Jazz Chisholm Jr. has no regrets about his wild off-balance throw from second base that helped put the Yankees in an immediate hole.
With runners on first and second and no one out, George Lombard Jr. turned a potential double-play ball to Chisholm Jr., who immediately threw out of control to first baseman Luis Garcia Jr., allowing Yandy Diaz to score.
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It would have been difficult for Chisholm Jr. to turn the double play with Junior Caminero hustling down the line but Chisholm’s out-of-control throw added to the Yankees’ first-inning woes that started with a Ryan McMahon error on a Diaz grounder to start the game.
“Honestly, I’d probably still throw it,” Chisholm Jr. told reporters after the Rays beat the Yankees 5-2 in Game 2 of the ALDS.
“The play was trying to be made. I just feel like I could have probably tried to make an even better throw. Where I’d throw it, I’d try and throw it a little more closer to the base. My back was turned.”
The admission by Chisholm Jr., or lack of responsibility from him, has sparked some outrage online as the Yankees continued to play poor fundamental baseball in the playoffs.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. throws an out of control double play ball. Getty Images
Chisholm Jr. was then a bit too far back on a fifth-inning ground ball where the score was tied 1-1.
Liam Hicks hit a ground ball right to him. The Yankee second baseman was too far back to go home with the ball and instead had to take the out at first, allowing Tampa Bay to retake the lead.
It is unclear whether Chisholm Jr. was back on the play by design or if he was just not paying enough attention to the defensive strategy of the play, though it was clear his first instinct was to go home.
Chisholm Jr. has had a nightmare season, and he is due to be a free agent ahead of next season.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. had a tough night on Monday in Game 2 pf the ALDS. Charles Wenzelberg for New York Post
Chisholm Jr. did steal 41 bases, but hit just 19 home runs and won’t be considered for a Gold Glove anytime soon, leading all second basemen in errors with nine.
Wednesday’s game in the Bronx could be his final in pinstripes if they are not able to right the ship and play fundamentally sound baseball.
BRIGHTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 15: Mike Conley #45 of the Boston Celtics speaks to the media during a press conference on September 15, 2026 at The Auerbach Center in Brighton, Massachusetts. 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 Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
CHARLESTON — When Mike Conley was a little kid playing basketball, all he worried about was making sure that his 10-year-old teammates were having fun.
“I can remember being in elementary school, on little rec league teams where you had a mix of boys and girls, and I was doing my best to get all people involved,” Conley told CelticsBlog in an exclusive interview. “Like, I knew I might have been the best on the court and could score every time, but I was like, let me just make sure that he got a shot, or she got a shot, and just make sure that everybody was happy and having fun.”
Looking back, Conley is still not entirely sure why involving teammates was such a priority to his 10-year-old self. Part of it, he admits, was the result of how he was raised: both his mom and dad constantly hammered home the importance of caring for others.
“They really made it seem like the world is always bigger than you,” Conley said. “It’s not about you. Your time here is: how can you affect people in a positive way and change people’s lives? That’s been the mantra from day one.”
In any case, it’s no surprise that nearly 30 years later, Conley is widely heralded as one of the best teammates and sportsmen in basketball. He’s famously never been called for a technical foul. He’s won four NBA Sportsmanship Awards, the most of any player in NBA history. And he’s earned the league’s Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award twice, most recently in 2024 with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
“Leadership just comes naturally to him,” Joe Mazzulla said. “People flock to him.”
After years of it almost happening, Conley landed in Boston in July, signing a 1-year deal as a 38-year-old free agent. In part because they both hail from Indiana, Conley and Brad Stevens have known each other for a long time, and they’d gotten in contact almost every time the point guard was a free agent during his illustrious career.
But it just never worked out.
“The timing was never there,” Conley said. “And then, ironically enough, 20 years into it, the timing finally is right.”
And while Conley is not in his basketball prime, he arrives in Boston ready to bring the leadership and mentorship he’s become so well known for across the league.
“It’s part of the job at this stage of my career,” he said. “I understand it. I understand there’s going to be a lot of times where I don’t play. There’s going to be some times where I’m needed. There are other times where I’m just needed to be the voice for a big stretch of the season. Being comfortable with that, and being able to own that, is my role and my job.”
No one has benefitted more from his mentorship so far than Payton Pritchard
Since training camp began last week, Pritchard has spoken extensively about how helpful Conley has been for him. The two 6’1 guards share the same player development coach this season — God Shammgod Jr. — and they begin their practices with joint workouts. On off days, the two like to golf.
“He’s just reliable, and just a good dude,” Pritchard said. “He’s somebody you can always talk to and lean on.”
Pritchard’s presence in Boston was a draw for Conley, and something he made note of from the start.
“When I signed here, he was one guy I had pegged as like, hey, I’ve loved this game from afar,” Conley said. “If there’s anything I can do to help him, I will do it.”
Little did he know just how much Pritchard would want to be mentored by him.
“We’ve been working out ever since I set foot in Boston, every little micro detail,” Conley said. “He’s so easy to be around because he wants to learn; he asks a ton of questions, texts me at nighttime, and hits me early in the morning about something that he has an idea about.”
So, on Sunday night in Charleston, as the Celtics enjoyed a team dinner at their hotel, Pritchard peppered Conley with basketball questions.
“We’re just sitting there watching football, and he’s like, ‘So you think my pace is a little bit too fast? You think I should slow down on certain things?” Conley recalled.
The questions continued throughout the night.
“When do you feel like you were the best version of yourself?” Pritchard asked Conley.
“He was gauging what I was like at certain ages, and how I was at his age, at 28,” Conley said. “It’s just fun to be able to give information to somebody that really wants it.”
Interestingly, Conley serves as a shining example that the future holds endless possibilities; he became the first player to be named an All-Star for the first time in his 14th NBA season or later, when he was an All-Star replacement in 2021 at age 34. So, he views Pritchard’s future as extremely bright.
And Pritchard relishes the chance to pick the veteran’s brain. He’s been asking him for advice on how to draw more fouls without becoming a flopper and how to be a better facilitator.
“As somebody that’s looked up to Mike, [I ask him] how he thinks of the game and how he was able to create his shots and create shots for his teammates and maybe handle playing the point guard position, momentum swings,” Pritchard said. “He’s been in a lot of great environments, great playoff series. How was he able to kill in those moments and dominate the game?”
Conley has grown as a teammate throughout his career
While it was always Conley’s natural instinct to be a good teammate, he feels it’s only become easier with the years.
