There’s a chance of storms in the Cincinnati area this evening (forecast link below). Here’s the area radar for you to keep handy.
Saturday notes…
LEADS, BLOWN CATEGORY: The Cubs let a 4-3 lead slip away last night. They have blown 67 leads this season, in 56 different games. They are 24-32 in those games and have lost three straight and 12 of 13 starting on Aug. 21. Before blowing their lead, the Cubs had erased two deficits, raising their season total to 70, in 62 different games. They have lost the last two, five of six and seven of nine starting Aug. 21. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
POWER OUTAGE: On Aug. 31, the Cubs set a team record by hitting nine homers against the Brewers. They have hit a total of 16 in their 16 games since then. Last night’s was the ninth game with one. They hit two twice and three once. They hit none in four games. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
HAPP’S HOMER DIDN’T HELP: Ian Happ’s third-inning drive was the only homer by either team last night. The Cubs are 37-11 when they have hit more homers than they have allowed and 23-10 when they have not allowed a homer. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
TODAY IN CUBS HISTORY: Kerry Wood throws seven shutout innings, striking out nine, and Rondell White homers and drives in four to lead the Cubs to an 11-0 win over the Reds. It happened 25 years ago today, Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2001.
Matthew Boyd’s ERA is a victim of the Cubs bullpen.
In each of his last three starts, relievers allowed two inherited runners left by Boyd to score. So his pitching has been better than the numbers show, in my view.
Boyd’s only start against the Reds this year was July 12 in Cincinnati. He allowed four runs in 6.1 innings, two of which were on the traditional Eugenio Suárez homer off Cubs pitching. Keep Eugenio in the ballpark and good things should follow.
Nick Lodolo was the Reds’ first-round pick (seventh overall) out of TCU in 2019, and was a Top 100 prospect two years in a row.
Injuries and ineffectiveness have hurt him and he’s having the worst year of his career.
For him, that’s bad. For Cubs hitters, maybe it’s good. He did hold the Cubs to two runs in five innings July 11 in Cincinnati, then missed a few weeks with a blister issue. (Sound familiar?) Since his return last month he has a 6.09 ERA and 1.529 WHIP in seven starts, with 10 (!) home runs allowed in 34 innings.
Please visit our SB Nation Reds site Red Reporter. If you do go there to interact with Reds fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.
The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.
You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).
At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.
The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.
You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 17: The sneakers worn by Vladislav Goldin #50 of the Miami Heat during the game against the Detroit Pistons during the 2025 NBA Summer League game on July 17, 2025 at the Pavilion 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Candice Ward/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor understands how momentous Saturday at Citi Field is.
The organization is honoring Carlos Beltrán by inducting him into the Mets Hall of Fame and retiring his No. 15. Beltrán is a player who not only represented the franchise as one of its best players, but as a fellow Puerto Rican, the honor hits close to home for Lindor.
"It’s very inspiring. Someone that was close to me and to every Puerto Rican. Anybody that’s Puerto Rican that makes it big, us Puerto Ricans feel like we made it as well," Lindor said in the clubhouse prior to Saturday's game. "To be on the biggest stages, playoffs, All-Star games and to see him come back to the island is very special. We always talk about guys like that, like the Beltráns, [Roberto] Alomar,[Carlos] Delgado, [Ivan]Rodriguez. Guys that set the path for a guy like me today."
Lindor looked up to Beltrán because he was also a switch-hitter from the island, who played hard and "had swag," but he wouldn't get a chance to build a relationship with one of his idols until 2016.
Lindor, playing with Cleveland at the time, just wrapped up a series with the Beltrán's Yankees right before the All-Star break. The young shortstop was heading to San Diego for his first All-Star Game and shared a plane with the outfielder and a few other Yankees who also made the Midsummer Classic. That's when he had an opportunity to speak with the future Hall of Famer.
"Anybody that's from Puerto Rico and makes it big, us Puerto Ricans feel like we made it, as well."
