To follow the claiming of both major footballer of the year awards by scoring a hat-trick in Manchester United’s first home game was some Bruno Fernandes act, and points to an intent to continue his stellar form of last season.
Ipswich Town came to scythe Michael Carrick’s side via the pace of Julio Enciso, Issa Diop and Daizen Maeda, and when Leif Davis gave them a 29th-minute lead victory was on.
Continue reading...When the Philadelphia Flyers drafted defenseman Maksim Sokolovskii 27th overall in the 2026 NHL Draft back in June, the expectation was that the goliath teenager would peak as a high-end bruiser. At the peak of his powers, though, Sokolovskii could be much more than that.
The 18-year-old Russian defenseman showed little offensive upside in his draft year with the OHL London Knights, scoring just two goals, six assists, and eight points in 44 regular season games, and going scoreless in five playoff games as London's coaching staff directed him to focus on the defensive side of the puck.
But, that's also not to say that Sokolovskii lacks the ability entirely, either.
For instance, in the 2024-25 season with the 16U AAA Atlantic Coast Academy, Sokolovskii scored 34 goals, 50 assists, and 84 points in just 65 games, which was second on the Academy in scoring (forward Nikita Shcherbakov had 87 in 64) and paced all 16U AAA defensemen in scoring.
This isn't a great litmus test in terms of competition, but Sokolovskii has shown he can do it.
In a less competitive setting, Sokolovskii set the Flyers' development camp on fire earlier this summer, frequently showcasing his anomalous skating relative to his size, as well as some creativity on the puck and some stickhandling, too.
More recently, in some viral new highlights, the hulking 6-foot-8 Flyers prospect flexes what very well could be his full potential as a hockey player.
Flyers' Sokolovskii looking like the total package
Here is another view of Maksim Solokovskii’s 1st Assist Yesterday against Erie. What a skater he is. @Flyers_Clips
— Jay Money (@insiderJmoney) August 29, 2026
Credit: @LondonKnightspic.twitter.com/VXBJz5FIoZ
In this first clip of Sokolovskii playing against the Erie Otters in OHL preseason, the recent first-round pick uses his impressive skating to knife his way into the offensive zone while, importantly, keeping his head up to scan for options.
Knowing he had teammates behind him streaking in support, Sokolovskii lowered his shoulder, blew by an Erie defender, and cut towards the net, peeling the puck back into open space for Kane Barch to deposit into the net.
And, transition wasn't the only area where Sokolovskii shined against Erie.
Later in the game, the top Flyers prospect also saw some power play minutes, picking up an assist on his long-range shot from the point.
Second Assist of the Night for Maksim Solokovskii (Flyers 2026 1st Round Pick) on the Luca Santala (2027 Draft Eligible) slot tip.
— Jay Money (@insiderJmoney) August 29, 2026
6’8” PP QB lol? https://t.co/XieR4uKUxXpic.twitter.com/ojXuyXKVCK
Here, you'll see Sokolovskii walk the line and try not to defer the puck back to the left wall, from where he received it.
Instead, Sokolovskii goes to his right, getting the Erie defense to shift slightly before getting the puck in return. From there, Sokolovskii takes advantage of the lack of pressure in his face, manipulating the shooting lane and observing a teammate uncontested in the bumper, which is putting a triple screen on the opposing goalie.
One deflection later, Sokolovskii had two assists on the night just like that.
The London Knights rearguard still has plenty of work to do, particularly in terms of his passing, decision-making, and puck-handling/retrievals, but it's also obvious how swimmingly things can go when Sokolovskii is on his game and making the right reads and plays.
After the draft, the Flyers noted Sokolovskii's upward trajectory that continued throughout his draft year, and if that continues, there's no telling where the young prospect could eventually end up.
The Buffalo Sabres have been considered to have one of the deepest prospect pools in the NHL, which is in part due to them selecting high in recent drafts because of their not qualifying for the playoffs. The Sabres have displayed an eye for talent, and the organization’s developmental model has begun to yield results, with 2023 first rounder Zach Benson making an impact in the playoffs, and 2024 top pick Konsta Helenius appearing as one of the AHL’s top prospects the last two seasons.
Leading up to the opening of training camp in mid-September, we will look at the club's top 40 prospects. These players are all 25 years old or younger, whose rights are currently held by the Sabres or are on AHL or NHL deals, and have played less than 82 NHL games.
Other Sabres Stories
Sabres Emotionally Devastated By Game 7 Overtime Loss
10. Jake Richard – Forward (Connecticut – NCAA)
Richard was the Sabres sixth-round pick at the 2022 NHL Draft in Montreal who has opened eyes every year at the club's development camp. A native of Jacksonville, FL, the 6'1", 194 lb. winger played his youth hockey in Florida and a year with the USHL's Muskegon Lumberjacks, where he scored 48 points (18 goals, 30 assists) before being selected 170th overall.
