NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 6: Zachary L'Heureux #68 of the Nashville Predators prepares to take the ice against the Philadelphia Flyers during an NHL game at Bridgestone Arena on November 6, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Colorado Avalanche News
Zach L’Heureux brings the Colorado Avalanche something they desperately needed — an edge — and at just $875,000 per season, he could prove to be one of the NHL’s sneakiest offseason steals. [The Hockey News]
Why Nikita Kucherov’s upcoming extension is complicated. [Sportsnet]
Avalanche prospect pool ranked NHL’s worst, but does it really matter? [Sports Illustrated]
The questions facing the Colorado Avalanche: will the goalie tandem hold up? [NHL]
News Around the League
NHL could see expansion team awarded to Houston or Austin before the end of the year. [TSN]
NHL wants to stage European outdoor game in near future. [The Score]
A summer of change for the Ottawa Sentaors, the Sens face a high-stakes season. [Ottawa Citizen]
Victoire’s PWHL championship Walter Cup trophy missing after not arriving in Alberta, AP source says. [CBC]
Referee Josef Kompalla was dubbed the villain of hockey’s 1972 Summit Series. [The Globe and Mail]
Sportsnet ends ‘Hockey Night in Canada Punjabi’ broadcasts after 18 years on air. [Toronto Star]
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - APRIL 12: Koby Brea #14 of the Phoenix Suns sets the play in front of Brooks Barnhizer #23 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half at Paycom Center on April 12, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by William Purnell/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There are things in life you’d rather have and not need than need and not have. Jumper cables. A plunger. An alibi? And in the case of a professional basketball organization, two-way contracted players.
If your two-way players are getting substantial minutes with the big league club, something probably went wrong along the way. Injuries would be the most obvious culprit, but you could also add roster additions that didn’t work out, players who didn’t fit within the scheme, or a team that has shifted its focus toward development rather than winning in the present.
The Phoenix Suns are a team that, in recent years, has fully utilized all of its two-way roster spots. As part of the latest Collective Bargaining Agreement in 2023, teams were allowed to expand from two two-way contracts to three. Two-way contracts were introduced prior to the 2017–18 season to strengthen player development. Of course, there are restrictions. Players on two-way contracts must have fewer than four years of NBA service time, and each player can be active for a maximum of 50 regular-season NBA games. That means available, not necessarily playing.
This change has also come at a time when the Suns have shifted their strategy regarding the draft. In the past, you could punt second-round picks because you assumed they weren’t going to be part of your future. Now, there is a legitimate developmental path for those players. You can draft them, develop them, and hope they eventually become depth pieces or even rotational players for the big league club.
When you look back at last season, the Suns did make use of their two-way contracted players. Koby Brea and CJ Huntley combined for 124 minutes, while Jamaree Bouyea logged 644 minutes across 46 games. Bouyea joined the Suns on a two-way contract in November before being converted to a regular contract in early March. That is exactly how you want to utilize your feeder system, providing minutes, development, and opportunity to players who can potentially grow into something more.
Now look at this year’s crop of two-way players, and you’ll find two familiar faces. Both Brea and Huntley return under the same premise. Joining them is Pat Spencer, who enters his fourth NBA season and has followed a path similar to Bouyea’s. Spencer signed a two-way deal with the Golden State Warriors before eventually being converted to a regular contract, a pattern that has held in each of the last two seasons. And Golden State needed him. The Warriors were riddled with injuries last season, and Spencer ultimately appeared in 66 games, starting 14.
Now he finds himself with the Phoenix Suns, and the fan base clearly believes he has the best chance of earning meaningful minutes with the big league club. In our latest survey, 78% of the community believes Spencer will see time with the Suns this season.
It’s an interesting outcome to the poll, and I think people voted that way because Pat Spencer feels like the most NBA-ready player of the group. We’ve already seen it from him, and he is easily the most experienced of the Suns’ three two-way contracted players.
What’s interesting about the way Phoenix has structured this group is that each player represents a different archetype. Spencer is a hard-nosed defender at the point guard position. Koby Brea is more of a three-point shooting specialist. CJ Huntley provides size and rebounding while also possessing the ability to stretch the floor as a big.
