Right-hander Ashton Pocol moves from the ACL Cubs to Low-A Myrtle Beach

Left-hander Fenuel Jame also goes from Mesa to Myrtle Beach.

Pelicans right-hander Jhon Rosario was released.

Not going to lie. I was watching the South Bend game and had already written it up as a loss.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs dried off the Omaha Storm Chasers (Royals), 4-3 in ten innings.

Jordan Wicks started this game and went 4.1 innings, allowing just one run but seven hits. He walked two batters, hit one and struck out two.

Gabe Klobostis pitched the ninth and tenth innings. Klobotis allowed the automatic runner to score in the tenth, but got the win after Iowa struck back for two runs in the bottom of the frame. Klobostis allowed no hits. He walked one and struck out four.

First baseman BJ Murray led off the bottom of the first inning with a home run, his 15th on the campaign. Murray was 2 for 5.

Shortstop Ben Cowles walked it off in the bottom of the tenth with an RBI single, scoring Owen Miller. Cowles went 2 for 5 with a steal and also scored one run in the second inning. Miller was 1 for 4 with a walk.

Second baseman Hayden Cantrelle doubled home Cowles in the second. He was 1 for 3.

Murray’s home run.

BJ MURRAY LEADOFF BOMB💣 pic.twitter.com/DH6zoD9TyV

— Iowa Cubs (@IowaCubs) August 29, 2026

Cantrelle doubles in Cowles.

Hayden Cantrelle doubles home a run! pic.twitter.com/kUjFI5jEyf

— Iowa Cubs (@IowaCubs) August 29, 2026

Another caught stealing for catcher Owen Ayers.

33rd runner caught stealing of the year for Owen Ayers! pic.twitter.com/QH4jy8htVa

— Iowa Cubs (@IowaCubs) August 29, 2026

Knoxville Smokies

The Knoxville Smokies cracked open the Biloxi Shuckers (Brewers), 3-1.

The Smokies got a good start from Dawson Netz, who allowed just one run on a one-out home run in the fifth inning. His final line was one run on four hits over five innings. Netz struck out seven and walk one.

It wasn’t pretty, but Frankie Scalzo Jr. gave the Smokies 1.2 innings of scoreless relief and ended up getting the win. Scalzo gave up no hits, but he did walk four while striking out three.

Scalzo couldn’t get the final out in the ninth, so Tyler Ras came in and got a ground ball to short from the only batter he faced to collect the save.

Catcher Ariel Armas put the Smokies on the board with a solo home run in the fourth inning. It was Armas’ sixth on the season. Armas went 2 for 4.

Right fielder Andy Garriola broke up a 1-1 tie in the top of the ninth with a two-run single. Garriola was 1 for 4 with a walk.

Shortstop Alex Madera went 2 for 3 with a walk and a steal. He scored on Garriola’s single.

Armas’ home run.

@ArielArmas6 sets a new season high with his 6th bomb of the year 💣 pic.twitter.com/tviZNIiFlT

— Knoxville Smokies (@smokiesbaseball) August 29, 2026

An outfield assist from right fielder Alex Ramírez.

Alex Ramirez keeps us tied up with this dart 🎯 pic.twitter.com/9flH8MtJht

— Knoxville Smokies (@smokiesbaseball) August 29, 2026

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs defanged the Wisconsin TimberRattlers (Brewers), 10-7.

Alfredo Romero put the Cubs in a hole early, allowing three runs in the first inning and four more in the third. Romero’s final line was seven runs on six hits over three innings. Romero walked three and struck out two.

Edward Melendez allowed one hit on no runs over 2.2 innings to keep South Bend in the game. Then Cole Reynolds went the rest of the way and got the win with South Bend’s big ninth-inning rally. Reynolds allowed no runs on just one hit over 3.1 innings. He struck out five and walked no one.

The South Bend comeback was keyed by a three-run home run by first baseman Josiah Hartshorn in the fifth inning. It was the Cubs’ top prospect’s 17th home run and 22nd overall. Hartshorn went 1 for 4 with an intentional walk. He scored twice.

Wisconsin led this game 7-4 with two outs and no one on in the top of the ninth. South Bend then had eight batters reach consecutively and they scored six runs to pull this one out of the fire.

South Bend took the lead on a bases-loaded, two-run single by left fielder Kade Snell. Snell went 2 for 3 with two walks. He scored twice.

Catcher Logan Poteet had a two-run single in the ninth to make it 10-7. Poteet went 2 for 5 with three total runs batted in.

Right fielder Geuri Lubo was 3 for 4 and scored one run.

Hartshorn’s home run. Check out the Octoberfest uniforms the Timber Rattlers are wearing.

He homered again.
He homered agaaaiiinnn.
Josiah Hartshorn.
He homered again.@HoosierLottery Home Run | #SBCubspic.twitter.com/9HAvynfMiY

— South Bend Cubs (@SBCubs) August 29, 2026

Snell and Poteet both with two-run singles in that incredible ninth inning rally.

IT WAS 7-0 WISCONSIN!

IT'S 10-7 CUBS!!!#SBCubspic.twitter.com/mEMMShL9ta

— South Bend Cubs (@SBCubs) August 29, 2026

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans missed the cut against the Augusta GreenJackets (Braves), 8-0.

Starter Luis Mata allowed a three-run home run in the second inning and that was all it took to give him the loss. Mata’s final line was three runs on two hits and three walks over two innings. He struck out two.

The Pelicans only had two hits tonight. Left fielder Derik Alcantara was 1 for 3 with a double.

The Cincinnati Bengals are getting closer to the point where offseason optimism and preseason evaluations have to give way to some very difficult decisions. With the preseason finale against the Philadelphia Eagles over, the Bengals will soon have to determine which players from their crowded roster have done enough to earn a spot on the 53-man roster — and which ones will be looking for work elsewhere.

There is plenty of reason for optimism around Cincinnati entering the 2026 season. Joe Burrow is healthy, the offense has its familiar collection of elite weapons, and the Bengals have made significant investments in rebuilding the defense, most notably with the additions of Dexter Lawrence and Jonathan Allen.

That optimism is reflected in the current betting market, too. FanDuel currently lists Cincinnati at +170 to win the AFC North, +900 to win the AFC Championship, and +2000 to win Super Bowl LXI. The Bengals are also -196 to make the playoffs and -165 to win more than 9.5 games.

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FanDuel Sportsbook’s latest NFL odds

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Of course, none of those expectations make roster decisions any easier. The Bengals have several position groups with legitimate competition for the final few spots, and some players who appeared relatively safe entering training camp may now face a much less certain future. Below, we’ll keep track of the Bengals’ roster cuts as they happen, along with some of the more notable surprises and decisions.

