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The second apron is coming for the Knicks: Karl-Anthony Towns, Knicks extension talks stall

The second apron is coming for the Knicks. Not this season, maybe not next season, but the apron is coming.

That may be best evidenced by the fact that contract extension negotiations between the Knicks and star center Karl-Anthony Towns have stalled, reports ESPN’s Shams Charania and Vincent Goodwill.

The sides have spent extensive time discussing a potential extension during the offseason, but there has been no movement lately in negotiations, sources said, as the Knicks stand to go for a repeat following their first NBA title in 53 years.

Towns is a championship center and now a New York legend, not to mention an All-Star and All-NBA big man at the peak of his game. He is extension eligible for up to four years and $276 million. Towns is under contract this season for $57 million and has a $61 million player option for 2027-28.

Towns wants an extension and the Knicks want to extend him, but reality is hitting New York hard: 2028-29 is when a Jalen Brunson extension would kick in — he took a discount last time but is eligible for and deserves a supermax deal now — plus a Josh Hart extension also would begin. That on top of an OG Anunoby extension that could, and likely would, begin that year. Remember, Knicks owner James Dolan said it would be "suicidal" for a team to be in the second apron and he didn't want to do it (and that echoes what other owners have said).

What New York wants is Towns to take less per year — maybe $55 million a season? Maybe less? — for more guaranteed money across multiple years. Towns may not be interested in that steep a discount, as much as he loves New York and wants to finish his career there.

This is what NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and the owners want: Congratulations on winning a championship, now break up that team. He covets NFL-style parity over all. Silver proudly touts the fact that the league has had eight different champions in the past eight years and said of the second apron, "It's certainly not an unintended consequence" that teams are broken up. So we get Boston deciding it has to trade Jaylen Brown away — coming off a season when he was sixth in MVP voting — because they see it as the best path to building a contender around Jayson Tatum. We get Oklahoma City losing key role players — Lu Dort, Isaiah Joe, Aaron Wiggins — so they can keep the young stars they have together (with more cuts coming and key players lost the next couple of years). People around the league are already talking about how San Antonio will have to trade De'Aaron Fox at some point for financial reasons.

Fans hate seeing players like Brown, Dort and others that their team drafted and developed have to be traded (or, in the case of the Knicks, a team cleverly built through trades and free agency). Silver may think the system is working, but angering a generation of core fans for financial reasons is not a good business strategy. There is more of it to come, and it's going to hit the Knicks hard. The aprons are going to be a sticking point come the next CBA negotiations — the players and fans hate them.

But for now, the Knicks are stuck trying to extend Towns and keep a championship roster together.

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From Army to ESPN, Chris Spatola was a 'total badass' who never stopped winning people over

"A total badass."

That's how ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Bilas remembers Chris Spatola.

Spatola, who died unexpectedly Sept. 21 at age 47, built a remarkable life that stretched far beyond the basketball court. He was an Army standout, a U.S. Army veteran, a respected broadcaster for ESPN and SiriusXM, and the son-in-law of legendary Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski.

News of his death has left the college basketball world reeling. Friends, colleagues and former teammates have flooded social media with stories of his generosity, humility and competitive spirit.

Bilas counts himself among them.

"Devastated and heartbroken," he said, mourning the loss of "a treasured friend."

"Chris was the most solid guy that you could ever meet," Bilas told USA TODAY Sports. "High character, thoughtful and he was selfless. He wasn't the first to speak, but when he spoke, it was always thoughtful and measured."

That's how Army basketball teammates remembered Spatola, too.

"You wouldn't hear him speak unless he had something really important to say,'' George Tatum recalled of his backcourt mate Spatola, three years his junior. "To see Chris come out of his shell and be such a great commentator and a star on TV, it really warmed my heart to see him finally coming into his own with that profession.''

Rick Schultz was the Army radio play-by-play announcer for two seasons, including Spatola's freshman year. Five years ago in Syracuse, the pair ran into one another at a hotel, and Schultz asked him: Did you ever imagine you would be on the broadcasting side? Spatola shook his head no and said, "I never had any idea."

