The Houston Astros were coming off perhaps their most devastating defeat of the season Wednesday, fearing it might have cost them the AL West title. They called up rookie Lucas Spence to replace center fielder Brice Matthews, who was placed on the injured list.
Certainly, they had no expectations but needed a body.
Spence, who wasn’t even drafted out of Southern Illinois, was hitting just .150 with one extra-base hit when he was sent back in April to Triple-A Sugar Land.
He came up Wednesday and didn’t collect a hit, but was back in the starting lineup Thursday − and just may have saved the Astros’ season.
He hit not one, not two, but three home runs with five RBI in the Astros’ 7-5 victory over the Athletics.
And just like that, the Astros are back tied with the Texas Rangers for first place in the AL West with a 79-80 record and just three games remaining.
“That was fun, man, that was awesome,’’ Astros manager Joe Espada told reporters after the game. “I enjoy watching young players come up here. The biggest stage there is. We need some of these kids to step up and do big things, and (he) just delivered. …
“He hit three homers (in) a must-needed win.’’
Spence, who still was in disbelief after the game, had trouble describing his emotions on the Astros’ postgame show.
“That was really exciting,’’ Spence said. “It kind of helped me settle in after getting called back up. It’s nerves or whatever, and you take a good swing like that, it helps you settle in and build on the day and keep it going forward.’’
The Astros, coming off a deflating 10-inning defeat Wednesday night to the Seattle Mariners, couldn’t have asked for Spence’s heroics to come at a better time. He hit a three-run homer in the second inning, a solo homer in the seventh, and then led off the ninth with his third homer of the night.
“It means everything,’’ Spence said. “You know, you’re up here. You want to win. You want to get to the playoffs. It’s why we work every day. It’s everything to us.’’
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 24: Cal Raleigh #29 and Bryan Woo #22 of the Seattle Mariners talk with manager Dan Wilson #6 of the Seattle Mariners against the Los Angeles Angels during the sixth inning at T-Mobile Park on September 24, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) | Getty Images
“When there’s nothing left to burn you have to set yourself on fire” – Stars, “Your Ex-Lover Is Dead”
“When there’s nothing else to fight for, let me fight for this” – Bryan Woo, on fighting to stay in a little too long in tonight’s Mariners game, a sloppy 6-4 loss to the Angels.
I’m trying to sum up some annoyance at Bryan Woo for arguing to stay in this game, and at Dan Wilson for letting him, and at Cal Raleigh for dropping a third strike (stupidest rule in baseball) leading to a Rube Goldberg-esque chain of events, and at the Mariners for going 1-for-8 with RISP tonight and generally blowing chances against literally the 2026 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Disneyland, USA, and I just can’t. There’s nothing to fight for, or against, just the slow march towards the end of this dreadful season.
The Angels got on the board in annoying fashion in the second inning, when Josh Lowe lofted a little two-out single into center field. Christian Moore then hit an even weaker parachut fly ball that Julio dove for and missed, causing Laz Montes to bluescreen momentarily as he scrambled to pick up the loose ball in what’s been his first real tough test as a big-league outfielder, allowing Lowe to score from first. Blech, and also unfortunately a tone-setter for the rest of the night.
The Mariners answered back in the bottom of the inning, though. Cal Raleigh worked a walk, and then Julio Rodríguez obliterated a terrible middle-middle fastball from Orioles starter Grayson Rodriguez. I remember listening to Grayson Rodriguez pitch to Julio Rodriguez in 2019 when Julio was playing for the West Virginia Power and the other Rodriguez was with the Delmarva Shorebirds in the now-defunct South Atlantic League. Those games were always hyped up big time, top prospect vs. top prospect. Anyway, Julio won this outing.
451 feet is currently the longest distance a ball has been hit in baseball today, and I will miss saying that when there are no balls hit in baseball today because there is no baseball.
The Mariners had a chance to really break the game open here after Josh Naylor worked a walk and Cole Young singled to put two more on with no outs, but unfortunately Lazaro Montes reached out for a changeup and grounded into a double play to put two outs on the board. Leo Rivas then came through with a clutch two-out RBI, though, bringing home Naylor to make it 3-1 before J.P. popped out to end the threat.
The Mariners had some traffic against Rodriguez and a chance to add on more but frittered away their opportunities. A leadoff double from Randy Arozarena in the second was left stranded at third (Julio and Canzone both struck out) and in the fourth a clever challenge from Cole Young to turn a strikeout into an eventual walk followed by a laserbeam single off the bat of Lazaro Montes was also stranded when Leo Rivas, who is notably not Michael Arroyo, grounded into an inning-ending double play.
That opened the door for the Angels to tie things up in the fifth. Josh Lowe threw his bat at a curveball and was rewarded with a weakly hit leadoff double, and then some more sloppy play bit the Mariners as Cal Raleigh threw away what should have been out number two on a curveball Christian Moore chased after in the dirt, leading to Lowe advancing to third and Moore reaching on my absolute least favorite play in baseball, the dropped third strike rule. Lowe would then score on a groundout to bring the Angels within one.
Despite the curveball working well for him – he had already struck Neto out on the pitch twice – Woo went with a sinker in to Neto, who yanked the pitch into right for a game-tying RBI. I was perplexed as to why Woo moved off his curveball, which he was throwing particularly well tonight – he boosted its usage up to 14%, his most commonly-used secondary tonight, and of 15 thrown landed four for called strikes and got swings on another seven with four whiffs. I was going to ask him about it postgame, but instead we had to do the continued sad autopsy of slicing up the 2026 Mariners to see what parts are the most shriveled. So for now we will put Bryan Woo’s curveball in a box labeled “40 in 40s – 2027” and hope we get to unpack them this spring.
The Mariners jumped back in front in the bottom of the inning, taking advantage of some shoddy command from Rodriguez, who walked two and then threw a wild pitch that allowed J.P. Crawford, who had led off the inning, to score. But again, the Mariners couldn’t do any more damage than that, and the Angels then went ahead in the sixth against a clearly tiring Bryan Woo.
