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  • Flyers’ top goal scorer Tyson Foerster out 2-3 months with upper-body injury

    Flyers’ top goal scorer Tyson Foerster out 2-3 months with upper-body injury

    The Flyers will be without their top goal scorer for some time.

    Tyson Foerster will miss two to three months with an upper-body injury, the team said Tuesday. The Flyers did not disclose the extent of the injury he suffered Monday in a 5-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. A source told The Inquirer on Tuesday that the team is hopeful that the injury won’t require surgery and can be treated through rehab.

    Flyers coach Rick Tocchet did not have an update postgame but said, “I hope it’s not long. Obviously, he’s a big part of our team.”

    Foerster scored during a five-on-three, sending the puck past Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry from the left faceoff circle. His 10th goal of the season evened the score and broke a tie with Trevor Zegras atop the Flyers’ goal-scoring leaderboard.

    Travis Konecny is playing with ‘more conviction,’ according to Rick Tocchet. Are the goals about to come?

    But less than a minute later, with the Flyers still on a five-on-three power play after Pittsburgh’s Kris Letang was called for high-sticking when the goal horn went off, Foerster took a pass from Zegras for a one-timer atop the left circle.

    Foerster appeared to suffer an injury as he shot the puck on goal. He skated off, holding his right shoulder, and went down the tunnel.

    “That’s tough. He’s such a big part of the team, the locker room, everything,” forward Travis Konecny said. “So, yeah, I mean, it’s definitely difficult.”

    Added Noah Cates, who, along with Konecny, plays on a line with Foerster: “Yeah, [it stinks]. Seeing a teammate, or anyone, go down, and obviously just such an important part of our team, our core, just special teams, everything like that, so, yeah, just kind of messed with our lineup. … But everyone’s got to be ready and ready to play with everyone.”

    The 23-year-old winger has been off to a fast start, despite missing four games with a lower-body injury after blocking a shot by Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly on Nov. 1. He has six goals in the last seven games and 13 points across 21 games this season.

    “His release of his shot is really elite … but when he gets that puck in the slot or these prime areas, his release, really, it’s an elite shot, so I give him a lot of credit,” Tocchet said Saturday before the Flyers defeated the New Jersey Devils, 5-3. Foerster did not score in that game.

    The winger had surgery in the offseason after a right elbow injury he picked up during the World Championships became infected. After some initial concern, he did not miss any game action and returned in time for opening night.

    Foerster also has had issues with his right shoulder in the past. In November 2021, he dislocated his right shoulder while diving for a puck on a five-on-three power play for Lehigh Valley of the American Hockey League. He had shoulder surgery and missed 4½ months. Foerster also suffered a broken tibia in February 2021.

    With the Flyers already having a roster spot open after defenseman Adam Ginning cleared waivers Monday afternoon and was assigned to the Phantoms, speculation swirled that Alex Bump would be called up to make his NHL debut.

    But a source tells The Inquirer the Flyers were always more likely to recall a veteran from Lehigh Valley. The Flyers officially recalled Carl Grundström on Tuesday night. Grundström played one game this season with the Flyers on Nov. 8 against Ottawa after being acquired in a trade that sent Ryan Ellis’ contract to the San Jose Sharks. Originally drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs, the 28-year-old has 76 points in 293 career games split between the Flyers, Sharks, and Los Angeles Kings. He has six goals and 15 points in 19 games with Lehigh Valley this season.

    The move signals that Nikita Grebenkin likely will get a chance to show what he can do while playing in a top-nine role. The 22-year-old Grebenkin, who has mostly played on the fourth line this season and has been in and out of the lineup, has one goal and three points in 16 games this season.

    Tyson Foerster is becoming ‘a guy that we really rely on’ to score for the Flyers

    There should be a call-up for Bump at some point this season. The winger has four goals and 16 points in 20 games with Lehigh Valley this season. Although he had a slow start and hasn’t scored a goal since Nov. 14, Bump has three goals and 13 points in his last 12 games.

    “The moment that it really clicked for him was after the second Wilkes-Barre game. I challenged him in a different way,” Phantoms coach John Snowden told The Inquirer in mid-November, referencing Bump’s fifth game of the season.

    “We all know that he has the offensive ability — he can hold onto the puck, he can beat you one-on-one, he can score with his shot, he can beat you with a pass, he’s got all those qualities. But the one thing that he was lacking was the abrasiveness in playing inside of contact and getting guys on your back and in finishing hits when it’s time to finish a hit, and valuing the defensive side of things.

    “All those little things that are going to create more offensive opportunities for him, we need to get those better.”

  • The steady hands of Acaden Lewis guide Villanova past Temple and into the Big 5 title game

    The steady hands of Acaden Lewis guide Villanova past Temple and into the Big 5 title game

    It took 2½ minutes for Acaden Lewis to, for all intents and purposes, end a Villanova–Temple game Monday night at Finneran Pavilion that mostly had been a sloppy rock fight for the first 25 minutes.

    The Villanova freshman, in foul trouble for the bulk of the first half, hadn’t yet made his mark on a game that was sending the winner to the Big 5 Classic championship game.

    In a flash, that changed. The Wildcats, in the third year of the current Big 5 Classic format, finally will play for a championship in a City Series the program had long dominated. They beat Temple, 74-56, largely because of Lewis’ steady hand and a short sequence that changed the game.

    Penn and La Salle played a Palestra classic, even though it wasn’t a Big 5 game

    First, Lewis got to the basket and finished a layup through contact. His three-point play cut a four-point Temple lead to one with 15 minutes remaining. Then he stripped Temple’s Gavin Griffiths and fed Devin Askew for a three-pointer.

