Veteran guard John Konchar agrees to one-year deal with Knicks

The Knicks have one open roster spot left (that they can afford under the second apron), and it looks like they'll use it on guard depth.

Veteran guard John Konchar has agreed to a one-year deal with the Knicks, a story first reported by Shams Charania of ESPN and since confirmed by Konchar's agents.

This is likely a non-guaranteed contract, but Konchar had options and would not have signed somewhere he didn't believe he was likely to make the final roster. The Knicks also signed veteran big man Drew Eubanks to a training camp deal, and he is competing for a roster spot, reports the well-connected Ian Begley of SNY.TV.

Konchar is a reliable 6'5" guard who has been in the league for seven years. He plays smart basketball, is a solid rebounder who averaged 4.3 a game last season splitting time between Utah and Memphis, and he is a career 34.9% shooter from 3-point range. That said, he's not much of a scorer (4.3 points per game for his career).

The Knicks have 13 standard contracts on their roster and Konchar brings them to 14 and close to the second apron.

Pete Alonso launches 300th career home run, and it comes against the Mets

The New York Mets had a decision to make about Pete Alonso last winter. David Stearns made it by not doing anything. The Mets GM let the very popular "Polar Bear" walk away after seven years in Flushing as a free agent.

On Tuesday night, he reminded Mets fans what they have lost.

Alonso, the former homegrown Mets star, cracked the 300th home run of his career against his former team wearing a Baltimore Orioles uniform. Alonso's solo blast came in the top of the ninth inning Tuesday with the Orioles trailing 3-2.

He emphatically tossed his bat after the homer. He then received a curtain call from the New York crowd.

So Mets fans, who embraced Alonso's bold personality in his seven years in Queens, got to watch him hit this milestone. He earned a warm welcome back to Flushing, the fans saluting him in Game 1 of the series Monday night before honoring him more Tuesday.

The Orioles eventually won 7-5 in 11 innings.

The Mets took Alonso in the second round in the 2016 MLB Draft, 64th overall, out of Florida, and had a star within three years. He set the rookie home run record with 53 in 2019, endearing himself to the Mets faithful because it surpassed the record set by crosstown rival Aaron Judge. He ran away with the 2019 NL Rookie of the Year. Todd Frazier nicknamed him Polar Bear that same season, telling Alonso he looked like a "big, damn polar bear," and it stuck. Alonso won the Home Run Derby that July, then won it again two years later. He made five All-Star teams and broke David Wright's franchise home run record.

Still, none of that earned him a call worth taking from Stearns in the winter.

Alonso opted out of his contract with the Mets after a strong 2025 season, betting on himself the same way he had in 2024. This time, the Mets didn't counter. Stearns inherited Alonso when he took over the organization and showed no inclination to bring him back on a star-level deal. Baltimore, however, was looking for a star first baseman. The Orioles signed him to a five-year, $155-million deal in December.

Even Steve Cohen, the Mets' billionaire owner, understood the emotion of fans watching Alonso walk.

"I totally understand the fans' reaction," he texted a reporter at the time. "There is lots of offseason left to put a playoff team on the field."

Fast forward 10 months later and that is something Cohen probably wishes he hadn't put in print. Alonso returned to a dispirited Citi Field to face a team that imploded. The Mets fired their manager, they traded off their assets at the deadline and headed into this series 18.5 games behind the Atlanta Braves in the National League East and 12 games out of a wild card.

Alonso's Orioles have had a little better season.

While he came to New York hitting .269 with 35 home runs and 100 RBI this season, the Orioles have still underperformed. They sit four games back of the final AL wild-card spot.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pete Alonso launches 300th career home run, and it comes against the Mets

ERODING: Nationals 6, Phillies 3

Sep 15, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Philadelphia Phillies center fielder Derek Hill (49) scales the wall in an attempt to catch a three run go-ahead home run hit by Washington Nationals left fielder Daylen Lile (not pictured) during the seventh inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

On the night that their hottest pitcher hit the injured list, the overall fatigue of the Philadelphia Phillies (83-68) pitching staff shone through in a 6-3 defeat to the Washington Nationals (71-81).

The Phillies got three runners aboard in the first inning with a pair of walks by Kyle Schwarber and Luis Arraez and an RBI single by Alec Bohm which opened the scoring.

The Nats sprang back to take the lead in the bottom of the inning with a pair of doubles by Brady House and Yohandy Morales and a single by Jorbit Vivas.

Arraez tied the game in the third inning with an RBI double to score Trea Turner.

Kyle Schwarber hit a go-ahead lead-off home run in the top of the sixth but the Phillies would again relinquish the lead in the bottom of the inning on a solo shot by Andres Chaparro.

