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Red Wings' Pre-Season Winning Streak Snapped After Penguins' Comeback

For the first time in pre-season play, the Detroit Red Wings didn't come away victorious. 

The Pittsburgh Penguins responded from what was a 2-0 first period deficit with three unanswered goals, including a pair of third period tallies, to earn a comeback 3-2 win at PPG Paints Arena in downtown Pittsburgh. 

Former Red Wings forward Robby Fabbri, who agreed to a professional tryout agreement with the Penguins, knotted the score with an early third period goal, followed by a power-play tally from Philip Tomasino that ultimately stood up as the game-winner. 

As they did during their first pre-season contest earlier this week against the Chicago Blackhawks, the Red Wings iced a lineup mostly comprised of young players, most of whom will be playing in the minors this season. 

One player who will likely spend time with the Grand Rapids Griffins, but doesn’t quite fit the “young prospect” label at 27 years old, is John Leonard, a former San Jose Sharks draft pick signed to a one-year, $775K contract this offseason. 

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

Leonard scored twice for the Red Wings during the opening 20 minutes of play, which included skating in down the right wing on a partial breakaway and sniping a shot blocker side past goaltender Tristan Jarry for the night's opening goal.

Leonard knows how to score goals, as he did 36 times last season while playing in 72 games for the Charlotte Checkers, the AHL affiliate of the Florida Panthers. 

His second tally was a floater from just inside the blue line that somehow eluded Jarry, who may have been partially screened. 

Red Wings goaltender John Gibson, who was born in Pittsburgh, was given the start and stopped 13 of the 14 shots that he faced before giving way to Michal Postava midway through the contest. 

"Hell Of A Shooter": Todd McLellan Praises Michael Brandsegg-Nygård Detroit Red Wings forward Michael Brandsegg-Nygård may be more known for his hard-nosed approach to the game, but he gave Red Wings fans a demonstration of his offensive abilities as well on Thursday night. 

Postava, making his second appearance in 24 hours for the Red Wings, was beaten twice on the six shots he faced. 

The Red Wings will now move on to play the Buffalo Sabres as they did on Thursday night, but this time at KeyBank Center in Buffalo on Saturday afternoon (3:00 p.m. ET).

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Mets' mistakes, missed opportunities continue to cost them games as playoff chances dwindle

It's getting late early for the Mets.

After Friday's 6-2 loss to the Marlins and the Reds' 3-1 win over the Brewers, the Mets are no longer in control of their own destiny for the final NL Wild Card spot. But the team could have given itself a better shot if they didn't implode in the fifth inning of Friday's loss.

Leading 2-0 in the fifth, the Marlins began to get to young starter Brandon Sproat. While the pesky Marlins hit into some luck, dumping balls just inside the foul line and tying the game, the Mets' pitching and defense did not do themselves any favors and let the inning get out of hand. Pete Alonso, after making a nifty stab at a grounder to him, looked back the runner at third for the first out. Jakob Marsee followed by essentially doing the same thing on the drawn-in Alonso, but the first baseman could not pick the ball cleanly, allowing the go-ahead run to score. 

Now, with Gregory Soto in for Sproat and a runner at first with two outs, the southpaw did not account for Agustin Ramirez, who promptly stole second without a throw. Inexplicably, Ramirez stole third, but not because Soto didn't check, but Ronny Mauricio -- a defensive replacement for the injured Brett Baty -- did not cover the bag. Instead of getting out of the inning down just one, Ramirez would score on an Xavier Edwards single, then Connor Norby hit the two-run blast to cap off the six-run inning.

"We continue to make those mistakes and it’s costing us games," Mendoza said after the loss. When he was asked why they haven't been cleaned up, considering they are in September, the second-year skipper didn't have an answer.

"That’s a good question," he said. "It’s on me, it’s on all of us. We continue to make the same mistakes and it’s costing us games." 

Mendoza called the steal of third base an "inning-changer," while Alonso wished he had fielded the liner to him cleanly to try and get the runner out at home. 

"If I fielded it cleanly, I would have thrown it home, but I’m happy to get an out there," Alonso said of his misplay. "If you don’t get an out, things could have gone way worse. I wish I could have got the out at home."

But the fifth inning wasn't the only reason the Mets fell to the Marlins. After scoring two first-inning runs off of Sandy Alcantara, the Mets could get nothing on the Marlins' starter or the bullpen. But they had their opportunities.

New York finished 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position and left seven on base. The biggest opportunity they had was in the second, when Francisco Lindor hit a liner with two runners on that looked destined for a double over the head of Troy Johnston, but the Marlins' first baseman snatched it out of the air and stepped on first base to complete the inning-ending double play.

"When you’re facing elite pitching there, whenever you get chances, you have to be able to punch," Mendoza said of the lack of offense. "We had good at-bats in those first four innings, we had our opportunities."

"Sandy’s an ace. And he did what aces do and bunker down and made adjustments," Alonso said. "It’s unfortunate because he did bunker down and we gave up six runs. As a squad, we just have to stay hungry and do whatever we can and lock in. We did a good job early, but we have to find a way to get Sandy out of the game." 

With two games remaining, the Mets will need some help. They are tied for the final spot with the Reds, but Cincinnati holds the tiebreaker. The Mets will need to win one more game than the Reds over these final two games to make it back to the postseason.

"We put ourselves in this position," Mendoza said. "Here we are, we got to come back tomorrow and the next day. We have to win the next two and see what happens. We did it to ourselves." 

Alonso said the team is playing with a "high sense of urgency," and while it's unfortunate they lost on Friday, he knows they have to put it in the past and think about winning on Saturday. When asked if the reality of potentially missing the postseason has sunk in yet, the Mets' slugger dismissed the notion.

