Every year, the NBA General Managers take a survey voting on certain topics such as best defender, player most likely to have a breakout season, best assistant coach, etc. What keeps this survey honest is that general managers are not allowed to vote for any of their players or staff. If you want to read the survey for yourself, you can do so here.
This year, one particular Rocket was mentioned repeatedly in the survey, and that is Wing Amen Thompson, who scored second for most likely to break out, scored fourth for what player can move the ball fastest, and second for most adaptable defender (behind only Wembanyama), amongst other awards.
Amen Thompson scored first in two categories, those being best perimeter defender and most athletic. For best perimeter defender, Thompson garnered 30% of the vote, surpassing both his twin brother Ausar Thompson and Alex Caruso, who both received 17%. In the athletic category, he was even more dominant, winning 63% of the vote, far more than Anthony Edwards, who came in second with 20%.
Anyone who has followed Thompson during the previous two seasons with the Rockets shouldn’t be surprised by either outcome, in my opinion. The fact that NBA executives are showing him this much respect before he even starts his fourth NBA season is even more impressive.
Amen Thompson is already regarded as one of the NBA’s best defenders. Even while he has the bulk to compete with larger wings at 6’7”, what really stands out is his ability to stay ahead of smaller, speedier guards. When an attacking player steps on him, few players have the length and speed to recover and still make a move.
I also love how defensively aggressive Thompson is without constantly changing positions. He doesn’t need to risk steals to make a mark because his length, speed, and ability to contest shots already make opponents uncomfortable. It is a big honor for Rockets coach Ime Udoka to be able to pair Thompson with the top perimeter scorer on the opposing team and trust him to carry it out. In my opinion, Thompson has a good chance of winning Defensive Player of the Year at some point in his career. When you’re up against exceptional rim protectors like Victor Wembanyama, it’s clearly hard for perimeter defenders to win this honor, but I can see Thompson maybe winning the award if Wembanyama has a down year, or if there is voter fatigue.
Outside of Amen Thompson, head coach Ime Udoka tied for second place in the GM survey when asked which head coach has the strongest defensive tactics. On the question of which assistant coach is the best in the league, Royal Ivey was tied for third.
When asked which player General Managers would most like to try with the game on the line, All-Star forward Kevin Durant, who was selected to the second team of the NBA the previous season, came in fifth. In the “best small forward” poll, he also garnered votes.
What do you think about the GM survey? Do you agree with the results, or disagree? Make sure to tell us below, and as always, stay tuned for more Rockets news, discussion, and analysis at The Dream Shake,
On Thursday, TSN's Darren Dreger offered a new update on what the Detroit Red Wings could be seeking in a return package for center Dylan Larkin.
The elite two-way center has returned to the Detroit lineup but has voiced that he would still prefer to be traded, and with these new details from Dreger, a deal looks more possible than ever.
Most reports have said Detroit is looking for a top-six forward in return but on the TSN show Early Trading, Dreger said the Red Wings are reportedly seeking "three or four pieces," and that the package would need to include "two A-quality prospects." It would also need to include a top-nine forward, though not necessarily a top-six one, as well as a first-round pick.
It is a tall asking price, but one Detroit would likely be willing to pay if it values Larkin enough. Several contenders may still struggle to meet the demands like Dallas Stars, Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild and Vegas Golden Knights, all likely out of the running due to a lack of A-quality prospects to offer.
It could open the door for a team like the Tampa Bay Lightning, who have been among the contenders for Larkin and have prospects to offer like Sam O'Reilly, who could be packaged with an NHL-ready forward like Gage Goncalves to fill the top-nine need. The Lightning also have first-round picks in two of the next three years that could help get a deal over the line.
The Washington Capitals, who have also reportedly been in on Larkin, could fulfill the requirements as well. They have quality prospects in Ilya Protas, Cole Hutson and Lynden Lakovic, along with NHL-ready forwards in Aliaksei Protas and Pierre-Luc Dubois.
There is also a case for the Montreal Canadiens and Edmonton Oilers, each of which has quality prospects and NHL-ready forwards to offer, provided Larkin would be willing to waive his no-move clause for a Canadian market.
