SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 10: Mitch Garver #18 of the Seattle Mariners reacts after striking out against the Detroit Tigers during the fifth inning in game five of the American League Division Series at T-Mobile Park on October 10, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good day everyone! It’s Saturday, and we’ve got some news from around the league to share with you.
In Mariners news…
Cal Raleigh played a major role in Mitch Garver’s return to the team.
Mitch Garver is in camp and ready to go. Said Cal encouraged him to give the Mariners a call and the deal was done within 24 hours.
Davy Andrews at Fangraphs provided his analysis of the Mariners’ re-signing of Garver, in which he tries to figure out what happened to the catcher’s once-incredible bat.
Though Jen Pawol will serve as an umpire throughout spring training for the third straight season, she did not get a permanent umpiring job for the regular season.
Bradford William Davis reports that Orioles owner David Rubenstein set himself up to profit from Donald Trump’s mass immigrant deportations.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 28: Luinder Avila #58 of the Kansas City Royals pitches against the Athletics during the ninth inning at Sutter Health Park on September 28, 2025 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Scott Marshall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
“A lot of guys have tough years,” he said, “and you just keep fighting and you learn something from it. You learn from it, you move on and you kind of leave the result in the past.”
Massey is excited for a fresh start at spring training in Arizona, where the Royals played the Texas Rangers in their Cactus League opener on Friday. The Royals will utilize him in more of a hybrid role this season because of how their roster is constructed. It’s expected he will see time at second base and keep working in the outfield, as well.
“He looks great physically,” Quatraro said. “His demeanor has been tremendous. He’s healthy and he’s throwing the ball with great extension and great carry.
“I think in fairness to Bailey, he came over and he was in a tough spot. He was banged up a little bit and we probably saw him at his worst. I think to his credit, the way he’s put that behind him and moved forward throughout the offseason has been tremendous.”
Theoretically, going with a five-man rotation for a full year gives two guys 34 starts and three guys 33. Going with a six-man rotation all year gives everyone 27 starts. Six or seven starts coming off the arm could be the difference between freshness for the playoffs or not. But one thing that I think you have to keep in mind with that six-man rotation is that you do have a deficiency now in the bullpen, so I think the extra rest will have to be used to give starting pitchers a bit of a longer leash. Again, I don’t have the biometrics or anything so I’m just talking here, but if you’re counting on 15-18 outs every night, I think that needs to be bumped up to 18-21.
Matt Quatraro thinks Luinder Avila could be an ace someday.
Asked Q if he sees Luinder Avila as a starter or a reliever:
“Shoot, I see him as a front-of-the-rotation starter down the road.” #Royals
However, Quatraro’s assessment has me reconsidering. Having Avila in the rotation was always a possibility, but “front of the rotation?” Whoa. In order to make that happen, he’s going to have to refine and rely on that changeup a little more. That would give him another weapon against left-handed hitters. If Avila starts attacking hitters with three pitches—curve, four-seam, sinker against righties and curve, four-seam, change versus lefties—that changes the calculus in determining his future role on the big league club. If I were to tell you something to watch this spring, it would be Avila’s pitch mix. Let’s see if he throws the change with more frequency. Could he even add another pitch to the mix? He’s talented enough to pull something new out of the bag.
Feb 18, 2026; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets managerCarlos Mendoza (64) gets ready to do a television interview during spring training workouts at Clover Park. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images | Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images
Jen Pawol will be one of the umpires working in spring training, but she still has not been awarded a spot amongst the regular season roster of umpires.
There were a lot of notable breakouts in the Mets’ system last year. Nolan McLean went from an interesting arm in the back third of the top-101 to a potential top-of-the-rotation and the putative favorite for the 2026 National League Rookie of the Year. Jonah Tong started in a similar place and ended up only a little behind McLean, still clearly in need of more polish also one of the best pitching prospects in the game. Carson Benge is now a top-10 or top-20 prospect that’s likely to break camp as the starting right fielder and might be the second favorite for NL ROTY. Will Watson and Josh Wenninger (and also Zach Thornton, before he got hurt) took huge jumps to land in the 75 – 125 range globally. Jacob Reimer and Ryan Clifford took big steps forward.