The following season, Richard split time between the Lumberjacks and Tri-City and increased his goal total to 31 and compiled 62 points in 57 games. As a freshman at Connecticut, he finished fourth on the club with 18 points (7 goals, 11 assists). As a sophomore, he finished second in team scoring, averaging over a point per game (15 goals, 28 assists) in 34 games.
Richard’s totals dropped in his junior season with the Huskies (10 goals, 17 assists in 38 games), but that did not dissuade the Sabres from signing him to an entry-level deal in May. With a number of forward prospects expected to be playing in Buffalo instead of Rochester, it is expected that Richard will get an opportunity to play in a scoring role in his first pro season with the Amerks.
Follow Michael on X, and Instagram @MikeInBuffalo
EA Sports' latest entry for the NHL video game franchise is almost here, and with it has come their latest rankings and ratings for every player throughout the entirety of the NHL.
The New York Islanders have a roster full of burgeoning youngsters along with highly-respected veterans.
One of those veterans is right-shot defenseman Ryan Pulock.
Pulock, 31, posted 3 goals and 27 points. His 24 assists were the most he's had in a season since the 2019-20 season.
Call it the Matthew Schaefer effect, as the pairing played a huge portion of the season as a defensive pairing for New York.
But where did that leave Pulock when it came time for him to be ranked amongst his peers for NHL 27?
Pulock's rating for NHL27 is an 88 overall, after his elite season with the Islanders. He's tied with Bo Horvat and Mathew Barzal for the third-highest rating on the team.
Ilya Sorokin (93) is first, and Schaefer (91) is second.
The full game releases on Friday, September 11, with preorders granting 7 days of early access on Friday, September 4.
The Blues look well stocked for years to come after Jagga Smith and Harry Dean were standouts in their AFL wildcard final win over the Demons
Melbourne ran on to the MCG to a pyrotechnics show, lashings of Bon Scott and a cacophony of boos. It was notionally Melbourne’s home game, but it was Carlton’s crowd. The Demons were the higher ranked team and had the songs after goals, but the Blues were the ones riding the wave and had the game’s tune.
For the first hour however, it seemed as though the brand of football Blues coach Josh Fraser has cultivated may not hold up in a knockout game. When Melbourne moved the ball, they moved it with purpose, with precision and with speed. Carlton’s ball movement was more laboured and slipshod. Their entries into the forward 50 were as shallow as the boundary umpires’ throw-ins. Blues captain Patrick Cripps was forced to ruck at times, which was like watching Daniel Day-Lewis bob up in an episode of Hey Dad. Most of their early goals came through sheer will. The Blues bludgeoned their way to parity, but the Demons still looked the superior team.
Continue reading...
No matter what marker you use – whether the calendar flipping to August, the Trade Deadline, or August 15 (as Keith Hernandez recently explained on a broadcast), we’re officially in the stretch run of the regular season. While the 2026 Mets may not have much to compete for, there’s still a thrill in watching established stars and up-and-comers alike slam on the gas pedal to cross the season’s finish line on a high note.
In that spirit, I’ve selected a roster of position players who put together some of the best stretch runs in Mets history, primarily weighing individual performance with a slight edge given towards those who made a meaningful impact on a playoff-bound team. I looked at players’ performances only from Game 113 on (in a normal 162-game season, that’s the final 50 games) and put those stats in italics under each player’s bolded name in their entry. Only time will tell whether Carson Benge (currently batting .343 with a 1.009 OPS since entering the 50-game stretch on August 9) might make his way onto the list by season’s end.
Without further ado, here is my All-Stretch-Run team…
C – MIKE PIAZZA, 1998
.378 avg, 1.169 OPS, 13 HR, 48 RBI
Piazza hit the ground running from the moment he landed in New York via trade on May 22, posting 5.4 bWAR in just 109 games while maintaining a .348 average. As the season wound down, he only seemed to get better, batting .326 in July, .347 in August, and .378 in Sept/Oct. The future Hall of Famer had other tremendous stretch runs, particularly in ’99 and ’01, but his introduction to Mets fans late in ’98 still stands as his best.
1B – PETE ALONSO, 2019
.267 avg, .948 OPS, 19 HR, 41 RBI
Was it an absurdly offense-rich environment? Sure. But Pete Alonso’s stretch of 19 homers in 50 games as he raced to set the franchise home run record and then the all-time rookie home run record is still a marvel. Alonso’s 2021 and 2025 stretch runs were arguably more impressive showings as an all-around hitter in more pitching-friendly seasons, but 2019’s home run total is simply too awesome to beat.
