ST. LOUIS, MO - AUGUST 30: Brandon Lowe #5 of the Pittsburgh Pirates speaks to the media after the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium on Sunday, August 30, 2026 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Ali Overstreet/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Pirates fans and fans across the country.
This week’s question we asked you about Brandon Lowe. Lowe has been arguably the most important player on the Pirates this season. The Pirates got him from a trade with the Houston Astros and the Tampa Bay Rays. The second baseman leads the team in home runs with 29 and RBIS with 83. Lowe has been the power bat that the Bucs have been missing over the past couple of seasons but the veteran will be a free agent after the season.
What we asked this week was do you think the Pirates re-sign Brandon Lowe this offseason? Here are the results :
According to you guys it does not look good for Lowe coming back as a Pirates next season. Just 29% of Pirates fans think that he will back, while a staggering 71% believe he will not be back in black and gold for the 2027 MLB season. The Bucs need to find a way to keep Lowe even if that means breaking the bank because of the veteran leadership and the power that he brings. I understand not wanting to pay a lot for a veteran second basemen but these results kinda surprise me. It has been a while since the Pirates have had a second basemen this good at the plate and I think it would be. mistake letting him a go after just one season. Having him paired up with some of the younger guys in the lineup like a Konnor Griffin and an Esmerlyn Valdez would be really nice.
Don’t forget to check out Fanduel as we head down the season’s home stretch. The Bucs currently sit at six games back in the Wild Card despite winning two games in a row, but you can still grab some MLB Playoff odds and props on home run hitters, leaders, etc…
Thanks for voting. We’ll be back soon with more Reacts!
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 01: Gerrit Cole #45 of the New York Yankees pitches during the first inning of a game against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on September 01, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I don’t know about you, but when I saw the pitching matchup that was scheduled for Sunday’s series finale between the Yankees and Padres, I couldn’t help but smile. Not only will Gerrit Cole be starting on the hill for the Bombers, but he’ll be facing a former teammate, mentee, and close friend in Michael King. That sounds like a great way to spend the back half of the weekend.
The Yankees gave a good cushion to Carlos Rodón, and despite an early jam, he rallied to complete five quality innings. The bullpen entered lockdown mode from there, allowing one hit the rest of the way following Manny Machado’s homer. Cole will have the opportunity to add on to that brilliance while continuing his run of remarkable consistency dating back to June. Over his last 11 starts, Cole has refused to allow more than three runs in any of them. That steadiness has given the Yankees a nice extra bit of reliability as the pitching staff had dealt with its latest rash of injuries.
On the opposite end, King himself has also been in a groove. He’s working on a 15.2-inning scoreless streak, and posted a 2.21 ERA in August. With the exception of one start in Colorado on July 28th, he too has not allowed more than three earned runs. Yankees fans will remember his crossfire delivery which helps his stuff play up. He likes to pair the sinker with his frisbee sweeper which twists away from right-handed batters, then relies on his trusty changeup to deal with lefty hitters.
With that in mind, expect to see a lot of changeups.
Eight of the nine batters King will face this afternoon will face him from the left-side batter’s box, including the first six spots. George Lombard Jr. is the lone right-handed hitter; he’ll go seventh. Ben Rice will lead off ahead of Cody Bellinger and Luis García Jr. Spencer Jones has had an awesome series in his home county—he’ll clean up ahead of Jazz Chisholm Jr. and the switch-hitting Jasson Domínguez. After Lombard, it’ll be Ryan McMahon and Austin Wells to round out the card.
Aaron Judge continues to stay busy for the Yankees as he works his way back from a fractured rib that has had him on the IL since June 2.
Prior to their series finale against the San Diego Padres on Sunday, manager Aaron Boone told the media that the plan is still for Judge to face live pitching on Monday at Yankee Stadium, although the pitchers have yet to be determined.
Judge checked off another box earlier in the week by taking batting practice swings with the rest of the team while on their West Coast road trip and is nearing his long-awaited return.
