DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 16: Ethan Salas #8 of the San Diego Padres hits his first career home run in the second inning during the game against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on September 16, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning everyone and happy Thursday!
The Mariners managed to secure a victory in the series finale against the Angels, winning 7-2. The team has an off-day today as they head to Denver for what is sure to be a high-scoring affair with the Rockies.
In Mariners news…
Everett is in danger of losing the AquaSox with its stadium project hitting major hurdles. Neetish Basnet at Puget Sound Business Journal has more.
Felnin Celesten is taking home some hardware following a breakout season with the AquaSox.
FT. MYERS, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 15: Executives Mike Groopman, Eddie Romero, and Brian O'Halloran of the Boston Red Sox look on during a spring training team workout on February 15, 2024 at jetBlue Park at Fenway South in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Morning A’s fans!
The A’s have cast a growing net in their search for their next General Manager. Looking to replace their former long-time GM David Forst with someone capable of getting the A’s back to the playoffs, the first names to emerge were former GM’s James Click and Mike Rizzo, as well as current A’s assistant GM Billy Owens, who has been with the organization for the better part of three decades.
Well now we can add a couple more names to the list of potential new voices for the front office. Joe Doyle of OverSlotBaseball threw out a post a couple of days ago naming Red Sox assistant GM’s Mike Groopman and Taylor Smith as the newest candidates to lead the Athletics heading into Las Vegas:
The Athletics are casting a wide net in their search for their next general manager. According to multiple sources, they’ve had conversations with Boston Red Sox SVP/AGMs Mike Groopman and Taylor Smith about the role.
The AGM’s have been speculatively connected to bigger jobs over the past couple of years, especially Mike Groopman. The 41-year-old originally worked under current Mets PBO David Stearns in Milwaukee in their international scouting and player development department before getting a promotion and joining the Red Sox in 2022. He’s done a bit of everything with Boston but was especially involved in roster building, and is largely credited within the Red Sox’s organization for pushing the Garrett Crochet trade over the top.
He originally was in charge of analytics under then-GM Chaim Bloom, who famously delegated different duties to his lieutenants. But he would eventually secede those responsibilities to the other name connected in Joe Doyle’s report, fellow assistant GM Taylor Smith. Smith is yet another graduate of the Rays’ organization, joining the AL East rivals in 2024 after being Tampa’s director of “predictive modeling”. Since he’s been with the Red Sox for a shorter amount of time it’d be fair to assume he’s lower on the totem pole within the Boston front office but many in the league think it’s just a matter of time until he gets to build his own team somewhere.
Both of these guys have had interviews for full GM spots before with Boston, though these might be their first for new organizations. Between the two, Groopman seems to have more hands-on experience while Smith might have more of an analytical mind. If the A’s want a first-time GM, and one who comes from outside of the organization, you could do a lot worse than starting with these two guys. Is that the direction the team wants to go though with Las Vegas now just a year away? We’ll have to wait and see but there’s rumors they might pick their man before the season is over.
Fantastic development for Ryan Lasko leaving the hospital!
22 strong, always 💚💛
Ryan is heading home today after spending time in a rehab facility and he received a special surprise clap out from everyone along the way! He will begin out patient therapy and continue his journey to recovery.
No Devin Taylor this Fall League. Instead Breyson Guedez getting extra work this offseason:
A's are sending OF Breyson Guedez, catchers Cole Conn & Davis Diaz and pitchers Kenya Huggins, Tucker Novotny, Jared Johnson, Jay Dill & Grant Richardson to the Arizona Fall League. Originally planned to send Devin Taylor instead of Guedez but decided to give Taylor a rest.
Positive signs but definitely not enough to prevent the team from adding pitching this offseason:
“I said, ‘Look, if you get back here and get this opportunity, you need to take advantage, because you haven’t taken advantage yet.’ Tonight was a big step.”
Jack Perkins’ best start as a big leaguer Tuesday in Tampa could not have come at a better time. https://t.co/MxDwnwB94m
Inglewood, CA - February 15: Tyrese Maxey of Team USA Stars drives past LeBron James of Team USA Stripes in the final game of the 75th NBA All-Star game at Intuit Dome in Inglewood on Sunday February 15, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images
Every year, ESPN rolls out “Future Power Rankings,” which are its “projection of the on-court success expected for each team over the next three seasons.” After one of the greatest offseasons in franchise history (if not the best), the Sixers unsurprisingly went soaring up the latest edition of the rankings.
Heading into the 2024-25 season, the Sixers were fourth (!) in the future power rankings after they signed Paul George in free agency. Following the injury-ravaged hellscape that was the 2024-25 campaign, they plummeted to 19th in last year’s edition, which was the biggest drop of any team.
This year? The Sixers are back up to eighth, mostly fueled by a surge in the “players” category.
ESPN’s Dean Oliver noted that “despite having one of the most hyped starting fives in history,” the Sixers only landed sixth in the players category. By contrast, the Brooklyn Nets were first in that category in 2021 when they had Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden; the Milwaukee Bucks were third when they had Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and Damian Lillard; and the Phoenix Suns were fourth when they had Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal (even though that was an obvious disaster in the making).
“Apparently, the FPR committee has gotten a bit skeptical of these star-packed lineups,” Oliver added.
Which teams landed ahead of the Sixers in that category, you might wonder? The Oklahoma City Thunder (fair), San Antonio Spurs (also fair), New York Knicks (defending champion bump), Cleveland Cavaliers (lmfao) and Boston Celtics (huh????). Apparently, ESPN’s panel buys into the Cavaliers’ reputation as the NBA’s reigning Analytics Champions, even though they could be in real trouble against the Sixers in particular.
ESPN’s Zach Kram correctly pointed out that LeBron James and Joel Embiid “might not help the 76ers for the entirety of the three-year span under consideration for these rankings, but they’re key members for a title contender in 2026-27.” Even without those two, the trio of Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe and Jaylen Brown give the Sixers a solid foundation to build around for the next few years.
The Sixers’ lack of financial flexibility hurt them in these rankings—they’re 25th in the league in that category—as having Embiid, Maxey and Brown on max contracts will limit what they can do moving forward. Right now, they’re only $1.8 million below their first-apron hard cap, which means they can’t even sign someone to fill their last remaining open roster spot until December at the earliest.
With that said, the NBA recently issued an updated salary-cap projection for the 2027-28 season that was $2 million higher than the initial projection. While the Sixers aren’t going to waltz into the offseason with significant spending power as long as they have three max contracts on their books, it’s possible that they could have access to most or all of the non-taxpayer mid-level exception next summer.
