Astros 5, Mariners 6
Mariners Win: Julio Rodríguez, +0.46 WPA
Rewrite: George Kirby, -0.18 WPA
Game Thread Comment of the Day
74-84: Chart
Shohei Ohtani gets a hit in his return, but Dodgers fall to the Padres
Shohei Ohtani’s swing was a little out in front of a slider delivered by Padres left-hander Robbie Ray. But Ohtani held back his hands long enough to extend them to the pitch and shoot it through the right side of the infield.
It wasn’t flashy. But considering it was his first at-bat in more than two weeks, in a tough matchup no less, it was a promising sign.
“It’s been a while since he’s played in a game, but it just felt like he wasn’t sped up at all,” manager Dave Roberts said after the Dodgers’ 5-1 loss to the Padres. “And I think he came out of it pretty well.”
The good news quickly dried up for the Dodgers after that, as they missed a chance to clinch a first-round bye with a win. But Ohtani’s return was still significant, and the success of his end-of-season tune-up will have playoff implications.
Ohtani did not address reporters Wednesday and has only done so once in the last five weeks, despite multiple requests.
The Dodgers activated Ohtani, who went one-for-four Wednesday, from the 15-day IL before the game and optioned rookie Josue De Paula to Triple A. De Paula is still under consideration for the National League Division Series roster as a bat off the bench.
“This was the original thought, that once Shohei gets back, we’re going to send him out,” manager Dave Roberts said. “We had a runway to give him, which we gave him and he performed more than admirably. This also, as far as the timing, 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 last night.”
Read more:The Dodgers’ Josue De Paula can hit. Now he’s out to prove he can play defense, too
De Paula joined triple-A Oklahoma City for Game 2 of the PCL Championship on Wednesday. And Ohtani slid into the Dodgers lineup, hitting second in the batting order for the first time this season, with Mookie Betts leading off against the Padres southpaw.
“I know Shohei, Mookie, they’re always on board with whatever I decide to do,” Roberts said. “I think it just makes it tougher to navigate versus left. There’s a Mookie tax [to get to Ohtani]. If you want to get to Freddie [Freeman], there’s a Will Smith tax. I like that. And versus a right-hander, I like kind of flipping those two for the same reasons.”
Ohtani, welcomed back in his first at-bat by a partial standing ovation, walked in his second plate appearance. And with two out and the bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth inning, he appeared to have walked again.
Then Padres catcher Ethan Salas tapped the top of his head to challenge the ball call. And an ABS review showed the fastball had clipped the top of the strike zone. Ohtani fouled off the next two pitches before whiffing on a sinker to end the inning.
That missed opportunity rolled right into a sloppy fifth inning for the Dodgers defense.
Starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto had given up a two-run homer to Manny Machado the previous inning but had otherwise avoided damage.
To open the fifth, he induced Salas to hit the ball on the ground, but it got away from second baseman Tommy Edman as he dove up the middle, for a single.
Yamamoto then got a soft grounder out of Fernando Tatís Jr. But it was too soft, giving Tatís time to reach first before third baseman Max Muncy could get off a throw.
With runners on first and second, Yamamoto had a chance to contribute on defense, fielding Dustin Harris’ comebacker bunt. But Yamamoto’s throw to third sailed wide, allowing a run to score. Machado then made it a 4-1 game with a sacrifice fly.
Ohtani came up to the plate again in the seventh inning and put Dodgers fans on the edge of their seats by sending a long fly ball to straightaway center field. But the cheers died down as it fell shy of the fence.
“I think if you look back at the last couple weeks when he was active, he wasn’t really getting to that pitch,” Roberts said of the high fastball. “I think there might have been one pitch late that he squared up to left field that was at the top of the zone. But outside of that it was hard for him to catch up. I think tonight showed that he’s in a good spot physically.”
The top of the Dodgers order got one last chance to start a rally in the ninth inning, against star closer Mason Miller. Only Will Smith reached base, on a walk, and advanced to third on defensive indifference. Ohtani struck out on a slider.
“[Ohtani] certainly feels way better with the rest,” president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said before the game. “The biggest thing with five games to go is get him as many at-bats as we can, some rhythm and timing.”
Ohtani could get a day off in that span, Friedman said, but the Dodgers will make those decisions based on how he’s feeling.
Read more:Shohei Ohtani to return from IL Wednesday, but Dodgers still have unanswered questions in final week
“Just getting as many at-bats as he can and that rhythm and timing back before we head into October is going to be really helpful,” Friedman said.
Ohtani was not in rhythm before he landed on the IL. In the last three weeks before the Dodgers finally shelved him, he had a .130 batting average. And he only had two hits in his last seven games (26 at-bats) before the move.
“You end up making subconscious adjustments where you’re protecting yourself,” Friedman said, “and there’s just slight degradation as that’s happening that compounds over time.”
Though the Dodgers downplayed the correlation before Ohtani landed on the IL, they now hope that Ohtani’s improved health will go hand-in-hand with better performance.
