PHOENIX, ARIZONA - NOVEMBER 29: Peyton Watson #8 of the Denver Nuggets dribbles the ball during the first half against the Phoenix Suns at Mortgage Matchup Center on November 29, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Nuggets defeated the Suns 130-112. 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 Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers have finally made their big move of the offseason. After a month and a half of speculation, the Cavs now have an answer at small forward: Peyton Watson.
The soon-to-be 24-year-old, 6’8” wing is coming off the best season of his career with the Denver Nuggets. Watson averaged 14.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game in 54 contests. Those 14.6 points per game were six and a half more than he averaged the year before. That jump is mostly due to his growth as a shooter.
Watson connected on 41.1% of his 3.6 three-point attempts last regular season and 36.8% of them in the playoffs. This included converting 52% of his three-point looks from the corner (97th percentile).
That three-point shooting is coupled with being an outstanding defender for his position. Watson does a great job of using his size and athleticism to effectively guard one through four. This should make him an incredibly good fit in a frontcourt anchored by Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley.
Anything bought from the links helps support Fear the Sword. You can buy the Believeland shirt HERE. You can also shop all of Homage’s Cavs gear HERE.
The Cavs had to pay a premium for getting Watson to come to Cleveland.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reports that the Cavs will be sending out Max Strus, an unprotected 2031 first-round pick, Tre Mann, cash, and a second-round pick to complete the deal. This will end up being a three-team deal with the first-rounder going to Denver and Strus reuniting with Darius Garland on the Los Angeles Clippers.
Watson is also signing for a four-year, $88 million deal in Cleveland, which includes a player option.
Strus spent three years with the Cavs and was a starting small forward for most of that time. He played a large role both on and off the court. Strus averaged 11 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in 132 games with the Cavs over the last three seasons.
Cleveland doesn’t own their 2027, 2029, and now 2031 first-round picks. They also still owe a pick swap for their 2028 first as part of the Donovan Mitchell trade with the Utah Jazz.
The Cavs have been looking for a permanent answer at starting forward for years. They thought they had something with De’Andre Hunter when they traded for him in 2025, before dealing him the following season. We’ll see if Watson ends up being the long-term solution.
John Longmire says on-field ramifications not a priority for club
Victoria Police detectives expected to arrive in Sydney
Sydney’s last premiership coach says there’s a deep sense of sadness at five Swans players being banned for breaching club standards. John Longmire, the Swans’ longest-serving coach, says the suspensions of the players is “flattening” for all involved.
Swans Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, Riley Bice and James Jordon were stood down for the rest of the season on Wednesday.
A stunning double from the summer signing Camilo Durán helped Celtic open up a commanding lead against Lask in their Champions League playoff. Benjamin Nygren also produced a superb finish to send Martin O’Neill’s side on their way to a 3-0 first-leg win over their Austrian opponents in Glasgow.
The visitors had two goals disallowed for offside and created chances throughout in an open encounter but Celtic were clinical as they continued their strong start to the season. Nygren has been at the heart of it with four goals and four assists in as many games and he opened the scoring in the 26th minute. The Swede readjusted his body to volley into the top corner from 20 yards after a weak clearance from Kieran Tierney’s cross.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have had a busy summer, as they have brought in many new players.
While this is the case, it is fair to argue that the Penguins should not be done yet. The left side of their blueline could use more depth, as they did not re-sign Ryan Shea and traded Parker Wotherspoon.
While many of this year's top free agents have been signed, there are still some interesting players looking for new homes in the middle of August. Among them is defenseman Logan Stanley, and he could be a nice pickup for a Penguins club that needs more blueline depth.
If the Penguins added Stanley, he would give them another intriguing option for their bottom pairing. He would also provide them with a shutdown defenseman for their penalty kill.
Furthermore, with it now getting closer to September, it is very likely that Stanley could be had at an affordable price. On a short-term deal, the 28-year-old blueliner could be a strong fit on the Penguins' roster.
