Sep 16, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Max Scherzer (31) delivers a pitch against the Detroit Tigers in the fourth inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
We have two games today, hopefully. Though it seems like it is cold in Baltimore but not raining. Well, cool, not cold.
Game one is at 1:30 Eastern. Max Scherzer (game #500 for Max, and I’d imagine last) and Chris Bassitt are the starters. The losing team will be eliminated from the playoffs. If they split the two games both will be elminated.
Game two is at 6:30 Eastern. Both teams list TBD. Odds are the rest of the season will be TBD. Likely which ever arms are still connected to bodies after game one.
The lineups for game one. No Kirk or Vlad. The Jays are saying that Brett Bateman had another MRI and nothing structural is damaged. He might play again this season (but really I don’t see the point).
Today’s Lineups
BLUE JAYS
ORIOLES
Nathan Lukes – RF
Dylan Beavers – LF
Josh Smith – LF
Pete Alonso – 1B
Kazuma Okamoto – 3B
Gunnar Henderson – SS
George Springer – DH
Coby Mayo – DH
Sean Keys – 1B
Christian Encarnacion-Strand – 3B
Andres Gimenez – SS
Colton Cowser – CF
Brandon Valenzuela – C
Jeremiah Jackson – 2B
Myles Straw – CF
Leody Taveras – RF
Ernie Clement – 2B
Carlos Narvaez – C
Max Scherzer – RHP
Chris Bassitt – RHP
The Jays have CJ Van Eyk, John Klein and Chase Lee are in Baltimore. Yohendrick Pinango is also in Baltimore. They get an extra roster spot. I don’t know that all four will be active for game one. I’d imagine some will be added for game two.
Wins would be nice.
AL East record vs .500 or better teams:
Rays 13-11 Yankees 1-8 Orioles 7-13 Blue Jays 8-13 Red Sox 7-11
The Yankees have the fewest games played in all of baseball against .500 or better teams, and they have the worst record against those teams too
The Mets are close to hiring Derek Falvey in a front office role, reports SNY MLB Insider Chelsea Janes.
Michael Marino was first to note the possibility of the Mets bringing Falvey on.
Falvey, 43, worked for the Twins from 2017 until January 2026, when the sides mutually parted ways.
During his time with Minnesota, Falvey -- who has a background in scouting -- served as the executive vice president and chief baseball officer.
Prior to joining the Twins, Falvey worked the then-Cleveland Indians from 2008 to 2016, when he overlapped with current Mets head of baseball operationsDavid Stearns(who worked in Cleveland from 2011 to 2012).
Speaking in the SNY broadcast booth during this past Saturday's game, Mets ownerSteve Cohen said that the plan was to make some additions to the front office.
"We’re going to try to add certain voices into the front office that I think will be helpful and I know David supports that," Cohen explained. "And I’m looking forward to, when we make those decisions, to announce them."
Cohen added:
"It doesn’t have to be a GM. It could be other ways to support David and the front office, and I think the whole point is to get more opinions in the front office and people who are either pretty good at evaluating talent or people who have been in those positions before in the front office – in high positions – and help David out and help the team out as far as getting a different point of view."
DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 22: Kevin Ginkel #37 of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Gabriel Moreno #14 celebrate after the Diamondbacks defeated the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on Tuesday, September 22, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Ray Bahner/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Diamondbacks News
Diamondbacks Pound Rockies, Gain Ground on Padres Nolan Arenado continued his hot-hitting ways. Michael Soroka had another strong outing. The Diamondbacks cruised to a win, keeping pace with the Phillies and gaining ground on the Padres.
Cardinals Have Nothing to Regret from Arenado Trade Despite Arenado’s strong 2026, the trade away from St. Louis still appears to have been very much the right move, not unlike when popular franchise cornerstone Paul Goldschmidt was rightly traded to them by Arizona. Both teams have benefitted fromboth those trades.
How San Diego Has Become Flashpoint in MLB Labour Battle At a time when Major League Baseball is attempting to upend its economic model by instituting a salary cap, the Padres have emerged as a beacon for players and union officials who believe a level playing field can exist without one.
How Good is the 2026-27 NPB Free Agent Class? There are certainly some intriguing players expected to be posted should MLB avoid a lockout. However, it is unlikely Arizona would be in on any of them.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 14: Ziaire Williams, Walker Kessler and Collin Sexton attend a game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the LA Clippers on July 14, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Becker/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
This summer, the Lakers were expected to make roster changes, but few expected the overhaul that followed.
The result is a roster that hardly resembles last season’s. With LeBron James among this summer’s departures, it’s an entirely new era for the Lakers.
As a reminder, teams can carry up to 20 players, not counting two-ways, in the preseason, but only 15 once the regular season starts. Presently, the Lakers have 16 guaranteed contracts with at least one move, either in the form of a trade or waiving a player, required before the start of the season.
Let’s take a look, then, at the Lakers’ roster breakdown
Guaranteed contracts
Luka Dončić
Austin Reaves
Walker Kessler
Quentin Grimes
Sandro Mamukelashvili
Jarred Vanderbilt
Collin Sexton
Jaden Hardy
Jake LaRavia
Dalton Knecht
Cameron Carr
Kevon Looney
Matisse Thybulle
Ziaire Williams
Bronny James
Adou Thiero
Two-way contracts
Arthur Kaluma
Chris Mañon
AK Okereke
Exhibit-10 contracts
Anton Watson
Robbie Avila
Williams Kyle III
Robert McCray
Chase Ross
Meechie Johnson
As things stand, it’s not entirely clear which players are under Exhibit-10 deals right now. The team has handed them out throughout the offseason, dating back to the start of Summer League, as a way to help build out their G League team. We know Anton Watson was waived in one of their most recent transactions and, at the same time, Chase Ross and Meechie Johnson are both under deals…for now.