"It's such a tragedy," said Pat Harris, who coached Spatola at West Point for four seasons but knew him years earlier as a Duke camper. "I still haven't wrapped my arms around the loss of Chris. It still hasn't set in. It's almost like you think it's a hoax."

Harris wasn't the coach who recruited Spatola, a product of Babylon, Long Island, to the U.S. Military Prep School for the 1997-98 season (it was previous coach Dino Gaudio) but he certainly benefited from the 6-1, gangly kid who led with determination and possessed a great shooting touch. He had a great feel for the game and a tremendous basketball IQ, noted former teammate Babe Kwasniak, also three years Spatola's elder.

Chris Spatola played guard for Army men's basketball from 1998-2002. ARMY ATHLETICS

Spatola started as a freshman, played 111 games and scored 1,543 points, ranking No. 5 all-time at the Academy. He was fast, a 90% free-throw shooter his final two seasons and a deft passer. "I can't really say that Chris ever truly took a bad shot," his coach said.

West Point remains a military academy where seniors can still look down on lowly freshmen — or plebes, as they are called — in the pecking order, but that dynamic changes when it comes to the "fields of friendly strife" and becoming teammates. Kwasniak recalled a young Spatola helping him clean his barracks room, and also presenting the Firstie (a senior) his first salute.

"I think when it came to (playing basketball), that was like breathing to him," Kwasniak said. "It just came very, very natural." That endeared him to his teammates, whether at West Point or on the All-U.S. Army team, when his squad didn't care about his 1,500 collegiate points or ties to Coach K.

Bilas had known Spatola since 2004, when Spatola married Krzyzewski's daughter, Jamie. Over the next two decades, their paths remained intertwined. Spatola served on Duke's staff from 2007 to 2012, connecting him to Bilas' alma mater, and later the two became colleagues at ESPN.

Yet for all the basketball ties that linked their careers, it was rarely the subject of their conversations.

Instead, Bilas said Spatola always focused on the people around him, whether it was the players and coaches he covered, the fans who followed the sport or, most importantly, his family. That selflessness only deepened Bilas' admiration for a man who had already accomplished so much, including serving in the U.S. Army during Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2002 to 2007.

Despite an impressive résumé that included military service, coaching and broadcasting, Spatola never made himself the center of attention. That's one of the many qualities Bilas found remarkable.

"Chris was all-American in every way as a human being," Bilas said. "I would sit there and sort of see Chris and go, 'You realize he's done things tougher than we could ever imagine, right? Like, do you guys have any idea what he's accomplished?' And he would never tell you that.

"You would have to pry it out of him, all the accomplishments that he had as a vet, and and when he would talk about it, it would usually be something on Veterans Day when he was putting attention on others, not on himself. That was the kind of guy he was." 

That's why Bilas will always remember him as "a selfless human being that was a total badass."

"Chris was a person that I loved, but also admired," he added. "He'll always be a part of of everyone that was fortunate enough to know him."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: From Army to ESPN, Chris Spatola was a 'total badass' who never stopped winning people over

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Mets mulling over best way to utilize Kodai Senga next season

After taking over as the closer the last two months, Kodai Senga proved to the Mets that he can pitch out of the bullpen, something that was completely foreign to him until this year.

The right-hander had some bumps along the way, of course, but for the most part Senga was a reliable arm as a reliever and went 8-for-9 on save opportunities, including shutting the door on Tuesday night in New York’s 6-3 win over the Texas Rangers.

However, with Devin Williams reinstated from the IL, Senga’s role on the team is now in a bit of limbo.

Manager Andy Green expressed his appreciation for what Senga has been able to do out of the bullpen, but when asked whether the Mets view him as a starter or a reliever for next year’s team, Green couldn’t say.

“We will make the determination based on what we feel is best for the team and where he fits best,” the skipper said. “That’s impossible to answer at this moment. We’ve gotten a good look at him in this role and he’s done a lot of really good things and we’re excited about the possibility of that, but you can flip the calendar back just a few years ago before he had a hamstring issue or a leg issue and he was one of the most interesting starters in baseball and doing some really good things and obviously had an unbelievable rookie season. 

“So he’s got a lot to hang his hat on in that regard. I think there’s a real decision point there and it’s not one we’re ready to make today.”

