Category: Sports News

Worldwide Sports News

Posted on

Ramp to Camp: What will the Celtics miss most about Jaylen Brown?

Ramp to Camp: What will the Celtics miss most about Jaylen Brown? originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Celtics launch into training camp in three weeks. Their first preseason game is 30 days away. Opening day in Detroit, when the Celtics and Pistons tip off the NBA’s 2026-27 regular-season campaign, is a mere six weeks out.

Basketball is almost back after a summer that turned out to be a lot longer and a lot more tumultuous than anyone could have expected before Boston coughed up a 3-1 series lead and got unceremoniously bounced by the Philadelphia 76ers in Round 1 of the 2026 playoffs.

Soon after, those same rival Sixers traded for Jaylen Brown in a swap that left much of the NBA slack-jawed.

We’ve all had the past two months to process the trade. Brown even held a going-away party on Boston Common with enough Sixers No. 7 jerseys in the crowd to hammer home that Brown will soon play his first NBA game in a jersey that isn’t green.

The biggest question might be how Boston plots a path back to title contention with a roster now firmly centered around Jayson Tatum. Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens made a bold decision to split up his All-NBA tandem and must maximize the assets obtained in Brown’s departure. 

A more pressing question is how the Celtics replace what Brown provided on the court, particularly coming off a season in which Brown finished sixth in NBA voting and earned his second All-NBA nod while propelling Boston to the second-best record in the Eastern Conference.

And that’s where we start this year’s Ramp To Camp series. 

Every September for more than a decade, I’ve assembled an All-Star cast of coworkers to help tackle the biggest questions surrounding the Celtics before training camp arrives. We’ll examine the summer’s biggest storylines, we’ll ponder what newcomers can add to Boston’s roster, and we’ll make bold predictions about the season ahead.

It seems almost unfair to ask anyone to distill Brown’s impact down to one single area. A five-time All-Star, Brown crammed an awful lot into his decade in Boston — both on the court and off. So as we turn the page on Brown’s departure, and as the conversation shifts to how exactly the team can fill those many voids, here are the three areas that immediately popped to our mind as we pondered how Boston moves forward without their former Finals MVP. 

1. Rim pressure and free throws

Jaylen BrownBenny Sieu-Imagn Images
Jaylen Brown averaged 7.5 free throw attempts per game last season, leading a Celtics team that averaged an NBA-low 18.7 attempts.

From an on-court perspective, this is our biggest curiosity. Brown averaged 7.5 free throw attempts per game last season. Not only was that the best of his career, but it was easily tops for a Boston team that averaged an NBA-low 18.7 free throw attempts per game.

What’s more, Brown finished second in the NBA at 19.1 drives per game. That was one spot ahead of Oklahoma City’s MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (18.8) and trailed only Portland’s Deni Avdija (19.4).

A healthier Tatum can surely offset some of Brown’s rim impact. Tatum’s drive numbers should increase after he averaged just 10.9 drives in his 16 regular-season appearances after his late-season return. Payton Pritchard could likewise be key to filling that rim-pressure void, after finishing second on the team at 11.9 drives per game last season.

Still, the Celtics produced the lowest free-throw attempt rate of the postseason (.228). That number was even worse (.207) during the regular season, ranking last — and by a notable margin — among all 30 teams. 

For a Celtics team where much has been made about how heavily they rely on shot-making, particularly beyond the 3-point arc, it feels imperative that Boston’s new-look roster finds ways to consistently get to the line and generate the free-throw output that can limit some volatility on Boston’s poor shooting nights.

Brown simply plays with a force that few players in the NBA routinely display. The Celtics need others to kick up their own physicality. 

2. Big-stage performances

Celtics wing Jaylen BrownBrian Fluharty/Getty Images
Jaylen Brown lived for the big moments in Boston.

You can quibble about Brown’s overall efficiency, and ball security was certainly an issue at key junctures. He’d be the first to admit he didn’t live up to his own standard in Boston’s first-round crumble against Philadelphia last season. 

But what we’ll miss most about Brown was his ability to embrace the big stage.

Brown always seemed to have just a little bit more juice when the lights were brighter. That could be as simple as a midseason showdown with Kawhi Leonard and a surging Clippers squad, when Brown delivered a season-high 50 points during a January meeting in Los Angeles last season. Or it could be Brown taking on the two-way challenge by hounding Luka Doncic throughout the 2024 Finals, and earning Finals MVP honors for his role in Boston’s five-game triumph to deliver Banner 18.

He might not have been perfect on the playoff stage, but Brown was surely not afraid of the moment. 

3. Leadership and availability 

CelticsEric Hartline-Imagn Images
Jaylen Brown has averaged 67.4 games played over the last five seasons.

In a league perpetually battling load management and the absence of stars in marquee regular-season games, Brown always wanted to be on the floor. 

Brown averaged 67.4 games over the last five seasons. His 11,569 regular-season minutes over that five-year span were the 20th most in the NBA. Only Derrick White, at 12,098 minutes, had a higher total among Celtics players, while Jayson Tatum was 24th at 11,254 despite missing 66 games last season. 

With Tatum sidelined last year, Brown did everything he could to embrace a new-look roster and bought into being the leader. He nurtured younger players and set up preseason field trips aimed at fostering chemistry. Brown was never shy in expressing his emotions and thoughts.

All this and we could spend 1,000 more words on what Brown meant to the community of Boston off the court. The bottom line: There are big shoes to fill. 

Here are the most notable voids that our panel believes the Celtics must fill after Brown’s departure: 

Michael Hurley: Producer, Multi-Platform Content

I would estimate roughly 28.7 points per game, give or take a few.

Tatum can obviously absorb the bulk of that responsibility, and he should be considered a lock to average over 30 points for just the second time in his career.

Nick Goss: Producer, Multi-Platform Content

Brown was a great scorer, a leader, a tremendous perimeter defender and brought a ton of passion and energy to the team. The C’s need someone else to bring that fire. And who will step up offensively? Payton Pritchard could take on a larger scoring role.

