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Deadspin | NBA roundup: Pistons dominate Knicks to cap season sweep

Deadspin | NBA roundup: Pistons dominate Knicks to cap season sweep

Sports news

Feb 19, 2026; New York, New York, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) dunks against New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) during the second half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Cade Cunningham totaled 42 points, 13 assists and eight rebounds as the Detroit Pistons pulled away in the second half and completed a season sweep of the host New York Knicks with a 126-111 victory on Thursday.

Detroit won the three meetings by a combined 84 points, improving its regular-season winning streak vs. New York to six games. The Knicks had won the previous 16 matchups between the teams.

Cunningham made 17 of 34 shots and posted his third 40-point game of the season. Paul Reed filled in for Jalen Duren (NBA suspension) and contributed 18 points, seven rebounds and three blocks as the Pistons won for the ninth time in 11 games.

Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 33 points and eight assists. Karl Anthony-Towns added 21 points and 11 rebounds as New York lost for the third time in five games.

Hawks 117, 76ers 107

Jalen Johnson recorded 32 points, 10 rebounds and five assists as Atlanta continued its dominance of host Philadelphia to end a three-game losing streak.

Atlanta won despite 43.2% shooting from the field and a 10-of-32 showing (31.2%) from 3-point range. CJ McCollum chipped in with 23 points off the bench for the Hawks, who improved to 3-0 against the 76ers this season.

Tyrese Maxey scored 28 points on 8-of-23 shooting for the Sixers, while VJ Edgecombe contributed 20 points and nine rebounds. Andre Drummond notched 10 points and 14 rebounds for the hosts, who were without Joel Embiid (knee) and Paul George (suspension) and lost their third straight.

Cavaliers 112, Nets 84

Donovan Mitchell scored 17 points and James Harden had 16 points and nine assists as host Cleveland dominated Brooklyn, extending its winning streak to six and at one point holding its largest lead of the season.

Jarrett Allen posted 15 points and 10 rebounds for Cleveland, which led from wire to wire for the second straight game and has won 11 of its last 12. Dennis Schroder made two free throws late in the third quarter to put Cleveland up 102-59, its biggest margin of the season.

Michael Porter Jr. scored 14 points and Ochai Agbaji had 13 points off the bench for Brooklyn, which shot 34.5% from the field. Danny Wolf collected 11 points, six rebounds and seven assists.

Rockets 105, Hornets 101

Kevin Durant poured in 35 points on 14-for-20 shooting as Houston fended off host Charlotte for a victory in the first game after the All-Star break.

Jabari Smith Jr. added 15 points and Alperen Sengun and Reed Sheppard both scored 13 points for the Rockets, who benefitted from 16 Charlotte turnovers. Houston has won five consecutive road games.

The Hornets had won 10 of their previous 11 games, but they had too many rough patches that prevented them from sweeping the season series. Grant Williams cranked in 20 points. LaMelo Ball, playing a day after he was involved in an automobile accident, had 11 points in 31 minutes, making one of his six 3-point attempts.

Spurs 121, Suns 94

Stephon Castle scored 20 points as San Antonio dominated short-handed Phoenix in Austin, Texas, to win its seventh straight game.

Victor Wembanyama added 17 points, 11 rebounds, five blocks and four assists for the Spurs, who led by 12 at halftime before opening the gap to 29 in the third quarter.

Jalen Green’s 26 points led the Suns, who have dropped two straight. Devin Booker missed the second half due to right hip soreness, and Phoenix was without Grayson Allen (ankle) and Dillon Brooks (league suspension).

Wizards 112, Pacers 105

Bub Carrington, Jaden Hardy, Anthony Gill and Kadary Richmond each scored 13 points as Washington beat visiting Indiana.

The Wizards finished with seven double-figure scorers while snapping a three-game losing streak. Washington forced 23 turnovers to help win the first of back-to-back matchups against the Pacers.

Jarace Walker led Indiana with 19 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists. Rookie Taelon Peter had a career-high 16 points as the Pacers’ two-game winning streak ended.

Raptors 110, Bulls 101

Brandon Ingram scored 31 points to fuel visiting Toronto to a victory over Chicago.

Ingram added eight rebounds and six assists to help the Raptors defeat the Bulls for the second time this month. Scottie Barnes logged 14 points and nine rebounds for Toronto, which benefited from 23 turnovers by Chicago to pick up its eighth win in 12 games.

Anfernee Simons scored 20 points and Isaac Okoro added 16 for the Bulls, who saw their losing streak extend to seven. Tre Jones recorded 12 points and six assists and Josh Giddey had five and five in their returns from their left hamstring injuries.

–Field Level Media

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There’s a certain inevitability about Shardul Thakur. He may not play half the games in a season, concede 15 runs off his first over – like he did against Punjab Kings in Dharamshala – and yet, produce moments of brilliance that turn a game on its head. He’s called ‘Lord’ Thakur and he lives up to his reputation.

On Thursday, playing just his seventh game in IPL 2026, Shardul took four for 39 and brought a flourishing PBKS innings to a grinding halt, thus tilting the contest in Mumbai Indians’ favour.

“It feels good to be back. You know, it’s not easy to sit out. But yes, the nature of the tournament is such where you have 25 players in the squad, lots of options. So, sometimes you’ve got to take it in your stride,” Shardul said.

From his very first over, there was a spring in his step. The confidence of having captain and fellow pacer Jasprit Bumrah standing at mid off might have helped. There were lengthy discussions and arms flailing, asking fielders to move and adjust their angles. “I think I have my comfort level with him. We had a lot of discussions; I don’t know much about the other bowlers. But of course, he’s never shy of sharing his ideas,” Shardul said.

