The best men’s tennis player in the world is missing the final Grand Slam of the year.

World No. 1 Jannik Sinner announced Friday that he will miss the US Open due to a right knee injury. Sinner has not played since winning Wimbledon last month.

“Even though I have been working hard with my team and my medical staff, we have now had to make the difficult decision that I will not be able to compete at the US Open this year,” Sinner wrote on social media.

“We have been back on court in Monte Carlo over the last couple of days and have realised that I still need more time to recover from my right knee issue. I’m obviously very sad and disappointed, as New York has a special place in my heart. I was very much looking forward to coming back and playing in the electric atmosphere in front of the great fans there.”

Sinner, 25, a five-time Grand Slam champion, won the US Open in 2024. 

Sinner’s announcement comes a day after world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz announced he will return from a four-month absence at the US Open. Alcaraz, the defending US Open champion, missed the last two Grand Slams at Roland–Garros and Wimbledon due to a wrist injury.

The post Jannik Sinner Announces He Will Miss US Open Because of Knee Injury appeared first on Front Office Sports.

Future NBA Power Rankings: Which teams have brightest future in three years, and which will be at the bottom originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The NBA can change a lot in three seasons. Consider that back in the 2023-24 season, the Celtics looked like they were at the start of a dynasty built around the duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. The Luka Doncic-led Mavericks were worthy challengers in the Finals. Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal led an interesting Suns team in the West, and the Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo had promising returns in their first year together with the Bucks. 

On the other end of the spectrum, the Pistons were the worst team in basketball, losing an NBA-record 28 straight games. Victor Wembanyama won Rookie of the Year honors, but the Spurs still looked far away from competing with a 22-60 record. 

Three years later, those franchises look completely different. And three years from now, much of the league will flip over again. 

We don't know what a lot of the rosters will look like, but we do know where some of the stars and longer-term contracts will probably be. We also know which teams are burning the candle at both ends right now and which are setting themselves up with young players, cap space, and draft picks that should pay off for the 2029-30 season.

Using that information, here's a look at how all 30 teams could be positioned three seasons from now.

MORE: Post-free agency Power Rankings for 2026-27

Players in: Victor Wembanyama (26), Dylan Harper (23), Stephon Castle (25)

Players out: De'Aaron Fox (32), Tobias Harris (37), Harrison Barnes (37)

Maybes: Devin Vassell (29), Keldon Johnson (30)

Asset grade: A

Victor Wembanyama should be the best player in the league, but he'll be on a deal that pays him over $50 million even after taking less than his maximum salary. With De'Aaron Fox on a massively overpaid $61 million, team building will be tricky. Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper will also have big contracts on the books. 

The Spurs are probably going to have to trade Fox in order to pay all of those guys and build out a reasonable team around Wembanyama. It may take assets to do so. Luckily, San Antonio has stockpiled a lot of them. 

Having the best player in the league along with those supplementary stars and good role players should guarantee that the Spurs are a top-three team in the NBA.

Players in: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (31), Jalen Williams (28), Chet Holmgren (27), Aday Mara (24), Bennett Stirtz (26)

Players out: Kenrich Williams (35)

Maybes: Isaiah Hartenstein (31), Alex Caruso (35), Cason Wallace (26), Jaylin Williams (27), Thomas Sorber (24), Nikola Topic (24), Jared McCain (25), Ajay Mitchell (27)

Asset grade: A-

The Thunder are already elite. They could be even better by 2029. Their core three of SGA, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren will all be in their prime. And the plethora of young role players on their bench will have gotten better through internal improvement.

There will need to be some tough cuts in future years. The Thunder have already shed Lu Dort, Isaiah Joe, and Aaron Wiggins to try and keep Cason Wallace and Ajay Mitchell. They still have a ton of draft picks to continue to trade for useful pieces. 

