Aug 16, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Philadelphia Phillies infielder Alec Bohm (28) celebrates his three-run home run against the Minnesota Twins with outfielder Brandon Marsh (16) during the sixth inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wosika-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
A sweep on the road is great, but the Phillies haven’t played particularly well at home. They need to come home and actually start taking care of business, particularly against teams like the Marlins and Cardinals. There needs to be some distance put between them and the rest of the wild card contenders.
The Detroit Tigers failed to make up ground in the American League Central race this past weekend, getting swept by the division-leading Chicago White Sox at Comerica Park after a 7-5 loss on Sunday afternoon. All series long, the Pale Hose found ways to outscore the good guys and were able to shut down the home team’s offense when it mattered most.
Next up for the Olde English D is a trip to take on its “designated interleague rivals,” the Pittsburgh Pirates, at PNC Park starting on Monday evening. Left-hander Framber Valdez will get the start in the opener looking to get back on track after a subpar showing his last time out.
The 32-year-old had thrown two straight seven-inning quality starts before facing the Cleveland Guardians in Detroit last week. Instead of maintaining that level of play, Valdez regressed, allowing four runs on six hits (one home run) and five walks while striking out three over 5 2/3 frames, hitting a batter and throwing a wild pitch to earn his eighth loss in a 6-4 final.
For the Bucs, right-hander Carmen Mlodzinski will be making his 12th start of the season as he bounces between the starter and reliever roles. The 27-year-old has struggled immensely his last two times out — both starts — to the tune of a mind-boggling 15.19 ERA and 7.02 FIP over just 5 1/3 innings of work, allowing 12 hits (one home run) and four walks while striking out just two, earning a pair of losses in the process.
Over the course of Mlodzinski’s first 11 appearances this season — which includes nine starts and all but one lasting 4 1/3 innings or more — he posted a 3.76 ERA and 3.32 FIP stretching across 55 frames of work, allowing 58 hits (three home runs) and 20 walks while striking out 46, plus a pair of hit batters. Those numbers suggest that he is much better as a starter than his most recent appearances demonstrated, but those outings were also much earlier in the season.
Last season, the Pirates swept the Tigers at PNC Park. Here is a look at Monday’s starters’ stats as Detroit looks to buck that trend this week.
Detroit Tigers (60-64) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (61-55)
Time (ET): 7:05 p.m. Place: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania SB Nation Site:Bucs Dugout Media: ESPN, Tigers Radio Network
Game 125: LHP Framber Valdez (7-8, 4.26 ERA) vs. RHP Carmen Mlodzinski (6-5, 3.79 ERA)
Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders: Suspended, 0-0 in the top of the second (game will be resumed on Sept. 1st)
2B Anthony Volpe 0-1 LF Jasson Domínguez 0-1 SS Max Schuemann 0-1
Alexander Cornielle 1 IP, 0 R, 2 K
Double-A Somerset Patriots:L, 1-7 vs. New Hampshire Fisher Cats
2B Connor McGinnis 0-3, 1 BB, 1 K, throwing and fielding errors C Omar Alfonzo 1-4, 1 RBI, 2 K SS Roderick Arias 0-4, 1 K, fielding and throwing errors 3B Coby Morales 1-4 LF Jackson Castillo 0-3, 1 BB 1B Josh Moylan 0-4 DH Manuel Palencia 0-3 CF Cole Gabrielson 0-3 RF Luis Durango 1-3, 1 R, 1 SB
Rory Fox 7 IP, 5 R, 4 ER, 9 H, 1 BB, 5 K (loss) — ate it and provided seven innings, his longest outing since getting promoted at the end of July Tony Rossi 1 IP, 0 R, 2 K Kevin Stevens 0.2 IP, 2 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K Harrison Cohen 0.1 IP, 0 R, 1 K
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - AUGUST 14: Christian Encarnacion-Strand #32 of the Baltimore Orioles celebrates with teammates in the dugout after hitting a sacrifice fly to score Tyler O'Neill #9 in the second inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on August 14, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning, Camden Chatters.
This is not a drill. As we wake up this morning, your Baltimore Orioles are currently in playoff position.
In a turn of events that would’ve been nearly impossible to believe just three days ago, the O’s have claimed a half-game lead for the third and final AL wild card spot. Yesterday, every single one of the other wild card contenders was defeated. The Rangers, who had been in possession of the third spot, lost to the Athletics. The Blue Jays lost. The Tigers lost. The Guardians lost. The Twins lost, blowing a 5-0 lead, as Dean Kremer melted down in the sixth after throwing five scoreless innings. Every one of these sub-.500 teams did their usual thing, as the staggering mediocrity of the American League has never been more apparent.
Of course, all of their competitors losing wouldn’t have made much difference if the Orioles hadn’t handled their own business. But boy, did they ever. The O’s bagged their third straight win over the Rays, and this one was an absolute beatdown, 10-2. Check out Mark Brown’s recap to soak in every glorious detail.
It was the latest incredible result in a series that has blown away the expectations of even the most optimistic Orioles fans. A mere three days ago, the O’s stumbled into Tampa Bay as a team on the brink of irrelevance. They’d just squandered a pair of opportunities to make some noise in the playoff race, losing series to two of their direct wild card opponents, the Rangers and Twins. And they were about to face a scalding hot Rays team that had the best record in the American League, the best home record in baseball, and was riding a nine-game winning streak. This could have been the series that finished off the Orioles’ 2026 playoff hopes for good.