During training camp, the Lakers can have up to 20 players under contract.
Clearly, the Lakers will have to make a move before the season begins. Do you think it’ll be a trade or waiving a player? Let us know what you’d do down below!
The MLB postseason is getting closer, and the list of October-bound teams continues to grow.
The Tampa Bay Rays locked up the American League East on Tuesday, Sept. 22, and with it secured home-field advantage throughout the AL playoffs. They're one of several teams that have already punched their tickets to October, while a pair of AL division races and several wild-card battles remain unresolved.
Here's a look at every team that has clinched a playoff berth, plus the clubs closest to joining the 2026 MLB postseason field.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - SEPTEMBER 21: Pete Alonso #25 of the Baltimore Orioles celebrates a home run during the eighth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 21, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
For a lot of the season, there has seemed to be only one obvious choice to end up as the Most Valuable Oriole. You never know if some voters will talk themselves into something silly to stop it from being unanimous. In 2026, it was so obvious that even those people got it right. Pete Alonso was announced ahead of Wednesday’s doubleheader as the Most Valuable Oriole for this season.
The only real downer about Alonso’s first season as an Oriole is the fact that so much of the roster around him was incapable for large stretches of the season of doing its part to make this a good Orioles team. Alonso’s 40 homers, .265/.359/.510 batting line, and 4.6 bWAR (hopefully with more to come over the last five games) were, in some sense, “wasted.” The team will probably be eliminated from postseason contention officially today.
That doesn’t take entirely away from the joy that Alonso has brought to the Orioles. He’s also brought better-than-advertised first base defense. If he doesn’t win a Gold Glove, that would be an egregious snub. He seems excited to be an Oriole in a way that comes along maybe once or twice in a decade, and his sign-off of every interview with “Let’s go O’s” is charming. We can all feel good about that contract going for four more years, at least for now.
The unanimous selection of Alonso marked the first time that the team had a unanimous winner since Cedric Mullins was the choice in 2021. That was the year that Mullins had the 30 home run/30 stolen base season for the Orioles, breaking out at the plate after giving up on being a switch hitter.
The Orioles do not announce the exact vote breakdown, or even who votes for this award. It is a mystery list of media and broadcasters who cover the team. Camden Chat is not included on that list. Ballots are submitted with a first place, second place, and third place, and the winner is tallied based on a points system. It’s easy when it’s unanimous for first place.
What the Orioles do announce is a list of players who did not win but also received votes. These guys were all on at least one voter’s ballot, in addition to the unanimous winner, Alonso: Blaze Alexander, Samuel Basallo, Shane Baz, Kyle Bradish, Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Rico Garcia, Gunnar Henderson, Trevor Rogers, and Brandon Young.
Weird votes are typically a fixture of this opaque process. Last year was a bigger “weird vote” year – somebody actually voted for interim manager Tony Mansolino a year ago. Somebody else, or maybe the same person, voted for Dylan Carlson, who was a -0.7 bWAR player for the 2025 Orioles. Most of these guys on the 2026 list were at least good for part of the season and can be somewhat justified as choices. Nobody voted for Craig Albernaz or this year’s negative bWAR outfielders, Dylan Beavers and Leody Taveras.
In the case of Alexander and Encarnacion-Strand, they just didn’t get to play enough to demonstrate more value; their overall performance was good in the games that they played. Alexander missed a bunch of games due to getting bones broken by a hit by pitch. Encarnacion-Strand only arrived in the organization during the season. He might turn out to be a Ryan O’Hearn kind of late bloomer story, or he might turn out to be a Jeremiah Jackson kind of flash in the plan.
When it comes to guys like Bradish, Henderson, Rogers, and Mayo, they weren’t good for significant portions of the season, so their season numbers don’t look like anything special. You have to squint more for some than for others to see the case. Mayo is closing out the season with three excellent months. Henderson has been hitting well since about mid-August and has maintained value with solid shortstop defense – that’s not to say it’s flawless, but the good has outweighed the bad even in what is another disappointing year for him overall. For Bradish, I don’t know. It felt good when he got that contract extension.
For me, Alonso is at the top, followed by Young and Rogers. Young’s surprisingly-good season was probably the only thing that prevented the Orioles from being completely buried in May or June. The team is 19-8 in Young starts this year. Whoever voted for Baz clearly didn’t hold the team’s 10-21 record in his starts against him. Baz probably “deserves” like 15-16 in his starts.
After Alonso and Young, you can make the case for a lot of people as third place, and that’s reflected in the variety of names who also received votes. Rogers was not good in April and May but has looked like a fringe Cy Young candidate ever since. That picks up on last year, when he was a Cy Young-caliber pitcher in the 18 starts that he made. That’s why I’d pick him for the third place spot; Rogers was the MVO winner a year ago.
Somebody’s going to pay Rogers this offseason. I don’t have any hope that it will be the Orioles.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 07: Collin Gillespie #12 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball against Aaron Holiday #0 of the Houston Rockets during the first half of the NBA game at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 07, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Every day, we’ll take a closer look at another member of the 2026-27 Phoenix Suns, examining what they bring to the roster and what their role could mean for the season ahead as we count down to training camp and the preseason.