Before Senga’s tumultuous 2026 season as a starter, he was 20-13 with a 3.00 ERA in 52 starts across three seasons for New York. He even placed second in the 2023 NL Rookie of the Year voting after successfully making the transition from Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball.

Since then, injuries have been a major factor in his career before he completely fell off this year while pitching to a 9.66 ERA in eight starts and going 0-7. But after Williams went down with a right shoulder strain in early August, the Mets made the bold decision to make Senga the new closer.

Senga quickly took to his new job and got the save in his first seven opportunities and pitched to a 1.74 ERA in August. Aside from a rough outing against the Philadelphia Phillies on Sept. 20 (in a non-save opportunity), Senga has been rock solid at the backend of the bullpen.

“I think we have an idea of how he fits in the pen now, which is really, really helpful,” Green said.

However, with so much uncertainty surrounding the team in the ways it can go after a disastrous season, the Mets aren’t ruling anything out just yet.

“We don’t know the depth of our rotation going into ‘27 right now,” Green said. “There’s a free agency period, there’s a lot of uncertainty that could unfold in the offseason and he’ll fit into the spot that he fits the best for us because that’s how we should move forward at this point in time.

“And we won’t be able to know that until we know what we sign, what we bring in, where we’re at and that’ll make the picture clearer and we’ll figure out where the puzzle piece fits the best.”

If it were up to Senga, who will be entering the final year of his five-year, $75 million contract he signed before the 2023 season next year, he would choose being a starter – the only thing he had ever known before this year.

“I think he has been really good expressing to us his passion resides in the rotation,” Green said.

Of course, a starting pitcher is also more valuable than a reliever, especially one that isn’t a closer, as Williams is signed through the next two seasons and figures to remain in that role. Still, it’s hard to get over how badly Senga struggled in the rotation despite all the chances in the world to figure it out.

For what it’s worth, though, the manager mentioned that he and the Mets will take into account what Senga wants. The 33-year-old has earned that. But at the end of the day, it’s their call.

“Somebody who has accomplished what he’s accomplished in his career, the type of teammate he’s been, that matters a lot to us,” Green said. “It will not be the ultimate determining factor, but it will have weight and we’ll value it accordingly.”

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D-backs @ Rockies discussion

DENVER, COLORADO - JUNE 20: The stadium jumbotron displays an image of the Denver International Airport's Blucifer Blue Mustang sculpture asking fans in attendance to make some noise in the ninth inning of a game between the Colorado Rockies and the Pittsburgh Pirates at Coors Field on June 20, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Today’s Lineups

DIAMONDBACKSROCKIES
Lars Nootbaar – LFJake McCarthy – DH
Ketel Marte – 2BCole Carrigg – CF
Gabriel Moreno – CHunter Goodman – C
Geraldo Perdomo – SSTJ Rumfield – 1B
Pavin Smith – 1BKyle Karros – 3B
Nolan Arenado – 3BAdael Amador – 2B
Corbin Carroll – RFMickey Moniak – RF
Jesus Sanchez – DHZac Veen – LF
Tim Tawa – CFEzequiel Tovar – SS
Merrill Kelly – RHPMason Adams – RHP

#NotDeadYet Yesterday’s results bumped up our playoff odds to 7.4%. Arizona currently sits four games back of the three-way tie for the NL wild-card spots, so needs to make up one game on the Padres, today or tomorrow, in order to hold their own destiny. Who better on the mound than Merrill Kelly? Well, given his ERA of exactly five, you might have a few answers to that question. On the other hand, his only complete game, in two hundred major-league starts, came against this opponent earlier this year – and, more remarkably, at Coors. Since the end of 2015, he’s one of only four visiting pitchers with a nine-inning CG in Denver. Same again, please.

Last night was Kevin Ginkel’s 71st appearance out of the bullpen for Arizona. Only four pitchers have surpasses seventy games for Arizona since the before-COVID times. Ginkel previously did it in 2024, along with Joe Mantiply, while Miguel Castro reached 75 in 2023. It’s likely Taylor Clarke, currently on 69, could join Ginkel by the end of the year. In addition to 2024, since 2008 Arizona has had two relievers > 70 outings in 2012 and 2018. The latter campaign actually saw three: Archie Bradley, Andrew Chafin and Yoshihisa Hirano (and all of them got to 75 or more!). Juan Morillo currently sits on 67, so I doubt we’ll be able to repeat that this season.