READ | Our destiny is still in our hands, says Haddin as PBKS playoff hopes hang by a thread

However, the start was far from ideal. Prabhsimran was settled and he simply used the pace to nudge the ball in gaps and pick boundaries. Shardul had to wait six overs for his next chance and on the very first delivery, Prabhsimran shuffled across the stumps and whipped him over square leg.

“I knew that it was the fifth over where Punjab’s batters would also try to attack. And it was possible that I would go for more runs. But the T20 game is also like that. Sometimes, you have the intention to bowl good length but the batter plays a good shot. And Dharamshala is a venue that is at a high altitude. So, many times, the shot that might get the batter out on the boundary line at other stadiums, can go for six here,” Shardul said.

But Shardul has the ability to catch you off guard when you least expect it.

By the 11th over, MI’s insistence to hit the hard length was no longer a secret. It is what Prabhsimran was expecting, and hence, standing in his crease to play off his back foot. On the second delivery, Shardul threw a floater on a slightly fuller length. The result: Prabhsimran was left adjusting for length at the last instance and could only hand a top edge to deep third man.

Shreyas Iyer punched his first delivery through point for four, but could do little more than stare at the pitch when the next delivery, a cross-seamed one, hit the pitch and nipped away to peg back his off stump.

“I think there were too many ups and downs in this game. In PowerPlay, we started really well. But then, at the back end of the PowerPlay and at the start of the middle overs, there were few runs flowing. The tempo was constantly changing. So, as bowlers, it’s very difficult to keep coming back and bowling good deliveries. Because suddenly, there is a shift in tempo.

“You think what are my shutdown options? Then, suddenly, there is a fall of one or two wickets and then you are looking for wickets. So, there were too many switches in the game itself. So, in that way, bowlers had to shift their mindset quite a lot,” Shardul said after the game.

From 107 for one, PBKS was left at 111 for three in the space of six deliveries. The home side lost another two wickets in the next two overs and had been halted in its tracks. Shardul stuck to his cross-seamed deliveries and prised out another wicket in the 17th over, this time castling Marco Jansen by extracting the low bounce off the surface.

“I wouldn’t say I was too happy with my bowling. I think I could have conceded six-seven runs fewer than what I did. But the four wickets that I took, yes, I am happy with that. I am happier that I was able to take those in a winning cause,” Shardul said.

PBKS eked out a few bonus runs at the death by bringing in Vishnu Vinod as Impact Player. But Tilak Varma put up a show of his steely resolve to get MI over the line in chasing 201.

“Kudos to Tilak, the way he held his nerve. He spent the time in the middle and looked to bat all 20 overs. And he selected his balls, he selected his areas where he needed to hit. And also, to start with, [Ryan] Rickleton, the way he provided us runs in the PowerPlay,” Shardul said.

Published on May 15, 2026

#PBKS #IPL #Shardul #Thakur #fourfor #catches #Punjab #Kings #guard #Dharamshala">PBKS vs MI, IPL 2026: Shardul Thakur four-for catches Punjab Kings off guard in Dharamshala There’s a certain inevitability about Shardul Thakur. He may not play half the games in a season, concede 15 runs off his first over – like he did against Punjab Kings in Dharamshala – and yet, produce moments of brilliance that turn a game on its head. He’s called ‘Lord’ Thakur and he lives up to his reputation.On Thursday, playing just his seventh game in IPL 2026, Shardul took four for 39 and brought a flourishing PBKS innings to a grinding halt, thus tilting the contest in Mumbai Indians’ favour.“It feels good to be back. You know, it’s not easy to sit out. But yes, the nature of the tournament is such where you have 25 players in the squad, lots of options. So, sometimes you’ve got to take it in your stride,” Shardul said.From his very first over, there was a spring in his step. The confidence of having captain and fellow pacer Jasprit Bumrah standing at mid off might have helped. There were lengthy discussions and arms flailing, asking fielders to move and adjust their angles. “I think I have my comfort level with him. We had a lot of discussions; I don’t know much about the other bowlers. But of course, he’s never shy of sharing his ideas,” Shardul said.READ | Our destiny is still in our hands, says Haddin as PBKS playoff hopes hang by a threadHowever, the start was far from ideal. Prabhsimran was settled and he simply used the pace to nudge the ball in gaps and pick boundaries. Shardul had to wait six overs for his next chance and on the very first delivery, Prabhsimran shuffled across the stumps and whipped him over square leg.“I knew that it was the fifth over where Punjab’s batters would also try to attack. And it was possible that I would go for more runs. But the T20 game is also like that. Sometimes, you have the intention to bowl good length but the batter plays a good shot. And Dharamshala is a venue that is at a high altitude. So, many times, the shot that might get the batter out on the boundary line at other stadiums, can go for six here,” Shardul said.But Shardul has the ability to catch you off guard when you least expect it.By the 11th over, MI’s insistence to hit the hard length was no longer a secret. It is what Prabhsimran was expecting, and hence, standing in his crease to play off his back foot. On the second delivery, Shardul threw a floater on a slightly fuller length. The result: Prabhsimran was left adjusting for length at the last instance and could only hand a top edge to deep third man.Shreyas Iyer punched his first delivery through point for four, but could do little more than stare at the pitch when the next delivery, a cross-seamed one, hit the pitch and nipped away to peg back his off stump.“I think there were too many ups and downs in this game. In PowerPlay, we started really well. But then, at the back end of the PowerPlay and at the start of the middle overs, there were few runs flowing. The tempo was constantly changing. So, as bowlers, it’s very difficult to keep coming back and bowling good deliveries. Because suddenly, there is a shift in tempo.“You think what are my shutdown options? Then, suddenly, there is a fall of one or two wickets and then you are looking for wickets. So, there were too many switches in the game itself. So, in that way, bowlers had to shift their mindset quite a lot,” Shardul said after the game.From 107 for one, PBKS was left at 111 for three in the space of six deliveries. The home side lost another two wickets in the next two overs and had been halted in its tracks. Shardul stuck to his cross-seamed deliveries and prised out another wicket in the 17th over, this time castling Marco Jansen by extracting the low bounce off the surface.“I wouldn’t say I was too happy with my bowling. I think I could have conceded six-seven runs fewer than what I did. But the four wickets that I took, yes, I am happy with that. I am happier that I was able to take those in a winning cause,” Shardul said.PBKS eked out a few bonus runs at the death by bringing in Vishnu Vinod as Impact Player. But Tilak Varma put up a show of his steely resolve to get MI over the line in chasing 201.“Kudos to Tilak, the way he held his nerve. He spent the time in the middle and looked to bat all 20 overs. And he selected his balls, he selected his areas where he needed to hit. And also, to start with, [Ryan] Rickleton, the way he provided us runs in the PowerPlay,” Shardul said.Published on May 15, 2026 #PBKS #IPL #Shardul #Thakur #fourfor #catches #Punjab #Kings #guard #Dharamshala