Instead, the O’s have delivered their most impressive series performance of the season. They gutted out back-to-back, hard-fought, one-run victories in the first two games, stealing the momentum away from the Rays with quality pitching performances and a few key hits. And yesterday, the Orioles played a dominant brand of baseball that was almost unrecognizable from what we’ve seen from this team for most of the year. Their offense erupted for double-digit runs for just the eighth time in 124 games. Most impressively, for a team that has so often struggled to get timely hits, they came through in the clutch over and over again. I can’t stop being amazed by their seven-run, sixth-inning rally in which eight consecutive batters reached base after there were two outs and nobody on. A guy could get used to this.
The Orioles’ 10-game gauntlet that started last Friday, featuring two series against the Rays and one against the Yankees, is off to a sensational start. I was expecting the Orioles to go something like 3-7 during that stretch. (And technically that’s still possible, but don’t harsh my buzz, okay?) They’ve collectively stepped up their game against the toughest competition in the league, and they’re firing on all cylinders at the right time.
Not all days are going to go as perfectly as yesterday’s from here on out. It’s not often you can count on the exact combination of an Orioles win and losses for every single one of their competitors. With six teams all within 1.5 games of that third wild card spot, there’s going to be quite a bit more jostling for position before all is said and done. The only thing the Orioles can do is to keep playing good baseball and control what they can control.
The Birds have one game remaining at Tropicana Field tonight, with Tampa Bay ace Shane McClanahan coming off the IL to start the finale against the Orioles’ Brandon Young. The Rays of all teams certainly aren’t going to suffer a four-game sweep without a fight. But right now, the Orioles are playing like the kind of club that might just be able to pull it off.
Among the heroics by O’s hitters yesterday were Jackson Holliday’s left-on-left RBI single and Colton Cowser’s left-on-left two-run homer. Are the Orioles actually…good against lefties now?
The Orioles’ lineup is showing signs of life, and they’ll be getting a massive upgrade real soon. No offense, Carlos Narváez, but you, well, provide no offense.
Probably yes, sorry. That doesn’t mean we can’t have some good times along the way.
Orioles birthdays and history
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! And happy 85th birthday to Orioles Hall of Famer and eponymous barbecue master Boog Powell. The left-handed slugger bashed 303 homers in his 14-year Baltimore career, third-most in franchise history, and is one of just four Orioles to tally more than 1,000 RBIs. Powell was named the AL MVP in 1970 after hitting .297/.412/.549 with 35 homers and 114 RBIs, and was an integral part of the Birds’ World Series championships in 1966 and 1970. Enjoy your day, Boog!
Other former Orioles with Aug. 17 birthdays include left-hander Chris Waters (46) and the late righties John Buzhardt (b. 1936, d. 2008) and Vern Bickford (b. 1920, d. 1960). Bickford, a former Brooklyn Dodgers All-Star, pitched a single game for the inaugural 1954 Orioles.
On this date in 1989, Cal Ripken Jr. played his 1,208th consecutive game, passing Steve Garvey for the third longest streak in major league history. Spoiler: he ended up getting a lot further than that.
In 1999, O’s lefty Jesse Orosco broke Dennis Eckersley’s MLB record by pitching in his 1,072nd career game, retiring the one Twins batter he faced. Orosco, who ultimately pitched until he was 46 years old, finished his career with 1,252 appearances, still the most in major league history.
And in 2009, the Orioles traded Aubrey Huff to the Tigers, a prime example of addition by subtraction. Even better, the prospect they got for him, Brett Jacobson, was one of two players the O’s later traded for eventual Orioles Hall of Famer J.J. Hardy.
Random Orioles game of the day
On Aug. 17, 1958, the Orioles eked out a 2-1 win over the Washington Senators at Memorial Stadium. O’s right-hander Connie Johnson, a former Negro Leagues star, went the distance with a three-hit, one-run complete game, the 54th (and final) of his career. Johnson also helped his own cause by hitting a sacrifice fly, and Gene Woodling drove in the other O’s run with a first-inning RBI single.
Sunday’s we-have-Tarik-Skubal-and-you-don’t game against the Brewers — Milwaukee also sought his services but refused, reportedly, to part with winning pitcher Logan Henderson in a deal — didn’t go as planned for the Dodgers.
Skubal threw a career-high 109 pitches through six innings, gave up two runs and took the loss for the second time in three starts with the Dodgers, who were trailing 2-1 when he left the game.
Skubal is new here and it’s already a familiar story: They trailed 2-1 when he left the game after six innings in his debut and they were down 3-2 when he exited after five innings in his second start with the club.
It’s not personal. The Dodgers have scored the sixth-fewest runs (50) in baseball this month, when they’ve gone 5-10. They have an OPS of .672, which is 21st in baseball in that span.
They’re not just scuffling, they’re sleepwalking, this team that previously had a .773 OPS through the end of July.
They’re getting every team’s best shot, as they knew they would, and they’re ... shrugging.
Freddie Freeman reacts to hitting a foul ball during the ninth inning of the Dodgers' 6-2 loss to the Brewers on Sunday. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)
“The results are hard,” manager Dave Roberts said. “Hitting’s hard. But I do think that fighting and winning pitches, spoiling pitches, that’s care, hunger.
