The Anaheim Ducks named the 10th captain in franchise history on Tuesday, Sept. 22, going with a veteran ahead of their high-paid youngster.
Mikael Granlund, 34, replaces Radko Gudas, who left in free agency to return to the Florida Panthers.
Granlund was captain of the Finnish Olympic team, winning a bronze medal at the 2026 Winter Games. He signed a three-year deal with the Ducks in 2005 and has two years left on his contract.
He ranks ninth all-time among Finnish NHL players with 651 points in 960 career games.
“Both our management group and coaching staff have seen how he leads by example and exemplifies how a captain carries themselves on and off the ice," Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek said. "He personifies the professionalism, humility, mentorship and quiet intensity that will lead the various personalities of our group.”
Forward Leo Carlsson, 21, who signed a five-year, $90 million contract offer sheet from the Philadelphia Flyers that the Ducks matched, will be part of the leadership group.
He was one of four alternate captains named on Tuesday, joining Alex Killorn, Jackson LaCombe and Troy Terry.
List of NHL captains
Granlund is the fifth NHL captain named this month, joining the Los Angeles Kings' Drew Doughty, Chicago Blackhawks' Connor Bedard, New York Islanders' Bo Horvat and the St. Louis Blues' Robert Thomas. Here is a list of the 26 NHL captains and the six vacancies.
Major League Baseball could have a division winner this season that doesn't finish with a winning record.
That's the state of the truly mediocre AL West, where the Texas Rangers began the final week of the regular seasson with a division-leading mark of 78-78. The second-place Houston Astros are close behind, with the Seattle Mariners clinging to a flicker of life in the event they can win out.
While baseball fans may not see excellence every night, they are very likely to see drama .... all the way to the very end.
The Astros can extinguish the Mariners' flame with a sweep of their two-game series to start the week. Then they'll travel to Sacremento to close out the regular season with a four-game set against the Athletics.
The Rangers, meanwhile, play three at home against the New York Mets, then head to Minnesota to face the Twins.
MLB no longer uses a one-game playoff if two teams end up with the same record. All ties are broken by a tiebreaker formula. The first step is head-to-head record. Here's how the AL West teams fare in that department (with the Mariners and Astros beginning a two-game series in Seattle on Tuesday):
The Cubs get lucky once again in this series and don’t have to face Marlins ace Sandy Alcántara, who went Sunday against the Padres. In fact, they’ll face the same three Marlins starters they took on in the series in Miami a couple of weeks ago, in the same order.
Since these teams last met two weeks ago, the Cubs are 6-6 — but 6-3, winning three straight series, since being swept in Milwaukee. The Marlins are 4-8 and just got swept by the Padres in San Diego.
For more on the Marlins, please visit the Marlins site Fish On First.
Fun facts
Good news! This is still the regular season.
The Cubs are 67-55 at Wrigley Field in regular-season games vs. the Marlins. They are 1-5 in the postseason.
The Cubs won two of three when they last hosted the Marlins on May 12-14, 2025. Today is the 495th day since then, during which the Cubs have played 274 games, including three at Miami on Sept. 4-6. They won the first two and lost the third.
The Cubs’ last sweep of the Marlins at home was on May 7-9, 2018. They did it on the road April 15-17, 2019. This will be their 13th series vs. the Marlins since then. They were swept twice, both at Miami, in 2021 and 2023. The Cubs have been swept at home by the Marlins only twice in 34 seasons: two games in 1997 and three in 2007.
NOTE: Thursday would be Clay Holmes’ turn, but MLB.com currently is listing “TBD,” so that’s what I’m showing here.
Times & TV channels
Tuesday: 6:40 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network
Wednesday: 6:40 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network
Thursday: 1:20 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network
Prediction
The Marlins are a much worse team on the road (31-47) than at home (45-33). The Cubs took two of three from them in Miami, and so ought to at least do that again, with a fair shot at a sweep.
Up next
The final series of the regular season, a three-game set vs. the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park beginning Friday evening. The weather forecast is a concern.
A video of LeBron playing pickup basketball alongside several other NBA standouts was posted on YouTube on Monday night. A clip of LeBron bricking several shots from that YouTube video has since gone viral on social media.
The clip shows LeBron hitting the side of the backboard with a baseline fadeaway shot, missing several 3-pointers and missing numerous other jump shots.
LeBron James (23) of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts on the court during the second half at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026. Corey Sipkin for NY PostLeBron James taking a shot during an open run against other NBA players. (YouTube/@ChrisJohnsonHoops).
To be fair, the clip that is circulating on social media is an edited collage of James’ misses. The full YouTube video is an hour long and shows several impressive plays from King James that were all left out of the minute-long cut of his missed shots.
LeBron James, owner of Team AlUla, looks on during the E1 Series Luanda GP in Luanda, Angola, Sept. 13, 2026. Getty Images
The 41-year-old James joined the 76ers in free agency this summer after spending the past eight seasons with the Lakers. He told Los Angeles that he had no intention of returning to the franchise, which sparked a nearly monthlong storyline of where LeBron might land.