    After a Temple miss, Villanova’s Duke Brennan, the nation’s leading rebounder, grabbed one of his game-high eight rebounds and found Lewis, who got the ball up court quickly and into the hands of Tyler Perkins, who hit one of his game-high five three-pointers en route to his 19-point night.

    Timeout Temple. Tide turned. Lewis got a hockey assist on the next Villanova possession, then grabbed the ensuing Temple miss, brought the ball up the court, and found Brennan rolling to the rim for two easy points. Villanova’s lead was only six with 12 minutes, 20 seconds to play, but Lewis was rolling, and it was only a matter of time before the game got out of Temple’s reach.

    Tyler Perkins led Villanova with 19 points against Temple on Monday night.

    Lewis finished with 12 points on 4-for-8 shooting to go with eight assists, five rebounds, and two steals. He played 24 minutes, was a plus-25, and didn’t turn the ball over.

    Monday’s stat line came on the heels of Lewis’ 20-point outburst in Villanova’s win over Old Dominion last week. He has averaged 6.4 assists over Villanova’s last five games.

    Lewis, a top-35 recruit in the 2025 class, was benched in Villanova’s season-opening loss to nationally ranked Brigham Young. His decision-making and defense in his college debut weren’t good enough. But he has responded over the last four weeks with maturity and poise.

    “He’s been playing at an extremely high level ever since the BYU game, and I think he just keeps getting a little bit more comfortable with guys out there and what he’s doing,” Villanova coach Kevin Willard said. “He’s been great.”

    Freshman Acaden Lewis will get the keys for Kevin Willard and Villanova right away

    Lewis said he’s feeling more comfortable. He sees it in his ability to take care of the ball and not turn it over. He had four turnovers apiece in victories over Sacred Heart and Duquesne, but followed those outings up with two turnovers vs. La Salle, one vs. Old Dominion, and zero Monday night vs. Temple. His defense has improved, too.

    “Man, is he good,” Temple coach Adam Fisher said. “I got to watch him in high school and stuff. He’s just so smooth as a freshman, and I think you see Coach Willard’s teams through the years, his personnel gets better. So I think what you’re seeing from Lewis right now, and the Lewis come February and March is going to be even better.

    “And right now, he’s pretty freakin’ good. All five guys got to guard him, his ability to pick you apart. He can guard, he’s got great length, and he disrupts the game.”

    Even if he’s not realizing it in the moment.

    “I honestly have no clue,” Lewis said when asked about the impact of the aforementioned sequence that changed the game. “I kind of got lost in the game.”

    Acaden Lewis (right) fueled a Villanova run that helped put Monday’s game against Temple on ice.

    Villanova, with Lewis on the bench for the final 10 minutes of the first half, looked lost offensively at times. Temple’s trio of guards — Aiden Tobiason, Derrian Ford, and Jordan Mason — who combined for 41 of Temple’s 56 points, did a good job disrupting Villanova’s flow. But Villanova finally put together an extended stretch of good defensive play, an area that has been of concern to Willard lately.

    Willard said he was happy at halftime despite Villanova leading by just one, 29-28. The Wildcats outscored the Owls, 45-28, in the second half. They outrebounded Temple (4-4), 43-24, overall.

    Villanova had nine turnovers in the first 21 minutes of the game, but not another the rest of the way largely because of Lewis, who drained a three-pointer for good measure (or practice) after the final horn sounded.

    The Wildcats are 6-1 and have KenPom’s No. 1 team, Michigan (7-0), which is ranked No. 3 in the Associated Press poll, on Tuesday. It will be a litmus test type of game for a team that currently has no real signature win on its resumé.

    First up, though, is a date Saturday with Penn (5-3) in the championship of the Big 5 Classic.

    “Where we’re trying to get this program back to, you got to learn how to win games that matter,” Willard said. “To play Penn for the Big 5 championship … learning how to win championships, especially in today’s world where you have 13 guys who are all brand-new, it’s a good opportunity for us to learn and see what it’s all about.”

    Big 5 Classic matchups set

    Fifth-place game: Drexel vs. La Salle, 2 p.m.

    Third-place game: St. Joseph’s vs. Temple, 4:30 p.m.

    Championship: Villanova vs. Penn, 7 p.m.

  • Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George finally shared the floor. And the Sixers have a lot of work to do.

    Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George finally shared the floor. And the Sixers have a lot of work to do.

    While the game didn’t provide a definitive answer to how competitive the 76ers will be, it did present some encouraging and not-so-encouraging signs.

    Sunday’s 142-134 setback to the Atlanta Hawks at Xfinity Mobile Arena marked the first time Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey have been on the floor together this season.

    Sunday also marked just the 19th game that Embiid, George, and Maxey played together since George signed his four-year, $211.5 million deal on July 6, 2024. This was only the 16th game that all three finished. In those 16 games, the Sixers are 7-9.

    “It was just great to get out there with those guys,” George said of the Big Three. “We just logged minutes together. I thought it was just a ton of excitement. But we obviously got work to do.”

    On paper, Maxey, Embiid, and George are a solid mix.

    Maxey is a budding superstar. Embiid is the former MVP and arguably one of the NBA’s all-time best scoring big men. George is a nine-time All-Star forward and three-level scorer. And despite coming off July’s left knee surgery, the 35-year-old still appears to be an elite defender. However, the problem is their usage.

    Maxey is good enough that if the right co-stars surround him, the 6-foot-2, 200-pounder could excel like the Cleveland Cavaliers’ perennial All-Star, Donovan Mitchell.

    The Sixers’ point guard is playing at an All-NBA level. If you put the ball in his hands, he’ll make plays for you offensively.

    And on Sunday, the Embiid, George, and Maxey lineup looked improved compared to their limited games together last season. But it was far from Eastern Conference championship worthy.

