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Mets' Francisco Lindor reaches 300 career home runs

Francisco Lindor has added another milestone to his already impressive resume. 

The Mets' star shortstop smacked the 300th home run of his career, going back-to-back with Ronny Mauricio in the top of the second on Sunday afternoon at Nationals Park. 

Lindor has seemingly been pressing since toeing the mark after cracking two as part of a monster game a couple of weeks ago in the Subway Series, but he was finally able to reach it on the final day of the season. 

He used a September power surge to get there, lifting seven in the final month of the year. 

Of his 300 career dingers, 292 have come as a shortstop, with the other eight coming while serving as the DH. 

The only two players in MLB history with more home runs as a SS are Cal Ripken Jr. (345) and Alex Rodriguez (344). 

"We know how rare [300 HR's] is in baseball, but even how rarer it is as a shortstop," manager Andy Green recently said. "We know what he’s battled through in the times where he hadn’t performed up to expectation in his own mind, and he always comes back and performs no matter what.

"You look up at the end of the year, and that’s exactly what Francisco Lindor does -- we’re well past a decade in his career right now, and it’s really, really special what he’s been able to do at this level."

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First-round pick Alberts Smits makes Rangers’ roster out of camp

The Rangers have just about set up their roster ahead of NHL Opening Night, and it appears that rookie Alberts Smits will remain in the mix. 

Smits, of course, landed in New York as the fifth overall pick this year. 

He was viewed by many as one of the most NHL-ready prospects in the entire class, but it was uncertain if the Rangers would carry him heading into the year. 

Head coach Mike Sullivan made it clear at the beginning of training camp, though, that the youngster would have every opportunity to play his way onto the roster.

Smits did just that, fitting right in throughout the rookie scrimmages and pro camp before more than holding his own in game action during preseason play. 

Now, he’s officially set to begin his career with the Blueshirts. 

The 18-year-old will start the season with Braden Schneider on the third pair, as he’s done throughout camp.   

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Cincinnati Reds vs. Toronto Blue Jays – Brandon Williamson vs. Max Scherzer

DETROIT, MI - AUGUST 22: Max Scherzer #37 and Justin Verlander #35 of the Detroit Tigers walk together in the dugout during the game against the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park on August 22, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. The Twins defeated the Tigers 7-6. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | Getty Images

Today marks the final game of the 2026 season for the Cincinnati Reds who, with 86 losses already on their ledger, have clinched a last place finish in the National League Central division and have once again missed the playoffs.

Surprisingly, it’ll be the final game of the season for the Toronto Blue Jays, too. After coming within earshot of a World Series title just last season, their season collapsed early and often and they, too will wrap up today with no postseason play on their docket.

What remains to be seen, though, is whether today marks the final game of something else, too.

Future Hall of Famer Max Scherzer will get the ball to start today for Toronto, and this may well be the final game in which he plays. Just yesterday his former teammate (and fellow future Hall of Famer) Justin Verlander pitched for the final time for the Detroit Tigers, and Verlander now sits just one spot ahead of Scherzer among the Top 10 strikeout leaders of all time.

In fact, if Scherzer were to fan 11 Reds today, he’d pass his old teammate on the all time list. So keep that in mind when you watch the Reds flail at the plate today.

Lefty Brandon Williamson will start for Cincinnati today, while Sal Stewart will try to homer often enough to a) raise his season OPS back into the 800s and b) catch the MLB RBI lead on this final day.

First pitch is set for 3:07 PM ET. Here’s how both clubs will line up to begin:

Today’s Lineups

REDSBLUE JAYS
Carlos Jorge – CFGeorge Springer – DH
Elly De La Cruz – DHBrett Bateman – RF
Sal Stewart – 1BKazuma Okamoto – 3B
JJ Bleday – LFCharles McAdoo – 1B
Juan Brito – 3BDavis Schneider – LF
Hector Rodriguez – RFBrandon Valenzuela – C
Matt McLain – 2BMyles Straw – CF
Will Banfield – CAndres Gimenez – SS
Oswaldo Cabrera – SSErnie Clement – 2B
B. Williamson – LHPChase Lee – RHP
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Blues Claim Justin Barron Off Waivers; Adam Jiricek Recalled From Springfield

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Blues have claimed defenseman Justin Barron off waivers from the Nashville Predators on Sunday, and defenseman Adam Jiricek was recalled from Springfield of the American Hockey League.

