Morel wasn't the only minor league movement on Sunday: Top prospect Elian Peña was promoted to High-A Brooklyn, and Émilien Pitre was bumped up to Syracuse
Speaking of Syracuse, Jonah Tong allowed just one run and struck out six in his latest outing
WASHINGTON, D.C. - APRIL 12: Goaltender Logan Thompson #48 of the Washington Capitals makes a save as Elmer Soderblom #25 of the Pittsburgh Penguins runs looks for a rebound in the third period on April 12, 2026 at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) | Getty Images
NHL Network released their top-10 goalies of ‘right now’ and one thing that stood out was the preponderance of goalies within the division for the Penguins. Half of the teams in the division can be found in this league-wide ranking.
Introducing NHL Network's Top 10 Goalies Right Now!
The two NYC-ish based Russian goalies of Igor Shesterkin and Ilya Sorokin are generally understood to be the top talents in the division at the position as known quantities. Goaltending performances from year-to-year are notoriously variable and all over the map, aside from the handful of elite goalies that almost always bring their A game. Shesterkin and Sorokin are accepted as those rare goalies good enough to be above the fray and provide consistently strong play.
Logan Thompson in Washington should arguably be even higher than the sixth place position he was placed for this list, considering that he’s finished fourth in Vezina voting for the last two years. Those finishes in the voting might even be lower than deserved considering that Thompson held up statistically very well coming in second across the NHL in 5v5 and overall GSAA, tied for third in save percentage and shutouts, fourth in wins and fifth in GAA. Thompson doesn’t tend to get a lot of shine or outward accolades but there’s little doubt that he has been playing at an impressive level recently, placing him in the sixth spot could easily be seen as too low for what his resume has indicated.
Rounding out the list for Metropolitan goalies was Dan Vladar at eighth, who the Penguins know all too well was good in the moment. Vladar went 12-6-1 for the Flyers after the Olympic break and his play was a big reason why Philadelphia made the playoffs and then advanced through the first round of the playoffs posting a .937 save% and 1.61 GAA in the first round against Pittsburgh. The Flyers rewarded Vladar with one of those contracts that seemingly always bite NHL teams to give a mid-level goalie a long term and a decent-sized salary ($5.5 million in Vladar’s case, and the contract doesn’t even kick in until the 2027-28 season) so that could be one to watch as a player that potentially could be more on the roller coaster for ups and downs. Recently, however, Vladar’s arrow has been pointing up.
All these opponent goalies being on the list serves to underscore the difficulty that next season could have for a team like the Pens, who don’t go into the year with an advantage in net against many of their closest rivals. It doesn’t help that with the perfected system of puck possession that Carolina has that it doesn’t even matter that they don’t have a top goalie and can have average netminders perform very well behind a team that doesn’t ask too much of their shot stoppers. That formula works for them and should be continuing into the future just the same.
None of this are new revelations but just underscore the reality that teams like the Penguins find themselves in when it comes to competition levels isolated to the goalie position. Between having four top-10 goalies (plus the overall great situation in Carolina) there’s a strong challenge in the season ahead for most of the division games that Pittsburgh is going to play.
Helping the Michigan Wolverines win only their second ever NCAA title, Yaxel Lendeborg already is having a year to remember.
And now, the newest Warrior is gearing up to be a key player for the franchise from the jump, ready to prove that his older age for a rookie (soon to be 24 years old) will come in handy.
Golden State’s rookie spoke exclusively to The Athletic’s Nick Friedell for a recent story, and recalled his emotional first moments with the Warriors after he was selected with the No. 11 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Lendeborg never watched the NBA Summer League growing up, only tuning in to the competition for the first time last season, when he followed Cooper Flagg shine for the Dallas Mavericks. But barely one year later, as Lendeborg prepared to take the floor as a pro for the first time, he got emotional reflecting on how he got to this point.
“When we were going to the game in Vegas, I was about to cry on the bus,” Lendeborg told Friedell. “Like, this is crazy. I’m about to play in the summer league in Vegas in front of a bunch of people … Three or four tears kind of like dripped from the eye, but I was on a bus with a bunch of guys. They don’t even know me. They barely know me, so I can’t just be crying for no reason.”
Lendeborg joins a Warriors team that not only still is very much in win-now mode, as they look to maximize the final years of Steph Curry’s career, but also that is ready to build towards a successful future. Lendeborg, after shining for Golden State throughout the competition, averaging 14.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 4.0 assists en route to winning the summer league MVP and guiding the Warriors to the title, is providing optimism.
But Lendeborg admits that it took him time to gain the confidence he needed to play at that high level.
“This is my first year actually going through having a full year of confidence, I guess you could say,” Lendeborg said. “I’ve never been a confident kid. So, actually having this time to believe in myself — it means a lot to me, and I’m trying my best to not lose that no matter what goes on.”
Once again, the Warriors have one of the NBA’s oldest rosters, with their core of Curry, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler all over the age of 35. And while some of the team’s key reserves are young and players that Golden State could build around, a more developed prospect like Lendeborg surely will give the franchise confidence that it can still compete once the Curry era ends.
Still, Lendeborg is looking to develop and become the player that he knows he can be. From his days of playing junior college basketball in Yuma, Arizona to his two-season stint at UAB and ending with his memorable year at Michigan, Lendeborg stayed the course and now that he is becoming the type of player he dreamed of becoming, he is ready to shatter expectations while still coming to grips with his newfound fame in basketball.
“As far as the expectations and everything that’s going around me, it’s like I’m new to this,” Lendeborg added. “So, I haven’t been living this role my entire life, this just now became who I am. So, I’m just happy-go lucky about everything.
“I’m just smiling through it all. Obviously, I have people that don’t like me or don’t like whatever I say, how I play, all of that stuff, so it’s like whatever. Everyone’s going to have their opinion. And for me, it’s just like, pressure isn’t real.”
Baseball: NLCS Playoffs: Los Angeles Dodgers Tommy John (25) victorious after winning Game 4 and series vs Philadelphia Phillies. Philadelphia, PA 10/8/1977 CREDIT: John Iacono (Photo by John Iacono /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X21821 TK2 R13 F31 )
Tommy John died on Saturday at age 83, remembered for his astonishing 26 years of pitching in the big leagues and for being the first to undergo the elbow construction surgery that bears his name.
“We did a little surgery, but the man did all the hard work,” Jobe said at a Hall of Fame ceremony honoring his medical career in 2013, the year before he died at age 88. “His tenacity and unique intelligence enabled us to develop the rehab program that has lasted the test of time.”
In his obituary of John, Joe Posnanski asked, “What pitcher in the last 75 years has changed the game more?”
On the Effectively Wild podcast last week, Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley had a tribute to John on Friday’s episode, looking back 50-plus years on the impact of his eponymous elbow surgery and how the left-hander pitched so long in the majors (including six seasons for the Dodgers, not counting the 1975 season he missed after surgery).
