CINCINNATI, OH - OCTOBER 22: Owner and CEO Bob Castellini speaks as general manager Nick Krall looks on after David Bell was introduced as the new manager for the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on October 22, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The empirical data does enough heavy lifting for even the most casual observers to note just how bad the Cincinnati Reds are at the sport of baseball at the moment. They do rank dead last in their division, after all, and a glance at their ghastly -160 run differential this season just hammers that point home.
They’re tied for the worst hitting team in a game where you need to hit. Their 91 wRC+ binds them with their frequent cellarmates from Denver, the Colorado Rockies, in last place there.
Their pitchers walk more batters per 9 innings than any other club, fueling a FIP that’s better than only one club in the sport. Their xFIP – at 4.79 – is worsted only by those same Rockies, who just wrapped up a fourth straight 100+ loss season.
Defensive metrics are notoriously all over the place, but one – Defensive Runs Saved – tends to stand out as the most telling year over year. The Cincinnati Reds rank dead last in that metric this season with just four more games left to play.
The Cincinnati Reds cannot hit, cannot pitch, and cannot field in a sport where the three things you must do 162 nights a year are hit, pitch, and field. A more perfect recipe for being dead last in one’s division there must not be.
It’s simple to stare at the ends and point out the obvious. This is a bad baseball team that looked bad at the outset, played badly, and is now in a bad, bad place in the standings. More telling, though, is observing the means to which those ends were produced, and for the Reds those means are just as last place as the product itself.
‘Why aren’t we the Brewers?’ How the Reds remain in limbo while other small-market clubs succeed. With @ctrent, unlocked and free to read. https://t.co/XYoua5ZSFx
In a rather scathing expose from The Athletic, the disconnect between the Castellini-led ownership group of the Reds and the Nick Krall-led front office could not be laid more bare.
The owners could not be more obvious in their dreams of being successful while simultaneously being more oblivious to their own meddling. The front office, continually stubbing its toes in attempts to persuade the owners into making more practical moves, has been forced to pivot to their second and third backup plans, most all of which have blown up in their faces in spectacular failure. Yet here those factions are, familiar in a Butter Battle Book way, insistent that they be the only two voices that ever get the chance to steer the wheel of this once proud franchise.
Neither seems able to budge. The Castellinis won’t sell, won’t change, and won’t change a thing about the front office that can’t get out of its own way. That has become the Reds way, even though it has tanked any and all interest in the club despite the roster boasting a handful of the single most electric talents in the sport today.
The term dinosaurs often gets lobbed around about individuals who have simply been everpresent for so long they must be decrepit. Dinosaurs also need be used to explain how a whole sect of sentient beings went extinct due to an inability to adapt to the pressures around them, and for the Reds that latter definition rings more true today than perhaps at any point in their century and a half of professional existence.
The Reds are broken, and the only people capable of fixing that simply won’t.
Aaron Judge's mildly defiant stance on the health of his right groin prompted New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone to note that the club will "see where he's at" when the team opens its American League wild card series Tuesday, Sept. 29.
Boone, appearing on Sirius XM Radio Thursday, responded to Judge's comments to ESPN a day earlier that he has "no control" over Boone's assessment that the 6-foot-7 slugger will likely miss the wild-card round after suffering the calf injury Sept. 16.
"The bottom line is he got ruled out for the regular season as he tries to get going here. He’s doing everything possible he can to be an option," Boone said Thursday. "The reality is we have several days left and we’ll see where we are when that day comes.
"When we start the playoffs, the first round, hopefully we move on – I can’t answer that. Hopefully we move on. His body will tell us that and all I know is Judgey is doing everything he can to put himself in play as soon as possible."
Judge was diagnosed with a moderate grade right calf strain. The muscle is not torn, which offers up for a return during the playoffs, yet the range of recovery is significantly variable.
The Yankees will host the best-of-three wild card series in the Bronx, almost certainly against the rival Boston Red Sox.
TORONTO - JUNE 20: Fred Lewis #15 and John McDonald #6 of the Toronto Blue Jays celebrate John McDonald home run against the San Francisco Giants at the Rogers Centre during a MLB game June 20, 2010 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Abelimages/Getty Images) | Getty Images
John McDonald celebrates his 52ndbirthday today.
John McDonald enjoyed a remarkable career, especially for someone with a lifetime .233/.273/.323 slash line. How does a player last 16 years in the majors with numbers like that? The answer: exceptional defensive ability. Several years ago, I asked Brian Butterfield about Mac.
Last year in Seattle, we watched fielding practice before the game, and John McDonald was out there to the very end. That’s why he’s so good at it?
That’s exactly right, he’s the best I’ve ever been around. I’ve told several people in the game that he has the best work ethic and gets himself into the right position, which is better than any infield that I’ve ever had. I’ve been blessed to be around some great ones. And it’s not a mistake for me when he makes a play in the hole that brings the house down. I don’t get as excited because it’s something I expect from him, and it’s something he’s rehearsed so many times. He’s rehearsed going into the hole and getting the ball in the air as quickly as he can. He rehearses it. He rehearses it at game speed. When you look at him after he takes ground balls,, he’s got a lather, he’s tired, and practices defense quickly at game speed the way you should. He’s the best.
I watched McDonald take infield practice many times and always enjoyed it. He gave maximum effort every time, making sure to throw every ball straight over the top—never sidearm or three-quarters. While he had natural talent, his greatness as a defensive player was rooted in his relentless work ethic.
That was part of his appeal—he made us believe that with enough effort, we could be like him. Of course, few are willing to work that hard, but the hope is there. It reminds me of a scene in Kill Bill, where Quentin Tarantino’s character explains he prefers Batman to Superman, because Batman represents the idea that anyone could become a hero with enough dedication, while Superman is just born with it.
He played seven seasons for us and quickly became a fan favourite, even though he never started regularly. There’s something about backups—they’re harder to blame when the team loses.
Another reason for his long career—despite his limited bat—is that he’s simply a good guy. Everyone seems to like him. When you see a player stick around longer than his numbers suggest he should, it’s usually because he’s a great teammate. There’s a life lesson in that: skills matter, but being someone everyone likes can only help. If he wanted, he could easily move into coaching or managing.
When Cito Gaston was managing, he worked with McDonald on pulling the ball more aggressively. For a while, it paid off—Mac hit six home runs in 152 at-bats, including a hot streak in August 2010 when he batted .382/.417/.765 with three home runs in 34 at-bats. Pitchers soon adjusted, throwing pitches harder to pull, and his numbers dipped to .200/.222/.300 in September. Still, it was a worthwhile experiment; those six home runs marked a career high. Given more time, I believe Cito could have helped him adjust to outside pitches as well.
John McDonald currently serves as a roving coach for the Cleveland Guardians.
His ‘Father’s Day’ home run remains one of my all-time favourite Blue Jays moments.
Happy birthday, John!
Today marks Jim Acker’s 68th birthday.
Acker served as a reliever for the Blue Jays from 1983 to July 1986, and again from 1989 to 1991. Had he stayed just one more year, he would have earned a World Series ring.
Originally the Braves’ first-round pick (#21 overall) in 1980, he joined the Blue Jays through the Rule 5 draft prior to the 1983 season.
