Evander Kane has been a lightning rod for controversy throughout his lengthy NHL career, from the infamous “track suit” incident with Winnipeg that resulted in him being dealt to the Buffalo Sabres in 2015, to financial and marital issues that occurred while a member of the San Jose Sharks. Kane had his contract terminated by the Sharks in 2022 for breaching the NHL’s COVID protocols, and this week former teammate Kurtis Gabriel revealed on social media details of the controversial forward’s reputation.
“Every meeting, Evander Kane shows up late,” Gabriel, who played 11 games for the Sharks in 2021, said on the SJHN podcast. “A team meeting in a hotel in the morning; there’s breakfast, you have to be at the meeting. You are always 15 minutes early... we start the meeting, the door clicks open, here comes Evander, in his flip-flops, in his tracksuit, when we are in a suit and tie.”
The revelation drew responses from Kane and Christina Marleau, the wife of teammate Patrick Marleau, who texted to Gabriel that they would not let their sons in the locker room when Kane was around.
Where will Connor Hellebuyck end up?
The 35-year-old winger had his share of incidents during his time with the Sabres, being suspended by the club for one game for oversleeping after going to the NBA All-Star Game in Toronto and missing practice the following day, to being arrested for an incident in a Buffalo nightclub on NHL Draft night in 2016, in which the charges were later dropped.
Kane, who is currently an unsigned unrestricted free agent, spent four seasons with the Edmonton Oilers before being dealt to his hometown Vancouver Canucks last summer, where he finished with 31 points (13 goals, 18 assists) in 71 games.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 21: Yoshinobu Yamamoto #18 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts as he leaves the game during the seventh inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Dodger Stadium on August 21, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dodgers offense showed up finally on Tuesday night, but eight runs were not enough to overcome the terrible pitching performances by Eric Lauer and those that followed him. If the Dodgers muster even half of that on Wednesday, they should be in pretty good position as Yoshinobu Yamamoto takes the mound.
In his last outing, Yamamoto went 6 1/3 innings, allowing only a leadoff homer to Braves catcher Drake Baldwin, and then nothing else as he went toe-to-toe with Chris Sale. Sale of course completely shut down the Dodgers going for the complete game shutout, as the Dodgers couldn’t muster anything against him.
It was indicative of what has happened to Yamamoto throughout most of his career and especially this August, as he had a 1.95 ERA and only a 1-2 record to show for it. L.A. has scored three or more runs behind him only twice in his past six starts, and five of those games were decided by one run, giving him little margin for error while he’s on the mound.
This time the Dodgers will be facing the Cardinals bullpen. Ryan Fernandez went 1.2 innings in Tuesday night’s game, but every other arm in the ‘pen hasn’t seen much usage in the last few days and should be fresh and ready to go.
Yamamoto has faced the Cardinals twice before, and has yet to allow a run in 11 innings pitched.
SCOTTSDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 8,1990: Michael Carbajal (L) throws punch against Leon Salazar during the fight at the Rawhide Western Theme Park in Scottsdale, Arizona. Michael Carbajal won the IBF light flyweight title by a KO 4. (Photo by The Ring Magazine via Getty Images)
Today’s Lineups
PHILLIES
DIAMONDBACKS
Kyle Schwarber – 1B
Lars Nootbaar – LF
Trea Turner – SS
Corbin Carroll – RF
Bryce Harper – DH
Gabriel Moreno – DH
Luis Arraez – 2B
Geraldo Perdomo – SS
Bryson Stott – 3B
Nolan Arenado – 3B
Brandon Marsh – LF
Tim Tawa – 1B
Justin Crawford – CF
James McCann – C
J.T. Realmuto – C
Ildemaro Vargas – 2B
Bryan De La Cruz – RF
Jordan Lawlar – CF
Andrew Painter – RHP
Jose Cabrera – RHP
The line-up above shows Cabrera as the “starter”: it’s quite possible he will end up throwing most innings today, but the actual first pitcher to take the mound today will be Taylor Clarke, in what looks likely to be a vaguely bullpen game for Arizona. There haven’t actually been too many of those this year for Arizona, compared to previous seasons. It’s hard to get an exact count, but simply looking at games where the “starter” has lasted two or fewer innings, seems to be the first bullpen game of 2026. The only <= 2 IP starts were Michael Soroka’s injury-curtailed one, and Ryne Nelson’s 0.1 IP, 8 ER outing.