“That’s the reason why you look at four and a half months in a season, the Brewers have outscored us. It’s a team that’s young and hungry. It’s certainly not talent. I say this because, this has been four, five, six weeks of below-average production from our offense. It’s the truth.”
Presumably, when the games mean more and the three-peat-dreaming Dodgers — who scored only 10 runs in four games against the Brewers, three of which they lost — will care enough to wake up.
It’s just that it’ll take more, apparently, for the Dodgers to stop hitting the snooze button and start hitting the baseball than the prospect of locking up a potential tiebreaker against the Milwaukee Brewers on a pleasant Sunday afternoon at Dodger Stadium.
Clearly it’ll take more, too, than wanting to make a good first impression on Skubal, the two-time Cy Young-award winner and free agent-to-be.
The Dodgers acquired Skubal in an abundantly predictable bombshell trade with the Detroit Tigers in exchange for a trio of prospects, wanting to test the idiom that a ballclub can never have enough pitching.
His new colleagues haven’t done anything to make him miss his best friends on the Detroit Tigers any less, but Skubal hasn’t exactly issued a dominant first impression, either.
It hasn’t been the nightmare pairing so many predicted — at least not for opponents.
In each start, Skubal has been inefficient, he’s been searching for his command. In his 17 innings over three games in Dodger blue, he’s given up 15 hits and seven runs (six earned), 19 strikeouts and six walks.
So, yeah, we can totally table the debate about who should be the Dodgers’ first starter in the postseason: In Yoshinobu Yamamoto we trust.
But credit Skubal for gritting it out each time, keeping the Dodgers in those three games against the Chicago Cubs, the Kansas City Royals and Brewers.
On Sunday, after settling down in the third and fourth innings, he went back to work in the sixth inning, fired up — and struck out the side with the help of a 99-mph fastball and sinker.
Dodgers pitcher Tarik Skubal yells into his glove while walking off the field during the fifth inning against the Brewers on Sunday. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)
“I was just frustrated with the pitch count through five,” Skubal said. “I’m glad Doc gave me an opportunity to go back out there for the sixth, just save some innings from the bullpen.
“My last outing was five. The one before that was six. That’s just, it’s not acceptable. It’s not the standard of what I think I’m capable of in this league. So, you know, I just need to be better.”
So too do the Dodgers’ big name free-agent signings from last offseason: $240-million man Kyle Tucker went 0 for 19 on the homestand and dropped a ball in right field Sunday; high-profile closer Edwin Díaz is making every save opportunity a high-wire tightrope act, blowing three opportunities in his past five appearances.
Maybe there’s a lesson there: Buyer beware?
Still, Roberts likes what he’s learned about Skubal so far.
“Wants to win; prepared; great competitor,” Roberts said. “We certainly haven’t seen his best yet, but man, it feels good every time he’s out there. It really does.
“I just still don’t think we’ve seen his best, which is a good thing for us.”
If Skubal can fight to get up off this floor — if that is what this is, the low point for both the pitcher and his new club — L.A. will love him for it.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 16: Logan Henderson #43 of the Milwaukee Brewers celebrates after fielding a ball hit by Kyle Tucker #23 of the Los Angeles Dodgers and then forcing him out at first base to end the seventh inning at Dodger Stadium on August 16, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Last Week’s Results
Monday: Padres 3, Brewers 2
Tuesday: Padres 11, Brewers 2
Wednesday: Padres 4, Brewers 3
Thursday: Brewers 5, Dodgers 4
Friday: Dodgers 3, Brewers 1
Saturday: Brewers 4, Dodgers 1
Sunday: Brewers 6, Dodgers 2
Division Standings
Brewers 77-48
Cubs 72-53 (5.0 GB)
Cardinals 63-61 (13.5 GB)
Pirates 61-65 (16.5 GB)
Reds 59-64 (17.0 GB)
Last Week
Brewers: 3-4
Cubs: 3-3
Cardinals: 4-2
Pirates: 3-3
Reds: 3-3
Top Pitching Performance of the Week
If it’s one thing the Brewers will be consistent at, it’s pitching. This week, they desperately needed it as they completed the final stretch of 17 games in a row. After being swept by the Padres, which featured a pair of games where the bullpen fell apart, the pitching staff was lights out against the Dodgers. Of course, the series with the Dodgers was critical, as it will likely determine a number of playoff scenarios.
Even though there are a few different performances we could choose this week, it’s clear that there’s one that stands alone, and it was Logan Henderson’s seven-inning masterpiece to silence the Dodgers. While the headlines were about Tarik Skubal, Logan Henderson, and the trade that never was, Henderson dominated to secure the tiebreaker over the Dodgers, and helped create a nice cushion for the best record in baseball. Henderson threw seven innings of three-hit ball, allowing one run, one walk, and striking out six.
Top Hitting Performance of the Week
There’s no team more thankful than the Brewers to have finally finished up their last West Coast trip of the regular season. Furthermore, there’s no doubt that this past week featured one of the roughest showings of the offense all season. So, picking who had the best hitting performance of the week wasn’t easy, but Jake Bauers certainly eased any troubling thoughts with his four-hit performance in the series finale against the Dodgers. Bauers was the heart and soul of the offense in the series against the Dodgers, with the go-ahead hit on Thursday night to go with that four-hit day on Sunday. His double, three singles, walk, and two RBIs propelled the Brewers to a 6-2 victory.
