Sep 19, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Detroit Tigers right fielder Ben Malgeri (53) slides into home plate to score against the Chicago White Sox during the fifth inning at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Detroit Tigers (73-82) vs. Chicago White Sox (79-76)
Time/Place: 2:10 p.m., Rate Field SB Nation Site:South Side Sox Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network Pitching Matchup: RHP Troy Melton (8-4, 2.52 ERA) vs. RHP Davis Martin (9-7, 3.96 ERA)
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - SEPTEMBER 14: Quinn Mathews #60 of the St. Louis Cardinals delivers a pitch against the San Francisco Giants in the first inning at Busch Stadium on September 14, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The St. Louis Cardinals wrap up their final homestand of the season Sunday as Quinn Mathews gets the start for the Cardinals while the Washington Nationals will assign starting duties to RHP Jake Irvin. First pitch is scheduled for 1:15pm central time and the game broadcast will be available via Cardinals.tv.
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - SEPTEMBER 19: Jorbit Vivas #84 of the Washington Nationals hits an RBI single against the St. Louis Cardinals in the tenth inning at Busch Stadium on September 19, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After a dramatic win last night, the Nats are in position to sweep the Cardinals this afternoon. The Nats have been playing good baseball since their 7 game losing streak. They will look to continue that today in St. Louis. With heavy bullpen usage this series, both teams will want length from their starters as well.
With a lefty on the mound, James Wood, CJ Abrams and Daylen Lile are the only left handers in the lineup. Wood will actually be the DH in this one in order to make room for Jacob Young in center field. Brady House will also be back in the lineup. Harry Ford is behind the plate. Jake Irvin is on the bump this afternoon.
The Cardinals will be adding some left handed bats to the lineup. Both JJ Wetherholt and Alec Burleson got days off yesterday, but they are back. We will also see Bryan Torres for the first time in this series. Masyn Winn is out of the lineup, which moves Thomas Saggese to shortstop. Rookie Quinn Mathews is on the mound for the Cards.
The Nats swept the Angels recently and now they are in position to do it again. This team has suddenly gone on a run down the stretch. Hopefully they can continue this strong finish and build momentum into the offseason. Follow along in the comments down below and let’s go Nats!
Sep 19, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; A view of the Texas Rangers fans and a tifo during the eighth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
HOUSTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 15: (Editor's Note: This image was taken with a tilt-shift lens.) Hunter Brown #58 of the Houston Astros pitches in the fourth inning during a game against the Kansas City Royals at Daikin Park on September 15, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images) | Getty Images
TODAY’S GAME: With just seven games remaining on their schedule, the Houston Astros (77-78) will play their final home game of the season today as they try to salvage a win in their three-game series vs. the Atlanta Braves (91-64).
Today’s pitching matchup is a good one between Astros ace RHP Hunter Brown (6-3, 3.43 ERA) and Braves veteran LHP Martín Pérez (9-9, 3.07 ERA).
BROTHER BROWN: Astros ace RHP Hunter Brown has posted a 5-2 record and a 3.00 ERA (19ER/57IP) in his last nine starts (since July 25), pitching through the 5th inning in all nine outings. Brown, who finished third in the AL Cy Young Award voting last season, has been limited this season, missing over two months due to a lengthy stint on the IL (April 1-June 15) with a right shoulder strain.
THE POSTSEASON CHASE: The Astros and Rangers are locked in a tight race down the stretch for the AL West with the two teams separated by just one game with seven left to play. The Astros own the tiebreaker over the Rangers with a season series victory (9-4 record).
CHALLENGING STRETCH: The Astros are within a stretch of playing 16 of 19 games against opponents with winning records (CWS, ARI, PHI, TB, ATL), going 6-9 so far in those contests. On the season, the Astros are 38-29 against teams with .500 or better records, the fourth-best mark in the Majors, immediately behind the Braves (42-30).
LOS ASTROS: Space City Home Network will televise today’s game in English and Spanish with the Spanish broadcast being televised on SCHN2. Danny Gonzales and Gene Flores will be on the call on the Spanish telecast today.
