Posts

Posted on

Some real (and old) concerns about the 2026 Braves are starting to emerge

Jun 7, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves pitching coach Jeremy Hefner (85) talks to pitcher Bryce Elder (55) on the mound during the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the second inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images | Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images

Let’s start this off with some good news: If the Braves play straight-up mediocre .500 baseball from this point forward, they should still have enough wins to get them back into the Postseason. The fantastic level of form that they reached during late-March and throughout April and most of May has essentially ensured that the Braves have a nice little “nest-egg” of sorts to play with as far as their Postseason chances go.

PECOTA still has the Braves at a 74 percent chance of winning the NL East and a 98 percent chance of making the Postseason in some form. FanGraphs’ Playoff Odds also paints a rosy picture by giving them an 80 percent chance of winning the division and a 97 percent chance of making the Postseason. In the grand scheme of things, it’s fine. It may be “Blackheart” Lio Rush’s version of “fine” but it’s fine nonetheless.

With that being said, it’s hard not to feel a bit alarmed by what we’ve seen from the Braves since mid-May. There were concerns about the starting rotation heading into this season and while the rotation did a fantastic job early on in order to dispel most of those concerns, they’ve finally started to rear their ugly head and it’s been pretty concerning! Since May 18, Atlanta’s rotation has collectively produced an ERA of 5.20 (ERA- 125) and a FIP of 4.64 (113 FIP-). Both of those numbers are near the bottom of Major League Baseball and a lot of that has to do with the fact that outside of former White Sox hurlers Chris Sale and Martín Pérez, the rest of the rotation has been struggling mightily.

Grant Holmes looked better on Monday night but he still has trouble getting through two turns on the lineup on any given night, much less getting any deeper than that. Spencer Strider was pretty inconsistent while he was healthy and now he’s out for the foreseeable future and it doesn’t help that JR Ritchie has essentially been baptized by fire as Strider’s replacement. Bryce Elder’s magical ride has come to a screeching halt and his most recent start where he got blown up for eight runs in a single inning of six innings of work represented the clear nadir for both Elder and this rotation at the moment.

Sale (60 ERA-, 42 FIP-) and Pérez (81 ERA-, 80 FIP-) are the only regulars who have an ERA- and FIP- below the league average of 100 since May 18 — everybody else is far over. Grant Holmes is the “best” of the bunch with an ERA- of 116 and a FIP- of 158. As bad as Elder has been (169 ERA-, 121 FIP-), Strider was actually a little worse with an equivalent ERA- of 169 and a worse FIP- of 157. JR Ritchie has tried his best but so far that’s resulted in an ERA- of 240 and a FIP- of 187.

The bullpen has essentially been carrying the pitching staff since mid-May, as they are currently leading baseball in ERA- since May 18 (65) and are top-five in FIP- at 85. No matter who they’ve called upon in the bullpen (whether it’s been high-leverage guys like Raisel Iglesias, Robert Suarez or Dylan Lee or the rest of the relievers like Dylan Dodd, Reynaldo López, Tyler Kinley, Didier Fuentes and even Carlos Carrasco being called upon to eat innings), everybody’s known their role and gotten the job done while the rotation has largely struggled. Their performance has been one of the only things keeping this current downturn in form from being an actual mid-season collapse.

As a matter of fact, the bullpen may be the one thing holding this entire team together at the moment because the offense has absolutely cratered for about a month or so. From Opening Day until May 17, the Braves as a team hit .265/.328/.444 with a wOBA of .337 and a wRC+ of 113 with the team wRC+ being second in all of baseball only behind the Dodgers. Ever since May 18, however, things have changed drastically. Atlanta has been hitting .232/.296/.377 at the plate with a wOBA of .306 and a team wRC+ of 87. Ever since mid-May, Atlanta has essentially been rolling out the third-worst offense in all of baseball with only the Padres and the Guardians being worse.

Now, a lot of that probably has to do with the fact that Drake Baldwin was missing for quite some time during that span and also Ronald Acuña Jr. has also been sitting on the sidelines for long stretches as well. It also didn’t help that during that period when both Baldwin and Sean Murphy were gone, Atlanta actively decided to play throwback National League baseball where they were effectively using the catcher as the pitchers’ spot in the lineup.

Bless Sandy León and Austin Wynns for trying but León putting up a wRC+ of -84 in 37 plate appearances is truly astonishing and it was also painful to see Wynns add to that with a -73 wRC+ over 14 additional plate appearances. It’s clear with the addition of Joey Bart that the Braves have done a complete 180 in what they value in backup catchers since clearly León’s defense and experience behind the plate was not enough to overcome the overall black hole of plate production that he was delivering during his time out there.

Also, Ha-Seong Kim’s plate performance has been shocking and not in a good way. Any time where the Braves put out León and Kim at the same time, there were going to be two hitters in the lineup where it would’ve been a shock to see them get a hit. It’s something you just can’t have and it’s why the light-hitting Jorge Mateo has been getting plenty of opportunities and why Atlanta has also been desperate to keep Mauricio Dubón in the lineup no matter where he plays.

Things got to the point where Matt Olson played right field at the tail end of a game last week because of the domino effect of substitutions that resulted in Walt Weiss making sure that Kim didn’t have to take an at-bat while the field shuffling was going on. He’s got to get it going soon but it’s also one of those cases where it’s tough to keep giving him plate appearances while he’s this terrible at the plate.

Atlanta has been getting positive contributions from Michael Harris II, Ronald Acuña Jr. (when healthy), Matt Olson, Ozzie Albies and Mauricio Dubón but it’s clear that they can’t carry the team when there are multiple hitters carrying a negative wRC+. Austin Riley’s inability to get going has also been frustrating to observe as well. Guys like Mike Yastrzemski, Eli White, the aforementioned Mateo and Dominic Smith are trying their best but it’s also clear that they are in a position where they need to perform out of their shoes in order to keep the offense afloat on a nightly basis in recent times.

I’ve regularly had Alex Anthopoulos’s preseason opinion on this team running through my mind for most of this season. He was right when he said that if this team was going to bounce back, the offense would need to return to good form after spending the better part of two years wandering in the wilderness. We saw that play out with the scalding-hot start that this team got off to to begin the season. Now we’re seeing the offense’s fortunes coincide with the team’s fortunes and it’s frustrating to see.

