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Mets' offense quiet again, Sean Manaea's struggles continue in ugly 9-3 loss to Phillies

The Mets were defeated by the Philadelphia Phillies 9-3 on Tuesday night at Citizens Bank Park.

New York has now lost four in a row. 

Here are some takeaways...

- Sean Manaea retired the first two batters of the night, but his recent struggles continued from there. He gave up a two-out two-run double to Nick Castellanos in the first, then served up back-to-back shots to Otto Kemp and Harrison Bader in the second. 

After heading into the tunnel to talk with Carlos Mendoza in between innings, Manaea was able to settle into a groove, retiring the next seven hitters he faced before issuing a leadoff walk to Kemp in the fifth. Philly pushed him into scoring position, but Manaea struck out Bryce Harper to strand him there. 

The southpaw finished with a line of four runs on five hits and a walk while striking out three over five innings. 

- The Mets' offensive struggles continued in their first meeting with Ranger Suárez this season. The southpaw held them hitless until Brandon Nimmo led off the fifth with a single up the middle, but that was quickly erased with a Starling Marte double play ball. 

Suárez allowed just four baserunners and struck out a career-high 12 batters in six shutout innings. 

- New York was finally able to get on the board when they got into the Phillies' bullpen. Mark Vientos led off the top of the seventh with a laser-beam solo shot to deep right off of David Robertson, snapping a 15-inning scoreless streak.

- Philly answered right back in the bottom half of the inning thanks to a Vientos error, though. Kyle Schwarber officially put this one to bed, lifting a monstrous three-run homer off of Justin Hagenman to the deepest part of the ballpark, making him the second player in franchise history with 50 in a season. 

- Jose Siri scored the Mets' second run in his first game back in five months. He laced a double high and deep off the right-center fence, and then came around two batters later on Juan Soto's RBI single -- it was just Siri's second hit as a Met. 

Soto swiped third a few pitches later, giving him his first 30/30 season, and the fifth in franchise history. 

- Francisco Alvarez snapped a 0-for-12 skid with a double in the top of the ninth. It was just the young backstops second hit since returning from the injured list.  

- The Mets' lead for the third Wild Card spot is now down to 2.5 games with 17 to play. 

Game MVP: Ranger Suárez

The southpaw was absolutely spectacular, holding the Mets to just one hit while setting a new career-high in strikeouts (12). 

Highlights

What's next

The Mets send out Clay Holmes (11-7, 3.61 ERA) as they look to end the skid against Cristopher Sanchez (12-5, 2.60 ERA) on Wednesday at 6:45 p.m.

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Strong rehab outing could put Roki Sasaki back in Dodgers' postseason roster contention

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 26, 2025: Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki (11) pitches in the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Dodgers Stadium on April 26, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Could Roki Sasaki make the postseason roster? (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Roki Sasaki topped 100 mph a half-dozen times in four shutout innings of a rehab start for triple-A Oklahoma City on Tuesday, pushing himself back into the conversation for a spot on the Dodgers’ postseason pitching staff.

“We’ve all got to huddle up and figure out what's the next plan,” manager Dave Roberts said. “I personally don't know Roki’s plan after tonight.”

Sasaki struggled through four rehab appearances and seemed to have dropped off the Dodgers’ radar. But he gave up just a hit through the first four innings Tuesday before tiring in the fifth, when he gave up three runs, two walks, two hits and a hit batter.

He threw 90 pitches, 52 for strikes, striking out eight and walking four.

It’s unlikely Sasaki, 23, will be considered for a spot in the rotation but he could pitch out of the bullpen.

“Anything's possible,” Roberts said. “I know he wants to contribute. So we’ve just got to see where he fits in. And we'll have that conversation as an organization.”

Read more:Max Muncy is back, and he hopes to help cure what ails the Dodgers

Sasaki went 1-1 with a 4.72 ERA in eight starts before going on the injured list with a shoulder impingement in mid-May. In his first four rehab starts for Oklahoma City, he gave up 17 hits and 11 earned runs in 14 innings.