Sam Miller at his Pebble Hunting newsletter used a 13-year-old tweet of his, “Vin Scully called MLB games the same year that Connie Mack managed MLB games. Mack was born 10 weeks after the Emancipation Proclamation,” to try to come up with the extension of this time span, in other words what is something that overlapped with the end of Scully’s career (his final year broadcasting was 2016) that will still be around decades from now.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 16: Wyatt Langford #36 of the Texas Rangers catches a fly ball of the bat of Jonah Heim #15 of the Athletics during the bottom of the second inning at Sutter Health Park on August 16, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Scott Marshall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A’s 5, Rangers 2
What a disappointing game.
And what a disappointing road trip.
This is one of those instances where I struggle to come up with something to say.
Cody Bradford was okay. He gave up a two run home run to Lawrence Butler that I thought was foul while watching it, but which apparently wasn’t. Those were the only two runs he gave up in four innings.
He had a fair amount of traffic he was dealing with throughout the game, and was maybe a little lucky to have allowed just two runs — a pair of caught stealings helped Bradford out.
Caught stealings? Caughts stealing? I’m not sure.
Zach Gelof, who I thought was a hobbit, made the difference in the game with a two run homer off of the newly activated Jakob Junis. Then Peyton Gray allowed a homer to Tommy White in the eighth to make us feel a little worse.
Tommy White, aka Tommy Tanks, legendary LSU slugger and 2024 second round pick of the A’s, had had 100 major league plate appearances without a home run prior to going deep off of Gray in the eighth.
I mean, you knew he was going to go deep eventually, but it didn’t have to be against the Rangers.
Or maybe it did have to be against the Rangers. Maybe the fates were aligned such that Tommy White was going to get his first home run against the Texas Rangers, and there was nothing any of us mere mortals could do about it.
The Rangers offense was bad, but then, you’re probably used to that by now.
Jake Burger was 3 for 4 with a homer and an RBI fielder’s choice. The rest of the team was 4 for 28 with a double and a pair of walks.
At least the Astros lost, meaning the Rangers are just two games back of first place still, somehow.
And are a half game back of the Orioles for the third Wild Card spot.
Sigh.
Cody Bradford hit 90.0 mph with his fastball, averaging 88.5 mph. Chase Silseth touched 96.0 mph with his fastball. Tyler Alexader’s sinker reached 92.2 mph. Jakob Junis maxed out at 93.5 mph with his fastball. Peyton Gray’s fastball topped out at 94.1 mph. Cole Winn threw three sliders, the fastest of which was 86.5 mph.
Jake Burger had a 104.9 mph home run had a 104.2 mph single. Elias Diaz had a 103.9 mph fly out. Justin Foscue had a 100.9 mph fly out.
Off day Monday for us to wallow in our misery. Oh boy.
The NHL Network has been slowly releasing its annual positional rankings ahead of the 2026-27 season. Thus far, through the defense and right wing rankings, the Calgary Flames have come away empty-handed. However, a couple of former players made the list, with Dan Vladar joining the group on Sunday.
The NHL Network tapped him as the 8th-best goalie in the NHL right now, just below Jake Oettinger and ahead of Jesper Wallstedt and Jakub Dobes.
Initially drafted in the third round (75th overall) by the Boston Bruins at the 2015 NHL Draft, Vladar came to Calgary in 2021 and earned a full-time backup role under Jacob Markström and Dustin Wolf. As an unrestricted free agent in July 2025, he signed a two-year deal with the Philadelphia Flyers, where he became the team's top goalie with a 29-14-7 record in 52 games, helping the club earn a playoff spot.
Despite not posting any shutouts, Vladar produced a .906 SV% and 2.42 GAA, both personal bests, and played all 10 playoff games for the Flyers, who eventually lost to the Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes in the second round. Philadelphia fans took notice, and so did NHL award voters, as he finished sixth in Vezina Trophy voting and 18th in the Hart Trophy race.
For his efforts, Philadelphia extended him for another five seasons at $5.5 million, his biggest payday in professional hockey.
Over six years in the NHL, the 28-year-old from Prague has a 78-48-23 record, a .898 SV%, and a 2.80 GAA.
SACRAMENTO, CA - APRIL 10: Pat Spencer #61 of the Golden State Warriors looks on during the game against the Sacramento Kings on April 10, 2026 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. 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 Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Phoenix Suns front office has done a solid job over the last two years of identifying under-the-radar talent.
Collin Gillespie and Jordan Goodwin are the latest examples of this. Jamaree Bouyea provided real production for key stretches last season. To a lesser extent, we all saw Dillon Brooks breakout in his new home as well. He was much more on the radar than the others mentioned, of course. You get the point. The Suns have a type.
From a cultural perspective, this is who you want to bring in. A hard-nosed competitor who isn’t afraid to mix it up, chirp a little, and make winning basketball plays. He doesn’t need the ball to make an impact. He embraces doing the little things.
Enter Pat Spencer
The Suns signed the 30-year-old guard to a two-way contract in early July, an acquisition that sailed under most national radars. On the surface, it’s a sensible depth move. The guard rotation needed fortification after some early offseason uncertainty.
But dig deeper, and this signing tells you everything about how the front office operates in 2026.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – FEBRUARY 05: Jordan Goodwin #23 of the Phoenix Suns pressures Pat Spencer #61 of the Golden State Warriors during the first half at Mortgage Matchup Center on February 05, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Pat Spencer arrives in Phoenix fresh off the best season of his career with Golden State Warriors.
In 66 games (14 starts), he averaged 7.2 points, 3.5 assists, and 2.4 rebounds, shooting 42.7% from the field and 35.7% from three-point range. Those headline numbers don’t immediately jump off the page, but his starting splits do.
As a starter, he averaged 11.4 points, 5.1 assists, and 3.4 rebounds per game while shooting 40% from three.
Pat was playing in a Warriors system without heavy volume. Steve Kerr wasn’t running the offense through him, becuase they have a guy named Steph Curry (yes he missed time). Yet when he got real minutes in spot situations and starts, he produced with efficiency. He shot a respectable 35.7% from beyond the arc and averaged 0.7 steals per game.
But the stats only matter if the player has the intangibles to stick. Spencer has that in spades.
Spencer embodies toughness, smarts, and competitiveness. Steve Kerr publicly stated that “he’s kind of the perfect guy to have as a backup” because “he can win you games” and brings consistent energy and attitude regardless of playing time. Kerr doesn’t throw praise at role players casually. He meant it.
