Category: Sports News

The streak is now over for Bryce Harper. His on base streak ended last night after 35 games, a testament to how well he has done in the past month plus. Coincidence that he didn’t get on base and the Phillies lost the game? I think not.

On to the links.

Phillies news:

• The lawsuit brought against his parents by Alec Bohm has been settled out of court ($). An end to a sad series of events.
• To get the trade for Luis Arraez done, the club needed buy in from Bryce Harper to switch positions. So far, so good I’d say.

MLB news:

• Now that the sale of the Angels is starting to see a finish line, the stories of Arte Moreno’s ownership are going to start coming to the fore.
• Even though I would contend it’s still too early to write something like this, here are trade deadline winners and losers, one month later.
• Stop me if you’ve heard this before: an owner gets a new stadium deal, then says it will lead to more money being spent on players. I’ll believe it when I see it.

The Atlanta Braves jumped out in front early and took the series opener against the Philadelphia Phillies 5-2. In a pivotal series, Chris Sale got the start and turned in six innings. He surrendered two runs on six hits, walked one, and struck out seven. Friday’s outing gave him his 14th win of the season. 

Fortunately for Sale, the Atlanta lineup put together some timely hitting to give the Braves the early lead before Mauricio Dubón tacked on some insurance in the eighth. His two-run home run gave the Braves the 5-2 edge before Raisel Iglesias came out and sealed the deal.

Atlanta aims to ride this momentum into tonight’s game, with first pitch set for 6:05 ET.

More Braves News:

Major League Baseball has announced the 2027 Spring Training schedule, and it (supposedly) will open February 19.

MLB News:

The Toronto Blue Jays are likely placing right-hander Jameson Taillon on the injured list after he exited his outing with elbow discomfort. He was just activated earlier this week. 

The Tampa Bay Rays have placed lefty Shane McClanahan on the 15-day injured list with left forearm tightness. The club has not provided updates on the severity of the injury.

The Houston Astros placed left-hander Steven Okert on the 15-day injured list with a right hamstring strain. The move is retroactive to September 1.

From the Feed:

Cast your vote for Braves Player of the Game here.

The Yankees played their second extra-innings thriller in as many games, and it looked like they might pull it out yet again. They scratched across a run in the tenth against Padres super closer Mason Miller, and they went to Paul Blackburn to close out the game, only to see Luis Campusano end the game with one swing. The loss stung, the Rays having won earlier in the night 7-6 in Texas. The AL East deficit stands at four.

On the site today, Josh writes in praise of the high number, like the ones rookies George Lombard Jr. and Spencer Jones are sporting on the back of their uniforms. Andrew goes through yesterday’s Rivalry Roundup, while today’s Yankee Birthday feature is on Al Orth, a pitcher from the earliest days of the franchise. Also, Nick delivers this month’s Reliever Confidence Index, and Andrés recaps how the additions the Yankees made at the beginning of August have done in their first month as Yankees.

Today’s Matchup:

New York Yankees at San Diego Padres

Time: 7:15 p.m. EST

TV: FOX

Venue: Petco Park, San Diego, CA

Questions/Prompts:

1. If Trent Grisham hit the IL with his latest hamstring injury, should Spencer Jones be the starting center fielder from here on out?

2. Do you think Will Warren’s work in a piggyback role last night is a precursor to the Yankees moving him to the bullpen in the coming weeks?

Indianapolis Indians 6, Toledo Mud Hens 0 (box)

The Hens managed just five hits in this one and really only mustered a few minor threats to score. Dylan File got the start. The right-hander was good for four innings and then gave up four runs in the fifth and another in the sixth. Hayden Minton cleaned up the sixth for him, but Brenan Hanifee gave up a run in the seventh. Brant Hurter tossed a perfect eighth, but that was a rare bright spot in this one.

Cruz: 1-4, 2B, K

Anderson: 1-3, BB

File (L, 6-10): 5.1 IP, 5 ER, 8 H, 0 BB, 4 K

Coming Up Next: It’s a 7:05 p.m. ET start on Saturday in Toledo.

Erie Seawolves 17, Somerset Patriots (box)

This one was a joke almost from the start. Patriots pitching gave up 16 hits and a ridiculous 12 walks. It was like watching the Moon Mammoths play a Complex League pitching staff.