There were two bullpen games last year, both with Jalen Beeks as the opener. But 2024 had six of them, starting as early as April 30 with Brandon Hughes. And if you’re thinking “who?” there, you’re probably not alone. Admittedly, there was a fairly good excuse. That was the famous “bee delay” game, which ended up icing Jordan Montgomery. But there was a genuine opener used by Arizona on May 20, when Joe Mantiply started in Dodger Stadium, and pitched a scoreless inning. It feels like it was something which was very much in vogue around the 2023-24 seasons, but has since fallen out of vogue.
There had been whispers in some circles that we might see Corbin Burnes come off the IL for this outing. But the team decided he was still not quite ready for prime-time. He would only have been able to throw about 45 pitches, and the team wants more. Torey Lovullo said, “We’re going to continue to allow Corbin to increase that overall pitch count in a setting we can control… He’s going to go out there and compete. We want to put him in the best situation possible for when he does re-enter our rotation, that he can pitch a little bit deeper into the game and not leave a little bit of a blank spot.” Should see him next week.
Don’t forget, we now have the SB Nation app available. Download it here:
DETROIT, MI - MAY 17: Donovan Mitchell #45 and Jarrett Allen #31 of the Cleveland Cavaliers talk during the game against the Detroit Pistons during Round Two Game Seven of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 17, 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 Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers are sticking with the theme of having a destination training camp. But unlike the last two seasons, when they took a quick plane ride south to Sarasota, Florida, to train at IMG Academy, the Cavs will be taking a much longer trip across the pond as they’ll be conducting training camp in Spain.
Cleveland will be holding training camp at The Embassy in Andalusia. The Embassy is a high-performance basketball training center in Fuengirola, Spain, which is along the Costa del Sol. Training camp will be from September 30 through October 5. The Cavaliers will then start preseason action on October 8 against the Boston Celtics shortly thereafter.
“[W]e’re excited to bring our group together in a setting designed to help us prepare, connect and build the habits and chemistry that will carry us into the season ahead,” Cavs’ President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman said in the team’s press release announcing the location for the upcoming training camp. “It’s also an exciting opportunity to experience the culture and passion for basketball in Spain.”
The Embassy was designed by former Spanish national players Berni Rodríguez and José Calderón. Calderón played for the Cavs in 2017-18 and is a current member of the front office.
The Cavs have also announced that they will conduct media day shortly before heading overseas. That will take place on Monday, September 28.
Cleveland will begin the regular season on the road against LeBron James and the newly revamped Philadelphia 76ers on October 22.
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 22: A view of a tarp on the field during a weather delay before the game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on June 22, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s the fourth inning of a scoreless game and the Atlanta Braves are knocking on the door with the bases loaded and one out in the top half of this frame. We’ll have to wait and see if the Braves can cash in on the opportunity since some inclement weather that had been knocking on the door at Natioanls Park finally came through and made it too bad to play in.
Today's game is currently in a delay due to inclement weather. We will provide an update as more information becomes available.
Please visit https://t.co/gCCIe3IKat for more info or text SEPT2 to 91347 to receive notifications.
So on that cliffhanger, we wait. Stay tuned right here as we’ll have updates for you as they come in. In the meantime, why don’t you give the new SB Nation App a whirl? We’ve got more information for you right here in case you’d like to try it out!
UPDATE [2:52 p.m. ET]: If you’re watching the TV broadcast, this won’t be a surprise. The grounds crew in Washington appears to be removing the tarp and play could be resuming in the near future. For what it’s worth, CJ Nitkowski guessed that it might be sometime after three, which it would have to be considering we’re knocking on the door of 3 o’clock.
UPDATE [3:00 p.m. ET]: Alright, we got a start time. 3:20 p.m. ET, folks. Lock in, everybody.
Today's game will resume at approximately 3:20 p.m.
The transfer window has broken all rational rules and limits, leaving us to marvel and, ultimately, pick up the bill
There was a research study a few years back into a key period in the life of the TV show Location, Location, Location. You know the one. Half an hour of mid-morning drift. Hosted by two people whose common quality is they both look as if the minced essence of Wellington boots, the Volvo XC40 and the phrase “picky bits” has been reconstituted into human shapes, then sent out to judge people for buying houses.