“When you’re 18, you’re in a room full of 25, 30-year-old guys, and you’re just trying to find your way as an individual,” Conley said. “You’re trying to learn from them as much as you can, and take the back seat, and take your bumps and bruises along the way. And when your time comes, when you’re given more on your plate, when you’re given more responsibility, you take those lessons that you learned from your vets, lessons that you learned from your coaches, and the stuff you’ve instilled throughout your life, and apply it.”
As such, in Year 20 as a pro, he feels poised to lead, even in a locker room filled with NBA champions like Jayson Tatum, Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, and Sam Hauser.
Not every aspect of leadership and teamwork came naturally; Conley did not enjoy calling out his teammates early in his career, but over time he came to accept that it was an important part of his role. As his reputation as a good teammate and leader grew, he felt empowered to speak up, even when it wasn’t always comfortable.
“If there’s a guy who’s got bad body language, I’ll approach them like, ‘Man, this isn’t how we want to be seen. This isn’t our culture. This isn’t how we react.’”
And if he sees teammates disrespecting one another or communicating in a way that isn’t productive, he’ll weigh in.
“I’m big on how people address certain people,” Conley said. “Not everybody can be addressed the same way, just the way they emotionally are set up. So, just trying to balance that; being able to step in and say what I need to say, when I need to say it.”
Joe Mazzulla has already observed Conley exhibiting the same caretaking instincts he had as a kid.
“He’s constantly coming into the building, worrying about others and not thinking of himself,” he said. “It says a lot about him. He comes in very present: how can he help the team?”
Luka Garza is intimately familiar with Conley’s impact in a locker room; the two were teammates on the Minnesota Timberwolves for three seasons.
DALLAS, TX – MAY 26: Mike Conley #10 of the Minnesota Timberwolves high fives Luka Garza #55 before the game against the Dallas Mavericks during Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals of the 2024 NBA Playoffs on May 26, 2024 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, 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 2024 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
“He’s the best,” Garza said. “He’s able to connect with every guy on the team. He has just a rare skill, but also just is the same, man. Every day, he shows up with a consistent, positive energy.”
Conley is also instilling a sense of perspective in his younger Celtics teammates
It’s only been a few months, and game action hasn’t even begun, but Conley is already wildly impressed by what he’s experiencing in Boston. He’s not thrown off by the fact that he’s a few months older than Joe Mazzulla — he already experienced that when coached by Utah Jazz head coach Will Hardy
“I’ve learned a lot, actually, just from being here for a month — from Joe, from the staff, from the culture, the way things are run here,” he said. “It’s a lot. It’s very unique, a very unique place.”
And, as he acclimates, he finds himself constantly hammering home to his younger teammates just how good they have it in Boston.
“I’m telling these guys, I’ve been a lot of places, and you’re not going to find much better than what you have here, as far as the coaches, the way they work, the facilities, the healthcare, all the things that are intertwined in there,” he said. “So, I’m really impressed and excited to spend a year here.”
Jordan Walsh has been among those who have appreciated Conley’s presence.
“He’s an all-around great guy who tries to take mentoring to another level,” Walsh said.
Walsh laughed as he remembered another aspect of Conley’s presence he appreciates: “Then, of course, there’s the occasional ‘I’m 40. I’m ready for this sub,’” he said. “That’s great as well.”
There’s a world where Conley lands in Boston years ago, when he was still among the best point guards in the game. He can’t help thinking about that scenario sometimes.
“Obviously, I wish it happened earlier,” Conley said. “But hey, I’m grateful for every stop I’ve had, and grateful to be here.”
During the off-season, Ilya Mikheyev's time with the Chicago Blackhawks officially came to an end when he signed a four-year, $15.4 million contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning in free agency.
Now, the former Blackhawks forward is already making an impact with the Lightning early on this season.
During the Lightning's Monday game against the Philadelphia Flyers, Mikheyev scored a goal and recorded an assist. He recorded the primary assist on Pontus Holmberg's game-winning goal for Tampa and then scored to give the Lightning a 3-1 lead.
Seeing Mikheyev having a good start with the Lightning is not too surprising. He was an effective player during his time with the Blackhawks and should be a nice pickup for the Lightning.
In 157 games over two seasons with the Blackhawks from 2024-25 to 2025-26, Mikheyev posted 38 goals, 32 assists, 70 points, and a plus-6 rating. This included him recording a career high 36 points in 77 games last season for Chicago.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - SEPTEMBER 23: Ernie Clement #22 of the Toronto Blue Jays leads off second base during game one of a baseball doubleheader against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 23, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Ernie Clement was picked up as a free agent signing in March of 2023, after his release by the A’s earlier that month. I wasn’t thrilled with taking a castoff of the A’s (one who only played 6 games for one of the worst teams in baseball). It wasn’t like we didn’t already have a couple of dozen utility/middle infielders who likely wouldn’t be able to hit their weight.
But Ernie had good 2024 and 2025 seasons with the Jays, hitting .271/.301/.402 with 21 home runs. 101 RBI, 38 walks and 102 strikeouts. Ok, getting two walk a month isn’t great, but the rest of his batting line was pretty good, especially when you add near Gold Glove defense into the mix. In the two years he’s totaled 7.6 in bWAR
In 2024 he played mostly mostly third base and shortstop. In 2025 he split time between third and second (with a few games at short).
Baseball Reference had Ernie at a 1.1 WAR (down from 4.3 in 2025). FanGraphs 0.6 (down from 3.2 ) , giving him a value of $5.0 million to the Jays (he made $4.6 million).
Ernie had a .284 wOBA ( last year, .308) and a 80 wRC+ (last year 97). His BABIP was .272 (.296 last year).
Clement’s walk rate was 3.5% (down from 4.6 last year), and his strikeout rate was 9.3% (down from 10.4 last year). He’d be the type of player who, in the old days, we’d say he’d be a good choice for the hit part of the hit and run. I wonder if tried the hit and run with him this year?
His line drive rate was 18.5% (down from 23.0). The ground ball rate was 37.9% (up from 34.0). The fly ball rate was 43.6% (up from 43.0). 3.9% of his fly balls left the park (down from 4.3).
Soft contact was 17.4% (up from 16.7). Hard contact was 22.3% (down from 24.0).
Clement actually hit left-handers (.242/.274/.535) slightly worse than right-handers (.268/.290/.370). Usually, he hits left-handers much much better.
He hit much the same on the road (.262/.284/.359) as at home (.256/.286/.370).
He hit much better in the first half (.296/.318/.433) than in the second half (.203/.235/.259).
Clement by month:
April: .302/.323/.429 with 1 home run, 4 walks and 9 strikeouts in 31 games, 31 starts.
