Penn State lured Knowles away from Ohio State by making him the highest-paid assistant in college football. And it doesn't hurt that he's now coaching back in his home state at a school he always looked up at.
Mets at Cubs: How to watch on Sept. 24, 2025
The Mets continue a three-game series against the Cubs at Wrigley Field on Wednesday at 8:05 p.m.
Here's what to know about the game and how to watch...
Mets Notes
- Pete Alonso is hitting .340/.385/.623 with eight home runs in 117 plate appearances over 26 games dating back to Aug. 26
- In 10.2 innings over nine appearances this month, Edwin Diaz has allowed one run on five hits while walking three and striking out 17
- Jonah Tong was stellar in his last start, allowing one run (unearned) on four hits while walking none and striking out eight
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How can I watch the game online?
To watch Mets games online via ESPN, you will need a subscription to a TV service provider or to ESPN+. This will allow fans to watch the Mets on their computer, tablet or mobile phone browser, or via the ESPN App.
Fantasy Basketball Forwards 2025-26: Top 50 rankings, season outlooks, key stats
We’re less than a month away from the start of the 2025-26 NBA season, which makes this a great time to go through our positional rankings at Rotoworld.
You can find our Top 50 guards here and our Top 50 centers here, but we're discussing forwards in this article. From a fantasy standpoint, this position has been dominated in recent years by Giannis Antetokounmpo, with Anthony Davis and Kevin Durant among the others who have offered elite value. But there are some young talents who stand to be the future of the position, led by Oklahoma City's Jalen Williams.
Here's how we value the top 50 forwards in fantasy basketball for the 2025-26 season, starting with Giannis.
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Your one-stop-shop for Rotoworld’s fantasy basketball draft coverage.
1. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
Positions: PF/C
2024-25 Stats: 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 0.9 steals, 1.2 blocks
Antetokounmpo was his usual dominant self for the Bucks in 2024-25, averaging at least 30 points, 11 rebounds and six assists per game for the second consecutive season. He focused even more on dominating inside the arc, with the 63 three-point attempts being the fewest in a season for the Bucks star since 2014-15. Antetokounmpo, a first-team All-NBA selection who finished third in MVP voting, shot 62 percent from two. However, he only made 61.7 percent of his free throw attempts, and selecting him in the first round likely kicks off a team build in which free throw percentage is punted. As for his team situation, the Bucks underwent a significant overhaul this past offseason. Damian Lillard (Portland) and Brook Lopez (LA Clippers) are out, but the team signed Myles Turner to a four-year deal in free agency.
2. Anthony Davis, Dallas Mavericks
Positions: PF/C
2024-25 Stats: 24.7 points, 11.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.2 steals, 2.2 blocks, 0.7 three-pointers
Davis was a major part of one of the most stunning transactions in recent NBA history, as he was traded to the Mavericks in early February as part of a package that netted the Lakers one Luka Dončić. Unfortunately for Davis and the Mavericks, his debut was cut short by a groin injury that would sideline him until late March. There was also an eye injury suffered during the season that led to Davis undergoing surgery to repair a detached retina during the offseason. As of mid-September, there were still questions regarding his availability for the start of training camp and the beginning of the regular season. When healthy, Davis is among the elite players in fantasy basketball, regardless of position. However, he's surpassed the 60 games played mark twice since the 2017-18 season.
3. Kevin Durant, Houston Rockets
Positions: SF/PF
2024-25 Stats: 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 0.8 steals, 1.2 blocks, 2.6 three-pointers
While Durant's second full season in Phoenix was successful regarding his individual numbers, it was highly disappointing from a team standpoint. The Suns failed to reach the postseason, with KD's campaign ending in late March due to an ankle injury. And with Phoenix unsuccessful in its attempt to move Durant at the February trade deadline, it was expected that he'd be on the move this summer. Sure enough, KD was traded to the Rockets in July as part of a seven-team trade, with the hope in Houston being that he'll be the missing piece that makes them a title contender. Unfortunately, Houston's chances took a hit recently with Fred VanVleet suffering a torn ACL, leaving the Rockets even lighter at the point guard position. However, this should have a minimal impact on Durant's fantasy value, especially if he has more opportunities to initiate offense. While he may not be a player who has to be selected in the first round of standard league drafts, the argument can still be made.
4. Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder
Positions: SF/PF
2024-25 Stats: 21.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.7 blocks, 1.8 three-pointers
J-Dub is coming off the best season of his NBA career. In addition to helping lead Oklahoma City to its first NBA title, Williams recorded career-high averages in points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and three-pointers while shooting 48.4 percent from the field and 78.9 percent from the foul line. He earned his first All-Star Game appearance and was also named third team All-NBA and second team All-Defense. This summer, he agreed to a five-year rookie max extension worth nearly $240 million, so his future is secure financially. Provided he remains healthy and Oklahoma City continues on its current path, Williams is capable of providing first-round production playing alongside reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
5. Jalen Johnson, Atlanta Hawks
Positions: SF/PF
2024-25 Stats: 18.9 points, 10.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.6 steals, 1.0 blocks, 1.2 three-pointers
After enjoying a breakout season in 2023-24, Johnson was even better last season. He recorded career-high averages in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocked shots while shooting 50 percent from the field and 74.6 percent from the foul line. Unfortunately, Johnson's season would end in January as he was diagnosed with a torn labrum in his left shoulder. Availability may be the biggest concern for Johnson in fantasy basketball, as he's surpassed 60 games just once in his four NBA seasons. Also of note was Atlanta acquiring Kristaps Porziņģis from the Celtics. Does Johnson start at the three next to Porziņģis and Onyeka Okongwu? Or, does he remain at the four with one of those two coming off the bench? The latter option would likely be better for Johnson's fantasy value in 2025-26.
6. Pascal Siakam, Indiana Pacers
Positions: PF/C
2024-25 Stats: 20.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.5 blocks, 1.6 three-pointers
Siakam's first full season with the Pacers went well, as he earned his third All-Star Game appearance and helped lead the team to the NBA Finals. Indiana would lose to Oklahoma City in seven games, and the series finale included an injury that stands to significantly alter Siakam's role in 2025-26. With Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles) done for the season, Siakam stands to have the ball in his hands more, even with the capable Andrew Nembhard serving as the starting point guard. Siakam, whose usage decreased slightly in 2024-25, should hit the high-20s in that category. Efficiency has rarely been an issue for the forward, who also has center eligibility in Yahoo leagues, and he's capable of producing a top-25 fantasy season with Haliburton unable to play.
7. Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors
Positions: SG/SF/PF
2024-25 Stats: 19.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.4 steals, 1.0 blocks, 1.2 three-pointers
After earning an All-Star Game invitation the season prior, Barnes was unable to duplicate that feat in 2024-25. While his averages did not slip much, the Raptors' forward once again struggled from deep after making a career-best 34.1 percent of his attempts in 2023-24. Barnes made 27.1 percent of his 4.3 attempts per game, slightly worse than his career percentage (30.0). Expected by many fantasy managers to approach top-20 value, Barnes failed to crack the top-50 in 9-cat formats. Toronto adds Brandon Ingram to the fold; his shooting ability may help open things up for Barnes, provided he stays relatively healthy.
8. Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis Grizzlies
Positions: PF/C
2024-25 Stats: 22.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.2 steals, 1.5 blocks, 2.0 three-pointers
An All-Star for the second time in his NBA career last season, Jackson underwent turf toe surgery in early July and is not guaranteed to be available when the regular season begins in October. However, that should impact a player like Santi Aldama more than Jackson regarding draft value. JJJ provided third-round value last season in 74 games played, and the combination of three-point shooting and defensive stats makes him a valuable asset to have on your roster. Jackson has averaged at least 22 points per game each of the last two seasons, but fantasy managers undoubtedly hope he can get the rebounding up to his 2022-23 levels (career-best 6.8 boards per game).
9. LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
Positions: SF/PF
2024-25 Stats: 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 8.2 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.6 blocks, 2.1 three-pointers
The oldest active player in the NBA, James will turn 41 on December 30, and the age does impact his draft position. However, the four-time NBA champion continues to fend off "Father Time" in search of another NBA title. James has appeared in at least 70 games each of the last two seasons, a positive trend for a player who failed to crack that threshold each of the five seasons prior. Even with Luka Dončić now being the focal point in Los Angeles, LeBron will continue to be highly productive. The age factor makes him difficult to commit to with a top-25 pick in standard leagues, but he should not be on draft boards much longer than that.
10. Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic
Positions: PF/C
2024-25 Stats: 25.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.6 blocks, 1.9 three-pointers
Banchero was outstanding when on the court last season, posting career-best averages in points, rebounds and three-pointers. However, the first significant injury of his NBA career, a torn oblique muscle, limited the Magic forward to 48 games. Banchero returned in mid-January and only missed two more games, Orlando's final two contests of the regular season, and he's expected by many to be a breakout player in 2025-26. The hope is that this will translate into fantasy value, as Banchero was ranked outside the top-100 in 9-cat formats while ranking just inside that threshold in 8-cat. The turnovers will be key, as Paolo averaged 3.0 per game in 2024-25.
11. Franz Wagner, Orlando Magic
Positions: SF/PF
2024-25 Stats: 24.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 1.3 steals, 1.7 three-pointers
For fantasy managers in category leagues, Wagner has been a better fit than his teammate Banchero. While he also missed time last season with a torn oblique muscle, Wagner still appeared in 60 games and was a top-40 player in 8- and 9-cat formats. Franz produced career-best averages in points, rebounds, assists, steals and three-pointers while shooting 46.3 percent from the field and 87.1 percent from the foul line. If Wagner can improve his three-point shooting (29.5 percent in 2024-25), that would raise his fantasy ceiling even higher. Banchero may be the headliner in Orlando for many, but don't sleep on Wagner.
12. Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics
Positions: SG/SF
2024-25 Stats: 22.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.2 steals, 1.8 three-pointers
Jayson Tatum suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon during Boston's second-round series against the Knicks prompted significant changes to the roster. Kristaps Porziņģis (Atlanta) and Jrue Holiday (Portland) were traded, while Luke Kornet (San Antonio) and Al Horford (free agent; expected to sign with the Warriors) left via free agency. While the Celtics still have talent on the roster, Brown will be expected to serve as the team's primary scoring option while they await Tatum's return. While efficiency and the foul line can be problematic for Brown, the circumstances make him worth the risk in fantasy drafts.
13. Kawhi Leonard, LA Clippers
Positions: SF/PF
2024-25 Stats: 21.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.5 blocks, 2.1 three-pointers
While Leonard has been the focus of headlines this offseason regarding his contract, the good news for the Clippers and fantasy managers is that he's healthy. That means the offseason has been used to sharpen skills instead of rehab from another injury. Does this mean the injury management days are over? That can't be guaranteed. Leonard only played in 37 regular-season games in 2024-25, and he's surpassed 60 once since appearing in 74 games for the Spurs during the 2016-17 campaign. The Clippers made some significant changes to the roster, adding Chris Paul, Bradley Beal, John Collins and Brook Lopez, which should help take some of the pressure off Leonard offensively. However, the usage should not be a concern; he'll still lead the way offensively when available. The concern is Leonard's availability.
14. Trey Murphy, New Orleans Pelicans
Positions: SF/PF
2024-25 Stats: 21.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.7 blocks, 3.0 three-pointers
Numbers-wise, the 2024-25 season was the best of Murphy's career, as he logged career-best averages in points, rebounds, assists and blocked shots while matching his previous highs in steals and three-pointers. A torn labrum and a partially torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder ended Murphy's season in mid-March, but he's been given a clean bill of health and was even scrimmaging in the weeks leading up to training camp. New Orleans did acquire Jordan Poole this summer, and they'll have a healthy Zion Williamson to start. But, they remain without Dejounte Murray (Achilles) and CJ McCollum was sent to Washington in the Poole trade. Murphy has the game to be a highly impactful fantasy option regardless of who the Pelicans have on the floor, as evidenced by his nearly top-25 2024-25.
15. Deni Avdija, Portland Trail Blazers
Positions: SF/PF
2024-25 Stats: 16.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.5 blocks, 1.7 three-pointers
After four seasons in Washington, Avdija was traded to Portland, and the change of scenery did wonders for him. While the versatile forward was moved to the bench in November after beginning the season as a starter, he regained the starting job for good after Christmas. From December 28 on, Avdija averaged 19.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.9 three-pointers while shooting 49.2 percent from the field. Avdija showed last season that he should be a key building block in Portland, which only increases his value to fantasy managers. Could a top-50 season be in the cards? It would be unsurprising if that were the case.
16. Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks
Position: SF
2024-25 Stats (at Duke): 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals, 1.4 blocks, 1.4 three-pointers
Flagg entered his lone season of college basketball as the projected first overall pick, and his production may have exceeded the hype. The 6-foot-9 forward was a menace on both ends of the floor at Duke and should begin his rookie season in Dallas as a starter. While there wasn't a large sample size of what Flagg can do as a primary playmaker, as he only appeared in two Summer League games, there should be opportunities as the Mavericks await Kyrie Irving's return from a torn ACL. He's the lone rookie in this class worth selecting with a top 50 pick, and it's fair to argue Flagg is the only one who should be a top-100 pick in standard leagues.
17. Lauri Markkanen, Utah Jazz
Positions: SF/PF
2024-25: 19.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.7 steals, 2.9 three-pointers
After two excellent seasons in Utah, Markkanen's numbers took a significant hit in year three. His averages decreased across the board, and the 6-foot-10 forward was limited to 47 games by injuries and the Jazz looking to increase their draft lottery odds (it didn't work). Markkanen was outstanding in leading Finland to a fourth-place finish at EuroBasket this summer, and under normal circumstances, that could be taken as a sign that he's ready for the upcoming season. However, even with the Jazz saying they won't actively tank again this season, they're competing in a Western Conference that will be extremely deep. That's the concern when it comes to using an early-round pick on Markkanen.
18. Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans
Positions: SF/PF
2024-25 Stats: 24.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.9 blocks
Once again, injuries limited Williamson's availability, as he appeared in just 30 games in 2024-25. He's surpassed 60 games twice in six NBA seasons, which includes missing the entire 2021-22 campaign. Williamson is healthy and received praise for his physique during the Pelicans' media day, but fantasy managers have been here before. He'll be most valuable to teams in which three-pointers and/or free-throw percentage are being punted, but none of that matters if Zion can't stay on the court. There's no doubt that, when healthy, Williamson can be a top-50 fantasy player despite the lack of three-point production and subpar foul shooting.
19. OG Anunony, New York Knicks
Positions: SF/PF
2024-25 Stats: 18.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.5 steals, 0.9 blocks, 2.3 three-pointers
Anunoby's first full season with the Knicks was excellent, with his scoring average increasing by more than three points per game. Compared to his 2023-24 numbers, the 6-foot-8 forward also recorded superior averages in rebounds, assists, steals and blocked shots. The question for Anunoby and the other Knicks is what the offensive system will look like with Mike Brown taking over as head coach. If Brown can get New York to play with increased pace and spacing, an athletic wing like Anunoby can certainly benefit. Expecting another top-50 season from OG would be reasonable.
20. Jimmy Butler III, Golden State Warriors
Positions: SF/PF
2024-25 Stats: 17.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.4 steals, 0.6 three-pointers
Butler began last season in Miami, and the deterioration of that relationship could be predicted as soon as the Heat decided not to give him an extension last summer. Traded to the Warriors at the February deadline, Butler appeared in 30 regular-season games for Golden State, averaging 17.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.7 steals and 0.6 three-pointers in 32.7 minutes. While capable of offering elite fantasy value when available, Butler's availability has been the issue. He's surpassed 60 games once since the 2019-20 season and has not been an All-Star since 2021-22. The move west also gave Butler the financial security he desired, as the Warriors signed him to a two-year extension to make the trade happen, and that should help keep him locked in this season.
21. Michael Porter Jr., Brooklyn Nets
Positions: SF/PF
2024-25 Stats: 18.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.5 blocks, 2.5 three-pointers
After seven seasons in Denver, Porter was traded to the Nets this summer in a deal that sent Cameron Johnson in the opposite direction. While MPJ loses out on the opportunity to contend for a title, the move to Brooklyn could result in more scoring from the 6-foot-10 forward. In the six seasons he saw action (Porter did not play in 2018-19), MPJ had a usage percentage over 22 percent twice. That won't be an issue on a Nets roster that includes five 2025 first-round picks. If Porter can score efficiently despite being on a rebuilding team, his fantasy value may improve after providing middle-round value while in Denver.
22. Julius Randle, Minnesota Timberwolves
Positions: PF/C
2024-25 Stats: 18.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 0.7 steals, 1.6 three-pointers
Randle's first season in Minnesota was one that required significant adjustments on his part, sharing the court with Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert, among others. Compared to his final season in New York, Randle's scoring and rebounding decreased, but he did help Minnesota reach the Western Conference Finals for a second consecutive season. The area of concern for Randle in category leagues is turnovers; averaging 2.8 per game in 2024-25, he ranked outside the top-100 in 9-cat formats. If Randle can get the turnover average closer to two per game, he should not have much trouble finishing the season as a top-100 player, at a minimum.
23. DeMar DeRozan, Sacramento Kings
Position: SF
2024-25 Stats: 22.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 0.8 steals, 1.1 three-pointers
After spending the three seasons prior in Chicago, DeRozan moved to Sacramento last summer via sign-and-trade. While his averages decreased slightly, the dip was not enough to have a significant impact on the veteran forward's fantasy value. After Sacramento fired Mike Brown, DeRozan averaged 23.0 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 0.5 steals and 1.3 three-pointers per game while shooting 47.6 percent from the field. With Doug Christie's interim tag being removed, fantasy managers should expect similar production from DeRozan. What may help him this season is Sacramento addressing the point guard position in free agency, signing Dennis Schröder.
24. Mikal Bridges, New York Knicks
Positions: SF/PF
2024-25 Stats: 17.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.5 blocks, 2.0 three-pointers
After spending the 2023-24 season as Brooklyn's top offensive option, Bridges took on a supplementary role in his first season with the Knicks. However, while the decrease in scoring was unsurprising, he was also less productive in other categories such as rebounding, defensive stats and three-pointers. While there are questions as to how the Knicks will play offensively with Mike Brown replacing Tom Thibodeau as head coach, one thing not up for debate is Bridges' availability. He's yet to miss a game as an NBA player, and the reliability enhances his fantasy value.
25. Brandon Miller, Charlotte Hornets
Positions: SF/PF
2024-25 Stats: 21.0 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.7 blocks, 3.9 three-pointers
After finishing third in Rookie of the Year voting in 2024, Miller improved his averages across the board in his second season. However, a torn ligament in his right wrist ended the forward's season in mid-January, limiting him to 27 games. Miller can be highly productive when on the court, but his prospects in 2025-26 depend not only on his health but also on that of LaMelo Ball. Miller is capable of approaching top-50 value, but the injury-shortened 2024-25 season may push him a bit further down draft boards.
12-Team, 9-Cat Fantasy Basketball Mock Draft 2025-26: Take Giannis Antetokounmpo and don’t look back
Starting a draft with Giannis Antetokounmpo allows you to establish your team’s strengths and weaknesses immediately.