Amidst all of this, it seems that A.J. Ewing’s significant improvements are being overlooked. Sure, he only hit 3 HR this past season and spent most of his season in the low minors (primarily Brooklyn), and that’s not as flashy as some other performances. What he did do is post a 147 wRC+ across three levels while stealing 70 bases, walking 12% of the time, all while adapting to both a revamped swing and a defensive transition from the infield to center. Oh and he did all of that as a 20-year-old who was originally drafted as an over-slot prep pick in the 4th round and who posted a 102 wRC+ with a nearly 30% strikeout rate in Single-A in 2024.
Ewing now profiles as a 70 or 80-grade runner, one who is a reasonably safe bet to be a plus defender in center and who can play some on the dirt to boot. He’s shown a penchant for great swing decisions, avoiding the passivity issues that plague many other hitters in the Mets system while maintaining strong in-zone contact rates. As for the lack of power, it’s more an issue of intent that anything else right now; Ewing actually hits the ball quite hard, but a lot of that contact goes the other way and/or at low angles (read as – a lot of hard, low line drives). It’s generally easier to teach a guy who already hits the ball hard how to spray it around a bit better rather than the inverse, so it’s fair to project more over-the-fence power in the relatively near future for Ewing.
That’s a hell of a player. As is, the speed, defense, and contact give him a likely floor as a solid regular in center field. If he can actualize more of his power – get to a 10 – 15 or 15 – 20 HR guy rather than the pure contact maven he is now – we’re talking about a potential All Star. He’s also probably closer to the majors than you realize after closing out the season with a successful (though flawed, evidence by the degradation of his walk and strikeout rates) 28 game stint in Double-A with a 133 wRC+.
This is another instance where the actions of the Mets front office are potentially indicative of how optimistic we should be. Ewing popped up in multiple trade rumors this offseason (often times a sign that a player is actually being dangled or asked about), but it was Jett Williams and Brandon Sproat who headed to Milwaukee for Freddy Peralta. The Mets also elected to go with a year-to-year option in center field with Luis Robert rather than make a longer-term commitment, leaving Ewing some runway in the near-to-medium term. And of course, Ewing’s defensive projection aligns very well with the run prevention philosophy that David Stearns espoused early in the offseason.
All of this should paint a big green up arrow next to Ewing in your mind. He’s clearly the 3rd or 4th best prospect in the system, a top-50 prospect in baseball per Baseball Prospectus, and a player who could make an impact as soon as this year. Even with the risk associated with all prospects, that’s the kind of guy you get excited about.
A burner. In a group chat full of “stan” accounts. Speaking poorly of his teammates.
What?
Well, it’s a testament to your poor judgment if you expect emotional maturity from NBA superstars. This man has been exalted for 20 years. Shame is likely less of a variable in his life than it is in yours or mine.
That said, it is imperative (potentially for legal reasons, and if not certainly for journalistic integrity) to note that we do not know if it was Durant.
It does feel like it was Durant, though, doesn’t it?
He had every opportunity to deny it. Deflection without denial is suspect at best. If you suspect your partner of cheating, and when confronted, they tell you, “I’m not here to talk about all that cheating nonsense”…
I have got bad news for you.
Still, speculation is speculative in nature. Maybe it was, maybe it wasn’t. Here’s the rub:
The Rockets may have to make a choice this summer anyway.
Rockets might reach an inflection point
Theoretically, there are three options:
Do nothing.
Win-now moves
Future-focused moves
If the Rockets win a playoff series, option 1 will likely appeal. The theory that re-inserting Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams into the equation will yield sufficient improvement will carry some weight.
What if they don’t?
I just spilled ample ink on how important Fred VanVleet is. So much as I stand by that, it would be a bit hard to accept that a first-round exit team would be vaulted into serious title contention by his low assist-to-turnover ratio. If the Rockets can’t win one playoff series, it’s hard decision time.
In essence, that means either Antetokounmpo season, or sending Durant to the Hornets team he (allegedly) so openly admires.
Most Rockets fans will prefer the latter route. It’s understandable. There is a prevalent parasocial attachment to the “young core.” It’s human.
The fact that I’m impervious to it may be a subject for therapy.
Here’s a harsh reality check: That young core is getting older. Life comes at you fast. Statistically speaking, NBA players tend to level off, improvement-wise, around year 5, or age 25. Here’s a whole academic study if you need something*
*I only read the abstract, but the information is there.
