Anthony Kay takes the bump against the Astros. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The White Sox continue their road trip with a stop in Houston to see the Astros, before they come back home to see another division rival. With the Guardians trying to steal first, a series win is needed as we enter September.
First, a few White Sox announcements:
Prior to tonight’s series opener at Houston, the Chicago White Sox reinstated left-handed pitcher Tyler Schweitzer from the Paternity Leave List and optioned lefthander Tyler Gilbert to Triple-A Charlotte.
Per Jeff Passan, the White Sox are acquiring outfielder Tommy Pham from the Philadelphia Phillies, with Pham expected to join the team when rosters expand on September. 1. The 38-year-old veteran of the 121-loss debacle rejoins the Sox after spending parts of 2026 with the Mets, O’s, and Phils. Watch out, Michael Kopech, you’re next!
Anthony Kay will be on the mound tonight, with Jake Rogers behind the plate. Otherwise, the lineup is what we’re used to, with Sam Antonacci leading off.
Peter Lambert (8-7) will be on the mound tonight for Houston, bringing a 3.66 ERA and 125 strikeouts.
First pitch is at 7:10 p.m. CT. The game is available on CHSN or ESPN Chicago 1000.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - MARCH 10: Matthew Murrell #15 of the Salt Lake City Stars dribbles the ball during the game against the Texas Legends on March 10, 2026 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Utah Jazz recently announced they have signed guard/wing Matthew Murrell to a contract. The details are undisclosed, but this deal is likely an Exhibit 10 contract – this means it will function primarily as a training camp contract, while providing Murrell a financial incentive to remain in Utah with the Jazz’s affiliate G-League team, assuming he doesn’t secure a guaranteed roster spot. Odds are this contract is very similar to Harrison Ingram’s, who’s signing was also announced by the team relatively recently.
I felt a strong blast-from-the-past when I saw Matthew Murrell’s name on the Utah Jazz twitter account. When I was scouting the NBA draft back in 2022, I recall jotting down Murrell as a standout and a name to watch in future drafts. While he never was selected, he found his way onto the Salt Lake City Stars for the 2025-2026 season, where he struggled with his efficiency but clearly made a positive impression on management and the coaching staff.
Dating back to his college days, Murrell has been a streaky shooter with a shot that you still always expect to go in – the shooting form just looks too nice to miss. He combines this with a really solid frame and athleticism; he measures in at 6’4 in shoes, 200 pounds, with a 6’8.25” wingspan and a 40 inch max vertical (that he uses on his jump shot – he gets great elevation when he shoots). What caught my eye in college was that he looks the part. He moves with that synergy of strength and fluidity required of NBA role-players. This frame and athleticism allows him switchability on defense depending on the lineup surrounding him.
The worry with Murrell is that he isn’t quite good enough at any one thing to stick around the NBA. First and foremost, the long range shooting needs to stabilize – he shot 40% on good volume in 2024, but then both the volume and efficiency decreased in 2025. In the G-League, he shot 39% from three during the 12 game tip-off tournament, but only 28% when looking at the season as a whole. With his offensive game so reliant on his shooting (the ball handling is serviceable, but nobody would mistake him and his 1.9 collegiate assists per game for a point guard) and his defense additive but not exceptional, the three point percentages need to find a home in the mid-to-high 30s. If they do, Murrell has a punchers chance at finding a long-time home in the league as a strong, pesky shooter in the vein of one of OKCs many strong, pesky role-players. During this next season, when Murrell will likely once again be with the SLC Stars, he will be asked to prove how legitimate his shooting truly is. I consider that a wise, low-stakes bet by the Jazz coaching staff and management.
Dub Nation let’s keep cruising through the Western Conference, particularly the Southwest conference. Let’s take a trip down to Beale St and listen to some blues and eat some good BBQ. If you caught my piece back in February about Memphis eating itself alive from the inside, you already know the shape of this one. The once great Grizzlies that as recently as 2023 were considered a legitimate contender have become damn near unrecognizable. It all spiraled after Ja Morant’s injuries and off-court mess, Jaren Jackson Jr. getting dealt to Utah, and what suddenly devolved into what appeared to be a tank job. Last year’s Grizzlies finished 25-57 and the Warriors took all three meetings. They may have been named after a ferocious bear, but last season Memphis’ basketball team was looking more like circus dancing bears: getting tortured for entertainment. Sigh.
Remember how we even got here? This was supposed to be the team that knocked the Warriors off their throne! There was the 2021 play-in that the Dubs faltered in at the hands of the Grizz. Then there was that 2022 series with the trash talk and the flagrants and Dillon Brooks running his mouth that through sheer will and grit the Warriors emerged victoriously from. And then there was the play-in rematch game in 2024 where Golden State stuck a critical blow, eliminating Memphis.
Golden State outlasted every bit of it of the whooping of the tricks Memphis had intended. Now Ja’s in Portland, Jackson’s in Utah, Desmond Bane’s gone, Brooks has been gone, and even their former head coach Taylor Jenkins is gone. The Warriors had a lot to do with disintegrating that franchise’s dreams into the ash, scattered across the barren wasteland of past wannabe contenders.
As I referenced earlier, Memphis traded Ja Morant to Portland for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray. Compare that to what GM Zach Kleiman got moving the other two stars: four unprotected first-rounders for Desmond Bane, three more for Jackson.
