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Yankees to activate Carlos Rodón Tuesday night against Orioles

DETROIT, MI - JUNE 22: New York Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodón (55) pitches in the first inning during the game between the Detroit Tigers versus the New York Yankees on Monday June 22, 2026 at Comerica Park in Detroit, MI. (Photo by Steven King/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The Yankees announced today that Carlos Rodón will make his return from the injured list tomorrow night. Out since June 28th with left elbow inflammation, the left-hander will start in the first game of this week’s three-game set with the Orioles.

Rodón made two rehab starts in the lead-up to his return, looking particularly sharp in his most recent outing, striking out seven and allowing two hits in 4.1 shutout innings for Somerset on August 13th. He was limited to 58 pitches in that start, so expect him to be on a fairly restrictive pitch count tomorrow night.

The Yankees desperately need offensive reinforcements, but they’ll take anything they can get right now. Rodón’s return should further deepen what’s been the best pitching staff in the league, though how the roster shakes out remains to be seen. The most obvious candidate to be bumped out of the rotation is Will Warren, who has been outpitched over the course of the summer by his mid-rotation mate Ryan Weathers. Warren would’ve been on full rest for tomorrow night, so perhaps he could be involved in a piggyback sort of setup as the Yankees try to slowly increase Rodón’s pitch count.

Rodón had a 3.30 ERA in nine starts and 46 innings before hitting the shelf in June. His season had already been abbreviated by offseason elbow surgery, his season debut not coming until May 10th in Milwaukee. Though injuries have ensured this hasn’t been the kind of campaign Rodón envisioned, he’s been effective when healthy and would give the Yankees a downright super rotation if he can pitch as he did earlier year.

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Mets Notes: David Stearns on Kodai Senga's success as reliever, Jorge Polanco's outlook at first base

Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns discussed several topics ahead of Monday's game against the Padres...

Senga's new role as a high-leverage reliever

Stearns spoke on Kodai Senga, who has served as the team's closer in the place of the injured Devin Williams. This August, Senga has not allowed a single run across five outings, each lasting one full inning, and has picked up the first three saves of his career in the process.

"Kodai has done a great job," said Stearns. "He's adjusted very well, and it's not just in the performance, it's also in how he's getting ready for those performances. It's not the easiest transition to make."

However, it appears that Stearns isn't yet convinced to hand Senga the closer role moving forward, both when Williams returns from injury and looking ahead to next season.

"I'm excited for [Senga] that he's doing this right now. From a future perspective, we'll [look at that] later," Stearns stated.

No expectation for Polanco to play first base

Looking ahead to 2027, Stearns was asked whether he wants to see Jorge Polanco play first base between now and the end of the season, with an eye on finding a solution at that problem position for the Mets defense.

"I don't think we need to see that," he replied. "The most important thing is getting [Polanco] on a path to be physically in a much better place in 2027 than he has been this season."

Polanco has played in just 36 of the Mets' 125 games this season, and was sidelined from April 18 to July 7 with left Achilles bursitis, as well as a wrist injury.

Pushing the limits of the young starting pitchers

Stearns has been encouraged by the strong performances of New York's trio of rookie starters: Nolan McLean, Christian Scott, and Zac Thornton. 

He explained that he wants to see each of them continue to challenge themselves to push deep into ballgames ahead of the season's end.

"We don't, frankly, have innings limits or innings guides," said Stearns. "It's more about continuing to evaluate how each individual pitcher is feeling, how they're recovering, and at this point we're in a good spot with all of them.

"They're solidifying themselves as pitchers at the major-league level, and that's important for us going forward."

Stearns' approach to prospect integration and development

Finally, following a whirlwind trade deadline which saw the Mets bolster their prospect ranks with the acquisition of infielders Jefferson Rojas and Sammy Stafura (among others), Stearns outlined his vision for what a successful Mets farm system looks like. 

"So much of it is making them feel welcome, putting them in the best position to succeed, and allowing their talents to speak for themselves. It's important to get to know the player and the person, trying to be patient, allowing our coaches and player development staff to get quality time with them."

Stearns is proud of the performances of Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing, who are setting the standard for what successful prospect promotion to the big leagues looks like.

"I think we have gotten development at the major-league level in terms of seeing progress from young players, and it's very encouraging for us to see them perform," Stearns concluded.

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Canadiens Young Forward Ready To Break Out

The Montreal Canadiens have many promising young players. Among them is forward Zachary Bolduc, as the 23-year-old has had a nice start to his NHL career.

Bolduc has shown promise early on during his NHL career. During the 2024-25 season with the St. Louis Blues, he recorded 19 goals, 17 assists, and 36 points in 72 games. He followed that up by posting 12 goals and 30 points in 78 games during his first season with Montreal in 2025-26. 

Overall, in his first two full NHL seasons, Bolduc has shown that he can provide solid secondary offensive production and grit. Yet, it would not be surprising if he takes another step forward this campaign.

Bolduc has the tools to emerge as a top-six winger, and the Canadiens have a spot to fight for on their second line. With that, it would be huge if the 2021 first-round pick sees an increase in offensive production this campaign.

It is going to be very interesting to see what kind of season Bolduc can have for the Habs in 2026-27. There is a lot to like about his game, and it would be great for Montreal if he breaks out and becomes a true top-six forward. 

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Oneil Cruz set to return to Pirates after serious hand injury

Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz (15) reacts as he round the bases after hitting a home run during the third inning against the Chicago Cubs Saturday evening at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, PA. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co

After missing the past two months and stints on both the 10 and 60-day IL, Oneil Cruz is back.

The Pirates activated Cruz to the 26-man roster on Monday following a fractured left hand injury.

Cruz hasn’t played since he suffered the injury on June 7 in Atlanta and missed 58 games during the heart of summer. 

He appeared in six minor league games between Double-A Altoona and Triple-A Indianapolis over the last two weeks before returning to Pittsburgh for final evaluation.

The Pirates also activated reliever Yohan Ramirez off the paternity list and optioned left-handed starter/reliever Hunter Barco and outfielder Ronny Simon to Triple-A. 

