LOS ANGELES (AP) — Yoshinobu Yamamoto struck out nine while pitching into the seventh inning and the Los Angeles Dodgers broke it open with a four-run sixth inning to beat the Cincinnati Reds 8-4 on Wednesday night and advance to the National League Division Series.
After hitting a franchise playoff-tying five home runs in a 10-5 win in the NL Wild Card Series opener Tuesday, the Dodgers eliminated the Reds by playing small ball and rapping out 13 hits — two fewer than in Game 1. Mookie Betts went 4 for 5 with three doubles.
The Dodgers advanced to face the Phillies in the NLDS starting Saturday in Philadelphia. The teams last met in the postseason in 2009, when the Phillies beat the Dodgers in the NL Championship Series for the second straight year.
After the Reds took a 2-0 lead in the first, Yamamoto retired the next 13 batters.
The Dodgers rallied to take a 3-2 lead before the Japanese right-hander wiggled his way out of a huge jam in the sixth. The Reds loaded the bases with no outs on consecutive singles by TJ Friedl, Spencer Steer and former Dodger Gavin Lux.
Austin Hays grounded into a fielder’s choice to shortstop and Betts fired home, where catcher Ben Rortvedt stomped on the plate to get Friedl. Yamamoto then retired Sal Stewart and Elly De La Cruz on back-to-back swinging strikeouts to end the threat.
With blue rally towels waving, Yamamoto walked off to a standing ovation from the crowd of 50,465.
He got the first two outs of the seventh before leaving to a second ovation. The right-hander allowed two runs, four hits and walked two on a career-high 113 pitches.
For the second straight night, the fans’ mood soured in the eighth. Reliever Emmet Sheehan gave up two runs, making it 8-4, before the Reds brought the tying run to the plate against Alex Vesia. He got Friedl on a called third strike to end the inning in which Sheehan and Vesia made a combined 41 pitches. On Tuesday, three Dodgers relievers needed 59 pitches to get three outs in the eighth.
Rookie Roki Sasaki pitched the ninth, striking out Steer and Lux on pitches that touched 101 mph.
The Dodgers stranded runners in each of the first five innings, but they took a 3-2 lead on Kiké Hernández’s RBI double and Miguel Rojas’ RBI single that hit the first-base line to chase Reds starter Zack Littell.
Shohei Ohtani’s RBI single leading off the sixth snapped an 0-for-9 skid against Reds reliever Nick Martinez. Betts added an RBI double down the third-base line and Teoscar Hernández had a two-run double that extended the lead to 7-2.
Yamamoto could have had a scoreless first but Teoscar Hernández dropped a ball hit by Hays that would have been the third out. Hernández hugged Yamamoto in the dugout after the Japanese star left the game.
Stewart’s two-run RBI single with two outs eluded a diving Freddie Freeman at first for a 2-0 lead. It was Cincinnati’s first lead in a postseason game since Game 3 of the 2012 NLDS against San Francisco.
Following the Yankees' 4-3 win over the Red Sox in Game 2 of the Wild Card series on Wednesday, manager Aaron Boone and the players spoke about the pivotal game that saved their season...
Carlos Rodón lobbies to stay in
Rodón took the mound Wednesday, hoping to save the Yankees' season. While he didn't give New York the outing Max Fried did the night before, Rodón was solid, giving the Yankees six innings but it could have been shorter.
The southpaw was strong early but labored in the middle innings. In the sixth, after giving up the tying home run to Trevor Story, Rodón walked Alex Bregman, which brought out Boone from the dugout.
The Yankees skipper didn't immediately call for Fernando Cruz, who was warming up, but instead spoke to his veteran starter. After a back-and-forth, Boone allowed Rodon to try and get out of the inning. At fewer than 80 pitches up to that point, Rodón felt that he had more to give.
"Playing under Boone for three years now, I get a sense of the demeanor when he walks out," Rodón said. "At times, he makes a decision early, he points. But when I saw he crossed the line and didn't put his arm up, I knew I had a chance at a rebuttal.
"So I hit him straight with it. I was like, 'All right, here's my shot. I got to be pretty up front with it.' So I said, 'I am staying in.' It worked out, obviously, the big double play there. It was a great turn. You know, Jazz [Chisholm Jr.] gets it out quick and [Anthony] Volpe with a strong throw. So it was good."
Rodón rewarded his manager by getting Romy Gonzalez to pop out and Carlos Narvaez to ground into the aforementioned an inning-ending double play to get him through the sixth.
That effort allowed Rodón to start the seventh, but after walking Nate Eaton and hitting Jarren Duran with a pitch -- and a wild pitch thrown in -- Boone saw enough and pulled his starter.
Rodón went six-plus innings, allowing three runs on four hits, three walks, while striking out six.
"Definitely a battle. They strung some good at-bats together, but defensively, we had some great turns," Rodón said of his outing. "Cruz picked me up there in the seventh. I think we played a pretty complete ball game tonight. The boys swung it late, and we ran the bases pretty well. Played some good baseball. Got out of there with a win, so looking forward to tomorrow."
Carlos Rodón stays in and gets the inning-ending double play to finish the 6th pic.twitter.com/qaoU1bihw4
The Yankees' relievers had a tough Game 1. Luke Weaver gave up the go-ahead runs in relief of Fried and David Bednar allowed a crucial insurance run in the Red Sox's win on Tuesday.
Wednesday was a different story.
Cruz worked out of a bases-loaded jam in relief of Rodon in the seventh while Devin Williams and Bednar locked down the eighth and ninth innings to force a Game 3. That seventh was especially impressive, getting the first two outs on a failed bunt by Ceddanne Rafaela and a fly out by Nick Sogard, Masataka Yoshida hit an infield single that Chisholm stopped from going into the outfield. If the second baseman didn't, the Red Sox would have taken the lead, something that Cruz acknowledged when he said that Chisholm saved them the game.
But Cruz's night was almost done after that, but Boone said he was going to give Cruz one more batter to try and get out of it, and he got Story to fly out to end the threat.
"Felt like he had it under control," Boone said. "I was giving him one more hitter there. Felt like with Story was OK, and then I had Devin going in case we did get to Bregman there.
"But felt like his stuff was good, knew he wanted it and felt like he could finish it off. Story put a good swing on it. We were fortunate there. Long fly ball. Felt good about him being in there."
And then Williams came in and pitched a clean eighth, erasing a leadoff single with an inning-ending double play that was assisted by Volpe on the high throw from Williams.
The Yankees skipper praised Williams' stuff and ability after an up-and-down first season in the Bronx when asked about it after the win.
"It was never that far off, frankly. The stuff was never not there," Boone said. "You know, he had a couple of loud outings and where the ball didn't really bounce his way. A couple of those outings where it blew up on him, it's a squibber, it's this, before it got away.
"He was never that far off at any point when he was struggling. And then I think he just started to stack outings. First time in the middle of the season before he hit a rough patch again, and then now, the final month plus, he has just stacked a lot of good outings and just pitching with a lot of confidence, but getting in the zone more and having a presence with both pitches. So he is not real predictable because he's using his fastball enough, and obviously the changeup."