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Cincinnati Bengals 2026 Roster Cuts Tracker

OFFENSE

Quarterback

Cut: —
Surprise: —
Notes: —

---

Running Back

Cut: —
Surprise: —
Notes: —

---

Wide Receiver

Cut: —
Surprise: —
Notes: —

---

Tight End

Cut: —
Surprise: —
Notes: —

---

Offensive Line

Cut: —
Surprise: —
Notes: —

---

DEFENSE

Defensive Line

Cut: —
Surprise: —
Notes: —

---

Edge Rusher

Cut: —
Surprise: —
Notes: —

---

Linebacker

Cut: —
Surprise: —
Notes: —

---

Cornerback

Cut: —
Surprise: —
Notes: —

---

Safety

Cut: —
Surprise: —
Notes: —

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SPECIAL TEAMS

Kicker

Cut: —
Notes: —

Punter

Cut: —
Notes: —

Long Snapper

Cut: —
Notes: —

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Notable Roster Decisions to Watch

While the final cuts will ultimately determine the 53-man roster, there are already several players who have emerged as names worth watching as Cincinnati works through its decisions.

Tahj Brooks: The former Texas Tech running back hasn’t necessarily shown enough to make his roster spot feel completely secure. With competition at running back and the Bengals having other options available, Brooks could be one of the more interesting decisions.

T.J. Slaton: Cincinnati’s offseason additions along the defensive interior have created a fascinating numbers game. Slaton has plenty of NFL experience and could very well make the roster, but the Bengals have added significant competition to a position group that could force a difficult decision.

Mitchell Tinsley: Tinsley’s recent emergence has made the wide receiver competition considerably more interesting. If he continues to show the ability to contribute on offense and special teams, he could force the Bengals to make a tough decision elsewhere.

Charlie Jones: Jones has plenty of experience in the Bengals’ offense and has been a valuable return option, but the emergence of Tinsley, Dohnte Meyers, and Ke’Shawn Williams has made the receiver/returner competition one to monitor closely.

Jack Endries: Endries is another player who has made the roster conversation more interesting. The tight end competition is crowded, and the Bengals will have to determine how many players they want to carry at the position versus using those roster spots elsewhere.

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The Final Roster Is Coming Into Focus

The next several days should provide the Bengals’ coaching staff with its final opportunity to evaluate players before the regular season begins. While some roster spots have essentially been decided, the bottom of the roster is where things become particularly fascinating.

For players on the bubble, one play can make the difference between making the 53-man roster and finding themselves on the practice squad or looking for another opportunity.

And for the Bengals, those decisions could prove particularly important.

Cincinnati has legitimate aspirations of returning to the postseason — and perhaps making a much deeper run than that. With Burrow openly talking about manifesting a Super Bowl and the betting market giving the Bengals a legitimate chance to win the AFC North, the margin for error is getting smaller.

Now comes the difficult part:

Deciding which 53 players give Cincinnati its best chance to make that happen.

This tracker will be updated as the Bengals make their roster decisions.

The New Orleans Saints finished the preseason on a high note, defeating the Dallas Cowboys 27-24. The Saints found efficiency in the run game, and each backup quarterback made a final push for the QB2 job.

Saints Scoring

K Daniel Carlson – 38-yard field goal

Newly signed Saints kicker Daniel Carlson opened up scoring for the black and gold with a 38-yard field goal.

WR Barion Brown – 7-yard touchdown run

Wide receiver Barion Brown continues to shine, this time on the ground, rushing for a 7-yard touchdown.

QB Spencer Rattler – 8-yard touchdown run

Spencer Rattler adds another rushing touchdown for the Saints, reaching the end zone after an 8-yard run.

RB Zamir White – 11-yard touchdown run

For their third rushing touchdown of the day, newly acquired running back Zamir White finds the end zone on an 11-yard run.

K Daniel Carlson – 53-yard field goal

With less than two minutes remaining in the game, New Orleans looks to their veteran kicker to win the game. Carlson nails a 53-yard attempt to put the Saints over the edge.

Team Stats

3rd-down efficiency: 3-9

Total Yards: 326

Pass Yards: 157

Sacks-Yards lost: 2-15

Rushing Yards: 169

Yards per rush: 5.3

Red Zone Efficiency: 75%

Penalties: 4-39

Turnovers: 0

Players Stats

QB Zach Wilson: 9/12, 93 passing yards, 96.9 RTG,

QB Spencer Rattler: 8/10, 79 passing yards, 99.6 RTG, 1 rushing touchdown

RB Audric Estime: 4 CAR, 46 rushing yards, 11.5 AVG

RB Kendre Miller: 9 CAR, 42 rushing yards, 4.7 AVG

RB Zamir White: 4 CAR, 23 rushing yards, 5.8 AVG

WR Ronnie Bell: 6 REC, 65 receiving yards, 7 targets

WR Bryce Lance: 2 REC, 28 receiving yards, 4 targets

LB Isaiah Stalbird: 8 total tackles, 4 solo, 1 sack, 1 TFL

DL Khristian Boyd: 7 total tackles, 4 solo

DL Garrett Nelson: 1 total tackle, 1 solo, 1 sack

K Daniel Carlson: 2/2 FG, 53-yarder, 1.1 XP

P Ryan Wright: 3 punts, 128 yards, 42.7 AVG, 1 touchback, 1 within 20, 55 long

On to the regular season

After finding their first win of the preseason, beating the Cowboys 27-24, the Saints will head into the regular season with a bit of momentum. New Orleans will take on the Detroit Lions at Ford Field Sunday, September 13, at 12 p.m. Central.

The Jets wrapped up their 2026 preseason on Friday with a 23-6 loss to the crosstown (and cross-conference) New York Giants. With all key starters rested, it was a game where the spots on the fringes of the Jets' 53-man roster were likely decided.

Jason Sanders didn't enter preseason in a position battle for the title of Jets kicker. However, after his dismal performance against the Giants, he might have forced the team to look for another option ahead of the Jets' season opener against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, Sep. 13.

Sanders missed his PAT after Chip Trayanum rushed for a one-yard touchdown in the first quarter. Then, in the fourth quarter, his 54-yard field goal attempt didn't even reach the uprights.

"I didn’t like the fact that we missed these field goals," said head coach Aaron Glenn postgame. "The thing is, we’re not going to panic, and we’re going to make sure we make the right decisions."

After seven strong seasons with the Miami Dolphins from 2018 to 2024, Sanders missed the entirety of the 2025 season with a hip injury. He was released during the offseason, and was claimed off waivers by the Jets in early June of this year.

"Jason’s been good for us, he’s been good in practice, so I'm going to evaluate that and see what direction we'll go," the Jets head honcho asserted.