Cristopher Sanchez’s ERA has increased by nearly half a point since the beginning of the month and those struggles continued tonight as he allowed eight hits for the tenth time this season, but it was his “relief” that surrendered the killing blow.

Daylen Lile blew the game open in the seventh inning with a pinch-hit three-run home run off of Jonathan Bowlan, two runs of which were inherited from Sanchez.

It was the 5th straight appearance in which Bowlan has allowed a run and the second in a row Sanchez has allowed five plus.

The ambitions of catching the Braves for the division are fading into the rearview as the Phillies are now 4-8 in their last 12 and hanging on to a wild card spot for dear life.

Zack Wheeler will attempt to outduel Washington ace, Cade Cavalli, tomorrow night in the second half of the short series.

Brewers defeat Pirates 5-1, on the brink of NL Central title

PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 15: William Contreras #24 of the Milwaukee Brewers wearing #21 in honor of Roberto Clemente reacts to a play during the game between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on Tuesday, September 15, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Box Score

The division has almost been secured. With their ace on the mound, the Brewers put together an all-around strong game to defeat the Pirates 5-1 on Tuesday night, lowering their magic number to one.

The Brewers got on the board first with some small ball. Jake Bauers led off the second inning with a single to right field. He moved over to second on a Christian Yelich groundout, then made it to third on a wild pitch by Lake Bachar. Luis Lara brought him in with a sacrifice fly, and the Brewers had a 1-0 lead.

They had another chance to score with two outs. Joey Ortiz and David Hamilton hit back-to-back singles, and Garrett Mitchell worked a 3-0 count before getting intentionally walked. Jackson Chourio had a chance to break the game open with the bases loaded, but a flyout to center ended the inning.

Meanwhile, Jacob Misiorowski was efficient through his first three innings. He struck out the side in the first and had six strikeouts. In the fourth, the Pirates had a chance to break through. After striking out Oneil Cruz to start the inning, back-to-back singles by Nick Gonzales and Ryan O’Hearn put two runners on base.

After a mound visit, Rafael Flores Jr. hit the Pirates’ third straight single when Hamilton couldn’t get to a ground ball. The deflection sent the ball into shallow center field, and it was a spot where Gonzales should have been able to score. However, third base coach Tony Beasley held Gonzales at third. O’Hearn didn’t see Gonzales stop and kept running toward third, assuming he would score, while Chourio caught up to the ball and threw it in. O’Hearn was an easy out in no-man’s land, turning a bases-loaded, one-out situation into runners at the corners with two outs. That loomed bigger when Spencer Horwitz flew out to Chourio to end the inning, keeping the Pirates off the board and bringing the boo birds out in Pittsburgh.

The offense blew the game open in the sixth inning. Brice Turang led off the inning with a walk, then William Contreras hit a double to deep right to put two runners in scoring position. After Bauers struck out, Yelich drew a walk, but reliever Gregory Soto threw a wild pitch on ball four. Turang scored to make it a 2-0 lead.

The offense kept going as Lara doubled into right field, scoring Contreras and putting runners at the corners again. Ortiz followed that up with another single, scoring Yelich and Lara all the way from first base. The rally ended there as Ortiz tried to steal but was caught, and Hamilton struck out to end the inning.

With the Brewers up 5-0, and the top of the sixth taking a while, Misiorowski’s day came to an end a little early. He pitched five scoreless innings and threw 84 pitches, allowing just five hits and a walk while striking out seven. It was likely just a workload management decision, with the Brewers holding a five-run lead.

Aaron Ashby was the first reliever out of the bullpen. He started with a clean sixth inning before returning for the seventh, but started rough in his second inning of work. He walked O’Hearn, then Flores Jr. singled. Ashby recovered from there, getting two lineouts and a groundout to end the inning and keep the Pirates off the board.

DL Hall took the eighth inning and allowed a leadoff home run to Brandon Lowe, ending the shutout. Gonzales hit a two-out single, but that was it, as Hall got out of the inning with no further damage.

Trevor Megill took the ninth inning despite it being a four-run lead and not a save situation. The inning started rough as he allowed back-to-back singles to Flores Jr. and pinch-hitter Ronny Simon. Jake Mangum hit a ground ball to the left side of second, Ortiz grabbed it and threw to Turang, who ran past second but managed to get his foot on the bag for the out. After that, pop-outs from Konnor Griffin and Brandon Lowe ended the game.

It was a balanced day for the offense. Every starter other than Chourio reached base safely at least once. Ortiz led the offense with a three-hit day, and Turang reached base four times with four walks. Lara and Ortiz each drove in two runs.

Looking at the scoreboard, the Dodgers defeated the Reds 4-0 to keep the Brewers’ lead for the best record in MLB at two games. Meanwhile, the Braves have mounted a comeback and lead 4-3 in the bottom of the seventh thanks to two separate two-run home runs. If the lead holds, the Brewers will clinch the NL Central.

