The Detroit Red Wings have long been praised for building one of the NHL’s top prospect pools, and now, several young talents are reaching the point in their development where an NHL debut could be just around the corner.
With training camp approaching and roster spots potentially up for grabs, a handful of exciting prospects are looking to earn a shot. Amadeus Lombardi, a 2022 fourth-round pick, impressed with nearly a point-per-game pace in limited AHL action and could step in as a bottom-six center if injuries arise. Meanwhile, all eyes are on Nate Danielson, the ninth overall pick in 2023, who appears close to cracking the opening night lineup thanks to his rapid development and a relatively open competition at center. On the blue line, Shai Buium could follow a similar path to Carter Mazur, who impressed in Grand Rapids before earning his NHL debut later in the season. With Detroit’s defensive depth still in flux, Buium’s steady two-way play might make him a prime candidate for a mid-season call-up.
What do you think Red Wings fans? Who do you think is the first to get the call-up for this upcoming season? Let us know below! 👇
Exploring three Detroit Red Wings prospects that could make the jump to the NHL in the 2025-26 season.
The Detroit Red Wings are known as having one of the best prospect pools in the NHL since starting their rebuild with some players finally getting to the point where they are old enough and have been developed to a point where they have the potential to make their NHL debut.
Whether it’s a highly touted first-rounder or a late-round gem turning heads in the AHL or overseas, the opportunity is there for fresh faces to earn a spot on the roster. With training camp around the corner and roster spots potentially up for grabs, here are three Red Wings prospects who could make their debut next season.
Amadeus Lombardi, C
Detroit's fourth-round pick back in 2022 has found his game this past season with a near point-per-game average with the Grand Rapids Griffins. The 22-year-old Newmarket native recorded 40 points, tying for fourth on the team in points with winger Sheldon Dries. His 19 goals was also tied for third on the team with former NHLer Austin Watson. This is all with Lombardi having played just 44 games compared to the others around him that played closer to the full 72-game AHL season. If an opportunity becomes available with an injury that would require the team to call up a center for the fourth line, we can count on Lombardi getting a chance to make his debut.
The most highly anticipated prospect in the pipeline could finally make his NHL debut in 2025 as the former ninth overall pick in 2023 NHL Draft showed signs of a relatively seamless transition to pro hockey last season. After recording 12 goals and 27 assists for 39 through 71 games, it's safe to say that if he continues to develop as fast as he is, we will likely see him in a Red Wings jersey in a just a few short months.
At least that's what EliteProspects thinks as they have the 20-year-old Alberta native projected to make Detroit's main roster for this season. The center position remains relatively open, with only Dylan Larkin, Marco Kasper, and Andrew Copp firmly ahead of him in the lineup for next season. We could see Danielson in the lineup as soon as October 9th versus the Montreal Canadiens.
This appears to be a near identical case to Carter Mazur last season. After spending less than a handful of games following the conclusion of his junior career in Grand Rapids, Mazur got accamlated to the style of play and helped him focus his training for the following season. He would go on to play his first full season and impress the Red Wings. It wouldn't be until the following season however that Mazur would get the call 20 games into the season.
Buium has walked almost the same path as he excelled with the Griffins last season, playing big minutes and now has a full season of pro hockey under his belt. The Red Wings defense core is one of the weakest points on the team and is the most likely to see movement. If Buium can continue to impress like Mazur did in his third pro year, we can expect a call-up at some point in the season.
Shortly after getting catcher Francisco Alvarez back from the IL, the Mets have placed his backup on it.
Luis Torrens was placed on the 10-day IL on Monday due to a right forearm contusion, with the move retroactive to Sept. 7.
Torrens said before Monday's game that he injured his forearm while blocking a ball on Saturday, and that he believes he'll be able to return from the IL when first eligible.
In the meantime, Hayden Senger was called up from Triple-A Syracuse to replace Torrens on the roster.
With Alvarez playing through a sprained UCL in his right thumb and with a broken left pinky, his playing time will be managed. But he is expected to get the bulk of the starts down the stretch.
But the timing is unfortunate for Torrens, who had a huge series last week against the Tigers, going 5-for-10 with one homer, one double, and five RBI.