May: .297/.321/.475 with 4 home runs, 4 walks and 10 strikeouts in 28 games, 26 starts.
June: .289/.316/.400 with 2 home runs, 4 walks and 14 strikeouts in 24 games, 22 starts.
July: .278/.311/.371 with 1 home run, 3 walks and 9 strikeouts in 24 games, 24 starts.
August: .208/.228/.260 with 1 home run, 3 walks and 11 strikeouts in 27 games, 24 starts.
September: .150/.186/.200 with 0 home runs, 4 walks and 5 strikeouts in 24 games, 21 starts.
Something happened at the end of the season. I don’t think he forgot how to hit, nor do I think pitchers figured him out after three seasons with the Jays. Something must have been going on.
With RISP he hit .238/.259/.381.
On defense Clement played:
132 games, 107 starts at 2B (981.2 innings). He made 9 errors for a .980 FA (league average at second is .982). FanGraphs has him at a -3 Outs Above Average.
40 games, 31 starts at SS (257.0 innings). He made 3 errors for a .973 FA (league average at short is .975). FanGraphs has him at a -3 OAA.
14 games, 10 starts at 3B (88.2 innings). He made 1 error for a .966 FA (league average at third is .958). FanGraphs has him at a +1 OAA.
And he played 2.2 innings in left field without making a play. FanGraphs has him at a +1 OAA.
I don’t think we have to worry about him getting a Gold Glove this year.
FanGraphs has him at a 0.2 Runs as a baserunner. He stole 7 bases, caught just once (a success rate that I appreciate, last year he stole 6, caught 5 times). But, he must not have been great running the bases other than stealing.
Where Clement hit in the batting order in games he started:
1st: 18 games: .282/.313/.410.
2nd: 16 games: .319/.347/.420.
3rd: 4 games: .267/.394/.267.
5th: 21 games: .268/.282/427.
6th: 29 games: .234/.265/.351.
7th: 35 games: ..259/.279/.353.
8th: 14 games: .246/.283/.298.
9th: 11 games: .179/.200/.256.
His longest hitting streak was 10 games. Longest on base streak was 1 games. Most games without a home run 45. Longest hitless streak was 4 games.
Clement when hitting at the first pitch of an at bat he hit .274/.278/.387.
In High Leverage spots he hit .255/.259/.389, low leverage, .290/.324/.394.
Times facing a starter:
1st: .255/.271/.326.
2nd: .211/.235/.336.
3rd: .242/.296/.318.
Favourite team to face: He hit .462/.444/.615 in 6 games vs the Angels.
Least favourite? He hit .053/.053/.053 in 6 games against the Mariners.
Random things from Baseball Savant:
Expected wOBA: 1st percentile.
Hard-hit %: 1st percentile.
Bat Speed: 3rd percentile.
Squared Up %: 95th percentile.
K %: 98th percentile.
Walk %: 2nd percentile.
Range and Arm Strength: 12th percentile.
It was a tale of a good first half and a bad second half for Ernie. He was an All-Star, and then, for the last couple of months of the season, he was terrible. I don’t know if there was an injury we weren’t told about, or what caused it. I’d say other teams realized he would chase almost anything off the plate, but that’s always been the way he’s played. It drives us up the wall, but he’s been the same player for years; other teams knew that.
Clement also went from a Gold Glove-type fielder to a below-average fielder in a year. I don’t know if the two are related. Some was from his playing in the WBC, and maybe he tired out because of that, but he didn’t play much in the WBC. He likely would have played as much in spring training.
Hangover from the World Series run? I don’t know. Maybe. He did play a lot of ball in the playoffs, but I find it hard to believe that it would cause him to tire at the end of this season.
He hit just .182/.209/.233 with just 1 home run and 6 doubles in the last two months of the season. You’d almost think there had to be an injury of some sort.
Clement was running slower this year. Savant had him at an 83rd percentile for Spring Speed last year, and 70th this year. Aging from 29 to 30 shouldn’t have caused that much of a change.
What happens next year?
Ross Atkins did say that Clement isn’t guaranteed the second base job next year. I don’t know that Josh Smith is the answer either. Perhaps a platoon, but if they wanted to sign a free-agent second baseman, I wouldn’t complain.
PITTSBURGH, PA - OCTOBER 05: Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Sergei Murashov (1) tends net during the third period in the NHL game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Winnipeg Jets on October 5, 2026, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Penguins rookie goaltender Sergei Murashov got philosophical after making his first start of the season in Monday’s 3-2 loss to the visiting Winnipeg Jets.
“There’s a saying in Russian, ‘Morning is wiser than evening,’” Murashov told reporters after the game. “So, just take a good sleep, rest, and calmly think about that tomorrow, so we can get better from this game.”
When about adjusting from playing most of last season in the AHL to starting this season in Pittsburgh, Murashov said, “Well, puck is the same size, net is the same size.”
Sergei Murashov spoke after his first game of the season
"Every kid dreams of getting [to the NHL], and you just appreciate every day here." pic.twitter.com/eD5JgZIDjt
The Penguins’ hopes of having Murashov as a full-time NHL option this season may have been bolstered by his performance Monday night.
The team took a 1-0 lead on a Ben Kindel goal early in the second period in large part because of Murashov’s efforts to save Pittsburgh from paying for their defensive lapses in the first part of the game.
That included a stretch where the Penguins were outshot 9-1 in the final six minutes of the first period.
“I thought that we were not on point and he made some huge saves to weather some storms there,” Muse told reporters in his postgame press conference.
Murashov showed off his athleticism during that early stretch of the game by lunging across the crease for some Marc-Andre Fleury-esque saves.
Murashov finished out his season debut having stopped 31 of 34 shots against. The first two Jets goals ricocheted off Penguins defenders in front of the net shortly before going in. Cole Perfetti then beat Murashov on a one-timer for the game winner.
Multiple Penguins players credited Murashov with keeping his team in the game long enough to pull the goalie and launch a final 6-on-5 attack in the closing seconds.
“He kept us in it all night,” Declan Carlile said.
Ben Kindel said, “He kept us in the game. It’s always reassuring to have a guy that’s going to battle for you and keep you in the game no matter what.”
Murashov already proved he can shine at the AHL level, where he recorded a dominant 2.20 GAA and .919 save percentage last season. The Penguins will hope Monday’s performance is the first step toward replicating that success at the next level.
This likely won’t be the last game this week in which Murashov sees playing time. After playing in the Washington Capitals’ home opener this Wednesday, the Penguins are scheduled for a back-to-back at the Columbus Blue Jackets and against the visiting Dallas Stars.