If Dreger's report is accurate, it widens Detroit's options considerably and could bring the Larkin trade saga to an end in the near future.
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The Bucks and NBA announced Friday, Oct. 16 that the team’s home opener against the Chicago Bulls has been moved up four hours to prevent a scheduling conflict with Game 1 of the World Series on Friday, Oct. 23, which will take place in Milwaukee and mark the club’s first trip to the Fall Classic in more than four decades.
"The Brewers' return to the World Series for the first time in 44 years is a special moment for Milwaukee and sports fans across Wisconsin," the Bucks said Friday in a statement. "Congratulations to the Brewers and the entire organization on this tremendous achievement, and we’ll be cheering them on as they begin their World Series run. The Bucks are proud to move our home opener to 3 p.m. (CT), in recognition of this historic occasion and thank the NBA for making this schedule change possible."
It’s unconventional for an NBA team to move its home opener like this, but the Brewers will be hosting Game 1 at American Family Field. The Brewers had the best record in baseball and are one of five MLB teams to have never won a World Series. This will be only their second trip to the Fall Classic.
The Bucks, meanwhile, are projected to be one of the worst teams in the NBA as they are undergoing a rebuild following their offseason blockbuster trade that sent Giannis Antetokounmpo, the franchise’s all-time leader in points (21,531), rebounds (8,882), assists (4,484), blocks (1,088) and triple-doubles (56) to the Miami Heat.
Five Buss siblings filed an additional 29-page document about their sister, Los Angeles Lakers acting governor Jeanie, to the Los Angeles Superior Court on Friday, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
Los Angeles Lakers president Jeanie Buss sits in the stands prior to an NBA basketball game between the Lakers and the Boston Celtics in Los Angeles, Friday, March 3, 2017. AP
It was filed on behalf of Joey and Janie Buss in opposition to their sister.
Jeanie Buss has been integral in the Buss family sale of the Lakers not being finalized.
NBA Governorship requires at least a 15% ownership stake, which if the Buss family sold its remaining 17.8% shares, would effectively remove her from that role.
The majority ownership group previously led by current Dodgers owner Mark Walter shockingly sold the Lakers to the new majority owners, businessman Josh Kushner and former The Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger, in August.
Bob Iger attends the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art opening night in Los Angeles on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. Stewart Cook/Shutterstock
The new filing disputes Jeanie’s right to decide the future of the family’s stake in the Lakers.
Instead, it re-states that any proposed sale should require the two-thirds majority vote by all of the siblings. On the initial vote, Jeanie was the only member of the six children to vote against the sale.
U.S. executive Jeanie Buss attends the premiere of Netflix’s “Running Point,” Season 2, at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. AFP via Getty Images
There are several other claims in the document, including that the Buss siblings, “exercised voting rights expressly granted to them as beneficiaries, which the filing argues cannot constitute contempt or aiding and abetting a fiduciary breach.”
The separation between Jeanie and the rest of her siblings has been well-documented at this point. But this new ruling adds another layer of context to an already fractured family situation.
AMES, IOWA - OCTOBER 07: Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers looks on during the first half against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Hilton Coliseum during a preseason game on October 07, 2026 in Ames, Iowa. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tyler Clouse/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Very long-time readers of Silver Screen & Roll might remember The Credits. If you don’t, you’d be forgiven, considering it’s been over 10 years since the last one was posted.
Back then, The Credits was a daily post with lots of links to postgame coverage of Lakers games to box scores of other games around the league to articles from various different sites with stories around the league.
Times have changed a bit, but we wanted to bring back a version of The Credits this season. It won’t be daily, but each Friday, we’ll share some of the best articles for various teams, some of our favorite stories around the league and perhaps some news that you may have missed.
Hello people, I'm working with doctors and experts to figure out how to be fully back to good health asap. Honestly, I'm getting better and better. I just have to stay patient, and I believe I'll be feeling great again soon.
