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Cam Schlittler rises from midseason call-up to 'future staple' of Yankees' rotation

Cam Schlittler's early-July promotion to the Yankees has aged well. 

The 24-year-old RHP is 2-2 with a 2.76 ERA and 1.30 WHIP in eight starts, and in New York manager Aaron Boone's words before Monday's 10-5 win over the Washington Nationals, "a future staple of our rotation."

"That's the first time I'm hearing it," Schlittler said of Boone's comments. "So, for me, that's a great feeling.

"Again, as a rookie, you can't get too comfortable. So, just important for me to go out there and continue to do my job. Like I said last week, try to get to six, seven innings and put the team in a spot to win."

Schlittler threw 63 strikes on 96 pitches in six scoreless innings, striking out eight and walking three while allowing four hits. Schlittler followed his MLB-best start last Wednesday, a 6-4 Yankees win in 10 innings against the Tampa Bay Rays, where he allowed one hit while striking out eight and walking two over 6.2 IP.

"I don't even want to go as far as to say he was unexpected, because he was very highly thought of going into spring training -- albeit, at that point, still a prospect," Boone said after Monday's game, which saw Schlittler become the first rookie in franchise history with consecutive starts of eight-plus strikeouts through 6+ innings.

"He showed some really good things in spring training when he got real opportunities, and he's put together a great minor-league season earning his way up here, and he's continued that at the big-league level. So, yeah, I think, coming out of spring training, it's a pleasant surprise to say he's a key part of our rotation now going down the stretch. But way stranger things have happened."

Schlittler's spring training saw him allow nine runs (eight earned) on 15 hits (two homers) while striking out 13 and walking 10 in 16.1 IP over five games with four starts. In his five starts this season with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, he scattered 11 runs (10 earned) on 20 hits (three homers) while striking out 35 and walking nine over 23.2 IP.

"The interesting thing about him was he wasn't always this kind of guy," catcher Ben Rice said of Schlittler, who started the season with Double-A Somerset before his June 3 promotion to Triple-A. "The first year of professional baseball he was in, he started in extended spring training. He was not a velocity guy by any means.

"But to his credit, he put in the work. He put his head down, put on weight, put on muscle and really made himself into just a really good pitcher. Obviously added velocity, but was able to work on his command as well and we're seeing it translate at this level."

The Yankees selected Schlittler, from Northeastern University, with the No. 220 overall pick in the seventh round of the 2022 MLB Draft. The 6-foot-6, 225-pounder has since developed into a key cog for New York's starting rotation -- now and potentially in the years to come.

"I think it comes down to really hard work and just kind of putting in that work in the offseason and putting weight on and trying to figure out my body a little bit, just kind of growing into myself as a player, as a person," Schlittler said.

"So, at the end of the day, people tell you what to do.  But you've got to be able to go do it when no one's watching, so I just put on myself in the offseason, making sure I come into spring training ready to go."

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Kodai Senga's struggles continue in first start on regular rest since 2023

On a night the Mets needed him to be at his best, Kodai Senga struggled again.

The right-hander was picked up nicely by his offense and bullpen, but he had to battle through traffic in each of his four innings of work during Monday’s 13-3 win over the division-leading Phillies at Citi Field.

New York found themselves trailing almost immediately, as Trea Turner led off the game with a triple after a missed strike three, and he scored a few pitches later on an RBI groundout.

Senga stranded a pair in the second, but Philly was able to strike again in the top of the third, as Alec Bohm dropped a two out two-run single just in front of Juan Soto in right to make it a three-run ballgame.

The first two batters reached against him in the fourth, but he did a nice job retiring Turner, Kyle Schwarber, and Bryce Harper in order to escape without further damage.

Senga returned to the mound with a clean slate after the Mets’ offense rallied to even things up, but he was quickly pulled after hitting the leadoff man.

Newly recalled left-hander Jose Castillo entered and rolled a double play ball to close his final line with the three runs allowed on six hits and three walks while striking out four over four innings of work.

“It was a struggle for him,” Carlos Mendoza said. “A lot of noncompetitive pitches, a lot of balls coming out of the hand -- just not being able to get ahead, and when you’re falling behind hitters especially against a lineup like that it’s going to be hard to find success.”

This is just latest in a string of shaky showings from Senga since returning from the injured list.

The 32-year-old is still yet to earn in a victory over his eight starts since then.

Senga also hasn’t been able to complete six innings over that span, and he’s pitched to an ugly 5.40 ERA.

He explained the biggest difference in his eyes over the past few outings.

“The sensation of delivering power to the ball,” Senga said through a translator. “I’ve been lacking in that aspect a little bit of late -- whether it's power or movement or anything along those lines near home plate where the batter sees it it's lacking just a little bit.

“That's why I'm getting the hitters off balance, but it's landing for a hit instead of going foul, those are the minor differences that I feel might be relating to the results on the field -- despite that I’m still out there everyday trying to make it a winnable game for the team.”

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Five NHL Teams That Could/Should Finish Below The Penguins In 2025-26

The 2025-26 NHL season is only about a month and a half away from starting, and it’s going to be here before anyone knows it. Heck, action is already starting to pick up a little bit around the league after the Minnesota Wild re-signed forward Marco Rossi to a three-year deal on August 22. It also feels like it’s only a matter of time until the Anaheim Ducks re-sign forward Mason McTavish. 

As for the Pittsburgh Penguins, they enter the season with a lot of question marks, but their direction isn’t one of them. They are clearly rebuilding and have been since they traded Jake Guentzel to the Carolina Hurricanes before the 2024 trade deadline. 

Still, their forward group on paper right now is decent, especially since Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell are still on the roster. However, it gets really dicey once you look at the defensemen and the starting netminder. The Penguins will be able to score this year, but will also give up a lot of goals due to those various weaknesses. In other words, if you’re a betting person, take the “over” in a lot of games this year. 

