The Lakers may have found their post-Jonathan Kuminga fallback plan.
The reigning NBA champions could spoil that one, too.
Veteran guard Bruce Brown has emerged as a potential Lakers target following Los Angeles’ failed pursuit of Kuminga, but NBA insider Brett Siegel believes the Knicks are currently the more realistic landing spot.
Bruce Brown of the Denver Nuggets goes up for a shot between Day’Ron Sharpe and Cam Thomas of the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday, March 19, 2023, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. The Nuggets defeated the Nets 108-102. Corey Sipkinfor the NY POST
“There’s been some talk about the Lakers wanting Bruce Brown after missing out on Kuminga, but I’m not really sure how much I believe that,” Siegel said on “Clutch Scoops.” “I would cast doubt on the Lakers. Could they make it happen? Maybe. But I would look at the Knicks as a realistic option.”
Brown would be a much smaller acquisition but arguably an easier fit financially.
The 30-year-old played all 82 games for Denver last season, averaging 7.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists while shooting 47.5%. He also brings championship experience from the Nuggets’ 2023 title team and can defend multiple positions, handle the ball and operate without needing a large offensive role.
The Lakers have been interested before. Brown revealed that he nearly signed with Los Angeles in 2023 before Indiana swooped in with a two-year, $40 million offer.
New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown during a team practice on Monday, June 1, 2026, at the Madison Square Garden Training Center in Greenburgh, NY. Robert Sabo for NY Post
Three years later, his market could come down to a veteran-minimum contract.
The problem is that New York can offer a compelling destination of its own.
Siegel believes Brown could function as a smaller-scale version of Josh Hart for the Knicks — defending, rebounding, creating and filling whatever role is needed for a team attempting to repeat as champion.
“He could come in and play that Josh Hart-type role for the Knicks,” Siegel said. “I think, personally for me, that would be a really good fit.”
Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves drives against Bruce Brown of the Denver Nuggets during Game 5 of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Ball Arena on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, in Denver, Colorado. Getty Images
Los Angeles also has other priorities.
The Lakers already added Walker Kessler, Kevon Looney, Matisse Thybulle and Ziaire Williams during an offseason focused heavily on defense and roster balance, but questions remain about their frontcourt depth and size at forward.
Dwight Powell has been mentioned as one realistic minimum-salary option because of his extensive history playing alongside Luka Doncic in Dallas. Drew Eubanks, Bismack Biyombo and Mason Plumlee also remain among the available veteran big men.
Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick reacts on the court during the third quarter of the Los Angeles Lakers vs. New York Knicks game on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York. JASON SZENES/ NY POST
On the wing, the dream targets are much more ambitious.
OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges have been floated as the type of bigger two-way forwards who would give Los Angeles exactly what it lacks, although there is little reason for the championship Knicks to break up either piece of their core. Any significant trade would also likely require the Lakers to find a taker for Jarred Vanderbilt and combine additional salary and assets.
That makes Brown attractive precisely because he wouldn’t require a blockbuster.
The Lakers could add another proven defender and secondary ball-handler without dramatically altering the roster.
First, though, they may have to convince Brown not to join the team they could eventually have to beat in June.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 03: Daulton Varsho #18 of the Houston Astros hits a two-run triple in the third inning against the Chicago White Sox at Daikin Park on September 03, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Talk about Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hyde. The Astros seemed poised this week to not only beat them in a series, but also eventually leapfrog them into the two seed. Astros 6. White Sox 2. It took more than a month, but finally, Houston has won a series at home.
You’d be hard pressed to select just “one” player of the game. On the pitching front, Hunter Brown limited the damage to only the 2nd inning. Sousa and Abreu had moments of dominate stuff, each pitching a scoreless frame and AJ Blubaugh continues to dazzle, authoring yet another scoreless appearance. He’s now struck out 87 batters in 86.1 innings. The next closet (Parker Blackburn) hasn’t even eclipsed 75 for the year.
On the offensive side of the ledger, Jose Altuve started things in the bottom of the first, blasting a two-run shot which brought home Paredes who drew a walk. That made things 2-0.
The White Sox would respond the next frame by generating four singles off Hunter Brown. By the time they were set down, things were even at 2-2. That would remain the score until the bottom of the third. LaMonte Wade Jr. singled to right, then Yordan would move him over after reaching on an HBP. Paredes would double home Wade and then moments later, Daulton Varsho tripled which broke things open for good. Christian Walker would bring in Varsho and it was 6-2. That would be your final.
Hunter Brown for the day would go 6 innings, picking up his 5th win of the season. He struck out 7, issued a pair of walks and allowed 6 hits.
Odds & Ends:
The Astros won 5 of 7 meetings this season vs. the White Sox.
The Astros have tied their best mark, reaching 3 games over the .500 mark.
Since releasing GM Dana Brown, the club has won 7 out of their last 10.