As a Rule 5 pick, Acker remained on the Blue Jays roster throughout 1983 and quickly established himself as one of the team’s more reliable pitchers, finishing with a 5-1 record and a 4.33 ERA over 38 games (5 starts) as a 24-year-old rookie. In 1984, despite some injuries, he appeared in 32 games (3 starts) and posted a 4.38 ERA.
The Blue Jays used a closer-by-committee approach in 1985, and Acker had a strong season: 7-2 record, 3.23 ERA, and 10 saves in 61 appearances (our relievers racked up plenty of wins that year—Dennis Lamp went 11-0).
That season marked the Blue Jays’ first-ever playoff appearance. Jim pitched in two postseason games, covering six innings, and allowed just two hits with no walks and five strikeouts. In July 1986, Acker was traded back to Atlanta for right-handed starter Joe Johnson, who made 29 starts for Toronto over the next two seasons, posting a 10-7 record with a 4.42 ERA.
Acker played for the Braves until August 24, 1989, when they traded him back to Toronto for Francisco Cabrera and Tony Castillo. Cabrera would later become a postseason hero for the Braves with his series-winning hit in the 1992 NLCS, though Atlanta ultimately lost to the Blue Jays in the World Series.
Acker was outstanding down the stretch in 1989, posting a 1.59 ERA over 14 games and 28.1 innings, helping Toronto secure another playoff berth. In the ALCS against the A’s, he pitched in all five games and recorded a 1.42 ERA over 6.1 innings, allowing just four hits and one walk while striking out four.
Acker followed up with a solid 1990 campaign (3.82 ERA in 59 games, 91.2 innings). 1991 was less successful, as his ERA rose to 5.20 over 54 games and 88.1 innings. The Blue Jays made the playoffs again, losing to the Twins in the ALCS; Acker appeared in one game.
After the season, he signed with the Mariners and pitched in 17 games, marking the end of his MLB career.
Acker appeared in ten big-league seasons, making 467 appearances (32 starts), with a 4.45 ERA, a 33-49 record, and 30 saves. Seven of those years were spent in Toronto. He wasn’t a strikeout specialist, averaging just 4.8 K/9, but that was a different era—relievers were used for multiple innings and pitched to contact to keep pitch counts down.
Happy birthday, Jim! Hope you have a great day.
Paul Spoljaric is celebrating his 56th birthday today.
Paul was a left-handed reliever for the Blue Jays, born in scenic Kelowna, BC. He joined the team as an amateur free agent, since Canadians were not included in the draft back in 1989.
He made the team out of spring training in 1994 but struggled in his first two appearances and didn’t return until 1996. That year, he fared much better, posting a 3.08 ERA in 28 games.
Spoljaric followed up with a strong 1997, recording a 3.19 ERA in 37 games. That year, the Jays traded him and Mike Timlin to the Mariners for Jose Cruz Jr., a former first-round pick and top prospect. Timlin and Spoljaric helped Seattle reach the playoffs, while Cruz went on to hit 122 home runs for Toronto over six seasons. It may have been Ash’s best trade for the Blue Jays.
After a difficult 1998 season in Seattle (6.48 ERA), Spoljaric was traded to the Phillies before 1999. In May, the Blue Jays brought him back, sending Robert Person to Philadelphia—the same Person Toronto had acquired from the Mets in the John Olerud deal.
Spoljaric appeared in 37 games for Toronto in 1999, making two starts and recording a 4.65 ERA.
After the season, Toronto traded Spoljaric and Pat Hentgen to the Cardinals for Alberto Castillo, Matt DeWitt, and Lance Painter—a trade that ultimately had little impact for the Jays. Spoljaric was released before the 2000 season, then signed with the Royals, where he pitched 13 games to close out his MLB career.
He played six seasons in the majors, including four with the Blue Jays. Across his career, Spoljaric appeared in 195 games (12 starts), posting a 5.52 ERA and recording four saves.
Happy birthday, Paul!
Kevin Millar is celebrating his 55th birthday today.
Millar spent his final big league season with the Blue Jays, brought in for his veteran presence. However, he hit just .223/.311/.363 over 78 games, and as a first baseman/DH, those numbers weren’t enough to secure his role—no matter how good he was in the clubhouse. After he left, it seemed most of his ‘veteran presence’ involved reminiscing about his time with the Red Sox.
He wasn’t one of my favourites.
Millar played 12 seasons in the majors, suiting up for the Marlins (5 years), Red Sox (3), Orioles (3), and Blue Jays. Over 1,427 games, he batted .274/.358/.452 with 170 home runs and a 14.2 bWAR (with -0.7 coming during his time with Toronto).
He earned a World Series ring with the 2004 Red Sox and played a key role in their legendary comeback from a 3-0 deficit in the ALCS. In Game 4’s ninth inning, down by a run, Millar drew a walk off Mariano Rivera. Dave Roberts pinch-ran, stole second, and the rest is history.
Happy birthday, Kevin!
Moisés Sierra turns 38 today.
Moisés was a top Jays prospect a few years back. He ended up playing 97 games with the Jays, over three seasons, hitting .229/.290/.368. We lost him on waivers to the White Sox. From there he went to the Royals, Marlins and Nationals.
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 28: VJ Edgecombe #77, Tyrese Maxey #0 and Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers look on during the game against the Boston Celtics during Round One Game Five of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 28, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Ever since the Sixers traded for Jaylen Brown—and especially ever since they signed LeBron James a few weeks later—one question has repeatedly popped up: Who will take the last shot for them?
NBA teams typically have an established pecking order in crunch time. The Denver Nuggets are going to run their offense through Nikola Jokić, the Los Angeles Lakers are going to run theirs through Luka Dončić, so on and so forth.
The Sixers might be the rare outlier in that regard. When they have all five of Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Jaylen Brown, LeBron James and Joel Embiid out on the floor, they’ll have five legitimate go-to options. Allocating one of them as the primary last-shot-taker would be a grievous misuse of their unique roster.
It would also be anathema to LeBron’s ethos.
As strange as this is to say about the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, LeBron’s greatest gift is his passing ability. He’ll likely be handling the ball and running the offense plenty during crunch time, but that doesn’t mean he’ll always be taking the last shot. Quite the contrary, in fact.
“You always make the right play,” James told reporters last December after his streak of 1,297 straight games with 10-plus points came to an end. (Instead of trying to extend his streak, he passed to Rui Hachimura for a game-winning three-pointer.) “That’s just been my M.O. That’s how I was taught the game. I’ve done that my whole career.”
The Sixers’ collection of talent this season should afford them a rare opportunity, particularly once the playoffs roll around. They’ll be able to mismatch-hunt like few (if any?) other teams.
When Jalen Brunson went into seek-and-destroy mode against James Harden in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals this past spring, he single-handedly flipped that game back in favor of the Knicks. An apathetic defender like Harden will have nowhere to hide against the Sixers’ starting lineup. They can hunt him with whomever he’s guarding, even if that changes on a possession-by-possession basis.
You’re guarding Edgecombe? Great! Oh, you’re gonna try to guard Maxey now? Good luck. You’re shifting over to Brown or LeBron? LOL.