Many Penguins fans are obviously watching the 2026 NHL Draft closely, with Gavin McKenna and other potential franchise players like Keaton Verhoeff and Ivar Stenberg in the spotlight, since the top of the draft is the easiest place to find the next game-changing prospect that can help turn the team around. The Penguins will need the lottery balls to go their way to get one of those players, but will face stiff competition from other teams who also likely won’t be very good. 

With all of that in mind, let’s take a look at five teams that could/should be worse than the Penguins this year. 

1. San Jose Sharks

The Sharks were the worst team in the NHL last year, winning only 20 games and finishing with 52 points, nine fewer than the Chicago Blackhawks. The Penguins had 28 more points than them last year, despite missing the playoffs for a third consecutive year. The Sharks have a nice developing core, led by Macklin Celebrini, but they are still far away from being a serious Stanley Cup threat, let alone a playoff team. 

Will they be better this year? Probably, but not to the point where they will make up 28 points on the Penguins. A lot would have to go wrong for Dan Muse’s squad to finish behind the Sharks. 

2. Chicago Blackhawks

The Blackhawks only won 25 games and finished with 61 points last year, 19 fewer than the Penguins. They have the generational superstar in Connor Bedard and did a great job locking up Frank Nazar to a long-term extension last week, but like the Sharks, they still need more talent and aren’t close to contending right now. 

It’s asking a lot for them to make a big leap next season, even though there’s a chance they’re at least a bit better compared to last year. At the end of the day, Bedard needs more help. 

Apr 13, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Ryan Shea (5) moves the puck against Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak (88) during the third period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

3.Boston Bruins

The Bruins’ eight-year playoff streak ended last season when they finished last in the Atlantic Division with 33 wins and 76 points. Their fans then got to see captain Brad Marchand traded to the Florida Panthers, one of the Bruins’ biggest rivals, right before the trade deadline, before he helped the Panthers win their second-straight Stanley Cup. 

They still have several issues heading into this season, chief among them: Who is scoring the goals outside of David Pastrnak? Pastrnak is one of the best pure goal scorers in the NHL, but he can’t do it all by himself. 

Can Matt Dumba Have A Bounceback Year In 2025-26?Can Matt Dumba Have A Bounceback Year In 2025-26?If one thing is for certain when it comes to the Pittsburgh Penguins, it’s that their team defense has failed them in the three years since they’ve made the playoffs.

4.Seattle Kraken

The Kraken were hoping to return to the playoffs this past season after signing defenseman Brandon Montour and forward Chandler Stephenson during free agency, but didn’t accomplish that goal, finishing seventh in the Pacific Division with 76 points. Because of that failure, they fired former head coach Dan Bylsma, made Jason Botterill their new general manager, and hired Lane Lambert to be their new head coach. 

They continue to stack as many depth forwards as they can and still don’t have a true superstar in their lineup. Joey Daccord is a solid goaltender, but still needs more help. 

5.Nashville Predators

The Nashville Predators were one of the busiest teams last offseason, signing Steven Stamkos, Brady Skjei, and Jonathan Marchessault to hefty contracts. They were a sexy pick to finish top three in the Central Division before they fell flat and finished seventh in the Central Division with 68 points. 

Fast forward one year, and it still doesn’t appear that general manager Barry Trotz knows what he’s doing. Their star players are also another year older, and the Central Division promises to be tough once again this year. 

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Mets' Mark Vientos continues hot stretch with two more clutch hits: ‘We’ve been missing that bat’

Mark Vientos?

Oh, yeah, he’s definitely back.

It wasn’t too long ago that the youngster was losing out on playing time to Brett Baty and Ronny Mauricio. Of late, he’s been delivering big hits when the Mets have needed it the most.

On Monday, he got the offense going against Phillies ace lefty Cristopher Sanchez.

After Pete Alonso singled and advanced his way into scoring position on a balk, the righty was sure to make Sanchez pay, as he laced an opposite-field RBI double down the left-field line.

He scored just one pitch later on Brandon Nimmo’s RBI single.

Vientos came through again one inning later with things knotted up at three, this time making the Phillies pay for an error, lining a go-ahead two out RBI double into the right-field corner.

He was hit by a pitch in the seventh before being lifted for a pinch-runner, finishing the night 2-for-3 with his first career two double game.

“[Sanchez] is a phenomenal pitcher,” Vientos said. “I was just trying to be as simple as possible. His stuff moves a lot, he has a good changeup, good slider, good fastball so it’s really was just trying to stay as simple as possible up there.”

The Mets' offense tacked on in each of the final six innings to secure the 13-3 victory.

With another big day, Vientos is now hitting a whopping .342 with a 1.223 OPS over his past 10 games.

He’s riding an eight-game hitting streak and has extra-base hits in three straight games.

His OPS has quickly risen past the .700 mark (.709) for the first time since the middle of May.

“My hard work is paying off right now and I’m just thankful,” Vientos said. “It definitely feels pretty good. Whatever I can do to help the team, especially contributing with the bat it just feels good.”

For the Mets to make any noise down the stretch, they’ll need Vientos to continue swinging it this way.

“We’ve been missing that bat,” Carlos Mendoza said. “We saw it last year how important he is and when you add that type of bat to the middle of our lineup, we’re gonna be dangerous -- it’s just good to see him having that confidence in himself.

“It was a struggle for him, but when you watch him here the past two weeks, the at-bat quality using the whole fields and driving the ball, if we get that version of Vientos, we’re going to be in a good place.”

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Mets' offense explodes for 13 unanswered runs in series-opening win over Phillies

In one of their most impressive wins of the season, the Mets rallied from an early 3-0 deficit to defeat the Philadelphia Phillies 13-3 at Citi Field on Monday night, taking the first game of this three-game series.

In doing so, they cut the Phillies’ lead in the NL East to six games.

The comeback was led mostly the lower part of the Mets’ lineup, as Mark Vientos, Tyrone Taylor, Jeff McNeil, and Luis Torrens combined for 10 hits and 11 RBI.

