NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 16: LeBron James speaks onstage during the mind the game panel at Fanatics Fest NYC 2026 at Jacob Javits Center on July 16, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for Fanatics) | Getty Images for Fanatics
To the frustration of many, LeBron James didn’t announce where he was going to play next season at his live recording of the Mind the Game podcast at Fanatics Fest on Thursday afternoon. James did, however, mention in a separate interview with Rich Kleiman that he is inching closer to a decision.
“I won’t hold you guys up too much longer,” James said on Thursday.
LeBron James discusses the family aspect of his decision with Rich Kleiman:
“I have a 22-year-old son who is now a former teammate of mine … which is hilarious” pic.twitter.com/l4X6DRRteN
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More importantly, James detailed the factors that would influence his decision about where to play next. What’s best for his family, especially his 12-year-old daughter, Zhuri, will play a crucial role in what he decides to do.
James detailed that he pulled his daughter aside to tell her that he wouldn’t be playing for the Los Angeles Lakers next season. And because of that, he wouldn’t be home all the time, and wanted her input on the situation as an example of how much the family fit matters.
“The family portion is a big thing too,” James said. “My daughter, my wife, things of that nature. I’m a big family guy. So it’s a lot of things [that factor into this]. People are like, ‘Hurry up and make a goddamn decision Bron.’ It’s not just about the team.
“[There’s] so many other factors that I’m factoring in right now. Not only what best fits me as a player, but what fits me as a person, my happiness, and also my family as well. … The family portion of it is huge to me.”
It’s easy to see these comments and read this as meaning LeBron is going to come back to Cleveland. He still has plenty of ties to this area, and it’s a place his family has a lot of familiarity with. From that perspective, it seems like this is just setting up for a final reunion in Cleveland.
However, LeBron also seemed to indicate that the family may not be going with him to his next destination. If Los Angeles is still the home base, places like Cleveland, Miami, and Philadelphia aren’t exactly close by. Maybe the Golden State Warriors are more appealing in that situation — even though it seems like they’re currently behind the Cavs in that race.
We’ll see how this all unfolds soon enough. If we trust LeBron at his word, we hopefully won’t have to wait “too much longer” to find out where he’s planning on playing next season.
The NHL schedule was released Thursday, and Buffalo Sabres fans likely looked at it with one date in mind – the return of now-former Sabres star right winger and new Washington Capitals sniper Alex Tuch. But while Buffalo plays the Capitals in Washington on October 24 and November 19, Sabres fans won’t be able to cheer or boo Tuch in Buffalo until the two teams clash for the third and final time on March 18 – eight full months from now.
That said, it’s this writer’s opinion that, when Tuch does return to Buffalo, Sabres fans should be giving Tuch a warm welcome.
The end for Tuch in Buffalo comes after he’s spent five seasons in Buffalo following a trade from the Vegas Golden Knights. And in those five seasons, Tuch delivered solid results, even when the Sabres team around him was unable to be a Stanley Cup playoff team. He generated at least 33 goals and 66 points in three of the past four seasons, at a very team-friendly $4.75-million-per-season salary.
While the Sabres team he was part of continued to struggle to make the playoffs, Tuch never complained or big-timed anyone. He was reliable and gave Buffalo a power forward that only a few teams can boast of employing, and he could’ve signed an extension with the Sabres long ago. So now, both the Sabres and Tuch made their own business decisions, and each side had every right to choose to move on. And that’s what’s happened here.
The salary cap is designed to redistribute talent, and that's what the Capitals have done by acquiring Tuch. Tuch gave the Sabres a lot of good years, even when the team has struggled. He could’ve asked out at any point in time, and he didn’t.
And Buffalo could’ve kept him for the long haul by re-signing him before he hit the open market this summer, but the Sabres chose not to. If you’re going to boo Tuch for that, you should be booing Sabres management and ownership just as much. And you can do that starting in Game 1 of their home schedule on October 3 against the Chicago Blackhawks.
But it’s easier to just lob raspberries at Tuch rather than the bigger picture in Buffalo, isn’t it? You can call a player ‘selfish’ for getting as much money as the market will bear, but we’re not going to do that. The Sabres had a roller-coaster season, but Tuch played his part, putting up 33 goals and 66 points in 79 games. And he deserves credit for that.
The NHL’s salary cap is designed to redistribute talent, and that's what the Capitals have done by acquiring Tuch. He gave the Sabres some of the best years of his career,’and in the end, both the team and Tuch have, of their own volition, chose separate paths. That happens sometimes, even in the best scenarios. And Tuch isn't the villain for making the best business deal he could.