Tomorrow’s game will feature Logan Henderson and Jared Jones. First pitch is at 5:40 p.m. Meanwhile, stay tuned here to see if the Brewers clinch the division.

BRB GOING OUT TO GET A BRAYAN ROCCHIO TATTOO

CLEVELAND, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 15: Brayan Rocchio #4 of the Cleveland Guardians scores on a throwing error by the pitcher to first base in the fifth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Progressive Field on September 15, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

BASEBALL IS THE DUMBEST MOST WONDERFUL SPORT IN THE WORLD!

TRAVIS BAZZANA IS GREAT, TAKE THAT, COMMENTER GUY!

YOU GOTTA WALK ROCCHTEMBER THERE, WILL VENABLE, WITH A BASE OPEN! CLASSIC BLUNDER. AND YOUR LEFT FIELDER WAS PLAYING LAUGHABLY SHALLOW HAHAHAHAHA

HE HIT A 101 MPH FASTBALL ABOVE THE ZONE LOL

I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THEY DID NOT GET SOMEONE UP HERE WITH DELAUTER AND MARTINEZ BOTH OUT BUT THEY SOMEHOW PULLED THIS OUT!

LET’S WIN THIS SERIES TOMORROW, BOYS!

The reason Kawhi Leonard wanted to be traded to the Raptors over other championship contenders

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Los Angeles Clippers vs New York Knicks basketball game in action, Image 2 shows NBA player Kawhi Leonard of the LA Clippers scoring a basket during a game against the Brooklyn Nets
Kawhi Leonard.

Kawhi Leonard is about to begin his second run with the Toronto Raptors, and it appears to come with a good reason.

According to ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania, Leonard had other potential suitors who wanted to trade for him, but he ultimately chose the Toronto Raptors because of his legacy.

“There were teams — Detroit, Minnesota — others that had interest in trading for him, that wanted to trade for him, that wanted to give him an extension,” Charania said on TSN. “But he made a decision because he had one year left on his deal to essentially weed out where he wanted to play, where he wanted to be. And so this is a legacy play for Kawhi Leonard. There’s no doubt about it.”

Kawhi Leonard is about to begin his second run with the Toronto Raptors, and it appears to come with a good reason. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST

On Monday, Leonard was officially traded by the Clippers to the Raptors in a deal that included Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks, one first-round pick swap, and two second-round picks.

Originally, Leonard was supposed to be traded by the Clippers to the Raptors in July, but the deal was put on hold as the NBA investigated him, his uncle and former business partner Dennis Robertson, and Clippers owner Steve Ballmer — due to the team attempting to circumvent the NBA Salary Cap.

Two weeks ago, the NBA concluded its investigation and fined Leonard $700,000 while fining Ballmer $30 million and stripping the Clippers of five future first-round picks that will take place between 2029-2033.

On Tuesday, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said, “The discipline is final,” after making his first public comments about the punishment.

With the Clippers left in despair, Leonard will be on to new beginnings by rejoining the Raptors, the same team he led to its first NBA Championship in franchise history, during the 2018-2019 season.

The Raptors knocked off the reigning back-to-back champions, the Golden State Warriors in six games, and Leonard was crowned the Finals MVP for the second time in his career after having a dominant series where he averaged 28.5 points, 9.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 2 blocks, and 1.2 steals.

The Raptors were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs last year after losing in seven games to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Leonard was officially traded by the Clippers to the Raptors in a deal that included Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks, one first-round pick swap, and two second-round picks. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post

It’s unknown what the offers were like from Detroit and Minnesota, but both teams are coming into the 2026 season as legitimate contenders to win the title this season.

The Timberwolves have been heavily active over the offseason, trading for LaMelo Ball and recently signing Jonathan Kuminga.

Kawhi Leonard in an NBA game against the Brooklyn Nets while playing with the Los Angeles Clippers. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post

Detroit finished the regular season as the No.1 seed in the Eastern Conference with a 60-22 record but suffered the same fate as the Raptors and were eliminated in the second round by the Cavaliers.

The general assumption for Detroit is that they needed a star to lead them in the playoffs — a role Leonard is familiar with. But he ultimately chose to return to Toronto.

Mariners Game #152 Preview and Discussion, 9/15/26: SEA at LAA

Do you have baseball fever yet? If you’re still watching, I’ll assume you do.

I normally put some sort of analysis in the preview. I’m told nobody reads these, but it gives me a head start on the recap. Unfortunately, there’s not much analysis left. The Mariners lost their chance for a winning season last night. And they’ll officially have a losing record if they lose again tonight. If they don’t, that’ll be on the table again tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day, and so on until this season is mercifully over.

