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3 Flyers Who Have Most to Prove During 2026 Training Camp

On Thursday, training camp officially begins for the Philadelphia Flyers, and for some, the next two weeks will be an important inflection point in their careers.

Opening night is less than two weeks from now, with the Flyers starting their season against the archrival Pittsburgh Penguins in a playoff rematch on Sept. 30.

By then, the Flyers will have played four preseason games and cut their roster in half, going from 46 players to the allotted 23 they'll begin the season with.

This is all to say that anyone fighting for a roster spot, or anyone fighting to prove themselves to head coach Rick Tocchet and the coaching staff, isn't going to have a whole lot of time to make it happen. Every practice session and preseason game will be of great importance.

But, not everyone has to prove their skills on the ice. For some, it's about everything else.

Matvei Michkov

At the age of 21, Matvei Michkov already has 114 points in 161 games and quickly established as one of the Flyers' premier forwards, despite the fact that he averaged just 14:50 of ice time last season and 15:45 in his NHL career to date.

As we all know by now, the Russian phenom joined up with the Flyers last training camp at a weight much higher than he should've been (205, according to his own words), but Michkov now claims to be 176 pounds and at 10% body fat, acknowledging that he can already feel the difference.

This will go a long way towards getting back in the good graces of Tocchet and the Flyers. If Michkov is truly rejuvenated and in the best shape of his NHL career, Year 3 should be the best one yet, considering he now has two full seasons of experience to draw on.

Of course, Michkov will need to show his progress on the ice and in the weight room throughout training camp if he is to assume a top-six role under Tocchet.

If that test is passed, it will be a massive relief for all parties involved.

David Jiricek

The Flyers have high hopes David Jiricek, the sixth overall pick in the 2022 draft, will take a step forward and prove that he is ready for the NHL limelight.

The 22-year-old is no longer waivers-exempt and will have to be exposed to the other 31 NHL teams if the Flyers deem he has to spend more time in the AHL with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

On the other hand, is spot on the roster is the most obvious for the taking, with Noah Juulsen now out of the picture and leaving a third-pair vacancy behind Jamie Drysdale and Rasmus Ristolainen.

There are a few boxes Jiricek will need to check, primarily in regards to decision-making and defending, but the puck skills and shooting ability are there. Even if Jiricek begins as a power play specialist, it's a starting point that opens the door for him to grow into an expanded role from there.

Jiricek is on his third NHL organization since being drafted, and it's likely now or never to establish himself as an every-day NHL player. With the Flyers, he has the best possible opportunity to make it happen.

Jett Luchanko

Jett Luchanko has already played eight NHL games for the Flyers. (Photo: Eric Canha, Imagn Images)
Jett Luchanko has already played eight NHL games for the Flyers. (Photo: Eric Canha, Imagn Images)

To preface, Jett Luchanko probably won't and shouldn't be expected to stick on the NHL roster out of the gate as he did the previous two seasons; it's not the best thing for his development.

That said, though, Luchanko is probably as healthy as he's been in a long time after undergoing a procedure to correct a nagging injury, which has considerably improved his already good skating - his No. 1 trait as a player.

The 20-year-old former 13th overall pick needs only to make the decision a hard one for the Flyers and show that he will be gunning to make this roster in the near future.

In my first edition of the Flyers' depth chart, I noted that I expect the Flyers to bring Luchanko up first if any of their centers go down with an injury, especially if the injury is significant. That allows for more reps for one of their most talented forward prospects.

With a strong training camp performance, Luchanko can re-establish himself as a premier prospect in the system and set himself up for a strong first professional season.

At full strength and with a shortened training camp, Luchanko should show the Flyers his best hockey yet.

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Sens Nation Podcast: Batherson’s $86M Commitment: What It Means For The Senators

Drake Batherson is staying in Ottawa for the long haul.

The Hockey News' Steve Warne and co-host Gregg Kennedy break down Batherson’s eight-year, $82-million contract extension, including the timing, trade protection and why his commitment matters after a turbulent summer for the Senators.

Also discussed:

Batherson’s new deal: Is $10.25 million per season a fair price, and could the contract eventually become a bargain?

The NHL’s salary explosion: How offer sheets, a rising cap and massive young-player contracts could affect Thomas Chabot, Artem Zub and other Senators.

An unusually short training camp: With few roster openings and limited preseason action, do Ottawa’s bubble players have any real opportunity?

The end of fitness testing: Why the NHL’s new training-camp rules have left some coaches concerned.

Ottawa’s prospects shine: Jaxon Cover’s seven-point weekend headlines an impressive showing that also included Kasper Halttunen, Christian Kyrou and others.

Goaltending questions: Cam Talbot lands in Columbus, while Ottawa must decide whether to begin the season with Linus Ullmark, Samuel Ersson and Leevi Meriläinen.

That's all in this episode of Sens Nation, the official Senators podcast of The Hockey News.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News

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Tigers head to Chicago for 4-game series vs White Sox starting Thursday

The Detroit Tigers’ six-game winning streak came to an unceremonious end on Wednesday afternoon with a 5-1 loss to Max Scherzer and the Toronto Blue Jays. For the third straight time, Keider Montero only lasted four innings, but truly it was the lack of offense and some poor defense that led to the defeat.

The Motor City Kitties now move on to Chicago, where they will take on the White Sox in a four-game series this weekend starting on Thursday. Left-hander Framber Valdez will get the start in the opener looking to continue his streak of 13 innings without allowing an earned run this month.

The 32-year-old faced the ChiSox once before this season back on May 30, when he surrendered four runs on six hits (one home run) and two walks while striking out four and uncorking a wild pitch over 6 2/3 innings to earn his second loss of the season.

For Chicago, right-hander Erick Fedde will face the Tigers for the third time in his 15th start this season. Over the 33-year-old’s 8 2/3 innings of work against the Olde English D so far, he has four runs on eight hits (one home run) and four walks while striking out seven, earning a loss in the process.

Here is how the two hurlers match up for the series opener at Rate Field starting on Thursday night.