A first-team All-Pro in 2020, Sanders' 84.3 percent career field goal conversion rate is 14th best among all active NFL kickers with at least 100 career field goal attempts. Among that same field, Sanders' 96.6 percent career extra point conversion rate is tied for eighth best.

"Either we fix those issues, or we get the right person in here," Glenn concluded.

The Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs played to a 9-9 tie that was as ugly as the final score suggested, but it was not a totally disastrous night. There were some great moments from quarterback Jalen Milroe, such that I don’t think there should be too much discussion over whether or not he makes the 53-man roster. Rookies like Emmanuel Henderson and Andre Fuller made some nice plays, while cornerback Trevon Diggs’ Seahawks debut saw him make an immediate impact with an interception.

If there was one worrisome story from Friday’s game, it was Jason Myers. Seattle’s longtime kicker has not been his usual self all preseason, and his two misses against the Chiefs included an extra point and a game-winning walk-off field goal. Five total misses through three preseason games for Myers, is it time to worry?

Myself and The Hawks Eye Podcast host Bryce Coutts are live at 8:30 pm PT with analysis and takeaways from Seattle’s preseason finale. Are we going to talk about Jalen Milroe? Of course. But there will be other things worth discussing as we now turn our attention to roster cuts and opening day of the 2026 regular season.

Watch the video below!

Video

Subscribe to The Hawks Eye Podcast!

Memphis Redbirds vsCharlotte Knights (Postponed due to rain)
Charlotte’s date with the International League East leader has been postponed due to rain. The Knights and Redbirds will play a doubleheader on August 29.

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Birmingham Barons 3, Rocket City Trash Pandas 2
Thanks for coming out of hiding, Barons pitchers, we’ve missed you all season! It’s better late than never, as despite a terrible, 54-70 season record, Birmingham remains one game out of second-half postseason qualification, at 28-27.

Barons pitchers were shoving. Rocket City had to settle for just one run during starter Jake Palisch’s five innings, as he allowed just six hits, two walks, and that sole run while punching out five. Mathias LaCombe built off the pitching momentum and blanked Rocket City while adding three strikeouts of his own, and Liam Paddack followed in step with two whiffs and a strikeout looking in the eighth. But the ninth was a whole other ball of wax. Paddack’s no-nonsense eighth was a distant memory, as he walked two and hit two batters and gave up the tying run with two outs and the sacks packed. Though it was an admirable night on the pitching front, it came to a disappointing close.

The mostly lights-out pitching provided Bham’s offense enough leniency to survive with hits that were few and far between. Colby Shelton got a break from being an RBI workhorse, but he still scored on a Jose Colmenares sac fly in the third. Alec Briley, as expected, generated the second run with a sac fly in the fifth, scoring Dylan Campbell. For much of the game, the Barons did nothing else to produce runs, going 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position and stranding nine on the bases. However, in the bottom of the ninth and the game knotted at two apiece with runners on the corners, Caleb Bonemer came through with a walk-off single to remind fans why he’s still the top shortstop on the farm.

MVP
Jake Palisch: 5 IP, 6 H, R, 2 BB, 5 K

Runners-Up
Mathias LaCombe: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
Colby Shelton: 2-for-3, R, BB
Alec Briley: 1-for-3, RBI
Samuel Zavala: 1-for-1, 2 R, 3 BB
Caleb Bonemer: 1-for-4, RBI, BB, K

Cold Cat
Grant Magill: 0-for-4, 3 K

Runners-Up
Dylan Campbell: 2-for-5, 2 K
Ryan Burrowes: 1-for-3, BB, K

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Bowling Green Hot Rods 11, Winston-Salem Dash 7 (10 innings)
Despite the 10 1/2-game difference between Bowling Green and Winston-Salem, the battle among the South Atlantic League South leaders was an even match. Until extra innings.

The Dash needed a team-wide effort to keep up with the Hot Rods at the plate and offset their own pitching blunders. Although they did get some help from George Wolkow’s sac fly in the sixth and a bases-juiced walk in the eighth, Javier Mogollón’s exceptional three-hit evening and home run sent the game to extras:

By the start of the 10th, Justin Sinbaldi’s costly pickoff error and Drew Conover’s three-run relief outing were forgotten. But Winston-Salem wasn’t anywhere close to out of the woods.

Landen Payne, who has been exceptional this year with eight saves and 42 strikeouts, didn’t deliver the closeout everyone expected. After allowing the ghost runner to steal third, Payne secured one out before giving up the go-ahead run on a competitive pitch almost in the dirt. His confidence shaken, he was pulled from the game and replaced by Carlton Perkins, who did worse. The next three batters walked and were hit by pitches, turning the 7-7 tie into 9-7 within moments. By then, the writing was on the wall, and all the Dash could do was figure out the fastest way to end the game.

Although it ended unceremoniously and the Hot Rods pulled back ahead of the Dash in the second-half standings, notable performances by Riley Gowens and Mogollón helped Winston-Salem keep the game within arm’s reach.

MVP
Javier Mogollón: 3-for-6, 3 2 R, 3 RBI, K, HR, SB

Runners-Up
Riley Gowens: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, BB, 5 K
Ely Brown: 2-for-6, 2 R, RBI, K
James Taussig: 2-for-5, R, K
Jackson Appel: 1-for-2, R, RBI, 2 K
Trey Cooper: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 K

Cold Cat
Justin Sinbaldi: 4 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 3 BB, 2 K, E

Runners-Up
Drew Conover: 1 IP, 5 H, 3 R, K
Blake Perkins: 2/3 IP, H, 2 R, BB, K
George Wolkow: 0-for-4, RBI, 2 K
Landen Payne: 1 1/3 IP, H, 2 R, 0 BB, 3 K

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Hill City Howlers 5, Kannapolis Cannon Ballers 1
Hill City got the best of Kannapolis in a match where nothing went in the CBs’ favor. The lineup tallied 15 strikeouts and managed just five hits, with Efran Teran accounting for three. Jaden Fauske and Grayson Fitzwater created plenty of wind energy, the former striking out thrice and the latter earning a golden sombrero. Landon Hodge drove Jake Berkland in to score Kanny’s only run in the second, but the rest of the offense was dead. Considering only three runners got into scoring position, it’s a miracle the Ballers didn’t get blanked. While things couldn’t have gotten much worse with hitting, the pitching crew didn’t do their best, either. Fabian Ysalla exhibited another disappointing start, but at least he lasted five innings. By the time Ysalla was pulled and Andrew Berg and Frankeli Arias came into the game, it was clear the bats couldn’t rally, so surrendering two more runs didn’t make a difference for the struggling relievers.