Woo’s efficiency hadn’t been great all day, despite recording eight strikeouts against the strikeout-prone Angels. For those who have watched a lot of Mariners starters in 2026, the noncompetitive five-pitch leadoff walk to a hitter with a below-average walk rate who strikes out a quarter of the time appears like a canary in the coal mine that has been this season. Two batters later, Woo allowed another free pass by plunking Denzer Guzman, who walks even less and strikes out even more. With Woo pushing into the 80s with his pitch count, Dan Wilson came out to do a mound visit, at which point Woo was seen yelling forcefully in the face of his manager from behind his glove. Because there’s nothing left to burn but ourselves, Wilson left him in, and Woo immediately went to a 3-0 count against Christian Moore – who is currently running a 34% K rate – before serving up a fastball right on the plate that Moore tattooed into center for a go-ahead double. Just when you think the 2026 Mariners can’t get any more 2026 Mariners, they Mariners all over.
Michael Rucker came in and cleaned up the mess, everyone say thank you Michael Rucker, and Laz Montes helped him out with a great catch. And you know if we’ve reached the “defensive highlights” part of the recap we’re in dire straits.
Direness indeed. Cooper Criswell had the eighth and continued to look not as sharp as he did before going on the IL, walking – no come on guys, seriously, Denzer Guzman again? And of course that leadoff walk came around to score because baseball does still have rules, even meaningless baseball. It wouldn’t have mattered anyway – the Mariners failed to score again after that wild-pitch run in the fifth against the Angels bullpen. It’s the most not matters time in the most not mattering season. Why does it still hurt?
Dodgers starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow delivers in the first inning of a 4-2 loss to the San Diego Padres on Thursday night at Dodger Stadium. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Getty Images)
The Dodgers didn’t win a game Thursday. But they got something far more valuable before even taking the field for their 4-2 loss to the San Diego Padres.
With the Atlanta Braves’ loss to the Cincinnati Reds earlier in the day, the Dodgers clinched the second seed in the National League playoffs and the first-round bye that goes with it. That means the Dodgers will get five days off next week to prepare for their playoff opener, a godsend for a bruised and bloodied team that has stumbled to the finish of the regular season.
“I think we all know why it’s important,” first baseman Freddie Freeman said of the break. “There’s a lot of us kind of limping toward the end here, a lot of aches and pains this year.”
In addition to Freeman, who has been hobbled all month by a sore right knee, the Dodgers are rushing to get designated hitter Shohei Ohtani, starting pitcher Blake Snell and closer Edwin Díaz healthy.
Center fielder Andy Pages, who missed a month with a broken hand, returned to the lineup three days ago while Dalton Rushing, who is competing for a bench spot on the postseason roster, is expected to be activated off the injured list Friday.
All of them will benefit from some additional rest before their playoff opener, at Dodger Stadium, on Oct. 3.
And speaking of Dodger Stadium, the No. 2 playoff seed carries another important perk: the home-field advantage for the Division Series — and possibly the World Series, if the Dodgers make it that far. Home has certainly been an advantage for the Dodgers, who drew a sellout crowd of 53,027 Thursday, pushing the team’s total home attendance over four million for the second straight year.
“It’s more turning of the turnstiles than any venue in the world,” Dodger manager Dave Roberts said. “The amazing thing is that it’s not just localized. It’s international. Everyone looks different at Dodger Stadium.
“It’s spectacular and our players certainly feed off of it.”
The Dodgers are one of five franchises in big-league history to draw more than 4 million fans in a season but just two others — the Toronto Blue Jays, from 1991-93, and the New York Yankees, in the final four years at old Yankee Stadium — did it in consecutive seasons.
Plus the Dodgers are the only team to do it since 2008. They also lead the majors in road attendance this season, having drawn 2.82 million, or 36,159 a game. And for some fans, it’s hard to separate their support from the team’s success.
“A synergy exists between we the fans and the players,” said Charles Flores, an associate professor at Cal State L.A. and lifelong Dodger fan who attended more than a dozen games this season. “One inspires the other.”
Russ Hoffman of Santa Clarita, a season-ticket holder for 40 years, agrees.
“The atmosphere created by drawing so many fans definitely contributes to their success,” he said. “Winning continuously drives the attendance and the current ownership has committed the assets to do that.”
That edge can be even bigger in the playoffs. The Dodgers lost just five of 16 postseason games at home — a .688 winning percentage — en route to World Series titles the last two years.
“During the playoffs Dodger Stadium is a tough place to play because it’s 56,000 crazed fans yelling on every play,” said Stan Brooks, an award-winning film producer and long-time season-ticket holder. “The fans are so loud and the environment is so intense every night.”
The Dodgers (97-62) will finish the regular season with three games this weekend in San Francisco, where they will continue their preparation for the postseason. Ohtani had a single and a run-scoring double Thursday. He also sent Jackson Merrill to the center-field wall to run down two long outs Thursday.
Mookie Betts, dropped to second in the lineup with Ohtani’s return, went three for three with a walk, raising his average for September to .347, while Freeman had two hits for the third time in four games.
But the Dodgers stranded eight runners, going 0 for 8 with men in scoring position through eight innings, avoiding their first shutout of the season at home on Adrian Morejon’s balk in the eighth.
On the mound, Tyler Glasnow, who will be the Dodgers’ fourth starter in the postseason, was perfect through three innings. He walked Fernando Tatis Jr. on four pitches to start the fourth, but didn’t allow another Padres batter to reach base until Ethan Sales singled with one out in the sixth.
That proved costly when Tatis singled on the next pitch, sending Sales to third, from where he scored on Dustin Harris’ sacrifice fly, putting the Padres ahead to stay.
Glasnow (5-2) got out of the inning by striking out Manny Machado, giving him a season-high 11 strikeouts on the night and 21 in his last two starts but San Diego then blew the game open in the seventh, chasing Glasnow and scoring three times off reliever Justin Wrobleski on run-scoring singles by Austin Hayes, Sales and Tatis.