So while 78% of the community believes Spencer will see the most minutes because he has the most experience, appears the most ready, and brings the most maturity, I think it ultimately depends on where the need comes from. I don’t expect any of these players to come in and materially change the FanDuel over-under win total based purely on their performance. They are fortifications. Something you’d rather have and not need than need and not have. Pat Spencer is a plunger.
If the Suns have issues with their bigs, you bring up CJ Huntley and let him fill some minutes until health is restored. If they need more help shooting the three-point ball, which is something this team could certainly use, Brea might have the easiest path to meaningful minutes. He’s actually the player I voted for. Then there’s Spencer. If Phoenix wants to lean further into its defensive identity, or if injuries hit the guard rotation, he gives them another option with those characteristics.
At the end of the day, it’s a good problem to have because it speaks to the Suns’ strategy around both development and flexibility. They have different types of players waiting in the wings and can adjust as the season throws at them. That’s strategic roster building.
And ideally, that’s where the story ends. Spencer, Brea, and Huntley spend most of the season developing, waiting for opportunities that rarely arrive because the players ahead of them remain healthy and productive. But NBA seasons rarely cooperate that neatly. Injuries happen, needs change, and rotations evolve. When they do, Phoenix has three distinctly different answers waiting. You hope you never need the jumper cables, the alibi, or Pat Spencer. But you’ll be glad they’re there if you do.
Bohannon, averaging 19.52 this season, pushes forward defensively but it’s a zinger from Luke Procter who, along with James Anderson, is only remaining player from Lancashire’s 2011 Championship winning side still on the pitch.
Fact of the day from Paul Edwards: Procter, who was a qualified electrician, considering a plumbing career, and training as a hairdresser when at OT, has just signed a new two-year contract with Northants which will take him to 40.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - AUGUST 22: Dylan Beavers #12 of the Baltimore Orioles is doused with gatorade by Colton Cowser #17 after driving in the game winning run with a double in the tenth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 22, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning, Camden Chatters.
I never thought I’d be saying this, but I wish the Orioles could play every game against the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Birds’ inexplicable dominance against the American League’s best team continued last night with a dramatic, come-from-behind, 3-2 walkoff victory in 10 innings. The Orioles, given up for dead after being shut out into the eighth, put on a thrilling display for the Camden Yards crowd thanks to Samuel Basallo’s pinch-hit game-tying homer and Dylan Beavers’ pinch-hit walkoff double, besting a stunned Rays team yet again. Check out all the lovely details in Alex Church’s recap.
The Orioles are now 8-4 against the Rays this year and eight games under .500 against everyone else. Conversely, the Rays, 4-8 against the Orioles this season, are 27 games over .500 against everyone else. It defies explanation, but that’s baseball, I suppose.
At a time of the season where every game takes on extra importance, this was one of the Orioles’ best wins of the year. Besides the obvious off-the-bench heroics of Basallo and Beavers, there were plenty of other O’s stalwarts on this night. Tyler O’Neill made up for a poor offensive showing by flashing the leather in right field, making a cannon of a throw to cut down at a runner at third and then making two outstanding catches in the ninth, the second one robbing the Rays of a would-be go-ahead hit.
Brandon Young struggled with his command but battled to work 5.2 solid innings, and the O’s improved to 17-5 in his starts. The bullpen was dominant, with scoreless outings both from high-leverage guys — Andrew Kittredge and a resurgent Rico Garcia — and from lesser known names like Josh Walker and Alex Hoppe. Pete Alonso had two hits on his bobblehead day to extend his career-best hit streak to 14 games.
Even much-maligned manager Craig Albernaz deserves credit for striking gold with his in-game tactics. I was silently screaming when he decided not to pinch-hit for the soft underbelly of the lineup in the seventh inning, and then when he did pinch-hit in the eighth for Coby Mayo, who’d been scalding the ball. But it worked out brilliantly. Basallo, batting for Mayo, delivered the tying homer, and Albernaz unleashed Beavers against Bryan Baker in the 10th with delightful results.
