall short of this prop six times.
Pelicans vs Thunder SGP
Trey Murphy III Under 3.5 made threes
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Under 32.5 points
Pelicans +14.5
Our "from downtown" SGP: Thunderclapped
Gilgeous-Alexander has hit multiple 3-pointers in just three of his last 11 games.
Over/Under: Over 233.5 (-110) | Under 233.5 (-110)
Pelicans vs Thunder betting trend to know
While the Thunder have lost outright as double-digit favorites in their last two games, the Pelicans have won outright as underdogs in their last two games. Find more NBA betting trends for Pelicans vs. Thunder.
How to watch Pelicans vs Thunder
Location
Paycom Arena, Oklahoma City, OK
Date
Tuesday, January 27, 2026
Tip-off
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
GCSEN, FDSN-OK
Pelicans vs Thunder latest injuries
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On the eve of what they hope will be a better performance against the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday, the Senators did a little roster shuffling.
The club has recalled forward Xavier Bourgault from AHL Belleville and returned goalie Mads Sogaard to Belleville. Sogaard backstopped the Senators to a shocking victory over the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday. For his efforts, he was named the game's first star and now he's back in the minors.
Steve Warne and Gregg Kennedy discuss David Perron's injury and the upcoming trade deadline on March 6th.
It's a tough game, this NHL business.
Sogaard's demotion means that 37-year-old James Reimer will draw back into the lineup after being a healthy scratch in that game. Reimer had played four games in seven days, and the Sens preferred not to use him in the second game of a back to back on Sunday.
They also preferred not to use Linus Ullmark who was also ready to play. Ullmark returned to the lineup to dress as the backup, and after a month on the sideline to deal with mental health issues, there's a chance he may start on Wednesday. But facing the most dominant team in hockey in his first game back would certainly be an ambitious choice for his return.
As for Bourgault's arrival, he's the plan B if Stephen Halliday can't play on Wednesday. Halliday hit his head on a stanchion near the Vegas bench in the game on Sunday. The good news is that Halliday felt well enough to attend Tuesday's practice as a spectator, watching from the Senators bench.
Bourgault is having an excellent second season in Belleville, far better than last year. He has 37 points in 43 games in the AHL, which is second best on the team, and already his career-best in four AHL seasons. He finally made his NHL debut with the Sens getting into one game earlier this season.
Meanwhile, Arthur Kaliyev has 46 points, and as Belleville's all-star selection, he must be wondering what he has to do to get another NHL look in Ottawa.
The Senators are coming off a 7-1 blowout victory over the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday, and an 8-2 blowout loss to the Avalanche earlier this month.
Nick Castellanos to the White Sox? Please, no. | (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
Sure, it’s practically February, but the White Sox promised to be players in free agency.
All it took was getting Luis Robert Jr’s $20 million salary off the books for the front office to suddenly get ‘very active’ at exploring roster upgrades.
Of course, needing to dump Robert’s salary just to have operating income to acquire talent has led to a new round of criticism toward the franchise. Much of the criticism challenges the notion that aggressive teams like the Dodgers are the “downfall” of baseball when teams like the White Sox need to give away salaried players just to attempt to be competitive for the coming season.
It is hard to avoid getting frustrated with the team’s frugal ways, considering roster upgrades still could have been made even with Robert’s bloated salary included in the payroll. The club had $87 million committed to the roster per FanGraphs’ RosterResource before Robert was traded to the New York Mets.
However, we must stop getting upset over or surprised by owner Jerry Reinsdorf’s failure to reallocate revenue into player payroll. It is what it is. The hope is that this current group of talented young players, along with the promising prospects on the way, will allow the franchise to succeed despite the frugal owner.
It has happened before (although the owner eventually finds a way to ruin everything).
At least, Getz immediately reinvested Robert’s salary by signing reliever Seranthony Domínguez to a two-year, $20 million contract. He is going to be counted on to be the team’s closer, even though he has sporadic experience in that area. At the very least, he is a solid, high-leverage reliever. The bullpen desperately needed an upgrade in that area.
This club could still use a veteran outfielder to provide some cover in case Luisangel Acuña or Brooks Baldwin fail to take off with the runway they will be given. A left-handed bat off the bench would be nice to have. Another starting pitcher would be a welcome addition. That would allow the recently-signed veteran Sean Newcomb to be moved to the bullpen, where he has been more effective.
If another innings-eater is not added, then adding another high-leverage left-handed reliever must be a priority. I am not sure I trust Tyler Gilbert or Brandon Eisert to get outs in tight situations, considering they were not very good at it in 2025.