MVP
Efran Teran: 3-for-3

Runners-Up
Landon Hodge: 1-for-3, RBI, 2 K
Jake Berkland: 0-for-2, R, BB, K
Frankeli Arias: 2 IP, 2 H, R, 3 K

Cold Cat
Grayson Fitzwater: 0-for-4, 4 K

Runners-Up
Jaden Fauske: 0-for-4, 3 K
Fabian Ysalla: 5 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 BB, K
Steven Lancia: 0-for-4, 2 K
Crew McChesney: 0-for-3, 2 K

The Green Bay Packers won a thriller, if there can ever be one in August, in their preseason finale against the Arizona Cardinals. Mike LaFleur, trying to best his older brother, called two timeouts in the final five seconds of the game, trying to set up a Hail Mary after receiver KiSean Johnson’s second fourth-quarter touchdown for the Packers.

The Cardinals’ Hail Mary attempt fell short, though, and was batted away by a crowd of green and gold as Arizona fell 42-38 with zeroes on the clock.

The Packers did not play their best players on Friday Night, as 37 were held out. 32 of those players were among the 46 we listed as Packers “roster locks” earlier this week, with the remaining five comprising four players on Green Bay’s physically unable to perform list and tight end Thomas Yassmin, the Packers’ international exemption player who is currently dealing with an injury.

On top of that, others who were “active” were held out as reserve/emergency players, like backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor — who didn’t play a single snap in the game. Instead, it was Kyle McCord, Green Bay’s QB3, who played under center for the offense today.

The most interesting part of the game, from a players participating standpoint, was probably that the second-team offensive line was able to go for the game and mid-round picks Chris McClellan and Dani Dennis-Sutton (who was inactive for the first two preseason games) suited up on the line of scrimmage.

The second-team offensive line was made up of John Williams, Donovan Jennings, Jager Burton, Travis Glover (who hasn’t been getting work with the second-team up to this point) and Anthony Belton (from left to right). Glover was later kicked out to replace Belton, and Darian Kinnard, who was the team’s sixth offensive lineman in the second half of the Packers’ 2026 season, came off the bench to play right guard. Kinnard has had maybe the biggest drop on the depth chart of any returning player on Green Bay’s roster.

Defensively, the standout was easily Dennis-Sutton, who recorded one sack in his NFL debut, several pressures and a couple near-sacks, too. He looked like an NFL rookie playing against a group of practice squaders, so he’s checking the box there.

McCord continued a solid summer for the rising quarterback, completing 22 of 35 for 226 yards and four touchdowns versus the Cardinals. In total, his preseason has amounted to 70 passes for 37 completions, 446 yards (6.3 yards per attempt) and four touchdowns. Meanwhile, Taylor was 8 of 16 for 38 yards (2.4 yards per attempt) this preseason, but it appears that Taylor will be Green Bay’s backup — barring an outside addition — as he was shielded from contact tonight.

Receiver J. Michael Sturdivant, who is the most likely undrafted free agent to make the Packers’ 2026 initial 53-man roster on Sunday as a seventh receiver and special teams contributor, led the team with six receptions for 112 yards, despite Johnson hauling in one more touchdown. Meanwhile, Isaiah Neyor, who is pushing Sturdivant for a roster spot, dropped a wide-open deep ball from McCord. Will Sheppard, who has been ninth in the receiver pecking order this preseason, returned a punt for an 81-yard touchdown against the Cardinals, too.

Rookie kicker Trey Smack continues his perfect stretch of play, as he hit two more field goals and four extra points versus Arizona.

Unfortunately, the reserve defense was lunch, as they gave up 326 yards in the air (including sack yardage) and 166 yards on the ground. Obviously, an 80-point game isn’t going to have much defense played in it, but the Packers could have been much better in that department tonight. Notably, rookie cornerback Domani Jackson, who had an alright NFL debut last week after missing the preseason opener, played pretty poorly opposite Jaylin Simpson, who himself hasn’t looked good as either an outside cornerback or a slot defender this preseason.

Maybe Green Bay should just keep four true cornerbacks, if you consider Kamal Hadden a “safety” now that he’s playing in the nickel spot and” third-safety” packages on the team.

The Packers end the preseason 2-1, with more good than bad put on tape. If we’re going to crown anyone a preseason MVP this summer, it’s probably McCord, who will likely be offered a practice squad job in Green Bay this upcoming season, assuming he clears waivers on Monday. Initially, McCord battled with undrafted rookie Kyron Drones for third-team offense snaps until Drones took three sacks in four dropbacks in the preseason opener and was quickly waived — giving McCord the clear runway as the QB3.

With preseason finally over, the Dallas Cowboys and the rest of the league have to now get down to the nitty-gritty of roster manipulation to get under the league mandated 53-man limit. New additions via the waiver wire or trade will surely shake some things up, but as things stand right now below is a final 53-man roster prediction for the Cowboys.

Quarterback (2)

Dak Prescott, Joe Milton

Prescott is the unquestioned QB1 and a MVP candidate this year, and Milton will once again be his primary backup after outperforming Sam Howell. Ideally Howell is traded, if not, hopefully clears waivers and re-signs to the practice squad.

Running back (4)

Javonte Williams, Malik Davis, Jaydon Blue, Hunter Luepke

Williams and Davis are the Cowboys top two backs and Luepke will reprise his role as a Swiss Army knife FB. Blue provides an explosive element and could have a specific package just for him. Phil Mafah and Israel Ibanikanda hopefully revert to the practice squad.

Wide receiver (6)

CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, Ryan Flournoy, KaVontae Turpin, Jonathan Mingo, Camden Brown

After the top four, a tough decision will have to be made. The Cowboys are high on both Mingo and Brown, the former due to his blocking/special teams ability and the latter due to his upside. Both stick with Anthony Smith and Jordan Hudson hopefully re-signed to the PS.

Tight end (4)

Jake Ferguson, Brevyn Spann-Ford, Luke Schoonmaker, Michael Trigg

Both Ferguson and Spann-Ford are the unquestioned top TEs for the Cowboys, and as such, are roster locks. We believe Schoonmaker and Trigg will round at the group. No. 86 for insurance and Trigg due to his upside and the fact he likely won’t make it through waivers.

Offensive line (9)

Tyler Guyton, Tyler Smith, Cooper Beebe, Tyler Booker, Terence Steele, TJ Bass, Nate Thomas, Nick Leverett,, Drew Shelton

Dallas’ starting five OL is set with Thomas backing them up as the swing OT and Bass as the backup iOL. Leverett has proven to be a solid backup C/G, but could be replaced by an outside addition. Shelton makes the cut for now purely based on his draft status, but hopefully can be stashed on IR to make way for a more proven vet swing OT.