Barron, 24, spent the past two seasons with the Nashville Predators and has one year remaining on a contract with a cap hit/average annual value of $1.575 million before he can become a restricted free agent at the end of the current season.

Claiming Barron on waivers could very well coincide with the upper-body injury to on Saturday to defenseman Logan Mailloux, who did not return to the game after getting into a scrap in a 3-2 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday with Cole Smith at the 13:42 mark of the first period.

The Blues are already down a defenseman, with Tyler Tucker (tweaked right knee) sidelined a week to this point and potentially could miss more time; they have 32-year-old Calle Rosen up as insurance as the seventh defenseman on the 23-man roster, which needs to be submitted to the league by 4 p.m. (CT) on Monday. 

Rosen and goalie Georgii Romanov were placed on waivers by the Blues on Sunday.

Barron is 6-foot-2, 198 pounds and is a first-round pick (No. 25) in the 2020 NHL Draft by the Colorado Avalanche who had nine assists in 52 games with the Predators last season; he also spent two-plus seasons with the Montreal Canadiens from 2022-25.

Barron has 52 points (18 goals, 34 assists) in 208 career regular-season NHL games and is expected to be on the 23-man roster that must be submitted by Monday and presumably will be on the practice ice on Monday as well ahead of the Blues departing on a team bonding trip for a few days to Austin, Texas ahead of their season-opener Friday against the Dallas Stars.

The Blues, depending on Mailloux's injury, have decided to opt for experience but have also brought up Jiricek, a 2024 first-round pick who had a really solid camp before being sent down to the Thunderbirds on Friday.

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Utah Jazz Training Camp: Storylines to Watch as Camp Opens This Week

WE ARE SO BACK! Almost, at least… The Utah Jazz will begin preparations for the highly anticipated 2026-27 season this week, starting Monday, September 28th, with media day. It feels like years ago that we sat in our living rooms together on Mother’s Day and watched as the Utah Jazz won the second overall pick in the NBA draft. Somehow it feels even longer ago that the Jazz used that second overall pick to select the highly touted guard from Kansas, Darryn Peterson. After watching Summer League and analyzing every workout video the Jazz and various player development coaches posted on socials, we finally reached the eve of the 2026-27 season, which is finally getting underway.

So now that we’re here, here are the most intriguing storylines to watch as training camp unfolds.

The Keyonte, Lauri, JJJ Connection

Keyonte George, Lauri Markkanen, and Jaren Jackson Jr. are the unquestioned three best players on this Jazz roster. All three are locked in with long-term contracts, and all three seem to have something to prove to the NBA ecosystem. Lauri has never made the playoffs and, in fact, is the most experienced active NBA player who has never done so. Jaren Jackson Jr. has had some amazing years in the league. He has accolades like All-Star appearances and a Defensive Player of the Year award. But after some rough years in Memphis, riddled with injury, team-wide underperformance, and well… The Ja Morant stuff… JJJ is looking to bounce back in a big way and remind the league who he is. The Utah Jazz front office just rewarded Keyonte George with a brand-new 5-year contract for his hard work and production. His year on a tanking team was impressive, no doubt, but he is out to prove he can bring that same production to a team looking to make real noise in a crowded Western Conference. The one thing that you can count on this season is that these three guys will be in the starting lineup on opening night. As exciting as Darryn Peterson and Ace Bailey are, these three need to rise to the top and be the all-star-caliber players they are if this team wants to compete for the playoffs this year. They haven’t played much together at all, but their chemistry and connection will be vital, ESPECIALLY early this year, as the pieces fall into place around them.