26. Ausar Thompson, Detroit Pistons
Positions: SF/PF
2024-25 Stats: 10.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.7 steals, 0.7 blocks
27. Josh Hart, New York Knicks
Positons: SG/SF/PF
2024-25 Stats: 13.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.5 steals, 1.1 three-pointers
28. Cameron Johnson, Denver Nuggets
Positions: SF/PF
2024-25 Stats: 18.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 0.9 steals, 2.8 three-pointers
29. Brandon Ingram, Toronto Raptors
Positons: SG/SF/PF
2024-25 Stats: 22.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.6 blocks, 2.4 three-pointers
30. Miles Bridges, Charlotte Hornets
Positions: SF/PF
2024-25 Stats: 20.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 0.7 steals, 0.7 blocks, 2.2 three-pointers
31. Norman Powell, Miami Heat
Positions: SG/SF
2024-25 Stats: 21.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.2 steals, 3.0 three-pointers
32. Devin Vassell, San Antonio Spurs
Positions: SG/SF
2024-25 Stats: 16.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.5 blocks, 2.5 three-pointers
33. Tari Eason, Houston Rockets
Positions: SF/PF
2024-25 Stats: 12.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.7 steals, 0.9 blocks, 1.1 three-pointers
34. Paul George, Philadelphia 76ers
Positions: SF/PF
2024-25 Stats: 16.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.8 steals, 0.5 blocks, 2.3 three-pointers
35. Jaden McDaniels, Minnesota Timberwolves
Positions: SF/PF
2024-25 Stats: 12.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.9 blocks, 1.2 three-pointers
36. John Collins, LA Clippers
Positions: PF/C
2024-25 Stats: 19.0 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.0 steals, 1.0 blocks, 1.5 three-pointers
37. Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors
Positions: PF/C
2024-25 Stats: 9.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.5 steals, 1.0 blocks, 1.2 three-pointers
38. Andrew Wiggins, Miami Heat
Positions: SF/PF
2024-25 Stats: 18.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.8 blocks, 2.2 three-pointers
39. Naz Reid, Minnesota Timberwolves
Positions: PF/C
2024-25 Stats: 14.2 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.7 steals, 0.9 blocks, 2.2 three-pointers
40. Herbert Jones, New Orleans Pelicans
Positions: SF/PF
2024-25 Stats: 10.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.9 steals, 0.5 blocks, 1.1 three-pointers
41. Santi Aldama, Memphis Grizzlies
Positions: PF/C
2024-25 Stats: 12.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 0.8 steals, 1.8 three-pointers
42. Tobias Harris, Detroit Pistons
Position: PF
2024-25 Stats: 13.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.8 blocks, 1.2 three-pointers
43. Bilal Coulibaly, Washington Wizards
Positions: SG/SF
2024-25 Stats: 12.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.7 blocks, 1.1 three-pointers
44. Toumani Camara, Portland Trail Blazers
Positions: SF/PF
2024-25 Stats: 11.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.5 steals, 0.6 blocks, 1.7 three-pointers
45. Matas Buzelis, Chicago Bulls
Positions: SF/PF
2024-25 Stats: 8.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.9 blocks, 1.2 three-pointers
46. Klay Thompson, Dallas Mavericks
Positions: SG/SF
2024-25 Stats: 14.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.7 steals, 3.0 three-pointers
47. Jabari Smith Jr., Houston Rockets
Positions: PF/C
2024-25 Stats: 12.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.7 blocks, 1.7 three-pointers
48. Kyshawn George, Washington Wizards
Positions: SG/SF
2024-25 Stats: 8.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.7 blocks, 1.7 three-pointers
49. Aaron Nesmith, Indiana Pacers
Position: SF
2024-25 Stats: 12.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.8 steals, 1.9 three-pointers
50. Nikola Jović, Miami Heat
Position: PF
2024-25 Stats: 10.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 0.8 steals, 1.7 three-pointers
ICYMI in Mets Land: The starting rotation plan; Tyrone Taylor's return imminent
Here's what happened in Mets Land on Tuesday, in case you missed it...
- The Mets rallied from an early 6-1 deficit to beat the Cubs, 9-7, on Tuesday night at Wrigley Field, with Francisco Alvarez's two-run homer in the eighth inning the difference
- Edwin Diazrecorded a six-out save, striking out five over 2.0 perfect innings
- David Peterson's role is up in the air after he surrendered five runs in just 1.1 innings
- The Mets shook things up on Tuesday, starting Brandon Nimmo in center field and Starling Marte in left
- Tyrone Taylor is expected to be activated from the IL ahead of Wednesday's game
- Here are the three biggest reasons the Mets are left fighting for their playoff lives
- Tylor Megill underwent Tommy John surgery, which could keep him out for the entire 2026 season
- On The Mets Pod, Connor and Joe went over what to expect in the regular season's final week
- WATCH: Alvarez and Diaz discuss Tuesday's dramatic win
Canadiens Return A Prospect To His Junior Team
After Tuesday night’s game, the Montreal Canadiens announced that Owen Protz had been assigned to his OHL team, the Brantford Bulldogs. The 19-year-old blueliner was a fourth-round pick at the 2024 draft and had an excellent rookie camp. His play at the Prospect Showdown earned him an invite to the main camp, but he didn’t get to skate in a preseason game.
Clearly, the Canadiens felt he had done well enough to earn a spot in a professional training camp, but as soon as the training groups were rearranged, he was placed in Group C with the players destined for the Laval Rocket.
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Protz never had a chance to make the team, but to get to take part in the pro camp and skate alongside professional players gave him just a little taste of what life in the NHL is like. While they weren’t real games, taking part in the scrimmages also showed him just how quick the game is when there are NHLers on the ice.
What impressed the coaches at rookie camp was the fact that the youngster knew who he was on the ice. He wasn’t trying to do too much; he was drafted because of his rugged style of play and his ability to do a good first pass in transition, and that’s what he put forward. He wasn’t trying to be something he’s not, which is excellent for a player of such a young age.
He returns to the OHL knowing what he needs to work on and having seen exactly what it takes to make the NHL, as well as how the pros conduct themselves. His timing was great to get an invite to the main camp too, since you can feel a real urgency around the team this season, there’s no easing in the players before the regular season starts, Martin St-Louis has told his men from the beginning that he wanted to see real repetitions right away and that’s precisely what he saw, making the experience even more worthy for Protz.
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Mets 2025 MLB Wild Card Watch: Playoff odds, standings, matchups, and more for Sept. 24
With five games remaining in the regular season, the Mets are looking to secure the third and final Wild Card spot in the National League.