Collin Gillespie
Point Guard, 6’1”, 195 pounds, 27 years old, 4th season
Collin Gillespie has been a diamond in the rough for the Phoenix Suns, as they have found someone who went from a two-way player to a record-setter in just two years. He has transformed his NBA image through sheer tenacity and determination never to give up. This upcoming year, he looks to build on that image as a potential starting guard alongside Devin Booker.
After a big offseason payday, Gillespie needs to keep stamping his name in the franchise record books like he did last year. That is when he set the franchise record for most threes in a season with 232, and this season looks like a chance to build on it. With two of the better three-point scorers gone, Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale, it is likely that Gillespie can continue the hot streak from last year.
Last Season
GP
MIN
PPG
RPG
APG
STL
FG%
3PT%
FT%
OFFRTG
DEFRTG
+/- (TOTAL)
80
28.5
12.7
4.1
4.6
1.2
41.8%
40.1%
87.4%
113.7
110.0
+200
Last year, Gillespie set out to make an imprint on the Suns’ rotation early, and he did. After an impressive second half on his two-way contract, he earned a full deal and returned for a prove-it season. Last season was key, and he stayed healthy for most of it, playing in 80 games. He did start on the bench; however, playing alongside big men Oso Ighodaro and Mark Williams, he showed off his playmaking skills and true knack for setting up teammates. The bench unit’s simple pick-and-roll plays, with him at the helm, brought early success to this underdog unit.
As he continued to show he could be a solid bench point guard, the Suns realized they should get him in the starting lineup. With Jalen Green dealing with his hamstring injuries, Gillespie then saw himself inserted to replace him. Alongside Booker, he looked solid and had some big moments in his newfound role. One I remember was in December against the Wolves: with no Devin Booker, he and Dillon Brooks went out on the road and pulled off a sneaky win, to the fans’ dismay.
Gillespie, who had 19 points in this one, came up huge as the lead guard with no Booker or Green, and it showed he can truly live up to his potential. Not only that, but he got the nickname “Villain Jr.” given to him by Dillon Brooks, who was the new culture setter in the post-KD Suns world. His connection with Brooks ultimately brought out that true competitor in Gillespie, something he’s had since his Villanova days. At the end of the season, he did slow down offensively, but for a guy who went from a two-way deal to starter in two seasons, he paved his own path to success in the Valley.
Contract and Roster Context
Collin Gillespie just inked a new deal with the Suns after spending the past summer as a free agent. He signed a whopping four-year, $48 million deal that was definitely well worth the investment. With early-bird rights, the team could offer Gillespie more money than rival teams in free agency, and he was the first free agent to re-sign with the team this offseason.
What He Brings
I think the question is: what does Gillespie not bring to the team? Honestly, though, he is solid on both ends, and his hustle is unmatched. He has always been the underdog, and coming to Phoenix was the same scenario as in high school or after the draft. He had to fight for his spot and show he could be the game changer, and he has. Yes, he may be a little undersized at the guard position, so he may get picked on defense, but with his heart and hustle, he forces turnovers when opponents least expect it.
On the offensive end, he’s also a solid playmaker who can set up his teammates whether it’s a three-point attempt with an extra pass, a lob throw for an impressive dunk, or even a simple pass for two points in a pick-and-roll situation. He is also lights out from three-point range and set the franchise record for most threes in a game. With Ott prioritizing that style of offense as well in run-and-gun threes, it fits the skill set he succeeds in most. Not to mention, he can score at the basket and attack bigger defenders; he’s not afraid of any opposition.
What Needs to Improve
I think he needs to be in better shape than last season to improve. Coming off a solid two-way stint, he expected a bigger role, but with Allen as a solid three-point scorer and Green coming in via trade, he probably didn’t expect a starting spot, especially so early. That leaves him being forced to play more minutes and take up more shots per game, which is good but can take a toll on the body. After going from very low playing time to now almost 30 minutes a night, also for 80 out of the 82 nights, it is not easy.
As I said earlier, as the season went on, the three-point percentage started to dip. He went into a bit of a slump, and I ultimately think it was just fatigue at that point. So for Gillespie to get this contract now shows he’s expected to play a larger role in Phoenix, and he should make sure his body is ready so he can keep getting more opportunities in the rotation.
Prediction
I think Gillespie will have a season to remember here in the Valley. With Green and Booker ready to go, he will be more of a bench contributor this season, but that also brings the spotlight as one of the NBA’s best bench guards. His numbers continue to soar, and he will be in the early Six Man of the Year conversations.
Gillespie’s most important goal is to prove this payday was not a mistake. They found him as a talent and brought him into the spotlight, and now he must show he can build on it. I have no fear that he can be someone to be a staple of this bench core for now and the future, but the question remains whether he can find his way to leap into that starting role by the end of the season, as that truly will have not just Suns fans but NBA fans knowing how impactful he can be.
A Pod of Their Own and Home Run Applesauce are hosting their annual Dollars 4 Dingers fundraising event this Saturday, September 26 at the Lion’s Head Tavern. The event starts at 2:00 PM, and all proceeds go to the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
For those unfamiliar with Dollars 4 Dingers, in the month of September, fans pledge a dollar amount per home run hit by the New York Mets, or any baseball team the donor chooses, with all of the proceeds going to the NDVH. Now in its eighth year, Dollars 4 Dingers has thus far raised over $77,000 heading into this month. This year, we’ve raised almost $6,000 thus far, and will raise even more this weekend with our annual raffle.