Some honorable mentions for top hitting performances of the week:
Jackson Chourio quietly had a solid week with a pair of three-hit performances on Monday and Sunday.
William Contreras perhaps earns the biggest honorable mention of the season with his two-hit outing to snap his 0-for-20 streak, including a two-run homer.
Injury Notes & Roster Moves
Brice Turang continues to be day-to-day, as he was out of the lineup for a fourth straight game on Sunday. He hopes to return to the lineup in the series opener against the Mariners on Tuesday.
Sal Frelick is eyeing his return sometime in the near future as he recovers from a right shoulder sprain. He played four games as part of his rehab assignment in Nashville and hit a three-run home run on August 14.
Abner Uribe hit the injured list with a right forearm flexor strain and isn’t expected to be back until the end of the month. Grant Anderson was recalled from Triple-A to replace Uribe.
Cooper Pratt looks to begin a rehab assignment as soon as Tuesday, according to Pat Murphy, and we could see him return in the next couple of weeks.
Newly acquired JoJo Romero threw his second bullpen a couple of days ago and is expected to make his Brewers debut sometime in the next two weeks.
Jihwan Bae was designated for assignment on Saturday as the Brewers acquired Jonathan Ornelas for cash from the A’s. Ornelas got the start on Saturday and Sunday.
Lyon Richardson, who was designated for assignment earlier in the week, re-signed to a minor league contract and was assigned to Triple-A Nashville.
Bryse Wilson, who was also designated for assignment, refused his assignment to Triple-A Nashville before signing another contract. He’s back in Milwaukee’s bullpen.
Drew Rom, who was designated for assignment last weekend, was claimed off waivers and acquired by the A’s.
On Deck
Monday: Off Day
Tuesday: vs. Mariners (6:40 p.m.)
Wednesday: vs. Mariners (6:40 p.m.)
Thursday: vs. Mariners (1:10 p.m.)
Friday: vs. Braves (3:10 p.m.)
Saturday: vs. Braves (1:10 p.m.)
Sunday: vs. Braves (6:10 p.m.) — MLB Little League Classic in Williamsport, PA
SAN ANTONIO, TX - MARCH 12: David Robinson attends the game between the Houston Rockets and the San Antonio Spurs on March 12, 2024 at the Frost Bank Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photos by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Long time fans of the San Antonio Spurs know that David Robinson has a gift for music. Back in 1989, he sang backup along with Sean Elliott, Willie Anderson, and Johnny Moore on Terry Cumming’s “It’s That Christmas Time of Year.” As local music legend Joe Reyes recalled, Robinson adeptly played the keyboard while in the studio as well.
Does anyone have information on how this happened? The room looks like a hotel of sorts. I just can’t image how a group of coeds lured one of the greatest basketball players to sit in with their jazz combo. I’m dying to know the back story.
If you know, please share.
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In this death march of a Major League Baseball season, the term “meaningful series” can mean just about anything you want.
And as another week of quasi-important games get underway, two distinct categories – tightly bunched playoff teams collide vs. two actually good squads measure up against each other – are well in play.
A fun and relevant crosstown rivalry and a handful of key intra-divisional squabbles mark a week that probably won’t bring any clarity to a playoff quagmire that’s still six weeks from getting settled. But here’s five series worth watching this coming week:
Key matchup: Wednesday – Marlins RH Sandy Alcantara vs. Phillies RH Aaron Nola
Outlook: Just when you think the Phillies are in real trouble, they patch together enough sentient baseball to assure rational onlookers that they’ll be OK. For now, anyway. A sweep of the Twins contested between Iowa and Minnesota did the lads some good, but now here’s the Marlins, who have split 10 games with Philly this year. You know what that means: The winner of this series wins the season series – and the tiebreaker should the teams finish with the same record. And with the Marlins just three games behind the Phillies, that’s a distinct possibility. Who’da thunk that back in April?
Outlook: They call this the Crosstown Something-Or-Other, but there’s not much you need to know: North Side vs. South Side, bleacher bros vs. hard-bitten ChiSox fans. Fairly self-explanatory. A little crazy to think this could be a World Series preview, but it’s not totally far-fetched. The White Sox’s sweep of Detroit last weekend gave them a 5½-game edge in the AL Central and should they hold on to win it, a first-round bye would almost certainly come with it. The White Sox, a first-round bye. Wild times. Meanwhile, the Cubs fortified themselves nicely at the trade deadline, and no pickup might’ve been bigger than Holmes, who pitched 6⅓ innings of one-hit ball in his first start at Wrigley.
Key matchup: Wednesday – Diamondbacks RH Brandon Pfaadt vs. Red Sox LH Payton Tolle
Outlook: Probably the last team the Red Sox needed to see. Arizona comes in winners of 11 of its last 18 games, just took two of three from NL power Atlanta and is in an NL wild-card dogfight. Meanwhile, Boston seems a bit hung over from its wild 31-4 run to climb out of the cellar and into the No. 2 wild card spot. Not saying the Red Sox won’t get well. Just saying it will be difficult to do against the always pesky D-backs.
Outlook: The Orioles have been in the left-for-dead file for a few weeks now, but taking three over the weekend at Tampa Bay (they finish the four-game wraparound Monday) revived their hopes significantly. And, you guessed it, they’re now one game out of playoff position (Isn’t everybody?). Outfielder Tyler O’Neill has an .861 OPS since the All-Star break, while the rest of the lineup seemed invigorated with the move of Gunnar Henderson from leadoff to fifth. The Yankees have been wobbling but upright as they await returns of Cody Bellinger (off on a rehab assignment Thursday) and Aaron Judge (hey, at least he’s playing catch).