Following the trade of Ja Morant to Portland, the Grizzlies have now traded all three of their former franchise cornerstones — Morant, Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. — since being swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the 2025 playoffs.…
What’s left? I feel like 21-year-old GG Jackson is the longest-tenured player on the roster. The plan seems to center aroun No. 3 pick Cameron Boozer out of Duke, a 19-year-old who certainly has the family pedigree working in his favor. The other name doing a lot of heavy lifting is Zach Edey. Here’s the skinny on the oft injured big man per ESPN:
Literally and figuratively, the 7-foot-3, 305-pound Edey plays a huge part in the Grizzlies’ long-term plans. He has shown flashes of being a dominant interior presence with a soft touch, profiling as a terrific complement to Boozer, a bruising 253-pounder with a point guard’s vision and feel. But Edey’s health looms like a dark cloud. He played only 11 games last season because of lingering issues with his left ankle, which he had surgery on after his rookie season and again last March. The Grizzlies have depth at center after trading for Stewart and signing Post in restricted free agency, but their plans for a relatively quick rebuild rely on Edey being healthy and productive.
A scout on the Memphis Grizzlies:
“They are a PG away. They loaded up on size, they are just going to hammer you with big guys. I love what Cam Boozer brings, they got some toughness with Post and Stewart. You’ve still got Edey. They just need that PG to tie it all together.”〽️ pic.twitter.com/dejwuiFOKr
Yes, Memphis is going big, adding Isaiah Stewart and former Golden State Warrior prospect Quinten Post at center for depth. That hints to me that maybe they’re not fully trusting Edey to just show up healthy. A rebuild built partly around a guy who can’t stay on the floor isn’t much of a foundation yet.
Pardon me if I don’t believe Golden State needs to worry about Memphis this season as much as they did in years past. Memphis needs to worry about Memphis. Icarus flew too close to the sun and ended up trading away his broken wings for Blazer players. The answer this offseason was to trade away the guy who symbolized all of it for pennies and start completely over. Memphis finally admitted it, and admitting it is always the first step to recovery.
WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 26: Tanner Gordon #29 of the Colorado Rockies pitches against the Washington Nationals during the third inning at Nationals Park on August 26, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After losing four games in a row, the Colorado Rockies (52-85) return to Coors Field for a six-game homestand starting with a showdown vs. the Baltimore Orioles (68-69) tonight.
The Rockies will then play the Cardinals to complete the homestand, which will be the second-to-last one in the 2026 season.
Tanner Gordon (1-4, 5.38 ERA) will be on the mound for Colorado. Gordon has gone back and forth from the bullpen and the starting rotation in 19 appearances this season since being called up on April 14. In seven starts, Gordon has a 1-3 record and 5.60 ERA.
His last two appearances have been starts, filling the rotation spot when the Rockies released Michael Lorenzen. After getting beat up by Cleveland on Aug. 21, when he gave up five runs on nine hits with two walks and two strikeouts in 5.1 innings, Gordon bounced back with a quality start against the Guardians when he held Washington to one run on six hits with no walks and five strikeouts in seven innings.
LHP Cade Povich (2-1, 4.45 ERA) will get the start for Baltimore. The 26-year-old third-round pick from the 2021 MLB Draft made his big league debut in June of 2024 and has yo-yoed between the Orioles and the farm system, along with juggling injuries, since. He’s made six appearances this season for the Orioles and was just recalled earlier on Monday to make the start.
He had mixed results in August so far, throwing a six-inning shutout with seven strikeouts, one walk and seven hits against the Los Angeles Angels on Aug. 4 before Texas scored three runs on him in three innings with two walks and two strikeouts on Aug. 9. Monday will mark Povich’s first appearance at Coors Field.
The Rockies have fared well in interleague play so far this season, going 16-17. However, the Orioles are coming off a three-game sweep of the A’s.
It will be worth watching the weather as it’s been cloudy in Denver and there’s a chance of rain this evening.
⛈️ After some AM sun, a good chance for evening storms in Denver today and a high in the low 80s. Best chance 5-10p, with about 70-80% coverage in the metro. Heavy rain, gusty winds main threats.
BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 29 : Mikel Brown Jr. signs memorabilia for a fan during an introductory Press Conference for the 2026 Brooklyn Nets Draftees on June 29, 2026 in Brooklyn, New York. 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 David L. Nemec/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Inside the offices and along the corridors of HSS Training Center, Nets staff and players dismiss the doomsaying conventional wisdom of ESPN and the Las Vegas sports books which have them winning between 18 and 24.5 out of 82 next season. That’s either a drop-off from two years of tanking (ESPN) or a slight improvement (FanDuel, et al.) One word being used to describe ESPN’s low total is “ridiculous.” And no, from top to bottom, they don’t mind being under-estimated. They are young, after all.
The Nets own internal win projection is a state secret. Yes, there is one. Nothing’s been said publicly either although Mikel Brown Jr. quoted Julius Randle as saying, “we will shock the world.” You’ll near more from the team on Media Day now a month away, on September 28. Sure the East, particularly the Atlantic Division is a lot stronger and the Nets will almost certainly be the youngest team in the NBA … not just for this season but in decades. And two of the five youngest players on the roster will likely start at the 1 and 2.
But projections are just that. We were told that the internal win projection for 2009-10 was somewhere around 17 That was the 12-70 season. An the other end of the scale, the internal projection for 2018-19 was 37. They won 42 and secured the sixth seed. And if you expect, like we do, an active trade deadline, what happens then could certainly alter things. So could injuries to your own team or to others.
There was also this past week, a couple of social media posts projecting the Nets beyond this season, just a little optimism from outside 168 39th Street in Sunset Park. Sam Quinn basically defended Sean Marks & co. after Bleacher Report put the Nets front office at No. 28 in their rankings. Quinn had put the Nets in the middle of the pack, at No. 16, earlier this month…
TBH I suspect the Nets will trade four or five first-round picks for someone in the next year or two and that will drastically change how we feel about them. Your future is usually pretty bright if you have a clean cap sheet and a massive first-round pick surplus. https://t.co/ix4oF0fSUk
As one NBA decision maker recently told me, Nets are still gathering assets and “at some point, they’ll push all their chips to the middle of the table.” That process will require resolve for ownership and management and patience for fans.