The Astros are now 1.5 games behind the White Sox for the 2 seed in the American League.
This is hardly the stretch run the Mets were expecting when they opened the season with one of the highest payrolls in the game and among the loftiest expectations.
But here we are, with 10 games left on their home schedule as they open a series against the Giants on Friday night at Citi Field.
Access the Mets beat like never before
Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets.
And as Juan Soto said Thursday, he hopes the team’s goal is to “finish strong.”
“We’re not finished yet,” Soto said. “We’re not done yet. Who knows what can happen?”
At various points of the year, that might have sounded like a threat, as the Mets hit different low points along the way.
And while they remain in last place in the NL East and are certainly a team that will go down as one of the most disappointing in franchise history, they’ve at least been less of an embarrassment of late.
As Soto said, the team hopes to “finish strong and carry that into October or next season.”
Since the Mets won’t even make it to the end of September, let alone next month’s playoffs, perhaps it’s best to look at what the organization can try to learn over the final weeks of the regular season.
How will the outfield look?
Carson Benge has established himself as a solid player on both sides of the ball, getting more comfortable at the plate and, as a former pitcher, already showing off one of the best outfield arms in the game.
Since Luis Robert Jr. was claimed off waivers by Baltimore, the Mets have gone with three different left fielders in three games: Christopher Morel, Brett Baty and another rookie, Nick Morabito, who picked up his first major league hits and RBIs off the bench in Wednesday’s win at Tampa Bay.
Is he the player that sparked the offense with an .805 OPS over his first 55 games or the one who’s been among the least productive hitters in the sport since July 11, with a .494 OPS that’s the second-lowest among qualified hitters?
New York Mets center fielder A.J. Ewing (9) makes a catch in the ninth inning of a game against the Houston Astros at Citi Field. Bill Kostroun/New York Post
Soto, who took part in a baseball clinic for athletes from the Police Athletic League and was sponsored by Under Armour at City Line Park in Brooklyn on Thursday, said he “100 percent” wants to get back in left field before the end of the season as he manages the strained left calf that sidelined him last month.
Soto turns 28 next month and had never appeared in fewer than 150 games in a full season outside of his rookie year with the Nationals, when he was called up in May.
He’s so far played in just 89 games this lost season and has already acknowledged he needs to adjust how he trains going forward.
Starting up
In the three-game series against the also-disappointing Giants, the Mets are scheduled to start three promising young pitchers, with Nolan McLean going Friday, lefty Zac Thornton on Saturday and Christian Scott on Sunday.
McLean is making a late push for NL Rookie of the Year, although Cincinnati’s Sal Stewart is considered the favorite, with Benge also potentially in the mix.
Mets pitcher Zac Thornton (49) pitches at Citi Field during an August start. Bill Kostroun/New York Post
McLean has been one of the best pitchers in the majors in the second half, with an ERA of 1.76 in his past 11 starts.
And as The Post’s Mike Puma reported this week, another young pitcher, Jonah Tong, could get a start in Miami next week. He has yet to find success in the majors, but pitched well in seven of his past eight starts at Triple-A Syracuse and allowed just a pair of runs in his past four outings, over 21 ¹/₃ innings.
What a relief!
After the Mets shipped off many of their quality relievers at the trade deadline, they’ve seen more out of inexperienced arms like Nate Lavender, who hasn’t allowed a run in 12 appearances. And is Kodai Senga closing really going to continue? His performance this month — and willingness to stay in the role moving forward — could play a part in the decision.
New York Mets pitcher Kodai Senga (34) reacts after the final out of the ninth inning against the Houston Astros on Saturday, August 29, 2026, at Citi Field. Bill Kostroun/New York Post
Last chance?
While Luis Torrens continues to impress — both offensively and defensively — Francisco Alvarez is back in an ugly slump, just 5-for-51 with a pair of doubles, four walks and 29 strikeouts in his past 16 games.
Brett Baty has not fared well in a utility role, and Mark Vientos’ future with the organization is in doubt after another rough season.
The Mets claimed right-hander Cameron Weston from the Orioles and optioned him to Triple-A Syracuse. The 26-year-old has made one appearance in the majors, tossing an inning for Baltimore in May. He spent most of this season with Triple-A Norfolk, where he’s been mostly ineffective. To make room on the 40-man roster, catcher Shawn Ross was designated for assignment. Ross was picked up off waivers from the Pirates last month.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MAY 29: Matt Brash #47 of the Seattle Mariners reacts after giving up an RBI single during the sixth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at T-Mobile Park on May 29, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jack Compton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A couple of injured Mariners have had setbacks in their progression as they attempt to return to play: reliever Matt Brash has been shut down from throwing temporarily, while infielder Brendan Donovan remains in the concussion protocol.