If the Sixers are facing an overmatched frontcourt, they can funnel their offense through Embiid. If they’re going against a defensively challenged backcourt, Maxey and Edgecombe can take the reins. And if they’re matched up against a team without strong wing defenders, Brown and LeBron can take turns bullying their way to the basket.
The “who takes the last shot?” mentality is the exact wrong way to think about this year’s Sixers team. That’s the sort of ego-driven madness that they need to avoid like the plague.
They’re well aware of that, too.
“Obviously, on paper, we’re excellent,” Brown said during his introductory press conference in August. “We have a lot of talent compared to other teams in the league. But I’ve been around a long time, long enough to know that just what you have on paper don’t really mean nothing. It can, if you put the work in. But it also, if you allow distractions, if you allow the media to get into your locker room, if you allow certain things and personalities don’t work, it can be a detriment.”
Whenever the Sixers’ crunch-time offense bogs down, critiques are bound to come flooding in. Stephen A. Smith and Kendrick Perkins will be blabbing on ESPN about why the Sixers made the wrong choice—regardless of who actually takes the last shot—and why it means they’re doomed to fail. Given his well-documented hatred of LeBron, Skip Bayless’ part-time return to First Take could not be coming at a worse time.
Luckily, it’s easier than ever to entirely tune that nonsense out. Step 1: Just log off Twitter for a while. Your brain will thank you.
The good news is that the Sixers’ party line heading into training camp is all about sacrifice.
“As far as the chemistry off the court, guys are communicating, guys are having a good time doing it, guys are really pumping each other up, and guys are also willing to sacrifice,” Maxey told ClutchPoints’ Tomer Azarly. “It’s just what they’ve said. So when we step on the court, we have to kind of embody all those things that we’ve been talking about.
“Sacrificing, coming together as one, and going out there competing every single night. Those are the three things that we really have to focus on.”
The architect of this roster, Sixers president of basketball operations Mike Gansey, echoed that sentiment during an August appearance on Midday With Marks.
“It’s gonna be exciting just because we have so much talent,” Gansey said. “The guys, I think want to sacrifice. We’ve gotta get to camp. We haven’t even had a practice or played a game. So we’ve gotta see if this thing works, obviously. I like the pieces and the talent we have, but we’ve gotta get to a practice first to see how this works. I think it’s gonna work because these guys are gonna wanna be together, and they see the big picture, I think. And that’s what’s exciting.”
If the Sixers’ starters keep their egos in check this season, the last-shot question won’t be a question at all. There shouldn’t be a single go-to option in those situations. It should vary on a game-by-game basis depending on where their opponent is weakest, no matter what the likes of Smith, Perkins and Bayless will inevitably say whenever they come up short.
LeBron’s make-the-right-play mentality is the way forward for the Sixers this season. Trust the process.
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - SEPTEMBER 18: Paul Skenes #30 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches in the first inning during the game against the Kansas City Royals at PNC Park on September 18, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) | Getty Images
St. Louis Cardinals vs. Pittsburgh Pirates, September 24, 2026, 12:35 p.m. ET
The Pittsburgh Pirates are facing off in the finale a three-game set inside PNC Park against the St. Louis Cardinals. It’s the final game of the season at PNC Park, so the Pirates hope to send their fans home with a win.
Kyle Leahy (10-5, 3.65 ERA) will start for the Cardinals. He only went 3 innings in his last start on September 18 against the Washington Nationals, giving up 5 hits and 6 earned runs in a 9-1 loss at Busch Stadium. Likey has not made it to the 5th inning in any of his last 5 starts, so that opens the door for the Pirates to pounce early. One of those games was against the Pirates back on August 29, when he only went 3 innings, giving up 4 hits and 1 run in a 6-2 loss.
Paul Skenes (10-11, 3.91 ERA) is making his final start of the season for the Pirates. After an up-and-down year for the third-year ace, Skenes will hope to go out on a high note against the Cardinals, whom he lost to back on April 30 when the Cardinals were last at PNC Park in a 10-5 defeat.
Location: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA
Broadcast: KDKA AM/FM, Sportsnet Pittsburgh
Pitching Matchup: Kyle Leahy (10-5, 3.65 ERA) vs. Paul Skenes (10-11, 3.91 ERA)
BD community, this is your game thread against the St. Louis Cardinals. Chime off in the comments section below.
Feb 26, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; New Jersey Devils goaltender Jake Allen (34) slams his stick into the boards as he is replaced by goaltender Nico Daws (50) in the third period against the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Goaltending around the NHL can be one of the most volatile positions with the largest array of results. Teams have won Stanley Cups with average (and sometimes worse) goaltending while some goalies have stood on their heads and played lights out only to be knocked out due to other factors. It’s not to say that you don’t want a strong performer at the position, but rather at least competence. The New Jersey Devils plan this season seems to be at least somewhat linked to that concept.
For Devils fans, goaltending remains one of the most important conversations surrounding the team. The position has been a carousel ever since Cory Schneider’s prime ended due to injuries and GM Sunny Mehta has already made his mark on the team in the offseason by augmenting most parts of the Devils’ lineup, including to some extent, in net. The starting goaltender has changed, with Mehta shipping Jacob Markstrom out to Florida where he’s already doing Markstrom things. In his place is…well, about that…
The Main Tandem
The good news for the Devils is that Jake Allen is back after another strong season as the backup. While Allen had some stinkers of games, he did post a .904 save percentage and a 2.74 goals against average in 37 games, which was far superior to what Markstrom posted in his 44 games. While only 17 of those appearances were wins, some of the blame for the 20 losses is shared by the team and their overall performance. The goals against and save percentage and basically in line with his career averages, so while I’m sure Allen, the team and the fans all would have preferred some better results, at least statistically speaking Jake held up his end of the deal for the Devils in 2025-26.
The difference for Jake right now for 2026-27 is simply the fact that for the time being at least, he’s penciled in as the team’s starter. Again, going off of stats, that’s already an improvement from what Markstrom gave the team last season as the starter. The concern here has to be that at this later stage of his career, the larger Allen’s workload is, the more he seems to struggle, and that could result in him posting some Markstrom-esque stats. Hopefully with the other improvements the Devils have made and with a healthy team to start the season, it will be enough to help Jake shoulder an expected increase in his workload.
As per the backup, things could still change based on how the preseason shakes out, but most likely Nico Daws will finally be getting promoted to a full time NHL role. Mehta has said in interviews that while Daws seemingly didn’t have a path to the NHL level before to prove whether or not he has developed to the point of belonging here, but now he is being given that chance. Daws has looked good in flashes and small samples, but he has also struggled at the AHL level, although much like Allen’s situation from last season, some of that blame belongs to the team around him as well.
While Sunny seems to believe in Daws, right now there seem to be more question marks around him than answers. He has limited NHL action so far in his career, and hasn’t really stablished himself to make himself seem like a sure thing, even just as a backup. His first preseason game against players who are likely to start the year on the Hartford Wolf Pack also did not inspire much confidence. It’s a good thing for the Devils to be giving Daws a chance to sink or swim (pun somewhat intended?), but if he falters, the team may need to turn to the depth that they brought in over the summer.