“Shohei says he feels back to where he was earlier in the year, which is great, which is a good start,” Friedman said. “As they are coming back, it’s important for them to feel that way … now the question is, as you start to load on real games and that intensity and that workload, it’s making sure that what we’ve done keeps guys in position to be at their best.”
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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Takeaways from the Ducks 2-1 Preseason Loss to the Kings
Already at the halfway point of the 2026 compressed NHL Preseason, the Anaheim Ducks hosted their rival Los Angeles Kings for their second game of the exhibition season on Wednesday night at Honda Center.
The Ducks iced an NHL-heavy lineup in their exhibition opener against the San Jose Sharks (who did not) on Sunday, but their roster in this game was far more of a mixed bag and far more equal to that of their opponent.
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Heading into the game, the player to watch may have been young Jayden Kurtz (18), who was three months removed from his draft and was tasked with first-pair deployment in his first outing on an NHL ice sheet, paired alongside Pavel Mintyukov to start.
Here’s how the Ducks lined up for this game:
Vatrano-Poehling-Sidorov
Mallot-Washe-Colangelo
Pitre-Procyszyn-Caulfield
Nesterenko-Gaucher-Traff
Mintyukov-Kurtz
Mitchell-Luneau
Smith-Warren
Lukas Dostal got the nod in the Anaheim crease for this game and stopped 17 of the 19 shots he faced. He was opposed by Anton Forsberg, who saved 24 of 25.
Game Notes
This game was a somewhat sloppy affair, as has become custom for preseason tilts with rosters such as these. Combined, the two clubs went 0 for 11 on the power play. Lack of finishing touch was apparent from Anaheim’s group, as on the handful of occasions they were able to generate quality looks, Forsberg made a key save on the doorstep.
Tristan Luneau: From the Ducks’ perspective, this game was “The Tristan Luneau Show.” He led the team in even-strength TOI (18:57), over three minutes more than Pavel Mintyukov (15:03). He also led the team in power play TOI (5:51) and shorthanded TOI (3:20).
He displayed every aspect of what can potentially make him a special player at the NHL level. His puck retrievals are now refined, he’s dictating pace when the puck is on his stick, manipulating defenders at the blueline and deep into the offensive zone, and on the defensive side of the puck, his gaps were precise, and his physicality was apparent in the small areas.
Jayden Kurtz: After a pedestrian rookie camp and tournament, Kurtz made his NHL preseason debut and didn’t seem out of place. His instincts are present, as he has sophisticated weight on his first passes out of the zone, displays an effective gap against the rush, and gets his stick in lanes with consistency.
He’s still a raw prospect, but this game showed the first flashes of what he can become at the highest level with a few more years of development under his belt.
Cycle Offense: It’s too early to read into system or style tweaks, but an encouraging sign from this game came from extended cycle sequences when forwards like Frank Vatrano, Nikita Nesternko, Yegor Sidorov, etc. released higher in the offensive zone with possession, opening up new lanes and forcing defensemen to activate, ultimately creating disruption within the Kings’ defensive structure.
Noah Warren: In his development, Warren has come leaps and bounds in terms of his stride and four-way mobility. He’s now a confident, effective, polished defender in every facet (rush, gap, coverage, angles, etc.). However, to have a true impact at the NHL level if/when he gets a shot with the Ducks, his puck skills and decision making under duress will need to reach a certain floor. He had shots and passes disrupted in precarious situations on multiple occasions in this game, and a simplification of his execution may be in order.
The Ducks will be right back at it for Game 3 of their four-game preseason on Thursday evening, when they’ll head north to take on the San Jose Sharks.
Takeways from the Ducks 6-2 Preseason Win over the Sharks
Ducks Sign Tim Washe to Four-Year Extension
Injuries Piling Up for Ducks in the Early Days of Training Camp
Beloved Lakers public address announcer Lawrence Tanter dies at 76
The Lakers’ longtime public address announcer Lawrence Tanter died Wednesday, the team announced. He was 76.
Remembered for his smooth, baritone voice, Tanter served as the voice of the Lakers for more than four decades. Tanter narrated chapters of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal, LeBron James and now Luka Doncic. After a stroke suffered in March forced him to retire from his game day role, he transitioned to an advisory role in June.
“For 43 years, LT’s voice served as the soundtrack to Lakers games at the arena,” the team said in a statement Wednesday. “He will be remembered as a cherished member of the Lakers family.”
Tanter started with the team in 1982 when the Lakers played in the Forum. His signature calls — “toooo many steps,” “Kobeee Bryant,” “Lllaker Girlsss” — were not boastful or over the top. For a franchise that came to embody old Hollywood glamour, Tanter’s voice became the ideal soundtrack.
Lawrence Tanter, forever in our hearts as a member of the Lakers family 💜 pic.twitter.com/IOmRECqu8m
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) September 24, 2026
“A true original that added his unique style to Showtime,” Lakers governor Jeanie Buss wrote on X on Tuesday. “Rest in peace, LT.”
