Arizona
Series 37 Preview: Arizona Diamondbacks at Cleveland Guardians
Arizona and Cleveland. Two teams that just roll off the tongue together, no? Really? Not for you? Strange.
Cleveland made some waves in 2022, winning the AL Central, reaching Game 5 of the ALDS, having defeated the Tampa Bay Rays in the Wild Card. They stretched the Yankees to the limit as well, but a young team fell short. Hopes were high for 2023 and…were not met. Now another year removed, they look to replicate and surpass those 2022 highs. They enter the series with the best record in baseball. They have an offense that is terrifying when it all comes together (which it often does). They have an established pitching factory that seemingly creates effective arms (both starting and relief) at will. They have a World Class Closer in Clase. An MVP candidate in Jose Ramirez. A better version of Luis Arraez in Steven Kwan. And a true-rookie manager well on his way to unanimously winning AL Manager of the Year in Stephen Vogt.
Arizona meanwhile is experiencing a season of ups and downs. Expectations were high entering 2024, and have not been met, but contention is still occurring. Despite atrocious results from Jordan Montgomery, no results from Eduardo Rodriguez, and a sophomore slump of epic proportions the team currently holds the final NL Wild Card and even has a tiny amount of breathing room. ERod is likely to return this series. Brandon Pfaadt and Zac Gallen get to pitch on either side of him. Suarez might be slowing down after a torrid July, but Ketel appears to be picking back up in his own MVP race.
This series could end up being a precursor for a World Series! One I would be able to experience in person here in Ohio! It could also end up a footnote in two otherwise forgotten seasons. But in the moment, the stakes are high for both teams.
Monday 8/5/2024 at 3:40pm Arizona Time in Progressive Field: Zac Gallen (9-5, 3.56 ERA, 93.2 IP, 92 K) vs. Logan Allen (8-4, 5.67 ERA, 87.1 IP, 76 K)
This Logan Allen is the one some people got very excited about last winter when we collected the other one. His 2024 has not been as exciting as 2023 was, but he’s been working some stuff out in Columbus for Cleveland’s AAA affiliate since July 7. He’s been far better in the capitol of Ohio, but against lesser opponents than Arizona.
Gallen meanwhile has posted fairly good starts recently when you check the box score, but has struggled and worked hard to reach those results. Unfortunately the last 4 teams he’s faced have been: Toronto, Chicago North, Pittsburgh and Washington. While none are pushovers exactly in 2024, none are pinnacles of excellence either. Against an offense like Cleveland’s, his could be another rough outing. But if anyone is going to break through in a big way against a team that we don’t expect, it’s totally Gallen right?
Scales tip toward Cleveland in the opener, but it could be closer to a draw!
Tuesday 8/6/2024 at 3:40pm Arizona Time in Progressive Field: TBD – Likely Eduardo Rodriguez (Season Debut?) vs. Ben Lively (10-6, 3.42 ERA, 105.1 IP, 90 K)
Game two is a weird game. It’s looking to be the season debut of Eduardo Rodriguez for Arizona. He’s the first big rotation free agency splurge for Mike Hazen of last winter, but he’s been on the shelf the whole season with “minor” injuries that keep delaying him. What to expect from him is a fools prospect as he entered free agency after a career year and is basically made of bubble gum and hopes. To say nothing of the lack of a rehab stint with any minor league affiliates…
The offense may need to bail him out against Ben Lively, which could be a tall order. He has been sharp for a team on a season-long roll. Just before the All Star Break, he had a hiccup of allowing 6ER against Detroit over 5.1 innings. But that was mid-slide for Cleveland and he met one of the hottest teams in MLB at the time in the Tigers. He hasn’t gone less than 5 full innings since June 16. His opposing teams over that stretch aren’t the most impressive, but baseball is all about timing as well. He will look to continue his stretch of solidly providing his team with a chance to win.
Scales tip toward Cleveland pretty heavily here. Who knows what sort of Rodriguez Arizona will get (dare we ask ….if? still at this point). And in Lively, the offense could have a gritty starter to really work at bats against.