Detroit Tigers (72-78) vs. Chicago White Sox (77-75)

Time (ET): 7:40 p.m.
Place: Rate Field, Chicago, Illinois
SB Nation Site:South Side Sox
Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network

Game 153: LHP Framber Valdez (10-10, 4.01 ERA) vs. RHP Erick Fedde (8-9, 3.97 ERA)

PlayerGIPK%BB%GB%FIPfWAR
Valdez29163.217.08.454.84.171.8
Fedde31133.215.98.438.35.12-0.2

VALDEZ

FEDDE

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Yankees prospects: Tampa loses Florida State League championship in walk-off

Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders:L, 6-9 vs. Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp — at two games behind league-leading Indianapolis with four to play and Rochester also ahead, the RailRiders’ season is almost officially over (doesn’t help that they lost Oswaldo Cabrera to DFA limbo; alas)

CF Jarred Kelenic 1-4, HR, BB, 2 RBI, 2 K — game-tying two-run blast in the fifth; Jacksonville quickly untied it and didn’t look back
RF Jasson Domínguez 3-3, HR, BB, 2 RBI, HBP, throwing error — a perfect effort from Jasson at the plate (including a 430-foot tank), but no cigar
DH J.C. Escarra 2-5, K
2B Marco Luciano 2-4, 2 RBI, K, SF
SS Max Schuemann 0-3, BB, K, GIDP, HBP — back-breaking double play ball in the ninth when he batted as the tying run with none out
3B Tyler Hardman 1-5, K, GIDP — flew out to end it
1B Ernesto Martinez Jr. 0-4, 2 K
LF Kenedy Corona 2-3, 2B, BB
C Abrahan Gutierrez 1-4, GIDP, catcher interference error

Brendan Beck 4.1 IP, 7 H, 5 R (4 ER), 1 BB, 5 K — has really had a nice year at Triple-A but not a good day yesterday
Danny Watson 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K
Carlos Lagrange 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K — pretty good return from the IL, clipped below! topped 100 mph four times and also tried his slider, sweeper, changeup, and sinker in 19-pitch outing; probably too late to be trusted in the Yankees bullpen but you never know
Eli Morgan 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 3 K (loss) — ack
Justin Topa 1 IP, 3 H, 3 R (3 ER), 0 BB, 0 K — ack x2
Eric Reyzelman 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K

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Double-A Somerset Patriots: Season over

High-A Hudson Valley Renegades: Season over

Low-A Tampa Tarpons: L, 0-1 vs. Jupiter Hammerheads — Tampa loses a heartbreaker in the do-or-die Game 3 of the Florida State League Championship Series; weather played in a role, and there was even a delay between innings with the game scoreless in the ninth … it was the third rain delay of the night

SS Dax Kilby 1-4, K — his year’s not over! check him out in the Arizona Fall League soon
CF Yostin Pena 0-3, K, 2 SB, HBP
RF Wilberson De Pena 1-3, BB, K — single in the sixth was only Tampa’s third hit (and final of the season)
3B Anthony Potestio 0-4, 4 K — tough way to end the season
1B Tyce Armstrong 0-3, 2 K, HBP
C Luis Puello 1-4, 2 K, passed ball
LF Diego Castellanos 0-4, 2 K
DH Luke Pettitte 0-2, BB, K — was Tampa’s last batter of the season as Hammerheads struck out side in the ninth, pre-rain delay
2B Luis Escudero 0-3, 2 K

J.T. Etheridge 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K, WP — nails tough while keeping it scoreless; he’ll join Kilby in the AFL
Jose Ledesma 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, HBP
Rafael Arias 0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R (1 ER), 3 BB (1 IBB), 1 K — went from hopping around the mound with one foot to walking off in just a couple minute when Jake McCutcheon ending it on a double to left-center

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Florida Complex League Yankees: Season over

Dominican Summer League Yankees: Season over

Dominican Summer League Bombers: Season over

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Mets Daily Prospect Report, 9/16/26: Jefferson Rojas

Jonathan Santucci of the Binghamton Rumble Ponies delivers a pitch during a Minor League Baseball game at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater, United States, on June 12, 2026. (Photo by Dan Squicciarini/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images

Triple-A: Syracuse Mets (38-37/40-30)

SYRACUSE 5, LEHIGH VALLEY 4 (BOX)

Syracuse is continuing to keep their season alive as we come to the final few games of the season, with the season ending on September 20th. The win keeps them 1.5 games back of first place Rochester, who won their game as well.

Jefferson Rojas was far and away the star of the show. He homered for the second time in two games at the Triple-A level, providing serious firepower for the stretch run (and also, undoubtedly, putting himself on the 2027 map like Carson Benge and AJ Ewing before him). Rojas’s home run put them up 4-1 in the second, and they looked well on their way to a win. Jonathan Santucci, however, could not keep the lead safe, surrendering four runs (three earned), leaving the game tied at four in the sixth. Ryan Clifford, who struggled this year, had a feel good moment, homering to make it 5-4 in the bottom of the sixth. The Mets pen would hold that skinny lead, keeping their season alive.

  • CF D’Andre Smith: 0-3, BB, 3 K
  • 3B Jefferson Rojas: 3-3, 2 R, HR, 2 RBI, BB
  • SS Ronny Mauricio: 1-4, R, 2B, RBI, 2 K
  • 2B Vidal Bruján: 0-3, BB, K
  • 1B Eric Wagaman: 1-4, RBI, K
  • DH Billy Amick: 0-4, 3 K
  • LF Ryan Clifford: 1-4, R, HR, RBI, 2 K
  • RF Jose Ramos: 1-3, R, 2 K, SB
  • C Hayden Senger: 1-3, 3B
  • LHP Jonathan Santucci: 5.1 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 6 K
  • RHP Kevin Herget: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, W (1-0), BS (1)
  • LHP Cionel Pérez: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, H (1)
  • RHP Chayce McDermott: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, S (1)

Double-A: Binghamton Rumble Ponies (27-42/34-34)

NO GAME (SEASON OVER)

High-A: Brooklyn Cyclones (25-40/32-34)

NO GAME (SEASON OVER)

Single-A: St. Lucie Mets (33-33/25-39)

NO GAME (SEASON OVER)

Rookie: FCL Mets (24-33)

NO GAME (SEASON OVER)

STAR OF THE NIGHT

Jefferson Rojas

GOAT OF THE NIGHT

Billy Amick

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Phillies News: Kyle Schwarber, Andrew Painter, Bryan Rincon

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 15: Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber (12) is congratulated by teammates in the dugout after his 45th home run of the season during the Philadelphia Phillies versus Washington Nationals Major League Baseball (MLB) game on September 15, 2026 at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.. (Photo by Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

It was good to see the Phillies patient approach at the plate from August return, if only for a night. The team drew a season high 13 walks against the Nationals bullpen game. Unfortunately, you still have to drive those baserunners in somehow, as despite the platoon of baserunners, the Phillies only managed to score three runs thanks to a lackluster performance with runners in scoring position. They accomplished the first part of consistent offense in getting runners on base. They’re still working on the second part.