Overall this season, Torrens is hitting .225/.287/.348 with five homers and 13 doubles in 47 games.
He played in one game during the Mets' weekend series against the Reds in Cincinnati, going 0-for-2 on Saturday.
Post-final brawl involved Miami and Seattle players
Major League Soccer has suspended striker Luis Suárez three league games for his role in the mass brawl between his Inter Miami side and the Seattle Sounders after the Leagues Cup final. Suárez was at the center of the confrontation, first putting Sounders midfielder Obed Vargas in a headlock before being dragged away. Later, TV cameras caught Suárez yelling at, and spitting on, Sounders security director Gene Ramirez.
Sounders team psychologist Steven Lenhart, himself a former MLS player who was known for confrontations and physical play, has also had his credential revoked for the remainder of the 2025 season. Lenhart was among a large group of Sounders players and staff who joined the melee along with Inter Miami players and staff.
For the Los Angeles Kings, this season might mean more than just another year of hockey on the ice; it could be the last shot they have for a Stanley Cup title.
After four consecutive first-round exits to the Edmonton Oilers, the Kings face a daunting challenge. Year after year, the same storyline has surrounded the Kings, with each year promising a breakthrough, only to end in disappointment.
Again, this is still a very talented group of players that is filled with not only veterans who have playoff experience, but also young, talented stars who have the potential to be great. But there comes a moment where your window closes, not because of the talent, but from the psychological element of repeatedly falling short of expectations.
Pictured: Pheonix Copley, who is the fastest goaltender in franchise history to record 20 wins in a season, which he accomplished in 29 games in 2022-23. Copley has a record of 28-7-5 in 46 games with the #LAKings.#GoKingsGopic.twitter.com/IAsqEb6j5v
The Kings' identity still revolves around two franchise legends: Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty, who have been with the franchise for over a decade, with two Stanley Cup titles under their belt.
But, given their age and attrition, it might be time to move on from both Doughty and Kopitar this season. Many die-hard Kings fans and experts have been advocating for this move to happen earlier, as they believe the young talent in LA can lead them to the promised land. Now, we just have to wait and see if the Kings will deal them at the trade deadline or next summer.
This season could be the last where we both see them on a Kings uniform, or at least play at a solid level. Kopitar was still great, playing 81 games at age 38 with 21 goals, 46 assists, and 67 points. He can still play at a high level, but he most likely will take a step back this year, given his age, and so will Doughty, who missed time with injuries last season.
Years of Playoff Heartbreak
The recent playoff history of the Kings is a maddening one. While they've assembled competitive rosters, Los Angeles has lost to the Oilers in the first round in four straight playoffs. Every series has uncovered the same issues: failure to close with superstar talent, infuriating up-and-down goaltending, and an inability to stop Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
That consecutive failure has created an impression that the Kings have remained constant. If they cannot progress this season, fans and management could expect changes to the roster.
The Goaltending Question
Goaltending has been a big question mark come postseason for the Kings in recent years. Last offseason, the Kings acquired Darcy Kuemper, bringing in his veteran experience to provide stability and strength under the net.
At 35, Kuemper is a short-term solution rather than a long-term answer. If he falters, the Kings lack a proven young goalie ready to take the reins. In a Western Conference where elite goaltending often swings playoff series, this could be the factor that determines whether the Kings finally break through.
Why the Window Isn’t Completely Closed
Despite the concerns, Los Angeles still has reasons for optimism. Their younger core, led by Quinton Byfield, Adrian Kempe, Brandt Clarke, and Alex Turcotte, is young, elevating pieces entering their prime.
If two or three of these players take significant leaps this season, the Kings could balance their veteran leadership with youthful energy and skill.
The Pacific Division, while competitive, remains winnable. Vancouver has emerged as a contender, and Edmonton continues to be the biggest obstacle, but the Kings finished second place in the division last season and were just two games back of the first-seeded Golden Knights.
Suppose LA has enough depth and talent to stay in the mix. A key trade deadline move could push them over the top.
With football season beginning in earnest this weekend, the attention of many is on the gridiron, and understandably so. However, that also means fantasy basketball is right around the corner, making this an excellent time to begin the mock draft process.