Torrens had the biggest night, going 3-for-5 with a three-run home run and a career-high five RBI.

Here are some takeaways...

- The Mets bucked the odds by coming back from a 3-0 deficit against lefty Cristopher Sanchez and his 2.46 ERA -- the second best in National League. In fact, in games the Phillies scored two or more runs for Sanchez, they had been 17-2. Yet, the Mets responded in a big way, taking a 6-3 lead and knocking him out in the sixth inning. It was only the third time all season that Sanchez has allowed more than three earned runs in a start.

- Vientos had the key hits, a run scoring double in the fourth in the middle of a three-run rally, and an opposite-field double to right in the fifth to put the Mets ahead 4-3.

- Torrens blew the game open in the seventh with a three-run home run, only his third home run of the season.

- Kodai Senga made a rare start on four days rest (he usually gets an extra day) and it didn’t go well, as he pitched four-plus innings, allowing 10 baserunners on six hits, three walks, and a hit batsman. He was down 3-0 early but it could have been worse.

He left runners at second and third in the third inning, and struck out Bryce Harper to end the fourth, leaving two more runners on base. When he hit JT Realmuto with a 3-2 pitch leading off the fifth, Senga was at 93 pitches and Carlos Mendoza quickly pulled him.

Senga’s ERA rose to 2.73 from 1.47 before he gave up 21 earned runs in his last seven starts, all since coming back from his hamstring injury.

- The Mets’ bullpen had an outstanding night, as five relievers held the Phillies in check the rest of the way, getting 15 outs without allowing a hit. It started with lefty Jose Castillo, called up from the minors on Monday to replace Reed Garrett, who went on the IL with an elbow injury. In relief of Senga, he got a double play ball against Alec Bohm, the first hitter he faced, and pitched a hitless fifth.

Tyler Rogers and Brooks Raley did likewise, getting the game to the eighth inning with the score at 6-3.

Mendoza had Ryan Helsley up for the eighth, which would have been a bit of a gamble in a close game, considering how he’s been struggling, but the Mets scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh to take the pressure off and Helsley responded with a 1-2-3 inning, including one strikeout.

Finally, another struggling reliever, Ryne Stanek, pitched a clean ninth to close out the game.

- The hot-hitting Vientos had another big night, going 2-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI. Over his last eight games Vientos has five home runs, four doubles, and 13 RBI. In doing so, Vientos has his OPS up to .709 for the season, the first time it has been over .700 since May 16th.

Game MVP: Luis Torrens

Now the regular catcher again with Francisco Alvarez on the IL, Torrens responded with perhaps the biggest offensive night of his career.

He went 3-for-5 with a three-run HR and a career-high five RBI. His double in the sixth delivered an important run, putting the Mets up 6-3, and his home run in the seventh broke the game open, making it 10-3.

Highlights

What's next

Sean Manaea (1-2, 5.15 ERA) takes the mound against Jesus Luzardo (12-6, 4.10 ERA) as the Mets and Phillies continue this crucial three-game set on Tuesday at 7:10 p.m. on SNY.

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Cam Schlittler shows top-of-rotation potential in Yankees' series-opening win over Nationals

The Yankees opened their three-game series against the Washington Nationals with a 10-5 win Monday as they started a soft spot of the schedule by handling business.

Takeaways

  1. Cam Schlittler is for real. The 24-year-old rookie, in his eighth start, followed this past Wednesday's career-best outing with a close second. Behind Schlittler (2-2, 2.76 ERA), who struck out eight and walked three while scattering four hits on 96 pitches (63 strikes) over six scoreless innings, the Yankees (71-60) handled the Nationals (53-78). On an inconsistent team, Schlittler has developed into a rock for the rotation and serious candidate to be in the mix this postseason as he progressively shows his top-of-the-line potential.
  2. The Yankees continue to lead MLB in home runs with 219 afterBen Rice, Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Jasson Domínguez mashed three more across the second, fifth and seventh innings. Among them, Chisholm's 25th of the season -- a two-run shot that followed Sunday's two-homer game -- is his new single-season career high. Chisholm has had his ups and downs, but he is showing glimpses of why Brian Cashman traded for him at last year's deadline while slashing .240/.335/.492 with 64 RBI through 99 games.
  3. Rice, meanwhile, launched his 21st of the year with a second-inning solo shot that doubled the Yankees' 1-0 lead to 2-0. He started at catcher and batted second. Especially as Austin Wells struggles, Rice -- whose caught-stealing throw to second base for Josh Bell ended the fourth inning with runners at the corners -- is flashing his ability at the plate and behind the dish. He is slashing .241/.339/.488 with 21 home runs and 48 RBI in 111 games.
  4. After losing three of their four games against the Boston Red Sox this past weekend, the Yankees need to pounce on a soft spot in the schedule. They get the Nationals at home through Wednesday before heading to the Chicago White Sox for a four-game series Thursday. New York has its questions about contending with teams above .500, but it can keep afloat by beating the lower-end opponents over this seven-game stretch -- and should.

Who's the MVP?

Schlittler, whose six scoreless innings set the tone while the Yankees built an eventual 10-run cushion before the Nationals' five-run ninth inning.

Highlights

Whats next

Tuesday's 7:05 p.m. game at Yankee Stadium. New York RHP Luis Gil (1-1, 4.26 ERA) and Washington LHP MacKenzie Gore (5-12, 4.11 ERA) are set to start.

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The New York Rangers Have A Very Tough Task Of Bouncing Back

The New York Rangers won the Presidents' Trophy two seasons ago, then plummeted to 11th in the Eastern Conference last year. That's quite the change.

Suffice it to say, the Rangers intend to prove last season was an anomaly, making changes of consequence. They added a new coach in former Pittsburgh Penguins bench boss Mike Sullivan, traded Chris Kreider to the Anaheim Ducks, sent K’Andre Miller to the Carolina Hurricanes, and picked up defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov on the free-agent market. 

Now, the Rangers will try to bounce back.