    The Sixers’ season has 2024-25 vibes with Joel Embiid and Paul George missing substantial time

    There were times against the Hawks when the lineup looked clunky. Embiid still spends most of his time on the perimeter. The 7-foot-2, 280-pounder’s outside presence often gets in his teammates’ driving lanes to the basket.

    But when things did run smoothly, Maxey and Embiid did a solid job of orchestrating the pick-and-roll and keeping George involved. George, however, failed to knock down wide-open three-point shots on passes from the duo.

    There was one moment in the fourth quarter when Maxey dished the ball to Embiid in the pick-and-roll. The seven-time All-Star, in turn, passed to a wide-open George in the corner. But he missed the 24-footer.

    Then, a couple of possessions later, Maxey dished to George, who again was left wide-open in the corner for a three. He missed, again.

    But in his defense, George isn’t known as a catch-and-shoot three-point shooter.

    Sixers center Joel Embiid drives to the basket against the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday.

    There were also times when the offense flowed perfectly with the trio on the floor together. And if we learned something in the overtime sessions, it’s that the Sixers need George, Embiid, and Maxey on the floor together more.

    The Sixers often replaced George and Embiid with undersized, nonshooting post players, which resulted in Maxey drawing extra attention. And he was also blitzed on screens, making it harder to free Maxey with screens or switches.

    But due to a minutes restriction, George’s night was over after the opening minute, 22 seconds of the first overtime. Meanwhile, Embiid was unable to play in the second overtime due to his minutes restriction. Sunday marked Embiid’s first game since Nov. 8 and seventh this season due to knee injuries. This was just George’s fifth game because of left knee injury recovery and a sprained right ankle.

    Sixers takeaways: Joel Embiid’s motivated play, Tyrese Maxey’s missed free throws and more in loss to Hawks

    Without Embiid’s presence and George’s playmaking and stellar defense, the Sixers went Maxey or bust in the second overtime.

    He tried to do his part, scoring all eight of his team’s points in the five-minute session. However, the Sixers’ small-ball lineup struggled on the boards. Atlanta outrebounded them, 7-2, in the second overtime, which enabled it to score seven second-chance points.

    “It was tough not having [Embiid] out there in the second overtime,” coach Nick Nurse said. “He got us some open space to play in, with him just being on the floor. He created a lot of offense for us.”

    Sixers forward Paul George was limited to 28 minutes against the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday.

    Maxey finished with game highs of 44 points and nine assists to go with seven rebounds, six turnovers, and one block in 52:18. He scored 24 of his points over the fourth quarter and overtime sessions.

    The Sixers walked away believing a victory would’ve been in the cards had Embiid, George, and VJ Edgecombe, who also sat out the extra sessions due to a minutes restriction, all played at the end. And they’re probably right under those circumstances on that particular night.

    The Hawks were without perennial All-Star guard Trae Young and standout center Kristaps Porziņģis.

    Right now, the Sixers are having a tough time beating quality opponents.

    But …

    Sixers mailbag: Does it make sense to try to trade Paul George before the trade deadline?

    “I never get real satisfaction out of not winning,” said Nurse, whose Sixers (10-9) have lost nine of 15 games after starting 4-0. “Right now, though, we’ve gotten so thin over the last 10, 12 days. It’s just nice to have a few guys filtering back in. That’s like hopefully we can come out of this, obviously, we try to recover and rejuvenate [Monday], and hopefully, we can get most of the guys back on the floor Tuesday, again.

    “And hopefully, the minute restrictions will start going up a little bit again. That’s something to look forward to again.”

    The Sixers entertain the Washington Wizards on Tuesday. The Wizards improved to 3-16 after Monday’s 129-126 home victory over the Milwaukee Bucks. They were riding a 14-game losing streak before defeating the Hawks on Nov. 25.

    Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey and center Joel Embiid shown during the loss to the Hawks on Sunday.

    Embiid will miss Tuesday’s matchup due to what’s labeled a right knee injury recovery.

    But once he returns, the Sixers must face reality.

    Right now, they have a high-scoring speedster in Maxey and a big man who barely plays in Embiid. And when the 31-year-old does play, he doesn’t really move, especially defensively, following April’s arthroscopic left knee surgery. It was his second left knee surgery in 14 months and third in nine years.

    Even though he’s averaging 32.3 points, the Sixers can’t count on Maxey to score 44 points every night. And at times this season — including Sunday — it appeared Embiid wasn’t trying on defense or just wasn’t able to get to a spot.

    Offensively, the Sixers can give the ball to him, and he’ll score. He is averaging 19.4 points in just 24.3 minutes in seven games.

    The problem is they’re not going to beat quality opponents with Embiid being limited. But the Sixers have to endure the process of acclimating Embiid and George, and there will likely be some collateral damage.

    After all, the Sixers have been most successful in an up-tempo offense centered around ball movement. Yet Embiid is better suited to a two-man game with Maxey and isolation plays.

    Sixers center Joel Embiid holds the basketball out with teammate guard Tyrese Maxey past Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels on Sunday, November 30, 2025 in Philadelphia.

    “It’s different because he’s still really good,” Maxey said. “We still got to get him the ball. We also got to run our stuff. It’s going to come with time. … I think that may be VJ’s first time playing with Joel and Paul. A lot of guys’ first time playing with them.

    “So we haven’t really practiced with that group. It’s kind of hard, but that’s no excuse. I think we did a good enough job to win the game. We played well. We got to finish those out.”

    Joel Embiid begins another season restart: ‘You can’t put your head down and whine about it’

    But they’re elated to show some improvement.

    “I thought offensively, it kind of felt like we did have a better little rhythm out there, kind of finding, picking, choosing different lineups to incorporate, whether it’s pick-and-rolls, positioning on the floor,” George said. “And then defensively, I thought there were a lot of positives there. But again, all of it is now we’ve got to get to work and try to be consistent together.”