That's back-to-back clean innings for Williams in this series. And now that he hasn't allowed a run since Sept. 3, Williams may be peaking at the right time for the Yankees.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto celebrates after pitching his way out of bases-load jam in the sixth inning of an 8-4 win over the Cincinnati Reds in Game 2 of a National League wild-card series Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman often refers to the playoffs as the “theater of October.”
With two outs in the top of the first, Yoshinobu Yamamoto induced a routine fly ball down the right-field line. Outfielder Teoscar Hernández positioned himself under it. Ninety-nine percent of the time, the inning would have ended there.
This time, however, Hernández committed a horrifying mistake. The ball hit off the heel of his mitt. The Cincinnati Reds suddenly had runners at second and third base. And what should have been a clean opening frame instead turned into a two-run disaster, with Sal Stewart slapping a single through the infield in the next at-bat.
For the Dodgers, it was an immediate test.
Of their mental resolve after a self-inflicted miscue. Of their veteran composure in the face of an early deficit. Of the kind of resiliency that was so key in their World Series run last year, and will need to be again for them to repeat as champions.
In an eventual 8-4 comeback victory, they successfully, triumphantly and assuredly passed.
Behind 6 ⅔ clutch innings from Yamamoto, a go-ahead two-run rally in the fourth inning keyed by a Kiké Hernández double, and a back-breaking four-run explosion in the sixth after Yamamoto had escaped a bases-loaded jam, the Dodgers eliminated the Reds in this best-of-three opening round.
Despite another late tightrope act from the bullpen, which gave up two runs in the eighth before Roki Sasaki finished things off in the ninth, the team booked their place in the NL Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies.
The Dodgers did not make it easy on themselves. They were dealt a full range of October theatrics. But they prevailed nonetheless with a hard-fought victory — the kind that could catapult them into the rest of this month.
Facing their early 2-0 deficit, the Dodgers never panicked.
Ben Rortvedt doubles during the third inning against the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday night. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
The turnaround started with Yamamoto, who finally ended the first inning by striking out Elly De La Cruz, then didn’t let another runner reach base for the next four innings.
The offense, meanwhile, chipped away at veteran Reds right-hander Zack Littell, stressing him with constant early traffic before eventually breaking through in the third, when Ben Rortvedt sliced a leadoff double down the left-field line and Mookie Betts scored him with an RBI single.
The Dodgers then went in front in the fourth, thanks to a big swing from a familiar postseason hero. After a leadoff single from Max Muncy, Kiké Hernández smacked an elevated fastball into the right-center field gap. Muncy scored all the way from first to tie the game. Hernández, whom the Dodgers have re-signed each of the past two offseasons thanks largely to his playoff reputation, had his latest moment of fall-time magic.
Hernández would come around to score in the next at-bat, when Miguel Rojas dumped a base hit inside the right-field line.
From there, the score remained 3-2 until the sixth inning — when the game climaxed in two memorable sequences.
First, Yamamoto had to wiggle out of red-alarm danger, facing a bases-loaded jam with no outs after the Reds led off with three-straight singles. At that point, the right-hander’s pitch count was climbing. Blake Treinen started to get loose in the bullpen. But manager Dave Roberts, as he promised entering the playoffs, kept his faith in his starter.
Yamamoto rewarded him for it.
After Austin Hays bounced a grounder to Betts that the shortstop threw home for a forceout, Yamamoto slammed the door with back-to-back strikeouts. Stewart fanned on one curveball. De La Cruz couldn’t check his swing on another. Yamamoto celebrated with a primal scream. A crowd of 50,465 erupted around him.
The cheers continued into the bottom half of the inning, as the Dodgers finally pulled away with an outburst from their offense. It started with a single from Kiké Hernández, marking his second-straight two-hit game to begin these playoffs. It was aided by a throwing error from Stewart at first base, allowing Rortvedt to reach safely and put runners on the corners. Shohei Ohtani then knocked in one insurance run on an RBI single. Betts added another with a one-hopper that got past third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes for an RBI double.
And fittingly, it was Teoscar Hernández who delivered the death blow, following an intentional walk to Freddie Freeman with a two-run, bases-loaded, redemption-rich double.
The Dodgers eventually stretched the lead to 8-2, when Betts drove in his third run of the game with his third double of the night in the bottom of the seventh — giving him four total hits in a postseason contest for the third time in his career.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts speaks with pitcher Emmet Sheehan before removing him from the game in the eighth inning Wednesday. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Then came the bullpen, which once again thrust itself into danger after Emmet Sheehan gave up two runs in the eighth on two singles and two walks; his command so shaky, Roberts decided to pull him in the middle of an at-bat against Will Benson after he nearly plunked the batter in an 0-and-2 count.
However, it was mostly smooth sailing from there. Alex Vesia took over, and retired the side by striking out two of three batters (even though there was another walk in-between).
The ninth inning, meanwhile, belonged to Sasaki, who retired the side in order with 100-mph fastballs and his trademark splitter, ending a night of theatrics by sending the Dodgers to the next round.
Dodger fans cheer as Shohei Ohtani screams after hitting a single in the sixth inning against the Cincinnati Reds during Game 2 of the National League Wild-Card Series at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Now comes the hard part.
The Cincinnati Reds are shreds of what’s next.
The wild-card series is a joker compared to the waiting full house.
The Dodgers easily swept the best-of-three duel with the overmatched Reds on Wednesday at Dodger Stadium with a frolicking 8-4 victory … just in time to uneasily hike into the home of heated hardball.
The Dodgers celebrate defeating the Cincinnati Reds 8-4 in Game 2, winning their National League Wildcard Series at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
The National League’s most dangerous and determined team, here they are.
Bryce Harper, good heavens.
Kyle Schwarber, dear Lord.
That deep rotation. That fiery closer. That nutty crowd! And, oh, that damn history.
Barely two weeks ago, the Dodgers hosted the Phillies with a chance to sweep them and steal a first-round bye. They were, instead, battered like an old broom, the bullpen blowing two games and the Phillies eventually finishing with the National League’s second-best record and that first-round vacation.
The Dodgers were penalized by having to play these two games against the Reds. And as a reward for their sweeping success, they have been sentenced to travel to Philadelphia for a best-of-five division series beginning Saturday at Citizens Bank Park.
A place that attracted 27,000 this week just for a workout, incidentally.
It says here, if the Dodgers can defeat the favored Phillies, that clears their path to a second consecutive World Series championship, as no other remaining team has the matching juice.
But, in a short series, with Philadelphia’s pitching fully rested and its injuries mostly healed, can the Dodgers really pull it off? They lost four of six to them during the regular season in which the Phillies, unlike many other teams, seemed completely unintimidated and fully up to the challenge.
The Dodgers say they’re more than ready.
“I think we can win it all,” manager Dave Roberts said. “I think we're equipped to do that. We certainly have the pedigree. We certainly have the hunger. We're playing great baseball. And in all honesty, I don't care who we play. I just want to be the last team standing.”
Indeed, if Wednesday’s wipe-out win at rollicking Dodger Stadium was any indication, the Dodgers seemed prime for this upcoming brawl, their strongest October fists bared and ready.
Ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto was not only good, he was resilient, working out of a bases-loaded, none-out jam in the sixth inning with a grounder and two strikeouts. He gave up only two unearned runs in 6 ⅔ innings with nine strikeouts, and he’s clearly ready for the next step.
Other past autumn heroes are also heating up, namely Señor October Kiké Hernández, who had a running over-the-shoulder catch in left field and added two hits, two runs and an RBI. Is any Dodger more fun to watch in the postseason? Does any Dodger have more fun?
“At times it felt like we were kind of checked out during the regular season,” said Hernández. “Here we are now and these are the games that really matter. ... I think it was experience and age has a lot to do with it. We have a lot of young guys, but I think we have a very salty team.”
Salty, and streaking, 11 wins in 13 games, impact plays Wednesday night from everywhere. Mookie Betts had three doubles and four RBIs, Teoscar Hernández had a two-run double to offset a dropped fly ball.
“Obviously, I know we can win the whole thing,” Betts said. “We just have to play good baseball. We've got to continue to pitch, timely hitting and play defense, and everything should be OK.”
And of course Shohei Ohtani singled and drove in a run. This is the same Ohtani who is lined up to start Game 1 Saturday in the NLDS in Philadelphia.
“Very talented ballclub,” said Roberts of the Phillies. “It's going to be a fun environment. I think we match up really well with those guys. They're going to run a bunch of left-handers at us. Talented, all throughout the lineup. They got Trea (Turner) back. It's going to be a fun series.”
The Phillies are in some way a mirror of past Dodger clubs, being one of baseball’s best teams in recent years but yet to win a ring after three consecutive postseason failures.
Last season, they lost to the New York Mets in the division series, the previous season they lost to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the championship series, and three years ago they lost to the Houston Astros in the World Series.
They’re like the Dodgers before the Dodgers finally broke through. They’re sick of the second guessing. They’re fed up with the October failures. They’re on a mission. And they’re even more dangerous because they’re on a mission for their two leaders.
Harper has a 1.016 OPS in 12 postseason series, but he has yet to win a ring.
Schwarber led the National League with 56 homers and 132 RBIs, but he’ll never win an MVP as long as Ohtani is still working.
Their short-series rotation — Cristopher Sánchez, Ranger Suárez and Jesus Luzardo — can at least compete with the Dodgers’ top three. And then they have the secret October weapon that the Dodgers know so well — anybody remember Walker Buehler?
The Phillies also did the one thing that past Dodger champions have done, but didn’t do this summer. At the trade deadline, the Phillies went for it, acquiring Dodger targets outfielder Harrison Bader and closer Jhoan Duran. Two months later, the Dodgers indeed could have used both.
Duran is their swing and miss. He’s the closer they desperately need.
They were still searching for one late Wednesday. They tried starter Emmet Sheehan in the eighth in a six-run lead and he was awful, walking two and giving up two hits while getting just one out. He was so awful, he was pulled in the middle of facing Will Benson even though the count was one-and-two. Alex Vesia completed the strikeout and survived the inning, but the boos rained steady.
Fan favorite Roki Sasaki, throwing the best heat of the night, finished in the ninth with two strikeouts amid chants of, “Ro-ki, Ro-ki!”
Maybe he’s the answer. The Dodgers won’t have to wait long to find out. Their season is on the line. The reckoning starts in three days. The Phillies are coming.
“There's a lot of work to be done!” Roberts shouted to his team before the traditionally odd champagne celebration for two wins. “My only ask is that every single guy be ready when called upon! Keep your minds right, we're gonna need every single one of you guys! Stay in it, stay focused, keep playing for each other! Let's go!"
The Vancouver Canucks clobbered the Calgary Flames 8-1 in their penultimate preseason game at home on Wednesday evening.
The main casts for both teams were suited up and ready to go.
Despite getting a power play in the second minute, the Flames veterans had some summer rust and clearly needed to get warmed up. They would eventually get adjusted and outshoot the Canucks 7-3 in the first 11:18, but Vancouver scored on their very first shot taking a 1-0 lead. Johnathan Huberdeau had a great breakaway opportunity after a pass from Matt Coronato at the 10:15 mark but was denied by Canucks goalie Kevin Lankinen.
Afterwards, for the rest of the period, the Canucks ran all over the Flames, outshooting them 9-4 including scoring three goals in a span of 1:18 that included a shorthanded goal.
The players who led the Flames in faceoffs last season found themselves on a losing battle once again. Nazem Kadri was 2-for-6 (33.33%), Mikael Backlund was 0-for-3 (0%) and Morgan Frost was 1-for-2 (50%)
In the second period, Calgary regrouped and performed better. So good, that Joel Farabee scored a goal for the home side 30 seconds in, albeit that would've been called back for offside in the regular season. Unlike the first period, the Flames outshot the Canucks in expected goals and scoring opportunities. They produced the same number of shots on goals, two, in their first power play of the second period as they did in BOTH of the power plays in their first period. It also helped that they didn't give up a shorty.
The faceoff leaders had also shown improvement: Kadri and Backlund were both 5-for-11 (45.45%) and Frost was 6-for-13 (46.15%) by the second recess.
Unfortunately, two careless goals were given up by Calgary that put the Canucks up 6-1.
Vancouver took only three shots in the final period, but two of them found the back of the Calgary net, sealing the Flames' night with a seven-goal drubbing.
Close to the end, Huberdeau would collide with the goal post and would need help walking off the ice. Let's hope he is okay.
Calgary were 0-for-6 on the power play which included giving up two shorthanded goals.
Both goalies Ivan Prosvetov and Devin Cooley played in the game and both let in goals that had no business being in the back of the net.
The penalty-kill went 2-for-4.
Rory Kerins was a bright spot with 5-for-9 (55.6%) faceoff wins in the game and three shots on goal.
The Flames final preseason game will be against the Winnipeg Jets at home on Friday.
Phillies outfielder Brandon Marsh, left, celebrates his three-run homer with first baseman Bryce Harper against the Dodgers on Sept. 16. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
After advancing past the plucky Reds and their 83-win roster in a best-of-three wild card series this week, the Dodgers will now face a true powerhouse in the best-of-five National League Division Series, matched up against a Philadelphia Phillies team facing unfinished business in the postseason.
For years, the Phillies have been building toward contention. In each of the last four years, they’ve reached the playoffs while increasing their regular-season win total.
However, the club’s recent October history has been filled with one disappointment after another: A loss to the Houston Astros in the World Series in 2022. An upset defeat at the hands of the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2023 NL Championship Series. A four-game elimination to the rival New York Mets in last year’s NLDS.
The hope this year, coming off a 96-win regular season that gave the Phillies a first-round bye and home-field advantage in this NLDS, is that they finally have the path and the pieces to get over the hump. That, almost two decades removed from the franchise’s last World Series, they can climb to baseball’s mountaintop once again.
That was evident during the bye week, when the Phillies sold more than 25,000 tickets for fans to come watch a practice. It will be obvious Saturday night, when the series begins at what will be a raucous Citizens Bank Park.