Won’t be around much for this one, since Mrs. SnakePit and I are off to dinner and then on to see The Phantom of the Opera at the Gammage in Tempe. Should be fun. I may be forgiven for sneaking an odd-peek or two at my phone when permitted. Good news in the early going from Philadelphia, where the Brewers are up 4-1 over the Phillies in the fourth inning. The Cubs are just under way in Miami, and the Padres face the Dodgers in the last game of the day. May I return home with the D-backs still not eliminated!

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Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton could return for the playoffs after a 5 1/2-month absence

NEW YORK (AP) — Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton could return for the playoffs after a 5 1/2-month absence due to calf strains.

Stanton faced pitchers Wednesday at Double-A Somerset along with center fielder Trent Grisham, sidelined since straining his right hamstring on Sept. 4. Both ran the bases and Stanton homered while taking six or seven at-bats.

“Putting them on the outskirts of the conversation,” New York manager Aaron Boone, bothered by a cold, said in a raspy voice.

Already without injured star Aaron Judge due to a strained right calf, New York is likely to host Boston in a best-of-three Wild Card Series starting Tuesday, with all three games at Yankee Stadium.

Following the end of the seasons for Yankees farm teams, New York has minor leaguers working out at Somerset in nearby New Jersey.

Stanton hasn’t played since April 24 because of strained calf muscles in both legs after starting the season with a .256 batting average, three homers and 14 RBIs in 24 games. The 36-year-old former NL MVP had 38 homers and 100 RBIs in his first season with New York in 2018 but has missed 500 of 1,194 games since (41.9%), through the end of this regular season.

His other injuries included strains of his right biceps, right knee, left hamstring (three times), left quadriceps and both calf muscles along with right ankle inflammation, left Achilles tendinitis and tendon pain in both elbows.

“You’re looking more at a pinch-hit scenario,” Boone said. “We’ll see if that’s even a realistic option.”

Stanton is owed $25 million next year in the final guaranteed season of a $325 million, 13-year contract that includes a $10 million buyout of a 2028 club option.

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Vladimir Guerrero Jr. says $500 million deal on his mind 'every at-bat I fail'

BALTIMORE — Vladimir Guerrero Jr. isn’t afraid to admit it: His 14-year, $500 million contract absolutely weighed on him during this, his most unproductive season of his decorated career.

Guerrero signed that megadeal in March 2025 and then drove the Toronto Blue Jays all the way to Game 7 of the World Series with a fantastic postseason. Yet he followed that with the worst season of his career, most notably failing to hit a home run in his own ballpark until the 75th home game of the season.

After the Blue Jays were officially eliminated from 2026 contention with a 4-2 loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday, Sept. 23, Guerrero came clean: Every weak grounder, every strikeout, every Blue Jays loss weighed significantly on him.

As did the notion of living up to his contract.

“I’ve got to be honest with you: Of course. Every at-bat that I fail, I think about my contract,” Guerrero said via club interpreter Hector Lebron between games of a split doubleheader at Camden Yards. “I know all the people who go to (Rogers Centre), they pay to see me being successful, to do something good every at-bat.

“Every time, I think about my contract, mentally. So, it is what it is.”

Here’s what it is: Guerrero’s batted .263 with nine home runs and a .695 OPS this season. He’s established full-season career lows in virtually every major category, most notably slugging percentage – .360 with just 34 extra-base hits, his slugging down more than 100 points from last year’s .467 and .495 career mark entering this season.

To say nothing of October 2025: Guerrero had one of the greatest postseason runs in recent history, batting .397 with a .494 OBP, 1.289 OPS, eight homers and 29 hits in 18 games.

But that run came at a cost. Guerrero says he took six weeks off after the World Series to let his body recover, which certainly cut into his typical offseason training regimen. While the 6-foot, 245-pound first baseman remains in good shape and didn’t go on the 10-day injured list this season, hamstring and lower back maladies and a stint on the concussion IL stymied him.