Díaz pitched a perfect ninth, striking out two.
With the win, the Padres (89-70) clinched a postseason berth for the fifth time in seven seasons.
Staff writer Maddie Lee contributed to this report.
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 24: Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Tommy Edman (25) catches a throw as San Diego Padres right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. (23) slides into second base during the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres on September 24, 2026 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. (Photo by David Dennis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Dodgers ended their final homestand on a whimper, as they managed to scratch across just two late runs against the San Diego Padres in a 4-2 loss on Thursday.
After a bullpen game from the Dodgers and a four-run outing for Yoshinobu Yamamoto over the first two games, Thursday night’s contest turned into a pitcher’s duel. Tyler Glasnow and Nick Pivetta both struck out five over their first three innings on the mound, with the former facing the minimum while not allowing a single baserunner.
San Diego broke up the perfect game bid with a leadoff walk to Fernando Tatis Jr. in the top of the fourth inning, but Glasnow prevented the Padres from striking further and did not allow a hit over his first five innings, racking up nine strikeouts. Pivetta, just like Robbie Ray on Wednesday, had his pitch count inflated early on and he was pulled after allowing a two-out single to Mookie Betts in the bottom of the fifth inning— his third hit of the game. Yuki Matsui allowed a single to Freddie Freeman to put runners at the corners but got Teoscar Hernández to strike out swinging, keeping the game scoreless.
After Glasnow struck out Samad Taylor for his 10th strikeout of the night, Ethan Salas broke up the no-hit bid with a single to left, promptly followed by an opposite-field single from Tatis. Dustin Harris hit a fly ball just deep enough to break the ice and plate Salas, giving San Diego a 1-0 lead.
Glasnow managed to pitch into the seventh inning, but his night was done after allowing a double to Jackson Merrill and a walk to Xander Bogaerts. Justin Wrobleski came on in relief, and San Diego countered with pinch-hitter Austin Hays, and the right-hander smoked an RBI single just past Betts to double the Padres lead. Salas’ second hit of the night plated Bogaerts, and Tatis cashed in Hays with his second hit in as many at-bats, making it a 4-0 lead.
Despite the complete lack of run support, Thursday proved to be a fine outing for Glasnow as he totaled a season-high 11 strikeouts on the night while being charged for the three runs on just three hits. In his six starts after being activated off the injured list, Glasnow posted a 4.46 ERA while striking out 49 and walking 12 over 34 1/3 innings.
It was another brutal night for the Dodgers offensively, as a night after leaving 12 men on base while going 1-9 with runners in scoring position, the Dodgers left eight men on base while going 1-9 with runners in scoring position. Their first run of the night came on a balk from Adrián Morejón that plated Mookie Betts in the bottom of the eighth, and Shohei Ohtani roped a double for his team-leading 81st RBI against Mason Miller in the bottom of the ninth inning.
The Padres can thank the Dodgers for helping them secure their third consecutive postseason berth, doing so for the first time in franchise history.
The Dodgers head up to San Francisco for their final regular season series against the Giants beginning Friday (7:15 p.m. PT, SportsNet LA). Tarik Skubal faces rookie Yunior Marte.
Sep 24, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics second baseman Jeff McNeil (22) hits a three run home run during the third inning against the Houston Astros at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Fighting for the division title and a playoff spot, the Houston Astros tallied five home runs, three from rookie outfielder Lucas Spence, to defeat the spoiler-minded Athletics 7-5 in a back-and-forth opener to their season-ending four-game series.
Astros In Front Early
Both starting pitchers, Mason Barnett and Peter Lambert, tossed scoreless first innings. A’s center fielder Henry Bolte made a stellar diving catch for the second out of the game.
In the second inning. Spence hit his first major league home run against Barnett to give the Astros a 3-0 lead. Seeking an immediate response, A’s first baseman Jeff McNeil doubled to open the bottom of the second. Zack Gelof then drew a walk to put two runners on with no outs. The Athletics failed to capitalize on the scoring opportunity as Lambert struck out the next three batters.
Squirrel Power: Tie Game!
Shea Langeliers, who kept his at-bat alive by winning an ABS challenge, hit a two-out single in the bottom of the third inning, bringing McNeil to the plate as the potential tying run. McNeil’s ninth home run of the season, a three-run shot to right center off Lambert, made it a brand-new ballgame.
Donovan Walton singled for the Athletics fourth consecutive two-out hit, knocking Lambert out of the game after just 2 2/3 innings. The Astros right-hander was one pitch away from ending the inning before suffering that two-out collapse. Left-hander Bryan King replaced him and got that elusive third out.
Athletics catcher Jonah Heim hit a one-out double in the bottom of the fourth inning, giving the A’s an opportunity to extend their lead. The hosts did not cash in on that scoring opportunity as King struck out two straight to strand Heim at second.
Barnett One Mistake Too Many
Pitching with the lead for the first time, Barnett pitched two straight scoreless innings, retiring eight in a row. In the sixth inning, Astros third baseman Isaac Paredes tied the game with his 24th home run of the season, a solo shot to left on a fastball down the middle.
The A’s right-hander rebounded to retire the next three hitters, completing a career-high six frames. Barnett will want those two home run pitches back, but otherwise it was a much-improved outing. He walked two while tying his career-high with eight strikeouts.
A’s Bullpen’s Struggles Continue
The A’s turned the game over to their bullpen as right-hander Scott Blewett entered for the seventh inning. With one out, Spence put the Astros back in front 5-4 with his second home run of the night. Houston had a chance to add on, but Blewett retired Paredes to strand two runners.
While the Astros surged ahead, rookie right-hander Miguel Ullola kept the A’s offense quiet with three scoreless innings of long relief. A night after recording four hits, Bolte struck out looking in his first four at-bats. With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, A’s right fielder Lawrence Butler just missed a game-tying home run, settling for a double off the right-field fence. Ullola stranded the tying run at second by getting Langeliers to fly out.