Cruz is not in the lineup as the Pirates begin the first of three games against the Detroit Tigers to begin the back half of a six-game home stand. 

Left-handed Framber Valdez will start for Detroit, but Cruz is batting .312 with a .361 on-base percentage and .506 slugging in 77 at-bats against lefties this season.

In 64 games, Cruz is slashing .264/.350/.472 with an .822 OPS. He was on pace for his first 30/30 season with 14 home runs and 21 steals before the halfway point.

Inconsistency and struggles against lefties plagued Cruz in 2025, while the injury ripped apart what has been his best season in the majors.

His 44 RBIs still rank fourth on the team, and the offense has significantly missed his power and speed either leading off or in the middle of the lineup. 

It may be a little too late for the Pirates, who are 61-65 and sit 6.5 games out of the final wild card.

The Pirates are looking up at the Cardinals, Marlins, and Diamondbacks as the Phillies and Padres (67-58) are tied for the last two NL playoff seeds.

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Rockies DFA Michael Lorenzen, recall TJ Shook

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - AUGUST 15: Michael Lorenzen #24 of the Colorado Rockies looks on prior to the game between the Colorado Rockies and the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on Saturday, August 15, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Bryan Kennedy/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Today, the Colorado Rockies announced that the have designated for assignment RHP Michael Lorenzen and recalled RHP TJ Shook.

Lorenzen, 34, joined the Rockies as a free-agent signing for the 2026 season on a one-year, $8 million deal. The contract includes a $9 million club option for the 2027 season.

However, he has struggled since joining the team. He currently has a 7.08 ERA in 115.2 IP. Despite his diverse pitch arsenal, Lorenzen has been unable to adjust since joining the Rockies. He also had a 4.59 FIP and a 1.88 WHIP.

Earlier today, Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer confirmed that Tanner Gordon will take Lorenzen’s place in the rotation, according to Christian Saez.

In a second roster move, the Rockies have recalled TJ Shook from Triple-A Albuquerque. This season, Shook has a 3.02 ERA in 42.7 IP. This includes an 8.50 K/9. Current, players facing Shook have an OPS of .737.

He was first promoted in June 2026 after being selected by the Rockies in the Minor League Phase of the 2025 Rule 5 Draft from the New York Mets.

The Rockies have 37 players on the 40-man roster.

Purple Row will continue to follow this developing story.

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MLB wild card standings today: Who would complete playoff field?

The MLB playoff picture is starting to tighten, and the wild card races remain the easiest place for the standings to change in a hurry.

With division leaders trying to create separation and bubble teams fighting to stay above the cut line, the American League and National League wild-card standings carry major postseason implications every day. A single series can swing a team from holding a playoff spot to looking up at the field, especially with several contenders clustered closely together in the race for October.

With weeks still left on the schedule, there is plenty of room for movement among teams currently in playoff position, teams just outside the field and clubs trying to turn a late-season push into a playoff berth.

Here's the latest MLB wild card standings and playoff picture, including teams on each side of the postseason cut line, heading into prime-time action on Monday, Aug. 17.

MORE: Five series that could impact MLB playoff race, including a Chicago showdown

MLB playoff picture: Who would make playoffs if season ended today?

American League playoff field

National League playoff field

Current matchups in American League

  • Orioles at Astros; Red Sox at Yankees
  • Rays and White Sox would have byes to AL division series

Current matchups in National League

  • Padres at Dodgers; Phillies at Cubs
  • Brewers and Braves would have byes to NL division series

American League wild card standings

Top three wild card teams make the postseason:

  • New York Yankees — 69-55 (+8 games)
  • Boston Red Sox — 66-58 (+5 games)
  • Baltimore Orioles — 61-63 (—)
  • Texas Rangers — 61-64 (½ game back)
  • Toronto Blue Jays — 61-65 (1 game back)
  • Detroit Tigers — 60-64 (1 game back)
  • Minnesota Twins — 60-65 (1½ games back)
  • Cleveland Guardians — 60-65 (1½ games back)
  • Seattle Mariners — 59-66 (2½ games back)

National League wild card standings

Top three wild card teams make the postseason:

MLB wild card tiebreaker rules

Ties between two teams, per MLB.com:

  1. Head-to-head record
  2. Intradivision record
  3. Intraleague record
  4. Last half of intraleague games: These are the records from intraleague games after the All-Star break.
  5. Last half of intraleague games plus one: Previous intraleague game on the schedule before All-Star break is used and process is repeated until tie is resolved.

When do MLB playoffs start?

  • Wild-card series: Tuesday, Sept. 29 through Thursday, Oct. 1
  • Division series: Saturday, Oct. 3 through Saturday, Oct. 10
  • Championship series: Sunday, Oct. 11 through Tuesday, Oct. 20
  • World Series: Friday, Oct. 23 through Saturday, Oct. 31

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB wild card standings today: Who would complete playoff field?

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Expert Names 2 Flyers Prospects Under Pressure Heading Into Next Season

With how controversial their drafting has been, and with how little they have added externally this offseason, the Philadelphia Flyers are relying almost solely on internal development to take the next step in their rebuild.

That, in turn, places a lot of pressure on the young players the Flyers already have. Matvei Michkov, for example, is heading into a contract year, and expectations for Tyson Foerster will be greater after signing an eight-year contract extension earlier this offseason that will carry a $7.1 million cap hit once it kicks in.

Elsewhere in the system, though, the Flyers will hope for (and need) development from their less-established prospects.

Recent trade acquisition David Jiricek is now playing for this third organization since being drafted by Columbus in 2022, and while he is the favorite to secure an NHL job with the Flyers this season, that could change with even a minor slip-up in preseason or training camp.

Kareem Elshafey of EliteProspects put together his list of 10 former first-round picks who are under the most pressure to perform next season, and Jiricek made the cut as the only defenseman of the group.

"There’s a reason why he was drafted so high – he’s a right-handed defender with size, offensive ability, and can defend in tight spaces well. However, the shortfalls in his game have been such a hindrance that it has caused those features to become irrelevant for the most part. His much-discussed skating deficiencies aren’t exaggerated and are the source of lots of issues Jiricek has," Elshafey said of Jiricek.

