Flyers Prospects Interestingly Stack Up In New Rankings
Undoubtedly, the strength of the Philadelphia Flyers and the future of the organization lies in their expansive prospect pool, which has grown quite large in recent seasons and became one of the best in the NHL.
The center position is, of course, still seen as a weakness for the Flyers, even after the allocation of three first-round picks to select Jett Luchanko and Jack Nesbitt in back-to-back years.
In a new prospect tier list ranking by Scott Wheeler of The Athletic, with review and some input from scouts and personnel around the league, the two Flyers prospects didn't even make the cut of the top 150 prospects in the NHL right now.
Luchanko and Nesbitt, as well as Alex Bump, were in the group of players who "were considered or generated some conversation but ultimately didn’t get enough love for Tier 5C projections," and that group still features some good talents, such as Luca Cagnoni, Sandis Vilmanis, Quentin Musty, Lenni Hameenaho, and Maveric Lamoureux.
In any case, the Flyers have a projected future superstar, contrary to popular belief, in the eyes of Wheeler and his caddy of NHL scouts and execs.
Flyers' Martone draws comparisons to Rantanen, Robertson
Porter Martone is the highest-ranked Flyers youngster on this list, and for good reason. The 19-year-old dominated the NCAA with 25 goals, 25 assists, and 50 points in just 35 games last season, then jumped on the proverbial moving train that was the Flyers in the middle of their playoff push.
The 2025 No. 6 overall pick was a star off rip, scoring four goals, six assists, and 10 points in nine regular season games, then added five more points in 10 playoff games.
"Martone's excellent freshman year and, maybe even more importantly, his strong play in the NHL at the end of the regular season in particular, really sold the league on his status as one of the game's future top power forwards," Wheeler wrote.
"Mikko Rantanen and Jason Robertson, who are both Tier 2 wingers in Player Tiers this year, feel like attainable — if a little lofty — projections for Martone."
Martone isn't quite as dynamic as Rantanen, but his style of play and strengths closely resemble both of the 100-point wingers.
He's not a center, no, but the Carolina Hurricanes just proved that you can win a Stanley Cup without one of the five best centers in the NHL.
If Martone can even approach the heights Rantanen and Robertson have reached in their careers, the Flyers are going to be in a really good spot going forward.
Only Ivar Stenberg, Gavin McKenna, Lane Hutson, Leo Carlsson, Connor Bedard, Matthew Schaefer, and Macklin Celebrini ranked higher on Wheeler's tier list.
The Michkov of it all
Somewhat surprisingly, Matvei Michkov, still just 21 years old, is included in the ranking, though he dropped a full tier from 2B to 3B from this time last year.
Wheeler notes that his NHL peers are aligning themselves more with Rick Tocchet's side of this coin: that Michkov will have to iron out the defensive kinks and fitness issues before knighting the Russian phenom as a future star player in the league.
But, again, with all the negativity and publicity around Michkov last year, he still finished the year with 20 goals and 51 points and led the Flyers in scoring after the Olympic break.
"If those [flaws] persist evaluators won't even care if he becomes an 80-point version of that player, because he won't be viewed as a winning player," Wheeler said of Michkov.
It's not to say that hockey people are wrong or fans are wrong, but that is just how people in and around the game see Michkov right now, and Tocchet, as a former player and current coach, is one of those people.
Fortunately, it seems as though Michkov took the 2025-26 season to heart throughout the summer, and the Flyers have recognized his efforts ahead of the start of training camp.
The fruits this ultimately bears still remain to be seen.
The best of the rest
Because Luchanko and Nesbitt (and Maksim Sokolovskii) didn't make the cut, things drop off for the Flyers from here.
The next tier a Flyers prospect appears in is way down in 5B, which is above only 5C on the remainder of the list.
Goalie Egor Zavragin, who is still highly regarded by the Flyers after a trying season the organization does not put on him, clocks in at 5B for Wheeler. A tier-5 goalie is considered an "above-average starter," which is still a very good outcome for the Flyers.
Marek Sklenicka, Carson Bjarnason, and Martin Psohlavec still have time to develop and get their names on the radar to make this list, and Dan Vladar, Joseph Woll, and Aleksei Kolosov can buy the above prospects time to become ripe for NHL action.
Ankle-biter forward Denver Barkey complements Martone and Michkov at 5C, making the ranking after being left off last year on the heels of an improbably successful first year playing pro hockey in the Flyers organization.
We can expect Barkey to become a full-time NHLer moving forward.
Most interestingly, and to round out the list, defensemen Oliver Bonk and David Jiricek rank right next to each other at the bottom of the 5C tier, with Wheeler questioning Bonk's true upside as a player and not whether or not he'll become an NHLer.