Guerrero insisted injuries were not to blame for his poor production, though he was quick to credit Toronto’s staff for getting him game-ready.

“When it’s a bad year, it’s a bad year,” he says. “I didn’t have any major injuries. Some things that happened through the year, I gotta say, our medical staff and trainers did a great job. They worked very hard with me.

“Maybe I wasn’t 100% physically, but it is what it is. I tried my best every day to go out there as ready as I could. It’s over right now.”

Blue Jays fans have been forgiving of their six-time All-Star through his home run drought and other struggles, but some took exception to a recent Spanish-language interview he conducted with journalist Veronica Batista.

He intimated that he was being paid his $500 million deal “for what he’d already done,” comments that were perhaps lost in translation to indicate his deal was a reward, not a pact to live up to.

Guerrero aimed to clarify that Wednesday.

“I said, obviously, I felt really bad about the year I had. Couldn’t help get my team to the postseason,” he says. “And I said I feel every player gets paid for what they’ve done. Now, with that said, I signed my contract at the beginning of last year. And I did put a good year, and then the playoffs to help the team get into the World Series.

“To the fans, I have never stopped working very hard. I’m going to go into the offseason again to prepare myself to do the best I can. Physically, mentally, everything I have.”

Blue Jays manager John Schneider said the struggles of his 77-81 club were collective and has the staff preparing for a significant self-examination, one year after they won 94 games, the AL East and the AL pennant.

Guerrero, he said, did not accept failure.

“For Vlad in particular, he’s got all the potential in the world. We know that,” says Schneider of Guerrero, who has played in 141 games this season. “We’ve seen him be one of, if not the best player in the game. Years like this can happen. Myself, my staff and Vlad – he’s not chalking this up to oh, this is one of those years.

“He worked tirelessly to try and get out of that funk he was in. He tried different ways to prepare and he posted every day. It’s hard to pinpoint it.”

For Guerrero, 2026 is certainly one to grow on. And he can only hope that the $500 million deal that began this season creates a bar to reach, not an anvil that weighs him down.

“I have to learn a lot from this year. It’s a process,” he says. “Especially when you go to the World Series, like last year, that was my goal again this year. You put that pressure on yourself a little bit, trying to take your team back to the World Series. It didn’t happen.

“I wasn’t expecting the year that I had. But I’m going to be working on that.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. says $500 million deal on his mind 'every at-bat I fail'

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Colorado Rockies vs. Arizona Diamondbacks game discussion: Merrill Kelly vs. Mason Adams

DENVER, COLORADO - SEPTEMBER 16: Starting pitcher Mason Adams #38 of the Colorado Rockies throws against the San Diego Padres in the first inning at Coors Field on September 16, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Colorado Rockies reached 100 losses for the fourth straight season with last night’s defeat at the hands of the Arizona Diamondbacks. The loss felt fitting for the unfortunate milestone, as the Rockies managed only three hits (compared to Arizona’s 13) and struggled to get much going on either side of the ball.

They’ll look to rebound tonight in the penultimate home game of the year.

Promising rookie Mason Adams gets his sixth start, bringing in an 0-1 record, a 5.09 ERA, and 23 strikeouts to 12 walks. His last three starts have been a bit of a rollercoaster in terms of traffic on the basepaths, as Adams gave up eight, two, and then eight hits in those respective starts. He’s also surrendered at least one home run in each of his six starts. Adams’ last outing was the worst of his young career, with six runs allowed on eight hits with only one strikeout to three walks in a 9-3 loss to the San Diego Padres.

The Diamondbacks try to slither up the Wild Card standings, currently sitting four games behind the Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies, and Padres. The Phillies found a win last night, while the Cubs and Padres both lost, knotting all three clubs at 87-70.

Arizona will roll out Merrill Kelly, currently 9-14 through 28 starts and a 5.00 ERA. This will be Kelly’s third time facing Colorado in 2026, picking up a win in a 9-1 victory back in May and a loss in a 6-4 game in August. Kelly is on the same rollercoaster as Adams, giving up seven, two, and seven hits in his last three games. The back end of the season has been difficult for Kelly, who took losses in five of his last seven starts.