2B – EDGARDO ALFONZO, 2000
.319 avg, 1.033 OPS, 12 HR, 30 RBI
In his lone All-Star season, the 26-year-old Alfonzo entered the break batting .318 with a .955 OPS, both of which would have been career-best marks had he simply maintained them. Instead, he raised them over a stellar second half, finishing with a .324 average and .967 OPS. In the postseason, he reached safely in 13 of 14 games as the Mets made their way to the World Series for the first time in 14 seasons.
3B – DAVID WRIGHT, 2007
.376 avg, 1.109 OPS, 11 HR, 40 RBI
Wright’s 2007 season was about as close as you can get to a video-game player – not only because of his stellar numbers, but because of how comically well-rounded they were. .325 batting average. 30 homers. 34 stolen bases. 107 RBI. Wright became the third Met to win a Gold Glove Award and Silver Slugger Award in the same season (after Keith Hernandez in 1984 and Carlos Beltrán in 2006), and the second Met to start an All-Star Game at third base (after Howard Johnson in 1989). While the Mets may have infamously collapsed down the stretch, Wright kept rolling, capping perhaps the greatest season from a position player in franchise history.
SS – ASDRÚBAL CABRERA, 2016
.345 avg, 1.041 OPS, 10 HR, 29 RBI
As the injury-riddled 2016 Mets willed their way to a Wild Card berth, Cabrera – a free-agent signing the offseason prior – transformed into the slugger at the heart of their lineup. The 30-year-old’s signature moment of the ’16 stretch run (and of his entire Mets tenure) came on September 22, when he crushed a walk-off three-run homer off Phillies reliever Edubray Ramos, capping one of the wackiest games in Citi Field history and fueling further bad blood between the two feud-prone clubs.
LF – YOENIS CÉSPEDES, 2015
.286 avg. .994 OPS, 17 HR, 39 RBI
Céspedes’s 17 homers with the Mets after being acquired minutes before the Trade Deadline on July 31 don’t tell the full story. It wasn’t just about the volume of Céspedes’s production, it was the timing of it. Each blast seemed to be clutcher than the last, whether he was setting the franchise record for team homers in a game, pulling off a hat trick during a slugfest at Coors Field, or effectively putting the Nationals’ playoff aspirations to bed with a homer off a frustrated Drew Storen.
CF – CARLOS BELTRÁN, 2007
.304 avg, .991 OPS, 14 HR, 50 RBI
By most rate stats, Beltrán’s 2008 stretch run was actually superior to his ’07 run, but this one stands out because of the 50 RBI – the most in franchise history for a player over the final 50 games of the regular season. Beltrán was also playing elite defense, en route to his second of three consecutive Gold Glove Awards with the Mets.
RF – JUAN SOTO, 2025
.297 avg, 1.050 OPS, 18 HR, 42 RBI
How do you go from an All-Star snub to an MVP finalist? You hit 18 homers and steal 22 bases over the season’s final 50 games (a 58/71 full-season pace) while also walking a whopping 43 times. The 2025 season didn’t end the way the Mets had hoped, but Soto’s dominant stretch run was a welcome sight after mild stumbles out of the gate during his first campaign in Queens.
BE – GARY CARTER, 1985
.312 avg, .986 OPS, 15 HR, 39 RBI
Carter ended his first Mets season with a crescendo, batting .320 with 13 homers in September and October as the club tried to chase down the first-place Cardinals in the NL East. That stretch included a three-homer game in San Diego on September 3, which at the time marked just the fifth three-homer game in Mets history (and is still the only one by a catcher).
BE – JOHN OLERUD, 1998
.378 avg, 1.041 OPS, 7 HR, 27 RBI
No, this is not a typo, and no, I didn’t accidentally copy Mike Piazza’s batting average from earlier in the article; the 1998 Mets somehow had two players bat exactly .378 over the final 50 games of the 1998 season. Olerud’s surge helped him land at a .354 average by the season’s end, a mark which overtook Cleon Jones’ record of 29 years (.340 in 1969) as the highest single-season batting average in Mets history.
BE – FRANCISCO LINDOR, 2024
.329 avg, .998 OPS, 11 HR, 27 RBI
Putting a team on your back is a hard enough task; doing so while battling lower back soreness makes the feat even more impressive, and even more legendary. Whether breaking up a no-hitter and tying the game with one swing in Toronto or clinching a playoff spot with late-game heroics in Game 161 in Atlanta, Lindor did everything he possibly could to will the scrappy Grimace-powered squad to glory.
BE – J.D. DAVIS, 2019
.329 avg, .987 OPS, 11 HR, 23 RBI
New Mets prospect Sammy Stafura’s all-time favorite Mets third baseman, Davis benefits this bench in his flexibility to really play anywhere on the diamond. He showed promise with the bat throughout his four-year Mets tenure, but never more so than in late 2019, after earning a full-time role rather than just platooning against lefties. Davis delivered one of the team’s many electrifying late-season walk-off wins with a tenth-inning double against Cleveland on August 21.