New York comes back to the Bronx following Sunday's game and has an off day on Monday before beginning a six-game homestand against the Colorado Rockies and Mets starting on Tuesday night.
Asked whether Judge returning to the team on Tuesday is unrealistic, Boone answered, "I don't know. We'll see."
Meanwhile, Giancarlo Stanton, another injured Yankees slugger, has been hitting and still hasn't been ruled out for the rest of the season, per Boone.
Stanton has missed most of the season with a right calf strain, but was close to a return before suffering a setback and straining his left calf.
If you have watched some uninspiring Dodgers baseball this summer, you have likely had a singular thought during the team’s recent .500 stretch, or thereabouts, as of September 5:
Wait, the Dodgers spent how much for this offense to be this bad?!? Didn’t we just go through this lull last year?
While one always has to resist the urge to put on airs, it’s always a bit of an ego check to effectively get confirmation that Joe Davis and Orel Hershiser are unfamiliar with my work.
I’m not complaining. A throwaway line in a broadcast three seasons ago has led to quite a bit of unexpected copy.
After all, I have spent three seasons on the Jack in the Box beat with little fanfare, especially now that there’s a website that does what I was doing in my spare time for me. Naturally, this season will be the last one in which I keep daily track of the free gastronomical happenings caused by Dodger baseball.
Do a bit, they said. It’ll be fun, they said.
The lead broadcaster duo recently discussed their confusion over the team’s seemingly annual summer dip during the series against the Detroit Tigers. Those who are regulars at True Blue LA know that we have extensively covered the now-annual dip into mediocrity.
SportsNetLA broadcast, August 28, 2026, top of the third inning with Shohei Ohtani batting:
Joe Davis: “It’s crazy how similiar it is to last year, the slump that the Dodgers have. It started at almost the same exact time in early July … lasted about two months last year.”
/Ohtani grounds into a 4-6-3 double play
Davis: “Another double play. That’s been one of the mystifying things in this stretch and really all year. Even though they don’t have an exceptionally high ground ball rate. They hit into way more double plays than anybody. Part of that as you have touched on is that is they have more guys on in those situations.”
Orel Hershiser: “It’s a headshaker. Especially from power hitters that usually hit the ball in the air.”
/after Freddie Freeman walks, while Mookie Betts is up to bat, after Davis and Hershiser discuss the Chris Sale game to close out the Atlanta series
Davis: “No runs their last 14 innings.”
Hershiser: “You would think with [Tarik] Skubal coming back here, the offense would want to get him some runs early to get the nerves off of Skubal. I really think the offense wants to get going to get the nerves off themselves.”
Davis: “Sometimes that wanting and that trying becomes the problem.”
Quibbles aside, apart from Joe Davis insisting that nine batters batting in an inning is batting around, which requires ten batters, i.e., the person who led off the inning is now back up to bat. To their credit, Davis and Hershiser eventually noted that, apart from the Wild Card Series last year, the Dodgers’ offense was largely absent during the postseason tournament.
Yes, there were moments of individual glory, but let us not forget that the Dodgers had the lowest team batting average of any eventual World Series champion since 1966 (Baltimore, .200), hitting .203 while the Blue Jays collectively hit .269.
Just about every break, miscue, and happening had to break the Dodgers’ way to prevail in seven games.
As an aside, do you know who reads my work and actually references it, even without citation? Stephen Nelson.
What can I say? The customer is always right in matters of taste.
The Superteam that wasn’t
Chad Moriyama of Dodgers Digesthas an excellent breakdown of the answer to “are the Dodgers that bad offensively?”, which is a resounding “yes, the Dodgers are even worse than you remembered in July and August.” The wheels figuratively fell off when Will Smith went down with an injury, as the supposed superteam became super mortal in a hurry.
Thankfully, Smith has finally returned. And almost, as if on cue, the offense is showing signs of life against the Nationals.
Unlike Reggie Jackson of the New York Yankees in the late 1970s (allegedly?), Will Smith would never describe himself as the straw that stirs the drink. He’s just that taciturn and can’t tell a joke to save his life, which is a problem I can relate to.