The prevalent thinking is that the White Sox should not shun the idea of acquiring any talent because of the team’s three-straight 100-loss seasons.
That was true when it came to last offseason. The club was coming off the worst season in the 162-game era. When you only win 41 games, any player available was better than what the team had.
Things changed last season when a young, talented core of players emerged in the process of losing “only” 102 games. The franchise now has young talent. It just needs that core to continue to ascend while mixing in additional prospects who are showing promise in the minors. While those prospects are still marinating, effective veterans to bridge the gap must be added (although it seems like the general manager prefers discarded talent that was once highly thought of).
I am actually fine with Getz sticking to his plan of finding former highly-regarded prospects who have not panned out yet due to a lack of consistent playing time. It cannot hurt to search for the next Brent Rooker.
If one does not exist, then Getz should be pursuing veterans where there is a good chance of still squeezing out the last good ounces of baseball those players have left.
Getz must also avoid upsetting a clubhouse that is building tremendous chemistry.
All that considered, there are three moves he must avoid making before Spring Training kicks off.
Do not trade for Nick Castellanos There is no official rumor linking the White Sox to Castellanos. Two brothers in the White Sox content world have floated the idea. It was based on USA Today’s Bob Nightengale’s suggestion that the Philadelphia Phillies would have to dump Castellanos’ salary to sign Bo Bichette.
The Phillies will likely still try to trade Castellanos, even after failing to acquire Bichette. They added Adolis García in the offseason. The relationship between Castellanos and the organization is strained. Castellanos was benched for a game because of a tirade he had toward manager Rob Thomson over getting pulled for defensive purposes. The relationship continued to deteriorate from there.
The logic behind the White Sox adding Castellanos is that they have the payroll flexibility, so long as the Phillies eat a significant chunk of his $20 million salary. Chicago could use a veteran corner outfielder, and the cost to acquire him will likely be a lowly-regarded prospect.
However, the White Sox must avoid considering adding the combustible and declining veteran. Nightengale pointed out that any team that acquires him must be ready to play him every day, or there will be problems: “If you bring Castellanos in, you’d better play him every day, or he is going to be upset and could cause you a disturbance in the clubhouse, which is what would happen in Philadelphia.”
Castellanos’ production decline no longer makes him an everyday player, at least not in the field. He is terrible defensively, with a career -90 defensive runs saved in right and -77 outs above average per FanGraphs. The White Sox already have one terrible defensive corner outfielder in Andrew Benintendi. They should not be adding another.
The Pale Hose also must keep the DH spot as flexible as possible to make sure young players such as Kyle Teel, Edgar Quero, and Lenyn Sosa get regular at-bats.
That means no regular playing time for Castellanos, and opens up a clubhouse cancer to wreak havoc. This young, impressionable roster cannot afford to be exposed to Castellanos’ temper tantrums over a lack of playing time. They need a solid, steady veteran to show the kids how to go about the business, not someone who pouts when he is asked to take a reduced role.
Speaking of younger players, Baldwin provided very similar production last season:
I would rather give Baldwin a runway to see if he can reach the Ben Zobrist ceiling that the front office believes he has, rather than seeing if Castellanos bounces back.
Signing Michael Conforto over Harrison Bader It appears the plan for the outfield is to give Acuña a runway to prove he can still live up to his highly-regarded prospect status in center field. The Mets at least made sure he got some reps there in the minors, so here is hoping the conversion to the outfield goes better than it did for Andrew Vaughn or Gavin Sheets.
Baldwin appears slated to be the starting right fielder, with Everson Pereira in reserve. Then you’ve still got Benintendi’s atrocious defense in left.
If Derek Hill or Jarred Kelenic make the roster out of Spring Training, they can at least replace Benintendi late in the game for defensive purposes. That will still leave Baldwin or Acuña needing to play late as they still adjust to tracking fly balls.
That makes me incredibly uncomfortable, along with only having Benintendi as the only true veteran.
That is why adding another proven veteran to the outfield is a must. Signing Harrison Bader to a short-term contract would have been the ideal solution. It would have lessened the sting of losing Robert’s elite defense. He would still provide that glove to rob some doubles and singles as LRJ did. Also, Bader would have provided a huge upgrade over “Louie” Robert at the plate against right-handed pitching.
The problem with adding Bader is that he could get in the way of the front office wanting to give Acuña that runway it so desperately wants to provide. And cost — Bader signed virtually the same deal as Domínguez, getting two years and $20.5 million from the Giants on Monday — would have been another issue.