    While that was encouraging, the Sixers still have a long way to go.

  • 🦅 Seeds of hope? | Sports Daily Newsletter

    🦅 Seeds of hope? | Sports Daily Newsletter

    All is not lost. Many of the Eagles’ followers are distraught after two straight defeats (see “Fans are flustered” below), but the team remains in first place in the NFC East at 8-4.

    The fans need to take a deep breath, look at the Eagles’ remaining schedule, and hope that Nick Sirianni and his staff get things straightened out to make another playoff run.

    The top seeds in the NFC, the 9-3 Bears, have a challenging schedule in their last five games. The Eagles could be facing a Chargers team without Justin Herbert, then they’ll play the lowly Raiders and a tough road game against the Bills sandwiched by two Commanders games. Of course, the loss to the Giants this season proves that the Eagles can be beaten by anyone.

    If the season ended now, the Eagles would be seeded third in the conference. Jeff Neiburg examines their chances of gaining the NFC’s top seed and the bye that goes with it. The odds are not great, but the Birds control their own destiny when it comes to the NFC East.

    Sirianni said Monday that the team has been evaluating everything since the Black Friday loss to Chicago. “We all have to look internally and get better,” said the coach, who also said that the embattled Kevin Patullo will remain as the play-caller.

    Maybe it’s the fact that Herbert had surgery scheduled on his broken (non-throwing) hand, but the host Chargers opened as underdogs in the Monday Night Football game against the Eagles in Los Angeles.

    — Jim Swan, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

    If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

    ❓What’s the best-case scenario for the Eagles to reach the Super Bowl again? Email us back for a chance to be featured in the newsletter.

    Signs from the Big Three

    Sixers center Joel Embiid played for the first time since he suffered soreness in his right knee.

    Sunday marked the first time Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey have been on the floor together in a game this season. It also marked just the 19th game the trio played together since George signed his four-year, $211.5 million deal on July 6, 2024. There were some encouraging and not-so-encouraging signs from the loss to the Atlanta Hawks. The Inquirer’s Keith Pompey does a deep dive into Maxey’s high usage, George’s shot making, and Embiid’s mobility (or lack thereof).

    What’s going on with TK?

    Flyers right wing Travis Konecny has yet to really get going despite averaging almost a point per game.

    Travis Konecny has been the Flyers’ best player for the past few seasons, as the right winger has led the team in scoring in four straight campaigns and five of the last six.

    But while the Flyers have gotten off to a surprisingly strong start, Konecny is one of the few players who has yet to really click the way he has before. On pace for just 17 goals after averaging 29 over the last three seasons, Konecny says there is “more for me to give.”

    But is the historically streaky Konecny due for a breakout in terms of scoring goals? Count Rick Tocchet among those who believe so.

    The Flyers’ three-game winning streak was snapped in 5-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. The team also lost top scorer Tyson Foerster to an upper-body injury during the game.

    Young arms to watch in 2026

    Top pitching prospect Andrew Painter is expected to make his major league debut in 2026.

    The Phillies were pleased with the quality of Andrew Painter’s stuff and his velocity in 2025. But command is typically the last thing that returns to a pitcher after undergoing Tommy John elbow surgery, and that’s what Painter struggled with the most. He had a 5.40 ERA and issued 3.9 walks per nine innings at triple-A Lehigh Valley, and a call-up never arrived.

    But Painter, their top pitching prospect, should make his long-awaited major league debut in 2026. And he might not be the only one. Let’s take a look at the Phillies’ pitching prospects who are the most likely to make a major league impact this season.

    Fans are flustered

    Unhappy Eagles fans during the loss to the Bears on Friday.

    Many Eagles fans have had it after two straight losses in which the offense looked leaner than a picked-over turkey carcass. Someone lit up an electronic sign outside the Linc yesterday that said: “FIRE KEVIN PATULLO.” One fan even broke up with his girlfriend over the Birds, saying the Eagles have been playing badly ever since they got together. She agreed to stop talking to him until the end of the season.

    Some fans take out their frustrations in the wrong way, though. Police in Moorestown said someone vandalized Patullo’s house early Saturday morning.

    Marcus Hayes’ take

    Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts struggled in the Black Friday loss to the Chicago Bears.

    Jalen Hurts is a competent starter with a few special gifts. He is a tireless worker, a steady hand on the tiller, a fine runner, fearless, tough, accurate, with exquisite touch on deep passes. He is not the total package. To expect him to be so only courts disappointment.

    Eagles first-year coordinator Kevin Patullo might not be calling all the best plays, and his sequencing might be imperfect, but the consensus among analysts and several Eagles sources is that Patullo’s not the problem. Hurts is missing wide-open receivers, sometimes missing multiple receivers on the same play, even when he’s not pressured.

    🧠 Trivia time

    Nick Sirianni has the best career winning percentage among Eagles coaches all-time at .700. Who is second at .594 (not including interim coaches)? First with the correct answer here will be featured in the newsletter.

    A) Andy Reid

    B) Greasy Neale

    C) Rich Kotite

    D) Buddy Ryan

    Who said it?

    Saquon Barkley and the Eagles running game have struggled to get off the ground this season.

    The Eagles managed only 87 rushing yards in the loss to the Bears. Do you know which Birds player had this take? Click here to find out.

    What you’re saying about this sports town

    We asked: What do you think makes Philadelphia a great sports city? Among your responses:

    It’s the City of Brotherly Love! Philadelphia and its fans are real — both are intense, passionate, loyal, and have always, always had an unwavering fan base. Philadelphia is in a league of their own; always have been, always will be. — Karen L.