Don’t look now, but thanks to their win and the Rangers’ loss, the Orioles are just one game back for the third wild card spot — albeit with the Blue Jays, Twins, and Guardians also ahead of them, and now Seattle only a game behind the Birds. This race of mediocre teams is going to go right down to the wire if none of them can bust out of their mediocrity. The Orioles are helping their own cause with exciting wins against a top-quality opponent like the Rays, but they’ll need to avoid stumbling into the quicksand that inevitably seems to trap them every time they start to build a little momentum.
Today, the Orioles play the Rays for the final time this season. I’m gonna miss them. The perpetually unlucky Shane Baz will take the mound against his former team, with Nick Martinez going for the Rays. Can the O’s do what they failed to do last week and complete the series sweep? If the Orioles can pull out a victory and a few other games break the right way, the Birds could find themselves back in a tie for a postseason spot by the end of the day.
I love this picture so much. Of course Pete would be right in the middle of the celebration.
Orioles birthdays and history
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! You probably played for the Orioles at some point, because there have been nine (9!) players in O’s history who were born on Aug. 23. The most prominent of the bunch is Orioles Hall of Famer Mike Boddicker, who turns 69. Boddicker, a sixth round pick in 1978, spent his first nine MLB seasons with the Birds, finishing fifth in the AL Rookie of the Year vote in 1983, when he helped the O’s to their third World Series championship. Boddicker was a 20-game winner and All-Star the following year, and finished his Orioles career with a 79-73 record and a 3.73 ERA. The O’s traded him to the Red Sox in 1988 for Brady Anderson and Curt Schilling, a deal that turned out quite well.
The many other former Orioles born on Aug. 23 include right-hander Denny Bautista (46); infielders Alejando Freire (52), Casey Blake (53), and Jeff Manto (62); catcher Raúl Casanova (54); and the late righty Ed Barnowski (b. 1943, d. 2017), lefty John Morris (b. 1941, d. 2025), and Hall of Fame third baseman George Kell (b. 1922, d. 2009), who was Brooks Robinson’s mentor when he broke into the bigs in the 1950s.
On this date in 1958, the Orioles claimed knuckleballer Hoyt Wilhelm off waivers from Cleveland. A former relief ace for the New York Giants, Wilhelm was a 35-year-old journeyman by the time the O’s got him, but he revitalized his career in Baltimore. In four full seasons with the Orioles, Wilhelm made the All-Star team three times and won the ERA title in 1959, and he went on to pitch for another decade in the majors until age 49. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1985.
Random Orioles game of the day
On Aug. 23, 1992, the O’s lost to the Oakland Athletics, 7-3, in Baltimore. With 45,479 in attendance for the inaugural year of Oriole Park at Camden Yards, the Birds trailed by just one until the top of the seventh, when the A’s rallied for four runs and six hits against starter Ben McDonald and two relievers. José Canseco drove in four runs, and future Oriole Harold Baines tagged McDonald for a solo homer. Athletics starter Mike Moore came within one out of a complete game before the O’s rallied in the ninth, prompting Oakland to call on Hall of Fame closer Dennis Eckersley to get the last out. With the loss, the second-place Orioles remained three games back of the AL East-leading Blue Jays.
The Detroit Tigers’ woes continued on Friday night, losing for the fourth straight time and seventh of the last eight games in a 3-1 final against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. The offense has been arctic cold of late, scoring just seven runs over those four straight losses, which left no breathing room for Drew Anderson’s modest three runs allowed.
Alas, that playoff spot is looking further and further out of reach.
On the mound for the Tigers to try and salvage a win is left-hander Framber Valdez, who has had two straight rough outings after posting a pair of quality starts to open up August. Over the 32-year-old’s last 11 1/3 innings, he has put up a 6.35 ERA and 5.47 FIP, allowing 11 hits (one home run) and nine walks while striking out eight, hitting a batter and throwing a wild pitch.