Why This Fits the Suns’ DNA
Spencer’s competitive fire runs deep. His brother Cam also plays in the NBA, and Pat’s mentality stems from a lifelong need to compete in everything, even in childhood moments like racing to elevators or calling shotgun, displaying a mindset where he’s always trying to prove something. That hunger doesn’t fade because you’re on a two-way contract. It compounds. Phoenix goes after guys with a chip on their shoulder and something to prove.
Phoenix’s guard rotation entering 2026-27 features Devin Booker and Jalen Green as primary creators, with Collin Gillespie and Luke Kennard handling secondary playmaking duties. Jordan Goodwin in the “super guard” role as a psuedo small or power forward with several other guards bodes well for Pat, at least.
Spencer will not crack the rotation unless there is an injury…. or two.
He probably won’t see 15 minutes per game if there is one. But the Suns aren’t counting on that. They’re paying him for reliability and availability when injuries or foul trouble demand rotation adjustments. We all saw the constant musical chairs of injuries to the guard rotaiton last season and how necessary it was to have a deep guard group.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 20: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns dribbles the ball up court past Pat Spencer #61 of the Golden State Warriors in the first half of an NBA basketball game at Chase Center on December 20, 2025 in San Francisco, California. 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 Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Consider the modern NBA playoff reality: small guards get hunted on defense. Perimeter players pick up fouls trying to contain athletic wings. Backup point guards need to run second-unit pick-and-rolls without turning the ball over. Spencer checks all three boxes.
His 40% three-point shooting from the starter sample means he spaces the floor. His assist rate suggests he doesn’t force things when he doesn’t have them. His competitive mentality means he won’t shrink in tight moments. These aren’t flashy traits, but they win games.
The gap between a playoff team and a championship team in the Western Conference comes down to depth. It always does. Not stars. Not All-NBA players. The ability to rotate fresh bodies without losing spacing, decision-making, or intensity.
Spencer’s personal journey amplifies this logic. A standout college lacrosse player at Loyola University Maryland who won the Tewaaraton Award as the nation’s top player in 2019 and was selected first overall in the 2019 Premier Lacrosse League Draft, Spencer pivoted to basketball, using his final year of college eligibility to play at Northwestern University, then played professionally overseas with Hamburg Towers in Germany before working his way through the G League to reach the NBA.
This is someone who earned every inch.
What Happens Next
Spencer will spend chunks of time in the G League with the Phoenix Suns’ affiliate squad. That’s the reality of a two-way contract. But the framework exists for rapid escalation. If any of Booker, Green, Gillespie, Kennard or Goodwin pick up an injury or enter foul trouble, Spencer steps in. If second-unit scoring dries up, Spencer gets run. He’s an insurance piece that you need to have to withstand the rigors of an 82-game season.
The real question isn’t whether Spencer will play. It’s whether he’ll capitalize when the opportunity comes. Based on his track record in Golden State, the answer is yes. One of Spencer’s best games last season came against the Suns back in February, where he scored a career-high 20 points and was one of the Warriors’ main contributors in their fourth-quarter double-digit comeback.
This is who the Suns’ front office is now. They’re building connective tissue through under-the-radar depth acquisitions. Guys who fit the system, bring competitive juice, and won’t require massive contracts or draft capital to acquire.
Spencer is the latest addition to that blueprint. Low-risk. High upside for a backup guard. Proven character in a Warriors system known for demanding toughness.
The Suns have been solid at identifying these types. Spencer feels like the next one in line.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JULY 09: Samuel Basallo #29 of the Baltimore Orioles bats against the Chicago Cubs at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on July 09, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Tides went to the bottom of the ninth tied 8-8, but rallied for the game-winner in the ninth. Ryan Noda walked, advanced to third on a Payton Eeles single, and scored on a sac fly by Bryan Ramos.
Norfolk fell down 8-3 in the third inning, then started mounting the comeback. Enrique Bradfield Jr. singled to make it 8-4, then a wild pitch, a Samuel Basallo two-run double, and Rece Hinds’ RBI single made it a tie game. Heston Kjerstad also hit an RBI single. Payton Eeles finished 2-for-4 with a walk, Brandon Butterworth singled and walked, and Bryan Ramos finished 2-for-3 with three runs scored.
Look, Michael Forret’s start could have gone better. The 22-year-old righty was charged with eight runs in five innings. Cameron Weston, Yaqui Rivera, and Yaramil Hiraldo combined for four scoreless innings.
High-A: Frederick Keys, Bowling Green Hot Rods (Rays) – canceled (wet grounds)
Low-A: Delmarva Shorebirds 8, Salem RidgeYaks (Red Sox) 5
After falling down 1-0, the Shorebirds rallied when Eric Booth Jr. worked a leadoff walk, then scored on a sac fly. Infielder Jerome Nuel, recently promoted from FCL, hit a one-run single to make it 2-0 Shorebirds. Then Stiven Martínez put Delmarva up with a third-inning home run. After Salem tied it up, Delmarva got the big blast when Ty Head hit a three-run homer to put the Shorebirds up 6-3.
A five-man crew of Francisco Morao, Kailen Hamson, Jack Crowder, Andrew Herbert and Brendan Parks allowed five runs on six hits. Morao gave up two runs, Hamson one, and Herbert two runs. Crowder and Parks pitched scoreless outings.
Happy Monday, everyone! It was a good weekend to be making your MLB debut, especially if your name happens to be Joshua Baez for the St. Louis Cardinals, as the young slugger made major league history by becoming the first player ever to hit three home runs in their MLB debut. To a lesser degree, but still exhilarating for the rookie, we saw Brett Callahan of the Tigers hit a two-run triple off the very first pitch of his career. Absolutely amazing time to be making a debut for these guys.
We’ve got plenty of other tidbits for you in today’s news roundup. Aaron Judge is inching closer to return as he has started with light baseball activities; meanwhile, Paul Skenes is riding the bench for a little while as he tries to get his slump under control. Hunter Greene will unfortunately miss the entire 2027 season, while iconic pitcher Tommy John has passed away at age 83.
DENVER, CO - JUNE 24: Kyle Karros #12 and Cole Carrigg #16 of the Colorado Rockies celebrates after a 8-6 win against the Boston Red Sox at Coors Field on June 24, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images
If you’ve watched any Colorado Rockies game over the past two months, you’ll have seen third baseman Kyle Karros and outfielder Cole Carrigg on the field together.
Both were drafted in 2023 – Carrigg in the Competitive Balance B round and Karros in the fifth round – and worked their way up through the minors at nearly the same pace. Karros broke through to the majors a little bit before Carrigg, but the two were reunited in June.
And, you may have noticed, the two are awfully good friends:
But they didn’t cross paths until the MLB draft, where they hit it off almost instantly.
“Right after the draft, there were only a few of us going to get MRI’s and stuff, and a lot of weird and different things that I didn’t know we had to do,” Carrigg recalled. “But he was always in my group, and we just hit it off.”