BE – MOISÉS ALOU, 2007
.373 avg, .987 OPS, 9 HR, 32 RBI
Maybe this article should just be called “The 2007 Mets, and also some other people.” The 41-year-old Alou joins Wright and Beltran representing the ’07 contingent on this roster for his late-season efforts after missing two and a half months with injury. With all these hitters going on tears as the regular-season calendar wound down, one might wonder how the Mets went 25-25 over their last 50 games and 5-12 over their last 18.
Having a father who was a former player and one of the best pitching coaches in baseball history certainly helped, but Shelley Duncan always has wanted to be a manager.
Duncan is in his fourth season with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, and on Friday night in Worcester, Massachusetts, he managed his 1,000th career game in the minor leagues. It was a successful one too, as the RailRiders blanked the Red Sox, 2-0, behind the combined three-hit shutout by Alexander Cornielle and Bradley Hanner.
“Managing 1,000 games personally is really cool,” Duncan said. “When I think about it, it gives me that feel sometimes of when my gut is screaming at me and the conscious part of my brain might have doubt. Just that feeling of you’ve managed 1,000 games, trust it. It gives me an extra layer of confidence in decisions. It kills a lot of thoughts and negative doubts. It’s a really cool feeling to have. I can’t explain it. You just have that feeling that you’ve done something enough, it allows you to trust yourself more. It liberates your mind a lot and frees you up. It’s not a pride-ego thing. It’s a really cool feeling that’s hard to explain. That’s why it’s special.”
Duncan, 46, was drafted by the New York Yankees in the second round in 2001. He worked his way up through the farm system and made his major league debut in the Bronx on July 20, 2007.
He spent seven seasons in the major leagues: three with the Yankees, three with Cleveland and one with Tampa Bay. He played 330 games and batted .226 with 43 home runs and 144 RBI.
But even while he was playing, he thought about managing. Growing up, he was obsessed with leadership and learning about people who are at the top of their field or industry and what makes them special. He wanted to combine that with his passion for baseball.
“From a young age, I’ve always tried to look at the game from the lens of a manager,” Duncan said. “Even in my playing career, I didn’t take for granted playing for the good managers I played for and tried to learn as much as I can from every one of them, knowing that my career after playing could be longer as a coach or manager. I knew this is where ultimately the real future would be.”
So after his playing days ended in June 2014, Duncan began his managerial career in 2015 in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization. He spent two seasons with the High-A Hillsboro Hops, one year with the Low-A Visalia Rawhide and one with the Double-A Jackson Generals. He compiled a record of 231-199 and won league championships with Hillsboro in 2015 and Jackson in 2018.
For two seasons (2019-20) he worked with the Toronto Blue Jays as a major league field coordinator and a scout. Then he was an analytics coordinator with the Chicago White Sox for two seasons (2021-22). In 2023, he returned to the dugout and to the organization where he began his playing career. He has a record of 317-254 with the RailRiders. Last season, he led them to the International League championship series and was named the IL Manager of the Year.
Through Saturday, his overall managerial record is 548-453.
One might think coming back to manage at a place where he had so much success as a player — in 2009, he was the IL MVP with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre — would be special, and it is. But Duncan said the true meaning isn’t in the Yankees name, but rather the people within the organization.
“When I came back here in ’23, even though it had been 13, 14 years it felt like I was back with family,” Duncan said. “A feeling of being with people you can trust and be the best version of yourself; you don’t have to be anybody different. That’s where the meaning comes from. It’s being with the group of people I’m with, not the name on the jersey.”
Of course, Shelley’s father is Dave Duncan, who spent 30 seasons as pitching coach with Hall of Fame manager Tony LaRussa in Chicago, Oakland and St. Louis. That meant Shelley got to be around LaRussa as a kid. But he also has tried to take a little bit of something from every manager for whom he played.
“As a player, you start learning that there isn’t one right way,” Duncan said. “Tony LaRussa was successful doing things his way, Joe Torre was successful doing things his way, Joe Madden was successful doing things his way. All those guys had different styles to deliver success, but ultimately it was all based on the personnel they had. They were the best managers they could be for the group of guys they had. It wasn’t the players molding their system. They did what was best for those players.
“The cool thing about it is whatever group of guys I have, whatever situation, I don’t expect the players to morph into me. I try to create an environment and make decisions that’s best for them. You use lessons and experiences from every single manager and how different they were.”
Whenever he has the chance to tell a player he is being promoted to the major leagues, especially for the first time, Duncan still gets goosebumps. The one he remembers most is his first one in 2018 — pitcher Yoan Lopez.
“He was a castoff in the (Arizona) organization,” Duncan said. “They sent him to me all the way down in A-ball. They were fed up with him. Something we did with him changed his trajectory and he became a new person. He got everything together in Double-A. He was having such a good year, they called him straight up from Double-A. Getting to see a guy that was completely cast off, at the bottom of the barrel, make it is something I won’t forget.”