Now, the White Sox reportedly are interested in signing Michael Conforto. That rumor came out when Getz was working with a tighter budget, but knowing the White Sox it still could be true with a few more dollars to work with; never underestimate this organization’s ability to save money and bet on a veteran having a “bounce-back” season.
Rolling the dice on a proven veteran like Conforto producing better numbers than a .199/.305/.333 slash line in 2025 could make sense. Getz has a bit more cash to work with and should have used that money on Bader, who can play better defense in center and right while still having some good baseball left in him. Even with both players to choose from, it would not be a shock if Getz went with Conforto.
Bringing back Mike Clevinger as an organizational depth pitcher Signing Mike Clevinger when no other big-league club will has become an annual tradition on the South Side, one that has become a terrible look for the Pale Hose.
First, you got his off-the-field issues with past domestic violence allegations. This organization already has enough public relations problems. Continuing to bring back this shady character only exacerbates them.
The other reason it becomes an annual embarrassment is that 29 other big-league teams won’t touch him with a minor-league deal and non-roster invite to camp. He has been available on the open market four times since the White Sox brought him to 35th and Shields. All four times, no other team showed interest.
He was placed on waivers after the trade deadline in 2023, when he was pitching well. No contender claimed him despite the pitcher being on the way to a 3.2 bWAR season. No team signed him the following offseason despite the impressive metrics. Unlike the White Sox, the rest of the league saw him for what he is — injury-prone, and a public relations nightmare.
That did not stop the organization from bringing Clevinger back in 2024, where he could not throw strikes and suffered a season-ending injury. Once again, no team touched him in the offseason except the White Sox, who thought he could be the team’s closer in 2025.
They were asking a guy coming off a major surgery to throw harder, and it went as badly as expected. Yet, the organization kept him at Triple-A after designating him for assignment.
Hopefully, that was his last run with the club. The team has to get out of the Clevinger business because the business has been bad for years now.
Twenty-nine other teams will not touch him. Hopefully, the White Sox finally become No. 30.
The Chicago Blackhawks have a surplus of young talent in their organization. They have it at the NHL and AHL levels, in pro leagues around the globe, and in developmental programs all across the hockey world. Kyle Davidson has been building the organization back up in true rebuild fashion.
One prospect that they are excited about is Nick Lardis. Of course, Lardis was just sent back down to the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs on Monday. This was a move to get him more top-line minutes, allow him to play during the Olympic break, and enable him to participate in the AHL’s All-Star festivities.
While in the NHL, Lardis recorded five goals and two assists for seven points in 21 games. It’s good rookie production, but he was a noticeable player when it comes to the little things, especially being in the right spot for good chances on net.
There is a path for Lardis to return to the NHL this season. Obviously, he will need to stay productive in the AHL upon his return. His call-up to the NHL in the first place was earned by having 13 goals and 13 assists for 26 points in 24 games played. Building on that shouldn’t be too difficult for him now.
The NHL trade deadline is Lardis’s next path back, unless there are a ton of injuries in between now and then. Right now, every forward on the roster is healthy enough to play, which played a role in Lardis being sent down.
The Blackhawks may shop their handful of pending unrestricted free agents around ahead of the deadline. Whether they trade Connor Murphy or Matt Grzelcyk is irrelevant to Lardis’ status, but what they do with Nick Foligno, Ilya Mikheyev, Jason Dickinson, or Sam Lafferty could make room for him.
Lardis is one of the 12 best forwards in the organization right now, but he is waiver-exempt, won’t play over some of the highly paid veterans on the team, and Kyle Davidson knows where his team is in the standings when he makes these decisions.
It might not be only Lardis that gets added to the roster after the deadline. Other young players may get some games alongside him. Prospects like Anton Frondell and Sacha Boisvert are at the top of the list.
Oliver Moore, who has played with Nick Lardis at both North American pro levels this season, is likely done in the AHL. He has proven that his speed, skill, and tenacity are ready for the NHL full-time. He is also incredibly versatile.
Moore can play wing or center, on the power play, on the penalty kill, and even strength at a high level. This being his rookie season speaks volumes about what his play might look like in his prime.
Plenty of contending teams would consider trading for the UFA Blackhawks forwards if they are available. Nick Foligno and Jason Dickinson are both veterans who would have a strong leadership role on any team.
Ilya Mikheyev is one of the best penalty killers in the NHL, and he provides enough offense to make him a good bottom-six option at even strength. Sam Lafferty is more of a 13th forward, but lots of teams need bodies who are willing to be ready at a moment's notice.