Peyton Graham was hit by a pitch to start the bottom of the first. Woody Hadeen singled and Zyhir Hope reached on an error. A wild pitch scored Graham with one out, and Izaac Pacheco walked to re-load the bases. Luke Shliger lifted a sac fly to plate Hadeen. That was all they’d get but the in second the floodgates opened.

Roberto Campos triple to start the bottom of the second and scored on a wild pitch. Patrick Lee walked, took second on a wild pitch, and scored on a Graham double.

Hadeen singled in Graham and took second on another wild pitch before Hope, Exposito, and Pacheco all walked, forcing in another run. Somerset went back to the pen, and Shliger lifted another sac fly to score Hope. By the time Campos closed out the scoring with an RBI double it was 9-0.

Exposito singled in Graham and Hadeen in the third, and really it just went on like this apart from a few respectable innings from Somerset’s pen later on.

Kenny Serwa got the start for Erie and tossed seven comfortable frames with that huge lead. He allowed four hits and a walk, striking out five. Eric Silva punched out three, closing this out with two perfect frames.

Hadeen: 3-5, 4 R, RBI, BB, K

Campos: 2-4, R, RBI, 2B, 3B, 2 BB, K

Hope: 2-5, R, BB, 2 K

Pacheco: 1-2, 2 R, 2 RBI, 3 BB, SB

Serwa (W, 5-8): 7.0 IP, 0 R, 4 H, BB, 5 K

Coming Up Next: It’s a 5:05 p.m. ET start on Saturday. They’ll try to play two and make up for Thursday’s rain out. The SeaWolves lead their division by five with nine games left in the season.

Dayton Dragons 8, West Michigan Whitecaps 1 (box)

The Whitecaps’ playoff aspirations were snuffed on Friday night as they managed just one hit. Great Lakes split their doubleheader and that was all they needed.

Maddux Long got the start, and he was fine. The right-hander allowed two in the first inning, then pitched into the sixth before allowing a run in the sixth after a Jack Goodman error at shortstop put the leadoff man on. Bryce Rainer had the night off for some reason.

It was only 2-0 Dayton when the Whitecaps scored in the third. Cristian Santana led off with a double and took third on a wild pitch. A Nolan McCarthy sacrifice fly made it a 2-1 game, but the offense completely dried up at that point.

The errors piled up as JoJo Ingrassia took over in the seventh. Santana at third, and Stephen Hrustrich in left were each charged with an error as the Dragons plated five runs to put this one out of reach.

With the ‘Caps season over, it will at least be interesting to see if they reinforce the SeaWolves with Ben Jacobs or another of their better arms.

Santana: 1-3, R, 2B

Long (L, 1-1): 6.0 IP, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 H, BB, 6 K

Coming Up Next: It’s a 7:05 p.m. ET start on Saturday.

Lakeland Flying Tigers 10 , Bradenton Marauders 2 (box)(F/7)(Gm1)

Michael Massey’s second outing went well and the Flying Tigers took advantage of seven walks to take the first game on Friday.

Massey went 2.1 innings, allowing just a single while striking out three.

Cris Rodriguez drew a bases loaded walk in the first to put the Flygers on the board 1-0. In the fourth, Michael Oliveto and Zach MacDonald singled and Maddox Molony walked to load the bases. A soft tapper back to the pitcher off of Brady Ballinger’s bat was thrown away, allowing Oliveto and MacDonald to score. Jordan Yost lifted a sac fly to score Molony, and Tyson LeBlanc doubled in Ballinger to make it 5-0.

Alemain Cruz took over from Massey in the third. In the fourth, he allowed a solo shot and then a walk. A triple scored that runner to make it 5-2.

In the sixth, Molony was hit by a pitch to leadoff, and Ballinger doubled him to third. Jude Warwick walked, and so did Yost, driving in Molony. A passed ball scored Ballinger, and a walk later to Anibal Salas scored Warwick to make it 8-2. Rodriguez then grounded into a double play that got Yost home to make it 9-2.

The Flying Tigers added a run in the seventh when MacDonald scored from third on a Ballinger double play ball.