Asked what other highlights stand out for him in his managerial career, Duncan said it is not the wins, the championships nor the awards. Rather, it is seeing players and coaches he has been with have success both in and out of baseball.
“It sounds cliche, but it’s true,” Duncan said. “The moments that stand out more than anything are seeing the ones I’ve had success with down the road. Not just players or coaches I’ve coached who coach in the big leagues. Seeing players who are done playing baseball and they go into professional life and send me messages, talking about things they’ve gone through and experiences that we’ve had that have helped them be better in their career outside baseball. Those are the ones that are the most meaningful. No games, no individual stuff. None of that. It’s seeing people succeed.”
Some day, Duncan would like to manage in the major leagues. Deep down, he believes he would be good at it. However, it has to be the right time and circumstance.
“GMs find the right managers for the right situation,” Duncan said. “You could have the best manager in the whole entire world and it not be the right personality, the right guy for that situation. The GM has to hire somebody that he wants to be with every single day. There has to be a trust and a bond. Not everybody’s a match, so respect that. I’m not a match for everyone. There might be a managing job out there one day that I wouldn’t want because it’s not the job you’re going into, it’s the people you’re going into. People are the most important thing.”
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George Springer can do no wrong at the plate right now, so I'm rocking with one of the hottest bats in baseball as part of my Mariners vs. Blue Jays prediction.
The Toronto Blue Jays host the Seattle Mariners for their series finale as a +120 underdog at BET99. Can they close the 1.5-game gap in the Wild Card race?
Let’s dive into my MLB picks for Sunday, Aug. 30, and win another same-game parlay.
George Springer owns an .839 OPS in August for the Toronto Blue Jays and has played a huge role in their run to the Wild Card. He's registered eight hits (two homers, two extra-base hits) over his last four games and is on another level right now.
Against Seattle Mariners starter Logan Gilbert, he's5-for-18 with a double, triple, and homer — that'll play for us today.
He's cashed this bet in three straight games, and he's in line to make it four straight this afternoon.
I'd play this to -130.
COVERS INTEL: Struggling with the long ball? The Mariners' ace comes into the matinee coughing up six homers in his last five starts. Toronto needs to capitalize when he elevates his four-seamer today — hitters own a .501 xSLG against his heater.Springer owns strong numbers in this matchup, and so does Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who's 7-for-23 (.322 xBA) with two doubles and three homers against Gilbert, while rocking an astronomical .690 xSLG.
With these two dominating Gilbert and a strong performance from Max Scherzer, we shouldn't have an issue keeping this one close.
Alberta: Sports betting is now live!Regulated Alberta sports betting has officially launched, allowing sportsbooks to operate under provincial oversight.
You can sign up and join BET99 — one of the best Alberta betting apps — now to get in on the Blue Jays action!
Today could very well be the day Vladdy hits his first home run at home. He's hit three off Gilbert in his career already (he owns an average exit velocity of 98 MPH in this matchup), and owns a .721 OPS during day games.
Let's give our guy one more chance to climb out of this hole.
The Under is 7-1 in the Blue Jays' last eight games as a home underdog. Find more MLB betting trends for Mariners vs. Blue Jays.
| Location | Rogers Centre, Toronto, ON |
| Date | Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026 |
| First pitch | 1:37 p.m. ET |
| TV | Mariners.TV, SN |
| Mariners starting pitcher | Logan Gilbert (11-7, 3.36 ERA) |
| Blue Jays starting pitcher | Max Scherzer (1-7, 7.02 ERA) |
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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EA Sports' latest entry for the NHL video game franchise is almost here, and with it has come their latest rankings and ratings for every player throughout the entirety of the NHL.
The New York Islanders have plenty of intriguing players throughout their lineup, but the one superstar everyone wants to know about is Matthew Schaefer.
Schaefer, 18, lit the NHL on fire in his rookie season, posting 23 goals and 59 points, shattering all records for 18-year-old rookie defensemen, as he won the Calder Trophy and became the Islanders' present and future.
As a rookie, Schaefer saw his ranking start low, as all rookies have. Not the case this season. Schaefer is the Islanders highest ranked skater, and second on the team only to Ilya Sorokin.
EA Sports revealed Schaefer's overall for his sophomore season will be a 91, a massive leap forward, while also tying him for the fifth-best left-shot defenseman in the game.
He's the 35th overall player in the game.
The full game releases on Friday, September 11, with preorders granting 7 days of early access on Friday, September 4.
EA Sports' latest entry for the NHL video game franchise is almost here, and with it has come their latest rankings and ratings for every player throughout the entirety of the NHL.
Last season, Ilya Sorokin was the top-rated player for the New York Islanders, and that's a mantle he'll once again uphold.