When: Friday-Sunday, Miller Park/Williamsport, Pa.
Key matchup: Saturday – Braves LH Martín Pérez vs. Brewers RH Jacob Misiorowski
Outlook: Take these regular season “showdowns” with a grain of salt, as we’re sure the Brewers do. They just took three of four from the Dodgers, yet realize they went 6-0 against L.A. last year only to go 0-4 against them in the NLCS. Still, it’ll be a fun matchup and always appointment viewing when The Miz makes his weekly appointment on the mound. Just a bummer the Brewers will miss Chris Sale, though they probably aren’t fretting.
Steph Curry is the greatest shooter that basketball has ever seen, and arguably one of the best players of all time. But, according to former Warriors teammate Klay Thompson, Curry has a hidden off-the-court trait that makes him a one-of-a-kind individual.
“He has a very eclectic musical taste,” Thompson said. “Him and the kids and Ayesha are a very musical. He is in tune with his rhythm, he’s a good dancer and decent singer. I won’t say that he has a great voice… he’s a huge Paramore fan, I’ve seen him on stage singing with them. His musical taste will shock people.”
Curry, who has several ventures outside of basketball, including his media empire– SC30– has evolved into one of the most marketable athletes in the world. But Curry’s love for music and his fandom of Paramore is part of what makes him unique, and entering his 18th NBA season, it is highly likely that he is starting to think about life outside of basketball.
In 2023, a video surfaced of Curry at a Paramore concert, and after going up on stage, he started singing along and getting the crowd into it. As an icon in the Bay Area, Curry showing a different side of himself and interacting with people through music gives a different perspective into the four-time NBA champion’s lifestyle and ability to connect with the city.
he knows every word. he sounds amazing. steph curry is a paramore fan, this is too much for my heart i simply must ascend to another plane of existence now pic.twitter.com/xZTSiqfW7a
But for now, Curry’s focus remains on the court where the goal this year is simple: Bring the Warriors back into championship contention.
After a rough couple of years, including missing the playoffs last season, Curry and the Warriors are gearing up for the 2026-27 NBA campaign eager to bounce back. Golden State opens training camp in late September, and begins its regular season on the road against the Los Angeles Lakers on Oct. 21.
The Northampton fighter on beating Katie Taylor, facing Mikaela Mayer and why women’s boxing needs three-minute rounds
Less than two weeks before her world title unification bout against Mikaela Mayer, in a potential fight of the year for women’s boxing, Chantelle Cameron’s memory carries a quietly shocking force. “I was 14 and doing a psychology GCSE when my teacher spoke to me in front of the whole class,” Cameron says. “I don’t know why because I wasn’t a naughty kid. But he just turned round and said I’m going to end up stacking shelves in Tesco with two kids by the time I’m 16. On the inside I was like: ‘Wow. Did he really say that?’”
Cameron is the only woman to have beaten the great Katie Taylor as a pro and she has become a passionate advocate for elite female boxers and their right to fight three-minute rounds – so much so that, last year, she gave up her WBC world title because the sanctioning body suggested women weren’t strong enough to box more than two-minute rounds. She will now defend her WBO world super-welterweight title a week on Saturday against Mayer, the experienced WBC belt-holder.
Don't like your team very much this season? Just wait a week.
So it goes in the slog known as the 2026 Major League Baseball season, where nobody's really out of it and anyone can get back in it just by winning a few games.
They dealt away starter Dustin May and reliever JoJo Romero and respected outfielder Lars Nootbaar at the trade deadline and promptly won four consecutive series and eight of their past 12 games. That's lifted them above .500 and within three games of a playoff spot.
Talk about addition by, well, addition: Nootbaar's trade helped open some space for rookie Joshua Báez, who merely had the greatest debut in major league history. Phenom? He is now, it seems.
As such, the Cardinals have leaped three spots in USA TODAY Sports' power rankings, with more upward mobility in the offing. They have eight games this week, including a five-gamer against the Cincinnati Reds, against whom they've won five of eight. They head to Philadelphia next weekend, by which time they could possibly climb into playoff position with a good series against the Phillies.
Or not. Twenty-four of 30 teams are living week-to-week, and there's no telling how the road ahead may treat the Cardinals. For now, it's good living.
Just six more weeks remain in the Major League Baseball regular season, and there's still so much to be decided.
The Tampa Bay Rays, Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers seem to have their divisions well in hand, but any winning or losing streak among the rest of the playoff contenders could shake things up in a major way.
Of course, the wild-card races will be the focus of attention down the stretch, with the second and third spots in each league seemingly changing hands on a daily basis.
Here's where things stand in the American and National League playoff races as the new week gets underway.
Current MLB playoff picture
All records and stats are as of the start of play on Monday, Aug. 17.
The division winners with the two best records in each league earn byes into the division series. Currently, the top seeds are the Tampa Bay Rays and Chicago White Sox in the AL, and the Milwaukee Brewers and Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL.
The third division winner in each league will have home field advantage in their division series and will host the wild-card team with the worst record. Three teams in each league qualify for wild-card playoff berths.
Note: If two or more teams tie for a division title or a wild-card spot. Ties are broken by head-to-head record first, followed by intradivision record. Beyond that, things can get complicated.