The big reveal was always the bit where they came back a year later and saw how much the value had shifted. Because all conversations about houses are, in the end, an excuse to talk about money. Oh wow, it’s gone up by £20,000. You are good. Oh no, you’re now bankrupt and your flat looks like a hostage cell with fairy lights. Unlucky. You are bad.
The transfer window has broken all rational rules and limits, leaving us to marvel and, ultimately, pick up the bill
There was a research study a few years back into a key period in the life of the TV show Location, Location, Location. You know the one. Half an hour of mid-morning drift. Hosted by two people whose common quality is they both look as if the minced essence of Wellington boots, the Volvo XC40 and the phrase “picky bits” has been reconstituted into human shapes, then sent out to judge people for buying houses.
The big reveal was always the bit where they came back a year later and saw how much the value had shifted. Because all conversations about houses are, in the end, an excuse to talk about money. Oh wow, it’s gone up by £20,000. You are good. Oh no, you’re now bankrupt and your flat looks like a hostage cell with fairy lights. Unlucky. You are bad.
The Blue Jays (68-71) and the Guardians (70-68) continue their crucial three-game series in Cleveland tonight. The Guardians strengthened their hold on the final Wild Card with a 6-1 win last night over the Jays in the series opener. With the win, Cleveland extended their lead over the Blue Jays to 1.5 games in the race for the final Wild Card spot.
Toronto arrived in Cleveland after taking three of four from Seattle over the weekend but saw that momentum snuffed out by Gavin Williams. The Guardians’ ace was elite striking out 13 and allowing just one unearned run over seven innings. Patrick Bailey, Angel Genao, and Angel Martinez each ripped two-run homers to provide the offense for Cleveland. With the win, the Guardians are now 11-4 since August 12.
Toronto sends its ace, Dylan Cease (9-5, 2.33 ERA) to the mound tonight. Among the Cy Young favorites in the American League, Cease has been lights out for the last two months. In just two of his last 11 starts Cease has allowed three earned runs and in five of those 11 he has not allowed a run (earned or otherwise). Cease has thrown 67 innings since July 1 and allowed just 11 earned runs while striking out 89. Cleveland counters with left-hander Joey Cantillo (9-7, 3.70 ERA). His latest outing came August 26 against the Angels, when he worked six innings and allowed three runs (two earned) on two hits in a Cleveland victory. Cantillo has been particularly effective lately, posting a 2.16 ERA across his last three starts. During that stretch he has allowed just four earned runs in 16⅔ innings.
Cleveland has won three of five games against Toronto this year and can clinch the season series with a win tonight.
Lets dive further into tonight’s game and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.
Game Details and How to Watch: Blue Jays vs. Guardians
Peacock offers one of the most comprehensive live sports streaming lineups available today, bringing together the NFL, NBA, MLB, WNBA, Premier League, NCAA football, NCAA basketball, golf, motorsports, and major global sporting events in a single service.
The Latest Odds: Blue Jays vs. Guardians
The latest odds as of Wednesday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Toronto Blue Jays (-131), Cleveland Guardians (+109)
Spread: Blue Jays -1.5 (+135), Guardians +1.5 (-163)
Blue Jays: Dylan Cease Season Totals: 150.1 IP, 9-5, 2.33 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 217K, 65 BB
Who’s Hot? Who’s Not! Blue Jays vs. Guardians
Dylan Cease has struck out 8+ hitters in 4 of his last 5 starts
Patrick Bailey is 4-7 in his career against Dylan Cease
Jose Ramirez is just 6-30 against Cease
Nathaniel Lowe has homered twice in 13ABs against Cease
Kazuma Okamoto is 2-3 including 1 HR in his career against Joey Cantillo
Joey Cantillo has struck out 5+ hitters in 6 of his last 8 starts
Steven Kwan has hit safely in 9 of his last 11GP (17-46)
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top Betting Trends & Insights: Blue Jays vs. Guardians
The Jays are 67-72 on the Run Line this season
The Guardians are 71-67 on the Run Line this season
The OVER has cashed 68 times in Toronto’s 139 games this season (68-66-5)
The OVER has cashed 65 times in Cleveland’s 138 games this season (65-73)
Expert picks & predictions: Blue Jays vs. Guardians - September 2
Rotoworld Bet Best Bet
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for tonight’s game between the Guardians and the Blue Jays:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Blue Jays on the Moneyline.