And Karros noticed Carrigg’s personality almost immediately.
“He was definitely a unique character,” Karros said. “I think it’s kind of a yin-and-yang dynamic with us, but I think we bonded pretty well on the field and off the field. I think our personalities complement each other well. So yeah, we were pretty close off the rip.”
Carrigg’s first impression of Karros?
“He seemed like a good guy, and we got along really well to kick things off,” Carrigg said. “We were pretty good buddies right away.”
And that relationship has blossomed over the years, especially as they moved through the minor leagues together.
“That same year, we went to Fresno together and finished the Low-A season there – same plane flights and everything,” Carrigg recalled. “We got called up the same day and went to Spokane together. We stayed there the entire year. We went to Hartford together, and then he moved to Triple-A and then the big leagues later in the year. And then that was kind of the only time we had split up since then, and now we’re back doing it again. We spend so much time with each other. There’s nothing really to do. It just happens.”
Karros, however, has fostered the relationship more intentionally – both with Carrigg and his other teammates along the way.
“I think I’ve viewed one of my roles on any team I’m part of is to help with the dynamic,” he said. “I think that comes with being in a position of a leader, which I was in the minor leagues, and I hope to be at some point at the major-league level.
“But I think it’s always been kind of a task of mine to foster relationships and curate a team dynamic,” he continued, “and with him, he’s definitely a very, very strong personality, and I’ve definitely looked at it as one of my jobs as a leader in this organization is to be a mentor for him at times. He’s a mentor for me at times, but I always kind of help him out and we’ve leaned on one another as we came up together.”
Since winning the third-base job outright in spring training, Karros struggled a little bit out of the gate in 2026. Through June 8, he batted .225/.329/.664 with 11 doubles, three home runs, 17 RBI and two stolen bases. He struck out 49 times (23%) and walked 28 times (13.1%), good for a wRC+ of just 75.
Enter Cole Carrigg.
Since Carrigg’s debut on June 9, Karros is slashing .310/.399/.525 with nine doubles, two triples, seven home runs, 27 RBI, and three stolen bases. He has struck out 32 times (17.5%) and walked 19 times (10.4%), good for a wRC+ of 139.
Carrigg, meanwhile, is slashing .292/.375/.489 with 14 doubles, three triples, five home runs, 30 RBI and seven stolen bases in 10 attempts. He has struck out 42 times (20.1%) and walked 23 times (11%), good for a wRC+ 121.
Perhaps it’s just a coincidence that Karros’ performance has skyrocketed since being reunited with his friend, but he doesn’t see it that way.
“I think part of it is just being up here longer and being more comfortable,” he said. “I’ve made some adjustments here and there, but I think there’s definitely something to be said about it.”
But he does think stepping into a leadership role as more young guys, including Carrigg, have been called up has helped his game.
“I’ve always been a leader on most teams I play for, and I think that allows me to be at my best,” Karros said. “And I think being one of the younger guys on the team, I don’t think I really felt a responsibility to lead. But then once we’ve started to get more young guys in the mix – Cole being one of them – I think I kind of get out of my own head in a way and take others as my responsibility, and that allows me to be at my best on the field. Even if I’m having a rough day, I still see my value in being there for Cole and my teammates, and that’s definitely been exemplified since he’s been up.”
And Carrigg takes notes of how Karros carries himself.
“Not that you would ever tell, but seeing how he goes about not having great games and how even-keeled he is,” Carrigg said. “That definitely is something I aspire to be better at, and I think he just leads by example in that way. He would never tell me otherwise to do anything different, but I see it. I try to be a little more like him in that sense, and hopefully I would say my energy rubs off on him and he likes to play with a little more edge, as well.”
Manager Warren Schaeffer sees their bond, as well, and how it translates on and off the field.
“I think it translates enormously on the field and off the field,” he said, after an audible laugh. “It’s a piece of work, for sure. Those guys are hilarious. They love each other — it’s very evident. And I do think that on the field, they bring the most out of each other.
“They’ve been good friends for a long time,” he continued. “They played in the minor leagues together and really bonded, but they push each other and you don’t always see that with two guys like that who are close. They criticize each other and push each other in that way – just how clubhouse culture is. But it’s fun to watch, and the boys love it.”
He also sees how contagious a strong bond like that could be to others in the clubhouse.
What happens in the clubhouse is a big part of what happens on the field,” Schaeffer said. “It’s a day-long affair with everybody in there. We spend so much time together, and if there’s people in there that hate each other, it’s going to translate on the field. It always does, no matter how good of a player you are.”
But since Karros and Carrigg have spent so much time together, what are their favorite baseball moments?
“Early on, [Carrigg] made a play in Wrigley,” Karros said. “I was at third, he was in center, and he threw a guy out tagging from second. I think that one sticks out. We joked about it. We’ve made that play so many times in the minor leagues, and to do it at Wrigley was pretty sweet.”
And for Carrigg? He laughed while telling his story.
“We won the Northwest League Championship in High-A (in 2024) and the bases were loaded. We were tied in the bottom of the ninth, and Kyle got hit on the knob of the bat and sold it for a hit-by-pitch. The umpire got it wrong, and we walked it off.”
These teammates are a study in contrasts. Carrigg plays with his hair on fire and brings an edge to his game, while Karros is more of a steady presence.
But these two clearly feed off of each other and have made each other better.
Jack Mahoney made his third start for the Isotopes against the Comets (LAD). He lasted just 4.1 innings, allowing two runs on five hits with four walks and four strikeouts.
The first hit came to the leadoff batter, Alex Freeland, and the first walk came to the second batter, Zach Ehrhard, to put men on first and second to lead off the game. Luckily, he got Ryan Ward to pop out and James Tibbs III grounded into a 6-3 double play to end the inning.
Alek Thomas walked to lead off the second, and Noah Miller singled three batters later. The scoring came in the third, though, when Erhard walked again and then was driven home by a Ward two-run homer to put the Comets up 2-0. Those were the only runs allowed by Mahoney, but after walking Ehrhard for a third time in the fifth inning, he was lifted for Mark Manfredi, who immediately walked Ward.
In the sixth, Hyeseong Kim singled to lead off the inning and stole second, and was driven home by Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald drove in the fourth run in the seventh on another single, and Ward grounded into a double play that ended up scoring Chadwick Tromp in the eighth.
The Isotopes’ offense mustered six hits — two from Ryan Ritter and one apiece for Edouard Julien, Charlie Condon, Chad Stevens and Drew Avans. They also struck out 13 times and walked just three. Meanwhile, the Comets walked nine times and struck out just six
The Yard Goats fought back late, but it wasn’t enough. Through the first three innings, there were only two baserunners — one for each side. But the SeaWolves (DET) broke through in the fourth when Thayron Liranzo hit a solo homer to put the Wolves on the board. They tacked on three more runs in the fifth, when Roberto Campos doubled, Joe Campagna singled and then Seth Stephenson singled to score Campos. Woody Hadeen then walked, and Zyhir Hope singled to score Campagna and Stephenson.