The Sixers also jumped from 16th in the “management” category last year to 10th this year, which is likely a reflection of what new president of basketball operations Mike Gansey was able to pull off during his first offseason in charge. And hilariously, they went from 14th in market last year to ninth this year. It’s amazing what signing LeBron to a minimum contract can do for the perception of your franchise.
Honestly, it’s hard to pick too many nits with the Sixers’ placement in the latest future power rankings. No one in their right mind would put them behind the Charlotte Hornets (ranked seventh) in power rankings strictly for this year, but it’s at least feasible that the Hornets are in a better place than the Sixers two years from now. The same goes for the Houston Rockets (fourth) and Detroit Pistons (sixth), both of whom have more young talent to build around.
Still, the Sixers’ 11-spot jump from last year’s rankings to this year’s is a testament to work that Gansey and the rest of the new front office did this offseason. If they can cash in on that this coming season, they figure to crack the top five in the next edition of these rankings.
DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 16: Ethan Salas #8 of the San Diego Padres celebrates after hitting his second career home run in the fifth inning during the game against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on September 16, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Ethan Salas had been mired in an 0-for-15 slump since he was called up to the MLB roster by the San Diego Padres before he logged his first hit in the form of a triple against the San Francisco Giants. That slump is just a thing of the past for the top prospect who hit his first big league home run and led the Padres to a 9-3 win over the Rockies at Coors Field on Wednesday.
Salas connected on a solo home run to center field to lead off the top of the second inning, which put San Diego ahead of Colorado, 3-1. Two is always better than one, so Salas hit his second career home run and second of the game in the top of the fifth inning when he hit a two-out, two-run home run just over the wall in right field which put the Padres ahead, 8-1.
Salas had a career day at the plate and that was in support of his battery mate Robbie Ray. The veteran left-hander cruised through much of the game, holding the Rockies to one run on one hit until he reached the bottom of the sixth inning. Ray allowed his second hit of the game with a leadoff double to Connor Norby. He then allowed a one-out, two-run home run to Kyle Karros before completing the inning and finishing his day. Ray walked off the mound after the sixth inning with a 9-3 lead.
The Padres offense continued to hit Rockies pitching, adding another 13 hits in the game, which give them 37 hits over the first three games of the series. The main statistic for San Diego in their six-run win on Wednesday was 4-for-12 with runners in scoring position. Jackson Merrill stayed hot and finished the day 3-for-5 at the plate with a run scored. Dustin Harris, Jake Cronenworth and Samad Taylor all finished with multiple hits in the game.
Ray was replaced on the mound by David Morgan in the seventh inning and he pitched two scoreless frames before handing the ninth inning over to Yuki Matsui to secure the win.
The Padres will try to win the series when they face the Rockies today at 12:10 p.m.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - SEPTEMBER 03: Jake Bennett #64 of the Boston Red Sox pitches against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 03, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning! Last night, Jake Bennett was unable to hold the Rangers in check during the team’s 7-3 loss in Texas. Some of his numbers look good (seven strikeouts against just one walk), but he also surrendered eight hits in just 4.2 innings, which did in his evening.
With just ten games left in the season, the question now becomes how should the Sox use Bennett going forward? With some combination of Sonny Gray, Payton Tolle and Ranger Suarez likely to get lined up in a best of three Wild Card Series, do you just hold Bennett on the sidelines and hope he gets to come back into the fold as a fourth starter in the ALDS or even ALCS? Or do you start transitioning him to some sort of relief role?
It’s a bit of an awkward moment for Bennett. He’s been getting knocked around during his last two outings while Suarez is seemingly getting locked in. It almost certainly cuts him out of the Wild Card rotation, and if the Sox get some combination of Garrett Crochet, Tanner Houck and Tyron Guerrero back to add to Aroldis Chapman, Garrett Whitlock and Erik Miller in the bullpen, Bennett largely gets squeezed out of relevance.
So how do you want him used? Do those six shutout innings Bennett threw against the Yankees back on August 29th make you want the Sox to find a role for him if they play New York? Do you think he’s just a young pitcher who looks out of gas and want to hide him until the team needs a fourth starter?
Use this space to talk about Bennett and the rest of the difficult upcoming pitching staff decisions, and, as always, be good to one another.
ARLINGTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 16: Members of the Texas Rangers celebrate after the Texas Rangers defeated the Boston Red Sox at Globe Life Field on Wednesday, September 16, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Kelcee Skoug/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Rangers 7, Red Sox 3
Your Texas Rangers are back to .500 for the first time since August 24.
Your Texas Rangers are in first place, also for the first time since August 24.
This is thanks to a come-from-behind win against the hated Red Sox of Boston, with MacKenzie Gore and Nathan Eovaldi contributing four innings apiece as part of a Jakob Junis sandwich.
MacKenzie Gore didn’t look right from the outset, walking Roman Anthony on four pitches to start the game, the first three of which were not close. Anthony came around to score when Willson Contreras pulverized a poorly located slider, with the ball ultimately coming down in the seats for a two run homer.
Gore settled down for the next few innings, though his velocity was down, and Robby Ahlstrom was warming early, in apparent anticipation of having to come into the game.
It turned out that Gore was dealing with back and shoulder spasms throughout the outing. Though he was able to navigate the second, third and fourth innings, a walk and a hard hit single off the glove of Josh Jung to start the fifth resulted in Jakob Junis coming into the game.
With runners on first and third and no outs and the score tied at 2, Junis got a strikeout, a groundout, and a strikeout. Unfortunately, he also had the ball slip out of his glove while standing on the rubber, resulting in a balk which brought home a run to make it 3-2 Boston.
All that did is make the game more the thrilling for those of us rooting for the home team, though.
Nathan Eovaldi, summoned to pitch the sixth after the Rangers tied up the game in the bottom of the fifth, gave up a single to the first batter he faced, then hit the third batter he faced. Not an auspicious start.
Eovaldi then retired the final 11 batters he faced, reminding us all of why we got his face tattooed on our backs that one time.
Nailbiting though much of the game was, a three run rally in the bottom of the seventh allowed sphincters to finally relax a bit, with Corey Seager adding an insurance run in the eighth.
It would have been fun if the Rangers had taken the lead with Junis in the game, and thus Eovaldi could have gotten a four inning save, but I’m sure he’s fine with the win.
The Rangers were 7 for 16 with runners in scoring position. That seems like a lot of at bats with runners in scoring position, a lot of hits with runners in scoring position, and a very good success rate with runners in scoring position.
In fact, I’m wondering how the Rangers didn’t score more runs, given that.
Everybody in the starting lineup got a hit, which is fun. The Nicky Lopez fans out there — and I know that you are legion — got to see their hero enter the game as a pinch runner, which had to have been thrilling.