The Dodgers’ bullpen is starting to get crowded, however, with left-hander Alex Vesia returning from the injured list Tuesday. Vesia was 3-2 with a 2.75 ERA in 59 games before going to the sidelines on Aug. 23 with a right oblique strain. Right-hander Ben Casparius was optioned to Oklahoma City to create a roster spot for Vesia. Casparius was 7-5 with a 4.64 ERA in 46 games.

Roberts said as the postseason roster begins to come together the decisions on who stays and who goes with 2 ½ weeks left in the regular season become harder.

“The conversation with Ben yesterday wasn't fun for anyone,” he said. “It starts to get tougher.”

He’ll have to have another one of those talks Wednesday before activating utility player Tommy Edman from the injury list. Outfielder Justin Dean, who has appeared mostly as a defensive replacement, batting just twice in 18 games entering Tuesday, is the most likely to be sent down.

Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Juan Soto becomes fifth player in Mets history to put together 30-30 season

What down season?

Mets star Juan Soto officially joined a pristine club on Tuesday night. 

The outfielder swiped his 30th bag of the season in the top of the eighth against the Phillies, making him just the fifth player in franchise history to put together a 30-30 season. 

The others are Darryl Strawberry, Howard Johnson (three times), David Wright, and Francisco Lindor. 

Soto is the first player in baseball to reach the mark this season.

"It's a big deal for him getting to 30," Carlos Mendoza said. "But if you ask him he isn' about his own stats, he's about winning, and right now obviously we're going through a tough stretch but he's all about winning -- but the fact that he got to 30 is certainly impressive."

Soto currently leads the Mets in both marks, and his stolen bases are a new career-high. 

The home runs don’t come as a surprise, but working with first base coach Antoan Richardson he’s put an emphasis on improving as a baserunner during his first year as a Met, and it’s led to the uptick in thefts.

"We've put in a lot of hard work since the beginning of the season," Soto said. "Antoan did an unbelievable job, he's been helping me since Day 1, so I think I give him all the credit. He's the one who put me in this situation and in this spot to do what I've done."

With 19 games still left to play, Soto has a strong chance to become the first 40-30 player in Mets history. 

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Devils Legend Mourns Death of Ken Dryden

The ice hockey world mourned the death of Ken Dryden, Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender. Dryden not only won six Stanley Cups, but he was also on the call for the Miracle on Ice.

He passed away at age 78 after battling cancer. As one of the top goaltenders in NHL history, the hockey world paid tribute to the legend. One man in particular who shared a message was Devils legend Martin Brodeur.

In a post shared on multiple social media platforms, Brodeur wrote:

“I always looked up to Ken Dryden. He revolutionized the position & rose to the occasion in big moments. Beyond his greatness on the ice, he was a remarkable person, and the hockey community will miss him dearly. My condolences to the Dryden family. Photo by my dad, Denis Brodeur.”

Brodeur made history for the Devils and the NHL as one of the greatest goaltenders of all time. He won three Stanley Cups with the Devils, claimed the Vezina Trophy four times, and remains the all-time wins leader for goaltenders with 691 victories.

His message to Dryden shows just how profound Dryden’s impact was on the hockey world.

Other notable figures also released messages expressing their condolences. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney posted on social media:

“Few Canadians have given more, or stood taller, for our country. Ken Dryden was Big Canada. And he was Best Canada. Rest in peace.”

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman also shared a statement:

“From the moment Ken Dryden joined the Montreal Canadiens as a 23-year-old rookie in 1971, he made an immediate and lasting impact on the NHL, the Canadiens franchise, and the goaltending position. Ken’s love for his country was evident both on and off the ice.”

Not only did Dryden have an impact on the ice and in the broadcast booth, but he also stepped away from hockey in 1973 to work at a Toronto law firm, giving back to his community.