LeBlanc: 3-3, R, RBI, 2B, BB

Molony: 2-2, 2 R, BB

Massey: 2.1 IP, 0 R, H, 0 BB, 3 K

Bradenton Marauders 4, Lakeland Flying Tigers 3 (box)

20-year-old pitching prospect Jhonan Coba put together a good outing, but Grayson Grinsell struggled some in Game 2.

Coba fired three innings of one-hit ball with a walk allowed, while striking out four on his evening.

Grinsell allowed a run in fourth, and another in the sixth. So it was 2-0 in the top of the seventh inning. Down to their last three outs, the Flying Tigers made a push.

Jesus Pinto drew a leadoff walk, and after Anibal Salas popped out, Zach MacDonald drew a walk as well. Michael Oliveto doubled them both in with a 105.2 mph rocket to right field. That tied the game, and Enderson Delgado gave Lakeland a lead with a single to score Oliveto.

Unfortunately, a pair of walks from Grinsell led to disaster as the Marauders walked them off to split the doubleheader.

Oliveto: 2-2, R, 2 RBI, 2B

De Los Santos: 2-3, 2B

Coba: 3.0 IP, 0 R, H, BB, 4 K

Coming Up Next: It’s a 6:30 p.m. ET start for the penultimate game of the season.

New York Post | Greg Joyce: ($) This weekend’s series in San Diego is a big one for Spencer Jones, and not only because he seeks to shore up his roster spot with Aaron Judge’s anticipated return on the horizon. Jones, a native of nearby Encinas, has had the Yankees’ trip to Petco Park circled since this winter. Still a minor-leaguer then, he set a goal to be with the big club in time for a homecoming, a goal he achieved as the series opened on Friday.

New York Daily News | Gary Phillips: Trent Grisham exited last night’s game against the Padres with a right hamstring strain. Grisham hit the IL with a strain of the same hamstring earlier this year. The center fielder seemed to labor on a shallow fly off the bat of Xander Bogaerts in the second and came out of the game after the inning. The Yankees appeared to have a roster crunch on their hands if and when Aaron Judge returns, but another IL stint for Grisham could put that crunch on hold.

MLB.com | Benjamin Hill: Luis Durango is in the midst of a breakout campaign in the Yankees’ minor league system, hitting .331 with 44 swipes. Even more notable is how he’s doing it. The 5-foot-10, 135 pounds speedster is a retro slap hitter to an extreme degree, employing bunts, Baltimore chops, and an offensive profile that centers around putting the ball on the ground. Despite — or, perhaps, because of — the fact that his approach is antithetical to the modern game, Durango has placed himself on the map as a budding prospect. “I describe it as unique,” the 23-year-old said to describe his hitting style. “And that’s what makes me special.”

MLB.com: The Yankees have announced their plans for commemorating the 25th anniversary of 9/11 next Friday. Before hosting the Mets at Yankee Stadium, the team will recognize the New York City Police Department (NYPD), Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY), Port Authority Police Department (PAPD), Tunnel to Towers Foundation, and Tuesday’s Promise. Some members of the 2001 Yankees will be on hand to take part, as will several musical performers. First pitches will be thrown by Brielle Saracini and Sean McGuire, a married couple who both lost their fathers in the attacks.

Dear September Baseball,

The heat of August has given way to your cooler air, and the last several days of cloud cover and occasional drizzle have driven me further into the seasonal mood that you bring annually. Also, the Mariners just lost their second straight home game to the division rival Athletics, 7-6, that helped set the mood as well, if I’m being entirely honest. More important than any date in December, I have always found myself writing to you with special October days dancing like spiced pumpkins around my head. For many years my letters to you were simple appeals wrapped around that big one; hopes and wishes for prospect debuts, and competitive baseball, and of course if September Baseball so allowed, playoffs, you know, the big one.

For years I kept my wishes small, and over the last several years, that patience seemed rewarded. Prospect debuts to look forward to every year for the last several, and multiple securing of playoff appearances, and close misses when not in them. I could have asked for more, September Baseball, and surely, you could have given more too. But I only asked for so much because I understood this was just the way it had to be, this was baseball. I didn’t ask for history, because, well… baseball will make you careful what you wish for. I certainly would not have asked for Logan Gilbert to put up a pitching line that has never been put up before.