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BRONX, NY - OCTOBER 02: Cam Schlittler #31 of the New York Yankees walks in from the bullpen with Austin Wells #28 prior to the American League Wild Card Game 3 against the Boston Red Sox October 2, 2025 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
A wise man once said you can’t predict baseball. That doesn’t stop us from trying. Ahead of every season, just about every baseball-related publication tries to glimpse the future and predict the outcome of the year ahead. And at the end of the year, we realize again and again how futile the exercise can truly be. Even for a season that develops according to expectations, there will always be contours to the road that you didn’t have mapped out.
The 2026 Yankees washed out to an AL East rival in the Division Series for the second straight year; not an unforeseen fate for a team that was largely running it back with a nearly identical roster. As such, as we mark off the biggest surprises of the season, that end result isn’t all you’ll find similar with the last time we did this exercise.
So, let’s get started. Who could’ve predicted…
…that Cam Schlittler would be this good, this quickly?
We all saw glimpses of the ace starter Cam Schlittler could be when he carved up the Red Sox in the winner-take-all Game 3 of last season’s Wild Card Series, but I don’t imagine anyone anticipated the 25-year old would become the top pitcher in the American League the following year. Cam’s 14 start-run in 2025 showed a pitcher with tantalizing talent but plenty of room for refinement—namely a 10.2 percent walk rate which is the calling card of volatile and inconsistent pitchers from sea to shining sea.
That makes it all the more incredible that Cam was not only incredibly dominant, but consistently so. Schlittler didn’t really have his first bad start until June, and lest you thought that would be the moment the other shoe dropped, he didn’t let his ERA climb above 2.26 from midsummer onward. The 1.95 mark he finished with was good for a bronze medal in all-time Yankee lore. And the command troubles he flashed as a rookie vanished—he struck out 239 batters and walked only 49, a nearly 5-to-1 ratio. As of this writing, Schlittler has not yet been given the Cy Young award, but it’s a foregone conclusion. Even my most bullish preseason prediction for him probably would not have ended with him accepting that hallowed honor, but he electrified everyone and surpassed every test in 2026.
…that the Yankees would not grab a catcher at the deadline?
The vibes around this team were going sour with the June rib injury to Aaron Judge—which kept him out until September, when a quad strain would sideline him for the all-too-short remainder of the season. Brian Cashman had to act to shore up a roster which was suddenly emitting about seven distress signals. He added more offense where he could, bringing aboard Luis Garcia Jr. and Heliot Ramos while calling up reinforcements from the minors—more on them later.
Not included on his shopping receipt, however, was a catcher, which was seen as the Yankees’ biggest need. That, of course, was because of the abysmal year Austin Wells had been enduring to that point. Wells had managed just a .504 OPS through the first half—unplayably bad even if it accompanied his generally solid defense. But the task of adding a new backstop was quickly complicated by their own closest rivals, who added two of the best catchers on the market. The Red Sox made a splash by trading for Adley Rutschman from the Orioles, and the Rays dealt with the Marlins for Liam Hicks.
As the hours toward the deadline ticked down, the Yankees were stuck with a bunch of poor options. The Twins’ Ryan Jeffers was coming off a recent injury and would be expensive; so would Colorado’s Hunter Goodman. The other remaining names were lateral moves at best. So, the Yankee braintrust ultimately chose to stick with Wells.
Thankfully, this was a problem that ultimately sorted itself out, as Wells found his swing at long last in the second half. He actually became one of the more consistent bats for the Yankees in the final two months and played to a second-half .787 OPS, more than doubling his home run and RBI total in the process. Unfortunately, Wells’ season would conclude with one more surprise, and a deeply unpleasant one: getting thrown out at third trying to leg out a triple in ALDS Game 1.
If you told me that Spencer Jones and George Lombard Jr. would be key planks in the Yankees’ second half lineup, I would have assumed their season had completely gone down the tubes. Jones, the powerful but whiff-prone outfielder, had not made waves in his first little Major League stint, hitting .167 in May before being sent back down to Triple-A. Lombard, the precocious shortstop, was a known commodity in the field, but a mystery at the plate—and awfully young to be thrown into the most pressure-packed spot in the league: the little patch of dirt between second and third in the Bronx.