Valdez has faced Kansas City twice this season — both in Detroit — with varying results. On April 14, he tossed seven frames of one-run ball on four hits and two walks with a strikeout for a no-decision in a 2-1 team win; on July 26, he served up three runs (two earned) on four hits (0ne home run) and three walks with four strikeouts over five frames, also failing to figure in the decision in an eventual 5-4 loss.
For the Royals, fellow southpaw Daniel Lynch IV will climb the hill in the series finale for his fourth start of the 2026 campaign after appearing in relief 46 times. The 29-year-old has struggled in the starting role, throwing 1 2/3, 2 1/3 and four innings, respectively, over his three previous outings, with subpar results that include a 7.88 ERA and 6.33 FIP, surrendering eight hits (two home runs) and four walks while striking out six to earn a pair of losses.
“We’re going to probably take a shot at putting him there (and) see how it goes,” manager Matt Quatraro said before his first start against the Chicago Cubs. “He’s thrown a couple of innings before. We’ll see how far he can get tomorrow. But we’ll do it responsibly. With the injuries we’ve had, we have a spot in the rotation.”
So despite the limited innings, it does not appear that Lynch is serving as a true opener — he has just struggled in the few frames he has started in. He did look much better last time out against the Athletics at Kauffman Stadium, giving up just one run on a pair of hits, walks and strikeouts in his four frames of work.
Here is how the two match up for Sunday afternoon’s matinee.
Detroit Tigers (61-68) vs. Kansas City Royals (57-74)
Time (ET): 2:10 p.m. Place: Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri SB Nation Site:Royals Review Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network
Game 130: LHP Framber Valdez (8-8, 4.35 ERA) vs. LHP Daniel Lynch IV (4-4, 2.83 ERA)
BINGHAMTON, NY - AUGUST 08: Jacob Reimer #23 of the Binghamton Rumble Ponies bats during the game between the Hartford Yard Goats and the Binghamton Rumble Ponies at Mirabito Stadium on Saturday, August 8, 2026 in Binghamton, New York. (Photo by Nate Stickney/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
Three runs in the second were enough for Syracuse in this one, with RBI singles from Zack Short, Emilien Pitre, and D’Andre Smith. Jonah Tong got the win, though he wasn’t exactly impressive. It’s been a lost season as he continues to search for a viable breaking ball as well as the good version of his fastball. Hopefully an offseason reset can get him back on course for 2027 – if he’s still even in the org at that point, that is.
Binghamton scored four runs in the first four innings, and the pitching made it stand up. Jacob Reimer had three htis and a steal and Vincent Perozo homered to pace the offense. R.J. Gordon had another solid outing as well as he pitches better here down the stretch.
The Cyclones scored 16 last night and added 15 more today. Somehow they did it today without a home run – 10 walks will go a long way, particularly alongside 13 hits. Every starter except Daiverson Gutierrez had at least one hit, and all nine reached base at least once. Aidan Smith had two hits and a walk (surprisingly, he didn’t homer) and Elian Pena managed a single in five at bats.
A walkoff grand slam is always fun. With the score tied at 2-2 in the tenth (after the Mets had already scored once to tie it), Jack Toomey stepped to the plate and hit a bomb over the left field fence to send the St. Lucie fans home happy. The only recently healthy Boston Baro went hitless in three at bats, as did Jeremy Rodriguez. Zack Mack got the win.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 22: Andrew Painter #24 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches during the game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Saturday, August 22, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Michael Mooney/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - MAY 04: Devin Vassell #24 of the San Antonio Spurs reacts during the third quarter of a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game One of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Frost Bank Center on May 04, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Today is Devin Vassell’s twenty-sixth birthday. What a roller coaster ride for such a young man. In his professional life, he was drafted eleventh overall in 2020. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, his first season was truncated. The team was in disarray, at least by Spurs standards.
The year before Vassell was drafted, the Spurs played their last playoffs. That summer, they drafted Keldon Johnson, now the longest tenured member of the squad. Ever since, they had not had a winning season or played in a playoff game…until 2026. The Spurs went from a 34-48 record in 2025 to a 62-20 record that not only introduced the Spurs draftees to the postseason, it took the team to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2014.