On to the links.

Phillies News:

MLB News:

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Orioles news: Holliday, Bradish updates, sweep of Mets

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 15: Pete Alonso #25 of the Baltimore Orioles gestures to the crowd following his ninth inning solo home run marking his 300th career home run during the game against the New York Mets at Citi Field on September 15, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Evan Bernstein/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Hello, friends.

What a weird series we just witnessed. I’m not sure that I’ve ever witnessed other team fans cheering so much for an Oriole and probably I never will again. The circumstances surrounding Pete Alonso and the Mets, and the fact that he came over to the Orioles afterwards, are not repeated just every year and the O’s aren’t likely to sign most of the players who are so beloved. I can’t imagine a fanbase-wide kind of warmth for a former Oriole. I don’t cheer in any way for a player on another team who used to play here when they are playing the Orioles. I don’t even clap for the “welcome back” video package.

Alonso homered again last night and the Mets fans were happy about it. I guess it helps that this season is a lost cause for them, so it’s not like it hampered their chances in any way. The Orioles finished off a sweep by taking a 7-1 victory on Wednesday. That’s the other weird thing. Or maybe it’s not so weird. Right after everybody gives up on the O’s, they go ahead and look like a competent baseball team for a few days, or maybe even several days.

It’s probably too late for it to matter, unless they just pretty much run the table, but as long as that possibility is alive, we might as well cling to it. Those slim hopes got a small boost yesterday, as on top of the Orioles winning their own game, Cleveland and Chicago flipped in the AL Central. That’s significant for the O’s because the Orioles have the head-to-head tiebreaker over the White Sox, which they do not against the Guardians. So, if the O’s do somehow run down the current wild card 3 team, they would have the edge in a tie.

There are also the Rangers and Blue Jays still to pass. That’s another reason why it’s so unlikely and why the Orioles probably have to run the table. Maybe they could spare a loss. Their last three series are Brewers, Jays, and Yankees. It’s a tough road. The Rangers are the only one of these teams to play today.

There were two bits of Orioles news yesterday. The team placed infielder Jackson Holliday on the 10-day injured list with left wrist inflammation. Since there’s not much season left, that means he’s probably done for the year, a disappointing end to a disappointing season. Posting a .921 OPS in July got people’s hopes up, but Holliday has sagged since, dropping a .495 OPS in August and .520 in September, tanking his season numbers.

Not much to do except hope this was connected to the wrist issue. That’s not a crazy thing to think, since players poorly play through injuries that should have them on the IL with some frequency. But it’s not guaranteed. The Orioles are really going to have to think hard about what Holliday will have to offer next year, and if that’s a roster space they need to improve. If he was a 2 WAR player, there’s something there, but this year he had a 0.2 bWAR.

Also announced yesterday was a diagnosis for injured pitcher Kyle Bradish. It’s a sports hernia for Bradish. Manager Craig Albernaz said they are exploring the next steps. Bradish’s season wrapped with a 4.12 ERA, or an exactly league average 100 ERA+. You may have had higher hopes. I certainly did. Hopefully next year is better for him as well, with Tommy John surgery farther in the rear view mirror.

Orioles stuff you might have missed

Pete Alonso delivered. Too many Orioles hitters haven’t. (The Baltimore Sun)
This reaction to Tuesday’s big homer from Alonso is not wrong. Some guys just have not been carrying their share of the load.

Concerns for and about Samuel Basallo (Steve on Baseball)
Steve Melewski takes a look at Basallo, another Oriole who’s mightily slumping late in the season.

The very fun group of Orioles prospects going to the Arizona Fall League (Orioles On The Verge)
The prospect enthusiasts of the Orioles On The Verge podcast are enthused about the guys heading out to Arizona this year. It’s a more interesting group than some recent years.

Where should MLB add expansion teams? We asked the Orioles. (The Baltimore Banner)
Nashville? Charlotte? Honolulu? Let’s get weird.

Birthdays and Orioles anniversaries

Today in 1970, the Orioles clinched the American League East title. The O’s actually lost their game on this day, a 2-0 setback to Washington, but since the Yankees were beaten by the Red Sox, the Orioles clinched. They went on, as you know, to win the World Series.

In 1999, the Orioles team plane took off without Cal Ripken Jr. This incident was cited when GM Frank Wren was fired shortly after the season. In the O’s game that night, during the course of an 8-3 Orioles victory over the Twins, Jesse Orosco set a major league record with his 1,072nd appearance as a pitcher. Orosco finished with 1,252 games, still the recordholder. The active leader, Kenley Jansen, is in 19th place on the career list with 980 appearances.

There are a pair of former Orioles who were born on this day. They are: 2025 reliever Kade Strowd, and 1979-81 infielder Wayne Krenchicki.

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday to you! Your birthday buddies for today include: Wild West outlaw Billy the Kid (1859), Marriott founder J. Willard Marriott (1900), author Ken Kesey (1935), baseball Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda (1937), Hall of Fame basketball coach Phil Jackson (1945), Indian prime minister Narendra Modi (1950), Super Mario voice actor Charles Martinet (1955), and actress Danielle Brooks (1990).

On this day in history…

In 1630, the city of Boston was founded in what was then the Massachusetts Bay colony.

In 1787, the Constitution was signed at the end of a nearly four month long Constitutional Convention.

In 1862, the Union Army of the Potomac and the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia clashed in the Battle of Antietam, with the Union driving off the invading army. The battle saw over 22,000 casualties, of which more than 3,500 were killed. This remains the single bloodiest day in the history of the United States military.

In 1908, nearly five years after its first flight, the Wright Flyer, being flown by Orville Wright, crashed. A passenger, Lt. Thomas Selfridge, was killed during the crash, making him the first ever fatality from an airplane.