"Good thing it’s not over yet," he said. "We’ll figure that out later on. Hopefully, we can win tomorrow and not face that reality. For now, we just got to do what we can to win tomorrow."

The Mets will look to Clay Holmes to keep the Marlins down and their season alive when they play on Saturday afternoon.

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Brandon Sproat learns hard lessons at worst time as Mets' playoff odds drop

There was no way of knowing how Brandon Sproat would handle high-stakes pressure and responsibility with the Mets' postseason hopes hanging in the balance. But what the rookie right-hander offered in the opener of a season-altering series didn't lower the panic meter.

With sole possession of the NL's third wild-card spot on the line, Sproat found himself in the midst of growing frustrations on Friday night, as he couldn't complete his second turn through the Marlins' lineup in the Mets' lifeless 6-2 loss at LoanDepot Park. The letdown dropped them to 82-78 and into a tie with the Reds, who own the head-to-head tiebreaker.

"We've put ourselves in this position," Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. "Here we are, we've got to come back tomorrow and the next day now. We've got to win the next two now and see what happens. But we did it to ourselves."

The disheartening outing from Sproat didn't start on a sour note. He cruised through the first four innings with a 2-0 lead, and while he plunked two and walked one before giving up his first hit in the fourth, there weren't any warning signs of a meltdown. But the Mets' fears were soon realized.

Sproat fell apart in the fifth, allowing back-to-back singles and then a disastrous game-tying triple. He shook off the brutal sequence by inducing a pair of groundouts, but a two-out single knocked him out of the game, and then Gregory Soto threw gasoline onto the fire by allowing an additional three runs.

"The fastball had been working all night. That inning, they just found a couple barrels," Sproat said. "It's kind of something you learn from... You've got to be present every single inning. I was still present there. They put a couple of hits together, and it didn't go my way. That's baseball, that's the game."

In a critical game, Sproat fell short of a quality appearance. He struck out a season-low two across 4.2 innings (61 pitches), and with four runs charged to his ledger, he wrapped up his first September in the majors with a 4.79 ERA and 1.21 WHIP over four appearances (20.2 innings).

Sproat fell victim to some hard contact, and shoddy defense from his teammates contributed to the fifth-inning implosion. But the Mets needed length and efficiency from the youngster -- even if the request seemed unfair to someone with little big league experience.

The Mets will enter Saturday in must-win mode -- another loss and a Reds win would seal fates and knock them out of playoff contention.

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Pre-Season: Penguins Overcome 2-0 Deficit, Defeat Red Wings, 3-2

The Pittsburgh Penguins did not have the best start to their Friday evening pre-season tilt against the Detroit Red Wings.

But they were able to storm back in convincing fashion.

The Penguins erased a 2-0 deficit and came back to beat the Red Wings, 3-2. Connor Dewar, Robby Fabbri, and Philip Tomasino notched three unanswered goals for the Penguins en route to the victory, and goaltender Arturs Silovs entered the game midway through the second period and stopped the seven shots he faced - including a few nice saves late in the game.

Tristan Jarry started in net for the Penguins and stopped 11 of 13 shots. 

"[Silovs] stood on his head there with some big saves," Fabbri said. "We didn't help 'Jars' out as much as we would have liked, but he played well as well. We can't win without those two."

Here are some thoughts and observations from this one:

- There are a handful of young forwards and defensemen on this training camp roster who probably deserve to, at least, have a shot at supplanting some veterans from NHL roster spots by the end of the pre-season.

But I don't think the goaltending battle is being talked about enough.

Obviously, the injury to Joel Blomqvist - who is out for "at least four weeks" with a lower-body injury - opens up some of the logjam for the AHL and NHL spots. But Taylor Gauthier is also injured, which means the Penguins have open season on two of their affiliate goaltending slots.

As for the two NHL jobs? Again, GM and POHO Kyle Dubas said that the two best goaltenders will win the NHL roster spots. As of now, the two best goaltenders in this camp have been Silovs and Sergei Murashov.

'I'm Happy It All Worked Out': Fleury, Teammates Relish Chance To Share Ice One Last Time'I'm Happy It All Worked Out': Fleury, Teammates Relish Chance To Share Ice One Last TimeNormally, NHL training camp is an all-business kind of affair, and that's exactly how it's been at Pittsburgh Penguins' camp this year.

While I strongly believe Jarry will begin the season at the NHL level by default - and Murashov will begin in the AHL both for developmental purposes and because of Blomqvist going down - I'm not so sure he is going to end up getting the bulk of the starts. Silovs has shown his capability so far in camp, and - while it is only fair to give Jarry a bit more time and runway to show in camp, as this was his first pre-season appearance - he has a track record of performing well in big games.

Keep a watchful eye on those two as camp progresses. They are, likely, the two NHL goaltenders to start the season. But the battle between the two will be fun to watch. 

- When Dewar was acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs in a last-minute deal before the 2025 trade deadline, I didn't really think much of it. Defenseman Conor Timmins - who was traded on draft day to the Buffalo Sabres along with defensive prospect Isaac Belliveau for a second-round pick - was the bigger piece of that initial deal, and I assumed he would have a higher impact.

But Dewar has been a nice surprise for the Penguins, and he showed out Friday. He scored a Sidney Crosby-esque backhand in the first period to give the Penguins life, and he fought Detroit's Carson Bantle at the beginning of the third to give the team a spark.

Even head coach Dan Muse said he's seen a little bit of everything from the 5-foot-10, 187-pound forward.

"Him and [Blake] Lizotte have gotten a lot of time on the penalty kill in the last couple of games, and they've done a really good job," Muse said. "He's a guy that gets in on the forecheck... a big goal there. That was a time in the game, too, you talk about two big momentum swing we had, and he had his fingerprints all over it. Big goal there to get us going a little bit more offensively, and then a fight there to follow it up. And he had some other big moments there I thought late in the game as well.