Vassell commented during a postgame press conference that he and Johnson had been working toward this for a long time. He referred to KJ as his “brother” as he shared a heartfelt moment about the team making the playoffs.
From the drafting of Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper, and Carter Bryant to the addition of veterans De’Aaron Fox, Harrison Barnes, Luke Kornet, Kelly Olynyk and Bismack Biyombo through the finding hidden gems Julian Champagnie, David Jones Garcia, and Jordan McLaughlin, the team made a huge leap last season. And Vassell was an integral piece to their success.
When not in season, Vassell hosts a variety of basketball camps both in San Antonio as well as in his home state Georgia. He joined some teammates in visiting Victor Wembanyama this summer, indulging in art and culture while working out and staying sharp.
The ceiling on the Spurs is significantly higher than it has been in years, and after their Finals appearance, the next steps promise to be the most exciting.
Happy birthday, Devin, may all your wished come true this year.
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Boston, MA - December 25: Boston Celtics PG Payton Pritchard passes the ball while being defended by Philadelphia 76ers SF Paul George in the first half. (Photo by Erin Clark/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
STOUGHTON, Mass. — Payton Pritchard became the second longest-tenured Celtic this summer and projects to gain more offensive responsibility this season. However, he admits he lost ground in Boston’s golf hierarchy following a new arrival.
“I would say Sam (Hauser) is probably first. Me and Mike Conley, we played a little bit in LA,” Pritchard told CLNS Media on the Garden Report from his basketball camp on Saturday. “So, we had some battles, but Mike’s better than I am. We’re 2-1 in our matches, he’s won two, I’ve won one, but I would say I’m third.”
In his conversations with Joe Mazzulla, he told Pritchard that he wants Boston to become more of a player-led team this season — something Pritchard welcomed. Conley and Pritchard squeezed rounds in between casual west coast workouts recently that included Jayson Tatum, Paul George, Hauser and Derrick White. He expects more teammates to meet George there soon, as the Celtics begin their offseason bonding.
Pritchard already has some familiarity with Mitchell Robinson too, who he shared a room with during their youth Team USA experience. They haven’t reunited yet this summer, though Pritchard now expects Robinson, Neemias Queta and Luka Garza’s presence in the front court to become a strength for the Celtics.
Individually, Pritchard wants to reach the free throw line more often in 2026-27. As a team, they want to make better reads while maintaining their hard-playing identity.
“That’s the biggest thing, and we need everybody to take a step,” he said. “Regular season wins, you win by playing hard and then in the playoffs, you win by playing harder and smarter. That’s really the recipe.”
That’s a pivot for a team that there’s no difference between the regular season and the playoffs. A 3-1 collapse against the 76ers still irks Pritchard, because he saw no desire on Philadelphia’s end to continue the series while trailing in the second half in Game 5. Then, the Celtics let up and allowed them to become comfortable. That set up a difficult Game 6 on the road and a Game 7 which always feels like a toss-up.
Then, the Celtics traded Jaylen Brown, a long-time mentor for Pritchard who he gave enormous credit for his development. They spent the past six seasons together while Pritchard emerged as the Sixth Man of the Year and a rotation staple in Boston. But the move didn’t stun Pritchard, given what he’s already seen in his career.
“It’s part of the business. Nothing’s actually that shocking to me anymore,” Pritchard said. “You’re just used to seeing big things and I think changes happen all the time. It always sucks to see a brother and a teammate that you played with for a long time go, but you move on and you get ready to go to war against him.”
Pritchard liked the George addition and expects him to be great for Boston given his pedigree. Robinson provides exactly what they needed in the front court, he believed, adding offensive rebounding and physicality. He sounded most excited about the Conley addition, however.
Conley, 39 this year, signed a minimum contract to depart Minnesota after parts of four seasons while spurning other free agency offers. Pritchard, who previously learned from longtime friend Blake Griffin and Al Horford whose lockers his sat next to, plans to pull from Conley throughout this year.
