Judge, who missed three months of the 2026 season with a fractured rib, hit a three-run home run off of Minnesota Twins left-hander A.J. Minter in the eighth inning of an 8-3 win on Monday, Sept. 14. It was Judge's first round-tripper since May 24 against the Tampa Bay Rays. Judge now has 18 home runs in 65 games played this season.
Since his return to the Yankees' lineup on Sept. 8, Judge had gone 3-for-17 in five games played before clobbering a cutter from Minter into the third deck at Target Field in Minneapolis on Monday.
The Yankees entered Monday needing a win over the Twins or loss by the Toronto Blue Jays against the Detroit Tigers to clinch at least a wild card berth. Detroit closed out a 6-5 win moments before the Yankees defeated the Twins, making the Yankees the second American League team to secure a playoff spot.
Why Aaron Judge missed 84 games
Judge said the injury traced back to a diving play in Houston in late April. He played through rib and shoulder discomfort for about a month before the team finally shut him down May 31. He was hitting .248 through 59 games at the time – a career worst – with 17 home runs and 38 RBIs.
The Yankees without Judge
In the 84 games Judge missed, the Yankees scored 4.06 runs a game and hit .227 as a team with a .681 OPS. With him in the lineup for 59 games, they averaged 5.17 runs and hit .243 with a .770 OPS. Basically, that's the difference between an average offense and one of the best lineups in the league.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 14: Pitcher Jonah Tong #21 of the New York Mets pitches during the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Citi Field on September 14, 2026 in the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As you may have heard, Pete Alonso returned with his new team to Citi Field tonight, and the Mets lost to the Orioles 2-1. Although Jonah Tong pitched admirably, the Mets could not capitalize on their six hits and left nine runners on base.
After Jonah Tong struck out Dylan Beavers to lead off the first inning, Alonso stepped up to thunderous applause, cheers, and chants of his name. He flied out to Carson Benge in right field, but that did not dampen the enthusiasm of the crowd. Tong then retired Gunnar Henderson as well for a 1-2-3 start to his day. In the bottom of the inning, Francisco Lindor walked to lead off, but Juan Soto popped out, and Bo Bichette grounded into a double play for the second and third outs to end the inning.
At the top of the second inning, Jackson Holliday looped a one-out single into right field. He reached second on a passed ball by Francisco Alvarez, which had popped out of Alvarez’s glove. It proved costly when Heston Kjerstad drilled a double into right field past Brett Baty. The ball made a weird hop past Baty, and Holliday scored the first run of the game. When the Mets came to bat in the second, they loaded the bases with two outs. Marcus Semien drilled a single down the left-field line, and then A.J. Ewing and Baty walked. Unfortunately, they were all stranded when Alvarez struck out on a foul tip for the third out, and the second inning ended with the score Orioles 1, Mets 0.
Alonso drew a two-out walk in the third inning, but was stranded there when Tong struck out Henderson. At the bottom of the third, Juan Soto smacked a one-out single into right field. Benge sneaked a single past third base, but both runners were again stranded when Jared Young grounded out for the third out. At the top of the fourth inning, Holliday hit a ground ball straight to Semien, but Semien could not get it out of his glove in a timely manner, and Holliday made it to first base safely. He was stranded as well, though. At the bottom of the inning, Ewing drilled a home run into right field. Alvarez smacked a ground ball to third base that Coby Mayo initially fielded but bobbled, allowing Alvarez to reach base safely on an infield hit. However, he was also stranded when Lindor struck out, leaving the score Mets 1, Orioles 1, at the end of the fourth inning.
To lead off the fifth inning, Colton Cowser hit a single that Semien knocked down but couldn’t get to first base in time. The next three batters went down in order. Soto walked to lead off the bottom of the fifth and, with two outs, stole second base. Young also drew a walk, but Semien grounded out to end the rally attempt there. Tong came back out for the top of the sixth inning and only needed six pitches to retire the three batters he saw. Josh Walker replaced Brandon Young for the Orioles at the bottom of the sixth, and he also worked a 1-2-3 inning. The score remained 1-1.
Jonathan Pintaro replaced Jonah Tong in the seventh inning. He allowed a lead-off double to Christian Encarnacion-Strand, who drove the ball into left field. However, Pintaro retired the next three batters in order to keep the score tied. The Mets batters went down in order at the bottom of the inning. Dedniel Núñez replaced Pintaro to pitch the eighth inning and allowed a soaring home run to Henderson with two outs. Mayo then belted a single into left field before Holliday grounded out to end the top of the inning. At the bottom of the eighth, Benge led off with a single into center field. Nobody else could build on it, even with Mark Vientos pinch-hitting for Young. As a result, the Mets again stranded a base runner to end the eighth inning. The Orioles led 2-1.
Kodai Senga came out for the ninth inning, and he struck out Encarnacion-Strand for the first out. However after that, he gave up a single to Kjerstad and another to Cowser. Ewing could not field the ball cleanly on the single to Cowser, and Kjerstad advanced to third on the error as well. However, Senga struck out the next two batters to end the top of the ninth and give the Mets a chance. In the bottom of the inning, Baty flied out, Alvarez grounded out, and Lindor flied out to end the game, Orioles 2, Mets 1.
The Mets will see the Orioles again tomorrow for the second game of the series. Sean Manaea will face off against Shane Baz. First pitch is at 7:10 PM.
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - SEPTEMBER 14: Quinn Mathews #60 of the St. Louis Cardinals delivers a pitch against the San Francisco Giants in the first inning at Busch Stadium on September 14, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Any description of Monday night’s game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the San Francisco Giants must start with two words: Quinn Mathews. Quinn was unhittable (literally) for the first 5 innings of the game. The Cardinals bats were unfortunately quiet, too, for the first half of the game and you figured the bullpen would become a factor eventually.
While Mathews was tossing a gem, the St. Louis Cardinals were scattering hits which rarely equals runs. St. Louis had scoring opportunities that were squandered in the bottom of the 2nd and 3rd innings. Fortunately, that changed in the bottom of the 5th inning when Thomas Saggese slapped a one-out single up the middle. He stole second and then Herrera walked. In response to Alec Burleson coming up to the plate, the Giants removed starter Landen Roupp and brought in reliever Reiver Sanmartin. That didn’t end well for San Francisco and Burleson responsed with a single up the middle to score the Cardinals first run of the game to make it 1-0.
St. Louis wasn’t done, either. After Jordan Walker lived up to his name and walked, Leo Bernal came up and crushed a laser shot single to right field scoring Herrera doubling the Cardinals lead to 2-0.