Flyers Have Interesting Trade Target to Consider in Former Sharks 1st-Round PickFlyers Have Interesting Trade Target to Consider in Former Sharks 1st-Round PickThe Philadelphia Flyers must consider trying to tempt the San Jose Sharks into parting ways with prospect Filip Bystedt.

"In space, he’s vulnerable to getting beat by opposing skaters because of the concerns regarding his acceleration, lateral quickness, and transitions in and out of pivots. It shrinks the margin of error dramatically, as one wrong step or decision isn’t something he can easily recover from. Similarly, his defensive sense and decision-making have only compounded the problems in his own zone." 

Now, Elshafey did note that Jiricek, despite being only 22 years old, can't keep bouncing around teams hoping for an opportunity based on his talent forever, but the Flyers have done well with this kind of thing before.

Ryan Poehling was a directionless former first-round pick before becoming a legitimately good bottom-six center in Philadelphia, and the Flyers were able to flip him and a draft pick for Trevor Zegras, who scored a career-high 67 points last season after becoming an outcast in Anaheim.

Jamie Drysdale was hurtling towards bust territory even after the Flyers traded for him, but steady, large gains year over year have made him one of the better two-way defenders in the NHL.

Sean Walker was a throw-in in the Ivan Provorov trade, but the Flyers turned him into a machine before eventually flipping him for a first-round pick at the 2024 NHL trade deadline.

Dan Vladar was an unproven, injury=prone backup before last year, and now he is considered a top-10 goalie in the NHL by national media. Travis Sanheim would be a St. Louis Blue if it weren't for Torey Krug. The list goes on.

Will Flyers Afford Jiricek Same Time, Patience As Drysdale?Will Flyers Afford Jiricek Same Time, Patience As Drysdale?The Philadelphia Flyers have only one path to getting the most out of David Jiricek: doing the same thing they did with Jamie Drysdale.

Another Flyer on Elshafey's list is center prospect Jett Luchanko, who finds his way here under very different circumstances.

The 2024 first-round pick was widely considered a reach when he was drafted 13th overall two years ago due to his perceived lack of offensive ability and the availability of other options, namely Konsta Helenius and Zeev Buium, on the draft board.

Luchanko is likely to be a full-time NHLer at some point, but the arrow is pointing more towards bottom-six forward than top-six forward, and the young speedster is running out of time to show that this trend will shift.

"There are flashes of playmaking, and to a much lesser extent goal-scoring, but those plays are largely built on his skating, meaning there’s not a whole bunch of variety in how he creates plays or space. Though Luchanko made the Flyers roster out of camp just a few months after being selected, it was clear that he wasn’t quite ready for that. The same thing happened the following season, and since then, he’s been just fine in the OHL and in a depth role at the World Juniors," Elshafey said of Luchanko.

"It would be a surprise if Luchanko didn’t become an everyday NHLer in some role due to his skating and never-ending motor, but whether he can produce enough offence to become a top-six forward is an entirely different question. Realizing that upside hinges on how much he can expand his offensive arsenal, and he’ll have to take steps in that direction this season."

The Flyers do not expect to have Luchanko back in the NHL again unless, or until, he proves that he is one of their 12 best forwards. Meaning, he isn't going to stick on the roster as an extra who will rotate in on occasion.

The 19-year-old is turning pro this season and is more than likely going to spend the year with the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

Exclusive Q&A: Flyers GM Danny Briere on Matthew Schaefer's Calder, Top Prospects, and Free AgencyExclusive Q&A: Flyers GM Danny Briere on Matthew Schaefer's Calder, Top Prospects, and Free AgencyIn an interview with The Hockey News, Philadelphia Flyers general manager Danny Briere discusses his top prospects, former players, free agency, and more.

In 2025, Luchanko managed three assists in nine regular season games with the Phantoms, then added six assists in seven Calder Cup playoff games.

But, between those 16 AHL games, eight NHL regular season games, and an NHL playoff game, Luchanko has yet to score a goal, and that is the de facto biggest weakness in his game right now.

If he couldn't do it against players his age or younger at the junior level, it's unlikely Luchanko will flip a switch and do it against bigger, stronger, better, and more experienced players in the NHL, but time will have the final say.

Both Jiricek and Luchanko have clear paths to making a massive impact for the Flyers in the long run, but what happens next will ultimately be decided by them.

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MLB Power Rankings: Brewers make statement against Dodgers, Joshua Báez is here

Featured in this week’s MLB Power Rankings, we highlight the Brewers’ series win over the Dodgers, Joshua Báez’s historic debut, the suddenly slumping Red Sox, the ridiculous AL playoff picture, what’s up with Paul Skenes, and much more.

As a reminder, this article is a combination of current performance and long-term outlook.

Let’s get into it!

⇒ Check out this week’s waiver wire recommendations in fantasy baseball

Note: Rankings are from the morning of Monday, August 17

1) Milwaukee Brewers

Last week: 1

The Brewers were our top team last week, but they only reinforced that position by taking three out of four from the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. The highlights included a comeback win against Edwín Diaz on Thursday and Jacob Misiorowski striking out both Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman to escape a bases-loaded jam on Saturday.

2) Tampa Bay Rays

Last week: 2

After going 9-0 for their best roadtrip in franchise history, the Rays made their triumphant return home only to drop the first three games of their series against the Orioles. Of course that happened. Still, the Rays remain in strong position in the AL East as they welcome Shane McClanahan back from the injured list on Monday.

3) Atlanta Braves ⬆️

Last week: 4

Braves fans wanted more than Tyler Mahle to strengthen their rotation at the deadline, but he’s been an impact addition so far with just one run allowed and an 18/2 K/BB ratio in 12 innings across his first two starts. The Braves actually own the best rotation ERA (2.92) in the NL since the All-Star break. Only the Yankees (2.69 ERA) have been better in MLB.