The Rangers are now 9-6 in their last 15 games. They’ve been playing of late like, well, like we’ve thought they are capable of playing, and that they haven’t been doing much of this season.
So now the Rangers are in first place in the American League West again, tied with the Houston Astros, after the Astros lost at home to the Royals. And yes, the Astros have the tiebreaker advantage, but I’m not going to worry about that right now, I’m just going to enjoy seeing the Rangers with a “—” next to their name in the games back column.
Texas is a game back in the Wild Card standings, but because the Guardians beat the White Sox, the Rangers are a game back of Chicago rather than Cleveland, which is bad because the Rangers have the tiebreaker advantage over Cleveland but not Chicago.
Toronto is a half game back of Texas and Houston the Wild Card race, and Texas has the tiebreaker over Toronto, and is also playing Toronto this weekend in a three game set which should likely be meaningful.
Oh, and Baltimore, despite being sellers, are still just a game and a half behind Texas and Houston, and a game behind Toronto, for the Wild Card Three spot.
Exciting, scoreboard-watching September baseball! Woo hoo!!!
MacKenzie Gore touched 95.9 mph on his fastball, averaging 94.0 mph. Jakob Junis threw one fastball that was 93.0 mph. Nathan Eovaldi’s fastball topped out at 93.7 mph.
Jake Burger had a 110.2 mph double. Brandon Nimmo had a 105.3 mph double. Justin Foscue had a 103.5 mph single. Josh Jung had a 101.6 mph single and a 100.3 mph double.
Here are five things to watch and predictions as the Yankees travel to Arizona to take on the Diamondbacks in a three-game series starting Friday...
5 things to watch
Latest on Judge
In the series finale against the Twins on Wednesday, Aaron Judge exited early with lower leg tightness.
While the Yankees and Judge himself are keeping things close to the vest, his status for the weekend series and the rest of the regular season is in question. The off day Thursday helps Judge and the Yankees potentially prevent an IL stint, but we have to wait until Friday to learn more about Judge's fate.
The Yankees do have Monday off, so New York could use the weekend to give Judge extra rest before the four-game series with the Rays when they return home Tuesday.
AL East race
Speaking of the Rays, the Yankees will enter Thursday 4.5 games behind Tampa for the AL East crown. While the Yankees' chances of stealing the division away are slim, they'll need to continue stacking wins against Arizona to have a shot when the two AL East foes clash next week.
It won't be easy, though. The Diamondbacks are fighting for a Wild Card spot and will send three of their best starters (Bradon Pfaadt, Eduardo Rodriguez and Corbin Burnes) to the mound.
Can Cole rebound?
Gerrit Cole has struggled recently. He's allowed seven home runs over his last two starts, and after his loss to the Mets last weekend, he was left searching for answers.
Sep 12, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole (45) walks off the filed after getting taken out of the game in the fifth inning against the New York Mets at Yankee Stadium. / Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Cole has had a good season considering he's returning from Tommy John surgery, posting a 3.67 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP in 20 starts, but the Yankees will need the former Cy Young winner to make a deep playoff run.
Perhaps Cole can figure out what the issue is against the Diamondbacks. He said it wasn't physical, so it could be pitch-tipping or something more.
In six career starts against Arizona, he's posted a 3-2 record and an ERA of 1.96. However, all of those starts have been with the Pirates and Astros. His last start (May 28, 2018) saw him pitch a complete-game one-hitter with Houston.
Progressing Schmidt
Clarke Schmidt made his return to the Yankees on Wednesday, allowing two hits while striking out both batters he faced against the Twins.
Getting Schmidt back is a boon for the Yankees bullpen, but they'll need to get him rolling in the regular season before they can trust him in the postseason. He'll likely get an opportunity or two this weekend. We'll see how he does.
Outfield production
If Judge misses time, the rest of the outfielders will need to step up. Aside from Cody Bellinger, who has been killing it at the plate, Spencer Jones -- who has seen the bulk of the CF playing time with Trent Grisham out -- will need to continue producing.
Jones is 9-for-30 (.300) with a home run and six RBI in his last seven games, and that's with the 0-for-6, five-strikeout game on Wednesday.
Heliot Ramos will get the starts in right field if Judge is down, and the trade deadline acquisition will need to step it up. Although he's produced somewhat (5-for-18 with a home run) in limited playing time over the last seven games, he's looked more comfortable with his new team.
How these three produce this weekend could tell how much the Yankees need Judge the final week of the season.
Predictions
Who will the MVP of the series be?
Cody Bellinger
Bellinger continues his hot stretch this weekend. He's 13-for-28 (.464) with three home runs in his last seven games.
Which Yankees pitcher will have the best start?
Cam Schlittler
Schlittler's Cy Young campaign continues with another strong start.
Which D-backs player will be a thorn in the Yankees' side?
Corbin Carroll
The outfielder has been clutch for Arizona this season.
PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 24: Ville Koivunen #41 of the Pittsburgh Penguins in action during the game against the Colorado Avalanche at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 24, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
This is one of those days where I have a few thoughts bouncing around but I am not sure any of them are enough for a full, dedicated article. So you’re getting a bunch of random thoughts just emptied out of my head for your consumption as the Pittsburgh Penguins open training camp.
1. Does anybody need a strong camp more than Ville Koivunen?
The most surprising, and some might say shocking, Penguins move of the offseason was actually one of their last moves when they signed Ville Koivune, after just 47 NHL games and only two goals, to an eight-year, $32 million contract.
Given everything that’s happened over the past couple of weeks, and especially the past few days in the lead-up to the start of the new CBA, it’s starting to make a little more sense, and honestly doesn’t look quite as baffling (and while it shocked me, I never quite saw it as THAT baffling and could see the thought process behind it). Given the buyout rules, where the cap is going in the coming seasons, what player contracts are starting to look like, and all Koivunen needs to do to make it worth it, it’s still a relatively low-risk, potentially high-reward deal.
EVEN WITH THAT, there are no good optics in the short-term for him showing up at camp, not earning a spot on the roster, and being sent to the American Hockey League after signing an eight-year deal.
Maybe it’s for that reason that he already has a spot “locked” in. And maybe, given the current depth at forward, it wouldn’t be the end of the world if he did get sent down at the start (because they do have a lot of good players at forward), but it still wouldn’t look great. Sometimes optics stand out more than facts and reality, but that still matters.
Everybody has talked about what a good offseason he has had. His underlying numbers this past season were some of the best on the team. There is reason to like him. But it is time to start turning all of that into tangible results on the scoreboard.