In 1944, the Allied powers launched Operation Market Garden, a combined air-and-land invasion of the Netherlands meant to secure an invasion route into Germany. The 60-mile advance liberated much of the Netherlands from Nazi occupation; however, the main objective of securing a bridge over the Rhine was not accomplished with great losses suffered by the British paratroopers who were tasked with capturing and holding the bridge as relief never arrived.

In 1983, Vanessa Williams was named Miss America, the first Black winner of the pageant.

**

And that’s the way it is in Birdland on September 17. Have a safe Thursday.

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Half the Wizards roster will be under 23. That’s why they might be really good.

Half the Wizards roster will be under 23. That’s why they might be really good. | Getty Images

The Wizards will be better in 2026-27 than they’ve been the previous three seasons. Low bar, I know. But at least they were trying to be bad unlike a previous season almost 20 years ago where the basketball operations group were tasked by ownership with competing for a championship and assembled a roster that was so bad the only sane move was to trade away all the veterans. They finished the season 19-63.

That’s the reason I’m a Bullets fan…

sigh

The official over/under betting line is 33.5 wins, which seems perfectly calibrated for wagering because who the heck really knows what this team will do. Under is plausible — a couple injuries to key guys (hi there Anthony Davis and Trae Young) a few youngsters who don’t progress as hoped, and voila we’re watching 28 minutes a night of Anthony Gill for the final 17 games of the season.

Could Alex Sarr make the leap to All-Star status in his third season? His second season suggests it’s a distinct possibility.<br> | Getty Images

The over is also seriously plausible because the team is so young. My research into “typical” NBA career patterns (which is similar to research by others) shows that players make their biggest improvements at ages 20-24 — biggest jumps coming at ages 21, 22, and 23 (in order).

Here are Wizards players in that age group expected to be on the roster this season:

  • AJ Dybantsa | 20
  • Will Riley | 20
  • Tre Johnson | 20
  • Alex Sarr | 21
  • Bub Carrington | 21
  • Bilal Coulilbaly | 22
  • Tristan Vukcevic | 23
  • Kyshawn George | 23

That’s half the roster. Some are more likely to leap than others, and some won’t. One or two might jump big. One or two might regress hard. I put “typical” in quotes above because career trajectories are averages based on a large sample of players. When it comes to individuals, there’s variation — lots of it. So these average effects are best guesses based on historical patterns. Players can (and will) defy the averages for the good and bad.

For example, a couple seasons ago, Sarr posted a 77 PPA as a 19-year-old rookie. (For the uninitiated, PPA is my all-around production metric, which accounts for things like pace, role, and defense. In PPA, 100 is average, higher is better, and replacement level is 45.) The forecast using my career trajectory calculator guesstimated his year two PPA at 85 — a modest improvement.

Sarr’s PPA last season: 132. A big jump a year or two ahead of “schedule.” That jump bumped his guesstimated peak from multi-time All-Star and borderline All-NBA type to someone who could be a genuine MVP candidate for a few seasons. Heady stuff.

If he makes the “regularly scheduled” age 20 to age 21 improvement, he’ll be an All-Star knocking on All-NBA status this season. If he jumps like that, going over 33.5 wins would be child’s play.

Coulibaly is an interesting case. He posted a near-replacement level 49 PPA as a 19-year-old rookie. The career trajectory calculator suggested he’d improve modestly the following season (54 PPA) — with gains continuing to an average season at age 22 (this season) and a career peak as a solid NBA starter.

Except, Coulibaly’s production climbed to a 75 PPA in year two, which boosted his “forecast” to a likely All-Star and maybe All-NBA type in his peak years. Last season, his PPA was 101 and The Calculator’s updated guesstimate keeps the All-Star and drops the All-NBA from his future.

George entered the NBA a couple years older — he was 21 as a rookie, posting a 53 PPA. With the biggest jump year already in the rearview mirror, The Calculator suggested he’d spend his career as a useful but a bit below average reserve. He improved more than is “typical” — leaping to an 87 PPA, which boosts the guesstimated forecast to that of a solid starter at his best. He could be average next season.

With Tre Johnson, I’ve written in the past about worries I have about deficiencies in his game. Guess what: that’s all normal for a teenager in the NBA. He posted a 61 PPA as a 19-year-old rookie, which suggests someone who could peak at a borderline All-Star level. If he’s “typical,” next season will see modest improvement (think a PPA in the high 60s or 70s), he’ll reach average the season after, and then…who knows.

A guesstimate like that suggests he won’t drive much winning next season. But a bigger leap (similar to those for Sarr and Coulibaly) is possible.

Johnson’s year two could be more like Carrington’s who posted a respectable 59 PPA at age 19 and then improved less than is “typical” — reaching a 61 PPA last season. A more “typical” progression from this point would still suggest Carrington as an above-average starter in the best years of his career.

This is the same basic trajectory guesstimated for Riley, who produced a 57 PPA as a 19-year-old rookie. If he follows the average improvement track, he’ll be in a mid-60s PPA range next season and progress to a solid starter in a few years.

The last three — Johnson, Carrington and Riley probably won’t drive winning next season, though they could be low-end contributors. Investing in them might pay off in a few years…right around the time Young is entering the age-related decline portion of his career.

So far, there’s one major youngster I haven’t talked about: AJ Dybantsa. It’s difficult to predict how good anyone so young will be as a rookie, though Dybantsa was a special prospect — a deserving number one overall pick.

My best guess is he won’t be terrible (like say Devin Booker, who put up a 45 PPA at age 19) and maybe won’t be great (like his teammate, Davis, who posted a 178 PPA at 19). But it’s reasonable to think he could be around average by the end of the year. And it’s not unreasonable to think he could be better than average — perhaps rating around 120 or higher, which is right around where LeBron James was as a rookie.

What the Wizards can reasonably expect next season would be All-Star level play from Davis, above-average starter production from Young, strong backup big man play from DeAndre Ayton, and then…wildcard stuff from the kids.

Sarr will probably be good and perhaps entering the All-Star conversation. Coulibaly could be an above-average starter. Mix in average-to-average plus production from Dybantsa and George, and some decent contributor minutes from some mix of Carrington, Johnson, Riley, and veteran Khris Middleton, and it’s not unrealistic to think the Wizards could be a better than .500 team, even in a competitive East.