4) Los Angeles Dodgers ⬇️

Last week: 3

Kyle Tucker went 0-for-19 during the Dodgers’ homestand against the Brewers and Royals, which now gives him a shocking .558 OPS at home this season compared to an .840 OPS on the road. With the boos raining down, Dave Roberts had Tucker on the bench on Saturday. Back in the lineup on Sunday, Tucker whiffed on this fly ball he really should have caught in the ninth inning. All will be forgiven if Tucker ends up being a postseason hero, but he appears to be in his own head right now.

5) Chicago Cubs

Last week: 5

The Cubs dropped two out of three to the Cardinals over the weekend. In addition to Edward Cabrera getting knocked around in his return from the IL on Sunday, they lost Dansby Swanson due to an oblique strain.

6) New York Yankees

Last week: 6

After being held to two runs over their previous three games, the Yankees managed to pull out Sunday’s finale against the Blue Jays. Still, the state of the offense remains problematic. The Yankees are last in the majors in batting average (.202) and runs scored (77) since the All-Star break. There’s at least some reason for optimism, though, as Cody Bellinger is closing in on a rehab assignment and Aaron Judge is starting to do some light baseball activities.

7) Philadelphia Phillies ⬆️

Last week: 9

If you build it, Kyle Schwarber will mash a home run. In something that wasn’t scripted but simply the fate of the universe, Schwarber homered to lead off the Field of Dreams Game last Thursday.

8) San Diego Padres ⬆️

Last week: 11

With their superstars performing like superstars, the Padres lead the majors in batting average (.276) and OPS (.803) since the All-Star break. They are 19-10 during that time

9) Boston Red Sox ⬇️

Last week: 7

Baseball gonna baseball. Coming off an insane 27-3 stretch, the Red Sox have dropped seven out of their last nine games. A letdown was inevitable, but it’s fair to question if this offense has what it takes.

10) Chicago White Sox

Last week: 10

Yes, yes, the White Sox swept the Tigers this weekend, but let’s not kid ourselves, the real story from the past week is the "Pope Hats." The original plan was for only 2,500 hats to be available for the fan giveaway in honor of noted White Sox fan Pope Leo, but they ended up handing out 40,000 of them.

We often see viral moments of fans fighting, which is why this “Peace Be With You” greeting among fans was so dang refreshing.

Let's try this with Eagles and Cowboys fans soon. What could go wrong?

11) Arizona Diamondbacks ⬇️

Last week: 8

Brandon Pfaadt has been nothing short of incredible since being recalled from Triple-A in late June, posting a ridiculous 1.15 ERA and 30/7 K/BB ratio across in his nine starts. The Diamondbacks are 8-1 in those starts, the latest being seven scoreless frames against the Braves as he outdueled Chris Sale.

12) Houston Astros

Last week: 12

The Astros lost two out of three to the Mariners this weekend, but Friday’s walk-off victory was as dramatic as it gets.

13) Baltimore Orioles ⬆️

Last week: 20

After taking the first three games of their series against the Rays, the Orioles somehow begin the week in playoff position. The American League is ridiculous, and maybe not in a good way.

My favorite quote of the week belongs to Pete Alonso, who got his first-ever start out of the leadoff spot on Friday.

May we all strive to be “Schwarber adjacent.”

14) Miami Marlins

Last week: 14

Much like the Orioles, the Marlins are hanging around in the playoff race despite being more in the category of a “seller” at the deadline. Eury Pérez is a major reason they’ve hung around, with back-to-back scoreless outings under his belt. The 23-year-old owns a sterling 1.80 ERA over 10 starts since returning from the IL.

15) St. Louis Cardinals ⬆️

Last week: 16

Will Joshua Báez’s MLB debut ever be topped? What would it take? A perfect game for a pitcher? Either way, the bar has officially been set.

With Báez complementing an emerging Jordan Walker and NL Rookie of the Year frontrunner JJ Wetherholt, the future looks bright in St. Louis.

16) Texas Rangers ⬇️

Last week: 13

The Rangers just blew a massive opportunity by losing five out of seven while making stops in Anaheim and Sacramento. Despite that, they are a half-game behind the Orioles for the final Wild Card spot. Redemption is possible this week with the Nationals and Angels on the schedule. Most importantly for the Rangers, they have to hope that Jacob deGrom is healthy after he left Thursday’s start early due to triceps fatigue.

17) Toronto Blue Jays ⬆️

Last week: 24

While the Blue Jays dropped Sunday’s finale to the Yankees, they’ve somehow played themselves back into the fray in the AL Wild Card race. Their schedule the rest of the way is quite favorable, so they can’t be ruled out.

18) Pittsburgh Pirates ⬆️

Last week: 21

My “Paul Skenes is fine” t-shirt has a lot of being asking if Paul Skenes is fine. After Skenes topped out at just 96.5 mph with his heater last Tuesday against the Marlins, the Pirates have pushed his next start back to Wednesday.

The situation with Skenes has taken up a lot of oxygen over the past week, but how about some appreciation for what Braxton Ashcraft pulled off against the Marlins last Thursday? A complete game three-hitter with 10 strikeouts on just 85 pitches. What the heck? Since pitch tracking first began in 1988, Ashcraft is the first pitcher to throw nine innings with 10 strikeouts on 85 or fewer pitches.

19) Detroit Tigers ⬇️

Last week: 15

It’s foolish to say the Tigers are done — points feverishly at everything going on in the AL — but it’s not looking good after getting swept by the White Sox and losing Riley Greene in the process.

20) Minnesota Twins ⬇️

Last week: 18

Similar to the Tigers, the Twins are also coming off a weekend sweep and find themselves at 4-10 this month.

21) Cleveland Guardians ⬇️

Last week: 19

The Guardians continue to go in the wrong direction, as they’ve now lost 17 out of their last 23 games. On the bright side, on Saturday we saw Cleveland became the third AL team (and 11th MLB franchise) to reach 10,000 wins in franchise history.

22) Seattle Mariners ⬆️

Last week: 23

Cal Raleigh has had a devil of a time this season — and that's putting it lightly — but his solo homer proved to the the difference in the Mariners’ win over the Astros on Sunday Night Baseball.

Nothing like the Crawford Boxes to function as a confidence-booster. What’s done is done, but Raleigh has a chance to change the conversation during the stretch run.