Saturday’s event acts as the unofficial close of the year’s fundraising, and we’ve got some amazin’ prizes for our raffle. If you missed a giveaway this season there will be several included as raffle prizes such as a Carlos Beltrán bobblehead, a Mr. Met Unisphere bobblehead, a Francisco Lindor WWE bobblehead, a Mets squishy dumpling, and a Mets’ K-Pop Demon Hunters jersey. For Seinfeld fans, there will be a Cosmo Kramer bobble and a “Nice Game Pretty Boy” t-shirt.
Art But Make It Sports and Athlete Logos were generous enough to donate some prizes as well. There will be a signed copy of Art But Make It Sports’s book and multiple Mets themed hats courtesy of Athlete Logos.
The Mets’ Double-A affiliate, the Binghamton Rumble Ponies, put together amazing prizes for the fundraiser including signed balls from A.J. Ewing, Jefry Yan, Chris Suero, D’Andre Smith, and Jonathan Santucci.
And now for the grand prize (insert dramatic drum roll here). Courtesy of the Amazin’ Mets foundation, a Francisco Lindor signed ball!
The Lions Head has been a fantastic partner for us over the last two years, and this year will have drink specials all day, plus the Mets’ game on so that we can cheer on a meaningless game in a rough season. That shouldn’t deter you from coming, though! There will be delicious drinks, great prizes, and fellow Mets fans to hang out and commiserate with. Misery loves company, after all!
It’s also not too late to make a pledge this season. For every Mets home run hit in September you can pledge any amount of money. No amount is too small for the National Domestic Violence hotline.
NEW YORK - OCTOBER 17: Joba Chamberlain #62 of the New York Yankees celebrates striking out Vladimir Guerrero #27 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim to end the top of the seventh inning in Game Two of the ALCS during the 2009 MLB Playoffs at Yankee Stadium on October 17, 2009 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The legend starts with the name. Born Justin Louis Heath, now legally Joba Chamberlain, Joba actually was picked up and assigned to him by his father after a cousin struggled to say the name of a different relative. Chamberlain’s father was born on and grew up on the Winnebago Reservation, giving him access to the exclusive club of Indigenous major leaguers.
Justin Louis “Joba” Chamberlain Born: September 23, 1985 (Lincoln, NE) Yankees Tenure: 2007-2013
Growing up in Lincoln, Nebraska, Chamberlain had to work for everything he would eventually earn. After graduating high school, Chamberlain took a year off from school to work and save money for school. He then landed at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. After a dominant freshman year, Chamberlain transferred to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Chamberlain helped the Cornhuskers reach the 2005 College World Series.
Injuries limited Chamberlain in 2006 at Nebraska, but the Yankees still used their supplemental-round pick to select the right-hander 41st overall. Due to injuries, Chamberlain did not get any minor league experience that summer or early fall after being drafted. However, Chamberlain burst onto the scene and shot through the system in 2007.
The Yankees had Chamberlain start the 2007 season with High-A Tampa. After a month of dominating to the tune of a 4-0 record with a 2.03 ERA in seven starts, the Yankees promoted the youngster to Double-A Trenton. Chamberlain kept rolling and was selected to pitch in the Futures Game that summer. On July 20, 2007, Chamberlain made his final start in Double-A against the New Britain Rock Cats. I was actually sitting beside Reggie Jackson, who gave me the first bit of breaking news I ever received… despite giving up three home runs that day, the Yankees were calling the kid up to Scranton.
Chamberlain only needed three games and eight innings of Triple-A baseball before he got the call to the show and Joba Mania took hold of the Bronx. Upon reaching the big leagues, Chamberlain pitched 16 innings without allowing an earned run to begin his career, further fueling the craze. The organization wanted to protect their young blossoming star and created the now-infamous Joba Rules.
Designed by upper management and enacted by manager Joe Torre to prevent injuries, the rules prohibited Chamberlain from pitching on consecutive days, mandated an extra day of rest for every inning he pitched, and required two full days of rest if he threw two innings in an outing. These rules changed over the next few seasons as the team tried to transition him back from the pen to a starter. These rules would be no match for the banks of Lake Erie and the midges of the 2007 postseason.
After posting a 0.38 ERA in 24 innings, Chamberlain and the Yankees were ready for a playoff run in 2007. However, Chamberlain got coated in tiny flies and lost control of the ball. The Yankees lost the game and series, in what has to be one of the biggest what-if moments of modern Yankees baseball.
Chamberlain was built up during the 2008 spring training to be a starting pitcher. However, the club decided to use him in the bullpen to start the season. He had another dominant stretch, and the Yankees decided to transition Chamberlain mid-year into a starting role. He continued to roll until he suffered a rotator-cuff injury in early August, one that was partially attributed to a quick throw by catcher Iván Rodríguez. When Chamberlain returned at the end of the season, the Yankees were eliminated and kept him in the bullpen.
Entering 2009, the Yankees added CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett, which gave the young Chamberlain two aces to pitch behind in the rotation. The season was up and down for Chamberlain, but as the innings started adding up, the Yankees brought back Joba Rules. This time, the rule was he could make one start every seven days, then changed back to regular usage but limiting outings to four innings per appearance. The team used Chamberlain out of the bullpen in the playoffs, en route to the 2009 championship.