    Philly is all in on all sports … and not person by person. If the Eagles are up it’s all green all the time. If it’s the Phillies … it’s red October. When the Sixers are up — play the song. In Boston, if you’re a Sox fan you might be a Pats fan but not passionately. Chicago is similarly divided. SF is either Giants or Niners. Not here. We get behind the team that’s taking us to the promised land. But be sure you don’t underperform or we’ll eat your lunch. — Angelo D.

    Obviously, the Washington Post works for Trump, Trump hates blue cities, Philly is a blue city, ergo Philly is not on the list. — Diane D.

    The Union’s fans getting fired up during the playoff game against New York City FC at Subaru Park.

    Why? Because we love the Union! — Valerie M.

    Every time I see a Philly sports team playing in some other city I always see more than one fan where a Phillies, Eagles, Flyers, college team in the stands wearing Philly team clothes. P.S. I love the Phillies Friday home uniforms. — Bill M.

    A fairly recent great example of why Philly is a great sports town is how during Covid, when fans were not allowed in the stadium, a group of fans met outside the stadium for every home game and watched and cheered the Phillies through the gates. That’s fans who truly love their teams! — Bob A.

    I have lived in Los Angeles/Orange County Calif., and now here in Arizona and have been to games in many cities and have never experienced the excitement and fan loyalty Philadelphia has in any other city or area. Maybe Philly doesn’t have the championships that NY and LA and Boston have, but it has a very special Philly feeling around the Eagles, Phillies, Sixers, Flyers, & Union that is unmatched anywhere. — Everett S.

    We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Jeff Neiburg, Olivia Reiner, Jeff McLane, Gabriela Carroll, Lochlahn March, Keith Pompey, Jackie Spiegel, Marcus Hayes, and Ariel Simpson.

    By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

    Thanks for reading our newsletter. Bella will bring you Sports Daily on Wednesday. — Jim

  • Andrew Painter isn’t the only pitching prospect who might help the Phillies in 2026

    Andrew Painter isn’t the only pitching prospect who might help the Phillies in 2026

    When Mick Abel, then the Phillies’ No. 8 prospect, made his major league debut in May, it was just for a spot start.

    But he impressed enough in those six scoreless innings that the Phillies decided to give him a chance in the rotation two weeks later. After a tough 2024 season, Abel was a bit of a revelation for the Phillies early on as their fifth starter.

    And while he was ultimately sent back to triple A in July to reset after some struggles with command, his turnaround continued to impact the major league club when he was traded to the Minnesota Twins as part of the package for Jhoan Duran.

    Of the players yet to make their major league debuts, who could be the Abel of 2026? Let’s take a look at the Phillies’ pitching prospects who are the most likely to make a major league impact next season.

    Andrew Painter struggled with his command in his return to the mound with Lehigh Valley following Tommy John surgery in 2023.

    Andrew Painter

    Plenty of ink has been devoted to the subject of Painter’s major league debut since at least 2023, when he was under consideration for the Phillies’ rotation at age 19.

    A ligament sprain and subsequent Tommy John elbow surgery delayed that timeline. But once he returned to the mound in 2025, it was expected he would figure into the Phillies’ plans by the summer.

    That didn’t happen, either.

    The Phillies were pleased with the quality of Painter’s stuff and his velocity. But command is typically the last thing that returns to a pitcher after Tommy John surgery, and that’s what Painter struggled with the most in 2025. He had a 5.40 ERA and issued 3.9 walks per nine innings at triple-A Lehigh Valley, and the call-up never arrived.

    Exploring three trades the Phillies could make to address their offseason needs

    “I think everybody was excited about getting him back,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said in September. “I think at the end of the day you look back on it, you say, ‘First time going through this, it usually takes two years for a guy to come back [from Tommy John].’ I think we can all look back and think, ‘Man, [we] probably should have expected this.’”

    Given that he remains healthy, next season should be different. Painter will have a normal offseason and spring for the first time since 2023. He will again enter camp in contention for a rotation spot, and this time he isn’t a teenager; he’ll turn 23 in April.

    There figures to be a place for him, too. Ranger Suárez is likely to command a big contract as one of the top left-handers on the free-agent market, and unless the Phillies outbid pitching-starved teams or make a splash elsewhere, that would leave an opportunity for Painter to break camp with the team.

    “We’re optimistic that with a regular offseason training program and getting ready to come in the season, that he’ll be able to regain that [command],” Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said.

    Jean Cabrera had a 3.81 ERA and 1.23 WHIP over a career-high 137 innings last season with double-A Reading.

    Jean Cabrera

    At the general managers’ meetings last month, Dombrowski pointed to the 24-year-old Cabrera as the Phillies’ current minor league starting pitching depth beyond Painter.

    “You never have enough starting pitching,” he said. “And really, for us, after you get past Painter, now you’re talking about Cabrera, [who] would be one of those guys. But we don’t have a lot of starting pitching, so that’s something we’re going to be cognizant of.”

    Cabrera spent the 2025 season with double-A Reading, where he posted a 3.81 ERA and 1.23 WHIP over a career-high 137 innings. The right-hander allowed just 0.72 home runs per nine innings. Cabrera has been on the Phillies’ 40-man roster since 2024, when he was added as protection from the Rule 5 draft.

    Cabrera was consistent in terms of workload last season. He made 26 starts and none was shorter than 4⅓ innings. In the event of an injury or if a spot start is needed, Cabrera provides the Phillies with crucial starting depth.

    Alex McFarlane had a strong second half in his first season back from Tommy John surgery.

    Alex McFarlane

    McFarlane was added to the Phillies’ 40-man roster last month ahead of the Rule 5 draft, signaling the team’s faith in the 24-year-old righty.