The 76ers are among the favorites to win an NBA championship after signing James. But this video clip might make fans rethink their belief in James.
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 03: Ariel Hukporti #55 of the New York Knicks dunks the ball against the Washington Wizards during the second half at Capital One Arena on February 3, 2026 in Washington, DC. 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 Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Following another playoff exit in the spring 0f 2026, the Philadelphia 76ers went out in free agency and brought back true championship experience. I’m talking, of course, about the signing of 24-year-old center Ariel Hukporti, fresh off a title as a member of the New York Knicks.
In all seriousness, while signing someone who played 76 total minutes during the Knicks’ playoff run to a one-year, $3.4 million deal was far from the most high-profile move of the offseason for the Sixers, it is one that could play a large factor in the team’s success this season.
As anyone knows who has even heard of Sixers basketball over the last decade or so, backup center is an important role in Philadelphia. Joel Embiid is going to miss games. Even under the best-case scenario where he avoids a serious injury (be it a setback in his knees or something entirely new the fates decide to rain down upon him), Embiid will sit out back-to-backs, have load management nights, and accrue the minor bumps and bruises that befall nearly every professional basketball players particularly those who are 7-feet tall and weight 280 pounds.
As is the case more often than not, the Sixers do not have a rock-solid plan at the position. Adem Bona has shown intriguing flashes as a shot blocker and energy guy, but he also has serious catching-the-ball issues and often looks like he’s never been on a basketball court before if he receives a pass in transition more than three feet away from the basket. His foul rate is extremely high, which isn’t a huge deal if playing 12 minutes per night, but is a red flag if he’s needed for extended minutes. Bona is only 23 years old and could certainly still improve in a lot of areas, but I’m willing to wager he’ll never have the soft hands and touch around the basket to be more than a lob finisher offensively. Adem also sprained his foot in FIBA competition; he’s expected to be fine before the start of the season, but you’d rather guys not sprain their feet.
So what do the Sixers have in Hukporti? I don’t think anyone can say with too much confidence. The seven-foot, 24-year-old German was the 58th overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft and has played less than 10 minutes per game across his first two seasons, logging only six career starts. He suffered a torn meniscus in early 2025 that caused him to miss time. Hukporti also played professionally in Europe and Australia before entering the NBA draft so there was less visibility on him than there might have been for a college prospect.
During his time with the Knicks, Hukporti displayed potential as a mobile rim protector. He played well when called upon in the NBA Finals. When Karl-Anthony Towns got into foul trouble in Game 4, it was Hukporti logging heavy run as the Knicks made their 29-point comeback. In Game 5, he showed off his athleticism with this rejection of Luke Kornet.
ARIEL HUKPORTI with a great block on Luke Kornet alley-oop attempt (with replays) pic.twitter.com/WAGTiGepMs
It’s not a great sign when the Knicks didn’t extend him a qualifying offer and later filled the hole with Andre Drummond. You would like to believe it was during a moment when New York needed every bit of financial flexibility they could gather. Knicks fans seemed to expect the team would circle back to Hukporti but the Sixers offering him more than a minimum threw that plan into disarray. Philadelphia signed him for slightly over a minimum contract (which would have been around $2.45 million), so they clearly liked something about what he brings to the table.
Time will tell exactly what Hukporti is, but a realistic upside outcome is a version of Bona who can catch the ball better. For little more than a minimum and for a Sixers roster that clearly needs to find something at this position, Hukporti is a worthwhile dart throw. Even on a star-studded roster, there’s potential for him to play a pivotal part.
Jose Fernandez (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Inspiration.
Many fans have expressed their unhappiness when the Diamondbacks failed to score with runners in scoring position.
In May after 32 games, my batting perspective was that the Diamondbacks batted below league average with RISP.
“While the Diamondbacks’ batting ranked high with men on first base and no runners on base, they batted below league average with men in scoring position (RISP). Batting with RISP was a negative contributing factor.” — Makakilo
In September after 152 games, how are the Diamondbacks batting with RISP? Recently, Jim McLennan noted that this season the Diamondbacks are scoring a high percentage of their baserunners.
“…Or this season, where we’ve had perpetual complaints about D-backs’ LOBsters. They actually score a higher percentage of baserunners than 23 of the 30 MLB teams….” — Jim McLennan
Let’s look at batting with RISP.
Let’s start with a high-level perspective.
Looking at all runs scored by the Diamondbacks, what percentage were scored with RISP? This season in games through 17 September, 77.3% of Diamondbacks runs happened with RISP (per Baseball Reference Stathead). That percentage is the second highest in MLB (Brewers were highest with 80.7%). Clearly, this is a strength of the Diamondbacks.
Did the Diamondbacks do it with homers? Their .0292 home runs per plate appearance with RISP was only slightly more than the MLB average of .0277 (they ranked 11th). My conclusion is they did it with a fairly balanced mix of homers and non-homers.
My Approach to Address, “How well did Diamondbacks bat with RISP”?