There is no telling who will be moved, but it would be surprising if Kyle Davidson doesn’t move off at least one of them, if not more. Lardis will be back as a result.
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ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Seven fans of Greek soccer club PAOK died in a minibus crash in Romania while traveling to a Europa League game at Lyon, Greece’s government confirmed Tuesday.
“Deeply shaken, I was informed of the tragic accident in Romania that cost the lives of seven young compatriots,” Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said. “The Greek government and our embassy are in close coordination with the local authorities, providing every possible form of support.
“In these difficult moments, together with all Greeks, I extend my sincerest condolences to the families of the victims and to the PAOK community,” Mitsotakis added. “We all share the hope that the injured will recover quickly. Our thoughts are with them.”
PAOK was in direct communication with the government, coordinating support for families and injured fans, and sending club representatives to Romania.
Also, supporters’ associations for rival clubs Olympiakos, Panathinaikos, Aris, and others issued messages of unity and condolences.
After sitting through the two days of the 2024 draft without being drafted, Pickford said that he knew what he had to do: he had to get back to playing the game that had always worked for him and get his confidence back. Which is what he set out to do. After going from Seattle to Medicine Hat, he felt like he had the freedom to play his offensive game; he took more shots, he gained confidence, and his impact on games grew so much that he caught the eye of the Canadiens’ scouting staff.
At the 2025 draft, the Habs opted for the 6-foot-1 right-shot defenseman in the third round, which gave him yet another dose of motivation. Seeing the Bell Center filled to the brim for the rookie games, even if he couldn’t play because of an injury, made him want to achieve his NHL dream even more, and it’s that mindset that put him on course for a record-setting season in the WHL.
His work with Medicine Hat has not gone unnoticed in Montreal, and his agent contacted him just before Christmas to say that the Canadiens wanted to sign him. He knew that the Habs were keeping an eye on him because they had been constantly communicating and supporting him since he was drafted. The fact that fellow Albertan Kirby Dach reached out to congratulate him on being drafted stuck with the youngster; it was an example of the organization's culture.
Even though he has set a franchise record in the OHL this season, that’s not the only thing that should be taken away from his season. The way he stepped up as a leader for a team that lost multiple players to the NCAA is a true testament to who he is, to the kind of player he is.
Whatever happens until the end of the season, one thing’s for sure: Pickford will be one of the players to watch when rookie camp comes around next fall.
McLean dazzled in 48.0 innings over eight starts during his big league debut last season, posting a 2.06 ERA and 1.04 WHIP while striking out 57 batters. He is expected to slot near the top of the 2026 rotation, perhaps right behind Peralta.
The other two prospects on the list will likely open 2026 in the minors.
Tong showed flashes during his first taste of the majors in 2025, but his arsenal can use some refining. The expectation is that he'll begin the season with Triple-A Syracuse, where he made just two starts before his promotion to the bigs late last season.
As far as Ewing, he had a breakout season in 2025, slashing .315/.401/.429 (.830 OPS) across three levels, ending with Double-A Binghamton. The speedy Ewing smacked 10 triples and 26 doubles while swiping 70 bases.
Williams and Sproat ranked No. 32 and No. 73, respectively.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is not a doctor, but he played one in the Milwaukee Bucks locker room after last Friday's game, which he left with a calf injury. Antetokounmpo said this felt like his previous calf strains and that he would get an MRI, but expected to be out for 4 to 6 weeks.
The MRI confirmed the calf strain, but what's the Bucks' official timeline?
"There's really no timetable," coach Doc Rivers said, via the Associated Press.
That led to quick speculation that the Bucks might shut Antetokounmpo down for the season in hopes of improving their lottery odds (the Bucks can then use that pick as a trade asset around the draft to get more talent around Antetokounmpo). Rivers shot that idea down, mostly.
"There's no thought to that," Rivers said. "But listen, there's no timetable either."
No timetable is bad news for a Bucks team trying to climb back into the East postseason mix, but is 3-11 this season in games Antetokounmpo has missed. If we take Antetokounmpo at his word on his timeline, then he would be out at least through the All-Star break.
That means Antetokounmpo, voted an All-Star starter by the fans, will miss the game in Los Angeles, and he will miss too many games to be eligible for postseason awards such as MVP or All-NBA. It also means he will be out well past the trade deadline, further squashing the idea he could be traded before Feb. 5 (the Bucks have not made him available for a trade at any point).