EA Sports revealed Sorokin is a 93 overall, the second-best goalie, trailing only Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Sorokin, 31, went 29-24-2 in the 2025-26 season, and finished runner-up to Vaslievskiy for the 2026 Vezina Trophy, awarded to the league's best goaltender annually.
The full game releases on Friday, September 11, with preorders granting 7 days of early access on Friday, September 4.
Diamondbacks News
Kelly Twirls Timely Gem, Nootbar Comes Up Huge
Merrill Kelly got the nod for the first game of a day-night double header in San Francisco. The veteran right-hander put his tough August struggles behind him and gave the Snakes seven innings of shutout, two-hit baseball. Lars Nootbar provided the timely offense for the victory, coming in to pinch-hit in the seventh where he launched a splash-down grand slam.
Diamondbacks’ Offense Struggles in Nightcap
The San Francisco Giants and Arizona Diamondbacks both sent rookies to the mound for the second half of their day-night double header. Yunior Marte out-dueled Mitch Bratt as the Diamondbacks were unable to solve the young Giants rookie.
Merrill Kelly’s Brilliant Gem Comes at Perfect Time
Merrill Kelly could hardly have picked a better time to step up and help his team.
Diamondbacks Players Meet with Team Officials in Advance of Marte’s Return
Veteran players from the Diamondbacks have met with team officials to discuss the return of Ketel Marte, which appears to be set for Monday. Indications are that the team is prepared to welcome the embattled second baseman back to the squad.
Other Baseball News
Luis Rengifo Injures Knee, Likely Done for Season
Just as the Arizona Diamondbacks are preparing to welcome back Ketel Marte and possibly Corbin Burnes for the run-in to the playoffs, the San Diego Padres lost the lead, the game, and ne of their better players on a non-contact injury to Luis Rengifo as he tried to run down a Tamps Bay base runner in a wild seventh inning.
PCA Bolsters MVP Case with Three Homer Night
It seems Pete Crow-Armstrong has broken out of his hitting funk.
2027 MLB Lockout: 5 Top Prospects Whose Big League Callups Could Be Affected
The looming threat of a lockout in 2027 has likely thrown a spanner into the works for these five top MLB prospects and their plans to debut this season.
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The Cincinnati Reds and Chicago Cubs close their series tonight on Sunday Night Baseball, with Chicago carrying a 56% win probability at Wrigley Field.
Chicago has the home-field advantage, but the starting pitching matchup gives Cincinnati a legitimate path to an upset.
I’m backing the Reds while also targeting another high-scoring game in my Reds vs. Cubs predictions and MLB picks for Sunday, Aug. 30.
For help understanding probabilities, see our odds calculator.
Am I sprinting to make this bet? No, but I have to take a shot on the Cincinnati Reds at this price against the Chicago Cubs. I'd play it to 45%.
Chase Burns ranks in the 99th percentile in breaking-ball run value, with his slider generating the whiffs that drive his elite strikeout numbers. Chicago has several hitters who have struggled against breaking stuff, giving Burns a clear way to attack this lineup.
Shota Imanaga throws his four-seamer more than 40% of the time and has allowed a .452 xSLG and 43.5% hard-hit rate with the pitch. Cincinnati has been producing strong contact lately, and has multiple hitters capable of attacking that fastball.
That gives the Reds enough of an offensive matchup advantage for a small moneyline lean.
COVERS INTEL:Burns owns an elite breaking-ball profile while Imanaga’s fastball, his most frequently used pitch, has allowed a .452 xSLG.Chicago owns a 135 wRC+ over the last seven days, while Cincinnati sits at 129, and the first two games of this series have already produced 40 combined runs.
Burns is capable of dominating, but Chicago’s disciplined approach creates a path to more traffic and an earlier bullpen entry.
On the other side, Imanaga’s fly-ball profile is a much cleaner weakness to attack. He has already allowed 30 home runs while ranking near the bottom of MLB in both barrel suppression and ground-ball rate.
Add warm temperatures and double-digit winds blowing out at Wrigley Field, and there are multiple paths to another high-scoring game.
I’m playing the Over for 2 units.
What better stage for Sal Stewart to cement his Rookie of the Year odds candidacy than Sunday Night Baseball?
Imanaga's four-seamer has allowed opponents a 43.5% hard-hit rate. Stewart projects for a .348 xwOBA against four-seamers in this matchup and has already homered in both games of this series.
With Imanaga’s fly-ball profile and favorable conditions at Wrigley, Stewart is my preferred Cincinnati home run target.
Temperatures should sit in the low 80s around first pitch with double-digit winds blowing out at Wrigley Field, creating a favorable environment for power and overall run scoring.