23) Cincinnati Reds ⬇️

Last week: 22

Hunter Greene ended up needing Tommy John surgery last week, so he can be ruled out for the entire 2027 campaign. Chase Burns has emerged as a legitimate ace this season, but it’s a demoralizing loss for this franchise.

24) Washington Nationals ⬇️

Last week: 17

The biggest news for the Nationals in recent days is C.J. Abrams’ pending move to second base. It was inevitable, as Abrams has graded out among the worst defensive shortstops in the majors. Skilled defender Nasim Nuñez will take over shortstop duties for now, but the Nationals surely hope he’s merely keeping the position warm for top prospect Eli Willits. As for Abrams, it will be interesting to see what this means for him moving forward. He’s still a tremendous hitter, and has two years of team control remaining. He’s no stranger to trade rumors, so now teams will at least get a chance to see how he fares at second base down the stretch.

25) New York Mets

Last week: 25

If the Mets were in the American League, they’d have the third spot in Wild Card race. That’s a lie, but you probably thought about checking, didn’t you?

The Mets have won 9 out of 12 and are overflowing in good vibes at the moment. Even Kodai Senga is suddenly thriving.

26) San Francisco Giants

Last week: 26

If you love a good baseball nickname, get excited. The Giants are calling up the man they call “Tugboat” as they look toward who could help the 2027 club. Acquired from the Guardians in the Patrick Bailey trade earlier this year, Matt Wilkinson is a bit of a throwback as a soft-tossing left-hander. Who knows if it will work in the majors, but the Giants want to figure out whether he’s worth protecting in the Rule 5 Draft this offseason.

Here’s hoping Wilkinson is successful, mostly because it would be pretty sweet to see some Tugboats accumulating in McCovey Cove.

27) Kansas City Royals

Last week: 27

Craig Kimbrel has seen some things in his illustrious career, so the look of sheer awe on his face from this diving Tyler Tolbert catch is something to behold.

28) Colorado Rockies ⬆️

Last week: 29

I asked in last week’s Power Rankings when Zac Veen would get his chance in the majors. Well, here he is. Veen has already slugged a couple of homers in four games, but he also showed off his speed on Sunday.

29) Athletics ⬇️

Last week: 28

Would you believe that another key member of the Athletics' lineup is injured? Tyler Soderstrom landed back on the IL on Sunday as he deals with lingering discomfort in his hip. With the A’s out of it, one wonders if he could be shut down for the remainder of the year.

30) Angels

Last week: 30

Ben Joyce casually throwing 104.5 mph while closing out games for the Angels, no big whoop.

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Today in sports, September 2

Sept. 2

Today in sports history

Today is Sept. 2. On this date in:

1880: Two teams composed mostly of Boston department-store employees played the first known baseball game under electric lights at Nantasket Beach in Hull, Massachusetts. The nine-inning exhibition used three wooden light towers.

1927: Babe Ruth hit his 400th career home run as the New York Yankees defeated the Philadelphia Athletics 12-2 at Shibe Park, becoming the first major league player to reach the milestone.

1940: Byron Nelson captured the PGA Championship, defeating Sam Snead for his first PGA Championship and third major title.

1946: Ben Hogan won the Golden State Open, part of a six-tournament winning streak during his 13-win 1946 PGA Tour season.

1957: Milwaukee Braves first baseman Frank Torre scored six runs in a 23-10 rout of the Chicago Cubs, tying a Major League Baseball record.

1960: Wilma Rudolph won the Olympic women’s 100-meter final at the Rome Games, capturing the first of her three gold medals at the Olympics.

1960: New Zealand runner Peter Snell claimed the first of his three Olympic gold medals by winning the 800 meters at the Rome Olympics.

1960: Soviet sisters Tamara Press and Irina Press became the first sisters to win Olympic gold medals at the same games when Tamara captured the shot put a day after Irina won the 80-meter hurdles.

1965: Chicago Cubs star Ernie Banks hit his 400th career home run in a 5-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals, becoming the 11th major league player to reach the milestone.

1966: Roberto Clemente recorded his 2,000th career hit with a three-run home run off Ferguson Jenkins as the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Chicago Cubs 7-3.

1972: Chicago Cubs pitcher Milt Pappas retired the first 26 San Diego batters before issuing a two-out walk in the ninth inning, then completed an 8-0 no-hitter against the Padres.

1986: The Houston Astros and Chicago Cubs combined to use 53 players in a marathon game suspended after 14 innings and completed the next day in the 18th inning, setting a major league record for players used in a single game.

1990: Toronto Blue Jays ace Dave Stieb threw the first no-hitter in club history, finally reaching the milestone after several previous bids had been broken up late.

1996: Boston’s Mike Greenwell drove in all nine Red Sox runs in a 9-8 win over Seattle, becoming the only player in MLB history to account for all of his team’s runs in a nine-run game.

1996: David Cone returned from surgery to repair an aneurysm in his pitching shoulder and threw seven hitless innings for the New York Yankees in a 5-0 victory over the Oakland Athletics.

2011: Dwight Phillips won his fourth world long jump championship, Vivian Cheruiyot completed the women’s 5,000- and 10,000-meter double and Veronica Campbell Brown captured the women’s 200 meters at the World Athletics Championships in Daegu, South Korea.

2013: At age 64, Diana Nyad completed a 52-hour, 54-minute swim from Cuba to Key West, Florida, a crossing widely reported as the first from Cuba to Florida without a shark cage, though the swim was later denied ratification by the World Open Water Swimming Association.

2019: The Texas Rangers shut out the New York Yankees 7-0, ending New York’s streak of 220 consecutive games with at least one run scored, the second-longest such streak in major league history.

2023: Shedeur Sanders passed for a Colorado-record 510 yards and four touchdowns in his Buffaloes debut, leading a 45-42 upset of No. 17 TCU in Deion Sanders’ first game as Colorado’s coach.

2023: Son Heung-min, Erling Haaland and Evan Ferguson each scored three goals, tying the Premier League record for the most hat tricks recorded on a single day.