The 2010 season would be the beginning of the end for Chamberlain in pinstripes. In spring training, he lost the last rotation spot to fellow former prospect Phil Hughes and found himself back in the bullpen. Then, during the 2011 season, Chamberlain found himself under the knife, undergoing Tommy John surgery in June. That injury and recovery was further complicated when he injured his ankle on a trampoline in January of 2012.
Injuries limited Chamberlain to just 22 appearances in 2012. Chamberlain could not catch a positive break, as after battling back, he again got hurt, this time suffering an elbow injury on a broken bat in Game 4 of the 2012 ALDS. The Yankees brought Chamberlain back in 2013 for what ended up being his final season as a Yankee.
Across seven seasons as a Yankee, Chamberlain in total struck out 446 batters across 444.2 innings, had a WHIP of 1.38, and an ERA of 3.85. Chamberlain later pitched for Detroit, Kansas City, and then ended his career down by the lake in Cleveland. Chamberlain announced his retirement on October 4, 2017. Since retiring, Chamberlain has occasionally appeared on television as a baseball analyst and hosts a podcast.
Happy birthday, Joba!
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
If you’ve been a long time follower of my work, you’ve seen me write many times from the perspective of glass half empty, glass half full. I particularly like to do it when you could justifiably look at a game and go either way with the information you got out of it. I thought Tuesday night was one of those games. As usual, your mileage may vary.
The glass is half empty. The Marlins won their 77th game Tuesday night. They are a full 10 games behind the Cubs. I doubt scores are much of a spoiler this time of the year, but all three Wild Card teams finished Tuesday in a three-way tie. So the Marlins are then 10 games out of a playoff spot. If they swept their last five games (it would be very bad news for the Cubs) they would end up with 82 wins. Just better than .500. They are improved, but they are at least one tier removed from the caliber of playoff teams. Struggling to score runs, needing an unearned run to end up with two runs in 12 innings, eventually losing to the Marlins, it’s all not great.
The middle of the road pitching staff Marlins stifled your offense, not for nine innings but 12? Obviously, Alex Bregman was out. Get well soon Alex! The good news with him is that he does appear to have missed all of the worst outcomes. But it still remains to be seen if his field of vision is clear enough for the fine skills necessary for playing baseball. Without him in the lineup we saw something we haven’t seen a ton of. That is, Pete Crow-Armstrong getting intentionally walked. Between his speed and the lineup support he has, that hasn’t been a readily deployed strategy even as he skyrockets to the top of nearly top of seemingly every offensive category.
This game was a real drag. After tying this game, the Cubs had opportunity after opportunity to win it and just could not come up with the combination of plays to make it happen. The bullpen was so good for so long. But ultimately, the collective bullpen ends up with lousy collective numbers. In the end, the Cub bullpen worked seven innings and allowed seven runs, six of them earned. That’s brutal. Surely I’m not the only one who flashed back to Ryan Pressly’s 11th inning from May of last year?
So much not good here.
But also, the glass was half full. This game was probably not playoff caliber. But it did end up having a playoff like feel to it. Wrigley was jumping when the Cubs rallied to tie the game. It’s an interesting thing to me. Ian Happ feels pretty universally loved at Wrigley Field and largely disliked on social media. I’m not sure if I can think of a player with that kind of gap between different portions of the fandom. Pedro Strop is the last polarizing figure I can remember like that. A guy who people either really liked or really didn’t.
The crowd buzzed as the bullpen held the Marlins down, giving the Cubs all of those opportunities to win. Daniel Palencia faced four batters and retired them all. Ryan Rolison faced five batters and retired four. Ryan Zeferjahn wiggled out of a jam. Those are the guys you are going to have to count on out of your pen. Aaron Civale gave up a really rare homer (at least as a Cub), but also faced eight batters and retired six. Your first four choices out of the Cub bullpen (save for maybe Jacob Webb) threw a total of 5.1 innings, facing 21 batters, allowing three hits, a walk and a hit batsman. You’d love for your starter to get a few more outs than that, but otherwise you’d take that as a start.
Palencia particularly seems to be regaining some of his form. Ryan Rolison has been surprisingly good as a Cub and Ryan Zeferjahn… well, he’s an adventure. But the Cubs didn’t lose this one on his watch. Again, not necessarily the bullpen you want, but it’s what you’ve got. You saw reasons to believe they could hold a lead for this team in a playoff atmosphere.
For me, other than the general frustration of a winnable game slipping away, my one frustration is the way modern baseball affects a game like this. We’ve done years of studies and correctly determined that outs are way too valuable a commodity to give away. So much so that it is generally a bad idea to sacrifice bunt. That’s all well and good and given the amount of time I spend looking at WPA and run expectancy, I’m as aware of those things as anyone. Also, all of that math starts slipping away in the bottom half of an extra inning tie game. In that spot it is very much worth it to sacrifice the ghost runner to third to start the inning. But it is darn hard to execute a skill under pressure that you basically never use.
Heavy sigh. There’s always the next one.
Three Positives:
Pete Crow-Armstrong had a single, double, two walks (on intentional) and his 39th stolen base. I’m going to keep saying that it is a remarkable season weather he reaches 45/40 or not. Our infatuation with round numbers is silly sometimes.
Daniel Palencia’s four up/four down.
Ryan Rolison’s five up/four down.