ROAD WARRIORS: After today’s game, the Astros will hit the road for their final road trip of the season which will take them to Seattle for two games and West Sacramento for four. The Astros have been better on the road (38-37) than at home (39-41) on the season and are 37-28 on the road after their 1-9 start in road games.
ABOUT LAST NIGHT: Staked to a 2-0 lead after the 5th, the Astros were unable to hold on in a 6-3 loss to the Braves last night. The offense collected 10 hits on the night, including a combined five by 3B Isaac Paredes (2×3, HR, 2RBI) and 2B Jose Altuve (3×4). RHP Hayden Wesneski (1ER/5.1IP) started for Houston in a no decision.
YESTERDAY’S ROSTER MOVES: The Astros made a pair of moves yesterday, first reinstating IF/OF Brice Matthews from the 60-day IL and designating OF Jorge Barrosa for assignment. Later, just before game time, the Astros recalled RHP Logan VanWey from Triple A Sugar Land and placed RHP Enyel De Los Santos on the 15-day IL with right knee tendonitis.
TWO-OUT MAGIC: The Astros lead the American League in two-out runs with 307 on the season, trailing only the Cubs (324) in the Majors. 3B Isaac Paredes has led this effort, as he leads the Majors with 44 two-out RBI, immediately ahead of second-place 1B Alec Burleson (43).
STRONG SEPTEMBERS: 3B Isaac Paredes has a .986 OPS this month to go along with a team-leading 17 RBI, which ranks second in the AL. C Yainer Diaz is also having a strong September, as he’s hitting .346 (18×52) with two homers, six RBI and a .901 OPS in 16 games (13 starts) this month.
TRIPLE THREAT: DH Yordan Alvarez, who is a solid candidate for the AL MVP Award, currently ranks first or second in the AL in all three Triple Crown categories. He enters today leading the AL in batting avg. (.312), while ranking second in HR (40) and RBI (99). Alvarez also leads the Majors in OPS (1.026), SLG (.597) and OBP (.429). Since Carl Yastrzemski won the AL Triple Crown in 1967, there has been just one Triple Crown winner in the Majors, Miguel Cabrera in 2012 (AL).
FOR THREE!: 2B Jose Altuve went 3×4 last night for his 226th career three-hit game, which is the Astros franchise record. He surpassed Hall of Famer 2B Craig Biggio (225 three-hit games) with last night’s performance.
THE FIREMAN: LHP Josh Hader has converted 26 consecutive save chances to open his season, which is the Astros record. Should Hader finish the season without a blown save, he would become the seventh pitcher in MLB history to post 26-plus saves without a blown save. The last Major Leaguer to do so was RHP Ken Giles in 2018 (26 SV).
RACKING UP K’S: RHP Bryan Abreu has posted 527 career strikeouts, which ranks fourth among relievers in Astros history. He’s closing in on third-place RHP Dave Smith (529), needing only two strikeouts to match the Astros reliever from the 1980s. LHP Billy Wagner (694) and RHP Brad Lidge (557) sit atop that all-time list.
ASTROS MILB PLAYERS OF THE YEAR: The five Astros prospects that won organizational awards this season will be recognized in a pregame ceremony at today’s game. Those are the Astros Minor League Player of the Year C Jason Schiavone, the Astros Minor League Pitcher of the Year RHP Bryce Mayer, the Astros Minor League Baserunner of the Year OF Anthony Huezo, the Astros Minor League Defender of the Year IF Max Holy, and the Astros Standard Award recipient IF Yamal Encarnacion.
TODAY IN ASTROS HISTORY: 2007 – Rookie C J.R. Towles, who was playing in just his sixth MLB game, sets a franchise record by tallying eight RBI in an 18-1 Astros win in St. Louis. Towles finished his night 4×4 with two doubles and a home run. This record stood alone for 12 years before being matched by 1B Yuli Gurriel on Aug. 7, 2019 vs. COL.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Sunday, September 20, 1:10 p.m. CT
Location: Daikin Park, Houston, TX
TV: SCHN, SCHN2 (Spanish)
Radio: KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)
Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Jonathan Aranda (8) receives a high five from designated hitter Yandy Diaz (2) after a Major League Baseball game against the Houston Astros at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, on September 13, 2026. The Rays defeated the Astros 14-4 to sweep the series. (Photo by Kim Hukari/Image of Sport/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images
The Carolina Hurricanes are going to have their work cut out for them Sunday night as they prepare to face the Florida Panthers in their preseason opener.