    Like Painter, McFarlane is coming off his first full season back after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2023. He had a stronger second half, with a 2.54 ERA and 1.03 WHIP in his last 39 innings compared to a 7.02 ERA and 1.71 WHIP in his first 41 innings.

    Dave Dombrowski’s biggest offseason headache? The bullpen, not the Phillies’ lineup.

    That improvement also came with a move to the bullpen in August. McFarlane was promoted from high-A Jersey Shore to double-A Reading in September to finish out the year.

    With a fastball that can touch 100 mph, McFarlane could be possible bullpen depth for the Phillies in 2026.

    The Phillies left pitcher Griff McGarry unprotected in the Rule 5 draft for the second straight year.

    Griff McGarry

    It’s possible that McGarry could find himself in a new organization come Dec. 11, as he was left unprotected in the Rule 5 draft for the second year in a row.

    Another team can pay the Phillies $100,000 to select McGarry, but he must remain on that team’s 26-man roster for the entire season or be offered back for $50,000. Last December, the Twins selected right-hander Eiberson Castellano from the Phillies in the Rule 5 draft, but he was returned in March. (Castellano elected free agency at the end of the season.)

    McGarry built a solid foundation for 2026 with a bounceback 2025 season. The 26-year-old righty won the Phillies’ Paul Owens Award, an internal honor for their top minor league pitcher, after posting a 3.44 ERA in 83⅔ innings.

    The Phillies have made progress, but still haven’t signed a player out of Japan. Will that change soon?

    McGarry has struggled with command throughout his minor league career and was moved to the bullpen in 2024. Last year, though, the Phillies moved him back to a starting role. He cut his walks from 10.2 per nine innings in 2024 to 5.3 per nine in 2025.

    “Heading into this year, early in the spring, they kind of made it known to me that I’d be back in a starting role,” McGarry said in September. “I think I definitely am capable of doing both. And I love starting; I love relieving. So it’s kind of wherever the Phillies want me, I’m willing to perform.”

    McGarry spent most of the season at double-A Reading, but he finished the year on a high note with a final start back up in triple A.

    “I think in years past in triple A, I’ve had my ups and downs there,” he said. “It’s good to really finish there and kind of finish the season how I wanted to, with a successful start.”

    Gage Wood, the Phillies’ 2025 first-round pick, is likely to be on an innings limit in 2026.

    Names to know, but unlikely for this year

    Moises Chace was a deadline acquisition from the Baltimore Orioles in 2024 and had an intriguing fastball that missed a lot of bats. But the 22-year-old right-hander underwent Tommy John surgery in 2025 and is still rehabbing.

    Since the Phillies drafted right-hander Gage Wood out of Arkansas — going the college pitcher route in the first round for the first time since Aaron Nola in 2014 — questions have swirled about how soon he could arrive in the majors.

    Three Nick Castellanos trades that show how little the Phillies should expect in return

    But don’t bank on Wood following the breakneck trajectory of Pottstown’s Trey Yesavage, who went from starting games in single A to the World Series with the Blue Jays in four months. The Phillies plan to build him up as a starter, but Wood is likely to be on an innings limit in 2026, according to Dombrowski.

    Wood didn’t experience a full starter’s workload in his college career. He pitched 37⅔ innings for Arkansas in 2025, missing almost two months due to a shoulder impingement. In his two college seasons before that, Wood was primarily a reliever for the Razorbacks.

  • Catarina Macario stars again as the USWNT sweeps Italy to end its year

    Catarina Macario stars again as the USWNT sweeps Italy to end its year

    FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Catarina Macario scored in her third straight international match and the United States women’s national team defeated Italy 2-0 on Monday night in the final game for the national team this year.

    The United States has scored in 16 straight matches, including all 15 this year. The national team wrapped up 2025 12-3-0.

    Macario scored the opening goal in the 20th minute with a strike from the corner of the box and up over Italy goalkeeper Francesca Durante’s head and into the side netting of the far post.

    Jaedyn Shaw added a second goal before halftime, taking a pass from Alyssa Thompson before squaring up and calmly finishing out of Durante’s reach to make it 2-0.

    Claudia Dickey earned her fifth clean sheet in her sixth appearance in goal for the USWNT.

    Macario had a pair of goals a 3-0 victory over Italy on Friday night in Orlando, Florida. Olivia Moultrie, who scored the other goal on Friday, was available off the bench Monday.

    Philadelphia is on a long list of potential cities for the 2031 women’s World Cup

    Macario, who plays for Chelsea, led the team this year with eight goals, including seven goals in her last seven starts. She nearly got a second goal at Ft. Lauderdale’s Chase Stadium but it was disallowed because of a foul, denying her a third brace in her last three international games.

    Macario and Emily Fox were among the players named earlier Monday as nominees for the women’s U.S. Soccer Player of the Year award, joining Rose Lavelle, Thompson, and Sam Coffey.

    U.S. coach Emma Hayes made five changes to the starting lineup from Friday’s victory in the first game against Italy, going with veterans Naomi Girma, Lindsey Heaps, Fox and Macario. Three teenagers started for the United States, including 19-year-olds Claire Hutton and Jordyn Bugg and 18-year-old Lily Yohannes.

    The USWNT will next gather from Jan. 17-27 for the team’s annual camp in Carson, Calif., with a match planned against Paraguay and another against an undetermined opponent.

  • Flyers’ three-game winning streak snapped in a 5-1 home loss to the Penguins

    Flyers’ three-game winning streak snapped in a 5-1 home loss to the Penguins

    The good times came to a halt, in more ways than one, on Monday night.

    Hosting their Keystone State rivals, the Flyers lost 5-1 to the Pittsburgh Penguins. After winning three straight and outscoring the opposition 12-8, they gave up a five-spot for the first time since a Nov. 15 loss to the Dallas Stars.