See — absolutely terrible. There was a crime, and it was against comedy.
Smith and Shohei Ohtani were the only Dodgers to hit with any regularity in last year’s Fall Classic, so it was not a shock that the Dodgers offense sputtered when Dalton Rushing, Chuckie Robinson, and Eliézer Alfonzo had to pick up the slack. At the trade deadline, the lack of punch led to reunions with Hunter Feduccia and Ben Rortvedt. Rortvedt has since been designated for assignment, yet again, but actually cleared waivers this time.
If at first you don’t succeed, keep trying until your man gets to Oklahoma City.
In my view, the Dodgers are one of the biggest disappointments this season. Granted, one can disappoint and still succeed. Unlike the absolute train wrecks in Queens or Seattle, the season-long hangover in Toronto, or the clinic in how to alienate a fanbase in San Francisco, I compare the Dodgers to an underachieving A-student:
[The team was] billed as the second coming of the 1992 NBA Dream Team, which I didn’t buy for a minute; [and it’s] been less than the sum of the considerable parts.
If they end up pulling off the 3peat – great, I’ll zip it; but as built and as on the field, feels like an older, warmed over version of last year’s flawed championship model.
As someone who was an underachieving A-student for most of his life, it took a lot of humbling and therapy to realize that I was coasting in life on talent, not work ethic, and doing just enough to excel in less-than-optimal surroundings. Eventually, the crash between what is required and what you have been doing comes like a thunderclap.
To succeed in life, outside of nepotism, regardless of talent, you have to put in the effort, and 90% of that effort is just showing up and being attentive.
As often as I have disagreed with Roberts over the years, and apart from one mind-boggling decision to use Edwin Diaz last month, Roberts is largely not to blame for the team’s offensive malaise. After all, he’s not the one in the batter’s box.
The problem is that he keeps putting the accelerator down, and instead of this mighty offensive engine roaring to life, there’s a figurative sputtering sound before the car screeches to a halt, usually by double play.
This figurative car clearly has the best brakes in its class.
Breaking down those double plays is a topic for another day, because it’s one thing to hit a pitcher’s pitch into a twin killing; it’s another baffling thing to hit something that would usually be driven into the outfield in the air right into the ground to snuff a rally.
If you were fortunate enough to buy a supercar and it ended up performing like a Honda Accord that needed a tune-up, you would understandably be both concerned and deeply annoyed.
But are we even being fair?
However, Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register recently asked whether everyone is just expecting too much from the Dodgers offense. To their credit, they said no, the expectations are valid:
“No. I don’t think you can expect too much of us. And we like that. We like that you think we should be scoring more,” first baseman Freddie Freeman said to that. “If you were content with us scoring three, four runs then we wouldn’t have a very good offense. I’m okay with you guys expecting more out of us. We expect more out of ourselves.”
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts takes a similar approach to the question.
“I don’t know. I would say, ‘No,’” he said. “Expectation for our offense is a good thing. It speaks to the talent we have.
“I expect more from our offense. And I think they do as well. … I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
And there it is – “the talent we have.” It’s the names in the Dodgers’ lineup that create the expectations which they aren’t meeting…
“I absolutely agree with that,” Roberts said. “That’s just Father Time. That’s reality.
“I think the reason people do have big expectations is the track record. But I still don’t expect this team offensively to fall off a cliff. … In the last two months, yes (it has).”
Mookie Betts pushed back at this narrative with Plunkett, if only by degree.
Betts agrees. But he adds another factor – hitting has gotten harder since they put up those numbers on the backs of their baseball cards. Every pitcher seems to throw 100 mph – or higher – these days and “a computer tells him (the pitcher) what to throw to get you out. And a computer tells them (the defense) where to play to get you out.”
“That was when guys were throwing 92, 93 when we did that. And we were younger, yes,” Betts said of the prime years of the Dodgers’ stars, exaggerating how quickly velocity has jumped in MLB.