Players in: Luka Doncic (30), Austin Reaves (31), Walker Kessler (28), Quentin Grimes (29), Sandro Mamukelashvili (30), Cameron Carr (25)

Players out: Kevon Looney (33), Jarred Vanderbilt (30)

Maybes: Collin Sexton (31), Jake LaRavia (28), Bronny James (25)

Asset grade: C-

The Lakers will be riding with most of their current roster for the next three seasons. They don't have a ton of wiggle room due to the trades for Doncic and Kessler that ate up a solid chunk of their future picks. 

This should be a very good team though, given that Doncic should continue to be an MVP candidate and the roster fits way better around him now. Reaves has a chance to be an elite No. 2. Kessler's viability as an elite center will determine how far they can go. 

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Players in: Cade Cunningham (28), Jalen Duren (25), Ebuka Okorie (22)

Players out: Duncan Robinson (35)

Maybes: John Collins (32), Isaiah Joe (30), Ausar Thompson (27), Kevin Huerter (31), Ron Holland (24), Paul Reed (30), Daniss Jenkins (28)

Asset grade: B

Duren should be re-signed, and the Cunningham-Duren duo should continue to improve over the next three seasons. Those two will take up over half of the Pistons' cap. Detroit will have to make an interesting decision on whether to prioritize Ausar Thompson, who is a good player but doesn't fit particularly well next to Duren and will impact their cap even further. 

Detroit also has all of its picks to make a big trade and will continue to improve through internal development. They're already at the top of the East and will only get better. 

Players in: Anthony Edwards (28), Ayo Dosunmu (30), Joan Beringer (23)

Players out: Rudy Gobert (37)

Maybes: LaMelo Ball (28), Jaden McDaniels (29), Donte DiVincenzo (33), Terrence Shannon Jr. (29)

Asset grade: D-

The Wolves theoretically could pivot away from Edwards, Ball, and McDaniels by 2029. More likely, they will extend all three and roll with that group. 

Even with those three, the Wolves could look pretty different. Gobert will have aged out of being a dominant defensive center. Joan Beringer will hopefully be good enough to take his place. Minnesota doesn't have the draft assets to trade for another plus starter at the position. Even with those frontcourt concerns, Edwards will keep them near the top of the West. 

Players in: Mikal Bridges (33), Landry Shamet (32)

Players out: Andre Drummond (36)

Maybes: Jalen Brunson (33), Karl-Anthony Towns (34), OG Anunoby (32), Josh Hart (34)

Asset grade: D

Owner James Dolan has already shown that money will be a constraining factor for the Knicks after letting important reserve Mitchell Robinson go due to apron concerns. That could lead to more hard cuts down the line, as the Knicks are set to become more expensive and older over the next three years. 

Brunson is due for a new contract in the summer of 2029. He should be extended before then, and he may not take as large of a pay cut this time. Towns, Anunoby, and Hart will also need new deals.

Brunson should obviously be prioritized among that group. He will still be a good player at age 33, but small guards tend to decline rapidly around that time. New York will be a good team, but it may be on their its legs as a contender. 

Players in: Tyrese Haliburton (29)

Players out: TJ McConnell (37)

Maybes: Pascal Siakam (35), Ivica Zubac (32), Andrew Nembhard (30), Obi Toppin (31), Aaron Nesmith (30), Kelly Oubre (34)

Asset grade: C+

The Pacers have a totally clear cap sheet in 2029. They'll almost certainly extend Haliburton and could extend Siakam and Zubac if they determine that their core is worth keeping together. That gives them the optionality to pivot and build a new team around Haliburton if needed.

With a top 10 player on the roster in a prime Haliburton and one of the premier coaches in the league in Rick Carlisle, Indiana should be near the top of the East with whatever direction they pick.

Players in: Jalen Johnson (28), Dyson Daniels (26), Kingston Flemings (23), Zuby Ejiofor (25), Asa Newell (24), Henri Veesaar (25)

Players out: CJ McCollum (38)

Maybes: Lu Dort (30), Onyeka Okongwu (29), Nickeil Alexander-Walker (31)

Asset grade: B

The Hawks will be led by a 28-year-old Jalen Johnson on one of the most team-friendly deals in the league, making just $30 million while contributing All-Star production.