Tuesday night’s matchup was lopsided. With both of tonight’s starters reeling over the last month, the game presents an opportunity for both offenses to get lots of baserunners on and make it more of a battle. We’ll see if the Rockies’ bats can cash in.

First Pitch: 6:40pm MT

TV: Rockies.TV

Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM; KNRV 1150 (Spanish)

Diamondbacks SB Nation:AZ Snake Pit

Lineups:

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Alonso hits 41st homer as Orioles beat Blue Jays 4-2 to eliminate Toronto from the playoff race

BALTIMORE — Peete Alonso hit his 41st home run of the season, Chris Bassitt took a shutout into the sixth inning and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-2 in the first game of a doubleheader Wednesday, eliminating the defending American League champions from the postseason race.

The Orioles and Blue Jays both entered this twin bill one loss from elimination. The best the Blue Jays (77-81) can do now is finish .500 — a season after they pushed the Los Angeles Dodgers to extra innings in Game 7 of the World Series.

Max Scherzer (3-9) allowed four runs and four hits in five innings in the 500th appearance — and 491st start — of his career. He struck out seven and walked three. The 42-year-old right-hander said he hopes he can come back on short rest to pitch again Sunday in the season finale — and he’ll likely have something to say in the next couple days about his future.

The 37-year-old Bassitt (9-5) allowed two runs and seven hits in five-plus innings. He was pulled with two on in the sixth and both runners scored on second baseman Jeremiah Jackson’s throwing error.

Andrew Kittredge pitched the ninth for his 11th save.

Scherzer struck out three in the first, but Jackson hit an RBI single in the second for the Orioles. With men on first and third and two out, Jackson took off for second, then stopped and got in a rundown. Colton Cowser was slow leaving third, but the Blue Jays kept going after Jackson, allowing Cowser to score.

Alonso’s two-run shot in the fifth pulled him even for the AL lead in homers with Houston’s Yordan Alvarez and Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero. Alonso is eight RBIs ahead of Alvarez for the league lead and could spoil the Houston slugger’s pursuit of a Triple Crown.

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Blue Jays put Dylan Cease on the IL shortly after being eliminated from the playoff race

BALTIMORE (AP) — The Toronto Blue Jays put right-hander Dylan Cease on the 15-day injured list with shoulder inflammation, ending his 2026 season.

The move came between games of Wednesday’s doubleheader at Baltimore, after the Blue Jays dropped the opener and were eliminated from postseason contention. Cease went 11-6 with a 2.40 ERA this season, his first with Toronto.

Cease signed a $210 million, seven-year contract to join Toronto after he spent his first seven seasons with the Chicago White Sox and San Diego Padres. He made 29 starts this year. The last one was Friday, when he walked six batters and was replaced in the third inning.

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Ceddanne/Superman return in Guardians vs Red Sox

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - AUGUST 31: Ceddanne Rafaela #3 of the Boston Red Sox makes a diving catch during the sixth inning of a game against the Seattle Mariners August 31, 2026 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Red Sox and Guardians may not have as flashy of a pitching showdown as Payton Tolle vs. Payton Messick on Tuesday night, but Sonny Gray, who leads the team – nay, the American League – in wins, with 17, and strikeout threat Foster Griffin face off. As the Red Sox bought at the deadline, so did the Guardians, and a benefactor of that is Foster Griffin. The 31-year-old lefty is having the best season of his career and has become a viable starter as the Guardians look to punch their ticket to the October dance tonight; they have two paths and both require a win at Fenway.

For the Red Sox, who have a minted interim (insert strike through here) manager and a CBO enjoying a new option, there’s significantly less stress, but the “vibes” need to continue into the weekend even with the impending storm already rescheduling Sunday’s game against the Cubs to Friday afternoon. But for now, it’s only Wednesday, so enjoy!

It’s time for Red Sox baseball!

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Yankees' Aaron Judge intends to be available in Wild Card series

Yankees star Aaron Judge is doing everything he can to play this postseason, and intends to be available when New York starts its Wild Card series next Tuesday. 

Speaking with ESPN's Jorge Castillo on Wednesday, the two-time reigning AL MVP made those intentions clear.