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Blue Jays on the Run Line.
Total: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 7.0
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
Juraj Slafkovsky said something that stopped a lot of people, of many different fan bases, in their tracks.
“It’s not really about the money for anyone in Montreal,” Slafkovsky said. “We’d rather just focus on collecting those rings.”
The Montreal Canadiens have spent the last few years building their contracts around that mentality. Nick Suzuki is signed for $7.875 million per season. Cole Caufield makes $7.85 million. Slafkovsky is at $7.6 million. Lane Hutson signed for $8.85 million, Noah Dobson is at $9.5 million, and Ivan Demidov signed an eight-year extension worth $9.15 million per season.
Montreal's highest-paid player, Dobson, didn't even sign his contract with the team; he was traded to them from the New York Islanders.
Montreal has its core under contract for years, until the first extension expires in 2030. Every one of those players could be part of the Canadiens through the rest of the decade if they continue to re-sign at this rate.
Meanwhile, the Edmonton Oilers have spent a lot of time trying to build around large contracts at the top of the roster. Leon Draisaitl carries a $ 14 million cap hit. McDavid is at $12.5 million. Evan Bouchard's new contract pays him $10.5 million per season. Those three contracts account for $37 million before Stan Bowman gets to the rest of the lineup.
The players have earned their money. Draisaitl has won multiple Hart Trophies, Art Ross Trophies, and Ted Lindsay Awards while producing at a level few players in the league can reach. McDavid is arguably underpaid for what he does. Bouchard put himself in a position for a major contract through his production from the blue line.
Edmonton has generally paid it's star players what they deserve.
Montreal has created an internal salary structure that its players appear willing to follow. Suzuki signed his eight-year deal in 2021. Caufield followed in 2023. Slafkovsky signed his extension in 2024, Hutson followed, and Demidov joined the group this summer.
Demidov had 62 points as a rookie and signed as soon as he became eligible. Hutson signed after winning the Calder Trophy. Slafkovsky agreed to his contract at 20, with plenty of years still ahead of him. None of them waited until the last possible moment to find out what unrestricted leverage or another season of production could bring.
They wanted the contracts done. They wanted to stay in Montreal. They wanted the organization to have money available to keep building the roster.
An extra million dollars on six contracts is $6 million that can't be spent somewhere else. A few players taking reasonable long-term numbers can create enough room for another forward, defenceman, or goaltender. It can give Kent Hughes money at the trade deadline without offloading someone else first. It can also keep a roster together when younger players begin needing new contracts.
Obviously, the Oilers have some discount contracts. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins signed for eight years at $5.125 million in 2021. Zach Hyman signed for $5.5 million and gave Edmonton one of the best contracts in NHL history. McDavid's current $12.5 million deal was a show-me deal to the Oilers, but a cheap one at that.
There has never been a salary structure throughout the entire roster that everyone seemed determined to maintain. Edmonton negotiated each contract on its own terms and dealt with the cap situation that followed.
That approach is common throughout the NHL. Players spend their careers working toward unrestricted free agency and the opportunity to secure their largest contract. Agents have a responsibility to maximize earnings. Careers can end quickly, and teams regularly trade, waive or buy out players when their contracts stop working for the organization.
Slafkovsky's comments provide some insight into how the players in Montreal see it. He is talking about winning a Stanley Cup. The players appear to view their contracts as part of keeping the group together long enough to do that.
Edmonton has spent years searching for value around McDavid and Draisaitl because every dollar matters once the top of the roster has been paid. Stan Bowman looks for players willing to sign short contracts, veterans whose markets disappeared and young players capable of producing on inexpensive deals. One bad contract can remove much of the remaining flexibility.
The same issue exists throughout the league. Toronto infamously paid the core-4 and then had nothing left. Colorado just signed Cale Makar to a $20.4 million contract. Florida might run out of cap space this year. Tampa Bay has had to let players go after winning their recent Stanley Cups.
Every contender eventually has players who need to get paid.