The Hurricanes will primarily be icing a roster comprised of prospects and AHL players while the Panthers meanwhile will be playing almost their entire NHL roster.
"It'll be a huge challenge for us, obviously," said Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour. "But it's also an opportunity for guys because if they can show in a game like that, they can show in any type of game."
The game will take place at Amerant Bank Arena in Florida, with puck drop set for 7 p.m.
The game will be streamed on the team's website.
Here's how the Hurricanes lined up at the morning skate on Sunday:
Bradly Nadeau - Charlie Cerrato - Felix Unger Sorum Juha Jaaska - Jesperi Kotkaniemi - Viktor Neuchev Josiah Slavin - Skyler Brind'Amour - Justin Robidas Gleb Trikozov - Ivan Ryabkin - Zach Lansard
Mike Reilly - Joel Nystrom Juuso Valimaki - Dominik Badinka Noel Fransen - Charles Alexis Legault
1. One of the keys for me will be seeing how some of the younger guys handle themselves in what's going to be a very difficult environment. There's a lot of very young and inexperienced players on the Hurricanes' roster, but will any of them be able to shine a little bit?
2. It'll also be notable to see which defensemen can separate themselves from the rest of the pack. With five guys competing for one roster spot (four of whom will be playing in the game), this is going to be a golden opportunity for guys to try and standout.
3. The final thing I'm looking for is how does Pyotr Kochetkov look. It's been a long time without NHL action for the Russian goalie and so I'm curious to see how he looks. Obviously he's not gonna have a lot of help, but I'm more so curious to see how he looks physically and if he is making good reads.
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"First of all, I just want to thank the Mets organization for honoring me," he began. "They were adamant about wanting to reschedule this ceremony for the opening weekend of next year, and I'm so flattered by that."
"There are so many emotions involved, running around inside me right now," Rose admitted. "There's a certain melancholy about reaching the end of a career, but God-willing, we'll all reconvene here next year, and it'll be a party!"
Rose took the time to acknowledge the seminal figures who made his incredible career journey possible.
"There are three people I want to recognize as the reason that I'm here: My wife Barbara, my daughter Alyssa, and my daughter Chelsea," before pausing so the trio could receive applause from the packed press room. "I would not be here today without their indulgence, their support, and their love."
He also recognized the role his two siblings - his sister, Debbie, and his brother, Bruce - played in his life.
"My eternal gratitude is for everyone connected with the New York Mets," he continued, calling out interim manager Andy Green from the crowd in attendance to thank him for his hard work during these last few months.
Rose also thanked former Mets and Yankees manager Joe Torre, who encouraged a younger Rose to embrace the emotions of the game and channel them into his commentary.
As with any baseball radio commentator worth their salt, Rose loves to tell stories to engage with the audience, and he shared a special one which was quite fitting for the occasion.
"There's some ironic symmetry to how this has worked out today, because the New York Mets were scheduled to play their very first game in the National League on April 10th, 1962, in St. Louis," Rose explained. "Y'know what happened? It was raining, and a whole bunch of [Mets players] got stuck in the hotel elevator on the way downstairs to the lobby."
"It took a long time for the players to get to the ballpark, and once they got there, the game was postponed, so all I would offer as a suggestion for everybody today is to take the steps," he smiled as the room erupted into laughter.
Rose is a New Yorker through and through, having been born and raised in Brooklyn before attending high school and college in Queens. That certainly impacted his sports fandom - and by extension, his career aspirations - from a young age.
"I always wanted to work for a team in New York, a team that I love, and I had the opportunity to work for two of them - the Mets and Rangers, two teams which controlled my mood growing up," said Rose.
"In retrospect, I really did feel that if I was working in New York, I didn't care about working anywhere else," he declared. "If someone had told me about my career when I was age 15, sitting in the upper deck of Shea Stadium, I wouldn't have believed it. The wildest fiction writer couldn't have come up with it. I am very, very, very blessed."