Brown also made a ton of clutch plays in several of Boston’s playoff runs and won Finals MVP in 2024. Someone needs to help Jayson Tatum and give him a reliable No. 2 option in high-pressure playoff moments.

Justin Leger: Producer, Multi-Platform Content

Secondary scoring.

Who steps up, offensively, when it isn’t Jayson Tatum’s night? There’s no obvious answer to that question without Brown.

Paul George, Derrick White, and Payton Pritchard will have their big games, but none of them can be counted on to take the pressure off Tatum night in and night out.

Josh Canu: Editor

High-percentage scoring.

The Celtics are already perceived as a team that launches too many 3s. Jaylen was the one player on the roster who sought out higher-percentage shots, whether they were his patented midrange jumper or attacking the rim. Without his consistent offensive output, the Celtics will need other players to fill that void.

Adam Hart: Executive Producer, Content Strategy

The desire to spackle the chip on his shoulder by claiming tough defensive assignments in the playoffs. (Luka Doncic, Paul George). 

Jason Levine: Executive Producer, Content Integrations

The mindset.

It’s rare in the NBA to have that old-school mindset of “we’re not friends” once the ball is thrown up. The Gravedigger was looking to bury you. I hope as Jayson Tatum becomes the clear leader, he shows a bit more of a cutthroat attitude out there.

Posted on

Could Kevin Durant finally perfect his game this season?


Imagine if Michael Jordan had been a few inches taller.

That’s not the hypothetical you typically hear. More often, it’s Allen Iverson. Or, it’s Giannis Antetokounmpo with Steph Curry’s jump shot. More broadly, the formula usually involves fixing a player’s lone imperfection to make them the perfect basketball player.

Michael Jordan was tall enough. Imagine if he’d been taller. He would have been the perfect basketball player.

As it stands, there has never been a perfect basketball player.

There’s no prototype, but there are prototypes. Jordan was the prototypical scoring guard. LeBron James is the prototypical point forward. The Houston Rockets’ Kevin Durant is the prototypical shot maker.

But one flaw has held him back from perfection.

Rockets’ Kevin Durant is a limited playmaker

Recall the 2016 NBA Western Conference Finals. Durant’s Oklahoma City Thunder (boy, does that make you feel old) faced Steph Curry’s Golden State Warriors (maybe not that old yet).

Durant averaged 30.0 points per game. He was not, by any measure, bad. Yet, if you recall the series, something was markedly missing from Durant’s game.

He fired midrange shot after midrange shot. Some nights they fell; other nights they did not. Ultimately, Durant finished the series with a somewhat pedestrian 53.9 True Shooting % (TS%). What stands out in the memory is middy, after middy, after middy.

You will not recall a dazzling Durant pass from that series, because that is the hole that he has never plugged in his game.

The Warriors denied Durant’s jumper to the fullest extent of natural law, and it worked as well as it could have. Durant did not have the playmaking juice to counter. Where James would look to get teammates involved when his jumper wasn’t falling, Durant could only look to keep firing his jumper.

Durant isn’t a ball-hog. That would be unfair. The objective in basketball is to get the best shot, and his shot is often the best, so he ought to take it.

His career high in Assists Per Game (APG) isn’t even bad (6.4, in 2021-22 with a loaded Brooklyn Nets team), but it came with 3.5 Turnovers Per Game (TPG). It’s not Durant’s willingness as a passer that’s on trial:

It’s his ability.

Rockets’ Kevin Durant has room to improve

This is something of an aggregation piece. A quote from Durant’s trainer inspired it in this recent Rockets Wire piece about Durant;

“It’s about making sure that he develops as a passer through the double team”

-Jamal Lovell

The Rockets played 2025-26 without Fred VanVleet. He’s never a candidate for the “if he was taller” hypothetical. VanVleet isn’t a superstar; he’s simply solid. Turnover suppression is his single strongest quality as a player.

In his absence, Durant’s limited playmaking and turnover-proneness were on full display. For a man who’s spent his career so close to the zenith of the sport itself, Durant sure isn’t much of a playmaker.

But what if he were?

There’s another player that comes to my mind in the hypothetically perfect basketball player discussion: Blake Griffin. With the Los Angeles Clippers, he was able to assert his will through sheer outlier athleticism. An injury sapped his superpowers, and he reinvented himself with the Detroit Pistons as a far more skilled player. How close to perfect could he have been if those two timelines had intersected?

The point is that veterans can still learn new tricks. It isn’t too late for Durant to channel his inner playmaker. He’s not going to be 7’0” Andre Miller with a lethal jump shot, but any growth in this area could be huge given how generally dangerous Durant is.

Imagine it. Durant spends his summer memorizing passing reads. He averages, say, 6.0 assists and 2.5 turnovers per game in 2026-27, and his signature scoring efficiency does not wane.

He’d be as close to perfect as we’ve ever seen.

Posted on

Yankees news: ALL RISE! Judge returns to the lineup today

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 06: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees looks on before the game against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on September 06, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images

MLB.com | Bryan Hoch: Yesterday afternoon, the Yankees received a massive boost in their chances at winning the American League East, as superstar right fielder Aaron Judge took live batting practice on the field for the first time since suffering a stress fracture in his rib that has left him on the shelf since May 31st. Speaking to reporters, manager Aaron Boone refused to say exactly which day No. 99 will return to the lineup, saying only that Judge’s rehab is in the “endgame.” As it turned out, though, the Yankees saw enough, and late last night, announced that the Captain will in fact return to the lineup tonight, activating him from the 60-day injured list. And while it’s unlikely that we’ll see Judge fully built up, with some reports that the team may start him playing only six to seven innings in the field before pulling him, his return represents the biggest wrench thrown into the American League East race in the month of September, and looks to give the team an edge as they try to chase down the division-leading Rays.