Montreal's current players seem determined to keep that problem under control before it arrives. Their comments underline that the message has become part of the culture, and every new extension gives the next player another reason to take less so he can win more.
The Oilers should want that.
McDavid and Draisaitl say they want to win a Stanley Cup. The team has made decisions around giving them that opportunity, and both players have already committed significant portions of their careers to Edmonton. Creating an internal expectation around contracts could become another part of keeping a winning roster together.
Why can't more NHL teams convince their stars that leaving money available can help them win? Why can't players decide that keeping another teammate around has value of its own? Why can't a room establish a number and have its core buy into it?
Montreal has managed to get several players thinking that way at the same time. The Canadiens now have years to see what they can build with the room those contracts provide.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and NBA have each reached out to scoreboard manufacturer Daktronics, seeking information about the company’s dealings with Kawhi Leonard.
Howard Atkins, acting chief financial officer of Daktronics, disclosed the development Wednesday, Sept. 2 in an earnings call and said the company was cooperating.
“Let me now briefly address a matter that has been in the media concerning the NBA’s investigation of Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers in connection with the league’s collective bargaining agreement that many of you may have heard about,” Atkins said during the call.
“As you might expect, we have received requests for information from the NBA. Additionally, the Securities and Exchange Commission is seeking information from us concerning the company and Mr. Leonard. We take these requests seriously and are cooperating. At this point, out of respect for the respective processes, we will not be providing further comment.”
It is unclear if this latest development may further delay the disclosure of the findings of the league’s investigation. Training camps are set to begin at the end of the month.
Kawhi Leonard investigation: What to know
In early August, the podcast “Pablo Torre Finds Out” reported on Daktronics’ alleged partnership with Leonard, which was the second such relationship to come under scrutiny. Previously, Leonard’s ties to a now-defunct green financial services company called Aspiration sparked an investigation into alleged no-show endorsement deals that purportedly funneled money to Leonard.
Daktronics, which is based in South Dakota, is the company that designed the video board inside the Intuit Dome, the home venue of the Clippers.
Torre had previously uncovered thousands of pages of legal documents, including a contract signed by Leonard for $28 million over a four-year term to market and endorse Aspiration, which previously received a significant investment from Clippers owner Steve Ballmer.
In the contract, a clause states that KL2 Aspire LLC, a company managed by Leonard, could “decline to proceed with any action desired by the Company,” which allegedly set up a framework for Leonard to receive payments without performing any work. Another clause states that Leonard would receive payments only if he continued to be a player on the Clippers.
Then, on Sept. 11, Torre reported that a December 2022 payment of $1.75 million to Leonard that had been running late, was made just nine days after a company led by Clippers minority owner Dennis Wong invested in Aspiration.
Clippers trade remains on hold
The Clippers and Raptors agreed June 30 to a trade that would send Leonard to Toronto, but both franchises released statements July 9, indicating that the execution of the trade was being delayed until the investigation had concluded.
Both teams also acknowledged that the NBA contacted each party and said the trade “can only be finalized if the Raptors’ ownership group assumes the risk of penalties related to Kawhi’s contract that could theoretically result from the ongoing investigation.”
The Clippers have undergone a youth movement as the team continues its rebuild. In February, the team traded James Harden to the Cavaliers and, in a different deal, Ivica Zubac to the Pacers. The Leonard deal earlier this summer signaled a desire to build for the future. Los Angeles finished ninth in the Western Conference with a 42-40 record and lost in the Play-In Tournament to miss the postseason.
In exchange for Leonard, the Clippers are set to receive Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two first-round picks, one pick swap and two second-round picks.
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - AUGUST 27: Trevor Rogers #28 of the Baltimore Orioles delivers a pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals in the second inning at Busch Stadium on August 27, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) | Getty Images
One reason why the Orioles are where they are right now is they just can’t keep up a consistent high level of play. This is playing out in miniature over the first two games against the Rockies. Monday’s game brought the highest of highs with Colton Cowser’s amazing game-ending home run robbery to give the Orioles a fourth straight victory. Last night brought frustration and disappointment as the Orioles lost a game against a starting pitcher they had no business losing a game against.