Well, maybe I would, but not that one. You can put ten strikeouts from a Seattle pitcher in any one of my September stockings, but next time you can leave out the 4.2 innings pitched, seven earned runs on eight hits bit. And the edging cool of the season can do nothing to match the dread cold that seeps into my bones hearing defeated quotes from Logan Gilbert post-game. “It’s pretty disappointing. We’ll look at it tomorrow and see what we see. It’s a little confusing, but they were on a lot of the pitches, so definitely made some mistakes. But I felt like they were just on it.” Logan, fully embracing the rain cloud of a post game presser, continued “It’s pretty disappointing. It’s a game we have to win. Let the team down for sure.” Ouch. Giving up four home runs in one inning and quotes like that kind of take whatever air out of the room his 21 Whiffs today may have created. 21 Whiffs though!

Maybe by now, September Baseball, you’re picking up on the direction of my letter. I have kept my asks simple over the years… but this year I have some notes. First, I would like to give credit where credit is due. I often ask for players who have underperformed throughout to year to have strong finishes from you, and this year you have been delivering so far. I will never, ever, ever complain about a Cal Raleigh home run, his 21st of the season, let alone a game-tying one.

Okay, now that we got that out of the way… the aforementioned notes. Dare I say, requests? About those prospect debuts. You have been a very generous September Baseball over the years in this regard. This year, you are already giving us the gift of Lazaro Montes, a player I was particularly excited about watching enter the big leagues. Laz had a pretty good debut day, and there will be struggle days like he had at the plate today, and all of that and the in between is fine. This, watching him crash into the wall and have to leave the game, is not. Why, September, why‽

Well, so far at least the X-Rays have come back negative, so we will see just how cruel you have decided to be this year, S.B.

My biggest wish for this particular September baseball season, my one plea for a change for what seems to be on this year’s agenda, and addendum to all my asks of year’s previous: can you just be a little less confusing? What am I supposed to do with a 7-6 loss where the Mariners walked twice as much (four walks) as they struck out (two strikeouts) all game, put up six runs, but still lost? Behind a pitcher who put up ten strikeouts but allowed the seven runs, and then a bullpen that went the rest of the game without giving up a run? What am I supposed to do with a team that is down one run at home, and leads off the last chance inning with pinch hitting Patrick Wisdom? I have kept my asks simple in the past and just asked for watchable, competitive baseball. Fun storylines around fun players. I wasn’t more specific and maybe that was a me problem.

Please, please, September baseball, if you are going to break our hearts, just break them. You know I can handle it, I will gladly be happy with what I get and anything I don’t can make an appearance in next year’s letter. Or, if you want to give us a weird backward AL West Waltz I will happily dance to that tune too, but I won’t hold my breath. But whatever you do, less of whatever today was.

P.S. I left you out some clam chowder and cocoa flavored liqueur.

Kodai Senga eventually found his 2026 niche but his role for next season remains uncertain, David Stearns said.

The high-octane but high-variance righty flamed out of the Mets rotation by the middle of the season, owning a 10.08 ERA after a June 23 start.

But given a look in the bullpen — and eventually at the very back of it, stepping in for Devin Williams as the team’s closer — Senga has found a new life.

He is 5-for-5 in save opportunities and has been excellent in short bursts, with a 1.54 ERA in 12 games that include a scoreless ninth Friday, since the trade deadline that created additional bullpen spots.

“It’s fun to see,” Stearns said before the Mets’ 10-6 win over the Giants at Citi Field. “I think his investment in that role — even though he views himself as a starter, I think he’d prefer to start — but his investment in that role and the way he embraced that role I think is a great example for his teammates, for the organization as a whole. … And he’s done a great job. Where that is going forward next year? Still to be determined.”

There is an obvious and enticing ceiling if given a leash in the rotation for a righty who was a 2023 All-Star, but he has volleyed between injuries and ineffectiveness since.

Next year the Mets will have Nolan McLean and Christian Scott in their rotation. Given his contract and upturn, Sean Manaea will be in the group, too.

With just about every start, Zac Thornton is demonstrating he deserves a 2027 shot. Robert Stock, Tylor Megill and Jonah Tong are among the in-house possibilities, to go along with whomever Stearns brings in through free agency or trade.