NJ.com | Adam Zagoria: Speaking of large, right-handed power hitters currently on the shelf: when Giancarlo Stanton suffered a third calf sprain back on August 22nd, everybody in baseball basically said, “Well, that’s it for Stanton’s season, and probably his Yankees career, too.” Not so fast, apparently. Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Aaron Boone revealed that Stanton has been hitting in the cage, saying that “we’ll see” if he can return to the lineup this season. Of course, it still seems like a reach, especially since there really isn’t a role for him as Ben Rice, Luis García Jr., and Paul Goldschmidt have first base/designated hitter locked up, but we all know what a healthy Stanton can do, especially against lefties.

NBC Sports: In a small bit of housekeeping, the Yankees optioned Elmer Rodríguez to Triple-A Scranton following Sunday night’s loss, officially ending their brief stretch as a de facto six-man rotation. The corresponding move, it turned out, would be Judge’s return.

Newsweek | Jon Paul Hoornstra: Former Yankees right-handed pitcher and two-time World Series champion Rollie Sheldon passed away on August 31st at the age of 89. He spent five seasons in the Majors, pitching for the Kansas City Athletics and his childhood team, the Boston Red Sox, after his stint in the Bronx. We offer condolences to his family.

Posted on

‘It was very hurtful’: darts cult hero Stephen Bunting on death threats, social media – and the new Luke Littlers

The world No 10 on getting recognised in New York, coping with hostility and why he’s never changing his walk-on song

“Definitely,” Stephen Bunting says as he considers whether working so hard as a darts player on social media is like making a deal with the devil. After Luke Littler, the prodigiously gifted teenage world champion, Bunting is the most heavily marketed player in darts. But, over the past year, some of his success on and off the oche has been accompanied by vicious abuse.

Bunting has had death threats and he recently moved his eldest son to a private school to end the bullying which had hounded 14‑year‑old Toby, who often shares his social media space. But Bunting remains amiable and happy to reflect on his Faustian pact during a lucrative rollercoaster ride through darts.

Continue reading...
Posted on

Giants down Cardinals with walk-off infield single

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 07: Shay Whitcomb #13 of the San Francisco Giants is lifted off the ground by Christian Koss #50 after he hit a single that scored the winning run against the St. Louis Cardinals in the 11th inning at Oracle Park on September 07, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images

A bunt and an infield single boosted the San Francisco Giants’ win probability to 100% Monday night in a 5-4, 11-inning win over the St. Louis Cardinals that turned Oracle Paek into Shay Stadium.

Shay Whitcomb hit a chopper to shortstop against a drawn-in infield to score ghost runner Nate Furman as the Giants worked late on Labor Day. Sure. it was not the most impressive walk-off hit we’ve ever seen, but after the Cardinals scored the tying run on two infield singles in the 9th and a go-ahead run on a shallow pop fly with the Giants’ infield in in the 10th, the boys in black and orange will take it.

Logan Webb will be complaining to his shop steward about unfair working conditions after striking out eight and giving up just three hits in 6 innings, but leaving with another no-decision. He threw only one truly bad pitch, a hanging slider that Alec Burleson crushed into McCovey Cove, a no-doubt, 431-shoot blast where kayakers instinctively knew to avoid the white-hot baseball until it cooled down.

Webb left the game with a 3-1 lead, thanks to a nice defensive play at first from Bryce Eldridge.

He could credit his two-run cushion to a doubles party from Eldridge and Rafael Devers. Devers hit his 35th double, just missing his 36th homer, to knock in Turner Hill in the first inning, then hit his league-leading 36th double ahead of Eldridge’s 21st double of the season in the bottom of the 5th.

Eldridge knocked in another run on a sacrifice fly in the 3rd inning, then plated ghost runner Turner Hill (two runs) to tie the game in the 10th. The Cardinals walked Devers ahead of Eldridge twice on Monday, and the rookie responded with an RBI each time.

It could have been over in the 10th. With Devers on second and Eldridge on first with no one out, Tony Vitello played for the sac fly. He ordered Jonah Cox (slashing .287/.326/.494) to bunt the runners over, which he did, which led to an intentional walk to Jung Hoo Lee. Drew Gilbert just needed to hit a medium-depth fly ball to win the game. Instead, he hit a ball that went about nine inches for a C-1B double play.

Still, the gambit worked in the 11th inning, with Vitello also rearranging his defense. Cox, who moved to second base when Gilbert pinch-hit for Osleivis Basabe in the 9th, went back to center field, with Furman taking over at second. The pop-up falling in wasn’t really Cox’s fault, and the 9th-inning infield hits happened with him in the outfield, but the move still paid off.

Furman was the runner in place of Gilbert, Drew Cavanaugh’s sac bunt got him to third, and Whitcomb finished things off with his second hit of the game, bringing his on-base streak to five games.

Jason Foley got his third win of the season by getting through the 11th inning unscathed, getting a weak groundout to the catcher with a runner on third just like his opposite number. Then, with runners on second and third after a walk and a stolen base, Foley got Jose Fermin to ground out on the eighth pitch of his at-bat.

Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol made the box score interesting by pinch-running for catcher Ivan Herrera in the 8th, only to see the substitute got station-to-station and end up stranded at third. He replaced the pinch-runner with Pedro Pages, then pinch-hit Fermin for Pages in the 10th, where he tied the game with a sac fly.

Fermin stayed in the game to play second base, while designated hitter Leo Bernal, of the magical pop-up, caught the final two innings. That meant St. Louis lost its DH, and three Cardinals relievers appeared in the box score in the first batting position for St. Louis, though none actually swung the bat — Cesar Prieto had a pinch-walk in the 11th.

Hill got hosed by an umpire review for the second time in three days, when a throw to first clearly pulled Burleson off the bag but Hill was still called out.