Boston Celtics player-coach Bill Russell and guard Emmette Bryant (7) celebrate after the Celtics defeated the Los Angeles Lakers, 108-106, to capture their 11th NBA championship.
The 10-time champion Boston Celtics entered the 1968-69 season with very few expectations. They were an aging group, with five of their nine core players age 30 or older. Their rivals were younger and getting better. The Los Angeles Lakers had traded for Wilt Chamberlain to team with Jerry West and Elgin Baylor, three of the greatest ever. No one was predicting the Celtics would get anywhere near the NBA Finals, much less win it.
But as it turned out, the 1969 NBA Finals were the most astounding, incredible, thrilling, unexpected, stunning, and for Celtics fans, glorious Finals perhaps in the entire history of the league.
<p>Boston’s player-coach Bill Russell blocks a shot by Keith Erickson as the Celtics defeat the Lakers, 108-106, in Game 7 of the 1969 NBA Finals.</p>
The regular season
The NBA had 14 teams now, and the Celtics finished the regular season at 48-34 for fourth place in the East. Sam Jones announced before opening night that this would be his last season. (Spoiler: He did not go out quietly.) Though no one knew it yet, player-coach Bill Russell would also be saying goodbye.
Before the season, Boston acquired two former New York Knicks who found minutes in the rotation. Jim Barnes, the 1964 no. 1 overall pick, had the role of backup center to Russell. Emmette Bryant, a reserve guard, was more of a factor. The Knicks gave him to Phoenix in an expansion draft, then Phoenix gave him to the Celtics for just a second-round pick. But with Boston, Bryant appeared in 80 games and surprisingly became the starting point guard in the postseason.
The Celtics regular season wasn’t special, mostly short winning streaks that were offset by short losing streaks. However, when the playoffs began, they were ready to pull it all together.
Eastern playoffs
The Sixers weren’t the same team without Chamberlain. Philly finished the regular season seven games ahead of Boston, but postseason was a different story. The Celtics won the first three games (two of them in Philadelphia) and closed out a gentleman’s sweep with a 93-90 Game 5 win, also on the road.
After dominating the season series, 6-1, Willis Reed, Walt Frazier and the Knicks thought they were ready to bring down the Celtics in the East Finals. In reality, they were not. The Cs won Game 1 in Madison Square Garden, 108-100, with Bryant posting 13 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists against his former team. Boston then won Game 2 at home, 112-97, and closed out the series in six with home wins of 97-96 and 106-105. Bryant played 42 minutes in Game 6, torched New York with 8 of 14 shooting, and outscored Knicks star Walt Frazier, 19 to 17.
NBA Finals
Celtics vs. Lakers in the NBA Finals, for the seventh time since Bill Russell arrived in Boston. In the 1980s, this was the dream matchup for fans, media members, and TV executives looking at their viewer ratings. It couldn’t get any bigger or better than that.
But in 1969? The NBA didn’t have that sort of status yet. The Lakers had yet to beat Boston at that point, so there was no historic rivalry to hype. In fact, Games 1 and 2 were not televised nationally, and they were not even shown in the Boston area!
It’s true. Celtics fans in Massachusetts and throughout New England were not able to watch their team play for the 1969 league championship. As explained in “Tall Men, Short Shorts,” a book about this Finals written by retired Boston Globe sports reporter and columnist Leigh Montville, the ABC network would televise the Finals nationally, but not until Game 5. Channel 38 in Boston was the Celtics’ home station, but they skipped West Coast games – even the Finals – due to high costs of production.
Don Nelson had the strangest free throw technique, but his shots went in 76% of the time. His basket late in Game 7 clinched Banner 11. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1967 NBAE (Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Also, Games 3 and 4 were seen only by fans who were present in the Boston Garden. They weren’t on Boston TVs because home games were blacked out “to protect ticket sales.” We had the great Johnny Most on the radio to call the games, but even now it is hard to believe that nothing was worked out to solve this problem. Fans who didn’t or couldn’t buy tickets were denied the ability to watch unforgettable hoops action, and the NBA forfeited a huge opportunity to promote its product. Obviously, that was a far, far different world than we live in now.
Game 1
The opening game set the tone for the series, and that tone was “WOW!” The score at the end of each quarter was no more than two points difference. According to a game report in the press, the lead changed hands 27 times and the score was tied 14 times. Most team stats were virtually even. Both teams took exactly 100 shots. Five players on each team scored in double figures. Chamberlain unofficially blocked 13 shots.
Havlicek led the way for Boston with 37 points, 12 rebounds and four assists. But even he couldn’t match Jerry West, who was in a zone: 21 of 41 shooting (remember, no three-point shot yet), 11 of 13 free throws, 53 points. And 10 assists to go with that.
The final score was Lakers 120, Celtics 118. A very tough loss for Boston, unless your viewpoint is the Lakers got the best game they could expect from West, yet were down after three quarters and had to win the fourth just to take the game by two points.
Game 2
Another heartbreaker for the Celtics. They led most of the way and were still up by four with four minutes left. A brief cold spell shooting opened the door for the Lakers to tie the score. After some trading of baskets, it was 112-112 in the final minute. From there, Elgin Baylor was fouled three times, the last two intentionally. With the Celtics in the penalty, he shot six free throws and made them all. Lakers 118, Boston 112.