Alperen Sengun is 23, and over halfway to 24. Amen Thompson is the same age. By now, the Rockets’ front office should at least be considering the possibility that Sengun just won’t ever be as efficient around the rim as his best-case comparisons are. They have to be entertaining the idea that Thompson will never have a workable jump shot.
Ergo, they have to be considering the possibility that they didn’t draft “the guy”.
None of which is to say this choice is easy. This team is still talented. Houston could trade Durant for rotational guys and a first-round pick. They could forge ahead as a perennial first or second-round exit, hoping to strike gold in the draft. It’s legitimately not a bad plan.
Here’s the only strong conclusion I’m looking to draw here: If the Rockets don’t win a playoff series, Option 1 should not be attractive to them. It’s a waste of everyone’s time. If they can’t get that far in 2025-26, something substantive should change this summer.
Spring Training is back! As the frost of a baseball-less winter finally melts away, we’re here to heat things up with picks while every team gets into full swing today.
Take a look at why I’m focusing on a couple of plus-money teams in my MLB picks for Saturday, February 21.
Spring Training predictions for February 21
Picks
Phillies moneyline
+120
Red Sox moneyline
-112
Giants moneyline
+120
Pick #1: Phillies moneyline
+120 at DraftKings
Spring Training games often hinge on bullpen depth and timely hitting which is two areas where the Philadelphia Phillies have been pretty steady this time of year.
With the Toronto Blue Jays slightly favored (around -142) and Philly sitting at +120, the Phillies bring some nice value if their early arms give them solid innings and the offense can scratch across runs.
I’m expecting a tight, competitive game, but Philadelphia’s underdog price and recent edge in the matchup make them a strong moneyline lean against Eric Lauer.
Pick #2: Red Sox moneyline
-112 at DraftKings
Lately, when the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins have met in Spring Training, things have usually leaned Boston’s way, including last year’s 6–5 Grapefruit League win in a pretty similar spot.
Boston’s deeper lineup and balanced position group could give them an edge, especially in key at-bats and late-game situations.
Minnesota is expected to hand the ball to Joe Ryan to start, and they may mix in different bullpen looks early, which can lead to some uneven innings.
Boston, on the other hand, tends to use these spring games to get its regular hitters into a steady rhythm at the plate.
Pick #3: Giants moneyline
+120 at DraftKings
With plenty of young hitters and players competing for roster spots, the San Francisco Giants tend to take a scrappy, opportunistic approach early in the year and that style can really pay off in close spring games when pitching is all over the place.
This one could be a low- to moderate-scoring affair as both Hayden Birdsong and Emerson Hancock, along with the spring bullpen arms, work on finding their best grips and rhythms.
Still, San Francisco’s offense has shown it can put runs on the board against the Seattle Mariners in spring matchups, and at +120, the Giants look like a smart moneyline play here.
FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 10: Wilyer Abreu #52 of the Boston Red Sox runs during a spring training workout at JetBlue Park at Fenway South on February 10, 2026 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning! The Red Sox will play actual Major League competition today. We’re getting there, even if the weather outside doesn’t exactly look like baseball season.
For today’s question we’re looking for some optimism: Which Red Sox player will take a leap this year?
There are a number of candidates, thanks to the plethora of young players on the roster. But if, say, Roman Anthony has an all-star season, would that count as a “leap”? He played at an all-star level last year already. On the pitching side, Brayan Bello and Johan Oviedo are well-positioned to make a leap, but there’s no guarantee either one will. Hell, given the pitching depth, it isn’t hard to imagine a scenario where neither one of them finishes the year in the rotation.
Offensively, Wilyer Abreu would probably be my leading candidate. He’s already just shy of all-star caliber and Alex Cora sounds prepared to run him out there against lefties. Ceddy should be considered, of course, but I have a feeling we’re going to spend the next four-five years hoping he finally improves his pitch recognition and becomes a monster.
What say you? Talk about whatever you want and, as always, be good to one another.
WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 20: Dylan Crews #3 of the Washington Nationals poses for a photo during the Washington Nationals Photo Day at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on February 20, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Washington Nationals baseball is back folks. After six long months, the boys are back in town. It will be a much different vibe from the last time we saw the Nats play though. At the end of September, they were at the end of a long and unsuccessful slog. Now, they are at the start of a new era.