My goal was to compare the Diamondbacks to other teams based on three measures of batting with RISP: OBP, SLG, and wOBA.
Two data splits made the data more relevant to the question:
(RISP when the tying or go-ahead runs was on base) vs (all RISP PAs).
(RISP for 1 August to 15 September) vs (RISP for the full season).
Data was courtesy of Baseball Savant.
Torey Lovullo’s Recent Comment.
Slugging (SLG) was one of the three measures that I looked at. Days after my writing was completed, Lovullo made the following comment. His comment appeared to support a conclusion that SLG is perhaps the most important of the three measures. Also, he said that slugging with RISP was worse in the last few weeks. He was correct. From 1 to 19 September, for RISP with the tying or go-ahead run on base, the Diamondbacks’ .390 SLG ranked 20th in MLB. For all RISP, their .405 SLG ranked 18th.
“…And then we hit and slugged with men in scoring position. That’s been something that’s kind of been a missing piece of this puzzle foe a few weeks.” — Torey Lovullo, postgame on 20 September.
The Data to Address, “How well did Diamondbacks bat with RISP”?
In RISP situations, did the Diamondbacks bat better when the tying run or go-ahead run was on base? The data shows that their wOBA and SLG were better, but their OBP was the same. Also, the data shows their SLG ranked very highly, their wOBA was average, and their OBP was below average. The following table shows the comparisons and the ranks compared to other teams:
For the full season, for RISP with the tying or go-ahead run on base (10 relevant PA minimum), Jose Fernandez had the team high .706 SLG (20 PAs).
What about recently? How did they compare from 1 August to 15 September? For RISP situations, when the tying or go-ahead run was on base their SLG was about the same (and was ranked very highly). However, their wOBA and OBP fell, but they continued to be ranked about the same as the entire season. In the last month and a half, for all RISP situations, their SLG and wOBA rose significantly. The following table shows the comparisons and the ranks compared to other teams:
For 1 August to 15 September, for RISP with the tying or go-ahead run on base (10 relevant PA minimum), Corbin Carroll had the team high .800 SLG (18 PAs). Second place was Ryan Waldschmidt with .786 SLG (16 PAs).
Summary.
The Diamondbacks percentage of runs scored in RISP situations was the second highest in MLB.
For the full season, in RISP situations when the tying run or go-ahead run was on base, the Diamondbacks wOBA and SLG were better than all RISP situations. Their SLG ranked very highly compared to other teams. Jose Fernandez had the team-high SLG.
For 1 August to 15 September, in RISP situations when the tying run or go-ahead run was on base, the Diamondbacks SLG was about the same as the full season, and was ranked above average compared to other teams. Corbin Carroll had the team-high SLG, with second place Ryan Waldschmidt.
Feb 1, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) against the Los Angeles Clippers at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
With the NBA season right around the corner, national outlets are beginning to reveal their player rankings for the upcoming year. Yes, it’s Rankings SZN! We know the challenges that rankings present, but they’re still a valuable exercise for understanding perceptions of the league and the overall landscape of the player pool entering the season.
ESPN released the first half of its top 100 rankings today, revealing players 51 through 100. This was an area of the rankings completely void of Phoenix Suns a season ago. In fact, the only member of the Suns to crack ESPN’s top 100 was Devin Booker, who ultimately ranked 16th overall.
This season, however, another member of the Suns has made the jump. Not only did he crack the top 100, he climbed all the way to the 76 spot. Unocal status. That player is Dillon Brooks.
Dillon Brooks comes in at No.76 for ESPN's top-100.
Much-earned leap from 2025-26, where he did not make their top-100.
He ranks ahead of Ja Morant, & just behind Cason Wallace & Isaiah Hartenstein.
Vincent Goodwill of ESPN had the following to say about our beloved Villain:
Dillon the Villain is now Dillon the culture changer. Last season, he averaged a career-high 20.2 points as the Suns were one of the surprise teams in the West. Brooks deserves some credit for that turnaround, and the Suns gave him a three-year extension. Houston went from 22 to 41 wins in Brooks’ first season there, and Phoenix had a nine-win improvement last season. — Goodwill
Signature stat: Brooks ranked in the top 10 in made 2-point jumpers last season, according to GeniusIQ.
Fantasy projection: 18.6 PTS, 3.6 REB, 1.0 STL
So essentially, according to ESPN’s rankings, the Suns will have two top 100 players, as I doubt Jalen Green or Miles Bridges will appear among the top 50 players revealed later this week.
What makes Brooks somebody ESPN recognizes at this level is his ability to be a culture changer. He’s somebody you can bring into an organization and have an immediate impact on the identity and mentality of the team. His impact comes from the edge he provides and the way those attributes can permeate throughout a roster.
Look at the players surrounding him in the rankings. Brooks sits ahead of Ja Morant and behind Cason Wallace, Isaiah Hartenstein, and Walker Kessler. Some of those players are tertiary options on their respective teams, and Brooks could find himself in a similar position this season, at least from a usage standpoint. Heck, he might be the fourth option offensively. But that isn’t where Brooks’ value is ultimately found.