That led to another pitching change for the Giants as they decided to try Anthony Kuhnel to face Joshua Báez. He managed to strike out Baez which brought up Nolan Gorman who looked awful in his previous two at-bats where he struck out both times. Sadly, he grounded out weakly to first to end the Cardinals rally.
Quinn Mathews no-hit bid ended in the top of the 6th inning when Grant McCray smoked a double into the right-centerfield gap. After Koss grounded out, the shutout ended as Noah Cox hit a solid single up the middle to cut the Cardinals lead in half at 2-1. Leo Bernal and Masyn Winn ended the Giants rally with a strike them out, throw them out play as Eldridge whiffed and then Bernal threw a ball tailing toward the right field side of second base that Winn caught and applied the tag. An amazing defensive play.
Quinn Mathews pitched into the 7th inning. I can’t remember the last time I wrote the phrase “pitched into the 7th inning” after a Cardinals starter’s name. Trouble was brewing in the 7th for Mathews as he gave up back-to-back singles to Whitcomb and Hill. Brett Harris then laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position with just one out. Jung Hoo Lee lifted a fly ball to short right field for the second out and the Giants chose to not challenge Jordan Walker’s arm. That brought up former Cardinal Andrew Knizner. He worked the count full in part due to his expertise at using smart ABS challenges and walked to load the bases which ended Quinn Mathews night. Manager Oli Marmol brought in Justin Bruihl to face Grant McCray. After Bruihl threw 2 strikes, McCray managed to work the count full before Justin got him to groundout to Winn to end the inning.
Ryne Stanek was brought in to face the Giants in the top of the 8th inning. He struck out Cox and Koss, but Bryce Eldridge singled to left to give San Francisco the potential tying run at first. Next up was Drew Gilbert. He worked the count full before drawing a walk which moved the tying run into scoring position with the potential go-ahead run at first. That meant it was up to Turner Hill for the Giants to either make the last out of the inning or ruin our collective nights as Cardinals fans. He lined a ball that was fortunately grabbed by defensive replacement Ramon Urias at third to end the Giants 8th.
The Cardinals tried (key word) to add to their lead in the bottom of the 8th inning. Leo Bernal led off with his third hit of the night. Joshua Báez then just barely missed launching a ball into the visitor’s bullpen in left, but his launch angle wasn’t quite right as he flew out to deep left. After that almost great moment, Urias grounded into a double play to end the Cardinals 8th.
Stop me if you’ve heard me say this a lot recently, but the St. Louis Cardinals went into the top of the 9th with just a one run lead and Riley O’Brien coming in to try and save the game. He got off to a good start by striking out Furman. Next up was Jung Hoo Lee who smoked a single into right-center to give the Giants hope. That brought up Drew Cavanaugh. O’Brien walked him which moved the tying run to second and the go-ahead run landed on first. Grant McCray struck out swinging bringing the Cardinals to just one out away from victory. Christian Koss mystified us all when it appeared he was trying to bunt on the first ball in the dirt. He swung and missed at the next one bringing us within one strike of a win. Riley bounced the next ball in the dirt which moved both runners into scoring position as that eerie feeling of Deja vu was rearing its head. Fortunately, he ended up grounding out to Masyn Winn who threw an absolute missile to first base to beat the fast Koss to first base for a Cardinals win.
The St. Louis Cardinals will meet again Tuesday night at Busch Stadium. Andre Pallante is the scheduled starter for the Cardinals while the Giants will send RHP Blade Tidwell to the mound. First pitch is scheduled for 6:45pm central time while the game broadcast will be handled by Cardinals.tv.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 14: Pitcher Jonah Tong #21 of the New York Mets pitches during the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Citi Field on September 14, 2026 in the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As you may have heard, Pete Alonso returned with his new team to Citi Field tonight, and the Mets lost to the Orioles 2-1. Although Jonah Tong pitched admirably, the Mets could not capitalize on their six hits and left nine runners on base.
After Jonah Tong struck out Dylan Beavers to lead off the first inning, Alonso stepped up to thunderous applause, cheers, and chants of his name. He flied out to Carson Benge in right field, but that did not dampen the enthusiasm of the crowd. Tong then retired Gunnar Henderson as well for a 1-2-3 start to his day. In the bottom of the inning, Francisco Lindor walked to lead off, but Juan Soto popped out, and Bo Bichette grounded into a double play for the second and third outs to end the inning.
At the top of the second inning, Jackson Holliday looped a one-out single into right field. He reached second on a passed ball by Francisco Alvarez, which had popped out of Alvarez’s glove. It proved costly when Heston Kjerstad drilled a double into right field past Brett Baty. The ball made a weird hop past Baty, and Holliday scored the first run of the game. When the Mets came to bat in the second, they loaded the bases with two outs. Marcus Semien drilled a single down the left-field line, and then A.J. Ewing and Baty walked. Unfortunately, they were all stranded when Alvarez struck out on a foul tip for the third out, and the second inning ended with the score Orioles 1, Mets 0.
Alonso drew a two-out walk in the third inning, but was stranded there when Tong struck out Henderson. At the bottom of the third, Juan Soto smacked a one-out single into right field. Benge sneaked a single past third base, but both runners were again stranded when Jared Young grounded out for the third out. At the top of the fourth inning, Holliday hit a ground ball straight to Semien, but Semien could not get it out of his glove in a timely manner, and Holliday made it to first base safely. He was stranded as well, though. At the bottom of the inning, Ewing drilled a home run into right field. Alvarez smacked a ground ball to third base that Coby Mayo initially fielded but bobbled, allowing Alvarez to reach base safely on an infield hit. However, he was also stranded when Lindor struck out, leaving the score Mets 1, Orioles 1, at the end of the fourth inning.
To lead off the fifth inning, Colton Cowser hit a single that Semien knocked down but couldn’t get to first base in time. The next three batters went down in order. Soto walked to lead off the bottom of the fifth and, with two outs, stole second base. Young also drew a walk, but Semien grounded out to end the rally attempt there. Tong came back out for the top of the sixth inning and only needed six pitches to retire the three batters he saw. Josh Walker replaced Brandon Young for the Orioles at the bottom of the sixth, and he also worked a 1-2-3 inning. The score remained 1-1.