“I don’t care who you are. You can be Shohei or anybody, the best player in the league. You’re not hitting 100 (mph) consistently every day. Nobody is doing that. We’re facing 97, 98 every day. Then the guys who are 92, 93 – there’s something to it. Sometimes we hit it. Sometimes we don’t. That’s part of the human element of the game. But I think that part is getting missed. Y’all expect us to score six or seven (runs) every day, you know what I’m saying?
“The game is way harder than people give credit to. They think it doesn’t matter who’s pitching, we’re going to hit them. Shohei’s going to hit a homer (every at-bat).”
Respectfully, I think Betts is missing the mark here. Yes, it is wildly unrealistic for a baseball team to go 162-0, which is why I personally get so salty at those who get overly enthusiastic in the preseason. Yes, it is wildly unrealistic for everyone to be performing at peak offensive efficiency at all times throughout the year.
But no one is asking the right question here.
It is not a matter of whether the Dodgers are playing like All-Stars. No one is seriously arguing that the team is a failure just because everyone is not playing at their peak; the question is whether the team is playing well or not.
No one has compared Betts or Freeman to regular-season MVP candidates in a long while, and maybe never again. The problem is that the Dodgers are struggling to be average at the plate, which is unacceptable given the offensive firepower they have assembled.
From July 1 to the start of play on September 4, here’s a quick and dirty calculation of everybody’s OPS+, except Will Smith and Alex Freeland for either lack of playing time due to injury or being in the minors.
As a reminder, an OPS+ of 75 or less is poor, 100 is average, up to 120 is good, up to 140 is an All-Star, and 150+ is MVP-level production. Spoiler: any discussion beyond “good” for this stretch is academic.
Ohtani – 128, Raw OPS .833
Betts – 93, Raw OPS .698
Freeman – 121, Raw OPS .793
T. Hernández – 84, Raw OPS .668
Tucker – 71, Raw OPS .613
Muncy – 108, Raw OPS .760
Pages – 114, Raw OPS .773
Edman – 98, Raw OPS .711
Rushing – 123, Raw OPS .815 (in 26 games)
Rojas – 85, Raw OPS .671 (in 32 games)
Call – 67, Raw OPS .590 (in 23 games)
Feduccia – 64, Raw OPS .595 (in 22 games)
Rortvedt – 3, Raw OPS .370 (in 16 games)
K.Hernandez – 21, Raw OPS .434 (in 21 games)
Getting into gear?
Ohtani has been superhuman for so long that seeing him be just “above average” is a bit shocking.
While Betts and Teoscar have rebounded over the past week or so, reducing their performance to a single number puts the situation over the past two months at the plate in stark relief. The Dodgers have been paying premium prices for literally subpar performances from major contributors in the lineup, most notably Kyle Tucker, who homered at home for just the third time this season on September 4.
Pages and Rushing were performing admirably, but then injuries knocked them out of the lineup, to the team’s offensive detriment.
This roster isn’t supposed to be like the group of homegrown goobers that played in 2017 or 2018. Yes, those teams were flawed and felt less like collections of All-Stars and more of a homegrown product, which is a bit of a misnomer and inaccurate because just about every team signs free agents.
Apart from the hangover to start 2018 and the lull to end all lulls in September 2017, expectations about the offense went accordingly, and the 2017 and 2018 Dodgers got the job done until they didn’t.
Is it unreasonable to expect this year’s lineup to individually have an OPS+ over 120? Probably, almost certainly.
I understand that not all playing time is distributed equally, and that bench players or injury substitutes often cannot fill in without an offensive drop-off.
Is it unreasonable to expect this year’s lineup to individually have an OPS+ of at least 100? Not for the starters, certainly. It’s a collective problem that everyone will have to work through together, or, alternatively, folks will need to return from injury to some semblance of form. There are certainly some encouraging signs before the start of Labor Day.
Actual consistency is something that has felt missing for the past couple of months, and time will tell whether this play is leading to something or just another mirage.