Stanley played in 76 games last season split between the Winnipeg Jets and Buffalo Sabres, where he recorded nine goals, 17 assists, 26 points, and 128 penalty minutes. With numbers like these, the 6-foot-7 defenseman would be a solid depth pickup for Pittsburgh. Let's see if they pursue him from here.
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 29: Lakers' Jeanie Buss watches the game from the sidelines during the second quarter of game five of a Western Conference NBA playoff game against the Houston Rockets at Crypto.com Arena on Wednesday, April 29, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Once again, we have a whole host of news, rumors and updates around the Buss family’s feud, Mark Walter and even a cameo from Shams Charania to defend himself against a claim from Jeanie Buss.
Could there be a way for the rest of the siblings to sell and Jeanie to remain as governor? That would require her finding a way to still own at least 15 percent of the shares, but it is possible. Per a league source, Jeanie would be open to exploring that scenario.
The first reaction to this is ‘Duh, of course Jeanie is open to it.’ The second reaction is that it feels like there is no chance the family is interested in selling those shares to Jeanie.
That said, we don’t know the siblings’ intentions. Perhaps they just want to cash out it doesn’t matter whether Jeanie gives them that money or Bob Iger and Josh Kushner do. Does Jeanie even have enough money to do that, though?
While this option is on the table, it doesn’t feel particularly likely.
The contract to keep Jeanie as governor
Another aspect of this is whether Iger and Kushner have an interest in even keeping Jeanie as governor. However, it might not be under their control.
In the same piece for The Athletic, Woike and Amick reported that the contract she signed with Mark Walter to remain governor for at least five years might be part of the deal for Iger and Kushner.
It’s fair to wonder how Iger and Kushner see this situation, with some wondering whether they’d want to choose a different governor simply because of the messiness of it all. But Walter’s choice to have Jeanie serve as governor for the next four years is known to be part of the contractual agreement from the sale 14 months ago, and a league source close to the situation indicated that it is now considered part of the deal with Iger and Kushner. In essence, if that proves to be the case, Iger and Kushner would be assuming Walter’s ownership role and the governor that comes with it.
If so, it makes sense why Jeanie is fighting so hard to maintain that 15% ownership stake. If she believes she’ll remain the governor no matter who owns the team, then her stance makes more sense.
It doesn’t make it any less desperate or annoying to watch as fans on the outside looking in, but at least there’s a little bit of logic to it.
Shams Charania fires back at Jeanie
One of the wilder strays of the letter from Jeanie’s lawyer was directed at Shams Charania of ESPN and his report on Monday morning that the Buss family would be selling their stake.
As you know, this afternoon, Shams Charania of ESPN falsely reported that the six Buss siblings voted to sell the 17.8% ownership stake in the Lakers to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger, and that my client, Jeanie Buss, is “out” as controlling owner. This is just the latest instance of a years-long pattern whereby Joey and Jesse Buss leak false, defamatory and pernicious “information” to Mr. Charania for the malicious purpose of doing harm to the Los Angeles Lakers so long as Dr. Buss’s chosen successor, Jeanie Buss, carries out her father’s wishes.
That felt pretty far out of left field, but clearly there was some pent-up anger from Jeanie in this situation. On Tuesday, Charania appeared on “The Pat McAfee Show” and defended his reporting on the matter.
Look, Shams’ method of reporting deserves criticism and I’m not going to be defending him. But I also think Jeanie throwing shots his way in this situation felt out of place, mean-spirited and just odd.
Mark Walter tried to take loans out against Lakers’ stake
Lastly, we have our daily “What crazy way did Mark Walter try to get money” update, this time being one that feels like it was serious.
Mark Walter held discussions with private investment giant Apollo Global Management about a multibillion-dollar loan against his Los Angeles Lakers stake, in a sign of the billionaire’s rush to raise cash this year.
The talks took place throughout the summer and continued until former Disney chief executive Bob Iger and venture capitalist Josh Kushner offered to buy Walter’s stake in the Lakers, according to people familiar with the matter.