Jonathan Pintaro replaced Jonah Tong in the seventh inning. He allowed a lead-off double to Christian Encarnacion-Strand, who drove the ball into left field. However, Pintaro retired the next three batters in order to keep the score tied. The Mets batters went down in order at the bottom of the inning. Dedniel Núñez replaced Pintaro to pitch the eighth inning and allowed a soaring home run to Henderson with two outs. Mayo then belted a single into left field before Holliday grounded out to end the top of the inning. At the bottom of the eighth, Benge led off with a single into center field. Nobody else could build on it, even with Mark Vientos pinch-hitting for Young. As a result, the Mets again stranded a base runner to end the eighth inning. The Orioles led 2-1.
Kodai Senga came out for the ninth inning, and he struck out Encarnacion-Strand for the first out. However after that, he gave up a single to Kjerstad and another to Cowser. Ewing could not field the ball cleanly on the single to Cowser, and Kjerstad advanced to third on the error as well. However, Senga struck out the next two batters to end the top of the ninth and give the Mets a chance. In the bottom of the inning, Baty flied out, Alvarez grounded out, and Lindor flied out to end the game, Orioles 2, Mets 1.
The Mets will see the Orioles again tomorrow for the second game of the series. Sean Manaea will face off against Shane Baz. First pitch is at 7:10 PM.
They endured an 85-game absence from Aaron Judge and rarely had their full complement of starting pitchers available. Yet, the New York Yankees ended up where they almost always do — the postseason.
The Yankees clinched their ninth playoff berth in 10 seasons — and 27th in the past 32 seasons — thanks to the Toronto Blue Jays' 6-5 loss to the Detroit Tigers on Monday, Sept. 14. Detroit locked down the victory shortly after the Yankees took a 7-2 eighth-inning lead over the Minnesota Twins; they'd go on to an 8-3 win, assuring the club did not back into the playoffs.
They still harbor hopes of winning the AL East, their victory at Minnesota pulling them to within 3 1/2 games of the Tampa Bay Rays, who clinched their own playoff berth Friday. Yet at 87-63, the Yankees have proven along with the Rays that they're the most consistent forces in a weak AL field this season.
How they clinched
The Yankees' major league-record 61st postseason berth was clinched even as they were engaged in a tie ballgame with the Twins in Minnesota. Detroit overcame deficits of 2-0 and 5-4, eventually scoring the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth following a fielding error by Blue Jays closer Louis Varland.
Tigers closer Kenley Jansen hung on for the save, clinching the playoff spot for the Yankees and keeping the Blue Jays from moving into the No. 3 wild card playoff position, which Cleveland still holds.
Just as the bottom of the ninth began in Toronto, Yankees DH Ben Rice hit a two-run single at Minnesota to give the Yankees a 4-2 lead in the top of the eighth. Judge followed with his first home run since his return from injury, a three-run shot to give them a commanding lead.
Losing Judge to a rib fracture at the end of May significantly altered the course of their season. Yet the Yankees were firmly entrenched as the No. 2 team in the AL and 1½ games behind Tampa Bay when Judge played his last game May 31 — and retained a two-game lead in the No. 2 slot, just four games behind Tampa Bay when he returned to the lineup Sept. 8.
Their path grew more complicated when Cody Bellinger was placed on the injured list on July 26 with a hamstring strain, scoring three runs or fewer in eight of their next 12 games. But the club fortified itself at the trade deadline, snagging slugging DH/first baseman Luis Garcia Jr. and outfielder Heliot Ramos. Now that Judge and Bellinger are back, the club has admirable depth.
What's next for the Yankees
Their destiny will soon be right in front of them as Tampa Bay visits Yankee Stadium for four games beginning with a Sept. 22 doubleheader. There are no cupcakes on their remaining schedule, but also no behemoths, as they finish their series in Minnesota and head to Arizona before the Rays series. They finish with three games at home against Baltimore.
It's highly likely the club holds onto the No. 1 wild card — and a rematch with the Boston Red Sox in the three-game wild card series, at Yankee Stadium beginning Sept. 29. Should they get past that, the Rays will be awaiting in the AL Division Series.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 04: Closing pitcher Kenley Jansen #74 of the Detroit Tigers celebrates after ending the ninth inning of the second game of a doubleheader against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on September 04, 2026, in Cleveland, Ohio. The Guardians defeated the Tigers 4-3 in 10 innings. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This one had everything. Troy Melton struggled and got knocked out early, but the bullpen managed to bend without breaking. Meanwhile, the young Tigers hitters were centre stage as they fought back repeatedly with good at-bats late in this one to win their fifth game in a row. Kenley Jansen picked up his 496th major league save to wrap up the victory.
Monday night’s first of three at the Rogers Centre featured Melton against right-hander José Soriano. The Blue Jays have had almost as strange a season as the Tigers. Struggling through the first half, they moved long time top starter Kevin Gausman, but acquired Soriano at the deadline as well, and have kept themselves in the thick of the wild card race.
Things didn’t start off too well as the Tigers quickly went 1-2-3 in the first, and Melton immediately dug himself a hole. Brett Bateman led off by slashing a single the opposite way past a diving Hao-Yu Lee for a leadoff single. Bateman appeared to be thrown out stealing second on a pitch that was called a ball and incorrectly challenged by Dillon Dingler to walk George Springer. So everyone was safe, and after Vladimir Guerrero Jr. grounded out to advance the runners, Alejandro Kirk singled home Bateman for a 1-0 lead.
Melton didn’t help his cause against Nathan Lukes by yanking a wild pitch to score Springer, but he retired Lukes and Kazuma Okamoto flew out to Clark to end the first inning. 2-0 Blue Jays.
A Dingler strikeout started the second inning, and Max Clark and Brett Callahan grounded out.
Andrés Gimenez singled in the bottom of the second, but Melton started finding his mark with his secondary stuff, striking out Josh Smith. Ernie Clement singled as well, but Melton froze Bateman with a perfect fastball on the bottom rail, but then he turned right around and walked Springer to load the bases with two outs. Melton then tied up Guerrero with a sinker in to get a ground out to McGonigle at shortstop, escaping the jam. He was living very dangerously, however.
The Tigers again went down in order in the top of the third, with Spencer Torkelson and Hao-Yu Lee striking out. Torkelson blew the Tigers last challenge on a called strike that was upheld in the process.