"Those types of things... he's showing his ability to impact the game and swing the momentum, and he's showing it in different ways."

I'm not saying Dewar has been some kind of huge revelation for the Penguins, but he has been more than solid since his acquisition. He's fiesty, he drives the net, he's put the puck in the back of the net semi-regularly for a fourth-liner, and he's sound defensively. 

I think he's been a really solid bottom-sixer for the Penguins.

Penguins Fall To Blue Jackets In Second Pre-Season TiltPenguins Fall To Blue Jackets In Second Pre-Season TiltAfter a hard-fought 2-1 shootout loss to the Montreal Canadiens in their pre-season opener on Monday, the Pittsburgh Penguins looked to carry some of that momentum into their tilt against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday.

- Another couple of forwards who stood out against Detroit? Tomasino and Fabbri.

While it's easy to point to the three goal-scorers as the standouts of the game, they truly were the best players in this one.

Tomasino is someone who really needs to have a strong camp for the Penguins. This was his second game of the pre-season, and he has looked better and better. He was making an impact from the jump on Friday, creating scoring chances and hovering around the slot and net-front areas - and he also led the team in shots on goal with five.

Those are the kinds of things - as well as honing in the details - that Tomasino needs to continue doing in order to solidify his spot on the NHL roster.

I feel that Fabbri has had a pretty good camp so far, and his middle-drive to the net leading up to his goal was refreshing to watch. He's almost always one of the hardest-working players on the ice, and he is a relentless forechecker with a little bit of bite - as well as a scoring touch. 

The former first-round pick (21st overall in 2014 by the St. Louis Blues) was signed to a paid tryout (PTO) contract prior to training camp. Yes, there are a lot of young forwards in the mix for roster spots, and there are a few injuries to veterans at the moment as well. Making the NHL roster out of camp is probably an uphill climb for Fabbri.

But, so far, I think he's earned it. He will have to come out strong for the rest of the pre-season, though, to really make a strong case for himself.

- Saturday is Fleury day. Everyone in the city of Pittsburgh - including Fleury's longtime teammates and good friends in Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang - is looking forward to it, and PPG Paints Arena is expected to be a packed house.

Get there early, folks. There is more construction around the arena than there was last season, and it's going to be nuts down on Fifth Avenue tomorrow in celebration of an all-time great.

Ticket Prices For Fleury's Final Game Keep RisingTicket Prices For Fleury's Final Game Keep RisingWhen the Pittsburgh Penguins signed goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury to a paid tryout (PTO) contract on Friday, along with that came the announcement that he'd be appearing in one final pre-season game in Pittsburgh on Sept. 27 against the Columbus Blue Jackets before officially retiring from the NHL. 

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab  to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!    

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Giancarlo Stanton smacks two homers in Yankees' 8-4 win over Orioles

The Yankees extended their winning streak to six games on Friday night, as timely power from their superstar sluggers lifted them to an 8-4 win over the last-place Orioles at Yankee Stadium.

However, for a third straight night, they were unable to claim sole possession of first place in the AL East. The division-rival Blue Jays still own the head-to-head tiebreaker, and they wrapped up Friday with a 4-2 home win over the Rays.

The worst-case scenario for the Yankees hasn't changed. If they fail to leap ahead of the Blue Jays before the regular season ends on Sunday, they'll host a best-of-three Wild Card series next week. Their opponent could be the Red Sox, Guardians, Tigers, or Astros. These four teams are vying for two spots.

Here are the takeaways...

-- Last weekend at Camden Yards, the Yankees struggled mightily against Orioles lefty Trevor Rogers, who struck out seven across six scoreless innings to lower his ERA to a stellar 1.35. But history didn't repeat itself in The Bronx, as a quick first-inning swing from Giancarlo Stanton with two outs and one runner on produced a clutch two-run shot to right-center. The veteran slugger's 22nd homer of the season traveled 397 feet with an exit velocity of 109 mph. Stanton appears wide-awake from a long September slumber -- he entered Thursday hitting a measly .175 this month and then delivered a game-altering three-run double to help the Yankees sweep the White Sox.

-- Will Warren couldn't have looked any sharper through two innings, as he faced the minimum by inducing three strikeouts and three flyouts on 26 total pitches. But the rookie right-hander lost that groove in the third, and his mess frustratingly started against the No. 9 hitter with two outs already recorded. After giving up an infield single and a walk, Warren served up a three-run homer to Jordan Westburg that placed the Orioles ahead. Before completing the frame, Warren allowed one more single and received a visit from pitching coach Matt Blake. He needed 30 pitches to escape the jam.

-- Much to the Yankees' delight, the Orioles couldn't even hold the one-run lead for an inning. With one out and a runner on first in the third, Aaron Judge clobbered a Rogers sinker that narrowly cleared the center-field wall for a two-run blast. It was homer No. 52 on the season for the Yankees' captain, and his 110-mph liner traveled 423 feet with a low 23-degree launch angle. Then, seven pitches later, Judge's behemoth teammate inflicted more damage off Rogers, as Stanton demolished a two-run shot to left-center that flew over the Orioles' bullpen. A homer in all 30 ballparks -- it traveled a whopping 451 feet.

-- The Yankees' power surge couldn't have been predicted with confidence. Rogers entered Friday's outing with just three homers allowed across 106.2 innings this season, and he'd logged 15 straight appearances with two or fewer runs on his ledger. With a few swings from Stanton and Judge, his homer total doubled. The Orioles didn't ask for a fourth inning of work from Rogers, who threw 52 pitches -- they turned to the bullpen instead. 