With all of that being said, I do have real hope that Atlanta’s offense will get things together. While watching them struggle lately has been truly frustrating, it’s not a hopeless situation. On the other hand, the starting rotation needs help and they need it badly. Folks have been screaming about the need to add to this rotation since this past offseason and now it has become glaringly clear what needs to be addressed at the deadline. I’ve already stated my opinion on whether or not the Brave should go after Tarik Skubal if the opportunity presents itself but even if they don’t swing for the fences in that regard, it’s clear that Atlanta should be trying to figure out a way to improve this rotation between now and the deadline.

Whether that’s simply bringing up Hurston Waldrep or going after some arms from teams that are planning on selling at the deadline (and there will be a handful), if the Braves are going to be serious about confirming their Postseason spot and also hopefully doing some damage when they get there, the rotation has to be improved. The bullpen is carrying the load for the pitching staff and the lineup has shown that they can make it happen at the plate for a decently-long stretch. On paper, the rotation has been the weak spot for the longest time and now they’ve mostly come crashing back down to earth after spending the early portion of this season in glorious orbit.

It’s clear that the Braves aren’t going to simply walk away with the division now that the Phillies are showing some real signs of being serious in recent weeks. The Braves still have a fairly nice lead in the division and as long as they don’t truly collapse then the Postseason is well within their grasp. This is a resilient bunch so I’d imagine that they will fight through this rough patch and get back to something close to what we saw from them earlier this season.

Still, it’s becoming very clear that the team won’t be able to simply put it into cruise control down the stretch. There are some real concerns with this team at the moment and hopefully we’ll see them get addressed at some point soon. We’ll see what happens, though.

Posted on

Dusty May's move to NBA isn't a college basketball crisis. It's a sign of the era

Dusty May’s One Shining Moment didn’t come with the sorts of feelings you’d expect after fulfilling a life-long dream.

After his Michigan men’s basketball team beat UConn back in early April to claim the program’s first national title in 37 years, May wasn’t overwhelmed by elation or joy when he stood at the apex of his profession. It was something much more hollow.

“I don't know if it's just me, but I'd heard where you climb the ladder and you say, 'Is this really it?' And it was worse,” May said in April to CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander. “It was less than 'it.'”

REQUIRED READING: Days before leaving, Dusty May sounded all-in at Michigan. Then, poof!

May was speaking about the finality of a season and the bittersweet feelings that come when a championship signals the end of a journey for a team he described as “one of the most special groups of humans you'll ever be around.”

More than two months later, though, it’s difficult not to view those comments under a different light.

On Monday, May left behind the program he had just guided to a title to take over as Dallas Mavericks coach.

While the move stunned much of the sport, if only because of the timing, it makes sense from a purely transactional standpoint. 

May’s one of the brightest coaching stars at any level of the sport, someone who took Florida Atlantic to a Final Four and helped Michigan win a national championship two years after he inherited a program coming off an 8-24 season.

He’ll arrive in Dallas with a franchise pillar already in place in Cooper Flagg, the 19-year-old phenom who averaged 21 points per game as a rookie and has the potential to be one of the NBA’s best players in the not-so-distant future. Unlike many college coaches who have made the jump to the pros, May seems well-equipped for the move thanks to his tactical acumen, player development chops and, perhaps most importantly, even-keeled temperament.

The NBA’s gain, though, is college basketball’s loss. And in a sport prone to treating every move as a referendum on the health of the enterprise, it has raised some unsettling questions about what May’s departure says about college basketball in 2026.

Is his unexpectedly early exit at Michigan more than just a personal decision?

Long before “NIL” was an acronym that rolled easily off the tongue and the “transfer portal” sounded like something out of a science fiction movie, college coaches left enviable situations for the NBA, whether it was Rick Pitino, John Calipari, Brad Stevens, Billy Donovan, Lon Kruger, Mike Montgomery or Fred Hoiberg. It’s not even novel for a Michigan coach to make the leap, as John Beilein had done the same seven years ago. As much as some in the sport may long for it, the old system came with its own headaches that had successful coaches looking for greener, less tiresome pastures.

Once more relaxed transfer rules were enacted and athletes were able to financially capitalize off of their name, image and likeness, the career choices of coaches took on a different meaning. In a span of just three years, Mike Krzyzewski, Roy Williams, Jay Wright and Tony Bennett all retired, leaving behind a combined 11 national championships and a sport that was suddenly down some of its most recognizable and revered figures. In each instance, the newly instituted changes were cited as a reason for the farewells.

May, however, represents a different type of case. Unlike many of the aforementioned legends, he wasn’t in the final stages of his career after years and years at the highest level of the sport. At just 49 years old and two years into his Michigan tenure, he seemed destined to be at the center of the next generation of coaching stalwarts who could come to define college basketball in the same way that Krzyzewski, Williams and Wright did.

And, in what feels like the blink of an eye, he’s gone.

In the coming days, May will have the opportunity to delve into what motivated the move, but until then, there will be speculation about just how much college basketball’s calendar and demands played a role.

May benefited from the modern landscape as much as anyone. He coached at a massive school with an army of wealthy boosters that funded the Wolverines’ NIL endeavors. He mined the transfer portal as effectively as anyone. The top four scorers on his championship team transferred into the program the previous offseason and the year before that, Michigan enjoyed a 19-win improvement in May’s first season thanks to a roster headlined by another batch of transfers.

There’s also ample evidence that May was disillusioned with what being a college basketball coach in 2026 entailed. In an interview last week with The Field of 68, May mentioned the low quality of life for coaches because of “uncertainty and lack of overall structure” in the modern game. He expressed frustration with what he saw as selfishness from stakeholders that got in the way of progress.

“Every time there seems to be a solution to solve one of the biggest problems, some of the more well-known coaches come out and say that affects them in a negative way,” he said. “There’s a give and take with everything. It’s going to have a negative impact on someone. But I think rarely do we look at what’s best for the enterprise of college basketball and what’s best for the whole instead of looking at what’s best for my calendar.”

Though May was thriving in the sport’s modern era, that relentless grind appeared to be taking a toll on him. Building two excellent rosters centered around two largely different groups of transfers allowed him to rapidly rebuild Michigan, but it required a significant amount of scouting and recruiting that, if repeated year after year after year, could wear down even the most well-conditioned coach. At least some of the emotional emptiness that awaited him atop the ladder after the national title game was because he knew the transfer portal was opening in less than an hour. In fact, he and his staff had a 2 a.m. Zoom call planned with a potential addition (though it was later rescheduled).

Nobody’s going to cry over the job complaints of someone making $5 million a year, nor should they, but it’s understandable when they seek out other opportunities.