Francisco Lindor says it was "very inspiring" to see Carlos Beltrán's success in Major League Baseball: pic.twitter.com/5QX8pUuM4n
"He’s a mentor. Someone you can have a conversation with him, tell him the stuff I’m going through because he probably already went through it. He’s helped me for sure," Lindor said of Beltrán. "I look up to him growing up and to have an opportunity to share the field with him. To have moments to talk to him. It’s something I don’t take for granted."
That relationship came in handy when Lindor was traded to the Mets in 2021. It was an adjustment period for Lindor, who struggled on and off the field. Going from a small market to New York City was tough for Lindor, but he had Beltrán to help him.
Beltran got Lindor in touch with a realtor and helped him with the off-the-field transition, but also offered a shoulder when the on-the-field production wasn't there.
"When I first got traded here, I called him and I talked to him," Lindor said. "I didn’t play well. I sucked in the beginning and having him there to comfort me and say, ‘Hey, this stuff is going to happen. It’s ok. You’re going to go through stuff like this, but you’re going to come out on the other side. Stay true to yourself and play the game the right way.'
"Stuff like that early on was huge for me today."
Five years later, and Lindor has become an important part of the team on the field and as a locker room leader.
"I love Francisco. I admire him. I love the way he plays. I always watch the switch-hitters in the game," Beltrán said prior to his number retirement ceremony. "He will be in this position at some point in life. I’m grateful for the friendship that we have...We have a good relationship. We talk about baseball, we talk about hitting, life, family, we talk about kids, we talk about everything.
"The relationship I was able to build with him is a friendship more than anything else."
Could that relationship-building help Beltrán get a managerial job with the Mets or elsewhere? Lindor was asked and the shortstop is convinced the Hall of Famer will succeed in that realm if that's his desire.
"If he wants it. I believe he’ll succeed whenever he becomes a manager," Lindor said. "If the organization feels that’s the right fit for us…. If he decides to pursue, and if they feel he’s the best fit, he’ll succeed at it.
"To be a manager is not about respect, it’s about knowing the game, making the right moves at the right time and connecting with players. And I think he can do all those."
"I love Francisco. I admire him. I love the way he plays. Being a switch-hitter, I'm always watching the switch-hitters in the game. He will be in this position at some point in life."
Ahead of their first preseason game of 2026 on Monday, the Philadelphia Flyers did some major trimming to the training camp roster, cutting 15 players who will either head to the minors or go back to junior hockey.
The headliner of the 15-player group is 2026 first-round pick Maksim Sokolovskii, who practiced mostly with NHLers in Group A to start training camp.
Sokolovskii, 18, did not feature in Saturday's intrasquad scrimmage and instead skated with Group C, which has now been eliminated entirely with the exception of injured forward Nikita Grebenkin.
On Saturday, the Flyers cut Devin Kaplan, Alex Ciernik, Zayde Wisdom, Brady Berard, Nathan Quinn, KJ Sauer, Owen McLaughlin, Ilya Pautov, Luke Vlooswyk, Jackson Edward, Andrew Perrott, Marek Sklenicka, Martin Psohlavec, and Brek Liske from the roster, going from 57 players to 42.
From a prospects perspective, it is interesting that Devin Kaplan, who already has a game of NHL experience under his belt, did not even earn himself an opportunity to play in a preseason game.
Kaplan has been leap-frogged on the depth chart by Noah Powell, who survived the first round of cuts, as well as veterans (and some newcomers) like Garrett Wilson, Zach Aston-Reese, Danila Klimovich, and Nolan Foote.
Also of note, 2025 second-round pick Matthew Gard survived the first round of cuts. He's the only prospect the Flyers could have sent back to juniors but chose not to.
Additionally, Pautov, who could go to the QMJHL this season, is going to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms' training camp for now.
Pautov, 20, signed his three-year, entry-level contract with the Flyers back on June 1, and while he can go play in the AHL, the Russian winger was drafted eighth overall by the Gatineau Olympiques in the most recent CHL import draft.
That's a high pick to burn on a player who may not play for your team, whereas someone like Adam Nemec, a 17-year-old eligible for the 2027 NHL Draft, went 13th overall to Brantford.