As for Jiricek, Wheeler, like the Flyers, acknowledges that the talent and tools are there, but the end result has not. The 22-year-old is now playing for his third organization in four years since being drafted in 2022.
"David Jiricek is an AHL player at this point, I don’t see him being on this list," a scout told Wheeler.
Jiricek badly needs to fix his skating, reads, and defending in open space to reach his full potential as an NHL defenseman, and the Flyers will likely want him to unleash his physicality more, too, for a 6-foot-4 body.
That said, the Flyers also know that Jiricek can aid their 32nd-ranked power play, and given that the Czech rearguard is no longer waivers-exempt, Jiricek will probably be given every opportunity to prove himself and make an impact.
Know Your Enemy: Sabres Must Take Advantage Of Puny Blue Jackets
The Buffalo Sabres’ 2025-26 season was its best in generations, as they won the Atlantic Division, then beat the Boston Bruins in Round 1 of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Buffalo fell to the Montreal Canadiens in a Round 2 exit, but for the first time in a very long time, there was genuine positive vibes in Sabres Land..
For the second straight season here at TheHockeyNews.com, we're analyzing the Sabres’ Eastern Conference opponents for the second season in a series we call “Know Your Enemy”. And in this file, we’re turning the spotlight on a team that has had nearly as much misery as Buffalo – the Columbus Blue Jackets.
BUFFALO SABRES VS. COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS
NEW BLUE JACKETS PLAYERS: Valeri Nichushkin (LW), Pheonix Copley (G), Ryan Lomberg (LW)
2025-26 SERIES: Sabres 1-1-1, Blue Jackets 2-1-0
2026-27 GAMES AGAINST EACH OTHER: October 1, at Columbus; November 6 at Buffalo; January 8 at Columbus
CAN THE SABRES BEAT THIS TEAM? The Blue Jackets and Sabres kick off their season by playing each other in a showdown in Columbus at the start of October, and in the following three months, they’ll play each other another two times. So the Columbus team that Buffalo plays for the final time in the first week of January could look different by the time next year’s NHL trade deadline arrives – and the same goes for the Sabres.
That said, Columbus’ off-season was unspectacular, and that’s being kind. Veteran winger Nichushkin was acquired from the Colorado Avalanche, and while he’s a solid scorer, he’s not a game-changer, generational player, and that’s what the Blue Jackets don’t have nearly enough of.
And this is why the Sabres have to take care of business when they do take on the Jackets. Columbus is clearly one of the league’s weaker teams, and although they do have up-and-coming youngsters including center Adam Fantilli – as well as superstar defenseman Zach Werenski, at least, for now – the Blue Jackets don’t measure up well on paper against virtually any NHL team.
Columbus is fortunate in that they play in the Metropolitan Division, one of the league’s weaker divisions. But from the Sabres’ perspective, any games that are lost in regulation time to a puny rival is what could be the difference between Buffalo winning or losing home-ice advantage in the post-season.
A strong start is important for any team, Sabres included. A dominant win in Game 1 will set the right tone for Buffalo, and while the Blue Jackets could surprise people and win some games playing feisty hockey, they’re one of the teams the Sabres have to put in their place. And if Buffalo does squander some points in the standings to Columbus, Sabres fans will be rightly frustrated.
Yankees Mailbag: How will Trent Grisham, Spencer Jones be used when Aaron Judge returns?
As the Yankees continue their path to the postseason, SNY MLB Insider Chelsea Janes opens up the mailbag to talk roster construction when Aaron Judge returns and much more...
Are the Yankees really going to run with Grisham in center field instead of Spencer Jones and is it even likely that they’ll send Jones down with Judge returning? -@yellow643
I can see a world in which the Yankees run with Trent Grisham in center down the stretch, at least against right-handed pitching, out of respect for his experience and to give him time to get his bat going before the postseason. I don’t know if I would make that decision, and I don’t know if they will, either.
I cannot see a world in which the Yankees do not have Jones on their roster down the stretch and into October. Yes, Aaron Judge creates a roster crunch, but I don’t anticipate Jones being the one pushed out. He has been too good, and is too much of a power threat, to take off the roster for the most important games of the season. And if he is on the roster, the Yankees will have to take another position player off.
The Yankees’ general dearth of right-handed bats makes this complicated. I would assume Heliot Ramos remains on the roster as a pinch-hitter or platoon option in center against a tough lefty. So that means an infielder would have to go.
Amed Rosario feels like the likeliest choice, but even in a difficult offensive season, he maintains the Yankees’ confidence as a right-handed option off the bench. But in the postseason, Paul Goldschmidt can fill that role, even if it means pinch-hitting for someone in another infield position: The proven positional versatility of Jose Caballero and the theoretical versatility of Luis Garcia Jr. allow for creativity.