Wednesday 8/7/2024 at 11:10am Arizona Time in Progressive Field: Brandon Pfaadt (5-6, 3.97 ERA, 131.1 IP, 118 K) vs. Carlos Carrasco (3-9, 5.53 ERA, 99.1 IP, 84 K)
On paper at least, this game feels the most obtainable for Arizona. On the mound you have Pfaadt who has fairly easily been the ace of the staff in 2024. He hasn’t taken a loss since June 19 and he has a single game all season where he went less than 5 innings (July 6 in San Diego – 4.1 IP). On top of being a work horse, he has put up solid production as well. Not too shabby for the former top prospect many were ready to trade about 12 months ago!
On the reverse side is Carrasco… The veteran who may lose his rotation spot to trade deadline acquisitions soon. He has been a healthy enough arm for Cleveland to “rely” on in 2024, but that’s about where the good ends. He is coming off an impressive start against Baltimore, but that ended a streak of 3 consecutive losses for him. And he still only went 4.1 innings. For a 37 year-old, it’s not too horrid. But for a team with eyes on ending the longest active World Series draught in baseball, he’s not cutting it.
Scales favor Arizona here.
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Arizona
Arizona State Adds Mid-Season Game Changer: Euro Juniors Champion Albane Cachot
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18-year-old Albane Cachot from Toulouse, France, has joined the Arizona State University women’s swimming and diving team mid-season. The Dauphins Toulouse OEC (the same club that produced Léon Marchand) product wasted no time adapting to short-course yards, winning the 50/100/200 free events in her first meet at the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center.
Cachot made a name for herself in 2024, when she won the 50 free (25.45), 100 free (54.65), 200 free (1:59.18), and 50 fly (26.57) at the French Junior Championships in April. Two months later, she finaled in all four events at the French Elite Championships, placing 10th in the 50 free (25.43), 5th in the 100 free (54.61), 4th in the 200 free (2:00.34), and 7th in the 50 fly (26.95).
In 2025, she represented France at both the European Junior Championships in Šamorín, Slovakia, and the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore. At Euro Juniors, she won gold in the women’s 100 free, clocking a lifetime-best 54.17. She also finished 7th in the 50 free (25.48) and 7th in the 200 free (2:00.46), and 5th in the 50 fly (26.51, a PB). Cachot swam on 3 of France’s relays at World Championships (women’s 4×100 free, mixed 4×100 free, and mixed 4×100 medley). She earned a bronze medal for her prelims role in France’s mixed 400 medley relay, and she joined Beryl Gastaldello, Marina Jehl, and Marie Wattel in the women’s 400 free relay final that placed 5th with a national record-breaking time of 3:34.62.
In her short-course yards debut on January 3 at the dual meet with Grand Canyon, Cachot put up a team-leading time in the 50 free (22.43). She ranks 3rd in the 200 free (1:46.38) behind Jordan Greber (1:45.14) and Grace Lindberg (1:45.43) and 4th in the 100 free (49.11) behind Greber (48.81), Shane Golland (48.98), and Gerda Szilagyi (49.05). Greber, Lindberg, and Golland achieved their times during the CSCAA Dual Challenges.
The CSCAA challenge meets was also where ASU notched their fastest relay times of the season so far. Without speculating as to what her flying start times might be, it is clear that even her flat start SCY times would have lowered the Sun Devils’ free relay times by a couple of tenths in the 4×50 and 4×100 and by 3 seconds in the 4×200. And her converted LCM times would have been of even greater value.
Best SCY times:
- 50 free – 22.43
- 100 free – 49.11
- 200 free – 1:46.38
Best LCM times (converted):
- 50 free – 25.31 (22.08)
- 100 free – 54.17 (47.36)
- 200 free – 1:59.18 (1:44.48)
- 50 fly – 26.51 (23.25)
Cachot is joining Arizona State’s class of 2029 with Alexia Sotomayor, Bella Scopel Tramontana, Cali Watts, Eleaunah Phillips, Jessie Carlson, Marley Lovick, and Ursula Ott. Avery Spade was also new this season, transferring in from Indiana.
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Arizona
Predicting Where Former Arizona State Star Lands
TEMPE — The Sam Leavitt saga has been one that has split the Arizona State fanbase.
While some have been steadfast in bringing up the contributions that the two-year star poured into the program, others have been emphatic in pointing out the optics of the exit appearing less-than-ideal in a point of critique.