The rebounds from Betts and Teoscar are a welcome sight to see. There’s still room to grow, and still time for people to, to quote Dave Roberts, “play like the back of their baseball card” over the final twenty-or-so regular season games of 2026.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 05: Griffin Canning #17 of the San Diego Padres pitches during the fifth inning of a game against the New York Yankees at Petco Park on September 05, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
New York Yankees (81-61) at San Diego Padres (74-68), September 6, 2026, 1:10 p.m. PST
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WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 07: DJ Herz #74 of the Washington Nationals catches the ball from the catcher while pitching to the St. Louis Cardinals during the second inning at Nationals Park on July 07, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As Nats fans evaulate arms currently within the system who could contribute to their next competitive team, one intriguing name has largely faded from the conversation. DJ Herz has not pitched in the major leagues since 2024, but his successful rehabilitation should remind fans why he was once considered an important part of the Nats future.
Herz underwent Tommy John surgery in April 2025, costing him that entire season and most of 2026. His initial rehabilitation assignment this summer was interrupted by a flexor strain, adding another obstacle to an already lengthy recovery. Since restarting the process, however, the 25-year-old left-hander has steadily worked his way from Single-A Fredericksburg to Double-A Harrisburg and now Triple-A Rochester.
Across his first eight minor league rehabilitation appearances this season, Herz has posted a 3.71 ERA and recorded 21 strikeouts in 17 innings. He has not yet been fully stretched out, but reaching Triple-A represents a significant step forward. If he continues responding well physically, the Nationals could give him an opportunity to pitch in the major leagues before the season ends.
Herz’s last taste of the big leagues was in 2024, where he made 19 starts for the Nats, posting a 4.16 ERA and 106 strikeouts in 88 ⅔ innings. His inconsistency and occasional command problems were understandable for a 23-year-old rookie, but his ability to miss bats immediately stood out. Herz averaged nearly 11 strikeouts per nine innings, showing the kind of swing-and-miss ability that remains difficult to find among starting pitchers.
His best performance came against the Miami Marlins in just his third major league start. Herz struck out 13 batters, walked none, and allowed only one hit over six scoreless innings. He became only the second pitcher since 1901 to produce at least 13 strikeouts without issuing a walk within his first three career appearances. It was one of the most dominant starts by any Nationals pitcher in recent years and a glimpse of his potential when his fastball and changeup were working together.
Herz will still have plenty to prove. Returning from Tommy John surgery is rarely a smooth process, and the Nationals should prioritize his long-term health over squeezing a few extra innings out of him this season. Even if he returns, he may initially work in a limited role rather than immediately joining the rotation.
Still, Herz deserves to be included in Washington’s pitching plans. At his best, he has shown more strikeout upside than many of the organization’s other young starters. Whether his future is in the rotation or as a multi-inning weapon out of the bullpen, his stuff gives him a legitimate chance to become an important major league contributor.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - AUGUST 31: Gage Jump #61 of the Athletics throws a pitch during a game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on August 31, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Athletics have played spoiler all weekend, winning the first three games of the series against the Seattle Mariners to deal another blow to their division rivals’ playoff hopes.
The A’s need one more win to complete a four-game sweep in what has been one of their best-played series during an otherwise forgettable second half of the season. Despite sitting in last place, the A’s have a winning record against their American League West opponents. That is as much a reflection of the division’s mediocrity as it is of the A’s success against their divisional rivals this season.
This afternoon, rookie left-hander Gage Jump will start for the A’s. The 23-year-old enters his 19th start of the season with a 6-9 record, a 5.15 ERA, a 1.49 WHIP and 99 strikeouts in 92 2/3 innings.
Fatigue seems to be setting in for Jump, who has pitched a career-high number of innings this season between Triple-A and the majors. Over his past seven starts, the southpaw went 3-3 with a 6.31 ERA. In his previous outing against the Texas Rangers, Jump took the loss after allowing seven runs on six hits over 4 1/3 innings.