The Goats finally got on the board in the seventh, when Braylen Wimmer doubled and was scored two batters later by Cole Messina. But all of the action came in the ninth.
Patrick Lee walked as the second batter of the inning and then stole second. Stephenson grounded out, but Lee took third. After he was ejected, Hadeen reached on a fielding error by Tevin Tucker, allowing Lee to score. Hadeen stole second and Hope walked, but then Liranzo popped out to short to end the threat.
In the Goats’ half, Jared Thomas kicked things off with a walk and them Wimmer singled. A wild pitch by Colin Fields allowed them both to advance, and then Messina smacked a three-run homer to put them within one. Skyler Messinger reached on an error by Liranzo, but then Tucker and Andy Perez flied out and struck out to end the rally.
The Goats offense mustered five hits — two by Dyan Jorge, two by Wimmer and one by Messina. They also only struck out four times and walked four more.
Meanwhile, the Indians were able to outlast the AquaSox (SEA) in ten innings. It was a back-and-forth affair where the only innings without scoring from either team were the seventh and ninth.
The Indians got things started early when Roynier Hernandez singled, and then Tanner Thach was hit two batters later. Kelvin Hidalgo singled to score Hernandez. In the second, it was the AquaSox turn. Austin St. Laurent singled and then Anthony Donofrio homered two batters later to put them up 2-1. In the third, the Indians said “hold my beer” as Tommy Hopfe walked and Ethan Hedges homered to put the Indians up 3-2. In the fourth, they expanded their lead as Robert Calaz doubled to lead things off, Derek Bernard walked and Alan Espinal homered to push the lead to 6-2.
In the fifth, Aiden Taurek walked and was brought home by a Brandon Eike homer, 6-4. In the sixth, Korbyn Dickerson singled, Luke Stevenson walked and then Taurek singled to score Dickerson. The AquaSox tied things up in the eighth when Carter Dorighi was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, and then Dickerson walked. Taurek walked two batters later, and a wild pitch scored Dorighi to tie the game. But then Clausen was intentionally walked and St. Laurent grounded into a double play to end the threat.
In the tenth, Hernandez doubled to score ghost runner Jacob Hinderleider, and then Thach doubled two batters later to score pinch runner Wilder Dalis. That proved to be the game winner, as the AquaSox were only able to plate one run in their half — a double by Eike to score Dickerson — making the final score 8-7.
Things got off to a hot start for the Fresno Grizzlies and San Jose Giants (SF), but things collapsed down the stretch. Ashly Andujar walked to lead things off and Carlos Renzullo singled right behind him. Two batters later, Jack Natili doubled to score Andujar and put the Grizzlies in front 1-0. Juan Martinez walked two batters later, and then Ronny Ugarte walked with the bases loaded to tack on another run.
In the bottom half, Luis Hernández singled and Lorenzo Meola doubled, then Jeremiah Jenkins reached on a fielding error to score Hernández and make the score 2-1. Things went quiet until the fourth, when Juan Martinez tripled to kick things off. Ugarte walked, then Cort MacDonald singled to score Martinez. Then, Sebastian Blanco attempted a sacrifice bunt that was fielded poorly by the pitcher, loading the bases instead. Two batters later, another run was scored by a bases-loaded walk from Carlos Renzullo. Then, Cristian Arguelles grounded out, but scored MacDonald.
In the fifth, Fresno scored again when Ugarte reached on a fielding error after Juan Martinez tripled. They tacked on another in the seventh when Jack Natili reached on a throwing error and advanced on a wild pitch, then Ryan Niedzwiedz singled to score Natili and run up the score 7-1. Another wild pitch two batters later allowed Niedzwiedz to advance to third, and then Ugarte hit a sacrifice fly to make it 8-1.
But then the eighth happened. Yanzel Correa entered to pitch and got Jeremiah Jenkins to ground out to third, but then the wheels started to fall off. Fernando Gonzalez walked and then three-straight singles made the score 8-2. Broedy Poppell struck out, but then Josuar Gonzalez tripled to score all three singles and make the score 8-5. In the ninth, Lorenzo Meola singled and Jenkins walked. Then, Austin Newton replaced Correa. He got Gonzalez to fly out, then Tanner Mally walked and Andy Polanco walked to score a run. Oliver Tejada then singled to tie things up 8-8.
In the tenth, a wild pitch allowed ghost runner Juan Martinez to advance to third. But Samir Chires got the first two batters out quickly before Blanco singled to score Martinez. In the bottom half, Newton got two quick strikeouts, but then walked Gonzalez and gave up an RBI single to Mally to tie things up again.
In the 11th, the Grizzlies were unable to score. But in the bottom half, a double and a single was all the Giants needed to walk things off 10-9.
In total, the Grizzlies mustered 10 hits, five walks and 14 strikeouts. And the Giants got 15 hits, eight walks and 12 strikeouts.
Mickey Moniak has had a renaissance since joining the Rockies last year. This year, especially, he’s been a steady veteran presence in the Rockies’ lineup and clubhouse, being able to pass along wisdom to younger guys still trying to make it. Bob Nightengale spoke not only to Moniak about his journey, but also to Kyle Karros about Moniak’s effect on him this early in his career.
It’s been almost a month since the Rockies traded Seth Halvorsen to the Dodgers for Nick Frasso and Landyn Vidourek. Kevin Henry looks at the MLB results for Frasso and Halvorsen, in particular, for their new teams as they might face each other in the series that starts tonight.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 8: Rafael Devers #16 and Patrick Bailey #14 of the San Francisco Giants prepares for the game at Oracle Park on August 8, 2025 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Suzanna Mitchell/San Francisco Giants/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The San Francisco Giants lost yesterday. They lost to the Colorado Rockies, specifically. The Colorado Rockies, who are one of the few teams in baseball as bad as the Giants.
They lost the game and, in turn, they lost the series. It was a home series. I’m beginning to think that they’re not that good at baseball, folks.
Mercifully, the Giants don’t play today. You don’t have to deal with the double whammy of having it be Monday and having to watch the Giants play. You can just handle the former and worry about the latter on Tuesday.
But Tuesday will come, and with it, Giants baseball. San Francisco kicks off a six-game road trip, which jumpstarts a span where they’ll play 13 games in 12 days.
First up is the Cleveland Guardians, and old friend Patrick Bailey. Those games are Tuesday and Wednesday at 3:40 p.m. PT, followed by a Thursday getaway game at 10:10 a.m. PT. Then it’s on to Fenway Park, where Rafael Devers will play for the first time as a visitor, and likely be joined by Marcelo Mayer. The Giants’ games against the Boston Red Sox are Friday at 4:10 p.m. PT, Saturday, at 4:15 p.m. PT, and Sunday at 12:10 p.m. PT.