Ryan McMahon’s defense at third base is probably too important to the success of key pitchers like Max Fried to leave off the roster due to his inconsistency offensively. But I could see them making that decision if they are worried about being too left-handed.
Long story short: I think Jones has proven himself too valuable to leave him off the roster when Judge returns and beyond.
Will we ever see Giancarlo Stanton play again in pinstripes? -@MrEd315
I don’t know. His contract situation makes any kind of retirement scenario complicated: The Yankees owe him $25 million next year and a $10 million buyout if they choose not to bring him back for 2028. Thirty-five million isn’t crazy for the Yankees, but it isn’t nothing.
My expectation is that this will be up to Stanton. If he wants to try to play again – and he is just 44 home runs shy of 500 – I think the Yankees will give him that chance. Even if he is a semiregular designated hitter and a huge bench bat, his clubhouse presence probably justifies keeping him around. But his legs clearly gave out on him this year, which is not a good sign for a player with chronic elbow pain, too. I would not be surprised if he decides to call it after this season, though to be very, very clear, I have not heard anyone who would know suggest that is imminent.
Who do you think will have a better career? Nolan McLean or Cam Schlittler? -@LobstersLong
Whichever one is healthiest. Period. They’re both incredible young talents. Schlittler has been better so far and appears to be an excellent big-game pitcher. So he has the edge for now. But McLean’s stuff moves naturally in ways people spend whole careers trying to achieve. His numbers are not THAT far behind Schlittler, all things considered. To me, whoever is healthier will finish with the better resume. They’re both incredibly talented.
Victor Robles placed on family medical emergency list, Stuart Fairchild recalled, Brennen Davis to the IL
The Seattle Mariners announced Thursday that they’ve placed OF Victor Robles on the family medical emergency/bereavement list. Robles is allowed up to three days on the list, and though the exact nature of the situation is unknown, kindness and best wishes are being sent his and his family’s way. Robles is currently in the Dominican Republic with his family, which is where Mariners GM Justin Hollander said he “needs to be.”
In his stead, Seattle has recalled OF Stuart Fairchild, the local product who Seattle acquired midway through this season. As of pregame Thursday, Fairchild isn’t yet with the club, needing to travel from where Tacoma is playing in Albuquerque. Additionally, Seattle recalled OF Brennen Davis from Triple-A Tacoma and placed him on the 60-day injured list, immediately removing him from the 40-man roster. Davis had been dealing this season with a severe hamstring strain that’s kept him out all year; most recently, he suffered an oblique injury while swinging in the cages, and has now had a setback with that oblique that will end his season.
Occupying a bench and defensive replacement role when healthy this year for the most part, Robles will be mostly a 1-1 swap for Fairchild in the next few days. Though not quite the base stealer Robles is, Fairchild roams the outfield well and runs enough to fill in. The Seattle Prep product has been a stellar hitter in Triple-A this year in his age 30 campaign, and has played in parts of the last six seasons in the bigs.
Davis is a bittersweet move, as the 26 year old outfielder who spent years near the top of prospect lists spent much of this season on the sidelines once again, unable to ring the bell when Seattle was scouring its system for any sort of offensive spark. By adding him to the 40-man roster earlier this year, Seattle retained Davis following a scorching hot spring and excellent season with the Tacoma Rainiers. Unfortunately, as has been the case every year of his career, his body betrayed him, first with the hamstring, and then the oblique. By putting him on the IL, Davis will be paid for the remainder of the year at a big league minimum rate, a goodwill gesture from Seattle for a player who by all accounts is a diligent, hard worker and high-quality teammate. Seattle may also choose to retain Davis through the winter on their 40-man roster without needing to expose him to minor league free agency once again, though it’s unclear if they’d choose to do so.
Tyrese Haliburton's breakup with the Brewers becomes official at Wrigley
Tyrese Haliburton spent the past two years dumping his hometown baseball team in public, one jersey at a time. On Thursday night, he made it official at Wrigley Field.
The injured Indiana Pacers point guard threw out the ceremonial first pitch wearing a Cubs jersey before Chicago hosted the Brewers, taking the mound at Wrigley rather than 90 miles north in Milwaukee.
Haliburton, from Oshkosh, Wisconsin, was a Brewers fan his whole life. That ended in 2024, he said, when the team invited him to throw out a first pitch that summer, then pulled the offer after his Pacers eliminated the Milwaukee Bucks in the playoffs.
"I was a Brewers fan and then I was supposed to throw the first pitch last summer and then they X'd that after the playoffs ended," Haliburton said on the "The Pat McAfee Show" in April 2025. "So I said, you know what, I'm no longer a Brewers fan."
