Team principal has turned Williams around in a short space of time and is looking to 2026 for a serious title charge
Finding themselves fighting off Ferrari and mauling the midfield, these are heady times for a resurgent Williams. The team principal James Vowles has engineered an extraordinary comeback but this year’s progress is likely to be just the start for a team determined to return to the heights of Formula One, which they once dominated.
That Williams’ form has changed drastically could not have been clearer than at the Miami GP. Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz were in a fight with the Ferraris of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, the Scuderia finding themselves at one point trying to catch Albon, who took fifth place and at the same time fending off a charging Sainz.
Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts will not play against the New York Yankees this weekend after sustaining a fractured toe. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts will not start in any of this weekend’s games against the New York Yankees after sustaining a fractured toe this week, but the team is hopeful he will be able to avoid a stint on the injured list.
Betts told the Times on Friday night that he fractured his toe at home this week, after the Dodgers returned from a road trip on Wednesday night.
“I was just going to the bathroom in the dark and hit my toe on a wall,” he said.
The Dodgers were originally still planning to have Betts in the lineup Friday for their series opener against the New York Yankees, but he was ultimately scratched after his toe continued to give him problems before the game.
Despite the diagnosis, Roberts and Betts said they were confident the former MVP wouldn’t be out more than a few days.
“I know it’s at the tip of his toe, so it’s going to be one of those situations [that is] per his [pain] tolerance,” Roberts said. “I don’t expect an IL. We’ll probably have him down for the series and hopefully he’ll be available to hit in a big spot. And then we’ll kind of see. But I think for me right now it’s just day to day.”
“It’s just pain,” Betts added. “Get the swelling out, it’ll be all right.”
Betts had started in each of the Dodgers' past 20 games, and appeared in each of their last 51 overall, having not missed any time since recovering from a two-week stomach virus at the start of the season.
While his defense had been much-improved during his second season as the club’s everyday shortstop, the 32-year-old was struggling at the plate, batting just .254 on the season with eight home runs, 31 RBIs and a .742 OPS.
In Betts’ absence on Friday, veteran Miguel Rojas took over at shortstop. Tommy Edman and Hyeseong Kim are also options to fill in for Betts at shortstop over the rest of the weekend.
“I’m gonna be all right,” Betts said. “It is what it is.”
Saigo leads at 8 under after six birdies in strong round
Korda shoots 67, tied second in best U.S. Open showing
Kim, Shibuno among six chasing as play halts at sunset
Mao Saigo already won her first major title this year. She’s putting herself in position for another at US Women’s Open.
Saigo shot a 6-under 66 on Friday to take second-round lead at Erin Hills. At 8-under 136, the 23-year-old Japanese player had a three-stroke advantage over a group of six led by top-ranked Nelly Korda.
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani hits a solo home run off New York Yankees starting pitcher Max Fried during the sixth inning of an 8-5 Dodgers win Friday at Dodger Stadium. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)
But, in the opening game of a World Series rematch at Chavez Ravine on Friday night, the Dodgers mounted a sixth-inning rally against the New York Yankees that carried its own profound importance.
The only real difference: They didn’t need the Yankees' help to do it.
Seven months to the day since the Dodgers’ historic comeback against the New York Yankees in last year’s World Series finale — when three Yankees errors keyed an infamous five-run fifth that propelled the Dodgers to their eighth championship in franchise history — the team produced an inning of similarly unexpected magic in the opener of this weekend’s Fall Classic rematch, scoring four times in the bottom of the sixth to turn a three-run deficit into an eventual 8-5 win at a sold-out Dodger Stadium.
The inning started with a Shohei Ohtani home run, his second of the night and MLB-leading 22nd of the season. It included a momentum-swinging double from Freddie Freeman, the MVP of last year’s Fall Classic reprising the role of Yankees killer again. What had once been a three-run New York lead officially evaporated when Andy Pages lined a tying single against a drawn-in infield. The Dodgers then went in front for the first time all night when Michael Conforto drew a bases-loaded walk three at-bats later, giving the Dodgers a lead they continued to add on.