Those teams are better than the Giants. A lot better than the Giants. Let’s see how it goes.
TAMPA, FLORIDA - APRIL 30: Noah Cameron #65 of the Kansas City Royals smiles prior to making his MLB debut during a game against the Tampa Bay Rays at George M. Steinbrenner Field on April 30, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
“He was in command all day,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “It was efficient. The last two innings were probably the most stressful innings, and he made big pitches, getting strikeouts in the last couple innings there with the changeup. So, good for him. I mean, it’s exciting, and it was a big way for us to finish the road trip.”
It’s the first one-hit shutout by a Royals starter since franchise legend Zack Greinke on Aug. 30, 2009. This is also the second complete-game shutout by a Royals starter this season, with Stephen Kolek achieving the feat back in May.
Dobnak threw 25 changeups Saturday. He recorded two of his strikeouts with the offspeed pitch, getting Neto swinging to end the third inning.
“I mean, that felt pretty good starting out in the bullpen pregame and kind of just carried it into the game,” Dobnak said. “And sometimes, when I have that pitch going like that, I can pretty much spam it. It’s always a good pitch.”
Dobnak was a strike-one machine, landing the first pitch for a strike in 70% of the batters he faced. He primarily went to the sinker for the first pitch, using it 10 times, eight for strikes.
“First-pitch strike is probably the most important pitch you throw every game,” Dobnak said. “Just to get ahead of guys, it sets up the whole at-bat going forward.”
Vinnie Pasquantino and Maikel Garcia should rejoin the team this week.
#Royals manager Matt Quatraro said both Vinnie Pasquantino and Maikel Garcia are not playing today but are working out and will see how they feel after. Quatraro said if they’re feeling good, there’s a chance they can rejoin the Royals tomorrow.
To do so, it may require a difficult decision. Since July 29, Caglianone is first in Major League Baseball in wRC+ (222) and wOBA. He’s second in OPS, SLG, and AVG. That date is when first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino was placed on the injured list. In 2026, Caglianone has a .947 OPS as a first baseman versus .790 as a right fielder. He’s played right field just twice in 15 games since the Pasquantino IL stint started, and that shift has coincided with Jac becoming the hottest hitter in Major League Baseball. The Royals should make Caglianone their everyday first baseman even after Pasquantino returns. Of course, Caglianone could DH as well, but forcing the clear inferior hitter into a spot simply “because he’s been there for a while” makes little sense.
CINCINNATI, OHIO - JUNE 13: Manager Terry Francona of the Cincinnati Reds relieves Rhett Lowder #25 in the sixth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Great American Ball Park on June 13, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Call me a bad fan, but I did not realize the Cardinals had a doubleheader today until I sat down to write this article. And because there’s a doubleheader, I’m going to share something I noticed when I looked at the matchups: the Reds are not in a good position to have a doubleheader or play 5 games in 4 days. They are entering today with a very taxed bullpen.
Yesterday, they lost 7-1 but they were in the game until the 9th inning, so they still used some of their high leverage relievers. Nick Lodolo pitched in his second game since coming off the IL, so I assume he was on some kind of pitch count. He only threw 73 pitches in 5 scoreless innings. His replacement, Julian Garcia, threw 2 scoreless innings of his own, however it required 35 pitches. That would seemingly knock him out of tomorrow’s game and probably in an ideal world Tuesday as well. But I think they’ll be forced to pitch him Tuesday and possibly tomorrow as you will soon see.
Tejay Antone came into a 0-0 game in the top of the 8th inning. He got the first two guys out, then allowed a homer. Next: error, single, walk, walk. He needed 30 pitches and they took him out. Antone has been massively overworked. He threw 11 pitches on Saturday, 16 pitches on Thursday, and 9 pitches on Tuesday. That’s four games in six days, and back-to-back days coming off a 30 pitch outing. He has to be out for tomorrow as well, and ideally Tuesday. But I think he might be forced to pitch Tuesday.
Replacing Antone was Ron Marinaccio, who got the last out of the inning, and then needed an additional 43 pitches to get through a 5-run 9th inning. He is almost certainly getting DFA’d before tomorrow’s games, because they picked up him off waivers two weeks ago and they let him throw 47 pitches. He also threw 21 pitches on Saturday. 68 pitches in two days, they clearly have no future plans with him.
Out of their 8-man bullpen, two of them should be out today, and as of now, a third will presumably be replaced. Sam Moll, who averages less than an inning per appearance, threw Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Pitching tomorrow would mean four of the last six days, and he’s almost certainly pitching tomorrow, and then he’ll be tricky to put into games for Tuesday and Wednesday. Luis Mey pitched Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. He also can pitch tomorrow, but you can only pitch every other day for so long. Pierce Johnson is the same, although he threw under 10 pitches in each of his appearances, weirdly. He’s not very good so that may play a role. Brock Burke has gotten two days off, though pitched 3 of 4 before that. I’m sure he’ll be relied upon heavily in this series. Lastly, closer Emilio Pagan is fairly fresh, but I think he’s being used in exclusively save situations, however if there is not a save situation, I think he’ll have to pitch tomorrow.
Which brings us to the replacements. I do not know who is getting called up to replace Marinaccio. Tony Santillan is a strong possibility, with two pretty good rehab appearances, but the timing is a bit awkward. He threw an inning on Friday and yesterday. Are you really going to immediately throw him 3 out of 4 coming off an injury? Wouldn’t be my first choice.
They have three relievers on the 40 man. Connor Phillips has been in AAA since May and he also threw an inning yesterday. Unless the Reds have very poor communication with the AAA team, I feel like you don’t throw Phillips in yesterday’s game if you have any intention of using him in a doubleheader. The two realistic candidates to me seem to be Zach McCambley and Zach Maxwell. Neither has pitched in a few days. Maxwell has unspeakably bad numbers, so McCambley emerges as my only real choice. It is possible they plan for both, but will option one of them after game one. If either of these guys pitches, it should be good news for Cardinals batters.
Taking the start tomorrow would seemingly be Chase Petty. It hasn’t been announced as of this writing, but neither Julian Aguilar nor Jose Franco has appeared in a game, minors or majors, since July. Chase Solesky was claimed off waivers earlier this month, so I suppose you can throw him in the reliever group since he’s only appeared in relief for the Reds. Brandon Williamson made his first rehab start yesterday so he’s out. Petty is literally the only option and there is no way this bullpen could throw a bullpen game.