Some may prefer the standard snake draft process, with or without a third-round reversal, while others favor the salary-style draft. With $200 to play with, the task is to build out a roster capable of delivering glory (and, in some instances, prize money) in the spring.
Do you spend most of your funds on a few elite players and then fill out the roster with low-cost options toward the end of the draft? Or do you look to take a more balanced approach, which may result in a stronger roster on the back end? Rotoworld fantasy basketball analyst Raphielle Johnson recently participated in a salary mock draft hosted by Fantasy Basketball International'sAdam King. Below are the results and some thoughts on how the draft played out.
Note: This draft was conducted with a 12-team, 9-category format.
The primary reason for a salary mock draft is to understand better how much players are commanding on the market. Of course, a Nikola Jokić, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or Victor Wembanyama will command a high fee. But how much are managers willing to pay? Based on the early data, our salary mock was more conservative regarding the money managers were willing to pay. According to Hashtag Basketball, Jokić's average in Yahoo! leagues was $85 and $69.60 in ESPN leagues. In our mock draft, which was completed on Fantrax, the winning bid for the three-time MVP was $69.
Four players commanded winning bids of more than $60. In addition to Jokić, Gilgeous-Alexander ($62), Luka Dončić ($62) and Wembanyama ($61) were also above that threshold. Four more players came off the board for at least $50: Anthony Edwards ($55), Cade Cunningham ($54), Giannis Antetokounmpo ($51) and Anthony Davis ($50). Among the high-priced players are some health concerns, notably Wembanyama, Cunningham and Davis. However, these players rank among the best in fantasy basketball when healthy, so the high dollar amounts are understandable.
- What should we make of the draft values of Joel Embiid and Zion Williamson?
For managers participating in standard drafts, Embiid and Williamson are two of the more polarizing prospects. While the question in that format is when they should be selected, for managers in salary drafts, the question is how much they should spend. Embiid, who is not guaranteed to be healthy when the season begins after undergoing knee surgery, went off the board for $18, while Williamson's fee was $16. Williamson, whose 2024-25 season ended prematurely due to a back injury, has surpassed 60 games twice in his six NBA seasons. Fantasy managers are right to be concerned about these two, with Embiid offering a higher ceiling in nine-cat leagues when healthy.
- How much are managers willing to spend on stars working their way back from injury?
Embiid and Williamson aren't the only players whose values took a hit due to injury. With Indiana's Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles) already ruled out for the season, the values of the Pacers' Andrew Nembhard ($13) and Bennedict Mathurin ($5) received modest boosts, while Pascal Siakam's price tag in this mock draft ($19) was significantly lower than his Yahoo!/ESPN average according to Hashtag Basketball ($30).
Boston's Jayson Tatum ($2) has not been ruled out for the 2025-26 season, so it makes sense that he would come off the board. His absence to begin the season should raise the fantasy ceilings of Derrick White ($22), Jaylen Brown ($18) and Payton Pritchard ($19), but Brown's price in the mock was nearly $10 lower than his projected value. Is $19 too much to pay for Pritchard? That may depend on Anfernee Simons ($7), who has been the subject of trade rumors despite not making his official Celtics debut.
Lastly, Dallas guard Kyrie Irving ($1) continues to rehab from the ACL tear he suffered in early March. While January has been reported as a potential target for his return, it was clear in this mock draft that managers weren't willing to take the risk. Also, D'Angelo Russell, who will begin the season as Dallas' starting point guard, went for just $2 in this mock draft.
- How much should we be willing to pay for the rookies?
Dallas' Cooper Flagg was the first rookie put up for bid, with his final price of $19. By comparison, his average price in Yahoo! and ESPN leagues is just under $25, according to Hashtag Basketball. Other than the top overall pick in June's draft, there wasn't much willingness to spend cap money on first-year players in this draft.
Spurs guard Dylan Harper was not nominated for a bid, likely because the backcourt already has De'Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle and Devin Vassell rather than the rookie undergoing thumb surgery recently. The hope is that Harper will be recovered in time for the start of the season. Phoenix's Khaman Maluach, who appears likely to begin the season as Mark Williams' backup in Phoenix, went off the board for $2, while college teammate Kon Knueppel was a $1 bid.