For the Dodgers, nothing will compare to the ecstasy of last year’s fifth inning in Game 5; when a dropped ball from Aaron Judge, errant throw from Anthony Volpe and calamitous miscommunication between Gerrit Cole and Anthony Rizzo keyed the largest comeback in a title-clinching game in World Series history.
But, given the team’s sub-.500 play over the last three weeks, and a rash of injuries that got worse Friday when Mookie Betts was scratched with a toe problem and Evan Phillips was ruled out for the rest of the season because he'll need Tommy John surgery, Friday injected this trying stretch of the regular season with a sorely needed jolt of life.
For much of Friday, the Dodgers seemed headed to the kind of loss that had become commonplace over their 10-11 slide entering the night.
Their starting pitcher struggled, with Tony Gonoslin giving up four home runs in the first four innings — including a mammoth blast from Judge two batters into the game — to hand the Yankees a 5-2 lead.
Their lineup was struggling against a premium pitcher, putting major-league ERA leader Max Fried under little stress after an Ohtani homer to start the night.
And when the sixth inning began, there were few signs the tide was about to turn; the surging Yankees seemingly on a glide path to their 17th win in their last 21 games.
But then, as they did so many times during last year’s World Series, the Dodgers (35-22) flipped the script.
It started with Ohtani, the reigning National League MVP hitting a sky-high fly ball to right that just kept carrying for his 15th home run in the month of May (tying Pedro Guerrero in June 1985 and Duke Snider in August 1953 for the most in a single month in Dodgers history).
Then, the Dodgers just kept chipping away. Teoscar Hernández and Will Smith lined back-to-back singles. Freeman chased Fried from the game with an RBI double to left that got over Cody Bellinger’s head. Then, after the Yankees turned to right-hander Jonathan Loáisiga to face Pages, he hammered a ground ball single through a drawn-in infield to bring home the tying run.
A chess match ensued from there.
Tommy Edman hit into a fielder’s choice grounder in the next at-bat, but some heads-up baserunning by Freeman in a rundown between third base and home plate still got the team’s other two baserunners into scoring position.
With first base open, the Yankees intentionally walked Max Muncy, and summoned left-hander Tim Hill to face the left-handed hitting Conforto. But Conforto drew a full-count walk to plate the go-ahead score — giving the Dodgers their first lead of the night at 6-5.
The sixth inning ended on a Miguel Rojas double play. Yet, the Dodgers tacked on again in the seventh, when another double from Freeman set up Pages for a two-out, two-run single, Freeman racing home on his battered right ankle to score on a bang-bang play.
The Dodgers' bullpen, meanwhile, skirted danger a couple of times, throwing three scoreless innings after Gonsolin (who settled down after his early long ball struggles) got through the sixth.
Judge hit a one-out double against Jack Dreyer in the seventh, but Dreyer and fellow rookie Ben Casparius combined to get through the inning.
The Yankees put runners on the corners with two outs in the seventh against Casparius, but embattled closer Tanner Scott escaped it by getting pinch-hitter DJ LeMahieu to fly out.
Then, in the ninth, Alex Vesia atoned for the deciding three-run homer he surrendered in Cleveland on Wednesday by picking up his second save of the season — and securing one of the Dodgers’ most important, and unlikely, victories of the season.
In a World Series rematch, Max Fried had his worst start this season and the Yankees bullpen imploded, allowing six unanswered runs across two innings, in New York's 8-5 loss to the Dodgers in Los Angeles on Friday night.
Here are the takeaways...
-In a matchup between the two reigning MVPs, Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani showed why they were deserving of that honor early in this one. Judge took Tony Gonsolin deep on the third pitch he saw with one out to put the Yankees out in front. Ohtani jumped on a Fried sinker over the middle of the plate to lead off the first with his league-leading 21st homer of the year.