In any event, the Flyers have now clearly established which players are still in the running for an NHL job, as well as which prospects they are presently most interested in seeing in preseason action.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 18: Michael Harris II #23 of the Atlanta Braves is congratulated by Matt Olson #28 after hitting a two run home run in the fourth inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on September 18, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There’s still work to do after last night’s tasteful champagne toast to celebrate a return to the postseason. Walt Weiss, no stranger to tinkering with a lineup formula, has maybe found what he likes most to face RHPs. He will run with the exact same lineup from last night’s 6-2 win versus the Astros, where three two-run homers to the Crawford Boxes in left field secured the series opener.
Designated hitter Drake Baldwin leads off, followed by Ronald Acuña Jr. playing right field and aiming for home run number 20 on the season. Hitting third again, Matt Olson’s 3-for-5 evening with a home run yesterday was a sight for sore eyes. His lefty bestie Michael Harris II (with his own 3-for-5 night with a homer night) will hit cleanup and patrol center field. Houston’s beloved Mauricio Dubón will play shortstop and hit fifth. Ozzie Albies is penciled in to hit sixth and play second base. Left fielder Mike Yastrzemski, third baseman Austin Riley, and catcher Sean Murphy round out the bottom of Atlanta’s order.
The lineup for Houston has the same 1-4 as last night: shortstop Jeremy Pena, DH Yordan Alvarez, third baseman Isaac Paredes, and second baseman Jose Altuve. Catcher Yainer Diaz gets the start today in place of Christian Vázquez and will hit fifth and catch for starter Hayden Wesneski. Center fielder Daulton Varsho drops a spot to sixth, followed by first baseman Christian Walker. Cam Smith gets the start today in right field, and left fielder LaMonte Wade Jr. will once again bat ninth.
The Braves are looking to score early and often / avoid seeing Josh Hader in order to secure a series win at Daikin Park tonight. First pitch is at 7:10 pm ET.
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 18, 2026: Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tyler Glasnow (31) pitches against the San Francisco Giants in the first inning at Dodger Stadium on September 18, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Tyler Glasnow on Friday night struck out 10 Giants in his six innings, his most in a start this season. Aside from securing Los Angeles-area folks a free Jumbo Jack with a purchase of a large drink for the 130th time this season and the 27th time in the last 28 days, Friday affirmed the Dodgers’ unique spot in double-digit strikeout games this season.
The Dodgers now have a dozen individual 10-strikeout games this season. That’s not the most, it’s tied for fourth-most with the Toronto Blue Jays, behind the Milwaukee Brewers (16), Cleveland Guardians (15), and Philadelphia Phillies (14).
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JULY 5: Félix Bautista #74 of the Baltimore Orioles pitches in the ninth inning of a game against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on July 5, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Edward M. Pio Roda/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Look, it’s not like the reasonable among us expected to win every game against the Brewers, current owners of the MLB’s best record. But last night was frankly a bummer. The Orioles had loads of baserunners and yet—that old saw—couldn’t drive them in. The Baltimore Sun reports today that GM Mike Elias and manager Craig Albernaz expect to be back to with the team next season. Fine, but I hope the approach to hitting with runners on base gets a major overhaul—it needs to.
Baltimore belatedly announced that today’s starter (stopper) would be Trevor Rogers (10-10, 4.22, 143 SO in 157.2 IP). The lefty last pitched on Sept. 13, six days ago, a blah outing against the Blue Jays where he allowed four runs in six innings in a loss. But before that, he had two strong starts against Cleveland and Colorado. Rogers’ pre-All Star Break ERA is 4.48; post it’s 3.88.
In pitching news from the back end of the bullpen, the Orioles just reinstated closer Félix Bautista, who hasn’t appeared in a game in over a year. It’s too late in the season to make much of a difference, but man, it’ll be good to see The Mountain trotting out to the mound in late innings instead of guys like Alex Hoppe or Andrew Kittredge. The O’s skipper hasn’t committed to using Bautista as a closer yet, so perhaps expect in him a bridge role.