The more we learn about Walter, the more it feels like the sale, when it came, was one of the better options on the table.
Heading into his third season in the NHL, San Jose Sharks forward Macklin Celebrini's accomplishments on the ice have been noticed by EA Sports.
Celebrini, 20, is going to be tied for the fifth-highest rated player in this year's iteration of the EA Sports NHL series, NHL 27, while also being featured on the cover. When the game releases early next month, Celebrini will have a 95 overall rating, which ties him with players like Sidney Crosby, Cale Makar, David Pastrnak, Aleksander Barkov, and others. Celebrini is tied for the fourth-highest rating for a center, behind Connor McDavid (99), Nathan MacKinnon (97), and Leon Draisaitl (96).
Celebrini wasn't the only member of the San Jose Sharks to have his rating released, as a total of nine Sharks have had their ratings revealed so far.
Will Smith is the second-highest rated Shark, with an 87 overall that puts him on par with players like Cutter Gauthier, Roope Hintz, Troy Terry, and numerous others. Darnell Nurse, Mason Marchment, Alexander Wennberg, Dmitry Orlov, and Jacob Trouba are all scheduled to start the game with an 85 overall.
Last but not least, veteran forward Tyler Toffoli and young goaltender Yaroslav Askarov will share a rating, as both are listed at 84 overall to start the year. Interestingly, Askarov is the only Shark so far without an "X-Factor ability" assigned to him.
The full list of Sharks rankings will be released when the game is available to the general public in September.
The Golden Knights are ready to gray-cefully move on.
One of the most recognizable looks in Vegas Golden Knights history is about to take a step into the past, with the franchise preparing to remove its traditional gray sweaters from the regular-season rotation and make room for a brand-new alternate look.
Vegas will still have its metallic gold home jerseys and white road uniforms, but the upcoming season will bring a third option to the lineup through the NHL’s new Hometown Remix initiative.
The program, developed in collaboration with Fanatics, is designed to give teams an opportunity to create uniforms that are more closely connected to their cities, their fans and the culture surrounding each franchise.
For the Golden Knights, that means a fresh sweater is coming — although the NHL and Fanatics are keeping the details under wraps for now. More information about the collection is expected to be revealed in the coming months.
The initiative also carries some significance for Fanatics. Hometown Remix is the company’s first uniform program since becoming the NHL’s official on-ice uniform outfitter in 2024 under a 10-year agreement with the league.
While Vegas’ new sweater will eventually take its place alongside the team’s gold and white jerseys, the old gray design won’t disappear completely.
Instead, the gray sweaters will be reclassified as throwbacks, giving the Golden Knights a chance to preserve one of the looks that helped define the franchise during its early years.
And considering how aggressively Vegas has embraced its identity since entering the NHL, the next chapter of the Golden Knights’ wardrobe could be just as bold as the franchise itself.
What do the fans think of the new jerseys? Your opinion is valuable to us. Let us know. The new season is about to begin! Training camp is nearly upon us.
The Philadelphia Flyers officially added another depth forward Wednesday, confirming some widely-reported news from the beginning of free agency.
Former first-round pick Nolan Foote, 25, joins the Flyers after spending the 2025-26 season in the Florida Panthers organization. The winger appeared in 12 NHL games with the banged-up Panthers last year, scoring one goal, while spending the majority of the season with the AHL Charlotte Checkers.
In 54 games with Charlotte, Foote recorded 14 goals, 18 assists, and 32 points, which is more or less in line with his previous campaigns in the offense department.
So, while Foote hasn't quite taken a step forward, he has an established floor, size, and a hard shot that he can and will put to use, even if the end result comes sparingly.
That floor is the primary appeal of the signing for the Flyers, who get a still-young player with NHL experience who can fill in for Denver Barkey and Alex Bump, as they are presumably going to graduate to the NHL level full-time in 2026-27.