Ahead of Game 1, here are nine things to know about the Phillies, and the concerns they present to the Dodgers in this NLDS:
A rotation of southpaws
The Phillies are not entering the postseason at full strength. Their staff ace, three-time All-Star right-hander Zack Wheeler, was lost for the season in late August because of a blood clot in his arm.
Their rotation, however, remains daunting nonetheless. And against the Dodgers, it might match up particularly well.
The Phillies' projected rotation for the NLDS includes three left-handed pitchers: Cy Young candidate Cristopher Sánchez (13-5, 2.50 ERA), former All-Star Ranger Suárez (12-8, 3.20 ERA) and talented 27-year-old Jesús Luzardo (15-7, 3.92 ERA).
The Dodgers’ record against left-handed pitchers this year: 24-23 (compared to a 69-46 mark against righties).
Granted, most teams have a harder time with lefties (the Phillies themselves are only 23-25). The Dodgers still ranked third in the majors in OPS and seventh in batting average against them. But for a team that could use as many runs as possible given the problems in the bullpen, getting three left-handed starters could make life tough.
Cristopher Sánchez in Game 1
Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Cristopher Sánchez throws against the Atlanta Braves on Sept. 19, 2023. (John Bazemore / Associated Press)
Sánchez is lined up to pitch Saturday’s opener for the Phillies, which means he could be in play for a potential Game 4 start as well.
And while he might not replicate the dominance of Wheeler, who has a 2.18 ERA in his postseason career, the fifth-year southpaw could certainly come close.
In 32 starts this year, the 6-foot-6 sinker-ball specialist had 212 strikeouts in 202 innings, led all major league pitchers in Baseball Reference’s version of wins-above-replacement and finished the regular season allowing just total seven runs in his last six starts.
His postseason track record is limited, with a 3.68 ERA in two previous starts over the last two Octobers. But his arsenal profiles as premium, playoff-caliber stuff, featuring his mid-90s mph two-seamer (which helped him rack up one of the best ground-ball rates in the majors), a changeup to neutralize right-handed hitters (it had a .170 batting average against and 45% whiff rate) and a slider that, when on, adds another layer of unpredictability.
If it weren’t for Paul Skenes, Sánchez likely would have been the NL’s Cy Young frontrunner.
A potent offense
Few MLB lineups can rival the Dodgers’ combination of talent and production.
The Phillies might be the most potent exception.
This season, the team ranked eighth in scoring (the Dodgers were third), second in batting average (the Dodgers were sixth), fourth in slugging percentage (the Dodgers were second) and fourth in OPS (the Dodgers were second).
They have the NL batting champion in former Dodgers shortstop Trea Turner. They have the league’s home run king in Kyle Schwarber, whose 56 long balls edged out Shohei Ohtani by one. And they have one of the game’s biggest stars in two-time MVP Bryce Harper.
The offense is also coming into the playoffs hot. In September, the Phillies posted their best team batting average and OPS of any month this season. That included a 15-run outburst in two games at Dodger Stadium that effectively ensured the Phillies would get a top-two seed in the NL playoff bracket.
The batting champion
Dodgers fans will need no introduction to Turner, who played with the club in 2021 and 2022 before signing an 11-year, $300 million contract with the Phillies (after the Dodgers failed to even make him a contract offer).
Turner’s Philadelphia tenure didn’t get off to the smoothest start. He missed the All-Star Game in 2023, and slumped so mightily at one point Phillies fans organized a stadium-wide ovation. His numbers were better last season, but he missed a month with a hamstring strain and then went just three-for-15 in the playoffs.
This season, on the other hand, has been a revival, as Turner won his second career batting title with a .304 average, stole his most bases (36) since 2018, and ranked fourth among MLB shortstop in outs above average.
And while he did miss three weeks in September with a hamstring strain, he returned in time for the club’s regular-season finale last Sunday.
The home run king
Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber watches the ball after hitting a solo home run against the Miami Marlins on Sept. 23. (Laurence Kesterson / Associated Press)
For the first time since 2022, Ohtani did not lead his league in home runs in this year.
Despite setting a personal high and breaking his previous franchise record, Ohtani’s 55 long balls still trailed Schwarber.
A longtime slugging threat now in his 11th MLB campaign, Schwarber had arguably his best career season this year, coupling his 56 homers with an MLB-most 132 RBIs, a .928 OPS that tied his career high, and a third consecutive 100-walk season.
He still strikes out a lot (197 this year). He still doesn’t hit for the best average (.240 this year, .231 in his career). But no one in the sport hits the ball so hard, so consistently. No one presents such a unique threat.
The two-time MVP
By Harper’s likely Hall of Fame standards, 2025 has been a bit of a disappointment.
The 32-year-old battled a wrist issue early in the year, was not selected for the All-Star at the halfway point, and finished the campaign with his lowest batting (.261) since 2019 and worst OPS (.844) since 2016.
But it’s still Bryce Harper.
He hit 27 home runs and 32 doubles. His slugging percentage jumped nearly 70 points in the second half. And over the last three years, no one has a higher postseason OPS (minimum 50 plate appearances) than Harper’s 1.153 mark. Only Schwarber has matched his 12 playoff home runs in this time.
The deadline acquisitions
Unlike the Dodgers, the Phillies were aggressive at the trade deadline. And because of it, they added what are now two key pieces.
In the outfield, Harrison Bader (who was also a Dodgers target this year) has been a revelation with a .305 batting average and .824 OPS in 50 games with the Phillies.
Even more important, however, has been the addition of hard-throwing closer (and another player linked to the Dodgers at the deadline) Jhoan Duran in a new-look bullpen.
Early this season, the Phillies’ original closer, José Alvarado, received an 80-game PED that also made him ineligible for this year’s postseason. Thus, the Phillies acquired Duran from the Minnesota Twins, and have since watched him flourish.
Duran had a 2.18 ERA with the Phillies while converting 16 of his 19 save opportunities. He has devastating stuff, headlined by a 100-mph fastball and a whopping 98-mph splitter.
The only good news for the Dodgers: They’ve had success against him. In Duran’s three outings against the team this year, he yielded three runs (more than any other team scored off him) and gave up two homers (he only gave up one other all year).
Bullpen depth
Beyond Duran, the Phillies have a relatively set bullpen hierarchy.
David Robertson (the 40-year-old veteran who signed with the club midseason) and Matt Strahm (a lockdown lefty) are the primary set-up men. Tanner Banks (another lefty) and Orion Kerkering provide further middle relief depth.
With that unit in place, the Phillies’ bullpen excelled down the stretch. After the deadline, the group led the majors in saves (20), was charged with the fewest losses (four) and ranked 11th in ERA.
Walker Buehler’s new gig
Phillies pitcher Walker Buehler acknowledges the Dodger Stadium crowd during a game on Sept. 15. (Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Times)
One other pitcher that could be in the Phillies’ NLDS bullpen: Walker Buehler, the former Dodgers star and 2024 World Series hero who finished this season in Philadelphia.
After signing with the Boston Red Sox in the offseason, then being released with a 5.45 ERA in August, Buehler found some late-season success with the Phillies, giving up just one run in 13 ⅔ innings over three outings (two starts and a long relief appearance) at the end of the year.