It looked just as obvious as the hit-by-pitch that was ruled a foul ball from Saturday’s game, one that got Vitello ejected. The only conclusion we can draw is that Hill clearly slept with a replay official’s wife.

The Giants have no won 8 of their last 15 games and are two games clear of the Elk Grove Athletics for 27th place in the major leagues. Perhaps more important is that the team has reached 60 wins, meaning they only need three move to avoid a 100-loss season.

They need five more wins to finish better than the 2017 Giants, who went 64-98 in a season where Madison Bumgarner finished with more home runs than the team’s primary left fielder despite missing three months because of a dirt bike crash. “Worst Giants team in a decade” sounds so much better than “Worst Giants team in 41 years,” after all.

Posted on

Jays Lose To A’s

Sep 7, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Toronto Blue Jays infielder Andres Gimenez (0) looks on while kneeling after a walk-off infield RBI single hit by Athletics infielder Jeff McNeil (not pictured) during the ninth inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Lee-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Blue Jays 5 A’s 6

I wanted to title this ‘Bad Pitching, Defense and Hitting Leads to a Loss’ but that’s too many words.

A bad moment on defense, in the first inning, turned out to be very costly. Dylan Cease was having a rough time in the first. A walk to Henry Bolte, who followed that with a steal. Then a ground rule double to score the first run of the game. A single gave the A’s runners on the corners, with two out. Carlos Cortes went to steal second, Alejandro Kirk threw to second, and the runner on third came home. Ernie Clement threw back home in plenty of time to get the runner, but the runner stopped and turned around. Kirk chased him, and the runner seemed to be giving up, but Kirk threw to Kazuma Okamoto, and it wasn’t a good throw, went off Okamoto’s glove and the runner scored. 2-0 after half an inning. Just a bad play. Just chasing him back to third would have been fine.

Kirk homered in the bottom of the inning, making up for the mistake.

But the A’s got two more in the third. Bolte again walked and stole season (maybe next year, Cease could come up with a way to hold runners?). After a popup, Bolte stole third. Next batter, Zack Gelof hit a ground ball to third, Okamoto came home but the throw was too late. Then Gelof steal second and third and a single scored him. 4-1 A’s.

A’s got one more in the fifth, a Bolte home run. 5-1 and it looked really bad.

It wasn’t Cease’s night, 5 innings, 5 runs, 4 earned, 2 walks, 6 strikeouts. Cutting down that run at the plate would have make it look better (and maybe he wouldn’t have had the same troubles in the third).

But the Jays got three runs in the seventh. Okamoto started the inning with a massive home run (making up for his share of the mistake in the first), 109.8 mph, 423 feet. Nathan Lukes and Clement each singled. Giménez doubled, bringing in one more. And Josh Smith, pinch hitting, hit a sac fly. 5-4, A’s.

With Giménez on second, the A’s pitcher Luis Medina ‘disengaged’ twice, meaning if he did again (and didn’t get the out) Giménez would be given third.

But, Andrés took off for third, before Medina came home and Medina threw to third for an easy out. Bad play by Giménez, since he was already in scoring position with just one out.

In the eighth, with two out, Kirk singled and Okamoto walked, but Lukes (against a lefty) ground out. We didn’t have right-handed bats on the bench (well, Brandon Valenzuela, a switch-hitter, but they weren’t going to pinch hit with him).

Down by a run in the top of the ninth, Giménez hit a game tying home run. We couldn’t get another run.

The comeback was rather amazing, considering our offense looked terrible for the first six innings.

Tie game going into the bottom of the inning and Louis Varland in to pitch. Spoiler….he wasn’t sharp (neither was plate umpire Chad Fairchild, though it really didn’t help that we wasted our challenges early).

Louis gave up a single to Max Muncy and a walk to Donovan Walton. Alika Williams put down a very good bunt, but Vlad made an amazing play, throwing to third getting the lead runner. No other first baseman make that play. A line out got us to two outs. Then a walk to Bolte loaded the bases.

Then Jeff McNeil hit an extremely soft ground ball (51.9 mph) that Giménez made a great attempt on, but his throw to first was just a bit late. They talk about it being a game of inches, and it was tonight.

The good news? The Guardians also lost, so we are still just 1 game back of the last Wild Card spot.

Bad news, we could be holding that spot, right now, with some better defense/pitching.

Jay of the Day: Giménez (0.36 WPA, though the bad base running would bring that down a bit) and Okamoto (0.12) had the number too, but I’m not giving him it, because not catching Kirk’s throw and though it wasn’t terrible, a slightly better throw home in the third inning would have saved what turned out to be a very important run).

Other Award: Varland (-0.35, he’s been so good, and he was hurt by a plate umpire with an interesting view of the zone, tomorrows umpire scorecard will be something to look at, but we needed him to be better today), Cease (-0.23, also could have been helped by some defense, two of the runs against him weren’t his fault), Springer (-0.18, for an 0 for 5, 2 k. He had a rough day), Smith (-0.12, kind of unfair, as he drove in a run as pinch hitter), and Clement (-0.09, 1 for 4).

We had 9 hits, they had 6. But then they had 5 steals, a home run and grouped their hits.

Tomorrow, well they have to shake this one off, and win tomorrow. It is slightly earlier, 9:40 start Eastern start time. José Soriano (11-7, 3.52) vs. Jack Perkins (3-10, 6.50)

Posted on

Shohei Ohtani 'focusing on hitting,' unlikely to pitch again in 2026

Shohei Ohtani's return to the Los Angeles Dodgers' lineup Monday, Sept. 7 wasn't exactly a return to form just yet for the back-to-back National League MVP.

Back in his usual spot atop the batting order, Ohtani went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts and a walk in a 6-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds. Results aside, however, manager Dave Roberts was pleased with how Ohtani's swing looked compared to five days ago.

But as far as when Ohtani might return to the mound for the defending World Series champions, that news was rather bleak. Ohtani told reporters postgame that he doesn't expect to pitch again this season.