2025: Shohei Ohtani hit his 100th home run with the Los Angeles Dodgers, a 120-mph drive that became the hardest-hit Dodgers homer of the Statcast era. He became the fourth player to hit at least 100 homers in his first two seasons with a franchise.

— USA TODAY Network

This story was created with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of information gathering, review, editing and publishing. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY Sports: Today in sports, September 2

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Yankees' Carlos Rodon to return from IL, start on Tuesday against Orioles

Carlos Rodon’s long-awaited return now has an official date, as the Yankees announced that the lefty will start on Tuesday night in Baltimore. 

Rodon last pitched in the majors on June 28 and was soon after placed on the IL with left elbow inflammation. 

The veteran made two rehab appearances, and his most recent appearance on Aug. 13 was a good one, as Rodon went 4.1 shutout innings and allowed just two hits while striking out seven and walking one.

Rodon made nine starts prior to the injury, pitching to a 3.30 ERA with 52 strikeouts in 46.1 innings pitched. 

At 69-55, the Yankees are comfortably seated as the top Wild Card seed in the American League, but they’re just 5.5 games back of the Tampa Bay Rays for the top spot in the AL East as well. 

Adding Rodon back to a rotation that also includes Cam Schlittler, Gerrit Cole, and Max Fried gives the Yankees a formidable foursome to handle the starting duties in any potential playoff series.

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Mauricio Dubon returns to lineup in left field, five-hole

ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 11: Mauricio Dubón #14 of the Atlanta Braves walks to the on deck circle in the fifth inning during the game against the New York Mets at Truist Park on August 11, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images

What can you really say about the Braves’ lineup at this point… or ever? Mauricio Dubon is back in left field tonight, and hitting fifth.

Dubon had a really fun time in June while the rest of the team was imploding offensively, with a .378 wOBA and .368 xwOBA. Unfortunately, he’s more or less fallen apart as the team clambered out of its doldrums, with wOBAs and xwOBAs in the .280 range irrespective of how you slice and dice the six-ish weeks since June ended. But, here he is, hitting fifth. It doesn’t really matter, but Mike Yastrzemski and Austin Riley have been on a tear in August, so this is a case where the Braves’ lineup construction is relatively staid, even though we’ve seen it get relatively reactionary earlier in the season with regards to other things.

The Twins lineup gives Martin Perez a steady diet of righties to contend with:

It’s kind of an interesting array. Luke Keaschall will hit leadoff for the first time all season; this will be his second career game in that spot. Kaelen Culpepper has hit seventh a few times and ninth a few times, but never eighth (until this game).

This Twins lineup has pretty solid numbers up and down on paper. Hopefully the Perez pachinko comes up favorable for the Braves… or they just crush Bailey Ober.

On a batter-versus-pitcher basis, this is a funny one. Three Braves in the lineup have faced Ober: Yastrzemski, Olson, and Dubon. It’s 11 total PAs, but a total crush job: .558 wOBA, .571 xwOBA. Yastrzemski has eight of those 11 PAs and has a very high xwOBA with a low wOBA; Olson and Dubon have each crushed a ball the few times they’ve seen him.

The experience for the Twins versus Martin Perez is similar, just 27 PAs across three players. It’s a collective .388 wOBA and .425 xwOBA, with a lot of that coming because Byron Buxton has hit quite well in 16 PAs. But, none of these batter-versus-pitcher things are for anything other than amusement, given the sample.

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St. Louis Cardinals begin a long day’s journey into night

CINCINNATI, OHIO - AUGUST 17: Quinn Mathews #60 of the St. Louis Cardinals throws a pitch during the second inning of game one of a doubleheader against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on August 17, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Game Summary

The Cardinals jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead within four batters, highlighted by an Alec Burleson RBI double. After that, short starts by the 27th men turned this close game into a battle of the bullpens. The under-rated Reds bullpen was able to hold down the Cardinals offense, inducing 1-13 with RISP to keep the game closer than Oli Marmol would have cared for. A quintet of Cardinal relievers held fast the remainder of the way for a taut 2-1 win to open a key five game series against the Reds.

Pre-game notes

  • This morning, the tilt is a make-up of a previously rained out game (the one Brycen Mautz was supposed to start). This time, Quinn Mathews will serve as the 27th man and will make the start.
  • Weather could yet again be a factor, although more likely for the night game.
  • The Reds counter with Kent Emanual, a 34-year-old lefthander. There is some story there, if you are interested. 3 TJ surgeries?

The first innings

The Cardinals jumped out early. Joshua Baez, leading off, draws the HBP. Herrera walks. After a Walker K (those are starting to add up), a Burly double gets the Cardinals out to an early two run lead. Fermin grounds out and Winn continues his struggles with a K. But an early 2-0 lead is a good thing, particularly when Mathews came out and opened his outing with 3 strikeouts.

In second, the feel goods returned as Blaze Jordan opened up with yet again another triple. However, the bottom of this line-up did their thing and Jordan never moved off third base. Mathews worked himself into trouble in the 2nd with a couple of walks but worked out of it.

In the third, a walk to Herrera (again) and a single by Burly put Emanual back on the ropes, but a GIDP by Fermin rescued him. Mathews worked through the bottom of the third with a walk. He compiled 5 Ks and 3 BBs in the first three innings.

The middle innings

Another walk and single put Emanual on the ropes yet again, but Pages and Baez were unable to capitalize. The Cardinals are 1-10 w/ RISP in just four innings. I heard the ghost of Mike Shannon saying you can’t let a team hang around like this…

In the bottom of the 4th, Dane Myers saw eleven (!) Mathews pitches and liked the eleventh pitch enough to deposit it in the upper deck to cut the Cardinal lead in half. Mathews command seemed to be drifting and his velocity seemed to be dropping as he piled up 32 (!) pitches while working through the fourth inning, ending up the inning above 90 pitches, effectively ending his outing. He has a lot of whiff in his game, but it is easy to see the next step in his development is to reduce the number of uncompetitive (waste) pitches he throws. This game takes on the feel of a game that will burn down the bullpen, win or lose.