The aforementioned injury to Judge—and later an injury to Trent Grisham—quickly brought Jones back into the fold, and the lefty picked up three hits in his first game back in the Show. Jones raised his level in June, hitting to an .808 OPS before a second brief demotion; then Cody Bellinger got hurt and he came back again, this time for good. He didn’t set the world on fire at any point in his rookie year, but Jones proved he could be a productive Major Leaguer, for at least the few months they needed him to be one. Another surprise with Jones was the somewhat ridiculous reverse splits he put up: a 1.107 OPS against lefties as opposed to just .647 off righties.
Lombard received the call to the Majors directly after the Trade Deadline, as the Yankees searched for more talent to ignite their slumbering offense. In a memorable MLB debut, Lombard made a handful of stellar plays at short, then homered in his second Major League at-bat—the same night his brother Jacob went yard in the low minors. Lombard turned a great first game into a great first week, showing composure beyond his years and an advanced approach at the plate.
The 21-year old’s offensive numbers soon dipped to pedestrian levels, and he had his defensive hiccups as well. But he never relinquished the starting shortstop position, even when Anthony Volpe—whom the Yankees had surprisingly optioned to make room from Lombard—returned to the roster. He acquitted himself well in the playoffs as well, going 6-for-18 overall. While neither he nor Jones are looking like perennial All-Stars, they may yet become mainstays on a roster in need of retooling this offseason.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are collecting former Vancouver Canucks at an impressive rate. With the acquisition of Aatu Räty, there are 11 former Canucks now either playing or working for the Maple Leafs. These former players and staff members can be found throughout the organization from the NHL level down to the ECHL.
Starting with the NHL team, there are six players who are on the current roster who played for Vancouver. They are Troy Stecher, Teddy Blueger, Oliver Ekman Larsson, Chris Tanev, Zack MacEwen and Dakota Joshua. There are also two staff members in Goaltending Coach Curtis Sanford and Assistant General Manager Judd Brackett.
Moving on to the AHL, there are two Toronto Marlies players who played for the Canucks. They are Räty, who was just acquired and Cole McWard. Unlike in previous years, Toronto will not be playing the Abbotsford Canucks this season.
Finally, there is one connection in the ECHL. That is Jackson Kunz, who plays for the Maple Leafs' ECHL affiliate, the Cincinnati Cyclones. The first matchup between the Kalamazoo Wings and the Cyclones is scheduled for November 27.
Ultimately, the list of Vancouver connections in Toronto is impressive. At this point, it appears that the Maple Leafs are committed to adding as many former Canucks as possible. The question now is: who is the next player or staff member headed from Vancouver to Toronto?
Sep 23, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Chris Tanev (8) pursues the play against the Ottawa Senators in the third period at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
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The Penguins will try to bounce back after losing 5-3 to the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday. They rallied to tie the game in the third period before goaltender Sergei Murashov allowed a backbreaking goal with just over four minutes left. The Blackhawks added an empty-net goal at the end of the game to seal it.
The Penguins will face an Avalanche team coming off a 3-2 shootout loss to the Dallas Stars on Wednesday. It was the second game of a home-and-home series between the two teams.
As expected, the Avalanche have already lit up the scoreboard this season, scoring 31 goals in only seven games. They've scored at least six goals in three of those seven games.
It all starts with star forward Nathan MacKinnon, who is one of the best players on the planet. Once he gets a step on you, it's game over. He already has five goals and 12 points in seven games.
Star defenseman Cale Makar is also off to a great start, racking up three goals and seven points in six games. He's elite in all three zones and does a great job against the toughest competition night after night.
Don't forget about Martin Necas, Artturi Lehkonen, Devon Toews, Gabriel Landeskog, Brock Nelson, and Jaden Schwartz, either. They've all been great to start the season for the Avs.
As for the Penguins, head coach Dan Muse is tweaking the lineup for this game. Elmer Soderblom is set to come into the lineup, and Nick Robertson has moved into the top nine.