While Rose is excited with the free time retirement will bring, he admits that stepping away from the microphone isn't easy.
"I'm going to miss everything about it, because this is really all I know how to do." he chuckled, before switching gears to commend the foundational role that radio occupies in the sports media landscape. "Radio is the most intimate medium. You have to call, to craft, to describe. To me, that's the greatest challenge in sports broadcasting, painting that picture."
Rose was asked how he wanted Mets fans to remember him, a question that clearly meant a lot to him.
"As one of them," he responded after he gave it some thought. "We have the same sensibilities and same understanding of what the ballclub has meant to us. I was just the lucky one that got out of the upper deck and into the broadcast booth."
All in all, it was clear that Rose hoped to have the opportunity to be on the call one final time on Sunday afternoon.
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 19: Jarren Duran #16 of the Boston Red Sox hits a triple during the ninth inning of a game against the Tampa Bay Rays on September 19, 2026 at at Tropicana Field in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Happy Sunday, folks. Given the results around the league last night, it appears that the Red Sox’s magic number to clinch the postseason is down to one. The Rangers can get to 85 wins, while the Astros can get to 84. If the Rangers were to get to 85 wins, they’d clinch the American League West. If they sit at 84, the Red Sox own that tiebreaker. The Astros hold the tiebreaker over the Red Sox, so if Boston were to lose its final seven and Houston were to win its final 7, the Red Sox would trail them in the standings. That’s not accounting for the third and final spot, but I won’t try to litigate that.
Long story short, win one game, and you’ve got yourself a Wild Card spot. It’s that simple. Except it’s not, because Patrick Sandoval is scheduled to pitch today, and he’s not very good. The Rays are throwing Griffin Jax, who has a 3.40 ERA since moving to the rotation, but has struggled against the Red Sox in two starts this season. Most recently, he allowed 7 earned runs in five innings.
With the Patriots on today and a questionable pitching matchup, I’m not expecting a lot of eyes on the Red Sox this afternoon. Winning your way into the postseason is always fun, however, so let’s hope we can get that celebration in Tampa tonight. If not, the Red Sox will return home to Fenway for their final homestand of the regular season on Tuesday.
England begin ODI series against Sri Lanka this week
England’s white-ball coach, Brendon McCullum, was full of praise for the captain, Harry Brook, after Saturday’s eight-wicket victory over Sri Lanka completed a T20 series whitewash and took the side to No 1 in the world.
Brook, player of the T20 series against Sri Lanka, has now won 23 of his 26 completed games as captain. If he is not yet considered a suitable candidate as Test leader, the cap fits nicely in the smash and grab format.
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - SEPTEMBER 19: Carter Jensen #22 of the Kansas City Royals celebrates with Bobby Witt Jr. #7 after hitting a solo home run in the third inning during the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on September 19, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The home run was Jensen's 25th of the season, breaking Bob Hamelin's Royals rookie home run record set in 1994. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Today is the final road game of the season for the Royals, it is also the penultimate Sunday game of the season. The Royals have dropped the first two games of the series in Pittsburgh, due to the bullpen giving up leads.
Michael Wacha starts today for the Royals. Here is the lineup that will be behind him.
The Pirates are 78-77 on the season; they are winners of three straight contests. Lake Bachar is the opener today. He pitched one inning in last night’s contests, a 1-2-3 inning, with a pair of strikeouts.
First pitch is set for 12:35 p.m. CT. The Royals are off tomorrow, before starting a 3-game series with the White Sox at home. Next weekend, they conclude the 2026 season playing the Cleveland Guardians.
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Rieger Lorenz wanted to make sure the jump to professional hockey didn't catch him by surprise.
So far, it hasn't.
Lorenz was one of the Minnesota Wild's most noticeable young players in their preseason action Saturday, scoring a goal and earning praise from both head coach John Hynes and veteran center Nico Sturm.
“I thought Lorenz was impressive tonight,” Hynes said. “You kind of notice him in camp. Really good energy, highly competitive.”
The goal certainly helped Lorenz stand out, but it wasn't what impressed Hynes most.