Defensive tackle (5)

Quinnen Williams, Kenny Clark, Otito Ogbonnia, Jonathan Bullard, LT Overton

The top three are easy predict, but after that less so. Overton and Bullard make the cut for now, but the latter could revert to short-term IR to be recalled later. Keep an eye out for an experienced vet DT to add to the mix and look for Tommy Dunn and DJ Withers back on the PS.

Outside linebacker/Edge (5)

Rashan Gary, Donovan Ezeiruaku, Malachi Lawrence, Von Miller, James Houston

The top four are locked in with Houston rounding out the group. Marist Liufau or Sam Williams could force the Cowboys to go six and deep here, but neither has looked particularly impressive. A waiver wire addition or trade wouldn’t be shocking here.

Inside linebacker (5)

DeMarvion Overshown, Dee Winters, Jaishawn Barham, Shemar James, Justin Barron

Overshown, Winters, and Barham will rotate as the starters with James and Barron backing them up. No. 55’s pass rushing ability also helps going a little short at OLB. Adding a veteran such as Bobby Wagner to solidify things could still be very much in play.

Cornerback (5)

DaRon Bland, Cobie Durant, Shavon Revel, Devin Moore, Reddy Stewart

Dallas’ top three CBs are locked in, but the depth behind them is still in question. Moore, much like Drew Shelton, makes the cut due to his draft status and we believe Stewart rounds out the group with Ameer Speed barely missing out. Hopefully Speed slips through to the PS.

Safety (5)

Caleb Downs, Malik Hooker, Jalen Thompson, P.J. Locke, Markquese Bell

The Cowboys love for Bell forces them to go five deep here with the top four already locked in. They would love to find a way to hold on to Julius Wood, also keep an eye on Alijah Clark to return to the PS. He was on the first team kick return unit in practice.

Special teams (3)

Brandon Aubrey, Bryan Anger, Trent Sieg

Nothing new here. There’s no questioning these three are roster locks.

The Arizona Cardinals’ preseason is officially over and the regular season kicks off for them on September 13th in Los Angeles against the Chargers.

However, the first order of business for the Cardinals is to cut their 2026 roster down from 90 to their initial 53-man roster by Sunday, August 30th at 3:00 p.m. Arizona Time.

Here is something that is wild for the Cardinals even before roster cuts happen for every team in the NFL… According to our friends at FanDuel Sportsbook, no team has longer odds to make the playoffs in 2026 than the Arizona Cardinals at +1600.

That is an insane number when you remember that the Miami Dolphins exist and are only +1500. In the NFC, the next team with the lowest odds is the Washington Commanders at +285.

No one believes in the Arizona Cardinals.

With the preseason over, the Arizona Cardinals will begin their roster cuts to get down to their 53-man roster on Sunday and we will update it as we get the information.

The Cardinals are historically one of the last teams to announce their cuts, but maybe this year will be different.

Confirmed cuts:

The New York Giants finished their preseason on Friday with a 23-6 victory over the New York Jets. Odell Beckham Jr. had a big night. Dominic Zvada learned he had won the placekicking job. Let’s review the action in our unique ‘Kudos and Wet Willies’ style.

Kudos to …

Odell Beckham Jr. — Is anyone still questioning whether or not Beckham is making the 53-man roster? Beckham nearly had a 73-yard touchdown reception, but Jameis Winston slightly overthrew him and the ball fell incomplete.

Beckham still had an outstanding night. He caught three passes for 53 yards, an average of 17.7 yards per catch, with the longest being a 23-yard grab. He has enough juice to be a useful player for this Giants team.

John Harbaugh said after the game that Beckham has done enough to make a roster, but stopped short of anointing him as part of the Giants’ 53-man roster.

"Super grateful for the opportunity. At this point, it's in God's hands. I know that I have a good feeling about myself – there's ball to be played, plays to be made."

– Odell Beckham Jr. pic.twitter.com/aLCY7LCHgA

— SNY Giants (@SNYGiants) August 29, 2026

Tyrone Tracy — The third-year running back needed a big night after mishaps in the first two preseason games. He got one with four carries for 37 yards, including a 16-yard run, and a 6-yard touchdown. He also survived an injury scare, passing a concussion test and seeming to be fine while on the sideline in the second half.

Offensive line — There were holes to run through and pockets to pass from all night. The Giants traded offensive linemen Daniel Faalele and Josh Ezeudu over the past week, because they liked their depth. Friday night you could see why. Sisi Mauigoa was outstanding in his brief stint. Guys like rookie J.C Davis, Evan Neal, and Jake Kubas all played well. It was fun, and sort of mystifying, to watch Neal push guys backwards all night. Where has that been for the last four years?

Zaire Barnes — Barnes capped off an excellent summer with a tremendous, athletic interception. The fact that he was also a game captain was a massive pre-game hint that he is making the 53-man roster.

Trace Ford — I don’t know if there is a place for Ford on the 53-man roster, but he certainly made a case on Friday for the Giants to find one. Ford, an edge defender, had five tackles, three for loss, a sack, two quarterback hits, and two passes defensed. Question is, will he have a roster spot on Sunday night?

Dominic Zvada — Zvada has won the placekicking competition with Ben Sauls. Zvada made field goals of 23, 46, and 53 yards, and added two extra points. It didn’t hurt that short-time Giant Jason Sanders missed an extra point and was short on a 54-yard field goal try. John Harbaugh made it official after the game that Zvada will be the placekicker.

Jake Haener — After just joining the Giants a couple of weeks ago, Haener was impressive in his only game action of the preseason. He went 6 of 7 for 101 yards, a touchdown, and a perfect 158.3 passer rating. Haener’s touchdown was a beautifully directed and thrown ball to wide receiver Xavier Gipson. Did Haener do enough to take a practice squad spot away from Brandon Allen?

Jordan Stout — Thanks to a penalty, Stout was forced to re-kick after a 63-yard punt. He responded with an amazing 81-yard punt that was nearly downed at the 1-yard line by Darius Muasau and Dalen Cambre.

Najee Harris — The newly-signed running back got his first game action, and looked good. He carried 11 times for 39 yards, with a long run of 9 yards, as the Giants got him ready for Week 1.

Wet Willies to …

Run defense — Not sure that the Giants need to be scouring cuts for defensive line help? All you had to do was watch the Jets’ opening 10-play, 36-yard drive to know that the answer is absolutely. The Giants need rotational players to join D.J. Reader and Shelby Harris, and they are sorely lacking in capable run defenders on the interior defensive line.

Darius Alexander, Bobby Jamison-Travis, Leki Fotu, and pretty much everyone the Giants put out there left a lot to be desired in run defense. Jamison-Travis and his sack celebration are fun. His job, though, is run defense. He needs to get better at it.