Murashov will be expected to start either Friday in Columbus or at home this Saturday as Dan Muse works on splitting the workload between Arturs Silovs and who the Penguins are seemingly hoping will be their goaltender of the future.
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 05: Junior Caminero #13 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates defeating the New York Yankees 5-2 in game two of the American League Division Series at Tropicana Field on October 05, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
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Around Major League Baseball
The relentless Rays gave Cam Schlittler and the Yankees fits in a four-run fourth inning as they prevailed 5-2 in Game 2 of the ALDS. The victory has Tampa Bay one win away from the ALCS.
While the Rays won the game, the Yankees beat themselves with four errors to put them on the brink of elimination.
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Fangraphs’ Jon Becker provided a postseason report card for Joe Espada and Chad Tracy, whose respective teams were bounced in the Wild Card round.
Will Leitch asked some burning questions facing the teams that are heading into Game 3 of the NLDS tonight.
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Katie Woo wondered whether the Dodgers should have turned to Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who takes the ball in Game 3, sooner in their series against the Braves.
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Yesterday at Amazin’ Avenue
Steve Sypa reviewed the Florida/Dominican Republic Complex Teams for the Mets’ minor league systems.
This Date in Mets History
The Mets clinched their first ever National League pennant with a 7-4 victory over the Braves on this date in 1969.
(Photo by Mike Carlson/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The New York Yankees are facing elimination after dropping Game 2 of the ALDS to the Tampa Bay Rays.
And while drops are part of the story, they do not tell the complete tale of woe.
New York’s defense was not exactly fodder for Tom Emanski’s defensive drills video series on Monday night, as the Yankees made three errors in the first inning alone, were charged with four by the time the night ended, could have been given a fifth on a play that was initially ruled an error, and made a few other defensive miscues that were not charged as official errors by the scorekeeper due to scoring rules.
But on the brink of elimination, the bats are a bigger concern.
Let’s start with those errors, beginning in the bottom of the first inning. Tampa Bay leadoff hitter Yandy Díaz hit a chopper to third that ate up third baseman Ryan McMahon, gifting the Rays a leadoff runner:
Ryan McMahon boots the easiest ground ball ever on the first batter of the game
Aaron Boone says he thought about using Anthony Volpe at third base but didn't because he was worried about his defense at Tropicana Field pic.twitter.com/4epOHLvrY3
Jonathan Aranda then singled off Cam Schlittler, giving Tampa Bay a pair of runners to start the inning.
Junior Caminero hit a grounder up the middle that George Lombard Jr. grabbed and flipped to Jazz Chisholm Jr. at second to force out Aranda, but Chisholm then made a twisting, off-balance throw to first that found the dugout fencing, bringing Díaz around to score:
Schlittler then retired Liam hicks looking for the second out of the inning, giving the Yankees a chance to limit the damage.
Or so they thought.
After a replay review, it was confirmed that when Hicks started his swing it clipped catcher Austin Wells’ mitt. Catcher’s interference was the ruling, giving the Yankees three errors in the first four Rays hitters:
A trio of Yankees that have struggled all year are working to outdo one another. This time it's Austin Wells with an unnecessary catcher's inteference pic.twitter.com/KlgY3I3BRY
Schlittler managed to get out of the inning with just the one run, but even that was something of a defensive adventure. After Hicks was awarded first base on the Wells interference, Schlittler induced a tailor-made grounder to Chisholm that could have ended the inning. But the second baseman’s throw pulled Lombard off the bag, and the Yankees were forced to settle for just the out at second after a tremendous recovery from the shortstop:
Jazz Chisholm Jr. does his best to make his second awful mistake of the inning and the Yankees' fourth but 21-year-old rookie George Lombard Jr. bails the veteran out pic.twitter.com/8qCp0VEcNp
The fourth New York error came in the bottom of the fifth, with Tampa Bay leading 3-1. Aaron Boone had pulled Schlittler at this point, after this play that was initially ruled an error on Lombard, before it was changed to a fielder’s choice:
The error-turned-fielder’s choice brought Caminero home, giving Tampa Bay the 3-1 lead. Boone then pulled Schlittler, opting for lefty Brent Headrick out of the bullpen. Headrick struck out outfielder Victor Mesa Jr. for the second out, giving New York a chance to get out of the inning and limit the damage.
After Chandler Simpson stole second, Jonny DeLuca rolled a grounder to Lombard, who had a chance to finally end the inning.
DeLuca then stole second, and both he and Simpson scored on a single to center off the bat of No. 8 hitter Richie Palacios to make it 5-1.
Final score: Rays 5, Yankees 2.
The errors and miscues are the easy story, and headlines are filled with phrases such as “error-filled,” “error-fueled meltdown,” and worse. But on a night where the Yankees were charged with four errors, and could have been charged with more, they only gave up five runs.
And this is a team coming off a win in the Wild Card Series over the Boston Red Sox that scored nine runs in back-to-back games, sweeping the Red Sox by a combined score of 18-2. Five runs was not a tough ask for this New York lineup.
Yet, it was a tough ask on Monday night.
Designated hitter Ben Rice did what he could, as he belted a pair of solo homers to account for both of New York’s runs Monday night, finishing the game having gone 2-for-3. But beyond Rice, the rest of the New York lineup combined to go 2-for-28 from the plate, with just a double off the bat of Wells in the second inning, and single form Cody Bellinger in the fourth, after Rice’s first home run of the night.
Making matters worse, the Yankees were a dismal 0-for-1 with runners in scoring position on Monday night. That came in the top of the fifth, when the combination of starter Freddy Peralta and reliever Cam Booser managed to load the bases ahead of Bellinger, who came to the plate with two outs in a 1-1 game. A hit in that spot could have changed the course of the night.
He gave it a ride to the deepest part of the track, but DeLuca tracked it down on the warning track to end the threat:
This is a New York lineup that was among the league leaders in several offensive categories, including Slugging Percentage (.409 — sixth in MLB) and home runs (223 — second in MLB), and while the lineup does miss Aaron Judge who remains sidelined due to a right calf strain, that same lineup put up big numbers against Boston just a few days ago. This is a lineup that on many nights is good enough to overcome the defensive breakdowns, and score more than five runs.
But not right now.
Instead the Yankees are facing elimination having scored just two runs, both off the bat of Rice, in two games in Tampa Bay. Back in Game 1, New York did not record a hit until the eighth inning, a double off the bat of Wells, and the lineup combined to finish 1-for-27 on the night.