Over is 5-0 in Imanaga's last five starts during Game 3 of a series. Find more MLB betting trends for Reds vs. Cubs.
| Location | Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL |
| Date | Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026 |
| First pitch | 7:20 p.m. ET |
| TV | NBC |
| Reds starting pitcher | Chase Burns (14-3, 2.77 ERA) |
| Cubs starting pitcher | Shota Imanaga (8-9, 3.78 ERA) |
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Not intended for use in MA.
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The Detroit Tigers have done a nearly miraculous job climbing out of the hole they dug for themselves back in May. A 33-22 run now has them right in the thick of the hunt for the final wild card spot in the American League, and the division is still just 4.5 games out of reach after back-to-back losses to the AL Central-leading Chicago White Sox on Friday and Saturday.
After trading Tarik Skubal and Casey Mize at the trade deadline and not pursuing any relief help, the front office conceded that this was all quite a long shot, at least too long to pass up the opportunity to restock the organization with team-controlled young talent. Yet the opportunity to get to the postseason and shoot their shot remains intact, and the one player the Tigers acquired at the deadline may prove decisive for their chances, one way or the other.
The Tigers have played .600 ball for the past 11 weeks. That’s not easy to sustain when one considers the injuries they’ve continued to deal with, the lack of a consistently dominant relief arm, and the fact that they dealt away Skubal and Mize along the way. They’ve gotten boosts along the way from rookies like Hao-Yu Lee, Max Clark, Ben Malgeri, and particularly Eduardo Valencia, while the return of Jackson Jobe, who still has development ahead of him at 24 years of age, should continue to stabilize the rotation.
Riley Greene is already rehabbing toward a return from the injured list, while any of Brant Hurter, Kerry Carpenter or Jack Flaherty could provide a boost, at least in terms of depth. But other than Greene, the only player with huge impact potential when and if he returns healthy is right-hander River Ryan. The Tigers might be able to sneak into the postseason without him, but any real chance of a deep run likely relies on their newest arm.
Ryan, who will turn 28 on Monday, has been on the injured list with a right hamstring strain since his last Triple-A start on June 17. His ETA to return has generally been slated for the end of August, but as he’ll probably need a rehab start or two to get tuned up, we should see him back on the mound for the Toledo Mud Hens next week if that’s still the timetable.
Manager A.J. Hinch had a reasonably positive report on that front when he spoke to reporters on Friday. By his account, Ryan is working through a progression of bullpens leading back to a rehab assignment, saying that his velocity looks great and that his recovery has gone even better. Let’s hope so. Still, the subtext in the comments is that there are still live bullpen sessions ahead of him before an actual rehab assignment. That feels like it pushes the timetable just a bit into September.
If Ryan is healthy, he immediately challenges Troy Melton for best stuff on the Tigers pitching staff. Let’s just do a quick comparison between the two.
Ryan averaged 97.7 mph on his fourseam fastball in his limited action this season with 6.6 feet of extension to the plate, with 15.4 inches of induced vertical break.
Melton is averaging 96.3 mph with 6.8 feet of extension to the plate with 15.1 inches of induced vertical break.
Both fourseamers lack the kind of eye-popping riding action that misses bats in the strike zone, but their velocity and extension counterbalance that to a degree. As we’ve seen regularly from Melton, he can get whiffs at the top and above the strike zone, but he has to set hitters up well with his secondary stuff to really get them chasing the heater. The same is true for Ryan. In fact, these are very comparable fourseamers all around. Ryan generally has a tick more gas, but otherwise the two pitches profile very similarly. They even release their fastball at roughly 5.6 feet off the ground, starting it on the same plane to home plate. Melton will mix in a few more sinkers than Ryan does, but they both use the pitch to jam right-handers and help keep hitters off the fourseamer a bit.
The comparisons hold up throughout each pitcher’s breaking stuff as well. Ryan’s 94 mph cutter is a huge weapon for him, just as Melton’s increased cutter velo, up to 92.2 mph average this season, and better command of the pitch have made it a major part of his arsenal in a breakout year for him. Even the vertical and horizontal movement on the two pitches are very similar. Ryan’s is just that little bit harder, giving him an edge, although Melton’s been throwing his harder as the year has unfolded.
Things start to diverge a bit between them in terms of sliders. Ryan averages 91.3 mph with his slider, while Melton averages 86.8 mph. Melton gets a few extra inches of horizontal break, but both pitches feature similar depth. Typically, harder is better with sliders, but because they both have a cutter, again I think this is kind of a wash. Melton’s increased velocity separation between the two pitches arguably gives him a little edge there.
Where Ryan gets an edge back is in terms of curveballs. Melton’s is a solid 78-79 mph knuckle curve with solid depth, whereas Ryan throws his at 83.3 mph with four inches more depth. Ryan’s is much more usable as a bat-missing power curve, while Melton can get whiffs, but it’s more of a change of pace pitch for him.