Turnovers — The Giants committed two. One, a Jameis Winston interception after a pass bounced off Beckham’s hands, set up the Jets’ touchdown. The other, a red zone fumble by Braxton Berrios, denied the Giants a scoring opportunity.

Update:Broncos close out preseason with blowout win over Vikings.

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The Denver Broncos and Minnesota Vikings will square off in the final preseason game for both teams. We don’t expect much in the way of snaps from starters tonight, but a lot of these players are having their last chance to make a case for a roster spot – whether on the final 53 or the 16-man practice squad. Week 1 is officially just around the corner, Broncos Country!

Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. Mile High time on Friday, August 28, 2026 at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado. You can also check local Broncos radio network affiliate stations. Join the discussion in the comments section below.

Vikings at Broncos live updates

Clocking in for #MINvsDEN ⏰

📺: 9NEWS pic.twitter.com/q3GY3vAbwV

— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) August 29, 2026

Bo Nix and Jaylen Waddle chatting pregame 🤝 pic.twitter.com/R8Km5EDZim

— DNVR Broncos (@DNVR_Broncos) August 29, 2026

Broncos players NOT in uniform for warmups:

QB: Nix
RB: Coleman, Dobbins, Harvey
WR: Waddle, Sutton, Bryant
TE: Engram, Trautman, Lohner (injured)
OL: McGlinchey, Bolles, Powers, Meinerz, Forsyth (injured), Crum (injured)
DL: Allen, Roach, Uwazurike, D.J. Jones
ILB: Singleton,…

— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) August 29, 2026

Last orange wall of the preseason! 🙏🔥 pic.twitter.com/4MyE8PT221

— DNVR Broncos (@DNVR_Broncos) August 29, 2026

Big play by Nate Adkins! 26 yards catch and run

— Ryan Edwards (@redwardsradio) August 29, 2026

Marvin Mims got up and is jogging off the field under his own power.

Really good to see.

— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevens) August 29, 2026

Lutz hits a 43-yard field goal to cap the Broncos' first drive. Big gain was the 26-yard pass from Stidham to Adkins. Marvin Mims Jr. comes down hard after the last play of the series. Came back to the bench, threw his helmet in frustration, sat down on the bench, then appeared…

— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) August 29, 2026

#Broncos WR Marvin Mims Jr. is out of the medical tent and leaving the field.

— Chris Tomasson (@christomasson) August 29, 2026

Jonathon Cooper is #Broncos only defensive starter in.

— Chris Tomasson (@christomasson) August 29, 2026

Broncos' defense starts off by forcing a three and out

— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevens) August 29, 2026

Jordan Turner and Karene Reid get the start at LB.

We'll see if one or both make the 53.

— MileHighReport (@MileHighReport) August 29, 2026

Broncos' RB depth SHOWING OUT so far.

— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevens) August 29, 2026

Badie and Schrader making their case for a roster spot…or a spot or two on the practice squad

— MileHighReport (@MileHighReport) August 29, 2026

Tyler Badie with the stutter step 😮‍💨

MINvsDEN on @NFLNetwork
Stream on @NFLPluspic.twitter.com/Flba8Hl60q

— NFL (@NFL) August 29, 2026

Cody Schrader making his case for a roster spot 💪 pic.twitter.com/nTHRv0wzrl

— MileHighReport (@MileHighReport) August 29, 2026

Nate Adkins… DANGEROUS receiver!

Two big catches so far.

— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevens) August 29, 2026

Surprise!

Adam Prentice TOUCHDOWN

— MileHighReport (@MileHighReport) August 29, 2026

Goal line weapon, Adam Prentice for the TOUCHDOWN pic.twitter.com/NzBWPnBIo2

— MileHighReport (@MileHighReport) August 29, 2026

Jarrett Stidham:

6/9
78 yards
93.8 passer rating

Led a FG drive and a TD drive on his two drives.

— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevens) August 29, 2026

Wentz fumbles the snap and Karene Reid gets the sack

— MileHighReport (@MileHighReport) August 29, 2026

JL Skinner is a big safety

— MileHighReport (@MileHighReport) August 29, 2026

Jarrett Stidham's day is done. He did an admiral job:

6/9
78 yards
93.8 passer rating

2 scoring drives on 2 series. FG and TD

— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevens) August 29, 2026

Stidham had a better showing tonight, which was needed after last week.

He's likely your QB2. We'll see if Ehlinger forces them to keep 3 QBs or not.

— MileHighReport (@MileHighReport) August 29, 2026

Ehlinger is immediately picked on his first throw of the night.

Not what you want to see.

— MileHighReport (@MileHighReport) August 29, 2026

Kahlef Hailassie steps up and gets the interception 🗣️

MINvsDEN on @NFLNetwork
Stream on @NFLPluspic.twitter.com/SIPD6EZ6vo

— NFL (@NFL) August 29, 2026

Minnesota tacks on a FG after the turnover.

Broncos 10, Vikings 3.

— Aric DiLalla (@AricDiLalla) August 29, 2026

#Broncos WR Kolbe Katsis with another nice kickoff return. This one for 48 yards. Had a 40-yarder last week.

— Chris Tomasson (@christomasson) August 29, 2026

What a return 💪#MINvsDENpic.twitter.com/pCmI6lfO9d

— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) August 29, 2026

That was a sneaky underhand pass by Ehlinger to avoid the sack

Holding negates the play

— MileHighReport (@MileHighReport) August 29, 2026

Broncos drive stalls in the red zone after a Dane Key holding penalty. They settle for a 37-yard Wil Lutz field goal and a 13-3 lead with 5:30 left before halftime.

— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) August 29, 2026

Que Robinson with a disruptive set of plays in the red zone here down the stretch of the first half.

A good reaction to the flat on second down and then a third-down pressure.

— Parker Gabriel (@ParkerJGabriel) August 29, 2026

Ehlinger with a dime to Dane Key for a gain of 20+

— MileHighReport (@MileHighReport) August 29, 2026

Sam Ehlinger with a laser to Dane Key 🎯

MINvsDEN on @NFLNetwork
Stream on @NFLPluspic.twitter.com/gLJNoKLzRx

— NFL (@NFL) August 29, 2026

A nice response in the two-minute offense by the Broncos to expand their lead back to double digits on Jaleel McLaughlin's 20-yard catch-and-run from Ehlinger.. Ehlinger found Bandy for 13 yards and Dane Key for 20. Broncos up, 20-6.

— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) August 29, 2026

Another preseason TD for @Speedkills2k_ 🙌

📺: 9NEWS pic.twitter.com/MG4uxOqTgy

— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) August 29, 2026

#Broncos HC Sean Payton with Cynthia Frelund going into halftime, talking about his message to young players trying to make the roster:

"It's kind of like The Voice. We watch that TV show. Make us spin the chair. Make us have to keep you."

