Posts

Posted on

What was the real ceiling for this Orioles roster?

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JULY 25: Manager Craig Albernaz #55 of the Baltimore Orioles takes out Brandon Young #63 of the Baltimore Orioles in the seventh inning during a baseball game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on July 25, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Colton Cowser made a game-saving catch against the Rockies on August 31. The grab took the sports world by storm and lifted the Orioles back to .500 for the first time in four months. The play also preserved Baltimore’s spot as a contender for the third and final wild card spot.

With the benefit of hindsight, Cowser’s home run robbery of Jake McCarthy probably marked the high point of another disappointing season. The Orioles proceeded to lose their next six games (two in Colorado; four against Boston). Everyone chalked the Rockies result up to fatigue at the end of a long road trip, but the Birds came home and got taken behind the woodshed. Adley Rutschman hit multiple home runs during his return to Camden Yards, and Baltimore’s offense tallied only one run over the final three games of the four-game set.

And just like that, the season was lost. The Orioles took two-of-three from Cleveland when they desperately needed a sweep, and the O’s dropped two-of-three in Toronto.

In most years, the Orioles would have lost the privilege of competing for a playoff spot long before September. The third wild card spot, paired with a mediocre American League (outside of the AL East), allowed Baltimore one last chance to compete, but the team let that opportunity slip away.

Let’s put aside the early injuries to guys like Jordan Westburg and Zach Eflin. We can even look beyond the deadline sale of Rutschman, Taylor Ward, Tyler Wells and Dean Kremer. The Orioles held possession of the third wild card spot a little over two weeks ago. If I had told you back in March that the O’s would possess a wild card spot with a month to play, would you have taken that deal? I know that I would have. I would have anticipated a better record, but the playoff spot is the selling point there.

It’s clear that the 2026 season was a failure, but how would you evaluate the last three weeks? Did Craig Albernaz and his team ever really have a real chance of making the postseason? If so, what did they do wrong?

The final two games in Colorado cannot be discounted. I don’t care if the Orioles had spent a full month on the road. Baltimore, desperate for wins, had the luxury of facing the only team in the National League with a winning percentage that begins with the number three.

The team summoned Luis De León—the team’s seventh best prospect according to MLB Pipeline—to join the team in Colorado. The 23-year-old had started in 22 of his 26 appearances in the minors this year, but Baltimore gave the lefty a few relief reps before adding him to its major league bullpen. Albernaz immediately thrust the rookie into a high-leverage situation, and De León surrendered the go-ahead homer in a 4-2 loss.

It’s fair to wonder if De León should have even been with the team, let alone working in a leverage situation during his debut. The Orioles needed a fresh lefty in the bullpen, but they opted to go with a prospect that wasn’t exactly pounding down the door (6.50 ERA over 18 Triple-A innings) over a guy like Cade Povich.

The bullpen continued to bite the team as Andrew Kittredge and Grant Wolfram both blew saves in the series finale. Kittredge, one of the only experienced relievers in the bullpen, clearly lost a step in the second half. But did Albernaz mismanage the bullpen, or was he simply working with a bunch that shouldn’t be expected to deliver?

The four-game sweep at the hands of Boston all but put the final nail in the coffin. The Orioles, facing their former franchise player for the first time, all but crumbled under the pressure. The O’s failed to score on Friday and Saturday before exploding for one run in the finale. Do you blame the front office for the bats going to sleep? Can you blame the skipper?

The team deserves credit for claiming Luis Robert Jr., but the outfielder hit the injured list shortly after his arrival. Gunnar Henderson finished 3-for-13 with 0 RBIs in the Boston series. Samuel Basallo hasn’t hit since returning from the injured list. Carlos Narváez quickly reminded everyone in Baltimore what a true backup catcher looks like at the plate. Blaze Alexander attempted to manufacture a spark before returning to the injured list.

Baltimore entered last night with a season-low .650 team OPS in the month of September. Despite all the team’s struggles, the Orioles still managed to post an OPS in the .700s during every other month of the season.

It’s understandable that the pitching staff started to run out of gas. The rotation was filled with guys approaching a career high in innings pitched. Brandon Young, the starter with the highest WAR (2.1), had been pitching above his level all season. But at the end of the day, the bullpen didn’t have the dudes. The offense, with respect to Pete Alonso and Coby Mayo, didn’t have the juice.

The Orioles were the benefit of a weak field, but they proved to be the weakest of the bunch. Albernaz deserves some heat for how things unfolded this year, but it’s not like he managed this team out of a playoff spot. Players like Jackson Holliday and Colton Cowser did not take the step that everyone expected. Ryan Helsley got banged up, and Félix Bautista never returned.

This roster just didn’t have the talent to make the playoffs this season, and it will need to make several improvements if it hopes to compete next year.

Posted on

Four Maple Leafs Who Must Have A Great Training Camp

Training camp for the Toronto Maple Leafs is nearly here, and with all the new faces around the organization, the roster and management, the lead-up to the 2026-27 season will be interesting.

It'll be an opportunity for new players to become accustomed to each other and build chemistry. It's also a chance for players to leave a good first impression on the ice with new head coach Jim Hiller. And for some, that early impression of the coach means more than for others.

Here are four players on the Maple Leafs who must have a great training camp to solidify their spots on the NHL roster. Especially for opening night on Sept. 29 against the Montreal Canadiens at Scotiabank Arena.

Emil Andrae, D

Emil Andrae was the main get when Toronto traded Joseph Woll and Simon Benoit to the Philadelphia Flyers. The 5-foot-9 defenseman backs himself as a mobile player who likes to move the puck. That's a defenseman that the Leafs could've used in last year's back end as they struggled to move the puck out of their own zone efficiently.

Emil Andrae Shares Reaction To Maple Leafs Trade, Pumped For A 'Fresh Start'Emil Andrae Shares Reaction To Maple Leafs Trade, Pumped For A 'Fresh Start'Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Emil Andrae said he suspected that he would get traded from the Philadelphia Flyers. "But when I found out it was Toronto, I couldn't be happier."

At training camp, Andrae must prove that his ability on the puck is enough to overcome his small frame and limited NHL experience. Not to mention, there will be competition among the Leafs' defense group, specifically with Troy Stecher, as well as Nick Blankenburg, looking to make a name for himself on a PTO. Even 20-year-old Ben Danford has set lofty goals for himself to make the NHL roster out of camp.

The 24-year-old Swede has played a total of 107 career games, 61 of which came last year. Andrae averaged 15:20 of ice time per game, scoring two goals and 13 points, and finishing second on the team in plus-minus with a plus-15.

Easton Cowan, LW

Easton Cowan isn't really at risk of losing a job on the Maple Leafs' NHL roster. But how many minutes he gets throughout the year remains unclear.

The 21-year-old certainly grew over the course of 2025-26. Cowan featured in 66 regular-season games for Toronto, registering 11 goals and 29 points. With that, he averaged 14:43 of ice time per game. 