Rolling into the fifth, a Walker double created more RISP opportunities, and an equal amount of frustration. Gastelum relieved Mathews in the fifth inning and sawed through the Reds hitter in eleven pitches. In the sixth, three Cardinals strike out against the Reds reliever Mey.

The decisive and bitter end

In the seventh, a Herrera walk (again) and a Walker single creates more RISP opportunities, and more futility. Soriano dispatches the Red in the bottom of the 7th. A dying quail from Winn turns into a single when it lands in no man’s land to end his 0-18 skid, but alas nothing comes of it. Stanek enters for the eighth. He gives up a two out double but gets out with a nifty 1u putout. Don’t see that every day. Since many have appeared to have skipped PFP recently, Stanek fielded a tapper and ran the ball to first base for the final out of the inning. No hijinks possible!

Riley O’Brien took the mound for the save opportunity. He opened with a three-pitch strikeout of Cardinal nemesis E. Suarez. Myers K’s after an eight-pitch AB (same guy that hit a HR on pitch 11 off Mathews). Toglia with the backwards K to close the game out. ROB was very sharp!

Post-Game Notes

  • No Today on the Farm article … Monday is a quiet day in MiLB.
  • The teams pick back up again in a few hours.
  • Gastelum, Graceffo, Soriano, Stanek and O’Brien each pitched an inning. Pitch counts were mostly low and likely that some of these guys could pitch again in the nightcap.

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Buss family selling Lakers ownership stake to Bob Iger and Joshua Kushner

Lakers' Jeanie Buss watches the game from the sidelines
Jeanie Buss watches Game 5 of the Lakers' first-round NBA playoff series against the Houston Rockets from the sideline at Crypto.com Arena. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

The end of an era.

The Buss Family Trust is selling its 17.8% stake of the Lakers, according to media reports Monday, giving its final shares of the team to new majority owners Joshua Kushner and Bob Iger, who bought the controlling ownership stake from Mark Walter last week for a record valuation of $12.5 billion. The sale ends a 47-year reign for the Buss family, which turned the Lakers into one of the most recognizable teams in the world.

“We have decided as a family to sell the remaining Buss Family Trust shares to the Bob Iger group as part of the ongoing transaction,” the Buss family said in a statement to ESPN, which first reported the news. “We love the Lakers, Laker fans and will continue to support Los Angeles; but it is time to use this opportunity to move on and exit gracefully while we still can.”

Read more:What's at stake for Dodgers' owner Mark Walter as authorities probe his businesses

The transactions still need to be approved by the NBA board of governors. Jeanie Buss, who remained the Lakers governor even after Walter’s purchase of the team was approved last October, would no longer be eligible to serve on the board, which requires minority owners to have at least a 15% stake.

The Buss family has owned the team since 1979, when Jerry Buss bought the franchise for $67.5 million. The family patriarch leveraged Hollywood glamour with entertainment spectacle to elevate the team into an internationally recognized brand. When Buss died in 2013, the team was passed to a trust for his six children: Jeanie, Jim, Johnny, Janie, Joey and Jesse.

Despite being one of the most recognizable franchises in the world, the Lakers remained a family-run business. Soon, the booming sports business caught up. The team started falling behind in resources and revenue compared to other organizations that controlled their own arenas and media deals. The Buss family voted to relinquish a majority ownership of the team in 2025, bringing in Walter, who also owns the Dodgers.

Jeanie was to remain the governor of the team for five years under Walter, but the investment mogul who is under federal investigation for unpaid loans shockingly sold his stake in the Lakers last week to Kushner and Iger. Kushner, a co-founder of a venture capital firm Thrive Capital and the permanent holdings company Thrive Eternal, will have to divest a minority stake in the Miami Heat before the Lakers purchase can be approved. Iger is the longtime Disney chief executive who already owns Angel City FC and previously flirted with NFL ownership by trying to build an NFL stadium in Carson before the project ultimately went to Stan Kroenke-led SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.

When the duo agreed to buy Walter’s share last week, Kushner and Iger released a statement that in part praised the Buss family’s work with the Lakers.

“We have immense respect for the leadership and vision of Jerry and Jeanie Buss,” the statement read. “Our long-term commitment is to build on that foundation, compete at the highest level, and serve this extraordinary team, its fans, and the city of Los Angeles.”

Read more:Shaikin: Some questions (and answers) about Mark Walter selling the Lakers

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Buss family will sell remaining stake in Los Angeles Lakers

The new owners of the Los Angeles Lakers are consolidating their control over the franchise and amplifying their stake in the team.

The Buss family agreed to sell its remaining 17.8% stake in the franchise on Monday, Aug. 17 to new majority owners, businessman Joshua Kushner and former Disney CEO Robert Iger.

“We have decided as a family to sell the remaining Buss Family Trust shares to the Bob Iger group as part of the ongoing transaction,” the Buss family said Monday in a statement. “We love the Lakers, Laker fans and will continue to support Los Angeles; but it is time to use this opportunity to move on and exit gracefully while we still can.”

This comes just days after Kushner and Iger stunned the NBA world by agreeing to a purchase agreement of the Lakers for a record $12.5 billion on Wednesday, Aug. 12. That happened just 10 months after Los Angeles Dodgers co-owner and TWG Global CEO Mark Walter bought the team from the Buss Family.

The Busses had retained a minority position after the June 2025 sale to Walter. According to ESPN, the six children of late Lakers owner Dr. Jerry Buss held a vote as part of the Buss family trust to consider the sale of the remaining shares to Kushner and Iger’s group. The deal required four of six votes.

Monday’s decision now ends the family’s memorable 47-year run with the franchise.

Jerry Buss bought the Lakers in May 1979 for $67.5 million, in a deal that also included the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings and the arena where both franchises played, the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California.

Under the Buss family’s direction, the Lakers ushered in the “Showtime” era and oversaw a stretch of consistent competitiveness. The Lakers won 11 championships during the family’s reign as majority owners.

Under the Busses, the Lakers recorded just 10 seasons with a win percentage below .500 and missed the playoffs only nine times. In fact, Los Angeles clinched postseason berths in the first 14 years of Buss's ownership of the team. A number of franchise icons and eventual Hall of Fame players — names like Magic Johnson, Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant — starred with the Lakers under the Buss family.