BetMGM has the Rangers with the sixth-best odds of winning the Eastern Conference this coming season. And there is certainly a possibility that the Rangers manage to keep up with the Joneses with their off-season moves and ride one of the NHL’s top goaltenders to win the East.

But this writer has some significant doubts that the Blueshirts will bounce from such a low to such a high.

For starters, the Rangers have to consider their opponents in the Metropolitan Division and the rest of the East.

In the Metro, you have to figure the Hurricanes, Washington Capitals and New Jersey Devils are locks to be playoff teams. We’ve already said we see the Columbus Blue Jackets as a playoff team, so from our perspective, the Rangers are going to be battling for fifth place in the Metro and hopefully focused on grabbing that second wild-card berth and limiting the Atlantic Division to sending only three teams into the playoffs.

The next reason the Rangers are going to have a tough time rebounding into playoff form: the caliber of their opponents. In the Metro, the fight for fifth also includes the New York Islanders, Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers. The Pens have a group of veterans intent on making one last playoff run, and the new-look Islanders also have experienced players who want to win now. Meanwhile, the Flyers have also looked to take a step forward, adding a new coach, as well as Trevor Zegras, Christian Dvorak and Dan Vladar to augment their lineup.

NHL Summer Splash Rankings: No.10 New York RangersNHL Summer Splash Rankings: No.10 New York RangersThe Hockey News’ exclusive summer splash series evaluating the off-seasons of every NHL team is into the final stretch. To put these rankings together, we’ve focused the spotlight on every franchise’s off-season additions, departures, hirings and firings. And we’ve labelled each team as belonging to one of three categories – teams that have improved, teams that essentially stayed the same, and teams that have regressed. 

The competition for fifth in the Metro is bound to be fierce. All it may take is one or two points that separate playoff teams from the outsiders in the division and conference. And if the Rangers suffer through a bad couple of weeks or a bad month, they could find themselves on the outside of the playoff picture looking in. The trade departure of veteran left winger Kreider may leave a vacuum in the Rangers’ dressing room that hurts them in the long run. 

Certainly, the Rangers have arguably a considerably better lineup than the one that finished last season. They’re going to have a full year of star center J.T. Miller, and Gavrikov can play on their top defense pairing. Those two veterans have the potential to be difference-makers for the Rangers in 2025-26.

Who knows – maybe the Rangers get a superb effort from star goaltender Igor Shesterkin, and maybe he carries them through the first, second and third rounds next spring. It wouldn’t be the first time a team benefits from a netminder standing on their head.

Nevertheless, we can see multiple roads forward for the Rangers next year: one road has them meeting expectations and re-establishing the franchise as a true Cup threat, and the other road – the one we think is more likely for them – has them pushing for a playoff spot but just falling short and facing the same questions next year.

Five Possibilities For The New York Rangers' Captaincy In 2025-26Five Possibilities For The New York Rangers' Captaincy In 2025-26The New York Rangers are one of only three NHL teams without an active captain. 

Is winning the East in the cards for the Rangers? Sure, it’s possible. But asking whether it’s likely is a more sobering question, and one whose answer may not make Rangers fans happy.

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Sabres 2025-26 Expectations: Dahlin Facing Make-or-Break Showing This Year

Rasmus Dahlin (Marc DesRosiers, USA TODAY Images)

The NHL's 2025-26 regular-season is nearly here, and the Buffalo Sabres' roster is more or less finalized. And in this series on THN.com's Sabres Site, we've started a new series in which we go player-by-player through Buffalo's roster and analyze the expectations for each player.

We began the series late last week with looks at the Sabres' goaltending picture. And in this file, we're turning to Buffalo's defense corps -- specifically, star defenseman and captain Rasmus Dahlin. Needless to say, the expectations on Dahlin are sky-high, and if he captains a Sabres team that fails to make the Stanley Cup playoffs again this coming year, changes could be coming for Buffalo as a team and Dahlin as an individual.

But we want your thoughts -- what are your expectations for Dahlin in 2025-26? And what do you think happens to Dahlin's future in Buffalo if the Sabres can't make the playoffs for the 15th straight season?

Let us know with a comment below -- and feel free to register as a community member here on THN.com. Your voice matters, and we want your point of view. 

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Red Wings Players to Watch in 2025-26: John Gibson

Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman pulled off a pair of trades during the offseason, first trading the underperforming veteran Vladimir Tarasenko and his $4.75 million cap hit to the Minnesota Wild. 

Secondly, he acquired goaltender John Gibson from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for Petr Mrazek, who had just wrapped up his second stint with the club after he was re-acquired in a deal with the Chicago Blackhawks in March. 

The hope of Yzerman is that Gibson represents Detroit's first true starting goaltender in the last several seasons since the days of Jimmy Howard. 

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

Starting in 2018, the Red Wings have featured the likes of Howard, Jonathan Bernier, Thomas Greiss, Alex Nedeljkovic, Ville Husso, Alex Lyon, James Reimer, Cam Talbot, and Mrazek between the pipes, none of whom were able to firmly take hold of the starter's reigns. 

Additionally, no Red Wings goaltender has managed to record a save percentage better than .904 over the last four seasons. While Detroit's porous defense played a role in that statistic, the fact that no goalie was able to firmly emerge as a bonafide starter was a concern. 

Enter Gibson. This past season with the Ducks—his final one with the franchise that drafted him 39th overall in 2011—he posted a .912 save percentage, his best mark since recording a .917 in the 2018-19 campaign.

While he's only 31 years old, Gibson was made expendable in Anaheim due to the emergence of Lukáš Dostál.

A veteran of 506 NHL games with 204 victories, Gibson immediately slots in as Detroit’s No. 1 goaltender. If he can stay healthy, the Red Wings would like him to play around 50 games, which would allow 38-year-old Cam Talbot, who played well in his first season with Detroit, to settle comfortably into a backup role.

Whether the Red Wings can finally end their nearly decade-long postseason drought, the longest in franchise history, will largely depend on Gibson’s play and durability.