The 6-foot-3 Foote was originally selected by Tampa Bay with the 27th overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, but was later traded to the New Jersey Devils organization as the centerpiece of the Blake Coleman trade and spent five seasons there.
Foote's most productive NHL season was the 2021-22 season with the Devils, when he tallied three times in just seven games and added an assist.
The Denver, Colorado, native has not expanded on his game, however, as he has not grown into a reliable penalty-killer, something most fringe players need to do to take the next step in their pro careers.
Foote has the size, but he is not especially physical, nor is he fast, and that is why the Flyers have become his fourth stop since being drafted seven years ago.
For the 25-year-old Foote, it's a new opportunity to establish himself as a full-time NHL player.
He remains young enough to conceivably take a big but unexpected leap, but his immediate path to the Flyers' NHL lineup will depend on his performance in training camp and the preseason, as well as an injury opening up a place for him.
The Flyers have been surprisingly active in adding depth pieces this offseason, and Foote now joins that group in preparation for the rapidly approaching 2026-27 campaign.
The Montreal Canadiens have plenty of promising prospects in their system.
Among their most exciting prospects is Alexander Zharovsky, as the 19-year-old forward has the tools to become an impactful NHL player in the future.
After being selected by the Canadiens with the 34th overall pick of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, Zharovsky responded by having a fantastic rookie season in the KHL in 2025-26. In 59 games with Salavat Yulaev Ufa last season, he posted 16 goals, 26 assists, and 42 points.
Now, with the KHL pre-season being here, Zharovsky is only continuing to show a lot of promise.
Zharovsky scored a goal in his most recent pre-season game for Salavat Yulaev Ufa with an excellent snapshot on Tuesday. He also did so while playing at the center position, which is certainly promising to see.
Zharovsky will now be looking to continue to shine in the KHL once the regular-season is here. He certainly had a successful rookie season in the KHL, but it would be huge for the Canadiens if he takes another big step in his development this season.
Nevertheless, it is going to be very interesting to see what kind of season Zharovsky can have in 2026-27 from here. It is encouraging to see him already scoring a goal like this in the preseason.
The Buffalo Sabres have brought in multiple new players this off-season. Among their newcomers is Olen Zellweger, as they acquired him from the Anaheim Ducks earlier this summer.
The Sabres' decision to bring in Zellweger is easy to understand. They traded away both Bowen Byram and Michael Kesselring this off-season and let Luke Schenn and Logan Stanley leave in free agency. With this, it makes that they are taking a chance on a promising young defensman like Zellweger.
Zellweger has shown good promise early on in his NHL career. This was again the case this past season, as he scored seven goals and set new career highs with 15 assists and 22 points in 76 games with Anaheim.
Yet, when noting that Zellweger is only entering his fourth NHL season and is still just 22 years old, there is a clear reason to believe that he can have a true breakout season for Buffalo in 2026-27. The Sabres should also offer him plenty of opportunities to succeed when looking at their current blueline.
It would not be very surprising if Zellweger's all-around game improves further this campaign. He has the potential to become a more impactful puck-moving offensive defenseman, so it will be fascinating to see what kind of season he can put together for the Sabres in 2026-27 from here.
Draymond Green has spent 14 NBA seasons standing his ground against some of the most imposing athletes in the world.
A giant goose apparently presents a different challenge.
The Golden State Warriors star was caught completely off guard when a fan approached him from behind with a lion-head goose during his offseason tour of China.
Draymond Green jumped from his seat when a giant lion-head goose surprised him from behind during the Warriors star’s offseason tour of China.
Green was seated outdoors at a table covered with local dishes while a large crowd gathered around the NBA star. He turned around to find the enormous bird suddenly inches away from him.
“Oh s–t! No! No!” Green shouted as he jumped out of his seat and scrambled away from the table.
The crowd erupted in laughter as Green attempted to create distance between himself and the fowl visitor. Once the initial shock passed, the four-time NBA champion smiled and laughed off the unexpected encounter.
In fairness to Green, this was not an ordinary goose.
Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green shares words with Boston Celtics’ Jaylen Brown during the second quarter of Game 2 of the NBA Finals in San Francisco on Sunday, June 5, 2022. (ONLINE_YES) AP
The lion-head goose, also known as the Shitou goose, is native to the Chaoshan region of China’s Guangdong province. The breed can weigh between 20 and 26 pounds, making it the largest cultivated variety in China and one of the largest in the world.
The breed gets its name from the prominent knob above its bill and the loose skin beneath its throat, which combine to create an appearance resembling a lion’s mane. Lion-head geese are also known for being loud and territorial.
Draymond Green jumped from his seat when a giant lion-head goose surprised him from behind during the Warriors star’s offseason tour of China.
Green was visiting Shantou, where the breed is a prominent part of the region’s culture and cuisine. The Warriors forward has spent his tour of China meeting supporters, filming content and sampling regional food.
The 6-foot-6 forward has challenged opponents, officials and occasionally the league itself without much hesitation.
All it took to send him flying out of his seat was a fan, a sneak attack and approximately 25 pounds of goose.
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 14: Tim Thomas, Patrick Ewing, Walt Fraizer, Bill Bradley, Stephon Marbury, Wilson Chandler, John Starks, Latrell Sprewell, Allan Houston, Kyle O'Quinn, Larry Johnson and Carmelo Anthony pose for a photo during the game between the Indiana Pacers and /ny. during Round 2 Game 5 of the 2024 NBA Playoffs on May 14, 2024 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
August brings the dog days of baseball, doubly so in New York these days. Whether the Yankees win the World Series or lose every game left, Aaron Boone will be back in 2027 and likely 2037, job security even Clarence Thomas envies. Meanwhile, David Stearns’ golden sombrero of an offseason last winter won’t stop Steve Cohen from handing him the keys to another hot stove league — Stearns has yet to sexually harass someone or be found by police black-out drunk behind the wheel of his running car, so he’s still the best hire Cohen’s made (other than Buck Showalter, fired by . . . Stearns).
August also means the dog days of NBA coverage. Free agency is over and done with, unless you’re a restricted free agent, in which case *makes the sign of the cross*. It’s too early to know what training camp injury will significantly alter the league landspace. Wanna taste hate and spiteful joy rise up in your throat at the same time? Tyrese Haliburton can’t believe the NBA isn’t treating his return to action like when Magic Johnson came out of retirement. Or Michael Jordan. Or Michael Jordan again.
In honor of this month’s mailbag invite — acknowledging as always that all questions are welcome — I’d specifically like to get some questions from y’all about lists or rankings, inspired by the one and only instance I ever had of an editor at P&T telling me “no” on something.
P&T Hall of Famer Joe Flynn once put the kibosh on a f***/marry/kill question someone submitted to a mailbag. He was right to. I know there’s a lot of annoyance whenever the comment section isn’t left to grow wild and free as some metaphor for freedom of speech, but sir, this is a Wendy’s. An infinitude of more meaningful fights are out there, waiting for you to join the cause. The only thing that sucks about this job besides the criminal wages care of SB NationVoxRupert Murdoch Penske Media is comment section moderation.
Since I’m asking for rankings and lists, I’ll get the ball rolling and give you one of my own. I realized recently that after the Knicks won the title my all-time Knick starting five — players I’ve actually seen play — has changed in one position and is unresolved at another. Patrick Ewing is the constant. Jalen Brunson made it a few years ago. Carmelo Anthony is the small forward. My power forward had been Julius Randle, but I realized Karl-Anthony Towns is about to enter his third season with the Knicks. Randle played four-plus seasons in New York; between KAT’s central role in last year’s playoff orgasm and him nearing Randle in length of tenure (fingers crossed), I’m cool putting him there.