He played just eight seasons in the NHL before pursuing a different career path. In 397 starts, he earned 258 wins, ranking 63rd all time.

While Brodeur leads the list of all-time wins, the impact that Dryden had on his career — and on the hockey community as a whole - cannot be ignored as the sport mourns a legend.

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"It’s always a possibility, you know": Pat Brisson Weights In On Crosby's Future

The Pittsburgh Penguins have Sidney Crosby locked up for the next two seasons, but that hasn't stopped some of the national media from discussing him leaving the franchise. 

He has shown no interest in even thinking about leaving the Penguins. However, Pat Brisson, Crosby's agent, was asked about some of those rumors by The Athletic's Pierre Lebrun on Wednesday and didn't exactly squash them. 

“I mean, I’m answering something that, let’s put it this way, it’s always a possibility, you know?” Brisson told Lebrun in an interview. 

Brisson added that he believes Crosby should be playing playoff hockey every year. Crosby hasn't been in the playoffs since the 2021-22 season, when the Penguins lost to the New York Rangers in the first round. The Penguins had a 3-1 series lead on the Rangers before losing in seven games.

Since then, the Penguins have missed the playoffs in three-straight seasons and are in the middle of a rebuild. General manager Kyle Dubas is trying to return the Penguins to contention as urgently as possible, but it's going to take some time. 

Despite Brisson's comments, Crosby will play his 21st NHL season with the Penguins when the 2025-26 season starts in October. The Penguins will open the year against the Rangers October 7 inside Madison Square Garden.

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab  to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!

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Kings 2025-26 Player Preview: Andrei Kuzmenko

Heading into his first full season with the Kings, Kuzmenko looks to continue where he left off with the Kings.

Andrei Kuzmenko had a very interesting 2024-25 NHL season. He started with the Calgary Flames, where he played 32 games in which he registered 4 goals and 11 assists for 15 points. He was then traded to the Philadelphia Flyers alongside Jakob Pelletier.

Kuzmenko played only 7 games for the Flyers, registering 2 goals and 3 assists for 5 points. Then, on the trade deadline, the Flyers would trade Kuzmenko to the Kings in exchange for a 2027 third-round pick. Kuzmenko achieved moderate success with the Kings, scoring 5 goals and registering 12 assists in 22 games, totalling 17 points. He also performed well in the playoffs, contributing 3 goals and 3 assists in 6 games. 

After the Oilers eliminated the Kings in 6 games, Kuzmenko would sign a 1-year $4.3 million contract with the Kings during the offseason. 

2025-26 Expectations and Predictions

Kuzmenko will look to try to replicate his first year in the NHL, where he was 1 goal shy of the 40-goal mark for the Canucks. According to PuckPedia, Kuzmenko is on the first line alongside Kopitar and Kempe, so he will have the opportunity to have a positive impact on the Kings. Playing alongside Kempe and Kopitar is one of the best things for Kuzmenko because Kempe leads the team in points. Kopitar led the team in assists, making this a very good opportunity for Kuzmenko to showcase his scoring and offensive playmaking abilities, and to prove why he should stay with the Kings after his contract expires at the end of the 2025-26 season. 

My prediction for Kuzmenko is that we will see flashes of his first-year performance with the Canucks, but I do not expect him to reach that point total this year. Playing alongside some of the best offensive Kings players, I wouldn't be shocked if Kuzmenko had a 30 to 40 point total at the end of the season. Ever since his first season in the NHL, it has been a slow decline, and both he and the Kings are hoping he can produce like he did in his first year. Kuzmenko has to prove why he deserves to stay with the Kings, but with him playing on the top line and getting power-play minutes, he will be able to make a good case for the Kings to keep him. 



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Despite Turnover And Uncertainty, Sidney Crosby Remains Loyal To The Penguins For Now

You can say many things about NHL icon Sidney Crosby.