So instead analysis, I’ll steal Zach Mason’s bit from last night, and ask a question to see who reads these things: Let’s name some Mariners-Angels crossovers. Who’s your favorite? Who’s your least favorite? Who should have been a Mariner but never was? Who should have been an Angel but never was? What do you think of the Angels, as an organization?

Lineups

Game Info

First Pitch: 6:38 pm

TV: Mariners TV

Radio: Old Reliable

Join the conversation!

Sign up for a user account and get:

  • Fewer ads
  • Create community posts
  • Comment on articles, community posts
  • Rec comments, community posts
  • New, improved notifications system!

Download the SB Nation app on iOS or Android.

M.V.P.! Junior does it again: Rays 2 Athletics 1

ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 15: Junior Caminero #13 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates with Chandler Simpson #14 and Jorge Mateo #9 after hitting a walk-off home run in the ninth inning to defeat the Athletics 2-1 at Tropicana Field on September 15, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Nothing much happened and then Junior did this:

The End.

Seriously, nothing much happened in this game on offense — for either team.

The Rays first — and for many innings, only — run came when Chandler Simpson scored from third on a passed ball, but perhaps what is most notable is how Simpson came to be on third. He hit a deep line drive (98 mph!) that bounced of the back wall for a double. He moved to third on a ground out and was then able to score when the Oakland catcher failed to grab an errant pitch. Simpson, in fact, was pretty much the Rays offense until the Cami home run: the Rays had six hits, total, and Chandler had three of them.

Griffin Jax picked up from his last, very effective start. He shut down the A’s almost entirely for five innings. He walked no one and gave up two forgettable hits while striking out seven.

But apparently the Rays are determined to manage his workload, because despite pitching just five relatively low stress innings — a mere 67 pitches — he was pulled before the sixth inning.

Jax wasn’t the only pitcher on top of his game today. Jack Perkins, the A’s starter whose ERA is north of 6.00, held the Rays in check for 6.2 innings. He scattered a few hits, walked just one, and made the Rays hitters, even the “big three,” look lost.

After Jax left the game, Cash brought in Ty Johnson, who was the weak-ish link among tonight’s pitchers. He gave up two hits and then threw a very wild pitch that scored a run to tie the game at 1-1. But the rest of the bullpen — Cam Booser, Kevin Kelly and Bryan Baker — cruised through their innings. After Baker polished off the A’s in the top of the ninth, I was hoping hard that the Rays would manage to walk it off in the bottom of the inning because I didn’t like the pitching options that would follow Baker.

And then: BOOM. Junior did indeed put this game to bed. He’s got the bat, and he’s got the confidence too; this 23-year old is ready for this moment, beckoning to the post-game crowd to raise the volume as they chanted “MVP.”

With the win the Rays magic number to win the division is down to nine (as I write the Yankees are leading the Minnesota Twins so we’ll get no help there), and they have two more games against the A’s. Tomorrow Nick “our workhorse” Martinez takes the mound.

Rays Walk-off A’s, 2-1, in Series Opener

ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 15: Jack Perkins #50 of the Athletics delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on September 15, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Athletics opened a three-game road series against the Tampa Bay Rays on Roberto Clemente Day. The Rays won a 2-1 pitching duel on a walk-off home run by superstar third baseman Junior Caminero.

Pitching Duel in Florida

The Athletics had trouble generating offense against Rays right-hander Griffin Jax, who opened the game with seven strikeouts across five scoreless innings. A’s right-hander Jack Perkins nearly matched him, as it quickly became apparent that this game would be a low-scoring affair.

After failing to capitalize on their first scoring opportunity in the bottom of the first, the Rays took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Chandler Simpson scored on a passed ball by A’s catcher Jonah Heim. The visitors had a chance to immediately respond in the top of the third. With two outs, shortstop Alika Williams doubled for the A’s first hit of the game, but he was stranded at second when Jax struck out center fielder Henry Bolte to end the inning.

A’s Tie The Game

With their sights set on a deep playoff run, the Rays removed Jax after 67 pitches and five scoreless innings. Rookie right-hander Ty Johnson entered from the hosts’ bullpen, looking to maintain his team’s 1-0 lead.

With one out, Bolte and first baseman Jeff McNeil hit back-to-back singles, giving the A’s a golden opportunity to at least tie the game. Bolte scored the game-tying run on a wild pitch by Johnson. The Green and Gold stranded McNeil at second, wasting a chance to take the lead.

Perkins Efficient and Impressive

Perkins turned in arguably his best start of the season. The command-challenged right-hander pitched into the seventh inning for the first time this year, allowing just four hits and one unearned run while striking out eight and issuing only one walk over 6 2/3 innings.

