The Morning TiltThursday, August 13, 2026

A depth chart, a broadcast deal, seven starting pitchers, and a transfer that solves nothing. Your Thursday.

Falcons

The first depth chart of the Kevin Stefanski era dropped yesterday, and the most revealing name on it is not at quarterback. Brandon Dorlus is listed as the starting edge rusher.

Dorlus recorded 8.5 sacks last season — all from the interior, where he was second among all interior defensive linemen in the NFL. Jalon Walker's torn ACL and James Pearce Jr.'s expected suspension stripped the edge bare. But Dorlus played edge at Oregon before the Falcons bulked him up for interior duties. Moving him outside is not improvisation. It is a return. The question worth watching tomorrow night: what happens when a player who generated 8.5 sacks against double teams starts getting one-on-one matchups instead.

Tua Tagovailoa is listed as QB1 for the preseason opener against Denver at Mercedes-Benz Stadium tomorrow. Stefanski was explicit — this is not a Week 1 declaration. Starters will see approximately one series. Michael Penix Jr. is listed fourth with an injury notation; full clearance is potentially four weeks away. Jawaan Taylor has been activated from the PUP list and installed at starting right tackle, filling the void left by Kaleb McGary's retirement. Jessie Bates III is listed as a starter but remains limited with a back issue — medical, not contractual. The offensive line that opens at Pittsburgh on September 13 is taking shape.

Miles walks through the full depth chart — every position, every scheme implication.

Braves

Off day. At 73-48, first in the NL East, the Braves turn toward Arizona, which arrives Friday for a three-game set at Truist Park. The rotation story heading into that series deserves documenting.

Three healthy starters opened the 2026 season: Sale, Lopez, and Holmes. Now there are seven with legitimate claims to a postseason rotation spot. Chris Sale's 2.08 ERA through 117 innings anchors everything — 18 consecutive starts allowing three or fewer earned runs, the longest active streak in baseball. Behind him: Martin Perez (2.78 ERA, 1.07 WHIP), Grant Holmes, Bryce Elder, and Tyler Mahle, whose two starts since the deadline trade — 12 innings, one earned run, 16 strikeouts — have outrun his San Francisco numbers. At Triple-A Gwinnett yesterday, AJ Smith-Shawver threw 5.1 scoreless innings on one hit, fastball touching 99, seven strikeouts. He is eligible for recall this week. Reynaldo Lopez is eligible to come off the injured list Saturday.

That is seven. Ellis has the full breakdown — and the honest case for why abundance is not the same as depth until October proves it. Dex dares you to name a deeper rotation in baseball.

Hawks

The most significant Hawks development this week has nothing to do with the roster. Atlanta News First and the Hawks announced a broadcast deal that puts every non-nationally televised game on free over-the-air television next season. That has not happened since the early 1990s. In a league where regional sports networks are collapsing and fans increasingly cannot watch their own team, the Hawks just went the opposite direction.

On the Kuminga front: Lu Dort has taken the #0 jersey. That was Jonathan Kuminga's number. Jersey signals in the NBA are rarely accidental. The Hawks wanted draft assets from any sign-and-trade partner. The Lakers, Cavaliers, and Timberwolves showed interest but never met the asking price. The front office appears to have moved on — and built around what it already has. Summer League reinforced the plan: 5-1 record, Kingston Flemings drawing praise at both ends, Zuby Ejiofor averaging 13 points and 9 rebounds per game.

The schedule release is expected imminently. The NBA Cup draw already landed the Hawks in Group C with Washington — which means Trae Young comes back to State Farm Arena. That one will sell itself.

One front-office gap worth tracking: Bryson Graham, the former SVP of basketball operations, left for the Chicago Bulls in May. No replacement has been hired. That needs to change before October.

Atlanta United

Williams Alarcon is about to sign on loan from Boca Juniors. A 25-year-old Chilean international central midfielder who managed 6 appearances and zero goals at Boca this season, excluded from their Copa Sudamericana squad.

He will become Atlanta United's sixth central midfielder on a roster that cannot score.

The Designated Player slot freed by Emmanuel Latte Lath's loan to Union Berlin remains unfilled by a forward. Henderson is building from the spine outward — center-backs in July, midfield now, goals later. The philosophy has precedent in global football. The record does not support patience: 3-12-3, last in the Eastern Conference. Breel Embolo is reportedly in discussions. Darwin Nunez remains early-stage. The window closes September 2.

Saturday: Red Bulls at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. First home match since May. Tito frames the central contradiction — the right team built in the wrong order, twenty days left, and a fanbase that will not be chanting for a well-constructed midfield triangle.

One more thing. The Braves have seven starters for five rotation spots. Atlanta United have six central midfielders and no striker. Abundance looks the same on a spreadsheet. On the field, you can tell the difference.