Here are the expected lines and pairs, based on Thursday's practice:
Forwards
Rakell-Crosby-Rust
Chinakhov-Novak-Malkin
Kuzmenko-Kindel-Robertson
Dewar-Lizotte-Soderblom
Defensive pairs
Carlile-Karlsson
Girard-Korczak
Stastney-Letang
Arturs Silovs will start in goal for the Penguins after having the night off against the Blackhawks.
Puck drop is set for 9 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh. You can also listen to the game on 105.9 'The X.'
While the Knicks brought in a number of veterans on non-guaranteed contracts to compete for a roster spot in training camp, James Wiseman was always the frontrunner. New York needs depth at center behind Karl-Anthony Towns and Andre Drummond, and Wiseman fits that role well. When the Knicks cut Drew Eubanks, Tony Bradley and Ochai Agbaji on Thursday, it cleared the way for Wiseman to make the roster.
However, the Knicks also like what guard Bruce Brown brings to the table and are now looking for trades to trade either Pacome Dadiet or Tyler Kolek over the weekend to free up the money to keep Brown, according to reports from Stefan Bondy at the New York Post and Ian Begley of SNY.tv.
The Knicks have the open roster spots to just bring in Wiseman and Brown as the 14th and 15th men, but doing so would push the team into the second apron, a line owner James Dolan has said the team will not cross. That leaves the Knicks looking for trade options.
The Knicks have been looking for a Dadiet trade for a while, but haven't found a deal that works.
Kolek was part of the Knicks rotation much of last season, playing in 62 games and averaging 4.4 points in nearly 12 minutes per game. However, when the Knicks acquired Jose Alvarado, Kolek fell out of the rotation, and he has struggled this preseason with his shot (33.3% from 3-point range and 40% overall). Kolek likely has more value around the league and is making $2.3 million this season.
The challenge for the Knicks is that they aren't the only team looking to make salary-dump trades before next Monday's cut-down deadline. It is possible the Knicks attach one of their future second-round picks to facilitate a trade, Begley reports.
Also, teams are "studying" the Knicks' contract situation with Karl-Anthony Towns, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reports. "Studying" is the new term for "monitoring" a situation. If Towns declines his player option for next season (he is expected to, the deadline is Monday) and the sides don't reach a deal, then Towns will be a free agent next summer, and of course there are teams interested. The Warriors, Hawks and Clippers are expected to have max cap space. While the Knicks hit the pause button on extension talks with Towns, the expectation is that the sides will reach a deal before Towns hits the open market.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 21: Manager Joe Espada #19 of the Houston Astros looks on during batting practice before a game against the Seattle Mariners at Daikin Park on September 21, 2025 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images) | Getty Images
On Wednesday, the Houston Astros officially announced they would not be renewing the contract of manager Joe Espada, one day after the Seattle Mariners were granted permission to interview him for their vacant managerial role.
The move follows three seasons and two AL West titles for Espada in orange and blue. Espada had a strong lineup, but big shoes to fill in taking over for the retiring Dusty Baker after serving as Houston’s bench coach since 2018. Inheriting a strong roster with some glaring flaws, he led the club to a 256-229 record in his tenure. Previously, Espada spent time on the coaching staffs of the New York Yankees and Florida/Miami Marlins stretching back to 2010 in the role of third base and/or infield coach. Houston had already fired general manager Dana Brown in August, leaving the future for Espada murky at the end of his contract this year.
The 51 year old Puerto Rican was selected 45th overall in the 1996 draft by the Oakland Athletics, an impressive feat as he’d starred at the University of Mobile in Alabama, competing at the NAIA level of college athletics. Espada spent a decade playing in the minors, including stints with the now-defunct Low-A Southern Oregon Timberjacks in Medford, OR and later in then-Triple-A Vancouver with the Canadians as an A’s prospect. Espada bounced around to the Rockies, Marlins, Royals, Cardinals, Rangers, and Rays before returning to his alma mater to coach and play indy ball. His coaching path took him up through the minors when he was hired as a hitting coach in the Marlins system, eventually joining the Marlins big league staff in 2010. Espada has been a coach on the staff for the Puerto Rican national team in the World Baseball Classic since 2013.