Who Fills Out the Rotation?

SALT LAKE CITY, UT – OCTOBER 22: Head coach Will Hardy of the Utah Jazz talks to the bench during the second half of their game against the Los Angeles Clippers at the Delta Center on October 22, 2025 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Jazz have around 7-8 pretty surefire rotational players, depending on who you ask. One of the bigger storylines to watch as preseason and training camp progress is which players rise above the rest to solidify regular minutes once the regular season starts. Names to watch for those final few rotation spots include Brice Sensabaugh, Svi Mykhailiuk, Josh Green, and Josh Okogie. That doesn’t even include other guys like Isaiah Collier and Kyle Filipowski. Those minutes will likely come down to who can play defense, since the Jazz already have plenty of shots, but if a guy like Brice Sensabaugh improves his defense by any meaningful amount, he will be hard to keep off the floor given his nuclear shooting.

The Ceiling Raisers

SALT LAKE CITY, UT – JULY 7: Ace Bailey #19 and Darryn Peterson #22 of the Utah Jazz look on during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the 2026 NBA Salt Lake City Summer League on July 7, 2026 at Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

It is no secret who the most important players are on the Utah Jazz. If the Jazz want to get to where they have their sights set, Darryn Peterson and Ace Bailey need to be NBA stars. The only short-term issue is that Darryn is 19 years old, and Ace just turned 20 in August. Their talent is undeniable, but they’re very young, and players that young rarely help you win much. That being said, there are always outliers. We all saw Donovan Mitchell take the NBA world by storm in his rookie year, ultimately leading the Jazz to a playoff series win. I am personally endlessly intrigued and excited to watch both Darryn and Ace learn and grow under Will Hardy. Darryn is one of the best guard prospects that we have seen in the last 10 years. Ace is an absolute monster who can get a bucket from anywhere on the floor. What if those two just pop? What if training camp starts and they look like budding superstars ready to be unleashed? I am not saying that it is likely or that you should even count on it, but I will be watching very carefully how those two look together because if they look ready? The league better watch out…

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Maple Leafs Sign Nick Blankenburg To One-Year Deal Worth A Reported $1.4M: Full Roster & Salary Cap Implications

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced on Sunday that they signed defenseman Nick Blankenburg to a one-year contract. According to PuckPedia, the deal is worth $1.4 million, converting the 28-year-old’s professional tryout into a roster contract two days before opening night.

Blankenburg arrived at camp unsigned after a quiet free-agency period and has spent the last two weeks trying to prove he belongs. He has been a consistent pairing with newly acquired defenceman Emil Andrae, a look the Leafs kept together through the Arizona trip and Saturday’s practice at Mullett Arena. 

Last season was the best offensive year of Blankenburg’s career. He recorded eight goals and 24 points in 61 games between the Nashville Predators and Colorado Avalanche, averaging 16:48 per night. He had 21 points in 49 games with Nashville before a March deadline trade to Colorado, then added three points in 12 regular-season games and a goal in five playoff appearances. For his NHL career, the undrafted University of Michigan product has 18 goals and 58 points in 176 games with Columbus, Nashville and Colorado. He is 5-foot-9 and 177 pounds, a right shot who has never been defined by size.

Head coach Jim Hiller, seemingly impressed with the player's camp, stated that Blankenburg is an NHL defenseman. The Leafs were fortunate he was available on a tryout. The $1.4 million number, negotiated with agent Pat Brisson of CAA Hockey, is more than the league minimum some fans wanted, but it is still a depth price for a player coming off career-high production.

The signing does not come without cap work. PuckPedia projects Toronto $3.808 million over the $104 million upper limit once Blankenburg’s hit is on the books. The club has to be compliant when it files an opening roster by 5 p.m. ET on Monday, ahead of Tuesday’s season opener.