He backed fans up as they celebrated 10 championships during his tenure. He offered comfort in other, painful times.
Days after Lakers legend Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash in 2020, Tanter guided a sold out crowd through a tearful pregame routine, introducing all five of the Lakers’ starters with a familiar call: “Number 24, 6-6, 20th year out of Lower Merion High School, Kobeeee Bryant.”
The 6-foot-7 Tanter towered over many, but greeted everyone with a kind smile and warm conversation. Just as the players he serenaded with his calls became institutions in the sport, so did he. Tanter was inducted into the Southern California Sports Broadcaster Hall of Fame.
“I hope the team wears an LT patch this season,” former Lakers center and current team broadcaster Mychal Thompson wrote on X on Tuesday.
“He was a great vibe dude, always engaged me in conversation about jazz, he was a music lover and the best announcer in the NBA,” Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist and longtime Lakers fan Flea wrote on X. “I realized when attending many other NBA arenas that no one else came close.”
While many in his profession brought energy with loud, hyped up calls, Tanter held firm with his cool style. He “never tried to be a cheerleader,” Tanter told The Times’ Bill Plaschke in June.
“It’s been a great run,” Tanter said after announcing his retirement. “I’ve been blessed.”
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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
D-Backs Take Care of Business in Denver
Incredibly, the Diamondback’s season truly is coming down to the wire. In one sense, it’s an immense privilege that their postseason hopes are still alive at this point in the season. But it’s also incredibly frustrating to know their fate isn’t entirely their own and it’s tempting to look back at all of the wasted opportunities that could have made the difference. Ultimately, they can only control the outcomes of their own games and will have to hope the rest works itself out.
The D-Backs’ offense has not been particularly potent in the first inning – they prefer to do their damage later in the game as befits their comeback moniker. They own a modest .239/.304/.423 slash line in opening frames and have scored just 71 runs on the season, but you could have been fooled differently on Wednesday night. After Lars Nootbaar struck out to open the game, Ketel Marte lined the ball into left field, but instead of an easy second out, Zac Veen just completely whiffed on the ball and Marte ended up at second on the error. From there, the D-Backs took full advantage of the mental error with an RBI single from Gabriel Moreno and a pair of two-out singles from Pavin Smith and Nolan Arenado, the latter of which plated Moreno. But the coup de grace was a picture-perfect liner along the foul line from Corbin Carroll that resulted in his majors-leading 17th triple that scored both Smith and Arenado to give the D-Backs and Merrill Kelly an immediate four-run lead. Maddeningly, after the first inning, the D-Backs were mostly shut down offensively. They went down in order in four straight innings (six times overall) and even when they did get baserunners, they found ways to get themselves out of it with two separate double plays. Their final run came on a solo home run from Tim Tawa that just barely escaped the ballpark.
Kelly, who’s had anything but an easy year, did what the team needed him to do – especially when playing with a lead. He wasn’t dominant by any means, but he minimized the amount of traffic around him and pitched to contact wherever he could. His changeup was particularly devastating, generating four of the eight whiffs he had on the night. There were a couple trouble spots, particularly in the second and third innings. In the former, a one-out walk to Kyle Karros quickly turned into a run when Adael Adamor drove Carroll right up to the right field wall where he tried to make an incredible leaping catch but couldn’t quite complete the play that allowed the Rockies to get on the board and Adamor to reach second. Then in the fourth, consecutive singles from Ezequiel Tovar and our old friend Jake McCarthy opened the frame to put Rockies on the corners. Kelly did manage to strike out Cole Carrigg, but Hunter Goodman was able to elevate an inside slider deep enough into left field to score Tovar on the sacrifice fly. As has been talked about increasingly frequently, the Arizona bullpen is a real strength of the team and Torey Lovullo has stated he wants to dip into it as soon as he realistically can. It delivered once again tonight with 3.2 innings of one-run ball (a solo shot from Tovar that just cleared the fence) to provide a (mostly) stress-free win.
Of course, the D-Backs’ game was only half of the equation. The other half went down in Chavez Ravine where the Padres took down the Dodgers to move into the top Wild Card spot and bring Arizona’s elimination number (the combination of Arizona losses and San Diego wins) down to two. Their path to the postseason is not quite closed, but it’s so narrow that it’s difficult to even be able to see it. For now, they’ll need to win tomorrow for the sweep against the hapless Rockies before going into San Diego on Friday with their season on the line. It should be a fun, exciting few days of baseball as the season comes to a close.
Senators Lose Preseason Home Opener 4-2 To Leafs' Split Squad
The Senators hoped the stronger half of their split squad would take care of business at home Wednesday night.
Instead, a Toronto Maple Leafs lineup made up largely of players fighting for jobs came into Canadian Tire Centre and handed them a 4–2 loss.