2. The goalies will dictate the season and where it goes
In terms of the forwards and defense, I see this roster looking pretty similar to the one the Penguins were using in 2025-26. The forwards are pretty good, and pretty deep. I don’t love the defense, but Erik Karlsson can still be an impact player and I do think there is a chance this current group will defend better than last year’s (I like Declan Carlile as a potential under-the-radar steal; Trevor van Riemsdyk is a legitimately good defensive player; I am intrigued by what Kaeden Korczak can do in a potentially bigger role).
But going into the season with two young, still very unproven goalies is a GIGANTIC wild card that could take this thing in any number of directions.
Everybody loves Sergei Murashov’s upside, and he has been great at every level since coming over to North America. But it’s still just upside with him at this point, and the AHL isn’t the NHL. He’s still a young goalie, and young goalies are still completely unpredictable. His ceiling is high. His floor is low. There’s a gigantic empty space he could fit in.
Arturs Silovs has had his moments, but consistency has not been his calling card in the NHL.
If these two guys put it all together and show they are ready for the big-time on a full-time basis, I could see a scenario where this team is not only back in the playoffs, but that it’s ceiling is a little higher than last year’s team and a higher than a lot of people are expecting.
If they are not ready for that? Or if they struggle? You might very well end up in a position to get the top-five pick you are still searching for.
3. Egor Chinakhov and Nicholas Robertson intrigue me more than any other veteran players in camp
I know what Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are going to do this season.
I have a pretty good idea as to what Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust are going to do.
The fourth line guys are what they are, and I know what they are.
There are a lot of unknowns with the younger players like Ben Kindel, Rutger McGroarty, Ville Koivunen, Bill Zonnon, Harrison Brunicke, Tomas Galvas, and the goalies, but that is the nature of the beast with young players. Some of them will become NHL players. A couple might be really good NHL players. You might get lucky and one becomes an All-Star. Some will be a hit, most will strike out. As smooth Jimmy Apollo once said, “when you’re right 52 percent of the time, you’re wrong 48 percent of the time.”
But Chinakhov and Robertson remain the most intriguing mysteries to me because they have some NHL track record, have shown some ability to be good NHL players, and they have very obvious NHL talents, but they are still very much unknowns.
Chinakhov is oozing with talent and top-line ability, and he really put it all together in the second half of the 2025-26 season after being acquired in the trade from the Columbus Blue Jackets. Was it a real improvement, or just a short-term flash? Can he still take a star turn? If he can, that changes some math for you in the short-term and long-term.
It is a similar question for Robertson, who has some very real NHL skills, and has scored goals at a top-line rate per minute, but has never really had an opportunity to show if that can translate into something more.
Is 30 goals out of reach for Chinakhov?
Is 20 out of reach for Robertson?
I don’t think either is out of reach, but neither one is guaranteed to reach those levels. They are not quite as big of a wild-card as the goalies, but they remain wild-cards for what the team’s success level and ceiling is.
4. Which veteran is going to get waived?
After last year’s training camp we see Ryan Graves and Danton Heinen get waived.
Matt Dumba and Philip Tomasino followed not long after during the season.
Given the forward depth it, where they legitimately have 17 or 18 players that could play on the NHL roster, it seems likely that somebody is going to get waived by the conclusion of camp.
I suppose a trade is still possible, but I just don’t know where that comes from at this point.
5. Sidney Crosby contract prediction
This is just a guess. It is just a prediction. But I say he signs a one-year, $8.7 million extension by the end of camp and does this every year from now until his eventual retirement. I do not believe he has any interest in playing elsewhere. I also believe he means it when he says it is all just about how he feels physically.
The Golden Knights enter the 2026–27 season with Stanley Cup expectations but several important questions. Vegas still boasts an imposing veteran core led by Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner, Mark Stone and Alex Pietrangelo, yet talent alone will not determine how far this team advances.
A coaching transition, the loss of Pavel Dorofeyev’s goal production and lingering concerns surrounding health and goaltending create three defining storylines.
Ryan Craig must establish his identity with a veteran roster, secondary scorers must ease the burden on the stars and the Golden Knights must keep their core healthy.
How Vegas answers those questions could separate another championship run from an early postseason exit.
Can Craig successfully manage an aging, win-now roster?
Craig inherits a veteran team facing enormous expectations and offering little patience for transition. His challenge extends beyond installing a system. He must earn the confidence of Eichel, Marner, Stone and Pietrangelo while keeping the roster fresh for the postseason. Craig’s management of minutes, accountability and adversity will reveal whether the coaching change supplies renewed energy or creates an uncomfortable adjustment period.
That balancing act will become especially important when the inevitable losing streaks, injuries and lineup decisions arrive. Veterans accustomed to defined roles may be asked to accept reduced minutes, different line combinations or altered special-teams responsibilities. Craig must make those adjustments without disrupting the chemistry of a group that believes it remains capable of winning another championship.
He also must determine how aggressively to incorporate younger players. Vegas needs additional speed and energy, but developing inexperienced contributors can be difficult when every defeat creates pressure. If Craig can preserve the team’s veteran strengths while building greater pace, flexibility and internal competition, the transition could extend the Golden Knights’ championship window. If the team struggles to adapt, the coaching change may become the season’s dominant issue.
Where will the secondary scoring come from?
Eichel and Marner give Vegas elite offensive creators, but replacing Dorofeyev’s 37 goals will require a collective response. Ivan Barbashev, Tomas Hertl, William Karlsson and Victor Olofsson must deliver reliable production, while younger forwards such as Braeden Bowman may need to accept larger roles. If Vegas becomes too dependent upon its stars and power play, injuries or difficult playoff matchups could expose its forward depth.
Dorofeyev supplied more than finishing ability. His presence forced opponents to respect another dangerous shooting option beyond the established stars, creating space elsewhere in the lineup. Without that threat, opposing coaches may be able to concentrate their best defensive pairings and checking forwards against Vegas’ top line.
The Golden Knights therefore need balanced 5-on-5 production, particularly from their middle six. Hertl must continue creating offense around the net, Barbashev must complement skilled linemates with physicality and finishing, and Karlsson must remain a dependable two-way contributor. Olofsson’s shot could also become valuable on the power play. A breakout season from Bowman or another younger forward would make the lineup deeper and less predictable. Vegas doesn't need one player to replace all 37 goals, but it cannot afford prolonged scoring droughts when its top forwards are contained.
Can the core remain healthy - and goaltending stabilize?
Stone’s two-year extension confirms that Vegas still considers its captain central to another championship pursuit, but his availability remains critical. His 73 points in 60 games last season demonstrated both his value and the concern surrounding his durability.