Our destiny is still in our hands, says Haddin as PBKS playoff hopes hang by a thread

However, the start was far from ideal. Prabhsimran was settled and he simply used the pace to nudge the ball in gaps and pick boundaries. Shardul had to wait six overs for his next chance and on the very first delivery, Prabhsimran shuffled across the stumps and whipped him over square leg.

“I knew that it was the fifth over where Punjab’s batters would also try to attack. And it was possible that I would go for more runs. But the T20 game is also like that. Sometimes, you have the intention to bowl good length but the batter plays a good shot. And Dharamshala is a venue that is at a high altitude. So, many times, the shot that might get the batter out on the boundary line at other stadiums, can go for six here,” Shardul said.

But Shardul has the ability to catch you off guard when you least expect it.

By the 11th over, MI’s insistence to hit the hard length was no longer a secret. It is what Prabhsimran was expecting, and hence, standing in his crease to play off his back foot. On the second delivery, Shardul threw a floater on a slightly fuller length. The result: Prabhsimran was left adjusting for length at the last instance and could only hand a top edge to deep third man.

Shreyas Iyer punched his first delivery through point for four, but could do little more than stare at the pitch when the next delivery, a cross-seamed one, hit the pitch and nipped away to peg back his off stump.

“I think there were too many ups and downs in this game. In PowerPlay, we started really well. But then, at the back end of the PowerPlay and at the start of the middle overs, there were few runs flowing. The tempo was constantly changing. So, as bowlers, it’s very difficult to keep coming back and bowling good deliveries. Because suddenly, there is a shift in tempo.

“You think what are my shutdown options? Then, suddenly, there is a fall of one or two wickets and then you are looking for wickets. So, there were too many switches in the game itself. So, in that way, bowlers had to shift their mindset quite a lot,” Shardul said after the game.

From 107 for one, PBKS was left at 111 for three in the space of six deliveries. The home side lost another two wickets in the next two overs and had been halted in its tracks. Shardul stuck to his cross-seamed deliveries and prised out another wicket in the 17th over, this time castling Marco Jansen by extracting the low bounce off the surface.

“I wouldn’t say I was too happy with my bowling. I think I could have conceded six-seven runs fewer than what I did. But the four wickets that I took, yes, I am happy with that. I am happier that I was able to take those in a winning cause,” Shardul said.

PBKS eked out a few bonus runs at the death by bringing in Vishnu Vinod as Impact Player. But Tilak Varma put up a show of his steely resolve to get MI over the line in chasing 201.

“Kudos to Tilak, the way he held his nerve. He spent the time in the middle and looked to bat all 20 overs. And he selected his balls, he selected his areas where he needed to hit. And also, to start with, [Ryan] Rickleton, the way he provided us runs in the PowerPlay,” Shardul said.

Published on May 15, 2026

#PBKS #IPL #Shardul #Thakur #fourfor #catches #Punjab #Kings #guard #Dharamshala">PBKS vs MI, IPL 2026: Shardul Thakur four-for catches Punjab Kings off guard in Dharamshala

There’s a certain inevitability about Shardul Thakur. He may not play half the games in a season, concede 15 runs off his first over – like he did against Punjab Kings in Dharamshala – and yet, produce moments of brilliance that turn a game on its head. He’s called ‘Lord’ Thakur and he lives up to his reputation.

On Thursday, playing just his seventh game in IPL 2026, Shardul took four for 39 and brought a flourishing PBKS innings to a grinding halt, thus tilting the contest in Mumbai Indians’ favour.

“It feels good to be back. You know, it’s not easy to sit out. But yes, the nature of the tournament is such where you have 25 players in the squad, lots of options. So, sometimes you’ve got to take it in your stride,” Shardul said.

From his very first over, there was a spring in his step. The confidence of having captain and fellow pacer Jasprit Bumrah standing at mid off might have helped. There were lengthy discussions and arms flailing, asking fielders to move and adjust their angles. “I think I have my comfort level with him. We had a lot of discussions; I don’t know much about the other bowlers. But of course, he’s never shy of sharing his ideas,” Shardul said.