That’s the funny thing about ranking players. We tend to evaluate them through the lens of offensive hierarchy, as if being the fourth option automatically makes you the fourth most important player. Brooks doesn’t really fit that framework. His value comes from the way he impacts the players around him, sets a physical and emotional tone, and makes an opponent’s night more difficult. If ESPN is recognizing that impact at No. 76, it’s another indication that Brooks’ value in Phoenix extends well beyond his box score.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 20: Players of the Chicago White Sox celebrate after defeating the Detroit Tigers 8-1 at Rate Field on September 20, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jayden Mack/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Last August, the White Sox were in the middle of a 102-loss season while the Royals were trying their best to stay on the fringes of the Wild Card race. The Royals would win 10 of 13 against the Sox, a big part of why they were able to finish with a winning record. The baseball world expected another trying season for the White Sox, but they grew up and found themselves in a pennant race this year. They go into this series just one game out of first place, and three games up for the last Wild Card spot. They have won 7 of 10 this year against the Royals, turning the tables on them.
Chicago White Sox (80-76) vs. Kansas City Royals (67-89) at Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, MO
White Sox: 4.70 runs scored/game (6th in MLB), 4.43 runs allowed/game (15th)
The White Sox went from scoring the fourth-fewest runs in baseball in 2025 to the sixth-most runs this year. They added Munetaka Murakami, who is second among all rookies with 32 home runs. Outfielder Tristan Peters was acquired for cash considerations last December from the Rays and is now third among all rookies in fWAR at 3.9. Miguel Vargas and Colson Montgomery have also blossomed into 30+ home run hitters, and Sam Antonacci is tenth in the American League with a .363 on-base percentage.
Kyle Teel missed the first two and a half months with a hamstring injury and returned two weeks ago from an ankle injury. Brenton Doyle has not drawn a single walk in 37 games since the White Sox acquired him in July. Former Royals outfielder Andrew Benintendi is hitting just .167/.216/.229 in his last 18 games. Former Royals outfielder Randal Grichuk is hitting .318/.361/.618 against left-handers.
Anthony Kay has not pitched into the sixth inning in any of his last five starts. Lefties are hitting just .186/.251/.267 against him, and he has a 5.07 ERA on the road. Daniel Lynch IV has a 5.28 ERA in eight starts, but is coming off his best start, throwing five shutout innings against the Astros his last time out.
Erick Fedde has a 2.84 ERA in five career starts against the Royals, but Salvador Perez is 5-for-11 (.455) with a home run against him. He has a 1.57 ERA over his last six starts. Seth Lugo has a 7.35 ERA in nine starts since the start of August, but the Royals are 5-4 in those games. He has a 2.14 ERA against the White Sox in 46.1 career innings.
The White Sox have not yet announced a starter for Thursday, but it is David Sandlin’s turn in the rotation. The former Royals farmhand has struggled in his rookie campaign, giving up five runs in four innings in a loss to the Tigers his last time out. Randy Dobnak lasted just 3.2 innings in his last start, his shortest outing in 14 games with the Royals.
White Sox relievers have a 3.68 ERA, seventh-best in baseball, but they have 30 blown saves, third-most. The team traded closer Seranthony Domínguez away at the deadline, with Grant Taylor and Bryan Hudson sharing closing duties since then. Hudson was claimed off waivers in spring training and is 25th in fWAR among all relievers. Former Arkansas standout and first-round pick Hagen Smith has become a bullpen weapon, with opponents hitting .107/.242/.167 against him. Trevor Richards, who pitched in three games for the Royals in 2025, has the seventh-most relief innings in baseball this year at 77.2.
The White Sox just took three out of four from the Tigers in Chicago, but have a losing record of 8-11 in the month of September. They are 34-44 on the road, the worst road record of any team currently projected to make the postseason. The White Sox have flipped the script from a year ago, and with the postseason within reach, they’ll look to continue their dominance over the Royals this season.
Charlie Condon walks off the field | Credit: Albuquerque Isotopes
Charlie Condon (No. 2 PuRP) was drafted third-overall in the 2024 draft and has been a highly touted prospect ever since. Condon was a walk-on for the University of Georgia his freshman year, and ultimately won the Golden Spikes Award during his senior year before being drafted by the Rockies.
He has rocketed up the minors and was on the brink of breaking camp this past spring before ultimately being assigned to Triple-A right at the very end.
“Spring training was a great experience for me, just getting to spend time in the big-league locker room with (Warren Schaeffer) and the staff up there,” Condon recalled. “And then also just the guys that are in that locker room and creating relationships with them. It was a productive spring to kind of get a subtle vibe of the big league feel.
“And then coming into Triple-A, it’s different than your previous minor league levels,” he continued. “You’re facing guys that are up and down, guys that you’re playing with are up and down, so there’s always people coming and going. But it was a great experience. I feel like I learned a lot, just as far as how the game works up here at a higher level. I think it was just a good experience against good competition.”