“Obviously he scored the goal, but I just think his overall game,” Hynes said. “He had a big blocked shot, and he was a player that I think over the course of the game, he kind of caught your eye quite a bit.”
That's exactly what Lorenz is trying to accomplish during his first training camp with the Wild.
The 22-year-old forward spent the summer training in Calgary alongside professional players and made a concerted effort to increase the pace of his game before arriving in Minnesota.
“I'm really comfortable,” Lorenz said. “My group in the summer back in Calgary, we got a lot of pro guys out there. I really pushed myself this summer to try and pick up the pace in my game. I think those guys pushed me, so it's been a pretty seamless jump into camp so far.”
Lorenz also had an opportunity to get an early taste of professional hockey last season.
After finishing his college career, he joined the Iowa Wild and got a firsthand look at what would be required of him at the next level. Instead of entering the offseason wondering how his game would translate to professional hockey, Lorenz had a blueprint for what needed to improve.
“I think that was a big emphasis on going to Iowa and seeing what the pro game entails,” Lorenz said. “I think doing that allowed me to kind of see where my game needs to grow in the offseason. Not kind of going in blind and just wondering what it's like.”
Now he's putting those lessons to use.
Lorenz has also been paying close attention to the NHL players around him during camp. While watching stars such as Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy and Brock Faber has given him a glimpse at the skill and pace required at the top of an NHL lineup, Lorenz understands his path to the league will likely require something different.
“The bottom depth guys, they're super reliable,” Lorenz said. “That's kind of going to be my role as I move up the ranks. So kind of learning as much as I can from those guys, which Foligno and Sturm have been great for that.”
Sturm has apparently been impressed with his young teammate, too.
“Oh yeah, Reegs was great,” Sturm said. “He's really shifty, but most importantly, he's got a little bit of a bite to him.”
That bite has shown up in more ways than one.
According to Sturm, Lorenz hasn't acted like a young player afraid to make his presence known while surrounded by NHL veterans.
“He is chirping out there and stuff, which is, you know, a lot of guys that play their first game or NHL preseason games, they shy away from some stuff,” Sturm said. “But he was out there, just full of confidence.”
Then Sturm offered perhaps the strongest endorsement of Lorenz's night.
“Also a guy that I think is going to be a good NHL player.”
One preseason performance won't determine Lorenz's future, but Saturday provided another encouraging glimpse.
He scored. He blocked shots. He competed. He picked up an assist. And, maybe most importantly for a prospect trying to establish himself during training camp, he made people notice him. Including the Wild's head coach.
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LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 11: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks looks on during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2026 NBA Summer League game on July 11, 2026 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Ryan Stetz/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The season starts in a month! And with that in mind, we’re slowly going to turn our NBA brains back on and write more things. To get us started, I asked the staff what one thing they’re looking forward to about the season. And it doesn’t have to be centered on the Mavericks.
David: I am ecstatic to see what Cooper Flagg does this season. We all remember the jump Luka Doncic took in year two, and I think we expect a similar leap from Flagg. He may not get to the 28+ points night Doncic did, but his impact in other areas could make it feel like we are watching the same level of player. I want him playmaking, leaning in to his downhill physicality, defending the other team’s best player, and taking every shot the defense gives him without hesitation. There are a lot of questions around Dallas’ roster, but the only thing I care about is Flagg.
Tyler: After the somewhat outside-the-box hire of Dusty May, I’m really looking forward to seeing how different this team operates this season. I think my expectations are for a much more aesthetically pleasing brand of basketball. Whether or not that actually translates to wins, I have no earthly idea. But I will be awfully disappointed if they are a slog to watch like last season.
Michael: This season might be the first since the early 2000’s where I’m looking forward to being surprised by the team and the prospect of what it may become. Even in the Luka Doncic era, it felt a little different – perhaps because he crossed over with Dirk Nowitzki for a moment. Here we have an entirely new coaching staff, a front office of basketball professionals (per se) for the first time in two-and-a-half decades, and a core of young players waiting to show what they will become.
So for me, I’m looking forward to a truly new era in Mavs’ basketball taking shape right in front of us, and I’m excited to see what these players will bring and how they will develop beyond just this season.