For instance, he’s not a rah-rah, heart-on-his-sleeve dramatic leader like, say, Mark Messier was. Crosby is his own terrific hockey ambassador in his own way, but he’s a hockey fan who knows his legacy in the sport. And Crosby can see the optics at play with where he’s at in his career right now, and where his Pittsburgh Penguins are at.

When asked by The Athletic if it were possible that Crosby would consider a trade away from his beloved Penguins organization, Crosby’s agent, Pat Brisson, did not flat-out reject all trade possibilities involving No. 87.

“I mean, I’m answering something that…let’s put it this way, it’s always a possibility, you know?” Brisson said. “It’s been three years (the Penguins) haven’t made the playoffs. It all depends on how (Crosby) is going to be and how the team is going to do. I maintain the same position that I do believe that he should be playing playoff hockey every year. In my opinion.”

Now, Brisson is allowed to have feelings about the situation that may not be 100 percent in line with Crosby’s feelings. But Crosby understands he’s still got a say in how the rest of his NHL days play out.

If he were quicker and more rash to act, Crosby would be an ex-Penguin by now. But it’s a measurement of his love for the Penguins that he’s still trying to see what can be salvaged in Pittsburgh before he and the team even remotely consider going down two different roads.

“I understand it,” Crosby said at the NHL/NHLPA Player media tour in Vegas. “You’d rather be talking about who we’re getting at the (trade) deadline or where we’re at as far as are we one-two-three in the division. That’s the hard part about losing.

“Everybody thinks the buzzer goes, you lose the game and that sucks, but there’s so much more. It’s the turnover, the uncertainty, the question marks. That’s tough. It makes you appreciate all those years we were competing and going after that big acquisition every trade deadline. I didn’t take it for granted, but I definitely appreciate it that much more now.

“But it hasn’t changed my approach. I still go out there trying to win every single game and be the best I can be. That youth and having that energy around you isn’t a bad thing, either. We have a lot of hungry guys and a lot of competition for spots so you find different things to feed off and continue to learn from.”

Sidney Crosby (Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images)

Crosby’s favorite team as a young hockey fan was the Montreal Canadiens. So you can see that the possibility of Crosby being traded to the Canadiens makes many Habs fans all but drool in anticipation. And Crosby didn’t shy away from acknowledging the mania that undoubtedly would follow Crosby pulling on a Habs jersey.

“Trust me, I get it,” Crosby said. “Growing up a Montreal fan, I understand how passionate they are. My first or second year in the league, I was in Montreal for a CCM thing in June and they were already projecting the lines for training camp in September. I was like, ‘This is wild’. They’re so into it and I get it as to why that would come up. It doesn’t make it any easier to hear those things when you’re losing, but knowing a team like that wants you isn’t the end of the world.”

Despite Crosby’s delicate handling of the current situation in Pittsburgh, it’s readily apparent that he isn’t yet ready to move on from this Penguins organization.

Who knows – once Crosby does retire, maybe there’s a universe in which he’s in a key management role and keeps his connection to the game fully intact. He wouldn’t be the first superstar to take a run at being a GM or president of hockey operations, and he won’t be the last.

Still, Crosby just turned 38 years old. As a player, he’s got more miles behind him than ahead of him. But taking one more run with Pittsburgh – and one Olympic run with Team Canada – sounds like the immediate road ahead for him. No one can question his loyalty, nor his ability. We’re watching one of the final chapters of Crosby’s Hockey Hall of Fame play out in real time, and only time will tell if Crosby finishes his NHL days in the only professional jersey he has ever worn.

“We want Sidney to hopefully be in the playoffs every year,” Brisson said of Crosby. “We want him to hopefully win another Cup or two. So, each year the team that he’s playing for fails to make the playoffs, it creates a lot of speculation.

“In reality, he’s not getting any younger. We’re here to support him. It’s the beginning of the season here. Let’s see how things are going. Hopefully they have a great season, and the speculation will go away.”