    It was the third game in four nights for Philly, who returned home after a productive 3-1-0 road trip. Monday’s defeat, which also came with a possible loss in the lineup, moved the Flyers to 14-8-3 on the season.

    Trailing 1-0 after the first period, the Flyers tied the game up in the second. With Pittsburgh’s Erik Karlsson in the box for tripping Travis Konecny and teammate Connor Clifton joining him after taking down Matvei Michkov at the left post 43 seconds later, the Flyers had a two-man advantage. On the ice were Travis Sanheim, Tyson Foerster, Trevor Zegras, Konecny, and Michkov.

    Flyers’ top scorer Tyson Foerster leaves Penguins game with upper-body injury, will not return

    With the referee’s hand up for another penalty on Penguins’ Kris Letang, Foerster put the puck on net from the left faceoff circle, and it got past Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry for his team-leading 10th goal of the season.

    But with the Flyers still on a five-on-three power play, less than a minute later, he took a pass from Zegras for a one-timer atop the left circle. Foerster appeared to suffer an injury as he shot the puck on goal. He skated off holding his right shoulder, went down the tunnel, and did not return.

    Flyers coach Rick Tocchet did not have an update after the game, but hopes it is not long as Foerster is “obviously, he’s a big part of our team.”

    Playing their 25th game of the season, the Flyers found themselves in an early hole for the 17th time. And it was Sidney Crosby who gave the opposition the lead.

    After Cam York missed a shot wide, the Penguins broke out, and Bryan Rust put a shot on goal from the inside of the right faceoff circle. Dan Vladař had a good line of sight on the shot and made the save, but he wasn’t able to control the rebound, and Crosby scored.

    Less than three minutes after Foerster tied the game in the second period, and with Rodrigo Ābols in the box for holding, Crosby put the Penguins back on top. Karlsson skated up the ice with the puck from his own end and carried it wide before sending a cross-ice pass to Rust. The forward dished a backhand to Crosby in the slot, and he fired it home. The Penguins captain has 59 goals and 137 points in 92 games against the Flyers, the most by any player.

    Flyers goaltender Dan Vladar allowed a second period power play goal to Penguins’ Bryan Rust.

    Rust then added his own goal on a power play, after Sean Couturier was penalized for — no surprise here — a questionable holding call. He received a cross-ice pass from Evgeni Malkin, spun around, and carried the puck deep into the left circle before sending the puck past the glove of Vladař to make it 3-1, Pittsburgh. Rust used Sanheim as a screen on the play.

    The Penguins entered the night with the second-best power play in the NHL (30.4%), while the Flyers had the fourth-best penalty kill (85.1%).

    Travis Konecny is playing with ‘more conviction,’ according to Rick Tocchet. Are the goals about to come?

    And Pittsburgh scored again in the third period with the man advantage, this time by Tommy Novak, after Michkov was called for slashing, giving the Penguins a 4-1 lead.

    Former Flyers forward Kevin Hayes added another goal on a breakaway, getting behind York after receiving a stretch pass from Parker Wotherspoon.

    Breakaways

    Philly is now 9-6-2 after trailing 1-0. … Malkin was credited with a goal after a shot by Anthony Mantha went off his shin guard and in. But the Flyers challenged, and a video review determined that Malkin impaired Vladař’s ability to play his position before the goal. … The Flyers put 29 shots on goal and allowed 27. … The Flyers’ power play went 1-for-7, although the last man advantage came in the final 10 seconds of the game. … Forward Nic Deslauriers and defenseman Egor Zamula were the healthy scratches.

    Up next

    The Flyers host the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday (7:30 p.m., TNT).

  • WNBA proposes $1.2M max player salary amid ongoing CBA negotiations

    WNBA proposes $1.2M max player salary amid ongoing CBA negotiations

    One day after the WNBA and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBPA) agreed to extend the current collective barging agreement (CBA) through Jan. 9, the league has reportedly come to the negotiating table with a new proposal that increases player compensation.

    The league’s latest offer includes a maximum $1 million guaranteed base salary with projected revenue sharing raising max players’ total earnings to more than $1.2 million in 2026, a source close to the situation told USA TODAY Sports. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they’re not authorized to speak publicly about ongoing negotiations.

    The offer also raises the league’s minimum salary to more than $225,000 and the average salary to more than $500,000, up from $220,000 and $460,000, respectively, in the WNBA’s previous proposal on Nov. 18.

    The latest proposal also raises the salary cap to $5 million a season per team, an increase from $1.5 million salary cap in 2025. The salary cap would reportedly increase over the length of the CBA and be directly tied to the league’s revenue growth each year, although the specific revenue sharing details weren’t disclosed.

    WNBA and players union extend CBA deadline to Jan. 9

    USA TODAY Sports reached out to the WNBA and WNBPA for comment.

    Although the WNBA and WNBPA are on the record saying players deserve a significant pay increase in the next CBA, the sides have differing opinions on how to go about it has led the current standoff.

    The league previously proposed a maximum salary of more than $1.1 million — including both the base salary and revenue sharing component — available to more than one player per team on Nov. 18, but the proposal didn’t move the needle for the players. Both sides subsequently agreed on the Nov. 30 deadline to extend the CBA for a second time as revenue sharing and pay structure remain points of contention in negotiations.

    Last season, the minimum salary was $66,079, while the supermax was worth $249,244. Only five WNBA players made more than $225,000 last season: Kelsey Mitchell at $269,244, Arike Ogunbowale at $249,032, Jewell Loyd, at $249,032, Kahleah Copper at $248,134, and Gabby Williams at $225,000

    The current CBA was previously set to expire on Oct. 31 after the WNBPA exercised its right to opt out of the agreement in October 2024. However, the WNBA and players association agreed to a 30-day extension to extend the deadline to Nov. 30 to allow more time for a deal to be reached. The new deadline has been moved to Jan. 9, 2026, and both sides have the option to terminate the extension with 48 hours’ advance notice.