READ | Our destiny is still in our hands, says Haddin as PBKS playoff hopes hang by a thread

However, the start was far from ideal. Prabhsimran was settled and he simply used the pace to nudge the ball in gaps and pick boundaries. Shardul had to wait six overs for his next chance and on the very first delivery, Prabhsimran shuffled across the stumps and whipped him over square leg.

“I knew that it was the fifth over where Punjab’s batters would also try to attack. And it was possible that I would go for more runs. But the T20 game is also like that. Sometimes, you have the intention to bowl good length but the batter plays a good shot. And Dharamshala is a venue that is at a high altitude. So, many times, the shot that might get the batter out on the boundary line at other stadiums, can go for six here,” Shardul said.

But Shardul has the ability to catch you off guard when you least expect it.

By the 11th over, MI’s insistence to hit the hard length was no longer a secret. It is what Prabhsimran was expecting, and hence, standing in his crease to play off his back foot. On the second delivery, Shardul threw a floater on a slightly fuller length. The result: Prabhsimran was left adjusting for length at the last instance and could only hand a top edge to deep third man.

Shreyas Iyer punched his first delivery through point for four, but could do little more than stare at the pitch when the next delivery, a cross-seamed one, hit the pitch and nipped away to peg back his off stump.

“I think there were too many ups and downs in this game. In PowerPlay, we started really well. But then, at the back end of the PowerPlay and at the start of the middle overs, there were few runs flowing. The tempo was constantly changing. So, as bowlers, it’s very difficult to keep coming back and bowling good deliveries. Because suddenly, there is a shift in tempo.

“You think what are my shutdown options? Then, suddenly, there is a fall of one or two wickets and then you are looking for wickets. So, there were too many switches in the game itself. So, in that way, bowlers had to shift their mindset quite a lot,” Shardul said after the game.

From 107 for one, PBKS was left at 111 for three in the space of six deliveries. The home side lost another two wickets in the next two overs and had been halted in its tracks. Shardul stuck to his cross-seamed deliveries and prised out another wicket in the 17th over, this time castling Marco Jansen by extracting the low bounce off the surface.

“I wouldn’t say I was too happy with my bowling. I think I could have conceded six-seven runs fewer than what I did. But the four wickets that I took, yes, I am happy with that. I am happier that I was able to take those in a winning cause,” Shardul said.

PBKS eked out a few bonus runs at the death by bringing in Vishnu Vinod as Impact Player. But Tilak Varma put up a show of his steely resolve to get MI over the line in chasing 201.

“Kudos to Tilak, the way he held his nerve. He spent the time in the middle and looked to bat all 20 overs. And he selected his balls, he selected his areas where he needed to hit. And also, to start with, [Ryan] Rickleton, the way he provided us runs in the PowerPlay,” Shardul said.

Published on May 15, 2026

#PBKS #IPL #Shardul #Thakur #fourfor #catches #Punjab #Kings #guard #Dharamshala

The Chicago Cubs have started the 2026 season as one of the hottest teams in baseball, despite dealing with countless injuries to their pitching staff. 10 pitchers have made trips to the IL this year, yet the Cubs still managed to lead a tightly contested NL Central with a 27-16 record.

Coming out of the gate, Edward Cabrera looked like he might be a steal for the Cubs. He only gave up 3 runs in his first three starts, but has cooled off with a less consistent May. Fortunately for Cabrera, his best ability has been availability.

Matthew Boyd, Justin Steele, Cade Horton, and top prospect Jaxon Wiggins have all missed time this year, while Cabrera has been a massive innings eater at the very least for the Cubs, going at least 5 innings in every appearance this season.

Chicago is obviously still needing more out of Cabrera, but their offseason acquisition for him is currently looking like a steal. Cabrera was traded from the Marlins for a three-player deal, with the center piece being Owen Caissie. Infield prospects Christian Hernandez and Edgardo De Leon were the other pieces in the deal, but they are many years away from reaching the big leagues, if they ever do.

Caissie was supposed to be an immediate-impact bat for the Marlins, but has been anything but that to start his tenure with the Marlins. He’s currently slashing .205/.259/.348 with three home runs. Not only that, but despite the obvious intangibles he can bring with his athleticism, they haven’t translated into production on defense, as he has been one of the worst position players in the sport.

He currently has -5 fielding run value, the worst in the sport, first percentile arm value, and 5th percentile range, all while playing one of the easiest defensive positions in the sport. The Marlins didn’t trade for his defense; they traded for the bat, and that has some massive concerns as well.

A high strikeout rate can be ignored if there’s enough production, but that isn’t the case. Caissie currently holds a 40.7 K%, which can be attributed to a whiff% in the 8th percentile. He also holds a nearly 40% ground ball rate, so even if he’s hitting it hard, it hasn’t been very productive.

Essentially, I think the Cubs sold high on a prospect and landed a guy in a position of need in Cabrera. Chicago seems to be in a position to contend this season, and they might need to swing for another front-line starter at the deadline. For now, they found a very solid middle of the rotation piece in Cabrera, and he has the potential to outperform that baseline as well.