Right-hander Chris Roycroft pitched the eighth inning for the A’s, looking to keep it a one-run game. With two outs, first baseman Christian Walker hit his 27th home run of the season and the Astros’ fourth of the game, extending their lead to 6-4.
Gelof On Fire
The Athletics got a run back in the bottom of the eighth. With one out, Gelof hit his second home run of the night, a solo shot to left against Astros left-hander Bennet Sousa to cut the hosts’ deficit to one. On a night when he received the Catfish Hunter Award, Gelof recorded his second career multi-home run game.
Astros reliever Bryan Abreu replaced Souza and retired Heim to end the inning, stranding the game-tying run at second base. Tommy White put together another useless three-pitch at-bat as a pinch-hitter that inning.
In the ninth inning, A’s right-hander Elvis Alvarado gave up Houston’s fifth home run of the game. Spence hit his third home run of the night, restoring the Astros’ two-run lead. The unheralded rookie became the third player in MLB history to hit his first three career home runs in the same game.
In the bottom of the ninth, Butler collected his third hit to bring the tying run to the plate. The game ended one pitch later as Abreu got Langeliers to ground into his second double play of the game.
The Athletics will look to bounce back Friday. Left-hander Jacob Lopez will start for the Green and Gold, while the Astros will counter with right-hander Hunter Brown.
SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 24: Lazaro Montes #99 of the Seattle Mariners makes a catch in the outfield during the game between the Los Angeles Angels and the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on Thursday, September 24, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Eric Hiller/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Angels 6, Mariners 4
The guy I saw wearing a NOTHING IS REAL GO LET LOVE DESTROY YOU hat at the park: Julio Rodríguez, .19 WPA
The guy I saw wearing an Angels hat at the park*: Bryan Woo, -.52 WPA
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 24: Ian Seymour #61 of the Tampa Bay Rays pitches during the game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Thursday, September 24, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The bad news? The Rays lost again. The good news? Well, it didn’t matter and they leave the Bronx healthy with three games remaining in the regular season. At the end of the day, what really matters at this point in the season is that the Rays stay healthy and rest up for October.
On Thursday night, they did just that and held a four-run lead entering the bottom of the sixth inning. Then, the Jake Woodford entered the game and it was downhill from there. In return, the Rays used none of their high leverage arms and got them some much needed rest. This is the benefit of clinching the East and the top seed in the playoffs five games to go.
Facing soon-to-be AL Cy Young award winner Cam Schlitter, the Rays jumped out to an early lead in the third inning, scoring a pair of runs on singles from Yandy Diaz and Junior Caminero. Walls crossed the plate first, scoring from first on a throwing error by outfielder Heliot Ramos. Yandy later scored on the single by Caminero.
Schlitter only went three innings as the Yankees looked to get him some rest as well and line him up for the Wildcard series. Michael Fulmer followed and the Rays tagged him for another run in the fifth inning. Again, Caminero singled home Yandy.
In the sixth inning the Rays added on again the following inning when Vilade scored on a groundout by Liam Hicks.
After five scoreless innings from Ian Seymour, the Rays B-Bullpen took over and the rest is history. So, lets focus on Seymour for a second. Over five innings, he allowed just one hit, walked none, and punched out three. He threw 58 pitches and 41 of those for strikes.
Back to the pen… Woodford, who is up to eat innings, was tagged for three earned runs over 1.1 innings of work. He walked a pair and allowed three hits. The always electric but wild Hopkins entered in the bottom of the seventh with one out and a man on second who quickly advanced to third on a wild pitch. Hopkins then walked Volpe and Wells, recorded one out on a Jose Caballero ground out and allowed a game-tying single to Goldschmidt before being lifted for Matz.
With two outs in the eighth and the game tied 4-4, Matz allowed a single to Rosario and then a two-run go-ahead bomb to Lombard Jr. The 6-4 final score would hold and with the loss, the Rays record moved to 96-63.
The Rays will face the Phillies in their final regular season series of the season. Expect more of the same out of the Rays over the final three games — tune up appearances for the arms, some shortened appearances for Yandy, Caminero, Aranda, Hicks, etc. But, the Rays will also look to finish the season on a high note before heading into a five day break as they await their ALDS opponent.
The 2026 season was nothing like Juan Soto envisioned for himself or the Mets, and he put a lot of the team's woes this year on himself.
Speaking with Mike Puma of the NY Post prior to the Mets' 3-1 loss to the Rangers on Thursday, the slugger said he needed to play better to get the team where they need to be.
“It’s definitely not what I imagined in my head,” Soto said. “There is nothing I can do other than blame myself. I have got to be better. I have got to be at the level to take us forward.”
The slugger boasts formidable numbers despite playing in just 108 games (with three still left to play), but two stints on the IL due to separate calf injuries played a part in the Mets missing out on the playoffs for the second consecutive season.
Following Thursday's game, Soto is slashing .274/.393/.522 with an OPS of .915 to go along with his 27 home runs and 68 RBI.
But Soto missed a couple of weeks in April for his first calf injury, and then a month for the second in July/August. By the time he returned, the Mets sold at the trade deadline and the team was on the verge of being eliminated from playoff contention.
Despite missing the postseason, Soto told The Post he likes the direction the Mets are headed, especially with its young core of Carson Benge, Nolan McLean, A.J. Ewing and more.
“We have a young core, and we have got to maintain that young core and encourage them to the right way, the right path for the future,” Soto said. “I think we are going in the right direction.
“Look at the young core and what they have been doing their first year in the big leagues. I think it’s real special. It’s always the first and second years are probably the toughest ones of your career, so what they’re doing, I think is very special.”
But with expectations being high in 2027, Soto hopes the organization is active this offseason to add to the core of veterans that includes him and Francisco Lindor -- and potentially Bo Bichette if he opts in -- and the aforementioned young core so that Soto sees playoff baseball for the first time as a member of the New York Mets.
