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Deadspin | Yankees work to end struggles at plate in visit to Rays Apr 9, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) reacts after grounding out to end the eighth inning against the Athletics at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images The New York Yankees are intrigued at the prospect of playing in a renovated Tropicana Field after letting the Tampa Bay Rays use their spring-training stadium as the Rays’ home last season. New York is even more interested to see if it can solve its current slump at the plate on Friday night when the team visits the Rays for the opener of a three-game series in St. Petersburg, Fla. The Yankees will play the Rays in the domed facility for the first time since July 11, 2024. New York won five of the six visits to the Rays last season when the games were played at Steinbrenner Field due to damage from Hurricane Milton in October 2024. The Rays will play their fourth game at the renovated, climate-controlled ballpark, which had the tiled roof replaced and new artificial turf installed. Tampa Bay earned a 6-4 victory in its home opener Monday against the Chicago Cubs before getting outscored 15-4 in losses in the next two games. “It did look good on TV, so we’ll see if anything looks different,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Thursday morning about the refurbished stadium. “The Rays do a really good job — their visiting clubhouse and the people who run it do a really good job. I would imagine that would remain the same, and we’ll see if there’s any nuances, differences about Tropicana Field.” The Yankees are headed there after getting no-hit into the seventh inning and taking a 1-0 home loss to the Athletics on Thursday afternoon. Ben Rice’s single was the only hit the Yankees recorded off Jeffrey Springs and two relievers. New York has not scored since getting two runs in the first inning off Luis Severino in Wednesday’s 3-2 loss to the A’s. “We got shut down today,” Boone said Thursday after the Yankees had three at-bats with runners in scoring position. “We didn’t generate much. We didn’t hit a lot of balls on the screws at all.” The Rays are coming of a pair of losses in which they had a combined 11 hits but went 3-for-14 with runners in scoring position. Yandy Diaz was hitless in both games after getting a hit in nine of his first 10 contests. Junior Caminero went hitless for the second straight game on Wednesday. “We may have gotten a little too big in certain situations instead of being true to us and just (putting) the ball in play and (creating] havoc on the basepaths,” Tampa Bay outfielder Jonny DeLuca said. New York starters have yet to allow more than three runs in the first 12 games. Right-hander Luis Gil will make his season debut on Friday since the Yankees need a fifth starter. Gill was 4-1 with a 3.32 ERA in 11 starts last season after missing the first four months with a strained lat. Gil did not face the Rays last season and is 2-0 in two career starts against them. In those outings, he has held Tampa Bay to an unearned run on five hits in 11 2/3 innings. Left-hander Steven Matz (2-0, 4.09 ERA) will make his third start as a Ray after allowing five runs on eight hits in 11 innings in a pair of wins at St. Louis and Minnesota. Matz notched eight strikeouts on Saturday in a 7-1 victory in Minnesota when he threw 97 pitches. Matz is 3-3 with a 5.14 ERA in 11 career appearances (seven starts) against the Yankees. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Yankees #work #struggles #plate #visit #Rays

Deadspin | Yankees work to end struggles at plate in visit to Rays
Deadspin | Yankees work to end struggles at plate in visit to Rays Apr 9, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) reacts after grounding out to end the eighth inning against the Athletics at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images The New York Yankees are intrigued at the prospect of playing in a renovated Tropicana Field after letting the Tampa Bay Rays use their spring-training stadium as the Rays’ home last season. New York is even more interested to see if it can solve its current slump at the plate on Friday night when the team visits the Rays for the opener of a three-game series in St. Petersburg, Fla. The Yankees will play the Rays in the domed facility for the first time since July 11, 2024. New York won five of the six visits to the Rays last season when the games were played at Steinbrenner Field due to damage from Hurricane Milton in October 2024. The Rays will play their fourth game at the renovated, climate-controlled ballpark, which had the tiled roof replaced and new artificial turf installed. Tampa Bay earned a 6-4 victory in its home opener Monday against the Chicago Cubs before getting outscored 15-4 in losses in the next two games. “It did look good on TV, so we’ll see if anything looks different,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Thursday morning about the refurbished stadium. “The Rays do a really good job — their visiting clubhouse and the people who run it do a really good job. I would imagine that would remain the same, and we’ll see if there’s any nuances, differences about Tropicana Field.” The Yankees are headed there after getting no-hit into the seventh inning and taking a 1-0 home loss to the Athletics on Thursday afternoon. Ben Rice’s single was the only hit the Yankees recorded off Jeffrey Springs and two relievers. New York has not scored since getting two runs in the first inning off Luis Severino in Wednesday’s 3-2 loss to the A’s. “We got shut down today,” Boone said Thursday after the Yankees had three at-bats with runners in scoring position. “We didn’t generate much. We didn’t hit a lot of balls on the screws at all.” The Rays are coming of a pair of losses in which they had a combined 11 hits but went 3-for-14 with runners in scoring position. Yandy Diaz was hitless in both games after getting a hit in nine of his first 10 contests. Junior Caminero went hitless for the second straight game on Wednesday. “We may have gotten a little too big in certain situations instead of being true to us and just (putting) the ball in play and (creating] havoc on the basepaths,” Tampa Bay outfielder Jonny DeLuca said. New York starters have yet to allow more than three runs in the first 12 games. Right-hander Luis Gil will make his season debut on Friday since the Yankees need a fifth starter. Gill was 4-1 with a 3.32 ERA in 11 starts last season after missing the first four months with a strained lat. Gil did not face the Rays last season and is 2-0 in two career starts against them. In those outings, he has held Tampa Bay to an unearned run on five hits in 11 2/3 innings. Left-hander Steven Matz (2-0, 4.09 ERA) will make his third start as a Ray after allowing five runs on eight hits in 11 innings in a pair of wins at St. Louis and Minnesota. Matz notched eight strikeouts on Saturday in a 7-1 victory in Minnesota when he threw 97 pitches. Matz is 3-3 with a 5.14 ERA in 11 career appearances (seven starts) against the Yankees. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Yankees #work #struggles #plate #visit #RaysApr 9, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) reacts after grounding out to end the eighth inning against the Athletics at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images

The New York Yankees are intrigued at the prospect of playing in a renovated Tropicana Field after letting the Tampa Bay Rays use their spring-training stadium as the Rays’ home last season.

New York is even more interested to see if it can solve its current slump at the plate on Friday night when the team visits the Rays for the opener of a three-game series in St. Petersburg, Fla.

The Yankees will play the Rays in the domed facility for the first time since July 11, 2024. New York won five of the six visits to the Rays last season when the games were played at Steinbrenner Field due to damage from Hurricane Milton in October 2024.