The Reds hold the tiebreaker over the Mets due to winning the season series. The tiebreaker between the Mets and Diamondbacks will likely be based on intradivision record since the two clubs split the season series.
Here's everything you need to know ahead of play on Sept. 24...
Mets: 81-76, 1.0 game up on Reds and Diamondbacks for third Wild Card
Next up: @ Cubs, Wednesday at 8:05 p.m. (Jonah Tong vs. Matthew Boyd)
Latest result: 9-7 win over Cubs on Tuesday
Remaining schedule: 2 @ CHC, 3 @ MIA
Odds to make playoffs: 66.8 percent
Reds: 80-77, 1.0 game back of Mets
Next up: vs. Pirates, Wednesday at 6:40 p.m. (Paul Skenes vs. Hunter Greene)
Latest result: 4-2 loss to Pirates on Tuesday
Remaining schedule: 2 vs. PIT, 3 @ MIL
Odds to make playoffs: 21.3 percent
Diamondbacks: 80-77, 1.0 game back of Mets
Next up: vs. Dodgers, Wednesday at 9:40 p.m. (Ryne Nelson vs. Blake Snell)
Latest result: 5-4 win over Dodgers on Tuesday
Remaining schedule: 2 vs. LAD, 3 @ SD
Odds to make playoffs: 11.7 percent
Emil 'The Ripper' Heineman: The Power Of A Heavy Shot
NEWARK, NJ -- There's a reason why New York Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche made sure that Emil Heineman was part of the return package in the Noah Dobson trade.
Islanders Emil Heineman On Trade To Long Island, Playing For Matheiu Darche & Next NHL StepsEAST MEADOW, NY -- Former Montreal Canadiens forward and current New York Islanders forward Emil Heineman spoke with us for the first time at Anders Lee's Jam Kancer in the Kan event on Saturday.
While his grittiness and forechecking are standouts, his shot is tremendously underrated.
Not only is it accurate, but it's also heavy, which means that even if the goaltender is able to get into the right position, the speed and strength of the shot have a strong chance of winning the battle or, at the very least, creating a juicy rebound.
Tuesday night at the Prudential Center was the first time we were able to see that shot in game action outside of his Montreal highlight clips.
On the power play, Heineman was stationed in the high slot -- the bumper -- and after getting an on-the-money, quick pass from Calum Ritchie, he let that puck go.
Jacob Markstrom is a premier goalie, and while he got over in time, the shot was so hard that the fellow Swede could not move his blocker-side arm fast enough to stop the puck from ultimately getting behind him:
Ritchie ➡️ Heineman ➡️ 🚨 pic.twitter.com/3AM5FbFSQ7
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) September 23, 2025
With that heavy, accurate quick release and physicality, he may be as close to a Cal Clutterbuck replacement as you will see.
Last year, in 62 games with Montreal, Heineman recorded 18 points, including 10 goals and eight assists, while adding 173 hits to the ledger, averaging about 2.79 hits per game.
However, diving further into the stats, he scored 10 goals in 37 games, struggling to find the net after being hit by a car while the Canadiens were in Utah—an unfortunate event in what started as a very promising rookie campaign.
Ten goals in 37 games is a 22-goal pace, something the Islanders will gladly take from a player who is likely to start alongside Casey Cizikas and Maxim Tsyplakov on the fourth line.
But Heineman could very well be more than a fourth-line player, as it's clear he can play on the power play, and we already know he's someone who can also play on the penalty kill.
"I'm trying to be as useful as possible," Heineman told The Hockey News. "I would like to do as much as possible, and that includes both PK and PP."
Islanders forward Simon Holmstrom is excited about everything Heineman brings to the table.
"He plays with a lot of grit. He's heavy out there, and he plays with a lot of speed," Holmstrom told The Hockey News about Heineman, a player he went up against his entire life. "He's got an unbelievable shot as well."
If Heineman can get that shot off often, opposing goaltenders better watch out.
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Blue Jackets Lose To Sabres In Preseason Game #3
Miles Wood scored the only goal for Columbus on the power play in a 2-1 CBJ loss to the Sabres on Tuesday night.
Despite some really good play by both Jackets goalies, the offense just couldn't get going against Buffalo. In Columbus's defense, they only had three NHLers playing on offense, and one on defense, so this game could have been a lot worse.
The Buffalo Sabres had guys like Tage Thompson, Jason Zucker, Josh Norris, and Rasmus Dahlin in this game, so it could've been much, much worse. Thompson and Zucker both scored in this game, for what it's worth.
The Blue Jackets now have four games left in the preseason, and the next game will come today against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Nationwide Arena.
Final Stats
Player Stats
- Miles Wood scored his first preseason goal. He also led the team with 5 shots.
- Daemon Hunt tallied an assist. He led all skaters with 25:45 of ice time.
- Hudson Fasching also had an assist.
- Ivan Fedotov stopped 24 of 25 Sabres shots.
- Zach Sawchenko stopped 8 of 9 shots.
Team Stats
- The Jackets power play went 1/4 on the night.
- The Columbus PK stopped all four Sabres man advantages.
- Columbus won 32.7% of the faceoffs.
Up Next: The Jackets welcome the Pittsburgh Penguins into NWA for their fourth preseason game.
Let us know what you think below.
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Pius Suter "Did The Homework," Feels He Found Right Fit With St. Louis Blues
MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- When the initial floodgates to free agency opened on July 1 and NHL teams had their checkbooks out, sometimes there would always be someone that would fall through the cracks, perhaps not making a hasty decision and wanting to take some time to contemplate one’s next destination.
For Pius Suter, it was obvious he was not returning to the Vancouver Canucks, so that meant searching for the next fit despite putting up a career-high in goals (25) and points (46) for the Canucks last season.
Maybe it wasn’t the term he would have preferred while shopping through the market, but Suter knew the St. Louis Blues would be the perfect fit after he and his agent Georges Mueller spoke to general manager Doug Armstrong.
A two-year, $8.25 million contract ($4.125 million average annual value) was consummated rather quickly and the 29-year-old found himself with a team in dire need of a center iceman who found a scoring touch but is known for his reliability defensively, as a penalty killer and just a fundamentally, sound player.
“I did the homework,” Suter said. “When I talked to them, I had a great feeling what they seen of me as a player. It’s also a team that went to the playoffs last year so it’s exciting and you want to help them take another step. … In the end, you put in the work. You can only control so much. You just make sure when you show up, you do your thing and you help the team win.