Tyrese Haliburton grew up a Brewers fan in Wisconsin. Tonight, he took the mound to throw out the first pitch for the Cubs ... against the Brewers 👀 pic.twitter.com/h4bwoFK4pl
— MLB (@MLB) September 3, 2026
It was a rough break up. Haliburton started showing up to Pacers games in Cubs and Dodgers gear, including a Cubs jersey at a preseason game in October 2025. When the Dodgers swept the Brewers out of the National League Championship Series that fall, he leaned into rooting against Milwaukee.
The Dodgers noticed. Manager Dave Roberts invited Haliburton to jump on the bandwagon and throw out a first pitch at Dodger Stadium.
"I'd like to offer him the first pitch at Dodger Stadium, and he can rock that Ohtani jersey in its rightful place," Roberts said on Amazon's "Good Sports With Kevin Hart and Kenan Thompson."
Haliburton, who calls himself a baseball free agent, has had plenty of time to practice his first pitch. He tore his Achilles tendon in Game 7 of the NBA Finals against Oklahoma City Thunder in June 2025 and was out for the entire 2025-26 season. The Pacers have said he isn't expected to play again until late 2026.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tyrese Haliburton's breakup with the Brewers becomes official at Wrigley
Offense Astro-logy: White Sox fall to Houston, 6-2
The good thing about this week’s series in the land of the Crawford Boxes and the choo-choo is that both Sean Burke and Davis Martin pitched extremely well, a big turnaround from their recent starts and a good sign for the stretch run. The bad thing — well, besides nearly the entire offense — is that Luis Castillo once again demonstrated that while Chris Getz may have had a very nice offseason, he had a miserable trade deadline.
Castillo started out looking good, striking out Jeremy Peña and Yordan Alvarez. He then walked Isaac Paredes on 10 pitches and threw José Altuve a fastball that would have been a strike on Aaron Judge but was nose-high on Altuve. Altuve still sent it into the Crawford Boxes to make it 2-0 Astros.
The lead didn’t last long. Braden Montgomery singled off Hunter Brown to lead off the second, and Colson Montgomery followed with a routine ground ball to second. Peña blew the relay, though, and Chase Meidroth followed with an unplayable 50-mph dribbler. Jake Rogers and Sam Antonacci then delivered actual singles to tie the score.
There being no other Sox offensive highlights, what the heck, let’s show you the RBIs. First, Jake’s:
Nice stop by Peña, nice hustle by a catcher to avoid the DP. Then Sam’s, which actually made it to the outfield.
The Sox even got a single and a walk to lead off the third, but that apparently ticked off Brown, who entered the game 5-0 against them in his career. He then struck out the side, retired nine in a row and didn’t allow another hit through the sixth.
Meanwhile, the Astros were allowed to bat more against Castillo, which, as usual, was not a good thing. In the bottom of the third, they went single, HBP, double, triple, single to make it a 6-2 game. That was all they scored, but it was all they needed.
Will Venable left Castillo in for the fourth, when he stranded a couple of runners, but that was it for the alleged innings eater who has turned into just an appetizer nibbler. Tyler Schweitzer, Trevor Richards and even José Urquidy combined for four scoreless innings, but the feeble Sox offense didn’t manage another hit until a two-out Meidroth single in the ninth.
The one moment of good performance by Sox non-pitchers came on a nifty Braden grab with two on and two out in the fifth.
Baseball lore has it that if a player who makes a nice catch leads off the next inning, he always gets a hit. Braden only managed a walk, but that sorta counts. Didn’t matter, because Colson then hit into a real double play.
After the third, the Sox never stranded another runner in scoring position. But that’s because they never got another runner to second.
The White Sox fall to 73-67 but remain three games ahead of Cleveland, which lost to Toronto this afternoon. Their lead over Houston is down to 1 1/2 games, though. The Astros also hold the tiebreaker after winning the season series 5-2, which could matter for postseason positioning and home-field advantage if the teams finish with identical records.
The Sox now head home to face the Twins and Pirates beginning tomorrow night but, oddly, have Labor Day off.
As for the Sox MVP, there really isn’t one, but feel free to name somebody in the comments — maybe Meidroth for his two singles and two Ks, or the pen for four innings of scoreless work?
Castillo would seem to be the runaway choice for goat (not GOAT), but if you prefer a batter, Munetaka Murakami was 0-for-4 with three Ks. He is 1-for-20 and hasn’t homered since Aug. 18. Colson was also 0-for-4 with a strikeout while hitting into one double play and another that should have been.
I think I’d give the dishonor to Chris Getz for his terrible work at the trade deadline, but have at whomever you like in the comments.
Shohei Ohtani out of Dodgers lineup as injury concerns mount
The Los Angeles Dodgers continue to make Shohei Ohtani’s health a priority in order to help preserve him for a postseason run.