They have the tools to build a great team around Johnson. They're in a strong cap and asset position that could have them trading, drafting, or signing another star. Next summer, they will have almost $40 million to add a big free agent signing. 

Players in: Darryn Peterson (23), Jaren Jackson Jr (30), Keyonte George (26)

Players out: Jusuf Nurkic (35)

Maybes: Lauri Markkanen (32), Ace Bailey (23), Cody Williams (25), Brice Sensabaugh (26)

Asset grade: A

The Jazz may be coming off a 22-win season right now, but they have a chance to be pretty good in 2029. Darryn Peterson will still be on his rookie deal, Lauri Markkanen and Ace Bailey could be on or off the team depending on if they are extended, and Jaren Jackson Jr. will be around to help keep the team respectable on defense. Keyonte George looks like a star in the making. And this team is loaded with future picks to swing a big trade.

Players in: Cooper Flagg (23), Dereck Lively (25), Morez Johnson (24), Sergio de Larrea (24), PJ Washington (31), Naji Marshall (32)

Players out: Kyrie Irving (37), Klay Thompson (39)

Maybes: Zaccharie Risacher (24), Daniel Gafford (31), Santi Aldama (29), Max Christie (26)

Asset grade: C-

Flagg should be an All-NBA player by 2029. Masai Ujiri should have a relatively easy job building around such a versatile star. Dallas will have to acquire a lead point guard via free agency or trade, or hope that Sergio de Larrea is the steal of the 2026 draft. Help isn't coming in the draft for the Mavs though. They don't control their first-round pick through 2031. And an unprotected 2029 Lakers pick will probably be in the back half of the draft. 

Players in: Jayson Tatum (31), Hugo Gonzalez (23), Neemias Queta (30), Jordan Walsh (25), Chris Cenac (23)

Players out: Paul George (39)

Maybes: Derrick White (35), Payton Pritchard (32), Mitchell Robinson (31), Ron Harper Jr. (29)

Asset grade: B+

How good the Celtics are depends on how much Tatum still has left in the tank at age 31 and post-Achilles tear. He will be making a massive $71.4 million, eating up 37 percent of their cap. He should still be an All-Star, but Boston will need to make the right moves to build around him. 

The Celtics should have the willingness to spend after ducking the luxury tax for several years. They'll have a first-round pick in every draft, including a juicy one in 2028 from the Clippers or Sixers.

Players in: Nikola Jokic (34), Christian Braun (28)

Players out: None

Maybes: Jamal Murray (32), Aaron Gordon (34), Cam Johnson (33), Spencer Jones (28)

Asset grade: D+

The Nuggets will look a lot like the Bucks during the end of the Giannis era. Jokic's skill-based game should still have him as a top 10 player at age 34. There isn't much else on this team though, and they're in a rough financial and draft pick situation that prevents much improvement. They're only getting older and worse over these next three years. 

Players in: Alperen Sengun (27), Jabari Smith (26), Tari Eason (28), Amen Thompson (27)

Players out: Kevin Durant (41), Steven Adams (36), Marcus Smart (35)

Maybes: Fred VanVleet (35), Reed Sheppard (25)

Asset grade: B+

Houston will need to find or develop a new closer with Kevin Durant likely retired. They will still have great depth though, retaining most of their current starting lineup in their primes. That includes two potential All-Stars in Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson. 

The Rockets also have the assets to trade for a star, with two surplus first-round picks and some nice swaps to work with. 

Players in: Tyrese Maxey (29), VJ Edgecombe (24), Dean Wade (33), Labaron Philon (24)

Players out: LeBron James (45), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (36)

Maybes: Joel Embiid (36), Jaylen Brown (33), Anfernee Simons (30)

Asset grade: C

Joel Embiid might be gone and LeBron James will almost certainly be gone in three years. VJ Edgecombe will in all likelihood be re-signed as a restricted free agent, and Jaylen Brown and Tyrese Maxey will likely be extended. 