#Chicago #Cubs #Mightve #Fleeced #Miami #Marlins #Edward #Cabrera #Trade #Deadspin.com">Chicago Cubs Might’ve Fleeced Miami Marlins in Edward Cabrera Trade | Deadspin.com The Chicago Cubs have started the 2026 season as one of the hottest teams in baseball, despite dealing with countless injuries to their pitching staff. 10 pitchers have made trips to the IL this year, yet the Cubs still managed to lead a tightly contested NL Central with a 27-16 record.Coming out of the gate, Edward Cabrera looked like he might be a steal for the Cubs. He only gave up 3 runs in his first three starts, but has cooled off with a less consistent May. Fortunately for Cabrera, his best ability has been availability.Matthew Boyd, Justin Steele, Cade Horton, and top prospect Jaxon Wiggins have all missed time this year, while Cabrera has been a massive innings eater at the very least for the Cubs, going at least 5 innings in every appearance this season.Chicago is obviously still needing more out of Cabrera, but their offseason acquisition for him is currently looking like a steal. Cabrera was traded from the Marlins for a three-player deal, with the center piece being Owen Caissie. Infield prospects Christian Hernandez and Edgardo De Leon were the other pieces in the deal, but they are many years away from reaching the big leagues, if they ever do.Caissie was supposed to be an immediate-impact bat for the Marlins, but has been anything but that to start his tenure with the Marlins. He’s currently slashing .205/.259/.348 with three home runs. Not only that, but despite the obvious intangibles he can bring with his athleticism, they haven’t translated into production on defense, as he has been one of the worst position players in the sport.He currently has -5 fielding run value, the worst in the sport, first percentile arm value, and 5th percentile range, all while playing one of the easiest defensive positions in the sport. The Marlins didn’t trade for his defense; they traded for the bat, and that has some massive concerns as well.A high strikeout rate can be ignored if there’s enough production, but that isn’t the case. Caissie currently holds a 40.7 K%, which can be attributed to a whiff% in the 8th percentile. He also holds a nearly 40% ground ball rate, so even if he’s hitting it hard, it hasn’t been very productive.Essentially, I think the Cubs sold high on a prospect and landed a guy in a position of need in Cabrera. Chicago seems to be in a position to contend this season, and they might need to swing for another front-line starter at the deadline. For now, they found a very solid middle of the rotation piece in Cabrera, and he has the potential to outperform that baseline as well. #Chicago #Cubs #Mightve #Fleeced #Miami #Marlins #Edward #Cabrera #Trade #Deadspin.com

Coming out of the gate, Edward Cabrera looked like he might be a steal for the Cubs. He only gave up 3 runs in his first three starts, but has cooled off with a less consistent May. Fortunately for Cabrera, his best ability has been availability.

Matthew Boyd, Justin Steele, Cade Horton, and top prospect Jaxon Wiggins have all missed time this year, while Cabrera has been a massive innings eater at the very least for the Cubs, going at least 5 innings in every appearance this season.

Chicago is obviously still needing more out of Cabrera, but their offseason acquisition for him is currently looking like a steal. Cabrera was traded from the Marlins for a three-player deal, with the center piece being Owen Caissie. Infield prospects Christian Hernandez and Edgardo De Leon were the other pieces in the deal, but they are many years away from reaching the big leagues, if they ever do.

Caissie was supposed to be an immediate-impact bat for the Marlins, but has been anything but that to start his tenure with the Marlins. He’s currently slashing .205/.259/.348 with three home runs. Not only that, but despite the obvious intangibles he can bring with his athleticism, they haven’t translated into production on defense, as he has been one of the worst position players in the sport.

He currently has -5 fielding run value, the worst in the sport, first percentile arm value, and 5th percentile range, all while playing one of the easiest defensive positions in the sport. The Marlins didn’t trade for his defense; they traded for the bat, and that has some massive concerns as well.

A high strikeout rate can be ignored if there’s enough production, but that isn’t the case. Caissie currently holds a 40.7 K%, which can be attributed to a whiff% in the 8th percentile. He also holds a nearly 40% ground ball rate, so even if he’s hitting it hard, it hasn’t been very productive.

Essentially, I think the Cubs sold high on a prospect and landed a guy in a position of need in Cabrera. Chicago seems to be in a position to contend this season, and they might need to swing for another front-line starter at the deadline. For now, they found a very solid middle of the rotation piece in Cabrera, and he has the potential to outperform that baseline as well.

#Chicago #Cubs #Mightve #Fleeced #Miami #Marlins #Edward #Cabrera #Trade #Deadspin.com">Chicago Cubs Might’ve Fleeced Miami Marlins in Edward Cabrera Trade | Deadspin.com

The Chicago Cubs have started the 2026 season as one of the hottest teams in baseball, despite dealing with countless injuries to their pitching staff. 10 pitchers have made trips to the IL this year, yet the Cubs still managed to lead a tightly contested NL Central with a 27-16 record.

Coming out of the gate, Edward Cabrera looked like he might be a steal for the Cubs. He only gave up 3 runs in his first three starts, but has cooled off with a less consistent May. Fortunately for Cabrera, his best ability has been availability.

Matthew Boyd, Justin Steele, Cade Horton, and top prospect Jaxon Wiggins have all missed time this year, while Cabrera has been a massive innings eater at the very least for the Cubs, going at least 5 innings in every appearance this season.

Chicago is obviously still needing more out of Cabrera, but their offseason acquisition for him is currently looking like a steal. Cabrera was traded from the Marlins for a three-player deal, with the center piece being Owen Caissie. Infield prospects Christian Hernandez and Edgardo De Leon were the other pieces in the deal, but they are many years away from reaching the big leagues, if they ever do.