The Dodgers are looking to become the third franchise to secure a World Series three-peat.
Ohtani is expected to play a key role in trying to make that happen, but he will need to be healthy to do it.
Ohtani was not in the starting lineup as a designated hitter on Thursday, Sept. 3. It is the first time he has not been in the lineup since July 30.
Ohtani showed signs of discomfort in the Dodgers' 8-6 home loss to the St. Louis Cardinals at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday, Sept. 2. He went 0-for-4, but did walk and score a run.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Ohtani told the team he had discomfort in his biceps and neck during the game.
The Dodgers have not placed Ohtani on the injured list, but it hasn't officially been ruled out either. The Dodgers will treat Ohtani's status for the moment as "day-to-day."
The manager said he will need to have further conversations with Ohtani before deciding on the next step.
"I think for me it's just getting with him later today and seeing how his day is and how he responds to a day of rest and I think at that point we will make a decision as far as tomorrow," Roberts said.
Ohtani is known for his two-way ability, but has been limited to just hitting for most of this season due to injuries.
Ohtani was working toward making his first pitching start since July 3 due to knee inflammation and biceps discomfort. Ohtani had a short bullpen session on Aug. 28, but it wasn’t enough to give the superstar the green light to get on the mound for a game.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Shohei Ohtani out of Dodgers lineup as injury concerns mount
Labor Day Weekend Eve Chat and Discussion
All last weekend, my kid told me that it was going to be Labor Day that next Monday. I kept telling her no, it was next Monday. I mean, like 10 or 12 times. Then I told this to the wife. She was very quiet, then asked “it’s not Labor Day tomorrow?” Because she kept telling our kid it was, then I kept breaking her heart. So if you’re broken hearted to hear that there’s no game today, I apologize.
What is going on then? The Brewers and Cubs are kicking off shortly. The Cubs are 9 back of the Brewers, but they’re not out of it. The Cardinals can complete a sweep of the Dodgers at 10 pm Eastern.
The mutant form of college football is going on tonight as well. Missouri and Utah look poised to devour their opening week cupcakes of Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Idaho, respectively. That’s going on at 7pm and 8pm.
Are you guys and gals going to the beach? Ima sit at home and broil myself. The next trip we take will be either to a sick relative’s or to Atlanta for a playoff game. Hopefully, the family can pull through and the Braves can be victorious.
Do we want to debate what the Braves playoff position will be? I’m thinking the Braves might slide into that #2 slot if the Dodgers keep slipping up. Let’s go take care of Philadelphia first.
Royals vs Marlins September 3rd game discussion
Lately, I’ve been writing game discussions and recaps after unfortunate events.
Last Thursday, I wrote the game thread the day after the nine-game winning streak snapped.
Today, it’s following the end of five straight series wins.
But that’s okay. Listen, if you were thinking that the Royals could make the playoffs during this stretch of great baseball that began when they were 24 games under .500, I applaud you. I wish I could’ve had that kind of hope.
Still, we’ve seen this team’s best action the past couple of weeks. Even having dropped two in a row to the Fish, I’m looking forward to watching Michael Wacha take the mound tonight on the heels of his gem against Cleveland on August 28th.
Let’s bid adieu to the Marlins with a victory, one that would push them even farther behind the Diamondbacks for the last National Wild Card spot. It’s that time of year: playing spoiler.
As mentioned, Wacha takes the ball tonight. In his last outing, he absolutely cooked the Guardians, tossing eight scoreless innings while allowing four hits and zero walks while striking out 10. It was beautiful. In his third year with the Royals, Wacha has become the starting rotation’s anchor. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if the Royals tabbed him as the team’s Opening Day starter in 2027.
Here’s the Royals’ lineup:
Carter Jensen launched two home runs last night while also drawing a walk. He’s locked in. I’m glad to see Isaac Collins back in left because I am over the John Rave Experience. Neither one of these dudes is the long-term answer in left, but, obviously, I’d much rather see Collins out there. Salvador Perez and Vinnie Pasquantino swap defensive roles, such as it is, with the former starting at first and the latter taking on the DH role. Josh Rojas starts at the hot corner over Nick Loftin.
This lineup will face Sandy Alcantara, who captured the National League Cy Young Award back in 2022. Since, he’s struggled, falling off in 2023, missing all of 2024, and rebounding in 2025. Now, he’s as close to 2022-form as he’s been. He leads the Majors in games started, innings pitched, and batters faced, but has also allowed the most hits. The Marlins haven’t won any of his starts since August 8.
His offense:
Name me a more anonymous lineup the Majors. Not that the Marlins are bad—they’re clearly not, as they have a winning record. But this offense—heck, this franchise—is just so…I don’t know…boring, and they have been for years. When they first entered the National League with the Rockies, they were a cool new thing, especially when they won the World Series in 1997 (thanks a lot, Jose Mesa) and 2003.