Melton’s faltering command continued in the third. He walked Kirk and surrendered a double to Lukes on a first pitch curveball as he tried to mix things up while he hunted for the handle on his slider, cutter, and changeup, none of which were sharp. Okamoto grounded out, and Gimenez whiffed on a sinker to strike out. The pitch count was soaring for Melton, but he was one out from escaping the jam. Instead, he walked Smith to load the bases, and that was the end of his night. Beau Brieske took over looking to get out of traffic, and he did so, getting a sharp ground out to McGonigle off the bat of Clement. So it was still 2-0 Blue Jays, but they had to be kicking themselves for not blowing this one open.
The Tigers continued to struggle with Soriano’s power sinker in the fourth. McGonigle flew out, Torres grounded out on a first pitch curveball, and Riley Greene grounded out on a sinker. There was a chance to take some momentum out of stranding a ton of runners in the second and third and turn this into a new ballgame, but they failed to do so, and now it was a battle of the Tigers’ middle relief core vs. Soriano, and you don’t love those odds.
Brieske got Bateman on a ground out to Torres to start the bottom half. Springer did a nice job fouling off Brieske’s new mid-80’s power curve in a 2-2 count, then fought off a pair of fastballs and another curve. Brieske turned to a perfectly located slider down and away, and Springer nearly fell over as he swung, lifting a pop fly to McGonigle. Guerrero got to a full count but then took a slider right at the bottom of the zone. It was called a strike, but challenged, and Guerrero drew the fifth walk issued by Tigers’ pitching. After a battle, Kirk grounded one to McGonigle, who stepped on second and then fired to first to record the fourth out in the inning.
Heads up, Kevin. The Jays had stranded eight runners to this point.
Frustration continued in the fifth. Dingler grounded out, and Callahan hit the sinker hard but back to Soriano, who made a nice snag for the second out. The power sinker continued to defeat the Tigers as Clark grounded out to send it to the bottom half. That was all 15 hitters retired in order for Soriano.
Brieske’s pitch count topped 30 as he fought through a long at-bat against Lukes. Tyler Holton was warming as Brieske finally blew Lukes away with a fastball pretty much right down the middle, but the right-hander was getting 18-19 inches of IVB in this one after averaging 17 inches thus far this season. Okamoto whiffed on another good heater for the second out, and that was good work from Mr. Brieske. Holton took over to battle Giménez. Holton got ahead with a good sweeper and finished with one that coaxed a routine grounder to Torres to send us to the sixth inning.
Soriano punched out Torkelson again as his fifth victim on the night, and remained perfect in the process. Soriano finally cracked a bit, falling behind against Zach McKinstry 3-1. He spotted a sinker just a hair off the edge to walk him, and Kirk surprisingly didn’t challenge that one. So, perfecto over, but Lee flew out to right field for the second out. That left it to McGonigle, who tapped one in front of the plate for the final out of the inning.
Myles Straw pinch-hit for Smith and flew out to Clark to start the bottom of the sixth. Clement made better contact but flew out to Clark as well. Bateman tried a bunt, but Holton pounced on it and threw him out for a snappy inning.
Soriano’s 70th pitch was a sinker for a strike to Torres, opening the seventh inning. The veteran second baseman finally drew a bead on the sinker and lined a solid single to centre field. That ended the no-hitter bid, drawing a little ovation from the Blue Jays faithful. Suddenly, the Jays had bigger concerns as Greene stepped in as the potential tying run in the game.
Soriano worked ahead of the Tigers’ slugger 0-2, then missed with a curveball away. Greene fouled off a splitter next, and Soriano missed twice to work the count full. Another sinker was rifled to centre field for a single that moved Torres to third. Dingler pounced on a first pitch curveball and pulled a single to left, scoring Torres to make it a 2-1 Jays lead. Just like that, Soriano was fading, Paul Sewald was warming in the pen, and Brett Callahan was in the box with a chance to tie things up.
Soriano fired three straight low 90’s splitters and Callahan took the first two and fouled off the third. Soriano missed away with a breaking ball, but in a 3-1 count a wayward splitter up in the zone was lifted to left for the first out of the inning. Now Soriano had to deal with Max Clark and quickly fell behind in the count. Clark slashed a sinker deep into the left field corner just fair, both runners scored, and Clark cruised into second with a two-run double. Torkelson pulled a sinker down the left field line as well, and Clark scored in first gear while Tork cruised into second. 4-2 Tigers.
That was the end for Soriano. So often when a no-hitter bid ends, the adrenaline dump seems to just fold up said pitcher quickly. Good job by the Tigers battling and breaking through. Paul Sewald came on to face McKinstry.
McKinstry popped out, leaving it up to Hao-Yu Lee to extend the inning. Lee smoked the first pitch he saw to deep left field, but Straw made a great running catch to rob him, and Lee could only laugh ruefully at that bit of defense. On to the bottom half, with the Tigers now leading 4-2.
Kyle Finnegan was next out of the Tigers’ pen, facing Springer to start the bottom of the seventh. Nine outs to collect. Springer pulled a hard grounder into the hole and McGonigle couldn’t quite pick it on the backhand. Springer was pushing to beat out the hit and came up a little gimpy. A first pitch slider to Guerrero got driven to centre, and the crowd got excited, but Clark cruised back and handled it easily. Calm down, Toronto.
Finnegan then dug himself a 3-0 hole against Kirk. He spotted a fourseamer for a strike, but the next one was a smoked one-hopper that ate up Torres and skipped into right centre for a single. So, first and second, one out, with Lukes coming to the dish as Dingler went out to chat with Finnegan. AJ Hinch had Drew Sommers simmering in the pen, but he wasn’t quite ready yet, so Finnegan battled the lefty. They fought to a full count, and Finnegan challenged him with two fourseamers up that got fouled off. A third heater in the zone got a routine fly out to Callahan in left.
Okamoto, as analyst Andy Dirks reminded us throughout this at-bat, is a very dangerous fastball hitter. So Finnegan spotted a breaking ball down for strike one. A slider on the outer edge was fouled off, and so, would it be a breaking ball expanding the zone away, or a heater up? It was a heater up and in with perfect location, but even so, Okamoto turned quickly and yanked it just foul. Instead of learning the lesson, Dingler called for a heater again and this one was over the middle and hammered to left for a three-run shot.
Bad pitch call there, and even worse location. Someone needs to talk to the Tigers catchers about getting too cute because they fear the best pitch to call is too obvious. This has been a late innings theme all year, but more to the point, these guys just don’t have any dominant pitches other than Sommers. 5-4 Blue Jays.