Caissie was supposed to be an immediate-impact bat for the Marlins, but has been anything but that to start his tenure with the Marlins. He’s currently slashing .205/.259/.348 with three home runs. Not only that, but despite the obvious intangibles he can bring with his athleticism, they haven’t translated into production on defense, as he has been one of the worst position players in the sport.

He currently has -5 fielding run value, the worst in the sport, first percentile arm value, and 5th percentile range, all while playing one of the easiest defensive positions in the sport. The Marlins didn’t trade for his defense; they traded for the bat, and that has some massive concerns as well.

A high strikeout rate can be ignored if there’s enough production, but that isn’t the case. Caissie currently holds a 40.7 K%, which can be attributed to a whiff% in the 8th percentile. He also holds a nearly 40% ground ball rate, so even if he’s hitting it hard, it hasn’t been very productive.

Essentially, I think the Cubs sold high on a prospect and landed a guy in a position of need in Cabrera. Chicago seems to be in a position to contend this season, and they might need to swing for another front-line starter at the deadline. For now, they found a very solid middle of the rotation piece in Cabrera, and he has the potential to outperform that baseline as well.

#Chicago #Cubs #Mightve #Fleeced #Miami #Marlins #Edward #Cabrera #Trade #Deadspin.com

The 2026 NFL regular season is finally here.

Now we can talk about it.

Sure, the next few hours will be dominated by breakdowns of all the schedule release videos put together by the various teams, but let’s look ahead to the first week of the season. What games should you watch, and what games are you not even putting on the quadbox?

This will be a game of NFL football.

Yes, there is the Robert Saleh revenge factor, but even that does not move the needle too much.

This could be Kirk Cousins versus Malik Willis. Or it could be Fernando Mendoza versus Malik Willis. Either way, this is a game to keep tabs on using your phone.

Tua Tagovailoa versus Aaron Rodgers?

Michael Penix Jr. versus Drew Allar?

Yeah, we’re just not sure this should be high on your list of priorities in Week 1.

Who asked for this, besides perhaps Seattle fans?

We … just saw this game. It did not go well. After crossing the 50-yard line on their opening possession, the Patriots did not see Seahawks’ territory until their first drive of the fourth quarter. The highlight of the night was, unless you are a Seahawks fan, Bad Bunny’s halftime performance.

Sure, having a non-conference game in this slot makes sense, for playoff tiebreakers and things like that. But, we just saw this game and we’re not sure anyone wants to see it again anytime soon. Particularly on opening night.

12. Cardinals at Chargers

It will be fun to see Jeremiyah Love’s debut, but this could turn ugly quickly.

NFC East games in primetime slots will continue until morale improves.

Yes, this is John Harbaugh’s first game with the Giants, and yes since it is an island game we know you will be watching. But on a list like this, we do not feel compelled to bump this game up much higher.

10. Buccaneers at Bengals

The Bengals have hopes of a return to the postseason, provided they can get a year of completely healthy. The Buccaneers are hoping to bounce back after a collapse in the second half of 2025.

Still, we’re in something of “wait and see” mode when it comes to both teams. Given the rest of the early Sunday slate, there are some games on the schedule we are more excited about.

We are putting this game right in the middle for one simple reason.

We do not know who will be under center for each team.

Both Patrick Mahomes and Bo Nix are coming back from injuries suffered late in the season. If both starting quarterback are back for Week 1, then this game easily moves up this list. But if we are talking about a Justin Fields versus Jarrett Stidham matchup, then this game could just as easily slide down this list.

So it stays in the middle for now. Check with us in August.

We absolutely loved what the Browns did in the draft.

We were not fans of what the Jaguars did.

But that is why they play the games, right?

Honestly, the reason this game is so high is this: Sonny Styles.

The dynamic linebacker making his debut against Jalen Hurts and this offense? That is going to be a blast to watch.

Add in the return of Jayden Daniels, and the fact that this game is in the late afternoon Sunday slate (against games such as Cardinals at Chargers and Dolphins at Raiders) and you have a game you’ll want to be watching.

The Saints could be a sneaky good team this year, and we look at Detroit as one of the teams that missed the playoffs in 2025 yet should make a return to the postseason in 2026.

Because of that, this is a game we’re going to be keeping an eye on.

This game is an exciting, early-season test for both teams. Will Daniel Jones be back, allowing the Colts to return to what they showed during the first half of 2026? How will the Ravens fare in new head coach Jesse Minter’s debut? A Week 1 tonesetter for two teams with playoff aspirations.

Who will be under center for Minnesota when this game kicks off?

The folks at Startnine.win have a thought.

But beyond J.J. McCarthy versus Kyler Murray, the bigger question here is Jordan Love versus Brian Flores. How Love and the Green Bay offense handle what Flores throws at them will be worth watching.

Is it wrong that we are very excited about this game?

Yes, we are talking about two playoff teams from a year ago. But that’s not all. If the Bears are going to make the leap from “playoff team” to true contender, they need to win games like this on the road. If the Panthers are going to make the leap from “team that squeaked into the playoffs” to “true playoff contender,” they need to win games like this at home. Plus, it is the first meeting between Bryce Young and Caleb Williams, and we are excited to see what this Carolina defense looks like after what they have added this offseason.

Plus, you have two young offensive minds in Ben Johnson and Dave Canales.

Two AFC playoff teams from a year ago, each with aspirations of making a deep playoff run. And both teams have massive questions to answer. Was Joe Brady the right hire for Buffalo? Did the Bills put enough around Josh Allen? Have the Texans done enough along the offensive line? Can C.J. Stroud rebound from a tough end to 2025?