With two on and two out in the bottom of the seventh, A’s right-hander Luis Medina replaced Perkins, looking to keep the game tied. Medina struck out second baseman Richie Palacios on three pitches, ending the Rays’ scoring threat.

Another Close Game Late

The game remained deadlocked as Rays left-hander Cam Booser, setup man Kevin Kelly and closer Bryan Baker shut down the A’s offense over the final three innings.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, the Rays had an opportunity to take the lead after getting a runner to second with one out. However, A’s left-hander Hogan Harris retired the next two batters to strand the go-ahead run at third.

Wrong Kind of Music from Elvis

Right-hander Elvis Alvarado entered for the bottom of the ninth with the A’s hoping he could send the game to extra innings. However, he did not record an out.

After achieving walk-off wins in two of their past three games, the Athletics were on the other side of that equation tonight. In an 0-2 count, Caminero sliced a walk-off opposite-field home run down the right field line. His 41st long ball of the season gave the American League-best Rays a 2-1 series-opening victory.

The Athletics’ offense will look to have more success tomorrow as the team looks to even the series. Left-hander Brady Basso will open for the Green and Gold, with the length of his outing likely depending on his performance. The Rays will counter with right-hander Nick Martinez, who pitched a complete game when these teams met in Sacramento last month.

How Teoscar Hernández fixed his swing to help power Dodgers over the Reds

Teoscar Hernández gestures as he rounds the bases after hitting a two-run homer in the third inning Tuesday.
Teoscar Hernández gestures as he rounds the bases after hitting a two-run homer in the third inning Tuesday. (Carolyn Kaster / Associated Press)

A simple change opened up a dramatic offensive turnaround for Dodgers left fielder Teoscar Hernández.

Hernández’s two-run homer Tuesday, in the Dodgers’ 4-0 win against the Reds, was his second home run in as many nights, as the team trimmed its magic number to clinch the division to one behind Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s seven innings of one-hit ball. And, significantly, this one was against a right-handed pitcher.

“It’s been very helpful,” manager Dave Roberts said after the game. “As certain guys are not seeing the ball as well, it’s nice to kind of backfill with guys like Teo swinging the bat. And when you can slug like he can, you can win baseball games, and he can carry us for a while. And the last 10 days, something like that, it’s been really good from him.”

Through the end of August, Hernández had just a .668 OPS against right-handed pitchers this season. So, when Roberts was asked in Detroit whether the Dodgers would consider setting up a left-field platoon with the team’s September call-ups, he said yes.

Hernández homered off Tigers left-hander Framber Valdez on the last day of the series. And before the Dodgers opened a three-game set against the Cardinals at Dodger Stadium, Hernández met with the hitting coaches.

Against Valdez, Hernández was in a closed stance, to delay his front hip from opening, according to Dodgers hitting coach Aaron Bates. But the team’s hitting group thought a return to a familiar setup could be a long-term solution.

“It was a great meeting we had,” Bates said. “We all talked about it, and then he felt comfortable enough to do it, and then the rest is to his credit. He’s just been who he is.”

Read more:Dodgers might be forced to leave Edwin Díaz off postseason roster

In the past, Hernández had used a “twister tap” as his stride. He started in a more open stance, tapped his toe in line with the pitcher, and then set his foot down. But lower-body injuries the last couple of years — a left groin strain last season and a left hamstring strain earlier this season — forced him away from it.

His improved health and hip flexibility opened up the avenue for him to return to that timing mechanism.

“When Teo’s hips are loose that way, and his front leg looks like an Elvis knee, it’s a good sign for us,” Bates said. “Because that means that he can open and close it without his upper body going with it.”

The advantage of the twister tap, as Hernández explained it, is how repeatable it is. A more traditional stride can be sped up or slowed down.

“Just being able to control my body and being in a good position,” Hernández said earlier this month. “I can see the pitch a little sooner and identify what kind of pitch it is and if it’s going to be a strike or a ball.”

Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitches during one of his seven shutout innings against the Reds Tuesday.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitches during one of his seven shutout innings against the Reds Tuesday. (Carolyn Kaster / Associated Press)

With that change, he’s rewarded the Dodgers for deciding against platooning left field. Hernández entered Tuesday with a .777 OPS against right-handed pitchers — a sample size of just 28 plate appearances but still a significant jump.

“The biggest thing is his plate coverage away,” Bates said. “Because now he can spoil pitches, and he’s staying in at-bats longer.”

Hernández’s dramatic offensive turnaround, along with fellow corner outfielder Kyle Tucker’s improvement, have helped steady a Dodgers offense that’s missing Shohei Ohtani (on the IL with right biceps and left knee injuries) and includes a hobbled Freddie Freeman (right knee soreness).