At least part of what’s distressing about May’s exit is how calculated and deliberate he had been with his career to this point. He didn’t ditch FAU after the 2023 Final Four run, despite more lucrative and prestigious offers elsewhere. When it did come time to leave Boca Raton, he chose Michigan over Louisville, a more historically accomplished program. He wasn’t prone to rash or conventional decision-making. If he’s willing to leave a potential dynasty behind in Ann Arbor to go to the NBA, that surely says something, right?

Not necessarily.

For one, college coaches aren’t fleeing to the NBA in droves. May became the first coach to leave for an NBA head-coaching job since 2019, when Beilein left Michigan for the Cleveland Cavaliers. It was only two years ago that Dan Hurley, another championship-winning coach in the prime of his career, turned down the chance to coach LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers. May only became a possibility for the Mavericks after Duke’s Jon Scheyer reportedly told them no.

Not every transaction in college basketball during this new, sometimes confusing era has to be treated as an existential crisis.

May was undeniably vexed by the state of play in his beloved sport, but there’s no guarantee the conditions that potentially drove him to the NBA are some permanent fixture.

Right now, college athletics is mired in an awkward transition period, caught between an antiquated age when athletes weren’t able to profit in the same way the coaches and administrators around them were and a more professionalized model featuring full-fledged front offices that take much of the roster-building burden off of coaches, market constraints like a salary cap, multi-year contracts for players and payments to smaller schools for poaching top talent, similar to transfer fees in international soccer.

When that day will come is anyone’s guess, but the “rapidly evolving landscape” that’s so breathlessly mentioned whenever discussing college sports is just that — rapidly evolving, meaning the current conditions are fleeting. The sport’s unsustainable right now in its current, largely free-for-all form, but that kind of chaos often leads to a widespread recognition change is needed, along with an urgency to get that done.

There are significant hurdles that will need to be cleared for any of the aforementioned fixes to be made — namely, recognition of athletes as employees and some form of collective bargaining — but as we’ve learned, it only takes a federal judge’s decision or, maybe, a piece of legislation that passes through Congress for that road to that once unthinkable future to be paved. After all, six years ago who would have thought we’d have athletes cycling through four schools in four years and a second-team all-conference selection reportedly set to make more next year than some top-10 picks in tonight’s NBA Draft?

It’s quite possible May follows the path of Stevens, another Indiana-bred basketball wunderkind, and becomes an NBA lifer. It’s just as likely, though, he flames out like so many of his college-to-pro predecessors did and comes back to the college ranks as the most sought-after coach on the market.

And in that scenario, there’s a reasonable chance the sport he returns to is much more palatable than the one he just left.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY Sports: Dusty May leaving Michigan doesn't mean college basketball is doomed

Posted on

2026 NBA Draft discussion thread: Pick order and projected selections for St. John’s players

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 12: Zuby Ejiofor #24 and Bryce Hopkins #23 of the St. John's Red Storm look on before the 2026 Big East Men's Tournament - Quarterfinal game against the Providence Friars at Madison Square Garden on March 12, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The NBA draft is as much of a celebration of its newest players and how far they’ve come on their basketball journeys as it is a coronation. For the past eleven years, there has been no cause for celebration among St. John’s basketball players or their fans. Although the program sent Julian Champagnie and Daniss Jenkins into the Association to break out as bona fide pros, no Red Storm player has heard their name called since Sir’Dominic Pointer in the 2015 draft.

That will certainly change this week. Not one, not two, but three former Johnnies can break the program’s decade-long draft drought.

Reigning Big East player of the year Zuby Ejiofor is a virtual lock to become one of the sixty selections in this year’s draft, but he could also become St. John’s’ first first-round selection since Moe Harkless in 2012, thanks to a surge in his stock during the pre-draft process. There is also the very intriguing possibility that Ejiofor stays in the city where he built his name to play for the defending champions.

Former McDonald’s All-American Dillon Mitchell was likely expected to become an NBA draft selection entering college, yet he’s taken a circuitous route to this point, playing all four years of his college eligibility at Texas, Cincinnati, and St. John’s. He’s since risen through the draft boards and is likely to hear his name called in the mid-to-late second round.

Then there is Bryce Hopkins, who wasn’t considered a potential draft selection up until March, as he caught fire when the games mattered most. Across six games in the Big East and NCAA tournaments, he put up 15.2 points and 7.5 rebounds per contest on 63.5% shooting from the field and 65% from three. Hopkins impressed scouts enough that he became one of the select few G-League Combine invitees to get called up to the NBA Combine. His outlook isn’t as clear as his two former frontcourt mates, but he will more likely than not become the third Red Storm selection of this year’s draft.

If Ejiofor, Mitchell, and Hopkins are all selected, it would mark the first time since the 1983 draft that three or more St. John’s players would be selected (David Russell, Kevin Williams, Billy Goodwin, and Bob Kelly), and the first ever since the two-round format was introduced in 1989.

How to watch

When: June 23 and 24, 2026, 8 p.m. each night
Where: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York
TV: ABC/ESPN (Round 1), ESPN (Round 2)

Full draft order

  1. Washington
  2. Utah
  3. Memphis
  4. Chicago
  5. LA Clippers (via Indiana)
  6. Brooklyn
  7. Sacramento
  8. Atlanta (via New Orleans)
  9. Dallas
  10. Milwaukee
  11. Golden State
  12. Oklahoma City (via LA Clippers)
  13. Miami
  14. Charlotte
  15. Chicago (via Portland)
  16. Memphis (from Phoenix via Orlando)
  17. Oklahoma City (via Philadelphia)
  18. Charlotte (from Orlando via Phoenix)
  19. Toronto
  20. San Antonio (via Atlanta)
  21. Detroit (via Minnesota)
  22. Philadelphia (from Houston via Oklahoma City)
  23. Atlanta (via Cleveland)
  24. New York
  25. LA Lakers
  26. Denver
  27. Boston
  28. Minnesota (via Detroit)
  29. Cleveland (from San Antonio via Atlanta)
  30. Dallas (from Oklahoma City via Washington and Philadelphia)
  31. New York (from Washington via Oklahoma City and Houston)
  32. Memphis (from Indiana via Milwaukee)
  33. Brooklyn
  34. Sacramento
  35. San Antonio (from Utah via Minnesota)
  36. LA Clippers (from Memphis via Atlanta and Utah)
  37. Oklahoma City (via Dallas)
  38. Chicago (from New Orleans via Boston, Detroit, and Portland)
  39. Houston (from Chicago via Washington)
  40. Boston (from Milwaukee via Orlando)
  41. Miami (from Golden State via CHA, NYK, OKC, and ATL)
  42. San Antonio (from Miami via Indiana)
  43. Brooklyn (from LA Clippers via Houston)
  44. San Antonio (from Miami via Indiana)
  45. Sacramento (from Charlotte via San Antonio, Atlanta, and New York)
  46. Orlando
  47. Phoenix (from Philadelphia via Houston and Oklahoma City)
  48. Dallas (from Phoenix via Washington)
  49. Denver (from Atlanta via Brooklyn and Golden State)
  50. Toronto
  51. Washington (from Minnesota via Detroit and New York)
  52. LA Clippers (via Cleveland)
  53. Houston
  54. Golden State (from LA Lakers via Toronto, Miami, and Cleveland)
  55. New York
  56. Chicago (from Denver via MIA, PHX, CHA, and PHX, again)
  57. Atlanta (via Boston)
  58. New Orleans (from Detroit via NYK, BKN, PHX, ORL, and LAC)
  59. Minnesota (from San Antonio via Indiana)
  60. Washington (from Oklahoma City via San Antonio and Miami)
Posted on