“They’re well-organized. They play hard, they’re structured. As you can see in the playoffs, just a really good, overall team. They know what they’re doing. I just felt like it was a good fit and hopefully I can help them go another step.”
It was obvious the Blues needed a center, or two, and identified Suter as a target, when Armstrong said when the Blues signed the five-year veteran on July 2 that they like Suter’s versatility.
It’s not a player that is going to woo and wow you, but it is someone that will dedicate himself to a team concept and fit a piece that was obviously missing.
“You can just tell he’s reliable,” Blues captain Brayden Schenn said of Suter. “Practicing is always tough because everyone’s in the perfect position at all times. On majority of days, everyone looks good. Where guys obviously separate themselves is the game. Obviously looking forward to playing with him and he’s obviously a huge piece for us that’s just going to play 200 feet for us. The more of those players we have, the better.”
Suter, who began his career with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2020-21 as an undrafted free agent but had 27 points (14 goals, 13 assists) 55 games before joining the Detroit Red Wings the following season, also on a two-year contract, then signing with the Canucks – also for two years.
“Everybody looks at long term,” Suter said. “You see the market. You find a new team, see how it fits. It’s just one of those business things, right? In general, it seemed everyone was comfortable on the shorter side.”
The Zurich, Switzerland native has spent his entire NHL career proving himself, and he will do so again with the Blues, a team he scored his second NHL hat trick against Jan. 24, 2024. He’s not someone characterized with a tremendous amount of speed, but at the end of the night, is someone that finds a way to get the job done.
“His hockey sense. You can tell on the penalty kill, he’s going to make our penalty kill better,” Blues coach Jim Montgomery said. “His stick is always in the right spot, he knows where he has to be. Even though he’s never been called the fastest guy in the world, he hits holes at the right time. We’ve seen that for years with the Ryan O’Reillys and the Patrice Pergerons, people that aren’t fast but they never get caught on breakaways because they know where the pucks are going before anybody else.
“He’s a player that I think makes those around him better whether he’s in an offensive role or defensive role because he just plays to his strengths. … I’ve been surprised how quickly he’s picked up all of our … their D-zone was similar to our D-zone, so I expected that, but I haven’t seen him make a mistake in the neutral zone or on the forecheck or the stuff that we were working on today, our tracking. It seems like because of his hockey brain, he just adapts. I think if the system makes sense, he’s going to be able to play quickly. Hopefully it’s a sign of that our systems that we’re implementing make sense.”
Suter made the adjustment to the NHL after spending five seasons with his hometown ZSC Lions in Zurich. Being 5-foot-11, 172 pounds, Suter has had to find his way and navigate the ups and downs of transitioning to the NHL and realized by doing that, his numbers, ice time (career high 17:21 last season) and opportunities would eventually increase and improve.
“I think around the boards, battles, 1-on-1s, those kind of things and shooting, shooting well again,” Suter said. “I had some time to really work on it. I felt like after that first year, I needed to get that kick back a little bit again and it’s been there again. I think it’s more on the confidence thing of where it’s going when I shoot it. Overall you learn the league, you learn the players you play against, what’s going on in the day-to-day, the travel. It’s a huge difference from the way it usually happened. You kind of find your way around. As anybody, you get older, you know your body well, you know what you need this today or that. It just helps you every year more.
“You’ve just got to play to your strengths. Just play smart defensively and be dangerous offensively and do all the little things right. Then it’s just kind of play a team game and play to win. The rest will kind of fall in place. One thing is you don’t want to overthink it. You just got to play to your strength. You can’t play something you’re not. That’s why they usually feel like on the team you can help.”
Prior to last season, Suter’s goal scoring seasons were 14, 15, 14 and 14; he had 138 shots, second-highest of his five seasons in the NHL but his shooting percentage was a career-best 18.1 percent.
“It helps pretty much to play all the games,” Suter, who played in 81 games, said. “I think I took advantage of the chances I had, especially in the slot where I could get a couple extra ones in. That’s kind of what happened, buried those, put them in instead of missing a little bit, hit the post or something like that and I think that was the difference in terms of goals. … Things fell into place and it felt good at the start of the year and kept going. I had a great summer and I had a feeling it was going to be great. The year before too, just missed a couple games with an injury.”
Suter doesn’t have the greatest face-off numbers (45.9 percent career) but will work well with assistant coach Steve Ott in that department but will be a solid piece of a puzzle trying to improve a penalty kill. He was past of Vancouver’s third-ranked penalty kill last season (82.6 percent); the Blues were tied for 27th (74.2 percent).
“We’ll see how it goes. You take pride in it,” Suter said. “It can really help to give momentum. At least you’ll have the chance in the game in those big moments. As a group, it’s four guys in a role. You’ve just got to find a way. Guys are going to make plays. You just don’t want to give the one right in the middle downtown. You just take pride in it. It’s always a big part of the game.”
Whether Suter plays second-line center – that’s where he was with Dylan Holloway and Jordan Kyrou Tuesday at practice – or third-line center will be up to the coaches. He doesn’t really care. All he cares about is helping the Blues take that next step.
“You see how good they were and that first round last year,” Suter said of the Blues. “You just try and build on that. You get the feeling it’s really good players, a lot of good players, a big roster. You can tell mindset-wise, a tight-knit group. Everybody here knows it’s about winning and nothing else really matters.”
Jimmy Snuggerud Has Chance To Be Next Special Player For St. Louis BluesMARYLAND
HEIGHTS, Mo. -- When the St.
Louis Blues brought in Jimmy Snuggerud last season, it was the
perfect storm.
News And Notes From Day 6 Of St. Louis Blues Training Camp
MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- In
Day 6 of St. Louis Blues training camp, the lines and defensive
pairings on the ice Tuesday at Centene Community Ice Center served as
a glimpse of what the opening night lineup could look like on Oct. 9. For James Franklin and Penn State, another big game means another chance to change the narrative
"I'm not going to act like there's no pressure," Franklin said of Penn State's matchup with Oregon. "(But) this is why you choose Penn State. It's why I came here as the head coach, to have these types of opportunities and to play these type of games."
Tigers blow 10-game lead in less than a month as Guardians tie for first in AL Central
Gavin Williams posted a career-high-tying 12 strikeouts and Daniel Schneemann drove in two runs Tuesday as the host Cleveland Guardians rallied for a 5-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers to forge a tie atop the American League Central.
The AL Central race could be seen as an epic comeback by the Guardians or a huge meltdown from the Tigers, depending on your allegiances. The Tigers had led the division since 23 April and had a 10-game lead over Cleveland as recently as 6 September. But the Guardians have the best record in MLB this month (17-5) while the Tigers have lost seven straight games and 10 of their last 11.