Game 157, September 22: Marlins 8, Cubs 2 (87-70)
Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.
THREE HEROES:
Superhero: Ryan Rolison (.280). 1.1 IP, 5 BF, H, 2 K
Hero: Daniel Palencia (.170). 1.1 IP, 4 BF, K
Sidekick: Michael Busch (.146). 1-4, 2 BB
THREE GOATS:
Billy Goat: Pedro Ramirez (-.328). 0-5
Goat: Matt Shaw (-.285). 0-4
Kid: Carson Kelly (-.267). 1-5
Note: Edward Cabrera’s -.175 was the fifth lowest score. Caleb Thielbar was actually a .065 because he got out of a jam the previous inning. So in the end, the cumulative struggles of the offense outweighed that 12th inning, aided by the split inning between Thielbar and Cabrera.
WPA Play of the Game: Caleb Thielbar got Esteury Ruiz to pop foul to first with the bases loaded and one out in the 11th. (.193)
Marlins Play of the Game: Griffin Conine’s RBI single that started the scoring in the 12th inning with no outs. (.181)
Cubs Player of the Game:
Game 156 Winner: Pete Crow-Armstrong received 55 of 91 votes.
Rizzo Award Standings: (Top 5/Bottom 5)
The award is named for Anthony Rizzo, who finished first in this category three of the first four years it was in existence and four times overall. He also recorded the highest season total ever at +65.5. The point scale is three points for a Superhero down to negative three points for a Billy Goat.
Alex Bregman +26
Pete Crow-Armstrong +25.5
Carson Kelly +16.5
Shōta Imanaga +15
Ben Brown +13.5
Jameson Taillon -13
Nico Hoerner -16
Dansby Swanson -17
Caleb Thielbar -17.5
Seiya Suzuki -20
Scoreboard Watching: Congratulations to the Rays on clinching the AL East title. Diamondbacks win and stay alive, four back of the three wild cards. Phillies win. Padres lose. All three teams are tied for the Wild Card spots. The clock remains very close to midnight on the Diamondbacks season.
Up Next: The Cubs are going to need some length out of Kevin Gausman (9-12, 4.55) to reset their bullpen after this game. In eight starts as a Cub, two of the have gone seven innings (both wins) and has pitched past the end of five one other time, that being last time when he made it 5.2 innings. He allowed a run over five innings as a Blue Jay starter against this Marlins team earlier this year.
Ryan Gusto (1-5, 4.14) starts for the Marlins. The 27-year-old righty has lost two of his last three starts, including one against the Cubs. He allowed five earned runs in 4.2 innings against the Cubs a couple of weeks ago. Let’s hope the Cubs can get their bats going Tuesday.
Find a way, win a game. Celebrate a playoff spot and find the good vibes. We’re going to need them to chase down that top Wild Card spot. It’s still very much on the table.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 14: (Editors Note: Tonal effects have been applied to this image) Tyler Nickel #55 of the New York Knicks poses for a portrait during the 2026 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot at UNLV on July 14, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The New York Knicks have yet to sign rookie Tyler Nickel, but the expectation around the league is that the two sides will ultimately reach an agreement.
Nickel joined the Knicks organization after New York used the No. 47 overall pick on the former Vanderbilt standout, but there were questions about whether or not the sharpshooter would eventually join the NBA roster.
On Wednesday, The Athletic’s James L. Edwards III reported that while Nickel’s status remains unresolved ahead of training camp, it’s likely he ends up sitting on the Knicks’ bench and getting minutes this season after eventually inking a deal in the next few days or weeks.
“From everything I’ve heard from talking to people throughout the league, Nickel and the Knicks are expected to reach some kind of contract agreement,” Edwards wrote.
New York Knicks training camp starts this time next week.
Here is my preseason preview with storylines I’m watching, roster thoughts and more:https://t.co/7OvHa95Eh2
What kind of contract Nickel receives, however, is less certain. Edwards noted that Nickel could make more through NIL by returning to college than on a two-way contract with New York, with early-summer reports of a possible $1-to-$1.4 million NIL deal waiting for him if he returns. A federal court ruling granted Nickel and a few other young men a fifth year of eligibility, so that door is wide open.
The situation could potentially explain New York’s roster construction to date, with open spots and a bunch of players in tryout deals heading into preseason. All we know is that New York is expected to add one more player on a standard contract before the season while surely avoiding the second apron.
“Could the Knicks be trying to make a trade to open up a roster spot to give Nickel a standard deal?” Edwards wrote. “The way this situation has played out, it sort of feels that way.”
Edwards identified Pacôme Dadiet and Miles McBride as logical trade possibilities if New York chooses that route, although he is skeptical McBride would be moved before the season.
While Nickel remains unsigned, Edwards’ reporting makes it very clear the expectation is that the Knicks and their second-round pick eventually reach an agreement. For now, we wait.
Jan 29, 2024; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets general manager Sean Marks court side prior to the game against the Utah Jazz at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
Brian Lewis takes a stab at who on the Brooklyn Nets roster — and in the front office — has the most to prove as 2026-27 approaches. As you’d imagine with a team so young and so inexperienced, the list is long.
Things will get going soon. Sean Marks & co. have until October 31 to make decisions on the future of the Flatbush 5. The Nets must decide by then whether to extend all of them for a third year on their four-year deals, the first two years being guaranteed. Egor Demin is a n0-brainer. He had a solid rookie year and looked even better in Summer League. The four others taken at Nos. 19, 22, 26 and 27 are highly likely to get another year, but as Lewis points out, it is the NBA and nothing is truly guaranteed.