"Most likely no," Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton when asked if he's still working towards getting back on the mound. "I'm gonna be focusing on hitting moving forward."

Ohtani has not pitched in a game since July 3 due to lingering injuries in his left knee and right bicep.

His progression was initially put on pause when his scheduled bullpen session on July 25 was postponed, and it didn't pick back up again until Aug. 8. From there, he ramped up throughout the month of August and faced live hitters on Aug. 22, but he was shut down again after a short bullpen session one week later.

Ohtani has not thrown since, and a prolonged slump at the plate prompted manager Dave Roberts to rest the Japanese phenom for four games over the weekend.

And in what might be a move to lighten Ohtani's workload with October less than a month away and with the Dodgers boasting a mostly healthy rotation, Roberts mentioned they've "put a pin on throwing."

"It's not dead, but we're not throwing," Roberts said. "We have no timetable for when he's gonna pick up a baseball."

The Dodgers skipper stopped short of outright saying Ohtani won't pitch again in 2026, but given where we are in the calendar, that in itself is a strong indication of where things are headed.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Shohei Ohtani 'focusing on hitting,' unlikely to pitch again in 2026

Posted on

A’s Walk Off Blue Jays 6-5

Sep 7, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics infielder Jeff McNeil (22) celebrates with teammates after hitting a walk-off infield RBI single against Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Louis Varland (not pictured) during the ninth inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Lee-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Athletics faced the Toronto Blue Jays in the opener of a three-game series on Labor Day at Sutter Health Park. The Green and Gold got out to an early lead before allowing the Blue Jays to claw back late, only for the A’s to win 6-5 in walk-off fashion.

Early Offense

After A’s starter Jacob Lopez tossed a scoreless first inning, the A’s generated their first scoring chance against Blue Jays starter Dylan Cease in the bottom of that inning. Athletics center fielder Henry Bolte drew a leadoff walk and advanced to third with one out. Zack Gelof knocked Bolte in with an RBI ground-rule double, putting the hosts ahead 1-0.

With two outs, the A’s scored a second run when Toronto misplayed a rundown, allowing Gelof to slide home safely.

The Blue Jays immediately answered back. Catcher Alejandro Kirk led off the second inning with his ninth home run of the season, a solo shot just over the right field wall. If he had taken a better route, A’s right fielder Lawrence Butler would have had a chance to rob the home run.

Lopez followed that by allowing two straight baserunners before retiring the next three hitters to preserve his team’s 2-1 lead.

A’s Run Wild Against Cease

The A’s took advantage of Cease’s weakness, as he has allowed more stolen bases than any other pitcher. Leading off the bottom of the third inning, Bolte walked and stole second for the second time in two at-bats. With one out, the speedster stole third base, his third steal of the game.

Gelof grounded to third, and it looked like Bolte was out at home, but he slid safely past Kirk’s tag attempt to tally the A’s third run of the game. Gelof then swiped second and third, putting himself in scoring position just as Bolte had done. With two outs, Carlos Cortes lined an RBI single, bringing home Gelof to give the Athletics a 4-1 lead.

Electric Bolte: One-Man Show

After showing off the speed earlier in the game, Bolte displayed his power in his third at-bat against Cease. Leading off the bottom of the fifth inning, the A’s center fielder hit his ninth home run of the season, a solo shot down the right-field line that extended his team’s lead to 5-1.

Lopez Unravels as Blue Jays Mount Comeback

Lopez kept the momentum on the A’s side by pitching three straight scoreless innings, preventing the visitors from mounting an immediate response. The lanky left-hander outdueled Cease, needing just 78 pitches to complete six innings of one-run ball.

Lopez remained in the game an inning too long, as he failed to record an out in the seventh inning. Toronto third baseman Kazuma Okamoto hit his 29th home run of the season, a solo shot to left field. Two straight singles brought the tying run to the plate. Andrés Giménez’s RBI double made it a a 5-3 game and ended Lopez’s outing. The left-hander only recorded one strikeout, yet did a good job of pitching to contact, inducing six groundouts and nine flyouts.

A’s Bullpen Blows Save

Right-hander Luis Medina replaced him, entering with runners on second and third and no outs. The first batter he faced, pinch-hitter Josh Smith, hit a sacrifice fly to make it a one-run game. Medina escaped the jam with the Athletics still ahead. Giménez helped him out by getting caught stealing for the second out.

Medina got the first two outs of the eighth inning before letting the next two Blue Jays reach base via a single and a walk. With the tying run on second, left-hander Hogan Harris replaced Medina and escaped the jam by getting Nathan Lukes to ground out.

Harris failed to secure the four-out save. With one out in the top of the ninth inning, Giménez tied the game with his ninth home run of the season, the Blue Jays third home run of the night.

A’s Win!

Facing Blue Jays closer Louis Varland, Max Muncy led off the bottom of the ninth with an infield single and advanced to second when Varland walked Donovan Walton. The most significant at-bat of the inning came when Bolte drew his third walk of the game. He reached base in all five of his plate appearances. If the Blue Jays had any ABS challenges remaining, that inning may have gone differently, as there were numerous close pitches that the home-plate umpire called balls.

With the bases loaded and two outs, Jeff McNeil hustled down the line for a walk-off infield single, sparing Harris’ blushes and delivering the A’s first walk-off victory since June 19.

The Athletics will look to continue playing spoiler and win a second consecutive series tomorrow. Right-hander Jack Perkins will start for the A’s, while Toronto will counter with its prized trade deadline acquisition, right-hander Jose Soriano.

Posted on

MLB Injury Report: Yankees get Aaron Judge back as Trent Grisham lands on injured list with hamstring strain

In this week’s Injury Report, Aaron Judge is set to return to the Yankees lineup on Tuesday following a three-month absence, just as the team loses Trent Grisham to a hamstring strain. And Corbin Burnes will make his season debut with the Diamondbacks as he returns from a 15-month recovery from Tommy John surgery. All that and more as we review all of the most relevant injury news around baseball.