It's the first time in MLB history that both reigning MVPs homered in the first inning of the same game.
-They wouldn't be the only former MVPs to hit a longball in this one. Paul Goldschmidt launched a leadoff homer in the third to put the Yankees up 5-2 over the Dodgers. How did the Yankees score their other three runs? Via the home run, of course. Austin Wells hit the first pitch from Gonsolin over the right field wall to lead off the second and Trent Grisham capped off that inning with a two-run shot.
Friday was the third game this season that the Yankees hit four-plus home runs in the first three innings of a game, the most in franchise history. (h/t Katie Sharp)
-Fried entered the game with a sub-2.00 ERA so it was odd that he allowed two runs in the first two innings. But the southpaw settled in, pitching three straight scoreless innings but it fell apart in the sixth. After Ohtani led off with his second homer of the game, Fried allowed three straight hits, including an RBI double to Freddie Freeman. Manager Aaron Boone pulled his starter with men on second and third and no outs. First out of the pen was Jonathan Loaisiga to face Andy Pages. Pages singled to left to tie the game at 5-5. After a fielder's choice, Max Muncy was intentionally walked and Tim Hill was brought in to get the left-hander Michael Conforto. Unfortunately, Hill walked Conforto on six pitches to bring in the go-ahead run. A double-play ended the four-run inning but it was a disaster for Fried and the Yankees.
Fried entered the game allowing 10 runs in his first 11 starts without allowing more than two earned runs in a start, but gave up six earned runs on eight hits across five-plus innings while striking out three batters. His ERA went from 1.29 to 1.92 after the start.
-The bullpen in the seventh didn't fare much better for the Yanks. After Hill got Ohtani to fly out, Yerry De los Santos came in. He got Teoscar Hernandez to ground out but then imploded, giving up a single to Will Smith, then Freeman doubled. Page singled to drive in both runners and put the Dodgers up 8-5.
-After Goldschmidt's homer in the third, the Yankees offense was stagnant but they had a chance to get back in this game in the eighth. With runners on first and third and no out, Boone brought up J.C. Escarra to face the righty. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts put in the lefty Tanner Scott, and Boone swapped Escarra for DJ LeMahieu, but the veteran infielder flew out to end the threat.
Judge finished going 2-for-5 while Ben Rice (2-3) and Grisham (2-5) were the only Yankees to have a multi-hit game.
Game MVP: Freddie Freeman
The 2024 World Series MVP had three hits and was in the middle of every Dodgers rally
33 fans banned after upper-deck brawl at Snapdragon
San Diego FC vow safer matchdays after violent fight
Club cites ‘no place for violence’ as probe continues
San Diego FC have issued indefinite bans to 33 people who apparently participated in a violent brawl after the club’s match against the LA Galaxy at Snapdragon Stadium last weekend.
The expansion San Diego club announced Friday that the fans are prohibited from attending home and away matches. The club will work with law enforcement and Major League Soccer to enforce the bans, and further action could be taken.
After an 0-for-5 day at the plate against the White Sox (18-38), Lindor bounced back with long balls from both sides -- leading off the first and eighth innings -- to handle the Rockies (9-48).
Lindor was in a 4-for-25 rut stemming from last Friday's 7-5 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. It continued throughout the week, but he turned a corner by turning his four at-bats into three hits that sparked the Mets.
"That's part of the 162 where they're going to go through some ups and downs," said Carlos Mendoza. "It's not going to be perfect all the time. But when you see him going -- especially from the left side -- left-center (field) like that, that's when he's clicking.
"From the right side, obviously, hitting the ball to the pull side and then a bullet up the middle -- balance, in a position to make some really good swing decisions and then obviously hitting the ball with authority."
Lindor is up to 12 home runs and 33 RBI through 56 games.