-- The three-run cushion helped Warren settle back in. While he allowed a two-out double in the fourth, he induced two strikeouts in that inning and then completed a scoreless fifth with another punchout. The fifth-inning strikeout pushed his season total to 171, the second-most from a rookie in franchise history. Warren couldn't register an out in the sixth, however -- a leadoff homer to Tyler O'Neill cut the Yankees' lead to 6-4 and forced a call to the bullpen. He left the mound with seven strikeouts and a 4.44 season ERA (four runs on six hits and one walk, 81 total pitches).

-- The Yankees were wise to pull Warren after the solo homer, but the reliever they turned to first made everyone sweat. Mark Leiter Jr. quickly found himself in a bases-loaded jam after seeing Paul Goldschmidt botch a chopper at first and walking a pair. With two outs and the tying run at second, Tim Hill was called upon to clean up the mess, and he did just that by getting Jackson Holliday to ground out. The Yankees placed pressure on Orioles reliever Yennier Cano in the bottom of the sixth, and after a pair of singles from Trent Grisham and Anthony Volpe, their lead was bumped to 7-4 on an RBI single from Austin Wells. The seventh inning belonged to Fernando Cruz -- he walked a pair but kept the Orioles from scoring.

--  An insurance run arrived for the Yankees in the seventh. A single from Goldschmidt, a walk from Judge, and another single from Cody Bellinger set the bases loaded for -- guess who? -- Stanton with no outs. The wish for a three-homer game didn't come true, though -- he had to settle for an RBI groundout that pushed the lead to 8-4. The Orioles had a chance to turn two on the chopper to third, but Westburg opted not to throw home. The rally could've been greater, but Jazz Chisholm Jr. grounded out and Volpe popped out to end the threat.

-- Camilo Doval pitched with confidence for a sixth straight appearance, striking out the side in a scoreless eighth and lowering his ERA from 3.64 to 3.58. With a four-run lead, the ninth inning didn't present a save situation for David Bednar, but the Yankees wanted their closer on the mound with the stakes still high. Due to a walk and an infield single, he found himself in a jam with runners on the corners and one out. Bednar didn't waver, though -- he struck a pair to seal the deal.

Game MVP: Giancarlo Stanton

For a second straight night, Stanton lifted the Yankees to victory. He's driven in eight runs over the last two games. 

Highlights:

What's next

The Yankees (92-68) will continue their weekend series with the Orioles on Saturday afternoon, with first pitch scheduled for 1:05 p.m.

RHP Cam Schlittler (3-3, 3.27 ERA) is slated to take the mound, opposite RHP Tomoyuki Sugano (10-9, 4.54 ERA).

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Mets' silent offense, fifth-inning implosion costly in 6-2 loss to Marlins

The Mets got to Sandy Alcantara early but couldn't tack on before the Marlins plated six in the fifth inning as New York fell, 6-2, on Friday night in Miami.

Here are the takeaways...

-The Mets got off to a quick start thanks to Francisco Lindor, again. The Mets' shortstop launched a solo shot off of Alcantara to draw blood first. Juan Soto singled and stole second before scoring on a one-out double by Pete Alonso to give the Mets an early 2-0 lead.

Lindor also plated another in the second. After Francisco Alvarez, starting at DH, and Luis Torrens hit singles before the shortstop lined a one-out missile toward the right field line, Marlins first baseman Troy Johnson snagged the potential double and stepped on first for the double play. 

-Alcantara dominated the Mets back on Aug. 31, pitching seven one-run innings at Citi Field. And after that two-run first, Alcantara hunkered down and scattered base runners. Mets batters were hitting the former Cy Young winner hard in this one, but it didn't amount to much. The Mets would get just two hits after that first inning -- the last in the third -- against Alcantara, who retired 13 straight before coming out for the eighth inning. He walked Lindor on four pitches to start and was pulled after seven-plus dominant innings. Alcantara tossed 100 pitches (66 strikes), allowing two runs on six hits and two walks while striking out three batters.

The Mets would catch a break in the eighth after Alcantara was pulled. Soto grounded into a force out before Brandon Nimmo hit a tailor-made double play ball to Xavier Edwards, but the second baseman flipped the ball poorly to Otto Lopez covering second to allow Soto to reach safely. Alonso struck out swinging, but Jeff McNeil walked to load the bases for a pinch-hitting Mark Vientos. Vientos popped out to shallow left field to end the threat.

New York finished 1-for-10 with RISP and left seven runners on base.

-Brandon Sproat was cruising early. Aside from some hit-by-pitches, he pitched three no-hit innings before a leadoff single in the fourth put an end to that bid. But even still, Sproat threw just five pitches to get out of the fourth, thanks in large part to a double play. But the Marlins finally got to Sproat in the fifth after a leadoff single and a double off the glove of Alonso put runners on the corners with no outs. Heriberto Hernandez dropped a triple just fair down the right field line to drive in two. After Alonso had a putout that kept Hernandez at third, Jakob Marsee hit another liner to Alonso, but the first baseman could not field it properly and the Mets had to settle for the putout at first as Hernandez scampered home to give the Marlins the 3-2 lead.

After Agustin Ramirez hit a two-out single, the night was over for Sproat after 4.2 innings (61 pitches/39 strikes). Ramirez would steal second and third off of Gregory Soto -- Ronny Mauricio failed to cover third when Soto had Ramirez caught stealing -- before Xavier Edwards' single pushed across the fourth run of the inning. Pinch-hitter Connor Norby followed by taking Soto deep to give Miami a 6-2 lead before the inning mercifully ended.

The Marlins hit Sproat hard in the fifth and kept the young right-hander from getting through the inning. He allowed four runs on five hits and one walk while striking out just two batters.