Buehler is unlikely to play a pivotal role this postseason. But he is in contention to be on the club’s postseason roster, likely as an option against right-handed hitters.
It means, a year after closing out the Dodgers' World Series championship, he will be part of the club trying to end their title defense. As if the team didn’t have enough else to worry about.
The Pittsburgh Penguins continued their winning ways in the pre-season on Wednesday when they visited the Buffalo Sabres.
And they were once again led by the young guns.
The Penguins defeated the Sabres, 5-3, and their best young prospects - especially on the forward front - showed out again. Tristan Broz and Avery Hayes scored power play goals for the Penguins, while Ville Koivunen, Filip Hallander, and veteran defenseman Matt Dumba also got on the board.
Goaltender Arturs Silovs stopped 28 of 31 Buffalo shots in a strong effort, with Buffalo's goals coming from Josh Norris twice and Rasmus Dahlin. In addition, Penguins' defenseman Jack St. Ivany sustained a lower-body injury blocking a shot during the first period, and Pittsburgh played most of the game with five defensemen.
Given that development on the blue line, it wasn't a perfect game by any means. There were definitely some mistakes here and there. But, overall, head coach Dan Muse loves the effort put forth by each of his players over this slate of pre-season games - and that continued Wednesday.
"There's no complaints on the efforts," Muse said. "This is a game of mistakes, especially in exhibition season, especially early in the season... and I think the guys, when mistakes were happening, they were collectively outworking those mistakes. They were getting back, they were supporting, they were putting themselves in good positions.
"That's a trend that we wanted to see as we went through camp, and it was good by them. Like I said, these groups - tonight's game and last game - they are definitely making things harder."
And the "things" he was referring to are roster decisions, which should be happening in the coming days for the Penguins. Most of the veterans should expect to skate in the final pre-season tilt against Buffalo in Pittsburgh on Friday, but it will probably be a final test for some of the younger guys who are really making those decisions difficult, too.
Speaking of difficult decisions, let's talk about who is making decisions difficult. Here are some thoughts and observations from this one.
- I didn't think this was the best performance from Harrison Brunicke, but he certainly wasn't bad in this game. He got burned badly on Dahlin's goal, and he was out-of-position during the penalty kill on Thompson's goal.
Then again, it wasn't a great night for the Penguins' defense all around. Ryan Shea and Ryan Graves were completely out to lunch on Buffalo's first goal by Norris, and Owen Pickering didn't enjoy a particularly strong evening, either. It's worth noting that - again - the Penguins played most of the game with five defensemen because of St. Ivany's injury.
That said, everything else from Brunicke in this game was outstanding yet again. He isn't going to be perfect, and there are going to be plenty of growing pains from him. But, if he is not on this roster come Oct. 7, that will be some serious mismanagement by the Penguins.
He has earned the nine-game trial at the very least. And he's not the only one.
- Penguins' historian Bob Grove - if you don't follow Bob, you need to follow this link and do that - pointed out prior to Wednesday's game that since 2012, the only four players to dress for more than three pre-season games were Greg McKegg in 2017, Juuso Riikola in 2018, Rutger McGroarty in 2024, and Ben Kindel in 2025. The first three all made the opening night NHL roster.
Call me a contrarian, but Kindel - along with Brunicke - also needs to start the season on the Penguins' roster. Even if he only gets the nine games then gets sent back to the Calgary Hitmen, it's worth seeing what he can do in those nine games.
This was three games in a row now where Kindel was the best player on the ice, arguably, including the three respective opponent teams as well. He's doing things at 18 that you just can't teach - such as showcasing his incredibly high hockey IQ by making passes that kids his age shouldn't be able to make - and the things he's getting wrong, he's learning on-the-fly.
"He's been consistent," Muse said. "I thought he had another game where it's the same thing. On the defensive side, too, you can see a little bit more. He's a little quicker to close space. He's been out there, him and his line, against some very established NHL players in these last couple of games.
"I think that experience for him and him being out there, it's massive. And he's handled it well. You can see with the puck, too... at no point have I seen any hesitation with him. He's not afraid to make plays, and he's made some high-end ones without a lot of time and space."
I don't buy much into the argument that size or the grind of an 82-game season are issues for Kindel. There are plenty of players who enter the league at 18 or 19 years old and need to add some size who turn out just fine. Every young player needs to get bigger and stronger. This is nothing new in today's NHL.
But a player is ready when he's ready. Kindel has yet to show that he can't handle NHL competition, and he's getting better with every game and with increasingly difficult competition. To me, he looks ready.
He's earned the nine games. The Penguins need to give credit where it's due and reward him for his efforts and for simply being the best guy out there on a consistent basis. If they don't, I think they're getting this one wrong.
- In my opinion, Broz should be a lock for this roster. And I think what the Penguins are doing with his deployment is pretty telling.
Muse was asked about putting Broz in more defensive situations during this game. And he said that moving him around the lineup and using him in different situations hasn't exactly been an accident.
"He's been out there in a lot of different situations. Game-to-game, it's kind of changed a little bit, and that has been something that's been a little bit by design," Muse said. "I think there's been some games where he's been in more d-zone starts, there's been some games there where it's maybe a little bit more on the penalty kill time. But, I think it's been good. I think he's been in the right spots, and the detail has been pretty solid."
This whole thing reads to me as if the coaching staff is testing Broz a bit. And he's passing with flying colors. The thing that separates Broz from some of the other guys fighting for roster spots is that he can play effectively in an NHL bottom-six role without that deployment effecting the course of his development. It's not the same thing as putting someone like Koivunen in a bottom-six role. Broz can thrive there.
I think he's earned his spot. It's going to be tough, but he's a guy you cut a veteran for. He's ready for the next level.
- Now, let's talk about a veteran who has really showed up to camp this season in Dumba.
I've got to say that I've been impressed by him. I know it's only the pre-season, but he looks nothing like the same defenseman that struggled with the Dallas Stars last season. He's playing solid defensive hockey, he's physical, he's activating in the offensive zone, and he's got a booming shot that he hasn't been afraid to unleash.
Many were down - and, in some cases, outright harsh - on Dumba coming into camp. But I think he has pretty discernibly earned a spot on the final NHL roster. If he can get anywhere close to the blueliner he was in his prime with the Minnesota Wild, that should make the Penguins very happy. He's in a contract year, and I'm sure the Penguins would love to be able to sell high on him this season to a contender.
He may have to play the off-side at times, but he has earned his spot.
- I am not overly impressed with Blake Lizotte in this pre-season. I do believe he will start the season in Pittsburgh, but - quite frankly - I think quite a few of the younger guys have outplayed him. In fact, three young centers, in particular - Broz, Kindel, and Filip Hallander - have all outplayed him, and two of those guys would be in a position to take on a center role in the bottom-six.
Lizotte is a player the Penguins should be able to trade early on in the season, and if there is a taker, I'm not so sure I wouldn't pull the trigger. I quite liked what Lizotte brought to this team last year, but if the Penguins are truly going younger, he's the exact kind of player who will block a young, promising prospect from locking down a roster spot.