The most direct path is long-term injured reserve. Max Domi, who has not been on the ice in camp while recovering from complications stemming from offseason surgery, carries a $3.75 million cap hit. PuckPedia’s model has the Leafs submitting an opening roster with Domi and William Villeneuve ($68,000 season-opening IR charge) on LTIR and coming within about $10,000 of an optimal LTIR capture.

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Game 162 Game Day Thread – Texas Rangers @ Minnesota Twins

Sep 26, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Texas Rangers right fielder Brandon Nimmo (24) celebrates an RBI double against the Minnesota Twins during the second inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Texas Rangers @ Minnesota Twins

Sunday, September 27, 2026, 2:10 PM CDT (KRLD 1080 / Rangers Sports Network)

Target Field

LHP MacKenzie Gore vs. RHP Dean Kremer

Today’s Lineups

RANGERSTWINS
Brandon Nimmo – RFLuke Keaschall – RF
Wyatt Langford – LFKaelen Culpepper – SS
Corey Seager – SSJosh Bell – DH
Jake Burger – 1BRyan Jeffers – C
Ezequiel Duran – 3BKody Clemens – 2B
Alejandro Osuna – DHRoyce Lewis – 1B
Danny Jansen – CBrooks Lee – 3B
Nicky Lopez – 2BAustin Martin – LF
Evan Carter – CFWalker Jenkins – CF
MacKenzie Gore – LHPDean Kremer – RHP

Go Rangers!

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Arizona Diamondbacks at San Diego Padres

Arizona Diamondbacks (86-75) at San Diego Padres (90-71), September 27, 2026, 1:10 p.m. PST

Watch: Padres.TV

Location: Petco Park – San Diego, Calif.

Listen: 97.3 The Fan

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Colorado Rockies at Chicago White Sox game discussion: Kyle Freeland vs Anthony Kay

DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 22: Colorado Rockies pitcher Kyle Freeland (21) receives support in the dugout after a pitching change in the fourth inning during a game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on September 22, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The sun has finally risen on the last day of the last day of the 2026 Major League Baseball regular season. Today marks Game 162 of 162 an the Colorado Rockies are in the South Side of Chicago for one last game against the White Sox.

The Rockies played spoiler last night, handing a loss to the White Sox while also handing the American League Central to the Cleveland Guardians. Now the Rockies seek to end a rough September, a long campaign, and their fourth consecutive season with 100 or more losses on a high note with a win this afternoon. Should the Rockies emerge victorious, it will be their first series win since the beginning of the month.

On the mound today for the Rockies—and perhaps making his final start for his hometown team—is left-handed pitcher Kyle Freeland. It has been a long and difficult season for the 33-year-old from Denver as he has dealt with injuries and poor performances. His 6.58 ERA in 25 starts is the second worst figure of his career—trailing only a miserable 2019 where he struggled with mechanical issues and spent time in Triple-A Albuquerque.

Freeland gave up five earned runs on nine hits his last time out against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Coors Field. Should this indeed be the last time we see him suit up for the Rockies, it would be nice to see him end things with a good outing.

Toeing the rubber for the White Sox this afternoon is left-handed veteran Anthony Kay. Kay, 31, is bringing his first full MLB season since 2023 to a close. He spent the 2024 and 2025 campaigns with Japan’s Yokohama DeNA Baystars.

Kay owns a 4.53 ERA in 32 appearances—30 of which were starts—for the White Sox this season. In 153 innings he has 125 strikeouts to 54 walks, though there is some wildness in him. Kay currently leads the league in hit batters with 25. His primary pitch is a sweeper that he backs up with a mid-90s four-seam fastball and a sinker. He also throws a cutter, a changeup, and a traditional slider. This will be Kay’s first time facing the Rockies in his big league career.