The Rest of the Depth Chart
Another change from last year is that the Devils are projected to have some veteran depth in Utica this season. They added David Rittich on a one year deal this summer, and while in initially seemed as though the Devils might run a three goalie rotation (and arguably they still could) it’s looking more likely that he starts the season in Utica. Rittich has been hot and cold in terms of his play throughout his career, but he does bring competence as he posted better stats than Markstrom in 30 games with the Islanders last season. Considering that he’s here to be depth and costs 1/6 of what Markstrom would have made, this is a good deal from Mehta to have in case of struggles/injuries to either of the two tenders ahead of him on the depth chart. He performed well in his first preseason start to boot, so having him in the fold bodes well for New Jersey.
As per the younger side of goaltending in the minors, not much has changed. Jakub Malek ascends to the position of Jake #2 with Allen’s promotion to Jake #1, and will probably shoulder most of Utica’s goaltending load as the Devils/Comets continue to evaluate if the youngster has a future within the organization. His first season on North American ice wasn’t much to write home about, so it will be interesting to see what progression, if any, he makes during this upcoming campaign.
The Devils chose not to qualify Tyler Brennan after last season ended and also did not sign any of the four other goalies who they drafted that are currently unsigned, so as of right now, as far as goalies for the Devils go (and not just players on AHL deals) that’s the depth chart. If either Rittich or Daws are waived and get claimed at some point during the season (unlikely, but you never know) the Devils’ depth looks very thin in terms of guys who could make NHL appearances.
Final Thoughts and Your Take
Health and no untimely waiver claims will have to be on the radar, but this season needs to be about someone in net stepping up and establishing themself as the guy who can give the Devils a chance to win on a nightly basis. Whether Allen finds his consistency, Daws steps up and proves he belongs, or Rittich finds some magic and steals the job, Devils fans should not care; I know I don’t. I want someone to seize the reins and help to lead this team to success. I’m also hopeful that the change in goaltending coach might finally lead to someone actually improving instead of stagnating/worsening. With only two preseason games left to go before the points start to count, we will be finding out soon if all the pieces in net can come together.
What are your thoughts on the New Jersey Devils goaltenders as the 2026-27 season approaches; are you confident one of them will give the team what it needs? Do you think the change in coaching will have an impact? Is there anyone you’re worried about underperforming? How concerned are you regarding injuries and possible waiver claims? Who’s your pick to be the Devils #1? Leave any and all comments below and thanks as always for reading!
The Montreal Canadiens now have only two games left in their shortened preseason, and it’s time for Martin St-Louis to take a long, hard look at his chessboard and decide what he wants to do. The players have been on the ice for over a week now, and something has become crystal clear: David Reinbacher is ready to take the next step. It’s a shame for Jayden Struble and Arber Xhekaj, but they didn’t grab a roster spot when they had the opportunity. Neither could land the final blow and force the coach to anoint them as the sixth defender.
Now, Reinbacher has effectively overtaken them. In the one game he played with Lane Hutson, he looked very good, and Hutson himself spoke about his young partner in glowing terms. In the past, Struble could play alongside Hutson at times, but he was nothing more than a stopgap. Now, with Kaiden Guhle injured, Reinbacher was given an opportunity, and he grabbed it with both hands. He didn’t play a spectacular game, but he played a good, reliable one—the kind of game you want from a defensive defenseman.
Where does that leave Stuble and Xhekaj? Well, potentially on the outside looking in. Neither of them has ever had as long a leash as Alexandre Carrier. St-Louis trusts Carrier far more than he trusts them, which makes it clear he’ll be the fifth defenseman in Guhle’s absence. The question now becomes: who plays better with Carrier? Struble or Xhekaj? Carrier looks better with Guhle or Hutson; that’s normal, but the Habs will likely put Reinbacher in the best position to succeed, and right now that means playing with Hutson.
Struble and Xhekaj have both struggled so far at camp, and it’s not easy to say which has earned the right to make the opening-night roster. Right now, the answer seems to be: neither. They have one split game left to convince the coach that the spot should be theirs. If things play out as one would expect up front, with the players who have NHL contracts making the roster and the others, including Florian Xhekaj, being sent down, it will give a bit of an advantage to the older Xhekaj, as the Canadiens will need the sandpaper he brings more. If, however, the Habs decide it’s time to send a message to some players and keep the younger Xhekaj in the NHL, it could make it easier for the coach to scratch number 72. Isn’t that ironic, as one Canadian singer once sang?
St-Louis’ pairings in the next split-squad games against the Ottawa Senators will likely tell us a lot. If Hutson is still skating alongside Reinbacher, it will signal that the Habs are ready to let him take a step up. If Carrier is in the lineup with either Struble or Xhekaj, it will mean that guy has the inner lane. If, however, they play together, it will mean St-Louis still doesn’t know which of the two should be in the lineup come September 29. They did do well as a pairing in the first round of the playoffs last season, but at camp? It really hasn’t worked out. Yes, Struble scored a goal, but the younger Xhekaj’s heavy forecheck made it possible; if he doesn’t force Ottawa to turn that puck over, there is no goal.
Whoever wins that sixth spot for opening night won’t be safe for long, though. Guhle will soon be ready to return, and it's clear who will need to come out of the lineup to make way. Will the Canadiens keep eight defensemen around so they don't lose anyone on waivers? Perhaps, or they’ll realize it’s finally time to keep one of Struble and Xhekaj and trade the other.
Both are 25, playing the last year of their contracts, and will be RFA with arbitration rights next offseason, which makes them easy to trade. Whoever acquires them will still have them under control at season's end. It’s hard to know which one would bring the best return on the trade market, but from the rumblings over the last couple of seasons, Xhekaj may be the one who would drum up more interest.
It’s a shame because Xhekaj brings something to the table that few players do, but if St-Louis isn't willing to “unleash” him from time to time, there is no point in hanging on to him instead of turning him into another asset.
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 23: Manny Machado #13 of the San Diego Padres hits a home run during the game between the San Diego Padres and the Los Angeles Dodgers at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Nicole Vasquez/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The San Diego Padres got punched in the mouth in their series-opening loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday night, but they bounced back to even the series at a game a piece with a 5-1 win on Wednesday night. Manny Machado hit what proved to be the game-winning home run in the top of the fourth inning to give the Padres a 2-0 lead. The Dodgers would manage to score a run in the bottom half of the inning but that was all they would get. San Diego tacked on two more runs in the top of the fifth inning and a single run in the top of the ninth inning to earn the four-run win.
Padres starter Robbie Ray engaged in a pitchers duel with Dodgers starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The starters went three scoreless innings before either surrendered runs in the fourth inning. Despite only pitching 3.1 innings, Ray was removed from the game because he had thrown 84 pitches. Yamamoto meanwhile pitched six innings. Ray allowed one run on seven hits with a walk and two strikeouts. Yamamoto allowed four runs on five hits with a walk and four strikeouts. Only two of the four runs allowed by Yamamoto were earned. The other two runs came as the result of an error made by the right-hander on a bunt from Dustin Harris. The ball was bunted back to the mound and Yamamoto fielded it and threw wildly to third base. The ball sailed past Max Muncy and went into foul territory allowing Ethan Salas to score to give San Diego a 3-1 lead.