The only tough pick for me is the two-guard. John Starks was a fingertip away from making the title-winning shot, a well-rounded player who could drain, drive, dish and defend at an All-NBA level. Allan Houston was the most complete offensive player I ever saw in blue and orange until Melo, and made what was the most famous shot in pre-OG history. Latrell Sprewell joined the Knicks after a decade of smashmouth basketball and brought all of that intensity but with actual athleticism, more multi-faceted than Houston, more consistent than Starks.
Who would you go with, if you saw them all play? If you didn’t, sit and be silent, child. You might learn something from your elders. On the other hand, there was a lotta lead and asbestos back in the day. Odds are some of your elders are real fruit loops, and best left alone.
The Chicago Blackhawks have brought in multiple new players this off-season. Among the Original Six club's newcomers is Ian Cole, as they signed the left-shot defenseman to a one-year, $4 million contract in free agency.
While Cole may not be the flashiest of players, it is clear that he is going to have a very important role with the Blackhawks during this season.
It is no secret that the Blackhawks have a young blueline. Due to this, Cole is going to be expected to be a mentor for the Blackhawks' young defensemen as they continue to adjust to the NHL level.
Every young team needs veterans players like Cole as leaders, and the Blackhawks will be expecting him to be a valuable mentor in their room. He is certainly not a bad player to have around in this role, as he is entering his 17th NHL season and has played in 990 career games. It also does not hurt that he has won the Stanley Cup twice.
It will now be interesting to see how much of an impact Cole can make for the Blackhawks' young defensemen this season. In 82 games last season with the Utah Mammoth, the 37-year-old posted three goals, 20 assists, 23 points, 73 hits, and a plus-16 rating.
5 New Jersey Devils forwards were revealed on EA Sports NHL 27's list of the 300 highest-rated players in the game. Three of them, Jack Hughes, Jesper Bratt, and Nico Hischier, were in the top-100. Hughes, in particular, is the 16th-best player and 8th-best center in the game.
Timo Meier and Anthony Mantha were the other two revealed, giving the Devils five forwards that could be considered above average.
On Wednesday, EA Sports revealed the ratings for the game's top defensemen and goaltenders. There are no current Devils goalies listed among the top 300 players, which is obviously a real-life concern for the team right now. Former Devils with rankings revealed include Scott Wedgewood (87), Mackenzie Blackwood (86), and Jacob Markstrom (84).
On defense, Brett Pesce's 87 overall rating makes him the best defenseman on the New Jersey Devils in the game. This also ranks him as the 10th-best right defenseman in NHL 27. According to the game's ratings, left defense is much deeper, but Pesce is still getting some great respect.
After Pesce comes Luke Hughes, Dougie Hamilton, and Jonas Siegenthaler at 86. The youngest Hughes brother is the fastest Devil in the game, with a 93 speed rating. Of all the defensemen, Luke Hughes has the highest probability of getting a higher rating in the future.
Brenden Dillon and Jonathan Kovacevic round out New Jersey's top 300 players with an 85 overall rating. Most teams don't have more than three defensemen ranked with an 85 or higher, and the Devils have 6. NHL 27 believes that they could be a solid team on that side of the puck in 2026-27.
EA gave no respect to Jake Allen or Nico Daws, which is something that can only be earned through future improvement, especially with Daws, but having this pedigree on defense could help mask that issue.
All in all, it seems like playing as the New Jersey Devils in EA Sports NHL 27 will give players an opportunity to control a good team filled with good players.
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.
Aug 19, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets right fielder Carson Benge (3) reacts to hitting a two run home run against the San Diego Padres during the fourth inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Mets continued their excellent play after trading away a bevy of players, beating the Padres 4-2. The Mets are now 11-4 since August 4th, and despite the season being more or less over, it is great to see the Mets’ young core and resurgent bullpen keep racking up the dubs.
Robert Stock started for the Mets today, and threw a ton of pitches in his first two innings, leading to three walks and a hit batsman. However, good defense and some luck saw Stock escape both innings, as well as have relatively quick third and fourth innings.