And in the Nets newly released video on the off-season (more on that below,) editors chose to use this line from Marks talking about the future..
“I’m excited to see the roster grow,” said the GM following the Draft. “and I’m excited to see whatever falls our way in either trades and free agency.”
We’ve also heard that the trade deadline could be busier than normal — the Nets have historically made their biggest moves at the Draft.
Quinn’s tweet has nothing specific about targets for all those picks nor time. He was a 30,000-foot view. Like us he knows the lay of the Nets land: 10 firsts that can be traded tomorrow and anther 19 seconds available at a moment’s notice as well. They have other assets too, including a tiny bit of cap space, the full $9.4 million room MLE, $48.9 million space between payroll and first apron and nearly $7 million in cash considerations which have some utility specifically in salary dumps. Specifically, Brooklyn used cash to close deals four times last uear, including in the dumps that got them the 22nd pick that became Drake Powell as well as the one that got them Josh Minott.
They also have a couple of lesser known advantages. Because they’ve been under the luxury tax threshold the last three seasons, there’s no worry they’ll fall into repeater tax hell until 2030 which will be after the current CBA expires. Marks has a “surplus” of six firsts. meaning that over next seven years they have six more firsts than they would have if they only had their own. Some teams have a deficit. That’s what Quinn means by a “clean cap sheet” and “massive first round pick surplus.”
We know many of you will stop reading right here. Flexibility again?!? How about some wins?!? Why didn’t they use all those assets this summer?!? The answer to the last question is what you might call Marks’s “double A” rule, invoked at last year’s Media Day: they’re not interested in breaking the bank for anyone who doesn’t “automatically and absolutely” change the team’s “trajectory” and ultimately “sustained success.”
Incremental moves like trading Nic Claxton for Julius Randle and another first round pick are fine, but they’re hanging on to those picks believing they are currently the coin of the realm in the NBA. They’re always looking to adding some as they did in the Randle trade! They believe, strongly, the route to that “sustained success” in the age of first and second aprons is cycling through and developing first rounders who have cheap four-year deals. If they hit on enough of them, they’ll have good young players — and cap room to sign or trade for the higher-paid star or two without fear of luxury tax or aprons.
Here’s a practical example. Let’s imagine (hope) that both Egor Demin and Mikel Brown Jr. reach the potential that Nets brass believe they can: starting backcourt mates with All-Star possibilities. Demin is under contract for the next three seasons; Brown Jr. for four. This year, the two of them will make a combined $16 million — Demin, an eighth pick in his second year, $7.2 million; Brown Jr, a sixth pick in his rookie year, $8.8 million.
At no point during their four-year rookie deals will either make more than $12.6 million a year. If the salary cap goes up the customary seven to 10 percent each year from its current $165 million, neither’s salary will come close to 10% of the team’s cap space. Compare that to Michael Porter Jr. whose $40.8 million salary will represent 24% of the cap. Plus the Nets won’t have to pay either one the big bucks until 2030 in Demin’s case, 2031 in Brown Jr.‘s.
Here’s another practical example. The eight players on rookie deals this season — Noah Clowney, Egor Demin, Nolan Traore, Drake Powell, Ben Saraf, Danny Wolf, Mikel Brown Jr. and Joshua Jefferson — will earn $38 million which is a little less than a quarter of the salary cap.
No, we are not saying it will work!! The Flatbush 5 has been criticized since the night they were drafted and three of them — Powell, Saraf and Wolf — did not have good Summer Leagues. Another, Traore, was hurt. The Nets have until October 31 to decide whether to keep them through a third year but no one expects the Nets will bail on their development this early. The team will face the same decision on year 4 guarantees a year from now. That calculus could be different. Even if it works to perfection, there’s concerns that they’ll face big decisions on big money all at once. (They should be so lucky.)
There are other elements to the strategy. They’ll take low-cost risks on so-called “fallen angels” like Josh Minott (and remember they took shots at Kobe Bufkin and Ochai Agbaji that failed.) They do not want, at least at this point in the rebuild, to cut long-term deals either. Thus, the impasse with Michael Porter Jr. as well as the team and “mutual” second-year options Minott, Day’Ron Sharpe, Moe Wagner and Keon Ellis agreed to this summer.
Indeed, other than the rookies with their two-year guarantees on four-year deals, only Terance Mann is owed guaranteed money beyond this season. He’s got $31 million left on his deal. Julius Randle has a player option. The roster is built to turn on a dime and unsentimentally move on.
It is a fairly unique (extreme?) strategy that will test ownership’s resolve and fans’ patience. It’s also lost on some pundits perhaps because of those unique qualities. Some might say the strategy is the response of the failed Big Three experience. It is unquestionably at the opposite end of what they did in the culmination of Marks first rebuild when they signed Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, DeAndre Jordan, traded for James Harden and added their friends, whether Blake Griffin and LaMarcus Aldridge or Mike James and DeAndre Bembry while dumping firsts to preserve cap space. We know that didn’t work.
Jordi Fernandez likes Julius Randle … and vice versa
The Nets released their latest Brooklyn Bridge video this week. It’s a 20-minute report on the off-season, which as usual, featured top notch production from the team’s video unit. It also provides some new insights into the team’s thinking on the Draft and free agency, plus what some might call “Easter eggs,” little hints of things hidden in the nooks and crannies.
One thing in particular caught our eye, which was the focus on the addition of Julius Randle. Here’s Jordi Fernandez speaking to camera (with a broad smile) about what the 31-year-old brings.
“Julius is an established, all-star. playoff player, a player that is going to come here and show everybody else how it’s done. I’m very excited to get to coach him, and for him to raise the floor,” Fernandez said.