Making the Yankees a combined 5-for-58 — a batting average of just .086 — over two games against the Rays.
The errors are the easy headlines after Monday night.
But the struggles at the plate are the bigger concern.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - OCTOBER 01: Chris Sale #51 of the Atlanta Braves throws a pitch during the eighth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies in game three of the National League Wild Card Series at Truist Park on October 01, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After plenty of discussion before Game 2, there is no doubt who will be on the mound for the Braves in Game 3 of the NLDs. The Braves plan worked as the series is now split 1-1, and they now have their two best starters fully rested to try and close out the series in Atlanta. It will be much easier said than done vs. the defending champs, but at least the Braves have better than expected chances to get the job done.
Growing pains are part of the normal development process for any young NHL player, and that was evident during the Bruins’ ugly 4-1 loss to the Senators at TD Garden on Monday night.
It was a tough night for the whole team. They weren’t ready to play and lacked the level of energy and execution needed to keep up with a hard-playing and skilled Senators team.
But it was a particularly difficult game for several of the Bruins’ young players, including rookie forward James Hagens.
Hagens did score the Bruins’ only goal in third period, giving him two tallies in four games. But he also was on the ice for two goals against, and a couple of his mistakes led to those Senators goals.
An unsuccessful backhand pass intended for David Pastrnak in the second period resulted in Tim Stutzle stealing possession of the puck. Stutzle fed a pass to Drake Batherson, who scored on a breakaway to give Ottawa a 3-0 lead.
Hagens also couldn’t clear a puck later in the second period, and seconds after, the puck ended up in the back of the Bruins’ net as Michael Amadio scored from in close.
The Senators led the Bruins 14-6 in shot attempts, 7-2 in shots on net, 7-4 in scoring chances and 2-1 in goals during Hagens’ 11:31 of even-strength ice time last night, per Natural Stat Trick.
To his credit, Hagens took full accountability after the game.
“I was a big reason for a couple of those goals going in,” Hagens told reporters. “I have to be a lot better. That was unacceptable on my end. It’s tough. You want to be able to play really well and get that win.”
Hagens wasn’t alone, to be clear.
Similar to Hagens, young players including forwards Matt Poitras and Fraser Minten, as well as defenseman Frederic Brunet, all had good, bad and ugly moments versus the Senators. Hagens and Poitras each took minor penalties in a seven-second span in the first period that gave Ottawa a lengthy 5-on-3 power play, although the Bruins penalty kill stepped up and didn’t allow a goal.
Unlike some previous Bruins head coaches, Marco Sturm sounds committed to giving these rookies the opportunity to learn and improve without the fear of being benched or sent to Providence after a few errors.
“Yes, (Hagens) probably had a tough night like anyone else,” Sturm told reporters postgame. “But I won’t blame him. He’s a kid who needs to learn. I think our top guys, games like this, they have to be in charge. I can’t ask for James Hagens to take charge. Yes, he needs to be better. But overall as a group, we’ve just got to help those kids out. The kids have to play better as well. I won’t blame my young guys for that. They’re kids. They need to learn the hard way sometimes. But they need help, and that’s all of us.”
Even though it was a frustrating night for these young players, the Bruins have to let them make mistakes and learn from them. And it’s certainly better to do that now early in the season as opposed to later in the campaign when the playoff race heats up.
These aren’t mid-level prospects, either. Hagens is an elite prospect and was the No. 7 overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. Minten was just signed to a seven-year extension and could be a solid No. 2 center sooner rather than later. These players will be — in an ideal world for the Bruins — core players for the franchise moving forward. The B’s also need these players to make a meaningful impact this season if they’re going to earn a playoff berth.
It’s a lot to ask of a 19-year-old Hagens and a 22-year-old Minten, but there are reasons to be optimistic they’ll rise to the challenge. That process also will include plenty of mistakes, and it’ll be up to the Bruins’ veterans to help the team overcome them. That didn’t happen Monday night. Many of the veteran players, including David Pastrnak, also played poorly.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 05: Carl Willis of the Cleveland Guardians speaks with Erik Sabrowski #62 during a mound visit in the sixth inning against the Chicago White Sox in game two of the American League Division Series at Progressive Field on October 05, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Guardians lost a game they really should have won last night and everything is bad.
Everyone is hating on Jose as he can’t get a hit.
Erik Sabrowski was supposed to be the one reliable pen arm besides Cade Smith and he gave up the crucial double to a guy with a 19 wRC+ against LHP.
Hunter Gaddis pitched well but is getting the usual hate for giving up a 73 mph soft liner single.
Stephen Vogt is getting hate for who knows what reason. I think his decision-making so far has been excellent. But, everyone is tired of playoff losses. I get it.
Maybe that will change on Wednesday at 4pm.
Around MLB:
The Rays beat the Yankees (yay!). Braves and Dodgers play at 6 PM ET tied 1-1 and the Brewers will try to close out their series against the Padres in San Diego at 9:30PM ET. I wish the Brewers were beating the Braves and the Padres were beating the Dodgers. A potential World Series of Rays vs. Brewers or Padres would be the best non-Guardians outcome for me.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 16: Sergio De Larrea #55 of the Dallas Mavericks looks on during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the 2026 NBA Summer League game on July 16, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Candice Ward/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks ended up with the 6’7” 20-year-old Sergio De Larrea on draft night following not one, but two trades. He was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers, traded to the New York Knicks, and landed with the Mavericks in a series of trades that, to this day, I can’t comprehend. He joins a Dallas team in desperate need at the point guard position after spending the last two seasons with Valencia, of EuroLeague, where his role grew each year.
He joins a talented and crowded Mavericks team, though one missing table-setters. After a strong NBA Summer League performance and flashes of great play in the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers, De Larrea will have a chance to make an impact on a team in Dallas that hopes to take a huge leap forward this season.
Big Question
For a rookie on a busy Dallas roster, this is simple: where do De Larrea’s minutes come from? For the sake of argument, let’s assume Dereck Lively is out to start the season. These are the players who should get minutes before Sergio: Kyrie Irving, Cooper Flagg, PJ Washington, Daniel Gafford, Max Christie, Naji Marshall, Morez Johnson Jr., Zaccharie Risacher, and Santi Aldama.
If you can do some math, that puts De Larrea firmly in the 9-10-11th man list and that’s by me, random writer, not the Dallas coaching staff.
However, I think if Dallas hopes to compete down the stretch and make a run at a spot in the Play-In Tournament, he needs to be getting regular situational minutes. The NBA is a league where you learn by doing, and that means playing time.