Today, the left-hander will face Seattle for the second time in his career. He made his MLB debut against the Mariners in May, allowing four runs over five innings in a losing effort. Jump will look to earn his first win against Seattle and help the A’s win a fifth straight game.
The Athletics also have to be mindful of the rookie’s workload, as he is a big part of their future and the team has nothing left to play for this season .
Here’s how the Athletics will line up for the series finale in Seattle:
Designated hitter Max Muncy has been one of the series’ standout performers. He will look to hit a home run in his third consecutive game. Right fielder Lawrence Butler, another player swinging a hot bat, will look to extend his hitting streak to 15 games in the team’s final contest before returning to Sacramento.
Brian Serven is behind the plate, with starting catcher Jonah Heim getting the day off. Center fielder Denzel Clarke, who grounded out weekly in each of his at-bats yesterday, joins Heim on the bench.
Will the Athletics get more unexpected production from Serven and shortstop Alika Williams at the bottom of the order, or will the top of the lineup have to carry the offense?
Meanwhile the M’s will have righty Bryan Woo on the mound for them. The 26-year-old Bay Area native enters his 27th start of the season with a 10-9 record, a 4.25 ERA and 149 strikeouts in 148 1/3 innings.
While Woo has remained healthy, his performance has regressed from last season, when he was named an American League All-Star and finished with a 2.94 ERA. His decline is emblematic of a Mariners team, that as a whole, has failed to replicate the magic that carried it to within reach of last fall’s World Series.
In his last start against the Boston Red Sox, Woo earned the win after allowing one run over six innings. He will make his first start of the season against the A’s today. Woo has dominated the Athletics over his career, going 7–1 with a 2.22 ERA in his first 10 appearances against the Green and Gold. Since Woo does not issue many walks, A’s hitters will need to work deep counts and capitalize on mistake pitches, or it could be a long afternoon for the visitors.
The reeling Mariners continue to tap into their deep farm system for reinforcements, with highly touted infielder Michael Arroyo the latest player called up from Triple-A. Arroyo will bat near the bottom of Seattle’s lineup, which loses much of its production after the first six hitters.
With no off day tomorrow, the Athletics would greatly appreciate a quality start from Jump. To deliver one, he must limit the free passes and avoid leaving pitches over the middle of the plate against the likes of Cal Raleigh, Julio Rodriguez and Randy Arozarena.
Time to send the Mariners out to sea. Let’s go, A’s!
The Mets are promoting pitching prospect Gary Gill Hill from Double-A Binghamton to Triple-A Syracuse, the team announced on Sunday.
Gill Hill joined the Mets organization as part of the trade that sent Freddy Peralta to the Tampa Bay Rays at this year's trade deadline and had pitched well with the Rumble Ponies. In five starts, the right-hander went 2-0 with a 3.76 ERA (1.22 WHIP) and struck out 28 batters over 26.1 innings.
Overall, the 21-year-old has a 4.34 ERA in 25 starts between High-A, where he began the season, and Double-A.
New York's No. 19 overall prospect, according to SNY, Gill Hill's last start in Binghamton came on Sept. 1, which puts him on schedule to make his debut for Syracuse soon.
The promotion comes after the Mets recalled Jonah Tong from Triple-A to the big leagues, leaving a spot open in the starting rotation.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 23: Kyle Leahy #62 of the St. Louis Cardinals pitches during the game against the Philadelphia Phillies on August 23, 2026 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The St. Louis Cardinals wrap up their Colorado vacation against the Rockies Sunday afternoon at Coors Field. Kyle Leahy will pitch at least the first couple of innings for the Cardinals while the Rockies give the ball to RHP Tanner Gordon. First pitch set for 2:10pm central time and the game broadcast will be available via Cardinals.tv.
It won't be long before the NHL's deadline for teams to sign players to eight-year extensions arrives - September 15, to be exact.
For the Detroit Red Wings, that date comes just two days before the start of Training Camp.
As it happens, they have a pair of players whom fans would welcome the news of signing eight-year extensions: Alex DeBrincat and yet-to-be-signed RFA defenseman Simon Edvinsson.