⚾️ Baseball is back! MLB returns to NBC and Peacock in 2026! In addition to becoming the exclusive home of Sunday Night Baseball, NBC Sports will broadcast MLB Sunday Leadoff, “Opening Day” and Labor Day primetime games, the first round of the MLB Draft, the entire Wild Card round of the postseason, and much more.

Aaron Judge (rib)

Trent Grisham (hamstring)

Judge is finally returning to the Yankees lineup after a three-month absence with a rib fracture. The team has activated the 34-year-old slugger from the 60-day injured list ahead of Tuesday’s series opener against the Rockies in New York. He ran the bases and took batting practice Friday, bypassing a rehab assignment to return straight to the majors. Judge returns in time to make a major impact for fantasy teams over the final three weeks. His return comes just as Grisham was shelved on the 10-day injured list with a Grade 2 right hamstring strain. A strain of that severity likely means the end of the regular season for the 29-year-old outfielder. Grisham’s injury likely keeps Spencer Jones in the lineup with Judge’s return. Jones has filled in at center field the last two games.

MLB: Philadelphia Phillies at Arizona Diamondbacks
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Andrew Painter still on fire, stick with Walker Jenkins
James Schiano and Eric Samulski discuss their favorite fantasy baseball waiver wire adds for the weekend.

Trey Yesavage (knee)

Anthony Santander (shoulder)

We got an update on a couple of Blue Jays on Monday. Yesavage threw a 34-pitch bullpen session on Monday in Florida and is scheduled to face hitters in a simulated game on Thursday. He’ll likely need at least one or two rehab starts before he’s an option for the Blue Jays’ rotation. Yesavage underwent left knee meniscus surgery in early August. Meanwhile, Santander is set to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday. He’s been out all season after offseason labrum surgery to address a shoulder issue that limited him to 54 games in 2025.

Jac Caglianone (elbow)

Caglianone made an early departure from Saturday’s game against the Blue Jays with left elbow soreness. He was held out on Sunday, with Royals’ manager Matt Quatraro telling reporters that he was dealing with a Grade 1 flexor strain. Caglianone missed a second straight game on Monday. A stint on the injured list can’t be ruled out if he isn’t ready to return in the next day or two. The 23-year-old slugger has enjoyed a breakout season, hitting .283/.331/.494 with 23 homers, 66 runs scored, and 70 RBI across 510 plate appearances.

Corbin Burnes (elbow)

Burnes is another player making a late debut with a look ahead to 2027. The 31-year-old right-hander will be activated to make his season debut on Tuesday against the Royals in Kansas City. Burnes made his last start on June 1, 2025. He’s been out since recovering from Tommy John surgery. He was up to 53 pitches in his last rehab appearance and reportedly hit 93 mph. Burnes can’t be counted on to make an impact for fantasy purposes, but could be a speculative pickup in deeper leagues.

Reynaldo López (knee)

López will return from the 15-day injured list on Wednesday to start against the Rays in Atlanta. He’s been out since July 26 with left knee inflammation. He was initially expected to return after a minimum stay, but was instead out for six weeks. López was sharp in his last rehab outing, striking out six over five shutout innings with Triple-A Gwinnett. The 32-year-old right-hander has had a solid season with the Braves, posting a 3.64 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, and 66 strikeouts over 71 2/3 innings. His return will move Bryce Elder to the bullpen, as Elder has been dealing with a knee issue of his own.

Ryan O’Hearn (quad)

Out since early August with a quad strain, O’Hearn is nearing his return as he begins a minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday. Before his injury, the 33-year-old slugger has mixed in at right field, first base, and designated hitter as he slashed an excellent .270/.334/.454 with 17 homers and 69 RBI across 398 plate appearances. If available, he makes for a solid power and RBI source for the final stretch.

Brendan Donovan (head)

Concussions could be incredibly tricky. More than two weeks since he was placed on the 7-day concussion injured list, Donovan is still experiencing symptoms when he takes the field for drills. He told MLB.com’s Daniel Kramer on Monday, “I get on the field, and I feel like I’m going to throw up.” “And then I take ground balls, and I have to take every other one because I’m going to throw up. So that’s kind of been the process to this point.” There’s no telling when he’ll be ready to return, but it doesn’t seem like he’s ready to give it a go any time soon.

Posted on

Shay Whitcomb chops a single in 11th for 1st career game-ending RBI as Giants beat Cardinals 5-4

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Shay Whitcomb chopped a single with one out in the 11th inning for his first career game-ending RBI, and the San Francisco Giants beat the St. Louis Cardinals 5-4 on Monday night.

Drew Cavanaugh’s sacrifice bunt against George Soriano (6-4) advanced automatic runner Nate Furman and put him in position to score the deciding run.

Jason Foley (3-1) pitched two innings for the win.

Bryce Eldridge tied the game at 4 on a single in the bottom of the 10th after St. Louis went ahead in the top of the inning when Leo Bernal’s fly ball dropped in front of diving center fielder Jung Hoo Lee for a base hit.

Pinch-hitter José Fermín hit a tying sacrifice fly in the ninth for St. Louis against Giants closer Dylan Smith, who allowed a leadoff single to Joshua Báez and another base hit to Thomas Saggese before a one-out walk by Bryan Torres loaded the bases for Fermín.

Logan Webb struck out eight and shut down St. Louis over six superb innings to bounce back from surrendering a career-high nine runs his last time out at Pittsburgh, but had nothing to show for it as his winless stretch reached four starts since he beat Colorado on Aug. 15.

Rafael Devers hit an RBI double in the first for San Francisco, making him the first Giants player with 35 home runs and 35 doubles in a season since Jeff Kent in 2002.