Astros vs Blue Jays Prediction, Odds & Home Run Pick for Today's MLB Game

Want to get more Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account here.

Toronto Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is heating up and profiles well for continued success against Houston Astros starter Peter Lambert, making Over 1.5 total bases for Vladdy my favorite play tonight.

Read on for my Astros vs. Blue Jays predictions and MLB picks for this Tuesday, June 23 matchup.

Astros vs Blue Jays predictions

Astros vs Blue Jays best bet: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Over 1.5 total bases (+105)

Toronto Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. profiles extremely well against Peter Lambert. 

The Houston Astros starter primarily throws a fastball/sinker/slider combination, which is a pitch mix that Vladdy has handled well this season, with a .314 batting average and a .331 BABIP.

Lambert has also allowed solid contact at a 7.5% rate, which is 1.6% above league average.

Guerrero Jr. is barreling the baseball more efficiently lately, too, which has seen an uptick in production over the last two weeks where he owns a .409 average and a .591 SLG.

Additionally, Guerrero Jr. has eclipsed this number in four of his last five games with a .526 SLG over this stretch, showing serious signs of a turnaround, which gives me confidence in his market.

I’d bet Guerrero Jr. Over 1.5 total bases down to +100. 

Covers COVERS INTEL: Guerrero ranks in the 94th percentile in xBA, and owns a 137 WRC+ over his last 20 at-bats.

Astros vs Blue Jays same-game parlay (SGP)

George Springer is turning a corner, too, sporting a .351 average and 1.090 OPS over his last 10 games, recording a hit in eight of those outings. Additionally, he’s historically hit well against Lambert‘s pitch mix. 

I’ll also add Kazuma Okamoto Over 0.5 hits. He owns a .375 average against Lambert's pitches since June 1, while recording at least one hit in 13 of 18 games this month.

Astros vs Blue Jays SGP

  • Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Over 1.5 total bases
  • George Springer Over 0.5 hits
  • Kazuma Okamoto Over 0.5 hits
img loading="lazy" width="100%" height="null" src="https://img.covers.com/editorial/2026/jaysmlcbp.jpg" alt="Canada’s best price for Jays"
Get the best Jays ML odds at BET99 — every game.

Astros vs Blue Jays home run pick: Kazuma Okamoto (+280)

Okamoto profiles well against Lambert, who gives up a lot of solid contact, while ranking in the 48th percentile in hard-hit rate.

This all plays into Okamoto’s strengths, as he barrels the ball as well as anyone on the Jays roster and leads the team with 17 home runs while owning a .553 SLG and a 58.1% hard-hit rate against Lambert's pitch mix.

Additionally, Lambert has surrendered six home runs over his last seven-outings.

Despite the good matchup for Okamoto, the home run market is volatile, so I’ll make this a half-unit wager. 

2026 Transparency record
  • Best bets: 36-39, +2.15 units
  • SGPs: 14-61, +1.15 units
  • HR picks: 13-62, +2.9 units

Astros vs Blue Jays odds

  • Moneyline: Houston +112 | Toronto -132
  • Run line: Houston +1.5 | Toronto -1.5
  • Over/Under: Over 8.5 | Under 8.5

Astros vs Blue Jays trend

The Blue Jays have hit the Over in 13 of their last 21 games (+4.30 Units / 19% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Astros vs. Blue Jays.

How to watch Astros vs Blue Jays and game info

LocationRogers Centre, Toronto, ON
DateTuesday, 6-23-2026
First pitch4:07 p.m. ET
TVMLBN, SN
Astros starting pitcherPeter Lambert
(6-4, 3.23 ERA)
Blue Jays starting pitcherShane Bieber
(2025: 4-2, 3.57 ERA)

Astros vs Blue Jays latest injuries

Astros vs Blue Jays weather

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

Posted on

Tiger Woods returns to introduce golf’s two-tier PGA Tour shake-up from 2028

  • New elite series to include promotion and relegation

  • 23-24 events spread across February to August

The PGA Tour has announced sweeping changes to its competitive structure, approving a two-tier system with promotion and relegation to take effect in 2028.

The elite-tier PGA Tour Championship Series will run from February to August and ​feature 23-24 events with $20m (£15m) purses, while the $4m (£3m) events on the Challenger Series will provide a path for players to earn their way to the top level.

Continue reading...
Posted on

Dodgers no-hit relievers

LOS ANGELES, CA - CIRCA 1982: Pitcher Dave Stewart #48 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches during a Major League Baseball game circa 1982 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. Stewart played for the Dodgers in 1978 and 1981-83. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Dodgers got about as good of a pitching game as they could have hoped for in the series opener against the Minnesota Twins. Eric Lauer followed an opener on Monday, in part to avoid having him face Byron Buxton three times. Buxton proved why by hitting his 25th home run of the season in the first inning against said opener, Will Klein.

Lauer entered a 1-1 game in the second inning and got all the way through the seventh with no runs and no hits on his ledger, and a 2-1 lead.

The only other time a Los Angeles Dodgers reliever pitched at least six innings without allowing a hit was Dave Stewart on August 9, 1982, pitching the final six frames of a 13-inning win over the Cincinnati Reds at Dodger Stadium.