Baylor scored 18 in the fourth quarter and 32 for the night. West was once again in another world with 41 points on 12 of 22 and 17 of 20 free throws. But Havlicek took the top spot with 43 points (15 of 27 FGs and 13 of 14 at the line). Chamberlain oddly tallied only four points. LA took 20 more free throws than Boston.
The 1969 Finals was the last of eight playoff battles between Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain. (Photo by George Long/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
Being down 2-0 is not quite as dangerous as down 3-1, but it’s a deep hole to climb out of. Boston had never even been behind 2-0 in Russell’s career. Game 3 at home was an absolute must-win, and honestly, so was Game 4.
Game 3
Now at home, the Celtics almost turned the game into a blowout with a 57-40 first half. But…it’s the NBA, so the score was tied 78-78 after three quarters. Momentum is powerful in the league, but can change sides in a blink. So, Havlicek and Larry Siegfried combined for 24 points in the fourth, the Celtics retook the lead and were not threatened again.
West and Baylor proved to be mortals, scoring 24 and 11, respectively. On the Boston side, Havlicek continued his assault with 34 points, 13 rebounds and 7 assists. Siegfried went for 28 points, his career playoff high.
Game 4
This game was low-scoring simply because no one except West (40 points, 15 of 30 FGs, 10 of 10 FTs) could make a shot. By game’s end, LA had made 39.3% and Boston, despite desperately needing to win, was a hideous 31.6%.
Regardless, in the final half-minute of the game, the Lakers were ahead 88-87 with the ball. Bailey Howell and Emmette Bryant double-teamed LA guard Johnny Egan, Bryant slapped the ball away, and Sam Jones picked it up. His shot bounced away but in a scramble it went out of bounds and was awarded to the home team.
In the timeout, coach Russell called for a triple screen to free Jones for the game-winner. It was a play used by college teammates Havlicek and Siegfried (“the Bouncing Buckeyes from Ohio State,” as Johnny Most called them). The Celtics had practiced it but never used it in a game.
<p>Boston’s Sam Jones drives on LA’s Jerry West (44) in the 1969 Finals. Jones saved the season in Game 4. (Photo by George Long /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)</p>
The next seven seconds will probably determine the NBA championship. If the ball goes in, its 2-2 and the season is saved. If not, it’s 3-1 Lakers, and how many times can the Celts pull off that comeback?
Turning point
As the play begins, referee Mendy Rudolph goofs up and throws the ball to the defender, disrupting the inbounds pass timing. But the Celtics keep going, Sam curls behind the screen and gets the pass, but slips a bit and is off-balance when he shoots. He says later that he hoped to get the ball on the rim for Russell to rebound, then is informed that the big center had subbed out for a better free-throw shooter.
But luck always seemed to be with Boston during Russell’s years. This was a Sam Jones clutch shot, enough said. The ball hit the rim, caromed up and bounced gently around the cylinder like a roulette ball dropping into place on the spinning wheel. It fell through the net into Chamberlain’s hands, and his scowl was pure art to Celtics fans.
<p>Wilt Chamberlain (13) grimaces as Sam Jones’ winning basket drops through the net with one second left in Game 4 at the Boston Garden.</p>
Game 5
This one was drama-free, unlike every other game so far. West had 39 points and nine assists, as the Lakers slowly built their lead by a few points at the end of each quarter. Final: 117-104. LA had preserved home court advantage and would go back to Boston needing just one more win to capture the elusive championship.
But that wasn’t the headline. West injured a hamstring muscle and his status for Game 6 and possibly Game 7 was very much in doubt. The next game was only two days away, not much time to heal, and with a cross-country flight in the mix.
Ticket stub for Game 6, the last time Bill Russell and Sam Jones played in Boston. The price (obscured) was $6.00.
Game 6
It was a win-or-go-home game for the Celtics, down 3-2 in the series. In hindsight, Boston had that one all the way, building a 17-point lead after three and coasting to a 99-90 final. They couldn’t let the season end at home, or without a win for no. 24.
This was Sam Jones’ last home game before retirement, and he received a long and heartfelt standing ovation during player introductions. He didn’t have the best shooting day, scoring just nine points in 14 minutes with foul trouble. But everyone knew they wouldn’t be sitting in the building that day if not for his Game 4 finish.
Don Nelson took the scoring honors with 25 points and nine rebounds off the bench. Emmette Bryant had a big day with 18 points, nine rebounds and five assists. Jerry West played through his hamstring injury; he and Elgin Baylor each scored 26 points.
“Never in my life have I been so sure that we’d win.”
JERRY WEST
Game 7
You don’t get to be a dynasty without winning some battles against all odds. That’s where the Celtics found themselves on this night in Los Angeles. Lakers owner Jack Kent Cooke was so certain of victory that he planned a postgame celebration that included a marching band, a victory cake and a balloon drop from the rafters. According to legend, when the Celtics learned of this plan and looked up to the ceiling, Bill Russell told the team, “There’s no bleeping way those balloons are coming down.”
Boston immediately took the lead on Havlicek’s jumper off the opening tip. The first half was close but at halftime it was 59-56, Boston. It was tied in the third quarter when Boston ran off 12 straight points. LA missed 16 consecutive shots. Even West, who would play all 48 minutes and provide a 42/13/12 triple-double, was no help. The Celtics led by 15 with 12 minutes left, and 17 when Bailey Howell hit a jumper with 10 minutes on the clock.