Since? Yawn.
And still, they are 71-69 and just 2-and-1/2 games back of Arizona for a playoff spot (albeit with the Padres also ahead of them).
First pitch tonight at 6:40. It will be hot.
Game 141 Game Day Thread – Tampa Bay Rays @ Texas Rangers
Tampa Bay Rays @ Texas Rangers
Thursday, September 3, 2026, 7:05 PM CDT (105.3 The Fan / Rangers Sports Network)
The Shed
LHP Shane McClanahan vs. RHP Cal Quantrill
Go Rangers!
Adley Rutschman returns to Baltimore a Red Sox – and homers in first at-bat
BALTIMORE — Adley Rutschman reported to his longtime workplace on Thursday, Sept. 3, greeted several longtime Camden Yards staffers and made the well-worn walk into the Baltimore Orioles' clubhouse.
He prepared for a game that will be attended by hundreds of fans wearing his jersey as he resumed the fight for an American League wild-card spot.
But the stopover in the Orioles' clubhouse was only to exchange hugs and laughs and talk some smack with his friends. His pregame prep was in service of catching Boston Red Sox starter Jake Bennett, not Orioles rookie Brandon Young.
And the socks and undershirt and all other trappings he pulled on were not in the black and orange of the Orioles – or his college, Oregon State - but rather the red of Boston’s Olde Towne Team.
Rutschman’s professional life was turned upside down five weeks ago, when the only organization he knew, the one he led out of the darkness of a rebuild and into the playoffs traded him north, within the division, to a club that now finds itself running the same wild-card race that his friends on the Orioles are desperate to stay in.
And in his first at-bat as a visiting player, Rutschman showed why he became a franchise staple in Baltimore.
He drilled a Brandon Young curveball 377 feet, giving the Red Sox a 1-0 lead in the top of the first and leaving little doubt who he works for now.
Yet they still love him in Baltimore.
ORIOLES FANS GREET ADLEY.
— The Baltimore Sun (@baltimoresun) September 3, 2026
Adley Rutschman was greeted with a standing ovation in his first at-bat with the Red Sox at Camden Yards. pic.twitter.com/QKqCar2CaH
Rutschman got an extended standing ovation before his first at-bat as the ballpark played his usual walk-up song from Kid Cudi. He got a hug from Pete Alonso as the Polar Bear climbed into the batter's box for his first at-bat.
And a video that played after the first inning touched on so many highlights as an Oriole - from his Home Run Derby appearance to his wide-eyed debut and a cigar celebration after clinching a playoff berth.
If it sounds like commemorating an era now past, well, that's exactly what it was.
When club president Mike Elias, who made Rutschman the No. 1 overall pick in 2019 and the first selection in his career, dealt Rutschman to Boston in a seven-player trade Aug. 3, it brought Rutschman and his pals to tears. They were simply trying to go to a movie.
Instead, the plug was pulled on a movement, on a young core that led the Orioles to consecutive playoff appearances, a friend group busted up by the business of baseball.
And so upon his return Thursday, Rutschman filibustered most of a 10-minute session with a larger throng of media than almost any he encountered as an Oriole by talking of page-turning, and new opportunities and a positive acclimation.
Yet he realizes he left behind a significant amount of unfinished business in Charm City.
“At the time, absolutely you always want to be able to achieve the goals that you set at the beginning of the year,” Rutschman said of his mindset after Elias called and told him to pack his bags for Boston. “And in years past, you set goals to win the World Series and come up short.
“But then you have a new opportunity. And a new situation. And today’s a new day.”
Adley homers in his first AB back at Camden Yards! pic.twitter.com/E7oIkF9oJj
— Red Sox (@RedSox) September 3, 2026
That day came with the Red Sox in an appreciably better position than his old team. Elias deal Rutschman, reliever Tyler Wells and outfielder Taylor Ward on Aug. 3 because he said the club didn’t play well enough – it was 54-58 on deadline day - to justify continuing on.
Since then, the Orioles have gotten it together, kind of, beginning play Thursday at 69-71 and one game out of a wild-card berth – though with three teams to vault.
The Red Sox? Their crazy 21-4 run through July made them unlikely buyers, which is why they shipped a pair of vaunted pitching prospects to Baltimore for Rutschman. They enter Thursday night's game at 75-65 and hold a five-game lead for the No. 2 wild-card spot with 22 games left.
The Rutschman-Orioles reunion came amid such tension.
“They’ll love to see Adley,” says Orioles manager Craig Albernaz.
“But also, they’re going to try and kick his ass, too.”