I do think waivers will be exercised on some veterans in the next few days. Again, while I don't think Lizotte will be one of them, don't be surprised if he doesn't stick around this entire season.
The Yankees needed everyone to pull out the Game 2 win over the Red Sox on Wednesday night, and that included catcher Austin Wells.
Wells, who has had a down sophomore season, delivered the go-ahead hit in the eighth inning of a tense contest with the Yankees' eternal rivals. In the eighth inning of a 3-3 game, Wells came up with two outs and Jazz Chisholm Jr. on first base. The Yankees backstop battled right-hander Garrett Whitlock -- who had already retired five of the seven batters he faced before facing Wells -- and worked him to a full count. On the seventh pitch of the inning, Wells lined a single down the right field line that scored the speedy Chisholm from first base.
The run was enough for the Yankees to stave off elimination and win, 4-3.
"Just got a pitch to put in play," Wells said of his at-bat after the game. "[Whitlock] was making some tough pitches throughout. Felt like I made a decent swing on one of his best pitches."
After going hitless in Game 1 of the Wild Card series, Wells showed why he is the regular catcher with his defense and ability at the plate. He made some crucial stops when Fernando Cruz made his daring escape in the seventh, and went 2-for-3 with the go-ahead hit. Although the 26-year-old had his first go-ahead hit of his postseason career (16 games) on Wednesday, he gave Chisholm his flowers for giving him the opportunity.
"That was a huge at-bat, allowed me to come up there with a guy on base," Wells said of Chisholm's at-bat. "That at-bat, that was one of the best I’ve seen from him all year."
More impressive was Chisholm's speed. He told Wells before he came up that anything hit to right field and he was going home, and the infielder made it ahead of the impressive throw from Nate Eaton in right. It took Chisholm Jr. 9.16 second to run from first to home on Wells' single, which is the third-fastsest time a player has done that in the postseason the Statcast Era (via Chris Kirschner).
That extra bit of speed helped propel the Yankees to a Game 2 win, and it took all the team had to even up the series.
"Took everybody. The defense was unbelievable tonight, great at-bats, great pitching on the mound," Wells said of the win. "This was a scrappy win. Literally took everything."
The Yankees will look to win back-to-back games when they take on the Red Sox in a win-or-go-home Game 3 on Thursday.
Sam Surridge converted a penalty in the 60th minute and Nashville SC won the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup with a 2-1 victory over Austin FC on Wednesday night.
Hany Mukhtar also scored for Nashville, who secured a spot in the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup with the victory. It was the first major trophy for the club, which joined Major League Soccer in 2020.
Here’s how Jazz Chisholm Jr. coped with not playing in Game 1 of the Yankees’ Wild Card series with the Red Sox: He went home afterward and played MLB The Show, the baseball video game, online.
“I mercy-ruled someone,” Chisholm said, shrugging and smiling, as he sat in the interview room following the Yanks’ 4-3 Game 2 victory over the Red Sox on Wednesday night, a must-win that evened up the series at one game apiece and set up a corker of a deciding game for Thursday.
“That’s how I get my stress off.”
The team in the game that he created, the New York Aliens, has a few ringers, including himself.
“Ken Griffey Jr., Jimmy Rollins,” Chisholm added. “It’s kinda like a cheat code. ... It’s a lot of fun.”
Honestly, it sounds like a blast. And Chisholm was clearly enjoying himself while talking about it. It was all perhaps an indication of the effervescence and spirit he brings to the Yankees, who, you may have heard, sometimes come off as a little too buttoned-up.
Chisholm plays flashy. He can be emotional. He likes, as Aaron Boone put it, “the stage.” It’s all OK.
As stress relief, his wind-down plan clearly worked. There were no signs of unhappiness in Game 2.
“All that was clear before I came to the field (Wednesday),” Chisholm said. “It’s all about winning.”
And Chisholm helped make the Game 2 victory happen. He was in on several of the biggest moments of the night, from starting a key double play in the third inning after the Red Sox had scored twice, to keeping a ball in the infield that prevented Boston from scoring in the seventh to, ultimately, the deciding play.
In the bottom of the eighth, Chisholm drew a two-out, seven-pitch walk and then scored the winning run, sprinting from first to home on Austin Wells' single down the right-field line. He was running on the pitch and knew the outfielder had to chase the ball toward the stands, and kept running. He slid headfirst to beat the throw.
“What do you expect?” Aaron Judge said. “Guy is a game-changer.”
A possible controversy bloomed late Tuesday night when Chisholm admitted he wasn’t happy he hadn’t started Game 1. The Yankees had just lost, were already facing elimination, and certainly didn’t need distractions in the cauldron of the playoffs. Boone had wanted to match up righties against Boston ace Garrett Crochet, an elite lefty, so Chisholm was out, though he subbed in late.
Asked if everything was OK between him and Boone, Chisholm responded:
“There is never a problem between me and Aaron Boone. He’s been my manager all year, and I’ve stood behind him all year. We always have disagreements. I mean, I played third base this year, and we had a little bit of a disagreement in that. But at the end of the day, I always stand with Boonie because he understands where I come from.
“He knows I’m a passionate player, and he knows I wear my feelings on my sleeve. He knows that I’m here to compete.”
For his part, Boone said before the game he expected Chisholm to “play his butt off for us tonight.” That’s exactly what happened, culminating in Chisholm’s sprint home with the eventual winning run.
“Obviously, moving on the pitch gave him a little bit of a head start there,” Boone said. “And his speed comes into play big-time there. Obviously, an exciting, big play.”
Chisholm will be in the lineup for Game 3, Boone said, even though Boston is starting another lefty -- Connelly Early. Early is not Crochet, however -- who is? -- and when Boone makes lineup choices, “It’s not just ‘a lefty.’ It’s ‘what lefty?’” the manager said.
So Chisholm could have more big moments coming just at the right time -- no team has ever lost the opener of a Wild Card and won the series since the playoff format changed. Boone knows Chisholm wants those moments, too.
“He loves to play,” the manager added. “He feels a responsibility to us, his teammates. He and I have always been good, despite what you think may have happened (Tuesday). He’s a gamer.”
Major League Baseball games, video games, it doesn’t matter. Chisholm is on a roll in either category -- the other night, Chisholm said, his New York Aliens won that stress-buster game, 12-1.
Can he keep it all going in Game 3 of this AL Wild Card Series?
"I haven't decided on my catcher, first base, all of that -- sit on that," Boone said when he was asked about his plan for Rice with Boston set to start left-handed pitcher Connelly Early next. "Early's pretty neutral, a little different than the first guy we faced, so we'll sit and talk about it and make that decision tonight."
Boone started first baseman Paul Goldschmidt and catcher Austin Wells while sitting Rice in Tuesday's seven-hit loss. Goldschmidt was 2-for-4 with leadoff singles in the first and ninth innings.
Rice started at first base and batted cleanup while Goldschmidt sat in Wednesday's 10-hit win, which included Rice's tone-setting home run -- a two-out, two-run shot that put the Yankees up 2-0.