— Parker Gabriel (@ParkerJGabriel) August 29, 2026

Katsis making people miss

— MileHighReport (@MileHighReport) August 29, 2026

Reese Taylor is OUT with a concussion.

— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevens) August 29, 2026

Dontae Fleming with an insane first down catch 🔥

MINvsDEN on @NFLNetwork
Stream on @NFLPluspic.twitter.com/sl05mVgm4K

— NFL (@NFL) August 29, 2026

Schrader continues his impressive night

— MileHighReport (@MileHighReport) August 29, 2026

Mike Klis says Karene Reid is definitely the number 3 LB

— MileHighReport (@MileHighReport) August 29, 2026

Cody Schrader is at 113 yards from scrimmage. Someone may come calling for him.@KOAColorado@BroncosRadio

— AROD – Anthony Rodriguez (@AnthonyRod33) August 29, 2026

WIDE OPEN CODY SCHRADER TOUCHDOWN

— MileHighReport (@MileHighReport) August 29, 2026

CODY MFN SCHRADER TOUCHDOWN pic.twitter.com/GoL2zNOfD9

— MileHighReport (@MileHighReport) August 29, 2026

I am not even sure if Cody Schrader makes the practice squad…but he's making the decision harder for the Broncos coaches than it was prior to this game

— MileHighReport (@MileHighReport) August 29, 2026

Tonight's attendance for Broncos-Vikings:

65,778 in the house
12,048 no-shows

— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) August 29, 2026

Broncos sideline went crazy for this TD pass from Sam Ehlinger 🗣️

MINvsDEN on @NFLNetwork
Stream on @NFLPluspic.twitter.com/Kv81oVq1tJ

— NFL (@NFL) August 29, 2026

Nice play by the rookie Miles Scott! #Broncos ball

— Ryan Edwards (@redwardsradio) August 29, 2026

Broncos with the 🛑 on 4th and goal!

MINvsDEN on @NFLNetwork
Stream on @NFLPluspic.twitter.com/QoSRE2L1cj

— NFL (@NFL) August 29, 2026

JUSTIN JOLY!!! 88 YARD TOUCHDOWN

— MileHighReport (@MileHighReport) August 29, 2026

8️⃣8️⃣ yards to the 🏡!

📺: 9NEWS pic.twitter.com/R1xQTw5Xbe

— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) August 29, 2026

pic.twitter.com/XepkTfBLrd

— RG 📷 (@RyanGreeneDNVR) August 29, 2026

The pick not with standing, Ehlinger's had a really good night, 15-20, 233, 3 TDs, so 16 for his last 19, and obviously a couple of really nice throws.@guerillasports#BroncosCountry

— Brandon Krisztal (@BKDenverSports) August 29, 2026

Red Murdock ending the preseason with a FORCED FUMBLE

— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevens) August 29, 2026

Make that three straight wins for the Crew after their 6-1 victory over the Texas Rangers. Tonight’s win adds another to their MLB-leading 84 wins while also extending their division lead to eight games with less than a month to play.

All around the diamond, there were standout players tonight for the Brewers, and while the likes of William Contreras, Jake Bauers, and Jackson Chourio stay hot, there’s one bat that has awakened: Christian Yelich. Yelich finishes the night with three hits and an RBI with a double. After tonight’s showing, he’s now batting .391 with a .462 OBP over his last seven games.

Yeli makes it a two-run first pic.twitter.com/dIDNz1ymeY

— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) August 28, 2026

Sticking with the train of hot offense, Contreras came through with two men on in the bottom of the first inning to give the Brewers an early 1-0 lead. In the very next at-bat, Yelich hit his 21st double of the season, driving in Bauers to extend their lead to 2-0.

Then, the Rangers were introduced to one of the best upcoming pitchers in all of baseball in Logan Henderson, as he picked up his first of seven strikeouts. In fact, going forward, the Rangers were only able to pick up one hit, and that came on a solo home run from former Brewer Danny Jansen in the bottom of the third inning. Henderson went the rest of the way, only facing one of the minimum, finishing the night with only 91 pitches thrown.

With the number of records that this edition of the Brewers has racked up to this point in the season, Henderson continued to pile on his accolades tonight as well. Following tonight’s start, he now has the second-lowest ERA in his first 19 career starts with a 2.30 ERA. The only man above him is Bill Parsons with a 2.27 ERA.

I mean the numbers speak for themselves pic.twitter.com/hXfaf6WGnk

— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) August 29, 2026

The Brewers’ offense went silent after the first inning until Yelich kicked things off with a weak base hit. After a two-out walk from Sal Frelick, David Hamilton went the other way with it to drive in Garrett Mitchell to extend the Brewers’ lead to 3-1.

After the final 1-2-3 inning from Henderson in the top of the seventh, Contreras picked up his second RBI of the game with a base hit to center field to make it 4-1. Then, for no particular reason, the Brewers decided to play a little small ball in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Frelick and Hamilton both reached base via the drag bunt, but it was Brice Turang who bunted one foul on the third pitch of the at-bat to strike out. Chourio then poked a ball through the left side of the infield to make it 5-1, then, for good measure, Contreras added one final run for his third RBI of the night to cap it at 6-1.

After Henderson provided another stellar outing, Aaron Ashby and DL Hall shut down the Rangers in the final two innings. Hall capped off the series opener win by striking out the side.

Can we talk about how good DL Hall has been? pic.twitter.com/6y2tjAwID2

— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) August 29, 2026

The Brewers will go for the series win tomorrow night as they turn to Shane Drohan. You can find that game tomorrow at 7:15 p.m. on FOX.

Watching the Cardinals for the past week has been similar to that meme where the stick figure pokes the stick at an object saying “do something”. Many of us who witnessed the early season version of the St. Louis Cardinals have been anxiously waiting for the team to do something and they did some of that Friday night against the Pirates. Fortunately, those “somethings” included a big blast from Jimmy Crooks and a stellar effort from Quinn Mathews.

Quinn Mathews got off to an efficient start limiting his pitch count by getting pounding the strike zone and allowed the defense behind him to help out. Great example of that happened in the top of the 2nd inning when he handed out a one-out walk to Gonzales, but got a ground ball out of Flores Jr. which turned into a nifty double play thanks to some fancy glovework by Nolan Gorman at third.

Gorman helped out with the bat, too, in the bottom of the 3rd inning when he waited on a 94 mph changeup and smacked it into the right-centerfield gap for a double that turned into a triple with Cruz couldn’t get a handle on the ball. He was able to take a leisurely stroll to home plate when Jimmy Crooks followed that with a 90 mph slider he launched 416 feet for a 2-run homer deep into the right field stands for a 2-0 Cardinals lead.