Machado added his third RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly to right-center field that allowed Fernando Tatis Jr. to tag up and score from third base, sliding in just ahead of the throw from Andy Pages to push the Padres’ lead to 4-1. San Diego scored the final run of the game in the top of the ninth inning after Samad Taylor drew a one-out walk. Taylor then stole second and third base, and scored when Freddy Fermin chopped a ground ball over the left side of the infield to put San Diego ahead, 5-1.
The Padres played a less than perfect game. They finished 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position and they were outhit by the Dodgers 10-8, but they finished on top on the scoreboard. However San Diego did get a major contribution from Salas who started the game behind the plate. The 20-year-old got his first taste of the Padres-Dodgers rivalry and he was pivotal with ABS challenges. Salas challenged three balls and all were overturned to strikes.
Perhaps the most critical challenge came when the bases were loaded in the bottom of the fourth inning. David Morgan was behind in the count 3-1 against Shohei Ohtani with the bases loaded. Morgan hit the top outside corner of the zone and the pitch was called a ball. Salas challenged and got the strike to make the count 3-2. Morgan would go on to strikeout Ohtani to end the threat and the inning and the game went from possibly being tied at 2-2 to the Padres maintaining a 2-1 lead.
San Diego reduced the magic number to one and took over the top Wild Card spot in the National League after the Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies lost. The Padres have a chance to clinch a playoff berth before they even take the field with the Arizona Diamondbacks playing early against the Colorado Rockies. If the Diamondbacks lose, the Padres are in. San Diego can also take care of business with a win over Los Angeles tonight at 7:10 p.m.
San Diego added Jason Adam back to the bullpen prior to the start of the game against Los Angeles. Griffin Canning was assigned to the ACL and Alex Jacob was designated for assignment,
ESPN released the latest bunch in its yearly effort to rank the top 100 NBA players. Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg both made the top 50, and, in quite a shocking revelation, Flagg is 16 (!) spots higher than the veteran guard. Irving comes in at 39, just ahead of former Maverick Anthony Davis and right behind San Antonio guard Stephon Castle. Flagg ranks ahead of NBA champion Chet Holmgren and just shy of Hawks forward Jalen Johnson. Assuming no other Mavericks will crack the top 10, Cooper Flagg is, convincingly, the best Mavericks player, according to ESPN.
The last time we saw Kyrie Irving play basketball was over a year and a half ago. Training camp murmurs have been overwhelmingly positive, and if you tend to believe the people who are around him every day, it sounds like he won’t skip a beat when he returns. He was producing 25 points and five assists nightly when he got injured, which would be more than incredible if he were to recreate that this season. Irving ranked 25th two seasons ago, coming off a trip to the NBA Finals, so only dropping 14 spots after extended time off and a major knee surgery is indicative of the sentiment that he won’t see a harsh decline in ability.
Flagg’s position on this list is a bit shocking, but only because of how the narrative around him shook out at the end of last year. Ultimately, Flagg took home the Rookie of the Year award. But for a few months there were plenty of pundits who campaigned for Kon Knueppel. Knueppel, without playing basketball since losing the award by just 12 votes, is a whopping 25 slots behind Flagg on this list. This shows that despite the talk online, a lot of people feel the way Mavericks fans do, having watched all of his games: that he is a top 25 player in the NBA. In fact, by the end of this season, this may even be too low for him.
All signs point to the two Mavericks standouts justifying their ranks. And if things go well, they may push it even higher on the list next year.
TORONTO, ON- FEBRUARY 6 - Toronto Raptors General Manager Bobby Webster addresses media on a quiet trade deadline day. in Toronto. February 6, 2020. (Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images) | Toronto Star via Getty Images
General Manager of the Raptors, Bobby Webster, addressed members of the press this morning ahead of the upcoming media day. He fielded questions on the proverbial summer of love between the Raptors, Clippers, and Kawhi Leonard, as well as giving his thoughts on both the off-season and the season ahead. Here are four key takeaways.
The Kawhi Leonard deal was a matter of trust
Webster pointed to his personal relationship with the general manager of the Clippers as being instrumental to completing the deal for Leonard. He said that the trade took a “huge amount of trust and respect”, where the Raptors refrained from taking advantage of the Clippers’ disarray in the wake of the NBA’s punitive measures.
“I think when you agree to the deal, you agree to the deal,” he opined.
When asked about potential issues regarding Kawhi’s character, Webster again spoke about the importance of human relationships in the business, saying that “from a person and a player [standpoint], we were really comfortable.”
To make the deal happen amidst the chaos of the Aspiration Scandal and the NBA’s investigation, Webster and the Raptors leaned on the person-to-person connection that can sometimes be disregarded when private deals enter the public eye.
Bobby is looking ahead, not to the past
As important as pre-existing relationships are, Webster doesn’t seem particularly focused on nostalgia about the Raptors’ last title run.
“I think there’s gonna be so many times where we’re gonna be tempted to sort of compare this to ‘19,” he said, responding to a question about Kawhi’s load management at the end of the last decade. “I think probably we need to focus mainly on moving forward.” Speaking about Leonard’s health, Webster said that “as we move forward, we’ll have a better sense. But I think… the biggest thing is he’s coming off the healthy season.”
Indeed, Leonard played 65 games last season, 5 more than in the 2018-19 season. It seems that while the Raptors are still monitoring the health of their new star, it’s not the immediate concern that it was once upon a time.
Centre concerns perhaps overblown?
In further regards to player health, Webster gave an update on the state of Jakob Poeltl, the first update on the Austrian big man’s health in some time. The GM described Poeltl is being in “good spirits, good shape,” with time at home being particularly important to his wellbeing.
There has been a level of doom and gloom surrounding the Raptors’ reality at centre, but if Poeltl is healthy going into the next season, he’ll bringing respectable offensive presence and massive size that the Raptors are in dear need of.
Roster stability, roster development
When asked about Kawhi Leonard’s extension potentially impacting the Raptors’ ability to retain RJ Barrett from a financial perspective, Webster dismissed concerns, noting that “ownership has been incredibly supportive” and that the Raptors retained some financial flexibility to potentially let their spending take them over the cap if the situation required it.
Even with the big fish that is Kawhi Leonard joining the roster, it seems that the structure of the team will continue relatively unchanged. Webster noted that “Scottie continues to mature,” and that when seeing him and Kawhi together “there’s a natural basketball chemistry” that is evident.
Webster seems positive about the upcoming season, and this discussion about the trade with the Clippers may be the last time that the executive takes the time to really look in hindsight. The Raptors seem to be all about transcending their current state. In Bobby’s words, last year was all about the question “can we compete every night?” but this year, the question has changed to “can we win every night?”
And with the season starting in October, the latter question will have an answer soon.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 23: Josh Naylor #12 of the Seattle Mariners reacts after hitting a walk off RBI single in the 10th inning against the Houston Astros at T-Mobile Park on September 23, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jack Compton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Last night’s walk-off win aside, it hasn’t been an ideal first year for Josh Naylor in Seattle after joining the team at the trade deadline last year for a thrilling run to the playoffs, followed up by signing the largest contract of his career this off-season: a contract that represented stability for Naylor, who is on his fourth organization with the Mariners, and a fanbase that was quick to embrace the soft-spoken, cerebral, often enigmatic Canadian.