This summer is going to be an interesting one in Milwaukee. The Bucks can use whoever they draft next June (they will have the second-best pick between theirs or New Orleans, with the best one going to Atlanta and the Pelicans getting the Hawks pick), plus future draft picks and some players on the roster, to try and trade for more talent to go around Antetokounmpo (they also would have a mid-level exception to use). Milwaukee can line all that up, put that new vision of the team and a max contract extension in front of Antetokounmpo. It will be his choice whether to sign and stay, or not sign and essentially force the Bucks to trade him (or risk losing him for nothing in free agency in the summer of 2027).
The question now is, will we see Antetokounmpo back on the court for the Bucks before this summer?
Down nine to start the second quarter in Denver, the team readied to go to the most unproductive bench in the league, scoring-wise. Seizing an opportunity in recent games, two-way center Drew Timme checks in for the Lakers in his new spot in the rotation next to fellow big man Deandre Ayton.
His impact was felt immediately. First, the previous Gonzaga star hits a relocation three off of a pass from LeBron James and follows it up catching a full court dime for the and-one finish, sealing his defender under the basket.
His entrance not only sparked a run for a massive road win, but unlocked a much-needed two big look that head coach J.J. Redick has been searching for.
“Just impact the game,” Timme said postgame following a win over the Raptors. “Whether it’s creating mismatches or you’re getting some open shots and just playing hard. I mean, obviously it’d be nice to score 20 points like the other day, but that’s just not realistic. You have to be adaptable and just find a way to make an impact.”
Adapt or die is not only a Darwinian life philosophy, but one for an NBA player hoping to make the jump from G League star to NBA rotation player. Timme arrived in South Bay this season and promptly increased his 3-point volume. He took just 1.2 per night in eight games with the Stockton Kings last season and upped it to five attempts per game in 14 contests with LA.
That confidence continued once it entered into real rotation minutes. Instead of playing Timme at the center spot, Redick has placed him alongside a center, allowing him to be used as a spacing four. This archetype of player originally fell to the 33-year-old Maxi Kleber, who’s clearly unable to fill this position night to night
Timme has quickly shown competence playing this role off the bench. Watch below as Luka Doncic runs the team’s pet “77” action, a double on ball screen. Timme sets the first screen, flips to re-screen, and pops out while Ayon dives to the rim.
LA has been searching for an offensive punch off the bench, especially without Austin Reaves to help bolster the unit. That includes giving shots to scoring guards Nick Smith Jr. and Kobe Bufkin, fellow South Bay players.
Timme has even been given the confidence to call his own number, as shown in the clip below. Watch as he gets it in the corner against the smaller Tim Hadaway Jr. The rest of the team clears out as he backs down and scores with a nifty finger roll.
“The jumbo lineup to start the second quarter has been really impactful for us,” Redick said in a recent postgame. “The thing with that is with [Ayton], you got to make a decision because a lot of teams will put their five on Vando. With [Ayton] he can punish smaller players. Timme can punish smaller players.”
Those jumbo lineups are normally played next to LeBron James. In a short sample, those three have a +9.3 net rating.
There are two sides of the floor, though, and Timme will never be mistaken with a lock down defender but LA has found interesting ways to make up for his lack of foot speed, implementing more zone defensive schemes with mixed results.
Where he can help is with rebounding. When Ayton gets switched on the perimeter, as shown in the clip below, Timme has the size to come down and give support on the boards.
Timme went undrafted after a standout season at Gonzaga and is still on a two-way contract, meaning his games are still limited unless the Lakers convert him into a regular roster spot. These two big lineups might just be his opportunity to prove people wrong.
“I see it and it’s fuel and, at the end of the day, I’m a good player,” Timme said. “I believe in myself and my abilities and I believe that I can impact the game at any level, anywhere. Just carrying that belief with me helps push me on days where maybe I’m not as motivated, but it’s great to be able to have this opportunity and to be able to help the team, it’s great.”
The Royals have signed veteran right-handed pitcher Aaron Sanchez to a minor league deal, according to FanSided reporter Robert Murray. Sanchez was an All-Star back in 2016, but hasn’t pitched in the big leagues since 2022. The 33-year-old did not pitch in affiliated baseball last season, but he impressed scouts in the Dominican Winter League, winning Pitcher of the Year honors with a 1.55 ERA in eight starts.
Sanchez was originally a first-round pick by the Blue Jays in 2010 and faced the Royals in the 2015 ALCS as a reliever. He went 15-2 with a league-best 3.00 ERA in 2016, earning his only All-Star appearance. It was also the only season he made as many as 30 starts in a year. His season was limited in each of the next two years with blister issues in 2017 and a right-hand contusion in 2018. He struggled in 2019 and was traded to the Astros, where he suffered a torn capsule in his right shoulder, keeping him out the entire 2020 season.