That Stewart performance was part of a chaotic pennant race for the Dodgers, who trailed the Atlanta Braves by 10 games as late as July 28. The Stewart game was the seventh straight win that brought them to within a half-game of Atlanta. The Dodgers would claim first place the next day, only 13 days after that 10-game deficit.

Six other Brooklyn Dodgers pitchers logged at least six hitless innings in relief:

The longest of these hitless relief outings was by Bob Milliken in 1953. He took over for rookie Johnny Podres with two outs in the first innings — looked like an injury of some sort, as Podres didn’t pitch again for 13 days — then finished out the game by recording the final 25 outs.

Tuesday game info

  • Teams: Dodgers at Twins
  • Ballpark: Target Field, Minneapolis
  • Time: 4:40 p.m. PT
  • TV: SportsNet LA, TBS (out of market)
  • Radio: AM 570 (English), KTNQ 1020 AM (Spanish)
Posted on

How does the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade affect the Cavs?

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MARCH 09: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks is defended by Jarrett Allen #31 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the second half of a game at Fiserv Forum on March 09, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Milwaukee Bucks shook up the Eastern Conference landscape when they sent two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat for an underwhelming trade package centered around Tyler Herro and multiple first-round picks.

The Cleveland Cavaliers weren’t one of the reported teams in the mix for Giannis’s services, even though there were rumblings that the Bucks were eyeing Evan Mobley as the centerpiece for a possible Giannis trade a few months ago. So what does this all mean for the Cavs?

First, it’s important to acknowledge that there’s another contender in the East.

The bar for entry into the title conversation is lower than it’s been before this era of parity. Teams that have talent, a clear identity, and can enforce that identity on their opponents can have playoff success even if their rosters aren’t perfect. Groups like the Toronto Raptors, Atlanta Hawks, and Detroit Pistons are examples that did that well in the playoffs.

Miami has the tools to do the same.

They have the talent to be a formidable defense with a Bam Adebayo and Giannis-led front court, and perimeter pests like Davion Mitchell and Norman Powell (if they’re able to retain him in free agency). This should be an imposing half-court defense that generates plenty of turnovers with Erik Spoelstra’s patented zone.

Offensively, they will be potent in transition. Miami was already one of the league’s quickest offenses. That trend should continue as they likely won’t have the shooting or guard play to be an elite half-court attack. Antetokounmpo is elite in the open court. You’d expect them to leverage that as much as possible.

It typically takes teams a few years to build around a new star. The Heat won’t be the fully optimized version of a Giannis-led team for likely several years. But that doesn’t mean they won’t be a threat to the Cavs in the interim.

Cleveland has had issues against rangy defensive teams that can push it in transition. Their Donovan Mitchell and James Harden-led backcourt has struggled with turnovers in matchups where they don’t have the size or athletic advantage. And Cleveland’s oversized front court isn’t much use defensively if they aren’t able to get set up in the half-court. This is why the Cavs struggled so much against the Raptors in the first round this past season.

Miami — even in its current, imperfect construction — projects to be a better version of the Raptors. They have better backline defenders and should be much more explosive offensively in the open court with Giannis. They also have the strength up front to bully the Cavs. A more talented version of Toronto isn’t a team the Cavs want to face, at least not with Cleveland’s current roster.

Support us and Let ‘Em Know with Homage!

Anything bought from the links helps support Fear the Sword. You can also shop all of Homage’s Cavs gear HERE. The link to the new City Edition shirt can be found HERE.

Second, the Giannis trade should open up the floodgates on other moves around the league.

The Boston Celtics made Jaylen Brown available in their pursuit of Giannis. Now that they didn’t get that deal done, is Brown someone who could be dealt? And if so, is this someone the Cavs could have interest in?

What we do know is that Mitchell and Brown are good friends. We also know that the Cavs have done everything within their power to make moves that Mitchell approves of. Trading for a former Finals MVP and someone who fills a hole in the roster would make sense. Although figuring out a deal that works for both sides would be difficult — especially if Mobley isn’t on the table.

Brown wouldn’t be the only player who could be more available after the Giannis trade has gone through. Would the Bucks entertain moving on from Myles Turner? Is Kawhi Leonard the next star player to change teams? Could Trey Murphy III finally be on the move? Is Tyler Herro destined for a new home? What about Anthony Edwards? Presumably, the Cavs could get involved in any potential deal, even as a third team.

The Cavs typically don’t telegraph their moves. If they were to do something drastic, we likely wouldn’t know about it until the deal is nearly finalized, as we saw with the Harden trade this February.

All we can say for certain right now is that there’s a new contender in the East. We’ll see in the coming months whether the Cavs can remake their roster in a conference that will be much deeper next season.

Posted on

Avast!: Mariners at Pirates Series Preview

DENVER, COLORADO - JUNE 21: Endy Rodriguez #13 of the Pittsburgh Pirates celebrates his fourth inning two-run home run against the Colorado Rockies with Bryan Reynolds #10 in a game at Coors Field on June 21, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Count me shocked that the Mariners were able to win one of their games against that trio of lefty starters the Red Sox rolled out last weekend. That win on Sunday wrapped up a 3-3 homestand and pushed the team another game ahead of their division rivals. Now the team embarks on a midwest road trip through Pittsburgh and Cleveland.

GameTimeMariners StarterPirates StarterMariners Win%Pirates Win%
Game 1Tuesday, June 23 | 3:40 pmRHP George KirbyRHP Mitch Keller51.6%48.4%
Game 2Wednesday, June 24 | 3:40 pmRHP Bryan WooRHP Braxton Ashcraft49.1%50.9%
Game 3Thursday, June 25 | 9:35 amRHP Bryce MillerRHP Bubba Chandler49.7%50.3%
*Game odds courtesy of FanGraphs
OverviewMarinersPiratesEdge
Batting (wRC+)102 (7th in AL)107 (3rd in NL)Pirates
Fielding (FRV)-20 (14th)-15 (15th)Pirates
Starting Pitching (FIP-)89 (3rd)87 (2nd)Pirates
Bullpen (FIP-)90 (2nd)103 (10th)Mariners

With a ton of young talent matriculating into the big leagues and a starting rotation anchored by Paul Skenes, the Pirates looked poised to break out of their long rebuilding cycle this year. They actually spent money on a few free agents in the offseason and traded for some more talent to bolster the lineup. They were rewarded with a quick start to the season, running a 16-11 record through April 25. They’ve fallen back towards .500 since then, though they’re still in the thick of the NL Wild Card hunt. 