It was, most everyone agreed, a slam-dunk of a deal for both sides: a round peg in a round hole for the Mariners, seeking help at first base; a steady producer at the plate who would balance out some of the Mariners’ more volatile strikeout-prone bats; veteran leadership for a young team. And for Naylor, a fast favorite with the fanbase, long(ish)-term stability, a chance to establish some roots in a community and a clubhouse after earning a more permanent place, helping the Mariners to a fairy tale-esque run down the stretch.
Unfortunately, 2026 has been anything but a fairy tale for the Mariners on the field, last night’s walk-off aside.
“It was tough as a team this year,” admitted Naylor. “We didn’t accomplish what we wanted to.”
Despite the rough season, Naylor has enjoyed integrating himself in to the Seattle community, both in the clubhouse and beyond. He and his wife Chantel have made a point to explore the state on off-days. They’ve also attended various Seattle sporting events, especially hockey games, something they’re both passionate about and hope to pass on to their young son. Naylor says the family plans to drop in to Seattle this winter to take in some football and hockey, although the family also plans to spend significant time back in Ontario with their son, as Naylor says he wants him to experience the Canadian winters he did as a child.
“I can’t wait to get him on skates,” he said.
[At this point we should note Naylor’s child is not yet one year old. Canadians: Very Serious about their hockey!]
The Naylors have also gotten involved locally with Ronald McDonald House, continuing on the charity work Naylor did with that organization while with Cleveland. Naylor, whose family is deeply important to him, is passionate about supporting families undergoing times of stress.
Maybe because family is so important to him, Naylor has also made a point to put his arms around the younger players, especially his infielders, a responsibility he shares with J.P. Crawford. The two famously took rookie Colt Emerson shopping to buy his first big-league suit, advising on cut and color (lavender!). They also “co-parent” second baseman Cole Young, who maybe doesn’t realize exactly how lucky he is to have not one but two veteran players watching over him.
“We sit by each other on the plane,” said Naylor. “If we’re not talking baseball, we’re talking TV shows or video games or whatever. But I try to take him under my wing a little bit. J.P.’s done a great job taking him under his wing, too, and I’m close to J.P., so he’s just kind of along for the ride now too.”
“We try to spoil him. We take him to the stores and stuff. Spoil him with that. Spoil him with just, like, personal time, me and him and a few other guys. We play video games every night together, and then we just talk about the day. Talk about future of baseball and our future, as individuals. We just became really, really close teammates, which is awesome.”
It’s a selfless act, to pour so much into another player, so much so that it makes one wonder if Naylor is either mimicking something that was given to him or seeking to avenge something he wasn’t given in his career. But he shrugs off the insinuation that this is some kind of karmic scales-balancing.
“I just think it’s good to be a good person, regardless of your status or age,” he said.
“I just think it’s nice to be nice.”
Whether it’s passing something along or being the change he wants to see, the effect is the same.
“If you can, if you see an opportunity to help, you help. If you need to seek help, seek help. But I don’t want to say it’s something that was done to me or not done to me. I just think it’s it’s good to be a good teammate, especially if you know someone is younger than you in experience-wise—not necessarily age, but just game experience—and you see they did something, maybe just get in their ear a little bit, say hey, that was awesome, or hey, you know, maybe try this or that.”
“I just try to be a source of confidence for people here. You know, whether it’s on a personal level or a baseball level, I just try to be there for you. If you need me to watch your kids for you because you want to go out with your wife, I’ll watch your kids for you. If you want to have a conversation about baseball and go back and forth on a topic? I’m more willing to do that. I try to be a really good friend first, and then an even better teammate after that. That’s just my goal in my career and my life.”
One thing Naylor has been monitoring is the improvement in his second baseman; he’s hopeful Cole Young will win a Gold Glove this year, and credits the work Cole has put in to get him to that level as well as the coaching he’s gotten from Perry Hill, or “Bone.” Naylor says he doesn’t want to speak on behalf of rookie Colt Emerson, but that he knows what it’s like to feel the pressure as a rookie in a big-league infield.
“Your first year it’s kind of tough because you may not know what to expect, and then the days get harder the worse you do. That’s at least what I felt. The days get tough if you’re not succeeding, and then you push a little bit harder to succeed, and then you probably fail a little bit more.”
“Every young guy goes through it at some point in their career, where you fail and it sucks, and you try a little bit harder the next day and maybe fail a little bit more and then it sucks more, and then you finally succeed and it’s like—ah, I didn’t need to try so hard for three or four weeks. I was really relaxed today and it worked out.”
It’s a hard-won mindset Naylor is trying to impart to his young infield-mates, something he says is eased by the daily infield practice mandated by Hill: exposure therapy to reading balls off endless fungo bounces.
“We’re all humans, so we make mistakes at times, but being prepared for anything is the mentality,” Naylor said, while noting he appreciates the opportunity to watch his fielders – who he says he wants to help win Gold Gloves – improve. “Helping someone get to their best level in life, and then also in their in their field, whether it’s sports, whether it’s academics, whatever the case is, I think it’s super cool to see someone succeed in their in their favorite thing to do.”
As much as he likes to see others learn, Naylor considers himself a perpetual student of the game.
“I think you can learn a lot from others. I try to learn a lot from people, whether they’re younger or older than me, whether they have five years less than me or five years more than me. I don’t really judge them on their time in the game or age. I just judge them on their knowledge. I think knowledge is power, so I try my best to take information from every source I can. Coaches, players, retired players. I like to learn. I think if you have a lot of tools in your toolkit, you’ll benefit at the end of the day. If you kind of limit yourself to being like a one-trick pony, it kind of hurts you sometimes. And I’ve been both. I’ve been the one-trick pony, and then I had to learn that it’s a game of adjustments and a game of kind of maybe doing things different sometimes.”
No one can accuse Naylor of being a one-trick pony; he’s one base shy of tying his record from last year, an impossible-seeming 30 bags from a slower-footed first baseman. Naylor credits fellow Canadian Dave McKay, the first base coach in Arizona, for teaching him a ton about the mechanics of stealing bases, as well as Mariners first base coach Eric Young Jr. for helping him study pitchers and understand advance scouting to triple his stolen base output for the second consecutive year.
“I just try to find ways to win,” said Naylor.
Naylor does not shy from doing what it takes to win. Some of his best accountability partners? His brothers, Bo and Myles.
“I try to improve my whole game every off season. I try to look back at the season—where I failed, what I didn’t do as well, and how it can get better, and then God willing, get better. In the off season you have a lot of time to think, you’re not really playing the game anymore. So I try to do a lot of thinking with my brothers, and we break down each other’s games and talk to each other a lot.”
He credits brother Bo with helping him get his swing back over the All-Star Break to where it was over the second half.
“We spent the All Star Break together, and he like broke down everything in my swing. And he said, you know, you need to start going back to this and doing this again and doing that. And he really helped me tremendously. He’s a big voice in my career and someone I listen to every day and talk to every day or every other day.”
While the off-season is likely coming sooner than anyone had hoped, Naylor is ready to reconnect with the helpers who have helped him, his brothers.
“I look forward to just spending time with them, just discussing baseball while we’re watching a TV show or a movie, sitting in our backyard, or I don’t know, walking our dogs in the snow. Just chit chatting about how we can get better together. That’s something we do every off-season, just try to get better together.”