Rookie Josue De Paula, mostly filling in for Ohtani at designated hitter, has already shown he can take mature at-bats and provide some pop. But he’s still finding his footing in a new league.

It lengthens the Dodgers lineup for Hernández, after a slow start to his year, to return to being a veteran power threat — just in time to, ideally, carry the momentum into the postseason.

On Monday, he launched his two-run shot off left-hander Nick Lodolo. On Tuesday, he replicated the feat off right-hander Rhett Lowder.

Read more:Dodgers Dugout: Mason and Ireland answer some questions about the Dodgers

On the second pitch of the at-bat, Hernández recognized a hung slider, and he roped it over the left-field fence at 109.3 mph, according to Statcast. The blast put the Dodgers up 3-0 in the third inning, with Dodgers starter Yamamoto settling into a groove on the other side.

Yamamoto had walked the first two batters he faced, but he reined in his control to pitch seven scoreless innings and allow just one more baserunner, on a double by Reds star shortstop Elly De La Cruz.

The Dodgers also scored on Hunter Feduccia’s second-inning single and Alex Freeland’s seventh-inning homer. And the Dodgers bullpen completed the shutout.

Freeman staying in the lineup

Freeman was all smiles after his three-hit game Tuesday — after going hitless for his last four games.

“I was supposed to be off tomorrow, but I played myself in there,” he said. “So I’m very excited.”

Roberts explained: “He was joking, saying, ‘If I get three hits, then can I be in there tomorrow?’”

Sure enough, the mechanical adjustments he made in the batting cage — focusing on getting his foot down early and making contact out in front — got him there.

“I’m just trying to find something that gives me results,” Freeman said. “We’re at the time where we’re just trying to get hot for five weeks here. So kind of like I did in the World Series a couple years ago, I did the step-out move. That’s not sustainable over six months. I’m not trying to find something that’s sustainable.”

Though Roberts has been trying to find opportunities to rest Freeman, he saw promising signs Tuesday beyond the results.

“Just my eyes, just watching him move, I feel good about him going tomorrow,” Roberts said.

De Paula, Freeland and third baseman Max Muncy will be out of the lineup Wednesday, Roberts said.

Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Nets add two G League prospects in Sign-and-Waive moves

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 03: Isaiah Wong #21 of the Charlotte Hornets plays against the Washington Wizards during their game at Spectrum Center on February 03, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Dwight Murray Jr. and Isaiah Wong are officially joining the Brooklyn Nets organization. This morning, the team signed both players before waiving them shortly after. The Nets traded for Murray Jr.’s rights earlier this month and then Wong’s two days later.

What might seem like an odd transaction on the surface is actually a move commonly made by NBA teams ahead of training camp. When a team sign-and-waives a player, it secures that player’s G League rights and the opportunity to offer them a cash bonus of $91,000 on top of the G League max of $49,000. It’s highly likely that’s what Brooklyn is doing here to get Murray Jr. and Wong on the Long Island Nets roster. It’s also possible the two will be in Brooklyn for camp.

Murray Jr. has technically been a Net before. He played for Brooklyn in the Summer League this year, appearing in two games where he averaged 5.0 points, 1.5 assists, and 1.5 rebounds per game. He’s also played two seasons in the G-League already. There, he averaged 8.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 5.0 assists in 23.5 minutes per game.

Wong, however, has more experience at the pro level. He’s appeared in 21 NBA games over the past two seasons, including 20 with the Charlotte Hornets during their 2024-25 campaign. He’s also spent time in the Utah Jazz and Indiana Pacers organizations. In the G-League, he’s played 59 games while averaging 16.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.4 assists in 28.9 minutes per game.

After Charlotte didn’t renew his deal last season, he went overseas, playing first in Lithuania with Zalgiris, a Euroleague team, then in Spain with Gran Canaria. Wong averaged 14.6 points a game along with two assists and two rebounds. Wong’s grandfather was Chinese.

After filling their final two-way slot almost two weeks ago via Grant Nelson, the Nets certainly appear focused on solidifying their G-League roster here in September. Brooklyn’s training camp opens on September 29. Long Island’s a month later. The NBA G-League regular season begins on November 6.

New York Knicks signing John Konchar to one-year deal

Free agent forward John Konchar has agreed to a one-year deal with the New York Knicks, his agent told ESPN.

At 6-foot-5 and 210 pounds, Konchar is bigger than most guards coach Mike Brown can put on the floor. He guards multiple positions and rebounds like a forward, not a backcourt piece.

The signing gets the defending champion Knicks to 14 players on standard contracts, with training camp opening Oct. 1 and roughly $3.2 million of room left below the second apron.