If the Maple Leafs were in contention for the Stanley Cup playoffs, Cowan's young career to this point could look completely different. He wouldn't have received as much ice time or opportunity if the team had more to play for and had maintained their veteran players rather than trading them at the deadline (Scott Laughton, Bobby McMann and Nic Roy). Cowan didn't get an opportunity in the NHL just because some veterans got traded, but it definitely gave him some room in the lineup.

Nonetheless, with Hiller now overlooking the lineup, he'll need to prove that he's more than a player who benefited from a team that had little to play for. He's already a middle-six player on the team, but can he propel himself to a constant second-liner with a good first impression?

Maple Leafs 2026-27 Line Projections: Where Do Gavin McKenna And Easton Cowan Fit?Maple Leafs 2026-27 Line Projections: Where Do Gavin McKenna And Easton Cowan Fit?The Toronto Maple Leafs may not be done tinkering with their lineup between now and training camp. So we did our best to look at projected lines for opening night.

Dakota Joshua, LW

Dakota Joshua is another player who has a spot in Toronto's lineup. But his role is a little less solidified than Cowan's, per se.

He's projected to be the fourth-line left winger for opening night, with training camp still to happen between now and then. But for any fourth-line player, they can be taken out of the lineup the second the coach doesn't feel like they are fulfilling the role or having an impact on the game.

Joshua's challenge in camp is to show that he is a useful player who can be physical with his 6-foot-3 frame. If he can be that heavy player, as well as put up 10-plus goals in the year, that would be acceptable.

Where Does The Maple Leafs' Forward Group Rank In The Atlantic Division?Where Does The Maple Leafs' Forward Group Rank In The Atlantic Division?The Toronto Maple Leafs executed a near-overhaul of the forward group going into next season. Where does the team stand in terms of its offense on paper in comparison to the rest of the Atlantic Division?

Steven Lorentz, LW

With all the bottom-six additions to the Maple Leafs this off-season, Steven Lorentz appears to be the odd man out in terms of the 12 forwards to dress for opening night.

Lorentz, 30, will be competing for a regular spot on this roster just as much as anyone else will be going into 2026-27. Training camp is the opportunity for him to showcase himself to Hiller and the rest of the coaching staff. It's the chance for him to set himself apart from his peers and those also jostling for a fourth-line role.

He has to show that he can do a little more than skate the length of the ice each shift. The fallout with Calle Jarnkrok was that he didn't provide many dimensions other than being an option on the penalty kill. Lorentz can't fall into that realm.

As a 6-foot-4 forward, he should be able to be a little more physical and bring some energy. With that, he's got decent speed and can make plays offensively, notching 18 points last season on an average of 11:52 per game.

See more of The Hockey News on Google — Save us as Preferred Source

Image

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

Posted on

Thoughts on a 4-2 Rangers win

ARLINGTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 15: Texas Rangers pitcher Jacob deGrom (48) reacts after hitting a batter with a pitch during the MLB game between the Boston Red Sox and the Texas Rangers on September 15, 2026 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Rangers 4, Red Sox 2

  • And that’s three in a row.
  • Oh damn…just realized that this has gotten us to the much feared and hated one-game-under-.500 spot again.
  • That’s been a bit of a stumbling block this season, hasn’t it?
  • But that is the next game’s problem, not this game’s problem.
  • This game featured some gritty gutty work from Jacob deGrom, who was originally scheduled to make his next start on Wednesday. But with the urgency of the Rangers’ current situation and Monday’s off day, the Rangers could move deGrom up a day and still have him start on regular rest.
  • Doing so also means that deGrom would be slated to start in the Sunday series finale against the Blue Jays.
  • Despite an ongoing groin issue which deGrom had to manage, he gave the Rangers five strong innings, with the blip being a two run Nick Sogard homer in the third inning.
  • deGrom has now allowed just nine hits in his last four starts, and just 16 hits in his last six starts.
  • Oh, and he struck out eight batters in the game, allowing him to pass Aaron Nola on the all time strikeout list.
  • deGrom is now tied with Dazzy Vance for 86th on the all-time K list.
  • There’s been not enough people named Dazzy in the world in recent years. Someone needs to look into that.
  • Rangers hitters didn’t do a lot in the game, but they did enough, putting up a four run inning in the second, with all the runs coming with two outs, and with the broadcast feed not working, so none of us watching at home were able to see what was happening.
  • I bet it was exciting, though.
  • Also exciting? A bases loaded situation in the fifth, an inning that started with deGrom’s first hit by pitch of the season, and was followed by a catcher’s interference. With two outs and the bases full, a seven pitch Adley Rutschman at bat ended with a 3-2 ground out, and also ended deGrom’s night at 92 pitches.
  • Meanwhile, in the eighth, an infield single, a fly out and a walk was followed by Robert Garcia being lifted for Jacob Latz, who was asked to get the final five outs. After a groundout moved the runners to second and third, Trevor Story was intentionally walked, leading to another lengthy at bat, this time by pinch hitter Andruw Monasterio, finally ending in a 3-2 swinging K.
  • I can say now that those bases loaded jams were exciting because things turned out okay. I’d use a different adjective if things had turned out poorly.
  • Corey Seager’s bloop single brought home the final two runs of the second inning for the Rangers. He was 2 for 4 in the game. Since returning from the injured list the first time in early June, he is slashing .280/.359/.511 in 206 plate appearances.
  • That’s pretty good, I think.
  • Cleveland won, so the Rangers are still a game and half back in the Wild Card race, and the Astros won so the Rangers are still a game back in the A.L. West. Toronto, however, lost, so the Rangers moved ahead of the Jays in the Wild Card chase, and now have no one between them and Cleveland.
  • Oh, and Martin Perez won his 100th career game. That’s neat.
  • Jacob deGrom topped out at 98.8 mph with his fastball, averaging 97.0 mph. Chase Silseth hit 97.3 mph with his fastball. Tyler Alexander touched 92.7 mph with his fastball. Robert Garcia’s fastball reached 92.1 mph. Jacob Latz maxed out at 97.5 mph with his fastball.
  • Corey Seager had a 108.8 mph single. Brandon Nimmo had a 106.3 mph single. Ezequiel Duran had a 105.3 mph single. Danny Jansen had a 103.9 mph single. Jake Burger had a 101.9 mph groundout. Wyatt Langford had a 101.9 mph fly out.
  • Eleven games to go.
Posted on

Two-Time Stanley Cup Champion Returns Home To Join Utah Mammoth

Trevor Lewis never had the chance to play for his hometown team.

For most of his 17-year NHL career, that team simply didn't exist.

The Utah Mammoth played their inaugural season in 2024-25, the same season Lewis was preparing to close the book on a career that saw him win two Stanley Cups, play more than 1,000 NHL games and establish himself as one of the most accomplished hockey players Utah has ever produced.

Now, though, Lewis finally has a place within his hometown club.

Just not in uniform.

The Utah native has joined the Mammoth staff as a part-time video scout and youth and amateur hockey ambassador, bringing nearly two decades of NHL experience back to the state where his love for the game began.

“Trevor Lewis fell in love with the game of hockey right here in Utah,” Mammoth president of hockey operations Chris Armstrong said. “He went on to win two Stanley Cups over the span of his 17-year NHL career, retiring as the most accomplished player ever from this state.”