Condon played 130 games with the Isotopes this year, slashing .273/.390/.514 with 25 doubles, seven triples, 27 home runs, 98 RBI and eight stolen bases in 13 attempts. He struck out 25.1% of the time, but walked 13.2% — all good for a wRC+ of 118.
But the biggest takeaway he had from his first season in Triple-A was the importance of being healthy.
“It’s hard to pick one particular moment,” he said, “but I think for me, just an all-encompassing thing was just being healthy this full year and playing as many games as I did – getting as many at-bats as I did, getting the reps that I had both at first base and the outfield. I think just the opportunity to play a full, healthy year of baseball was the highlight for me.”
However, there were certainly some plays that stood out. The first one, of course, is September 6th, when Condon hit two grand slams against the Tacoma Rainiers (Mariners).
“It was really cool. You don’t get that opportunity very often,” Condon said. “To come up with the bases loaded twice in one game and get the pitches that I got and put the right swings on them was great. But just to have those guys in front of me have a bunch of really good at-bats and load the bases… grand slams are a collective effort because if it’s just me out there, it’s two solo shorts. It doesn’t mean all that much. But props to the guys around me for making those things mean a little bit more.”
He also hit his first-career walk-off home run this year against the El Paso Chihuahuas on May 31st.
Defensively, Condon continued to split his time between first base and right field. He played 76 games at first (72 starts), 56 in the outfield (50 starts) and six as a designated hitter.
“It’s just a constant sharpening of all the positions,” he said of his preparation. “DH you don’t really need to prepare for all that much, other than how you get ready in the cage. And then as far as outfield and first base, I try not to make my preparation too different depending on what position I’m playing. I kind of just do a little bit of everything every day to just feel ready … It’s more like every day I’m going to go out and I’m going to ground balls. I’m going to get my stuff that I need to get in for first base, and then I’m going to go shag BP in the outfield. I’m going to get reads off the bat there, and so that way it just feels like I’m always ready for whichever position it may be that day.”
But like any player, Condon learned some lessons in his first season in Triple-A.
“I’ve been playing baseball for a long time. It’s the same game up here that you’ve played your whole life. There’s just different aspects to it,” he said. “I think a big thing I’ve learned is just keeping things simple and understanding it’s really not all that different. It just feels more important the closer you get to the big leagues, but it’s still just being able to maintain a slow heartbeat and not live and die with every good and bad thing that happens, and just being able to roll with the punches a little bit.”
He’s also made some minor adjustments, but really made sure to “listen to the game” along the way.
“The game’s going to tell you certain things about what you need to do that day to be ready,” Condon said, “what you’re feeling in the game, and you’ve got to be ready to listen, like, ‘Hey, I need to make a tweak here’ or ‘I need to keep riding with this because I think this is working with me.’ So it’s a constant game of just listening to what the game’s trying to tell you.”
One of the adjustments he had to make, like other players in the Rockies’ system, was to playing at roughly 5,100 feet above sea level.
“It’s a little harder to catch your breath every now and then,” he said. “But (it’s) nothing too crazy. Pitch shapes look a little bit different sometimes, but [I’m] definitely used to the coming and going of the traveling, for sure.”
But looking ahead, Condon is looking forward to continuing his work into the offseason.
“I’m excited to get in and get my body in good shape,” he said, “add a little bit of weight and just sharpen some tools this offseason. Rest a little bit, and hopefully just show up really ready whenever we get going.”
The Albuquerque Isotopes finished their season at home against the Salt Lake Bees (Angels). going 2-4 and being outscored 40-30. They finished 73-77 overall, and 34-41 in the second half.
⬆️ Stock Up: Sterlin Finish
Sterlin Thompson (No. 16 PuRP) made his MLB debut this season, but finished in Albuquerque after being optioned on August 18th. But he still played well, especially in the final week. In six games against Salt Lake, Thompson went 6-for-20 (.300) with two doubles, one home run (in the final game of the season), six runs scored, three RBI, six walks and just one strikeout. He also stole one final base on September 15th.
⬆️ Stock Up: Close the Brooks
Jake Brooks made his final start of the season on September 19th and pitched a gem. The right-hander threw seven innings, allowing just one run — a solo homer — on five hits with one walk and seven strikeouts. It was his longest outing in an Isotopes uniform, but he had done it twice before in Double-A Hartford before his promotion in July.
The Hartford Yard Goats went quietly in the Eastern League Division Series, as they were swept by the Reading Fightin’ Phils (Phillies) and were outscored 26-8. After being thrashed 21-4 in the opener, they bounced back and lost 5-4 in the second game. They finished 66-71 overall, and 27-42 in the second half.
⬆️ Stock Up: Young King Cole
Cole Messina finished the season on a high note. In the two games against Reading, Messina went 3-for-8 with two RBI, one run scored, a home run and two strikeouts. He attempted to steal a base in Game 1, but was caught. Messina’s three hits led the Yard Goats in the two-game series.
⬆️ Stock Up: Et tu, Jared?