One rookie I wish I'd nominated in this mock draft is Washington's Tre Johnson. While that rebuilding roster is loaded with young players, especially on the wing, his scoring ability could make him a valuable rookie, especially during the second half of the season.
Harrison Bader has seen this rivalry from both dugouts.
Last October, he was wearing a Mets uniform when New York sent the Phillies home in the NLDS. This September, he’s in red pinstripes, trying to flip the script as Philadelphia pushes for its first World Series trip since 2022.
After arriving from Minnesota at the deadline, Bader ran straight into the Phillies’ crowded outfield picture and felt the effects of inconsistent playing time. Over his first 18 days, he started just 12 games and went 7-for-41 (.171) with two extra-base hits.
Nick Castellanos told reporters on Aug. 20 that Bader had been frustrated with the situation. Bader responded with a two-hit game that day and hasn’t looked back. Since Aug. 20, he’s batting .400 with nine extra-base hits and a 1.114 OPS in 55 at-bats — the best average in the National League over that span (minimum 50 AB).
“I think just really not worrying about trying to fit in and just going out there and playing baseball and just trying to help this team win I think allows you to just fit in naturally,” Bader said. “At the end of the day, I think your game just speaks for itself … so just focusing on that has allowed me to help this team win, which is all I care about every single day.”
From steady defense to timely offense (and being a class act), the ninth-year spark plug has rewarded Dave Dombrowski and the Phillies’ front office for bringing him aboard.
A pivotal six-game homestand is next on the schedule, and with a seven-game division lead, Bader can continue making an impact all over the field.
“I wouldn’t say it’s a cushion,” Bader said of the Phillies’ division lead. “I think there’s a lot of baseball left on all sides for all teams involved, and I think the best way to add to that lead … is just to play one inning at a time and just focus on what we can control on a daily basis.”
Metro-kryptonite
If the Phillies want to turn over a new leaf, there may be no better time than this four-game home series against the rival Mets.
Since last year’s NLDS, the Phils are 3-10 against New York, averaging just 3.77 runs per game with a paltry .315 OBP and .337 SLG (.652 OPS). Against the rest of baseball this season, they’ve been a completely different offense — 4.81 runs per game and a .759 OPS.
The bullpen has been a particular sore spot. In those 13 games against New York, Phillies relievers have a 8.22 ERA, more than double their 4.09 mark against everyone else. The front office has reloaded the ‘pen in consecutive deadlines, but if the Phils want to avoid a similar outcome, this group needs to hold leads against the Mets.
Miller promoted to Triple-A
Hello, Lehigh Valley.
The Phillies’ No. 2 prospect has been on fire at the plate of late. Over his last 30 games at Double-A, Aidan Miller slashed .362/.483/.621 with 20 extra-base hits and 15 stolen bases.
Miller, who got off to a slow start in his third professional season, has shown off all of his tools and now gives the Phillies’ front office another decision to make when Spring Training rolls around.
There are just 12 games left in the Minor League season, giving the Phils’ 2023 first-rounder a late chance to test himself against more advanced pitching.
Monday preview
The task doesn’t get easier with Mets rookie Nolan McLean on the mound. MLB’s No. 36 prospect has a 1.36 ERA through his first four starts. He already stymied the Phillies on Aug. 27 with eight scoreless innings, four hits allowed and six strikeouts.
Aaron Nola gets the ball for Philadelphia. The veteran has a 3.64 ERA and 219 strikeouts in 30 career starts against the Mets, including the postseason. But he’s struggled in 2025 — allowing 52 earned runs in just 13 starts. With Zack Wheeler sidelined, the Phillies badly need one of their back-end arms, whether it’s Nola, Jesús Luzardo or the newly-added Walker Buehler, to steady things.
Monday’s lineup is shaken up with the injury news of Trea Turner and Alec Bohm. Bryce Harper will slide into the leadoff spot for the first time since Oct. 4, 2022. Harper has made 37 career starts hitting first, sporting a strong .932 OPS with 11 homers.