[Nolan] Traoré was the next-highest drafted of the lot behind Dëmin, but missed this year’s summer league due to injury. He has bulked up, but must stay healthy and learn to finish. [Drake] Powell struggled mightily in both Sacramento and Las Vegas, shooting horribly. [Ben] Saraf and [Danny] Wolf also need to space the floor better.
It seems unlikely that any of that quartet — even Powell — wouldn’t get their options picked up. But it should be pointed out that two years ago, the Nets exercised their third-year option on 2023 first-round pick Dariq Whitehead, but after a poor season, he was waived the next October…
To paraphrase a great Yankee, it gets late early in the NBA.
The player taken before Whitehead in the 2023 NBA Draft also has a deadline. The Nets have until October 19 to decide on whether to give Noah Clowney a multi-year extension which at this point seems unlikely meaning the 22-year-old will become a restricted free agent next July. Clowney didn’t have bad season last year, averaging 12.3 points on 40/33/80 shooting to go along with 4.1 rebounds in 66 games, 60 of them starts. Clowney has down flashes of his potential, recording games of seven 3-pointers and seven blocks in the past two seasons and getting to the line more often too, but the team would like to have seen more progress. Now, he’ll have competition.
With the arrival of [Julius] Randle, Clowney is almost certainly going to lose his starting power forward job. But he stands to lose far more — a chance at a big restricted free-agent payday — if he doesn’t show growth as a rebounder, shooter or shot-blocker, three areas where the Nets in dire need.
It’s entirely possible that with improved 3-point shooting and rim protection, he could get opportunities at all three front court positions. On the other hand, if he doesn’t, he’ll not only have competition for minutes from Randle who is an ironman, having played 79 games last season, but also Josh Minott who’s similarly versatile and only 16 months older.
Michael Porter Jr. and Randle are, of course, not among the 10 players under 25 on the roster. MPJ is 28 and in his eighth year, Randle nearly 32 and in his 13th. They also have a list of NBA accomplishments. As Lewis notes,
The Nets’ best players — veterans Michael Porter Jr. and Julius Randle — have one championship ring, three All-Stars berths, two All-NBA selections and about $350 million in career earnings between them. They’re both essentially guaranteed of being on huge contracts next season — but just how huge? And where?
Both are likely playing for the future whether with Brooklyn or elsewhere. Porter Jr. of course is on a $40.8 million expiring deal and is looking for an extension. Randle is making $35.8 million and has a player option for 2027-28 which likely means he’ll be looking for an extension himself come next July. Both seem happy to be in New York and both have predicted big things from their young teammates, MPJ suggesting 50 wins, Randle saying the team could “shock the world.” However, do they fit the Nets time-line, particularly Randle?
A hot start will be both expected and needed in Brooklyn. It remains to be seen whether the Nets will look to flip him at the trade deadline. If so, Randle would benefit by changing the narrative of his exit from Minnesota and exhibiting leadership to go along with his scoring and bullyball game.
Indeed, they have all the motivation in the world to have big years … something that seems lost on most pundits predicting doom-and-gloom.
Could Marks flip one or even both? They may carry baggage, but both are bucket-getters and contending teams could use one or the other after the February deadline. Moreover, if the Nets don’t see them as long-term pieces on bit deals, they’d better get something for them before they hit the open market at the end of this season. What might the Nets want? More picks? They already lead the league in total picks, first rounders and second rounders over the next seven years. Younger players?
Lewis also includes the man who will make the decision on both in his assessments: GM Sean Marks.
How the youngsters — Dëmin, rookie lottery pick Mikel Brown Jr. and even newly promoted starter Day’Ron Sharpe — develop will be key.
But preserving assets for the next star that becomes available — along with the patience that Nets owner Joe Tsai has shown in him — means Marks will be under the microscope.
At Media Day, Marks will have a chance to lay out what the team will be looking for this season, How much will he and Jordi Fernandez expect? Joe Tsai doesn’t make an appearance at Media Day but he’s been resolute in pursuing the team’s long-term plan. He recently told author Michael Rubenstein that while the Nets need to “win championships”, he also said he believes in a “multi-year rebuilding process” and “build through the draft.” So, Tsai too knows he needs to prove something.
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 11: Cade Cavalli #24 of the Washington Nationals pitches during the game between the Los Angeles Angels and the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on Friday, September 11, 2026 in Washington, District of Columbia. (Photo by Alyssa McDaniel/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
With the season about to wrap up, the Washington Nationals have decided to shut down Cade Cavalli for the season. He only had one more scheduled start, but the Nats are going to close the book on their ace. It is a decision I understand even though I don’t love it and think it is a bummer for the fans.
Cade Cavalli is done for the year. He is healthy, to be clear, but the Nats are shutting him down given all the innings and where they are at in the standings.
Even though the fight to avoid last place this weekend is something to watch, there is not a ton to play for this season. We all know Cavalli’s injury history, so I understand proceeding with caution. He has thrown way more innings than he ever has before in 2026.
This season Cavalli has thrown 169.2 innings. That is a major leap from the 122.2 innings he threw last year. Cavalli’s career high before this season was the 123.1 inning he threw all the way back in 2021. The logic behind this decision is quite clear, but it is still a bummer.