This will be a fun one, and a sneaky potential AFC Championship Game preview.

Two playoff teams from 2025. Two of the game’s brightest offensive minds squaring off. A big division rivalry to begin the year.

And the first NFL regular season game in Australia?

Yeah, this is the game of the week.

#NFL #Week #game #schedule #ranked #worst">Every NFL Week 1 game on 2026 schedule, ranked from worst to best The 2026 NFL regular season is finally here.Now we can talk about it.Sure, the next few hours will be dominated by breakdowns of all the schedule release videos put together by the various teams, but let’s look ahead to the first week of the season. What games should you watch, and what games are you not even putting on the quadbox?This will be a game of NFL football.Yes, there is the Robert Saleh revenge factor, but even that does not move the needle too much.This could be Kirk Cousins versus Malik Willis. Or it could be Fernando Mendoza versus Malik Willis. Either way, this is a game to keep tabs on using your phone.Tua Tagovailoa versus Aaron Rodgers?Michael Penix Jr. versus Drew Allar?Yeah, we’re just not sure this should be high on your list of priorities in Week 1.Who asked for this, besides perhaps Seattle fans?We … just saw this game. It did not go well. After crossing the 50-yard line on their opening possession, the Patriots did not see Seahawks’ territory until their first drive of the fourth quarter. The highlight of the night was, unless you are a Seahawks fan, Bad Bunny’s halftime performance.Sure, having a non-conference game in this slot makes sense, for playoff tiebreakers and things like that. But, we just saw this game and we’re not sure anyone wants to see it again anytime soon. Particularly on opening night.12. Cardinals at ChargersIt will be fun to see Jeremiyah Love’s debut, but this could turn ugly quickly.NFC East games in primetime slots will continue until morale improves.Yes, this is John Harbaugh’s first game with the Giants, and yes since it is an island game we know you will be watching. But on a list like this, we do not feel compelled to bump this game up much higher.10. Buccaneers at BengalsThe Bengals have hopes of a return to the postseason, provided they can get a year of completely healthy. The Buccaneers are hoping to bounce back after a collapse in the second half of 2025.Still, we’re in something of “wait and see” mode when it comes to both teams. Given the rest of the early Sunday slate, there are some games on the schedule we are more excited about.We are putting this game right in the middle for one simple reason.We do not know who will be under center for each team.Both Patrick Mahomes and Bo Nix are coming back from injuries suffered late in the season. If both starting quarterback are back for Week 1, then this game easily moves up this list. But if we are talking about a Justin Fields versus Jarrett Stidham matchup, then this game could just as easily slide down this list.So it stays in the middle for now. Check with us in August.We absolutely loved what the Browns did in the draft.We were not fans of what the Jaguars did.But that is why they play the games, right?Honestly, the reason this game is so high is this: Sonny Styles.The dynamic linebacker making his debut against Jalen Hurts and this offense? That is going to be a blast to watch.Add in the return of Jayden Daniels, and the fact that this game is in the late afternoon Sunday slate (against games such as Cardinals at Chargers and Dolphins at Raiders) and you have a game you’ll want to be watching.The Saints could be a sneaky good team this year, and we look at Detroit as one of the teams that missed the playoffs in 2025 yet should make a return to the postseason in 2026.Because of that, this is a game we’re going to be keeping an eye on.This game is an exciting, early-season test for both teams. Will Daniel Jones be back, allowing the Colts to return to what they showed during the first half of 2026? How will the Ravens fare in new head coach Jesse Minter’s debut? A Week 1 tonesetter for two teams with playoff aspirations.Who will be under center for Minnesota when this game kicks off?The folks at Startnine.win have a thought.But beyond J.J. McCarthy versus Kyler Murray, the bigger question here is Jordan Love versus Brian Flores. How Love and the Green Bay offense handle what Flores throws at them will be worth watching.Is it wrong that we are very excited about this game?Yes, we are talking about two playoff teams from a year ago. But that’s not all. If the Bears are going to make the leap from “playoff team” to true contender, they need to win games like this on the road. If the Panthers are going to make the leap from “team that squeaked into the playoffs” to “true playoff contender,” they need to win games like this at home. Plus, it is the first meeting between Bryce Young and Caleb Williams, and we are excited to see what this Carolina defense looks like after what they have added this offseason.Plus, you have two young offensive minds in Ben Johnson and Dave Canales.Two AFC playoff teams from a year ago, each with aspirations of making a deep playoff run. And both teams have massive questions to answer. Was Joe Brady the right hire for Buffalo? Did the Bills put enough around Josh Allen? Have the Texans done enough along the offensive line? Can C.J. Stroud rebound from a tough end to 2025?This will be a fun one, and a sneaky potential AFC Championship Game preview.Two playoff teams from 2025. Two of the game’s brightest offensive minds squaring off. A big division rivalry to begin the year.And the first NFL regular season game in Australia?Yeah, this is the game of the week. #NFL #Week #game #schedule #ranked #worst

Startnine.win have a thought.

But beyond J.J. McCarthy versus Kyler Murray, the bigger question here is Jordan Love versus Brian Flores. How Love and the Green Bay offense handle what Flores throws at them will be worth watching.

Is it wrong that we are very excited about this game?

Yes, we are talking about two playoff teams from a year ago. But that’s not all. If the Bears are going to make the leap from “playoff team” to true contender, they need to win games like this on the road. If the Panthers are going to make the leap from “team that squeaked into the playoffs” to “true playoff contender,” they need to win games like this at home. Plus, it is the first meeting between Bryce Young and Caleb Williams, and we are excited to see what this Carolina defense looks like after what they have added this offseason.