“It’s something we wanted to try and we’ll see how it goes,” Harper said pregame. “Not really anything different about it … I did it in high school, did a little bit in the big leagues for the Nationals, did it here for a second early in my career and I’m excited.”
Asked if he’d change his approach to see more pitches, Harper said: “I think I see enough pitches, right? So, I try to be myself and whatever comes my way, take the ones off and swing at the ones over the plate.”
Edmundo Sosa will start at short and Otto Kemp, recalled today, will be at the hot corner.
First pitch is set for 6:45 p.m. ET at Citizens Bank Park.
If he does, this may not help his cause: He rejected a contract offer from the New York Knicks, one of the two teams known to have interest in him, reports Marc Stein at The Stein Line.
"The Knicks, league sources said, indeed offered a one-year contract to Ben Simmons that the former All-Star passed on. New York is limited to minimum contract offers as training camps draw near and Simmons entered the summer hopeful of securing a contract above the minimum after he split last season between the Nets and Clippers."
We don't know the details of that contract offer, but as Stein noted it could have only been for the veteran minimum ($3.2 million in his case) and likely was not fully guaranteed. It is doubtful there is a better offer for Simmons out there. Boston is reportedly interested, but the offer would be the same. Through this process, Simmons has reportedly moved on from his agent.
As Ben Simmons decides his next career steps, I'm told Bernie Lee has notified @TheNBPA that he has formally removed himself from the union's ledger as Simmons' agent.
The Los Angeles Kings are heading into the 2025-26 season hoping to improve on their previous campaign and finally get past the first round. One player who might be earning a professional tryout (PTO) deal somewhere in the NHL is Klim Kostin, who supposedly has had conversations with the Kings at this point.
In a recent interview, Kostin confirmed his interest in joining the Edmonton Oilers again, considering how well he fit with them in his previous stint, but confirmed the Kings have reached out to him. The way he worded it made it sound like they had made an offer, but that's not confirmed just yet.
Kostin, who is 26 years old, played 35 games with the San Jose Sharks last season, scoring one goal and adding six assists for seven points. Throughout his career, he has played 190 games, scoring 25 goals and adding 28 assists for 53 points.
He hasn't been able to find a full-time home and has bounced around the NHL for several seasons, but his next destination could be somewhere he tries to stay and make a home for himself, and it seems as though the Kings are going to be a serious consideration for him.
Dodgers relief pitcher Blake Treinen, left, and catcher Ben Rortvedt talk during a mound visit in the ninth inning of Saturday's game against the Baltimore Orioles. (Stephanie Scarbrough / Associated Press)
It was like Orel Hershiser could hear what Dodger fans were screaming at their TV.
Because, as slumping closer Tanner Scott came trotting into a nightmare ninth inning in Baltimore on Saturday night, the club’s color analyst on SportsNet LA immediately tried to offer a rationalization for his entrance.
“You might be asking, why Tanner Scott tonight?” Hershiser said, moments after the SNLA broadcast showed a clip of the left-hander getting walked off the night before, and moments before he’d get walked off again on a bases-loaded single to end Saturday’s disastrous loss to the Orioles.
Well, Hershiser continued, “If the Dodgers are going to go deep into October, and go back-to-back as world champions, the people Dave Roberts is bringing in have to get it right.”
An unsatisfying answer, perhaps. But one that reflects the precarious reality of the Dodgers’ bullpen situation — with the team feeling little choice but to rely on the high-profile relievers this year’s team was built around.
Granted, Saturday’s collapse epitomized just how difficult that faith has been to maintain.
It starts with Scott, the $72-million offseason signing who was supposed to cement the back end of the unit — not require an explanation from team broadcasters upon entering games in key situations.
It’s been compounded by inconsistencies elsewhere, from similarly scuffling offseason signing Kirby Yates; to Blake Treinen and the unreliable form he has shown since returning from an elbow injury, including a meltdown earlier in Saturday’s ninth inning that forced Scott into an unforgiving situation.