-The Mets' bullpen had to get 52 outs in the three-game series in Chicago and were tasked to get more on Friday. In relief of Sproat, Soto was not good. The southpaw allowed two runs on three hits and a walk in 1.1 innings pitched. Huascar Brazoban pitched a scoreless inning and Kyle Herget worked around a leadoff double to pitch a scoreless eighth. 

-Carlos Mendoza put out a different-looking lineup on Friday. Aside from Alvarez playing DH, Cedric Mullins started in center because Mendoza didn't want Tyrone Taylor to play three straight games coming off the IL. Mullins went 0-for-3 with a walk. 

Brett Baty started in third but left after one at-bat due to right side soreness. He was replaced by Mauricio, who went 0-for-2 and failed to cover third in that ill-fated fifth inning.

Game MVP: Sandy Alcantara

After struggling through the first three innings, the good Sandy appeared and gave his offense a chance to come back for the win.

Highlights

What's next

The Mets and Marlins continue their three-game set on Saturday afternoon. First pitch is set for 4:10 p.m.

Clay Holmes (11-8, 3.66 ERA) will take the mound for New York, with the Marlins sending Eury Perez (7-5, 4.20 ERA) to start.

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Dodgers lose Brock Stewart to shoulder surgery, monitor other injuries ahead of playoffs

LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 6, 2025: Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Brock Stewart.
Dodgers pitcher Brock Stewart delivers against the St. Louis Cardinals at Dodger Stadium on Aug. 6. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

When the Dodgers traded for Brock Stewart at the trade deadline, they knew he came with some risk.

But on Friday, their worst-case scenario was realized.

Stewart will undergo season-ending shoulder surgery, manager Dave Roberts announced, leaving the Dodgers without the only significant deadline addition they made to bolster their struggling bullpen.

Although the Dodgers have been managing several injury concerns — from Will Smith’s fractured hand, to Tommy Edman’s sore ankle, to leg bruises that Max Muncy revealed on Friday he has been dealing with — Stewart’s status had become among the most alarming.

Even after completing a minor-league rehab stint for a shoulder problem that had kept him out since early August, he continued to feel residual soreness.

After meeting with head team physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache this week, Stewart and the team decided surgery would be best. According to general manager Brandon Gomes, the 33-year-old is having a debridement procedure that should allow him to pitch the “majority” of next season, when he will still be under Dodgers control.

But for this October, the club will have to proceed without him.

"We had a lot of conversations with Brock, and he was like, 'Hey, I want to help this team in any way possible,'” Gomes said. “But watching him throw and just having the conversations with him, there was still something that was just bothering him. As much as we would love to have him right now, we don't want to put his long-term health at risk.”

Shoulder problems are nothing new for Stewart. Last season, he made just 16 appearances with the Minnesota Twins before undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery in August.

While this latest injury is not believed to be directly related to last year’s issue, Gomes did acknowledge that “any time you're taking on a pitcher, we understand that there are risks.”

It’s not that the Dodgers overpaid for Stewart, giving up only former prospect James Outman in their deadline deal with the Twins. But, by not adding a bigger name in a bullpen that had been slumping even before the deadline (and has further spiraled in the two months since), the Dodgers put a lot of eggs in the right-hander’s basket. He was supposed to give the unit some experienced stability. Now, he leaves yet another hole to fill.

Read more:World Series hangover? Dodgers feel battle-tested for October by repeat challenges

Without Stewart, the Dodgers’ right-handed relief hierarchy is somewhat unclear. They still have longtime stalwart Blake Treinen, but he has posted a career-worst 5.47 ERA and dealt with first-half arm troubles. Hard-throwing rookie Edgardo Henriquez has a 2.50 ERA in 21 appearances, but still has just 21⅓ career innings in the big leagues. And then there’s Roki Sasaki, the rookie Japanese phenom who returned from a nearly five-month shoulder injury with an auspicious inning out of the bullpen this week.

Another name that could enter the mix: Starting pitcher Emmet Sheehan, who was scheduled to pitch Friday’s series-opener against the Seattle Mariners but will likely be shifted to a multi-inning relief role out of the bullpen come the postseason.

In any event, however, Stewart’s absence will still hurt. What the Dodgers hoped would be a high-upside play, given his 2.38 ERA with the Twins this season, has instead become yet another bullpen letdown.

Will Smith’s status

Dodgers catcher Will Smith sprints to first after hitting a double against the Colorado Rockies.
Dodgers catcher Will Smith sprints to first after hitting a double against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium on Sept. 9. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Little has changed in Will Smith’s recovery from a hand fracture, with Roberts saying he was “hoping” — but not “hopeful” — about the catcher being available for next week’s best-of-three wild-card round.

“He's going to start trying to swing a bat,” Roberts said. “That'll kind of give us a little bit more information. Potentially start throwing as well.”

Roberts also noted that “each day, Will does say it's feeling a little bit better."

However, given the nature of his injury, “it's just tricky,” Gomes added.

“You never know with bones,” Gomes said. “One day it might feel better and we can really take off. We're not closing off the door to that right now. But we got to make sure to check some boxes before that."

If Smith is not available to catch in the wild-card round, which begins Tuesday, Roberts reiterated that Ben Rortvedt will likely see the “lion’s share” of playing time.

Edman, Muncy getting rest

In better injury news, Roberts sounded hopeful of having Edman and Muncy for the start of the playoffs. On Friday, however, he gave them both a second consecutive day off.

Edman has been dealing with the latest flare-up to his long-bothersome ankle injury, having tweaked it again while running down a fly ball in center field in the ninth inning of Tuesday’s win in Arizona.