"There's been a lot of PT work, there's been a lot of talking with the coaches and just studying film and I'm still not there yet," said Lindor, who is slashing .278/.347/.480. "I've got to continue to work. I've been watching Pete (Alonso) a lot, watching other guys -- Tyrone (Taylor) -- the way they do things. And it's just like trying to pick up some things -- (Francisco Alvarez), same thing. We don't hit the same, but we all have similar movements. Once I can do the movement, my body aligns correctly, things should fall."
"I'm healthy, but making sure my body is moving correctly -- making sure I'm rotating the right way, making sure I'm repeating the patterns that swing has," Lindor added.
Between Lindor's opening and closing homers, plus Juan Soto's RBI double and Starling Marte's solo shot, David Peterson and the Mets' bullpen had enough run support to work with while holding the Rockies to two runs on six hits in the two hours and 17 minutes of game time.
"Any time you can jump on a team and get an early lead, it gives the offense rhythm, gives us the lead to go out there and pitch and get after guys," said Peterson (4-2, 2.69 ERA), who allowed one run on five hits while striking out five and walking one in 5.2 IP. "It's always good to get some runs early and be able to have the lead like that."
Baseball fans can't turn on a Mets game without hearing about the early-season struggles of Juan Soto.
The slugger who signed a massive contract this offseason has not had the year everyone projected. Entering Friday's series opener against the Rockies, Soto was hitting just .224 batting average with a .352 OBP and slugging .393. In the series prior to this weekend, a three-game set against the lowly White Sox, Soto went hitless (0-10) with a pair of walks.
Soto's troubles at the plate caused manager Carlos Mendoza to be inundated with daily questions about his slugger, and even president of baseball operations David Stearns was asked when he made himself available before Friday's game.
The messaging has always been patience; that the man who smashed 41 homers and slashed .288/.419/.569 with a .988 OPS a season ago will eventually find it. Well, while it's way too early to say Soto is back, Friday's performance could be the start of something.
Soto went 2-for-4, including an RBI double in the third inning that put the Mets up 2-0. His double snapped a 0-for-17 hitless streak.
"Feels great," Soto said of his RBI knock after the game. "Any time you come through for the team, it’s a good feeling."
Soto was asked about his batting stance and how he's seemingly adjusted it to be more balanced on the lower body. The slugger acknowledged the work he's been putting in at the plate mechanically, but also working on his timing and making good decisions. Soto has notably taken more pitches in the zone, which has led to him getting behind in the count and striking out more. But it's a work in progress that, at least for one game, is paying off.
"I’ve been working a lot on my swing to try and try to figure out the best way to come through for the team," he explained. "It takes work and time. It looks a little different, but we keep working."
Aside from his two hits, Soto also made a great running catch to rob the Rockies of extra bases. Soto said he was fooled by the hitter's swing and, according to teammate Francisco Lindor, the ball carried more than it has all season, which forced the 2024 Gold Glove finalist to have to adjust on the fly.
"I made a really good adjustment. I felt like he hit it off the hand," Soto said of his catch. "When I started to see the ball fly, I realized he hit it better than I thought, had to make an adjustment and just move back."
"It was pretty cool. For a second when I looked, I didn’t think he had a chance, the ball was carrying a little more today than usual," Lindor said of Soto's catch. "I don’t think he was expecting it. He played it well."
Lindor, whose two homers lifted the Mets to a 4-2 win on Friday, knows all too well struggling as the high-profile Mets acquisition. The shortstop weathered that storm to become one of the most beloved players and was the NL MVP runner-up, and has become the de facto team captain. So like his manager and the front office, he's asked about Soto all the time, and he echoes them every time. That Soto's struggles are temporary.
"I think he’s only going to continue to climb," Lindor said. "Everybody from the outside keep saying ‘Where’s Soto? Where’s Soto?’, we’ve seen it. He’s had good at-bats weekly, overall, he ends up with good at-bats, and today, the ball fell for him. He’s going to be great. He’s going to end up with his normal numbers and hopefully from here on out, there’s more luck on his side."