Lewis retired following the 2025-26 season, ending a career that began when the Los Angeles Kings selected him 17th overall in the 2006 NHL Draft. He spent the bulk of his career in Los Angeles, helping the Kings capture the Stanley Cup in 2012 and again in 2014.

His résumé extends well beyond those championships.

Lewis played 1,034 NHL games, the most in league history by a player from Utah, and finished second among Utah-born players with 237 career points. His draft position also remains the highest ever for an NHL player from the state.

Those accomplishments now give Lewis a unique perspective to bring into the Mammoth organization.

His role will extend beyond video scouting and hockey operations. Lewis will also work to help grow youth and amateur hockey throughout Utah, returning to the same community where his own journey in the sport began.

For a state whose hockey profile has grown considerably in recent years, having one of its most accomplished players involved at the grassroots level gives Lewis an opportunity to influence the game long after his playing career has ended.

“Being able to tap into the mind and championship experience of someone who cares so personally and so deeply about the continuous growth of hockey in Utah, and who knows what it would mean to bring a Stanley Cup to the fans here, is both a rare opportunity and a natural fit for us,” Armstrong said.

Lewis never got to wear the jersey of Utah's NHL team.

But after spending 17 years building a career that made him one of the state's hockey pioneers, he now gets to help build what comes next.

Image
Posted on

Ex-Warrior James Wiseman signs training camp contract with NBA champion Knicks

Ex-Warrior James Wiseman signs training camp contract with NBA champion Knicks originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors haven’t had much luck with their first-round draft picks in recent years, dating back to 2020. James Wiseman didn’t pan out in Golden State, but the former No. 2 overall pick is getting another opportunity with the reigning NBA champions.

The New York Knicks have signed Wiseman to a non-guaranteed training camp contract. The former No. 2 overall draft pick will compete for one of the team’s remaining open regular-season roster spots.

Wiseman is a former second-overall pick who hasn’t quite panned out, averaging just 9.0 points and 5.5 rebounds in 152 games (56 starts) over five NBA seasons.

He appeared in a combined five games over the past two years with the Pacers after tearing his left Achilles in the 2024-25 season opener.

The University of Memphis product showed flashes of his athleticism during his time in the Bay, highlighted by a career-high 30-point performance against the Nets.

Wiseman averaged 9.9 points and 5.0 rebounds with the Warriors. Steve Kerr tried to get the most out of the big man, but ultimately, things didn’t work out in Golden State.

“We just didn’t have a sense of how raw he would be because we only had three college games of his,” Kerr stated on 95.7 The Game years ago.

In three career games at Memphis, Wiseman averaged 19.7 points and 10.7 rebounds per game. Unfortunately for the 25-year-old, his game has yet to translate to the next level.

Wiseman still brings a large frame to a team coming off an NBA title and can earn his keep if he plays efficiently.

With Mitchell Robinson departing for the Boston Celtics this offseason, there’s a realistic chance that Wiseman could add value to the Knicks.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

Posted on

Cutter Gauthier signs six-year, $81 million contract with Anaheim Ducks

The Anaheim Ducks have reached an agreement to sign left wing Cutter Gauthier to a six-year, $81 million contract extension ($13.5 million average annual value), securing his place with the team through the 2031-32 NHL season.

Gauthier was selected fifth overall in the 2022 NHL Draft by the Philadelphia Flyers before being acquired by Anaheim via trade for defenseman Jamie Drysdale and a 2025 second-round selection in early 2024. Last season, Gauthier tallied 41 goals and 69 points as the Ducks' leading scorer. His offensive production helped lead Anaheim to its first playoff appearance since 2018, ending an eight-year postseason drought.

"We are pleased to get Cutter signed to a long-term deal and have him in camp on time," said Ducks General Manager Pat Verbeek in a statement Tuesday, Sept. 15. "He’s a major part of our young core, a pure goal-scoring talent that will continue progressing into an elite NHL player."

Gauthier’s contract was finalized in the final hours of the previous NHL collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Under the new CBA, which took effect at midnight, teams can now offer a maximum of seven years to re-signing players and six years to free agents. The updated agreement also changes the structure of signing bonuses and limits how much can be paid upfront, reducing the prevalence of front-loaded contracts.

More: Alex Ovechkin faces backlash over pro-Putin political campaign ad

"This is a very exciting day for my family and I," Gauthier said in a statement. "I'm so pleased to be able to sign long-term with the Ducks and be part of what I believe is a great future."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cutter Gauthier signs six-year, $81 million contract with Anaheim Ducks

Posted on

Matt Cord forgoes retirement to return as Sixers PA announcer for 29th season

PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 10: Philadelphia 76ers Public Address Announcer Matt Cord smiles during the game against the New York Knicks during Round Two Game Four of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 10, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

You just knew this was too big of a Sixers season to not have Matt Cord on the mic.

After initially retiring following the conclusion of the 2025-26 campaign, Cord will instead return as public address announcer at Xfinity Mobile Arena for Philadelphia 76ers’ home games for the upcoming season. It will be his 29th year in the role in South Philadelphia.

The team took to social media to announce the change of plans for the longtime announcer.

(There is no in-arena announcer more deserving of a hype video than Cord also, in my opinion.)

Cord likely felt he had initially gone out on the best note possible, calling the home games of the Sixers’ seven-game takedown of the Boston Celtics in the first round of the playoffs last season before Philly was eliminated in the second… That was until the Sixers had their blockbuster summer, featuring game-changing additions of LeBron James and Jaylen Brown.

So now, Cord returns for his 29th season at the helm to call out the names of the Sixers’ newest stars (in addition to Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and the other returners) for Philadelphia in what will likely be a rocking, packed arena all season long.

“I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to return to the mic as PA announcer for 76ers for one more season,” Cord said. “Serving in this role for the past 28 years has been a dream come true, and I have been fortunate to witness so many memorable moments from the best seat in the house. This is going to be a special year, and I can’t wait to be back at Xfinity Mobile Arena with you all. Let’s go, 76ers!”

According to the team, Cord has also agreed to take part in working with the franchise to help identify the next Sixers PA announcer through a tryout process slated to start this winter.

Welcome back, Matt!

Posted on

Yankees Rivalry Roundup: Rays, Guardians walk it off

ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 15: Junior Caminero #13 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates with teammates after hitting a walk-off home run in the ninth inning to defeat the Athletics 2-1 at Tropicana Field on September 15, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images

History was in jeopardy for a bit when the Twins came into the Bronx earlier in the season and won a series against the Yankees, but the timeline course-corrected as the team has traveled up to Minnesota and won the first two games of the rematch. The Bombers’ perpetual punching bag have fallen out of the still-bloated race for the third Wild Card spot and that point’s been driven home by the Yankees taking a second-consecutive win with eight runs scored, this time only allowing a single run in exchange and getting their offense going much earlier than the eighth inning.

With their business handled, New York’s eyes drifted across the league to see what their rivals managed to do on Tuesday. The Rays and Red Sox were both in action, and there was a battle going on between the two top teams in the Central to check in on.