Read more:Shaikin: Dodgers fans should take a moment to appreciate team's success before anxiety returns

“It’s not gonna be 100% throughout the rest of the season. It is something we’re gonna have to keep managing,” Roberts said. “But my thought is he’ll be back in there tomorrow.”

Muncy, meanwhile, revealed Friday that he has been battling some leg bruising, which was at least in part the result of a hit-by-pitch he took to his lower half last week against the San Francisco Giants.

But, like Edman, the Dodgers’ expectation is that he’ll be ready for Game 1.

“It’s just trying to be smart about a couple things,” Muncy said. “Just trying to manage all of that, stay on top of that and hopefully clean all that up.”

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Everything we learned about Sixers' injuries at media day

Everything we learned about Sixers' injuries at media day  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Injuries again ruled the day as the Sixers formally got the ball rolling on their 2025-26 season.

“Obviously, we know that for us, the biggest thing is health,” Joel Embiid said Friday.

From Embiid’s knee to Kelly Oubre Jr.’s pinkie, here’s what we learned about the team’s health at media day in Camden, New Jersey. 

Joel Embiid 

Embiid had arthroscopic surgery in April on the bothersome left knee that limited him to 19 games last season.

The 2022-23 MVP is pleased with his trajectory since then, although Embiid and the Sixers are not inclined to place any exact public timelines on his next steps. 

“I feel pretty good,” he said. “I think we made a lot of progress over the last couple of months. We’ve got a plan in place, try to check off all the boxes. … This is still kind of like a feel period where we’re just taking it day by day. Keep getting stronger, keep getting better. 

“There’s been a few court sessions, so everything has been on schedule. … I think there’s not necessarily an expectation. It’s more about making sure everything is right and doing everything right, and then going from there.” 

Embiid acknowledged that, as his injury-filled, unlucky history suggests, the season may not be an ultra-smooth ride. 

“I think I want to be as honest as possible,” he said. “I think going forward, I’m just going to listen to the body. I’ll be honest and say it’s going to be unpredictable at times, and that’s OK. We’ve got to work with that. We’ve got to take it day by day and go from there. 

“So I think the only thing I’m focused on is every single time we’re on the right path, keep going. If there’s something that happens in that time, it’s OK. Just focus on fixing it and keep going. That’s my mentality.” 

Rookie Johni Broome provided a bit of insight into how Embiid’s looked in pre-training camp action.

“He’s great. He practiced the other day and I had to guard him. He scored a couple in a row,” Broome said with a smile. “That’s what you kind of expect. You play good defense and he has better offense. That’s the type of player he is, but I’m glad that I’m going against him in practice and I’m going to have him on my side during the year. He’s a great person to learn from and he’s very open to talk to you about things you need to improve on.” 

Paul George 

George underwent a more recent arthroscopic left knee surgery than Embiid’s. 

He said he’s “getting better and better, feeling stronger and feeling” following that July procedure. However, the 35-year-old forward does not expect to participate in the Sixers’ weekend training camp practices. George noted he’s able to do “pretty much everything besides full contact.”

“I’m in the weight room, I’m lifting, I’m working out every day,” he said. “I’m on the court. Not ready to start the full ramp-up of conditioning on court with running and stuff like that, but I’m on the court, I’m working out. I’m doing stationary drills … one-to-two dribble moves. I’m still able to move and be active on the court, I’m just not ready to be a full-on contact participant right now.”

George played in just half of the Sixers’ games last year. He also tried to grind through several significant lingering injuries — knee, groin, pinkie — even when the Sixers were many games below .500. It didn’t work well for him or the team.

Will his attitude be any different moving forward about playing with nagging issues? 

“I’m not a doctor, but I think just trusting my body, trusting the process going into this season,” George said. “The team is allowing me to kind of be as (close) to 100 (percent) as possible, because that’s what I signed up for. That’s what they signed me for, to come in and be the Paul George that they went out and recruited last year. So for me to do that, I do have to be healthy. That’s really it. 

“Again, I’m putting the work in, I’m putting the time in, I’m seeing the progress. I’m feeling more and more like myself each day, and that’s the most important thing as the dates are winding down and we’re getting ready for the season to start. So I like where I’m at, I like how we’ve progressed things, and that’s the only way I can look at it right now.”

Jared McCain 

A day after suffering a UCL tear in his right thumb, McCain was absent from media day.

“He’s still consulting with specialists. … Still gathering that feedback,” Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey said. “We know Jared’s going to attack this just like he did the last (injury) and be back even better.”

Kelly Oubre Jr. 

Oubre went into detail Friday about addressing the long-term finger injuries that he’s previously indicated have posed challenges with his jumper. 

“I have had surgery on my left pinkie and my thumb as well,” he said. “Different years, different surgeries. I got hurt for the first time around (the start of) COVID and the rehab process was kind of non-existent because the world shut down. So I built up a lot of scar tissue in those areas. And then in my thumb, I have a brace. 

“I did attack that really hard this summer. I was able to see my old therapist. Her name’s Mo; shoutout Mo, she’s amazing. Get some more range of motion in my wrist, in my hand, in my fingers. Get my fingers straighter. … I’ve just got to put the ball in the hole and then you guys can talk about it when I do.”

Oubre had an offseason follow-up consultation.

“I actually saw the doctor who did it this summer, just to go over everything, let him know how I’m healing,” he said. “We thought about taking the brace out of my thumb. But I’m going to take that out, gain some range (of motion) but lose something on the back end somewhere else. It’s not really worth it. And over these years, I’ve been able to compensate and my body does a good job of adapting to less flexion and range of motion. 

“I’ve been just figuring it out, honestly. But with this range, I have to re-write the patterns in my brain of shooting like I used to before all of these things. I’m just a hooper, man. I’m just looking forward to going out there and making it work. The triumph will be better than the adversity for sure.”