Brent: The Mavs have made it clear by hiring Gina Miller that they care about communication and tacitly appear to acknowledge the massive failings of the previous era on that front. When you are needlessly adversarial with the media, as Harrison and Kidd often were, you come across as brutish or petulant or above being questioned.
And yet it is the media’s job to question you constantly it’s going to happen before and after every game. The Uriji/Schmitz/May media interaction-while admittedly still in its honeymoon phase-doesn’t have even a width of that old stink.
And setting aside writing about the Mavericks for just a moment, my appetite as a fan to consume those interviews goes way up when the tone is not downright
Joe: What I’m looking forward to Mavs-wise is if this team and franchise truly pick a direction and to see how they manage that with limited assets? Will they commit to the Cooper Flagg era and try and reload their utility belt of assets to start building around coop or are they trying to maximize this roster because of their lack of assets and limitations in roster building?
Non-Mavs-wise, I am looking forward to the season-long crap shoot that will be the 76ers. I already have tickets to the Presidents’ Day game here in Dallas. I’m so curious to see what this looks like. It’s like you’re taking the KD Nets and multiplying it by 10. The true super team with a floor lower than maybe any super team ever.
Sudarshan: I’m looking forward to a relatively drama-less season. Our past few offseasons have been so chaotic because we were run by toddlers high on a sugar rush. It’ll be nice to have a simple, yet unsuccessful season with adults at the helm now.
The 26-27 season is about clearing all major deadwood and setting the platform once more that we can build around Flagg, Morez, Larry, and even possibly Lively.
In broad league terms, I’m looking forward to seeing how the revised lottery rules change the way teams approach tanking, the play-in and contention. If it blows up in Adam Silver’s face, then all the better.
Matt M.: What fresh Hell awaits this team? As long as I get to watch Cooper Flagg take what I think will be a massive leap in Year 2, I can compartmentalize mostly anything, I think.
I don’t know if I’m as high on Morez Johnson and Sergio de Larrea as some on staff are, but I’m confident that Flagg and whatever incremental improvement in the roster has taken place will net Mavericks fans a watchable product, maybe even at times a team you could call “plucky” or heaven forbid “fun.” Remember fun?
For some reason I want to think Marcus Sasser could be something. If nothing else, he’ll definitely get a chance in Dallas to prove it.
League-wide I’m anxious to see if the basement dwellers are forced to become somewhat watchable as well. I’m eager to see if the changes to the lottery system will make more games watchable.
Bryan: I am pumped for Kyrie/Flagg hoops! With the moves made between the season’s end and the initial free agency surge, it’s clear that the Mavericks are banking on heavy (if staggered) doses of Kyrie and Cooper handling primary on-ball duties for the team.
There is still a trade or two just beyond the horizon with Gafford almost assuredly living out of a suitcase for the next 5 months in anticipation of his next NBA destination, but the team as constructed is weird. Fun weird. Oh, how I’ve missed fun weird. I openly embrace fun weird and welcome all its head-scratching quirks and eccentricities as opposed to the mud-tracking, joy-extinguishing swamp that was the last season and a half of Mavericks basketball.
Give me tall ball with shooting. Give me Kyrie/Sasser/Larry three-guard lineups. Give me Morez on the wing for a couple of plays.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 19: Ronald Acuña Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves celebrates after hitting a Grand Slam during the seventh inning of the game against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on September 19, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Join us and discuss today’s game in the comments below!
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Sunday, September 20, 2:10 p.m. ET
On this day 118 years ago, Zeke Bonura was born — and some pretty cool stuff happened on the field for the White Sox, as well. | Sporting News via Getty Images
1902 Nixey Callahan threw the first no-hitter in White Sox history, as he beat the Tigers. It was just the second no-hitter in American League history.
The Sox gave him all the runs he needed by scoring three in the first inning, as the Sox won it, 3-0, in Chicago. The Tigers got one runner as far as third base, but that was it for the afternoon. Callahanwalked two batters on the day; the Tigers got just one runner as far as third base.