"It's always good to see him and all of our guys having a good night," Mendoza said. "I thought not only at the plate but defensively -- I thought he made a nice play cutting that ball down the right field line and keeping that runner from scoring from first base with two outs, so yeah. He's going to get through it. He's too good of a hitter. Obviously, good night for him, Lindor, some of the guys, but it was good to see Soto finally getting some good results there."
Soto was asked about Stearns' comments and that he may be putting pressure on himself.
"I don’t say any pressure. I’ll say it’s more about coming through for the team," Soto said. "Everybody is hoping I come through and I want to hit for the team either way. Get some wins. I know I’ve been struggling and I haven’t been there for the team, but I will be.
"It’s a matter of time [until I stack games like today]. We don’t know when it’s going to come through. Just have to keep working on it."
Despite not getting hits, Soto drove in his sixth RBI in his last eight games after Friday. He had one in the previous nine games, so perhaps Soto has been a bit unlucky. We will all have to see what the next few games bring.
LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Evan Phillips will have Tommy John surgery next week and miss the rest of the season in the latest blow to the World Series champion's pitching staff.
“Evan tried to play catch a couple days ago when we were on the road and it didn’t go well, so he’s going to get Tommy John surgery on the 4th,” manager Dave Roberts said Friday. “Unfortunately that’s going to be season-ending.”
The 30-year-old right-hander had been out the last three weeks because of forearm discomfort. He didn’t progress in his recovery despite what had been anticipated to be a short stint on the injured list.
“It’s surprising, more disappointed for Evan,” Roberts said, “but he just wasn’t responding to the rest and then tried to ramp back up and so ultimately, that was kind of the advice.”
Phillips began the season on the IL while recovering from a partially torn rotator cuff he sustained in the playoffs last year.
He returned in late April and made seven scoreless appearances before getting hurt during the Dodgers’ trip to Miami earlier in May.
The Dodgers' staff has been riddled by injuries this season. Starters Blake Snell (shoulder inflammation), Tyler Glasnow (shoulder inflammation) and Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki (shoulder impingement) are on the IL.
Shohei Ohtani is at least 1 1/2 months away from pitching in a game while rehabbing from 2023 surgery. He's expected to face hitters for the second time this weekend.
Relievers Blake Treinen (forearm tightness) and Michael Kopech (shoulder impingement) are sidelined.
Phillips was 5-1 with a 3.62 ERA and 63 strikeouts in 54 2/3 innings last season. He is 15-9 with a 2.28 ERA in 194 games since coming to the Dodgers five years ago.
He previously played for Atlanta, Baltimore and Tampa Bay.
Throughout their history, the Ottawa Senators haven’t made much use of the offer sheet strategy.
The one time they did was back in July of 1996 when they successfully signed Washington Capitals goaltender Ron Tugnutt. Then-Senators GM Pierre Gauthier had been dealing with the early stages of what would later become affectionately known in Ottawa as the "Goalie Graveyard."
Gauthier saw an opportunity in Tugnutt, an undervalued asset, and signed him to a one-year deal believed to be worth $400,000. The Capitals refused to match the offer to their third-string guy, and it turned out to be a fantastic move for Ottawa. That season, the Senators improved by 36 points and qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in franchise history.
Offer sheets don't happen often, but the tactic paid off big for the St. Louis Blues last summer. The Blues successfully signed defenseman Philip Broberg and forward Dylan Holloway to offer sheets, giving up only a second and a third-round pick as compensation.
Both former first-rounders had shown flashes in the NHL, and they were solid in last year's Cup run, but the change of address served them well. Once in St. Louis, they became full-timers: Broberg played 68 games this season, recorded 29 points, and played top four minutes (20:30). Holloway blossomed too, with 63 points in 77 games, finishing third in Blues scoring. Both players had a plus-minus of 21, a fitting number for the Blues who gambled and won.
At least in the short term, it certainly hasn't hurt the Oilers, who just claimed their second straight Western Conference title. Some deals, even offer-sheets, can work out for both teams involved.