An eight-year pact for either player would make sense for Detroit. DeBrincat is a proven goal-scoring threat on a team that has been starved for offense. This past season, he became Detroit's first 40-goal scorer since Marian Hossa in 2008-09, and at just 28 years old, he still has several more seasons of prime hockey in him.
Meanwhile, Edvinsson has developed into Detroit's second most important blue liner behind Moritz Seider.
DeBrincat became eligible for an extension on July 1, while Edvinsson remains a restricted free agent.
The only problem is that the Red Wings still don't have a general manager.
Steve Yzerman vacated the role in a stunning move in mid-July, and aside from a few brief statements announcing the leadership transition, the organization has provided no further official updates regarding its search, a potential timeline, or, more specifically, the candidates who have been interviewed.
Furthermore, the Red Wings are now less than two weeks away from the start of Training Camp (Sept. 17). Last month, Edvinsson's agent Peter Werner indicated via the Swedish publication Expressen that they're in a holding pattern until Detroit's management situation is resolved.
Meanwhile, signing DeBrincat to an extension likely won't require much prodding from Detroit's next general manager. DeBrincat, a Farmington Hills native, was the one who wanted to be traded to his hometown Red Wings.
The organization will be banking on the lure of helping his hometown team return to Stanley Cup contention, while continuing to raise his young family in Metro Detroit, to play a major role in a potential extension.
Currently, the Red Wings have approximately $19.57 million in available salary cap space. With the cap rising, the funds shouldn't be hard to by.
That being said, the first order of business for Yzerman's successor will likely be addressing the unresolved situation involving Dylan Larkin, who requested a trade shortly after last season ended and has reportedly not budged on that request despite Yzerman's departure.
Detroit is facing far more questions than answers right now with Training Camp right around the corner, and it's not an ideal position to be in - especially for a club that now owns the NHL's longest active postseason drought.
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Gatti’s stoppage-time header rescues Juve against Milan
Goalkeeper Koeman Jr scores two penalties in Eredivisie
Lamine Yamal struck twice for Barcelona as they demolished Valencia 5-0 on Sunday to maintain their 100% start in La Liga.
The reigning champions moved three points clear at the top of La Liga after Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid lost 1-0 at Real Betis on Friday. Fermín López, Raphinha and Pedri were also on target for Hansi Flick’s swaggering visitors on a hot afternoon on Spain’s east coast.
The Boston Red Sox are losing All-Star outfielder Ceddanne Rafaela to the injured list, but have the luxury of making sure he's 100% for the greater stakes to come.
Rafaela was placed on the 10-day injured list Sunday, Sept. 6, due to a quadriceps strain. Along with fellow outfielder Wilyer Abreu, Rafaela has been the club's most valuable position player this season, posting 5.5 WAR, 16 homers, 17 steals, a .760 OPS and elite defense in center field.
Outfielder Nate Eaton was summoned from Class AAA Worcester (Mass.) to replace Rafaela.
The move comes with Boston (78-65) virtually locked into the No. 2 wild card slot, with a six-game lead over No. 3 Toronto. The Red Sox's playoff odds are 99.5%, according to FanGraphs. The club can backdate Rafaela's IL stint by five days and not risk aggravating the quad injury.
"You do the math and see he’ll need the next series to get back on his feet. So go grab another player for the next five days or so," says interim manager Chad Tracy. "It gets Nate here, gives us another player, maybe allows us to be more aggressive with pinch hits.
"I like the outfielder. With Rafa not here, you have a very good defender in Nate Eaton going out there on defense. And he can run. It allows to be more aggressive in spots, even with a lead, if we want to."
One player remaining in Worcester, likely for the remainder of the season: Kristian Campbell. Signed to an eight-year, $60 million contract just days after his major league debut in March 2025, Campbell bottomed out, first with the Red Sox (a .176 average with one homer in his last 104 plate appearances) and then at Worcester, where he batting just .211 with two homers and a .282 slugging percentage through July 1.