Brash, who was trending towards a rehab assignment after completing a series of bullpens, is instead getting an MRI today on his injured lat. Brash felt tightness in his lat after throwing his most recent bullpen in Boston, so the team has shut him down from throwing for the time being while he gets imaging done. According to GM Justin Hollander, this has been a recurring pattern for Brash as he attempts to clear the hurdle of bullpens off a mound before graduating to throwing to live hitters and then to a rehab assignment.
“This has been a recurring theme with this specific injury,” said Hollander. “He feels good when he’s throwing on flat ground, but in the pens, it’s continued to tighten up on him as he finishes the bullpen and gets into the recovery phase.”
“He’s bounced back reasonably. Not as much as we would have hoped, which is why we’ve been in the same holding pattern where he’s throwing bullpens but hasn’t progressed to live BPs or game action because this has been a pattern over the last 10 days – two weeks, where he feels really good in between, he feels really good throwing on flat, he feels fine in the bullpen, then after the pen, it starts to tighten up a little bit. And until we can get through that, there’s just no reason to push him out there and cause more injury or have a recurrence of the same injury.”
There is no timetable currently for Brash’s return, but as he’s not even able to progress to the live BP portion of the rehab arc, having been out all season, it seems very unlikely that Brash will be able to rejoin the team before the end of the regular season. Even with the most best-case-scenario accelerated timeline, it’s hard to see Brash being available much sooner than the back half of the final homestand – and that’s assuming Brash suddenly starts bouncing back perfectly from every activity. As a reminder, results of the MRI are pending; this article will be updated with any relevant information.
Brash isn’t the only Mariner struggling to clear an injury benchmark. Infielder Brendan Donovan remains in the concussion protocol. The benchmark he’s not able to clear yet is being able to complete his pregame work without feeling symptoms of his concussion – he’ll get to the end of his pregame routine and feel effects such as nausea, fatigue, and/or dizziness. Hollander called Donovan’s progress “incremental” and “slow” and said all the team can do is continue to see if he can clear that benchmark before a return to play can be considered, at which point the team will determine whether to send him back to Tacoma for a couple of rehab games or activate him straight to the big-league team.
“Some days are better than others,” said Hollander. “The last few days, he has felt symptomatic towards all of thsoe pregames…it’s just not okay if we run him out there when he’s feeling those things until he can get all the way through them and feel 100%.”
Hollander also provided an update on Emerson Hancock, who is currently on the IL with a groin strain. Hancock will throw on Sunday, either from a mound or flat ground, at which point the team will have more information about how he’s feeling and decisions will be made about how to proceed.
There’s better news for another injured Mariners reliever: reliever Cole Wilcox will throw off a mound this weekend, and the hope is he’ll be able to throw a couple of bullpens with the goal of getting in some rehab games in Tacoma before the Triple-A season ends, and then ideally be available for the Mariners after that.
Aug 29, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics starting pitcher Jack Perkins (50) delivers a pitch against the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
After salvaging the final game of a three-game series against the Texas Rangers on Wednesday afternoon, the Athletics begin a four-game series against the Seattle Mariners tonight.
Following last fall’s run to the American League Championship Series, the Mariners entered this season as a trendy pick to win the American League. However, Seattle has failed to live up to expectations, entering with a 66-74 record, five and a half games behind the first-place Houston Astros and in dire need of a September run to return to the postseason. It is the Athletics’ job to play spoiler as a series loss to a last-place squad is something the Mariners can ill afford.
A’s right-hander Jack Perkins will start the series opener. The 26-year-old enters his 33rd appearance and 13th start of the season with a 3-10 record, a 6.42 ERA, three saves and 109 strikeouts over 95 1/3 innings.
Perkins will look to continue his recent success this evening in his fourth career game and first start against the Mariners. In his most recent outing against the Baltimore Orioles, the right-hander took the loss despite allowing just one run on four hits over five innings.
Walks remain a problem, as he issued at least four in each of his two previous outings. Facing a Mariners team with some momentum after winning a series at Fenway Park, Perkins will need to limit free passes and avoid mistake pitches in the heart of the plate.
Here’s the Athletics’ starting lineup for this one:
Tommy White remains out of the lineup due to back soreness. Denzel Clarke, who is just returning from an extended injury absence, joins him on the bench after starting all three games in Texas.
The A’s stacked the top of their lineup with their best healthy hitters, all of whom need to contribute if the Green and Gold want to score runs and have a chance at winning. It will be a surprise if the hitters in the sixth through ninth spots provide much production against tonight’s Mariners starter. Shortstop Alika Williams, who homered yesterday, has been a pleasant surprise. On the other hand, third baseman Max Muncy is running out of time to shed the first-round bust label.
That aforementioned Mariners starter is elite pitching prospect and Minor League Player of the Year candidate Kade Anderson. Anderson, whom the Mariners selected third overall, and Jamie Arnold, whom the Athletics selected with the 11th pick, were considered the two best left-handed pitchers in last year’s MLB Draft class.