Best Case Scenario
There are two here, depending on how one decides to read the prompt. The best-case scenario for De Larrea individually is that injuries force him out of the frying pan and into the fire. I have no means of justifying this take yet, but I firmly believe this is the type of player who will produce and improve rapidly if put immediately into the fire of an NBA game. But the scenario in which De Larrea is getting consistent minutes is also one where the Mavs are likely having a rough go at things.
For the Mavericks, the best-case scenario is that they’re able to win regularly enough while putting him into game action at times when it most benefits what they want him to learn. While I know the coaching staff would agree the feet-first approach might be best, the team has a crowded roster with veterans, and this means De Larrea is going to have to earn his minutes.
The most realistic best-case scenario is somewhere in the middle of these two. Kyrie Irving playing 65 games would mean fewer minutes for Sergio, but I also expect Irving to give Dallas 50 games, and anything else is a bonus. That leaves many, many minutes for someone who can run the offense.
Worst Case Scenario
If De Larrea has a lackluster rookie campaign, it will also relate back to minutes. The only real concern I have is if he cannot pick up what the coaching staff has in store for the team on either end of the floor. Lucky for us, that seems very unlikely, and it’s believed that the coaching staff and front office are very confident in the Spaniard.
Or an injury. Sergio’s body type is thin, and the NBA is a punishing, relentless experience. But all rookies are skinny comparably, so this is much ado about nothing.
But perhaps I am being too positive for once.
Season Goal
Let’s get crazy: Sergio De Larrea makes an All Rookie team! It’s going to be hard with this class, but I believe in him.
Overall
I am putting too much stock in De Larrea. But I can’t help it; Dallas has Cooper Flagg and it’s time to get this show on the road for the future. Most of these other guys won’t be on the team in three years. Don’t believe me? Kyrie Irving is the longest-tenured Dallas Maverick (I am not counting Dwight Powell until he’s on the actual roster). Things change fast in the NBA, and a guard like De Larrea is it for me. He can shoot it from deep, he’s tall, and he seems unafraid. You can go to battle with that.
Three intriguing players hit the NHL waiver wire on Monday. While most of social media focused on forward Connor Zary, the two defensemen available make the most sense when it comes to the Vancouver Canucks. Those defenders are 27-year-old Brayden Pachal and 25-year-old Matthew Robertson.
Starting with Pachal, he was placed on waivers by the Calgary Flames. Listed at 6'2", 202 lbs, the right-shot defenceman has played 177 games split between the Flames and the Vegas Golden Knights. Over his career, Pachal has recorded 28 points along with 194 penalty minutes.
Claiming Pachal would add some extra toughness to the roster, as he does have 406 career hits. It would also let the Canucks send Victor Mancini down to the Abbotsford Canucks, since the NHL squad would have an extra experienced defender they wouldn't need to worry about losing development time by serving as a healthy scratch. Finally, acquiring Pachal would be a homecoming of sorts for the player, as he spent his first two seasons in the WHL with the Victoria Royals.
As for Robertson, he has spent his entire career with the New York Rangers. Listed at 6'4, 218 lbs, the left-shot defender has recorded 18 points in 74 career games. Robertson is also known as a physical defenceman, recording 107 hits in 72 games last season.
There are advantages to picking Robertson over Pachal. The biggest is that he is younger and has a higher pedigree as a second-round pick from 2019. Robertson has also been tested as a top-four defender at the NHL level, as he averaged 17:24 of ice time per night in 2025-26.
Apr 5, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York Rangers defenseman Matthew Robertson (29) skates against the Washington Capitals during the first period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Danny Wild-Imagn Images
Ultimately, Ryan Johnson should consider claiming either Pachal or Robertson. Both would provide the team with additional depth on the blue line, which is something every team in the league needs. Even if they serve as a seventh or eighth defenseman, either would be a smart claim by Vancouver, which will remain at the top of the waiver wire until the end of the month.
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BOULDER, COLORADO - OCTOBER 4: Lonnie Walker IV #4 of the Denver Nuggets is guarded by Blake Hinson #25 of the Utah Jazz in the second half in a preseason game at CU Event Center on October 4, 2026 in Boulder, Colorado. 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 Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
For the past 6 months, every conversation regarding the deep bench of the Utah Jazz has been defined by 1 phrase – “You can’t put too much weight on it”. There is truth to this – the end of a regular season defined by egregious tanking isn’t a perfect equivalent for meaningful basketball, and the Summer League is oftentimes more akin in quality to a televised pick-up game than to the best basketball league in the world. This saying has persisted into October; how much weight should we really put on the fourth quarter of a preseason contest?
While there is validity in being cautious in our evaluations of players in contexts where the lights aren’t shining quite as brightly as they do in the thick of the year, I need to push back a little bit – we need to place weight on something. Even if our limited exposure with these players comes in situations that are not perfect, 1-to-1 comparisons with meaningful NBA games, I believe we are taking a bit of an analytical cop-out to refrain from any evaluation and projection based on what we can see from the months of April to October. Summer League isn’t perfect, and preseason isn’t much better, but they both provide clues on what we can expect from a player when suddenly, they are thrown into the deep end of winning-time.
So, taking into account all of the knowledge we have gathered from the past 6 months, which of the deep-bench players has the best odds to elevate themselves from that rank and become a rotation player? I will be defining “deep-bench player” as the 5 players that the Jazz rolled out during the fourth quarter during their first preseason game against the Nuggets. Sure, it’s likely that one of Josh Green and Josh Okogie are out of the primary 10 man rotation to start the year, but their more established nature in the league goes against the purpose of this exercise. Instead, our goal today is to uncover which diamond-in-the-rough, overlooked player will take the leap this year into that “established” tier that Green and Okogie already populate.
5. Tamar Bates
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – SEPTEMBER 28: Tamar Bates #0 of the Utah Jazz poses for a portrait during NBA media day on September 28, 2026 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
I like Tamar Bates. I think he plays hard, moves with NBA-level fluidity, and has some league-ready skills (the stand-still shooting is absolutely legit, and I’ve been impressed with his point-of-attack defense). However, more than anyone else in this ranking, Bates is facing an uphill battle towards claiming consistent minutes due to the constraints of the position that he plays. The Utah Jazz love shooting guards. They love shooting guards so much that we have (depending on your positional classifications) up to 4 guys who are all probably best suited for the backup shooting guard position. Some will, by necessity, play more as the bench small forward, but nevertheless, the Jazz’s abundance of riches at this position really limits Tamar’s upward mobility. Not only will he have to play the best basketball of his life, but he’ll probably need multiple options above him to get injured and maybe another one to play extraordinarily poorly. It doesn’t help that Bates is entirely position-locked; he’s too short and slender to play the three, and he’s never flashed the playmaking chops to be considered a point guard. Bates is fun, and I expect him to be a key contributor on the SLC Stars, but for the time being, it is likely wisest to expect to remain simmering in developmental juices than to make a rapid rise into the team’s young core.