Alec Burleson splashed a solo home run into McCovey Cove beyond the right-field arcade in the sixth for the lone run and third hit off Webb, becoming the third Cardinals player to reach the bay. It was the 183rd overall in Oracle Park history, and 72nd by an opposing player — Matt Carpenter and Larry Walker had the other two for St. Louis — while home run king Barry Bonds hit 35.

Eldridge added a sacrifice fly in the third as the Giants went ahead 2-0. Devers doubled again with two outs in the fifth and Eldridge followed with a run-scoring double to run his on-base streak to 16 games.

Nathan Church’s seventh-inning double for St. Louis made it a one-run game.

Up Next

LHP Quinn Mathews (1-2, 4.38 ERA) pitches the middle game Tuesday night opposite Giants RHP Landen Roupp (8-13, 4.17).

Posted on

Pittsburgh Penguins 2026-27 Player Projections: Justin Brazeau

It wasn't long ago that Pittsburgh Penguins forward Justin Brazeau was lighting the league on fire.

Brazeau scored the Penguins' first two goals of the 2025-26 season before notching his third goal in the Penguins' second game of the year against the New York Islanders. 

He was a man on a mission in October, scoring six goals and compiling 12 points in 12 games. Unfortunately, he missed all of November, but he returned to his goal-scoring form in December, finishing the month with six goals and eight points in 12 games. 

12 of Brazeau's 17 goals came in the first half of the season before he cooled off in the second half of the season. He was especially cold in March and April, only scoring a combined two goals.

His tough form and the rise of Elmer Soderblom meant that Brazeau was a healthy scratch for five of the six Penguins' playoff games against the Philadelphia Flyers. It was a tough end to his season, and now his spot in the every-night lineup is far from a guarantee. 

The Penguins brought in multiple forwards this offseason, and several young forwards are trying to make the jump from the AHL. Brazeau will compete with all of those forwards for a roster spot, which will make training camp a lot of fun. 

Penguins' Positional Battles: Left WingPenguins' Positional Battles: Left WingThe forward battles during training camp will be intriguing for the Pittsburgh Penguins, and the left wing is no exception.

If you thought last year's training camp was competitive, just wait until you see this year's camp. There's up to 20 forwards, including Brazeau, who will be gunning for a roster spot. 

If Brazeau makes the team, it would likely be in a depth role. He'd be projected to score double-digit goals again, but may not hit the career-high numbers that he set last season. 

He also has a year left on his contract and could be used as trade bait around the trade deadline if the Penguins are out of the playoff race. 

Brazeau might be a player some fans have forgotten about, but don't be surprised if he scores some big goals for the Penguins this year, assuming he makes the team. 

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

Posted on

Five biggest storylines for the upcoming Jazz season

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 14: Darryn Peterson #22 of the Utah Jazz gets interviewed during the 2026 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot on July 14, 2026 at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Sydney Bezelik/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

It’s one of the most anticipated seasons in Jazz history since they went for a repeat run to the Finals against Michael Jordan. Utah has been preparing for this new chapter for literal years, and they have the personnel to become something really special. Let’s take a look at five of the most interesting storylines of this upcoming season.

5. How good are the Jazz?

Will Hardy is going to be asked to do something he hasn’t been asked to do since he joined the Jazz, win games for an entire season. But how many games will the Jazz win? That’s the biggest question for every Jazz fan. This is also a question about Will Hardy. We know that Will Hardy is a good coach, but how good? Utah has accumulated the talent to be a good team, maybe very good. But can Will Hardy take them to even farther heights? In a way, the Jazz have been a little bit of a mystery these past four years. This season, the mystery is revealed.

SALT LAKE CITY, UT – JULY 7: Jaren Jackson Jr. #20 and Head Coach Will Hardy of the Utah Jazz look on during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the 2026 NBA Salt Lake City Summer League on July 7, 2026 at Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

4. Keyonte George contract season coming

Keyonte George was very much deserving of Most Improved Player consideration last season. His numbers were fantastic, and he showed that he could be the solution at guard for a long time. Now, Keyonte George is ready for an extension after this season. Utah appears to want to make sure that last season was real. If Keyonte George can take another leap in his development, he could be an All-Star next season, and maybe more. George will have to navigate playing alongside Darryn Peterson in the backcourt and the insane amount of talent between him, Darryn Peterson, Ace Bailey, Lauri Markkanen, and Jaren Jackson Jr. It’s hard to not see George not taking a leap in efficiency and earning that contract. He’s proven he can be more of a point guard if needed, and that might be the role he has to take. If he embraces that role, he’ll be a vital piece of the new contending Utah Jazz.

3. Does Ace Bailey take a leap?

Ace Bailey is looking stronger this offseason, literally.

Bailey had a solid rookie season, showing much more promise than expected. Coming into the league, the narrative on Bailey was that he’d be a selfish, inefficient chucker. Bailey was everything but that. He was an unselfish (sometimes to a fault) passer who took the right shots in the offense. He also proved to be a player with great upside defensively. He also moved on the court in a way that makes you think he has a chance to be a really special player for Utah if he can realize his potential. And that’s the thing with Bailey this season. Can he be more efficient shooting the ball, especially in catch-and-shoot situations? Can he be a consistent, high-level defender, or better? Can he also improve his handle and get to the line more? If he can do those things, Bailey has a chance to be very special for the Jazz for years and years to come.

2. Lauri Markkanen unleashed!

It’s been four seasons with Lauri Markkanen being shut down for tanking reasons. In some of those seasons, he was strategically rested or flat-out shut down for the back end. This season, there’s no leash on Markkanen. There are some questions for Markkanen, though. His shooting from three was below league average the last two seasons. Was that a result of the talent around him? The inconsistent minutes? Or is that who he is as a shooter? It seems likely that his shooting should improve with the defensive focus spread out with all the talent around him. Markkanen could be on the verge of his best season yet.