When Soto was asked about Tarik Skubal, a pending free agent and a fellow Scott Boras client, as a potential addition, the perennial All-Star said he wants to see the Mets bring in anyone who can help the team.
“We should go and get as much as we can,” Soto said. “We need as much help as we can get. It was a real tough year for us, so I think we have got to go out there and grab as much as we can.”
DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 24: Eduardo Rodríguez #57 of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitches during the game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on Thursday, September 24, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Casey Paul/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Arizona Diamondbacks stayed alive this afternoon as they were able to complete the 3-game sweep at Coors Field. This marks the first time since 2018 that the Dbacks have been able to complete a sweep at Coors, and it could not have come at a better time.
The story of the game was the offensive explosion to the tune of 6 runs in the first inning as the Dbacks first 6 hitters all reached. This was capped by a 3 run HR by the red hot Gabi Moreno and a 2 run shot by the veteran Nolan Arenado. Both guys have really broke out in the late season for this team and really put this offense on their back. I believe Arenado deserves a special shoutout in this one for really bouncing back from a couple of rough seasons to put up this kind of season at 35. Well done!
Eduardo Rodriguez was excellent today to cap off a steller 2026 regular season. ERod was able to put aside his traditional first inning struggles in this one and put up a 0 in the bottom of the first and get the Dbacks right back in the dugout after that big first inning outburst which at the time you felt like was the key to the game. Keep the momentum on the Dbacks side and get the Rockies pitching right back onto the mound and that is exactly what he was able to do for his team.
ERod would go on to allow just 2 ERs over 6 innings earning his 16th win of the season and finishing the year with a sparkling ERA of just 2.89. What an incredible bounce back season from ERod and someone who should certainly get many votes for Dbacks MVP of the 2026 season. Especially considering all of the injury they had earlier in the year. What an incredible way for him to step up.
The Dbacks offense was able to continue tacking on runs in just about every single inning. Worth noting Lars Nootbaar, Perdomo, and Arenado all picked up 3 hits. In addition, James McCann continued to hold his own collecting 2 hits of his own including a HR and an RBI single.
Everything was cruising pretty nicely up until the Rockies offense started making things a little bit too interesting in the 7th inning. In the 7th, the Rockies were able to jump all over Dennis Santana for 4 runs, and then continued to make things interesting in the 8th with 2 more runs against Taylor Clarke. Fortunately for the Dbacks, the veteran Kevin Ginkel was able to come in in the 9th and slam the door shut on the pesky Rockies offense with 3 strikeouts. Perhaps what was even more important about Ginkel being able to come in and shut them down was the fact that the Dbacks were able to save Garcia, JMart, Morillo, and Loaisiga for the Padres series.
The Dbacks have now won 5 consecutive games and will look to keep their season alive Friday night in San Diego. It has all come down to this! No matter how things wind up for this team, I think we can all be thankful we get so many fun meaningful games this late in the season. And the fact that they continue to fight continues the mantra this team has lived by all season long. They are the comeback kids, the never say diemondbacks… It shouldn’t come to anyone’s surprise that they aren’t going to go away without a serious fight.
With the Yankees set to host a best-of-three AL Wild Card series next Tuesday, it's time to take a detailed look at their most likely opponent - who also happens to be their most hated rivals, the Boston Red Sox.
With this in mind, the most recent news coming out of Boston certainly shakes up the outlook for their potential playoff series in New York.
All-Star first baseman Willson Contreras, who was hit on the right hand against the Texas Rangers on Sep. 17, is still unable to swing a bat due to the pain.
"I tried to swing the bat yesterday, and couldn't swing, I tried to swing the bat today, and couldn't swing," Contreras lamented. "It's really concerning... I couldn't hit because my hand hurts, my right hand just feels weaker. It's not a good sign."
"I know Tuesday's [Wild Card opener] is going to be a really important game, the start of a really important series," the slugger continued. "I'm an honest guy, so if [on Tuesday], the game comes around and I don't feel confident in my hand to play, if I'm not feeling good, I'm not taking [a teammate's] spot."
Red Sox manager Chad Tracy commented that the team is "still working through" Contreras' injury, but has "the goal of getting him to the postseason."
Following the team's 1-0 loss to the Guardians on Thursday, Contreras leads all qualified Red Sox batters in home runs (27), RBI (81), on-base percentage (.387), and OPS (.905).
The Red Sox will conclude their season with a three-game home stand against the Chicago Cubs, with Friday being a doubleheader due to Sunday's game being postponed due to inclement weather.
Unless the Boston Red Sox (85-74), Cleveland Guardians (83-76), and Chicago White Sox (82-77) all finish the regular season with identical 85-77 records, the Yankees will face the Red Sox in that playoff series.
For anyone interested in that extremely unlikely scenario where all three teams finish 85-77, here's the breakdown: the White Sox would win the AL Central on a head-to-head tiebreaker with the Guardians, and the Guardians would earn the higher AL Wild Card seed due to their superior interdivisional record compared to that of the Red Sox.
In that (and only that) scenario, the Yankees would host the Guardians rather than the Red Sox in that series.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia Flyers center Trevor Zegras was the first preseason victim of the NHL's version of the tuck rule.
Zegras was given a two-minute minor penalty for delay of game in the Flyers' 2-0 win over the Boston Bruins on Thursday night for “improperly wearing equipment.”
Zegras' fashion faux pas was having his jersey tucked into the back of his pants.
The NHL is cracking down this season on how players wear equipment, including jerseys, neck guards, visors and helmets.
Jerseys are required to be untucked at the start of a player’s shift and a warning is expected to be given before a penalty is assessed.
“My jersey was tucked in before the shift,” Zegras said. “So after a warning, they said that's an automatic penalty. I started the game obviously with it tucked because that's how I usually play.”
According to the NHL website scoutingtherefs.com, the last tucked jersey penalties on record came in 2013.
Zegras signed a four-year extension with the Flyers in the offseason with an average annual value of $9.125 million. Zegras had a career-high 26 goals and 67 points last season, the second most on the team. He added two goals and four assists in the playoffs.