With Monday’s decision, Jeanie Buss can no longer serve as governor of the Lakers. When Walter first bought the majority stake of the franchise in June 2025, he had agreed to allow Jeanie, the daughter of Jerry, to serve as governor of the Lakers through the 2030 season. On Wednesday, Iger had told the California Post that he and Kushner had “every intention to honor” the agreement that Jeanie Buss had made with Walter to remain on as governor.

Yet, NBA rules mandate that a person must retain at least a 15% ownership stake in a franchise to act as governor.

It is unclear who will serve in that role moving forward. With their addition of the 17.8% stake that had belonged to the Buss family, the Kushner and Iger group will now control north of 82% of the franchise.

The sale to the Kushner and Iger group will still need approval from the NBA’s board of governors. The next session will be held in September in New York, though a vote on the transfer of ownership may not take place then.

Whenever it does, approval will require 75%, or at least 23 of the 30 owners.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Buss family will sell remaining stake in Los Angeles Lakers

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Sources weigh in: Can Kodai Senga be the Mets' next great late-inning reliever?

It’s no secret that shifting Kodai Senga into the role of late-inning reliever was an idea born out of desperation, even exasperation, after he floundered as a starter this season. 

But that doesn’t make the move any less significant if it turns out the Mets strike gold here. Perhaps, anyway.

Even as something of a reluctant participant, Senga has made the transition look easy in what so far is a small sample, pitching a scoreless inning in each of five appearances over the last 12 days, the last three to lock down the ninth inning and earn a save in the absence of the injured Devin Williams.

From a quality-of-stuff point of view, it seems sustainable.

As one major league scout said, “He does profile best as a closer with that fastball/splitter combination. In short stints he can dominate with those two pitches.”

From a more all-encompassing point of view, the smooth transition so far has been a pleasant surprise for the Mets, considering Senga’s difficulties the last two seasons, both physically and seemingly mentally as well, in addition to his stated preference to remain a starter.

All of which makes it quite presumptive to expect that Senga will morph into something resembling peak Edwin Diaz with no issues along the way.

As a Mets person told me, “To say the feeling here is one of cautious optimism would be an understatement.”

To that point, it could be notable to see how Senga emerges physically from three consecutive days of purposeful throwing -- if you count him warming up with some intensity on Saturday for an appearance that became unnecessary when the Mets won in walk-off fashion, in addition to his saves on Friday and Sunday.

“He’s been a guy who has indicated that he can’t pitch to his own standard unless everything is aligned perfectly,” the Mets’ person said. “And as a starter he needed the extra day, so it’s only natural to wonder how he’ll deal with the grind of pitching as a reliever over an extended period of time, since part of that job is to pitch when you might be slightly fatigued, or at least not feeling at your best.”

With that in mind, there was no word Monday from manager Andy Green of any workload hangover for Senga, though that’s not something he would necessarily speak to, ever wary of tipping his hand to an opponent. 

As it is, after his busy weekend Senga was almost certainly unavailable for Monday night’s series opener with the San Diego Padres, so the next several days will bear watching.

In the meantime, Senga certainly has created some intrigue with his success so far. As the scout noted, he has the weapons to be a dominant closer, with the fastball he’s throwing 97-98 mph and his famous ghost fork, with which he struck out the last two Washington Nationals’ hitters on Sunday to close out a 4-3 win.

Could he be part of the late-inning mix next season? Could he even displace Williams as the closer?

IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect /

Suffice it to say MLB scouts share the Mets’ internal caution, based not only on questions about Senga’s durability as a reliever but also his penchant for pitching at times as if intent on avoiding contact.

“Since he got hurt last year (the June hamstring injury) he seemed to lose some his willingness to attack with his fastball,” a second scout said. “He’s always had a tendency at times to nibble around the edges of the plate and try to trick guys with his breaking stuff but he really seemed to lose his confidence when he came back last year.

“I heard Mendy (Carlos Mendoza) became really frustrated with him, and you could see why. Senga would come out on the attack for an inning, and then for some reason he’d start going more finesse, throwing his off-speed breaking pitches, and he’d get himself into trouble and let innings get away from him.

“As a reliever, I’m sure they’re driving that point home with him, that he doesn’t need anything but the fastball and the split, and maybe a show-me slider every once in a while. If he can command his fastball it really sets up his ghost fork as his out pitch.”

A third scout offered a similar outlook.

“Does he have the stamina physically? That’s my biggest concern,” said the scout. “But also, can he stick to the script? Because as a starter he looked like he would overthink things at times and try to trick hitters, even when he had his good fastball.”

The good news for the Mets is that as a reliever Senga so far seems content to stick to using that fastball-splitter combination. In his two outings against the Nationals, 23 of the 25 pitches he threw were either fastballs or splitters, to go with two sweepers (one of which resulted in a hit-by-pitch).

It’s a good sign, but a small sample size.

In any case, if Senga’s success continues it offers a potentially important piece of next year’s puzzle, either as a set-up man for Williams or as a closer himself.

Or such success could make simply it easier for the Mets to trade him.

Last year, after all, they wanted to be done with Senga after he became so discombobulated that he essentially told them he couldn’t pitch late in the season even as they were desperately short on starters during their failed chase for a wild-card berth.

Two sources say David Stearns “tried hard” to trade Senga during the offseason and “came close” to completing deals with a few different teams, only to run into roadblocks on each occasion.

Maybe other teams don’t trust that Senga will stay healthy -- he has one year remaining on his five-year, $75 million contract, a signing that raised eyebrows among some baseball people at the time because of whispers about an elbow problem.

Also at that time some teams saw Senga as more of a reliever than a starter, and though he said recently he still sees himself as a starter, he also admitted he hasn’t pitched well enough to have an argument about being moved to the bullpen.

So we’ll see -- maybe Senga will be a revelation as a reliever, as the early results suggest. Maybe he’ll embrace the importance of the role. However, there’s obviously history here that looms as much a part of that equation, and thus any long-term evaluation, in the weeks and months ahead.