Randle, who’ is happy to be back in New York where he excelled as a Knick, returned the favor telling the Nets producers he’s “excited” about his new role with a new team.
“I’m excited to be here. We got a lot of talent on this team, a lot of young talent and you know, I’m really excited to just help them.
Could Randle follow the model of Michael Porter Jr., who had his best season in the NBA last year under Fernandez? Earlier this month, his agent Mark Bartelstein praised Fernandez’s work MPJ. specifically how Fernandez used his client creatively.
“Jordi has been great for him,” said Bartelstein on SiriusXM.. “Jordi has been so innovative in how he used him.” Next up: Julius Randle?
Nets rookies answer up
In that same video, there an enlightenting section on how the Nets rookies fared in pre-draft interviews.
Mikel Brown Jr. spoke about leadership. When Sean Marks asked about how Brown Jr. leads, the 20-year-old was not taken aback. In fact, he seemed to suggest there was only one answer … and he gets it.
“By taking command!” he said. “Taking charge, knowing that I can take accountability when I’m messing up. They can get on me just I can get on them. I love to play the game the right way. I’m not … I’m not the one to be selfish, to care about stats. I want to win at the end of the day.”
The Nets other first rounder, 22-year-old 6’9” point forward Joshua Jefferson was asked, again by Marks, what set him apart at the Draft Combine. He was specific and not afraid to talk about how unique he thinks his game is.
“My vocalness on the defensive side of the ball,” he told the Nets GM. “I felt like the loudest person in the gym. I think I was playmaking, rebounding, I was defending. I don’t think there’s a lot of players in this draft are capable of doing all those things at a high level. That’s what I think I’m really good at doing and then that professional mature approach to the game.
“There’s not going to be any nonsense with me,” he added. “I’m just going to come in, get my work done, put in extra work and then be a good person to be around.“
As for Tyler Bilodeau, the Nets 43rd pick who’ll start his career as a two-way, Marks asked what he thinks his NBA role will be. Shooting, of course, is a given, but also promised physicality.
“Offensively, as a floor spacer said he 6’9” wing who had the highest 3-point percentage (46%) in the 2026 draft class. “You know, I think I can get into actions. I feel I have a high IQ so I can make plays and read things well, can shoot the ball at a high level, can play pick and roll, try to confuse defenses and that sort of thing. And two, if I can get into a mismatch, punish the mismatch.”
Terance Mann likes his role mentoring the rooks
Meanwhile, Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe wrote Saturday in a paywalled story got about Terance Mann, who grew up in Lowell, Mass. He spoke to Mann at his annual youth basketball camp.
“It’s amazing to be a part of it,” he said of the Nets situation. “To be a pioneer and help turn the corner for this organization. That’s really what my goal is, to try to be (a) cornerstone at that. It was very different. The organization had things they needed to accomplish. They had their own goals. It was a different situation than I was in in L.A. with the Clippers or even Atlanta with the Hawks. I grew really close with the guys on the team and we’re ready to tackle this year.”
The comments mirror those made this summer by Michael Porter Jr. after he took four members of the Flatbush 5 on a fishing vacation at Lake of the Ozarks in his home state of Missouri.
Final Note
Things will get a bit more interesting next week. Players will gather at HSS Training Center after Labor Day and begin scimmaging (without coaches’ guidance still the first day of practice on September 29.)
In addition, we should get confirmation on who the Nets invite to that training camp. So far only 6’9” Arkansas big man, Nick Pringle, is confirmed. Three Summer League players were rumored to be of interest to the Nets — Deon Brown, a 6’4” combo guard out of St. Louis; Ben Humrichaus, a 6’9” wing out of Illinois and Dain Dainja, a 6’9” big with a 7’7” wingspan who played for the Heat G League team last year. Also, this week, a Chinese website reported that 7-footer Grant Nelson. who played for Long Island and Brooklyn last year. will be on hand for camp. The third two-way slot also remains open.
We will also start hearing who looks good through the rumor mill. Whatever optimism out there we will take. Gotta have an antidote to ESPN and Vegas.
In the meantime, here’s another Sam Quinn tweet…
I’d probably advise any new basketball fan in New York to choose the Nets over the Knicks if they were deciding now.
The Knicks fanbase just achieved Nirvana. It will never get better than the last four months even if they win again. Start at the bottom so the top feels earned. https://t.co/YmEeP1pxDb
Aug 29, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs catcher Carson Kelly (15) celebrates with Chicago Cubs left fielder Tyrone Taylor (55) after they score on his three run home run during the fifth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Buffalo Sabres had an excellent season last year, winning the highly-competitive Atlantic Division, then beating the Boston Bruins in the first-round of the 2025-26 Stanley Cup playoffs. The bar has been raised for Buffalo, but the rest of the Atlantic is just as competitive, if not more so than the Sabres are.
So, for the second straight season here at THN.com, we're going to break down Buffalo’s Eastern Conference opponents in a series we like to call “Know Your Enemy”. We’re going to focus on the Bruins’ changes, as well as their scheduled games against Boston. Let's get to it:
BUFFALO SABRES VS. BOSTON BRUINS
NEW BRUINS PLAYERS: J.J. Peterka, (LW); Ivan Ivan (LW), Connor Clifton (D), Jiri Patera (G), Brendan Gaunce (LW), Will Borgen (D)
2025-26 SERIES: Sabres 1-1-2, Bruins 3-1-0
2026-27 GAMES AGAINST EACH OTHER: January 5, at Boston; March 23 at Boston; April 1 at Buffalo; April 7 at Buffalo
CAN THE SABRES BEAT THIS TEAM? The Bruins surprised many people this past season, and that includes the Sabres, who lost three of four regular-season games against Boston in 2025-26. Buffalo got their revenge in the playoffs, but that doesn’t mean the Sabres won’t have their hands full with the Bs next season. To the contrary.