That will give the Sixers a core trio of Brown, Maxey, and Edgecombe while removing the most onerous salary in Embiid from their books. Brown and Edgecombe could be All-Stars, and Maxey should be an All-NBA guard. That is a great core, but also an expensive one. Philadelphia needs to draft well to fill out the rest of its roster. 

MORE: Are Sixers legit title contenders with LeBron James, Jaylen Brown?

Players in: Franz Wagner (28), Paolo Banchero (27), Jalen Suggs (28)

Players out: Nikola Vucevic (39)

Maybes: Desmond Bane (31), Wendell Carter (30), Anthony Black (26), Goga Bitadze (30), Tristan Da Silva (28)

Asset grade: C

Wagner and Banchero are still under guaranteed contracts through 2030. If those two can show this season that the pairing can work under a new coach, then they should still be together by 2030. If not, one of them can be moved for good value. Jalen Suggs is also signed long-term, giving the Magic the same core as today.

The Magic are still going to have to fill out the shooting concerns around those three. There's high-end talent, and they have three more years to figure out how to better use those pieces. 

Players in: Cameron Boozer (22), Zach Edey (27), Cedric Coward (26), Karim Lopez (22)

Players out: Jerami Grant (35)

Maybes: Isaiah Stewart (28), Ty Jerome (32), Quinten Post (29), Scotty Pippen Jr. (29), Jaylen Wells (26), Walter Clayton Jr. (26)

Asset grade: A-

The Grizzlies will continue to have great depth and young talent. Boozer could develop into an All-NBA player by 2029. They'll have several quality starters on the roster to build around him. They also have a ton of future picks and significant cap space in 2027 to keep on adding. 

Imagn Images

Players in: Scottie Barnes (28), Jakob Poeltl (34), Collin Murray-Boyles (24), Allen Graves (23)

Players out: Kawhi Leonard (38), Kyle Anderson (36)

Maybes: Immanuel Quickley (30), RJ Barrett (29), Jamal Shead (27)

Asset grade: C-

Kawhi Leonard may be gone, but the Raptors are poised to stay afloat after he ages out of the league. Scottie Barnes is already a top 20 player and is continuing to improve on both ends of the floor. He could easily be an All-NBA talent by 2029. Collin Murray-Boyles looks like a draft hit, and those two should keep the Raptors strong on the defensive end of the floor. 

The biggest cap on Toronto's ceiling is Jakob Poeltl, who will be an anchor on the team's salary sheet. He will make $27 million as a 34-year-old center with back issues. 

Players in: Brandon Miller (27), Kon Knueppel (24), Hannes Steinbach (23), Christian Anderson (23)

Players out: Royce O'Neale (36)

Maybes: Naz Reid (30), Coby White (29), Grant Williams (31), Tidjane Saluan (24), Moussa Diabate (28), Ryan Kalkbrenner (28), Sion James (27)

Asset grade: A+

Miller and Knueppel are a great young duo that works well together. The Hornets will need to find a new point guard to replace LaMelo Ball, along with a high-end starting center if Steinbach can't develop into that guy. They have a ton of bites at the apple with their draft pick stash. 

This core is still young enough that they won't be competing by 2029, but they'll be a frisky playoff team with a ton of upside. 

Players in: Donovan Mitchell (33), Evan Mobley (28), Jarrett Allen (31), Peyton Watson (26)

Players out: James Harden (39)

Maybes: Sam Merrill (33), Jaylon Tyson (27), Craig Porter Jr. (29), Meleek Thomas (23)

Asset grade: D

It could start getting ugly for the Cavs. They will have $71 million committed to an aging Mitchell, who will still be good but will have lost a few steps athletically. They don't have control of their draft picks through 2029 and are an expensive team with few avenues to improve.

Mitchell, Mobley, Allen, and Watson will keep them respectable. But the high-end upside isn't there unless the chemistry gets drastically better with Watson. 