Hey, it wasn’t all fire and brimstone. Albernaz noted that it was “good to see a smile on his face and see his goofy self walking around” during Rutschman’s brief trip to the Orioles' clubhouse.
And Rutschman, who in times good and bad exudes significant Golden Retriever energy, reiterated his love for Orioles fans and his teammates. And, at least publicly, he holds no enmity toward Elias, whose cold calculation that Rutschman was more valuable as a trade chip as Rutschman neared his final season before becoming eligible for free agency.
“I have a ton of respect for Mike,” says Rutschman. “You know, he's got a tough job. He’s got to make tough decisions, and I always respect that he's really good at what he does, and he has reasons for everything that he does.
“I’ve always had a good relationship with him, so it’s just one of those things in baseball that you kind of understand is part of the business aspect of it, and he’s got to do what he thinks is best for the organization, short term, and long term.
“I don't have any ill feelings toward anyone in the Orioles organization at all.”
Unsurprisingly, Rutschman has ingratiated himself quickly with the Red Sox. While Rutschman was on the injured list with a wrist injury at the time of the trade and missed the previous three games with the injury, he was in the lineup and batting third Thursday night.
It’s been a month – the trade, the injury, the city of Boston wondering what it has in Rutschman. His affability has helped.
“He’s a great guy. He’s a great person. He’s a hard worker,” says Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy. “When I spoke to him on the phone the day we traded for him, I kind of pretty immediately felt, ‘This is a pretty good dude.’
“When I got to meet him and interact with him in the five days before he got activated, high-character guy. You meet someone and feel like, ‘He can handle it.’ This will be in some ways emotional for him. He’s an important player here for a long time and I’m sure he’ll be well-received.
“But I know he’ll be ready to go.”
Rutschman’s eyes moistened a bit in his media session, but held his composure. He began his career with a long glance around Camden Yards as he trotted out to catch in his major league debut.
He finished his Orioles career with three All-Star berths, including during their 101-win 2023 season, a .756 OPS, 69 homers and 16.5 WAR. Those numbers don’t quite capture what he represented when he arrived in 2022: Hope, after three 100-loss seasons in the three full seasons that preceded his arrival.
The crowd was ready for him once again Thursday, and so was Rutschman. He talked with former teammate Ryan O’Hearn about battling emotions in a return. The advice stuck: To move on, but not forget.
“Try to make the most of every single situation in life in general,” says Rutschman.
“Which is, I guess, good life advice, as well.”
Particularly when your professional life is turned upside down.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Adley Rutschman returns to Baltimore a Red Sox - and homers in first at-bat
The Athletic Sees Several Future All-Stars in Flames System
Everyone knows the Calgary Flames are rebuilding and have been fortunate enough to select some great prospects like Carson Carels and Zayne Parekh in recent NHL Drafts. However, Scott Wheeler from The Athletic doesn't see any top-tier players in the organization's pipeline; instead believes there are several All-Star, Star, and Support-level talents.
In his latest rankings of the Top 145 NHL Prospects, released on September 3, Wheeler discussed only eight Calgary prospects, with two standing out above the rest.
The All-Star Level Prospects
When Parekh played in the OHL, he performed at a level unseen in decades. He drew comparisons to Bobby Orr as one of the game's most offensively gifted defensemen of his generation. As the ninth overall pick from the 2024 Draft, he has yet to find his groove in the NHL, with just 10 points in 38 games over three seasons. It's been an adjustment, to say the least, for the 20-year-old, who compiled 240 points in just 177 games in the OHL.
Interestingly, Parekh ranks below future defensive partner Carson Carels, whom the Flames just selected sixth overall at the 2026 Draft. Although he didn't put up the same statistics in the WHL as Parekh, he had 111 points in 125 games. Carels was one of the highest-ranked defenders in his draft class, and he happened to be available for the Flames for their first pick.
The Star Level Prospects
In June 2026, the Flames made a deal with the New Jersey Devils to acquire 22-year-old Simon Nemec, who is the second overall pick from the 2022 Draft. Through four NHL seasons, he's scored 16 goals and 49 points in 155 games. Many hope that a change of scenery and a chance to be a top-pairing defenseman will help his development, especially in Calgary, which signed him to a long-term extension.
Meanwhile, the only other possible star in the Flames prospect pipeline is Matvei Gridin, a 20-year-old winger who is projected to be one on the team's top line to begin the 2026-27 season. The former 28th overall pick from the 2024 Draft just finished his first season of professional hockey and scored 16 goals and 50 points over 74 games with the Flames and Calgary Wranglers.
The Supporting Cast Members
Of the prospects Wheeler grouped into the Support category, the Flames find most of their future players. First is center Cole Reschny, a 19-year-old whom Calgary drafted 18th overall in 2025. Right now, he's still playing in the NCAA, where an injury derailed his 2025-26 campaign, and he failed to duplicate the 92 points he scored the previous year.