It completed a sweep of the night for Toronto. Across town at Scotiabank Arena, the Leafs dressed most of their stars and beat Ottawa’s other group, 6–1.
The home game was much closer, but Ryan Tverberg broke a 2–2 tie with less than five minutes remaining, and Teddy Blueger added an empty-net goal.
After a scoreless first, Henrik Rybinski opened the scoring on the power play at 3:51 of the second, putting home a rebound at the side of the net. The goal was initially waved off because the puck seemed to go off the crossbar and straight out. But the replay clearly showed the puck entering the net.
Dylan Cozens answered less than three minutes later. He took the puck off Leafs defenceman Blake Smith and beat Anthony Stolarz with a wrist shot to tie the game.
Toronto went back in front midway through the third when Steven Lorentz redirected a Marshall Rifai shot past Linus Ullmark.
Ottawa replied just 41 seconds later, courtesy of Hoyt Stanley. The young defenceman gathered a loose puck, patiently pulled it to his backhand and beat Stolarz to make it 2–2.
Stanley was the Sens top pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, which isn't quite as impressive as it sounds. He was a fourth-round pick because the Sens had traded away their first three picks. But that slick goal won't hurt Stanley's stock with Senators’ evaluators.
Tverberg settled things at 15:43 of the third, beating Ullmark with a snap shot from the left faceoff circle. Blueger added some insurance, scoring into the empty net with eight seconds remaining. Ullmark finished with 20 saves for Ottawa, while Stolarz made 19 for Toronto.
The Senators will get one more split-squad night Saturday, when they face the Montreal Canadiens in simultaneous games in Ottawa and Montreal. Both start at 7 p.m. That will be the club's preseason finale. The regular season begins Oct. 3.
By Steve Warne
The Hockey News
Dodgers 11-game home winning streak snapped in 5-1 loss to Padres
After shutting out the Padres on Tuesday, the Dodgers could only muster one run in a 5-1 defeat on Wednesday, snapping their home winning streak at 11 games.
Both Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Robbie Ray kept the hitters in check over their first three innings, as Yamamoto secured three shutout innings on just 36 pitches while Ray needed 70 pitches in that same time.
Yamamoto began the top of the fourth inning by brushing the jersey of Dustin Harris on an inside pitch to give San Diego a leadoff baserunner, and Manny Machado ensured the Padres wouldn’t be shut out again as he launched a two-run home run to center field to give San Diego the first lead.
The Dodgers responded with two consecutive singles from Teoscar Hernández and Kyle Tucker to begin the bottom of the fourth inning, and Andy Pages had his first hit back from the injured list with a bloop single to center field. Ray managed to get Max Muncy to fly out to shallow center, but his night was done after tossing 84 pitches over 3 1/3 innings. He was charged with a run as Tommy Edman lifted a sacrifice fly to put the Dodgers on the board. Mookie Betts walked on four pitches to make it bases loaded with two outs for Shohei Ohtani, but David Morgan got him whiffing on a fastball at 99 miles per hour on a 3-2 count to leave them loaded.
San Diego picked up where they left off against Yamamoto in the top of the fifth inning, as Ethan Salas and Fernando Tatis Jr. both singled to open the frame. A bunt attempt from Harris was hit right back to Yamamoto, but an errant throw to third allowed Salas to score. Manny Machado brought home Tatis with a sacrifice fly to center field, giving him three RBI on the night and making it a three-run San Diego lead.
Yamamoto would finish his night going six innings, marking the first time he didn’t log at least seven innings in the month of September. Wednesday’s outing was the first time since September 2 where Yamamoto allowed at least two earned runs, with his four strikeouts on the night being the fewest since he struck out three against the Boston Red Sox on August 1. Yamamoto ends the regular season with a 2.53 ERA, striking out 182 hitters across 185 innings.
The Dodger bullpen would hold San Diego in check until the top of the ninth inning as Blake Treinen allowed an RBI single to Freddy Fermin, allowing Samad Taylor to score to make it a 5-1 Padres lead.
Teoscar Hernández recorded another three-hit game, his third of the month, finishing 3-4 with three singles while raising his season average to .270 for the first time since June 30.
Andy Pages also finished with a three-hit night in his second game off the injured list, giving him his first multi-hit game since August 17 against the Colorado Rockies. Shohei Ohtani finished 1-4 with a single, a walk and two strikeouts in his first game off the injured list.
With the Dodgers losing on Wednesday, they once again sit two games back of the Milwaukee Brewers for the top seed in the National League playoff picture. The Dodgers are still four games above the Atlanta Braves for a first-round bye, and their magic number to secure a bye remains at 1.
Game particulars
- Home runs— Manny Machado (29)
- WP— Yuki Matsui (4-1): 1 IP, 1 hit, 0 runs, 1 walk, 0 strikeouts
- LP— Yoshinobu Yamamoto (14-9): 6 IP, 5 hits, 4 runs (2 earned runs), 1 walk, 4 strikeouts
Up next
The Dodgers play their final home game of the regular season against San Diego on Thursday (7:10 p.m. PT, SportsNet LA) before heading up to San Francisco for their final regular season series. Tyler Glasnow faces Nick Pivetta.