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 24: Will Cuylle #50 of the New York Rangers scores during the shootout in the National Hockey League Preseason game between the New Jersey Devils and the New York Rangers on September 24, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. (Photo by Joshua Sarner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Regulation
The New Jersey Devils struck first when Vladislav Kolyachonok drew a penalty a little under nine minutes into the game, bringing the power play out. The Devils set up on the right side with Lenni Hameenaho working the wall, and he set up Seamus Casey for a point shot that was deflected over Joonas Korpisalo by Stefan Noesen for the first goal of the game! Noesen, who has been fighting for a roster spot, got off to a good start in making his case tonight.
In the second period, Amadeus Lombardi was checked in open ice by Marc Del Gaizo, and Marc McLaughlin came to Lombardi’s immediate defense. On the replay, it looked like Del Gaizo mostly got Lombardi’s head with the elbow, but the Devils naturally got the extra penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct for McLaughlin’s instigation. The Devils killed the penalty, and Colin White had a great shorthanded chance early in the penalty kill that helped set the tone for the two minutes. Not too long after the penalty expired, Ben Steeves drew a tripping call, sending Cole Beaudoin to the box and the Rangers to another kill of their own. The Devils did not do as well here as their first opportunity.
A few minutes after Seamus Casey hurt himself throwing what looked to be a poor hip check attempt at the blueline, Ethan Edwards expanded the Devils lead with an outstanding one-timer from the faceoff circle! Putting the team up two, Edwards read the cycle very well and skated low for the pass from Matyas Melovsky, wiring the puck off the iron and into the net.
A little over three minutes into the third, the Rangers finally got on the board. Gabriel Perreault went to whip a pass around through the slot, but the puck bounced off Matthew Robertson’s skate, Will Cuylle’s hip, and past Nico Daws. The first goal against was a fluke play, but the second was tough. The Devils were down on a delayed penalty that they somehow didn’t touch up, maybe, and Daws was beat at the side of the net with the extra man on when he dove over the puck, allowing Anton Blidh to tap it in.
At the halfway point of the period, the Devils ran themselves into trouble with lazy cycling. When Topias Vilen was taken into the boards int he offensive zone, Colin White was left alone with Matt Rempe in Nico Daws’s crease, and Vladislav Kolyachonok came rushing down to prevent a pass across to Will Cuylle, deflecting the puck into the net and giving the Rangers a 3-2 lead. Scott Morrow got the credit for the goal.
With just over three minutes to play, Stefan Noesen backhanded the puck from the end boards to Jesper Boqvist at the side of the net, and Boqvist rang the puck off Korpisalo’s shoulder and the crossbar. After the Rangers iced the puck, the Devils pulled Nico Daws. The Boqvist-Lombardi-Noesen line stayed out quite awhile with Hameenaho, with Noesen continuing to make good plays on the wall to keep possession. The puck eventually got out to Amadeus Lombardi, who caught the Rangers tired and lapsing. As he was being hooked and slashed, Lombardi took the puck around and beat Korpisalo five hole, tying the game with 1:44 to play!
Overtime/Shootout
The Devils started overtime with Lombardi with Matyas Melovsky and Vladislav Kolyachonok, facing off against Noah Laba, Gabriel Perreault, and Scott Morrow. The Devils took possession off the draw, and Lombardi skated up ice into the Rangers’ defensive zone before retreating for a second attempt. On the second, Lombardi turned from his backhand and took a weak shot on goal, giving the Rangers possession. Laba drew a slash by Lombardi at the other end, hitting the hands as Daws saved an easy shot from Laba. The Rangers kept their original three with Cuylle on the ice, while the Devils killed with McLaughlin, Edwards, and Silaev. After the first minute was killed, Ethan Edwards found Noesen with a long pass for a one-on-one. Noesen turned wide on the chance to kill time behind the Rangers’ net rather than take a shot, eventually losing possession to a third Ranger. The Devils killed the penalty.
At four-on-four, Ben Steeves set Lombardi up for what would have been a two-on-one tap-in, but the pass was just a bit too hard for Lombardi to redirect into the net, and play went back to three-on-three for the final 38 seconds before the game went to a shootout.
Lenni Hameenaho shot first. Hameenaho went wide and slow, but could not pick the five-hole.
Gabriel Perreault followed for New York. He approached with more pace, but Daws brought the right leg down over the slide shot.
Topias Vilen somewhat bizarrely went second for New Jersey and was stuffed on the lower pad.
Will Cuylle went second for New York and rang a shot in off the bar.
With the Devils needing to score, Amadeus Lombardi got up. He went wide and slow, and was denied by a shoulder save.
Nico Daws allowed three goals on 23 shots tonight. In total, he faced 3.12 expected goals against. So, in strictly mathematical terms, Daws played a fine game despite a not-so-fine .870 save percentage. But we have to look at things a little more deeply than that: I was hoping that the Rangers playing more NHLers might mean he faced 25, 30, or even 35 shots, but the Devils really shut the Rangers down early. And once the Rangers did break through in the third period, these were the shots that beat Daws:
A pass across the middle of the slot that was deflected by a skate towards the net, where it deflected off another player’s leg and into the net
A tap-in after the Devils’ defense broke down against an extra attacker — Daws could have had this, but he dove over the puck when Glenn Gawdin had the puck at the side of the net, leaving the puck in the crease for Blidh to score.
An own-goal by Vladislav Kolyachonok when Scott Morrow used a largely uncontested screen in Matt Rempe (“covered” by Colin White) to slide a pass across to Will Cuylle. The pass did not make it through, and it’s hard to tell whether Cuylle even could have scored on it had Kolyachonok not done it for him.
I remain disappointed that the Rangers did not dress many NHLers tonight, because I wanted Daws to be tested and not beaten by AHL-level team breakdowns.