Stone influences far more than the scoresheet. His defensive anticipation, puck retrieval and ability to create takeaways help Vegas control possession and dictate matchups. When he is unavailable, the Golden Knights lose a top-six scorer, penalty-killing option and emotional leader. Managing his workload - along with those of Pietrangelo, Karlsson and other veterans - will require careful planning throughout the longer regular season.
The Golden Knights also need stability in net after injuries disrupted Adin Hill and Carter Hart. A capable tandem can protect both goaltenders from excessive workloads, but only if each remains healthy and establishes a dependable rhythm. Frequent injuries or inconsistent performances would place greater pressure on the defense and force Vegas to chase games offensively.
Craig may need to prioritize rest over short-term results, particularly during demanding stretches of the schedule. Vegas possesses championship-caliber talent, but its ceiling will depend upon having its most important players available - and its goaltending settled - when the postseason begins.
PHOTO CAPTION
Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Spencer Knight (30) makes a save against Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel (9) during the second period at T-Mobile Arena.
DENVER, COLORADO - MARCH 08: Mackenzie Blackwood #39 and Scott Wedgewood #41 of the Colorado Avalanche hug after the team defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 7-4 at Ball Arena on March 08, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Ashley Potts/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
It’s here, the new hockey sesson has arrived!
But first, before the games are played, every contracted player in the organization must gather for three days of training camp and for four preseason games before the 2026-27 season drops the puck on September 30th. Here is the expected roster comprised of 56 players hoping to make the Colorado Avalanche roster.
How real is the youth movement?
The biggest storyline on the new season concerns all the young forwards who could make the opening night roster. But before we get to that point, I’m keeping an eye on their usage at camp and in preseason. Of course the period before the games count is time for experimentation and no line or role is set in stone. Still, there are a lot of hints offered on how the organization views a player by how they are utilized in training camp. We’ll find out their place on day one of on-ice activity.
What are the roles for the veterans?
On the opposite side of the spectrum, it will be fascinating to see the early thoughts on how to utilize the incoming veterans, Jaden Schwartz and the first full season of the second Nazem Kadri era, in particular. The assumption is Schwartz was brought in to help anchor Brock Nelson’s line, which would likely lend Kadri to center the third line. If those assumptions are incorrect then we’ll see what Jared Bednar has in mind for his line construction.
Is everyone actually healthy?
Attendance has been strong at captain’s skates but there’s always a few curiosities leading to health questions. Cale Makar had been easing in and skating on his own away from the group for the most part. Jared Bednar remarked in his opening press conference that Makar is dealing with a new lower-body injury and might not participate right away in camp. Nathan MacKinnon was missing for all pre-camp gatherings but did skate with his teammates once two days before the start of training camp. Bednar said there was a handful of lingering issues from the offseason so attendance at camp might be an interesting topic to follow.
Colorado Avalanche Head Coach Jared Bednar provided some updates on injuries heading into training camp pic.twitter.com/evuN4avPXt
This is the first fall under the NHL’s new Collective Bargaining Agreement, which has increased the regular season slate by two games to 84. In exchange, preseason was shortened by a week and reduced to a maximum of four exhibition games. Will we see an Avalanche squad full of older veterans rejuvenated due to this extra rest or will they stumble out of the gate with a lack of cohesive preparation? Gauging energy and cohesion will be an early temperature check.
How are the goaltenders shaking out?
This one isn’t just for the Colorado Avalanche with the Lumberyard duo of Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood as the Colorado Eagles have their very own interesting tandem set for this season with the entrenched Trent Miner and top prospect Ilya Nabokov now in the fold. I’m watching to see how their playing time is split especially with the lessened opportunity to get in just the four exhibition games. Four solid goalies in an organization is a good problem to have but the aim is probably to have a starter for each team identified by puck drop on the regular season.
What do you want to hear about from training camp? Let us know in the comments!
Tonight, commemorating the great White Sox career of Tim Anderson upon his retirement on August 10, the White Sox are cracking out their original City Connect uniform “the Southside” as well as honoring the shortstop with a special pregame ceremony.
Over 10 years in the big leagues, Anderson established himself as a White Sox franchise icon, one of the game’s most unique offensive players and a true original on the field.
Immediately upon the news that Anderson was retiring and that the White Sox would be honoring his contribution to the franchise, we at South Side Sox felt compelled to honor him. What follows are the special remembrances from several on staff.
Dante Jones Tim Anderson is part of why I still love baseball. We are currently in an era featuring fewer black players than we’re accustomed to, and during his time in the spotlight Anderson was unapologetically himself, which meant unapologetically BLACK. You can see it in the black and Afro Latino players in the game today, with a freedom of expression that so many who came before weren’t allowed.
Anderson was also a damn good White Sox player.
“It’s just BABIP luck,” was the excuse for Anderson’s excellence — until he was too good to be denied his due. There were batting titles and cornfield walk-offs, and tosses of the bat after racists got mad; you’re not stopping Tim from playing the game his way. He was the face of a White Sox era that some will be happy to forget, but real fans know how important it was.
Plus, Tim was the only player who really looked cool in the Southside jerseys.
Melissa Sage-Bollenbach Tim Anderson deserves a tribute night, and I’m glad he’s getting his due. Bringing back the original Southside uniforms for the occasion is just icing on the cake. No one wore that uniform better than No. 7.
Anderson brought an energy and swagger that helped define an era of White Sox baseball. From 2016-21, as the Sox went from rebuilding to contending, TA was at the center of it all. He was the straw that stirred the drink, and after such an impressive start to his career, it seemed like he was destined to be a fixture on the South Side for a long time.
For me, though, my fondest memory of Tim will always be the Field of Dreams game in 2021. I was lucky enough to be there in person and watch Anderson walk off the Yankees, with one swing into the Iowa corn. The entire night already felt like a dream, and somehow TA found a way to write the Hollywood ending.
Tim Anderson never apologized for who he was or how he played the game. He brought joy, emotion and personality to the ballpark.
He WAS a South Sider. And for all the unforgettable moments along the way, thanks for the memories, TA.
Nello Rubio I will never forget how kind, fun and all-around great player and person Tim Anderson was. I got a chance to interview him at SoxFest in 2017, talking to him about how much his role would change as he evolved into a leader in his first full year in the big leagues. His awareness, and attention to detail in his answers, was something I found interesting. In fact, when I met again a day or two later, he remembered me. His sharp attention to detail is one of the things that made him such a truly remarkable player, and person.