The case for Seattle to pursue and hire Espada is straightforward. The Mariners have made it clear they are seeking a manager with outside perspectives, experience, and the ability to augment the existing programs in place. Espada has worked across several successful organizations, spent the past three years as an active manager with undeniable success, and is already quite familiar with the American League West. Espada would also be Seattle’s first Spanish-speaking manager since Lou Piniella, and the first full-time manager born outside of the contiguous United States (Cuban Marty Martinez, known for signing Edgar Martinez and Omar Vizquel as a scout, managed one game for Seattle in 1986 in the absence of full-time skipper Chuck Cottier). It goes without saying that the capacity to communicate fluently to the majority of the players on the roster is an extremely valuable skill, particularly when trying to communicate and deliver educational and instructive concepts while building buy-in and trust.
Houston choosing to not renew Espada could be seen as a red flag, but the decision appears most concentrated with their owner, Jim Crane, whose decision-making with personnel is more pockmark than not at this point. Espada has spoken about how the impacts of being steeped in two organizations (New York and Houston) highly inclined towards incorporating analytics and advanced data-tracking into their philosophies has helped him learn to be a better communicator and teacher, as well as his experience raising his children, including a daughter, Viviana, with an autism diagnosis. Astros beat reporter for The Athletic, Chandler Rome, described Espada as “[a manager with a reputation as a players’ manager who allowed Houston’s veteran clubhouse to function how it saw fit.” That may strike a workable balance for Seattle, who has valued player agency in Jerry Dipoto’s decade and change of tenure, but is in need of greater balance.
They’ll also need to navigate the elephant in the video room that comes with any former Astros hiree of a certain era.
After serving on the Yankees staff through the 2017 season, Espada joined the Astros in 2018, in the middle of their sign-stealing cheating scandal that helped accelerate their decade of success. It is not clear what involvement Espada had in the cheating scheme, which began prior to his arrival in 2017 per MLB’s investigation and continued through the 2018 season. Much blame was levied on his predecessor as Houston’s bench coach, Alex Cora, as well as veteran player Carlos Beltrán, but given Cora departed, it seems likely Espada was aware at a minimum. Nonetheless, he was named the interim manager in Houston upon the year-long suspension of manager A.J. Hinch.
MLB is not an organization nor a culture that values consequences if they impede what they want, however. Hinch was hired immediately after his suspension by the Detroit Tigers. Cora’s suspension led to him being immediately rehired, extended, and as recently as this month having the Phillies publicly pursue him doggedly to the point he chose to turn them down. Espada, like the rest of the Astros coaching staff, players, and organization save general manager Jeff Luhnow, saw little or no consequence for their decision to cheat to win. While this has long drawn frustration within the sport and outside of it, there is a genuine uncertainty that MLB’s investigation struggled to identify: who actually did what, and how do you determine responsibility?
Can Espada be the right fit for Seattle? We’ll know soon if the Mariners think so.
DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 22: Colorado Rockies left fielder Zac Veen (13) looks on from the dugout during a game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on September 22, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Welcome to the 2026 edition of Ranking the Rockies, where we take a look back at every player to log playing time for the Rockies in 2026. The purpose of this list is to provide a snapshot of the player in context. The “Ranking” is an organizing principle that’s drawn from Baseball Reference’s WAR (rWAR). It’s not something the staff debated. We’ll begin with the player with the lowest rWAR and end up with the player with the highest.
No. 41, Zac Veen (-0.3 rWAR)
Zac Veen (No. 6 PuRP) has had a lot of ups and downs in his tenure with the Rockies.
There was a lot of excitement when the outfielder was drafted ninth overall in 2020 out of Spruce Creek High School in Port Orange, FL and he ended up making his MLB debut on April 8, 2025 after nearly breaking camp with the team.
It didn’t go very well.
Veen played 12 games with the Rockies in 2025, slashing just .118/.189/.235 with eight total bases and 14 strikeouts. He fared a little better in Triple-A Albuquerque — slashing .289/.354/.468 through 90 games — but it was revealed in spring training 2026 that Veen was dealing with substance abuse off the field.