Fans will be hoping he can help bring playoff hockey to Little Caesars Arena for the first time since the venue opened. Gibson, meanwhile, already brings multiple rounds of postseason experience to the table, and believes that the Red Wings could be on the cusp of making something special happen.

“Their resume over the last few years shows that they’re right there,” Gibson said via the Red Wings' official website in July. “That’s where I want to be. I want to be fighting for the playoffs and get in the playoffs. I truly feel that all you got to do is make it in the playoffs, and once you do that it’s a whole new season whether you’re the Presidents’ Trophy Winner or the eighth seed. You never know what could happen.”

Gibson’s acquisition was a calculated gamble by Yzerman, aimed at buying more time for highly touted goaltending prospects Sebastian Cossa and Trey Augustine to continue their development, while also providing Detroit with an established starter in net.

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Phillies' struggles at Citi Field continue with eighth straight loss

Phillies' struggles at Citi Field continue with eighth straight loss originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

NEW YORK – A turned parabolic microphone in center field disrupted Alec Bohm’s view of the pitcher’s release in the fifth inning Monday at Citi Field, causing a delay of about 10 minutes in the Phillies-Mets game.

If they had known what was to come, the Phillies wouldn’t have minded calling it a night right then and there.

As it was, play eventually continued and it went quite well for the Mets, as they scored 13 unanswered runs for a 13-3 victory on a beautiful August night. With the win, New York cut Philadelphia’s lead to six games in the National League East.

At the time of the delay, the score was tied 3-3 after the Phillies had given up an early 3-0 lead.

Cristopher Sánchez looked like his Cy Young-contending self in the first three innings, as he didn’t give up a hit on just 38 pitches. But his next 2 1/3 innings were disastrous and it got even worse as the game went on. The Phillies fell to 76-55 on the season.

Things were going well for the Phillies early as they got a triple from Trea Turner to lead off the game and he scored on a Kyle Schwarber groundout. They added two more in the third when Schwarber walked and went to third on a Bryce Harper single. Harper moved to second on the throw and both scored when Alec Bohm singled to right-center.

That was the good. The only good. The Phillies last hit was a leadoff, infield single by Harrison Bader in the fourth inning.

“I think for the whole season this was my worst outing when it comes to the changeup,” said Sánchez, now 11-5. “We could all see that out there. I missed a lot of pitches, too, throughout the start. They didn’t get me at the beginning but they made the adjustments and got me. I missed a lot of pitches early on. I felt regular at the beginning, a little bit more normal. But in the end they adjusted and I have to give them credit for that.”

Some strange happenings in the bottom of the fourth allowed the Mets to tie the game 3-3. With two outs, Sánchez allowed a single to Pete Alonso. He then balked him to second when he appeared to lose his balance on his follow-through and never let go of the ball. A wild pitch then sent Alonso to third. Sánchez then allowed consecutive hits, a walk and another hit for the tie game 3-3.

In the fifth, Sánchez walked Juan Soto with one out and then appeared to have him picked off. Soto got caught between first and second when Sánchez threw to Harper at first. Harper chased Soto towards second, but his lob throw was bobbled by Bryson Stott and Soto was safe.

Sánchez then walked Starling Marte before giving up a run-scoring double to Mark Vientos for a 4-3 Mets lead. After Sánchez gave up two doubles in the sixth, it was an end to his unusually rocky start.

Manager Rob Thomson thought that Sánchez’ slip on the mound may have led to his downfall.

“It was really strange because the next pitch was to the backstop and then from that point on he was kind of behind in the count and had to get in the middle of the plate,” he said. “I’m not sure if that affected him or not but it kind of looked like it did.”

David Robertson replaced Sánchez to finish off the sixth inning, but Jordan Romano got rocked hard in the seventh. He hit Vientos to begin the inning, walked Brandon Nimmo, and gave up a single to Tyrone Taylor to load the bases. Jeff McNeil hit a sacrifice fly before catcher Luis Torrens hit a three-run homer to right.

Not a good way to begin a series. A series that not long ago seemed so big … until the Phillies had a huge lead in the division.

Now, it might have a little more bite to it.

It was the eighth consecutive loss to the Mets at Citi Field, and their 22nd in last 28 games when you include playoffs.

“We’re just getting beat and obviously that’s a good team, they play us well,” said Bryce Harper. “We have to come in tomorrow and see what we can do.”

As Thomson likes to point out, games like this happen during the course of the long season. Which is so true. But after New York eliminated the Phillies from the playoffs last season and the two have been battling for the top spot in the East all season long, a series-opening clunker like this one surely doesn’t get forgotten about too quickly.

Or maybe it will. That will fall in the hands of lefty Jesús Luzardo on Tuesday in Game Two.

“I thought we did a good job on (starting pitcher Kodai) Senga,” said Thomson. “We got him out, put some pitches on him early and we hit some balls, but right at people. I thought the offense was fine, we had some opportunities. It really comes down to we just couldn’t hold them down. We got another one tomorrow. You just got to strap it on. You got to turn the page on this one. This was not what we were looking for coming in here.”

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Sabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: Captain Dahlin Facing Intense Pressure To Lead Buffalo To Playoffs

Rasmus Dahlin (Marc DesRosiers, USA TODAY Images)

The NHL’s 2025-26 season is almost here, and here at THN.com’s Buffalo Sabres site, we’ve just kicked off a series that analyzes each Sabres player and the expectations they’ll be facing next season. All of them as a group have one singular goal – ending Buffalo’s Stanley Cup playoff drought at 14 years – but as individuals, there are different things they’ll need to deal with. 

Some of that is due to the money they’re making, and some of that is due to the level of their skill. But we’re intrigued by looking at the Sabres’ roster player-by-player, and see if we can’t paint a macro picture regarding the nuances of Buffalo’s predicament.

The 25-year-old Swede faces a huge amount of pressure to lead this team into the Stanley Cup playoffs, because another year without playoff hockey may cause Dahlin to seek employment elsewhere – and it may cause the Sabres to oblige him.