Now, the Orioles need a win in the series finale so that we can all feel a little better. Losing two out of three to the Rockies, one of MLB’s worst teams, would not be a very auspicious beginning to the September stretch run that the Orioles are going to have to make. You can’t go around scoring two runs per game in Coors Field, against the Rockies pitching staff and get anywhere good. They lost a game to the Guardians with last night’s loss, so now they’re 1.5 games back – tied with the Rangers – in the wild card race.
It’s maddening with these guys. They should be better than this, even with all of the challenges they’ve faced this season. They just aren’t. Maybe they can be better over the final 23 games. They probably need to go 14-9 from this point on. Or, you know. Maybe they can’t be at least as good as that.
We are running a poll this week that is asking Orioles fans which area of the team they are most worried about when it comes to postseason contention. Have you voted yet? I’ll make it easy for you and embed it right here:
The performance of the hitters over the first two games of this series may tilt the poll a particular way. We’ll see! Results will be shared on Friday or Saturday.
Orioles lineup
Jackson Holliday – DH
Pete Alonso – 1B
Gunnar Henderson – SS
Luis Robert Jr. – LF
Samuel Basallo – C
Coby Mayo – 3B
Dylan Beavers – RF
Blaze Alexander – 2B
Colton Cowser – CF
Trevor Rogers gets the start for the Orioles. As you all probably remember, he’s been pretty good since June 1, though he was also not good in his last start, giving up six runs in five innings. It did not help the season ERA. He’s going to need to have a good September in order to get that number down to 3.something before the end of the season.
I hope Luis Robert Jr. makes a nice first impression on Orioles fans in his first start. I actually don’t have any hopes but it would be nice if he did it anyway.
Rockies lineup
Jake McCarthy – LF
Connor Norby – 3B
Hunter Goodman – C
TJ Rumfield – 1B
Cole Carrigg – CF
Jordan Beck – RF
Adael Amador – DH
Ryan Ritter – 2B
Ezequiel Tover – SS
Familiar face Tomoyuki Sugano is starting for the Rockies. He has an ERA over five. These guys better score more than two runs. Preferably more than four.
Yaxel Lendeborg names a future Hall of Famer as someone he looks forward to matching up against.
Yaxel Lendeborg has yet to play a minute in the NBA but already has his eyes on a player he wants to “lock up.”
The X account @EnjoyBBall posted a video that featured Lendeborg.
The Warriors rookie forward paused to think about who he’d want to face, and he revealed it to be the team’s former two-time NBA Finals MVP Kevin Durant.
Golden State Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg sitting courtside during a WNBA game. NBAE via Getty Images
“I want to lock up everybody I guard up, obviously,” Lendeborg said. “… Probably KD, man; I want to try to lock him up, see what I can do.”
Lendeborg said that given his 6-foot, 9-inch frame and weighing 230 pounds, he believes Durant would give him a good matchup just because of their size similarities. Durant is 6-11 and weighs 240.
Before entering the NBA draft, Lendeborg built a reputation as a strong, versatile defender in college. He finished last season averaging 6.8 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game for Michigan.
Lendeborg’s college basketball career began as a junior college product at Arizona Western College, and he attended UAB for two seasons and later transferred to Michigan, where he helped lead the Wolverines to an NCAA championship against UConn.
During Michigan’s Sweet 16 matchup against Alabama, he put on a clinic with 12 rebounds, two steals, seven assists and 23 points in 34 minutes.
Kevin Durant and Steph Curry as members of the Golden State Warriors. AP
The Warriors are scheduled to report for training camp on Sept. 29 and hope Lendeborg is a spark plug for their veteran-led team, centered around future Hall of Famer Steph Curry.
Aside from lining up across from Durant, Lendeborg also named Irving, LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo as other NBA players he hopes to guard one day.
“All because they’re similar to my height, besides Kyrie and, you know, very fluid. So very excited about those,” Lendeborg said.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 01: Corey Seager #5 of the Texas Rangers swings at a pitch during the third inning against the Athletics at Globe Life Field on September 01, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Athletics of some location out west @ Texas Rangers
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 31: Nico Hoerner #2 of the Chicago Cubs tags out Garrett Mitchell #5 of the Milwaukee Brewers at second base at Wrigley Field on August 31, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Every day, Pinstripe Alley offers updates on what the Yankees’ top American League opponents are up to through the Rivalry Roundup. The AL East is well-trodden ground there, but with the Trade Deadline behind us, we’re going to take a peek around MLB as a whole and check in with each of the other five divisions. Who’s surprising? Who’s underwhelming? Who’s simply mediocre at the moment? Read on and find out.