Utah Jazz season preview with Shreyas Laddha of the Salt Lake Tribune
Shreyas Laddha of the Salt Lake Tribune was kind enough to join me on the Hoops Nerd Podcast. We discussed all of the following:
- Laddha’s journey to the NBA and how he got to Utah
- Darryn Peterson, his injury history, and whether he’s healthy for the upcoming season. We also discussed intel from Jazz workouts
- How Ace Bailey is looking in workouts and what the Jazz are impressed with
- Keyonte George and his new contract and what his role might be
- His prediction, as of today before camp, of what the Jazz starting lineup might look like
- The food in SLC and what he’s looking for, and what he thinks of fry sauce (very important reporting on this one).
Make sure to give Shreyas a follow on Twitter: @shre98
And make sure to read him at the Salt Lake Tribune! https://www.sltrib.com/staff/sladdha@sltrib.com/
Also, make sure to leave your best food recommendations in Salt Lake and Utah in the comments.
And as always, make sure to download the SB Nation app to make sure you don’t miss out on any Utah Jazz coverage.
Longtime Lakers PA announcer Lawrence Tanter dies at 76: NBA world pays tribute to legendary voice
Lawrence Tanter, who served as the public address announcer for the Los Angeles Lakers for 43 years, has died, the team announced on social media on Sept. 23. He was 76 years old.
"Lawrence Tanter, forever in our hearts as a member of the Lakers family," the Lakers posted on X, formerly Twitter, with a purple heart emoji.
The post was accompanied by the following statement announcing Tanter's death: "We are deeply saddened to share the news of the passing of legendary Lakers public address announcer Lawrence Tanter. 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."
Lawrence Tanter, forever in our hearts as a member of the Lakers family 💜 pic.twitter.com/IOmRECqu8m
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) September 24, 2026
Tanter, who began working for the Lakers in 1982, announced his retirement at the end of the 2025-26 season but planned to stick around the team as "Special Advisor for Game Presentation," the Lakers announced in June. Per ESPN, Tanter suffered a stroke in March 2026 and missed the Lakers' final six home games of the regular season and the playoffs.
NBA world reacts to Lawrence Tanter's death
Tanter was a beloved individual throughout the NBA landscape. Social media tributes poured in immediately once the news was made public.
NBA insider Marc Stein said Lakers games will never be the same in an X post.
Dain Danija, Ben Humrichous get Nets training camp invites
The Brooklyn Nets have filled out their NBA roster and are putting the final touches on training camp which begins next Tuesday, adding two new players Wednesday, both of whom could ultimately help their G League affiliate this season.
On Wednesday, Brooklyn signed 6’9” forwards Dain Dainja and Ben Humrichous, both of whom were with the squad in Summer League and according to team source, will be in Brooklyn’s training camp next week. NBA teams can carry up to 21 players on their camp roster.
Humrichous and Dainja are the latest signings announced by the team whose 18-man roster — 15 standard deals and three two-ways — appears set, making if difficult for Humrichous or Dainja to find a way into a Brooklyn uniform by October 19. That’s the final cutdown date for NBA rosters.
In the last week, Brooklyn also added 6’10” Nick Pringle who played at Alabama and Arkansas as well as signing and waiving 6’6” small forward D.J. Rodman, son of five-time NBA Champion Dennis Rodman, and 6’7” shooting guard Aaron Scott, who played with the Nets in Summer League. The first week of the month, Long Island traded for Dwight Murray, a 6’0” point guard who played for Rider University in New Jersey. All of them will most likely spend the year with Long Island.
G League teams can carry up to 10 players on standard contracts and three two-ways, which the organization has already locked up with second round pick Tyler Bilodeau, Chaney Johnson and Grant Nelson who played with Pringle at Alabama.
Long Island has nine of their 10 roster spots locked up, leaving just one to fill. Their nine rostered players include Humrichous, Dainja, Pringle, Rodman, Scott, Murray, international draft pick Tidjiane Dioumassi, and two 6’3” guards acquired in trades earlier in the month: Isaiah Wong, who played in Spain and Joey Calcaterra, a UConn product who was part of the Huskies 2023 NCAA championship squad.
Just like the NBA, though, the G League has a training camp. Unlike the NBA, however, there isn’t a precise hard cap on how many players can be carried into camp. That suggests there will likely be more than one addition for LI before training camp kicks off. Deon Brown, a 6’5” combo guard who played for the Nets in summer league and registered a triple double in one game, has been rumored as a potential camp invite as well although there’s been no confirmation
Overall, Nets’ Summer League alumni currently include Dainja, Humrichous, Murray, and Scott.