Callahan was a two-way player for a good chunk of his career (1897-03). So at the time of this no-hitter in the 1902 season, he pitched in 35 games (0.9 WAR) and played outfield in 23 others (-0.2 WAR). By 1903, he’d shift more or less full time to … third base … and put up a 3.0 WAR season.
1905 With White Sox Spring Training having made the move from Marlin Springs, Texas to New Orleans, owner Charles Comiskey ordered a houseboat built to both house and transport the team. The South Siders trained in New Orleans for just two years (1905-06) before moving on to the more land-locked Mexico City for spring training in 1907.
The White Sox have held spring training in 25 different locations in their history, but just four over the past 68 years: Tampa and Sarasota, Fla., and Tucson and Glendale, Ariz.
1908 White Sox pitcher Frank Smith tossed his second career no-hitter, beating the Philadelphia A’s, 1-0, in Chicago. The Sox scored in the ninth inning to win the game, with the run driven in by shortstop Freddy Parent.
Smith pitched that day with the little finger of his hand being stiff and sore from trying to stop a hot shot against Cleveland in his previous start.
September 20 is the only day in franchise history where multiple no-hitters have been thrown (1902 and 1908).
Also on this day, Zeke Bonura was born, in New Orleans. The legendary character was the Texas League MVP in 1933 and burst into MLB with a 3.6 WAR for the 1934 White Sox, during which he set franchise records with 27 homers and 138 runs (27 HRs remained the White Sox rookie record for 49 years, the RBI mark for 65). Quite simply, Bonura was one of the dominant hitters of the 1930s.
1910 Rookie hurler Frank Lange had a game for the ages, winning 3-0 over the New York Highlanders. He recorded a 94 game score (tied for 22nd all-time in franchise history) that ended a White Sox run of three straight shutout wins. In the process, Lange set a rookie record of 13 strikeouts that stood alone for 83 years (Jason Bere tying Lange on Sept. 8, 1993). The righthander also helped his own cause, going 1-for-3 with two RBIs in the game.
Lange’s triumph came in the middle of a nine-game winning streak and a run of 11 of 12 for the White Sox. In fact, the terrible 1910 season was almost redeemed by its final weeks: On September 13, the club was in seventh in the AL, at 51-80, but went 17-5 to end the season in sixth, with a 68-85 overall record. A minor improvement, perhaps; but given the glorious decade to come (eight of 10 winning years), perhaps it was an appropriate finish.
1993 Lance Johnson’s two-out triple in the top of the ninth doubled Chicago’s lead from 4-2 to 6-2 and stood as the biggest play (13% WPA) of an eventual 10-2 White Sox win at California. But it also gave Johnson 14 triples on the season, retaking the MLB lead from teammate Joey Cora. Neither player would hit another triple in 1993, giving One Dog the crown.
Johnson’s triples title made him just the third player ever to lead the AL in triples for three straight years, and fourth ever to lead his league in three-baggers. He’d duplicate the effort in 1994 with an MLB-leading 14 triples, giving him four straight seasons as a leader, something that has never been done before or since. In fact, if not for missing the 1995 triples title by one (Kenny Lofton of Cleveland bested him, 13-12), Johnson would have led his league in triples for SIX straight seasons — he hit an MLB-best 21 for the New York Mets in 1996!
2005 With the White Sox struggling through eight losses in 11 games — the worst slump of what would become a rare, wire-to-wire first-place season — Joe Crede slugged a leadoff homer in the bottom of the 10th for a sayonara shot that upended second-place Cleveland, 7-6.
The White Sox had the game in hand, but rookie Bobby Jenks blew the second save of his career in the ninth, furthering the trend of the club over the past 13 days, as Cleveland shaved SIX games off of a once 9 1⁄2-game lead in the AL Central.
Chicago wasn’t out of the woods yet, as over the next few days Cleveland would trim the division lead to 1 1⁄2 games; a late kick saw the White Sox swell the lead back to its final six games, including an end-of-season sweep of the Tribe that knocked them out of the playoffs entirely. Combining the five-game winning streak to end the regular season with the 11-1 run in the playoffs, the White Sox ended 2005 winning 16 of 17 games.
The homer was Crede’s second of the contest, capping a 3-for-5, three-RBI day.