First Place: Milwaukee Brewers (85-53)
Top Position Player: Brice Turang (4.2 fWAR) Top Pitcher: Jacob Misiorowski (5.7 fWAR)
After the trade deadline, I made my perspective known in these pages about the Brewers’ strategy — namely that winning on the margins without a cast of superstars is all well and good in the regular season, but tends to turn into a liability in October. Well, Milwaukee has unsurprisingly continued to win since then, including against their biggest NL rival. They took three out of four in Los Angeles against the Dodgers to secure the tiebreak and make the top seed in the NL just that little bit easier. If they stay the course in September, that first round bye is all theirs.
There are superstars on this roster, to be clear. Jacob Misiorowski leads MLB in ERA, FIP, WHIP, and strikeouts. He’ll obviously be a nightmare for opposing lineups to face. Kyle Harrison and Shane Drohan have been capable complementary rotation arms, and their bullpen remains rock-solid.
On the hitting side, Jackson Chourio is finding his stride at the right time — he posted a .914 OPS in August. If he can continue to produce at that echelon, suddenly my argument against the Brewers gets ricketier. That said, one wonders whether Brice Turang, Jake Bauers, and Garrett Mitchell will be able to replicate the regular seasons they’ve had once they face the best of the best on the mound.
Top Position Player: Pete Crow-Armstrong (9.3 fWAR) Top Pitcher: Ben Brown (2.0 fWAR)
It felt like every game involving the Cubs this month had some fireworks. Sometimes, they were running up the score against the Mariners; other times they were blowing late leads to the Diamondbacks. In the last week of August alone, they lost 10-8 to the Reds, won the very next contest 17-5, and put up 17 runs against the Brewers in the final game of the month. The people having the most fun with this team are the impartial fans. Like me! I’ve been watching these guys a lot.
I don’t think the Shohei Ohtani industrial complex, powerful as it is, will be able to deny Pete Crow-Armstrong from claiming the NL MVP this year. He has made a habit of either beginning or ending games with home runs — sometimes, he’ll even do both, like in a crosstown bout with the White Sox. He’s the commander of the league’s best offense, which boasts a 117 wRC+, well above the Dodgers’ second place mark of 109.
The questions lie in the pitching staff. The Jed Hoyer-led front office did a solid job adding veterans Kevin Gausman and Clay Holmes to shore up a rotation which has been bitten hard by the injury bug. (More bad news on that front: their biggest breakout arm, Ben Brown, suffered a setback in his recovery from a neck injury and will remain on the shelf.) The Cubs have 10 pitchers on the injured list — all but one of those guys are on the 60-day. Can they outslug their problems on the hill? They may have no choice.
Top Position Player: JJ Wetherholt (4.4 fWAR) Top Pitcher: Andre Pallante & Kyle Leahy (2.4 fWAR)
The Cardinals now reside in the mushy middle following a promising start to the year in which it appeared they may have been ahead of schedule. POBO Chaim Bloom’s project to reshape a team which was decidedly behind-the-times before his arrival is still a work in progress; St. Louis has the league’s 22th-ranked offense by wRC+ and the 20th-ranked pitching staff by ERA-. They’ve been playing above their weight class by doing the things the Cardinals always do well: induce soft contact, play good defense, and get hits in high-leverage spots.
The top of the St. Louis lineup seems to be largely set for the next few years: JJ Wetherholt as the toolsy tablesetter at the top ahead of Jordan Walker and Alec Burleson, two power bats with more contact chops than you’d expect. Joshua Báez announced his arrival bombastically with homers in his first three at-bats in the Show, something no one else has ever done. The construction zone begins after those guys. And this rotation won’t knock your socks off with high-caliber stuff or elite results anytime soon. They’re perfectly solid, not much more than that.
The future picture for the Cardinals is a bit of an odd one; with the Cubs and Brewers bidding to remain atop the food chain for quite a while, do they try to aggressively punch their way back into the playoff picture, or do they bide their time for regression to come for their rivals? Obviously, the upcoming offseason labor theater will also factor into these tough decisions as well.