And while many have expected Pritchard will make up for most of what Brown left offensively, he’s not looking at it that way. He just wants to continue making the perennial leaps that got him to this level. Because, as he observed, once you stop doing that, you’re gone.
“I look up to Mike and the career he’s had,” Pritchard said. “If I could have remotely close to the career he’s had, then that’s a very successful career. It’s somebody I’ll take a lot of things from and hopefully have a great friendship and mentorship with that. I’m going to be picking his brain all the time.”
Sunday marks another fine day at the Little League World Series. It also welcomes the big leaguers, as the MLB Little League Classic caps off the day's action.
It will be an early start from Williamsport as the winner's bracket continues play with Nevada taking on Washington at 9 a.m. ET on ESPN. It starts a full day of coverage across ESPN, with the 1 p.m. game between Iowa and New Jersey getting the limelight on ABC.
Sunday also marks MLB's time to shine, as the Atlanta Braves take on the Milwaukee Brewers in a clash of two of the league's best playing at Historic Bowman Field.
USA TODAY Sports will have live coverage with updates, scores and highlights from all of Sunday's Little League World Series action.
How to watch 2026 Little League World Series
Here is the full Little League World Series schedule for Aug. 23 and how to watch all the games.
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BRONX, NY - AUGUST 22: Ryan Weathers #40 of the New York Yankees leaves the game with an injury during the fourth inning of the game against the Toronto Blue Jays on August 22, 2026 at Yankee Stadium in the Borough of the Bronx, New York. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Good news: Cody Bellinger is back today! Bad news: The Yankees’ winning streak was snapped, Ryan Weathers left with forearm tightness, and Giancarlo Stanton might be officially toast. So… 1-for-4? But call some of those non-hit ABs tough ones, like a double play with the bases loaded.
Today on the site, Scott will have the live report from the past couple days of Cody Bellinger’s rehab assignment at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, I’ll have the Rivalry Roundup, Jonathan will pay tribute to the first-ever DH for his 78th birthday, and John will have the weekly Social Media Spotlight.
Today’s Matchup:
New York Yankees vs. Toronto Blue Jays
Time: 1:35 p.m. EST
TV: YES Network, Sportsnet, TVA Sports
Venue: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
Questions/Prompts:
1. On a scale of 1-10, how confident are you that Max Fried is back in the rotation by the first week of September? (He started throwing again yesterday.) And same question, but with Clarke Schmidt in the bullpen, post-Tommy John rehab? Let’s say “by mid-September” for Clarke.
2. Without going purely by record (it’s a minor morass at the bottom), who do you think has been the worst team in baseball in 2026?
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 12: Giancarlo Stanton #27 of the New York Yankees looks on in the dugout during the third inning against the Seattle Mariners at Yankee Stadium on August 12, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) | Getty Images
MLB.com | Bryan Hoch: Cody Bellinger is slated to return from the IL today. The outfielder had a short rehab stint at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre as he recovered from a Grade 2 left hamstring strain that’s kept him off the field since late July. “I’ve been wanting to get back for a while,” Bellinger said. “You always want to be realistic, and for me, I want to come back and stay. You don’t want to make anything worse. I’m itching to get back, but I’ve got to continue to play it safe and make sure I’m 100 percent ready.” In his second year with New York, Bellinger was an All-Star this season and figures to fortify an outfield that’s also been without Aaron Judge in right.
New York Post | Andrew Crane: Giancarlo Stanton strained his left calf earlier this week, calling into question whether he’ll be able to return this season, Aaron Boone revealed Saturday. The DH was working back from multiple strains to his right calf when he fell while running the bases, leading to a moderate strain in his left. “We’re at a point in the calendar where it gets challenging,” said Boone, acknowledging the reality that Stanton’s return this season is in jeopardy. Big G has appeared in only 24 games this season, adding to the struggles to stay on the field that have plagued his Yankees tenure.