4. Harrison Ingram
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – SEPTEMBER 28: Harrison Ingram #00 of the Utah Jazz poses for a portrait during NBA media day on September 28, 2026 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
I wish it was more likely for Ingram to obtain minutes, because he so exceptionally fills a few major, anticipated gaps in the skillset of this team. Ingram is a decidedly funky player, dribbling to the the beat of his own drum. For a comparison to past Jazz players, Joe Ingles and Kyle Anderson are the most applicable – Ingram falls into the lineage of heftier forwards who lack in burst but make up for it with wit and ball skills. Those ball skills could be immensely helpful on a team desperately lacking forwards who can competently pass and dribble; Hardy would be able to coach up some interesting plays for a 235 pound forward who averaged nearly 5 assists per game during his last G-League season, and who functioned at times as a guard in college. His rebounding talents are also sorely needed – he’s got a genuine nose for the ball, evidenced by his nearly 11 rebounds per game over his G-League career. There is, in theory, a spot in the rotation for a dribbling, passing, rebounding power forward.
However, Harrison is not without his faults. To start, the shooting improvement that some predicted after his junior season at UNC where he made 38.5% of his three pointers has not actualized. In the G-League, he has been poor from both behind the three point and free throw lines. Additionally, while he is a good positional defender off of the ball, he’s a bit of a tweener when defending the ball handler. Ingram was hurt more than most by the people in charge of measurements at the combine – in college, he was reported to be 6’8, and now is listed at 6’5. He’s got a solid enough wingspan, but is simply giving up too much height to guard the bigger forwards, and cannot move his heavy frame quick enough to stick with the smaller ones. This doesn’t mean that I think he’s a negative defender; in fact, I think his headiness keeps him as a potentially solid positive at that end. However, defense likely won’t be the skill that gets him on to the court until he becomes substantially more versatile. I want to believe in Ingram’s upward mobility this season, because big and smart and talented forwards are high-upside bets (less so now that he’s 23, to be sure), but when his deficiencies are taken into account in combination with who he’d have to pass to gain minutes, playing time with the A-Team this season seems unlikely.
3. Trey Alexander
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – SEPTEMBER 28: Trey Alexander #15 of the Utah Jazz poses for a portrait during NBA media day on September 28, 2026 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
While I prefer Bates and Ingram to Alexander in a vacuum, the path for Trey to regular minutes is significantly less murky. To start, Trey plays a position that the Jazz are one injury away from suddenly looking quite lackluster. There isn’t potential for Trey to play his way over Isaiah Collier, but if Collier or Keyonte were to go down with an injury for a extended period of time, the lack of ballhandlers on the team almost necessitates a role for Alexander (or a trade for Kris Dunn). Would those minutes be successful? No, probably not, but it doesn’t hurt that Trey has played any amount of NBA minutes before, which cannot be said for Bates. His 228 total career minutes isn’t much, but I would guess that some of the quickest growth for a player comes in those first few hundred minutes, so it is still a point in Trey’s favor.
For those more unaware with Alexander’s game, he is best defined as a jack-of-all-trades type point guard. He’s a good shooter, but his percentages fluctuated in college. He’s a solid passer, but not solid enough for him to be tasked as a point guard for most of his NBA career up to this point (though, by his junior year at Creighton, he was solidly a point guard, and that has continued into the G-League). He’s quick but rarely blows by players, he defends but rarely locks up. The strongest tool in his arsenal isn’t any one skill, but rather his size – being ok at everything is a lot more palatable as a 6’5 guard than a 6’2 one. Additionally, he has been legitimately productive at the G-League level; across nearly 50 games over 2 years, he’s putting up averages of 25/5/7 on respectable shooting splits. There’s a chance that he’s ironed out the creases in his game present while he was at Creighton and that he is now simply an improved all-around player. I haven’t quite seen anything in his (albeit very, very short) Jazz career that makes me change my collegiate evaluation of Alexander, but his combo of size, production, and position give him a real chance to jump to consistent minutes. I’d prefer a midseason trade if injuries occur, but Alexander’s minutes ceiling is high.
2. Mo Bamba
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – SEPTEMBER 28: Mo Bamba #44 of the Utah Jazz poses for a portrait during NBA media day on September 28, 2026 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
I was contemplating whether Bamba deserved to be mentioned in the same breath as these other 4 players. He’s played in nearly 7 times the amount of games as the rest of the list put together and he’s bounced around the league for nearly a decade. However, if the criteria is being “established”, I think Bamba has yet to hit that bar, even if he is a fairly well known commodity. To his credit, he has not stopped scratching and clawing and fighting his way to NBA success (7 teams in 8 seasons!), and I think there is a very possible world where, this season, his hard work finally lands him a real role on a good team. Bamba has been in-and-out of the Jazz system a number of times, which gives him a certain level of comfort with the scheme and staff that the newcomers lack, and he seems ready to adopt a leadership role.
Mo Bamba says his main goal is to be a communicator for this Jazz team with all of the young guys. Says he will be there to steady the ship when guys get down.
When you consider the fact that Jusuf Nurkic has played an average of 52 games per season through his 12 game, there is a very possible hole to be filled at the center position at some point during the year, and it’s not like Jaxson Hayes is some insurmountable hurdle at the backup center position either. We have 3 centers on the roster (I would really prefer to see Flip and JJJ almost entirely at the 4), and one of them is Bamba – he is boosted on this list by virtue of that alone. However, and maybe I’ve fallen victim to one of the classic blunders, I still have some belief in Bamba becoming a semi-valuable NBA player, regardless of his place on Utah’s center ladder. He’s big and he’s hitting threes and, in theory, he’s only become more comfortable defending the pick and roll as his career has progressed. I don’t ever want him starting, but I trust him to eat minutes as a bench big, assuming the rest of that bench lineup is consistently competent. However, even if consistent minutes aren’t in the cards for him this year, Bamba’s attitude may allow him to provide value from a deep-bench role.