Andre Drummond 

Drummond had a straightforward report on the left big toe injury that hindered him for much of last year. 

“It was a good summer for me,” the veteran big man said. “I did all the necessary things to build the strength back in my foot and I’m 100 percent to go. I’ve looked great during (offseason workouts) and I’m ready.”

Drummond ventured into new territory with his rehab.

“Honestly, I didn’t know there was such a thing as toe yoga,” he said. “I’ve been doing a lot of toe yoga this summer to be able to really get that strength back in my big toe, being able to move it freely without having to tape it. … If you don’t know what it is, look it up. It’s definitely not a fun experience, but it worked out for me.”

Eric Gordon

The 36-year-old Gordon is back for a second season in Philadelphia. His first ended with right wrist surgery.

“I would say a couple of months after the surgery, I was really able to shoot,” Gordon said. “So I’ve been able to shoot all summer. Anytime you have a surgery, you’re always going to have ups and downs, but so far everything’s been good. I’m looking forward to practice tomorrow with really no limitations.”

Kyle Lowry 

Lowry, 39, spoke with great enthusiasm Friday about mentoring Sixers youngsters like VJ Edgecombe and McCain, who he said have a “pureness” in their approach to the sport.

As far as on the floor, Lowry’s last season was frequently disrupted by a right hip problem. That’s improved over the summer. 

“I feel great,” he said. “I feel really good. I think just being able to be on the court to help these guys the best that I can. But I know my role this year. So if I’m needed, I’ll be there, but my role is to help these guys. I would love to play 25, 30 minutes (per game), but that’s not my role, that’s not my job.” 

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This Season Could Be Final Kick At Can For Sabres Coach Ruff, GM Adams

Lindy Ruff (Timothy T. Ludwig, USA TODAY Images)

The Buffalo Sabres' 2025-26 season is about as high-stakes as it gets. The Sabres will be aiming to end the organization's 14-year drought on the Stanley Cup playoff front. And while certain players will not be long for Buffalo if the Sabres fail to make it into the post-season this year, the reality is the Sabres' most prominent coaching and management members -- coach Lindy Ruff and GM Kevyn Adams -- could be getting their final kick at the can in their jobs -- at least, at the NHL level.

To be sure, Ruff is an NHL lifer who has 1,856 games of regular-season games-coached. At 65 years old, Ruff is part of the old guard of the league, and at a time when teams fire coaches faster than ever before, Ruff may never get another shot as an NHL bench boss. He's a Sabres icon, but without the appropriate results, he's going to get shown the door at the end of the season or sooner.

Meanwhile, Adams is also going to be facing serious ramifications if the Sabres fail to thrive this season. The 50-year-old has been groomed for a role in Buffalo's braintrust for years now, but if he doesn't get this Sabres team into the playoffs, it's not like teams will be forming a line to snap up his services. He wouldn't be the first one-chance-and-done GM at the NHL level, and he won't be the last.

You can see where we're headed with this article, right? Adams and Ruff desperately need positive results this season, because there will be a cavalcade of critics ready to pick at their bones. A disastrous season for the Sabres will lead to a slew of changes in Buffalo's front office -- and the Sabres all know it.

Thus, no one should feel sorry for Ruff or Adams if things don't go their way. They're getting opportunities many hockey lifers never get. And if they can't deliver positive results, Sabres ownership is going to look for a new GM and coach. That may not be fair, but it is the law of the jungle in the zero-sum industry that is being an NHL coach or GM.

 

Sabres Will Start This Season As Playoff Underdogs -- But Here's Why That Could Be Good For ThemSabres Will Start This Season As Playoff Underdogs -- But Here's Why That Could Be Good For ThemThe Buffalo Sabres are going to have a tough time contending for a Stanley Cup wild card position this year. But when this writer submitted his pre-season predictions for the Atlantic Division, he had the Sabres in…sixth place in the Atlantic, ahead of only the Boston Bruins and Detroit Red Wings. And while it pains us to predict more misery ahead for long-suffering Sabres fans, we wouldn’t be telling it like it is if we told you Buffalo wasn’t going to be picked as a playoff team by most pundits. They won’t be.

The Sabres can't afford to not come out of the gate strongly, because if they do, Ruff or Adams may not make it to the end of the season in their current roles. Buffalo can't afford any missteps, and if they do make errors, it could spell the end of the line for Adams and/or Ruff.

The time has come for Ruff and Adams to step up or step aside. This season is going to be a make-or-break season for the Sabres. And the way the team responds will dictate Buffalo's future -- and the future of Adams and Ruff. 

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Braves claim Alek Manoah, transfer Ozzie Albies to 60-day injured list

TORONTO — The Atlanta Braves claimed and optioned pitcher Alek Manoah on Friday, three days after the former All-Star and 2022 AL Cy Young finalist was designated for assignment by the Toronto Blue Jays.

To make room on the 40-man roster, the Braves transferred second baseman Ozzie Albies to the 60-day injured list. Albies broke a bone in his left hand on Monday in a game against the Washington Nationals, ending his season.

Manoah was designated for assignment by the Blue Jays to make room on Toronto’s 40-man roster for Anthony Santander to come off the 60-day injured list.

Manoah had been pitching at Triple-A Buffalo, rehabbing a 2024 surgery on his elbow. The right-hander went 1-1 with a 2.97 ERA in seven starts for the Bisons.

After going 9-2 as a rookie in 2021, Manoah went 16-7 with a 2.24 ERA in 2022, finishing third in AL Cy Young voting. Last season, Manoah went 1-2 with a 3.70 ERA over five starts spanning 24 1/3 innings before season-ending surgery.