"That's what the plan is," Judge said. "Try to get my body ready so I'm ready to go."

The Yankees placed Judge on the IL with a right calf strain this past Saturday, which put an end to his regular season. However, the possibility of the Yankee captain returning has been one of the biggest storylines as the MLB playoffs begin.

Yankees skipper Aaron Boone, while not ruling Judge out completely, said he wasn't expecting the slugger to be an option in the Wild Card round. 

"We're planning on him not being a part of that," Boone said at the time.

Prior to Wednesday's game with the Rays, Boone said that the process for Judge has started and is ongoing.

Judge told ESPN that he's had plenty of talks with Yankees decision-makers about his condition, and that he's unsure if he'll make the Wild Card roster.

While Judge's career numbers would make him a much-needed boost to the Yankees offense, the slugger struggled when he returned from a fractured rib injury he suffered in May.
He went 4-for-23 with 13 strikeouts, one walk and one home run upon his return. 

There's also the funky roster. If Judge is unable to play the outfield, the DH spot is already taken up by Ben Rice. If Rice plays first base, that means Luis Garcia Jr. will have to sit. 

Judge's health and roster construction are factors that Boone and the organization must weigh before they take the field next Tuesday. But as Judge enters another postseason in pinstripes, he's trying to get on the field as quickly as possible.

"We've got games to win," Judge said. "I'm getting paid to play games for the New York Yankees, so I'll get back as soon as I can."

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Game 158 Game Day Thread – New York Mets @ Texas Rangers

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 09: Cody Bradford #61 of the Texas Rangers delivers during the game against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on September 09, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Kevin Ng/Getty Images) | Getty Images

New York Mets @ Texas Rangers

Wednesday, September 23, 2026, 7:05 PM CDT (105.3 The Fan / Rangers Sports Network)

The Shed

RHP Nolan McLean vs. LHP Cody Bradford

Today’s Lineups

METSRANGERS
Francisco Lindor – SSWyatt Langford – LF
Juan Soto – DHCorey Seager – SS
Bo Bichette – 3BJosh Jung – DH
Mark Vientos – 1BBrandon Nimmo – RF
Carson Benge – RFEzequiel Duran – 3B
Marcus Semien – 2BJake Burger – 1B
Francisco Alvarez – CNicky Lopez – 2B
A.J. Ewing – CFDanny Jansen – C
Nick Morabito – LFEvan Carter – CF
Nolan McLean – RHPCody Bradford – LHP

Go Rangers!

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Cincinnati Reds vs. Atlanta Braves – Andrew Abbott vs. Chris Sale

MILWAUKEE, WI - SEPTEMBER 11: Andrew Abbott #41 of the Cincinnati Reds pitches during the game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Friday, September 11, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Kylie Bridenhagen/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

The Cincinnati Reds are back in action on Wednesday night in Altanta as a pair of southpaws will start at Truist Park. The Braves will roll out ace Chris Sale while Cincinnati turns to former All Star Andrew Abbott, with first pitch set for 7:15 PM ET.

Here’s how both clubs will line up to start:

Today’s Lineups

REDSBRAVES
Juan Brito – RFDrake Baldwin – C
Elly De La Cruz – SSMauricio Dubon – LF
Sal Stewart – 1BMatt Olson – 1B
Dane Myers – CFOzzie Albies – 2B
Eugenio Suarez – DHMichael Harris – CF
Matt McLain – 2BAustin Riley – 3B
Oswaldo Cabrera – LFSean Murphy – DH
Will Banfield – CBrewer Hicklen – RF
Ke’Bryan Hayes – 3BHa-Seong Kim – SS
Andrew Abbott – LHPChris Sale – LHP
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Mets at Rangers: Lineups, broadcast info, and open thread, 9/23/26

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 22: Bo Bichette #19 of the New York Mets at bat during a game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on September 22, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Mets lineup

  1. Francisco Lindor – SS
  2. Juan Soto – DH
  3. Bo Bichette – 3B
  4. Mark Vientos – 1B
  5. Carson Benge – RF
  6. Marcus Semien – 2B
  7. Francisco Alvarez – C
  8. A.J. Ewing – CF
  9. Nick Morabito – LF