1. Blake Hinson
While Hinson doesn’t have the easiest positionally path to playing time (that would go either the point guard or center on this list), but he occupies the top spot due purely to his overwhelming talent advantage. I’ve had to look hard to find the reasons that the rest of this list may end up deserving minutes by the end of the year, but with Hinson, it’s easy – the Jazz seem to have really found something with him. It all starts with his shooting, where he is legitimately dynamic. Off the catch or off of movement, from a few feet out closer to the line, open or contested, Hinson is knockdown from just about anywhere. I love the combination between his frame and verticality on the jump shot – he has a similar build to Bojan Bogdanovic, but instead of the 2 inch leap that accompanied Bogie’s shots, Hinson soars over contests when it’s his turn to fire away. I’m not sure how valid the reports are that Blake lost 22 pounds over the offseason, but he does look to be in better shape, which can only improve his effectiveness at both ends. Moments like this certainly can’t hurt his standing in coach’s eyes, either –
Blake Hinson: "I can help however. I can go get coffee. I can maybe make a shot. I can talk to somebody. I can watch your dog. I just want to be a part of the program." pic.twitter.com/fpoDgcUQtQ
Like the rest of the list, Hinson’s case for minutes likely is intertwined with injuries. However, I think that Hinson is the only option here who could, feasibly, earn minutes based of being too good to leave on the bench. The path based on merit would take one of two forms – if Ace is at the backup power forward, it would take Blake beating out Brice, Svi, Okogie, and Green for the backup small forward. If Ace is at the three, then Blake has to best Kyle Filipowski (the difference between the two scenario is mainly technical – Blake would really be beating all of those players in either of them due to the versatility of the positions). It’s not likely, to be sure, but if Hinson is shooting 43% from three and crashing the boards with ferocity, he may be able to play a winning, necessary role better than the alternative options, even if those options are better all around players. This still may not be the year for Hinson – I like him, but he likely isn’t more conducive to winning basketball than Josh Okogie right now. Still, he is the member on this list that I am most confident in my desire to return in future seasons. Shooting and size and heart like that don’t come by every day, so let’s make sure that Blake remains part of the program.
How would you change this list? Which are you most excited for? Comment below!
DETROIT, MI - APRIL 8: Ryan Rollins #13 of the Milwaukee Bucks handles the ball during the game against the Detroit Pistons on April 8, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
As we’ve discussed at length, a lot went wrong for the Milwaukee Bucks a season ago: injuries, Doc Rivers, underperformance, Doc Rivers, trade drama, Doc Rivers… Did I mention Doc Rivers? Yet, amid all the toxicity, there was a positive storyline to latch onto: Ryan Rollins’ breakout season.
After joining the Bucks on a two-way deal at the 2023-24 All-Star break and then making his debut on this list ahead of the 2024-25 season (where he was ranked 17th), Rollins has made tremendous strides. In fact, going from a two-way contract player to one of the main pieces of an NBA roster is nothing short of astounding. But it’s more than just that.
With Damian Lillard gone prior to last season and Kevin Porter Jr. injured on opening night, Rollins was inserted into the starting lineup and stayed there for most games, starting in 67/74 contests. He took full advantage of the opportunity too, setting career highs in nearly every statistical category: 17.3 PPG, 5.6 APG, and 4.6 RPG, while playing 32.1 (!) minutes per night.
Beyond the statistical jumps, the eye test also showed Rollins’ remarkable improvement. He became a solid secondary and even primary creator when Giannis and/or KPJ were injured. He could attack downhill, create his own shot, and pass well. The advanced stats back it up too. According to Cleaning the Glass, just 40% of Rollins’ made baskets were assisted, while only 18% of his made mid-range shots were assisted. As for his passing, his assist rate jumped 10 percentage points, from 16.3% to 26.3%, moving him from the 6th to the 42nd percentile.
While Rollins provided a lot on offence a year ago, he was also one of the few plus defenders on the roster. According to NBA.com, Rollins defended the third-most shots per game on the Bucks at 11.5 (most among the guards) and forced players to shoot just 45.2% when he guarded them—fifth-best for Milwaukee. It shouldn’t come as a surprise then that Rollins made the Bucks a better defensive team when he was on the floor; with Rollins teams scored 5.8 fewer points per possession (91st percentile) and had a 3% lower effective field goal percentage (90th percentile). Any way you slice it, Rollins was Milwaukee’s most impactful player for most of the season, behind Giannis—and you could argue he was more impactful because he played more than twice as many games as Giannis.
Beyond his play on the court, Rollins also has the right mentality—especially for this Bucks team. He’s as tough as nails (as Jack wrote last year), having dealt with shoulder issues throughout much of his Bucks tenure, but has tried to gut through injury and stay available as much as possible. And make no mistake, Rollins will be called upon to step up even more this year—not just as a player, but also as a leader. Time will tell if he’s truly ready for that.
Of course, the key task for the Bucks moving forward will be keeping Rollins around. He’s in the second year of a three-year, $12m deal, but the final year is a player option. If Rollins has another season anything like last year, he’ll surely decline that option and look for a much bigger payday. Ultimately, we’ll see what the future holds, but I imagine Jon Horst will do what is necessary to keep a 24-year-old in a Bucks uniform.
No poll this time. Congratulations to Tyler Herro for winning this year’s Ranking the Roster series in his debut year in the Cream City! We’ll see if he’ll be back next year to repeat.
DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 5: Jordan Goodwin #23 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball during the game against the Detroit Pistons during a preseason game on October 5, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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 Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The first half against Detroit showed exactly what the Phoenix Suns want to be. They were physical, had active hands, excelled on the offensive glass and in transition, and their second effort and defensive pressure were omnipresent. The Suns looked crisp to start the preseason and it was sure good to see basketball once again.
The second and third units showed the other side of that equation in the second half, where ball security and young players processing the game under pressure are going to come with a learning curve. The execution deteriorated quickly, the turnovers piled up, and the Suns fell into prolonged scoring droughts. Yes, they made a game of it late, because that is what Suns basketball is. They never quit, never succumb, and never stop. It’s part of the culture, and even with players who most likely won’t make the roster, you witnessed it.
In short? The starters built the house, constructing a 19-point lead, and the kids spent the third quarter lighting it on fire. Such is preseason basketball. Such are the ebbs and flows of learning how to play together and adjusting to new roles. Because that’s a significant part of what this preseason is about for many of these players. For somebody like Koa Peat, he’s learning what the NBA game looks like and what the speed feels like, all while trying to understand and embrace a role that is new to him.
So while the Suns walked out of Little Caesars Arena with a loss in their pocket, it’s only a loss if you don’t learn from it. And seeing as this was the first day of school, there’s plenty of opportunity to keep learning. Let’s just avoid the matches, eh?
Bright Side Baller Nominees
Preseason Game 1 against the Pistons. Here are your nominees:
