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The Milwaukee Brewers are starting to play better baseball of late. They are 7-3 in their last 10 games and are now two games above the .500 mark and within striking distance in the National League Central.
They have paid for the losses of Devin Williams and Willy Adames, but they are finally starting to find their footing again. That said, not all is well in Milwaukee at the moment.
They are still in third place. Some of their struggles could have been prevented if a particular trade hadn't been made in 2023.
That year, the Tampa Bay Rays acquired Aaron Civale from the Cleveland Guardians for Kyle Manzardo. Milwaukee acquired him last summer for a low-level prospect. But he hasn't lived up to expectations in Milwaukee.
"Civale logged a 5.17 ERA over 27 starts with the Rays in 2023 and 2024 before he was traded again last summer, with the Brewers acquiring him in exchange for low-level shortstop Gregory Barrios," Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report wrote.
Civale hasn't been what the Brewers hoped he would be, and he also has struggled to stay off the injured list.
Needless to say, these two trades have not worked out terribly well for Milwaukee, and they may need to find a way to bolster their starting rotation at the trade deadline this year.
It will be interesting to see if Civale can turn things around and give the Brewers that boost, but with a high ERA, the Brewers can't count on that.
More must-reads:
- Why did the Orioles activate star player during last week of season?
- MLB approves Patrick Zalupski as new Rays owner
- The 'Switch-hitter single-season HR leaders' quiz
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Chicago Cubs: Return of Kyle Tucker is now an ‘if’ and not a ‘when’
The Chicago Cubs have clinched a spot in the playoffs and, despite some poor play recently, seem pretty much set to clinch the top NL Wild Card seed, guaranteeing them home field advantage in the first round of the playoffs. With the postseason in sight, focus obviously turns to fielding a winning team that will produce a deep run in the playoffs and, hopefully, a shot at a World Series appearance. There are some major questions and concerns, though. There are doubts about the bullpen and the state of the starting rotation. Pete Crow-Armstrong’s extended slump at the plate is also extremely troubling. But, arguably, the biggest concern the Cubs face as the regular comes to an end is Kyle Tucker and whether he’ll be healthy and ready for the playoffs. Kyle Tucker goes down and stays down The four-time All-Star right fielder has been out of commission since September 2 with a strained left calf. The Cubs initially thought that it would be a relatively simple injury to walk through and decided to hold off on an IL stint. However, as time passed and Tucker’s injury didn’t seem to be responding, they had no choice but to bite the bullet and put their multi-tool star on the 10-day IL. Those ten days came and went, though, without any improvement to Tucker’s condition. It’s now almost a week past the point where he was eligible to return, but he remains inactive, opting to return to Tampa to work with his personal physical therapy team. He’s due to return to Chicago this Tuesday to confer with Cubs staff on his progress or lack thereof. According to reports, he hasn’t begun running yet. Counsell offers somewhat of an update At the moment, Cubs manager Craig Counsell seems just as befuddled and low-key frustrated as the fans (and likely Tucker, himself). “He’s hitting, yes,” Counsell told reporters prior to the Cubs’ 1-0 loss to the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ballpark on Sunday. “We’ve got to figure out when, and if, he’s going to be available. We’ve got six games left.” The clock is most definitely ticking on Tucker and the Cubs with now just over a week left before the Wild Card series begins. It only stands to reason that the team would want Tucker back before the playoffs for at least a couple games to get back his rhythm at the plate. Can Tucker come back for Chicago Cubs playoff run? Having Tucker back in time for some regular season tune-up at bats has been a topic of conversation as the right fielder’s recovery has dragged on. Some feel that, with his relaxed approach to hitting, Tucker won’t be in dire need of live at bats before the playoffs. Others feel that coming back cold, playing in high-stakes playoff games, could be a recipe for failure. “Nobody knows the right answer to that question,” Counsell said, regarding an absolute need for tune-up at bats before the postseason. “We have history on both sides of it. We have examples on both sides of it… “The beautiful part about it, for him, is I really don’t think it’s going to help him. I don’t think he’s wired that way…He had a tremendous September last year coming off a similar [extended injury] situation.” On Tuesday, everyone will be one step closer to knowing what’s what when it comes to Tucker and his readiness to play. As of right now, though, things don’t look good.
Rockets Facing Russell Westbrook Decision After Fred VanVleet News
The Houston Rockets were among the biggest winners of the NBA offseason, making aggressive moves to raise expectations. They re-signed Fred VanVleet on a two-year, $50 million contract, secured Kevin Durant in a blockbuster deal, and built around a core of Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, and Jabari Smith Jr. With a revamped roster, the Rockets have been labeled as serious contenders in the Western Conference. That optimism suffered a major setback Monday. Per Shams Charania of ESPN, VanVleet has suffered a torn ACL, a devastating injury that is expected to sideline him for most, if not all, of the 2025 season. The news immediately sparked questions about how Houston will replace VanVleet’s production and leadership — with NBA free agent Russell Westbrook entering the public conversation. Westbrook, who declined his $3.47 million player option with the Denver Nuggets, remains unsigned as training camp nears. A return to Houston, where he played in 2019-20, would be headline-worthy, particularly alongside Durant — who he starred with on the Oklahoma City Thunder. Rockets Have One Problem on Potential Russell Westbrook Signing All this being said, Houston's cap situation presents a roadblock. The Rockets are roughly $1.2 million from the first apron hard-cap, leaving little flexibility. They could apply for a disabled player exception, yet that doesn’t clear enough space to add a veteran minimum deal outright. "For those asking, the Rockets can't sign Russell Westbrook, Ben Simmons, or anyone else since they are roughly $1.2M from the first apron hard-cap," Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints explained on X. "The Rockets can apply for a disabled player exception, but that doesn't change their financial restrictions." This is where the Rockets face a decision. Westbrook, who averaged 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 6.1 assists in 75 games for the Nuggets last season, would be a great replacement for the injured VanVleet. He has familiarity with Durant, vocal leadership skills and remains productive at age 36. But the Rockets would have to disrupt their current roster via a cap-saving move in order to make this possible, which makes it a difficult decision. Aside from Houston making a cap-saving move, their best options are to wait for to sign a prorated minimum later in the year or turn inward. Rockets' Internal Options Amid Russell Westbrook Speculation This all likely means more minutes for Reed Sheppard and veteran Aaron Holiday. The Rockets cannot easily move recently signed players—Holiday, Jae’Sean Tate, Jeff Green, Josh Okogie, Dorian Finney-Smith, Steven Adams, or Clint Capela—until later in the season. Westbrook averaged 27.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 7.0 assists in his lone season with the Rockets in 2019-20, helping lead them to the playoffs. His chemistry with Durant from their Oklahoma City days and his past stint in Houston make the possibility of a reunion intriguing. However, given the Rockets’ financial restrictions and roster commitments, his signing is unlikely in the short term. Houston appears more inclined to lean on its depth until cap conditions shift later in the season. For now, Westbrook remains available, but a return to Houston is something the Rockets would have to make a complicated decision on.
Exciting Jordan Addison Development Occurs Ahead of Vikings-Steelers
The Minnesota Vikings are fourth-worst in the NFL with 503 passing yards through three weeks, but they've been compromised. Wide receiver Jordan Addison was suspended for the first three games for violating the NFL's Substances of Abuse Policy. The 23-year-old was arrested on suspicion of DUI near Los Angeles International Airport in July 2024 and pleaded no contest to a "wet reckless" charge this past July, which is a misdemeanor offense. The Vikings drafted Addison No. 23 overall out of USC in 2023, and he was productive in his first two seasons. The 5-foot-11-inch, 175-pounder has career totals of 1,786 receiving yards on 133 catches with 19 touchdowns over 32 games. Addison is now done with his suspension, via NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. "Suspensions are over for 49ers wide receiver Demarcus Robinson and Vikings WR Jordan Addison, who both served three games and are now back with their teams," he reported on Monday. Minnesota will now have its No. 2 receiver back moving forward. Superstar wideout Justin Jefferson leads the team with 12 catches and 200 yards, while the next receiving leader is fellow wideout Josh Nailor with 96 yards. Tight end T.J. Hockenson also has nine receptions for 76 yards. Addison has a better track record than Nailor, who has never topped 414 yards in a season since entering the league in 2022. On the other hand, Hockenson notched 95 catches, 960 yards, and five touchdowns in 2023, but he's a safety blanket underneath and over the middle. Addison can help take the top off of the defense alongside Jefferson, which should open up the Vikings' offense. Vikings Positioned for Success Against Steelers Not only is Minnesota getting Addison back for this Sunday's bout with the Pittsburgh Steelers, but it'll face a defense that ranks 23rd in the NFL with 25.7 points allowed per game. The Steelers did hold the New England Patriots' offense to 14 points in last Sunday's win, but they coughed up 32 points to the New York Jets in Week 1 and 31 to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 2. Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (ankle) is out, but veteran backup Carson Wentz showed he can still play in Sunday's 48-10 trouncing of the Cincinnati Bengals, completing 14 of 20 passes for 173 yards and two touchdowns. They're now 2-1 ahead of their Week 4 matchup with the Steelers in Dublin, Ireland, and could go 3-1 if Addison picks up where he left off.
Eagles HC Nick Sirianni shoots down coaching conspiracy theory
After only scoring a touchdown in the first half and digging themselves into a 26-7 hole, the Philadelphia Eagles offense went into overdrive in the second half to overtake the Los Angeles Rams, 33-26, on Sunday. During his news conference on Monday, Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni was asked if offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo was removed from play-calling duty in the second half in favor of Sirianni and quarterback Jalen Hurts calling plays for the vicious comeback. Hurts and Patullo had a heated moment on the sideline during the third quarter. Sirianni confirmed that the conspiracy theory was false and that Patullo called all of the plays in the second half. “Kevin called the plays yesterday in that second half,” Sirianni said, via Pro Football Talk. "Kevin called the plays. Kevin will continue to call the plays... I love the communication that we get from all our guys." Following a sack-fumble of Hurts on their opening drive of the second half, the star quarterback led the Eagles to three touchdowns on their final four possessions. Sirianni credited Hurts for communicating well with the staff so Patullo could call good plays. “But make no mistake about it, Jalen does a great job of communicating. Jalen sees the field really, really, well. He can come back and tell you what happened without even looking at the picture. Then you look at the picture like, ‘Yeah, this, that’s exactly what happened’. Jalen has a great feel for how that’s going. So, there’s communication, right?" This is Patullo's first season as an offensive coordinator in the league. He's served as the Eagles pass game coordinator since 2021. Through three games, Philadelphia is averaging 25.6 points per game, down from the 29 points per game it averaged in 2024.
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