To sum up the Cardinals pitching start Friday night, Quinn Mathews was DEALING! The Pirates didn’t have a real scoring chance until the top of the 4th inning when he gave up a leadoff single to Triolo. Two batters later, O’Neil Cruz hit a hard grounder off of Alec Burleson’s glove at first giving Pittsburgh runners at first and third with two outs, but the Pirates were held scoreless when JJ Wetherholt made a nice play on a sinking line drive for the final out of the Pittsburgh 4th. Quinn was at 65 pitches going into the top of the 5th inning which is a big improvement over his last couple of outings.

The Cardinals offense seemed determined to give Mathews some more run support as Jordan Walker started the bottom of the 5th with single he smoked into left field from a 96 mph four-seam fastball. Jose Fermin then poked a single into right field which moved Walker to third. Nathan Church took advantage of that as he lifted a sacrifice fly to center scoring Walker and upping the Cardinals lead to 3-0. Joshua Baez kept the party going as he ripped a double into the left field corner giving St. Louis runners at second and third with just one out as Fermin was held up at third. It was then Nolan Gorman’s turn. He had a very effective at bat as he came back from a 1-2 count to draw a walk which loaded the bases for the Cardinals. Jimmy Crooks had a prime opportunity to break the game wide open, but he was called out on a check swing for the second out of the inning. It was up to JJ Wetherholt to come through with some two out magic, but all he could manage was a first-pitch dribbler out to the pitcher. Humongous missed opportunity.

The top of the 5th inning has been the land of baseball danger for the Cardinals during the second half of the season. How many games with promise have come apart at the seams in the infamous 5th? Too many to count is the answer. Quinn Mathews ran into a bit of trouble in the 5th inning of Friday’s game, too, but fortunately it did not doom the Cardinals to a sudden deficit. With one out, he hit Mangum with a pitch. Yorke then singled to right giving the Pirates runners at first and second. It looked like Mathews might get out of it without damage when he got a ground ball out of Davis that looked like it might turn into a double play, but the Wetherholt to Fermin to Burleson turn only got the force out at second since injured Masyn Winn was not a part of it. Triolo hit a 2-out single just in front of Baez in left to drive in the first Pirate run of the night making it 3-1 Cardinals. Fortunately, Quinn struck out Valdez to end the threat and maintain the Cardinals advantage.

The Cardinals knocked Pirates starter Jared Jones out of the game in the bottom of the 5th inning when Jordan Walker and Jose Fermin hit back-to-back two out singles. It ended up being fruitless as Nathan Church bounced a ball off of Pirates reliever Evan Sisk, but could not beat the throw to first to end the Cardinals 5th.

Quinn Mathews first Busch Stadium start was a memorable one. He got the Cardinals through 5 2/3 and was in position for a win after Ryan Fernandez got the last out in the top of the 6th. Mathews left the game with a pitch count of 102 allowing 5 hits, 1 earned run while striking out 7 and walking only 1.

Ryan Fernandez stayed in the game to handle the Pirates in the top of the 7th and handle them he did 1-2-3. No runners and no drama. He was also the Cardinals answer for the top of the 8th inning after St. Louis failed to mount any kind of offensive momentum in the bottom of the 7th. Fernandez was able to lock down the Pirates for the first two outs of the 8th inning before he walked Reynolds bringing up O’Neil Cruz as the potential tying run. That brought manager Oli Marmol out of the dugout to bring in Caleb Ferguson for a lefty-on-lefty matchup. That led to a huge break for the Cardinals as Cruz hit a hard ground ball that appeared to go into right field for a single that would have given the Pirates runners at first and third, but the ball hit Reynolds for the final out of the inning. We’ll take it!

The Cardinals tried to add to their lead in the bottom of the 8th inning when Jordan Walker led off with a single into right for his third hit of the night. Jose Fermin was drilled in the chest by a pitch that he squared around to bunt on, but on replay challenge it was overturned after video showed it hit the bat first. Fermin did end up grounding out to the pitcher, but he did move Walker up into scoring position at second on the play. Jordan moved over to third on a ground out to first by Nathan Church. He would score when Joshua Baez grounded out, but shortstop Gonzalez hurried his throw which pulled Horwitz off first base giving the Cardinals a valuable insurance run increasing the lead to 4-1. Three errors on the night by the Pirates helped the St. Louis cause.

Ryne Stanek was brought in to lock down the game for the Cardinals and win for Quinn Mathews. Ryne got Gonzalez to fly out to right for the first out. Next up was Flores Jr. who Stanek struck out with 99 mph HEAT. Mangum was the final Pirates hope which turned out to be no hope at all as Ryne got him out to seal the deal for St. Louis.

The St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates will convene again Saturday afternoon for game 2 of their weekend series. Kyle Leahy is the scheduled starter for the Cardinals while the Pirates have yet to announce who they’ll send to the mound. First pitch is 1:15pm central time with the game broadcast available via Cardinals.tv.

The Mets lost their third straight game on Friday in a 3-1 defeat to the Houston Astros, who kept New York's bats cold all night.

The main story of the game for the Mets was starting pitcher Christian Scott, who had an up-and-down outing in the strangest possible terms.

Scott was spotless through five innings, allowing just one hit and two walks and keeping Houston off the scoreboard.

However, after recording the first out in the fifth inning, Scott issued three straight walks to Yordan Alvarez, Isaac Paredes,and Jose Altuve. Having lost control of the strike zone, interim manager Andy Green pulled his starter for Nate Lavender, who surrendered two hits which drove in all three baserunners, tagging Scott with three earned runs on his final line.

Speaking with the media postgame, Green expressed no regrets with his decision to let Scott push past the fifth inning.

"Today was a good day to test him," Green said. "He had been efficient through five innings, so I wanted to give him [the chance to face] the third time through [the batting order]."

Both Green and Scott were asked if the right-handed pitcher is feeling any arm fatigue in his first season back from Tommy John surgery and, if so, whether it was a factor in his control issues.

"I'm sure he's feeling it more as the season goes on," Green said. "I think you see it often in their first game back from Tommy John...when he gets further and further from that, the walks will dissipate."

Scott, in contrast, refused to pin the blame on anything but his own performance.

"I wouldn't say I did [feel any arm fatigue] tonight," Scott said. "I just didn't execute, didn't get a lot of whiffs, didn't throw the ball well in the sixth ... need to do a better job filling up the zone."

"Physically, I feel fine," Scott said. "I feel like I'm pitching very well right now, but I need to do a better job executing, especially later in the game."

Whatever the case, Green has the 27-year-old's back.

"It was a learning experience today," Green said. "I have a ton of confidence that the next time he is staring down the middle of the order in the sixth inning, he's going to succeed in that situation."