Brett Ballantini His actions on the field spoke loudly enough: By WAR the 38th-best position player in White Sox history, buried deep on the rich list of franchise shortstops but the talent to watch on the White Sox as the teens segued into the 20s. Tim Anderson was one of the rare players in Chicago, and relatively rare players across MLB, who you tuned in to watch. What he would do in a game was most important, but how he would do it was nearly more so.
I only ever got to know Tim a little bit, and most of that via a Zoom screen in pandemic times, but what came through to me and what will always make him a personal favorite, was his humanity. His care for teammates, personality on the field, incredible skills that both played to type and stretched in unexpected directions. H
And, of course, his heart. TA was the motor who propelled the White Sox.
Right along with that was Tim’s sense of fun. Did he love baseball? Sure, although his first love was basketball. Did he love the challenge of the game? Of course, because he rose to meet those challenges over several starring seasons. But Tim just loved to be out there, playing the game his way: Jawing at opponents, joking with teammates. Somehow, one of the most soft-spoken people you’ll ever meet transformed into a master of ceremonies at the plate or lolling about shortstop.
And for as much as he was loved by teammates and was an irritant to foes, Tim was just, well, FUN. And as much as he could give it out, he could take it, too:
Of all the players you know over your lifetime as a fan, the math works out where there can’t be too many you truly love. And as you get older, that bar becomes even harder to cross — for one, all the players become younger than you, at some point. But Tim inspired pride in us as White Sox fans, in a package that both entertained and impressed. Undoubtedly, I love Tim Anderson.
Year of the Hamster Tim Anderson’s ascendance with the White Sox and in the majors coincided with my introduction to sportswriting, which just happened to be … here, at South Side Sox. So for me, TA was sort of my guide into the White Sox, and even to baseball itself. He was a character to latch on to, as well as an star to be wowed by and proud of.
So now, forgive the fact that what I most hold dear about Tim has nothing to do with baseball itself, because that is what really made me admire him. TA never really played it up, and seemed to tread cautiously, understandably, around social issues. And some, including our editor here, thought Tim should do even more with his platform for social causes — his flip attitude toward honoring the Negro Leagues at least in the purview of one question in one press gaggle, got under Brett’s skin and in fact lit a match on one of the few disagreements we’ve had about coverage here.
But the man as a whole, for some of his visible and perhaps even embarrassing faults, stood tall. And I first and foremost was impressed when he stood tall … by kneeling.
This was one of the sweetest, or at least most bittersweet, moments I have witnessed in my time covering this team. A pained Anderson, his own best friend a victim of violence, kneeling in support of Black Lives Matter on July 25, 2000, Opening Night of the pandemic season. And flanking him, in contact with Tim as family, manager Ricky Renteria and left-side infield partner Yoán Moncada.
Tim was not comfortable with such shows and stands, although he made them often. Sure enough, when Brett asked him postgame whether he would continue to honor the movement by kneeling during the National Anthem, a self-conscious Tim wanted the spotlight turned off.
In multiple ways not only restricted to the grander fortunes of the White Sox on the field, it’s a shame Tim’s career fell so far, so fast. He seemed to have more to give on the field, and definitely had more to give off of it. His first Roberto Clemente Award came in 2019, and there were multiple more such citations to come.
Almost assuredly, there were untapped aspects of Anderson, a leadership gear he barely got a chance to flash, as well as continued community efforts both in Chicago and back home in Alabama.
Tim represented all of the rest of us, who did not look like the typical baseball player, by gender or color or even orientation. Over the years under Brett at South Side Sox, we’ve had many such people on staff. I daresay he is every bit the hero to them as he is to me.
All the best in retirement, Tim. Thank you for always being you.
Joe Kiang-Resis Many will point to the Field of Dreams walk-off, and rightfully so, as that the iconic moment of Tim Anderson’s career. For me, though, his debut on June 10, 2016 captured my attention. The Sox had stumbled from 23-10 down to 30-30, and the vibes were dead. Then, TA stepped in for his first MLB plate appearance, fell behind 1-2, then sliced a tough pitch into the left-field corner for a double. He finished 2-for-3 in a win, and fans could feel the entire energy of the team shift immediately.
That debut was the ultimate preview of what was to come: an AL batting title, two All-Star selections, and three straight seasons with an .800+ OPS at shortstop. Even when the team was struggling, TA had a unique way of changing the momentum with sharp contact and pure fire. It was an absolute pleasure to root for him, and I will always look back on his time on the South Side fondly.
Although they are no longer actively contributing with us here, there are additional memories to share from former staff.
Janice Valenzuela covered SoxFest for us in 2020, and from what I recall, TA was her first, or most significant, interview there. Whether reassuring her as a first-time player interviewer or swapping hoops stories as two former players, Anderson made her feel at ease and transition in real time from skilled newbie to seasoned pro.
Hannah LaMotta was a Paul Konerko girlie as a very young fan, but put together this Tim Anderson tribute when he left the White Sox.
Artist and writer Mitch Ransdell piloted our “Player of the Week” series for several seasons, contributing both art and essays. Anderson was the featured star on several occasions, and Mitch always had a unique take on a game scene.
Tom Borowski was with us for a brief time, but his artwork was absolutely delightful, including his take on the iconic “Stick Talk” moment against the Royals.
And speaking of Stick Talk, well, here’s the most popular T-shirt we ever sold in partnership with Breaking T. This came back at a time where we were more actively collaborating with the company, contributing edits or suggestions to their designs.
We sent some to the White Sox clubhouse, and what ho, Lucas Giolito was proud to show his off:
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 15: Phillies pitcher Cristopher Sanchez (61) reacts after a pitch during the Philadelphia Phillies versus Washington Nationals Major League Baseball (MLB) game on September 15, 2026 at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.. (Photo by Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Perhaps no one personifies the rollercoaster that has been the 2026 Phillies better than Cristopher Sánchez. The ace lefty has gone from breaking hallowed records to getting hit around and back again. Just look at his monthly splits so far for 2026:
Sánchez’s historic May coincided with the Phillies rise from their early season skid to find themselves back in contention. Conversely, his rough July came in conjunction with the Phillies 9-15 record that caused their lead for a postseason spot to dwindle. But yet again, Sánchez rebounded in August, and the team did with him as they went 21-7. Now in September, Sánchez is off to a rough start, and the Phillies are clinging to a postseason spot. His most recent outing on Tuesday ended up being a brutal loss to the Nationals in which Sánchez was charged with five runs and the Phillies failed to take advantage of a golden opportunity to give themselves more breathing room in the race.