Old friend Joe Mantiply was out for the Blue Jays in the eighth. McGonigle greeted the lefty with a solid single to right field, trying to rally his team right back into this one. Torres flew out, but Greene smoked sinker in to right field for a single to get McGonigle to third. Mantiply was done with Dingler coming up and relief ace Louis Varland took over. He punched out Dingler on a nasty right-on-right changeup that drew the whiff. And so, it was up to Callahan. The left fielder is always aggressive, and he got a first pitch changeup away and dumped a blooper off the end of the bat down the left field line for an RBI single to tie the game 5-5. Max Clark took a tough strike one call and had no challenges to contest it. He then slapped a hard grounder to third for the final out, but hey we had a pretty fun back and forth game going at least.
Hinch turned to slider enthusiast Tyler Kinley in the bottom of the eighth. McGonigle retired the speedy Straw on a hard grounder to the backhand to start the frame. An 0-1 slider to Okamoto was hit to the warning track in left but Callahan was right there to catch it. Kinley got ahead of Bateman 1-2 and he grounded out to Torres to end the inning.
Varland was still on the mound in the ninth, and while Torkelson couldn’t handle his 99 mph, Varland walked him anyway. McKinstry bunted foul for strike one. A second attempt was fair but too firm, and Guerrero fired to second to get the lead runner. McKinstry was looking to make up for it by stealing second and he did so successfully, taking advantage of Kirk’s mediocre arm. Lee slapped a little grounder to Guerrero’s right, and his leading throw to Varland was dropped. McKinstry roared around third to score as Lee held at first. 6-5 Tigers.
They called it an error on Varland, but it wasn’t a very good feed from Guerrero either. McGonigle smelled blood in the water and ripped a single into the right centre field gap for his third knock of the night. Varland dusted Torres with 99 mph up and in, and so it was two on, two outs, for Riley Greene. Varland fell behind 2-0 with changeups away, then yanked a fastball that nearly hit him to make it 3-0. Varland got back into the count, and Greene lined out to Bateman in centre field.
So now, we were going to get Kenley Jansen trying to save a one-run game. Surely nothing would go wrong here…
John Peck entered the game at shortstop, moving McGonigle to third, and Lee to second base for defensive reasons. Jansen meanwhile fell behind 3-0 against Springer. He then called out the home plate umpire to examine the mound, and the groundscrew came out to repair the cavernous hole in front of the rubber. The Blue Jays faithful did not approve.
Jansen was satisfied with their efforts after a practice pitch, and the game resumed. He dotted a cutter at the top of the zone to make it 3-1, but then missed up to walk the leadoff hitter. Cool, cool. Charles McAdoo came on to pinch-run, knowing that Jansen is easy to steal on. Guerrero dug into the batter’s box, and Tigers fans chewed their nails.
After a first pitch strike, Jansen threw over twice, and that put up the green light for McAdoo, but he didn’t run as Guerrero swung out of his spikes trying to get a high cutter. Another one was fouled straight back, and another down in the zone went right by Vladdy for strike three. Kirk was up next, and tougher to beat up with the high cutter. A 1-1 slider drew a huge whiff as the catcher corkscrewed himself into the batter’s box. Good timing on that pitch. McAdoo really seemed uncertain about running, and he did not. Instead. Kirk grounded another slider into a 6-4-3 double play to put this one to bed.
Heck of an effort in this one. The kids came through again and again, as did Greene and Torkelson. Frankly, as scary as they are, the bullpen held up decently over six innings of work.
Instead of the Blue Jays tying for the final Wild Card spot, the Tigers recaptured third place in the AL Central, and hilariously are still only 4.5 games out of the final spot themselves with 12 games remaining. No, this isn’t going to happen unless they win out or something, but it’s still evidence of what a bizarre season this has been, in the American League especially.
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 14: Gunnar Henderson #2 of the Baltimore Orioles celebrates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run in the eighth inning during the game between the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Mets at Citi Field on Monday, September 14, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Phebe Grosser/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Both Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor entered tonight’s game with 299 career home runs, and both players left the game still in pursuit of the milestone number. Alonso received a hero’s welcome in his return to New York, but it was Gunnar Henderson that stole the show in the low-scoring affair.
Henderson launched a go-ahead home run in the top of the eighth to propel Baltimore to a 2-1 victory over the Mets at Citi Field.
Henderson stepped in to face Dedniel Núñez with two out and nobody on base. The shortstop took a pitch inside before getting a slider over the heart of the plate. Henderson launched his 23rd home run over the season to right-center field, and the Orioles bullpen closed out the game without any drama.
The blast marked some rare offense for either team. Both starters limited their opponent to only one run, but New York’s Jonah Tong was the more efficient of the two. Brandon Young needed a career-high 106 pitches to complete five frames. Young worked his way into several jams with five hits allowed and five free passes, but he kept finding ways to escape innings unscathed.
Young walked the first batter he faced before generating an inning-ending double play ball from Bo Bichette. He retired Carson Benge and Jared Young to start the second before loading the bases with a single and a pair of walks. Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez entered the game with brutal numbers with the bases loaded, and Young struck him out on four pitches to end the threat.
Young allowed singles to Benge and Juan Soto but still managed to post a zero in the third. Surprisingly, his only blemish came without any traffic on the bases. Young fell behind in the count to A.J. Ewing before leaving a curveball slightly above the knees. The rookie skied the ball over the right-field fence to even the score at one in the fourth.
Baltimore’s leader in wins needed to pitch at least five innings to have a chance at one tonight, but his pitch count climbed after walks to Soto and Jared Young. Marcus Semien stepped in with Young set to hit the century mark, and it became clear that Semien would be the last batter Young faced regardless of the result. The veteran infielder worked the count full before grounding out to end the inning.
The Orioles, on the other hand, struggled to solve Tong. The Birds needed a little help to pick up their only run against the 23-year-old. Jackson Holliday managed a one-out single in the second, and Heston Kjerstad laced a hard hit grounder toward first base. Brett Baty may have fielded the ball cleanly if it hadn’t perfectly hit the lip between the grass and the dirt. The ball took an awkward bounce as it skipped by Baty and into right field. Holliday raced home to score the first run of the game, and Kjerstad made his way to second with an RBI double.
That was it for the Birds against Tong. The baby-faced starter held Baltimore to only four hits and one walk over six innings. He struck out six.
Tong also deserved credit for navigating a challenging situation with Pete Alonso. The Mets crowd gave their former first baseman an extremely warm welcome and appeared to be rooting for the Polar Bear every time he stepped to the plate. The crowd awed as Alonso clobbered a ball to the left of the foul pole in his second at bat, but Tong avoided the type of fate that Young experienced in Adley Rutschman’s return to Baltimore. Alonso finished 0-for-3 with a walk.