Everyone will have chances to prove themselves and roster spots will be up for grabs. I cannot remember a Spring Training where so much is up in the air. That is only natural because there is a new POBO, a new GM and a new manager. They are going to want to get close looks at these players.
Today, the new braintrust will have a chance to see a lot of different players, as the Nats are playing two games. There is a split-squad, with one group playing the Astros on Nationals TV, while the rest of the team is playing against the Cardinals in Jupiter.
Based on the lineups, the team in West Palm Beach is the stronger one. That team will feature the likes of CJ Abrams, Dylan Crews, Keibert Ruiz and Abimelec Ortiz. The Jupiter team has Harry Ford and other roster contenders like Joey Wiemer and Matt Mervis. Sam Petersen is an interesting prospect at the bottom of that lineup.
We are not going to see much in the way of well known pitching, at least to start. Jake Eder and Shinnosuke Ogasawara will be the starters today. Both are long shots to make the roster, but could get looks at some point this season. The reason they are the ones pitching today just has to do with their throwing schedules. I would not read much into that.
Spring starters set.
Jake Eder opens Grapefruit League play. Shinnosuke Ogasawara starts the split squad game in Jupiter.
More about schedules than roster locks, but baseball is back 👀
However, it is still fun to see the team back on the field. This is the first time we will see the boys back in action in the Paul Toboni era. I am curious to see if we will be able to see any notable changes today. It is much easier to spot changes in pitchers than hitters in Spring Training though.
It is easier to identify changes with pitchers right away. You can see the velocity on the radar gun and the shapes of the new pitches. Speaking of the radar gun, we will have a better read on that this year. Every Spring Training site now has statcast, so we will be able to see all of that data. That is very helpful and it will be something I will follow.
It allows us to track things like the progress of Cade Cavalli’s new sweeper and whether Robert Hassell’s added muscle is allowing him to hit the ball harder. Shoutout to the MLB for adding statcast to all the spring sites.
Another thing statcast allows for is the ABS challenge system. With the challenge system coming to the MLB this season, catchers are going to need to learn what to challenge. Spring Training will give the Nats catchers important reps. Since it is so early, there are no main strategies for challenging. Spring Training will give catchers trial and error opportunities.
Most importantly, baseball is back. I am so excited to watch the first Nats game on Nationals TV. Some people say Ground Hogs day can be the start of spring, but in my opinion, the first game of Spring Training is when spring truly gets underway.
SARASOTA, FL - FEBRUARY 20: Trey Gibson (88) of the Baltimore Orioles delivers a pitch during a spring training game against the New York Yankees on February 20, 2026 at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Orioles’ farm system might be past the point of boasting the consensus #1 prospect in baseball every year. Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson, Jackson Holliday and the like have long since graduated to the majors. But there’s still plenty to like about the Orioles’ prospect pipeline. And there will be no shortage of promising youngsters whose progress we can follow throughout the 2026 season.
The one who most interests me is a guy we got a long look at in the Orioles’ Grapefruit League opener yesterday: Trey Gibson. A year ago, Gibson isn’t someone who was on my prospect radar, considering his unheralded background as an undrafted free agent signing who had just completed his first year of full-season pro ball. But Gibson’s dynamic arsenal and stupendous 2025 season, highlighted by a 1.89 ERA in 10 starts at Double-A Chesapeake, have rocketed him to a status as arguably the Orioles’ best pitching prospect. He’s ranked as a top-100 prospect by ESPN, Baseball America, and FanGraphs. His intriguing arm was on full display against the Yankees yesterday as he pitched three scoreless innings to complete the Birds’ shutout win. Gibson will begin this year at Triple-A Norfolk but has a great chance to contribute to the Orioles’ rotation at some point this year.
What about you, Camden Chatters? Which Orioles prospect are you most excited to follow this season? Is it former first rounder Enrique Bradfield Jr., or 2025 breakout prospect Nate George? A power arm like Luis De León? Perhaps one of last year’s top draft picks, Ike Irish or Wehiwa Aloy? Or someone else? Let us know in the comments.