Noesen, Lombardi, and Boqvist
I think that all of Stefan Noesen, Amadeus Lombardi, and Jesper Boqvist showed again tonight that they belong in the NHL. This makes the above point really annoying to me, as one of them could still be waived if David Rittich makes the opening night roster. Noesen scored a power play goal. Lombardi scored the game-tying goal. Boqvist was very active on the ice and continued to skate very well. But ultimately, from a polish standpoint, I still think that Stefan Noesen plays the best NHL hockey of those three. At the very least, he played the cleanest hockey. His passing decisions were good, his puck management decisions were good, and there were times the other two were a little more lacking. Lombardi had a bad shot and bad penalty in overtime, while Boqvist made a terrible pass to center ice from the offensive zone (during the four-on-four sequence) that almost led to a chance against in overtime. By comparison, I trust Noesen to play a responsible game while still sneakily creating chances below the goal line and getting out to the front of the net to deflect pucks past the goalie.
Noesen led the team with 0.52 individual expected goals, while Boqvist had 0.25 and Lombardi had 0.24. While Noesen does not have the best physical tools at his age, everyone could stand to learn a lot from how little waste there is in his game. He takes good, direct routes on the ice, still managing to get to pucks when he needs to. This is the Noesen way: move the puck up, get it below the net, and screen for point shots if the play by the net isn’t there. It’s a very efficient model of high-danger offense.
Casey’s Injury and Other Notables
Seamus Casey is hurt again. He has only played 75 games over his first two professional seasons, but he threw a bad check attempt at the blueline and hurt himself tonight. Given the early reports from Sheldon Keefe, it is not looking good for him.
Brutal injury for Seamus Casey. Definitely an awkward collision.
I admittedly find myself frustrated here. I believed a couple years ago that Casey could be a big part of the Devils’ future, but he simply gets hurt too easily. I struggle to fathom how anyone could have promoted, say, moving on from Dougie Hamilton over the last several months because the Devils have Casey. It sucks: he looks good on the ice, but he just cannot stay on it. Maybe defense just wasn’t the right position for him if he can’t hit on a zone entry without getting hurt. And I’ll say again: it sucks. You could really see how much worse the team played after he left the game.
Since Casey can now no longer make the opening night roster, it frees up the seventh defensive position. After tonight’s game, I would give the edge to Ethan Edwards. Edwards was all over the ice tonight, and probably underutilized in overtime if I were to be honest. I have no clue how Kolyachonok, who has been more limited with the puck, got out there first. Anton Silaev would be my close second. His skating ability is unreal for a guy his size, but I still would not play him in the NHL unless I was certain he was getting top four minutes. I have less of a problem with sitting Edwards for a game or three between some third-pairing opportunities.
Matyas Melovsky was also outstanding for the Devils tonight. When compared to the other AHL centers in this game in Colin White and Marc McLaughlin, Melovsky is head and shoulders above the competition. If the Devils ever need a center call-up this year, Melovsky has to be the guy over the other two. White has his moments, but I still struggle to see what McLaughlin offers other than replaceable penalty killing. Melovsky can actually create with the puck and do so consistently while making good decisions in all three zones. I don’t see a path for him right now, and I’ve never been disappointed by him before, but this was another good mark for him.
Your Thoughts
What did you think of tonight’s game? Do you think some of these guys will get back out there for the final preseason game on the Island? What do you think of the roster decisions? What do you think of Casey’s injury? Leave your thoughts in the comments below, and thanks for reading.
In their first action of the preseason, several key Philadelphia Flyers got their reps in against an undermanned Boston Bruins team, gutting out a 2-0 shutout win.
Stars like Trevor Zegras and Matvei Michkov made their preseason debuts, as did workhorses Travis Sanheim and Rasmus Ristolainen. Michkov was the star of the show on Thursday night, scoring his first goal of the preseason and generally looking like a potential star-caliber player while paired with Travis Konecny and Christian Dvorak.
Zegras won 6 of 17 faceoffs (35.3%) but otherwise looked his usual self, setting up teammates, latching onto and making creative passes, and adding underrated defensive value with tidy stick work.
Zegras, however, did get tagged for an unusual penalty midway through the second period, and it almost got the Flyers in trouble, especially after Jett Luchanko took a penalty of his own to put the Flyers down on a 5-on-3.
Something you don't see every day: an improper wearing of equipment penalty, which Zegras admitted after the game he was initially warned about his tucked jersey before ultimately getting whistled for the penalty for a second infraction.
"They told us, in all fairness, two, three weeks ago. I didn't even think about it," head coach Rick Tocchet said of the penalty. "Then he came over and explained 'Hey, Trevor's got a warning.' I don't know what Trevor did with it. . . he obviously can't do it anymore. He's gotta put a tie down, because regular season starts, we can't have a penalty like that for a tucked jersey."
No harm, no foul, of course, as the Flyers held down the fort in the second period despite the Bruins out-shooting them 14-7.
Early in the third period, surging prospect Cole Knuble doubled the Flyers' lead to 2-0, crashing the crease and poking home a loose puck.
The play all started with Jett Luchanko, who received a pass from Jacob Gaucher and powered his way to the net despite heavy objection from a Bruins defender. Knuble did the rest, and Luchanko earned his third assist in as many preseason games.
"Yeah, I think we've played now, probably four games together, preseason, rookie camp, so building some chemistry there," Knuble said of his budding partnership with Luchanko. "He's fun to play with. He's so fast, creates turnovers. Just an easy guy to play with."
New Flyers goalie Joseph Woll, who is filling in for an injured Dan Vladar, stopped all 28 shots he faced from the Bruins to earn the shutout
"He looks big in net. I mean, he made some really good saves. There was some, especially in the second, they had a couple power plays. We were down to five 'D', and they were coming on," Tocchet remarked. "And then he made some really good saves. Solid, really solid goalie."
Defenseman Simon Benoit dropped the gloves with Bruins winger Brian Halonen and handily won the fight with a takedown.
Flyers notes
Nikita Grebenkin played 12:40 in his first game for the Flyers since March. "It's nice to get him that game so he can kind of feel it out there," Tocchet said of Grebenkin.