For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

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Braves catcher Sean Murphy will undergo season-ending surgery to repair a labral tear in his hip

ATLANTA (AP) — Atlanta Braves catcher Sean Murphy will undergo season-ending surgery Thursday to repair a labral tear in his right hip, the team announced.

Recovery is expected to take four months. Murphy should be back in time for spring training.

Murphy has three years and $45 million left on his contract with a club option in 2029.

Murphy hit .199 in 94 games this season, 76 at catcher. He had 16 home runs, 45 RBIs and a .709 OPS. In 2024, Murphy hit .193 after being limited to 72 games with various injuries.

In his first season with the Braves in 2023, Murphy had career-highs in home runs with 21 and RBIs with 68.

Rookie Drake Baldwin emerged as the Braves top catching option about halfway through this season. Murphy served as the designated hitter for seven games. Sandy León will serve as the Braves’ backup catcher for the remainder of the season.

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Cubs place Kyle Tucker on injured list because of strained left calf

ATLANTA (AP) — The Chicago Cubs placed All-Star right fielder Kyle Tucker on the 10-day injured list because of a strained left calf, a move retroactive to Saturday.

Tucker has not played since Sept. 2. He is eligible to be activated on Sept. 16.

“It was just a little worse today than it was yesterday,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said before Tuesday night’s game against Atlanta. “Yesterday was a really good day, just didn’t have any progress today. He wasn’t comfortable playing, so we said, ‘We have to give this a little more time.’”

Tucker is hitting .270 with a team-best .854 OPS. He has 22 home runs in his first year with the Cubs after seven seasons with Houston.

“I don’t think anything has gotten worse,” Counsell said. “We just have to get to a point where he’s not symptomatic and then not feeling it doing baseball activities.”

Catcher Moisés Ballesteros was recalled from Triple-A Iowa.

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Aaron Judge hits 359th career homer, passing Hall of Famer Yogi Berra for 5th in Yankees history

NEW YORK (AP) — Yankees captain Aaron Judge hit his 359th career home run in the first inning Tuesday night against the Detroit Tigers, breaking a tie with Hall of Fame catcher Yogi Berra for fifth place on the franchise list.

Judge drove a full-count splitter from Casey Mize to right-center field, giving New York a 1-0 lead. The slugger’s 44th homer of the season had an exit velocity of 110.6 mph and traveled 412 feet.

Judge matched Berra on Aug. 31 in a 3-2 loss to the Chicago White Sox when he hit a solo homer against Martín Pérez.

Hall of Famers Babe Ruth (659 homers), Mickey Mantle (536), Lou Gehrig (493) and Joe DiMaggio (361) are ahead of Judge on the Yankees’ career homers list.

Judge was selected by New York in the first round of the 2013 amateur draft and homered in his first at-bat with the Yankees on Aug. 13, 2016. Berra was 90 when he died in 2015.

Judge homered in his third game back in right field after not playing the outfield since July 25 because of a strained flexor tendon in his right elbow. He has thrown gingerly since returning to the field but also made a diving catch on a sinking liner by George Springer in the fourth inning of Sunday’s 4-3 victory over Toronto.

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Yankees honor former INF Gleyber Torres with tribute video

Gleyber Torres returned to The Bronx for the first time as a visitor, and the Yankees and their fans welcomed their former infielder with a tribute video during Tuesday's series opener against the Tigers.

Batting second for Detroit, Torres was acknowledged by the Yankee Stadium crowd with a nice ovation before his first at-bat. Torres stepped off and tipped his helmet to the fans. 

Before the start of the second inning, the Yankees played the aforementioned tribute video showcasing Torres' career in pinstripes. From his call-up in 2018 to his numerous big hits and heroic defensive plays throughout his seven-year career with the Yankees. 

Torres signed with the Tigers on a one-year deal after seven years with the Yankees. Although Torres expressed interest in returning to the Yankees, it was clear New York was ready to move on.