Fortunately, Baltimore’s bullpen did its part. Josh Walker delivered a clean sixth and returned to record the first two outs of the seventh. Yennier Cano entered to get the third out of the inning, and Grant Wolfram worked around a leadoff single in the eighth.
The Henderson blast put Baltimore in a save situation, and Craig Albernaz turned to Rico Garcia. Garcia generated a harmless fly ball from Baty, a grounder from Alvarez, and a can of corn from Lindor to secure a 2-1 win for the Birds.
The win brought the Orioles to 73-78 on the season. The Guardians fell to 76-75 with a loss to Chicago this evening. Toronto and Texas remain in between the two teams in the wild card standings.
Gunnar Henderson delivered the go-ahead blast, but Josh Walker and Rico Garcia shined in relief. Make your pick for the Most Birdland Player of the Game in the comments below.
The rookie right-hander struck out six batters through six full innings, allowing a lone unearned run and just one walk, which Tong himself described as a "kind of cool" statistic.
Clearly, the 23-year-old holds himself to high standards.
"He was filling up the strike zone," interim skipper Andy Green said of the young hurler. "His demeanor was outstanding."
Tong, in fact, threw 83 pitches. Fifty-seven of them were strikes, which is good for 68.6 percent and firmly above the 63.5 percent league average mark recorded in 2025.
Tong, of course, has spent most of this season in the minor leagues but is making the most of this late-season opportunity in the Mets' big-league starting rotation.
"There's a lot of times in life you're gong to struggle, and the best learning comes from that," Tong reflected on his mixed 2026 season. "I'm trying to learn as much as I can, trying to finish the year strong."
Green is proud of how Tong has battled through the turbulence and continued to improve on the mound.
"He's taken some real, major strides and it's fun to see," Geen said. "He deserves a lot of credit for all the work he's put in.
"He's earned the right to be here, to be in the rotation. He's pitching like he expects to win."
That competitive streak Tong possesses, alluded to by Green, was evident in the pitcher's postgame interview.
"I was trying to give the team the best chance to win," Tong said. "Every time I go out there, that's always my goal."
With the loss, the Mets were mathematically eliminated from the postseason for the second consecutive year. Yet, Tong's performance -- combined with the standout rookie seasons of Nolan McLean, Carson Benge, A.J. Ewing,and Zac Thornton -- brings hope in Queens that perhaps 2027 will see the team secure October baseball once again.
The Mets (69-81) were defeated by the Baltimore Orioles (73-78) by a score of 2-1.
Here are the takeaways...
-- It was a pitcher's duel in Queens on Monday night. Through five innings, the two teams combined for nine hits, with the score 1-1 thanks to Heston Kjerstad's RBI double and Mets CF A.J. Ewing's solo shot.
-- Mets rookie right-hander Jonah Tong made the seventh start of his career, and his second of 2026, following his recent outing seven days ago against the Miami Marlins. Tong was stellar, striking out six and allowing one unearned run - the aforementioned Kjerstad double, which scored Jackson Holliday, who advanced earlier in the inning on a passed ball - on just four hits and one walk through six full innings. Of his 83 pitches, 57 were thrown for strikes.
-- Pete Alonso made his long-awaited return to Citi Field, donning the black and orange of the Orioles and doffing his cap to the cheering Mets fans who will always be grateful for his time in New York. He went 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout.
-- The O's took the lead in the eighth inning on yet another solo homer, this one off the bat of star shortstop Gunnar Henderson, who cranked a hanging slider thrown by Mets reliever Dedniel Núñez over the right-center fence.
-- Kodai Senga worked out of a jam with one out and runners on the corners, keeping the Mets deficit at just one run entering last licks by striking out two batters in a row. In the bottom of the ninth, Orioles righty Rico Garcia shut the door by retiring the side in order, and the Mets lost 2-1.
Game MVP: Jonah Tong
Tong flashed the potential which made him such a touted prospect within the Mets organization during these past few years. He tunneled his fastball and changeup effectively all night, keeping Baltimore's batters off balance and off the basepaths.
Highlights
A standing ovation for Pete Alonso as he comes to the plate
CINCINNATI — The Los Angeles Dodgers clinched their 14th consecutive playoff berth with a 4-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Monday night behind Tarik Skubal’s seven shutout innings and home runs by Kyle Tucker and Teoscar Hernández.
Los Angeles tied the record set by Atlanta from 1991 through 2005.
The two-time defending World Series champions cut their magic number to three for a fifth straight NL West title and 13th in 14 seasons. The Dodgers became the third team assured of a playoff spot after Milwaukee and Tampa Bay.
Skubal (10-7) allowed three hits, struck out nine and walked one as he gained his second win against Cincinnati in seven days. Skubal allowed two runs in 7 1/3 innings in a 3-2 victory on Sept. 8.
He is 3-2 with a 2.52 ERA in eight starts since the Dodgers (91-59) acquired him from Detroit Tigers on Aug. 2.
Elly de la Cruz hit a 457-foot homer to center off Evan Phillips in the ninth, the longest homer by a Cincinnati player this season and the longest this year at Great American Ballpark.
All three of Los Angeles’ hits ended up resulting in runs.
Tucker led off the second by driving an upper inside fastball from Nick Lodolo (3-5) into the right-field stands, his third home run in five games.
Tucker walked with two outs in the fourth and Hernández homered to right-center. Kiké Hernández added an RBI single in the seventh.
Lodolo allowed four runs and three hits in seven innings.
Up next
Los Angeles sends RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (13-8, 2.62 ERA) to the mound on Tuesday. LHP Rhett Lowder (6-10, 5.81 ERA) goes for Cincinnati.
TORONTO, ON - DECEMBER 19: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors warms up prior to an NBA game against the Indiana Pacers at Scotiabank Arena on December 19, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. 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 Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Toronto Raptors have officially confirmed via press release that Kawhi Leonard, the 7-time All-Star, 2-time Finals-MVP, and bringer of championships to two separate teams, IS a Toronto Raptor for the 2026-2027 season.
In the wake of a report from Shams Charania earlier today, the Toronto Raptors remained silent for a number of hours on the mater. That was a silence that left me with a sense of mild discomfort throughout the day. Yes, Shams is usually reliable about these things, and his word is basically taken as gospel amongst fans of the NBA. But, belief in the talking heads is what got the Raptors fanbase into the whirlpool of uncertainty and misery that has been the last few months as a result of the Aspiration Scandal.