Buffalo will get a longer look at former Sabres star Peterka, who played with the Utah Mammoth last year before the Bruins traded for him this summer. But Boston’s other moves were largely cosmetic. The Bruins are still built around star winger David Pastrnak, defenseman Charlie McAvoy and goalie Jeremy Swayman, and that hasn’t changed.
The weird twists and turns of the NHL schedule will see Buffalo take on Boston three times in a two-week period at the tail end of their schedule. That means the Sabres will be a very different team post-trade-deadlne, and they’re going to have a tough time keeping pace with the rest of their Eastern Conference rivals.
Indeed, the Sabres and Bruins could wind up fighting it out for one of the final wild card berths in the East this season. And that makes every game they play incredibly important for Buffalo. The Sabres have to take care of their intra-divisional games, and although Buffalo won’t see Boston until the new calendar year, the two teams are going to be fighting it out, tooth-and-nail, for prime real estate in the Atlantic.
The Sabres will need to be consistently excellent to have a hope at winning their division. But as Boston has shown, there’s no lack of challenge for Buffalo, regardless of their opponent. The Sabres can’t afford any prolonged stretch of sub-par play, and that means taking care of business against a proud and determined Bruins squad.
Because if they can’t do that and the Bs overtake them for a playoff spot, Buffalo will be haunted over their losses to Boston. The Sabres probably won’t be as dominant in 2026-27 as they were this past year, but finishing ahead of the Bruins will be a must for Buffalo.
Aug 30, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Tigers second baseman Gleyber Torres (25) singles against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the fourth inning at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Detroit Tigers (63-72) vs. Minnesota Twins (65-72)
Time/Place: 7:40 p.m., Target Field SB Nation Site:Twinkie Town Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network Pitching Matchup: RHP Jackson Jobe (1-1, 3.93 ERA) vs. RHP Taj Bradley (9-6, 3.97 ER)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 25: Jeremy Pena #3 of the Houston Astros hits a two-run home run in the sixth inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on August 25, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Evan Bernstein/Getty Images) | Getty Images
TONIGHT’S GAME: The Houston Astros (69-68), who will be wearing their City Connect uniforms, will open a crucial week-long homestand tonight as they welcome in the Chicago White Sox (72-64) for the first game of four-game series in Houston, TX.
RHP Peter Lambert (8-7, 3.66 ERA) will open the homestand for the Astros starting opposite LHP Anthony Kay (9-6, 4.09 ERA) and the White Sox.
SLOW AND STEADY RECOVERY: Since starting the season with a 20-31 record after 51 games, the Astros are 49-37 (.570) in their last 86 games (since May 22). That is the second-best record in the AL in that span, behind only the Red Sox (52-36).
MEASURING UP: The Astros are beginning a streak tonight of playing four straight teams with winning records (CWS, ARI, PHI, TB). The Astros are a Major League-best 25-14 (.641) vs. teams currently at .500 or above. Some clubs that they have winning records against include BOS (5-1), CHC (3-0), CWS (2-1), CLE (4-2), MIA (3-0), and TB (2-1).
VS. THE WHITE SOX: The Astros are 2-1 against the White Sox on the season, winning two of three in Chicago from July 24-26. The Astros are 22-14 vs. CWS over the past six seasons (2021-26), posting winning records in each of those years. Houston is 55-47 all-time vs. the White Sox.
BAGGY IN THE BOOTH: Hall of Famer Jeff Bagwell will be on the Space City Home Network telecast for the first three games of this series, alongside play-by-play man Todd Kalas and sideline reporter Julia Morales. Geoff Blum will return to the telecast for Thursday’s day game.
WALL OF HONOR NOMINEES: Earlier today, the Astros announced the three 2026 nominees for induction into the Houston Baseball Media Wall of Honor, which are all longtime Houston-area radio personalities: Ralph Cooper, David Dalati, and Matt Thomas.
SUNDAY FUNDAY: The Astros won the rubber game of their three-game series in New York yesterday, downing the Mets by a score of 6-3. RHP Ethan Pecko (3ER/5IP) earned his first Major League win after being backed by a stellar bullpen group that tossed 4.0 scoreless innings of relief. SS Jeremy Peña hit a leadoff homer, but the biggest swing came from PH LaMonte Wade Jr., who hit a pinch-hit, go-ahead, two-run homer in the 6th to put the Astros ahead for good.
ROAD WARRIORS: The Astros are coming off a 4-2 road trip to New York, in which they went 2-1 against both the Yankees and Mets. Since posting a 1-9 record on the first road trip of the 2026 season, they have gone 35-24 (.593) on the road since April 14, which is third-best in the Majors in that span. More recently, they are 19-12 (.613) on their last five road trips combined.
ON THE MEND: The Astros have four players on the Major League Injured List. Here are updates on three:
• RHP Mike Burrows (rt. elbow neuritis) has made three minor league rehab start at Triple A Sugar Land, last pitching on Wednesday at Las Vegas, tossing 4.1 innings and 77 pitches.
• IF Carlos Correa (lt. ankle tendon injury) is participating in baseball activity, including a hitting and a running progression. He is scheduled to be re-evaluated by doctors in Houston this week.
• OF Brice Matthews (lt. knee sprain) is participating in on-field baseball activity and a running progression.
ON THE OFFENSIVE: Among AL teams, the Astros rank first in total bases (1,888), first in slugging (.410), second in HR (182), fourth in runs scored (624), and fourth in OPS (.726).
TRIPLE THREAT: DH Yordan Alvarez, who is a solid candidate for the AL MVP Award, currently owns at least a share of the lead in all three Triple Crown categories. He enters tonight leading the AL in batting avg. (.317) and RBI (93), while ranking tied for first in HR (37).