    The league and players association previously agreed to a 60-day extension in 2019, three days before the last CBA was set to expire on Oct. 31, 2019. A new deal was subsequently reached on the current CBA on Jan. 14, 2020 and singed into effect three days later on Jan. 17, 2020. The WNBA has not had a work stoppage in its nearly 30-year existence.

  • Joel Embiid will miss Sixers’ game vs. Wizards; Paul George listed as questionable

    Joel Embiid will miss Sixers’ game vs. Wizards; Paul George listed as questionable

    Joel Embiid is back to recuperating.

    The 76ers center will miss Tuesday’s game against the Washington Wizards at Xfinity Mobile Arena due to a right knee injury recovery. The 7-foot-2, 280-pounder played in Sunday’s double-overtime loss to the Atlanta Hawks after missing the previous nine games because of knee injuries.

    Sixers mailbag: Does it make sense to try to trade Paul George before the trade deadline?

    Embiid finished with 18 points, four rebounds, two assists, one steal, and a block in a season-high 30 minutes. He played after initially being listed as out for the game on Saturday’s injury report. The 2023 MVP was upgraded to questionable on Sunday’s pregame report before being cleared to play before the game.

    Sixers forward Paul George scored 16 points in Sunday’s against the Hawks.

    He’s not the only Sixer missing Tuesday’s game.

    Kelly Oubre Jr. (sprained left knee) and Trendon Watford (left adductor strain) will remain sidelined. Meanwhile, Paul George (left knee injury recovery/lower back tightness) and Andre Drummond (sprained right knee) are questionable.

    Sixers takeaways: Joel Embiid’s motivated play, Tyrese Maxey’s missed free throws and more in loss to Hawks

    Embiid has already missed 12 of the Sixers’ 19 games because of his knee ailments. He is averaging 19.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.4 blocks in 24.3 minutes.

  • Eagles open as slim favorites over Chargers in Week 14; plus, updated Super Bowl and MVP odds

    Eagles open as slim favorites over Chargers in Week 14; plus, updated Super Bowl and MVP odds

    It hasn’t been a fun start to the holiday season for Eagles fans after watching their team lose back-to-back games to the Dallas Cowboys and the Chicago Bears. In their most recent matchup, the Eagles struggled in almost every aspect in a 24-15 loss to Chicago on Black Friday.

    Now the Eagles are preparing for a prime-time matchup at SoFi Stadium, where they’ll face the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday Night Football. From the Birds’ chances to updates on yearly awards, here are some of the latest odds at two of the biggest sportsbooks …

    Eagles-Chargers odds

    The last time these teams met was during the 2021 season in a game that saw the Eagles lose, 27-24, at home.

    Eagles offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo’s house was vandalized after Bears loss, police confirm

    While the Birds are sliding, the Chargers have won four of their last five games. But their latest win over the Las Vegas Raiders saw quarterback Justin Herbert suffer a broken bone in his non-throwing hand. Ahead of the Week 14 matchup, the sportsbooks are favoring the Eagles, who open as a 3-point favorite.

    FanDuel

    • Spread: Chargers +3 (-118); Eagles -3 (-104)
    • Moneyline: Chargers (+124); Eagles (-146)
    • Total: Over 40.5 (-115); Under 40.5 (-105)

    DraftKings

    • Spread: Chargers +3 (-108); Eagles -3 (-112)
    • Moneyline: Chargers (+136); Eagles (-162)
    • Total: Over 40.5 (-115); Under 40.5 (-105)
    The Eagles are still in the driver’s seat in the NFC East, but Dallas is gaining ground.

    NFC East odds update

    The 8-4 Eagles still hold a lead over the rest of the division in the race to win the NFC East. However, Dallas (6-5-1) managed to close the gap even more after a win over the Eagles in Week 13 and a win over the Kansas City Chiefs on Thanksgiving Day. Meanwhile, Washington’s chances remain similarly slim after an overtime loss to the Denver Broncos. The Commanders are 3-9.

    FanDuel

    DraftKings

    Can the Eagles still get the No. 1 seed in the NFC? Yes, but it will be difficult.

    NFC odds update

    At both sportsbooks, the Eagles are no longer considered one of the top two favorites to win the conference. At both FanDuel and DraftKings, they are tied with the Green Bay Packers for the third-best odds to win the conference, following the Los Angeles Rams and the Seattle Seahawks.

    FanDuel

    DraftKings

    The Eagles narrowly held on to beat the Rams earlier this season. Could the two meet again in the playoffs?

    Super Bowl odds

    The defending champions are also out of the top three favorites to win the Super Bowl. However, they do remain in the top five at both sportsbooks. Meanwhile, the Rams and the Seahawks are the favorites on both lists and the Packers, Buffalo Bills, and Broncos have reentered the mix.

    FanDuel

    DraftKings

    From ‘Fire Kevin Patullo’ website and matching street sign to dating troubles, Eagles fans have had enough

    MVP odds

    Jalen Hurts’ chances to win the MVP continue to fall to the point where he’s basically out of the race. Matthew Stafford and Drake Maye still hold the top two spots in the race to MVP. However, Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott has entered the top four at both sportsbooks.

    FanDuel

    DraftKings

    Yes, Jalen Hurts is the ‘problem’ for the Eagles, not Kevin Patullo: So what? | Marcus Hayes

    Offensive player of the year

    Saquon Barkley is similarly out of the offensive player of the year picture. Meanwhile, Jonathan Taylor and Jaxon Smith-Njigba are the favorites at both sportsbooks.

    FanDuel

    DraftKings