When he returned, he showed positive signs in 2021 in 35.1 innings with the Giants, posting a 3.06 ERA, but he was ineffective the next year with the Nationals and Twins. He spent time in the Diamondbacks and Blue Jays organizations in 2023 and 2024, but did not pitch in the big leagues. Sanchez was not much of a strikeout pitcher in his prime, but succeeds with high groundball rates, often over 50 percent.
Sanchez will receive $1.35 million if he makes the big league roster, with incentives for games pitched. He has opt out clauses on April 15 and May 15.
The people have spoken and switch-hitting outfielder Jaison Chourio is our No. 10 Cleveland Guardians prospect. Chourio won a nailbiter, earning 24.5% of the vote, beating out Daniel Espino (22.4%), Khalil Watson (16.8%) and Jace LaViolette (16.8%). He drops seven spots from No. 3 in 2025.
Chourio was signed in the 2022 international class out of Venezuela for $1.2 million. He debuted in the Dominican Summer League that same year, putting up impressive numbers, slashing .280/.446/.402 with nearly twice as many walks as strikeouts.
In 2023, the switch hitter debuted stateside in the Arizona Complex League and he put up even better numbers, slashing .349/.476/.463 while stealing 19 bases in 39 games, good for an elite 147 wRC+. His performance earned him a late-season promotion to full-season ball, where he played nine games with the Lynchburg Hillcats.
Jaison spent his entire 2024 season with the Hillcats, although he likely would have earned a late-season promotion to High-A Lake County if he hadn’t fractured his wrist in late August. Despite the injury, he was named the Carolina League MVP after putting up some impressive numbers, slashing .269/.414/.398 with a career-high five home runs while stealing a whopping 44 bases in 98 games played, good for a 144 wRC+. He walked more than he struck out and also represented Cleveland in the 2024 Futures Game.
The 2025 season expected to be one where Chourio cemented himself as one of the best young outfield prospects in baseball, but it never happened. He missed about three weeks in May with a right shoulder strain. During his rehab stints, he left at least two games after tweaking the injury and even though he never hit the IL again after returning June 6, it appeared the injury bothered him the rest of the season. Chourio struggled mightily at High-A Lake County, slashing .235/.380/.284, hitting just two home runs and six doubles in 79 games played.
I’m going to chalk up the entire 2025 season to the fact that he dealt with nagging injuries because his numbers before that were too good. There’s no other discernable reason for his ISO to drop by 66% in one year. Chourio also is still just 20 years old and given the track record of his older brother, who is one of the best young outfielders in the game with the Milwaukee Brewers, it’s far too early to give up on him.
Now, it’s time to determine who is number 11 in the Guardians’ loaded farm system and you now have a whopping 10 players to choose from! Your options are below:
Impressed at the complex league, then hit the ground running in a late season promotion to Single-A before running out of steam late in his age-17 season. Loaded with potential.
Chourio was lining up to be Cleveland’s top prospect after a sensational 2024, but he was slowed in 2025 by a nagging shoulder injury and had a very average season. He’s looking to bounce back in 2026.
Daniel Espino, RHP (Age 25) 2025 (AAA): Threw 0.2 innings in one start for Columbus at the end of the season. 2025 (AFL): 4 G, 4.2 IP, 0.00 ERA, 2.14 FIP, 33.3 K%, 14.2 BB%, 1.50 WHIP
Espino has long been an object of wistful dreaming for Guardians’ prospect aficionados with his upper 90’s fastball and slider that might be even better than the heater. The question is whether he can ever be healthy enough to make the big leagues, where his path is probably now as a reliever.
Venezuelan prospect who broke out in with increased velocity in 2025, putting up nearly identical numbers at both High-A Lake County and Double-A Akron. Gomez was added to Cleveland’s 40-man roster.
Acquired from Pittsburghin the Spencer Horwitz trade, Hartle was one of Cleveland’s most successful starting pitchers in its minor league system in 2025. Stands 6-foot-6, but doesn’t have a ton of velocity.
Cleveland’s first round pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, the 6-foot-6 LaViolette instantly becomes one of the top power hitting prospects in the system. Strikeouts and contact have been an issue, however.
Cleveland’s 3rd round pick in 2024 out of high school, Oakie got off to a rough start in the Complex League, but then absolutely dominated when promoted to Single-A Lynchburg with a pair of 11 strikeout performances.