The Rays will play their fourth game at the renovated, climate-controlled ballpark, which had the tiled roof replaced and new artificial turf installed. Tampa Bay earned a 6-4 victory in its home opener Monday against the Chicago Cubs before getting outscored 15-4 in losses in the next two games.

“It did look good on TV, so we’ll see if anything looks different,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Thursday morning about the refurbished stadium. “The Rays do a really good job — their visiting clubhouse and the people who run it do a really good job. I would imagine that would remain the same, and we’ll see if there’s any nuances, differences about Tropicana Field.”

The Yankees are headed there after getting no-hit into the seventh inning and taking a 1-0 home loss to the Athletics on Thursday afternoon. Ben Rice’s single was the only hit the Yankees recorded off Jeffrey Springs and two relievers.

New York has not scored since getting two runs in the first inning off Luis Severino in Wednesday’s 3-2 loss to the A’s.

“We got shut down today,” Boone said Thursday after the Yankees had three at-bats with runners in scoring position. “We didn’t generate much. We didn’t hit a lot of balls on the screws at all.”


The Rays are coming of a pair of losses in which they had a combined 11 hits but went 3-for-14 with runners in scoring position.

Yandy Diaz was hitless in both games after getting a hit in nine of his first 10 contests. Junior Caminero went hitless for the second straight game on Wednesday.

“We may have gotten a little too big in certain situations instead of being true to us and just (putting) the ball in play and (creating] havoc on the basepaths,” Tampa Bay outfielder Jonny DeLuca said.

New York starters have yet to allow more than three runs in the first 12 games.

Right-hander Luis Gil will make his season debut on Friday since the Yankees need a fifth starter. Gill was 4-1 with a 3.32 ERA in 11 starts last season after missing the first four months with a strained lat.

Gil did not face the Rays last season and is 2-0 in two career starts against them. In those outings, he has held Tampa Bay to an unearned run on five hits in 11 2/3 innings.

Left-hander Steven Matz (2-0, 4.09 ERA) will make his third start as a Ray after allowing five runs on eight hits in 11 innings in a pair of wins at St. Louis and Minnesota. Matz notched eight strikeouts on Saturday in a 7-1 victory in Minnesota when he threw 97 pitches.

Matz is 3-3 with a 5.14 ERA in 11 career appearances (seven starts) against the Yankees.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Yankees #work #struggles #plate #visit #Rays

Sports news

Apr 9, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) reacts after grounding out to end the eighth inning against the Athletics at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images

The New York Yankees are intrigued at the prospect of playing in a renovated Tropicana Field after letting the Tampa Bay Rays use their spring-training stadium as the Rays’ home last season.

New York is even more interested to see if it can solve its current slump at the plate on Friday night when the team visits the Rays for the opener of a three-game series in St. Petersburg, Fla.

The Yankees will play the Rays in the domed facility for the first time since July 11, 2024. New York won five of the six visits to the Rays last season when the games were played at Steinbrenner Field due to damage from Hurricane Milton in October 2024.

The Rays will play their fourth game at the renovated, climate-controlled ballpark, which had the tiled roof replaced and new artificial turf installed. Tampa Bay earned a 6-4 victory in its home opener Monday against the Chicago Cubs before getting outscored 15-4 in losses in the next two games.

“It did look good on TV, so we’ll see if anything looks different,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Thursday morning about the refurbished stadium. “The Rays do a really good job — their visiting clubhouse and the people who run it do a really good job. I would imagine that would remain the same, and we’ll see if there’s any nuances, differences about Tropicana Field.”

The Yankees are headed there after getting no-hit into the seventh inning and taking a 1-0 home loss to the Athletics on Thursday afternoon. Ben Rice’s single was the only hit the Yankees recorded off Jeffrey Springs and two relievers.

New York has not scored since getting two runs in the first inning off Luis Severino in Wednesday’s 3-2 loss to the A’s.

“We got shut down today,” Boone said Thursday after the Yankees had three at-bats with runners in scoring position. “We didn’t generate much. We didn’t hit a lot of balls on the screws at all.”

The Rays are coming of a pair of losses in which they had a combined 11 hits but went 3-for-14 with runners in scoring position.

Yandy Diaz was hitless in both games after getting a hit in nine of his first 10 contests. Junior Caminero went hitless for the second straight game on Wednesday.

“We may have gotten a little too big in certain situations instead of being true to us and just (putting) the ball in play and (creating] havoc on the basepaths,” Tampa Bay outfielder Jonny DeLuca said.

New York starters have yet to allow more than three runs in the first 12 games.

Right-hander Luis Gil will make his season debut on Friday since the Yankees need a fifth starter. Gill was 4-1 with a 3.32 ERA in 11 starts last season after missing the first four months with a strained lat.

Gil did not face the Rays last season and is 2-0 in two career starts against them. In those outings, he has held Tampa Bay to an unearned run on five hits in 11 2/3 innings.

Left-hander Steven Matz (2-0, 4.09 ERA) will make his third start as a Ray after allowing five runs on eight hits in 11 innings in a pair of wins at St. Louis and Minnesota. Matz notched eight strikeouts on Saturday in a 7-1 victory in Minnesota when he threw 97 pitches.

Matz is 3-3 with a 5.14 ERA in 11 career appearances (seven starts) against the Yankees.

–Field Level Media

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How Aday Mara played his way into the lottery of our latest NBA mock draft <div id="zephr-anchor"><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Yaxel Lendeborg set a personal goal when Michigan started practice at the very beginning of what would become its 2026 national championship season. He wanted to dunk on new teammate Aday Mara.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">“I tried a couple times when I first got here, and he ruined my confidence so quickly,” Lendeborg said after Michigan beat UConn in the title game.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Mara had just come over from UCLA after two disappointing seasons where he could barely get off the bench, and his size made him an inviting target for a poster. Standing 7’3 with a reported 7’7 wingspan, the Spanish big man had measurables few humans in the world could match. Realizing that Mara shouldn’t be challenged at the rim was only one part of the process. As Michigan brought in four new starters via the transfer portal, there was a steep learning curve for everyone when it came to how to maximize their gigantic center.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">“He’s definitely the most unique big man I’ve ever played with,” Elliott Cadeau told SB Nation ahead of the national championship game. “It took some time for us to get some chemistry. We talk about the ball screen literally every practice. We’re both really high-IQ players. When teams play us two-on-two, we feel like we can get whatever we want.”</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">The entire country knows what Mara is capable of now after the Wolverines completed one of the most dominant national championship runs of the last 30 years. There were <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/college-basketball/1109873/in-the-end-michigan-basketball-was-too-big-to-fail">plenty of key takeaways from how Michigan built its title team</a>, but the biggest one is size. Lendeborg, Mara, and Morez Johnson all primarily played center at their previous schools, but shared the court at Michigan with resounding success. Each of them played a part in making it work: <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/college-basketball/1109728/yaxel-lendeborg-michigan-journey-nba-draft-national-championship">Lendeborg flushed out his perimeter skill in an attempt to appeal to NBA scouts</a>, Johnson showed the ability to defend all of the floor and started taking threes, and Mara proved he could play at the top of the key offensively due to his innate passing touch.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Michigan head coach Dusty May sold his stars on his vision of the three-big front line during the offseason recruiting process, but Mara admitted he wasn’t always sold he would be such a focal point. He had reason to be skeptical. When he entered UCLA, <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nba/2023/6/23/23767228/nba-mock-draft-2024-bronny-james-potential-ron-holland-matas-buzelis">SB Nation projected Mara as a one-and-one done top-10 pick</a> for the 2024 draft after standout showings in FIBA tournaments for Spain. Instead, he quickly lost his starting spot as a freshman and continued to have a small role off the bench as a sophomore. Head coach Mick Cronin often cited conditioning and matchup issues for why he didn’t get more playing time.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Cronin looks like a fool now, because Mara was legitimately one of the most impactful big men in college basketball. That’s just the start of it. After breaking into NBA mock drafts again midway through the season as a late first-round pick, Mara’s exceptional NCAA tournament run now has him positioned to be a lottery selection. <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/college-basketball/1109861/nba-mock-draft-2026-updated-projection-after-march-madness-ends">SB Nation had him projected as the No. 9 overall pick to the Chicago Bulls in our mock draft</a> after March Madness was over. He’s also in <a href="https://x.com/JeremyWoo/status/2042247522115281111">lottery position on ESPN’s big board</a>.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Mara was perhaps the single biggest breakout star of March Madness this year, and his continued climb up the 2026 NBA Draft board is next. He’ll have a few things working in his favor when he decides to make the jump to the next level.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p><h2 class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup">Mara has shooting touch even if he doesn’t yet have range</h2></p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Mara’s scoring efficiency inside was absurd all season: he shot 68 percent on two-pointers, 81 percent at the rim, and 41.1 percent on non-rim twos. His two-point percentage remained just about the same even against top-100 and top-50 competition, and even if you take away his dunks (he had 81 of them on the year), he still shot 72 percent at the rim.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">His comfort in the post continued to grow as the season went on. By the time March Madness started, Mara was making a fool out of even very good opposing centers with his size and touch.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Mara is going to be one of the tallest and longest player in the NBA from the day he’s drafted. Victor Wembanyama and Zach Edey are just about the only players who can top him in those departments. He may have issues establishing post position against NBA bigs with a higher center of gravity, but his ability to hit baby hooks and flip shots gives him some real scoring utility even if it won’t be the best part of his game.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">One of the biggest red flags in Mara’s statistical profile is his terrible free throw percentage. He shot 56.4 percent from the free throw line this season, and only 58.5 percent over his college career on 241 attempts. Free throw percentage is a proxy for touch, and at first glance it seems like Mara doesn’t have it.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">It’s worth noting that Mara got consistently better from the free throw stripe all year. Over his last 20 games this season, he shot 74 percent from the foul line by hitting 37-of-50 freebies. That’s encouraging growth, and it comes back to the coaching he received at Michigan. Mara said he was hitting his free throws well in practice, but missing them in games. <a href="https://www.michigandaily.com/sports/mens-basketball/aday-mara-and-dusty-mays-path-to-finding-his-shot/">May started making Mara take high-pressure free throws to end practices</a>, and encouraged him by showing there was nothing wrong with his form. Eventually, they started to drop when it really mattered.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Will Mara be able to shoot threes eventually? He only went 3-for-10 on the year, but he told me he believes it will be part of his skill set in time. He was just doing what his team needed.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">“I know it’s in my game,” Mara told SB Nation. “I know I don’t shoot a lot. Sometimes I’m rushing, but I know it’s in my game. I have confidence, and if I get it again, I will shoot it again.”</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Can Mara maintain his late season free throw touch? Can the three-ball be a real part of his game? Those are two of the biggest questions related to his upside at the next level. Even if the threes never come, he has a few other ways to impact the game as a scorer.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Mara is going to be a plus as an offensive rebounder, which will work in his favor as offensive rebounding takes on more emphasis in the battle for the possession game at the NBA level. He’s also a big target as a roller, and his soft hands allow him to catch the ball on the move. He’s going to be a dominant lob threat with a massive catch radius. Mara probably won’t ever be a 20-point-per-game scorer at the NBA, but his efficiency on the interior, ability to generate extra possessions on the glass, and massive length advantage gives him some bankable scoring ability as he goes on his career.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p><h2 class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup">Mara’s passing ability is special</h2></p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">The best sight in college basketball this season was Mara’s outlet passing ability. He always has his eyes up after grabbing a rebound, and he proved he can throw full court dimes to get his team an easy two points. He did it again:</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Transition offense is far more efficient than halfcourt offense at every level of the game. Mara’s ability to throw deep passes with pinpoint accuracy is basically a cheat code for igniting transition opportunities, and it should be a big part of his game at the next level.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Mara doesn’t just throw outlets. He’s an extremely creative passer with behind-the-back looks and between-the-legs drop-offs in his bag:</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1"><a href="https://x.com/bjpf_/status/2023999175579271525">He’ll be a weapon in the short roll</a>, too.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">There are some moments where it feels like Mara holds onto the ball too long before making a pass or deciding to attack. Quicker processing will be essential to maximize his ability at the next level. It’s easy to believe that should improve with more reps for a player who never had a real role in his college career before this season. Either way, Mara is one of the best passers in the country regardless of size, and the fact that he’s doing it at 7’3 gives him unique utility as he goes on in his career.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p><h2 class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup">Mara’s rim protection is elite, but there are other defensive questions</h2></p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Mara’s length translates most obviously on the defensive end. He doesn’t have great coverage versatility, but he’s effective in deep drop, and his length gives him an ability to challenge shots and close windows on pull-up shooters when they bail out of their drive before getting to the rim.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Mara finished the year with a 11.9 percent block rate. Good luck challenging him at the rim. If a 23-year-old tank like Lendeborg couldn’t get Mara in practice, most NBA players won’t be able to, either.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">UConn’s Tarris Reed was probably the second-best player in the NCAA tournament after Lendeborg. He had no answers for Mara when he met him in the national championship game. Mara’s length disrupted everything Reed was trying to do inside, and eventually you could see he was getting psyched out of even attempting looks he would normally drain.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">That’s what Mara’s length and shot-blocking functionally provides on the court: he makes everyone second-guess if they can really get the shot off. Being tentative for even a split second can be a death wish in the NBA, and Mara makes it happen regularly to his opponents.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Mara’s perimeter defense is more of a work in progress. He can be attacked on switches by quicker guards who can separate from him with their first and second steps. Showing an ability to defend the stretch bigs all over the NBA will be vital. Can Mara recover to the perimeter on pick-and-pop attempts? Can he stay strong on his feet when a ball handler attacks a closeout? There were encouraging moments on the tape, but also plenty of instances where he got caught flat footed.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">I asked Mara about his defending on the perimeter after Michigan’s Sweet 16 win over Alabama, and here’s what he told me.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">“I know I’m capable of playing like a good defense outside,” Mara told SB Nation. “I think when I was against Purdue (in the Big Ten tournament championship game), I had like a terrible game there defensively. But I know that I’m able to to play defense and switch onto guards or whoever has the ball outside. Sometimes I go to a game I’m not ready to play outside defense, but I think like if I’m ready, if I’m with a good mindset and with a high intensity level, I can do it for sure.”</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p><h2 class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup">Mara is a team player who should be a welcome presence in any locker room</h2></p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">I spoke with Mara in the post-game locker room after Michigan beat Wisconsin in the Big Ten tournament on March 14. He had a phenomenal game that afternoon, finishing with 16 points, five blocks, eight rebounds. I asked him how he’s developed more comfort as a scorer as the season has gone on, but he immediately deflected the credit.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">“It doesn’t matter if I score 20 or if I score four,” Mara told me. “It’s just about helping the team win. The last two games I’ve been able to help the team by scoring. But maybe tomorrow I score 0 points and I get five blocks, you know, it will be all right.”</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">I covered Michigan throughout March Madness with a credential at the Big Ten tournament, Sweet 16, Final Four, and national championship game. Mara was generous and thoughtful in his media availability the entire time, speaking to reporters for long stretches in his second language. He told me getting better at English was one of his top priorities when he came to the U.S. upon committing to UCLA, and he showed how much he’s grown in that area too throughout March Madness.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">At one point, I asked Mara why he thought Michigan’s three big look worked so well together.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">“We are not selfish,” he said. “We play for each other. If I see Morez inside the paint, I’m going to stay out. So it’s not like I want to get here, and if Morez is here, I’m gonna get here anyways. We’re trying to do, I don’t know, different things, like move the ball.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">“Today it was me. Maybe tomorrow it is going to be Morez, and the next day it’s going to be someone else. I think that’s what make us play so well together.”</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">As the NBA moves to more double-big looks, Mara’s ability to play with other bigs will be an essential part of his appeal. Even without a proven jump shot, he knows how to space the floor by leveraging his size and skills to help out his teammates. He doesn’t care about getting the glory.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1"><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/college-basketball/1109445/college-basketball-isnt-a-point-guards-game-anymore-size-is-king-at-final-four-once-again">Size is in at every level of basketball</a>. Length is one of the most essential traits in the sport. Almost no one alive is longer than Mara, and he also brings unique skills and a positive attitude to every game.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">A year ago, Mara felt like one of the most underwhelming players in America as he sat glued to Mick Cronin’s bench. Dusty May believed in him and brought out the best in his abilities. His incredible March Madness run showed the NBA he deserves lottery consideration. Given his rapid development throughout the season, it feels like this is only the start as Mara continues to grow into his body and his game.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p><h2 class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup">Aday Mara’s NBA mock draft stock is rising</h2></p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Here’s the lottery for the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/college-basketball/1109861/nba-mock-draft-2026-updated-projection-after-march-madness-ends">NBA mock draft we published after March Madness ended</a>. Mara is already in the top-10. Don’t be surprised if he keeps rising.</p></div><div class="duet--article--block-placement jgpyd53 jgpyd50 duet--article--article-body-component"><div class="duet--article--table eqjv3q0"><table class="eqjv3q2"><thead><tr><th class="eqjv3q5"><h3 class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup">Pick</h3></th><th class="eqjv3q5"><h3 class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup">Team</h3></th><th class="eqjv3q5"><h3 class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup">Player</h3></th><th class="eqjv3q5"><h3 class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup">Position</h3></th><th class="eqjv3q5"><h3 class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup">School</h3></th><th class="eqjv3q5"><h3 class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup">Age</h3></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr class="eqjv3q6"><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">1</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">Washington Wizards</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">Cameron Boozer</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">Forward</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">Duke</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">Freshman</td></tr><tr class="eqjv3q6"><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">2</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">Indiana Pacers</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">Darryn Peterson</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">Guard</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">Kansas</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">Freshman</td></tr><tr class="eqjv3q6"><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">3</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">Brooklyn Nets</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">AJ Dybantsa</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">Wing</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">BYU</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">Freshman</td></tr><tr class="eqjv3q6"><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">4</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">Utah Jazz</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">Caleb Wilson</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">Forward</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">North Carolina</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">Freshman</td></tr><tr class="eqjv3q6"><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">5</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">Sacramento Kings</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">Darius Acuff</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">Guard</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">Arkansas</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">Freshman</td></tr><tr class="eqjv3q6"><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">6</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">Atlanta Hawks (via Pelicans)</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">Keaton Wagler</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">Guard</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">Illinois</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">Freshman</td></tr><tr class="eqjv3q6"><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">7</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">Memphis Grizzlies</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">Kingston Flemings</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">Guard</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">Houston</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">Freshman</td></tr><tr class="eqjv3q6"><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">8</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">Dallas Mavericks</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">Mikel Brown Jr.</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">Guard</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">Louisville</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">Freshman</td></tr><tr class="eqjv3q6"><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">9</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">Chicago Bulls</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">Aday Mara</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">Center</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">Michigan</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">Junior</td></tr><tr class="eqjv3q6"><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">10</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">Milwaukee Bucks</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">Brayden Burries</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">Guard</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">Arizona</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">Freshman</td></tr><tr class="eqjv3q6"><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">11</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">Golden State Warriors</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">Yaxel Lendeborg</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">Forward</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">Michigan</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">Senior</td></tr><tr class="eqjv3q6"><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">12</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">Portland Trail Blazers</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">Nate Ament</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">Wing</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">Tennessee</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">Freshman</td></tr><tr class="eqjv3q6"><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">13</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">Miami Heat</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">Karim Lopez</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">Forward</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">NZ Breakers</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">Born 2007</td></tr><tr class="eqjv3q6"><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">14</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">Memphis Grizzlies (via Magic)</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">Jayden Quaintance</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">Center/Forward</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">Kentucky</td><td class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup eqjv3q7">Sophomore</td></tr></tbody></table></div></div></div> #Aday #Mara #played #lottery #latest #NBA #mock #draft

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Deadspin | Dodgers, with a big trade win in hand, look to avoid sweep vs. Red Sox Aug 1, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers center fielder Andy Pages (44) slides into second base in the bottom of the fifth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Navarro-Imagn Images Not only did the Los Angeles Dodgers land the prize of the trade deadline when they acquired Tarik Skubal from the Detroit Tigers on Saturday, they managed to retain right-hander Emmet Sheehan in the process. One initial report had Sheehan as part of the return package to the Tigers, before it was learned he would be staying put. Neither the Tigers nor Dodgers have officially confirmed the trade. Still, Sheehan indeed will take the mound for the Dodgers on Sunday night in Los Angeles as they try to avoid a sweep by the Boston Red Sox. Sheehan (4-7, 4.95 ERA) has been on something of a revival of late by allowing two earned runs or fewer in four of his past five starts. He gave up one run over five innings in a no-decision against the New York Mets in an 8-3 loss last Sunday. “I think last week, I found something a little bit into that start where I was able to carry it and kind of get some momentum going into this one, so yeah, I feel good,” Sheehan told SportsNet LA. In his lone career start against the Red Sox, Sheehan earned the 5-2 win on July 25, 2015. He allowed two runs on three hits and two walks and struck out five over five innings. Los Angeles did some shuffling with its bullpen on Saturday when right-handers Kyle Hurt and Wyatt Mills were recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City. Left-hander Cole Irvin was designated for assignment while right-hander Will Klein (elbow) was placed on the injured list. And while preventing a sweep is a high priority, there is now slightly more anticipation for the days ahead when Skubal arrives. “I was hearing some rumors about that, but then it actually happened and I’m pretty surprised,” Dodgers ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto said through an interpreter of the Skubal acquisition. After the Red Sox won the series opener 9-4 on Friday, they set up the chance for the sweep with a 3-2 victory on Saturday. Ceddanne Rafaela hit two home runs in the victory after he also went deep Friday. The three home runs came in a span of four at-bats over the two games. “He’s otherworldly right now,” Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy said. “He’s been good all year long and obviously the home runs are showing up on this road trip, and so many of them massive home runs. I think it’s safe to say he’s been a key contributor to most of these wins.” Boston will send left-hander Jake Bennett (6-4, 2.74) to the mound in a nationally televised standalone game. The rookie will be making his 12th career start and just saw a five-start win streak come to an end when he gave up three runs over 6 1/3 innings on Tuesday in a 4-3 loss against the Athletics. Boston was without first baseman Willson Contreras on Saturday after he was hit in the helmet by a 95.4-mph fastball from Klein on Friday. His day off was a precaution with his status for Sunday still uncertain. After his big night, Rafaela was asked about the Dodgers landing Skubal. “I think they have everybody, probably,” Rafaela said. “I think good for them, they got a good pitcher. But I think we’re not going to pay too much attention to that and are looking forward to keep winning ballgames like we’re doing over here.” –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Dodgers #big #trade #win #hand #avoid #sweep #Red #SoxAug 1, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers center fielder Andy Pages (44) slides into second base in the bottom of the fifth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Navarro-Imagn Images

Not only did the Los Angeles Dodgers land the prize of the trade deadline when they acquired Tarik Skubal from the Detroit Tigers on Saturday, they managed to retain right-hander Emmet Sheehan in the process.

One initial report had Sheehan as part of the return package to the Tigers, before it was learned he would be staying put. Neither the Tigers nor Dodgers have officially confirmed the trade.

Still, Sheehan indeed will take the mound for the Dodgers on Sunday night in Los Angeles as they try to avoid a sweep by the Boston Red Sox.

Sheehan (4-7, 4.95 ERA) has been on something of a revival of late by allowing two earned runs or fewer in four of his past five starts. He gave up one run over five innings in a no-decision against the New York Mets in an 8-3 loss last Sunday.

“I think last week, I found something a little bit into that start where I was able to carry it and kind of get some momentum going into this one, so yeah, I feel good,” Sheehan told SportsNet LA.

In his lone career start against the Red Sox, Sheehan earned the 5-2 win on July 25, 2015. He allowed two runs on three hits and two walks and struck out five over five innings.

Los Angeles did some shuffling with its bullpen on Saturday when right-handers Kyle Hurt and Wyatt Mills were recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City. Left-hander Cole Irvin was designated for assignment while right-hander Will Klein (elbow) was placed on the injured list.


And while preventing a sweep is a high priority, there is now slightly more anticipation for the days ahead when Skubal arrives.

“I was hearing some rumors about that, but then it actually happened and I’m pretty surprised,” Dodgers ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto said through an interpreter of the Skubal acquisition.

After the Red Sox won the series opener 9-4 on Friday, they set up the chance for the sweep with a 3-2 victory on Saturday. Ceddanne Rafaela hit two home runs in the victory after he also went deep Friday. The three home runs came in a span of four at-bats over the two games.

“He’s otherworldly right now,” Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy said. “He’s been good all year long and obviously the home runs are showing up on this road trip, and so many of them massive home runs. I think it’s safe to say he’s been a key contributor to most of these wins.”

Boston will send left-hander Jake Bennett (6-4, 2.74) to the mound in a nationally televised standalone game.

The rookie will be making his 12th career start and just saw a five-start win streak come to an end when he gave up three runs over 6 1/3 innings on Tuesday in a 4-3 loss against the Athletics.

Boston was without first baseman Willson Contreras on Saturday after he was hit in the helmet by a 95.4-mph fastball from Klein on Friday. His day off was a precaution with his status for Sunday still uncertain.

After his big night, Rafaela was asked about the Dodgers landing Skubal.

“I think they have everybody, probably,” Rafaela said. “I think good for them, they got a good pitcher. But I think we’re not going to pay too much attention to that and are looking forward to keep winning ballgames like we’re doing over here.”


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Dodgers #big #trade #win #hand #avoid #sweep #Red #Sox">Deadspin | Dodgers, with a big trade win in hand, look to avoid sweep vs. Red Sox Aug 1, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers center fielder Andy Pages (44) slides into second base in the bottom of the fifth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Navarro-Imagn Images Not only did the Los Angeles Dodgers land the prize of the trade deadline when they acquired Tarik Skubal from the Detroit Tigers on Saturday, they managed to retain right-hander Emmet Sheehan in the process. One initial report had Sheehan as part of the return package to the Tigers, before it was learned he would be staying put. Neither the Tigers nor Dodgers have officially confirmed the trade. Still, Sheehan indeed will take the mound for the Dodgers on Sunday night in Los Angeles as they try to avoid a sweep by the Boston Red Sox. Sheehan (4-7, 4.95 ERA) has been on something of a revival of late by allowing two earned runs or fewer in four of his past five starts. He gave up one run over five innings in a no-decision against the New York Mets in an 8-3 loss last Sunday. “I think last week, I found something a little bit into that start where I was able to carry it and kind of get some momentum going into this one, so yeah, I feel good,” Sheehan told SportsNet LA. In his lone career start against the Red Sox, Sheehan earned the 5-2 win on July 25, 2015. He allowed two runs on three hits and two walks and struck out five over five innings. Los Angeles did some shuffling with its bullpen on Saturday when right-handers Kyle Hurt and Wyatt Mills were recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City. Left-hander Cole Irvin was designated for assignment while right-hander Will Klein (elbow) was placed on the injured list. And while preventing a sweep is a high priority, there is now slightly more anticipation for the days ahead when Skubal arrives. “I was hearing some rumors about that, but then it actually happened and I’m pretty surprised,” Dodgers ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto said through an interpreter of the Skubal acquisition. After the Red Sox won the series opener 9-4 on Friday, they set up the chance for the sweep with a 3-2 victory on Saturday. Ceddanne Rafaela hit two home runs in the victory after he also went deep Friday. The three home runs came in a span of four at-bats over the two games. “He’s otherworldly right now,” Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy said. “He’s been good all year long and obviously the home runs are showing up on this road trip, and so many of them massive home runs. I think it’s safe to say he’s been a key contributor to most of these wins.” Boston will send left-hander Jake Bennett (6-4, 2.74) to the mound in a nationally televised standalone game. The rookie will be making his 12th career start and just saw a five-start win streak come to an end when he gave up three runs over 6 1/3 innings on Tuesday in a 4-3 loss against the Athletics. Boston was without first baseman Willson Contreras on Saturday after he was hit in the helmet by a 95.4-mph fastball from Klein on Friday. His day off was a precaution with his status for Sunday still uncertain. After his big night, Rafaela was asked about the Dodgers landing Skubal. “I think they have everybody, probably,” Rafaela said. “I think good for them, they got a good pitcher. But I think we’re not going to pay too much attention to that and are looking forward to keep winning ballgames like we’re doing over here.” –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Dodgers #big #trade #win #hand #avoid #sweep #Red #Sox

The Los Angeles Sparks are trading Kelsey Plum to the Phoenix Mercury for Monique Akoa Makani, a 2027 first-round pick, and a 2028 second-round pick, per ESPN. Plum, a five-time All-Star, is averaging 23.9 points and 6.4 assists per game this season — both career-highs — but she’s appeared in just 12 games due to a litany of lower-leg injuries.

Plum was long-rumored to be in trade talks ahead of Sunday’s midseason trade deadline; the Sparks are 10-17 and losers of 6 straight games (all without Plum). If she was unlikely to re-sign this offseason, as was widely reported, Los Angeles had to trade her to recoup some value for their top asset.

Now, they’ll lean back into the rebuild, acquiring a prospective lottery pick in next year’s draft and a promising young player in Akoa Makani.

The Mercury are 11-19 and currently sit six games out of the playoff race. Plum immediately provides them with a massive offensive boost. But was it worth giving up draft capital for a potential one-year rental?

Here are the biggest potential winners and losers from the blockbuster trade that sent Kelsey Plum to Phoenix.

Potential Winner: Los Angeles Sparks

The Sparks shouldn’t have made the Kelsey Plum deal two years ago. Instead, they should have leaned into the rebuild, drafted Dominique Malonga — who is already an All-Star — and built for the future. But they went all-in, it backfired, and it’s time to course-correct. While the return for Plum wasn’t massive, it’s still sizable, especially when she was likely to walk away for nothing this offseason. Now, they’ll have two top picks in 2027 — their own and Phoenix’s — and begin to truly rebuild, albeit a few years delayed.

Akoa Makani, who was an undrafted rookie last year, is a sneaky big part of this deal, too. She is averaging 9.4 points, 2.5 assists, and 2.1 rebounds per game this season, while continuing to establish herself as a strong perimeter defender.

Potential Loser: Golden State Valkyries

The Valkyries still seem to be a piece away from championship contention, though this roster has been pretty successful as-is. But Plum was long rumored to land in Golden State, and trading for her at the trade deadline seemed like a feasible pathway forward.

Could the Valkyries have acquired Plum for a few picks and a young player? Golden State has the assets, but clearly didn’t prioritize going all-in.

That move may pay off long-term, but it’s also possible that Golden State will regret not trading for one of the league’s top guards when they had the chance. They’re currently 19-10 — owners of the WNBA’s third-best record — but have lost two straight. If they suffer an early playoff exit this season, the decision to not go all-in for Plum will be revisited. At the same time, if Golden State learned Plum was unlikely to re-sign in the offseason, the decision to not go for her makes perfect sense.

Potential Winner: Kelsey Plum

The Los Angeles Sparks are going nowhere this season; that much is clear. So, it’s inherently a win for Plum to head elsewhere. Phoenix is not too far from home, and while they’re out of the playoff mix right now, they’re trending upwards, having split their last 14 games and winning three of their last four. There were better win-now destinations for Plum, but the worst-case scenario would have been not getting traded at the deadline at all.

Potential Loser: The Phoenix Mercury

The deal could be fruitful if Plum signs a long-term extension with the franchise. But if she walks in the offseason, it’s a disastrous move for the Mercury, who give up one of their most consistent young players as well as critical future draft capital. It’s especially risky because Phoenix is unlikely to make the playoffs this season, so in a worst-case scenario, Plum is a one-year rental on a team that won’t even make the postseason.

But in a best-case scenario, a roster headlined by Alyssa Thomas and Kahleah Copper — and fresh off a WNBA Finals appearance — adds one of the league’s best guards for the long term. The effectiveness of this move will be measured based on whether Plum signs an extension.

#Blockbuster #Kelsey #Plum #trade #biggest #winners #losers">Blockbuster Kelsey Plum trade: biggest winners and losers The Los Angeles Sparks are trading Kelsey Plum to the Phoenix Mercury for Monique Akoa Makani, a 2027 first-round pick, and a 2028 second-round pick, per ESPN. Plum, a five-time All-Star, is averaging 23.9 points and 6.4 assists per game this season — both career-highs — but she’s appeared in just 12 games due to a litany of lower-leg injuries.Plum was long-rumored to be in trade talks ahead of Sunday’s midseason trade deadline; the Sparks are 10-17 and losers of 6 straight games (all without Plum). If she was unlikely to re-sign this offseason, as was widely reported, Los Angeles had to trade her to recoup some value for their top asset.Now, they’ll lean back into the rebuild, acquiring a prospective lottery pick in next year’s draft and a promising young player in Akoa Makani.The Mercury are 11-19 and currently sit six games out of the playoff race. Plum immediately provides them with a massive offensive boost. But was it worth giving up draft capital for a potential one-year rental?Here are the biggest potential winners and losers from the blockbuster trade that sent Kelsey Plum to Phoenix. Potential Winner: Los Angeles SparksThe Sparks shouldn’t have made the Kelsey Plum deal two years ago. Instead, they should have leaned into the rebuild, drafted Dominique Malonga — who is already an All-Star — and built for the future. But they went all-in, it backfired, and it’s time to course-correct. While the return for Plum wasn’t massive, it’s still sizable, especially when she was likely to walk away for nothing this offseason. Now, they’ll have two top picks in 2027 — their own and Phoenix’s — and begin to truly rebuild, albeit a few years delayed.Akoa Makani, who was an undrafted rookie last year, is a sneaky big part of this deal, too. She is averaging 9.4 points, 2.5 assists, and 2.1 rebounds per game this season, while continuing to establish herself as a strong perimeter defender.Potential Loser: Golden State ValkyriesThe Valkyries still seem to be a piece away from championship contention, though this roster has been pretty successful as-is. But Plum was long rumored to land in Golden State, and trading for her at the trade deadline seemed like a feasible pathway forward.Could the Valkyries have acquired Plum for a few picks and a young player? Golden State has the assets, but clearly didn’t prioritize going all-in.That move may pay off long-term, but it’s also possible that Golden State will regret not trading for one of the league’s top guards when they had the chance. They’re currently 19-10 — owners of the WNBA’s third-best record — but have lost two straight. If they suffer an early playoff exit this season, the decision to not go all-in for Plum will be revisited. At the same time, if Golden State learned Plum was unlikely to re-sign in the offseason, the decision to not go for her makes perfect sense.Potential Winner: Kelsey Plum The Los Angeles Sparks are going nowhere this season; that much is clear. So, it’s inherently a win for Plum to head elsewhere. Phoenix is not too far from home, and while they’re out of the playoff mix right now, they’re trending upwards, having split their last 14 games and winning three of their last four. There were better win-now destinations for Plum, but the worst-case scenario would have been not getting traded at the deadline at all.Potential Loser: The Phoenix Mercury The deal could be fruitful if Plum signs a long-term extension with the franchise. But if she walks in the offseason, it’s a disastrous move for the Mercury, who give up one of their most consistent young players as well as critical future draft capital. It’s especially risky because Phoenix is unlikely to make the playoffs this season, so in a worst-case scenario, Plum is a one-year rental on a team that won’t even make the postseason.But in a best-case scenario, a roster headlined by Alyssa Thomas and Kahleah Copper — and fresh off a WNBA Finals appearance — adds one of the league’s best guards for the long term. The effectiveness of this move will be measured based on whether Plum signs an extension. #Blockbuster #Kelsey #Plum #trade #biggest #winners #losers

Pakistan’s Olympic gold medallist javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem has come in for criticism after his disappointing performance at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Nadeem finished ninth with a sub-80 effort, with Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage winning gold and India’s Neeraj Chopra and Yash Vir Singh finishing second and third, respectively.

The outcome was not unexpected, keeping in mind Arshad took part in only one preparatory event in Switzerland in 2026 for the CWG and that he spent all his time training in the hot weather in Lahore without working with any foreign coaches or trainers in person.

Arshad, who has previously trained under South African coach Terseus Liebengberg, trained with his local trainers and coach Salman Butt.

Meanwhile, Arshad’s archrival Neeraj had his final preparation and rehabilitation camp at his training camp in Biene in Switzerland, and the other Indians, Rohit Yadav and Yash Vir, trained in Spala, Poland, with foreign coaches and trainers.

READ: CWG 2026: All-Asian javelin podium as Pathirage pips Neeraj to win gold, Yash Vir clinches bronze

Arshad, defending champion at the Commonwealth Games after winning the gold in Birmingham 2022 with a best of 90.12 metres, was unable to even cross the 80-metre mark in the finals in Glasgow.

He failed to qualify for the final round of eight due to his poor performance, dashing Pakistan’s hopes of another medal in the Games.

For his fans it was a big letdown, especially having had won the Olympic gold medal with a record throw of 92.97.

Butt admitted that Arshad was nowhere near his best in the CWG and was underprepared.

While Arshad is also to be partially blamed for his fall, as he clearly didn’t look 100 per cent fit in the finals, he has also had to battle many issues off the track; the biggest one being the Pakistan Amateur Athletics Federation (PAAF) totally disowning him after a feud over the retention of Butt as coach last year.

ALSO READ: CWG 2026: Neeraj Chopra wins silver in javelin throw with season-best effort

A reliable source close to Arshad said that since late last year, the PAAF and even the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) have not made life easy for the javelin thrower.

The PAAF, the source said, totally distanced itself from Arshad’s preparations and left him on his own, and when he made a few requests pertaining to his training, they were not entertained.

Similarly, the PSB also didn’t release any funds for foreign coaches to help Arshad train even in Lahore.

“This is an athlete who is self-made and comes from a village and belonged to a low-income family. But he brought so much glory to Pakistan with his gold medals. And yet he couldn’t prepare properly for the CWG. It is a sad reflection on our sports structure,” former Olympic boxing bronze medallist Hussain Shah said.

Even Pakistan’s first female to win a medal in the Commonwealth Games, boxer Fatima Zehra, has rued that if she had got better training and exposure, she could have won the gold in her weight category.

Fatima still managed to bag a bronze in the boxing event, which is Pakistan’s only medal in the CWG thus far after sending a 36-member contingent.

Published on Aug 02, 2026

#Arshad #Nadeem #cops #criticism #poor #show #Glasgow">Arshad Nadeem cops criticism for poor show in Glasgow Pakistan’s Olympic gold medallist javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem has come in for criticism after his disappointing performance at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.Nadeem finished ninth with a sub-80 effort, with Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage winning gold and India’s Neeraj Chopra and Yash Vir Singh finishing second and third, respectively.The outcome was not unexpected, keeping in mind Arshad took part in only one preparatory event in Switzerland in 2026 for the CWG and that he spent all his time training in the hot weather in Lahore without working with any foreign coaches or trainers in person.Arshad, who has previously trained under South African coach Terseus Liebengberg, trained with his local trainers and coach Salman Butt.Meanwhile, Arshad’s archrival Neeraj had his final preparation and rehabilitation camp at his training camp in Biene in Switzerland, and the other Indians, Rohit Yadav and Yash Vir, trained in Spala, Poland, with foreign coaches and trainers.READ: CWG 2026: All-Asian javelin podium as Pathirage pips Neeraj to win gold, Yash Vir clinches bronzeArshad, defending champion at the Commonwealth Games after winning the gold in Birmingham 2022 with a best of 90.12 metres, was unable to even cross the 80-metre mark in the finals in Glasgow.He failed to qualify for the final round of eight due to his poor performance, dashing Pakistan’s hopes of another medal in the Games.For his fans it was a big letdown, especially having had won the Olympic gold medal with a record throw of 92.97.Butt admitted that Arshad was nowhere near his best in the CWG and was underprepared.While Arshad is also to be partially blamed for his fall, as he clearly didn’t look 100 per cent fit in the finals, he has also had to battle many issues off the track; the biggest one being the Pakistan Amateur Athletics Federation (PAAF) totally disowning him after a feud over the retention of Butt as coach last year.ALSO READ: CWG 2026: Neeraj Chopra wins silver in javelin throw with season-best effortA reliable source close to Arshad said that since late last year, the PAAF and even the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) have not made life easy for the javelin thrower.The PAAF, the source said, totally distanced itself from Arshad’s preparations and left him on his own, and when he made a few requests pertaining to his training, they were not entertained.Similarly, the PSB also didn’t release any funds for foreign coaches to help Arshad train even in Lahore.“This is an athlete who is self-made and comes from a village and belonged to a low-income family. But he brought so much glory to Pakistan with his gold medals. And yet he couldn’t prepare properly for the CWG. It is a sad reflection on our sports structure,” former Olympic boxing bronze medallist Hussain Shah said.Even Pakistan’s first female to win a medal in the Commonwealth Games, boxer Fatima Zehra, has rued that if she had got better training and exposure, she could have won the gold in her weight category.Fatima still managed to bag a bronze in the boxing event, which is Pakistan’s only medal in the CWG thus far after sending a 36-member contingent.Published on Aug 02, 2026 #Arshad #Nadeem #cops #criticism #poor #show #Glasgow

CWG 2026: All-Asian javelin podium as Pathirage pips Neeraj to win gold, Yash Vir clinches bronze

Arshad, defending champion at the Commonwealth Games after winning the gold in Birmingham 2022 with a best of 90.12 metres, was unable to even cross the 80-metre mark in the finals in Glasgow.

He failed to qualify for the final round of eight due to his poor performance, dashing Pakistan’s hopes of another medal in the Games.

For his fans it was a big letdown, especially having had won the Olympic gold medal with a record throw of 92.97.

Butt admitted that Arshad was nowhere near his best in the CWG and was underprepared.

While Arshad is also to be partially blamed for his fall, as he clearly didn’t look 100 per cent fit in the finals, he has also had to battle many issues off the track; the biggest one being the Pakistan Amateur Athletics Federation (PAAF) totally disowning him after a feud over the retention of Butt as coach last year.

ALSO READ: CWG 2026: Neeraj Chopra wins silver in javelin throw with season-best effort

A reliable source close to Arshad said that since late last year, the PAAF and even the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) have not made life easy for the javelin thrower.

The PAAF, the source said, totally distanced itself from Arshad’s preparations and left him on his own, and when he made a few requests pertaining to his training, they were not entertained.

Similarly, the PSB also didn’t release any funds for foreign coaches to help Arshad train even in Lahore.

“This is an athlete who is self-made and comes from a village and belonged to a low-income family. But he brought so much glory to Pakistan with his gold medals. And yet he couldn’t prepare properly for the CWG. It is a sad reflection on our sports structure,” former Olympic boxing bronze medallist Hussain Shah said.

Even Pakistan’s first female to win a medal in the Commonwealth Games, boxer Fatima Zehra, has rued that if she had got better training and exposure, she could have won the gold in her weight category.

Fatima still managed to bag a bronze in the boxing event, which is Pakistan’s only medal in the CWG thus far after sending a 36-member contingent.

Published on Aug 02, 2026

#Arshad #Nadeem #cops #criticism #poor #show #Glasgow">Arshad Nadeem cops criticism for poor show in Glasgow

Pakistan’s Olympic gold medallist javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem has come in for criticism after his disappointing performance at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Nadeem finished ninth with a sub-80 effort, with Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage winning gold and India’s Neeraj Chopra and Yash Vir Singh finishing second and third, respectively.

The outcome was not unexpected, keeping in mind Arshad took part in only one preparatory event in Switzerland in 2026 for the CWG and that he spent all his time training in the hot weather in Lahore without working with any foreign coaches or trainers in person.

Arshad, who has previously trained under South African coach Terseus Liebengberg, trained with his local trainers and coach Salman Butt.

Meanwhile, Arshad’s archrival Neeraj had his final preparation and rehabilitation camp at his training camp in Biene in Switzerland, and the other Indians, Rohit Yadav and Yash Vir, trained in Spala, Poland, with foreign coaches and trainers.

READ: CWG 2026: All-Asian javelin podium as Pathirage pips Neeraj to win gold, Yash Vir clinches bronze

Arshad, defending champion at the Commonwealth Games after winning the gold in Birmingham 2022 with a best of 90.12 metres, was unable to even cross the 80-metre mark in the finals in Glasgow.

He failed to qualify for the final round of eight due to his poor performance, dashing Pakistan’s hopes of another medal in the Games.

For his fans it was a big letdown, especially having had won the Olympic gold medal with a record throw of 92.97.

Butt admitted that Arshad was nowhere near his best in the CWG and was underprepared.

While Arshad is also to be partially blamed for his fall, as he clearly didn’t look 100 per cent fit in the finals, he has also had to battle many issues off the track; the biggest one being the Pakistan Amateur Athletics Federation (PAAF) totally disowning him after a feud over the retention of Butt as coach last year.

ALSO READ: CWG 2026: Neeraj Chopra wins silver in javelin throw with season-best effort

A reliable source close to Arshad said that since late last year, the PAAF and even the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) have not made life easy for the javelin thrower.

The PAAF, the source said, totally distanced itself from Arshad’s preparations and left him on his own, and when he made a few requests pertaining to his training, they were not entertained.

Similarly, the PSB also didn’t release any funds for foreign coaches to help Arshad train even in Lahore.

“This is an athlete who is self-made and comes from a village and belonged to a low-income family. But he brought so much glory to Pakistan with his gold medals. And yet he couldn’t prepare properly for the CWG. It is a sad reflection on our sports structure,” former Olympic boxing bronze medallist Hussain Shah said.

Even Pakistan’s first female to win a medal in the Commonwealth Games, boxer Fatima Zehra, has rued that if she had got better training and exposure, she could have won the gold in her weight category.

Fatima still managed to bag a bronze in the boxing event, which is Pakistan’s only medal in the CWG thus far after sending a 36-member contingent.

Published on Aug 02, 2026

#Arshad #Nadeem #cops #criticism #poor #show #Glasgow

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