Clearly, Naylor is close with his family, now centralized three time zones away from Seattle, but isn’t unhappy about the choice he’s made to sign here. For the deep thinker Naylor, the first year is just the beginning.
“I’ve really enjoyed this organization,” said Naylor. “That’s why my wife and I chose to be here. Love the guys here. Coaching staff’s awesome. City’s beautiful. I look forward to kind of getting more comfortable here, and maybe I observed a lot this year just to see how things are ran.”
It helps, too, that the fanbase has embraced him so well – something Naylor is appreciative of, especially the fans who shout encouragement when he is struggling (“that doesn’t happen everywhere”) – and have been freely expressing their creativity in supporting him. Is a bunch of grown men in sailor suits (“Naylor’s Sailors”) a little weird? Maybe so, but who cares.
“Everyone’s weird in their own way. But that’s what makes you so beautiful and so perfect for who you are. And if you’re not willing to accept it, you’re not willing to accept it, that is what it is. But for those who are, I think you get the best out of the person if you’re willing to accept who they are. And you have a ton of different personalities in this sport, and in life in general. I think everyone is who they’re meant to be.”
LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani got a hit in his return to the Los Angeles Dodgers’ lineup after missing two weeks with right biceps discomfort.
He went 1 for 4 with two strikeouts and a walk while batting second as the designated hitter against the San Diego Padres.
“He looked good,” manager Dave Roberts said. “At-bat quality good, there wasn’t any chase, I thought he hit the ball hard his first at-bat, just missed a homer in that other at-bat, took a walk. It just felt like he wasn’t sped up at all and I think he came out of it pretty well.”
A roar went up from Dodgers fans as Ohtani walked to the plate to Michael Bublé’s “Feeling Good.” He promptly lined a 2-1 pitch from Padres starter Robbie Ray into right field and the fans got loud again. Ohtani was out at second base when Will Smith grounded into a fielder’s choice to third.
“Tonight showed that he’s in a good spot physically,” Roberts said.
Ohtani didn’t speak to the media afterward. He’ll be back in the lineup for the series finale.
Mookie Betts was in Ohtani’s usual leadoff spot, where he’s been since the two-way superstar went on the injured list on Sept. 8.
Betts is hitting .366 with six home runs, 21 RBIs, 13 walks and 18 runs scored in 18 games in September. He’s tied for third in the major leagues with 26 hits in September, and also ranks among National League leaders over the same timeframe in extra-base hits, RBIs, total bases, doubles and runs.
Ohtani last played on Sept. 7 against Cincinnati and came in hitting .277 with 30 homers, 80 RBIs, 89 runs scored and 80 walks in 134 games. He appeared physically compromised at the plate, shaking out his arm and wincing at times.
“A few weeks ago you could see that he couldn’t hit a fastball, he was underneath everything and it was a slower swing,” Roberts said before the game. “Just controlling the swing, the barrel, I think that’s something I’ll look at and obviously stuff like the wincing, but I don’t expect to see any of that.”
Roberts said he likely would have Ohtani leading off and Betts hitting second against right-handed pitching.
Roberts expects to see a focused Ohtani at the plate.
“It’s go-time for all of us and I think he’s in a good spot,” Roberts said. “He’s getting ready for the postseason. His mind should be there and my bet is that that’s where it’s at.”
In other moves, pitcher Tarik Skubal was reinstated from the bereavement list. He is scheduled to start at San Francisco. Reliever Kyle Hurt was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Rookie Josue De Paula sent back to minors, could return for postseason
With Ohtani’s return, Josue De Paula was sent down to Triple-A to join the Comets in the Pacific Coast League playoffs against the Las Vegas Aviators. De Paula had been in the lineup as the DH.
De Paula quickly became a fan favorite during Ohtani’s absence. The 21-year-old New York native reached base safely in 10 of his first 11 games in the majors. He went 2 for 3 with a run scored and a walk while notching his first career triple in the Dodgers’ 7-0 win over the Padres.
“He performed more than admirably,” Roberts said. “This also just gives us an opportunity to potentially have him back for the postseason. He’s a part of the conversation and he’s earned that, and that’s what I told him.”
If De Paula makes the postseason roster, he would serve as a pinch hitter.
“Josue has been awesome,” said Andrew Friedman, president of baseball operations. “Injected some real life and energy into our team.”
Longtime Los Angeles Lakers announcer Lawrence Tanter retired in June. AP
“REST IN PARADISE Lawrence Tanter! Loved seeing you pretty much every single home game for the past 8 years at the scores table and always acknowledging you with a cause you deserved the while you were living! Your voice command and echoed throughout the entire arena,” James wrote in a post on X.
“You made home games SPECIAL! You will be truly missed! Glad we got to share some time together my man! My heart and prayers goes to your family and loved ones! Love you LT! ”
While James is no longer with the Lakers, it’s evident Tanter’s influence even reached the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.
Tanter became a fixture for the Lakers, when he began working as the P.A. announcer during the 1982-83 season. His smooth delivery and baritone voice became signature for Lakers home games spanning more than 40 years.
Tanter was apart of 10 NBA championships throughout his storied Lakers tenure. He retired in June after a 43-year long run as the team’s P.A. announcer.
“We are deeply saddened to share the news of the passing of legendary Lakers public address announcer Lawrence Tanter,” the Lakers said in a statement Wednesday. “For 43 years, LT’s voice served as the soundtrack to Lakers games at the arena. He will be remembered as a cherished member of the Lakers family.”
LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the second quarter of a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Getty ImagesLawrence Tanter was the Lakers’ longest-tenured P.A. announcer. NBAE via Getty Images
DENVER, COLORADO - SEPTEMBER 22: Idedmaro Vargas #6 of the Arizona Diamondbacks rounds third base to score on a Gabriel Morena double against the Colorado Rockies during the first inning at Coors Field on September 22, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Team News
D-backs live to fight another day in playoff chase with win over Rockies “We know where we stand,” Kelly said. “The ball’s not only in our court. There’s a couple balls bouncing in other people’s courts. We know that you know our backs are against the wall a little bit, and we do need a little bit of a miracle to get to where we want to go. So I think that maybe takes away a little bit of that playoff feel factor. But obviously, we all know that we have to win every single day.”
How did the Diamondbacks perform at Chase Field this season?
“One of the things we talk about at the beginning of the year is protect our turf,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “I feel like our home record indicates that these guys have been very engaged and played good baseball in front of a home crowd. … I want teams to know when they’re walking down the hall and coming off their bus and into their clubhouse that they’re getting ready to play a tough game and it’s going to be a dog fight.” https://arizonasports.com/mlb/arizona-diamondbacks/how-did-the-diamondbacks-perform-at-chase-field-this-season
Small breeds of dogs live longer than larger breeds.
Smaller breeds have a life expectancy of 12-14 years. Larger dogs, on the other hand, have a life expectancy of around 8-10 years. For giant breeds, they can live as short as 5 years up to 8 years.
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl has the most mistakes in a movie in the 2000s.
With the constant pressure of TV or movie productions, errors are pretty much inevitable. A little continuity blip here and a stray Starbucks cup there, it can be easy for little errors to slip the editor or director’s notice. However, in all film history, The Curse of the Black Pearl is said to have the most film errors at 105 “goofs”.
