Will Laws

Los Angeles

Programming Editor and Writer at Sports Illustrated

@SInow editor/writer. ex: @yahoo @aol @mlbam. Fluent in coachspeak. @survivorCBS addict. Email: [email protected]

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Articles

MLB Power Rankings: Each Team’s Most Disappointing Player

1 week ago | si.com | Will Laws

Believe it or not, we’re almost halfway through the 2025 MLB season. There is now a big enough sample size to classify "slow starts" as something more, and teams have started to make tough decisions about players they were hoping would bring more to the table this year. We haven’t published a power ranking of all 30 teams since Opening Day, when we highlighted a breakout candidate for every team.
Six Takeaways From the First 2025 MLB All-Star Game Voting Update

1 week ago | si.com | Will Laws

The 2025 MLB All-Star Game is less than a month away, with Atlanta getting ready to host the 95th Midsummer Classic on July 15. As has been the case since 1970, fans are tasked with voting for the starting batting lineups of the American and National League teams. This can lead to some highly entertaining and borderline upsetting choices, and this year seems like it’ll be no different.
Rafael Devers Will Help Giants, but Let's Not Get Carried Away

1 week ago | kansascity.com | Tom Verducci |Will Laws

This piece is part of our Hot Stove Takes series, where staff members give quick reactions to the latest notable MLB transactions. Tom Verducci: The Red Sox traded Rafael Devers under duress and paid down none of his contract, which limited his value. So why trade him? When you sign someone to a 10-year, $313.5 million contract, that's the kind of commitment to consider the player "the face of the franchise." And your face of the franchise should set a culture that young players can emulate.
Hot Stove Takes: Rafael Devers Will Help Giants, but Let’s Not Get Carried Away

1 week ago | modbee.com | Will Laws

This piece is part of our Hot Stove Takes series, where staff members give quick reactions to the latest notable MLB transactions. Tom Verducci: The Red Sox traded Rafael Devers under duress and paid down none of his contract, which limited his value. So why trade him? When you sign someone to a 10-year, $313.5 million contract, that's the kind of commitment to consider the player "the face of the franchise." And your face of the franchise should set a culture that young players can emulate.
Three Up, Three Down: Recapping May’s Best, Worst MLB Performers

3 weeks ago | si.com | Will Laws

April’s results can often leave lasting first impressions over the course of a season, but May is when those early outcomes are either crystalized or rebutted by the accumulation of a larger sample size. Let’s examine six instances of the latter as teams prepare to pass the 60-game mark—the length of the entire 2020 regular season.
White Sox Pray Pope Leo Brings Baseball to Vatican City

3 weeks ago | sacbee.com | Will Laws

Here on earth the Chicago White Sox are off to another challenging start, but a better place awaits. Last month's papal election brought us Robert Prevost, better known as Pope Leo XIV, Bishop of Rome, Vicar of Jesus Christ, Successor of the Prince of the Apostles, Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church, Sovereign of the Vatican City State-and lifelong White Sox fan. So even as they suffer to an 18–42 record, last in the American League, the White Sox can hope for reprieve in the afterlife.
Each Team's Biggest Surprise After One Month

1 month ago | sunherald.com | Will Laws |Tim Capurso

It takes quite a while in a 162-game season for trends to emerge that you can trust will have staying power. We're almost there in 2025. MVP contenders like Aaron Judge and Fernando Tatis Jr. are emerging. The Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets are leading their divisions and look like World Series contenders. That's not shocking to anyone. But there have also been some unexpected developments. Tyler Mahle is tied for the lowest ERA in the American League.
MLB Power Rankings: Each Team’s Biggest Surprise After One Month

1 month ago | si.com | Will Laws |Nick Selbe |Tim Capurso

It takes quite a while in a 162-game season for trends to emerge that you can trust will have staying power. We’re almost there in 2025. MVP contenders like Aaron Judge and Fernando Tatis Jr. are emerging. The Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets are leading their divisions and look like World Series contenders. That’s not shocking to anyone. But there have also been some unexpected developments. Tyler Mahle is tied for the lowest ERA in the American League.
NFL Draft Quarterback Rankings: Titans Set to Wisely Pick Cam Ward

2 months ago | si.com | Will Laws

The Tennessee Titans are either on the verge of making a foolish mistake or will soon land a franchise quarterback that wasn’t supposed to be available in this draft class. For months, the quarterback prospects in the class of 2025 were called weak, not close to being on the level of Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye—the top three picks in last year’s draft.
2025 MLB Division Previews: National League West

Mar 27, 2025 | miamiherald.com | Will Laws

AL East | AL Central | AL West | NL East | NL CentralWhat do you get the team that has everything? More pitching, it seems. This offseason the Dodgers signed starting pitchers Blake Snell and Roki Sasaki, as well as reliever Tanner Scott. It's why the defending World Series champs are overwhelming favorites to win their 12th NL West crown in 13 years and also their third championship in six years. Manager Dave Roberts's biggest challenge may be keeping his team focused throughout the regular season.