More on the summer league faces
Out of those four players, Dainja, 24, is the most intriguing. At 6’9” and 255 pounds with a ridiculous 7’7” wingspan, he is a very physical player who spent the 2025 season with the Sioux Falls Skyforce, the Miami Heat’s G League affiliate. With the Skyforce, he averaged 13.1 points on 62.3% shooting, 5.9 rebounds, and one block across 36 appearances.
Throughout those 36 games, he logged an impressive eight double-doubles. In Summer League with Brooklyn, he consistently remained in the rotation despite being an invite player. Across five games in the Las Vegas portion, he averaged 6.8 points and 5.4 rebounds.
Humrichous, the other 6’9” forward, is much more of a shooter. In Summer League action, he averaged 4.8 points and 3.8 rebounds while hitting 35.3% of his threes in Vegas. His most memorable outing came in the California Classic, where he logged 15 points, eight rebounds, and five three-pointers in an 89-69 win over the Milwaukee Bucks.
Scott, 23, stands at 6’7” and weighs 190 pounds. He went undrafted in 2025 after playing at North Texas and St. John’s. While he struggled to find the floor much in Summer League, he averaged 6.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.2 steals in 40 games with the Maine Celtics last season.
Lastly, there is Murray. Standing at 6’0” and 181 pounds, Murray has appeared in 90 career G League games (51 starts) across two seasons with the Skyhawks. In the G League, the 26-year-old has averaged 8.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 5.0 assists in 23.5 minutes per game. Similar to Scott, he didn’t receive many Summer League minutes.
Other new faces
While a large portion of the roster is occupied by Summer League players this year, there are also a handful of new faces.
Out of the new guys, Wong has the strongest resume. The 25-year-old averaged 14.6 points in Spain’s top league last season. In his most recent G League stint, he averaged 20.6 points across 14 games. Wong also had NBA experience, having spent 21 career games in the pros with the Indiana Pacers (1 in 2023-24) and the Charlotte Hornets (20 in 2024-25).
Brooklyn also signed and waived Rodman, indicating that he is most likely Long Island-bound. The 6’6” wing averaged 7.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.2 assists with the Greensboro Swarm last season, the Charlotte Hornets’ affiliate.
Calcaterra was acquired in a three-team trade that sent Yuri Collins’ rights to the Memphis Hustle. Calcaterra has been an end of the bench player across several G League teams, averaging 2.8 points in 41 career games in the G.
Then there’s Dioumassi, the 6’4” French guard Long Island selected in July’s G League International Draft. At Western Carolina last season, the Paris native averaged 8.9 points, led the team with 78 assists and made 36.4% of his threes.
Roster math
In addition, NBA teams like Brooklyn can assign up to three players on NBA standard players. Of the 15 players on the Nets roster, the team’s eight picks in last two drafts would be eligible for tours in Long Island.
The sign-and-waive moves, often completed with hours, may seem odd, but they are part of how G League rosters are built. An Exhibit 10 deal can give a waived player a bonus of up to $91,000 if they join a G League affiliate and spend the 60 days there. Sources told ND that Brooklyn is one of a few teams that fully guarantees their Exhibit 10 deals. That’s on top of the $49,000 standard G League deal.
There is also a trade-off between two-way contracts and Exhibit 10’s. A two-way contract pays substantially more ($678,882 for the 2026-27 NBA season), but a player who clears waivers and joins Long Island on a G League deal remains an NBA free agent, unlike a two-way which ties them to the NBA club. Agents have told ND that, for some players, the chance to develop while staying available to all 30 teams can make the Exhibit 10 route more enticing compared to being trapped on a two-way deal.
Overall, LI has a lot of turnover this season. None of their standard players from last year are returning, and the only familiar faces are Nelson, who was an Exhibit 10 signing and is now on a two-way deal, and Johnson, who remains on a two-way deal. Both played in Brooklyn at the end of last season. Johnson played in the Summer League for Brooklyn. Nelson was also on the Summer League roster, but didn’t play following an off-season procedure to treat his patella tendinitis, which is also known as “jumper’s knee.”
Long Island will begin its season on November 6, with its home opener on Friday, November 13, at the Nassau Coliseum.
Mets' Nolan McLean puts finishing touches on excellent rookie campaign: 'Proud of him'
Before Wednesday’s game between the Mets and Texas Rangers, manager Andy Green was asked what is the biggest area in Nolan McLean’s game that he can take a step forward in to reach that next level that the skipper always talks about.
Green mentioned the right-hander throwing strikes consistently and limiting his walks, but was quick to say, “and that’s not by diminishing stuff, it’s by using the stuff you have and understanding how to get ahead and to finish.”
It was one of the many times this season that Green spoke about his young players in a way that seemed to challenge them – even when they’ve played great – because he knows they’re capable of more.
Shortly thereafter, McLean took the mound and, heeding his manager’s advice, looked amazing through four perfect innings. Things went awry for the rookie in the fifth inning, however, when the Rangers tagged him for two runs after McLean allowed three hits and a walk in the inning.
Just a few hours before that, Green practically predicted it.