Both southpaws began their professional careers this year in Double-A. While Arnold experienced some initial inconsistency adjusting to the professional game, Anderson went 10-1 with a 1.06 ERA in his first 18 professional starts.
The A’s recently promoted Arnold to Triple-A. In contrast, Anderson bypassed Triple-A entirely. This evening will mark Anderson’s third big-league start and first against the Athletics. He did not look out of place in his first two outings, showing the ace-level potential that could boost a Seattle rotation that has underperformed relative to its lofty expectations. The A’s injury-depleted offense better be prepared for a challenge against a pitcher who balances out the Mariners’ right-handed-heavy rotation.
Perkins will have to be careful when facing the Mariners’ first four hitters, as all four have hit at least 20 home runs this season. Catcher Cal Raleigh has regressed after his historic season last year, but he has started to turn things around lately.
Today will be right fielder Lazaro Montes’ second MLB game and home debut. The 21-year-old’s power bat and Cuban nationality have earned him comparisons to Yordan Alvarez, adding an additional threat for Perkins and the rest of the A’s pitching staff to deal with.
Time to win a second straight game and play spoiler in Seattle. Let’s go, A’s!
Undoubtedly, the strength of the Philadelphia Flyers and the future of the organization lies in their expansive prospect pool, which has grown quite large in recent seasons and became one of the best in the NHL.
The center position is, of course, still seen as a weakness for the Flyers, even after the allocation of three first-round picks to select Jett Luchanko and Jack Nesbitt in back-to-back years.
In a new prospect tier list ranking by Scott Wheeler of The Athletic, with review and some input from scouts and personnel around the league, the two Flyers prospects didn't even make the cut of the top 150 prospects in the NHL right now.
Luchanko and Nesbitt, as well as Alex Bump, were in the group of players who "were considered or generated some conversation but ultimately didn’t get enough love for Tier 5C projections," and that group still features some good talents, such as Luca Cagnoni, Sandis Vilmanis, Quentin Musty, Lenni Hameenaho, and Maveric Lamoureux.
In any case, the Flyers have a projected future superstar, contrary to popular belief, in the eyes of Wheeler and his caddy of NHL scouts and execs.
Flyers' Martone draws comparisons to Rantanen, Robertson
Porter Martone is the highest-ranked Flyers youngster on this list, and for good reason. The 19-year-old dominated the NCAA with 25 goals, 25 assists, and 50 points in just 35 games last season, then jumped on the proverbial moving train that was the Flyers in the middle of their playoff push.
The 2025 No. 6 overall pick was a star off rip, scoring four goals, six assists, and 10 points in nine regular season games, then added five more points in 10 playoff games.
"Martone's excellent freshman year and, maybe even more importantly, his strong play in the NHL at the end of the regular season in particular, really sold the league on his status as one of the game's future top power forwards," Wheeler wrote.
"Mikko Rantanen and Jason Robertson, who are both Tier 2 wingers in Player Tiers this year, feel like attainable — if a little lofty — projections for Martone."
Martone isn't quite as dynamic as Rantanen, but his style of play and strengths closely resemble both of the 100-point wingers.
He's not a center, no, but the Carolina Hurricanes just proved that you can win a Stanley Cup without one of the five best centers in the NHL.
If Martone can even approach the heights Rantanen and Robertson have reached in their careers, the Flyers are going to be in a really good spot going forward.
Only Ivar Stenberg, Gavin McKenna, Lane Hutson, Leo Carlsson, Connor Bedard, Matthew Schaefer, and Macklin Celebrini ranked higher on Wheeler's tier list.
The Michkov of it all
Michkov was the Flyers' best player to end the regular season. (Photo: Eric Hartline, Imagn Images)
Somewhat surprisingly, Matvei Michkov, still just 21 years old, is included in the ranking, though he dropped a full tier from 2B to 3B from this time last year.
Wheeler notes that his NHL peers are aligning themselves more with Rick Tocchet's side of this coin: that Michkov will have to iron out the defensive kinks and fitness issues before knighting the Russian phenom as a future star player in the league.
But, again, with all the negativity and publicity around Michkov last year, he still finished the year with 20 goals and 51 points and led the Flyers in scoring after the Olympic break.
"If those [flaws] persist evaluators won't even care if he becomes an 80-point version of that player, because he won't be viewed as a winning player," Wheeler said of Michkov.
It's not to say that hockey people are wrong or fans are wrong, but that is just how people in and around the game see Michkov right now, and Tocchet, as a former player and current coach, is one of those people.
Fortunately, it seems as though Michkov took the 2025-26 season to heart throughout the summer, and the Flyers have recognized his efforts ahead of the start of training camp.
The fruits this ultimately bears still remain to be seen.
The best of the rest
Because Luchanko and Nesbitt (and Maksim Sokolovskii) didn't make the cut, things drop off for the Flyers from here.