First pitch: 1:10 p.m. MDT

TV: Rockies.TV

Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM; KNRV 1150 (Spanish)

White Sox SB Nation:South Side Sox

Lineups:

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Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Detroit Tigers: Jared Jones vs. River Ryan

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - SEPTEMBER 22: Jared Jones #17 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches in the first inning during the game against the St. Louis Cardinals at PNC Park on September 22, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Detroit Tigers, September 26, 2026, 3:10 p.m. ET

The Pittsburgh Pirates are wrapping up the regular season as they take on the Detroit Tigers in game 162.

Jared Jones (5-6, 3.87 ERA) is making the start for the Pirates. Jones has made 20 starts this season, bouncing back after missing the entire 2025 campaign due to injury. His ERA is lower than it was in his rookie year in 2024, and the Pirates have seen signs of growth that could carry him toward being part of the rotation in 2027. In his last start on September 22, Jones pitched 7 scoreless innings, allowing just 1 hit and striking out 9 in a 2-0 victory against the St. Louis Cardinals at PNC Park. Jones would love to finish off his season with a great start.

River Ryan (0-0, 0.00 ERA) is getting the start for the Tigers. He was in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ minor league system for the last couple of years before being traded for Tarek Skubel in early August. He was called up on September 21 and pitched three innings, striking out three against the Washington Nationals. Now, he will get one more shot before the Tigers head into the offseason.

Location: Comerica Park, Detroit, MI

Broadcast: KDKA AM/FM, Sportsnet Pittsburgh

Pitching Matchup: Jared Jones (5-6, 3.87 ERA) vs. River Ryan (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

BD community, this is your gameday thread for today’s game against the Detroit Tigers. Chime off in the comments section below.

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Mariners Game #162 Preview and Discussion: 09/27, ANA at SEA

The aftermath of the biggest hit by cWPA in franchise history: J.P. Crawford’s walk-off double against the Texas Rangers to win 3-2 on September 28, 2023. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Today, we’ll test one of the great questions in our beautiful game.

Jimmy got this wrong, of course (as he did so many things). There is so much crying in baseball. I don’t know that I’ll cry for Randy—it still feels like a dream that he ever even became a Mariner. But for sure, I will cry for J.P. and for Rick. In fact, when I think of J.P. Crawford, one of the moments that always comes to mind is baseball crying.

That was five years ago. It’s hard to believe how much has happened with the Mariners since then and how central J.P. Crawford has been to all of it. He’ll start at shortstop today, as he has more times than anyone else in a Mariners uniform.

Lineups

News

Kade Anderson’s x-rays came back negative after taking a comebacker off his throwing arm in the fourth inning last night. He’ll have more imaging done to make sure they didn’t miss anything, but he said he knew immediately that although it hurt like hell, it didn’t break anything. He also said this isn’t the first time this happened to him: he got hit hard once like this in college, so he pretty much knew what to expect and didn’t freak out when his arm went dead.

I’m glad to know at least one person was not freaking out about this because I sure as hell was.

Game Info

Hooooooo boy. Around here, we refer to 710 as Old Reliable, but they’re actually not that reliable. Today, for instance, the ostensible “Seattle Mariners Radio Network” will bump the Mariners over to 770 in favor of the Seahawks. But we all know what we’ve really meant by Old Reliable. Rick Rizzs’s final call will also be simulcast on the tv broadcast for the ninth inning. There is so much crying in baseball.

First pitch: 12:10 PDT
TV: Mariners TV
Radio: 770 am and mariners.com

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Game #162: Astros at Athletics Game Thread

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 22: Henry Bolte #33 of the Athletics walks to the dugout in the first inning of the Los Angeles Angels and Athletics game at Sutter Health Park on September 22, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Heather Diehl/Getty Images) | Getty Images

We made it folks! The final game of the season is upon us. The A’s are set to suit up one final time this season, taking on the Astros to wrap up the year. The A’s stand at 64-97, sitting in fourth place in the AL West and with the second-worst record in the American League. That’s where they’ll sit this offseason but if the team can end the year with a win that’d send us into the offseason on a high note. Let’s finish the year with a 65th win in front of Sacramento.