Albies played in Atlanta’s first 157 games this season, batting .240 with 16 home runs and 74 RBIs. He injured the hamate bone on the palm side of the hand near the pinky and ring fingers. Albies fractured his left wrist in July 2024 and missed two months.

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Mets' Brett Baty suffers oblique injury vs. Marlins; could be season-ending

Brett Baty exited Friday's crucial series opener against the Marlins with right side soreness.

The young Mets infielder took an at-bat in the top of the first and grounded to second baseman Xavier Edwards for the third out of the inning. During the at-bat, he swung and missed on a pitch and visibly grimaced and tugged at his side. Despite that, he played the field in the bottom half of the frame and made an across-the-body throw to first base on a slow grounder to end the inning.

In between innings, the SNY broadcast caught Baty speaking to trainers in the dugout before he went down into the clubhouse and didn't return. He was replaced in the field by Ronny Mauricio.

"It’s the oblique area, the right side," Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said after the game. "Felt it on that swing. We saw it. He waved me off and then when he made that play, that throw, you could see it. So we got to wait and see tomorrow how he wakes up and if he’s able to do anything."

Mendoza was asked if the injury could end Baty's season and the skipper said there's a possibility.

"It’s too early, but just watching the faces he was making, that area right there is tricky," he said. "Again, we have to wait till tomorrow and see what the severity [is]."

Baty spoke to the media shortly after Mendoza and said his oblique felt good but wants to see how he feels on Saturday.

"I obviously want to play," Baty said. "There's only two days left, so if there's any possibility of me playing, I'm going to play."

If the oblique is injured, the Mets will likely place Baty on the IL. With just two regular season games remaining, it would eliminate him from those contests and likely the Wild Card round if New York gets to the postseason.

The 25-year-old infielder has had a breakout season with the Mets. He's slashing .254/.313/.435 with an OPS of .748 with 18 home runs and 50 RBI. All of those are career-highs for the infielder. Baty has also excelled at his natural position at third base and at second, giving him more versatility for Mendoza to use.

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How the Yankees went from possible trade deadline sellers to championship contenders

The question surprised me at first. To say the least.

“Why,” a scout from a contending National League team asked in late July, “are the Yankees making Bellinger available?”

Huh?

And why, the scout went on to ask, were they making it known that they would talk about Devin Williams, Luke Weaver and Trent Grisham, all free-agents-to-be?

When we dug into this with our Yankees sources, it proved true. With the team playing poorly and Aaron Judge facing possible Tommy John surgery, Brian Cashman and staff were in the preliminary stages of considering pivoting to a sale.

I don’t want to overstate this. It never got as far as in 2016, when the Yankees were fully prepared to both buy and sell before choosing the latter. This was more of a thought about selling, followed by the decision to buy in a purposeful but measured way.

Now the Yankees are as confident as anyone heading into the postseason and still fighting to win the American League East. It’s worth remembering how far they traveled to get here -- and how they achieved it by threading the extremely tricky needle of adding to the roster without sacrificing top prospects. It might go down as one of Cashman’s best tricks.

Deadline season began with a more traditional all-in mentality. On July 9, with the team 50-41, Cashman said, "We're going to go to town. We're going to do everything we possibly can to improve ourselves and try to match up.”

For most of the month, the Yankees treaded water at around ten games over .500, but played sloppily and lost too many games to good teams. Leadership was no longer convinced that this was a roster worth the sacrifice in prospects.

Then came the Judge scare. During a period of a few days that ended on July 26, the superstar underwent testing on his right elbow. The Yankees feared that he would need season-ending UCL surgery. Had that occurred, the Yankees might indeed have sold, sources say. They certainly would not have added in an aggressive way.

When Judge learned that he had a flexor strain and would return, Cashman and Co. landed in a middle ground.

They didn’t see it as an all-in year in the way that, say, the team’s only season with Juan Soto did. In that scenario, you focus almost exclusively on the present.

Still, the Yankees knew that their remaining schedule was relatively soft, and their team talented. They began to think of ways to improve the current club without damaging the future too much.

That included concepts that would have moved one big leaguer for another. One example, according to league sources, was a discussion with the Mets about dealing Trent Grishman for Brett Baty. The Mets needed a rental center fielder, while the Yankees sought a controllable third baseman and liked Baty’s lefty swing.

Obviously, that one never progressed. The Yankees addressed third base by acquiring Ryan McMahon from Colorado and continued to eye reasonably priced upgrades, with a particular interest in relievers and right-handed bench players.

On the day before the deadline, the Mets gave the Yankees a scare by paying more than the Yankees were willing for Tyler Rogers and Ryan Helsley. The Yanks had spoken to the Giants and Cardinals, respectively, about those players, and were not comfortable with the prices.

Once the Mets went there, the Yankees thought that bullpen help might not be attainable this year. But on deadline day itself, prices became more reasonable.

The Yankees were able to acquire closer David Bednar (a home run), Camilo Doval (a project with upside) and Jake Bird (since optioned to Triple-A), in addition to McMahon and bench pieces Jose Cabellero, Amed Rosario and Austin Slater. Not all of these players have helped, but taken together, those lifted the team’s floor.

Plus -- and this might be the most impressive part going forward -- the Yanks did not have to trade Cam Schlittler or top prospects like Spencer Jones, Carlos Legrange, Bryce Cunningham, Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz or Ben Hess. The desirability of that group also represents a player development success.

As a result, the Yankees find themselves competing for a championship this year, and anticipating a pitching staff in 2026 stuffed at various junctures with the likes of Gerrit Cole, Max Fried, Carlos Rodon, Schlittler, Lagrange, and Luis Gil, with the others knocking at the door.

Not a bad deadline for a front office that, just days earlier, didn’t know which way it should go. The next month will determine if it goes down in Yankee history. Come to think of it, the next few years will, too.