Nolan McLean – RHP

Rangers lineup

  1. Wyatt Langford – LF
  2. Corey Seager – SS
  3. Josh Jung – DH
  4. Brandon Nimmo – RF
  5. Ezequiel Duran – 3B
  6. Jake Burger – 1B
  7. Nicky Lopez – 2B
  8. Danny Jansen – C
  9. Evan Carter – CF

Cody Bradford – LHP

Broadcast info

First pitch: 8:05pm EDT
TV: SNY
Radio: Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM, Audacy App, 92.3 HD2

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Game Thread: White Sox (81-76) at Royals (67-90)

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - AUGUST 29: Erick Fedde #47 of the Chicago White Sox delivers a pitch against the Minnesota Twins in the first inning at Target Field on August 29, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The White Sox defeated the Twins 3-2. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
Erick Fedde has been the Sox’s steadiest arm lately. Tonight, they’ll need him to carry the load after Bryan Hudson’s opening stint. | (David Berding/Getty Images)

The White Sox scored 14 runs Tuesday night, so hopefully there’s still a little gas left in the tank. A little less drama on the pitching side would be nice, too. Trevor Richards and Luis Castillo combined to give up seven runs over two innings in the 14-11 victory. Yikes.

That win, paired with a Texas Rangers loss, put the Sox one step from October. If Chicago wins tonight and Texas loses again, the South Siders will clinch a playoff berth. Cleveland’s win over Boston kept the Sox one game back in the AL Central, so there’s still plenty at stake beyond punching their ticket.

Bryan Hudson will open for Chicago before handing the ball to Erick Fedde for the bulk of the innings. This will be the southpaw’s ninth appearance as an opener, a role he’s handled well all season. In 9 2/3 innings, Hudson has a 2.79 ERA and 0.72 WHIP while holding opponents to a .188 average.

Fedde has been the Sox’s most dependable arm over his past seven outings, going 2-2 with a 2.56 ERA and 1.17 WHIP. He allowed one run on four hits with two walks and six strikeouts his last time out, though he fell one out short of completing five innings.

The Sox could use some length from the veteran tonight. Skipper Will Venable had to turn to the arm barn after just four innings from Anthony Kay on Tuesday, and the Royals made sure nobody got too comfortable with Chicago’s early lead. Fedde has completed five innings in three of his last four appearances. If he can cover five or six after Hudson’s opening stint, the rest of the bullpen gets a much more manageable assignment.

Fedde’s breaking pitches rank in the 97th percentile in run value, with his sweeper in the 99th. His changeup sits in the second percentile, while his chase and whiff rates have been low. Getting ahead and leaning on that sweeper would help keep Kansas City from stringing together another long inning.

Seth Lugo starts for the Royals. The righthander is 7-9 with a 5.06 ERA and 1.46 WHIP, but things have been even rougher over his past seven starts: a 7.60 ERA and 1.81 WHIP. Houston got to him for four runs on eight hits over five innings in his last outing. That’s good news for the Pale Hose.

Lugo’s Savant numbers offer the Sox an opening. He ranks in the 11th percentile in expected ERA and the ninth in expected slugging percentage, while his four-seamer and sweeper have both struggled by run value. Chicago put up 14 runs Tuesday. Asking for a few more against Lugo doesn’t feel greedy, does it?

On the offensive side Randal Grichuk, Miguel Vargas and Brenton Doyle have each hit better than .330 over the past seven days, although Vargas is the only one of the three in tonight’s starting lineup. Kyle Teel, Andrew Benintendi and Colson Montgomery have all hit below .200 in that span. They’ll have a chance to turn things around against a pitcher who has had trouble limiting hard contact.

White Sox Lineup

The Royals don’t walk much or hit for a great deal of power, and their -105 run differential reflects a difficult season. Tuesday was a reminder that they can still score in bunches when the pitching gives them the chance. A clean opening from Hudson and a lengthy outing from Fedde would go a long way toward making this one less stressful.

Royals Lineup

First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. CDT at Kauffman Stadium. The game will air on CHSN, with radio coverage on ESPN 1000.

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