When he arrived at Salt River Fields to start 2026, Veen was a different player.
He’d put on about 43 pounds from the end of last season, and was a new player both physically and mentally. Veen played in 11 spring games, hitting .250/.375/.550 with two homers.
He was optioned to Albuquerque to start the year, and absolutely tore through the Pacific Coast League. Ahead of his call-up on August 11th, Veen was hitting a scorching .327/.402/.635 with 24 home runs and 18 stolen bases. He was named PCL Player of the Month for June — where he hit .366/.385/.782 with 24 extra-base hits — as well as back-to-back PCL Player of the Week for the weeks of August 2nd and August 9th.
Veen was recalled on August 11th and made his MLB re-debut on August 12th against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He immediately made his presence known by hitting a home run into the pool at Chase Field in his first game back:
Veen came back with a vengeance, but it didn’t last.
After about a week, he began to cool off both at the plate and in the field. He was primarily used as a late-inning pinch hitter, or he would be pinch-hit for late in games. He didn’t make much of a case for himself, though, as he also committed numerous blunders in the field (though only two were scored as errors).
The most egregious ones were on September 17th against the San Diego Padres, where Jackson Merrill and Xander Bogaerts hit back-to-back triples, though they could’ve been scored as errors.
As shown by his -4 OAA and -5 DRS, Veen’s defense left much to be desired, especially late in the season.
Offensively, Veen slashed just .232/.312/.435 in 36 games. It’s not a terrible line, but it’s nothing to write home about either. The 39.2% strikeout rate is, though, as it was second only to Braxton Fulford (40.0%) and nearly double his strikeout rate in Albuquerque (20.4%).
Skyler Timmins wrote about Veen’s performance in early September, and not much has changed since then.
Brewers first baseman Jake Bauers holds the NLCS MVP trophy after Game 4 of baseball’s National League Championship Series between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Dodgers, Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, in Los Angeles. AP Photo/Ashley Landis
“I don’t know,” Bauers said said after Thursday’s 6-4 win. “I just let it all come to me. I didn’t chase it. I didn’t want anything. I just wanted to be a part of something, and that’s what I got.”
The other time they won a league pennant, in the 1982 ALCS, the award went to the Angels’ Fred Lynn.
Bauers was close to being nowhere near the NLCS when he contemplated retirement two years ago.
He batted .202 and hit twelve home runs for the Yankees in 2023 and was traded to Milwaukee after the season’s end. He began his tenure there by batting .199 in 2024.
Bauers only changed his mind on retirement when his wife told him she was pregnant, and Bauers kept at it to help support his family.
Bauers had decent stretches for the Yankees in a rough 2023 for the club, working his way up from Triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre, but his 30-game stretch with a .495 OPS in August and September ended the season on a sour note, and the Yankees sent him to the Brewers for two minor league outfielders.
Jake Bauers #61 of the Yankees jogs to first during the first inning against the Houston Astros during a 2023 game. Getty Images
Bauers might very well face the team that he debuted with in the World Series in a week’s time: he was drafted by the Padres in 2013, but was traded to the Rays the following year and made his debut in Tampa in June 2018.
After floating through several organizations and spending time between the majors and minors in 2025, Bauers had a breakout this season, slashing .266/.389/.484 with 26 home runs.
He went 4-for-14 en route to the NLCS MVP award, but the four hits made noise.
He had a two-run double in Game 4 during the Brewers’ comeback and hit a two-run home run in the seventh inning of Game 3 to help Milwaukee grab the lead for good.
“He’s been huge for us all season, and I’m just really proud of him,” teammate Christian Yelich said. “He’s been a huge part of our team, and he had an unbelievable series with some great at-bats and a huge homer last night and a big double today to get things rolling. He did a great job.”
Bauers and his Brewers will open the World Series and host the Guardians or Rays at American Family Field on Oct. 23.
Mar 21, 2026; Bradenton, Florida, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Brandon Lowe (5) throws the ball to first base for an out during the fourth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at LECOM Park. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Rawlings has announced the Gold Glove finalists for the 2026 season at each position group in both the American and National Leagues. Pittsburgh Pirates star second baseman Brando Lowe is up for the award which would be his first gold glove of his career.