The next tier a Flyers prospect appears in is way down in 5B, which is above only 5C on the remainder of the list.
Goalie Egor Zavragin, who is still highly regarded by the Flyers after a trying season the organization does not put on him, clocks in at 5B for Wheeler. A tier-5 goalie is considered an "above-average starter," which is still a very good outcome for the Flyers.
Don't sleep on Denver Barkey heading into the 2026-27 season. (Photo: Eric Hartline, Imagn Images)
Marek Sklenicka, Carson Bjarnason, and Martin Psohlavec still have time to develop and get their names on the radar to make this list, and Dan Vladar, Joseph Woll, and Aleksei Kolosov can buy the above prospects time to become ripe for NHL action.
Ankle-biter forward Denver Barkey complements Martone and Michkov at 5C, making the ranking after being left off last year on the heels of an improbably successful first year playing pro hockey in the Flyers organization.
We can expect Barkey to become a full-time NHLer moving forward.
Most interestingly, and to round out the list, defensemen Oliver Bonk and David Jiricek rank right next to each other at the bottom of the 5C tier, with Wheeler questioning Bonk's true upside as a player and not whether or not he'll become an NHLer.
As for Jiricek, Wheeler, like the Flyers, acknowledges that the talent and tools are there, but the end result has not. The 22-year-old is now playing for his third organization in four years since being drafted in 2022.
"David Jiricek is an AHL player at this point, I don’t see him being on this list," a scout told Wheeler.
Jiricek badly needs to fix his skating, reads, and defending in open space to reach his full potential as an NHL defenseman, and the Flyers will likely want him to unleash his physicality more, too, for a 6-foot-4 body.
That said, the Flyers also know that Jiricek can aid their 32nd-ranked power play, and given that the Czech rearguard is no longer waivers-exempt, Jiricek will probably be given every opportunity to prove himself and make an impact.
The Buffalo Sabres’ 2025-26 season was its best in generations, as they won the Atlantic Division, then beat the Boston Bruins in Round 1 of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Buffalo fell to the Montreal Canadiens in a Round 2 exit, but for the first time in a very long time, there was genuine positive vibes in Sabres Land..
For the second straight season here at TheHockeyNews.com, we're analyzing the Sabres’ Eastern Conference opponents for the second season in a series we call “Know Your Enemy”. And in this file, we’re turning the spotlight on a team that has had nearly as much misery as Buffalo – the Columbus Blue Jackets.
BUFFALO SABRES VS. COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS
NEW BLUE JACKETS PLAYERS: Valeri Nichushkin (LW), Pheonix Copley (G), Ryan Lomberg (LW)
2025-26 SERIES: Sabres 1-1-1, Blue Jackets 2-1-0
2026-27 GAMES AGAINST EACH OTHER: October 1, at Columbus; November 6 at Buffalo; January 8 at Columbus
CAN THE SABRES BEAT THIS TEAM? The Blue Jackets and Sabres kick off their season by playing each other in a showdown in Columbus at the start of October, and in the following three months, they’ll play each other another two times. So the Columbus team that Buffalo plays for the final time in the first week of January could look different by the time next year’s NHL trade deadline arrives – and the same goes for the Sabres.
That said, Columbus’ off-season was unspectacular, and that’s being kind. Veteran winger Nichushkin was acquired from the Colorado Avalanche, and while he’s a solid scorer, he’s not a game-changer, generational player, and that’s what the Blue Jackets don’t have nearly enough of.
And this is why the Sabres have to take care of business when they do take on the Jackets. Columbus is clearly one of the league’s weaker teams, and although they do have up-and-coming youngsters including center Adam Fantilli – as well as superstar defenseman Zach Werenski, at least, for now – the Blue Jackets don’t measure up well on paper against virtually any NHL team.
Columbus is fortunate in that they play in the Metropolitan Division, one of the league’s weaker divisions. But from the Sabres’ perspective, any games that are lost in regulation time to a puny rival is what could be the difference between Buffalo winning or losing home-ice advantage in the post-season.
A strong start is important for any team, Sabres included. A dominant win in Game 1 will set the right tone for Buffalo, and while the Blue Jackets could surprise people and win some games playing feisty hockey, they’re one of the teams the Sabres have to put in their place. And if Buffalo does squander some points in the standings to Columbus, Sabres fans will be rightly frustrated.
As the Yankees continue their path to the postseason, SNY MLB Insider Chelsea Janes opens up the mailbag to talk roster construction when Aaron Judge returns and much more...
Are the Yankees really going to run with Grisham in center field instead of Spencer Jones and is it even likely that they’ll send Jones down with Judge returning? -@yellow643
I can see a world in which the Yankees run with Trent Grisham in center down the stretch, at least against right-handed pitching, out of respect for his experience and to give him time to get his bat going before the postseason. I don’t know if I would make that decision, and I don’t know if they will, either.