Plus, you have two young offensive minds in Ben Johnson and Dave Canales.

Two AFC playoff teams from a year ago, each with aspirations of making a deep playoff run. And both teams have massive questions to answer. Was Joe Brady the right hire for Buffalo? Did the Bills put enough around Josh Allen? Have the Texans done enough along the offensive line? Can C.J. Stroud rebound from a tough end to 2025?

This will be a fun one, and a sneaky potential AFC Championship Game preview.

Two playoff teams from 2025. Two of the game’s brightest offensive minds squaring off. A big division rivalry to begin the year.

And the first NFL regular season game in Australia?

Yeah, this is the game of the week.

#NFL #Week #game #schedule #ranked #worst">Every NFL Week 1 game on 2026 schedule, ranked from worst to best

The 2026 NFL regular season is finally here.

Now we can talk about it.

Sure, the next few hours will be dominated by breakdowns of all the schedule release videos put together by the various teams, but let’s look ahead to the first week of the season. What games should you watch, and what games are you not even putting on the quadbox?

This will be a game of NFL football.

Yes, there is the Robert Saleh revenge factor, but even that does not move the needle too much.

This could be Kirk Cousins versus Malik Willis. Or it could be Fernando Mendoza versus Malik Willis. Either way, this is a game to keep tabs on using your phone.

Tua Tagovailoa versus Aaron Rodgers?

Michael Penix Jr. versus Drew Allar?

Yeah, we’re just not sure this should be high on your list of priorities in Week 1.

Who asked for this, besides perhaps Seattle fans?

We … just saw this game. It did not go well. After crossing the 50-yard line on their opening possession, the Patriots did not see Seahawks’ territory until their first drive of the fourth quarter. The highlight of the night was, unless you are a Seahawks fan, Bad Bunny’s halftime performance.

Sure, having a non-conference game in this slot makes sense, for playoff tiebreakers and things like that. But, we just saw this game and we’re not sure anyone wants to see it again anytime soon. Particularly on opening night.

12. Cardinals at Chargers

It will be fun to see Jeremiyah Love’s debut, but this could turn ugly quickly.

NFC East games in primetime slots will continue until morale improves.

Yes, this is John Harbaugh’s first game with the Giants, and yes since it is an island game we know you will be watching. But on a list like this, we do not feel compelled to bump this game up much higher.

10. Buccaneers at Bengals

The Bengals have hopes of a return to the postseason, provided they can get a year of completely healthy. The Buccaneers are hoping to bounce back after a collapse in the second half of 2025.

Still, we’re in something of “wait and see” mode when it comes to both teams. Given the rest of the early Sunday slate, there are some games on the schedule we are more excited about.

We are putting this game right in the middle for one simple reason.

We do not know who will be under center for each team.

Both Patrick Mahomes and Bo Nix are coming back from injuries suffered late in the season. If both starting quarterback are back for Week 1, then this game easily moves up this list. But if we are talking about a Justin Fields versus Jarrett Stidham matchup, then this game could just as easily slide down this list.

So it stays in the middle for now. Check with us in August.

We absolutely loved what the Browns did in the draft.

We were not fans of what the Jaguars did.

But that is why they play the games, right?

Honestly, the reason this game is so high is this: Sonny Styles.

The dynamic linebacker making his debut against Jalen Hurts and this offense? That is going to be a blast to watch.

Add in the return of Jayden Daniels, and the fact that this game is in the late afternoon Sunday slate (against games such as Cardinals at Chargers and Dolphins at Raiders) and you have a game you’ll want to be watching.

The Saints could be a sneaky good team this year, and we look at Detroit as one of the teams that missed the playoffs in 2025 yet should make a return to the postseason in 2026.

Because of that, this is a game we’re going to be keeping an eye on.

This game is an exciting, early-season test for both teams. Will Daniel Jones be back, allowing the Colts to return to what they showed during the first half of 2026? How will the Ravens fare in new head coach Jesse Minter’s debut? A Week 1 tonesetter for two teams with playoff aspirations.

Who will be under center for Minnesota when this game kicks off?

The folks at Startnine.win have a thought.

But beyond J.J. McCarthy versus Kyler Murray, the bigger question here is Jordan Love versus Brian Flores. How Love and the Green Bay offense handle what Flores throws at them will be worth watching.

Is it wrong that we are very excited about this game?

Yes, we are talking about two playoff teams from a year ago. But that’s not all. If the Bears are going to make the leap from “playoff team” to true contender, they need to win games like this on the road. If the Panthers are going to make the leap from “team that squeaked into the playoffs” to “true playoff contender,” they need to win games like this at home. Plus, it is the first meeting between Bryce Young and Caleb Williams, and we are excited to see what this Carolina defense looks like after what they have added this offseason.

Plus, you have two young offensive minds in Ben Johnson and Dave Canales.

Two AFC playoff teams from a year ago, each with aspirations of making a deep playoff run. And both teams have massive questions to answer. Was Joe Brady the right hire for Buffalo? Did the Bills put enough around Josh Allen? Have the Texans done enough along the offensive line? Can C.J. Stroud rebound from a tough end to 2025?

This will be a fun one, and a sneaky potential AFC Championship Game preview.

Two playoff teams from 2025. Two of the game’s brightest offensive minds squaring off. A big division rivalry to begin the year.

And the first NFL regular season game in Australia?

Yeah, this is the game of the week.

#NFL #Week #game #schedule #ranked #worst

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