Jared Thomas (No. 8 PuRP) played on two playoff teams this season — the ACL Championship team as well as the Yard Goats ELDS team. In Game 2 of the ELDS specifically, he went 2-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored, one RBI and a stolen base. Thomas will continue action in the Arizona Fall League starting on October 3rd.
⬆️ Stock Up: Wimmer, Wimmer, Chicken Dinner
Braylen Wimmer had an outstanding season after being diagnosed with an astrocytoma (brain tumor) last fall. In total, he played 81 games for the Yard Goats and slashed .253/.352/.375 with 23 extra-base hits, 30 RBI, 36 walks and 97 strikeouts. He also stole 30 bases in 33 attempts. But in the ELDS specifically, Wimmer went 2-for-5 with two doubles (one in each game), three RBI, three walks, a strikeout and a stolen base.
CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 16: Jr. Ritchie #60 of the Atlanta Braves pitches during the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Wednesday, September 16, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Nick Loggarakis/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
It’s tune-up time. The division is clinched, the chances of getting not-the-three seed in the NL are very low, and the Braves are presumably going to take it easy for their last two series before playoff action begins. For the first part of this week, they’ll host the Reds, and then complete the regular season down in Miami.
Much like the Braves are playing out the string, so are the Reds — though the latter’s been doing so for quite a while at this point. Fresh off a surprising playoff berth engendered by a Mets collapse in 2025, the Reds were not projected to be good when the season began (78 wins central estimate, playoff odds of about 17 percent). It turns out that they were unable to meet even that tepid wins mark, as they enter this series at 72-84. Last year’s squad pushed above .500 on the back of a top-five pitching staff; this year, both the position players and arms have been bottom ten.
On the position player side, the Reds have a superstar in Elly de la Cruz (6.3 fWAR in 603 PAs and counting), a guy who hit a lot of homers in Sal Stewart, and not much else. They have three guys with 200-plus PAs and -0.8 fWAR or more, which has been brutal considering they haven’t gotten good production from anyone but de la Cruz. The pitching is similar: Chase Burns has been phenomenal (4.3 fWAR in 154 1/3 innings and counting), but no one else has done much of anything.
Despite all that, the Reds started out blazing, with a 20-11 through April 30… but an eight-game losing streak immediately thereafter basically plunged their season into a mire they haven’t been able to clamber out of — even their monthly hitting and pitching performances have almost entirely been bottom half or far worse.
So, for both teams, this is basically just a prelude to things in the future. For the Braves, that’s the playoffs. For the Reds, it’s… next year? Burns and de la Cruz are some really nice building blocks, but a lot of the rest of the roster could use some work.
The Braves will give the ball to JR Ritchie, who could also use some work and a step in the right direction as he heads towards an offseason shutdown. The Braves could also carry Ritchie in the playoff roster as a mop-up guy, but they have enough guys that can fit that role. Still, maybe he makes it anyway. Ritchie has really struggled in the majors so far, with a 119/135/115 line (ERA-/FIP-/xFIP-) in nine starts and six relief appearances spanning 62 2/3 innings of work. He’s been up and down and has had a few nice outings (two in long relief against the Mets to come mind), but he’s still chasing the performance (and vibes) high of his MLB debut, when he put up a 7/2 K/BB ratio (and was tagged for two solo homers) against the Nationals back in April.
In some ways, Ritchie looks like a good candidate for a Kyle Wright-esque reinvention as a sinker-curve-changeup guy with less emphasis on his four-seamer. The problem, though, is that he’s shown very problematic command to date. He has some nice pieces (curveball shape, great seam-shifted wake on some pitches, some truly picture perfect spin mirroring on his fastballs vis-a-vis his curve), but the erraticism of his ability to make any pitch go anywhere — or, more to the point, clip the zone without getting into the meaty part of it — has made everything play down. So, today is a chance for him to take a step towards a better future, against a team that just can’t hit at all. (After accounting for park effects, and not considering that they’re underperforming their inputs a fair bit, the Reds have the worst batting outputs in MLB… which may be partly because the style of offense they’ve been coaching in Cincinnati is a very throwback small ball style that isn’t generating results.)
The Reds will counter with 28-year-old left-hander Brandon Williamson, who has been part of the problem this year. To be fair, it’s not necessarily Williamson’s fault, as he’s working his way back from multiple serious injuries. Acquired in the pre-2023 trade that sent Jesse Winker and Eugenio Suarez to Seattle, Williamson had a nice-enough rookie season for his new team (97/101/108, 1.8 fWAR in 117 innings), but then fell victim to shoulder and elbow injuries that saw him miss most of 2024, all of 2025, and have lingered in 2026. Williamson started the season in the rotation and got absolutely blasted through six starts, and then sat out four months with shoulder fatigue. He returned in September, had a so-so start, and has been working in long relief since.