Portugal is the top country for cork production.
Out of 2,200,000 hectares of cork forest worldwide, 34% is in Portugal. With annual cork production at 200,000 tons, 49.6% comes from Portugal. They must be serious about their wine.
This has been one of those series. You know, the one where the Cubs make solid contact but it finds a glove. I mean, not a lot of solid contact in these first two games. But when they do, it finds a defender. Meanwhile, the Marlins feel like they’ve had a never ending run of seeing eye grounders. It feels whiny to say that. But I’m not whining about the occurrence. The Cubs have done it to other teams plenty. It’s definitely part of the game. Were I going to whine, it would be about the timing of it. Between that and the storm bearing down on Boston, these were the last things the Cubs needed right now. I suppose, of the two, the pesky Marlins are the more frustrating one. If the Cubs could win these games, those games might not matter, or at least would matter less. The most important clinch of all hasn’t happened yet.
It’s early for me to write about Scoreboard Watching, but I look at scores across baseball and I tip my cap to the also-rans of MLB in 2026. They understand their role as spoilers here in the final playoff push. I look around the league and I see the Mets beating the Rangers, the Royals beating the White Sox, and of course the Marlins beating our Cubs. No doubt I hate seeing the Marlins doing this, but if they were doing it to the Padres or the Phillies, I’d be delighted. So I get it.
It’s all just disappointing because the pitching has done its job in this series, save the 12th inning Tuesday. As painful as that was to watch, I’m not going to throw a bullpen under the bus that got the game to the 12th inning. That wasn’t teams exchanging runs as you sometimes see in modern extra inning games. That was the bullpen closing the door for several innings and giving the offense a plethora of opportunities to win the game.
Two games into this series, the offense has four runs in 21 innings. Even those four runs feel a little fluky. Certainly the Tuesday rally benefitted from a miscue by the Marlins defense. The other three runs in the series have come from a few of those seeing eye type of hits that have benefitted the Cubs. Both the wind blowing in and the absence of Alex Bregman have paired with an effective job by the Marlins staff to frustrate the Cubs for two straight nights.
It’s not hard to imagine the Marlins coaching staff talking to their team about these games being what a playoff atmosphere is. The Cubs are a team that is in a position that the Marlins are trying to get to. They’ve been playing these games for a little while now. Before this, it was the Padres. Before that it was the Diamondbacks. Before that it was the Dodgers. After this, it will be the Braves. That’s a brutal stretch to be sure. Credit where it is due, they are 6-5 with four to go in this stretch of 15 straight games against playoff teams. Young, hungry and aggressive.
As to the Cubs, I staked out my position a little while ago. Your mileage may vary. But I believe this team will answer the bell, be ready to go and not be intimidated by any team in the playoffs. That isn’t me saying they’ll win. Heck, I’m not saying they won’t get blown out. But they aren’t going to be a team moping around because they struggled some in September. That doesn’t mean they didn’t blow all kinds of good opportunities. It could result in them having to go on the road for games that should have been in Wrigley. We aren’t going to know that before at least Friday. If whomever is that first opponent isn’t ready to play, the Cubs are going to make them hate life. If that team is sharp, it may be tough for this Cub team.
I’m not about to jump off of the bandwagon. I see a bunch of people doing so. It’s okay, I’ll see you all back next week after the Cubs win their first game. Don’t forget to at least keep an eye out for Pete Crow-Armstrong to find his 40th stolen base of the season. He has a flair for the dramatic, don’t be surprised if he finds a homer or two and possibly the MLB home run championship. It’s been a great season. You made it this far, stay on the ride.
Three Positives:
Michael Busch had a pair of singles and scored one of the two runs.
Dansby Swanson had a single and a walk. He drove in both runs.
The pitching was pretty good and one of them ought to get some love. I’ll give the kudos to Kevin Gausman. One out shy of a quality start. He allowed only two runs and struck out seven. He also made a neat play for that last out. And he threw the full 100 pitches that cap the day of most major leaguers these days. Hopefully, he just needs an ice back and a chiropractic visit after that last play and will be fine.
Game 158, September 23: Marlins 3, Cubs 2 (87-71)
Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.
THREE HEROES:
Superhero: Dansby Swanson (.115). 1-3, BB, 2 RBI
Hero: Jacob Webb (.095). 1.1 IP, 6 BF, H, BB, 2 K
Sidekick: Michael Busch (.057). 2-4, R
THREE GOATS:
Billy Goat: Carson Kelly (-.215). 0-1, DP
Goat: Ryan Rolison (-.173). 0.2 IP, 4 BF, 2 H, R, K (L 9-2)
Kid: Miguel Amaya (-.111). 0-3
WPA Play of the Game: Dansby Swanson’s two-run single with two outs in the sixth inning tied the game. (.270)
Marlins Play of the Game: The two-run homer by Kyle Stowers with one out in the fifth for the first two runs of the game. (.241)
Cubs Player of the Game:
Game 157 Winner: Pete Crow-Armstrong received 31 of 63 votes.
Rizzo Award Standings: (Top 5/Bottom 5)
The award is named for Anthony Rizzo, who finished first in this category three of the first four years it was in existence and four times overall. He also recorded the highest season total ever at +65.5. The point scale is three points for a Superhero down to negative three points for a Billy Goat.
Alex Bregman +26
Pete Crow-Armstrong +25.5
Shōta Imanaga +15
Carson Kelly +13.5
Ben Brown +13.5
Jameson Taillon -13
Dansby Swanson -14
Nico Hoerner -16
Caleb Thielbar -17.5
Seiya Suzuki -20
Scoreboard Watching: The Phillies and Cubs both lost. That leaves the two of them tied. The Padres defeated the Dodgers and moved into the first Wild Card slot, the Cubs second by tiebreaker and then the Phillies. The Diamondbacks won and are serious about making all of these teams sweat a little. I still feel very confident that in some order it will be the Padres, Cubs and Phillies.
Up Next: The series finale. The Cubs have now lost three of five to the Marlins. In general, the Cubs were good against the best teams and mediocre against everyone else, the obvious exception being the Brewers. The Cubs can split the season series with a win in the finale. Matthew Boyd (9-5, 4.06) will get the finale. Boyd snapped a long, rough streak with a good start last time out. He allowed one run over five innings and beat the Reds in Cincinnati. He did not face the Marlins in Miami.
28-year-old righty Tyler Phillips will start for the Marlins. The 2015 16th round pick of the Rangers (468 overall) is 5-6 with a 3.45 ERA. He beat the Cubs in Miami. He allowed three runs over five innings. He’s split his year between the rotation and bullpen, appearing in 36 games and making 19 starts. He has two saves. He’s been a part of the Marlin plan of having the back three-fifths of their rotation limited to five innings or less. It was June 28th the last time he threw more than six. There is only one other game he’s thrown more than five and that was back on August 13 against the Pirates. When he gets in trouble, it’s usually walks. He walks almost four per nine innings. That’s not an insane number by any means. But for a guy on a limited pitch count to begin with, that’s not optimal.
cause you deserved the 
while you were living! Your voice command and echoed throughout the entire arena,” James wrote 