Me personally? I was willing to believe it, but until the proverbial fat lady (fat dinosaur?) was to sing, I wouldn’t feel quite settled.
And now, official confirmation has come in that Kawhi Anthony Leonard will be on the court for the Toronto Raptors this season. And with Kawhi comes all of the good and the bad. The scoring and the defence come with the injury concerns and the age. With the seemingly renewed sense of commitment to Toronto comes the baggage of Aspiration and the bevy of other associated misdoings that happened or are alleged to have occurred in Los Angeles.
But, I have a feeling that for the Raptors fans, the ones who saw Kyle and DeMar fail to reach the next step, the ones who saw Leonard’s shot go in against Philadelphia, and the ones who saw the team reach heights then-unknown in 2019, will disregard the uncomfortable and fall into the familiar embrace of Toronto’s Terminator.
Kawhi is now a Raptor. That was meant to be the easy part. There are 82 games still ahead of the young squad to even re-approach the playoffs. It’s a good thing they now have someone who knows the direction to the promised land.
The Chicago Blackhawks prospects took the ice at USG Arena against the St. Louis Blues prospects on Monday night. This was the first of two meetings in the 2026 Prospect Showcase that the two organizations are participating in.
For the Blackhawks, marquee prospects like Sacha Boisvert, Marek Vanacker, AJ Spellacy, Adam Gajan, and Ryan Roobroeck all took part. The leadership group was led by captain Taige Harding and alternate captains Paul Ludwinski and Jake Furlong.
There were some notable spectators taking in the game. For one, Kyle Davidson, Jeff Blashill, and multiple executives/coaches were on hand to get a glimpse of the future. A handful of players within the organization were also in attendance, including Anton Frondell and Roman Kantserov.
The Blackhawks started with as good a top line as they could put out at this event: Sacha Boisvert, centering AJ Spellacy and Ryan Roobroeck. Adam Gajan started in goal.
After the top line created some good chances off the jump, they were forced into a penalty-kill situation. Martin Misiak, however, scored a shorthanded goal to give the Blackhawks a 1-0 lead.
The Blackhawks continued to march to the penalty box after that, and eventually, one of them caught up with them. In the latter half of the first period, Jakub Stancl scored for the St. Louis Blues to tie the game at 1. That score held through the first intermission.
It was a physical first period, and that continued into the second. Just about halfway through the middle frame, AJ Spellacy got into a little bit of a skirmish behind the St. Louis net after missing a chance. To his defense came Ashton Cumby, who fought Blues prospect Colin Ralph. He will bring another layer of physical hockey to Rockford this year.
Not long after that, the Blackhawks went to the penalty kill. It led to another Blues power play goal. Shortly (10 seconds) later, they found another to make it 3-1. At that point in the game, the Blues were in a groove.
After two periods, the Blues hung onto that two-goal lead. With under a minute remaining in the middle frame, AJ Spellacy rang one off the pipe after bursting into the offensive zone, but it wouldn't go in.
In the third period, the ice was a lot more level, but no goals were scored. The final score of 3-1 held in favor of the Blues. It was a physical battle from the opening whistle onward, but the Blackhawks took the bulk of the penalties which put them in trouble.
One more match between these two groups of prospects will take place at 4 PM on Tuesday evening at USG Arena.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive, and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting on the article below on THN.com or by creating your own post in our community forum.
Sometimes the best moves a team can make are the ones that aren’t the flashiest.
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr appeared on the “Tom Tolbert Show” this weekend and spoke about how he’s excited about the depth that the Warriors front office acquired over the offseason.
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr content with Warriors offseason. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
“Look, we did the best we could to put together the roster,” Kerr said. “I think Yaxel [Lendeborg] is going to help quite a bit.”
A few months after Lendeborg was sensational during the College Basketball March Madness tournament by leading Michigan to its second championship in school history, Golden State selected him with the No.11 pick.
Golden State Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg taking a photo with a fan at a Michigan football game. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
Lendeborg has yet to play in an NBA game, but has already made a strong first impression on Kerr and the Warriors after leading their Summer League team to a championship and being crowned MVP of the tournament.
“He’s a really good player; he’s older, he’s mature,” Kerr said. “Watching him work out with our guys, he’s going to help us.”
Kerr went on to name Gui Santos, Brandin Poziemski, Georges Niang, and Brandon Williams as other players who aren’t “earth-shattering,” but will help them down the line.
Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr is content with offseason moves. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Aside from relying on some key role players, Kerr also added that the team will get some back-end insurance from players like Jimmy Butler III and Moses Moody returning to the team.
Last month, Marcus Thompson II of The Athletic reported that Moody is expected to rejoin basketball activities later this month and could return to playing in the early part of the season.
Over the last few days, RWJBarnabas Health Hockey House in Newark, New Jersey, has been filled with high energy, the sound of whistles, and the unmistakable soundtrack of hockey.
The New Jersey Devils invited 25 players to their 2026 Rookie Camp, which opened Friday, Sept. 11. The group has completed two practices and one scrimmage against the New York Islanders, falling 5-4 in overtime.
Ahead of the team’s final scrimmage, which will take place in Long Island on Tuesday, Kristy Flannery of The Hockey News emptied her notebook with some news and notes she has collected this past weekend.
Odds and Ends From Rookie Camp
— Shane Lachance referred to his first season in the pro league as a rollercoaster: “I think the beginning of the year was tough because we didn't win many games. Then I got called up, I was up for a week and then sent back down, and we started winning more. It is a long year, and I think that is the biggest change. So much happens over the course of the year that, mentally, you have to try to keep your head on straight. Coming from college into the pros, that is probably the biggest thing for me - just how long the season is.”
Lachance shared that he tries not to overthink things, but it is something he occasionally struggles with.
“I think in our job, you are always thinking, what can I do better? Did I do the right thing? Sometimes I have to tell myself to just go out there, have fun, and play the game because I am here for a reason.”
Photo credit: Kristy Flannery
— While some players have their eyes set on making the NHL rosters, other players at the Devils rookie camp hope to play in the American Hockey League full time. That is the case for 22-year-old defenseman Charles Leddy, whom New Jersey drafted in the fourth round in 2022. He spent last season at Quinnipiac University before signing an AHL contract through the 2027-28 season in March. He began his collegiate career at Boston College as a political science major, but ultimately earned his degree in international business.