With about five minutes to play, Chamberlain suffered an injury to his knee. He limped off and was replaced by former Celtic Mel Counts, who was traded for Howell three years before. Counts starting making baskets and the Lakers were catching up while Boston suddenly was ice cold. LA ran off 10 straight points and the visitors’ lead was just 103-102 with still 2:30 left.
Meanwhile, Chamberlain told Lakers coach Butch van Breda Kolff he was okay to check back in. For whatever reason, the coach refused. They argued, but Wilt never returned. Controversy ensued and, unsurprisingly, van Breda Kolff was soon the ex-coach.
On the court, both teams missed shots and chances to get separation, and the score didn’t change – until the Celtics almost turned the ball over, but a fortunate bounce went to Don Nelson. The rim provided an even better bounce. Just watch.
That fluky hoop was the backbreaker for the Lakers’ hopes and momentum. Siegfried was fouled and swished two free throws for a five-point margin, LA scored a meaningless layup at the buzzer, and it was over, 108-106. Banner 11 was in hand.
It was over when…
Pregame: the balloon plan was revealed.
In the last two minutes: the moment Nelson’s lucky bounce came down.
The heroes we needed
Havlicek scored 26, Jones 24, and Nelson 16.
Russell totaled 21 rebounds and a team-high six assists.
Emmette Bryant, who an expansion team didn’t want, and who came to Boston with just nine games of playoff experience, started Game 7, played 42 minutes, and scored a career postseason high of 20 points.
Notable facts and stats
For the second straight year, Russell and the Celtics beat Chamberlain and his favored powerhouse team on the road in a Game 7.
With the Game 7 win, Russell became the only player-coach and first black coach to win two championships.
Rookie Don Chaney didn’t play much but won a ring, later became the starting guard known for his defense, won a second ring in 1974, and retired after the 1979-80 season. He is the only player who was a teammate of both Bill Russell and Larry Bird, the two greatest Celtics.
Bryant and Barnes became the latest ex-Knicks to sign with Boston late in their careers and win a ring in the Russell years. Preceding them were Carl Braun, Willie Naulls and Clyde Lovellette.
Department of They Really Did That?: Jerry West had a brilliant series, averaging 37.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 7.4 assists. He was chosen as the first-ever NBA Finals MVP, despite losing.
And finally, farewell Bill Russell
During the summer, Sports Illustrated published an article in which Russell announced his retirement from playing and coaching. After 11 titles in 13 seasons, the Russell era in Boston was over. There will never again be anything like it. Before we leave this part of the Banner Years series, here are a few more moments of joy, including the entire Game 7 fourth quarter TV broadcast.
Banner Years continues tomorrow with a review of the 1973-74 season and the road to winning Banner #12.
TORONTO, ON - AUGUST 16: José Caballero #72 of the New York Yankees celebrates with teammate Heliot Ramos #34 after scoring a run in the third inning during the game between the New York Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on Sunday, August 16, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Colton Hall/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Yankees got a much-needed reprieve in their series finale against Toronto, winning an extra-inning affair on the road for the first time in ages. Ben Rice reprieved himself of his error earlier in the ninth inning that allowed the Jays to tie the game up by launching a two-run homer in the 10th, providing just enough of a cushion to survive the bottom half. They’ll enter an off day before continuing their road trip in Baltimore, needing better results than the two of three they ultimately dropped against Toronto, but the O’s have entered the conversation as a playoff “contender” (if you can call a team under .500 that) by claiming sole possession of the third Wild Card.
While we don’t have any Yankees baseball being played, we’ve got plenty to go over on the site. Jonathan starts us off with a look back at Aaron Boone’s five most memorable ejections in honor of him collecting his 50th career ejection. Kevin has a double-feature, first covering the Rivalry Roundup and then reliving some of Jorge Posada’s most iconic moments on his 56th birthday. Estevão looks into how Ryan Weathers has been able to ditch the four-seamer thanks to his sinker excelling, and later on I’ll be back to open up the mailbag for your latest questions.
Today’s Matchup:
Off-day
Questions/Prompts:
1. How badly did Ben Rice need that two-run home run yesterday?
2. How insane is it that Baltimore is currently holding a playoff spot? Will the third Wild Card race ever get unclogged from mediocrity?
ANAHEIM - JULY 11: Bo Jackson #16 of the Kansas City Royals plays in the Major League Baseball All-Star Game on July 11, 1989 at Anaheim Stadium in Anaheim, California. Jackson was named MVP of the game. (Photo by David Madison/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Michael Jordan played in the NBA for 15 seasons between 1984 and 2003, and was widely considered one of the greatest athletes of his generation. But he wasn’t the best.
His professional baseball career started in 1986, and his NFL career in 1987.
His career – both of them – were full of legendary moments. Negro Leagues legend Buck O’Neill said that when Jackson hit the ball, he connected with a ferocity that he had only ever heard from two players: Babe Ruth and Josh Gibson.
Then there was the wall running and the insane passes.
In football, he pancaked Brian Bosworth so ferociously that it destroyed Bosworth’s reputation.
But there are more stories, as we learn in this video with Jeff Pearlman. There are several interesting anecdotes, but the one that blows us away is him hitting a fly ball so high that he nearly reached third base before it came down. Several people verify this, including one of the opponents.
Pearlman calls him the greatest athlete of all time, and, really, it’s hard to argue.