Although Torres' tenure in The Bronx ended suddenly, he was very good in his career in pinstripes. Torres slashed .265/.334/.441 with an OPS of .774 in seven seasons. He also smashed 138 home runs while amassing two All-Star selections and placing third in Rookie of the Year voting in 2018. That season, Torres hit .271 with 24 home runs and 77 RBI. The next season, Torres had the best year of his career, hitting 38 homers and driving in 90 RBI, both career highs. In addition to his second consecutive All-Star selection, he finished 17th in MVP voting. 

Torres' final year with the Yankees saw him hit .257 with 15 homers and 63 RBI, and help New York win its first AL pennant since 2009. 

Speaking of postseason performance, Torres was pretty good with the Yankees. In 14 playoff games across six seasons, Torres slashed .267/.359/.436 with an OPS of .795 to go along with seven home runs and 25 RBI.

In his first year with the Tigers, Torres was voted to his third All-Star Game. Entering Tuesday's game, Torres is slashing .259/.362/.396 with an OPS of .758 to go along with his 15 homers and 66 RBI. He's helped Detroit to the best record in the American League.

"He's been a key part of their season and why they're in first place over there," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said of Torres prior to Tuesday's game.

The Yankees skipper was asked what kind of reception he expected Torres to receive from the Yankees fans, and Boone said, "a good one." 

"I would expect that. He certainly deserves that," he said.

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Schwarber belts 50th homer, Phils reflect: “Looks like a video game for the guy”

Schwarber belts 50th homer, Phils reflect: “Looks like a video game for the guy” originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

“What a year he’s had, and it couldn’t happen to a better guy. Really happy for him.”

Rob Thomson wasn’t exaggerating.

Kyle Schwarber became just the second player in franchise history to hit 50 home runs in a season, joining Ryan Howard, when he launched a three-run shot in the seventh inning of Tuesday’s 9-3 win over the Mets.

Citizens Bank Park erupted, and Schwarber tipped his helmet as the ovation thundered.

“It’s something you don’t take lightly. All the personal accolades will probably mean more whenever it’s all said and done,” he said.

For Schwarber, the moment was as much about the fans as the milestone itself.

“It’s been so cool the past four years to see how they’ve latched onto us as a group,” the slugger, who is in a contract year, said. “They want us to succeed and they want us to do well. When the place is packed out, 40-plus thousand strong, screaming and yelling, you feed off that energy. It brings another gear to you.”

His teammates recognized the weight of the roundtripper, too.

“Unbelievable,” rookie Otto Kemp said. “It really just looks like a video game for the guy. It’s something you’ll never forget, and I hope this isn’t the only year I get to play with him.”

Schwarber now has 181 homers in a Phillies uniform, further cementing his place among the franchise’s premier sluggers.

“To join [Howard] in that exclusive Phillies club — it’s an honor, it’s a privilege,” Schwarber said. “That guy’s done so many great things for Philadelphia, and you can only hope to follow the way he went about his business, the way he played the game, and the excitement he brought to the fans.”

Asked if he ever imagined being a “50-homer guy” when he broke into the Majors, Schwarber cracked a grin.

“That’s a great question. I don’t think so,” he said. “You just try to find a way to be productive for your team every day. It’s not like I’m going up there trying to do that. It just happens. And it’s cool — really cool — to be part of that.”

For Schwarber, the milestone was special, but the focus stayed the same. There have been just 52 50-homer seasons in Major League history, dating back to Babe Ruth’s 54 in 1920. Still, Schwarber was quick to steer the conversation back toward October.

“It’s a cool moment, and I want to enjoy it,” he said. “But there’s still a lot more baseball to be played. Every day I’m just trying to help the team get to where we want to be.”

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Chris Kreider, Jacob Trouba Highlight Angels' Ducks Night

Chris Kreider and Jacob Trouba have a lot in common. They're both professional hockey players. They both played for the New York Rangers and now play for the Anaheim Ducks after having similar unceremonious exits from the Big Apple. Both are married and have young families. Both players also love baseball.