Tampa Bays Rays (91-59) 2, Athletics (61-90) 1

After taking consecutive series against Atlanta and Houston, the temporarily-relocated Athletics weren’t expected to put up much of a challenge to Tampa. However, after allowing an unearned run in the second inning on a passed ball the A’s buckled down and prevented the Rays from extending their lead, Jack Perkins going 6.2 innings without any more runs crossing home plate under his watch. Meanwhile, the A’s offense wasn’t managing much against Griffin Jax but Kevin Cash pulled him after just 67 pitches despite it being his third start back from the IL. The Athletics took advantage and pounced on the new pitcher Ty Johnson in the sixth, stringing a pair of singles before scoring the lead runner on a wild pitch to tie the game.

The Rays couldn’t be stifled forever though, and in the ninth inning they finally broke through. Elvis Alverado was brought on to start the frame facing Junior Caminero, and after getting a generous high strike to get ahead in the count Alverado threw two pitches middle-middle. Caminero fouled off the first one, but he wouldn’t get cheated on the second and drove it 345 feet for the walk-off homer. The big hit prevents the Yankees from gaining any ground once more, as they remain 3.5 games behind Tampa with 11 games left to play.

View Link

Other Games

Boston Red Sox (82-69) 2, Texas Rangers (75-76) 4: The Rangers blitzed Patrick Sandoval in the second inning for all four of their runs, Elias Díaz and Corey Seager getting the RBI base-knocks with a double and single, respectively. Nick Sogard got two of those runs back in the third, but that’s all they could manage against Jacob deGrom as he struck out eight over five innings and ended his night by performing a Houdini act to prevent any runs from scoring after letting the first two runners aboard in the fifth. The Rangers’ bullpen held serve with Boston’s, working themselves out of a bases-loaded jam in the eighth to secure the win and move to within a game of .500. The Sox now fall to six games behind the Yankees for the top Wild Card seed, and with New York owning the tiebreaker it’s looking all but guaranteed that the Yankees will have home field advantage for whatever their opening round of the playoffs are.

View Link

Cleveland Guardians (77-75) 7, Chicago White Sox (77-74) 6: Chicago’s opener strategy backfired as Chris Murphy gave up three runs on a pair of homers in the first inning, only recording two outs before getting pulled. The White Sox clawed a couple of those runs back before charging out into a lead of their own in the sixth inning as they plated four. Travis Bazzana got one of those back immediately with his second homer of the night, but Cleveland entered the ninth inning down a run and in need of a rally. Nathaniel Lowe started it with a single to lead off, and Kyle Teel walked to put the winning run on two batters later. A groundout brought Cleveland down to their last out, but Brayan Rocchio stepped up and delivered a double just out of the leaping Sam Antonacci’s reach to walk it off. The Guardians erased the previous night’s loss and move to within a half-game of Chicago again for first place, setting up a critical rubber match later today.

View Link

AL Wild Card Rock Fight

Toronto Blue Jays (75-77) 1, Detroit Tigers (72-79) 10: The Tigers punished the Jays for running a bullpen game, dropping five runs on Michael Lorenzen before adding at least one more run against each of the next three Jays pitchers. Toronto’s only offense came in the eighth when Kyle Finnegan entered and promptly gave up several hits with Alejandro Kirk getting the RBI single, but he quickly exited and the outs resumed without further incident.

View Link

Houston Astros (76-75) 4, Kansas City Royals (66-85) 2: Two hitters did it all for Houston, Jeremy Peña hitting a pair of solo shots to put the Astros up early before Yordan Alvarez launched his 39th homer of the year for a two-run shot that wound up as the game-winning runs. Hunter Brown struck out 10 over six innings with just one run allowed to earn the win, and Josh Hader continued his sub-1 ERA run with another clean inning for his 26th save.

View Link

Baltimore Orioles (74-78) 7, New York Mets (69-82) 5 (11 innings): Down 3-2 in the ninth inning, Pete Alonso hit his 300th career home run against his former team to tie things up and force extra innings. The O’s got one across in the 10th on a wild pitch but could muster no more and got matched by a Marcus Semien RBI double, but they exploded for three runs in the 11th as Coby Mayo hit an inside-the park three-run homer that he initially stopped to admire before actually running the bases. Fortunately for him A.J. Ewing wasn’t able to turn around in time to come up with the grab near the wall and the ball caromed into no-man’s land deep in center field allowing him to race home easily.

View Link
Posted on

Mets Morning News: Roberto Clemente Day

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 15: Francisco Lindor #12 of the New York Mets looks on during the game between the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Mets at Citi Field on Tuesday, September 15, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Hailey Leonard/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Meet the Mets

The Mets lost to the Orioles 7-5 in the eleventh inning. The game winning runs were scored when Coby Mayo hit a ball just out of A.J. Ewing’s reach, which turned into a three-run inside-the-park home run.

Choose your recap: Amazin’ Avenue, MLB.com, New York Daily News, New York Post, The Athletic

Pete Alonso’s return to Citi Field not only inspired rosy nostalgia, but caused the season-long anger some fans have held to bubble over.

While the end of the contract might still go poorly, the return of Alonso illuminates the difficulty of replacing Alonso in the present.

The Arizona Fall League rosters have been released, and eight Mets prospects will be playing in the autumn.

The Mets claimed infielder Christian Cairo from the Phillies, optioning him to Triple-A Syracuse.

Around the National League East

An investor in the Atlanta Braves believes now is the time to sell the team.

Jesús Luzardo has landed on the injured list in a big blow to the Phillies rotation in the midst of a playoff push.

Luzardo’s injury at such a critical point in the Phillies season has many possible ramifications.

The Phillies fell to the Nationals 6-3. Cristopher Sánchez had an uncharacteristically rough start, giving up fine runs in 6.1 innings, allowing eight hits and two walks while striking out five.

The Braves beat the Cubs 6-3 in Chicago. Ronald Acuña Jr., Drake Baldwin, and Ozzie Albies all drove in two runs each.

The Marlins beat the DIamondbacks 4-2 in eleven innings. Esteury Ruiz drove in the inning runs with a three run double in the top of the elventh inning.

Around Major League Baseball

MLB and the MLBPA have joined forces with multiple other major leagues to crack down on betting related harassment of players, coaches, and families and urged regulators to combat such harassment.

Pete Crow-Armstrong has joined an elite group in baseball history, with his season WAR passing 10.0.

It was Roberto Clemente Day yesterday, and the celebration has overshadowed MLB’s shrinking Puerto Rican player representation, with the number being just 27 this year, half of what it was 25 years ago.

Carlos Correa won’t be rejoining the Astros this season after his ankle surgery in May.

Reds manager Terry Francona was encouraged by the reports of the front office leaders being expected to stay put in Cincinnati.

The Milwaukee Brewers clinched their fourth straight National League Central title behind another great Jacob Misiorowski start.

Yesterday at Amazin’ Avenue

A Pod of Their Own released another episode.

Steve Sypa published the 25th edition of Mets Minor League Players of the Week for 2026.

This Date in Mets History

September 16th is a date with multiple Mets 20-count milestones, both for pitchers and hitters.