Top Position Player: Brandon Lowe (3.6 fWAR) Top Pitcher: Paul Skenes (4.1 fWAR)
Were the season a little shorter, these Pirates may have stuck around in the playoff race a bit longer. But attrition has hit the Bucs rather hard, particularly in the rotation. Veteran Mitch Keller is out for the year with an injury to his teres major injury, Jared Jones and Bubba Chandler have been inconsistent, and Paul Skenes is having a down season by his stratospheric standards. Manager Don Kelly has moved to more of a six-man rotation to give Skenes more time between his starts, and that strategy has allowed him to rebound from a rough July. At the end of the day, the playoff odds for a team with the NL’s longest postseason drought continue to dwindle.
The Pirates were hitting their way to relevance this season with one of the highest scoring lineups, but that offensive production has waned. In August, they hit just .217/.398/.334 as a team. That’s a 50-point drop in average from the previous two months, and a 90-point drop in slugging from July. The dog days are not kind to this seafaring crew by the Allegheny. Not even Oneil Cruz hitting a home run off Mason Miller was enough to make up the difference.
I’m sure Pirates fans were chagrined by the news that Angels’ owner Arte Moreno finally took a hint and sold his team on Tuesday, sparking sudden optimism that one of the most moribund franchises in MLB — and the only one with a longer playoff drought than Pittsburgh — can finally turn the corner to relevance. Fans in western PA have been longing for Bob Nutting to do that very thing for a long time. I suppose they’ll keep on hoping.
Top Position Player: Elly De La Cruz (4.6 fWAR) Top Pitcher: Chase Burns (4.2 fWAR)
These Redlegs sure could use a break. Early in August it was announced that All-Star pitcher Hunter Greene would need to undergo a second Tommy John surgery, meaning Cincy will probably be without the former second-overall pick until 2028. The news cast a funerial pall over what was already a rough year in Queen City.
The youth movement that never seems to come to fruition did see some big strides this season. First baseman Sal Stewart deservedly made the All-Star team, as did fireballer Chase Burns — who, like Greene, was once drafted second overall. Elly De La Cruz hasn’t set the world on fire, but has remained a very, very good player. It just isn’t enough to make up for all the places where this team remains deficient. Cincinnati’s team wRC+ of 92 is the second-worst figure in baseball. Their 4.68 staff ERA is tied for fourth-worst.
This anecdote probably sums up the season as well as anything else: last week, the Reds placed veteran Eugenio Suárez and outfielder TJ Friedl on waivers. These decisions are often kept private due to the emotional nature of placing a well-respected player on waivers — and manager Terry Francona was irate that the news escaped the room. That both players ultimately went snubbed by the rest of the baseball likely only added to his consternation. In Suárez’s case, he’s got some more important matters at hand: the popular slugger will be stepping away from the team to take the naturalization test as he seeks to become an American citizen.
Salas, who is 20 years and 93 days old, made his MLB debut for the Padres’ road game against the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday. In doing so, he became the youngest catcher to play in an MLB game since the legendary Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez debuted at 19 years old in 1991.
This is good company for Salas to share, as Pudge Rodriguez was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2017, on what was his first ballot.
Ethan Salas of the San Diego Padres bats in the first inning of his MLB debut during a game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio, on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026. Getty ImagesSan Diego Padres catcher Ethan Salas looks on during the second inning of a game against the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, in Cincinnati. AP Photo/Tony Wagner
Of course, Salas still has a very long way to go before being deemed a Hall of Famer. But the 20-year-old has plenty of time to make his mark in the big leagues.
The Padres signed Salas as an international amateur free agent in 2023, giving him a $5.6 million signing bonus. He was just 16 years old at the time, but wasted no time progressing through the Padres’ organization.
Salas was then promoted to the Padres’ big league roster on Tuesday and got his first start on Wednesday, going 0-for-3 with a strikeout in his first three plate appearances. He produced a .296 average and an .822 OPS in 96 games in the minor leagues this season, and is seen as an extremely gifted defensive catcher.
National League’s Ethan Salas reacts to hitting a single during the second inning of the MLB All-Star Futures baseball game against the American League on Sunday, July 12, 2026, in Philadelphia. AP Photo/Chris Szagola