Injuries have also hampered the continuity of the bullpen time and again this season. Hard-throwing right-hander Michael Kopech has been limited to 10 appearances because of arm and knee troubles. Left-handed stalwart Alex Vesia has missed the last two weeks with an oblique strain (though he was set to be activated for this week’s homestand). The team’s only notable trade deadline reliever acquisition, Brock Stewart, made just four outings before going down with a shoulder injury. Evan Phillips is already out for the year with Tommy John surgery. It’s unclear if Brusdar Graterol will return from a shoulder procedure in time to pitch at all this year.
All of those names were supposed to make up the core of this year’s relief unit — the high-leverage pieces that the front office decided to invest in, and Roberts expected he’d be able to trust.
Instead, they’ve been the biggest culprits behind the bullpen’s 4.21 ERA on the season (which ranks 19th in the majors) and a spate of recent painful late-game losses that have kept the Dodgers mired in a two-month slump.
Moving forward, it has left Roberts and his club facing a difficult decision: Continue to trust that underperforming crop of supposed lockdown arms, or look for alternatives from less proven options elsewhere?
For now, the former appears to remain their preferred choice.
If the bullpen is to turn things around, they’ve decided, it will require their biggest names to simply start pitching better.
“These are the guys we signed off on, we believe in,” Roberts said Sunday. “Not to say that you've got to have blind faith forever. I understand that. But … I'm going to keep giving [opportunities] to them, until I don't."
Pitching coach Mark Prior echoed that same message, reiterating that “those are our guys, and we believe in them,” even as the team searches for late-season improvements.
“The results haven’t been there. It hasn’t been good,” Prior added. “[But we have to] move forward with the three weeks we have left in the season and get on a run. Things happen very fast in this game.”
Prior pointed to last season, when the Dodgers faced other — though much less alarming — bullpen questions leading up to the playoffs. At that time, they didn’t have a set closer in the ninth inning. Several key pieces were either hurt or scuffling in the second half.
Treinen, in particular, was one of the bigger uncertainties, after missing two weeks in August with a hip injury that also doubled as a reset amid a midseason slump. Once he returned, however, the right-hander transformed into the Dodgers’ most trusted late-game option. “Next thing you know, he’s the MVP of our team in the playoffs,” Prior said.
The stability he provided also helped the rest of the bullpen, which effectively carried the Dodgers to their World Series title, flourish around him.
“If they see a guy having some success, things just snowball,” Prior said, describing how successes (and failures) can often feel contagious among a bullpen at large.
That’s the kind of dynamic the Dodgers are trying to rediscover again this year.
It's why Scott (despite his 4.56 ERA and 12 combined blown saves and losing decisions) keeps getting late-game opportunities. And why Treinen (4.26 ERA), Yates (4.71 ERA) and other disappointments in the Dodgers’ beleaguered relief corps have been given continued leash to work to get back to the best version of themselves.
On paper, those are the most veteran, most experienced, and most trustworthy options on this year’s team. They have, as Roberts has repeatedly reiterated of late, the kind of “track record” the club is still willing to bet on. If just a couple of them can figure things out and get on a dominant run, more unit-wide success might follow in their wake.
“When you're talking about winning 11 games in October, getting there [requires] guys that you can trust in that hot box of moments,” Roberts said.
“[This] is who we have, it’s not like that’s changing,” Prior added. “So we just gotta keep getting there.”
That doesn’t mean the team will endure more struggles forever. The clock is ticking on the Dodgers’ expected leverage group to finally find a way to realize their potential.
On Sunday morning, for example, Roberts said Scott could be shifted out of his ninth-inning role as he tries to iron out command problems that have led him to consistently miss down the middle. Later that day, the manager entrusted a late-game lead to three rookies in Edgardo Henriquez (who escaped a jam but had shaky command), Justin Wrobleski (who struck out five over two scoreless innings in one of his best outings this year) and Jack Dreyer (a steady left-hander this season who now has three saves to go along with his sub-3.00 ERA) to close out a skid-snapping win against the Orioles.
Come the playoffs, there could be another wild card. Two-way star Shohei Ohtani will likely be needed in the starting rotation, but Roberts acknowledged there have been “thoughts about” whether he could factor into some kind of potential ninth-inning role as well.