Posted on

Braves News: Martín Pérez earns 100th win, magic number 5, and more

CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 15: Martín Pérez #33 of the Atlanta Braves pitches during the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Tuesday, September 15, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Lawrence Brown/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

The Atlanta Braves evened the series against the Chicago Cubs after Tuesday night’s 6-3 win.  Martín Pérez got the start, lasting six innings and allowing three runs on five hits. He walked two and struck out four. Though a bit of a shaky start, Pérez ultimately got the win, the 100th of his career.

The Braves got some much needed insurance in the ninth, courtesy of Drake Baldwin’s two-run blast. Pérez kept the Braves in the game, the offense came through, and the magic number dwindled to 5.

More Braves News:

Right-hander Reynaldo López was placed on the 15-day injured list with shoulder inflammation. Fellow righty JR Ritchie was recalled as a result.

Tate Southisene headlines the list of the eight Braves prospects headed to the Arizona Fall League.

The 2026 season has come to an end for the Columbus Clingstones, and here is a recap of the 64-68 season for the Double-A affiliate.

MLB News:

The Philadelphia Phillies placed left-hander Jesús Luzardo on the 15-day injured list with shoulder inflammation. The move is retroactive to September 12.

Joc Pederson of the Texas Rangers is dealing with a small fracture in his left hand but is attempting to play through it. 

The Athletics placed left-hander Gage Jump on the 15-day injured list with a left shoulder impingement. The move is retroactive to September 13.

From the Feed:

Cast your vote for Braves Player of the Game here.

Posted on

Dodgers notes: Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Teoscar Hernández, Shohei Ohtani

CINCINNATI, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 15: Yoshinobu Yamamoto #18 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws a pitch against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on September 15, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Dodgers’ winning ways in September were briefly interrupted for two games against the Miami Marlins, but they have picked back up against the Cincinnati Reds, taking the first two games of a four-game set.

After Tarik Skubal shut down Cincinnati over seven innings on Monday, Yoshinobu Yamamoto continued the trend of marvelous results from the rotation with a seven-inning scoreless gem on Tuesday, working through a pair of lead-off walks while allowing just one hit while striking out seven. Yamamoto has amazed in his two most recent starts— both against the Reds— allowing just one run over 14 innings while racking up 17 strikeouts compared to just three walks.

Yamamoto held the Reds to just a 1-21 clip after walking his first two hitters of the game on Tuesday, and the right-hander managed to take a page out of Skubal’s playbook for his dominating efforts, notes Sonja Chen of MLB.com.

Yamamoto was able to learn from how the Reds approached Skubal the night before, and Snell was no doubt gathering similar information on Tuesday.

“That kind of encouraged me to be aggressive and attack the hitters,” Yamamoto said through interpreter Yoshihiro Sonoda.

The pitching has managed to hold their end of the bargain against Cincinnati this week, and Blake Snell looks to keep that trajectory in motion. On the offensive side of the ball, Teoscar Hernández has fortified the offense at Great American Ball Park, as the right-hander has crushed a pair of two-run home runs that put both games out of reach.

Hernández has once again found his stride that fans saw during spring training this year, and the Dodger outfielder’s recent success is the brainchild of hitting coach Aaron Bates, allowing Hernández to have a “twister tap” in his stride to the ball, per Maddie Lee of the Los Angeles Times.

“It was a great meeting we had,” Bates said. “We all talked about it, and then he felt comfortable enough to do it, and then the rest is to his credit. He’s just been who he is.”

“When Teo’s hips are loose that way, and his front leg looks like an Elvis knee, it’s a good sign for us,” Bates said. “Because that means that he can open and close it without his upper body going with it.”

Update on Shohei Ohtani

It’s an unusual feeling watching the Dodgers without Shohei Ohtani in the everyday lineup. So far, rookie Josue De Paula has filled in at DH to a small degree of success in limited time (.143/.368/.429, 19 PA) while the reigning two-time NL MVP recovers from multiple nagging issues.

Jack Harris of the California Post notes that Ohtani was able to take batting practice on Monday, and the team is optimistic that he can potentially return from the injured list before the end of the regular season.

“Today was positive,” Roberts said, “and hopefully we can just keep building towards that.”

Posted on

NBA Feature: Let’s Talk About the Way We Speak About LaMelo Ball

ORLANDO, FLORIDA - APRIL 17: LaMelo Ball #1 of the Charlotte Hornets reacts against the Orlando Magic during the second quarter of the Play-In Tournament game at Kia Center on April 17, 2026 in Orlando, Florida. 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 Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Editor’s Note: It’s with great pride we introduce Kaden Cho as one of our guest contributors! He’s going to bring some of his fresh perspectives here, and you can follow him at @kady1735.

LaMelo Ball is the Timberwolves’ premier addition this offseason, and with that label, discussions have inevitably started about how impactful he really is. The 25-year-old is coming off his first healthy season in years, finally surpassing the 50 game barrier, and leading the best starting lineup in the league in terms of net rating.

This has rightfully garnered Ball praise as one of the best offensive engines in the world, and while some still harbor grievances about his injury struggles, there remains a camp that believes he is simply not good at all. To them, he’s “reckless,” “inefficient,” and the biggest of his detractors will even call him “stupid”.

This narrative is generally associated with turnover issues, but the Wolves’ new point guard was actually in the 71st percentile among his positional group in creation-adjusted turnover percentage this season. This stat reflects that Ball suppressed turnovers relative to his 94th percentile on-ball load.

Rather, much of the talk about Ball’s playstyle hinges on our perception of his playmaking process, rather than the results of that creation. He is often degraded as being “made for TikTok”, in a way that connotes the idea that he is exclusively a highlight player. The one-legged threes and no-look passes certainly feed into that view, but we must take more than one look at any player that we evaluate.

Why brand LaMelo as “reckless” rather than “innovative”? Ball’s way of playing basketball is groundbreaking and deserving of praise.

Perhaps the way that we talk about him is informed by his off-court shenanigans, with him being brought up as one of the first major social media stars in basketball, which has only continued through his irresponsible driving.

It’s understandable why many use this mental shortcut. The Julian Newmans of the world, who came up around LaMelo’s time, definitely aren’t doing as well, and clips have spread that have only further propagated this idea. LaMelo’s most recognizable highlight from his childhood is his pull-up from half-court, and it’s easy to look at that kid and say he’s an arrogant showboater.

Even in the pre-draft process, LaMelo stood out like a sore thumb. He bounced around internationally, even having a short stint with a start-up league created by his father, LaVar Ball. His interviews were even wackier: He said he wanted to be the President of the United States after he was finished with basketball.

This narrative has also been given life by the numerous clips of LaVar that have gone viral over the years.

It’s easy to look at this and say that LaMelo is not the most put-together person, and I wouldn’t necessarily disagree; I don’t know him personally. But I do find it to be an issue when these categorizations are applied to basketball.

Is it not our job as analysts to separate these issues from his actual play on the court? Why has the collective NBA community dumbed down LaMelo’s ability as a passer?

Basketball has long used terms like “low-IQ” to describe its own aesthetic bias, and it has routinely dipped into anti-blackness. Allen Iverson, Russell Westbrook, Magic Johnson, and so many other extraordinary passers have been demeaned for the same things that Ball faces now.