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Open Thread: Spurs announce new Vice President of Technology

SAN ANTONIO, TX - JUNE 5: An overall view of the arena Jumbotron before the game between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs during Game Two of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 5, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. 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 2026 NBAE(Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Per a Spurs press release:

“Spurs Sports & Entertainment (SS&E) today announced that Dr. Charles Harris Jr. has joined the organization as vice president of technology. In this role, Harris will lead SS&E’s enterprise technology strategy and operations across its teams, venues and business functions, including infrastructure, cybersecurity, venue technology, ticketing systems and fan-facing digital experiences. He will also provide strategic oversight for the technology components of SS&E’s new downtown arena project.”

The mission in hiring Harris is specifically to help modernize Spurs Sports & Entertainment’s technology ecosystem and support the systems that power games, concerts and other live events across the organization’s franchises and facilities. 

RC Buford stated,

“Charles has spent his career overseeing the technology and systems that help organizations operate, grow and adapt, and we’re excited to welcome him to SS&E. His expertise will help us continue creating seamless and engaging experiences for fans across our teams and venues.”

Harris joins the Spurs family after serving as vice president of technology for the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He holds a Ph.D. in Modeling and Simulation from the University of Central Florida and a Master of Science in Technology from Purdue University.

Harris commented,

“The best technology creates possibilities for people. That’s why I am excited to join SS&E and become part of the San Antonio community. I look forward to shaping what comes next together, using technology and innovation to create meaningful experiences for our fans and community.”

Welcome to the Thread. Join in the conversation, start your own discussion, and share your thoughts. This is the Spurs community, your Spurs community. Thanks for being here.

Our community guidelines apply which should remind everyone to be cool, avoid personal attacks, not to troll and to watch the language.

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5 Dallas Mavericks storylines to follow this upcoming season

The offseason is about stories. There is no NBA basketball to analyze, so all the enjoyment of the sport comes from conversing about hypotheticals. Football is back, which means Cowboys-fueled disappointment has activated my basketball brain. It is time to turn away from an embarrassing Cowboys loss on Sunday Night Football and turn towards a compelling Mavericks season ahead. Here are five storylines to follow this season in Dallas:

Cooper Flagg’s sophomore leap

Arguably the most important offseason for any young superstar is the one between his rookie and second year. LeBron James was a prodigy, but he became LeBron James in year two. His scoring jumped from 20.7 points per game to 27.2 and didn’t dip below 24 until last year, his 23rd season. It was a similar story for our own Luka Doncic, who was exciting and fun in his first go-around, but became Luka Doncic with a similar scoring jump in year two and never looked back.

This is what Cooper Flagg will aim to do. There is a lot of leeway for rookies because of their inherent team situations and the learning curve the NBA demands, but year two is much less forgiving. For a lot of the game’s best, what we think of them today is what we thought of them in their second season, with fine tweaks around the edges. Flagg averaged 21 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists last year. He was the Rookie of the Year. There is pressure on him to build on that. It will be both exciting and nerve-wracking to watch as he attempts to become the next guy to establish himself as one of the game’s best.

Kyrie Irving, Maverick for life?

When Kyrie Irving was traded to Dallas in 2023, I do not think any of us expected him to both stick around this long and be as universally loved by the fanbase. He was a character shrouded in uncertainty and had a closet full of skeletons when the Mavericks got him. In fact, that’s partially why the Mavericks were able to get him for the price they did. Now, three-and-a-half years later, Irving is a beloved member of the team and one who has stated he loves being here. He made sense on the team he was traded to, but now that the circumstances have changed, his future here is unclear.

The NBA 2K answer would be to trade him for picks or young players to help with the rebuild. But NBA 2K does not factor in human emotion and real-life variables. Maybe Irving wants to compete for a championship somewhere else, but maybe he just wants to play out his career here. Maybe he gets the option to choose, but it’s possible the decision will be made for him under this new regime. As February approaches, I am sure we will have a clearer picture of where Irving will be in March. Wherever that is, Irving has made his mark on Mavericks history.

Masai Ujiri must reconcile this roster

Speaking of the new regime, the sunshine and rainbows that came with simply not having Nico Harrison in charge are starting to fade. We have a month or so until the Mavericks actually play basketball, and the team has four guards signed to standard contracts. One is Irving, coming off of an ACL injury; one is Max Christie, who barely counts as a guard; and the other two are rookie Sergio de Larrea and newly acquired Marcus Sasser. Telling Irving to carry the load as point guard after he just missed 19 months would be irresponsible, which would leave Sasser and de Larrea to handle it, who have a combined 17 games started in their careers.

I am sure the Mavericks will likely go with a “point guard by committee” approach instead, with Flagg taking some of the duties and letting some other big guys dribble it up as well. But having 11 forwards/centers to just four guards on the team to start the year is already putting their competitive viability behind the eight ball. All summer there has been an assurance of “don’t worry, the offseason isn’t over; there are surely more moves coming”. Well, no moves have come yet. Ujiri, you’re up. Time to show us you’re not just Nico Harrison with better PR.

The Mavericks may be competitive this season

I know I just got done grilling Dallas for their lack of a sensible roster, but it may not really matter in a lot of regular-season games. They have a ton of talent, and while it may not fit together super well, a lot of nights their talent will just beat the other team who isn’t trying that hard. If Flagg makes a leap and Irving looks good, the Mavericks may be a solid team. They aren’t winning a playoff series or anything like that, to be clear. But I do not think a play-in berth is out of the question, despite their low win total of just 33.5 on FanDuel. Don’t be surprised if Dallas challenges a .500 record.

Dereck Lively has to be healthy

It is time we talk candidly about Lively’s health. Of the 246 possible games he could have played in his career, he has dressed for just 98. That is less than 40 percent. He played just seven last season and 36 the year before. When he has played, he has shown signs of being really good. He was invaluable, as a rookie no less, to an NBA Finals team. But the injury history cannot be ignored. Lively is a seven-footer with multiple leg and foot problems, the most recent of which has sidelined him since November 21st of last year. And no one has ever said that your legs get healthier as you get older. Dallas picked up his team option for this season but has not extended him. If he cannot prove that he can stay on the court at just 22 years old, the Mavericks will have to get real about whether or not Lively should be in their plans going forward.