Peoria, AZ - February 19: Yuki Matsui #1 of the San Diego Padres pitches during a spring training practice on February 19, 2026 in Peoria, AZ. (Photo by K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images)
The San Diego Padres started their Cactus League season against the Seattle Mariners in Peoria, Ariz. and the game ended with the Friars falling, 7-4. Players often say the result of the game is not the focus in Spring Training, instead they focus on their results. If that is the case, Jose Miranda is pleased after he recorded a two-run home run and a double in his first game with the San Diego organization. Miranda is one of several players looking to make an impression early and often in an effort to make the big-league roster. Thomas Conroy of Gaslamp Ball said the final bench spots are one of the three questions the Padres need to answer before the conclusion of Cactus League play.
Padres News:
Much has been said and written about the depleted San Diego farm system, but the starting pitcher for the first game of spring for the Padres, Jagger Haynes, showed enough potential to elicit a vote of confidence from Lincoln Zdunich of Gaslamp Ball.
Craig Stammen wasted no time differentiating himself from former Padres manager Mike Shildt. Stammen’s first lineup had Xander Bogaerts leading off with Fernando Tatis Jr. batting cleanup. It’s the first lineup and the first game of Cactus League play, but AJ Cassavell of Padres.com thinks it might be a sign of things to come under Stammen’s tenure.
Stammen revealed reliever Yuki Matsui suffered a groin injury during a live batting practice session on Thursday, which could cause him to miss the World Baseball Classic. While Matsui will have to determine how best to rehab and recover from his injury, his bullpen mate Jason Adam continues his quest to return to the field with fielding drills to test the stability of his repaired quadriceps tendon.
Baseball News:
The ABS challenge system was put to the test with the first Spring Training games of the season. Brent Maguire of MLB.com says there were 23 challenges and 13 calls overturned. Two of the overturned calls were made by Luis Campusano and one call that was not overturned was Cal Raleigh who challenged a called ball against Jackson Merrill that was confirmed as a ball.
Pete Alonso introduced himself to his new Baltimore Orioles fanbase with a home run in his first Spring Training action.
Munetaka Murakami almost missed his debut because he was stuck in traffic on his way to the stadium. He arrived just in time to make the start and recorded two hits in the game.
Major League Baseball and Major League Baseball Players Association are each preparing for a work stoppage by setting aside money to deal with a prolonged absence of games.
The Minnesota Twins will officially be without starter Pablo Lopez for the 2026 season after it was reported he will undergo Tommy John surgery next week.
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Pakistan and New Zealand's opening Super Eights match at the T20 World Cup was abandoned on Saturday because of rain without a ball being bowled.
The rain started at Colombo's R. Premadasa Stadium as soon as Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha won the toss and chose to bat first.
The persistent rain eventually led to the umpires calling off the Group 2 game with the teams awarded a point each.
Tournament co-host India plays South Africa in Ahmedabad in the first Group 1 match on Sunday, when co-host Sri Lanka and England meet in Group 2 in Pallekele.
Once the NHL Olympic roster freeze lifts, the Philadelphia Flyers will be a team to keep an eye on. With the Flyers currently being eight points behind the Boston Bruins for the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference, there is a chance that they will be sellers ahead of the 2026 NHL trade deadline.
If the Flyers decide to be sellers, they will have some trade candidates to keep an eye on. One of them would be defenseman Noah Juulsen.
Juulsen is a pending unrestricted free agent (UFA) and could end up generating some interest leading up to the deadline. It is no secret that contenders are always looking for big right-shot defenseman, and the 6-foot-2 Juulsen fits that description.
Juulsen could be a solid addition for a playoff club looking to improve its defensive depth. The 2015 first-round pick also plays a physical game, so that also could make him an interesting target for contenders.
Juulsen's contract also adds to his appeal, as he has a cheap $900,000 cap hit. With this, several teams would be able to afford him with ease.
Ultimately, with playoff teams always looking for extra defensemen, it would not be particularly surprising if Juulsen generated some interest if the Flyers do not extend him by the deadline. It will be interesting to see what happens with the 28-year-old defenseman from here.
In 42 games this season with the Flyers, Juulsen has recorded one goal, nine points, 87 hits, and a plus-2 rating.