Figuring out the role for Senga, who is due $15 million next season, will be for this winter and spring after enjoying what they have seen from him this August and September.

Stock, who threw 72 pitches as a starter Monday, made a surprise appearance in the eighth and recorded the final out.

After using Stock in relief, interim manager Andy Green announced Jonah Tong, who has been pitching better with Triple-A Syracuse, will join the rotation Monday to begin the series in Miami.

Manaea will pitch Tuesday and “we’ll figure out where we are on that last day in Miami,” Green said. Given what would have been a long layoff, Stock became available as a reliever.

“He’s had some really good stuff at times coming out of the pen,” Stearns said.

Throughout his nearly three years in Queens, Stearns — the president of baseball operations — has operated without a general manager.

He was noncommittal about landing one this offseason.

“We’re always going to look to see if there are ways we can improve our organization in any way. That’s inclusive of the front office,” Stearns said.

“That’s been the case every offseason since I’ve been here, and it will be the case this offseason as well.”

Stearns reiterated that the plan is for interim manager Andy Green to return to a front-office role after this season.

Amid a roller-coaster year, Stearns said the Mets will “count on” Manaea next season.

Out of the rotation amid declining stuff at the start of the year, Manaea then worked his way into the starting group and was solid until recent issues. In all, he owns a 4.70 ERA.

“I think in general, we need Sean to go out and have a really good offseason, come back, and he’s going to be a part of this team next year,” Stearns said of Manaea, who is due $25 million next year. “We’re going to count on him, and he’s demonstrated that he can perform at a high level and contribute to a major league team.”

The Mets announced their 2027 spring training schedule — at least, a hopeful schedule — which begins Feb. 19 in Port St. Lucie against the Marlins.

A bad game on Friday got worse for the Mariners when exciting rookie Lazaro Montes left the game in the fifth inning after a collision with the right field wall.

Montes, who was running at full speed to chase down a fly ball off the bat of Zack Gelof that seemed destined for the right field seats, collided hard with the wall in right and fell down, managing to flip the ball to center fielder Julio Rodríguez to throw back in before writhing in pain on the ground for several long moments.

He was eventually helped up by Rodríguez and examined by the training staff before staying in the game for another two hitters and making a play on a hard-hit line drive in front of him. During a pitching change, the trainers again went to see Montes, later joined by Dan Wilson, and this time he came out of the game.

“I think he felt good enough to stay in there, but then on the play he came in on the ball he kinda felt it, so I think that was a natural time to get him out,” said Wilson. “On the play where he came in and charged, I think he felt it a little bit more than he thought. So at that point, I thought it was a good time to get him out of there and make sure that he checked out okay.”

The Mariners later announced Montes left the game with left hip soreness. He had a visible mild limp while walking off the field. The good news is x-rays were negative.

“We’ll see how he is in the morning and see if anything else is further needed at this point,” said Wilson.

If Montes is forced to miss time, the obvious replacement for Montes would be hot-hitting prospect Michael Arroyo. However, Tacoma is away in Albuquerque this week, so he likely wouldn’t be able to get here immediately. In tonight’s game against the Isotopes, Arroyo had two hits including a triple and hit a sacrifice fly in an 11-6 Rainiers loss.

Andy Green seems set on keeping the interim tag on his managerial role. 

And even as the Mets continue to play well with Green in the dugout, both he and the organization are prepared for him to go back to the front office in the offseason, as Green is looking to avoid the everyday grind of a managerial job. 

As president of baseball operations David Stearns said Friday, “I think Andy’s done a very good job in the dugout. Again, I think we will get to the point where I’ll more fully describe what we’re seeking in our next manager. Today’s probably not the day to do that.” 

Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto both said after Friday’s 10-6 win over the Giants that Green has done a good job in his new role, but respect his decision if he opts to return to the front office after the season. 

“That’s a very personal decision,’’ Lindor told The Post. “That’s between him and his family. We have no say in that. He has kept what he’s said from Day 1 and you’ve got to believe the guy. He’s a very respectable guy, and honest.” 

Soto added, “It’s tough to not know what you’re gonna get next year. That’s the hardest part for a player, not knowing what’s gonna happen. I know a lot of people want to be the manager, but when you get comfortable, it’s tough to see them get away.” 