Kreider and Trouba were on hand for the ceremonial first pitch of the Los Angeles Angels' Sept. 5 matchup against the formerly-located Oakland Athletics. Kreider dealt the pitch and zipped a strike to Trouba at the plate. "Low and outside," Kreider cracked afterwards as Trouba unraveled into a fit of laughter.

"That was a dream come true," Kreider said. "That was super cool. Yeah, that was awesome." The former New York Ranger and Boston College alumnus grew up about 30 miles from Boston in Boxford, where he played baseball up until high school. Kreider said that he went to a lot of Boston Red Sox games growing up with his family and grandfather and that every game 'was like a national holiday' during the 2004 postseason, when the Red Sox reverse swept the Yankees in the ALCS and then broke the Curse of the Bambino by sweeping the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series and earning their first title since 1918.

Kreider, who was acquired by the Ducks this past June, just arrived in Anaheim this past week with his family and has now settled into a place close to Trouba and a few of his other new Ducks teammates.

"Everyone's super welcoming, super kind," Kreider said. "The organization's has been fantastic. Yeah, just really excited."

"I was excited coming to (Anaheim), knowing Stromer (Ryan Strome) and Frank (Vatrano)," Trouba said. "Then the (Kreider) situation happened this summer, obviously excited about that. Having people you're familiar with is great. I don't think you'll find a guy around the league or on our team that'll say a bad word about Kreids. A great addition, I'm excited to have him here. Do what I can to make him as comfortable as possible coming into this situation. Obviously, it's different for him to play in only one place and then go somewhere else. It's a challenge to get comfortable as soon as you can. So, whenever I can help him, I'm hoping to do that. He'll be a big part of our team."

Sep 5, 2025; Anaheim, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks defenseman Jacob Trouba watches the Los Angeles Angels play against the Athletics on Ducks Night. Mandatory Credit: Derek Lee-The Hockey News

Trouba's baseball experience is a bit different from Kreider's. Though he also grew up just outside of a major city with an MLB team, Trouba's Detroit Tigers were not as highly successful as the Red Sox. He mentioned going to a lot of Tigers games as a kid, especially during the 2003 season when they lost a whopping 119 games.

"I went to Comerica (Park) when it first opened," Trouba said. "Damion Easley was my Tiger as a kid. I was actually at the game when Magglio Ordóñez hit the home run in the ALCS (in 2006 against the A’s). That was probably my biggest Tigers moment that I was there in person. Just a lot of good memories of going downtown with my family and brothers and going to games with my dad. It was a fun thing we always did as kids."

Trouba's family has now switched coasts after being unable to do so immediately after his trade to the Ducks this past December. "It's been great," Trouba said. "I think that was a big piece for me missing last year. We've been here now for a couple of weeks. We're pretty settled in. It's a great life. Obviously different than the city life that we're used to, but adjusting, and it's been fantastic. 
I think my wife loves it. My son loves it. We're all happy, so this is a place we're hopefully going to enjoy a lot this year."

"(Ducks Night) was good. I was around for the Angels at the Ducks game, so coming (to Angel Stadium) has been fun. I grew up loving baseball. I went to a lot of Tigers games in Detroit as a kid. Kreids throwing out the first pitch was pretty fun to be a part of. Our families are here, our wives are good friends. He just got here this week, so it's fun to kind of kick off (with this), be around each other. Our families are all here and our kids are here. Enjoy the game.
I've always enjoyed going to baseball games, so this is fun for me."

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Rookie fireball reliever Joel Peguero keeps Giants' wild-card flame flickering

Rookie fireball reliever Joel Peguero keeps Giants' wild-card flame flickering originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

In a scenario tricky enough to stump the best, rookie right-handed pitcher Joel Peguero let his best work do the talking with everything on the line for the Giants.