Absolutely dominated Double-A to begin 2025 looking well on his way to repeating his tremendous 2024 season, but then struggled after an early-season promotion to Triple-A. Remains on the 40-man roster.
One of Cleveland’s most impressive hitters in its minor league system during his stint at High-A Lake County as a 20-year-old. Rosario has a unique combination of speed and power, but will need to overcome his strikeouts.
Former top prospect returned from a torn knee and put up good enough numbers to finally make his MLB debut with Cleveland in 2025. Hit a memorable home run against the Detroit Tigers in the playoffs.
Acquired in the Josh Bell trade, Watson had his best season in 2025 after switching to the outfield from shortstop. Possesses a unique blend of speed and power mixed with great athleticism.
Our list so far: 1. Chase DeLauter, LHH OF 2. Travis Bazzana, LHH 2B 3. Parker Messick, LHP 4. Ralphy Velazquez, LHH 1B/RF 5. Angel Genao, SH SS 6. Braylon Doughty, RHP 7. Cooper Ingle, LHH C 8. Khal Stephen, RHP 9. Juan Brito, SH 2B/1B/RF/3B 10. Jaison Chourio, SH OF
To get to their Challenge Cup tie on Saturday, Salford fans had to find their way to the end of a dark, long and winding road to reach the lights of Chiswick Rugby. It was a metaphor for their last year. A few months ago Salford’s stay in Super League was ending in chaotic scenes and Hammersmith Hills Hoists were being crowned Southern Conference champions. And yet, when the clubs met by Barnes Bridge on Saturday night, many aficionados expected them to be well matched.
Hammersmith, formed by Aussie backpackers two decades ago and jokingly nicknamed after a washing line, had never seen a night like it: a couple of hundred Salford fans in red and white, chanting and banging drums, circled their 4G pitch to urge on their new team – a bunch of callow youths who would either rise to the occasion or crack. Many neutrals had come down to see a giant-killing.
Jacob Reimer’s father, Brandon, played baseball at Concordia University in the late ‘90s and took every opportunity to ensure that his son would pursue the same sport, installing a batting cage in their home and enrolling him on various little league and travel ball teams. Jacob initially began his high school baseball career in 2019 on the Yucaipa High School junior varsity baseball team, but by the end of the season, he had been promoted to the varsity team. He lettered over his next three seasons and ended his time with the Thunderbirds hitting .398 with 8 home runs in his final season there.
Reimer was selected by the Mets in the fourth round of the 2022 MLB Draft and had to choose between going professional or honoring his commitment to University of Washington. His desire to be a pro won out, and the infielder signed with the organization for $775,000, almost $250,000 over the MLB-assigned slot value of $507,500. The Mets assigned him to the FCL Mets in August and he appeared in 7 games with them, hitting .261/.414/.478 with 1 home run, 0 stolen bases, 6 walks to 3 strikeouts. That winter, Amazin’ Avenue ranked him the Mets’ 14th top prospect.
Reimer was assigned to the St. Lucie Mets to begin the 2023 season and hit a solid .280/.412/.392 with 10 doubles, 1 home run, 3 stolen bases, and 44 walks to 61 strikeouts for them in 75 games, missing a bit of time in late June and early July due to an injury. At the beginning of August, the 19-year-old was promoted to the Brooklyn Cyclones and finished the rest of the season in Coney Island, hitting .203/.354/.279 in 25 games with 1 home run, 0 stolen bases, and 17 walks to 22 strikeouts.
Ranked the Mets’ 9th top prospect by Amazin Avenue coming into the 2024 season, Reimer pulled his hamstring in March during spring training. His recovery took longer than expected, beginning his rehab assignment in mid-July rather than in June as initially believed, and after his rehab assignment ended, it only took another few weeks before he was placed back on the 7-Day Injured List. Ultimately, he only appeared in 14 games for the Brooklyn Cyclones and went 9-46 in those 14 games, with 3 doubles, 8 walks, and 7 strikeouts. The Mets sent the infielder to the Arizona Fall League a not only did he get a few more reps with the bat to get some of the rust off, but he also started learning a little left field. He appeared in 17 games for the Scottsdale Scorpions and went 11-53 with 1 triple, 2 home runs, 1 stolen base, and 15 walks to 13 strikeouts.