And he also admired the job Green has done. 

“Everybody feels good with him,’’ Soto said. “He stays out of the players’ way and lets everybody do their own thing.” 

As to whether he’s hoping Green changes his mind, Soto said: “That’s his decision. We’ve enjoyed his time here and we’ve got to wait til he decides what he wants to do.” 

Lindor, who said Green has excelled at “making sure guys do what they need to do and is pushing to make us get better,” will also be monitoring the situation closely. 

“It’s gonna be an interesting topic this offseason,’’ Lindor said of Green’s future. “We’ll see.” 

Green noted Friday that he “loved” the current team and “loves the competition that comes from the dugout environment. That … part has never been in doubt or anything I’ve ever wavered on.” 

But Lindor also understood why Green might want to step away. 

“He’s got to make a decision with his family and those are the only people that matters,” Lindor said. “We’re both dads and you have to respect his decision and want him to be with them. He was a manager once [before in San Diego]. He knows what it takes. He knows what he’s doing and I fully respect his decision. I’ll be on board with whatever he decides.”

The A’s came out on top on Friday night, beating the Seattle Mariners 7-6.

More to come…

The Dodgers (84-57) pulled off a 5-3 win over the Nationals (67-76) Friday at Dodger Stadium for their second victory in as many games.

Snell kept the power-hitting Nationals off the board and navigated around two walks, utilizing his high fastball and curveball to rack up seven strikeouts over six innings pitched. The Dodgers’ bullpen made it interesting in the top of the ninth when Washington scored three late runs off Seth Halvorson and Jack Dreyer.

Despite going up against the Nats with a lineup sans Freddie Freeman and Shohei Ohtani for the second straight game, the Dodgers offense finally strung some clutch hits together.

Snell’s curveball was a thing of beauty.

Kent surrendered two straight walks to Kyle Tucker and Kiké Hernández to open the bottom of the third in a scoreless game.

The Dodgers were 2-for-27 with runners in scoring position before Tommy Edman went down swinging on a sharp curveball. Things looked as if they were trending toward the wrong direction again until Mookie Betts changed the course of the game.

Betts got the Dodgers the first lead after he knocked in Tucker with an RBI single to center field, extending his on-base streak to 14 games.

In a replay of Thursday, Teoscar Hernández doubled to center field to drive in two more runs for the Dodgers in the inning.

The Dodgers got their fourth run of the night with two outs in the bottom of the fourth. Alex Call opened the inning with a double off Kent. Edman reached on an error by Nasim Nuñez on a routine play at shortstop, allowing Call to come in to score.

The Nats started to figure out Snell in the top of the sixth. James Wood doubled, and Andrés Chaparro singled to give Washington runners at the corners with nobody out.

Tucker homered in the sixth to make it 5-0 Dodgers.

The Dodgers’ bullpen did a fine job to preserve the shutout until the ninth. Edgardo Henriquez threw his 104-mph fastballs in the seventh for a scoreless frame with two strikeouts.

Kyle Hurt and Tanner Scott did their job, but Halvorsen surrendered three base hits in the top of the ninth including an Abimelec Ortiz RBI single. After the third straight hit, Dave Roberts gave Halvorsen the hook.

Dreyer got the first two outs of the inning in exchange for a second Washington run. Jorbit Vivas’s scoring ground out made it 5-2.

Dreyer was one strike away from shutting the door, but Wood doubled to deep center to bring in the third run of the inning for the Nats. After the threat, Dreyer finally secured the final out and the save to give the Dodgers their second straight win.

Friday particulars

Home run: Kyle Tucker (12)

WP — Blake Snell (3-1): 6 IP, 5 hits, no runs, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts (100 pitches)

LP — Jackson Kent (1-3): 5 IP, 4 hits, 4 runs (3 earned), 4 walks, 4 strikeouts (87 pitches)

S —Jack Dreyer (2)

Up next

The Dodgers and Nats continue the series Saturday (6:10 p.m. PT, SportsNet LA). Tyler Glasnow (4-0, 2.79 ERA, 0.81 WHIP) starts for the Dodgers. Fellow right-hander Cade Cavalli (12-5, 3.12 ERA, 1.20 WHIP) takes the ball for Washington.