“I actually think he does that really well for a pretty good portion of each game and then there’s usually one inning where it’s like here for a little, kinda lost it, now I found it again, now I compete, now I get out of it,” the skipper said. “The less and less he does that, and look he’s not gonna be perfect, but the more he drives that down and the less and less he does that he’s gonna get himself out of more jams by not getting into them.”
The foreshadowing by Green was uncanny, though it shouldn’t come as a surprise considering he’s known most of these young players since they joined the organization as the Senior Vice President for Player Development.
After that difficult fifth inning, McLean went right back to being dominant and retired the next six batters in order on just 13 pitches to complete his final outing of the season. Even in the fifth inning, the right-hander had the bases loaded with one out and managed to exit with just one run scoring.
“Those guys were aggressive so any time a team’s aggressive like that and you’re filling up the strike zone, you’re relying a lot on your defense and sometimes they just don’t hit it at guys and in the fifth inning they hit a few balls away from people and that’s part of it,” McLean said. “So I was just kind of trusting my stuff that they were eventually gonna hit it at people to try to minimize and if I get to two strikes I’ll execute a pitch and punch him out.
“And then going back out in the sixth, making sure to keep that same game plan and not necessarily getting tentative just because they put a few balls in play [earlier].”
McLean ended his rookie campaign by going 12-10 with a 3.16 ERA, eighth-lowest in the NL, in 31 starts. He’s also the only Mets starter this season who didn’t miss a single start, impressive for a 25-year-old rookie whose season started at the World Baseball Classic pitching for Team USA.
“I try to take pride in going out there and competing every single time, whether I have my stuff or not and that’s what matters most to me, just going out there and making each start,” McLean said.
Meanwhile, Green, for all his challenges that he gives his players, was impressed with McLean’s body of work and knows the right-hander will get back to work soon enough after he enjoys this one just a little while longer.
“I don’t think that was like his vintage stuff and it still found a way to be really, really good,” Green said about McLean’s outing on Wednesday. “Velocity was a little bit down today. Last outing of a long season that started at the WBC and felt that he competed incredibly well today.
“He’s just kind of the person he’s been, just figure out a way to get it done even if it doesn’t feel your best. So [I’m] proud of him, proud of the season he’s had. He’s got a lot to hang his hat on right now and I know it won’t take long for him to get back to work and get going.”
As for whether or not McLean did enough to take home the NL Rookie of the Year honors in what has become a solid class that includes teammate Carson Benge, Green isn’t so sure his right-hander will be in the conversation.
Nevertheless, it doesn’t take hardware to know what kind of pitcher McLean is.
“He’s the best rookie pitcher in the National League and I think that’s pretty obvious to everybody,” Green said.
Senators Overmatched In Toronto As Maple Leafs Roll To 6-1 Preseason Win
It was a rough night for an undermanned Senators squad in Toronto on Wednesday night.
With the Maple Leafs dressing all their top players, they didn't have much trouble with the Senators, defeating them 6-1 at Scotiabank Arena. John Tavares, Auston Matthews and Jack Roslovic all had three points for Toronto, while Tim Stützle had the only marker for the Senators
Stützle gave the Senators an early lead at 6:35 of the first period. Carrying the puck down the left wing, he cut across the crease and tucked a slick backhand past Sergei Bobrovsky. Andre Burakovsky and Christian Kyrou picked up the assists.
The lead lasted just 70 seconds. Jake McCabe tied the game before John Tavares put Toronto ahead to stay late in the first on a two-on-one with William Nylander. Jack Roslovic added a power-play goal in the second before former Senator Zack MacEwen and defenseman Morgan Rielly stretched the lead to 5-1.
Auston Matthews completed the scoring in the third, ripping one off the post and ending Leevi Meriläinen's night.
Meriläinen, who didn't have an NHL-caliber defence in front of him, was under siege all night, allowing all six goals before Jackson Parsons replaced him in the third.
The Senators went 0-for-4 on the power play, while the Leafs went 1-for-3.
The Sens had chances to make the score more respectable. Bobrovsky robbed Stützle on a one-timer from close range. Kasper Halttunen struck iron twice on the same shift.
The Senators did have Stützle, Drake Batherson, Shane Pinto, Michael Amadio, Burakovsky and Tyler Kleven in the lineup, but most of the rest of their roster was made up of players fighting for NHL jobs.
Carter Yakemchuk got the toughest assignment of the group. The Sens effectively threw him into the deep end to see if he would sink or swim. Yakemchuk led the Sens with 25:29 of ice time against a skilled Toronto lineup and had a difficult night. It was a reminder that the role he played Wednesday is a big step up from the limited, well-insulated minutes he saw during his brief NHL looks last season.
It was a rough night in both cities for the Senators. Their more experienced group also lost at home, falling 4-2 to Toronto’s other split squad, which featured a heavy load of AHL players.
The Sens will close their preseason Saturday night with two simultaneous games against Montreal, one at home and one on the road.