Konchar is entering his eighth NBA season. Though he plays different positions, he essentially replaces Mitchell Robinson, who left this offseason for a three-year, $47 million deal with the Celtics.

Last season, split between Memphis and Utah, Konchar averaged 4.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.5 steals in 56 games. He got more run in Utah and made it count, shooting 44.5% and posting a career-high 5.9 points a game.

According to reports, the Heat, Magic and Raptors were interested in him as well. The Knicks got him for the price of a roster spot, and got a body who can do a little of everything.

Konchar went undrafted out of Purdue-Fort Wayne in 2019, and he has had a long, winding road to Madison Square Garden. Memphis traded him to Utah in February. Utah traded him to Minnesota in August with Cody Williams for Josh Green and cash. Minnesota waived him the same day to free up the money to fit Jonathan Kuminga under the second apron.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: New York Knicks signing John Konchar to one-year deal

Mets top prospect Jefferson Rojas homers in Triple-A debut

Jefferson Rojas had a memorable Triple-A debut.

The Mets' top prospect went 2-for-5, with three strikeouts and a home run in his first game with Syracuse.

In the first inning, Rojas hit a groundball single and came around to score on a Vidal Brujan double, but the big blast came in his second at-bat. With Syracuse already up 2-0 in the second inning, Rojas took Brian Keller deep with a runner on. Rojas smashed an 80 mph sweeper over the heart of the plate that went 361 feet. 

Rojas, acquired from the Cubs for Clay Holmes and Tyrone Taylor at the trade deadline, has made his mark in the Mets' system since the deal. 

In 29 games with Double-A Binghamton, Rojas slashed .280/.336/.593 with an OPS of .929 to go along with nine home runs and 29 RBI, nearly doubling both season totals in a third of the games from when he was in the Cubs system -- Rojas hit 15 homers and drove in 57 runs in 91 games with Knoxville while slashing .270/.339/.461.

With the minor league regular season set to end Sunday, Sept. 20, Rojas will get to experience Triple-A pitching for a few more days before he enters the offseason before playing in his first spring training with the Mets.

 

Yoshinobu Yamamoto rounds into playoff form as Dodgers move to cusp of NL West title

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto adjusting his blue cap while wearing a blue glove, Image 2 shows Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto throws a baseball during a game against the Cincinnati Reds

CINCINNATI –– There’s not much the Dodgers can do, manager Dave Roberts said Tuesday afternoon, to get their all-important rotation ready for the added workload that will come in the postseason.

Over the final couple weeks of the regular season, they have to just keep running their starters out there, and counting on them to round into elevated October form.

That’s what appeared to happen with Yoshinobu Yamamoto on Tuesday night at Great American Ball Park, in what was the right-hander’s most dominant performance of at least the last couple months.

In the Dodgers’ 4-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds, Yamamoto threw a one-hit masterpiece over seven scoreless innings, flashing the kind of ruthless efficiency that defined his heroics during last year’s playoffs.

Dodgers starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto delivered his most dominant performance of at least the last couple months on Tuesday night in Cincinnati USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
In the Dodgers’ 4-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds, Yamamoto threw a one-hit masterpiece over seven scoreless innings AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster

After walking his first two batters in the first inning, he retired 21 of the 22 after with seven strikeouts and virtually no stress.

“After the first two hitters, it was vintage Yama,” Roberts said. “Just attacking, not trying to be too fine.”

The reigning World Series MVP hadn’t exactly been struggling lately, of course. Just last week, he held the Reds to one run over seven innings with 10 strikeouts back in Los Angeles.

But what Yamamoto did on Tuesday was different, keyed by quick and easy outs on soft and harmless contact.

It’s what he did as the ace of last year’s postseason staff, and what he will need to do again as the Dodgers go for a World Series three-peat this fall.

“I’d like to carry this,” Yamamoto said through an interpreter of his renewed stuff, “into October.”

The Dodgers are hoping they won’t have to ask as much out of Yamamoto this time around; that they need him to pitch back-to-back complete games (like he did in Game 2 of the NLCS and Game 2 of the World Series) or provide back-to-back nights of season-saving heroics (following up a victorious Game 6 start in the Fall Classic with a winning three-inning appearance out of the bullpen in Game 7). 

But in a postseason environment, it’s impossible to know what exactly will be required.

“You can’t just try to create that during the regular season because you want these guys as strong and healthy for the October run [as possible],” Roberts said pregame. “But it’s one of those things that, once we get to the postseason, all bets are off and everyone is going to do what they can to contribute.”

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto throws a pitch in the first inning of the MLB National League game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026 USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

It would help, of course, if the Dodgers’ currently Shohei Ohtani-less offense can keep turning a corner, with Tuesday bringing more positive –– albeit subtle –– signs.