I know that I wanted to see Cavalli take the ball one more time at Nationals Park. Even if he only threw 4 or 5 innings, I would have loved to see him take the ball. It would have sent a nice message to Nats fans that want to see their newly extended pitcher in action one more time.
My dad has complained about how the Nats are constantly waiting for tomorrow instead of battling today. The trade deadline was an example of this and so is the Cavalli shutdown. Personally, I am more understanding of the bigger picture, but I get where he is coming from.
Cavalli has made it this far, would one more start really put him over the edge? While there is not a ton at stake for the team, there were still some individual goals out there for Cavalli. If he tossed 1.2 more scoreless innings or threw 5 innings of one run ball, he would have finished his season with an ERA under 3. That would have been quite the milestone for the right hander.
He also had the chance to reach 175 innings if he threw 5.1 more innings. That will not happen now. Hopefully he can achieve those goals next year. The book is now closed on Cavalli’s season and the numbers are very impressive. Cavalli finished the year with a 13-5 record and 3.02 ERA in 169.2 innings.
If you want more advanced stats, Cavalli had a 3.25 FIP, a 3.13 xFIP and 3.9 fWAR. The 28 year old struck out 28.3% of hitters while only walking 6.8%. Whatever way you slice it, Cade Cavalli had an elite season in his first full big league campaign.
Despite falling short of a few milestones, there is one big one that he did hit. In his last start against the Cardinals, Cavalli got his 200th strikeout of the season. Only 9 pitchers have hit that mark this season at this point. Cade is the first Nat to strike out 200 hitters since 2019.
Good day to be Cade Cavalli.
Got an extension this afternoon. Reached 200 strikeouts on the season in a scoreless start tonight. pic.twitter.com/h7stZ7qWnG
Overall, this was a phenomenal year for Cade Cavalli. He established himself as the Nats ace and got rewarded with a contract extension. It is a bummer that we will not see him one more time. However, that is just the way modern baseball works I suppose. Shutdowns have become normal, and the Nats played a big role in popularizing that with the Strasburg situation back in the day.
As we move forward, I hope Cade Cavalli can make meaningful starts in September and into October. He has shown an ability to get stronger as the year goes on, with a sub-2 ERA after the All-Star Break. There will be no more Cade days in 2026, but hopefully we can see Cavalli starts in October in 2027 and beyond.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JULY 18: Rain covers the stands at Fenway Park prior to a game between the Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays on July 18, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
On Monday, OTM weather guru Matt Gross warned us all about the scheduling chaos that could be headed our way if Boston gets hit by a nasty ol’ nor’easter this weekend. As Matt’s piece flew around the internet, it immediately led to speculation that MLB might move the games in an attempt to avoid what would be a meaningless-to-the-Sox and necessary-but-annoying-to-the-Cubs doubleheader on Monday, the day before the playoffs start. But, according to a league source, MLB has no intention of moving the series, though a Friday double-header is possible. “Everybody is well aware that the weather could get bad. I know it also could miss and not be bad,” Chad Tracy said. “It’s very much on everybody’s radar through each organization plus Major League Baseball.” (Tim Healey, Boston Globe)
Garrett Crochet was never planning on pitching in a regular season game before the playoffs, so this weekend’s storm won’t impact him. But he continues to make progress, having faced a live hitter for the first time in his recovery process yesterday. Crochet faced Ceddanne Rafaela, threw 16 pitches, and got his fastball up to the 94-96 MPH range. “I would say the way that live just went, that I could go get outs,” Crochet said. “It depends obviously what role they want me in. It’s not really for me to say. I know myself, and I know my body, and the biggest thing was that I felt good out there. Felt like I was able to ramp up intensity to a place that I haven’t gone yet.” (Ian Browne, MLB.com)
That the Sox pitching has held so steady without Crochet is a testement to the staff’s overall depth, and to the way Payton Tolle in particular has stepped up this season. Last night, the fans let him know he’s appreciated. “Yeah, I think he’s won them over pretty significantly,” said Chad Tracy. “Obviously, he’s been awesome this year.” (Ian Browne, MLB.com)
Tolle has won over the fans first by pitching really, really well, and second by appearing to be an all-around great dude, as when he hugs opposing players on the baseline. But, as it turns out, hugging players on the field isn’t new for him, as we can see in his highlight video of his high school basketball days:
The Sox bullpen sure could use an arm of Crochet’s caliber, particularly given the recent performance of Erik Miller. Miller is seriously struggling to throw strikes and is working on his mechanics behind the scenes to fix the issue. “I would like to kind of have been through this by now and kind of be over it,” Miller said. “But all I can do is just keep taking the ball and try to get through it. There’s no way I can kind of feel better and work through without throwing in a game, so that’s kind of just how it’s going to have to be: Just keep throwing to get through it.” (Christopher Smith, MassLive)
It’ll be difficult for Chad Tracy to navigate Miller and the rest of the bullpen as the Sox head down the stretch, but that’s why he’s getting paid the big bucks — for at least three more years. Tracy was made the permanent manager yesterday and isn’t hiding from his emotions. “I choked up a little bit,” Tracy said. “Choked up because you stand there in the moment and think about the journey. And you also look around at the faces of guys that I’ve had — quite a few for five years. Some of them I’ve had in my life for parts of the last five years of being here. So to look around at the players in the room and being able to have that announcement with some players that I’ve grown very, very close with was a cool moment.” (Christopher Smith, Chris Cotillo, MassLive)