The Blues’ success with those offer sheets may have opened the door for other teams to consider taking the same route this summer.
But the strategy can be risky and expensive. You usually need to craft a deal rich and long enough that the player’s current team won’t match. That often means overpaying (looking in your direction, Jesperi Kotkaniemi). And you also need to be prepared to give up significant draft compensation. That's especially true on offers for big stars when they're north of $9.36 million.
OFFER SHEET COMPENSATION TIERS
For Ottawa, their offer-sheet drought isn't likely to end this summer.
Obviously, offer sheets can't be signed until July 1st, so the compensatory picks are for 2026. They also have to be a team's own picks, not ones they acquire from another team.
And Ottawa is a little shy in that area.
The Sens have already forfeited their 2026 first-round pick to the NHL for messing up their trade of Evgenii Dadonov to Vegas. Their second-round pick was sent to the Utah Mammoth in the 2023 Jakob Chychrun trade.
The Senators still have their own 2026 third-rounder so, in theory, they could offer-sheet a lesser-paid player like Holloway. But honestly, it might be decades before we see the Holloway story repeat itself. If the Sens are excited enough about a player to sign him at $2.34 million, chances are his team is too.
If offer sheets do become fashionable this summer, it's a trend the Sens won't be jumping on anytime soon.
The Mets started their three-game series against the Colorado Rockies on the right foot with a 4-2 win in Friday's opener at Citi Field.
Takeaways
Left-handerDavid Peterson did his job as he allowed one run on five hits while striking out five and walking one in 5.2 IP. Peterson (4-2, 2.69 ERA) threw 59 strikes on 94 pitches and was one pitch away from six shutout frames, but he appeared to miss his spot on an 0-2 offering with two outs in the sixth. Ryan McMahon turned on Peterson's 91 mph fastball over the plate's inner half and for an RBI double, making manager Carlos Mendoza turn to right-hander Huascar Brazobán. Brazobán stranded runners on second and third base when Mickey Moniak flew out to Brandon Nimmo in left field. Peterson plunking Thairo Estrada and third baseman Mark Vientos subsequently missing Brenton Doyle grounder -- both with two outs -- were bad breaks that figure to leave Peterson dwelling on not getting through six full innings, but he ultimately did his job as the Mets (35-22) took care of business against the Rockies (9-48).
Speaking of getting the job done, shortstop Francisco Lindor flashed his bat and glove at pivotal points in the first, third and eighth innings. Offensively, that meant three hits -- and two home runs. Batting righty, Lindor set the tone with a leadoff dinger -- his fifth such long ball of the season -- when he sent Kyle Freeland's 1-2 fastball down the middle at 92 mph over the left-center wall. Two frames later, with the bases loaded and two outs, Lindor's leaping grab of Estrada's line drive to short saved Peterson from what would have likely been a two-run double in the gap, at least. In the eighth with the Mets clinging to a 3-2 lead, Lindor batted lefty and launched Seth Halvorsen's 2-2 pitch at 89 mph just over the left-center railing for the exclamation mark. After a 4-for-25 homestand in the Mets' six games against the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox from last Friday through Wednesday, Lindor bounced back at the plate with his three-hit evening -- it included a third-inning single -- while upping this year's homer total to 12.
Between Lindor's opening and closing solo shots,Juan Soto and Starling Marte gave the Mets a pair of key runs. Particularly, Soto's RBI double with two outs in third inning off Freeland was a personal boost as the Mets' offseason prize works through early-season struggles. Marte's third home run of the season, a one-out solo shot off Freeland in the fourth inning, gave the Mets and Peterson some cushion. Lindor led the charge, but the right fielder and designated hitter added key run support in moments that should not go overlooked.
The Mets need to take advantage of a soft run in the schedule and, despite dropping Wednesday's finale with Chicago (18-38), did what was required to open this weekend's series against Colorado. After taking two of the three-game set from the White Sox, the Mets must keep their foot on the gas pedal as they get the Rockies two more times before heading out to Los Angeles for a four-game series with the Dodgers (34-22).