Rare Feat: Since Carl Yastrzemski won the AL Triple Crown in 1967, there has been just one Triple Crown winner in the Majors, Miguel Cabrera in 2012 (AL).
MATCHING HIS BEST: DH Yordan Alvarez has matched his career high by smacking 37 home runs on the season, reaching his total from 2022. His career-high in RBI is 104, set in 2021 (currently has an AL-best 93 RBI).
THE LAMBO: RHP Peter Lambert has been the most consistent starter for the Astros this season, as he leads the club in wins (8), starts (23), innings pitched (128) and strikeouts (125). He’s allowed two-or-fewer earned runs in 17 of his 23 starts on the year and has done so in nine of his last 10 starts.
HADER’S HEART: LHP Josh Hader will host a group from BEAR (Be A Resource) at tonight’s game as a part of his Hader’s Heart program. The group will also get to experience BP and talk with Hader on the field prior to the game.
THE CLOSER: With yesterday’s scoreless 9th inning, LHP Josh Hader extended his scoreless innings streak to 19.0 innings (18 apps.). His is the longest streak by an Astros hurler this season and the third-longest active streak in the Majors. Opponents are just 5×62 (.081) during the streak. Hader is also now 21-for-21 in save opportunities in 2026. Hader in August: 1-0, 13 G, 0.00 ERA, 14.1 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 15 SO.
CONGRATS WOODPECKERS!: Class A Fayetteville swept a doubleheader yesterday to extend their winning streak to a franchise record 13 games. With just one regular season series remaining, the Woodpeckers (71-53, 39-20 2nd Half) have already clinched the second-half title in their division, which earns them a place in the best-of-three North Division Championship Series, which will begin in Fayetteville on Sept. 8 vs. Fredericksburg.
TODAY IN ASTROS HISTORY: 2017 – The Astros acquire Tigers ace and future Hall of Famer RHP Justin Verlander with minutes to spare ahead of the Aug. 31 waiver trade deadline. Verlander went on to go 5-0 with a 1.06 ERA in five regular season starts with Houston, before winning ALCS MVP honors and leading the club to its first World Series title.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Monday, August 31, 7:10 p.m. CT
Location: Daikin Park, Houston, TX
TV: Space City Home Network
Radio: KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; KTRH 740 AM; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - AUGUST 19: Peyton Gray #75 of the Texas Rangers delivers against the Washington Nationals during the seventh inning at Globe Life Field on August 19, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Texas Rangers have placed relief pitchers Peyton Gray and Cole Winn on the 15 day injured list, the team announced today. To replace them on the active roster, the Rangers have recalled righthanded relief pitcher Ben Peoples and lefthanded relief pitcher Robby Ahlstrom.
Winn, who last pitched on the 25th, was put on the i.l. retroactive to August 28 (you can only make an i.l. move retroactive up to three days). The Rangers say he has a rotator cuff strain, which is the type of thing that could keep him out the rest of the season. Winn has a 5.63 ERA in 48 innings over 51 games, with a 4.00 FIP.
Gray last pitched on the 29th, and was put on the i.l. retroactive to the 30th, with elbow inflammation. That, again, is a worrisome diagnosis, and one that could keep him out the rest of the way, potentially. Gray has a 3.93 ERA and 4.14 FIP over 55 innings covering 48 games this season. However, he has had a rough go of it of late, allowing 8 runs over 7 innings in his last 7 appearances, including 4 home runs allowed.
Peoples has a 2.51 ERA and 6.15 FIP in 14.1 IP over 14 appearances in the majors for the Rangers this season. Acquired at the end of June from the Chicago White Sox for minor league catcher Ben Hartl, Peoples was in the Rangers’ pen from that point until early August, when he was sent down, only to be recalled two days later, then sent down again four days after that.
Ahlstrom had just been sent down a few days ago after allowing five runs in an inning of work, part of a 6 game stretch that saw him allow 10 runs in 5.1 innings. Prior to that stretch, he had a 3.81 ERA and 3.31 FIP on the year, but those last six games saw those numbers blow up to 6.03 and 4.42, respectively.
Rosters expand tomorrow, and the Rangers will be able to add another pitcher and another position player to the active roster, though the pitching options aren’t that exciting. The only healthy pitchers on the 40 man roster currently, who are not already in the majors, are Gavin Collyer, David Davalillo, Leandro Lopez, Winston Santos and Emiliano Teodo. The Rangers have two open 40 man roster spots currently, though, and so could opt to add someone not currently on the 40 man roster, either from Round Rock or from another organization.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JANUARY 30: Day'Ron Sharpe #20 and Drake Powell #4 of the Brooklyn Nets high five during the game against the Utah Jazz on January 30, 2026 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NCAA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Nets fans and fans across the country.
We’ll consider this the end of a three-part series asking a similar question among all Brooklyn Nets fans: Who is this team we’re about to watch? Will they be good, bad, or somewhere in between — and if they aren’t ready to compete, can they at least be fun to watch while building toward the future?
Mikel Brown Jr., Julius Randle, Moe Wagner, Keon Ellis, and Joshua Jefferson are the additions from the summer. Nicolas Claxton is one of the key names that has departed.
In the first poll, we asked Nets fans how many games they’ll win, which 56% voted 30-39 range.
In the second poll, we asked if the Nets will be in the postseason race and 48% of fans voted “No.”
Now, we’re asking fans: What seed in the East will the Nets finish?