The finalists are coming from The National League Central. Lowe, alongside a pair of division rivals in Brice Turang of the Milwaukee Brewers and rookie JJ Wetherholt of the St. Louis Cardinals, is one of three players up for those honors at second base in the NL.
The 32-year-old was Acquired in a three-team trade from the Tampa Bay Rays last offseason alongside Mason Montgomery and Jake Mangum that saw Mike Burrows head to the Houston Astros. The star second basemen did not disappoint this season for the Buccos.
He slashed .260/.331/.493 with 35 home runs and 96 RBIs over a career-high 656 plate appearances for the Pirates. Lowe controversially was not an All-Star this year, but he did finish with 5.4 bWAR, which is the highest mark of his career.
It might be a tough award to win this year for Lowe because of how good Turang and Wetherholt have been defensively for their respective teams. Lowe finished the season with 13 defensive runs saved which is 10 behind Turang who had 23.
The veteran had 15 outs above average which was one more above Turang but was well under wetherholt who had 25.
Lowe was so important to the Pirates winning season this year. He finished the year leading the team in home runs and RBIs and he was the best defender on the team. It would be amazing to see a Pirate win this award. Third baseman Jared Triolo was also announced as a gold glove finalist as well for Pittsburgh.
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 15: Garrett Mitchell #5 of the Milwaukee Brewers rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run to take the lead in the sixth inning during Game Four of the National League Championship Series between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium on Thursday, October 15, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The quest for a three peat is over. The Commissioner’s Trophy will find a new home.
A year after the Dodgers swept the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2025 NLCS, Milwaukee returned the favor with a four-game sweep over the defending two-time champions, marking their first World Series appearance since 1982. The best team in the 2026 regular season will try to secure their first championship in franchise history.
Game 4 did not look promising in the early goings for the Brewers, as Andy Pages collected his third hit with runners in scoring position of the postseason to start the scoring against old friend Dustin May in the bottom of the second inning. Shohei Ohtani had his breakout moment, smashing a three-run home run to give the Dodgers their biggest lead of the series. Little by little, Milwaukee went from being hitless over their first three innings to chipping away at Tyler Glasnow and the bullpen, scoring six unanswered runs and breaking the hearts of Dodger fans in attendance.
Glasnow was in total command over his first 10 batters faced, striking out six while working with a four-run cushion. A walk to Brice Turang spelled the Dodgers’ inevitable doom, as William Contreras and eventual NLCS MVP Jake Bauers roped ground-rule doubles to cut the Dodger lead in half. Glasnow managed to complete four full innings, but Milwaukee kept the blood pouring as David Hamilton brought the lead to one run with a base hit up the middle in the top of the fifth.
Evan Phillips came in relief of Glasnow to keep the lead alive, but after two consecutive two-out walks to Turang and Contreras, Dave Roberts decided to bring in Alex Vesia to face Bauers with the bases loaded. Vesia couldn’t locate the zone and allowed Milwaukee to tie the game on four pitches without a swing of the bat from Bauers. Garrett Mitchell had only hit one home run against a left-handed pitcher in the regular season. He hit his second home run off a southpaw in as many days with a go-ahead home run against Tanner Scott in the top of the sixth inning, completing the comeback for a hungry Brewers team.
The Dodgers managed to grab a lead in every game against Milwaukee, but the Brewers kept finding ways to turn things around. A team that scored a combined four runs in last year’s NLCS, Milwaukee turned things around by scoring a combined 21 runs in the four-game sweep. Four runs for the Dodgers in both Games 2 and 4 were the most they could muster against Milwaukee, and the team averaged less than three runs scored per game.
The last time the Dodgers were eliminated in the postseason before Thursday, Kiké Hernández lined out to Lourdes Gurriel Jr. to help the Arizona Diamondbacks finish a three-game sweep in the 2023 NLDS. Hernández once again represented the final hope for the Dodgers, lining out to Jackson Chourio in left field and sending the city of Milwaukee into an unforgettable frenzy.