We began the series with looks at Buffalo’s goaltending: first, with this look at Sabres presumptive starting goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen; then, we looked at newcomer goalie Alex Lyon, and most recently, we looked at youngster Devon Levi. And today, we’re starting our look at the Sabres’ defense corps – beginning with the most talented, highest-paid player and most crucial D-man, captain Rasmus Dahlin. 

Player Name: Rasmus Dahlin

Position: Defenseman

Age: 25

2024-25 Key Statistics: 73 games, 51 assists, 68 points, 46 even-strength points, 24:14 average time-on-ice

2025-26 Salary:$11-million

2025-26 Expectations: After a sub-par season in 2023-24, Dahlin clapped back last season, returning to his impressive numbers from 2022-23. One interesting fact – Dahlin was still a minute-muncher, but his average time-on-ice was down a full minute, from 25:25 in 2023-24 to 24:15 this past season. 

Sabres coach Lindy Ruff gave Dahlin a couple fewer shifts per night, but given that Buffalo’s defense corps is relatively deep – with youngsters Owen Power and Bowen Byram not yet close to their peak – Dahlin should be utilized a little less, as he’d be fresher at the end of the year if and when the Sabres qualify for the playoffs.

That’s a very big ‘if’, of course. There have been baseless rumors in the past about Dahlin’s commitment to the Sabres, but even if he did feel ready to move on, could you really blame him? Dahlin has played seven full years for the Sabres, and in that span, the highest Buffalo has finished in the division is fifth – and even then, that came back in 2021-22 and 2022-23. The past two seasons have been a step back for the Sabres, and it would be only human for Dahlin or anyone else to grow exhausted with the losing.

Sabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: Young Goalie Levi Must Show He Can Take Next Step, Establish Himself At NHL LevelSabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: Young Goalie Levi Must Show He Can Take Next Step, Establish Himself At NHL LevelThe NHL’s 2025-26 season is nearly upon us, and at THN.com’s Buffalo Sabres site, we’re examining each Buffalo player and the expectations on them next year. Each Sabres player has the pressure to get this Buffalo team into the playoffs for the first time in 15 years, but every player’s outlook is at least a little bit different. 

Dahlin’s contract runs for another seven seasons at a team-high $11-million. He also has a full no-move clause in each year of his deal, but Dahlin might be more than willing to waive the clause if it meant going to an organization with a proven track record of winning, and if Buffalo can't figure out a way to finally get things right.

If that sounds unfair to the Sabres, you should know that it’s unfair *of* the Sabres to expect to keep talent around when you can’t even get to the playoffs, let alone grow into a legitimate Cup threat. It’s really just human nature for elite athletes to strive to succeed, and you can only take so many fruitless swings at the plate before you start looking for a different ballpark to play in.

Dahlin is going to be showcased by his native Swedish team at the upcoming Winter Olympics, but the bigger measuring stick for him must be how far he can lead the Sabres this year. As Buffalo’s captain, he has to be responsible for things, be they good or bad. And that can also grate on the nerves when you can’t get into the win column more often than not.

Sabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: Newcomer Lyon Signed To Serve In Supporting Role In NetSabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: Newcomer Lyon Signed To Serve In Supporting Role In NetThe NHL’s 2025-26 season is just around the corner, and here at THN.com’s Buffalo Sabres site, we’ve committed to analyzing every Sabres player and the expectations on them next season. Every Buffalo player has the pressure to get this Sabres team into the playoffs for the first time in a decade-and-a-half, but every player’s outlook is at least a little bit different. 

When it comes to time-on-ice, Dahlin will continue to lead all Sabres skaters in 2025-26. And if he stays healthy, a season where he challenges his current career-best single-season point total of 73. Much is expected of him, but if he can have a positive impact at both ends of the rink, Dahlin could help provide the breakthrough season Buffalo fans have ached for, and start this Sabres franchise down a path where fans can legitimately be excited to see the team night-in and night-out.

The future for Dahlin remains bright, but he has to be part of a playoff win sooner than later. Otherwise, bigger changes for him and the entire Sabres roster could be coming.

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Mavericks reportedly 'likely' to extend contract of forward P.J. Washington

Dallas is stacked in the frontcourt. All-Star Anthony Davis is the anchor and will start at the four, although he will play clutch time minutes at center. Derrick Lilvely II likely starts at center with Daniel Gafford behind him. Then there is No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg, who ultimately is going to be a power forward in the NBA, possibly eventually playing more of a point forward (with Lively and Davis starting, Flagg likely starts this season at the three).

Then there is P.J. Washington. Wherever he fits in off the bench, expect the Mavericks to extend the contract of the restricted free agent, something that could happen as soon as Friday when he first becomes extension-eligible, reports Marc Stein at The Stein Line.

League sources tell The Stein Line that an extension for Washington is likely. While he is no longer an automatic starter in Dallas after the Mavericks stunningly won the draft lottery in May and the right to select Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick, Washington only just turned 27 himself on Saturday and has no shortage of admirers in front offices around the league.

That extension can be for up to four years, $90 million, although the Mavericks will want to get him in for under that number, maybe something closer to three years, $60 million.

Washington was traded to Dallas at the 2024 deadline and played well off Luka Doncic, helping the Mavericks on their 2024 Finals run. Washington averaged 14.7 points and 7.8 rebounds a game last season when healthy (he played in just 57 games in Dallas). At 6'7", he's played the four and an undersized five, he's become a steadier 3-point shooter (38.1% last season), but his defense means he might be best suited on a contending team off the bench. We will see how he fills that role in Dallas this season.

Stein hints at a possible Washington trade, using the team's quality frontcourt depth to provide more rotation players at the wing and in the backcourt. If the Mavericks get Washington to agree to a fair extension price, plenty of teams would be interested in a possible trade.