Magic, who is now widely considered to be the greatest passer to ever step foot on an NBA court, or really any court for that matter, was seen as too careless when he was drafted. Jerry West infamously tried to force him into the post as a power forward instead of as a point guard. And yet, he redefined the game by stretching its boundaries.

These words are usually used as a descriptor for a genuine evaluation of a player, but it’s important to remember that our biases are never fully isolated from stereotypes embedded in our society. There are ways that LaMelo’s shot diet could be more efficient, yes: he was a 58th-percentile point guard in rim attempts per 75 possessions last season, which is very low for his creation duties.

In the same way, LaMelo’s pull-up shooting and passing are indeed unorthodox, but it has lead to historic levels of offense, and even if there are valid criticisms of his game, we must watch what connotations our language has.

Anthony Edwards hasn’t played with a real passing point guard – at least not one who is in their prime – throughout his entire career, and the Timberwolves just went out and got one of the best in the league. Furthermore, it’s a very clear shift by the front office to counter the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder by leaning very heavily on pull-up shot creation.

Sometimes you have to zag when the league zigs, and that’s what Tim Connelly is known for. It is in moving away from the orthodox that we get some of the biggest Wolves moments of the decade. Coming off Rudy Gobert’s transformative defense and important part in several impressive playoff runs, you’ll never believe that trading for him was largely criticized as mortgaging their future.

Players shouldn’t be assigned personal qualities based on the different decisions they make on the court. Luka Dončić, whose eccentric playmaking style leads to incredible plays but also exasperating turnovers, has been called a playmaking savant, a passing genius, and a true innovator for the sport. But LaMelo “makes bad decisions,” and his passing process is “impaired”.

And even if you think LaMelo is reckless based on the driving, don’t apply it to the game, and vice versa.

These labels have stuck to LaMelo, but in the end, they don’t define who he is as a player. One of the best passers in the NBA is heading to the Timberwolves, and the fans should be excited for what is to come, as their franchise player is.

Posted on

Player Preview: Koa Peat has almost everything the Suns want. Almost…

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 14: Koa Peat #18 of the Phoenix Suns poses for a portrait during the 2026 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot on July 14, 2026 at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Every day, we’ll take a closer look at another member of the 2026-27 Phoenix Suns, examining what they bring to the roster and what their role could mean for the season ahead as we count down to training camp and the preseason.

Koa Peat

Forward, 6’7”, 245lb, 19 years old, Rookie

The Suns took a big swing when they traded up and drafted Koa Peat with the 30th overall pick in the NBA Draft. Peat has obvious strengths and obvious weaknesses. His strengths made him a projected lottery-level talent in high school. However, his weaknesses in college and during the draft process caused him to almost fall out of the first round.

Peat has an incredible resume. He is a four-time Arizona High School state champion, he led the University of Arizona to its first Final Four in 25 years, and comes from a family full of professional athletes. He has all the intangibles and high character traits that will make him a fan favorite right away if he can get playing time on a deep Suns roster. Which is the biggest question mark for Peat going into this season.

Where does Peat get minutes this season in a crowded rotation at forward with Dillon Brooks, Miles Bridges, Rasheer Fleming, and Ryan Dunn all vying for minutes? And how quickly can Peat earn the trust of Jordan Ott and his teammates?

If Peat can get his now antiquated old-school style game to translate over to the new-school NBA, it will be a huge win for a Suns team that needs Peat to pan out for the future of the franchise.

Last Season

GPMINPPGRPGAPGSTLFG%3PT%FT%OFFRTGDEFRTG
3627.814.15.62.60.652.8%35.0%62.3%119.5100.7

Last season at Arizona, Peat was one of the best players in the Big 12 and the entire country. He earned Third Team All-Big 12 honors despite missing three games with an injury/illness during conference play. He excelled in the biggest moments of the season, when he scored 30 points against Florida’s humongous front line in the first game of the season and later in the postseason.

He averaged a team-leading 17.1 points in the Wildcats’ run to the Final Four and elevated his all-around play when his team needed him the most. The in-state hero broke Sean Miller’s curse and got his team to the Final Four before losing to the eventual National Champion Michigan Wolverines.

What made Peat so effective with the Wildcats was how integrated himself within their offensive and defensive schemes. His basketball intelligence allowed him to still score and create for others despite the spacing limitations on the Arizona roster. He was effective playing off the Wildcats’ excellent guards Jaden Bradley and Brayden Burries while also finding his spots at the elbows and midpost areas with Arizona’s two big centers Tobe Awake and Motiejus Krivas. Even with two of the best rebounding centers in the nation, Peat still grabbed almost six rebounds a game, making Arizona the second-best rebounding team in the country. Defensively, he was a capable on-ball defender and knew how to use his thick body to keep opposing players out of the lane.

But the reason Peat was available for Phoenix late in the draft was his 3-point shooting, or lack of 3-point shooting. At Arizona, Peat shot 35% from the 3-point line on just 20 attempts the entire season. He did not make a single 3 during Summer League and struggled during the NBA Combine’s shooting workouts. His mechanics are a work in progress and have already changed considerably since his time in college, but not necessarily for the better. Although Peat does not have to be a knockdown 3-point shooter in his NBA career to be effective, the Suns will have to be creative in how they deploy Peat early in his career because of those limitations.

Contract and Roster Context

Koa Peat signed a 4-year, $15,031,531 rookie scale contract with the Phoenix Suns this summer and will be extension-eligible in 2029 and will enter 2030 as a restricted free agent. He joins Ryan Dunn and Rasheer Fleming as the Phoenix Suns’ young wings competing for playing time at the back end of the Suns’ rotation.

What He Brings

Koa Peat has a very unique style of play for the modern NBA game. Put Peat back in an era that was less three-point prolific, and he might have been a high lottery pick.

Peat has a unique blend of size and athleticism that makes him effective as a mid-post player and finishing around the basket both above and below the rim. Where Peat is elite is his footwork, whether he’s finishing off one or two feet. During his brief stint in Summer League, he showed an ability to take and make difficult shots on the block, at the elbows, and anywhere in between. Because of how physical he plays, Peat should be effective at getting to the free-throw line, where he shot 62% at Arizona.

Peat’s fluidity and touch make him an extremely difficult-to-stop locomotive in transition and attacking off of cuts. He can get his shot off in almost any situation and at unique angles. Even if the shot looks off balance, Peat has had incredible body control and soft touch to finish over and around taller defenders that should translate to the NBA.

Not only is Peat effective off the ball and in the midpost, but he can play on the ball as well. He handles the ball comfortably on the perimeter and was the Suns’ primary ball handler during Summer League outside of the point guards. He sees the floor well and is a good passer, especially dumping the ball off to his centers after penetrating to the basket.

Peat fills many needs for this Suns roster long term because he has the potential to be a good to elite isolation scorer that can attack mismatches with his versatility. He is another athletic body that the Suns can utilize to be a tough, gritty team that plays defense and rebounds at an elite level. Outside of his scoring and rebounding ability, he might be the best passing forward on this Suns roster right now. With Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale gone, the Suns need to replace their shooting first and foremost, but also their undervalued secondary playmaking, and that is a void Peat can fill immediately.