Who's the MVP?
Lindor, whose offense and defense were clutch from start to finish.
The Mets and Rockies continue their series with Saturday's 4:10 p.m. matchup. Right-handers Kodai Senga (5-3, 1.46 ERA) and Antonio Senzatela (1-9, 6.50 ERA) are set to start.
LOS ANGELES — Mookie Betts is out of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ lineup against the New York Yankees with an injured left toe.
Manager Dave Roberts said Friday that the shortstop was having X-rays and is day-to-day.
Roberts said Betts “stubbed his toe, not exactly sure how” after the Dodgers returned from their road trip. “It’s just kind of an accident.”
“I feel confident saying it’s day-to-day,” Roberts added, “but putting on a shoe today was difficult for him.”
The manager said Betts was available to pinch hit in the series opener against Aaron Judge and the Yankees in the rematch of last year’s World Series, won by the Dodgers.
Betts' mishap was reminiscent of first baseman Freddie Freeman slipping in the shower at home in April. He aggravated his surgically repaired right ankle and missed nine games.
“It just keeps coming,” Roberts said, referring to the team's string of injuries, especially to the pitching staff. “It's Murphy's law, but yeah, this is a weird one.”
Russell Westbrook averaged 11.7 points in 24 minutes per night for the Nuggets this postseason. While he was critical in a few wins, he also shot 39.1% for the postseason and had some rough outings as well.
A fractured hand may have contributed to that. Westbrook announced he had surgery on his hand on his blog, World of Westbrook (the Nuggets also confirmed the surgery).
"I'm undergoing surgery on my right hand to fix two breaks that happened during the season. I'm grateful for everyone's support all year and I can't wait to be back out there at 100% soon. The comeback is already in motion." ' Westbrook has a $3.5 million player option for next season. At age 36, and coming off surgery, he could put himself on the free agent market, but there is unlikely to be more money for him elsewhere, and almost certainly not a better situation. Westbrook is one of those players whose game has been elevated by Nikola Jokic's passing and ability to find him on cuts to the rim or on leak-outs.
Westbrook averaged 13.3 points, 6.1 assists and 4.9 rebounds a game this season, playing almost 28 minutes a night in the 75 games he played. A Denver team looking to add depth around Jokic likely welcomes him back, but you can be sure Westbrook and his agent are kicking the tires to see if other playoff teams might be willing to pay more or have a bigger role for him.
Prior to the start of their three-game series against the Dodgers in Los Angeles, Yankees manager Aaron Boone gave updates on a few players who are making their way back to the team...
Luis Gil's first bullpen session
Boone gave an encouraging update on 2024 AL Rookie of the Year Luis Gil on Friday. The young right-hander threw a 15-pitch bullpen at Dodger Stadium and everything went well, according to the Yankees skipper.
It's the first time Gil has thrown off a mound since late February when he suffered a right lat strain during spring training.
Gil's return would boost the Yankees rotation which has weathered the season-ending injury to ace Gerrit Cole. Last season, the 26-year-old went 16-8 while pitching to a 3.55 ERA and 1.23 WHIP. Once Gil returns, the Yankees will have to decide whether they will go with a six-man rotation or put Ryan Yarbrough back into the bullpen as the team's long reliever.
Rehab plan for Jazz Chisholm Jr.
Chisholm is currently playing third base with Double-A Somerset, and Boone wants his infielder to play another minor league game on Saturday while starting at DH on Sunday. Chisholm could return as soon as Tuesday, where he'll play third base when he does, Boone said.
Fernando Cruz update
Cruz (shoulder) will throw a live BP on Saturday and he'll likely be activated when he's eligible next week, if that goes well.
Cruz has been one of the Yankees' best relievers this season. He pitched to a 2.66 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP in his 21 appearances and has saved two games. He's struck out 35 batters in only 23.2 innings pitched this season.