PlayerPositionBatsPAK%BB%ISOwRC+
Spencer Horwitz1BL28813.2%13.5%0.179137
Brandon Lowe2BL31725.6%10.4%0.265126
Bryan ReynoldsLFR33521.2%14.6%0.197145
Ryan O’HearnRFL25722.6%7.8%0.176115
Nick Gonzales3BR29217.8%5.5%0.081100
Endy RodriguezCS8523.5%18.8%0.176133
Marcell OzunaDHR21729.0%8.8%0.11764
Jake MangumCFS17616.5%5.7%0.063101
Jared TrioloSSR15225.0%7.9%0.04467

The Pirates signed Ryan O’Hearn to the largest free agent contract for a position player in franchise history this offseason. That’s pretty incredible from an organizational standpoint and that it ended up being O’Hearn who set that record. To his credit, O’Hearn has been a solid first baseman and corner outfielder for the past three years and he’s been just as good for the Pirates this season, rocking a 115 wRC+. They also traded for Brandon Lowe and that has worked out wonderfully; he’s leading the team in home runs with a 126 wRC+. Among the holdovers from last year, Bryan Reynolds has bounced back from a dismal season in 2025 to lead the team with a 145 wRC+. Unfortunately for the Pirates, young phenom Konnor Griffin has been sidelined with a forearm injury for the past month.

Probable Pitchers 

Updated Stuff+ Explainer 

PitcherIPK%BB%HR/FB%GB%ERAFIP
Mitch Keller82.118.4%8.8%8.6%40.6%5.253.98
George Kirby9021.1%5.6%10.1%50.4%4.103.42
PitchUsage vRHBUsage vLHBVelocityStuff+Whiff+BIP+xwOBA
Four-seam39.3%38.5%93.49378980.380
Sinker35.2%12.8%92.388123600.429
Cutter4.1%10.8%89.983841350.246
Changeup1.9%15.2%88.98185630.348
Curveball3.3%13.5%78.289110720.295
Slider16.20%9.10%87.5103631020.319
Sweeper37.40%11.50%82.2103661240.277

Mitch Keller has been a solid, if uninspiring mid-rotation starter for the last five years. He’s also been incredibly consistent in that time; his FIP hasn’t risen above 4.08 and hasn’t fallen below 3.80. Despite that consistency, his peripherals look the worst they’ve been since 2021; his strikeout rate has fallen to 18.4% and his walk rate has jumped up to 8.8%. Only some good home run luck has allowed him to keep his FIP inside that range mentioned above. He’s always been a tinkerer, and this year, he’s reintroduced a cutter to his repertoire. The real issue is that his other two fastballs have been crushed by opposing batters and the rest of his secondary pitches haven’t been able to make up the difference.

PitcherIPK%BB%HR/FB%GB%ERAFIP
Braxton Ashcraft90.226.3%6.0%9.3%46.3%3.183.04
Bryan Woo8924.9%4.5%7.8%35.8%3.943.08
PitchUsage vRHBUsage vLHBVelocityStuff+Whiff+BIP+xwOBA
Four-seam26.1%35.9%97.19284990.307
Sinker23.7%8.9%96.81021401000.323
Splitter0.0%8.7%91.987
Curveball20.3%28.4%85.0131126930.207
Slider30.0%18.1%92.01001021210.258

Between Paul Skenes, Konnor Griffin, and a host of other top prospects on the Pirates roster, it’s been easy to overlook Braxton Ashcraft. He was a top prospect in his own right and had a strong debut season last year, compiling a 2.71 ERA and 2.78 FIP in 18 relief appearances and eight starts. The Pirates were pretty cautious with his workload last year but have given him a full-time role in the starting rotation this year and he’s run with the opportunity. He’s got a pair of excellent breaking balls that more than make up for the lack of a strong fastball. Nearly half of his pitch mix is made up of those breaking balls, and their quality is such that he doesn’t really need an offspeed pitch to keep left-handed batters at bay. He can just spin a curveball or bury a slider to a lefty and generate enough swing and miss to thrive.

PitcherIPK%BB%HR/FB%GB%ERAFIP
Bubba Chandler7421.1%13.1%9.4%34.3%4.624.73
Bryce Miller4030.5%3.5%12.5%40.7%1.582.95
PitchUsage vRHBUsage vLHBVelocityStuff+Whiff+BIP+xwOBA
Four-seam51.0%54.3%98.4104991090.345
Sinker12.2%3.6%97.910000
Changeup9.8%26.8%91.893841110.277
Curveball3.0%4.1%85.611400
Slider24.0%11.3%89.71131121120.298
Sweeper11.7%3.9%87.711300

Among the non-Skenes pitching prospects in Pittsburgh’s pipeline, Bubba Chandler had the most hype. And while Ashcraft is having the type of season we expected from Chandler, Chandler probably has the higher ceiling once he fully develops. A lack of command is the biggest area he needs to address — an issue that’s led to a 13.1% walk rate this year. His fastball is fantastic with velocity and carry at the top of the zone. His tremendous arm speed helps his changeup really play up, though he’s still working on developing his trio of breaking balls. Once he figures out his command and finds a bit more consistency, he’ll be a top of the rotation arm for the Pirates. Until then, he’s a work-in-progress.

The Big Picture:

TeamW-LW%Games BehindRun DiffRecent Form
Mariners40-390.506—+17L-W-L-L-W
Athletics38-400.4871.5-54L-W-W-L-L
Rangers38-400.4871.5-10L-W-L-W-W
Astros37-430.4633.5-43W-W-L-W-L
Angels32-480.4008.5-41L-L-W-W-L
TeamW-LW%Games BehindRun DiffRecent Form
Rays43-320.573+5.5+7L-W-L-W-L
Guardians41-380.519+1.5-8W-L-W-L-L
Blue Jays39-390.500—-23W-W-L-W-W
Athletics38-400.4871.0-54L-W-W-L-L
Rangers38-400.4871.0-10L-W-L-W-W

The Rangers managed to climb back into a tie with the Athletics after winning their weekend series against the Padres and winning the first game of a series against the Marlins yesterday night. For their part, the Athletics wound up splitting their four-game series against the Angels last weekend and will start a three-game set against the Giants tonight. The Astros are also lurking at 3.5 games back in the division; they won their series against the Guardians over the weekend but dropped the first game of their series against the Blue Jays yesterday.