MORE: Trade grades for 3-team deal that lands Peyton Watson in Cleveland

Players in: Caleb Wilson (23), Matas Buzelis (25), Dailyn Swain (24)

Players out: Norman Powell (36)

Maybes: Josh Giddey (27), Nic Claxton (30), Noa Essengue (23), Jalen Smith (29), Rob Dillingham (25), Leonard Miller (26)

Asset grade: B

The Bulls very likely could have a completely new roster build around Caleb Wilson and Matas Buzelis by 2029. Lead decision-maker Bryson Graham has few ties to any of the current players. Those two will still be young enough that Chicago won't be great, but they could be an exciting low-end playoff team.

The changes will start next summer, when the Bulls are projected to have over $50 million in cap space in 2027. They should also have lottery picks over the next three drafts to keep on adding. 

Players in: Mikel Brown Jr. (23), Egor Demin (23), Nolan Traore (23), Drake Powell (24), Ben Saraf (23), Joshua Jefferson (26), Danny Wolf (25)

Players out: Julius Randle (35)

Maybes: Michael Porter Jr. (31), Day'Ron Sharpe (28)

Asset grade: A+

The Nets have one of the best asset situations in the league. They have five surplus first-round picks to work with, some of which have immense value. That gives them the means to accelerate their rebuild if they want to. 

They will probably still be a few years away from pulling that lever. They still won't be in contention by 2029, but they should be on their way up as a playoff hopeful and have at least one point guard in the future between Brown, Demin and Traore

Players in: Keaton Wagler (23)

Players out: Brook Lopez (41), Bradley Beal (36)

Maybes: Darius Garland (30), Brandon Ingram (32), Max Strus (33), Rui Hachimura (31), Yanic Niederhauser (26), Baba Miller (25), Gradey Dick (26)

Asset grade: B

The Clippers will be a different team from the one we see now. Keaton Wagler and Darius Garland could perhaps still be a core duo if they choose to retain Garland. Beyond that, they'll reshape the roster through free agency in 2027, where they'll have a ton of cap space, and through the draft where they have picks in 2027 and 2029. 

Players in: Shaedon Sharpe (26), Toumani Camara (29), Donovan Clingan (25)

Players out: Jrue Holiday (39), Damian Lillard (39)

Maybes: Deni Avdija (29), Ja Morant (30), Robert Williams III (32), Scoot Henderson (25), Yang Hansen (24)

Asset grade: A-

The Blazers are one of the teams with the haziest future three years from now. They're at legitimate risk to lose Deni Avdija, who is highly unlikely to take an extension before his contract is up in 2028 due to cap rules. There will be competition for him in free agency. 

Portland will also have a chance to pivot off the Ja Morant experiment if it ends up flopping. Two other point guards, Jrue Holiday and Damian Lillard, will naturally age out. This year will be a big one for Scoot Henderson, who will be a restricted free agent and could be gone too.

Portland also has a ton of flexibility due to the picks that they've been acquiring over recent years. Swaps with the Bucks in 2028 and 2029 could be very juicy. 

Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Players in: Giannis Antetokounmpo (35), Bam Adebayo (32), Nikola Jovic (26)

Players out: Tim Hardaway Jr. (37)

Maybes: Andrew Wiggins (34), Bobby Portis (34), Davion Mitchell (31), Pelle Larsson (28)

Asset grade: D

Giannis should still be on the Heat if he signs an extension as is widely expected. Adebayo should also extend before the completion of his deal. Those two will make a ton of money, and Giannis probably won't be worth it by the time he's 35. As a player who is so dependent on his athleticism, he's at risk of declining rapidly in his mid-30's. 

The Heat don't have avenues to add high-end talent alongside those two. They owe a pick to the Hornets that will convey over the next two years, and they don't project to have cap space any time soon. 

Players in: Trae Young (31), AJ Dybantsa (23)

Players out: Khris Middleton (38)

Maybes: Anthony Davis (36), Alex Sarr (24), Bilal Coulibaly (25), Tre Johnson (23), Bub Carrington (24), Will Riley (23), Kyshawn George (26)

Asset grade: A

AJ Dybantsa will be one of the best players under 24. The Wizards will have a ton of young guys alongside him, some of whom they won't be able to pay. That's particularly true if they extend Anthony Davis this season, which is part of why that move would be a mistake. 