By the time Tuch rolls into Buffalo in mid-March, Sabres fans will have three-quarters of the season to debate and discuss, so we predict that will take some of the anger out of Sabres fans when they see Tuch in person.
Tuch has accepted a deal that everyone would take were it offered to them. And we don’t believe he should be crucified for that decision. He’s now 30 years old, so Tuch has less road ahead of him than behind him. It’s natural he’d want to go to a team he thinks has the best chance at a championship. And the reconstituted Capitals certainly have an easier road to a Cup final than the Sabres do in the highly-competitive Atlantic Division.
In the end, Tuch took the best deal he could get in a businessman’s decision. You can be upset that he didn’t stay in Buffalo for the rest of his career, but there’s no question that Sabres ownership and GM Jarmo Kekalainen should also be targets of your anger and frustration.
When Tuch steps on the ice in Buffalo as a member of the Capitals, the right thing to do is to cheer him for the time he spent in Western New York. He didn’t win a Cup with the Sabres, but Tuch fought a good fight for Buffalo, and he deserves a happy sendoff as he and the Sabres move in their own preferred direction.
General manager Rob Pelinka has retooled the Lakers roster this summer, but it appears he’s looking to make two more moves before calling it complete.
It’s common knowledge that the Lakers are targeting free agent forward Jonathan Kuminga. The 23-year-old has expressed interest in donning the purple and gold, but Kuminga isn’t willing to take the current Lakers offer.
General manager Rob Pelinka is looking to add two key players to the roster before the offseason ends. Getty Images
Thybulle would bring the Lakers the perimeter defense the squad has lacked in recent years. He’s spent the last parts of four seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers, but has only played in a combined 132 games because of injuries.
Matisse Thybulle has spent parts of four seasons with the Trail Blazers. NBAE via Getty Images
It is important to note that Thybulle has played in over 70 games in a single season only once. During the 2025-26 campaign, Thybulle played just 30 games.
Nevertheless, Thybulle is widely recognized as an elite and disruptive defender on the court. Health is the biggest factor in Thybulle’s success as he could very well emerge as the Lakers top perimeter defender.
Thybulle has earned All-Defensive Second Team twice throughout his career.
He also has proven lethal from beyond the arc offensively. Despite a career .349 shooting percentage from downtown, the last two seasons has seen Thybulle drill triples at 44% and 40%, respectively.
The 29-year-old appears to be a great fit for the Lakers, but that would require the team to find additional money to sign Thybulle.
Jonathan Kuminga remains a free agent as the Lakers look to sign the forward. Getty Images
There are several questions surrounding the Lakers roster heading into the upcoming season, but adding Kuminga and Thybulle would certainly put some doubts to rest.
Now, it’s up to Pelinka to cement a championship roster.
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Connor McMichael has signed a six-year, $40.5 million contract with the St. Louis Blues.
General manager Alex Steen, who took over the job from Doug Armstrong on July 1, announced the deal Thursday. McMichael will count $6.75 million against the salary cap through the 2031-32 NHL season.
McMichael joined the team as part of the return from the Washington Capitals in the Jordan Kyrou trade last month. St. Louis also got a first-round pick and prospect Milton Gastrin.
This long-term contract more than triples McMichael's salary after he made $2.1 million each of the past two seasons.
The 25-year-old forward is coming off setting a career high with 32 assists and also scoring 14 goals in 78 games with the Capitals. He has 162 points in 333 regular season and playoff games since making his debut in the league in 2021 after getting taken with the 25th pick in the 2019 draft.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 13: Allen Graves #22 of the Toronto Raptors dribbles the ball against Braden Smith #3 of the Indiana Pacers during the first half of a 2026 NBA Summer League game at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 13, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The hopes for Toronto to come away with a Summer League championship briefly diminished after their first game but have been holding steady over the last few days. Two teams remain undefeated (with one game left each), four teams clinched a 3-1 record, and six more (including Toronto have the chance to make it 3-1. From there, ranking will be based on point differential. Some matchups are among the top teams though, so those still in the running for a spot will drastically drop before the night is over.
At this point, a few stars have to align, including not only taking home a win tonight, but also setting up a significant point differential. Brooklyn’s (2-1) is 17 at the moment, so it would be tough to overtake them, unless they lose their matchup. The fourth spot would be a bit more manageable, but still hard to tell with so much basketball left to play.