Posted on

Sabres Notes: Pre-Season Schedule Revealed, Byram, Levi On Pre-Draft Trade Board

The Buffalo Sabres announced on Tuesday their exhibition schedule for the 2026-27 season. The schedule has been reduced to four games, due to the new NHL - NHLPA collective bargaining agreement and the league moving to an 84-game regular season for the first time.

The club will play twice at KeyBank Center and twice on the road in late September, with the regular season slated to begin before the end of the month. The Sabres will open on the road in Pittsburgh against the Penguins on Monday, September 21, and will play at home against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday, September 22. The final two games will be in Detroit against the Red Wings on Thursday, September 24, and against the Penguins in a Saturday matinee on Saturday, September 26th.  

Other Sabres Stories

Sabres Emotionally Devastated By Game 7 Overtime Loss

The chatter regarding Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram has become red-hot in the days leading up to the NHL Draft at KeyBank Center this weekend. The 26-year-old blueliner is in the second year of a two-year, $12.5 million bridge deal and Buffalo GM Jarmo Kekalainen indicated last month that he is interested in extending the 25-year-old, coming off a career-high 42-point season, but in the last week there have been indicators that Byram is either looking for a new deal well out of the Sabres price range or that he through agent Darren Ferris has communicated that he will to play out the final year of his deal and hit the free agent market next summer.

Sabres trade Michael Kesselring to the San Jose Sharks

Byram is listed only behind Detroit team captain Dylan Larkin on The Athletic’s Trade Board. Kekalainen earlier this month moved out RFA blueliner Michael Kesselring in a deal with the San Jose Sharks, but the big right-hander was not much of a factor witn Buffalo last season The Stanley Cup winner was a big part of the Sabres top four, along with Rasmus Dahlin, Mattias Samuelsson, and Owen Power, and his departure would mark a significant downgrade of their defensive corps. 

The Sabres do not have an obvious replacement for Byram on their roster, with 2025 first rounder Radim Mrtka likely starting his pro career in Rochester next season,  veterans Luke Schenn and Logan Stanley heading for free agency, and righties Conor Timmins and Zach Metsa better suited for bottom-pairing duties. Kekalainen is in a difficult position, since the return for Byram will be mitigated by his contract status and the knowledge that whoever he is traded to will likely be a one-year rental. 

Rochester goalie Devon Levi also appears on the list. The 24-year-old has played most of the last three seasons with the Amerks and will not be waiver exempt next season. With Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Alex Lyon, and Colten Ellis on the NHL roster, the Sabres face the prospect of losing the youngster for nothing on waivers after training camp or moving him for a draft pick. With a number of clubs looking for inexpensive starters, tandem goalies and backups, Kekalainen should not have a problem finding a new home for Levi.     

 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo

THN.com/Free
THN.com/Free
Posted on

OF Ben Malgeri promoted to Detroit, Brett Callahan and John Peck promoted to Triple-A Toledo

MiLB: APR 08 New Netting at Fifth Third Field

The Detroit Tigers called up outfielder Ben Malgeri on Tuesday, sending utilityman Trei Cruz back to Triple-A Toledo. To open a 40-man roster spot for Malgeri, RHP Burch Smith has been moved to the 60-day injured list. They also announced a lot of promotions throughout the farm system on Tuesday. Typically, the Tigers start moving prospects from around this point in the year until the post-draft, post-trade deadline part of the calendar, so we should see a fair amount of movement over the next 5-6 weeks. The big moves today were the promotion of outfielder Brett Callahan and infielder John Peck from Double-A Erie to Triple-A Toledo.

Cruz didn’t get much of a look at the show, but he wasn’t really swinging the bat to his best ability in Toledo when initially called up. Let him try and heat up and he should be back at some point. Meanwhile, the 26-year-old Malgeri was long thought as just an org outfielder but has really improved his game over the past two seasons. A right-handed hitter who can play center field but is much better suited to the corners, Malgeri hits lefties well but has balanced out his splits more this season. He’s been a popular choice to replace Jahmai Jones, but the Tigers still aren’t there yet. Congrats to Malgeri on making it to the Show.

You can find more on Callahan and Peck on our midseason farm system update on the front page at Bless You Boys. Callahan in particular has been on a tear and the 24-year-old left-handed hitting outfielder is clearly ready for the next challenge. Peck still has a little more work to do in terms of his plate discipline, but the right-handed hitter can play anywhere on the infield including shortstop. The duo are an athletic, well-rounded pair of players on track to give the Tigers some bench and utility options next year, and if they break out further with the bat they could become future regulars.

Reliever Moises Rodriguez, who throws a hellacious sinker that gets up to 100 mph, though more commonly 98, with a pretty good breaking ball, has been placed on the 7-day injured list. He generally throws strikes when he needs to, but still needs to command the sinker at least more consistently to push his way into conversation for the Tigers bullpen. Hopefully it’s a minor injury.

There were plenty of other promotions as right-handed starter Hayden Minton and first baseman Garrett Pennington were promoted from High-A West Michigan to Double-A Erie. Infielder Max Burt will also move up with them to help backfill Peck’s role.

From Lakeland, right-handed starter Charlie Christensen and reliever Eliseo Mota were promoted from Single-A Lakeland to West Michigan. Christensen’s big extension, low arm angle, and nasty slider-changeup combination have given young hitters fits in the Florida State League. He feels like a future reliever, as his sinker is underpowered and relies more on deception than raw stuff, but the 22-year-old out of Central Arkansas, the Tigers’ 13th rounder last summer in the draft, looks like another bargain that is paying off so far. Mota is a 23-year-old right-handed reliever who is underpowered, but has been punching tickets left and right in Lakeland.

Finally, outfielder Patrick Lee has been reinstated to West Michigan from his rehab assignment in the Complex League.

Presumably we’ll get more corresponding moves in the days to come, although some of it may simply be the release of some minor league veteran players brought in to fill out depth roles in the system. News keeps emerging today, and we’ve updated this article twice already as new news rolls in. Apologies for any confusion.

Posted on

How are the Phillies at the midway point?

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MARCH 26: Justin Crawford #2 of the Philadelphia Phillies reacts on Opening Day against the Texas Rangers at Citizens Bank Park on March 26, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The middle of the season is just about here (no, the All-Star Game is not the middle of the season), which means it’s good to stop and take stock of how the Phillies have been doing. It’s pretty simple for me to list all the of the ways that Kyle Schwarber has improved this year and condense it into 800-900 words, but instead, what do you think?

What has surprised you the most this year so far, good or bad?

If there is a “something else”, what is it? Let us know and check back this week for the results and a little bit of digging into it.