Some of those prospects will hit, which gives them complementary pieces to put around Trae Young and Dybantsa. Young will be massively overpaid, but his passing acumen isn't going away at age 31. 

The Wizards do have plenty of surplus draft picks that they could use to offload Young's deal if needed. They also have a pick swap in 2028 and another good incoming 2029 pick with swap rights.

Players in: Devin Booker (33), Dillon Brooks (34), Collin Gillespie (30), Koa Peat (23)

Players out: None

Maybes: Miles Bridges (31), Jalen Green (27), Mark Williams (28), Khaman Maluach (23), Ryan Dunn (27), Oso Ighodaro (27)

Asset grade: D+

Devin Booker will still be solid at age 33. But with a $68.8 million salary, he'll be one of the league's most overpaid players. That, along with the absence of a star talent in the pipeline and several future draft picks traded away, have the Suns on track to be a middling-to-bad team three years from now.

The good news: Phoenix still has some decent bets with Koa Peat and Khaman Maluach who could turn into quality starters. 

Players in: Darius Acuff (23), Keegan Murray (29), Alex Karaban (27), Maxime Raynaud (26)

Players out: Zach LaVine (34)

Maybes: Domantas Sabonis (33), De'Andre Hunter (32), Malik Monk (31)

Asset grade: B

The Kings will go as far as Darius Acuff takes them. If he can develop into a top 10 offensive talent, then Sacramento should have a clean slate by 2029 to build around him. Domantas Sabonis will be off the books or signed to a much cheaper deal, and the Kings will be rid of the other bad deals that have been weighing them down. 

Sacramento also has all of their own picks in 2027, 2028, and 2029 which project to be in the lottery. They still won't be great, but they have a chance to put together a very promising group of talented young players. 

Players in: Yaxel Lendeborg (27), Brandin Podziemski (26)

Players out: Stephen Curry (41), Jimmy Butler (40), Draymond Green (39), Kristaps Porzingis (34), Al Horford (43)

Maybes: Moses Moody (27)

Asset grade: C-

The Warriors see the writing on the wall. The Curry era will be over by 2029. They've held onto their first-round picks over the next three seasons in order to try and retool on the fly. They may have a lottery pick, but it will be difficult to draft a star in weak 2027 and 2028 drafts. They're going to be in the very early stages of a rebuild and probably one of the worst teams in the league. 

Players in: Brayden Burries (24), Nate Ament (23), AJ Green (30), Gary Trent Jr. (31), Jaime Jaquez (28), Kasparas Jakucionis (23)

Players out: Kyle Kuzma (34), Caris LeVert (35)

Maybes: Tyler Herro (30), Kevin Porter Jr. (29), Ryan Rollins (27)

Asset grade: D+

The Bucks have some decent young prospects in Burries, Ament, Jaquez, and Jakucionis. None of them are good enough to build a team around. They will have some cap space to work with in 2027, but they will also have a huge portion of dead cap due to Damian Lillard's stretch-and-waive and Gary Trent's bizarre contract.

The Bucks will need a few years to unwind all of the resources they spent during the Giannis era. They can't improve through the draft until 2030 as well. 

Players in: Jeremiah Fears (23), Derik Queen (25)

Players out: Jordan Poole (30), DeAndre Jordan (41)

Maybes: Zion Williamson (29), Dejounte Murray (33), Herb Jones (31), Trey Murphy (29), Yves Missi (25)

Asset grade: B

The Pelicans will likely be a completely different team by 2029. Zion Williamson is set to be a free agent in 2028 and could very well be gone. So could Herb Jones, Dejounte Murray, and Trey Murphy at this year's trade deadline if things continue to go sideways.

The new face of the Pelicans would be Joe Dumars' hand-selected duo of Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears. Both had inconsistent rookie years but showed talent.