With the Arizona Diamondbacks two runs behind and with runners in scoring position, Peguero unleashed his velocity, striking out Tim Tawa and pinch-hitter Adrian Del Castillo to end the sixth inning and, in many ways, assuring the Giants a crucial 5-3 win on Tuesday night at Oracle Park.

Giants manager Bob Melvin recognized the importance of Peguero’s impact out of the bullpen. 

“There are certain points of the game that are bigger than others. There was nothing bigger than that today,” Melvin told reporters.  

“Obviously, [Willy Adames’] homer and [Dominic Smith’s] play in the ninth inning. But coming in, one out, rookie and with guys on base and getting two punchouts like that threw a lot of momentum back into our dugout.” 

Peguero’s big MLB moment was a decade in the making. 

Earlier this year, the Giants brought Peguero in this spring as a minor-league free agent. Months later, on Aug. 21 after 10 years in the minors, the 28-year-old made his big-league debut against the Baltimore Orioles.

Now, in the thick of what once was a pipe dream MLB playoff push, Peguero’s heroics trimmed the New York Mets’ wild-card lead over San Francisco to two games. 

“What it is is that I have more trust in myself,” Peguero told NBC Sports Bay Area’s Bonta Hill, George Kontos and Sergio Romo on “Giants Postgame Live.”

“I have faith. I have been able to work on that. I trust myself when I go out there. All the years in the minor leagues taught me to be able to trust myself, trust my stuff and attack the zone now that I’m up here.” 

In the act of ending the rally, Peguero, who has yet to give up a run since being called up, threw 11 pitches over 100 mph.

On a night in which Adames hit his 28th home run of the 2025 MLB season and Patrick Bailey went yard for a second straight game, Peguero’s hard-throwing ways didn’t go unnoticed.

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Philadelphia Flyers Confirm 2 Rookie Camp Invites

(Photo: David Kirouac, Imagn Images)

The Philadelphia Flyers will welcome two fresh faces to the fold when they kick off rookie camp later this week.

On Monday, the Flyers announced their roster for their 2026 rookie camp and rookie series against the rival New York Rangers, headlined by former first-round picks Jett Luchanko, Jack Nesbitt, and Oliver Bonk.

But, they did include two newcomers. One of whom has been on the Flyers' roster on the NHL Media site for quite some time.

Defenseman Andre Mondoux and goalie Joey Costanzo are the Flyers' two rookie camp invites this week, and the former has been in the team's system on the NHL Media site since at least July 6.

Mondoux, 18, was also present at Flyers development camp that week.

The 6-foot-4 defenseman spent most of last season with the Pickering Panthers of the OJHL, scoring six goals, seven assists, and 13 points in 49 games.

Mondoux also played an odd eight games with the OHL Kingston Frontenacs, with whom he figures to play again next season.

KHL Forward Supports Flyers' Aleksei KolosovKHL Forward Supports Flyers' Aleksei KolosovAhead of what will be his first full training camp with the Philadelphia Flyers, top goalie prospect Aleksei Kolosov continues to draw support from his peers from all over the globe.

With some growth and consistent OHL game time, it's plausible Mondoux can become a candidate to be a late-round draft pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

As for Costanzo, the 20-year-old goalie is now too old for OHL competition and will have to move on to his pro career in short order.

Notably, Costanzo was 26-6-0 with the Windsor Spitfires in the 2022-23 season, though his 3.03 GAA and .901 save percentage were only average.

This past season, the 6-foot-1 netminder was 34-10-4 with Windsor with a 2.92 GAA and .892 save percentage, and he enjoyed a strong 7-3-2 run in the playoffs to the tune of a 2.29 GAA and .911 save percentage.

With the Spitfires, Costanzo was teammates with Nesbitt, the Flyers' second first-round pick this year, for the last two seasons, so the Flyers must have saw enough from him to warrant a camp invite.

Costanzo, Mondoux, and the Flyers rookies will take the ice to start rookie camp on Thursday, Sept. 11, at 10 a.m. at the Flyers Training Center.