Finally, their changeups are both 89 mph as well. I’m belaboring the point a bit, but you see the picture here. These two are very comparable pitchers. Ryan just has a bit of extra heat on most of his stuff and a better curveball, while Melton has shown better command and probably deserves a bit of a nod toward his changeup, simply in the fact that he’s more comfortable throwing it regularly.
Other characteristics that distinguish them are that Melton walks fewer hitters and attacks the zone more. Ryan doesn’t give up many homers, certainly less than Melton has in his pro career. Those two things may well be related. Even their deliveries aren’t too dissimilar, with both using a pretty short, explosive arm stroke to their release point.
By now you see the appeal. The Tigers could very well add in a second Troy Melton in a few weeks, possibly even a bit of a turbo-charged version of Melton. This is why River Ryan is such a big piece of the puzzle, both for this season and for assessing how well Scott Harris and Jeff Greenberg did in the Tarik Skubal trade. If River Ryan comes back healthy and puts together a few years of relatively good health, the trade is wildly lopsided in the Tigers’ favor. If the injuries keep cropping up even with Tommy John surgery well behind him? Well, that deal is going to age more poorly, although certainly Zyhir Hope could make it all worthwhile anyway.
More germane to the moment, the River Ryan acquisition could also be the piece that carries them to the postseason. The Tigers dealt away Skubal, and they made no other moves to shore up their bullpen or rotation to give them a fighting chance at reaching the postseason and perhaps going on a run. Getting Hurter and Flaherty back could potentially help them down the stretch drive, but it’s Ryan who can put this pitching staff over the top at a point in the season when plenty of teams’ pitching staffs are starting to run out of gas.
The Tigers are going to have a lot of crucial decisions in the coming weeks. Adding Riley Greene, Flaherty, and Hurter back into the mix are obvious. Less obvious are decisions like whether Matt Vierling or Kerry Carpenter can help them or not, and who to demote or release in their stead. Their biggest decision in August has already been made, however. The Tigers bet big on the risk/reward upside of River Ryan at the deadline, and his presence and performance, or the lack thereof, may well be the deciding factor in whether the Tigers can complete an unlikely run to the postseason or not.
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The Minnesota Twins will look to avoid a crushing AL Central sweep this afternoon against the Chicago White Sox.
Minnesota's offense profiles very well in August, making them a team I want to buy with my White Sox vs. Twins predictions and MLB picks for Sunday, Aug. 30.
For help understanding probabilities, see our odds calculator.
The Minnesota Twins will face a steady stream of relievers in a bullpen game for the Chicago White Sox.
This unit sits 18th in xERA this month and has been tasked with pitching more innings than any other ‘pen.
A couple of their lefties are unlikely to be available, meaning the Twins will see plenty of righties. That’s good news, as they’re sporting a .330 xwOBA vs. RHP in August, sixth-best.
Zebby Matthews has pitched much better at home (3.51 ERA), and the Twins will be in good shape if that continues.
Back Minnesota to 57%.
COVERS INTEL:The Twins rank second in Ideal Attack Angle during the month of August.The Over is very appealing in this game.
Relief pitching tends to be volatile, and it’s hard to imagine arm after arm coming in and pitching cleanly for the White Sox against a Twins offense that – forget handedness – sits fifth in xwOBA this month.
Matthews owns a 5.04 ERA and has allowed nearly two home runs per nine innings. It’s difficult for him to get out of games unscathed.
This total just isn’t high enough for a battle between teams with O/U records of 77-58 and 76-58.
Play to 56%.
Kody Clemens has been the top source of power for the Twins in August. He’s paced the team with a 10.9% barrel rate, a 48.4% hard hit rate, and an impressive .517 xSLG.
He is consistently making quality contact, and will be a tough out for an overworked bullpen that has allowed the fifth-most barrels in the majors this season.
Warm temperatures in the mid 80s are expected, albeit with wind blowing in. Relatively neutral impact on scoring.
Chicago has only hit the Under in 22 of its last 50 games (-8.8 units, -16% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for White Sox vs. Twins.
| Location | Target Field, Minneapolis, MN |
| Date | Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026 |
| First pitch | 2:10 p.m. ET |
| TV | CHSN, Twins.TV |
| White Sox starting pitcher | Jordan Hicks (2-1, 3.83 ERA) |
| Twins starting pitcher | Zebby Matthews (8-8, 4.86 ERA) |
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.
Another high-scoring win for Chelsea as Wilson Isidor sank Fulham and Dominic Calvert-Lewin denied Brentford
Mark Slater gets in touch: “I will be following the Chelsea vs Brighton match particulary, but am happy to see a Joy Division quote in the opening paragraphs. In Chelsea’s case, Brighton and Hove Albion, Manchester City, and Aston Villa most recently...”
Tom: “A+++ for getting Joy Division into the Sunday MBM.”
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