There's no clear plan to get better by 2029 aside from hoping for draft luck. They should have a great pick in 2027 due to swap rights with the Bucks. 

Welcome to this week’s MLB power rankings. While the “Dog Days” of Summer drag on, the race to the playoffs in the American League is beginning to take shape.

By shape, I mean it’s a massive blob of mediocrity where every team that plays in the Junior Circuit other than the Angels and A’s has a mathematical shot at one of those last Wild Card Spots. The National League races are a bit clearer, however. Let’s get to all 30 teams, including a brand new top 3 in this week’s rankings.

MORE: Yankees set plan for former AL Rookie of the Year

#30: The Athletics. This team was at .500 and leading the division at the end of June. They have gone 11-41 since, and now sit with the worst record in the league. Injuries to their big offensive stars haven’t helped.

#29: Los Angeles Angels. They’ve been the steady cellar dwellers all season long, and it took some real effort by the Athletics to dethrone them.

#28: Colorado Rockies. Still the worst team in the NL, just playing out the season.

#27: San Francisco Giants. Just playing out the season by the Bay.

#26: Kansas City Royals. A 5-game winning streak is nice, but they still stink this year.

#25: New York Mets. They’ve woken up a bit as of late, but still sit at the bottom of the East.

MORE: Braves infielder sets MLB record that no player wants

#24: Seattle Mariners. Getting hammered 22-0 by the Brewers was probably the last nail in their coffin. Kade Anderson will be fun to watch, but it’s probably too late.

#23: Baltimore Orioles. 6 games under .500, but just 2 games out of the Wild Card. They’re still alive, somehow.

#22: Washington Nationals. It’s unfair to rank them down here with these A.L. teams, but 7 games under .500 means the season is over in the N.L.

#21: Cincinnati Reds. Similar to the Nats, they deserve better, but in the N.L., they are cellar dwellers with a losing record.

#20: Pittsburgh Pirates. They had a bit of a free fall after the deadline, but have since managed to stop the bleeding a bit. They are still a long shot for a Wild Card spot.

#19: Detroit Tigers. They popped up into a Wild Card spot momentarily, but then faded a bit, losing 6 of their last 10 games. They are part of this 8-team mess that will produce 2 postseason teams.

#18: Cleveland Guardians. There is a swamp of middling teams all jockeying for the last Wild Card spot in the A.L., and Cleveland is squarely in the middle of that swamp.

MORE: Astros call up top prospect, make multiple changes to rotation

#17: Toronto Blue Jays. 7 wins in 10 games has them a half game out of the last Wild Card spot. Such is life in the American League.

#16: Minnesota Twins.  Two games under .500? Good enough, welcome to the A.L. Playoffs. Well, not quite yet; they still have to beat out the Rangers.

#15: Texas Rangers. Texas has the added luxury of playing in the West, so they have 2 shots to make the postseason despite being a terrible team.

#14: Miami Marlins. A three-game losing streak has the Marlins’ back against the wall in the NL. They need to turn it around quickly if they want to stay in the NL race.

#13: St. Louis Cardinals. Seven wins in their last 10 games have them just a game and a half out of the last Wild Card spot. This has been a great building season for this young team.

#12: Houston Astros.  Still sitting in 1st place in the West thanks to their impressive .500 record. The Yordan Alvarez Triple Crown race makes this team worth paying attention to.

#11: Arizona Diamondbacks. A game behind the Padres for the final Wild Card spot. Ketel Marte apparently just quit on them; we’ll see how it affects the rest of the lineup.

MORE: Chicago Cubs’ second-half success due in large part to offseason acquisition

#10: San Diego Padres. San Diego has been playing steady baseball, winning 7 of their last 10 while hanging onto the last Wild Card spot in the NL.

#9: Philadelphia Phillies. A six-game winning streak has the Phils back on the right track.

#8: Boston Red Sox. Boston has righted the ship after a bumpy stretch and still has a firm hold on the #2 Wild Card spot in the AL.