Amazin’ Avenue ranked Reimer the Mets’ 21st top prospect coming into 2025 and the infielder had a season that fully reestablished his top prospect bona fides to all. Assigned to the Cyclones to begin the year, the 21-year-old appeared in 61 games for Brooklyn and hit .284/.384/.502 with 18 doubles, 4 triples, 8 home runs, 11 stolen bases in 13 attempts, and 32 walks to 52 strikeouts. He was promoted to Double-A Binghamton in late June and finished his season with the Rumble Ponies. In 61 more games with them, he hit .279/.374/.479 with 14 doubles, 1 triple, 9 home runs, 4 stolen bases in 5 attempts, and 26 walks to 60 strikeouts. In total for the season, he appeared in a cumulative 122 games and hit .282./.379/.491 with 32 doubles, 5 triples, 17 home runs, 15 stolen bases in 18 attempts, and drew 58 walks to 112 strikeouts.
Listed at 6’2”, 205-pounds, Reimer stands open at the plate, holding his hands high at the eyes and wrapping his bat behind his head angled almost perpendicularly to the ground. He swings with a leg lift and has a level stroke that is direct to the ball. His swing is better geared towards pitches middle and up in the zone because he stands somewhat tall and stiff in the box, but Reimer has the plate coverage to make contact with pitches down in the zone he wants to make contact with and a good enough eye to know what pitches to lay off of. Especially relative to his age and amount of professional experience, he reads spin well, tracks pitches well, and has a strong sense of the strike zone.
During the 2024-2025 off-season, he put in a lot of work with organizational hitting instructors to modify and optimize his mechanics at the plate, leading to an improvement in his bat speed and his batted ball profile. This past season, he had a 39.3% groundball rate, 33.5% flyball rate, and 27.2% line drive rate with the Brooklyn Cyclones and a 39.6% groundball rate, 40.3% flyball rate, and 20.1% line drive rate with the Binghamton Rumble Ponies, good for a combined 39.4% groundball rate, 36.7% flyball rate, and 23.9% line drive rate. Coming into the season, one of the biggest criticisms about Reimer was the fact that too many of the balls that he put in play were hit into the ground, causing him to run a problematically high groundball rate/problematically low flyball rate. In 2023, he played in a combined 102 games and ran a 46.1% groundball rate to a 32.2% flyball rate and 21.7% line drive rate. In 2024, he played in a combined 25 games and ran a 49.2% groundball rate to a 23.8% flyball rate and 27% line drive rate. In 2025, Reimer pulled more balls than ever, posting a 51.0% Pull rate, and hit more balls into the air than ever. He has always had solid in-game power, but was hamstringing himself by hitting the ball on the ground far too often. Lifting the ball more consistently, Reimer is driving the ball more and his burgeoning power really displayed itself in 2025.
A combination of facing more advanced pitchers combined with a hitting philosophy at the plate to go after more hittable pitches, Reimer’s Swing% is up slightly this past season, sitting at 43.3% as compared to 37.7% in his limited innings in 2024 and the 36.9% rate he posted in 2023. Reimer’s passivity at the plate was sometimes a source of concern in the past, as he would pass on just as many good pitches that he would be able drive as he did bad pitches. While he did swing-and-miss a bit more last season- he posted a 10.5% SwStr% last year, as opposed to a 8.2% rate in 2024 and a 7.8% rate in 2023- and make a bit less contact- he posted a 75.7% Contact%, as opposed to a 78.3% rate in 2024 and a 78.9% rate in 2023- Reimer’s overall offensive profile improved, as he was simply doing more damage.
For most of his prep career, Reimer played shortstop, but he grew off the position and was shifted over to third base in his senior year of high school. Since becoming a professional, he has primarily manned the hot corner, occasionally serving as DH and occasionally filling in at first base; in the 2024 Arizona Fall League, he even played a few games in left field for the Scottsdale Scorpions. Solidly built, Reimer is strong and athletic but does not have quick-twitch muscle. He is missing the explosive first step and lateral quickness that you want your third baseman to have, an issue compounded by passivity when fielding plays, letting the ball come to him instead of charging in on the ball. His arm is strong enough for third base, but his accuracy can sometimes be scattershot, depending on the difficulty of the play and how much time he has to set and release. If he puts on additional mass as he ages, his mobility will further suffer and he may be eventually forced to move off of the left side of the infield altogether.
2026 Mets Top 25 Prospect List
8) Ryan Clifford 9) Will Watson 10) Jack Wenninger 11) Mitch Voit 12) Jonathan Santucci 13) Elian Peña 14) Zach Thornton 15) Nick Morabito 16) R.J. Gordon 17) Chris Suero 18) Dylan Ross 19) Ryan Lambert 20) Antonio Jimenez 21) Edward Lantigua 22) Eli Serrano III 23) Randy Guzman 24) Daiverson Gutierrez 25) Boston Baro