ARLINGTON, TX - AUGUST 20: Jacob deGrom #48 of the Texas Rangers pitches in the game he records his 2000th career strikeout against the Washington Nationals at Globe Life Field on August 20, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Bailey Orr/Texas Rangers/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Philadelphia Kansas City OaklandAthletics @ Washington SenatorsTexas Rangers
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 25: Second baseman Marcus Semien #10 of the New York Mets, left to right, first baseman Jared Young #29 of the New York Mets and right fielder Carson Benge #3 of the New York Mets all go for a ground ball while playing the Milwaukee Brewers in the fourth inning at Citi Field on August 25, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Benjamin B. Braun/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Mets’ little post-trade deadline dead cat bounce has come to an end over the past couple of weeks. They have lost three straight series and outside of one double-digit run total against the White Sox, have struggled to score runs during this two-week stretch. Just on its face, having two fireballs and no poop emojis on the previous meter and having no fireballs and two poop emojis on this meter is not a good trend. But the good news is that Juan Soto has returned from the injured list and we at least have gotten a taste of Soto and Francisco Lindor in the same lineup.
Player
Last week
This week
Francisco Alvarez, C
Brett Baty, UTIL
Carson Benge, OF
Bo Bichette, 3B
A.J. Ewing, OF
Francisco Lindor, SS
Christopher Morel, 1B/DH
—
Cristian Pache, OF
Jorge Polanco, DH
Luis Robert Jr., OF
Marcus Semien, 2B
Juan Soto, OF
Luis Torrens, C
Eric Wagaman, 1B/DH
Jared Young, 1B/DH
We’ll start with a brief discussion of Juan Soto, who only has 8 plate appearances since returning from the IL. In a lost season, he will be eased back in with copious off days (such as tonight’s game) built into his schedule and lots of DHing. But the good news is that he doesn’t seem to have lost a step at the plate, despite not doing a rehab assignment. He has two hits, including a home run, in his eight plate appearances. When the Mets activated Soto, they optioned Eric Wagaman to Triple-A. Wagaman had one hit, a run scored, and an RBI in five plate appearances.
That home run came back-to-back with a home run by Francisco Lindor—a moment illustrating how nice it is to have them both in the same lineup, which has unfortunately been a rare occurrence in 2026. Overall though, Lindor has been struggling of late. He holds a 59 wRC+ over 51 plate appearances in the past 12 games. He does lead the team in runs scored with seven and he has gone deep twice, representing two of his eight hits. He has also walked four times and driven in two runs, but he has struck out ten times.
Lindor does not lead the team in strikeouts though. That unfortunate distinction belongs to A.J. Ewing, who is mired in a horrific slump. Ewing hit a double in yesterday’s game, which was notable because it was his only extra base hit over this entire two-week stretch. Even more shocking than his 7 wRC+ over his past 50 plate appearances, Ewing hasn’t driven in a run in the entire month of August. There are two things Ewing is doing even when he isn’t hitting much: stealing bases and playing good defense. He has swiped six bags in the past two weeks—far more than anyone else on the team.
Francisco Alvarez is the other player to be slapped with a poop emoji for this meter. Like Ewing, he has racked up 15 strikeouts over the past two weeks, but they have come in fewer plate appearances such that he is running a K rate of almost 50% in the past two weeks. Not good! Alvarez has just three hits—a double and two singles—in 33 plate appearances, good for a putrid -21 wRC+. Prior to this two-week stretch, he was at least drawing a lot of walks. That seems to have gone away as well; he has walked just twice in his past 10 games. He has driven in three runs and not scored any.
Tales will surely be told of the Month of Luis Torrens, though. After a torrid first half of the month, Torrens has evened out to a more reasonable but still quite solid 128 wRC+ in his past 19 plate appearances. Of his five hits, two were home runs, as his power surge continues. Those two long balls represent both of his runs scored.
As Juan Soto returned from the injured list, Jorge Polanco went back on the injured list, this time for good. Polanco had surgery to address his chronic ankle bursitis, ending his season. This paved the way for more playing time for Christopher Morel, who has put up a 52 wRC+ in his first 13 plate appearances. He has notched two hits (both singles), two walks, and a run batted in.
Jared Young has seen the lion’s share of the first base at-bats and deservedly so, but his production has fallen off a bit to the tune of a 74 wRC+ in his past 42 plate appearances. He is one of only three Mets with a double-digit hit total over the past two weeks, though. He has driven in six runs, which is tied for the team lead, and scored five runs.
Marcus Semien is another Met with a double-digit hit total in the past 12 games. But all 12 of his hits are singles—good for a so-so 95 wRC+. Despite 12 hits and five walks—a .370 on-base percentage—he hasn’t done much in the way of run production, scoring only one run and driving in two.
The Mets’ leader in hits over the past two weeks is Carson Benge as he makes his NL Rookie of the Year push. Of Benge’s 15 hits, four went for extra bases, including two home runs. He put up a 128 wRC+ in his past 49 plate appearances. In addition to scoring six runs and driving in five runs, Benge continues to play excellent outfield defense (particularly when it comes to gunning down runners on the base paths) alongside his fellow rookie psychopath.
However, one could make an argument that the Mets’ best hitter over the past 12 games has been Luis Robert Jr., who had been playing in left field most days with Juan Soto doing DH duty and Ewing getting most of the reps in center. Robert’s six RBIs match Young for the team lead and he also leads the team in home runs (4) and walks (6). He has posted a 157 wRC+ in 43 plate appearances over the past two weeks. Robert got hot at the right time because after trying to trade him at the deadline and not finding a suitor, the Mets placed him on waivers and the Orioles—desperate for an outfield bat for their stretch run—have claimed him.
Reduced to a part-time role, Brett Baty has quietly had a solid two-week stretch, putting up a 158 wRC+ in 24 plate appearances. Of his eight hits, three went for extra bases (all doubles). He scored a run, drove in two runs, and walked twice.