Related: Cubs’ Matt Shaw defends missing team’s defeat to attend Charlie Kirk’s memorial
Williams allowed two runs on four hits and walked only two to outduel Tigers ace Tarik Skubal, who gave up three runs (one earned) on four hits while fanning eight and walking three.
It was a shaky outing for Skubal, who has been excellent for most of the season. After he hit Cleveland’s David Fry in the face with a pitch, he looked shaken and threw a wild pitch to George Valera, who replaced Fry, allowing Cleveland to score. Skubal also had an error – he inexplicably tried to make a blind throw to first between his legs – and was also called for a balk in the sixth inning as the Guardians rallied for three runs to take a 3-2 lead without hitting a ball out of the infield.
“We did a lot of uncharacteristic things, and it’s hurting us,” Tigers manager AJ Hinch said after the game.
Fry was taken to a local hospital for observation after being hit by the 99 mph pitch and Skubal admitted the incident had affected him.
“Really tough,” said the left-hander. “I’ve already reached out to him. I’m sure his phone is blowing up. I just want to make sure he’s all right. Obviously, he seemed like he was OK coming off the field and hopefully it stays that way.”
With the victory, the Guardians now have a better head-to-head record against the Tigers this season and own the tiebreaker over Detroit should the teams finish joint-first in the division.
“I feel like we’ve been this way for a couple of series now,” Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler said. “It’s not quite pressing but we definitely feel some of the pressure and we’ve got to mitigate it. We’ve got to eliminate it. We’ve still got to find ways to stay loose, focus in and hone in on what we need to do and go out there and do it.”
The teams play each other again on Wednesday and Thursday before the Tigers complete their season with a series against the Red Sox and the Guardians face the Rangers.
Federico Chiesa ready to step up for Slot in Liverpool’s Champions League plans
Striker could yet replace Leoni in league phase squad
Italian relishing chance to thank fans for their support
Federico Chiesa has outlined his determination to play his way into Arne Slot’s Champions League plans and to repay Liverpool fans for their unwavering support during a difficult debut season at Anfield.
The Italy international impressed in his first start of the season on Tuesday with two assists in the 2-1 Carabao Cup third-round win against Southampton. Chiesa has also made an impact in four substitute appearances in the Premier League this season and says he feels “better physically and mentally” compared with his first campaign as a Liverpool player.
Continue reading...Turbulent end at Red Bull fails to deter Christian Horner’s potential new suitors | Giles Richards
It is hard to believe a return to F1 is not on the cards for one of the most successful team principals, but where will he go?
When Christian Horner announced to the staff at Red Bull he had been dismissed by the company to whom he had dedicated 20 years of his life, he was, understandably, reduced to tears. On Monday that parting was formally sealed with a multimillion-pound settlement and Horner is free to move on. It is all but impossible to imagine he will not attempt to hurl himself back into Formula One, doubtless spurred-on by having a point to make to his former employer.
On Monday Horner and Red Bull’s parent company, Red Bull GmbH, announced they had reached an agreement worth £80m to end his career with the team, after he had been removed from his post as team principal shortly after the British GP in July.
Continue reading...Flyers Disappoint Against Canadiens, But 1 Top Prospect Stood Out
The Philadelphia Flyers never quite looked ready to play against the Montreal Canadiens in Tuesday night's preseason game, and the 4-2 final score reflected that. However, the performance wasn't all bad.
The Canadiens jumped out to an early 2-0 lead on goals from Cole Caufield and Florian Xhekaj, and Xhekaj's goal was one goalie Sam Ersson will want back for sure.
The Canadiens prospect found an open zone with Nick Deslauriers and Ethan Samson pursuing Tyler Thorpe in the corner, received the puck, and fired a weak shot through Ersson's glove side.
Prior to that, Caufield converted on a partial 3-on-2 where defensemen Helge Grans and Nick Seeler were the only two players back. Captain Sean Couturier fumbled the puck under pressure on the wall in the offensive zone, allowing Nick Suzuki to break free in the neutral zone.
Seeler was too passive in his defense on the play, as Suzuki gained the Flyers' offensive zone with his only two pass options still outside the blueline. Grans covered Lane Hutson in the middle and possibly expected winger support on the weak side, but Caufield was all alone to get his one-timer off 53 seconds into the game for a 1-0 lead.
Overall, I liked Grans's game after this play, but I'll need to see more from him to say with conviction that he deserves an NHL roster spot. Fortunately, there is still a lot of preseason left to play.
Flyers vs. Canadiens: 3 Hopefuls Will Make Their Case for an NHL Roster SpotThe Philadelphia Flyers will face the Montreal Canadiens for their second preseason game of 2025 with an entirely different roster, with the exception of two players.
As for other roster hopefuls, Dennis Gilbert surprisingly looked effective next to Travis Sanheim on the Flyers' top defense pairing. The 28-year-old journeyman helped get the Flyers on the board midway through the second period, springing Anthony Richard for a breakaway with a long-range breakout pass and getting Philadelphia within a goal at 2-1.
Aleksei Kolosov took over for Sam Ersson after one period, contrary to what Rick Tocchet said at morning skate earlier in the day, and made 12 saves on 13 shots (.923).
The one goal he did allow was the straw that ultimately broke the camel's back; Nick Suzuki's second-period goal stood as the game-winner.
Defensively, the Flyers were again a mess on this play.
Hunter McDonald didn't play Suzuki with enough urgency after Slafkovsky set up shop, and Oscar Eklind and Ethan Samson actually deflected Suzuki's shot over Kolosov's shoulder, with the Belarusian clearly expecting a low shot.
Owen Tippett mercifully delivered the Flyers a power play goal on the evening to make it 3-2, but the power play overall looked poor.
Winger Alex Bump hardly had a kick up until the third period, but finished the night as the Flyers' most dangerous offensive player.
Bump started on a line with Deslauriers and Jett Luchanko, but eventually swapped places with Richard and joined up with Couturier and Bobby Brink.
That line was too sloppy and ineffective for a preseason game, but once Bump came aboard, things started clicking more.
The 21-year-old probably should have scored on a breakaway opportunity, too, but after deking Kaapo Kahkonen out of his skates, the finishing touch just went off the side of the net. You can guarantee Bump won't mess up that finish again.
Flyers Stock Up, Stock Down Heading into Training Camp Week 2Heading into the second week of Philadelphia Flyers training camp, a number of key players have boosted their stocks and chances of making the NHL roster. Others? Not so much.