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Senators' Defenseman Nick Jensen Provides Health Update

When the Ottawa Senators hit training camp next month, there probably won't be many roster battles to sort out. But one major variable remains: the health of veteran defenceman Nick Jensen.

The 34-year-old underwent off-season hip surgery in May, a procedure he’d hoped to avoid but ultimately couldn’t. The hip first locked up on him last November following a game in San Jose, and while he’d experienced similar issues earlier in his career, this time the problem didn’t go away. Jensen spent the rest of the season grinding through the pain, spending more time than he'd like on the trainer's table, before deciding surgery was the only solution.

Now, over three months removed from surgery, Jensen is back training, skating, and feeling optimistic. But when exactly he'll be back isn't clear.

“Personally, I'm just kind of grinding ahead one day at a time,” he said last week on the Coming in Hot Podcast. “I know it's easy for guys that when they go through surgeries they get these timelines in their head … I don't really take that approach.

"I'm really just focused on going to the gym every day and making sure that I do all the work that I can and all the work that I should, and it's been feeling really good.”

The biggest change, he admitted, is simply his quality of life. 

“Everyday life is way better. Family life, you know, and playing with my kids. It was a game changer right out of the gates,” Jensen said. “Training and stuff, I feel like it's going really well.

"I probably could have gotten on the ice earlier, but I just wanted to take the time and really hammer down the strength on my hip and make sure that’s ready. I think it paid off and now I'm starting to get on the ice more … Overall, I think I'm in a really good spot right now and I think I just hit three months out from surgery.”

Jensen’s hip issues last season began in San Jose after a November game against the Sharks, but at first, he wasn’t fazed because his hip had locked up on him before.

“Usually it cleared in three or four days, maybe a week. But this time it didn’t. We tried everything, injections, medication, all that stuff, and none of it really had the answer. I was like, I can't do this the rest of my career … I would almost rather retire than continue to try to play like this.”

What made it even tougher was the fact that Jensen and Thomas Chabot had gotten off to such a good start. Early on, they were one of the best D pairs in the league, which was just what GM Steve Staios was banking on when he traded away Jakob Chychrun to acquire Jensen from Washington.

Now, Jensen’s focus is on rehabbing properly and making sure the hip holds up for the long grind of an NHL season. But he’s not putting any timeline on things.

Meanwhile, on Monday, the Sens signed Minnesota Wild free agent defenseman Cameron Crotty, an Ottawa native. Their recent stockpiling of right-shot defencemen, including Crotty, Jordan Spence, and Lassi Thomson, hints that Jensen may miss some time.

But once he returns, whenever that is, Ottawa gains back a reliable, steady presence on its blue line, and that could be a huge factor in whether the Senators can take another step forward this season.

By Steve Warne
This article was first published at The Hockey News Ottawa

Read more Sens articles from The Hockey News:
Three Ottawa Senators Named To U.S. Olympic Orientation Camp
Senators' NHL Dream Began Over Pints in the Dressing Room
Former Ottawa Senator Travis Hamonic Signs With Atlantic Division Rival

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MLB Power Rankings: Brewers still No. 1, Padres rise as serious threat to Dodgers

Special thanks to David Shovein for handling this column last week while I was away. He did a great job setting the stage for what should be an entertaining stretch run. I'm certainly reinvigorated for some chaos.

Featured in this week’s MLB Power Rankings, the division races in the NL West and AL West come into focus, Vinnie Pasquantino turns it on at the right time for the Royals, being a Bob is cool again, and Paul Skenes continues to do things pretty much nobody has ever done.

(Please note these power rankings are a combination of current performance and long-term projected outlook)

MLB: Houston Astros at Baltimore Orioles
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Samuel Basallo earns a starting role, Bubba Chandler is here
Eric Samulski breaks down some of the top waiver wire adds for the upcoming week of fantasy baseball

Let’s get started!

Note: Rankings are from the morning of Monday, August 25.

1) Milwaukee Brewers

Last week: 1

The Brewers are 3-6 since their 14-game winning streak, but they still own the game’s best record. Kudos to the franchise for their celebration of Bob Uecker on Sunday, including customized jerseys for the players.

2) Detroit Tigers

Last week: 2

The Tigers nearly pulled off a perfect homestand as Tarik Skubal reached the 200-strikeout plateau for the second straight season. The defending AL Cy Young Award winner and Garrett Crochet are going back-and-forth for the MLB lead at the moment.

3) Philadelphia Phillies ⬆️

Last week: 5

The Phillies will bring a season-high seven-game lead in the NL East into a series against the second place Mets at Citi Field. It’s an opportunity to bury them for good, even though missing Zack Wheeler for the long-term is a tough blow.

4) Toronto Blue Jays

Last week: 4

The Blue Jays got exactly what they were hoping for in Shane Bieber’s first start back from Tommy John surgery last Friday against the Marlins.

Talk about a potential difference-maker down the stretch and into the postseason.

5) Chicago Cubs ⬆️

Last week: 6

The Cubs are on the upswing again, and so is Kyle Tucker. It was revealed last week that he was diagnosed with a hairline fracture in his right hand back in June, which explains his sustained struggles. However, after going 25 games without a homer, he hit three in the span of two games during the team’s weekend sweep over the Angels.

6) San Diego Padres ⬆️

Last week: 11

31 games to go and the Padres and Dodgers are deadlocked in the standings. Oh baby. Nestor Cortes exacted a bit of revenge from last year’s World Series in Saturday’s start against the Dodgers, allowing just one hit and no walks over six scoreless frames. Speaking of trade deadline acquisitions, how great has Ramón Laureano been?

7) Los Angeles Dodgers ⬇️

Last week: 3

It’s safe to say that Shohei Ohtani is feeling this Dodgers/Padres rivalry.

Ohtani is up to 45 homers this year and boasts a 1.171 OPS for the month of August.

8) Boston Red Sox ⬆️

Last week: 12

Speaking of embracing a rivalry, Red Sox phenom Roman Anthony homered in the first inning in his first game at Yankee Stadium on Thursday. The bat flip wasn’t overly flashy, but still authoritative.