— JakubMálek’s excitement for the 2026-27 season is palpable. Sitting at his stall next to Jeremy Brodeur, he smiled from ear to ear, talking about the upcoming job ahead of him: “This is the first time I [can] say that I'm excited for a season this much. I am always excited, but this is something I never felt before. I'm so excited to go to work.”
— Speaking of Málek, he finally received his goalie mask. Its delivery may have been a season too late, but he was thrilled to showcase it and share some personal touches, including nods to two of his closest friends.
#NJDevils Jakub Málek finally received the goalie mask he was supposed to wear for the 2025-26 season. It has some awesome touches, including nods to his best friends and the movie Cool Runnings. pic.twitter.com/FCdcWdWfUK
— For a second consecutive season, Málek will be living with forward Matyas Melovsky. The two are best friends and say they are always together.
— Melovskyplayed with Lenni Hämeenaho last season in Utica, and during camp, The Hockey News asked Melovsky if that chemistry instantly came back this week. He laughed and said, “Yeah, the Euro chemistry.”
Photo Credit: Kristy Flannery
— Newcomer Ben Steeves has been skating with Melovsky and Hämeenaho. After Monday’s practice, The Hockey News spoke to the 24-year-old.
THN: Coaches always say that they usually keep pairs together on a line, and the third player they may insert in and out. If you're that guy who's playing with people who already have chemistry together are there any attributes or characteristics you need as the third player coming onto a line?
Steeves: Yeah, absolutely. You hit the nail on the head. It is simplifying and being predictable for your teammates. Throughout my entire career, I have tried to be a player like that. An easy player to play with. Especially playing with these guys, it is holding on to pucks and making good flat passes. Making it easier on each other is a big thing.
THN: What was the first thing you noticed about Melovsky and Hämeenaho?
Steeves: They are smart. When they have the puck, they are always looking for the next play. There's no real time on the ice where they can't do anything with it. They always make stuff happen, so it is really cool to watch that.
Photo Credit: Kristy Flannery
— Speaking of Steeves, he was on a golf course when he received a call from Devils general manager Sunny Mehta to alert him that he was traded to New Jersey: “That was a cool moment. (Mehta) was obviously in Florida with me and brought me with him. Definitely happy to get a new opportunity here.”
— Seamus Casey has been impressed with his new D-partner, Anton Silaev: “I think he is doing incredible. He is super involved with the team. It is easy to shy away and kind of shut down, only talk to people who you can understand, that kind of thing. He is not doing any of that. I have a lot of respect for that. Obviously, we are trying to help out too, and make it easy for him.”
Make sure you bookmark THN's New Jersey Devils site for THN's latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
CINCINNATI, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 14: Pitcher Tarik Skubal #29 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws during the third inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on September 14, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Jeff Dean/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Hits were at a premium with both sides combining for seven, and the Dodgers made the most of theirs, out-homering the Reds two-to-one and relying on Tarik Skubal’s best performance as a Dodger to secure a 4-1 win. While Reds starter Nick Lodolo was responsible for all four runs in his seven innings, it doesn’t necessarily reflect just how effectively he held down this potent Dodgers lineup for large periods of the game—especially dealing with such an ungrateful task.
It didn’t take more than a couple of hitters to find out, or at least get a glimpse of the type of performance Skubal was about to bring to the mound. Facing Cincinnati’s most dangerous hitter, Elly De La Cruz, Skubal was down 3-0 in the count following two bad misses, remembering that De La Cruz took him deep last week. The Dodgers’ starter not only got back in the count and punched out De La Cruz, but almost as impressively, he did so in a manner of simply imposing his will that few starting pitchers can even hope to accomplish. Skubal threw three straight heaters, none of them particularly dotted, two up and one down, almost as if indicating that today he’d do as he pleased and the Reds were mere spectators to it.
That initial at-bat against De La Cruz was also indicative of the approach that Skubal would carry into this game. Whether due to a lack of feel for a particular off-speed pitch or, more likely, from an adjustment after seeing the Reds’ swings against the four-seamer, Skubal went to that pitch far more often than he normally does—throwing it 44 percent of the time across seven scoreless innings, needing just 90 pitches to do so.
The first and only time the Reds managed to put multiple players on base against Skubal came in the fifth inning, when Juan Brito singled, and J.J. Bleday walked, later moving to second and third on a wild pitch. In a nine-pitch at-bat, Hector Rodríguez would go down on a four-seam fastball, this one up and well outside the zone. In fact, each of Skubal’s first seven punchouts came on heaters.
Offensively, the Dodgers made the most of their rare hits count, securing just three in seven innings against a dialed-in Nick Lodolo. Unfortunately for the Reds starter, both of the hits he allowed were home runs, first a solo shot to Kyle Tucker in the second and, a couple of innings later, a two-run bomb to Teoscar Hernández.
Although with different levels of frustration, Tucker and Hernández share the sentiment of not having nearly the individual campaign they wanted heading into the year. But their potential ability to turn it on over a prolonged period between now and the end of the playoffs is part of what makes this lineup so dangerous to anyone.
The Dodgers’ fourth RBI came on a Kiké Hernández single in the seventh against a by-then-laboring Lodolo. Earning the start against a left-hander, Josue De Paula reached base in one of three plate appearances, once again showcasing his quality eye by earning a walk and stealing a base—one of three SBs for the Dodgers in this win.
A particularly comical moment came in the top of the ninth inning when Hernández forgot his place in the order and tried to leapfrog Tucker in the cleanup spot to lead off the frame. Since he homered in the game, though, we’ll let him get away with that one.
Lastly, De La Cruz emphasized how impressive what Skubal did against him earlier in the game was when he destroyed a baseball against Evan Phillips in the bottom of the ninth. De La Cruz’s mammoth solo shot put the Reds on the board and continued to solidify his early case as a Dodger killer, but it was too little, too late for an impact on this game.
Although it feels like a given at this point, we should note that with this win, the Dodgers clinched a return to the postseason as they aim for a third straight title. Still, there is plenty to accomplish between now and the end of the regular season.
Monday particulars
Home runs: Kyle Tucker (15), Teoscar Hernández (14), Elly De La Cruz (27)
Coming off back-to-back seven-inning starts, Yoshinobu Yamamoto faces the Reds lineup for the second week in a row, opposed by Rhett Lowder on Tuesday (3:40 p.m. PT, SportsNet LA). It’s tough to envision a worse time for Lowder against the Dodgers than the seven runs he allowed in a blowout 14-1 loss last week.