Michael King was equally as effective early on, not allowing a baserunner over the first three innings. Both teams looked fairly standard for days games after night games, a little more lethargic than you’d like. However, both teams woke up after slow starts.
A.J. Ewing collected the first hit of the day in the top of the fourth, lining single up the middle, just out of the reach of King. Francisco Lindor was up next, and he nubbed a ball that he thought might’ve been foul, but was picked up by Luis Campusano and turned into a 2-6-3 double play. Bo Bichette walked, putting one on with two outs for Carson Benge. Benge worked the count full before muscling an opposite-field home run just to the right of the left field foul pole to put the Mets up 2-0.
In the top of the fifth, Xander Bogaerts led off with a ball drilled off the wall in left field. Bogaerts slowed a bit while rounding first, but Brett Baty triple-clutched in the outfield, and so the throw to second base was just late enough to allow Bogaerts to slide in safely. With one out, last night’s culprit Fernando Tatis Jr. doubled over the head of Ewing with an RBI double.
That would do it for Stock, who was pulled for Jonathan Pintaro. After walking Jake Cronenworth, Pintaro induced a ground ball off the bat of Manny Machado, leading to a 5-4-3 double play and got through the inning While it would’ve been nice to see Stock be able to get through five, having thrown 40+ pitches in his first two innings, it’s impressive that he was able to make it into the fifth, capping out at 83 pitches total.
After his offense going down quietly in the bottom of the fifth, Pintaro was back out for the top of the sixth. But after allowing a leadoff double to Ty France, Pintaro was pulled in favor of southpaw Nate Lavender. Lavender looked great, striking out the first two batters to face him and inducing a slow ground ball for the third out.
King continued to look strong aside from that rough fourth inning. Over his first six innings, he allowed just three hits and one walk against four strikeouts.
The newly returned Austin Warren, on the Injured List since early July, was next up for the Mets. Like Lavender before him, Warren looked great, striking out two and showing no rust from six weeks on the shelf.
King came back out for the seventh and allowed a couple of baserunners on an infield hit and a fielder’s choice. Luis Robert Jr. then pinch hit for Cristian Pache, who came in for defense in the sixth for Baty. Robert drew a walk, which would lead to King’s departure from the game with two on and two out after 100 pitches. King was not pleased leaving the game, seen visibly saying “no way” as Craig Stammen reached for the ball.
Jeremiah Estrada was first out of the ‘pen for the Dads. Marcus Semien lined a single to right field, and Francisco Alvarez tried to score from second base. He slid in behind the throw, but the tag was initially missed, and Alvarez thought that he got his hand in, slapping the bottom of the plate. He was called out, and the replay was inconclusive enough to not overturn the call.
Daniel Duarte continued the new-look bullpen’s dominance, throwing a perfect top of the eighth inning, striking out two.
In the bottom of the inning, the Mets gave themselves some cushion. Ewing collected a one-hit walk, and promptly stole second. Lindor singled, putting men on the corners with one out. Bichette then hit what might’ve been an inning-ending double play, but saw the ball thrown away by Sung-Mun Song, who took over at shortstop after Bogaerts exited with a suspected hamstring injury, allowing Ewing to score and allowing the runners to advance to second and third. After a fielder’s choice got Lindor out at the plate, Jared Young singled home Bichette to extend the lead to 4-1.
Kodai Senga entered to look for his fourth save as the Mets’ interim closer. Senga did not look as sharp as he had in his prior three starts, allowing three-straight one-out baserunners, leading in a run scoring off the bat of pinch hitter Gavin Sheets. Austin Hays was next up for the Padres, and he grounded into a game-ending 4-4-3 double play, taking the series.
One final note: Luis Torrens is a tough dude. He fouled a ball off of his knee in the third that looked like it might take him out of the game. It didn’t. In the seventh, before his at-bat began, during his warm ups Bogaerts nailed Torrens in the face with his bat, knocking his mask off. He stayed in the game.
The Mets are off tomorrow before traveling to the Windy City for three with the White Sox.