I cannot see a world in which the Yankees do not have Jones on their roster down the stretch and into October. Yes, Aaron Judge creates a roster crunch, but I don’t anticipate Jones being the one pushed out. He has been too good, and is too much of a power threat, to take off the roster for the most important games of the season. And if he is on the roster, the Yankees will have to take another position player off.
The Yankees’ general dearth of right-handed bats makes this complicated. I would assume Heliot Ramos remains on the roster as a pinch-hitter or platoon option in center against a tough lefty. So that means an infielder would have to go.
Amed Rosario feels like the likeliest choice, but even in a difficult offensive season, he maintains the Yankees’ confidence as a right-handed option off the bench. But in the postseason, Paul Goldschmidt can fill that role, even if it means pinch-hitting for someone in another infield position: The proven positional versatility of Jose Caballero and the theoretical versatility of Luis Garcia Jr. allow for creativity.
Ryan McMahon’s defense at third base is probably too important to the success of key pitchers like Max Fried to leave off the roster due to his inconsistency offensively. But I could see them making that decision if they are worried about being too left-handed.
Long story short: I think Jones has proven himself too valuable to leave him off the roster when Judge returns and beyond.
Apr 11, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; New York Yankees designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton (27) looks on against the Tampa Bay Rays in the fifth inning at Tropicana Field. / Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Will we ever see Giancarlo Stanton play again in pinstripes? -@MrEd315
I don’t know. His contract situation makes any kind of retirement scenario complicated: The Yankees owe him $25 million next year and a $10 million buyout if they choose not to bring him back for 2028. Thirty-five million isn’t crazy for the Yankees, but it isn’t nothing.
My expectation is that this will be up to Stanton. If he wants to try to play again – and he is just 44 home runs shy of 500 – I think the Yankees will give him that chance. Even if he is a semiregular designated hitter and a huge bench bat, his clubhouse presence probably justifies keeping him around. But his legs clearly gave out on him this year, which is not a good sign for a player with chronic elbow pain, too. I would not be surprised if he decides to call it after this season, though to be very, very clear, I have not heard anyone who would know suggest that is imminent.
Who do you think will have a better career? Nolan McLean or Cam Schlittler? -@LobstersLong
Whichever one is healthiest. Period. They’re both incredible young talents. Schlittler has been better so far and appears to be an excellent big-game pitcher. So he has the edge for now. But McLean’s stuff moves naturally in ways people spend whole careers trying to achieve. His numbers are not THAT far behind Schlittler, all things considered. To me, whoever is healthier will finish with the better resume. They’re both incredibly talented.
Australian free to play again after having suspension reduced
ITIA accepts Kyrgios’s use of cocaine was outside of competition
Fallen Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios has entered a treatment program after accepting a one-month ban for testing positive to cocaine.
After admitting his “huge mistake” when initially suspended for failing a drugs test on June 22 at an ATP 250 tournament in Spain, Kyrgios is allowed to compete again from Friday.
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone pulls pitcher Will Warren from the game during the eighth inning on Sunday, August 30, 2026, at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx.
SAN DIEGO — Coming off the best start of his season, Will Warren is going to the bullpen — at least for Friday night.
The right-hander is expected to piggyback Max Fried in the series opener against the Padres at Petco Park, as the Yankees try to use off-days Thursday and Monday to their advantage.
Access the Yankees beat like never before
Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Greg Joyce about the inside buzz on the Yankees.
Fried, in his second start back from the injured list for a left elbow bone bruise, is likely to be capped somewhere around 65-70 pitches again after throwing 63 across 3 ²/₃ innings against the Red Sox on Saturday.
So having Warren pitch behind him should help take some burden off the bullpen from having to cover too many innings.
And while Warren is coming off a strong start, when he tossed seven innings of one-run ball Sunday against the Red Sox on a day when the Yankees desperately needed some length (and the win), Aaron Boone said it was not a difficult conversation to have with his pitcher to tell him he would be coming on in relief of Fried this time around.
Will Warren will pitch behind Max Fried against the Padres. Robert Sabo for NY Post
“We all understand where we are in the season, how important all these games are, and in Will’s case, how important he is to this team and what we’re doing,” Boone said. “We’re trying to win, and I think everyone understands that at this point.”
While Boone claimed this was not part of the equation, it also gives Warren some experience coming out of the bullpen, a role that he could find himself in come the playoffs. When asked if Warren would return to the rotation after Friday, Boone initially said, “Yeah, he could slot back in,” before hedging and saying, “We’ll see how it all shakes out.”
Carlos Rodón is set to start Saturday while they were waiting on naming a starter for Sunday — Gerrit Cole would be on normal four days’ rest, which would then allow Cam Schlittler to start Tuesday against the Rockies on five days’ rest.
Yankees Merch Shop
WinCraft insulated can coolers
Team Effort driver head cover
47 Brand adjustable cap
Customizable jersey
Logo fleece blanket
14-ounce sculpted relief coffee mug
New York Post receives revenue from affiliate and advertising partnerships for sharing this content and when you make a purchase.