MLB.com | Bryan Hoch: In other injury news, Ryan Weathers exited his start Saturday in the fourth inning with left forearm discomfort. He’s scheduled for imaging on Sunday. In his first season in the Bronx, the left-hander had been a strong contributor to the rotation, including during a recent stretch in which he posted a 1.94 ERA in his last seven starts. For more on Weathers’ departure and some musings on short- and long-term implications, check out Andrew’s breaking news post.
The Athletic | Brendan Kuty: ($) There was a world where Bellinger’s return could have cost Spencer Jones his roster spot. The rookie outfielder has been playing well of late, though, going 12-for-41 with two homers and four stolen bases in his last 12 games.“(He’s) certainly proved that he can play up here,” said Boone. “I think there’s a lot more in the tank for him to continue to go and learn, but he’s showing the ability to do that, and that’s been really encouraging.”
With Ryan McMahon hitting the IL Friday, the Yankees ultimately choose to send down his replacement, Max Scheumann, instead, at minimum giving them a left-handed platoon option in Jones to pair with the struggling Heliot Ramos. The Schuemann demotion was made official after the game on Saturday.
Following today’s game, the Yankees optioned INF/OF Max Schuemann to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Teófimo López became a three-division world champion on Saturday night, winning a 12-round majority decision over Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero to claim the WBA welterweight title at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
López prevailed by scores of 115-113 and 116-112, while the third judge saw the fight even at 114-114. Romero, making the first defense of his title won against Ryan Garcia 15 months ago, disputed the result in the immediate aftermath.
Mitchell Starc has rocked the Bangladesh batting order for the second time in as many days in Mackay to secure Australia victory by an innings and 51 runs in the second Test.
For the third time in the last seven matches, a Test in Australia has finished inside two days after Starc and captain Pat Cummins (3-10) ripped through Bangladesh, who batted poorly.
On a dark afternoon for the Yankees, who revealed Giancarlo Stanton had again strained a calf and then watched Ryan Weathers exit with injury in the fourth inning, there were Cody Bellinger and Max Fried silver linings.
Bellinger is set to be activated Sunday, and Fried’s return to the mound went well.
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First Bellinger: The left fielder survived two rehab games, including playing six innings in the outfield for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Friday, and said his hamstring was tested on a few plays and passed each.
“For me, come in, help the team win as much as I can and play my best ball,” Bellinger said before the Yankees lost, 4-3, to the Blue Jays in The Bronx on Saturday.
After four weeks sidelined, Bellinger will return to a club that has been changed by the trade deadline and Spencer Jones’ emergence as a useful player. The Yankees have been playing Heliot Ramos — a righty hitter brought in to do damage against lefties — most days in left and the lefty-hitting Jones most days in right.
It is possible that the two become a right field platoon tandem until and if Aaron Judge returns, though manager Aaron Boone did not want to tip his hand regarding right field.
“Wait and see,” Boone said before the team officially optioned utilityman Max Schuemann to the minors, which ensures Jones — who might have been on the bubble — will remain in the majors.
Fried, meanwhile, threw a bullpen session before the game for the first time since hitting the injured list with a recurrence of his elbow bone bruise. Fried threw 26 pitches, and his whole repertoire, and said he felt encouraged by his afternoon.
“Hopefully we’re moving in a good direction there,” Boone said of Fried, “and we’ll see what’s next if that’s a live [batting practice] or another side.”
Cody Bellinger (left), who is set to be activated by the Yankees on Sunday, talks with Max Fried during the Bombers’ 4-3 loss to the Blue Jays on Aug. 23, 2026 at the Stadium. Jason Szenes for New York Post
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Already a major piece, the lefty’s importance probably grew as Weathers left the loss with forearm discomfort and was sent for tests.
Judge’s rehab is going “well,” Boone said, and the team’s captain remains hitting. He graduated Friday to tee-and-toss and has not yet faced machine or live pitching.
There are no definitive updates regarding Judge, who has said he will return this season from his fractured rib.
“He’s throwing, running, lifting,” Boone said. “He seems to be in a good place and moving. For him now, it’s about just getting the body built up.”
Luis García Jr.’s two-run shot in the eighth inning was his career-high 26th homer of the season and third as a Yankee.