Bo Bichette posted a 95 wRC+ in 46 plate appearances, which identical to the mark of Semien, but Bichette got to it by logging fewer hits, but more extra-base hits. In fact, more than half of Bichette’s nine hits went for extra bases, including two home runs. He has scored four runs, driven in four runs. He has walked three times and struck out eight times in his past 11 games. He missed one game because he fouled a ball off his ankle, but luckily X-rays were negative and he did not end up needing an IL stint.
Cristian Pache has been serving as the last man off the bench, mostly as a defensive replacement and pinch runner. He has appeared in four games in the past two weeks, but has just one plate appearance in which he did not reach base.
Jul 11, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Athletics pitcher Gage Jump (61) pitches against the Chicago White Sox during the fourth inning at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
It’s the last day of August and the A’s are back on the road, this time heading to Texas to take on the Rangers for three games. The division rival is fighting for a the division lead with their Texas rivals over in Houston, just two games behind them for the AL West lead. The A’s won’t lie down and let the Rangers get easy wins though. Time to secure win #54 for the Green & Gold.
Taking the ball for the A’s will be left-hander Gage Jump. The rookie has had his ups and downs in his first taste of the big leagues but he’s more than held his own and there’s high expectations for him going forward. He’ll be facing the Rangers for the second time this month; he pitched into the sixth and allowed just three runs first time out against these guys.
Here’s how the A’s lineup looks for the series opener:
The usual starting lineup tonight, or as close as a usual as the A’s can muster right now. Jonah Heim is back in there after a full day off yesterday and he’ll be catching Jump tonight. And Darell Hernaiz takes over at shortstop for Alika Williams, who gets the night off.
As for Texas, they’ll counter the rookie Jump with the grizzled veteran in Jacob deGrom. The future Hall of Famer has had an overall solid year but has his a rough patch since the All-Star Break. He got absolutely clobbered last time out, allowing eight runs against the White Sox. Hopefully for the A’s that’s the deGrom that shows up this evening. This’ll be the A’s first time seeing him this year as well.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - AUGUST 28: Tarik Skubal #29 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts while walking to the dugout after finishing the first inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on August 28, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The St. Louis Cardinals begin a long West Coast road trip in Los Angeles Tuesday night to faceoff with the Dodgers. While the Cardinals have some question marks about who they’ll start in Los Angeles, the Dodgers starters are known and include Tarik Skubal. The Cardinals, however, will be adding some promising prospects to the MLB roster as they arrive in LA.
Here are the scheduled starters according to MLB.com:
Tuesday night, September 1: Eric Lauer (LHP 8-6, 4.78 ERA, 70 SO) vs Michael McGreevy (RHP 5-9, 3.86 ERA, 98 SO)
Note that MLB.com has Michael McGreevy as the likely probable starter for Tuesday night’s game, so I’m penciling him in. For the Dodgers, Eric Lauer has won 2 of his last 3 decisions although his most recent outing on August 26 against the Dodgers saw him pitch for just 2 innings in a no-decision. His 2 starts previous to that against Colorado and Kansas City were victories where he tossed 5 innings against the Rockies and 6 1/3 versus the Royals allowing just 1 earned run against Kansas City. Yoshinobu Yamamoto is 1-1 over his last 3 appearances with his most recent game on August 27 vs the Braves being a loss, but he got no run support and threw 6 1/3 innings allowing just 4 hits and 1 earned run. Tarik Skubal is also 1-1 over his last 3 starts with the most recent being a memorable return to Detroit where he got a no-decision after throwing 6 innings allowing just 4 hits and 1 earned run.
Who are the Los Angeles Dodgers players to watch?
Shohei Ohtani – He leads the Dodgers with 30 home runs, 80 RBI’s with a .280 average, but it’s not known when or if he’ll return to the mound this season because of ongoing knee issues.
Max Muncy – He’s second on the Dodgers with 26 home runs, 68 RBI’s and a .280 average.
Andy Pages – The Dodgers centerfielder is having a great season with 21 home runs, 80 RBI’s and a .272 average
Mookie Betts – Mookie now has his home run total up to 16 with 47 RBI’s, but a batting average of just .247.
Freddie Freeman – Freddie Freeman leads the Dodgers with a .304 batting average along with 15 home runs and 63 RBI’s.
Teoscar Hernández – Teoscar currently has 12 home runs, 46 RBI’s and a .249 average.
Kyle Tucker – By his normal standards, Kyle Tucker is having a woeful year with just 11 home runs, 57 RBI’s and an average of only .228.
As far as the big picture goes, the Los Angeles Dodgers lead the NL West by 9 1/2 games and have won 6 of their last 10. The St. Louis Cardinals have only won 3 of their last 10, but remarkably still are only 5 back in the NL Wild Card race for the final spot currently occupied by Arizona, but the Padres and Marlins are also ahead of St. Louis, too. It’s possible the Cardinals could get a boost to the rotation if Andre Pallante is able to appear in the series against the Dodgers, but the St. Louis rotation has a lot of question marks for this West Coast swing. There’s also talk that Masyn Winn could return to the lineup sooner rather than later, but that remains to be seen.
The big story for the Cardinals in Los Angeles is the arrival of Leo Bernal who reportedly will be joining the team Tuesday. Right-handed pitcher Hancel Rincon will also be a part of the September roster expansion.
Sources: The St. Louis Cardinals plan to call up 22-year-old Panamanian catcher Leo Bernal, the organization’s No. 7 prospect, according to @MLBPipeline.
Bernal is expected to make his MLB debut when the Cardinals face the Dodgers in Los Angeles beginning Tuesday.
The motivation for the Dodgers would be to catch the Brewers for the #1 seed in the NL as they’re currently 3 games behind Milwaukee. It feels unlikely the St. Louis Cardinals will get hot and seriously challenge for a playoff position, but stranger things have happened. With only 24 games remaining in the regular season, the math is not in the Cardinals favor.