ORLANDO, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 07: Lauri Markkanen #23 of the Utah Jazz looks on against the Orlando Magic during the second half at Kia Center on February 07, 2026 in Orlando, Florida. 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 Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images

1. Darryn Peterson is here!

Get ready for an incredible ride, Jazz fans. Darryn Peterson is going to be really good, the question is, just how good? His ceiling is incredible, and we all get to see just how high it actually is. Will he be the caliber of player that can lead a team to championships? Or is he an underwhelming talent with unreached potential? Utah has built a team around him that should allow him to shine. All Peterson has to do is get on the floor and get to work. Something tells me this is about to be one of the most fun seasons we’ve ever had. Everything is frosting this season, we just get to enjoy seeing just how good Peterson, and the Jazz, are. The difference with Peterson is that the entire NBA will be watching as well. Did the Wizards make a mistake? Was Peterson the right pick? It all starts next month, and the new season can’t get here soon enough.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 22: Darryn Peterson talks with media during the 2026 NBA draft prospect availability at Lotte New York Palace on June 22, 2026 in New York City. 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 Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Posted on

Red light turned green; all systems go for Emmet Sheehan

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 7: Emmet Sheehan #80 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches in the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Dodger Stadium on September 7, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Based on tonight’s game alone, you could’ve fooled someone into believing Emmet Sheehan was the starting pitcher in this outing, putting up an All-Star season, as he led the way for a 6-3 win in his return to the bigs. With a scarcity of hits, particularly on the home side, the Dodgers saved their only home run for the most impactful of moments as Teoscar Hernández crushed a three-run bomb in the sixth, responsible for half their runs.

The Reds came into this game with a plan to keep Chase Burns on a tight leash, protecting their prized pitching asset down the stretch in a season without a postseason chase. The game tested the Reds’ resolve, with Burns smoking through the Dodgers’ lineup in three near-perfect innings—the only Dodger to get on base was Max Muncy via walk. Striking out half of the 10 batters he faced, Burns was still removed from the game after just three frames, paving the way for Brandon Williamson to operate against a lefty-heavy lineup.

Williamson picked up right where Burns left off, and a bit of luck and the right timing helped the Dodgers get on the board for the first time and, doing so, take the lead. Trailing 1-0 through the first half of this game after Elly De La Cruz’s first-inning bomb, the Dodgers had one on and two outs in the fifth, following strikeouts from Kyle Tucker and Hunter Feduccia. Alex Call was down 0-2 in the count, ready to make it three Ks when he was plunked by Williamson, who would induce a high-bouncing grounder by Miguel Rojas—that grounder rushed an errant throw from the Reds’ third baseman, allowing both runners to score.

As quickly as the Dodgers took that lead, they nearly surrendered it, with the Reds circling in the top of the sixth. Emmet Sheehan faced runners at the corners with one out and the Reds’ top two hitters up. He struck out De La Cruz, chasing well outside the zone, to reach a double-digit punchout total—tying a career high—before walking Sal Stewart to load the bases and seal his exit. With a lefty coming up, Dave Roberts made the call to the bullpen, bringing in Alex Vesia, who promptly struck out J.J. Bleday. No pitcher ever wants to hand off a free pass, but as far as they go, the one to Stewart wasn’t too bad from Sheehan, not giving up against the league leader in RBI.

Baseball has a term for a scoreless frame right after getting on the board: your traditional shutdown inning, the case for the Dodgers in the top of the sixth. It should also have a term for pouncing on that opportunity and scoring big in the next chance, something like an opportunistic inning, exactly what the Dodgers had in the bottom of the sixth. Max Muncy and Freddie Freeman worked walks off Williamson, and then the lefty-mashing skill set of Teoscar Hernández took over, putting one in the home bullpen over the left field wall to up the lead to 5-1.

This power display from Hernández was the perfect summary of a heavy three-true-outcome game, one in which both teams combined for an absurd 20 strikeouts in the first six innings alone. Emmet Sheehan (10), Chase Burns (5), Brandon Williamson (4)—basically anyone was able to induce swing-and-miss stuff consistently. Furthermore, when Eugenio Suárez took Seth Halvorsen deep for the Reds’ second solo shot to make it 5-2 in the seventh, half of the game’s six hits were home runs. What put the Dodgers in front was superior defense and an easier ability to draw walks.

The Reds don’t get to lament their lack of opportunities in this one. Pitching in the eighth, Jack Dreyer faced two on and no one out, defending a three-run lead with the heart of the Reds’ order up. Operating like someone leading by three, Dreyer punched out Stewart and allowed an RBI groundout to pinch-hitter Dane Myers, replacing Bleday, whom Terry Francona wouldn’t allow to have another lefty-lefty duel late in this game. Whatever impact that run might have had was neutralized when Will Smith pinch-hit with the bases loaded in the bottom of the frame and secured a sac fly. Any time the Reds threatened to gather some momentum, the Dodgers quickly reaffirmed their dominance in this game.

Shohei Ohtani went 0 for 3 in his first game back with a couple of strikeouts and a walk. The good news is that the lineup didn’t need him to win their fifth straight. Unlike Dreyer in the eighth, Evan Phillips had a clean ninth, securing his first save of the season.

Game particulars
  • Home runs— Teoscar Hernández (13), Eugenio Suárez (22), Elly De La Cruz (24),
  • WP— Emmet Sheehan (5-8): 5.2 IP, 3 hits, 1 earned run, 1 walk, 10 strikeouts
  • LP— Brandon Williamson (3-4): 4.1 IP, 3 hits, 6 runs, 3 earned runs, 5 walks, 4 strikeouts
  • SV—Evan Phillips (1): 1 IP, 2 strikeouts
Up next

It’s the Dodgers’ turn to deploy one of their aces on Tuesday (6:10 p.m. PT, SportsNet LA) as Tarik Skubal takes the ball, coming off his first start allowing double-digit hits in over two seasons—not that it particularly damaged his final line, allowing just two runs—with Nick Lodolo on the other side for the Reds.