Not only is Sánchez giving up more hits than he did in his strong August, he’s also seen his walk rate slowly climb dating back to June. He’s struggled more and more to throw strikes as the season has worn on, leading him into deeper pitch counts than usual and preventing him from pitching as deep as is usually expected of a pitcher of Sánchez’ capabilities. Perhaps most concerning is the collapse in whiff rate against Sánchez, particularly on his signature changeup. It’s obviously a small sample for the month of September, but the whiff rate on the changeup has plummeted to 31.1%, down from 54.5% in August and even down from the 43.4% in July. As the season has worn on, Sánchez has thrown the pitch in the zone less and less, and it appears that now hitters are laying off of it and remaining disciplined. That’s depriving Sánchez of his out pitch and leading to those deep counts and innings where numerous seeing eye base hits get through.
Sánchez’ recent struggles are amplified now not only because it’s the stretch run, but because the injury to Jesús Luzardo will force Sánchez and Zack Wheeler to carry a heavier load as the team tries just to get into the postseason. He has of course shown that he can rebound, but time may be running out for Sánchez to get himself right. The team can’t afford to wait another month for their ace to right the ship.
So, do you think Cristopher Sánchez will rebound in time?
ATLANTA, GA - JULY 21: Pitching coach Jeremy Hefner (85) of the Atlanta Braves confers with pitcher Jr. Ritchie (60) and catcher Drake Baldwin (30) during the Tuesday evening MLB game between the Atlanta Braves and the San Diego Padres on July 21, 2026 at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
It wasn’t exactly a banner day for JR Ritchie or Owen Murphy last night, as both got knocked around by the Cubs. Ritchie was coming off some really dominant outings in Triple-A, but that didn’t translate at all. They’re also not the only somewhat-promising arms that have floundered for the Braves this year.
JR Ritchie: 23 years old, 62 2/3 IP, 119 ERA-, 135 FIP-, 116 xFIP-
Ritchie has gotten a fair bit of rope this year, and done very little with it. His xFIP- isn’t that bad but it’s still not a guy you really want throwing a bunch of innings in the majors, especially since he’s also been homer-prone. Waldrep had a lot of success down the stretch in meaningless games in 2025 (1.2 fWAR), but his career has been upended by injuries (surprise, surprise). Smith-Shawver at least looked okay at times last year before his arm blew up. Murphy has had very little MLB exposure, but isn’t showing much to dream on, either.
I think in some ways, Ritchie is the most disappointing to date, since he doesn’t have the injuries to blame like Smith-Shawver and Waldrep. I guess I’d say that he might end up with the best career among this quartet, but he’s really gotta figure out a way of pitching that actually works. He has some decent building blocks, but the command is so abominable that it’s almost hard to believe that he was getting 50 FVs and all the other accolades with mechanics in total disarray basically from the jump.
The long-awaited debut of Emmanuel Rodriguez has finally arrived, and Emma is wasting no time cementing himself as a force in the Twins lineup. Through five games, he is 5-for-19 with a double, triple, and home run. Not only is he producing on the offensive end, but he has already picked up an outfield assist and has made a couple flashy plays on defense. His six years of minor league baseball showed Twins fans that he is capable of producing at this level, but I don’t think anyone could have imagined this kind of production in his first week in the majors. I want to say fun times are on the horizon, but they’re not. They’re already here.
The immense raw power has always been at the top of his scouting report and highlighted in bright yellow. Through five major league games, his power is already translating at an elite level. Out of 14 batted balls so far, 7 have been hit over 100 MPH and 9 have been hit over 95 MPH. His bat speed currently sits in the 97th percentile at 76.9 MPH, and he pairs it with an impressive barrel feel to all fields. In 49 Triple-A games this season, Emma’s 109.9 MPH 90th and 118.3 MPH max EV rank in the 99th and 100th percentiles league-wide.
He has only hit 22 homers in his last 162 minor league games, but his ability to make hard air contact to all fields results in a big gap power. The home run numbers have climbed this season as Rodriguez has increased his AirPull%. He is already one of the most powerful hitters in the world, and at 23 years old, he continues to tap into more and more.
Professional Hitter
The home runs and flashy exit velocities get all the talk, but Emmanuel Rodriguez does a lot of the little things at the plate that allow his tools to translate into real consistent production.
While the hit tool is fringy at best and Rodriguez runs high strikeout rates, excellent spin recognition and swing decisions relieve some of the contact concerns. In 49 Triple-A games this season, he ran a 20.8% chase rate against breaking pitches and 20.2% against offspeed. Both are elite marks that make it extremely difficult to get him out without throwing the ball in the strike zone. And if you throw the ball in the zone… watch out!
Emmanuel Rodriguez is getting it done on offense AND defense!
Minutes after lacing his first MLB triple, the @Twins' No. 5 prospect makes a sliding grab near the foul line. pic.twitter.com/FTGi8aGyox
Emma doesn’t have quite as much juice against lefties as he does against righties, but he has done a nice job slowing it down and staying patient. He projects to be passable against lefties, which would allow him to be a true everyday player unlike many of the Twins’ recent lefty outfielders.
Minor League Production
Not only does he possess elite raw tools, but Emma has been one of the best producers in all of the minor leagues over the past five years. Among players with at least 1,000 MiLB plate appearances since 2022, Emmanuel Rodriguez has the 2nd highest wRC+ at 155, only ranking behind No. 17 overall prospect Rainiel Rodriguez of the Cardinals.
While injuries have shortened almost every year of his professional career, he has remained an elite producer at every step. Emma’s worst statistical professional season was 2025, when he slashed .258/.429/.423 for a 134 wRC+ in his first year at Triple-A while dealing with a few different injuries. Every step of the way from rookie ball in 2021 to the majors this week has been accompanied by relentless production.
Emmanuel Rodriguez just hit for the CYCLE in order in 7 innings 👀🤯
The bat is the prize here, but another part of what makes Emmanuel Rodriguez such a special player is that he can provide value on the bases and in the field. He is an average runner that can steal a handful of bases. Defensively, Emma has the potential to be an above-average center fielder. He has great instincts and good range paired with a plus arm. He is playing a mix of left and center, but has a real chance to be the Twins long-term center fielder after Byron Buxton.
The offensive profile is very similar to that of James Wood and Nick Kurtz if the tools translate, and there is potential for significantly more impact on the defensive end than those two. The big question, much like with Byron Buxton, is whether he can make it through a full major league season. From a pure talent perspective, Emmanuel Rodriguez is one of the most talented young players to ever wear a Twins jersey, and I am incredibly excited to see what he can do in Minnesota in the coming years.
The Cubs took advantage of the Braves deciding to save their ace Chris Sale for their weekend series against the Astros.