For me, Bump and Luchanko should be put in more opportunistic positions by head coach Rick Tocchet in the next exhibition game they feature in.
It's nothing against Deslauriers, but he was drafted as a defenseman and is a career fighter. He's just not capable of playing a game that suits Bump and Luchanko, and especially not at his age. It wasn't fair to him or the two youngsters.
At the same time, it's only preseason and there's no need to overreact. I just believe that the youngsters should be simulating real game settings as often as possible, but wasting two periods with that combination in a building like the Bell Centre after arriving in Montreal hours earlier isn't going to work.
Overall, it's hard to say any players played poorly, because most of the team did, and it's relative, especially given the circumstances.
Alex Bump was certainly the most impressive and flashy, closely followed by Sanheim, Gilbert, and Kolosov.
Nobody else did much of anything, so we'll need to see more preseason action before considering jumping to any conclusions.
How new ABS system will impact Patrick Bailey, Giants in 2026 MLB season
How new ABS system will impact Patrick Bailey, Giants in 2026 MLB season originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO — In the top of the second inning Tuesday night, Logan Webb threw a 2-2 slider to Victor Scott II that just missed the outer edge of the plate. As it hit Patrick Bailey’s glove, the Giants catcher subtly moved his hand a couple of inches. Scott bent down in disbelief and shook his head as home plate umpire Malachi Moore called him out.
Two innings later, Webb threw another slider up and away. This one found its spot, although not by much. According to the unofficial strike zone box on the broadcast, about half the ball was in the zone and half was out. Crooks briefly glanced back at Moore as he was called out.
A year from now, both of those pitches might lead to a brief stoppage of play.
The ABS (automatic balls and strikes) system was approved by Major League Baseball on Tuesday, and the man who framed both strikeouts early in Tuesday’s game might be the big leaguer who is most impacted. Bailey is the best pitch-framer in baseball and it’s not particularly close, but starting next opening day, opposing hitters will have a way to fight back.
Had Scott been able to challenge Tuesday, he would have gotten a 3-2 opportunity instead of a slow walk back to the dugout. Crooks would have been tempted, too, although he would have been proven wrong.
The ABS system will dramatically alter the game, and Bailey said Tuesday that he’s not quite sure what it will mean for his future. He is hitting .224 with six homers, but his defense is so elite that he has been worth 3.2 fWAR this season, which ranks third among Giants position players.
“I don’t think any of us know what this really looks like in a full year,” Bailey said Tuesday. “I’ll try to be the best I can be and just figure it out.”
It has been an open secret within the game that ABS would arrive in 2026, and on Tuesday, the Joint Competition Committee approved a challenge system similar to one that has been used at Triple-A since 2022 and was tried in 2025 spring training games. The final result is actually pretty simple.
Every stadium will have 12 Hawk-Eye cameras set up to track each pitch and if a pitcher, catcher or batter disagrees with a ball or strike, he can tap his hat or helmet. Teams get two challenges every game and will retain successful ones, with an extra challenge in every extra inning if a team is out by the 10th.
The rulings themself will resemble the system that has been used in tennis for years. After a challenge is announced by the home plate umpire, a graphic will be shown on the scoreboard displaying the exact location of the pitch compared to the batter’s measured strike zone and whether it is in fact a ball or strike. That part of the system figures are particularly popular.
Imagine it’s a Friday night at Oracle Park and 40,000 fans are on their feet in the eighth inning. Logan Webb throws a close pitch to Shohei Ohtani that is called a ball, but Bailey knows he saw it correctly and he taps his helmet. The anticipation at the ballpark will only be additive to the game experience. MLB estimates that challenges will take 15 seconds total, but in spring training it often was much quicker.
“Fans are going to love it,” predicted Bryce Eldridge, who experienced ABS in Triple-A this year.
Not every player will feel the same way. According to USA Today, seven teams opposed the ABS system in player voting, and it is sure to be embarrassing for some. Giants manager Bob Melvin has asked questions of Triple-A manager Dave Brundage and said he anticipates having to put in some rules at some point. There are bound to be some players who are challenge-happy and costing the team by being wrong too often.
“You’re going to find some guys that you’re going to tell them, ‘If you miss today, you’re not going to get (permission to challenge) tomorrow’ or something like that,” Melvin said. “And then you’re going to have other guys that are going to be really good at it. Next spring we’ll feel that out and see who is and who isn’t.”
What has been discovered in the minors is that pitchers are surprisingly bad at calling their own games. In spring training, they were correct just 41 percent of the time, per ESPN, while catchers sat at 56 percent and hitters were a 50-50 coin flip.
Bailey said it’s much easier for him to track while catching than hitting, and there’s nobody better at it. Per Baseball Savant, he has been worth 25 Catcher Framing Runs. The next closest catcher is Toronto’s Alejandro Kirk at 14 and the gap was just as wide last year, when Bailey led the Majors at 23 and Seattle’s Cal Raleigh ranked second at 13.
Bailey is so far ahead of the pack that he ranks second overall in Catcher Framing Runs since tracking began in 2018 — despite the fact that he didn’t debut until 2023.
“He’s the best, he’s as good as it gets, and he understands it, too,” Melvin said. “He knows all the numbers and what his pitchers can do and where he needs to go to get strikes. It makes a big impact.”
In theory, Bailey’s skills should still give the Giants a nightly edge. Melvin figures teams will save one challenge for the eighth or ninth inning, so they’ll have limited opportunities early in games to try and catch Bailey in a successful frame job. Bailey noted that there are plenty of times when he feels he caught a strike but the umpire disagrees, and he figures to be pretty good at challenging, given his feel for the strike zone.
There will also be some gamesmanship, although nobody is quite sure what that will fully look like yet. Bailey might find that there is a new edge to be found by goading hitters into challenging calls that were correct in the first place. Regardless, the Giants and Bailey will benefit from the fact that challenges are limited.
“I certainly don’t think a good framer goes away unless it’s wholesale (robot umps),” Melvin said. “I think, still, his value is going to be high.”
Bailey is hopeful that’s the case. He chose his words carefully Tuesday, but also left no doubt that he’s not thrilled that ABS has arrived. He has said in the past that it will be bad for catchers overall, and it certainly adds a bit more pressure to perform with the bat.
While some front offices have placed framing above all else in recent years, at least part of that advantage is going away. It will take some time to figure out just how much it impacts the Giants and their own catcher.
“I don’t think it’s going to take away the value of framing,” Bailey said. “You still have to be able to get calls and keep strikes (as) strikes. At the end of the day, I think it’s just going to be really valuable to know the zone.”