9) Houston Astros

Last week: 9

The Astros recovered from the sweep at the hands of the Tigers by taking three out of four against the Orioles over the weekend. They’ll bring a two-game lead over the Mariners into the week, and they might finally get Yordan Alvarez back from the IL on Tuesday.

10) New York Yankees ⬇️

Last week: 8

The Yankees finally got the best of the Red Sox on Sunday after losing their previous eight games against the club. Up next is a big opportunity, as they’ll get the Nationals at home for three before hitting the road for a four-game series against the White Sox.

11) New York Mets ⬇️

Last week: 10

Two starts in and top prospect right-hander Nolan McLean has been a game-changer for the Mets’ starting rotation.

With Frankie Montas done for the year and potentially headed for Tommy John surgery, it’s possible that fellow prospect Jonah Tong could be next. The 22-year-old has been lights out through his first two starts in Triple-A.

12) Seattle Mariners ⬇️

Last week: 7

It’s not even September yet and Cal Raleigh is out here setting records for a catcher.

The “Big Dumper” will understandably say that the focus is on winning games in a tight AL West race with the Astros, but he has a real chance to win the AL MVP Award.

13) Kansas City Royals ⬆️

Last week: 14

No surprise here: Vinnie Pasquantino was named the American League Player of the Week after homering in five straight games to tie a franchise record.

Pasquantino’s streak got snapped on Saturday, but he got right back into the act in Sunday’s win over the Tigers.

14) Cincinnati Reds ⬇️

Last week: 13

In salvaging Sunday’s series finale against the Diamondbacks, the Reds remain the only team in MLB who hasn’t been swept this season. Nipping at the heels of the Mets in the NL Wild Card race, the Reds will play three against the Dodgers on the road to begin the week.

15) Texas Rangers ⬆️

Last week: 16

Just when you think the Rangers are out, they pull you right back in. It’s been that kind of year for the Rangers, who swept the Guardians over the weekend. Now all eyes on are on Jacob deGrom, who will make his first start in 10 days after dealing with some shoulder fatigue.

16) Cleveland Guardians ⬇️

Last week: 15

The Guardians have hit just .178 as a team while losing eight out of their last nine games, including five straight.

17) Arizona Diamondbacks ⬆️

Last week: 18

The Diamondbacks remain on the fringes of the NL Wild Card race, but it’s going to be a challenge to catch up. Arizona has the most difficult schedule in the majors the rest of the way, with the Brewers and the Dodgers coming up this week.

18) St. Louis Cardinals ⬆️

Last week: 19

We’ve seen a recent wave of interesting prospects get the call, but could JJ Wetherholt be next? The 2024 No. 7 overall pick has done nothing but hit since his promotion to Triple-A, delivering a .328/.413/.648 batting line with nine homers, 20 RBI, and five steals across 31 games. He put together back-to-back three-hit games over the weekend as the clamoring continues.

19) Tampa Bay Rays ⬇️

Last week: 17

This home run by recent call-up Bob Seymour was a special one.

Believe it or not, Bob Seymour is the first "Bob" to hit a home run in the majors since Bob Smith (of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays) on April 19, 2002. Move over, Liams and Ashers of the world, we need more Bobs.

20) San Francisco Giants

Last week: 20

This hasn’t been the season Willy Adames and the Giants envisioned, but the shortstop’s return to Milwaukee on Friday was pretty cool.

21) Los Angeles Angels

Last week: 21

Rookie Bryce Teodosio is doing his best to make sure he’s part of the conversation for center field with the Angels next season.

Teodosio is already up to five defensive runs saved despite appearing in just 19 games.

22) Atlanta Braves

Last week: 22

Austin Riley is done for the year after undergoing core muscle surgery, but ace left-hander Chris Sale is close to making his return. The southpaw, who fractured a rib in June, allowed just one run over 4 2/3 innings in a rehab start on Saturday and could be activated as soon as this weekend.

23) Miami Marlins

Last week: 23

Jakob Marsee just keeps humming along. He’s hit safely in seven straight games and owns a .346/.416/.705 batting line with four homers, 23 RBI, and seven steals through his first 23 games in the majors.

24) Baltimore Orioles

Last week: 24

Samuel Basallo is up in the big leagues. That’s exciting. He signed an eight-year extension with the club. That’s exactly what the Orioles should be doing. The bigger question from here is if they can also reach long-term agreements with the likes of Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson, Jackson Holliday, and Jordan Westburg.

25) Athletics

Last week: 25

Jacob Wilson doesn’t believe in the idea of rust. He’s hit safely in all three games since returning from a forearm fracture. The 23-year-old has been surpassed by teammate Nick Kurtz in the AL Rookie of the Year race, but it’s fun to see him back in action as part of this young core.

26) Pittsburgh Pirates ⬆️

Last week: 27

Fun stuff for Pirates fans: Bubba Chandler is finally up in the majors and Paul Skenes continues to be synonymous with history.

With Zack Wheeler going down, Skenes should cruise to his first (of many?) Cy Young Awards.

27) Minnesota Twins ⬇️

Last week: 26

The Twins turned to a pair of pitchers they acquired at the deadline over the weekend against the White Sox…and it didn't go great. Mick Abel (from the Jhoan Duran deal) gave up six runs in three innings on Saturday while Taj Bradley (from the Griffin Jax deal) was knocked around for seven runs in five innings on Sunday.

28) Washington Nationals

Last week: 28

This has largely been a lost year for Dylan Crews, who was a preseason favorite of mine. He missed nearly three months with an oblique strain, but here’s hoping he finishes the season strong. The vibes just feel different with him in the lineup.

29) Chicago White Sox

Last week: 29

After a rough stretch at the plate, rookie Colson Montgomery is back to hitting dingers again.

30) Colorado Rockies

Last week: 30

The Rockies were officially eliminated from postseason contention on Sunday, just in case you were holding out hope.