“I can’t answer that question right now,” Roberts said. “But I think that we’re going to do whatever we feel is the best chance to give us a chance to win. And I know Shohei would be open to whatever. We certainly haven’t made that decision yet, though.”
But before they get there, much will depend on the actual relievers they expected to be able to count on this season. For as ugly as the performances have been to this point, the Dodgers haven’t yet abandoned all hope for a turnaround.
“I live in a world of, what's the alternative?” Roberts said. “I just don't feel that Edgardo Henriquez, for example” — who has 17 career major-league innings — “is now the savior.”
“It's not a knock on Edgardo, because he's throwing the heck out of the baseball,” Roberts added. “But you look at our 'pen, there's a confidence thing right now that [other guys have] got to get over.”
Over the final three weeks of the regular season, the Dodgers feel their best bet is banking on them to do just that.
“Look, it can turn really quick,” Prior said. “This game is so much about feeling confident … Getting, and being able to stack good outings or quality at-bats. When you’re able to start stacking those things, you feel good. And like anything, if you feel good, you feel better about your stuff. You have more confidence. You feel that you can get anybody out in any situation.”
The Dodgers’ top relievers, of course, appear to be a long way from that at the moment.
But “at the core of it,” Prior insisted, even after the frustrations of the bullpen’s continued failures, “we believe in who we have.”
Turner, who was as hot as anyone, has a Grade 1 right hamstring strain. The expected recovery time is unclear, but the Phillies are hopeful he will be back for October and potentially before.
“It was better than what we’d expected,” manager Rob Thomson said pregame Monday.
The Phils’ shortstop experienced a hamstring injury last season, too. Turner spent 43 days on the IL and was clearly not the same player when he came back. After returning, he stole just nine bases over 88 games to finish the year.
Hamstrings are tricky and easily re-aggravated, which creates some uncertainty for Turner and the Phillies. This injury comes at the wrong time for Turner, who over his last 30 games was slashing .389/.433/.603 in 131 at-bats.
His defense has also made strides. Among shortstops with at least 500 plate appearances and 50 percent of games played at the position, Turner ranks fourth in MLB with 16 Outs Above Average. He’s been extremely valuable, ranking second in fWAR at 6.6.
Thomson said that he had noticed his veteran was working through something recently.
“I just felt [he was] a little banged up,” Thomson said. “There was nothing specific. It was just so I wanted to give him a day off from the turf. So we did, and then it happened.”
The Phillies skipper will keep his options open at shortstop, listing Edmundo Sosa as the top choice with Bryson Stott, recently promoted Donavan Walton and Weston Wilson also in the mix.
As for Bohm, he landed on the IL with a left shoulder injury.
“With Bohmer, he’s been grinding with this left shoulder for a while now, been fighting through it,” Thomson said. “It’s probably been 10 days. … So we decided to shut this thing down. We expect [him] maybe back in 10 days.”
Sep 4, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm (28) hits a triple against the Milwaukee Brewers in the seventh inning at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
It marks his second IL stint in the last two months. In July, Bohm suffered a fractured rib and missed nearly a month. Since returning, he has posted a .648 OPS and hit just .243 — down from .278 before the injury.
Otto Kemp was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to help fill the void. The 25-year-old infielder flashed potential earlier this season but also struck out 49 times in 145 at-bats. His versatility allows him to play third, second and left field.
Even with a seven-game lead over the Mets, the Phillies know the challenge ahead.
“Yeah, it’s tough. Anytime you lose one of your premier players, obviously it’s hard,” Bryce Harper said.
“Guys got to step up, keep playing the same ball that we’re playing and continue to play our game … just got to keep going.”
Harper emphasized that replacing All-Star caliber players like Turner and Bohm outright isn’t realistic right now.
“You can’t replace a Turner, it’s just not possible,” Harper said. “You can’t replace Zack Wheeler or anybody else. So everybody’s got to do their job and understand doing their job is the best thing for us.”
The Phillies have weathered injuries before and built themselves a cushion in the division. But with October fast approaching, they’ll need Turner and Bohm back in rhythm — a tall task given the minor-league season winds down soon.