Instead, Atlanta sent minor-league callup J.R. Ritchie to face the Cubs. The Cubs had hit Ritchie pretty well when they faced him in Atlanta in May and they did so again Wednesday evening at Wrigley Field, touching him up for seven hits and six runs in 4.2 innings on their way to an 8-4 victory, taking the series two games to one. The game featured 12 Cubs hits, including Pete Crow-Armstrong and Alex Bregman both hitting triples and home runs.
Once again, a Cubs starter struggled through the first inning. Shōta Imanaga allowed two hits but no runs in a 20-pitch first, but then he really settled down. More on this in a bit.
The Cubs got their offense going in the bottom of the first. PCA led off with a walk, but was erased when Seiya Suzuki hit into a double play. Michael Busch then also walked. He scored on this double by Bregman [VIDEO].
As you can see in the clip, Bregman got caught between second and third and was tagged out to end the inning.
Imanaga allowed a freak single with one out in the second when a ground ball that Bregman was about to field hit third base. After that, though, Shōta retired 11 Braves in a row before a leadoff double by Ronald Acuña Jr. in the sixth.
That home run established a new Cubs franchise record for home runs in a season by a left-handed hitter, eclipsing Billy Williams’ 42 in 1970. And I can imagine no one was cheering louder for PCA’s record-breaker than Billy himself.
On the next pitch, Suzuki got plunked. The crowd booed, though it almost certainly was not retaliation, just a young pitcher being wild. Busch struck out, but Bregman followed with the Cubs’ second triple of the inning, making it 6-0 [VIDEO].
That got me to wondering when was the last time the Cubs had two triples in an inning at Wrigley, so I asked BCB’s JohnW53 to look this up. It had been 15 years. Some of these names will amuse you:
The Cubs last hit two triples in the same inning at Wrigley Field in 2011— twice, both vs. the Cardinals:
May 11, fifth: Carlos Pena single, Starlin Castro triple, Alfonso Soriano single, Koyie Hill triple. Tyler Colvin groundout scored Hill to give Cubs 10-1 lead. They won, 11-4. Aug. 19, seventh: Soriano groundout, Darwin Barney triple, pinch hitter Blake DeWitt triple to cut deficit to 4-3. Castro struck out and Reed Johnson grounded out. Cubs walked it off in 10th on one-out single by pinch hitter Tyler Colvin.
Tonight’s game was the Cubs’ 1,181th at Wrigley since Aug. 19, 2011.
Back to Imanaga’s game. He allowed a leadoff double to Acuña in the sixth, and Acuña scored on a couple of ground outs. But Shōta finished off that inning with a strikeout of Ozzie Albies, his eighth K of the night on his 100th pitch, an excellent outing in which he didn’t walk anyone and didn’t allow any home runs.
Imanaga has thrown well over his last three starts: 2.00 ERA, 0.778 WHIP, 16 strikeouts and only two walks in 18 innings, with just two home runs allowed. If he keeps this up over what will probably be two more regular-season starts, he’s got to be considered for a postseason start as well.
Aaron Civale relieved Imanaga and allowed a run in the seventh, which the Cub got back in the bottom of the inning on PCA’s 44th long ball of 2026 [VIDEO].
Later in that inning, Bregman came to bat with a chance to hit for the cycle — he needed just a single. Unfortunately, he flied to center to end the seventh.
The Cubs completed their scoring for the evening in the eighth. Tyrone Taylor led off with a double and one out later scored on this single by Michael Conforto [VIDEO].
The Cubs loaded the bases on singles by Pedro Ramirez and Kelly, but PCA struck out and Suzuki grounded out to end the inning.
Here’s where I’m going to open the complaint department door just a bit. Ryan Rolison began the ninth by issuing a walk and allowing a hit, which prompted Craig Counsell to call on Ryan Zeferjahn, who immediately gave up a two-run double to Mauricio Dubon.
I mean… when you have a six-run lead, it should be easier than that to protect. Fortunately, Zeferjahn retired the next three Braves in order to end the game. Here’s the final out [VIDEO].
A couple more game notes from John:
This is just the third time in their last 15 games that the Cubs have hit multiple home runs. They have hit a total of 15. The 15-game span began Sept. 1, the day after they hit a team-record nine vs. the Brewers.
The Cubs have hit three homers in 20 games and more than three in 20 more. They have hit two in 35 games, one in 55 and none in 42. ….. Pete Crow-Armstrong’s game tonight was the 18th since 1901 in which a Cub hit at least one triple and at least two home runs. In all games, the players had one and two.
PCA is the second Cub to turn the trick twice, joining Billy Williams. PCA did it April 13, 2025, at Los Angeles vs. the Dodgers. Williams did it June 17, 1964, and May 19, 1971, vs. the Giants, both at Wrigley Field.
The one-timers: Heinie Zimmerman (1910), Bill Nicholson (1944), Hank Sauer (1949), Walt Moryn (1956), Lou Brock (1963), Leon Durham (1982), Andre Dawson (1987), Shawon Dunston (1989), Todd Walker (1989), Kris Bryant (2017), Kyle Schwarber (2017), Seiya Suzuki (2024), Michael Busch (2025) and Dansby Swanson (2025)
Games like this should remove all doubt about PCA being voted NL MVP. The only question that remains, I think: Will that vote be unanimous? It really should, especially since the two-homer game put the Cubs center fielder just one home run behind Phillies DH Kyle Schwarber for the MLB lead. PCA is also now at 9.6 bWAR for the season, which gives him a chance to be just the fourth Cubs position player to ever have a 10 bWAR season (he’s already there per Fangraphs, which has him at 10.4 fWAR).
To update you on the Wild Card race: The Diamondbacks lost, so the Cubs’ magic number to clinch a postseason spot is now 4. The Phillies and Padres also won, so the Cubs continue to lead the Phillies by half a game and the Padres by 1.5 games. The Phillies will open a four-game series against the Mets Thursday evening in New York while the Cubs are off, and so… and you’ll almost never hear these words here… let’s go Mets!
Walk watch: The Cubs walked three times Wednesday, giving them 643 for the season. They need 14 more walks in the nine remaining games to break the franchise record of 656. That record was set in 2016.
Run watch: The eight runs scored Wednesday give the Cubs 817 for the season. The most runs any Cubs team has scored since 1930 is 855, done in 2008, so 39 runs over the last nine games would surpass that for the most runs any Cubs team has scored in the last 96 years.
The Cubs will begin a three-game series against the Reds in Cincinnati Friday evening. At this writing the Cubs don’t have a starter officially listed, but it should be Clay Holmes’ turn. The Reds will go with Chase Burns. Game time Friday is 5:40 p.m. CT and TV coverage will be via Marquee Sports Network (and MLB Network outside the Cubs and Reds market territories).