Grebenkin played on a line with captain Sean Couturier and newcomer Noel Acciari, a potential preview of the Flyers' fourth line for opening night.
Defenseman Helge Grans was forced to exit due to a lower-body injury after just 1:29 of ice time, forcing the Flyers to play the rest of the game with five defensemen. Grans picked up the secondary assist on Michkov's opening goal.
The Flyers will play their last preseason game on Saturday, hosting the Washington Capitals at Xfinity Mobile Arena at 5 p.m.
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 24: George Lombard Jr. #96 of the New York Yankees doubles in the seventh inning during the game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Thursday, September 24, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Another day, another George Lombard Jr. home run. The big one tonight was a pivotal go-ahead two-run shot to lead the way on a Yankees comeback win over the Rays by a score of 6-4. And it was no cheapie, going all the way out to the second deck in left field, 400 feet away.
After sleepwalking through the first five innings, the Yankees’ offense turned it on in the second half of this game, scoring six unanswered runs, led by an impressive display of athleticism and power from their shortstop—Lombard doubled, homered, secured three RBI, and performed the slide of the season to score a run in the seventh.
Before the exciting comeback, though, this game revolved around Cam Schlittler, who came into it leaning even more heavily on the four-seamer than usual. The first four pitches that Rays leadoff hitter Yandy Díaz saw were all four-seamers and in line with what we’d get in this game; he fouled off the first three. A flurry of foul balls led the Yankees to ultimately pull Schlittler after just three innings—three stressful innings with a surprising 70 pitches, more than enough for Aaron Boone to exercise caution.
Pitching, among other things, to keep his ERA under 2.00, quite literally the achievement of a lifetime, Schlittler ran into his first problem in the second. With two on and one out after a bloop single, the future AL Cy Young Award winner threw his own caution to the wind and threw three consecutive heaters all down the pipe to Ryan Vilade, who swung through a pair after letting the first one go by. Even poorly located Schlittler heaters can easily bully some hitters, and that’s precisely what was on display.
In the third, though, the Rays broke through, with a little help from the Yankees’ defense, a recurring theme in tonight’s game. Taylor Walls worked a long walk against Schlittler to begin the inning and would have gone to third on a Díaz single, but an errant throw from Heliot Ramos allowed him to score. Junior Caminero, who has been held in check by Yankee pitching all year long, got a rare win, making it 2-0 with an RBI knock as Díaz also moved into scoring position following the error.
Ordinarily, the two runs and a hook after three would’ve meant that Schlittler’s ERA would end the year above 2.00. But because Schlittler got the next two outs after Caminero’s single, the second run turned into an unearned one, leaving his ERA at 1.95 — one of just four starter seasons in Yankees history below 2.00 and the first since the incredible Ron Guidry in 1978.
Michael Fulmer was the first man out of the Yankees bullpen and ran into the same problem that Schlittler did, as Caminero upped the Rays’ lead to 3-0 with an RBI double off the wall. It’s better to have him get this out of his system here before the playoffs than have it burst through then. Tim Hill replaced Fulmer in the middle of the fourth and proceeded to load the bases and work around that, retiring Jonny DeLuca with a force play at the plate and pinch-hitter Ben Williamson.
With just three from Schlittler, the Yankees would need someone to provide length, and the choice was Luis Gil, who played a negative role in yet another defensive misplay that allowed the Rays to make it 4-0. A potential double-play ball with one out fell through as Lombard couldn’t hit Gil in stride—Gil got the error, but the whole play could’ve been executed better from Rice to Lombard. Vilade, who was going from second to third, took advantage of this misplay and crossed the plate.
Through the first half of the game, there was nothing to say about the Yankees’ offense, dead silent against Ian Seymour without even an overpowering angle to address. Attacking the zone, the southpaw Seymour kept inducing quick outs, needing fewer than 60 pitches to complete five scoreless innings with just one hit allowed.
When the Rays pulled him, the Yankees were glad to face anyone else, and that first showed with an Austin Wells solo shot in the sixth off Jake Woodford. They could’ve added one more to up the pressure on the Rays, but Cody Bellinger and Ramos stranded a runner in scoring position. The second run against Woodford would come an inning later on a ringing double from Lombard to drive in Rice, whose most impressive feats were yet to come.
Back-to-back wild pitches by Brody Hopkins allowed Lombard to come to the plate. The second of those went straight back to the Rays’ catcher, and Lombard was dead to rights, but a Houdini slide kept him safe, eluding the tag by halting his slide and jumping over it. Any written description does not do it justice.
Applying the pressure against a clearly rattled Hopkins, the Yankees performed a double steal to put two in scoring position with one out. Following a force-out at the plate, Paul Goldschmidt tied the game with an RBI knock to complete the three-run seventh.
An inning later, the comeback was completed thanks to Lombard’s two-run shot off Steven Matz, and although that’ll steal the highlights, we mustn’t forget the bullpen’s work to keep the Rays at four. Gil allowed only one unearned run despite four walks in two innings, and Bradley Hanner was terrific covering the final two.
Tune in tomorrow for a twin bill against the Orioles, as the Yankees have bumped Saturday’s game up to avoid a storm. They have not yet announced who will be starting, but lefty Trevor Rogers has the ball for Baltimore in Game 1 at 4:05pm ETand Brandon Young gets the nightcap. Also make sure to check out CC Sabathia’s number retirement! It’ll be a great day for the big guy.
Apr 23, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy (13) celebrates with first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) after the game against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Dodgers have one more regular season series to go, battling the San Francisco Giants for three games beginning Friday night at Oracle Park up north.
Tarik Skubal will make his final regular season start in the series opener, and his 10th since the Dodgers acquired him on August 2 from the Detroit Tigers. Skubal allowed four runs in five innings last Saturday against the Giants.
Rookie right-hander Yunior Marté starts for the Giants, making his fifth major league appearance and third start. Marté allowed six runs in 4 2/3 innings last Friday at Dodger Stadium, including at least one run scoring in all five innings in which he appeared.