Next on the list is Hunter Brzustewicz, a 21-year-old defenseman whom many in the C of Red are wondering will ever reach his potential. Since making his professional hockey debut in 2024-25, he's bounced between the Flames and Wranglers, scoring just 52 points in 139 games. Heading into the new season, Brzustewicz will once again begin the year in the AHL, waiting for another call-up.
Given that Calgary is missing a true No. 1 center, Wheeler doesn't believe Cullen Potter, the team's second first-round pick in 2025, is the answer. As a kid who developed through the United States National Development Program, he's still skating in the NCAA and still looking for his first career 20-goal campaign.
Meanwhile, Ethan Wyttenbach, a 19-year-old winger the Flames drafted in the fifth round of the 2025 Draft, is another NCAA prospect with significant upside after back-to-back 20-goal campaigns in the USHL and at Quinnipiac University.
Finally, the very last prospect ranked by Wheeler is 18-year-old Tobias Trejbal. The 6-foot-4 goalie from Czechia came to the Flames as a second-round pick in the 2026 Draft and is committed to the University of Massachusetts this year. During his one season in the USHL, he was 30-9-3 with a .916 SV% and could find his way into the Wranglers' system before the end of the decade.
Do you agree with Wheeler's rankings? Is there someone he missed? Let us know what you think in the comments.
St. Louis Cardinals vs Los Angeles Dodgers Game Discussion Thursday
The St. Louis Cardinals will enter the gauntlet again Thursday night as it’ll be game 3 against the Dodgers in Los Angeles. Quinn Mathews will start for the Cardinals going up against the formidable Tarik Skubal for the Dodgers. First pitch scheduled for 9:10pm central time at Dodger Stadium and the game broadcast will be available via Cardinals.tv.
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Thursday night Orioles game thread: vs. Red Sox, 7:15pm ET
Probable pitchers: RHP Brandon Young (9-3, 3.38 ERA, 103 Ks) vs. LHP Jake Bennett (9-6, 3.27 ERA, 74 Ks)
Where to watch: FOX/FOX ONE
Usually when you win six out of nine games on a road trip, you return home feeling good about the direction of your team. With the Orioles, however, they come into tonight’s game against the Red Sox having to shake off the disappointment from their last two losses in Colorado.
Had the O’s offense not gone completely silent in Coors Field (the most offensive-friendly park in baseball), they could have swept the Rockies and would currently be in the last Wild Card spot. Instead, after losing an 11-inning heartbreaker Wednesday, they come into this series against Boston 1.5 GB of Cleveland for the last AL playoff berth.
Tonight, Birdland will also be fending off the emotions of seeing Adley Rutschman return to Baltimore in a Red Sox uniform. In 15 games with Boston, Rutschman is struggling, slashing .170/.254/.245 with only two extra-base hits and 15 strikeouts. The former Baltimore backstop is hitting .271 with a .826 OPS at Camden Yards this season, though he last played in OPACY back on July 11th.
The O’s turn to Brandon Young as they try to start a new winning streak. The big Texan has been Baltimore’s most reliable starter all season, with the O’s going 18-5 in games started by BY. Young has only faced the Red Sox once previously this year, getting the win back in April after putting up a line of 5.2 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 1 BB and 5 Ks.
Opposing Young is rookie left-hander Jake Bennett. The 25-year-old out of Oklahoma has pitched one other time in Camden Yards, putting up a solid start of 5.2, 9 H, 3 ER, 0 BB and 4 Ks in a 6-3 Boston win. Christian Encarnacion-Strand tagged Bennett for a home run that day, while Pete Alonso went 2-for-5 with a double. The lefty-masher Coby Mayo will also in the two hole for the first time all season, tonight. Mayo will look to build on his MLB-leading 15 home runs vs. LHPs—though Bennett has only allowed 7 long balls in 93.2 IP.
Orioles lineup
- Blaze Alexander (R) 2B
- Coby Mayo (R) DH
- Luis Robert Jr. (R) CF
- Pete Alonso (R) 1B
- Gunnar Henderson (L) SS
- Christian Encarnacion-Strand (R) 3B
- Leody Taveras (S) RF
- Dylan Beavers (L) LF
- Carlos Narváez (R) C
Red Sox lineup
- Roman Anthony (L) DH
- Mickey Gasper (S) 1B
- Adley Rutschman (S) C
- Wilyer Abreu (L) RF
- Nick Sogard (S) 2B
- Caleb Durbin (R) 3B
- Jarren Duran (L) LF
- Eli White (R) CF
- Isiah Kiner-Falefa (R) SS