As for Houston, this isn’t just any game for them. They still have not clinched a spot in the postseason as they enter today tied with the Texas Rangers at 80-81 atop the AL West. Thanks to them owning the tie breaker the Astros control their own fate: win and they’re win. The Rangers will be watching this game and rooting for our A’s, hoping to keep their playoff hopes alive. They need to pair their own win with an Astros loss to make it to October. In a way it’s up to the A’s which Texas team goes to the postseason. Which would you prefer to allow to stay alive a bit longer? Either is a bad pick.

Taking the ball today in the final to start things off is right-handed reliever Seth Johnson. That means we’re looking at a bullpen game today. Johnson as you may remember was the lone acquisition at the mid-season trade deadline, coming over from Philadelphia in exchange for outfielder Colby Thomas. Johnson has split time between the big league club and the Aviators in the two months since joining the organization, posting a 6.89 ERA in 11 appearances at the big league level. We shouldn’t expect more than an inning or two out of the righty this afternoon, and from there it’ll be all Kotsay mixing and matching.

Here’s the final A’s lineup of the 2026 season:

Not how we thought the last lineup of the season would look but six months of baseball will grind down plenty of teams. It’s been the typical lineup here down the stretch and they’ve been servicable, especially since the return of Langeliers. We’ll also get to see infielder Joshua Kuroda-Grauer one more time this afternoon, and it’s a great sign and he’ll be able to put that nasty injury he suffered fully behind him heading into winter. And another good sign, catcher Brian Serven is back in there after taking a ball of the face earlier in the week.

The Astros meanwhile, with their season on the line, have right-hander Peter Lambert taking the ball this afternoon. Lambert has been a godsend for the Astros this season. An offseason pickup from Colorado, the 29-year-old has broken out with a 3.87 ERA in a team-leading 28 starts, solidifying a shaky Astros rotation. Houston isn’t in contention or anywhere near the top of the division without his emergence, and he’s a likely option for Game Two if the Astros advance to the playoffs.

And Houston’s starting nine:

Time to finish the season. Wrap it up with a win, boys. Let’s go A’s!

Follow the Game:
Watch:
Athletics – NBCSCA

Listen:
Athletics – Talk 650 KSTE, KVMX 92.1/105.5, A’s Cast

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Islanders, DeBoer Remain Hopeful, Confident In Isaiah George After AHL Demotion

The New York Islanders demoted defenseman Isaiah George to the Hamilton Hammers on Sunday morning, making George one of the final cuts for the NHL team. 

Additionally, the team signed veteran defenseman Logan Stanley to a one-year deal to take George's place.

Entering camp, there was a roster spot built in for George, with the only true competition coming from Matthew Kessel for a roster spot.

As it turns out, the Islanders appear set to carry 13 forwards and 8 defensemen to start the year, as Kessel has not been announced for waivers Sunday afternoon, ensuring he makes Monday's roster submission.

Elsewhere on Long Island, George's camp left almost everyone disappointed. The Islanders went out and added Stanley on the eve of the season, while George missed out on the roster entirely.

Couple that with Stanley's signing, along with Kashawn Aitcheson's breakout camp, some could see this as a potential closing of the NHL door for George.

Do not count Islanders' Head Coach Peter DeBoer in that camp. 

DeBoer launched a passionate defense of George after practice on Sunday.

"I think disappointment's the wrong word," DeBoer said. "I ran the defense at the Olympics this year for Canada. We had Devon Toews, who everyone here is familiar with. Devon played three years of college hockey and 125 American League games [before breaking out]. Isaiah George is younger and has played 70 American League games.

"This isn't a disappointment," DeBoer continued. "It's a journey to become an NHL defenseman, and he took a step. I'm sure he learned a lot in training camp. We sat down and asked what's best for his development: giving him the opportunity to continue growing, or having him sit in the stands or play limited minutes?"

It's very easy for anyone involved in hockey to be staring directly at the puzzle, and not take a look back from 1,000 feet. 