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Canadiens’ St-Louis Speaks Ahead Of First On-Ice Sessions

The Montreal Canadiens' training camp opened on Wednesday, but there were no on-ice sessions scheduled, unlike previous years, and thanks to the new CBA, players didn’t have to face grueling physical tests. On Wednesday, all they had to do was undergo medical tests. While they were doing that, coach Martin St-Louis was back in the conference room fielding questions from the media.

The bench boss made it clear he’s happy the camp is streamlined and won’t last as long as it did before; St-Louis wants to hit the ground running. From the start, we’ll see the 57 players invited to camp split into three teams: A, B, and C.

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On Thursday, Team A will hit the ice first at 10:30 AM and will feature the players who will take on the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Bell Centre on Saturday night. Team B, who’ll practice at 11:50 AM, will feature the players who will take on the Leafs at Scotiabank Arena on Saturday evening. As for Team C, it will take to the ice at 1:00 PM,

While the coach was very forthcoming last season in telling the media that Kirby Dach would be starting camp as the second-line center, he made no such declaration this time around. St-Louis played it safe, saying his team has some good depth and some options. He didn’t go as far as naming those options, but one can imagine they include Oliver Kapanen, Kirby Dach, and Alex Newhook. Despite how last season's playoffs ended, it would be surprising if they considered Jake Evans. What is the pilot looking for in a second-line center? That he was willing to share:

You have to be pretty good on draws. Guys who play center usually need a good computer and to complement other players; there’s not just one thing. Suzuki is our first center; there’s no debate on that, but looking at the other spots in the lineup, I don’t see it as: this is the first line, this is the second line, this is the third line. I don’t see it that way. I think we have a lot of depth, and of course some lines have more opportunities to provide offence, while others are relied on more to contribute defensively, but that doesn’t mean they don’t play offensively and our top guys don’t play defensively. So, you ask me what I want from a center who perhaps plays with more offensive players: I want him to have a balanced game, to be able to do pretty much everything on the ice.
- St-Louis on what he needs from a second-line center

Given how short the camp is, the first player that the Habs try in that position may very well be the one St-Louis sees as the frontrunner right now. We’ll see when the three groups hit the ice on Thursday.

Unsurprisingly, St-Louis was also asked about the possibility of playing Arber Xhekaj as a forward, and you could tell that’s not his first choice. He said he wouldn't be afraid to do it, especially if Xhekaj wasn’t going to play as a defenseman on a given night and the Habs had injuries up front, but he added that he’s first and foremost a defenseman and could still improve in that role.

As things stand, the Habs are set to practice at the CN Sports complex in Brossard on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. On Monday, Team A will be practising in Trois-Rivières, while Teams B and C will be in Brossard. The players will have a day off on Tuesday, then return to practice in Brossard on Wednesday the 23rd, Thursday the 24th, Friday the 25th, and Saturday the 26th.

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Giants need 10 innings to hold off Cardinals and win game, series

ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - SEPTEMBER 16: Drew Gilbert #0 of the San Francisco Giants celebrates after hitting the game-winning two-run home run against the St. Louis Cardinals in the tenth inning at Busch Stadium on September 16, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) | Getty Images

When I trained to become a lifeguard, one of the first lessons we learned was that a drowning swimmer is very dangerous. In their desperate flailing, they can accidentally take potential rescuers or nearby swimmers down with them.

That might explain what happened in St. Louis Wednesday afternoon, when the San Francisco Giants beat the St. Louis Cardinals in 10 innings, putting the Cards on the brink of being eliminated from the playoffs. Just like the Giants.

Drew Gilbert delivered a two-run home run in the top of the 10th inning and the Giants held on for a 6-5 win, taking a road series for the first time in three months.

The Cardinals were already on the fringes of the wild-card race before losing to the Giants in five of their six games this month. They’ve fallen to 75-78 and their tragic number is down to two.

Gilbert spoiled a nice comeback by the Cardinals, who rallied for two runs in the bottom of the 9th off Dylan Smith. Leo Bernal delivered a game-tying single with his team down to their last strike, but at that point, the Cardinals had been sucked into the Giants’ whirlpool, like a lifeboat that stayed too close to the Titanic.

Anthony Molina bounced back from his worst outing of the season with his best, going 5.2 shutout innings and striking out two. He gave up only two hits, both of them to center fielder Nathan Church, who may now be his archnemesis. He left with a 1-0 lead which stretched to 3-0 in the 7th, when a Jonah Cox RBI single and a Jordan Walker era got the Giants two runs.

Cox went 3-for-4 and moved to second base from center in the bottom of the 10th, which only featured fly balls to the outfield. He individually manufactured the Giants’s first run of the game by singling and stealing two bases before scoring on a weird double play where Cox raced home and beat the tag on Bryce Eldridge at second base.

Andrew Knizner went 3-for-4 and was hit by a pitch — clearly the Cardinals are afraid of him. Shay Whitcomb went 2-for-5 and scored a run, bringing his average ever so close to the Mendoza line.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Giants game in 2026 without some very silly, costly baseball. The Cards got back in the game thanks to two rough defensive plays. Carson Seymour would have been out of the 7th unscathed if he’d managed to catch a simple toss from Eldridge as he covered first. Then Christian Koss kept the inning alive by air mailing the throw to first on a routine ground ball. To top it all off, Trent Harris relieved Seymour and let in another run when his first pitch was a wild one.

The managers each threw a bone to box score enthusiasts in the 10th, when a pinch-runner and a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the 9th led to four defensive changes for the Cardinals in the top of the 10th, including the DH coming in to catch. Not to be outdone, Tony Vitello made five separate defensive changes in the bottom of the inning, a true treat to anyone inexplicably scoring at home.

The Giants are still sinking, but they’ve lifted their heads closer to the surface thanks to climbing over the Cards. The dream of 70 wins is still alive. Watch out, Dodgers.

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Phillies can't live in fear of another playoff bullpen debacle

WASHINGTON — There are 12 former All-Stars and at least two future Hall of Famers occupying the Philadelphia Phillies clubhouse on a given day. This collection of well-paid, salty, accomplished stars will command most of the attention as the Phillies attempt, for the fifth consecutive year, to bring a World Series title home to Philly.