"Obviously, Benny's playing at such a, such a (high level), swinging the bat so well, especially here down the stretch, so, yeah, he makes it tough," Boone said, referencing Boston starting southpaw Garrett Crochet in Game 1 and being set to start Early for Game 3 after going with right-handed pitcher Brayan Bello Wednesday.
"Again, it's not just, 'It's a lefty,' it's, 'What lefty? Is that guy going to be out there for six or seven innings?' I want to leverage a spot for, whoever my bench guys are, to have a good matchup and not three bad matchups that I can guarantee. So, all those things factor into it."
Rice cashed in on Cody Bellinger's two-out single after Trent Grisham and Aaron Judge went down to start the bottom of the first inning, taking Bello deep on his plate appearance's first pitch.
"It was great," Judge said. "The boys were locked in from the jump, but for us to get a two-run lead like that early was huge -- and especially to knock out a guy like Bello, who's kind of had our number over the years, was huge and it was kind of a bullpen game after that. But it was great for Ricey to get a start -- first pitch he sees in the postseason, to do that? Impressive."
Rice's 2-for-4 performance included a leadoff single in the sixth inning.
"I know my role, and yesterday my role was to be ready for a big at-bat off the bench and today I was starting," Rice said. "So, the approach doesn't change. I've just got to be prepared for every at-bat I get and every chance I get."
The 26-year-old slashed .255/.337/.499 with 26 home runs and 65 RBI in 138 regular-season games this year, his first full MLB campaign.
"Hits the ball hard every single time gets up there," Judge said. "Just great at-bats. Calculated. Knows what he's looking for. When he gets it, he usually doesn't miss. It's been fun to see his growth in the last season to this season."
Whatever Boone decides, Rice seems ready.
"It helps make you feel like you're in a good spot and, of course, I was able to help the team win today," Rice said. "So, just gives myself and the team a lot of confidence going into tomorrow."
NEW YORK (AP) — Jazz Chisholm Jr. zipped all the way home from first base on Austin Wells’ tiebreaking single in the eighth inning, and the New York Yankees extended their season Wednesday night with a 4-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox in Game 2 of their AL Wild Card Series.
Unhappy he was left out of the starting lineup in the opener, Chisholm also made a couple of critical defensive plays at second base that helped the Yankees send the best-of-three playoff to a decisive Game 3 on Thursday night in the Bronx.
In the latest chapter of baseball’s most storied rivalry, the winner advances to face AL East champion Toronto in a best-of-five Division Series beginning Saturday.
Ben Rice hit an early two-run homer and Aaron Judge had an RBI single for the Yankees, who got three innings of scoreless relief from their shaky bullpen after starter Carlos Rodón put the first two batters on in the seventh.
Devin Williams worked a one-hit eighth for the win, and David Bednar got three outs for his first postseason save. Judge pumped his fist when he caught Ceddanne Rafaela’s flyball on the right-field warning track to end it.
Trevor Story homered and drove in all three runs for the Red Sox, who won the series opener 3-1 on Tuesday night behind ace lefty Garrett Crochet.
With the score tied in the seventh, Chisholm saved a run with a diving stop of an infield single by pinch-hitter Masataka Yoshida. Story then flied out with the bases loaded to the edge of the center-field warning track to end the inning, and fired-up reliever Fernando Cruz waved his arms wildly to pump up the crowd.
Chisholm also made a tough play to start an inning-ending double play with two on in the third — the first of three timely double plays turned by the Yankees.
There were two outs in the eighth when Chisholm drew a walk from losing pitcher Garrett Whitlock. Chisholm was running on a full-count pitch when Wells pulled a line drive that landed just inside the right-field line and caromed off the low retaining wall in foul territory.
Right fielder Nate Eaton made a strong, accurate throw to the plate, but the speedy Chisholm barely beat it with a headfirst slide as Wells pumped his arms at first base.
New York took a 3-2 lead in the fifth when Judge’s sinking looper went off the glove of diving left fielder Jarren Duran for a run-scoring single. Trent Grisham scored from second after drawing a two-out walk and advancing on a wild pitch.
Story connected on Rodón’s third pitch of the sixth to tie it again with his second career postseason homer.
Rodón then issued a four-pitch walk to Alex Bregman. But after a mound visit from manager Aaron Boone, the left-hander avoided further damage when he got Carlos Narváez to ground into an inning-ending double play.
New York jumped ahead early when Cody Bellinger singled with two outs in the first and Rice, also left out of the lineup Tuesday against Crochet, lined the first postseason pitch he saw to right field for a two-run homer.
Story tied it with a two-run single in the third off Rodón, who prevented further damage by getting Bregman to ground into an inning-ending double play.
With the Yankees threatening in the third, Boston manager Alex Cora lifted starter Brayan Bello from his first postseason outing and handed the game to a parade of relievers who held New York in check until the eighth.
Up next
Hard-throwing rookie Cam Schlittler (4-3, 2.96 ERA) starts Game 3 for New York. The 24-year-old right-hander grew up in Boston, where he attended Northeastern University, but has said he always wanted to play for the Yankees.
Rookie left-hander Connelly Early (1-2, 2.33 ERA) will pitch for Boston in place of injured Lucas Giolito. Early has made four major league starts since his debut on Sept. 9.
The Yankees are turning to Cam Schlittler, the 24-year-old rookie right-hander, to climb the hill in Game 3 of the Wild Card series as they look to advance past the Boston Red Sox on Thursday night in The Bronx.
“He’ll handle it well,” manager Aaron Boone said about Schlittler ahead of Game 2. “I don't think it will be too big for him, and he will be ready to roll.”
Schlittler, a Massachusetts native, said he knew from public reports before Boone had the chance to tell him he’d be the starter, but that the way the last few days were setting up, he was expecting the nod.
After making his big league debut just before the All-Star break, Schlittler posted a 2.96 ERA (3.74 FIP) and 1.219 WHIP in 73 innings over 14 starts with 84 strikeouts to 31 walks.
The skipper called the right-hander “super coachable, accountable” and, after his call-up, gave the club a “shot in the arm when he became another stabilizing force in our rotation."
“Like how he has handled every situation he has found himself in this year," Boone said, “Starting with coming over and pitching a big spring training game for us late in spring, and, I thought, handled it and navigated it.
“And man, you saw the right competitive edge to him."
He saved his best outing for his last, allowing just two hits, two hit batters, and a walk over seven shutout innings against Baltimore while striking out nine on the regular season’s penultimate day.
“Been super impressed with, first and foremost, his stuff,” Boone said. “I mean, he's got… big stuff. It’s a big fastball. The cutter and this curveball are really good pitches for him. Really good competitor.”
Carlos Rodon said he’s excited to see the rookie go to work.
“Everybody knows the kinda stuff that Cam has, he’s equipped well with a pretty impressive arsenal,” the Game 2 starter said. “I’m excited to see how the energy and the crowd and how he interacts with that. It’s gonna be really good for him, he needs to experience this.
“I’m looking forward to seeing him dominate tomorrow.”
Boston is countering with a rookie of their own in left-hander ConnellyEarly, the 23-year-old who pitched to a 2.33 ERA in just 19.1 innings over four starts since making his MLB debut on Sept. 9.