But Campbell has reverted to his original mechanics after the Red Sox made significant changes in his set-up the previous two seasons and has posted a .921 OPS in his past 49 games.
"I’m paying attention," says Tracy, who noted there likely wasn't a logical role for Campbell right now if the club were inclined to promote him. "Based on the beginning of the season, the first half, you break down post-All-Star break and what he’s done, it’s encouraging. It’s encouraging and now he’s carried it for a month in a row.
"He's back to a more traditional set-up with his hands. A lot of stuff driving him back to where he was a couple years ago, and his set-ups and comfort and letting him turn it loose. Right now it seems to be working, which is great."
DENVER, COLORADO - AUGUST 31: Tanner Gordon #29 of the Colorado Rockies pitches during a game against the Baltimore Orioles at Coors Field on August 31, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Gavin Liddell/Colorado Rockies/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After a couple of crazy games — one loss and one win — the Rockies will look to take their final game against the St. Louis Cardinals in this afternoon’s rubber match. If they win, they will tie the season series 3-3.
The Rockies have played 19 rubber matches so far this season and are 6-13, the second-worst rubber match winning percentage (.316) behind the Boston Red Sox (5-14, .263). Seven of their rubber match losses have come by two or fewer runs, and they are 3-5 in home rubber matches (3-8 on the road). Wednesday’s rubber match against the Orioles marked the first time the Rockies have won three-straight rubber matches since winning five-straight May 7-June 25, 2023.
Tanner Gordon (1-4, 5.18 ERA) will take the mound for the Rockies. Gordon was on a roll in his last outing before being stymied by a one-hour and 38-minute rain delay. Gordon managed to toss five innings before the delay, only allowing three hits and one run with one walk and three strikeouts. But he only threw 60 pitches, so hopefully that means he’ll be fresh this afternoon. He has faced the Cardinals twice (one start) and is 1-1 with a 1.93 ERA in 9.1 innings.
Gordon will face Colorado Mesa product, and Boulder native, Kyle Leahy (10-4, 3.13 ERA). Leahy is in his fourth MLB season, but first where all of his appearances have been starts. He made 98 appearances from 2023-2025, but only one start — the Cardinals’ final game against the Chicago Cubs last September where he pitched three perfect innings with a strikeout. In his last outing against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Leahy pitched three innings and allowed one run (a solo homer) on four hits with one walk and three strikeouts. He has faced the Rockies six times in his career, and started against them this year on August 7th in St. Louis. He is 2-0 against them with a 4.05 ERA in 13.1 innings.
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 02: Cam Schlittler #31 of the New York Yankees pitches during the first inning of a game against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on September 02, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s Sunday once more, and you know what that means — it’s time for our weekly social media roundup! The Yankees have spent the last seven days in the West Coast, hanging in Anaheim as Arte Moreno sold the Los Angeles Angels, then heading on down to San Diego after an offday to take on a bunch of old friends, the Padres. With so much in store, we’ve got a lot to cover, so let’s get started!
Down Goes Boston
Last Sunday afternoon, the Yankees gave the Red Sox a 16-1 bearsown, winning the season rubber match to give them the tiebreaker in case both squads finish the season with identical records (as we saw last year, when the Yankees lost the tiebreaker to Toronto, that can be significant come playoff time). Key to that win was Heliot Ramos, whose big three-run home run marked his first significant Yankees moment. Not surprisingly, he took to Instagram to celebrate after the game.
Late in the game, Boston announcer Will Flemming earned the ire of Yankees fans everywhere, criticizing Jazz Chisholm Jr. with language that has historically been used to criticize Hispanic and Black players, then wishing that the Red Sox drilled Austin Wells and started a fight with Chisholm. Naturally Yankees players and fans took to social media to criticize him — including on his own ““apology.”
For this week’s QOTD, we get to see just how good (or bad) the Yankees are at writing in cursive — I can confirm that it’s more rarely taught to students these days, so if you think these may be hard to read at times … yeah, I’m not surprised.