By Steve Warne
The Hockey News
Ben Rice joins exclusive Yankees 40-homer club with huge night
In a season where the Yankees have missed their two most established power hitters for months at a time, Ben Rice has provided a powerful presence in their stead.
The lefty slugger crushed his 40th and 41st home runs of the season Wednesday in a 9-2 win over the Rays, joining Aaron Judge and Joe DiMaggio as the only Yankees in franchise history to hit at least 40 homers within their first three major league seasons.
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Try it free“It’s a cool milestone,” Rice said. “It’s not something you go into the season aiming for. You don’t really know how it’s going to go, but as I was approaching that number, it was definitely something I was hoping to achieve.”
Rice’s production has helped the Yankees weather the extended absences of Judge and Giancarlo Stanton, and with neither guaranteed to be on the roster for the AL wild-card series because of their respective injuries, the Yankees will need Rice to stay hot after breaking out of a quieter summer.
“Just a complete hitter,” Judge said. “Each year he’s gotten better, each month he’s gotten better. Even through bad slumps, he’s making the reads and making the changes he needs to [make] to get back to his normal self. So it’s been fun to watch.”
When Rice hit his 39th home run over the weekend in Arizona, Aaron Boone revealed that was his preseason prediction for the DH/first baseman.
But Rice said he knew his manager was short-changing him one from a nice round number, so when he got back to the dugout after his two long balls Wednesday, “he let me know it,” Boone said with a grin.
“I think I said, ‘Hey, there’s 40 for you,’” Rice said. “I was joking with him after the 41st one, saying, ‘Hey, thanks for inspiring me this year.’ But it’s all in good fun.”
Rice’s 41 home runs are now tied with Yordan Alvarez, Pete Alonso and Junior Caminero for the most in the American League and the third most in the majors.
Fernando Cruz is still holding out hope of pitching again this season despite being diagnosed with a partially torn UCL, a diagnosis he said Wednesday he was “not going to accept.”
The reliever threw his first bullpen session — using all four of his pitches, he said — Sunday and is slated to throw another Thursday.
“I think I’m in a really good position to be back, I will say, in the next couple weeks,” Cruz said. “But that’s not my call. I’m just getting in position to be there for my guys and perform the way I perform.”
The 36-year-old said he is “100 percent” ruling out surgery at this point and later added, “I’m going to beat this.”
Carlos Rodón was named the Most Valuable Philanthropist for September by the Players Trust, the charitable arm of the MLB Players Association.
The left-hander, who is also the Yankees nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award, and his wife, Ashley, are active in supporting families facing infertility and pregnancy loss through the Carlos Rodón Foundation.
Brian Serven injury update: A's catcher exits after taking ball to face in scary moment
WEST SACRAMENTO, CA — Athletics catcher Brian Serven left Wednesday's game early after taking a ball to the face.
Serven was at bat in the bottom of the sixth inning when Angels pitcher José Fermin threw a 94 mph changeup that resulted in a foul ball.
The pitch just skimmed Serven's bat, which he had in a bunt position, and ricocheted directly into his left cheek bone, just under his eye. He took the impact and fell to the dirt.
Athletics manager Mark Kotsay and the team trainer ran immediately onto the field to check on Serven as Angels' infielders took a sportsmanship knee. Serven was down for several moments but slowly got up, signaling he was OK.
Marlins prevent Cubs from clinching a playoff spot again with a 3-2 victory
CHICAGO (AP) — Kyle Stowers homered and the Miami Marlins prevented the Chicago Cubs from clinching a playoff berth for the second straight night with a 3-2 victory Wednesday.
Dansby Swanson drove in both runs for the Cubs, who needed a win or an Arizona loss to Colorado to secure an NL wild-card berth. The Diamondbacks beat the Rockies 5-3.
Joe Mack’s groundout brought home Augustin Ramirez with the go-ahead run in the seventh and the Marlins retired the next nine Chicago batters to win their second straight game after dropping three in San Diego.
Stowers hit his 21st homer, a two-run shot, off Kevin Gausman in the top of the sixth to break a scoreless tie. The Cubs evened things in the bottom of the inning when Swanson laced a broken-bat single into left field to bring home a pair of runs.
Cade Gibson (6-2), the second of four Miami relievers, struck out two in the seventh and Sandy Alcantara worked the ninth for his second save.
Reliever Ryan Rolison (9-2) took the loss.
Gausman struck out seven and allowed two runs, six hits and a walk in the first 5 2/3 innings. Miami’s Ryan Gusto allowed six hits and two walks while striking out five in 5 1/3 innings.
Chicago’s Pete Crow-Armstrong needed a stolen base to become the seventh player to join the 40-40 club but went 0 for 3 with a walk and remained at 45 home runs and 39 steals.
Up next
The Cubs have not named a starter for Thursday afternoon’s home finale. RHP Tyler Phillips (5-6, 3.45 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Marlins.