Then there is Jonathan Bowlan, an easygoing dude from Memphis, quiet and forthright, making his way through his first full season in the big leagues. Bowlan might not realize it yet, but he may have more to do with whether the Phillies raise a trophy in October than any of the superstars.

Bowlan, 26, has emerged as the Phillies’ primary set-up man, aiming, along with 25-year-old Orion Kerkering, to form a bridge between the club’s quartet of ace starting pitchers and their dominant closer, Jhoan Duran.

It is thankless work, and the sixth through 10th innings are exactly where the Phillies’ prior championship quests have gone awry. Lately, they’ve been trouble spots as the club staggers down the stretch to finalize a National League wild-card berth.

Bowlan has given up a run in five consecutive appearances entering Wednesday, Sept. 16, including late-game homers in three of those; Kerkering gave up runs in four of his last five games, including multiple-run outings in Phillies losses.

“Those innings,” says interim manager Don Mattingly, “are always the stressful innings.

“And you'd like to be able to lock down that end of the game when you get a lead or you're in a close game.”

Jonathan Bowlan has emerged as the Philadelphia Phillies' set-up man in his first season after a trade from the Kansas City Royals.

Mattingly was speaking after Bowlan gave up a first-pitch, three-run, pinch-hit homer to Daylen Lile in the seventh inning of a 6-3 loss to Washington, the latest setback that imperiled the club’s wild-card standing. Oh, the team’s still on fairly firm ground, with a 95% chance to reach the playoffs, according to FanGraphs.

It’s just that the Phillies keep slipping down the pecking order and, with a rough combo of a flailing lineup and slumping bullpen, inspiring little confidence in their postseason chances.

For Bowlan, learning to cope has come before having to face the bright lights of the postseason. He’s found that in reflecting on failure, there’s a fine line between quickly moving on and interrogating what went wrong.

“There’s definitely times I lose some sleep at night, for sure,” Bowlan tells USA TODAY Sports. “But as soon as you wake up the next morning, it’s a new day. It’s a blessing. God woke me up to continue on. And you can’t live in the past. Because you can learn from your experiences, for sure. And that’s what I continue to try and do.

“It’s taken some time to learn that, about the short memory. But I’ve gotten to the point where, ‘Yeah, you can think about it a little bit.’ And there’s times where it was a tough thing to happen in that situation.

“But you live and you learn. All you can do is just keep chugging along. Keep moving.”

Red-faced October

That ethos certainly applies to the Phillies, who won’t glean any sympathy from rival fanbases, given their four-year run of success powered by an aggressive ownership group bent on winning their first World Series since 2008.

Yet every bite at the apple ends rottenly for all but one team every year. And October's late innings have been a long-running soap opera in Philly.

In 2022, it was Jose Alvarado, relieving ace Zack Wheeler in the sixth inning of World Series Game 6, the Phillies leading 1-0, only to give up a left-on-left three-run blast to Yordan Alvarez, enabling the Houston Astros to nail down the championship.

A year later, it was the rookie Kerkering – with just eight major league appearances under his belt – summoned to protect a 1-0 lead in the seventh inning of NLCS Game 3, the Phillies nine outs from seizing a 3-0 lead on the ostensibly overmatched Arizona Diamondbacks.

Instead, Kerkering gave up three consecutive hits, including Lourdes Gurriel’s RBI double, to tie the game and set the stage for closer Craig Kimbrel yielding a walk-off hit, one of Kimbrel’s many failings in that series. The Diamondbacks won in seven games.

In 2024, the goats were numerous – from Alvarado to Carlos Estevez to Jeff Hoffman, who yielded six earned runs and recorded four outs across three games – as the Mets pulled off a stunning NLDS upset.

And last year, it was Kerkering, aiming to keep the Phillies alive in the 11th inning of NLDS Game 4 at Los Angeles, but infamously fielding Andy Pages' two-out ground ball and throwing home instead of taking an easy out at first.

He was left to face the music.

Now, Kerkering realizes that staying true to himself is just as important in the aftermath as breaking down pitches that backfired or physical errors. And even his recent struggles have provided teachable moments.

“You look at some of those struggles you’ve gone through the last couple years and just try to learn a lot more,” says Kerkering, “since I came up through the system so fast and wasn’t able to really go through those downs. I think going through them now a little bit has been super-helpful. You’ll go on some great runs and some not-so-fun runs. But that’s what baseball is. It’s a game of failure.

“You just try to make sure you get back on who you’re supposed to be as a person.”

A 'whoa' moment

Bowlan’s recent struggles have overshadowed his excellent work most of this season. He’s blown five saves but also has a 1.04 WHIP and struck out 71 in 55 innings.

It’s been a startling rise for Bowlan, who admitted he was a bit stunned – “Kind of a whoa moment,” he says – when the Phillies acquired him over the winter for longtime lefty reliever Matt Strahm. The Phillies’ suggestion he lean more heavily on his four-seam fastball – its usage has risen from 33.6% to 48% - has paid significant dividends.

That will be his best friend come the postseason, waters he’s looking forward to navigating.

“I’ve heard that being in the playoffs is one of the best experiences you can have in this game,” says Bowlan. “Being in that situation, from what I’ve learned, you’ve got to just slow things down. You can’t let things overwhelm you. These guys have been through it. They’ve been through big situations.

“I’m just trying to learn from them to the best of my ability.”

Both Bowlan and Kerkering are operating a rung higher than the Phillies anticipated this season. They signed right-hander Brad Keller to a two-year, $22 million deal over the winter after his stellar 2025 with the Chicago Cubs. But Keller struggled into June, missed a month with forearm tendinitis and then tore the UCL in his throwing elbow in July.

Veteran lefties Alvarado, Brooks Raley and Tim Mayza balance out the bullpen, but aren't necessarily built for one-inning, high-leverage situations.

That's just one reason why Bowlan and Kerkering will be front and center this postseason.

Kerkering is now in his third full major league season, yet maintains he’s “still the pup” on a club with 10-year vets like Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner and Zack Wheeler. He has been through the postseason fire, for better or worse, and knows what he’ll tell Bowlan before his October indoctrination.