What Needs to Improve

The main weakness for Peat is easy to diagnose but difficult to fix. He is not a three-point shooter, and to survive in the NBA without a consistent jump shot, he has to be elite at another skill, whether that’s defensively, playmaking, and/or rim pressure. The Suns already do not have many shooters on the roster, so Peat only adds to that problem.

Long term, if Peat adds a consistent three-point shot, the sky is the limit for what he could be. If all he ever becomes is a very consistent midrange jump shooter, he will still be an effective player because of everything else he brings; it will just take that organization prioritizing players that fit with Peat, which is not what this Suns roster has right now.

The other area where Peat has to grow if he is going to play minutes this season is his motor and conditioning. This especially stood out during Summer League, where he was often the last guy getting back on defense because he did not sprint or was the final player in the frontcourt on offense. With Peat’s spot on the roster right now, it will be his effort and skill set doing the little things that could make the difference between him playing for the Suns or the Valley Suns this season.

Prediction

While most NBA teams usually give their exciting young players the runway at the NBA level to develop, the Suns have taken a different approach by making their players earn their opportunity before it is given. While it was frustrating to see Rasheer Fleming and Khaman Maluach “waste away” on the bench last season, it could be beneficial for both of them long-term for their development. My prediction is that the Suns will bring Peat along slowly this year, just like last year’s rookies.

Here is why this is a good thing: it will give Peat a chance to work on his shooting mechanics and hopefully develop a passable NBA three-point jumper and work on refining his body. The Suns can work on completely overhauling his mechanics if needed and building them back from the ground up without having to stress him in NBA games, which can be detrimental during the process of reworking someone’s jump shot. As for his body, he already has the strength, but can he tap into even more athleticism if he cuts 10 pounds and adds it back in explosive muscle?

While this is my prediction, it would not surprise me if Peat is an immediate impact player as a rookie because of his unique skillset as a scorer and playmaker. If both Ryan Dunn and Rasheer prove not to be efficient enough 3-point shooters, there are so many other things Peat brings to the table that could vault him above the other young.

Stat Prediction: 40 games, 4.0 points, 2.1 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 45/30/70 shooting

Final Word

While we all want to see Koa Peat play for the Suns this season, and we all want to talk ourselves into the hometown hero being the next young star to lead our franchise into the future, there is a reason 29(ish) NBA teams decided not to draft Peat. The Suns are swinging for the fences, hoping that Peat turns into a star, but they could easily strike out. It is going to take Peat time to develop into the fully formed version of himself, but what gives me the confidence Peat is going to be a great Phoenix Sun is because:

Koa Peat is a winner.

He won championships in high school, he won the Big 12 regular-season and tournament championships, and he delivered Arizona its first Final Four appearance in 25 seasons. The Suns likely won’t win a championship in the near future, but Peat has proven that he can win anywhere, and he has an unbelievable opportunity to win at home.

Posted on

Ranking the Roster: Caris LeVert slides in at 16

DETROIT, MI - MAY 17: Caris LeVert #8 of the Detroit Pistons handles the ball during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers during Round Two Game Seven 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 Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

After Milwaukee acquired veteran wing Caris LeVert and two second-rounders in a trade with the Detroit Pistons that sent Taurean Prince and Gary Harris eastward, LeVert looks primed for a quieter, smaller role on a rebuilding Milwaukee squad.

The 2026-27 season will be his LeVert’s in the league, making him a veteran presence in one of the league’s youngest locker rooms. The 32-year-old struggled for playing time on the Pistons, logging just 19.2 minutes per game and averaging 7.4 PPG, 2.0 RPG, and 2.9 APG. In his peak years in Brooklyn (who could forget about his 50-ball against Boston?) and Indiana, LeVert was a high-scoring wing who could shoot efficiently both in and outside of the arc, but also operate as a ball-handler and play in the pick-and-roll. As he’s grown, LeVert has become much more of a microwave scorer.

LeVert’s season with Detroit was interesting. Despite making 60 appearances, he didn’t start a game. The journeyman logged a career-low in FG% and FT%, and he dipped below 8.0 PPG for the first time in his career. Granted, LeVert was hampered by nagging wrist and knee injuries, and played through vertigo for a patch of the season. His lack of consistency in playing time, along with limited offensive spacing with the ball in his hands, led to a series of mediocre performances for the Pistons and, eventually, a mediocre season.

Last year, LeVert ranked in the 86th percentile for the percentage of time he had the ball while on the court, but was pretty turnover-prone and struggled offensively; he posted a 51.8% true shooting percentage. LeVert’s high usage can shrink the floor at times, and it isn’t helped by his inconsistent three-point shooting. That said, he improved leaps and bounds defensively; his 6’7” frame, high work rate, and guard-like agility allow him to rack up steals and blocks. However, LeVert’s offensive inefficiency made it hard for him to grow into a more meaningful role.

If LeVert struggled in Detroit, then why did the Bucks’ front office bring him in? Although LeVert is a solid role player and was great for the Pistons at times during their postseason run, the trade is more about GM Jon Horst’s wanting to acquire assets. LeVert’s expiring $14.8m contract didn’t affect the trade exception created in the trade for Giannis or their mid-level exception. In a period where Milwaukee’s draft chest is depleted, the trade for LeVert allowed Horst to gain assets while avoiding the first apron and freeing up cap space later in the rebuild. LeVert’s archetype is nice, but shoring up those assets and keeping cap space open is arguably nicer.

At the end of the day, LeVert projects as an off-the-bench wing who can create his own shot and set up his teammates. However, it will be a real fight to get minutes in a loaded guard rotation that includes Ryan Rollins, Kevin Porter Jr., and Kasparas Jakucionis. With the Bucks aiming to prioritise the future, expect head coach Taylor Jenkins to shift away from the aging LeVert and towards the younger guards.

Who are you picking at 15th?

Posted on

Kansas City Royals news: The River Bandits are champs!

Quad Cities River Bandits Jose Cerise (41) celebrates hitting a homerun with manager Jesus Azuaje (24) during their baseball game against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Friday, July 17, 2026, at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium in Grand Chute, Wisconsin. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co

Congratulations to the Quad Cities River Bandits on an undefeated postseason run, ending woth a 2026 Midwest League Championship!

Blake Mitchell had the go-ahead blast for Quad Cities, giving them the lead late against the Dayton Dragons.

Royals President of Business Operations Brooks Sherman talked about some of the public’s concerns regarding funding for a downtown baseball and mixed-use development.

“Whether there is a vote or not for us, for this Royals stadium, that’s not up to us,” Sherman said. “We’re following the city’s process for an economic development project.”

Sherman pointed to elected leaders who have voted in favor of the project.

“We do have elected leaders who have overwhelmingly voted in favor of this project,” he said.

When asked whether a public vote would change the Royals’ position or its approach to the deal, Sherman again said the decision was not up to the team.

ESPN’s Bradford Doolittle named the biggest success and disappointment for all 30 MLB teams, and both facets for the Kansas City Royals should be familiar to fans.