If Cole needs another day, Elmer Rodríguez would be available after starting Monday’s game against the Angels.
Anthony Volpe appears to have avoided an injury scare, returning to the lineup at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Thursday after leaving Wednesday’s game early, two innings after he was hit by a pitch.
Volpe took an 87 mph fastball off the right forearm in the fourth inning and initially stayed in the game to steal a base and take another at-bat in the fifth, lining out to right field. But he was replaced in the field by the top of the sixth.
By Thursday, though, he was right back in the RailRiders lineup, starting at second base. He has been on a strong run at the plate, batting .276 with a 1.008 OPS and eight home runs in 23 games since being demoted in early August.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 02: Stuart Fairchild #17 of the Seattle Mariners takes a lead off third base after replacing Josh Naylor #12 of the Seattle Mariners as a pinch runner during the ninth inning against the Minnesota Twins at T-Mobile Park on August 02, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Olivia Vanni/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Seattle Mariners announced Thursday that they’ve placed OF Victor Robles on the family medical emergency/bereavement list. Robles is allowed up to three days on the list, and though the exact nature of the situation is unknown, kindness and best wishes are being sent his and his family’s way. Robles is currently in the Dominican Republic with his family, which is where Mariners GM Justin Hollander said he “needs to be.”
In his stead, Seattle has recalled OF Stuart Fairchild, the local product who Seattle acquired midway through this season. As of pregame Thursday, Fairchild isn’t yet with the club, needing to travel from where Tacoma is playing in Albuquerque. Additionally, Seattle recalled OF Brennen Davis from Triple-A Tacoma and placed him on the 60-day injured list, immediately removing him from the 40-man roster. Davis had been dealing this season with a severe hamstring strain that’s kept him out all year; most recently, he suffered an oblique injury while swinging in the cages, and has now had a setback with that oblique that will end his season.
Occupying a bench and defensive replacement role when healthy this year for the most part, Robles will be mostly a 1-1 swap for Fairchild in the next few days. Though not quite the base stealer Robles is, Fairchild roams the outfield well and runs enough to fill in. The Seattle Prep product has been a stellar hitter in Triple-A this year in his age 30 campaign, and has played in parts of the last six seasons in the bigs.
Davis is a bittersweet move, as the 26 year old outfielder who spent years near the top of prospect lists spent much of this season on the sidelines once again, unable to ring the bell when Seattle was scouring its system for any sort of offensive spark. By adding him to the 40-man roster earlier this year, Seattle retained Davis following a scorching hot spring and excellent season with the Tacoma Rainiers. Unfortunately, as has been the case every year of his career, his body betrayed him, first with the hamstring, and then the oblique. By putting him on the IL, Davis will be paid for the remainder of the year at a big league minimum rate, a goodwill gesture from Seattle for a player who by all accounts is a diligent, hard worker and high-quality teammate. Seattle may also choose to retain Davis through the winter on their 40-man roster without needing to expose him to minor league free agency once again, though it’s unclear if they’d choose to do so.
Tyrese Haliburton spent the past two years dumping his hometown baseball team in public, one jersey at a time. On Thursday night, he made it official at Wrigley Field.
The injured Indiana Pacers point guard threw out the ceremonial first pitch wearing a Cubs jersey before Chicago hosted the Brewers, taking the mound at Wrigley rather than 90 miles north in Milwaukee.
Haliburton, from Oshkosh, Wisconsin, was a Brewers fan his whole life. That ended in 2024, he said, when the team invited him to throw out a first pitch that summer, then pulled the offer after his Pacers eliminated the Milwaukee Bucks in the playoffs.
"I was a Brewers fan and then I was supposed to throw the first pitch last summer and then they X'd that after the playoffs ended," Haliburton said on the "The Pat McAfee Show" in April 2025. "So I said, you know what, I'm no longer a Brewers fan."
Tyrese Haliburton grew up a Brewers fan in Wisconsin. Tonight, he took the mound to throw out the first pitch for the Cubs ... against the Brewers 👀 pic.twitter.com/h4bwoFK4pl
It was a rough break up. Haliburton started showing up to Pacers games in Cubs and Dodgers gear, including a Cubs jersey at a preseason game in October 2025. When the Dodgers swept the Brewers out of the National League Championship Series that fall, he leaned into rooting against Milwaukee.
The Dodgers noticed. Manager Dave Roberts invited Haliburton to jump on the bandwagon and throw out a first pitch at Dodger Stadium.
"I'd like to offer him the first pitch at Dodger Stadium, and he can rock that Ohtani jersey in its rightful place," Roberts said on Amazon's "Good Sports With Kevin Hart and Kenan Thompson."