The Braves beat up on Williamson in one of his few outings in 2024 before he went down with one of his recurring arm injuries. The Reds haven’t faced Ritchie yet.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Tuesday, September 22, 7:15 p.m. EDT
Location: Truist Park, Atlanta, GA
TV/Streaming: BravesVision, Gray TV
Radio: 680 AM/93.7 FM The Fan, La Mejor 1600/1460/1130 AM
LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts on the court during the second half at Barclays Center, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in Brooklyn, NY. (Corey Sipkin for the...
When speaking with “The Basketball Show” on Monday, Brown said, “I thought LeBron was a regular individual, and then I realized he’s a part of a group. LeBron is a machine. It’s a marketing machine. He’s not an individual.
“And so, once I realized that when when you go up against a machine, it gives off toxic waste. What’s made to look good, it destroys things around it,” Brown, who never played with LeBron, added.
LeBron James (23) of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts on the court during the second half at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026. Corey Sipkin for NY Post
“And if you look at the careers that he’s destroyed: Westbrook… You got Dalton Knecht; Because of [LeBron’s] son, he didn’t get a chance to develop… And he comes there with Andrew Wiggins as the number one draft pick. I know what that’s like. And when I see him go places, I’m like, okay, I want to know which player is gonna have to be taken away from for this machine to still look like what it is,” Brown continued.
Brown was the No. 1 overall pick of the 2001 NBA Draft and famously spent three seasons with the Lakers as what most considered a bust.
He went on to say that either Joel Embiid or V. J. Edgecombe will take the fall of the 76ers don’t meet expectations this season.
Plus, Brown asserted that the Lakers’ decision to draft Bronny James was, “More made for LeBron’s legacy because he he can’t catch like [Michael Jordan] or Kobe [Bryant] in certain things. But he can say, ‘Listen, I’m the only father son duo that was on the basketball court. I’m the only father-son duo that was in the playoffs, and now it’s going to be the only father-son duo that goes against each other.'”
Brown clearly has some sour grapes, which is manifesting in his sentiment toward LeBron.
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) sits on the bench in the fourth quarter during Game 2 of the NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference Semifinals against the New York Knicks, May 6, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York PostLos Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James is seen during pre-game warmups under the watchful eye of his father, forward LeBron James, before a game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST
The Buffalo Sabres opened their abbreviated preseason schedule with mostly an American Hockey League lineup in Pittsburgh on Monday, dropping a 4-1 decision to the Penguins at PPG Paints Arena. Jake Richard scored for the Sabres, who split the goaltending duties between veteran Alex Lyon and Colten Ellis.
Other than the goalies, the only players that potentially could make Sabres roster when they cut down to 23 next week were forwards Jiri Kulich and Justin Danforth, possibly veteran Conor Sheary (who lost a tooth courtesy of an elbow from Justin Brazeau) and defenseman Zach Metsa. The game was the first contest for Kulich since a blood clot issue ended his season last November, while Danforth suffered a broken knee cap in mid-October.
Kulich played nearly 20 minutes in the loss and other than Ellis, is the only player who played on Monday who will be in the lineup against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Veteran players are limited to just two preseason games, but the 22-year-old does not qualify for that restriction, and head coach Lindy Ruff indicated that his plan is to give the young Czech forward as much playing time as possible.
Noah Ostlund signs eight-year deal with the Sabres
"The rules have changed now. Actually, some of our guys want to play three, but they can't.” Ruff said. “In all likelihood, I'm going to play (Kuilch) all four games. I mean, that'll be a test for sure, but I think a year off of hockey, really highly competitive hockey, puts them in a situation to start to get comfortable on the ice."
In ex-Sabres news, Bowen Byram scored a hat trick in his debut for the Chicago Blackhawks in a 4-3 overtime victory over the Minnesota Wild. The news was not positive for former Sabre Jeff Skinner. After a strong start for HC Biel in the Swiss League (3 goals in his first two games), the 34-year-old suffered a muscle injury against the SCL Tigers. His status is unknown, but he will miss at least one game while the injury is being evaluated.
In their heyday, the Dallas Cowboys would often win on Sundays simply due to the star on the side of their helmets. Twenty straight playoff appearances will do that kind of thing, intimidating the opposing sideline before the ball was even kicked off.
The Houston Astros have experienced their own championship pedigree. What started with a Wild Card victory over the Yankees in 2015, ultimately ushered in the “Golden Era” of Astros baseball, turning into 62 post season wins. Over 50,000 packed Yankee Stadium that day only to be silenced by Dallas Keuchel, who pitched scoreless ball over six frames. Solo home-runs from Carlos Gomez and Colby Rasmus would be enough, and the soon to be dynasty had authored its first chapter. That was October 6th, 2015. What would transpire next, four World Series Appearances and a pair of World Championships. Memories to last a lifetime.
Since 2015, the other professional franchises in town haven’t fared as well. The Rockets have run through a gauntlet of coaches. Kevin McHale, J.B. Bickerstaff, Mike D’Antoni, Stephen Silas and current front man Ime Udoka, all in search of returning to The Finals which has evaded them for more than three decades.