#7: Chicago White Sox. They haven’t pulled away in the Central, but they have managed to tread water while the other teams have faded a bit further back. They still have work to do, but the postseason is very much within reach.

#6: New York Yankees. Carlos Rodon came back, but Max Fried went down. When this team gets fully healthy, they will be a problem in the playoffs. For now, they have a lock-tight grip on the top Wild Card spot.

#5: Chicago Cubs. Like the Yankees, the Cubs have a stranglehold on the top Wild Card spot and are waiting for the injured to return for the playoffs. In their case, it’s a couple of key bullpen pieces.

#4: Atlanta Braves. The Braves are still rolling along. Losing 6 of their last 10 has allowed the Phillies to get within 5 games, but there isn’t much to worry about yet.

MORE: Blue Jays make pitching decision ahead of Yankees weekend series

#3: Los Angeles Dodgers. Up one spot from 4 last week, we’re going to make this team earn the top spot. If guys like Mookie Betts and Kyle Tucker start hitting like they are capable, it’s not going to take too long to get back to #1.

#2: Tampa Bay Rays. Playing .500 ball for the last week or so has allowed the Yankees to get within 4 games. I think this team needs to win the division if they want to make it to the World Series, as getting passed by the Yankees will be a morale killer.

#1: Milwaukee Brewers. They made it! This is the best team in baseball, and thanks to a 22-0 whipping of the Mariners, they lead the league with a +159 run differential. They have all the pieces to win it all; let’s just pray they aren’t peaking too early.

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Friday afternoon at American Family Field brings a rare clash of pitching styles and personal history. Jacob Misiorowski, the Brewers’ rookie sensation, takes the mound against Chris Sale, the veteran lefty he has watched since he was a boy. It’s a battle between the top two ERA leaders in the National League, as noted by MLB.com Braves. The Braves open a unique three-game series that starts with two day games before moving to Pennsylvania for the Little League Classic.

Misiorowski doesn’t usually worry about who stands on the other side of the plate, but this time is different. He grew up admiring Sale’s fire and his tall frame. “I don’t really focus on matchups, but it’s going to be fun,” said Misiorowski. He recalls meeting Sale at last year’s All-Star Game as a major highlight. “It’s like playing [Clayton] Kershaw last year. One of those moments where it’s, holy cow, you’re in the big leagues.”

The connection runs deep. Sale made his debut when Misiorowski was just eight years old (that was the year Sale started). The young pitcher loved how Sale showed his feelings on the mound. “I like how he is, how he shows emotion,” Misiorowski said. He noted that Sale was one of the first to really let the crowd know he made a big strikeout. “As a kid, that’s where I got it from.” I don’t aim to be the type of silent man who simply departs.

The stats tell a story of two dominant arms. Misiorowski leads all of baseball with a 1.75 ERA. Sale sits just behind him at 2.16. According to MLB.com Braves, Misiorowski also leads the league in strikeouts with 210, while holding a WHIP of 0.75. Sale ranks in the top 13 in each of those key categories. At 37 years old, Sale remains among the top pitchers currently playing.

Both men have faced the opposing team this year, though not against each other. Misiorowski took a tough loss against the Braves in June, giving up two runs in six innings. Sale had a no-decision the next night against Milwaukee. The Braves offense helped seal that game with a walkoff home run by Ozzie Albies. Sale is coming off a loss in Arizona, but he threw his fastest fastball of the season at 99.1 mph in that outing.

The Cy Young race appears set, yet these two are leading the pack. Misiorowski was eight when Sale started, and now they are the main events. Sale’s height was a key factor for the young Misiorowski. “That was definitely a good point as a kid,” Misiorowski said.

Can the rookie hold his ground against the legend? The Brewers have their work cut out. “The dude’s good, so the team has its work cut out,” is the reality for the Braves’ lineup. The series continues with the Little League Classic, but Friday’s duel is the main event. Fans get to see a future star and a current icon go head-to-head. The result could shift the momentum for the final six weeks of the season.