The heater, with a 98 mph average velocity, puts him in the 95th percentile in the majors. And that pitch, which he's using 54.8 percent of the time, has helped him tally a 27.6 strikeout rate (82nd percentile).
The right-hander will face a different lineup after the Yanks started back-to-back lefties, but Schlittler still believes there was something to gain from watching Boston’s hitters these past two games.
“It’s more of the mentality and the mental side of the game, as well,” Schlittler said. “Being able to listen in to what they’re doing and the adjustments they’re making is gonna make things a little bit easier for me.
“And it’s all learning points, so for me to experience playoff baseball for two days before I get throwing is definitely a good experience.”
While one game a career does not make, Boone was asked if Schlittler’s debut season has made it seem like the Yanks have a rotation piece for years to come? “It does feel that way.”
The 2025 edition of the Yankee-Red Sox rivalry will have one more installment – a winner-advances, loser-goes-home Game 3 after the Yanks evened their Wild Card Series Wednesday night with a dramatic 4-3 victory.
Jazz Chisholm Jr., who had been unhappy that he did not start in Game 1, made perhaps the biggest play of Game 2, scoring all the way from first base on a single down the right-field line by Austin Wells with two outs in the eighth inning. Chisholm, running on the pitch, slid headfirst to beat the throw, sending the Yankee Stadium crowd into a frenzy.
The Yankees scored the winning run off reliever Garrett Whitlock, whom the Red Sox took from the Yankees in the Rule 5 draft in December of 2020.
Here are the takeaways...
-Yankees closer David Bednar, who had allowed a run in Game 1, preserved the lead with a spotless ninth, striking out Wilyer Abreu and Jarren Duran and getting Ceddane Rafaela on a scary fly ball to deep right.
-Ben Rice gave the Yankees a quick 2-0 lead, slamming the first postseason pitch he ever saw for a two-run homer in the first inning. There’s a nice rivalry footnote to the homer, too, considering Rice is a Massachusetts native who nonetheless rooted for the Yankees as a kid. Cody Bellinger set the whole thing up with a two-out single to bring Rice to the plate. Rice became the first Yankee to hit a home run in his first career postseason at-bat since Shane Spencer in 1998, according to ace MLB researcher Sarah Langs.
-Rice was not in the Game 1 lineup against Garrett Crochet, just like fellow lefties Chisholm and Ryan McMahon. But all three were back as starters against Boston righty Brayan Bello, who had a 1.44 ERA in his five previous starts at Yankee Stadium. Bello allowed two runs and four hits in 2.1 innings, getting a quick hook from Red Sox manager Alex Cora. With two on and one out in the third, Cora called for lefty Justin Wilson to face Bellinger and Rice, and Wilson wriggled free of trouble. First, he got Bellinger on a fly to left that was so short it prevented Trent Grisham from trying to score. Then he retired Rice on a hard-hit liner that was whacked at right fielder Nate Eaton. The Red Sox had six left-handed relievers listed on the scorecard given out to the media.
-The Red Sox tied the score at 2 in the third inning on a rally started by their 7-8-9 hitters. Duran led off with a single and Rafaela walked on a 3-2 pitch. No. 9 hitter Nick Sogard bunted and Carlos Rodón pounced on it, but he bounced his throw to Chisholm covering at first. The throwing error loaded the bases with none out. Rodón struck out Rob Refsnyder, but Trevor Story, who had been ill earlier in the series, smacked a two-run single into center field. The inning could’ve been worse, but Rodón got Alex Bregman to hit into a double-play to end it.
-Aaron Judge, who had two hits in Game 1, gave the Yanks a temporary 3-2 lead with an RBI single in the fifth inning, set up by Grisham’s two-out walk. Judge looped a fly into left field off reliever Justin Slaten that Duran charged and dove for, but the ball glanced off his glove as Grisham scampered around third and scored.
-The Red Sox quickly answered, however, when Story led off the sixth with a homer to left off Rodón, knotting the score at 3. It was a mistake pitch, 95 miles per hour, right down the middle. After Rodón walked Alex Bregman, Aaron Boone visited the mound as reliever Fernando Cruz started to warm up. Rodón remained in the game and it was the right call – he retired Romy Gonzalez on a pop-up and got Carlos Narváez, the ex-Yankee catcher who’s had several tough at-bats in the series, to hit into a 5-4-3 double play.
-Boston mounted a big threat in the seventh when Rodón walked Eaton on four pitches leading off and then threw three straight balls, including a wild pitch, to Duran, before plunking him. The HBP was the last pitch Rodón threw – Boone emerged from the dugout to bring in Cruz. Rafaela tried to sacrifice, but his bunt was a disaster, a pop right to Cruz for the first out. One out later, pinch-hitter Masataka Yoshida hit a grounder toward the middle that Chisholm dove for and stopped. But he couldn’t get much on the throw, which bounced twice, and Yoshida had an infield hit. Eaton might have scored from third on the play had he kept running. Then Story smashed a deep fly to center that had the crowd gasping, but Grisham flashed back to catch it, ending the threat.
-Rodón threw six-plus innings and allowed three runs and four hits. He struck out six and walked three. Rodón, who had a terrific regular season with 18 wins and a 3.09 ERA, lowered his career postseason ERA from 6.64 to 6.15.
-Devin Williams threw a scoreless eighth for the Yanks, pitching around a leadoff single by Bregman. Williams started a 1-6-3 double play with a shaky throw to second, but Anthony Volpe leapt to snare it, landed on the bag and threw to first to complete the DP. Then Williams struck out Narváez, fooling him so badly with his “Airbender” changeup that Narváez’s bat flew out of his hands and actually hit Eaton, who was prepping to bat next.
Game MVP: Austin Wells
Let’s not overthink this – Wells got the winning hit, he’s the star of the game. He finished 2-for-3 with a walk.
The Yankees and Red Sox play a win-or-go-home Game 3 on Thursday night. First pitch is set for 6:08 p.m. or 8 p.m., depending on the result of Game 2 of the Cincinnati - Los Angeles series.
New York will send rookie Cam Schlittler on the mound while the Red Sox are sending out rookie left-hander Connelly Early.
It has been a tough 12 months for Pittsburgh Penguins' defenseman Jack St. Ivany, and it looks like things aren't getting any easier.
During Wednesday's pre-season tilt against the Buffalo Sabres, St. Ivany blocked a shot midway through the first period that appeared to hit the inside of his foot. He was helped off the ice and into the locker room and returned to the bench briefly, but he was then ruled out for the remainder of the game with a lower-body injury.
St. Ivany, 26, made the Penguins' NHL roster out of camp last season after signing a three-year extension that summer. He struggled to start the season and was re-assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS), where the Penguins hoped some heavy AHL minutes would help him get back on track.
Unfortunately, the 6-foot-4, 205-pound blueliner was injured just two games later, and he missed nearly two months of action, making it hard for him to get back on track. He had just one point in 19 games at the NHL level in 2024-25, and at the AHL level, he recored one goal and 16 points to go along with a plus-9 in 37 games.
No further update on St. Ivany's status has been announced yet. Stay tuned to the THN - Pittsburgh Penguins site for updates.