The Texans have also hired five head coaches in that span. Bill O’Brien, Romeo Crennel, the lost season with David Culley, Lovie Smith and now DeMeco Ryans. The only championship that’s happened there was the hosting of Super Bowl 41, which the Texans weren’t a participant of. There’s been seven playoff berths but zero advancement past the divisional round.
Yordan Alvarez called a players only meeting on Sunday after the Braves completed the sweep. The hope would be that for the next six games, he does his talking at the plate, channeling some of the past championship lore.
It felt like time. Trae Young was in his eighth season in Atlanta and things felt stagnant. This was a team — and Young was a player — in need of a change, and while it wasn't always smooth, the team worked with Young and he was traded to the Washington Wizards.
At least, that was how it looked from the outside.
"I love the owner, Tony (Ressler), and all the ownership group and everybody down there. So I have much love to a lot of people down there in Atlanta, so I never wanted to leave [in] a bad way. But once we got on that third GM, and we brought in Onsi, it's like you don't necessarily feel as comfortable as you did [when] you got there...
"There are so many things I won't say until later on, but sometimes it's just better just to let things go."
Schlenk was all in on Young from the start. He made a draft-night trade of Luka Doncic for Young and always kept Young at the heart of any future plans in Atlanta. Onsi didn't see it that way and reconstituted a team around Jalen Johnson and a formidable defense, and that had Atlanta going 20-6 after the All-Star break and looking like a potential threat in the East heading into this season.
"I've never worked in another job, but I'm sure it's like this in other jobs where if a new boss is hired, if the new CEO comes in, if a new GM comes in, he's gonna want to bring in his people," said Young. "He may make some cuts. He may move some people here and there. He's gonna figure out who he likes. So, obviously, this was my third GM. You know what I'm saying? Like, it's different...
"And so when we brought our third one, we all knew around me that it's either we're going to be around here for the long haul and we win or it may be time for everybody to just part their ways."
So they parted their ways. Young got what he most wanted out of this, a four-year, $213 million contract extension, a deal that left the rest of the league shaking its head at the unnecessary overpay (and the kind of extension Atlanta was not going to give him). Maybe Young works well next to a young Atlanta core with No. 1 pick AJ Dybantsa and big man Alex Sarr — plus Anthony Davis is on the Wizards now, too. It's an interesting team.
Atlanta has moved on and had one of the more underrated, strong offseasons. Young and Saleh may not have been on the same page, it was time to part ways, but Saleh has helped Atlanta find a needed new identity and direction.
Young was ultimately right, it was "time for everybody to just part their ways."
HOUSTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 15: Yordan Alvarez #21 of the Houston Astros hits a two-run home run in the fifth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Daikin Park on September 15, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The latest news and info about the Houston Astros:
Yordan Alvarez is tired of losing, and he let his teammates know about it:
Team meetings this time of year are sometimes eyewash. Time will tell if the one had in Houston on Sunday qualifies. That Yordan Alvarez spoke in it is important, though, and is instructive for the long term – https://t.co/kNxl3sUWS3
Astros starting pitching has been this feeble since 2013:
There are 6 games remaining and Peter Lambert leads the Astros with 8 wins. The last time they didn't have a pitcher reach double-digit wins in a 162-game season was in 2013, when Jordan Lyles led the team in wins (7). The Astros lost 111 games that season.
Meanwhile, the starting pitching was probably the best part of the 3 game sweep the Astros just endured at the hands of the Atlanta Braves to close out the home portion of the season:
The Astros threw their best three starters at the Braves – Lambert, Wesneski and Brown – and they had a 1.72 ERA in 15 2/3 innings. Houston’s bullpen had a 10.32 ERA in 11 1/3 innings.
It has been four years since the Astros parted ways with Yuli Gurriel. Four years of first base failure. Here’s how bad it’s been:
The Astros' first base production since 2023 is not good. The money they've spent is more painful. Given the state of the farm system and hesitancy to spend in free agency, the few deals Jim Crane does green-light must age well for this to function – https://t.co/AS6pa5X6cG
– While Mike Elias’ job is safe as the Orioles president of baseball operations, there continues to be a shuffling of the front office desk.
While Matt Blood, vice president of player and staff development, was let go earlier in the month, now longtime assistant GM Sig Mejdal, who was with Elias in Houston, was demoted and no longer is in charge of the team’s analytics department.
An inability to score runners from 3rd base with less than 2 out has doomed the Astros all season:
The #Astros have had 259 runners on third base with fewer than two outs, and only 47.1% (122) have scored. Only the Reds, Royals and Guardians have fared worse in that regard. pic.twitter.com/B9Hf0F7o9J
Astros legend Larry Dierker reflects on his career:
Larry Dierker has probably seen more Astros games in person than anybody else. As he turns 80 today, the former pitcher, broadcaster and manager reflects on his life and career.
“When I look back at it, sometimes I’m surprised I did all that stuff."https://t.co/XAhnOcWo41
Astros director of international scouting Brian Rodgers is leaving the organization for the same job with the Washington Nationals, sources tells @spencernusbaum_ and me – https://t.co/AbDNJcpiU2