Biggest success: The Royals aren’t far away from having a contention-level lineup in place. It starts with the progress made by young hitters Jac Caglianone and Carter Jensen. Caglianone has become of the game’s more dangerous hitters even as he still has plenty of room to refine his pitch recognition. Jensen, a year from now, might be viewed as the AL’s best catcher. The Royals can reasonably bank on 2027 bounce-backs from injury-plagued Maikel Garcia and Vinnie Pasquantino, who had a down season after driving in 113 runs in 2025. Bobby Witt Jr. is the linchpin and the cornerstone player of the franchise. It didn’t quite come together in 2026, but the Royals’ offense isn’t far away.

Biggest disappointment: Even if the rotation had stayed healthy and the offense had come together, this season would have come apart because of a yawning chasm of a bullpen. On paper, it shouldn’t have been so bad. Then closer Carlos Estevez was hurt in spring training and got into just one regular-season game. Matt Strahm was a proven leverage lefty who collapsed this season. Lucas Erceg wound up in the minors. The group finishing the season in the Kansas City bullpen is completely different — and better — than the one that began it. Some of these things were hard to foresee, but if there is one area for the front office to examine, it’s here. Was there enough depth? Were the Royals too slow to cycle through different pitchers in different options? Building bullpens is tough, but things should never get as bad as they were for the Royals as they fell out of contention during the first half.

FanGraphs’ Ben Clemens looks at how the cutter has revitalized Royals pitcher Noah Cameron’s arsenal in 2026.

It seems to me that Cameron is instead creating deception with his changeup via horizontal separation. He pounds the low-away corner against righties, where the unexpected amount of horizontal movement plays at its best. Instead of making batters pick high vs. low, which they expect to do against someone with his release point (and against someone with the rest of his arsenal, which is very vertical), he makes them pick inside vs. outside the zone horizontally. He furthers the bind by tossing a ton of cutters to righties. If you’ll recall from earlier, his cutter and changeup live on a similar east/west plane; the low-away changeup and inside-edge cutter look very similar out of his hand. His changeup has accounted for 93 whiffs against righties this year; his cutter is the only other offering to hit even half of that amount.

As Corbin Young noted earlier this year, this increased focus on sliders, cutters, and changeups is an all-year trend for Cameron. He’s set a new monthly high in cutter usage in each of the past three months. Meanwhile, he’s down to around 20% four-seamers in the second half of the season, by far a career low. The cutter/slider and cutter/changeup pairings are ascendant, and they’re working so well for him that he’s cutting down on so-so fastballs to fit in more of the bendy stuff.

The Royals are once again in the bottom five of The Athletic’s latest power ranking, but there is no denying Johnny Flores Jr.‘s pick for the team’s best thing to happen this season.

A mid-season call-up in 2025, Caglianone had one of the worst debuts you could imagine, posting minus-1.6 fWAR in just 62 games. Of the 1,470 players to qualify, Caglianone had the second-worst season in 2025.

However, from the World Baseball Classic in March through the 2026 campaign, Caglianone has turned the conversation around. He’s posted 2.3 fWAR, with a 125 wRC+. Though strikeouts and swing-and-miss continue to be a concern, Caglianone’s batted-ball data ranks at or near the top in nearly every category — the hallmark of a slugger that can help extend a lineup alongside Bobby Witt Jr.

While it’s been a lost season in Kansas City, it’s been everything but that for the former No. 6 pick.

Baseball America’s Josh Norris breaks down the Surprise Saguaros’ roster for the fall, with plenty of Royals prospect power.

The clear highlight of Surprise’s roster is Zion Rose, the sixth overall pick from the 2026 draft who joins Jac Caglianone as recent Royals first-rounders who’ve spent part of their first pro seasons in the AFL. The Louisville slugger spent all of his official minor league time at High-A Quad Cities, where he hit his first professional home run and posted a .727 OPS over 19 games. Ranked by BA as the No. 23 prospect available in the 2026 class, Rose has a chance to be an above-average hitter with average defense and plus speed.

Rose’s fellow Royals on the Saguaros include righthander Justin Lamkin, who was on an upward trajectory this summer before an injury shelved him for the rest of the year. If he can show the same form from the regular year, he’ll jump right back into the Top 100 conversation this winter. Infielder Austin Charles is another rejuvenated Royal. After a tough 2025, he showed signs of life this season at High-A Quad Cities, where he smacked seven home runs in 45 games while striking out less than 20% of the time. 

The Athletic’s Jim Bowden analyzes the current labor proposals ahead of MLB’s upcoming CBA expiration.

The current CBA works best for the owners, the biggest-market teams who have smart front offices, the highest-paid players and the agents who represent them. However, it really doesn’t work well for the teams in the bottom half of the league in revenue, first-year players and other players who are not-yet-arbitration (or free-agent) eligible, players who reach free agency in their 30s, and the bullpen and bench depth players who get shuttled back and forth to the minors all season.

MLB would argue they’re trying to remedy these issues, starting with the proposal of a salary floor and cap. Under a floor-and-cap system, small-market teams would be forced to carry a minimum payroll, which would bring them closer to the biggest spending teams, who would be capped on what they can spend. The NBA, NHL and NFL currently have floor-and-cap systems.

Sports Illustrated’s Brian Sparks checks the stock for Royals players heading into the Houston Astros series.

Outfielder Jac Caglianone is one of the premium players to hunt for in the 2026 Topps Update, dropping Oct. 14.

MLB Trade Rumors updates its Super Two cutoff estimate as the 2026 season winds down.

One of the Atlanta Braves’ largest shareholders believes the franchise should be sold after a pair of record-setting team sales on the West Coast.

The New York Mets packed Citi Field Monday not for the home team, but for the one that got away, Baltimore Orioles’ Pete Alonso.

ESPN’s Jorge Castillo marks Roberto Clemente Day by looking at the dwindling number of Puerto Rican-born major leaguers.

From domination to dormancy, Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Edwin Diaz is in danger of not making the team’s postseason roster.

Former MLB slugger Yasiel Puig is still awaiting sentencing after a jury found him guilty of obstruction of justice and making false statements to investigators in February.

The Cincinnati Reds are expected to retain their front office leadership following a down 2026 season, and that brings comfort to veteran manager Terry Francona.

Former MLB closer and now Washington Nationals assistant pitching coach Sean Doolittle chats with FanGraphs about pitching and the organization.

NFL players prefer playing on grass compared to turf. In other news, fork found in kitchen.

Seth Keysor analyzes a dominant team debut for Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker III.

NFL, NBA, MLB, MLS, and NHL and their respective player associations sent a letter to gambling regulators regarding “protections for players and staff who face threats and harassment from sports bettors.”

Coming back to the PGA Tour is going to be hard for many LIV golfers after the latter filed for bankruptcy last week.

The Chicago Blackhawks make 21-year-old Connor Bedard their second-youngest captain in franchise history.

Here is where a $16.4 million infusion into Kansas City’s Housing Trust Fund is going to.

The Park at Forest Green neighborhood used homeowner association funds to save their ash trees from a devastating pest.

Today’s song of the day is I’m in a Hurry by Alabama.