Haliburton, who calls himself a baseball free agent, has had plenty of time to practice his first pitch. He tore his Achilles tendon in Game 7 of the NBA Finals against Oklahoma City Thunder in June 2025 and was out for the entire 2025-26 season. The Pacers have said he isn't expected to play again until late 2026.
José Altuve supplies the cover photo because the White Sox supplied no highlights. | (Getty Images)
The good thing about this week’s series in the land of the Crawford Boxes and the choo-choo is that both Sean Burke and Davis Martin pitched extremely well, a big turnaround from their recent starts and a good sign for the stretch run. The bad thing — well, besides nearly the entire offense — is that Luis Castillo once again demonstrated that while Chris Getz may have had a very nice offseason, he had a miserable trade deadline.
Castillo started out looking good, striking out Jeremy Peña and Yordan Alvarez. He then walked Isaac Paredes on 10 pitches and threw José Altuve a fastball that would have been a strike on Aaron Judge but was nose-high on Altuve. Altuve still sent it into the Crawford Boxes to make it 2-0 Astros.
The lead didn’t last long. Braden Montgomery singled off Hunter Brown to lead off the second, and Colson Montgomery followed with a routine ground ball to second. Peña blew the relay, though, and Chase Meidroth followed with an unplayable 50-mph dribbler. Jake Rogers and Sam Antonacci then delivered actual singles to tie the score.
There being no other Sox offensive highlights, what the heck, let’s show you the RBIs. First, Jake’s:
Nice stop by Peña, nice hustle by a catcher to avoid the DP. Then Sam’s, which actually made it to the outfield.
The Sox even got a single and a walk to lead off the third, but that apparently ticked off Brown, who entered the game 5-0 against them in his career. He then struck out the side, retired nine in a row and didn’t allow another hit through the sixth.
Meanwhile, the Astros were allowed to bat more against Castillo, which, as usual, was not a good thing. In the bottom of the third, they went single, HBP, double, triple, single to make it a 6-2 game. That was all they scored, but it was all they needed.
Will Venable left Castillo in for the fourth, when he stranded a couple of runners, but that was it for the alleged innings eater who has turned into just an appetizer nibbler. Tyler Schweitzer, Trevor Richards and even José Urquidy combined for four scoreless innings, but the feeble Sox offense didn’t manage another hit until a two-out Meidroth single in the ninth.
The one moment of good performance by Sox non-pitchers came on a nifty Braden grab with two on and two out in the fifth.
Baseball lore has it that if a player who makes a nice catch leads off the next inning, he always gets a hit. Braden only managed a walk, but that sorta counts. Didn’t matter, because Colson then hit into a real double play.
After the third, the Sox never stranded another runner in scoring position. But that’s because they never got another runner to second.
The White Sox fall to 73-67 but remain three games ahead of Cleveland, which lost to Toronto this afternoon. Their lead over Houston is down to 1 1/2 games, though. The Astros also hold the tiebreaker after winning the season series 5-2, which could matter for postseason positioning and home-field advantage if the teams finish with identical records.
The Sox now head home to face the Twins and Pirates beginning tomorrow night but, oddly, have Labor Day off.
As for the Sox MVP, there really isn’t one, but feel free to name somebody in the comments — maybe Meidroth for his two singles and two Ks, or the pen for four innings of scoreless work?
Castillo would seem to be the runaway choice for goat (not GOAT), but if you prefer a batter, Munetaka Murakami was 0-for-4 with three Ks. He is 1-for-20 and hasn’t homered since Aug. 18. Colson was also 0-for-4 with a strikeout while hitting into one double play and another that should have been.
I think I’d give the dishonor to Chris Getz for his terrible work at the trade deadline, but have at whomever you like in the comments.
The Dodgers are looking to become the third franchise to secure a World Series three-peat.
Ohtani is expected to play a key role in trying to make that happen, but he will need to be healthy to do it.
Ohtani was not in the starting lineup as a designated hitter on Thursday, Sept. 3. It is the first time he has not been in the lineup since July 30.
Ohtani showed signs of discomfort in the Dodgers' 8-6 home loss to the St. Louis Cardinals at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday, Sept. 2. He went 0-for-4, but did walk and score a run.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Ohtani told the team he had discomfort in his biceps and neck during the game.
The Dodgers have not placed Ohtani on the injured list, but it hasn't officially been ruled out either. The Dodgers will treat Ohtani's status for the moment as "day-to-day."
The manager said he will need to have further conversations with Ohtani before deciding on the next step.
"I think for me it's just getting with him later today and seeing how his day is and how he responds to a day of rest and I think at that point we will make a decision as far as tomorrow," Roberts said.
Ohtani is known for his two-way ability, but has been limited to just hitting for most of this season due to injuries.
Ohtani was working toward making his first pitching start since July 3 due to knee inflammation and biceps discomfort. Ohtani had a short bullpen session on Aug. 28, but it wasn’t enough to give the superstar the green light to get on the mound for a game.