If the Islanders were not committed to playing George consistently, it makes no sense to carry him on the NHL roster to sit in the press box.

It's also not beneficial to force things on a defender, like the Islanders sometimes did with Samuel Bolduc.

Bolduc found his way on the roster, spent long stretches as the team's seventh defenseman and by the time he got into the game, lost confidence and struggled mightily.

The Islanders can't afford to have that happen again.

"You can't rush those things, particularly with defensemen," DeBoer said. "There's zero disappointment. It's an opportunity for more growth. Hopefully, the next time he comes up, he's a little bit better, and eventually he's a regular."

If DeBoer has it his way, this is not the end of the story for George. Just a speed bump.

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Nothing Is Normal For Red Sox Regular Season Finale Versus Cubs

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 3: Tanner Houck #89 of the Boston Red Sox is introduced as players line up during pre-game ceremonies before the Opening Day game against the San Diego Padres on April 3, 2026 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Happy Sunday, folks! It’s the last day of the regular season (probably), and everything is weird in Red Sox world.

For starters, the game is being played in Tropicana Field due to a Nor’easter in New England. It was the right call to move the game because there’s zero chance they would have had a window to play in Boston today, but the game ultimately didn’t need to be played at all. Against all odds, the Red Sox and the Cubs are both locked into the fifth seed, so this game counts for pride and pride alone. Unless the two meet in the World Series, in which case it counts for home field advantage. Let’s not worry about that right now, though.

For other starters, Tanner Houck is back! He’s starting his first game since last May. Houck probably won’t figure into the postseason at all, but it’s nice to see him back out there.

We’ve got injury news too! Willson Contreras and Ceddanne Rafaela are both in the lineup today, a positive sign for the postseason, although I’ll be closely watching how Contreras swings as he grinds through his injury. Tyron Guerrero was also placed on the injured list, a huge blow to the bullpen ahead of the playoffs. Wyatt Olds took his spot, while Nate Eaton replaced Mickey Gasper.

If meaningless baseball at a neutral site isn’t your thing, how about games with real playoff implications? The Astros and Rangers are tied for the top spot in the American League West, with Houston owning the tiebreaker. The Astros are starting Peter Lambert, who just threw 62 pitches on Thursday. Personally, I’d rather the Rangers make the playoffs because I don’t want to see Yordan Alvarez, but pitchers taking the ball on short rest is always cool.

In the National League, the Phillies are in a tailspin but control their own destiny. They’re in with a win, but if they lose a fifth straight game and the Diamondbacks pull out a win, they’ll fall out of the playoff picture on the last day of the season. There’s some weather at play in Philadelphia as well, so that’s something to keep an eye on.

That’s a whole lot of preamble before a meaningless regular-season Red Sox game. It’s a great day to stay inside and watch all the sports, so get your TVs out, your beers in the refrigerator, and find a nice spot on the couch for the rest of the day*.

*If you don’t have other responsibilities.

First pitch at 3:05 pm on NESN and WEEI

Lineups

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Cauley recalled, O’Hoppe optioned for finale

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - AUGUST 04: Cam Cauley #27 of the Texas Rangers is seen in the dugout during a game against the San Francisco Giants at Globe Life Field on August 04, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Texas Rangers infielder Cam Cauley has been recalled from AAA Round Rock, the team announced today. To make room for him on the active roster, the Rangers have optioned DH/catcher Logan O’Hoppe to AAA Round Rock.

Cauley gets called up due to Nicky Lopez having a foot issue that resulted in him leaving last night’s game. Cauley gives the Rangers a second reserve infielder, along with Cody Freeman.

If you didn’t realize O’Hoppe was on the roster, that’s because he was added yesterday, with Josh Jung being placed on the 15 day injured list with his fractured hand.

Robby Ahlstrom was also recalled prior to yesterday’s game, taking the place of Gavin Collyer. Collyer had been recalled on Wednesday, with Winston Santos having been sent down.