Another wrinkle however: I don’t think Petty is stretched out. He spent June and July in the MLB bullpen. He threw 1.2 innings on August 7th, got sent down, and then pitched on August 11th, where he faced 12 batters and allowed 5 runs in 1.2 IP. So I’ll be honest. No clue what the Reds are going to do in the game where Lowder doesn’t pitch. I feel like they need a starter and I feel like Petty is the only option, but he hasn’t thrown more than 50 pitches since June 4th so I don’t think he’ll throw many innings even if he does start.
Meanwhile the Cardinals are in a fairly good situation. Luis Gastelum is probably out for tomorrow, having thrown 2 innings. Caleb Ferguson threw 19 pitches and hadn’t pitched since Tuesday, so he’s clearly available even though we don’t want him to be. Gordon Graceffo pitched as well and threw 19 pitches but hadn’t thrown since Wednesday. Both can pitch tomorrow. Riley O’Brien, George Soriano, Justin Bruhl and Ryne Stanek all had light weeks, workload-wise. Peter Strzelecki is here to throw some mop-up innings as well, throwing 36 pitches on Friday, but nothing else in the past week. Pretty fresh bullpen.
They also have an actual starting pitcher in both games, which is helpful. I don’t expect Quinn Mathews to last deep into the game, but he at least can. I don’t Petty can. And Andre Pallante has thrown 6 or more innings in 11 of his 23 starts and he’s thrown less than 5 innings just once. He can eat innings and he’s got game two. Pretty good situation, certainly much better than the Reds current pitching situation.
The reason I decided to go over all this is because this is the kind of pitching situation that could affect more than just today’s game. The Cardinals need to take advantage. The Reds are going to need to use at least one of their pitchers for longer than they want, and the Cardinals should score off whichever pitcher that applies to. I think they’re saving Lowder for game two, but it would also be helpful if they worked his pitch count to its limit against Lowder and forced him out of the game early. They could really make things difficult for the Reds. All the minor league options are bad pitchers. This is the time to strike.
Joshua Baez
It would be foolish to overreact to two games, but I do kind of feel like the two games represent a microcosm of what to expect from Baez. Well sort of. I would be surprised if we have more 3-HR games in store. But generally speaking, it will be rather easy to know when you have to start Baez and the games where you can sit him. If a lefty is pitching, he starts. No question. If a righty is pitching, it’ll depend. Keep in mind they have to keep his PAs below 130. He can’t start every game anyway.
If you look at his minor league numbers, he is batting .294/.351/.745 against lefties. That is a staggering .451 ISO and 1.096 OPS. He has a 27.9 K% and 7.2 BB% against LHP. Against right-handed pitchers, he batted .246/.320/.539. That is a still very, very good .293 ISO, so it’s not like his power disappears. His K% rises to 30.6% and to be fair, his walk rate is also higher at 8.2%.
But broadly speaking, he strikes out less against lefties and has more power. This was true in 2025 as well. He didn’t strike out as much that year, but he had a 23.2 K% against RHP and a 16.9 K% against LHP. His ISO against LHP was .271 and his ISO against RHP was .187. He is undeniably a lefty masher and his MLB success will hinge on how he adjusts to right-handed pitching.
So Oli Marmol can look at the week ahead, see which games features left-handed starters and know Baez is penciled in for that game. And then he can structure his off days around that. This week, he will obviously start one of the two doubleheaders and then sit in the other one. Both probable starters are right-handed. Tuesday is Andrew Abbott, a lefty, so he’s got that game. The Cardinals have two very tough left-handed starters in Jesus Luzardo and Christopher Sanchez over the weekend, so it seems like a given he’d sit Saturday against Zack Wheeler. And I imagine he sits either Wednesday or Thursday and since Brady Singer is a clearly worse pitcher than Chase Burns and Baez would play four straight days, I would bet he sits Wednesday as well. (Burns is the scheduled pitcher)
I assume most of you know the deal, but just a warning: Joshua Baez will sit some games. He will also be on the bench as a pinch-hitting option on games where you sit him. It’s all a part of the plan. The Cardinals have 38 games left. If he played in every one of them and got 4 plate appearances per game – and we know that doesn’t happen since he’s played in two games and gotten 9 plate appearances – he would have 161 PAs. And again, I’m sure there will be games where a lefty reliever will be on the mound and Marmol will want to pinch-hit Baez. So he’s probably targeted for 25 starts the rest of this season.
Offense, do your thing, this is your series. Make it easy for the pitchers, although Great American Smallpark is never easy for pitchers.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 06: Roman Anthony #19 of the Boston Red Sox (left) and Trevor Story #10 of the Boston Red Sox jog back to the dugout between innings against the Milwaukee Brewers at Fenway Park on April 06, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jaiden Tripi/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Trevor Story, Roman Anthony, and Isiah Kiner-Falefa are all starting rehab assignments this week. The Red Sox have a puzzle to solve.
This is the kind of problem you want to have. Three players coming back from the IL, a roster that’s been playing the best baseball in the American League (well, until last week), and a manager who has to figure out how to fit everybody. Honestly, this is the right time for these moves to be happening. With the team coming back down to earth after their magic month and change, I’m less worried about breaking up chemistry and more worried about finding stability to keep the Wild Card spot this squad has for the rest of the season.
Chad Tracy has some real decisions to make. Let’s walk through them.
The Less Simple Than It Looks One: Isiah Kiner-Falefa
The conventional wisdom says IKF comes back and Eli White or Anthony Seigler goes. Bench a speedy utility outfielder or a replacement level infielder, bring in a veteran utility infielder, call it done.
Except White isn’t just an outfielder anymore. He got some reps in the infield last week, and that changes the calculus. White brings elite speed—the kind that changes games in ways that don’t show up in traditional box scores, whether it’s late-inning defense, a stolen base, or covering ground in the outfield during a blowout you don’t want to burn real arms for. IKF is the more polished infield defender with more positional versatility on the dirt. White is faster and more dynamic. Seigler is the clubhouse firecracker, and sometimes getting rid of that affects a team more than you can expect.
The argument for keeping White over IKF is more legitimate than it might initially seem. And here’s the thing: if they do go that route—IKF gets released, White stays—Anthony Seigler becomes your utility infielder. Seigler can play second, short, wherever Tracy needs him. He’s hit enough this year to justify a roster spot on his own. The Seigler-as-utility-IF path is genuinely compelling. Don’t sleep on it.
The Complicated One: Trevor Story
Story is a legitimate major league shortstop. When he’s healthy and productive, he’s a quick runner with real pop and a strong glove at a premium position. He’s not coming back to ride the bench.
The question isn’t whether Story plays—it’s where Andruw Monasterio goes when he does.
Because Monasterio isn’t going away. He’s been one of the most consistent run producers in this lineup for two months—a doubles and RBI machine who has shown up in big spots repeatedly. You can’t sit him. But you also can’t leave him at shortstop, because Monasterio is a horrific defensive shortstop. That’s not debatable. Story is a significantly better defender at the position and deserves to have it back.