NEW ORLEANS, LA - APRIL 6: Ryan Rollins #13 of the Milwaukee Bucks drives to the basket during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on April 6, 2025 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Fresh of the All-Star break, the Milwaukee Bucks continued their resurgence, running away with it against the New Orleans Pelicans. It was the Bucks’ triumvirate at guard that led the way, with Ryan Rollins, Kevin Porter Jr., and Cam Thomas each going for 25-plus points in a game that offered strong performances across the board. Read our full summary of the game here and catch a six-minute audio recap on the Bucks+ podcast, Bucks In Six Minutes, below.
Rollins was phenomenal all night but set the tone early, calming the Bucks with his first of seven threes after the team had two poor possessions to open the game. He was aggressive but played within the flow of the offence, and his work as a student over the past two years has clearly paid off—his Lillard-esque step-back game was on full display. Want more? Without Myles Turner, Rollins turned rim protector too, coming up with two huge swats at the rim, and hounded New Orleans’ ball handlers all night, finishing with four takeaways. He’s become so reliable his glow-up is probably under appreciated.
Green wasn’t able to trouble the scorers, but it wasn’t as if he had a bad game—his game-high +22 is a testament to that. As has been documented, his passing game has really improved this season and he dropped an absolute dime to a cutting Nance after curling around a screen and rising up into his shooting motion. As we know, Green will find the bottom of the net more often than not, but if he can continue to add to his peripheral skill set, he’ll be that much more valuable a player.
Kuzma got the start at power forward and had quite a nice game overall. He finished explosively at the rim early and looked good on the short roll too, catching and making decisions in traffic. On one instance, he had a nice dump-off to Sims for a dunk. Like most of the Bucks, though, he offered little deterrence to New Orleans’ rim assault.
With Rollins and then Thomas cooking, Porter looked content to let the game come to him for much of the night. More often than not, he made the right pass and took the right shot. In the fourth, however, he took over, scoring 13 points and dishing two assists to put the game out of reach. In all, this was close to an ideal game from Porter—plenty of highs and very few lows—and he finished with just one turnover.
Sims continued his yeoman’s work on the boards in the first half and even had a beautiful touch pass to Rollins for three. Early in the third, however, he picked up his fourth foul while setting a hard screen at half court, which forced him to the bench with 8:56 left in the quarter. Still, he made his minutes count, posting a plus/minus of +21, which tells you the sort of impact he was having—even if he wasn’t quite the Zion stopper he was last time.
Thomas is just such a weapon to have off the bench and is perfectly suited to the role of microwave scorer. He absolutely dominated the second quarter—four paint buckets, two from midrange, and his lone three (to go along with three free throws). His ability to draw fouls and get to the free throw line is such a positive, especially on this team. He won’t ever fill it up with boards or assists, but that’s not what he’s on the court for. Really, you can’t ask for more than over a point per minute on 65% shooting.
His opening dunk aside, it took a little while for the Ous to truly get loose in this one, but he got there. Dieng’s game is just silky and his versatility continued to shine. His quick feet defensively forced a travelling violation. He had a great grab-and-go then find of Nance, which should have resulted in a bucket. He hit a nasty step-back from midrange in the fourth and followed that up by getting into the paint and kicking it to Nance in the corner for three. He got to the line too. Overall, it wasn’t the explosion he had against the Thunder, but it was another quality outing. He’s a baller.
If a game encapsulated the Bobby Portis experience, this was it: offence giveth, defence taketh away. He was efficient, hit the glass, and even showed some explosiveness with a dunk and a block at the rim. But his limitations as a defensive presence also stood out against a Pelicans teams that lives in the paint. Still, in a win as convincing as this one, it’s hard to knock him too much.
I’m not sure anyone on this team plays the game the right way more than Nance. He does the little things well, moves off ball, and keeps balls alive. But it’s his processing speed that’s most impressive—he doesn’t hesitate, making decisions so quickly (and they’re usually they’re the right ones) that it creates opportunities for himself and others. He might’ve had the game’s most important sequence too: up just six after a Zion basket, Nance helped force a turnover and then cashed a corner three on the other end. At this point, it’s clear as day—the Bucks need to find a way to make him a permanent part of the squad next year.