The biggest development: Freddie Freeman returned to the lineup amid his ongoing right knee injury, and finally snapped out of a 3-for-30 slump by collecting three singles in the first, fifth and seventh innings.

“Feels better today than he did yesterday,” Roberts said, after Freeman missed his third game in the last week on Monday, “which is a good thing.” 

The Dodgers’ scoring, meanwhile, came from elsewhere. 


Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters

California Post News: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, WhatsApp, LinkedIn
California Post SportsFacebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X
California Post Opinion
California Post Newsletters: Sign up here!
California Post App: Download here!
Home delivery: Sign up here!Page Six Hollywood: Sign up here!


Hunter Feduccia laced an RBI single in the second off Reds starter Rhett Lowder, maintaining his unexpected status as the Dodgers’ best hitter against right-handed pitching since being re-acquired at the trade deadline (with a team-leading .292 average in such splits since the start of August).

Teoscar Hernández continued his late-season surge with a two-run homer in the third, giving him four home runs, eight extra-base hits, 18 RBIs and a .417 average over his last 14 games.

Even Alex Freeland chipped in with a solo blast in the seventh and a double in the ninth, helping him outshine fellow rookie Josue De Paula (who went 0-for-5 with his first two strikeouts of the season after getting bumped up to the leadoff spot).

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernández celebrates with teammates after hitting a two-run home run against the Cincinnati Reds in the third inning at Great American Ball Park on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, in Cincinnati, Ohio. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

That was all enough to help the team lower its magic number to clinch the National League West to one.

Still, when it comes to October, no position group will be more important than the Dodgers’ rotation.

That’s why, right now, outings like the one Yamamoto made on Tuesday, or Tarik Skubal spun the night before (also seven scoreless innings) are the most promising ways the Dodgers can ramp up toward the playoffs.

Once they get there, they’ll need their starters to be on.

D-backs vs. Marlins discussion

PHOENIX, AZ - MARCH 30: A general view of the exterior of Chase field is seen prior to the game between the Detroit Tigers and the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday, March 30, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Today’s Lineups

MARLINSDIAMONDBACKS
Kyle Stowers – DHLars Nootbaar – LF
Heriberto Hernandez – LFKetel Marte – 2B
Otto Lopez – SSGabriel Moreno – C
Griffin Conine – RFGeraldo Perdomo – SS
Javier Sanoja – 2BCorbin Carroll – RF
Jakob Marsee – CFNolan Arenado – 3B
Agustin Ramirez – CJesus Sanchez – DH
Graham Pauley – 3BPavin Smith – 1B
Deyvison De Los Santos – 1BJordan Lawlar – CF
Janson Junk – RHPZac Gallen – RHP

Roster moves

The Arizona Diamondbacks made the following roster moves. The D-backs’ active roster is at 28 and the 40-man roster is at 40.

  • Reported to the Major League roster: OF Jesús Sánchez (No. 18)
  • Optioned to Triple-A Reno following last night’s game: OF Tommy Troy

The team’s efforts to improve against right-handed pitching go on. That’s why we saw Pavin Smith come up the other day, and now another left-handed bat joins them. Sánchez (I wonder how long it’ll be before I can’t be bothered with the acute over the a?) comes right into the starting line-up tonight, facing another right-handed starter. He bats seventh and plays DH. Arizona are a mediocre 53-58 in games where the opposition start a right-hander, and looks like they will be seeing a few more over the remaining eleven games, so ramping that up is going to be very helpful.

DH is another area where the team could use more production. I don’t know how much Sánchez will be able to move the needle, with less than two weeks to go. But currently the D-backs rank 27th by OPS at the position, at only .644. [Hey, still better than 1B, where they are 30th at .635, 46 points below anybody else. Although that is up 75 points from the mid-June figure] It’d be lower, except for the time Ketel Marte and Gabriel Moreno have spent at the position this year. They are the only occupants of it to have hit more than one home-run. It likely says a lot that we have had seventeen different players take bats as the Arizona DH.

Michael Soroka starts for the team tonight at Chase, and we’ll see if Zac Gallen follows him, flip-flopping their roles from Soroka’s last start. I imagine Michael will be on a similar pitch-count as Corbin Burnes was last night, somewhere around 75. Get him twice through the order, and then turn it over to Gallen for a bit? I think we would all feel more comfortable if the Diamondbacks had a healthy lead by the time that came to pass. Be nice if the Padres would lose too, but the Rockies are about as useful as a chocolate teapot in this situation. Just keep winning, D-backs…

Join the conversation!

Sign up for a user account and get:

  • Fewer ads
  • Create community posts
  • Comment on articles, community posts
  • Rec comments, community posts
  • New, improved notifications system!

Download the SB Nation app on iOS or Android.