The natural resolution: Story to short, Monasterio to second base. His bat plays anywhere in the infield, and second base covers his defensive limitations better than short does. Then Seigler slides into the utility infielder role, giving Tracy a switch-hitting bat off the bench who’s proven he can do damage in this lineup.
The version of this that makes everybody uncomfortable: if Story comes back and isn’t fully himself at the plate after months away, Tracy has a real call to make about whether slotting him in at the expense of what Monasterio is currently doing is actually helping this team win. Story has earned some benefit of the doubt. But this team has earned its record too. Give Story his spot back, let him find his timing, and watch what happens.
Behind all of this, the Franklin Arias question looms. But that’s a piece for another time.
The Exciting One: Roman Anthony
Masataka Yoshida going to the IL with a hamstring strain is bad news—he’s been a steady offensive presence all season. But it accidentally cleared the path for the best prospect in baseball to get his first real look at a pennant race.
Anthony comes back from rehab, Micky Gaspar goes back to Worcester, and Anthony DHs while Yoshida is out. Simple. Clean. The service time question is gone now anyway. Put the kid in the lineup.
The harder question is what happens when Yoshida comes back off the IL in ten days, because that DH spot disappears and someone loses at-bats. Here’s where it gets interesting: Jarren Duran is not hitting. He’s been one of the team’s biggest offensive disappointments over the last month, and the numbers justify having a real conversation about his role. But Duran is still a legitimate major leaguer who needs reps to find his way—you don’t just bench him cold.
So Tracy has three realistic paths when Yoshida returns:
One: Yoshida DHs, Anthony moves to left field, Duran loses starts. Rafaela and Abreu stay where they are, the outfield becomes a rotation, and Duran works his way back through starts rather than sitting entirely.
Two: Duran stays in left, Anthony takes the DH at-bats, Yoshida sits more than he’d like. This is harder to sell to Yoshida but it keeps Anthony in the lineup every day without disrupting the outfield alignment.
Three: Duran in left, Yoshida as primary DH, and Anthony gets gradually folded in—DH days when Yoshida needs a breather, spot starts in the outfield when someone needs a day off. The ramp-up approach, designed to give Anthony major league at-bats without fully displacing anyone.
Duran’s struggles make all three versions of this defensible. Tracy will probably start with option three and let Anthony’s bat make the decision for him.
The Big Picture
When Yoshida comes back and Anthony’s path gets complicated, Tracy will have to make harder calls. But the answer to “do you want Roman Anthony in your lineup?” is almost certainly yes—and the sooner this team finds out what he can do at the major league level, the better.
This team went 21-4 in July. They won nine straight series. They’re coming back down to earth. They’re getting healthy at exactly the right time. The roster crunch isn’t a problem—it’s a symptom of how good this organization has gotten in a very short time. Figure out the lineup. Put the best nine on the field and let it ride.
After winning a championship for the first time in 53 years, the Knicks kept much of their roster intact for the 2026-27 NBA season. The only big change from the offseason could have ramifications for the team’s hopes of producing similar results.
The Knicks let center Mitchell Robinson walk in free agency. Robinson signed a three-year, $47.4 million deal with the Atlantic Division rival Boston Celtics.
To shore up the backup five spot, New York signed veteran center Andre Drummond to a one-year, $3.9 million contract. A two-time All-Star, Drummond has been a productive player for much of his 14-year NBA career.
At 33 years old, Drummond is a downgrade from Robinson, but he can be an important contributor off the bench. Some of Drummond’s best skills blend well with New York’s philosophy. Robinson was arguably the best offensive rebounder in the NBA. Drummond is not exactly on that level, but it is a strength. Of players who played in at least 40 games last season, Drummond was fifth in offensive rebound rate, grabbing 14.5 percent of available offensive boards.
Creating extra opportunities has been a key part of New York’s strategy to win games. The Knicks finished seventh in offensive rebound rate during the regular season, and third in the playoffs. Listed at 279 pounds, Drummond is also a very good screener for his teammates. He led all players in screen assist points per 36 minutes during the playoffs.
Drummond has added the three-point shot to his skill set. After knocking down just 23 trifectas in his first 13 seasons, the big man made 32-of-90 treys (35.6 percent) last season. However, virtually all of those shots were wide open. Per NBA Stats, in 89 of those 90 three-point attempts, the closest defender to Drummond was 4 feet or more away.
If teams are willingly conceding that corner three to Drummond, it will gum up the paint, limiting driving lanes for New York’s other players. Knicks head coach Mike Brown would likely prefer having Drummond in the paint to cause havoc on the offensive glass, rather than standing idle in the corners.
Weaknesses
There are deficiencies to watch with Drummond. He’s been a weak finisher around the basket. According to NBA Stats, Drummond shot just 54.1 percent in the restricted area. Robinson was much more efficient around the basket, converting on 71.9 percent of his attempts. He was also a lob threat the Knicks will miss that next season.
Unless it’s an easy dunk, Drummond will likely have a hard time scoring efficiently close. Dunks are becoming a rarity for the veteran center, who had just 33 stuffs last season. According to Basketball Reference, just 12.2 percent of Drummond’s field goal attempts last season were dunks, the lowest figure of his career.
Another concern with Drummond will be on the defensive end. He will swat the occasional shot and is passable when it comes to defending the paint. But he lacks the mobility to switch on defense or cover a lot of ground. New York’s perimeter players at times will have to cover up for those limitations.
Drop-off
In replacing Robinson with Drummond, the Knicks are capable of contending for a championship. But this trade-off limits New York’s tool kit for the postseason. When the Knicks needed a defensive stop down the stretch in the NBA Finals, Robinson was on the floor. He forced Spurs star Victor Wembanyama into two missed shots in the closing moments of Game 2 of the NBA Finals. Drummond is unlikely to be relied on for defensive stops. Also, his pick-and-roll defense will be tested in the East against guards like Donovan Mitchell, Tyrese Maxey and Tyrese Haliburton.
Financially, the move does make sense. Robinson only played 13.9 minutes a night during the postseason and never recorded over 20 minutes in any of New York’s 19 playoff contests. It would’ve been difficult to pay him nearly $16 million annually in such a small role with New York’s second apron constraints.
The Knicks also lost third center Ariel Hukporti to the Philadelphia 76ers in free agency. The lack of a third center might also push the Knicks to other strategies. There could be more scenarios where they go small with OG Anunoby at center, depending on opponent matchups.
The Knicks unsuccessfully pursued Dallas Mavericks center Moussa Cisse in July, and SNY’s Ian Begley reported that New York looked at a trade for New Orleans Pelicans center Karlo Matkovic. The club could also look for a center who’s either a more capable switch defender or a stretch five between now and the trade deadline in February.