“Think of it like you’re playing the Dodgers, you’re playing the Braves’ series – (multiply) that by five,” says Kerkering. “The intensity, how much people care, how much louder and the passion.

“But you still have to make your pitches. It’s a big moment for the pitcher, a big moment for the hitters. It doesn't matter how long they’ve been there. You’re battling each other out and there’s very few teams left.

“You’re highlighted, basically.”

And the spotlight is about to get a lot brighter.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Phillies can't live in fear of another playoff bullpen debacle

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ESPN ranks Rockets for the future

HOUSTON, TEXAS - APRIL 24: Amen Thompson #1 and Reed Sheppard #15 of the Houston Rockets reacts during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Toyota Center on April 24, 2026 in Houston, Texas. 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. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Yes, it’s the last of the NBA doldrums before Houston Rockets season kicks off. They begin training camp on September 23 — six days away — because they are one of the teams playing international games in the preseason. The rest of the NBA starts September 29. Our yearly player preview series is mere days away. But for the next couple of days, it’s still the offseason, and this is the kind of news we have. ESPN just put out a future ranking of every NBA team, and the Rockets are ranked fourth overall in the NBA. The future rankings are designed to mean 30 years out. Here’s what ESPN said about our hometown boys:

Three-year outlook: Despite a fairly underwhelming 2025-26 campaign, Houston is still in strong position for this season and beyond. The Rockets have an enviable mix of high-upside youth and proven veterans — including Fred VanVleet returning from injury — and they’ve been one of the NBA’s best front offices in terms of financial management, routinely saving money with firm negotiations on extensions. Add in an unprotected pick swap with the Nets next summer, and Houston could be back in business quite soon. — Kram

Roster question looming: Amen Thompson just got his new deal, but what will happen with Kevin Durant if this Rockets team fails to advance past the first round again or struggles during the regular season? The soon-to-be 38-year-old has a $46 million player option next season, and Durant last season played his second-most games since 2013-14 and has not averaged fewer than 20 points since entering the NBA in 2007. — Marks

FPR nugget to know: In January 2023, when I was a coach on the Wizards bench, I remember being down 19 points in the first half to a young Rockets team. I felt confident that we would come back and beat them because they were not just young, they were a chaotic group that didn’t know how to play together. Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr. and Alperen Sengun still had a lot to figure out. We did indeed come back to win. That anecdote illustrates why you should forgive ESPN for ranking the Rockets 26th in the Future Power Rankings after that season, when they ended up compiling the eighth-best record in the NBA over the following three seasons. By the eye test or numbers test, those Rockets had a long way to go. — Oliver

Bold prediction for 2027-29: Durant won’t retire with the Rockets. The 16-time All-Star still has plenty of high-level basketball left in the tank, but it’s debatable whether Houston makes sense as a long-term home. Durant’s fit with Sengun is clunky, and the 2014 MVP has drifted from team to team after two or three seasons throughout the second half of his career. Could his last dance unfold as an Oklahoma City homecoming or a storybook return to the Seattle SuperSonics if the NBA expands to 32 teams? And will Durant be the NBA’s second-leading all-time scorer when he finally hangs it up? — Golliver

Previous ranking: 2

It’s definitely interesting that the Rockets have slipped a little for the future rankings, but I’m sure at least part of that can be explained by trading 23-year-old (at the time) Jalen Green for 38-year-old Kevin Durant. Barring the Rockets winning a title, Durant likely has one more year in H-town after this at the most. His player option also means Durant could easily go after this year unless the Rockets make a major leap this season. The fit is awkward, the chemistry is off, and even though $46 mill is a lot of money, the NBA’s ultimate loyalty-less gun for hire can make close to that pretty much anywhere, provided his game doesn’t fall off of a cliff this year. The other question is, if the Rockets aren’t where they hope they’d be by the new year, do they move KD at the deadline rather than lose him for nothing if he opts out in the offseason?

Anyway, enough about the future. The Rockets are about to start basketball. Here are your dates to watch:

Sept. 22: Media Day

Sept. 23: Training camp begins

Oct. 9: Rockets vs. Mavericks — Macao

Oct. 11: Rockets vs. Mavericks — Macao

Oct. 15: Rockets vs. Thunder — Houston

Oct. 21: Regular-season opener vs. Mavericks — Houston

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The Wolf deals again in Mud Hens victory

Toledo Mud Hens 3, Louisville Bats 1 (box)

Left-hander Jackson Wolf continued his excellent run since coming over from the Padres in the Casey Mize trade, while Jace Jung provided the offense on Wednesday.

Wolf located his fourseam and sinker well in this one, and dropped in plenty of good curveballs to baffle the Bats. He scattered five hits and two walks, pitching into the sixth with five strikeouts on the day. His outings tend to feature a fair amount of traffic, but very little damage.

He holds an ERA under 2.00 since coming over, and hasn’t allowed a single home run. It’s only 27.2 innings, but it’s also notable that Wolf’s strikeout rate has spiked from 21.2 percent in the Padres system, to 31.8 percent in Toledo. I don’t really see any outstanding differences in his stuff, but the Padres are pretty poor at developing pitchers so hopefully the Tigers are helping him improving his approach, pitch mix, and location. With pitching depth always a key concern, it feels like the Tigers have a pretty nice sixth starter who can also pitch in as a lefty in relief if Tyler Holton, Brant Hurter, or Drew Sommers need backup in 2027.

The Hens didn’t have much going on offensively in this one, but in the bottom of the third, Andrew Navigato drew a one-out walk. Trei Cruz ripped a single to center field, and Jung launched his 21st home run of the season to right field.

That blow made it 3-0. Wolf gave up a run in the fifth, but came back out to collect two outs in the sixth before giving way to the pen.

Nick Sandlin and Jack Little got the Hens through the eighth. Tanner Rainey walked a batter but closed it out for his fifth save.

Our friends at Tigers Minor League Report voted Max Anderson their minor league player of the year this week. He posted a single and a double in this one. No doubt it’s been a frustrating year for him, as he improved his swing decisions as needed but never got the call to the big leagues. He should get his opportunities in 2027.

Anderson: 2-4, 2B

Jung: 1-4, R, 3 RBI, HR, K

Wolf (W, 4-1): 5.2 IP, ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 5 K