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Phillies fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

Posted on

The Red Sox’ season ended last night in brutal loss to Rockies

Jun 22, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Boston Red Sox pitcher Aroldis Chapman (44) after allowing a hit in the ninth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images | Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images

The Boston Red Sox saw their season come to an end during Monday’s sickening loss to the Colorado Rockies.

If we’re all being honest with each other, there were already nails being hammered into the coffin — the utter shit show that was the final two innings of that game just happened to be the final one.

The Red Sox collectively puked on themselves, shit down their legs, and pulled out a gun to shoot themselves in the foot, eventually leading to a 3-2 walk-off loss at Coors Field. Willson Contreras, Masataka Yoshida, and Marcelo Mayer put together useless at-bats while clinging onto a two-run lead. Garrett Whitlock and Aroldis Chapman, both of whom barely pitch anymore, couldn’t get anyone out. Jarren Duran completely butchered the final play of the game, leading to the game-winning run.

It’s about as bad as it sounds, yet was somehow wholly unsurprising.

Boston has been facing an uphill battle for months, with a collection of deep-rooted issues all hindering the performance of the baseball team — the hitting program clearly sucks, identifying quality pitchers has been anything but a consistent endeavor, there was and still continues to be an odd power struggle happening between ownership, the front office, and the coaching staff, etc. I just don’t think people were quite ready to admit that things are as bad as they are… until now.

It’s not like losing to a bad team is enough to declare the season dead, it’s doing it in the fashion they did it. You can’t just start finding new ways to lose at this point! It’s supposed to be formulaic— you fall behind by a couple of runs and the offense isn’t good enough to climb out of a hole. Chapman can’t blow saves! Duran can’t revert back to being a butcher! Yoshida can’t be uncompetitive with a chance to add insurance!

Yet, that’s what happened. The Red Sox officially hit rock bottom, squandering an opportunity to kick off the most important week of their season with an impressive and/or formulaic victory over an inferior opponent.

If they can’t show fight against this team and under these circumstances, they never will.

It’s over folks.

The Red Sox are dead, so enjoy the time off before they get interesting again — which is either when they do something wildly dramatic or after the lockout.

It might be a while…

Posted on

Islanders Hire Former Stanley Cup Champion Pascal Dupuis As New Director Of Player Development

The New York Islanders announced on Tuesday that they have hired former NHL forward and Stanley Cup champion Pascal Dupuis as their new Director of Player Development. 

This role had been previously held by former Islander Eric Cairns, who had held that role since the 2013-14 season. 

Cairns is no longer involved in hockey operations for the organization. 

Dupuis played 15 years in the NHL after going undrafted, recording 409 points (190 goals, 219 assists). He won the Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins back in 2009.

He was forced to retire in December of 2015 due to a medical condition related to blood clots. 

Since 2021-22, Dupuis has owned the QMJHL's Shawinigan Cataractes, serving in different roles, from hockey operations to player development over the years. 

This marks Dupuis first NHL post-career gig. 

Dupuis comes aboard the Islanders at a time when player development has never been more crucial, as the organization has prospects that they're banking on becoming critical pieces over the next few seasons. 

Posted on

Astros Prospect to Watch: OF Lucas Spence

SAN ANTONIO, TX - APRIL 08: Lucas Spence #14 of the Corpus Christi Hooks rounds the bases during the game between the Corpus Christi Hooks and the San Antonio Missions at Nelson Wolff Stadium on Wednesday, April 8, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Zach Del Bello/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)

It is no secret that the Astros OF has performed poorly offensively this season, threatening to be their worst offensive OF of all time.

Young prospects Cam Smith, Brice Matthews, and Zach Cole have not performed well. Former prospect Joey Loperfido has battled both injury and underperformance. CF Jake Meyers has shown none of the contact ability he showed for the first time last season.

In fact, the OF who has hit the best for them that is currently on the active roster (no, Yordan doesn’t count) has been Taylor Trammell, but despite his solid average has a meager OPS as there has been no power in his offense.

LaMonte Wade Jr. performed well in his 4 games with the team before suffering a hamstring injury that currently has him sidelined.

With that, it is notable that the Astros promoted OF Lucas Spence to Triple-A Sugar Land today.

The Astros under GM Dana Brown have shown a propensity to push young players quickly, and Spence is a young lefthanded hitting OF who can play all three OF positions.

According to MLB.com, Spence is currently ranked as the Astros #10 overall prospect. He is considered an above average fielder with a plus arm and plus speed. His hit tool is still a work in progress and he is not considered a power hitter.

However, he has had a tremendous month of June at Double-A Corpus Christi, where he has hit for strong power, as noted in Jimmy Price’s post on X above.

With the Astros OF floundering at the plate, a strong representation from Spence at Triple-A could earn him a call up and an opportunity with the big league club, similar to how Zach Cole got a shot late last season (one that the team liked enough that they had hoped he could take another step forward and claim a regular job this spring, but alas…).

It is certainly worth watching.

Posted on

Yankees catcher Ali Sánchez placed on paternity list; J.C. Escarra recalled

May 17, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Yankees catcher J.C. Escarra (25) stands on deck during the second inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images | Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

The Yankees’ catching carousel keeps moving along, as only days after getting sent down to Triple-A, J.C. Escarra is once again back with the big-league club to replace Ali Sánchez, who was placed on the paternity list. This move comes a day after Sánchez had to leave early in a game against the Tigers, having been hit on the wrist by a four-seam fastball, something we don’t recommend.

Sánchez, who was starting against the left-hander Framber Valdez, was replaced midgame by Austin Wells, who will once again share the catching duties with Escarra, leaving the Yankees currently without a right-handed catching option on the roster. While an X-ray was negative, according to New York Post reporter Greg Joyce, we still await news on a potential CT scan to fully determine the extent of the damage done by this HBP — particularly, whether Sánchez will indeed require an IL stint. In the short term, Sánchez’s wife was expecting anyway, so the roster logistics allow him to go on the paternity list as they welcome a new baby into the world. The Yankees can work out any IL details at a later time.

After right-hander Casey Mize toes the rubber tonight, the Yankees will seemingly face not one, not two, not three, but four consecutive southpaw starters, beginning with the greatest that MLB currently has to offer in Tarik Skubal. If Boston follows its current rotation, then Connelly Early, Payton Tolle, and Jake Bennett will pitch their first three games this weekend. In fact, New York will face Skubal twice in this short period with multiple series against the Tigers, and being obligated to start a lefty catcher at all times is not ideal. So it goes.