So far, after the disappointing loss in the first game, the summer squad had followed up with two solid victories, prompted by strong performances from rookie Allen Graves, as well as Seth Lundy (GAME-SEALING BLOCK???) and Tyreke Key. Nate Bittle has had great minutes as a starter, seeing double digits in both points and rebounds and may be working his way into a roster spot. While final roster decisions aren’t clear, this will be everyone’s last chance for a showing that could earn them an NBA contract. Without all of the sophomore players, Toronto is giving lots of court time to the younger guys still hoping to earn a roster spot with them, or someone else by October.
Miami so far is 1-2 in Summer League, lacking in rebounding and sitting in the middle of the pack in pretty much every statistical category. They don’t turn the ball over much, ranked first among SL teams but their defence is efficient at forcing their opponents to cough up the ball.
Toronto will have to focus on keeping the ball secure by making good passes and not forcing possessions and giving them up. They’ll also need to be active on the glass and try and earn second chances that way to gain extra possessions. At their best, their defence will force Miami to make tough shots and the Raptors can come away with the rebound.
With any luck, they can follow that game plan to the buzzer and wait to see how other teams do, hoping for that top four spot.
Tune in on LeaguePass to catch the action at 9pm ET and see if Toronto is able to find a way into the championship game.
Clay Holmes is getting closer to seeing actual game action.
After watching Holmes have a successful live in Brooklyn on Tuesday, interim manager Andy Green said the right-hander looked like himself before giving a positive update on the Mets starter.
"Assuming everything moves forward, he’s inching closer to going out to an affiliate and pitching in a rehab assignment," Green said. "Everything depends on the day-to-day, but he’s inching closer to that."
Green didn't have a target date for the rehab, but said Holmes' next step depends on how he recovers and how he feels. Holmes will throw a side between his live on Tuesday and whenever he sees game action, but once he checks every box, the organization and Holmes will commit to the start of the rehab assignment.
However, Green said they are not rushing Holmes to come back, and if the 33-year-old needs more time, they'll give it to him.
"Nothing wrong with taking a couple of extra days [before rehab begins]," Green said. "[Holmes is] doing well."
Before his injury, Holmes was the Mets' most consistent pitcher. He pitched to a 4-4 record and a 2.39 ERA.
Green also gave a short update on Luis Robert Jr. The outfielder is working out with the Syracuse Mets on Thursday before he plays in Friday's game.
If everything looks good and Robert comes out of it okay, the first-year Met could rejoin the team "relatively soon."
ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Blues and Connor McMichael were destined to be matched up despite the clock ticking on an arbitration hearing.
The chances of the restricted free agent forward and the team reaching June 25 were slim to none, but nevertheless, the clock was still ticking.
Until Thursday when the two sides reached agreement on a six-year, $40.5 million contract that will pay the 25-year-old an average annual value of $6.75 million. It carries a three-team modified no-trade clause the final four years, including expiring Feb. 1 on the expiring year, according to puckpedia.com.
So it wasn't a question of if McMichael would get his contract but when.
"Just based off those first few phone calls, it seems like they're excited to have me and happy that they were able to acquire me," McMichael said of the Blues. "For me, that's all that matters is that this organization wants me and appreciates me. That's going to be a big thing.
"... It's a team that's looking to build and get better and better each year. There's quite a few guys the same age as me, so that's real exciting."
McMichael, acquired from the Washington Capitals along with a 2026 first-round pick and a 2025 second-round prospect (Milton Gastrin) for Jordan Kyrou, recorded 46 points (14 goals, 32 assists) for the Capitals last season after putting up a career-best 26 goals and 57 points in 2024-25 over 82 games.
He joins a group as part of a young core of forwards that includes Robert Thomas, Jimmy Snuggerud, Dylan Holloway Jake Neighbours, Dalibor Dvorsky, Jonatan Berggren and newly acquired Mason McTavish.
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For the Knicks, winning the title already was tough.
Defending it will be even harder.
“It will be different, for sure,” star Jalen Brunson admitted Thursday at the event WSJ Sports: The Next Sports Economy. “Obviously, for the first eight years I went through disappointment, obviously losing at the end of the season. And now winning, I think it’s an even bigger challenge. Now, it’s a target on your back. Now, players and teams have changed, they’ve gotten better.
Jalen Brunson speaks during WSJ Sports: The Next Sports Economy at Lincoln Center on July 16, 2026. Getty Images
“So, how are we going to evolve as a team? How are we going to figure out what’s the next step for us? And that’s going to be a really big, important question coming in the training camp: How are we going to be better? How are we going to literally look at the trophy, know that was last year and then forget about it? And so, it’s going to be a very interesting training camp to see where our mind’s at. But I’m excited for the challenge.”
Brunson captained the Knicks to a thrilling NBA Finals victory over the Spurs, helping them end their 53-year title drought. As challenging as that was, he knows defending that crown will be even tougher, with the league now in an era of parity.
New punitive financial restrictions, like the second apron of the luxury tax, have led to eight different winners in the last eight years. Though the Western Conference is loaded with San Antonio and Oklahoma City at the top, the East has gotten tougher around the Knicks.
For the reigning champs, standing still could mean falling behind. They’ve already lost center Mitchell Robinson, but they can’t afford to lose their edge as well. Between their truncated offseason, and being toasted and feted and told how great they are, that can be a challenge in its own right.
“Absolutely,” Brunson said. “You definitely lose a lot of time — obviously for the right reason; we got it done — to be able to go through the summer and realize, ‘All right, there’s a lot on your plate now.’
“How are you going to remain hungry? How are you going to remain focused? How are you going to push the envelope for you to be better the next time? So, those are all questions that I believe I have the answers for. I feel like I know what I’m doing to push myself. But only time will tell.”
Brunson is a founding member of the JPMorganChase Athlete Council, which helps athletes handle their finances. The All-Star famously took less money in his extension with the Knicks to help them build out their roster.
It paid off. Once they got back to the Eastern Conference finals — where they’d lost the previous year to the Pacers — Brunson said he knew they had a real shot at breaking through. They put those hard-learned lessons to use, and their series of comeback victories against the Spurs in the NBA Finals closed the deal.
“I think once we got to the conference finals — obviously we lost there a season ago — just getting back there, back to where we were, we understand what we did last time and how can we change that,” Brunson said.
Jalen Brunson and the Knicks celebrate winning the NBA championship. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“I think once we started to continue to win there, [I knew] we [would] actually have a chance. But it was I think the best part about it: We just kept chipping away the entire season and just kept chipping away, chipping away. You just never knew when things were going to break through. And having that mindset, then once they actually did, it was kind of a sigh of relief.”
Now, Brunson said he’ll enjoy some downtime with his family, recover from surgery on his left wrist and forearm and then turn his eyes toward a title defense — even if it is with Robinson playing for rival Boston.
“First and foremost, I love Mitch. I’m happy for Mitch. I will always love Mitch except those four times we play him,” Brunson said. “But, that’s my brother. I’m super excited for him. It’s a great opportunity for him. And, yeah, I’m happy … except for those four times.”
Major League Baseball released its full-season schedule for the 2027 campaign on Thursday.
Whether the season starts on time, of course, remains very much in question, with the league and the players’ union locked in a contentious CBA battle that is likely to lead to a lockout when the current CBA expires Dec. 1.
The Dodgers are scheduled to open the 2027 season against the Braves. Steve Cukrov – stock.adobe.com
For now, though, let’s live in a perfect world in which the year kicks off as scheduled.
Here are highlights of the Dodgers’ 2027 schedule:
Opening Day
The Dodgers will open at home once again, welcoming the Braves to town for a Thursday Opening Day game on March 25. That will be followed by a Friday off-day, before the series concludes on Saturday and Sunday of that weekend.
The Dodgers and Braves crossed paths in the playoffs in the 2018, 2020 and 2021 seasons, and could do so again this October, with both teams leading their division at the All-Star break.
Longest road trip
The Dodgers’ longest road stretch will come quickly, with a 10-game swing against the Rockies, Dbacks and Padres during their first road trip of the season April 1-11.
It could help the division race take shape early on.
Jackie Robinson Day
As usual, the Dodgers will be home when MLB celebrates Jackie Robinson Day on April 15, hosting the Rockies for the occasion as part of 13 consecutive intradivision games following their three-city trip.
Will Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman (5) and Mookie Betts (50) celebrate another World Series ring ceremony in 2027? MediaNews Group via Getty Images
Home rivalries
The Dodgers will stage their first home series against their chief NL West rivals, the Giants and Padres, in May, with the Giants visiting for four games May 6-9 and the Padres coming to town for three May 21-23.
Holiday games
The Dodgers will be home for several holidays, including Easter Sunday (March 28 against the Braves), Mother’s Day (May 9 against the Giants), Juneteenth and Father’s Day (June 19-20 against the Marlins) and Independence Day (July 4 against the Mets).
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The Dodgers will visit each of the league’s two oldest venues in 2027, going to Fenway Park for three games against the Red Sox May 14-16 and Wrigley Field for four games against the Cubs June 3-6.
The Angels are scheduled to visit Dodger Stadium after the All-Star break next season. Oak City Drone – stock.adobe.com
Freeway Series
The Dodgers and Angels will play a pair of three-game Freeway Series against the Angels, first going to Anaheim May 28-30 before hosting the Angels following the All-Star break July 16-18.
World Series rematches
Time will tell if the Dodgers can get back to the World Series for a third consecutive season this year. But they already have two recent World Series rematches on the books for the second half of next season, with the Yankees and Blue Jays coming to Dodger Stadium Aug. 27-29 and Sept. 13-15, respectively.
Stretch run
The team’s September slate is full of potentially important division matchups, including visits from the Padres (Sept. 10-12) and Dbacks (Sept. 16-19), and a season-closing road trip to Colorado and Arizona (Sept. 21-26).
Apr 3, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; F-16 ’s fighting falcons of the 140th wing of the Colorado Air National guard fly over Coors Field before the opening day game between the Philadelphia against the Colorado Rockies. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Earlier this afternoon, the Colorado Rockies announced their preliminary 2027 schedule.
Assuming there is no interruption due to negotiations between the MLBPAA and the owners, Opening Day is slated for March 25th.
The Rockies are set to begin the year on the road once again, but this time they are on the West Coast, facing the San Francisco Giants in a three-game set right out of the gate followed by another three-game set against the San Diego Padres.
They will then return home on April 1st for a four-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers and a three-game set against the Miami Marlins. This will mark the fifth time in franchise history that the Rockies have faced the Dodgers at Coors Field for the Home Opener, and the first time since 2022 where they lost 5-3. They then took the next two games 3-2 and 9-4, though, respectively.
As always, the Rockies will play 13 games against the NL West. They will also play one home and one road series against the other teams in the NL, and at least one series with each AL team. The Rockies will host the New York Yankees for three games on July 26-28, and will welcome the Chicago Cubs to Coors Field for Father’s Day weekend (June 18-20). The Toronto Blue Jays will spend July 4th in Denver.
In addition to hosting the Yankees and Blue Jays, the Rockies will also have interleague matchups at home against the not-Oakland Athletics, Detroit Tigers, Minnesota Twins, Houston Astros, Chicago White Sox, and Los Angeles Angels. In fact, the Pittsburgh Pirates series from May 17-19 is the only home NL series in May.
Finally, the All-Star break will take place at Wrigley Field in Chicago from July 12-15.
Opening Day is only 252 days away! Which series are you most looking forward to? Let us know in the comments!
Opening Day always brings optimism. The White Sox will hope the excitement at Rate Field on April 1, 2027, carries all the way to a return to the postseason. | (Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
All right, White Sox fans, grab a pen and brace yourselves: Major League Baseball just dropped the 2027 schedule. Opening Day is set for a Wednesday night, March 24, with an exclusive Netflix game, though nobody knows who’s actually playing. It will be the earliest Opening Day in MLB history. The rest of the league gets going the next day, March 25. Of course, with a lockout looming, don’t bet the house on baseball actually happening that night, but hey, dream big.
Opening Day is scheduled for Thursday, March 25, 2027, in Detroit, where the White Sox will start the 2027 season against the Tigers. The South Siders last opened a season in Motown on April 8, 2022. Chicago lost 5-4 when closer Liam Hendricks blew the save in the ninth. Good times.
Funny enough, that 2022 opener was supposed to be at home against Minnesota, but a lockout shuffled the deck and sent the Sox to Detroit instead. Sound familiar?
Opening at home vs. Milwaukee
The Good Guys will head back to Chicago for their home opener at Rate Field on Thursday, April 1, against the Brewers. The last time the White Sox hosted the Brewers on Opening Day was April 9, 1990, at Old Comiskey Park. It was the final Opening Day ever played there before the wrecking ball took the old girl down. The South Siders won 2-1 in front of a crowd of 40,008 with Bobby Thigpen getting the first of his eventual record-setting 57 saves that season.
Crosstown Series vs. Cubs
The 2027 Crosstown Series against the Chicago Cubs includes two sets: the White Sox will visit Wrigley Field from Friday, July 16 through Sunday, July 18, before hosting the Cubs at Rate Field from Friday, August 6 through Sunday, August 8. The Cubs currently hold a slim edge, 77-75, in the Crosstown Classic since interleague play began in 1997. Fortunately, three games remain this season, so bragging rights are still up for grabs.
Interleague play
Interleague play means 16 three-game sets for the Sox, half at home, half on the road. Here’s the rundown:
Home series against
Milwaukee Brewers (April 1, 3-4), San Francisco Giants (April 16-18), St. Louis Cardinals (May 3-5), Miami Marlins (May 14-16), Philadelphia Phillies (June 7-9), Arizona Diamondbacks (July 9-11), Chicago Cubs (August 6-8), and San Diego Padres (September 24-26).
Road series against
Los Angeles Dodgers (April 26-28), Pittsburgh Pirates (May 21-23), Cincinnati Reds (June 29-30, July 1), Chicago Cubs (July 16-18), Colorado Rockies (August 13-15), New York Mets (August 27-29), Atlanta Braves (September 10-12), and Washington Nationals (September 17-19).
Holiday baseball
Memorial Day brings the Tampa Bay Rays to Chicago on May 31. For Independence Day, the Sox head to Texas to tangle with the Rangers on July 4.
Regular-season finale
The regular season wraps up with a three-game home series against the San Diego Padres from September 24-26.
2027 All-Star Game in Chicago
The 2027 MLB All-Star Game will be played on Tuesday, July 13, at Wrigley Field in Chicago.
Tickets & broadcast information
Dates, times, and complete broadcast information will be released in the coming months. Deposits for 2027 season tickets can be placed now by calling 312-674-1000 or visiting whitesox.com/seasontickets.
NOTE: As always, the schedule remains subject to change throughout the offseason.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 09: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers has words with a fan sitting in the front row during their game against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on April 09, 2026 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s all of our biggest fear. Could LeBron James duck another return to the Cleveland Cavaliers in favor of the Golden State Warriors?
ESPN’s Shams Charania seems doubtful.
In what has been an endless loop of reporting, Charania provided yet another update on James’ desires for his next team. The latest? James is still favoring a handful of teams over the Warriors.
“[The Warriors] are, to my knowledge, behind other teams such as Miami, Cleveland, and Philadelphia,” Charania said on ESPN today.
This tracks with what we’ve previously heard. It was reported earlier this week that multiple Western Conference execs believe LeBron is headed East. Marc Stein says that many of these execs feel that Cleveland is the ‘scenario to beat’ in chasing LeBron.
That should speak for itself.
Joining the Warriors would be the most controversial thing James could do this summer (in terms of basketball). There is no other team in the association that has been a bigger rival or cost him more titles. Choosing to end his career with the franchise that will be remembered as his greatest foe would be quite the decision.
There’s natural interest in teaming up with Stephen Curry. The two were a dynamic duo in the 2024 Olympic Games and would be finishing their careers with a bang. Yet, that scenario feels like something you’d accept in NBA 2K. Not real life. Most fans outside of California would feel conflicted watching James in a Golden State jersey.
James wouldn’t face much backlash if he joined any other team. He already has a relationship with Miami and there’s relatively zero animosity between him and Philadelphia. Both fan bases would welcome him with open arms, and neutral fans would mostly accept his decision.
Of course, Cleveland is the overwhelming favorite from a narrative perspective. Call me biased — but I don’t see how a final homecoming can be topped by any other scenario. This is the storybook ending that’s been discussed for years.
We won’t know the answer for some time still. Though James recently promised that he wouldn’t leave us hanging much longer. Until then, we can only scroll social media and wait for more updates.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JULY 3: Christian Scott #45 of the New York Mets pitches against the Atlanta Braves in the first inning at Truist Park on July 3, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Brett Davis/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Mets lineup
A.J. Ewing – CF
Juan Soto – LF
Bo Bichette – 3B
Francisco Lindor – SS
Carson Benge – RF
Jorge Polanco – DH
Jared Young – 1B
Brett Baty – 2B
Francisco Alvarez – C
Christian Scott – RHP
Phillies lineup
Trea Turner – SS
Kyle Schwarber – DH
Bryce Harper – 1B
Brandon Marsh – LF
Alec Bohm – 3B
Bryson Stott – 2B
J.T. Realmuto – C
Gabriel Rincones – RF
Justin Crawford – CF
Aaron Nola – RHP
Broadcast info
First pitch: 6:10 PM EDT TV: ESPN Radio: Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM, Audacy App, 92.3 HD2
Citizens Bank Park felt like the inside of Jeff Spicoli’s van Thursday night.
The air was tinged with the drifting smoke of Canadian wildfires as the Phillies and New York Mets got back to work in less than ideal conditions after the All-Star break.
Early in the day, Major League Baseball considered postponing the game because of poor air quality. There was a hitch, though. This was the only game on the schedule as the All-Star break continued for 28 other teams, and ESPN was in the house to broadcast the game nationally.
Damn the lungs! Play ball!
The start time was moved up an hour to 6:10 p.m., but that didn’t help the Phillies much as they lost, 4-1, to the Mets.
The air was a murky gray at first pitch. Conditions worsened as the game went on. Umpires checked with players to see if they were OK throughout the game.
Phillies left fielder Brandon Marsh said it was tough to see a line drive by Jorge Polanco in the eighth inning. Marsh ended up making the play.
“The conditions played no part in the final result,” he said. “They played through the same stuff we did. We just have to be better.”
By definition, Aaron Nola turned in a quality start for the Phillies. That’s what you call it when a pitcher goes six innings or more and allows three or fewer earned runs.
But Nola’s quality start featured a few low-quality pitches. Three of them landed over the wall.
While Nola did manage to keep his team in the game, the offense did not capitalize. The Phillies, who rank dead last in the majors with a .302 on-base percentage, had just four hits and they left runners on the corners in a 1-0 game when Marsh struck out to end the sixth.
Marsh, who was leading the National League with a .338 batting average on June 7, is hitting .167 in July. He is down to .297 for the season.
He did line out to left in his final at-bat of the night.
“That last one felt really good,” he said. “Something I can build off. I felt good after that last one, for sure.”
Mets starter Christian Scott held the Phillies to three hits over 5 2/3 scoreless innings. He walked none and struck out seven.
Nola pitched into the seventh inning. He walked four and struck out six. He got some big outs, like when he pitched out of a no-out, bases-loaded jam in the fifth. He allowed six hits, but three of them were solo homers. One came on a slider, one on a sinker and one on a four-seam fastball.
“The stuff feels good,” Nola said. “The solo home runs hurt me. I feel like that’s how it’s gone this year and last year. I make a mistake over the plate and they don’t miss it.”
Nola said the move-up in start time did not affect him. He had been at the ballpark long before the time change was announced.
But he acknowledged: “It was really smoky. Not ideal. But it is what it is. It’s an outdoor stadium. You have to get the game in and play through different conditions.”
Nola was at 90 pitches through six innings. Friday night in Detroit, manager Don Mattingly hooked the right-hander after five innings and the bullpen imploded. This time, Mattingly stuck with Nola for the seventh and the right-hander gave up back-to-back homers to Brett Baty and Francisco Alvarez (his second of the game) to put the Mets ahead, 3-0.
“So, I take him out too early and leave him in too long,” Mattingly said in response to a question about how he’s handled Nola the last two starts. “I take each game for what it is. He was throwing the ball good. If he’d struggled in the sixth, I would have been more proactive. But he threw the ball so well in the sixth, I felt good about him there.”
The Phillies had just three hits through the first seven innings. Trea Turner clubbed a solo homer in the eighth, but it was too little too late, even before the Mets padded their lead against reliever Seth Johnson in the ninth.
The air was hazy at the start of the game. Still, a crowd of 40,109 turned out. By mid-game, the air quality worsened. Center City, usually eye-grabbing day or night, was not visible as a low cloud hung over the ballpark. All that was missing was Bela Lugosi. Or Jeff Spicoli’s van. Or some Phillies’ offense.
More smoke is in the forecast for Friday, but the two teams are off. The series resumes Saturday, when rain is in the forecast.
For the White Sox offense, it has become a tale of two hands. | (yourtherapysource.com)
The homestand before the All-Star break went to wild extremes. Sure, being swept in the first series was in part because Boston is a pretty good team despite its record. And sweeping the second one was in part because the A’s are awful, especially with their best hitters out or slumping.
But the handedness thing was something else again. It was only a few years ago that the White Sox killed lefties. Now they just roll over and play dead. That final week painted a vivid picture of the situation.
The Red Sox started three back-of-the-rotation lefties. The White Sox scored one run, zero runs, and one run.
The Athletics used a lefty opener in the first game, and he retired all five batters he faced. Then they brought in a righty — the constipation-relief-sounding bulk reliever — and the Sox scored 14 runs. In the next game, against a regular left-handed starter, the White Sox scored one run. In the finale, against a pretty decent right-hander, they scored nine.
Even stranger, the Sox lineup without Munetaka Murakami doesn’t, on the surface, explain the wide disparity of handedness.
Or does it? Let’s take a look.
THE TWO EXTREMES
GRAND CANYON WIDE: Anyone who wonders why Will Venable will sit .300+ hitting All-Star left-handed hitter Tristan Peters for far-below-the-Mendoza-line Junior Perez against southpaws need only take a look at Peters’ platoon splits, which are as wide as they come:
Vs. RHP: .324/.376/.523, for an amazing .899 OPS, a batting average that would be third in MLB
Vs. LHP: .111/.172/.111, for an abysmal .284 OPS, which is less than half the lowest OPS in the majors this year
Note that his three hits against lefties are all singles and were probably all bunts. Maybe they don’t have lefty pitchers in Banana Ball.
BACKWARDS: When Colson Montgomery bashes a lefty, Steve Stone is inclined to act surprised. He shouldn’t be, because lefty Colson has reverse splits, and pretty big ones at that:
Vs. RHP: .206/.294/.433, an OPS of about-average .727
Vs. LHP: .250/.319/.546, a fine OPS of .866, with a higher percentage of homers and doubles, but also more K’s per AB
How can that be? Maybe because his main weakness is high heat, which doesn’t have a handedness factor. Or maybe because he also has trouble with breaking balls under his hands, which are harder for a southpaw to throw.
LET’S LOOK AT THE REST
Overall, in big-league ball, platoon splits are actually quite small, statistically. It’s no doubt because managers play the righty-lefty game so much and don’t bat especially vulnerable players like Peters. Still, right-handed batters hit righty pitchers for a .692 OPS and lefties for .750, only slightly more. Same small difference for lefty hitters, .679 OPS against lefties, .731 vs. righties.
For the White Sox, in descending bWAR order, bearing in mind that WAR is a cumulative stat, so those with fewer games played will be at a disadvantage:
Miguel Vargas, 3.3 bWAR, All-Star, bats right-handed, power hitter you’d expect to have large splits
Vs. RHP: .233/.338/.454, .792 OPS Vs. LHP: .272/.395/.583, .978 OPS
Fairly pronounced splits, but no real weakness either way.
Chase Meidroth, 1.9 bWAR, bats right-handed, contact hitter you’d expect to have small splits
Vs. RHP: .247/.325/.342, a satanic .666 OPS Vs. LHP: .320/.381/.466, nifty .847 OPS
Bit of a surprise, right?
Munetaka Murakami: 1.8 bWAR despite losing time, bats left-handed, a pure power hitter
Vs. RHP: .250/.383/.595, sky-high .978 OPS Vs. LHP: .190/.342/.413, still an above-average .754 OPS despite low BA thanks to homers and walks
Pretty much what you might expect, especially since the fear he couldn’t hit heat was misplaced, but he does have a problem with breaking pitches unless they hang, in which case they travel very, very far.
Sam Antonacci: 1.6 bWAR despite starting season late, bats left-handed, mostly a contact hitter
Vs. RHP: .314/.405/.475, nifty .881 OPS in part thanks to 11 doubles Vs. LHP: .193/.292/.211, really bad .503 OPS
Did you realize Antonacci was that bad against lefties? I sure didn’t. Helps explain the team’s failures in that direction since he’s the spirit of the outfit.
Vs. RHP: .204/.200/.388, OPS. 588 Vs. LHP: .273/.319/.591, very solid .910 OPS
Yet somehow, he, Vargas, and Meidroth aren’t enough to close the handedness gap.
Braden Montgomery: 0.1 bWAR, but only up for 29 games so far, switch-hitter
Vs. RHP: .233/.325/.438, above-average .761 OPS Vs. LHP: .226/.242/.290, very poor OPS .532
An important note is that he draws lots of walks from righties, but, in a small sample size of 31 trips to the plate, has just one walk the other way, against 10 strikeouts.
Kyle Teel: 0.0 bWAR, bats left-handed, only 51 AB, so too small a sample size to count, but he does have pretty big splits in the normal direction, as he also had last year.
Andrew Benintendi: -0.2 bWAR, bat left-handed
Vs. RHP: .251/.313/.458, OPS .772 Vs. LHP: .182/.229/.212, but he’s rarely allowed to bat against lefties, just 33 AB
Interestingly, Benintendi has a career OPS of .703 against lefties, and had big reverse splits last year. Maybe he forgot how to hit them, or they learned how to pitch him.
Luisangel Acuña: -0.2 bWAR, contact hitter, speedster, bats right-handed, even though Chris Getz thinks he’s a switch-hitter
Vs. RHP: .229/.286/.277 for a .563 OPS Vs. LHP: .258/.265/.288 for a .553 OPS
Note the much higher average against lefties, as you’d expect. But almost no walks from them, so almost the same OPS either way.
Junior Perez and Drew Romo: Not worth worrying about
SO, WHAT DID WE LEARN?
Well, there are reasons the White Sox hit right-handed pitchers better, but there sure aren’t enough reasons to explain the huge difference on the team level. They just have to hope opponents don’t decide to bring lefties up from the minors or out of the bleachers whenever the Sox are on the schedule. Or that they learn how to hit lefties better.