Grade: A-
Doc Rivers
Rivers’ toughest decision likely came pre-game when he determined who’d start. Given his recent performances, Dieng might’ve been unlucky, but the move was the right one—match-up wise and as a reminder that if Dieng wants it he has to take it. His decision to bring Thomas off the bench also deserved (and deserves) some praise, as does the way he’s managed the rotations at the guard spots (including cementing Gary Trent Jr. to the bench and giving Gary Harris a DNP, which can’t have been easy considering how valuable he’s been as a steadying force). He’s had his struggles this year, but tonight Doc got it right.
Grade: A
Garbage Time: Gary Trent Jr., Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Andre Jackson Jr.
DNP-CD: Gary Harris.
Inactive: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Myles Turner, Taurean Prince, Alex Antetokounmpo.
Bonus Bucks Bits
The break must have treated the Bucks’ bigs well because not only did Kuzma have two early flushes, but Bobby Portis jammed a put-back—just his sixth dunk of the season.
With three minutes to go in the first quarter, the Pelicans had doubled the Bucks’ points in the paint (20-10). It should come as no surprise—New Orleans leads the league in that category on the season.
After a strong start by the Bucks, a 22-11 run gave the Pelicans the lead to end the first quarter.
Jordan Poole stepped onto the court for first-quarter action after receiving DNPs over the previous nine games. He finished with just three points (1/6) in 25 minutes.
Zion’s 14 points in the first quarter were a personal season high. Thomas took notice and dropped 18 in the second (a second-quarter career high). Yeah, he’s a bucket.
Rollins looked smooth from long-range, hitting 4/7 triples in the first half on his way to a career-high 7/10. On the other end, the Pelicans struggled, shooting just 1/10 as a team in the first half and finishing a paltry 4/25.
After a KPJ fast-break dunk late in the second, Wes Matthews said, “I remember when I was that athletic.” We love you, Wes, but come on now.
The Bucks went 29/49 (59%) from the field in the first half, while the Pelicans went 29/47 (62%). Good shooting or bad defence? Considering they finished 55/92 (60%) and 47/87 (54%), it’s safe to say it was the latter.
Portis started a perfect 7/7 from the field until finally missing one—a driving layup attempt—with about seven minutes to go in the third.
The Bucks took the lead with 6:45 left in the second quarter and never gave it back.
A seven-point game with eight minutes remaining in the fourth, Milwaukee went on an 20-8 run to put the game away.
Despite playing in New Orleans, there was a distinguishable “Bucks in six” chant to end the game. I guess it is a city of culture.
Thomas now has 77 points in 79 minutes of action with the Bucks. Let that sink in.
Rollins, Porter, and Thomas combined for 79 points on 33/47 shooting (70%), while dishing out 15 assists and committing just five turnovers. They are 23, 25, and 24 years old. The Bucks picked up two of them after being waived and gave up just MarJon Beauchamp for the other. I won’t comment on CBS’s front office rankings. I just won’t.
Up Next
The Bucks are back in action Sunday, taking on the Toronto Raptors at home. You can find all the action on FanDual Sports Wisconsin—tip off is at 2:30 p.m. Central.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 04: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies rounds the bases after hitting a home run in the first inning during the game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Monday, August 4, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Phebe Grosser/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
It’s been a few months since Phillies GM Dave Dombrowski made public comments questioning Bryce Harper’s status as an elite player. Harper certainly didn’t have an elite season in 2025, but is that enough to demote a player entirely?
Harper has admitted to still being baffled by the comments, but the good news is that he often performs at his best when he has a chip on his shoulder.
So, what say you? Is Bryce Harper still an elite player?
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 13: Carlos Carrasco #59 of the Atlanta Braves pitches against the New York Mets during their game at Citi Field on August 13, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Major League Baseball doesn’t have a long offseason by calendar days. But man, it’s been a long one this season. It’s time for getting your nearly everyday baseball fix. Although, for the next few weeks it’s going to be more like Braves ‘n’ Friends. We’re getting Mike Yastrzemski, Jonah Heim, Eli White, Jorge Mateo and the kids. And on the mound, it’s Carlos Carrasco. This is pretty good in that they have on the Braves uniform and everything. But you know what I want. At least we’ll get to see John Gil.
Yesterday I repaired my HVAC insulation and watched ice hockey. And I liked it. You tell me how ready I am for first pitch.
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