Regardless, the Sun Devils have moved on – with Kentucky transfer Cutter Boley and Michigan transfer Mikey Keense being the two exterior options that were brought in to signify a new era.
Now, Leavitt continues to seek a new college home for what might be his last season of collegiate football – Arizona State on SI makes sense of it all below.
Confirmed Visits – LSU, Tennessee, Miami
Leavitt’s first visit came with Boley’s former school in Kentucky, but the Wildcats have seemingly moved on by signing Notre Dame transfer Kenny Minchey.
LSU has made sense as a destination in recent weeks, with the presence of Lane Kiffin and the ironic twist of Jayden Daniels going from Arizona State to winning a Heisman Trophy with the Tigers as points of focus. It wouldn’t be a shock to see Leavitt heavily consider the SEC power.
Tennessee reportedly attempted to pry Leavitt away from the Sun Devils last spring and failed. This time, they loom as a relative “sleeper” – the redshirt sophomore even spent two days in Knoxville. This is a situation that is “wait-and-see”, as the Volunteers are still waiting to see what comes of QB Joey Aguilar’s pitch to receive more eligibility.
Miami is another spot that has made sense, as senior Carson Beck will be playing his final game of his collegiate career on January 19. No state income tax, the allure of joining Cam Ward and Beck as potential major risers on NFL draft boards, and playing for a storied program are all major drawing points.
Expected Visit – Oregon
Oregon is the complicated potential landing spot.
There is still a bit of uncertainty surrounding what Oregon’s Dante Moore decided to do pertaining to entering the 2026 draft, so the Ducks must stand pat until a firm decision is made.
It’s simple to see why an Oregon native would be drawn to play for what has become a storied franchise that now has a phenomenal track record of developing quarterbacks.
Verdict: Leavitt Lands With Oregon
There’s absolutely nothing firm about this prediction, but Oregon makes the most sense – with the caveat that Moore decides to go pro.
Read more on why the Arizona State men’s basketball team will exceed expectations in the 2025-26 season here, and on why the bright future of the football program isn’t dimmed by the loss to Arizona here.
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Arizona
Arizona’s Burries Shares Secret to Latest Scoring Outburst
The Arizona Wildcats dominated once again to push their record to 15-0 on the season, cruising to an easy 101-76 victory over Kansas State in their Big 12 home opener.
The Wildcats scored 100 points in a game for the third time this season, led by freshman guard Brayden Burries’ 28 points, and Motiejus Krivas’ 25 points. Burries is now up to 15.1 points per game on the season, which leads the #1-ranked Wildcats.
Secret to points production
Burries has been on a tear scoring the ball of late. After scoring in double-digits in just one of his first five games this season, Burries has scored in double-figures in each of his last 10 games, including five 20-point performances. His 28 points against Kansas State tied his highest point total of the season so far. After the game, Burries was asked about his recent flurry of scoring.
- “I don’t think anything changed,” Burries said. “I think just getting used to the speed out there, the first few games, and I didn’t play guard as much like on the ball, and guarding point guards, so it’s all new to me. But, more games, more experience, I feel like I’m getting better with more experience honestly.”
- “Honestly just going out there, and just hooping,” he added. “Trusting my teammates, and trusting the coaches and their gameplan, and they’re just helping me out.”
Tommy Lloyd on Burries
Head coach Tommy Lloyd also spoke about his leading scorer’s recent performances, and how Burries is one of the more coachable players on the roster.
- “Brayden’s a great player,” Lloyd said. “We’re fortunate to have him in our program. I mean, he’s a winner, he’s always won. He does just about everything in his life the right way, it’s a joy to coach him everyday, and it’s really fun to help him on his journey.”
- “You can be pretty direct with him”, Lloyd added. “I told him, he’s a guy that I don’t want to coach by being confrontational with him, I think he’s too good of a kid and he’s really motivated. He doesn’t need that when I’m very direct with him. He’s got enough experience now, I think he’s really learning.”
Burries and the rest of the Wildcats will look to continue what has been a special season up to this point. The Wildcats have all the makings of a true National Championship contender, and their first two performances in Big 12 play show just that.
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