Starting for the Brewers today is Robert Gasser, initially one of four arms the Brewers acquired in 2022 via the trade for closer Josh Hader. Now in his third season with Milwaukee, it’s a little soon to assess Gasser’s value, as he missed long stretches due to Tommy John surgery. This season, he started out with Milwaukee’s Triple-A team and since joining the team in late May, has been pretty much average, with a 4.30 ERA in 18 starts.
As our own Mark pointed out in the series preview, Gasser’s Statcast peripherals fail to inspire confidence. Gasser has a five-pitch mix, but his sweeper, his most-thrown pitch, has a -6 run value, his worst of any. His fastball is also below-average, per Statcast. He doesn’t throw the ball hard, he doesn’t get a lot of whiffs, and he doesn’t get batters to chase outside of the strike zone very often.
Gasser is left-handed, so the Orioles have stuffed their lineup with righties… not that you will necessarily love all the names. Jeremiah Jackson makes a rare appearance in the leadoff spot, and the bottom four hitters include three righties in Rece Hinds, Christian Franklin, and Leody Taveras (switch-hitter). Well. At least Alonso and Mayo, in the second and third spots, are hot right now.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - SEPTEMBER 13: Robert Gasser #54 of the Milwaukee Brewers throws a pitch in the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds at American Family Field on September 13, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After scraping out a victory in last night’s series opener against the Orioles, the Brewers are one game closer to securing the best record in baseball — and the top seed heading into the playoffs.
On the mound to try to secure another series win for Milwaukee is lefty Robert Gasser, who has become the Brewers’ third-most-reliable starter behind Jacob Misiorowski and Logan Henderson. Gasser is a former top prospect who, almost immediately after reaching the majors in 2024, tore his UCL. This season is his first full season back from that injury, and he’s been pretty good, all things considered. Gasser has a 4.30 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP through 19 appearances (18 starts), although he’s pitched better than those numbers suggest for stretches.
Pitching for the Orioles is Trevor (not Taylor, nor Tyler) Rogers. For the most part, Rogers has been for Baltimore what Gasser is to the Brewers: a dependable, if not spectacular, lefty who will at least keep his team in the game. He comes into today’s game with a 4.22 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP in 28 starts.
Although it’s Saturday, Brewers manager Pat Murphy is rolling out a lineup that would fit right in on a Sunday. Jake Bauers, Brice Turang, Sal Frelick, and Christian Yelich will all get the day off after yesterday’s extra-inning thriller.
Jackson Chourio, the Brewers’ hottest hitter right now, leads off, followed by Garrett Mitchell and William Contreras, who will serve as the designated hitter today. The middle of the order consists of Andrew Vaughn, Joey Ortiz, and catcher Gary Sánchez. Rounding out the lineup are Cooper Pratt, Luis Lara, and David Hamilton, who will play second base in Turang’s absence.
As usual, today’s game will be broadcast on Brewers.TV, WTMJ 620, and the Brewers Radio Network. First pitch is set for 3:05 p.m.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JULY 12: Sebastian Walcott #1 of the Texas Rangers looks on in the first inning during the 2025 All-Star Futures Game at Truist Park on July 12, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Texas Rangers infielder Sebastian Walcott is being promoted from AA Frisco to AAA Round Rock today, per Scott Lucas. With Frisco’s season having ended with yesterday’s loss in Game Three of the Texas League Division Series, Walcott is now joining Round Rock for the final two days of the AAA season.
Walcott likely would have been at Round Rock long before now had he not had to undergo internal brace surgery this spring. Walcott returned to action for the Frisco Roughriders in mid-July, slashing .322/.398/.586 for the Roughriders in 171 plate appearances over 37 games, all but one of which were at DH. Walcott will be DHing for the Express tonight.
The 20 year old shortstop is a consensus top 25 prospect in the game, and could be in contention for a major league job next spring, most likely either at third base or right field. And its possible that he could be looking at major league playing time even before that, as with Joc Pederson sidelined, the Rangers don’t have a real DH against either lefties or righties right now. Depending on how the team feels about the readiness of his bat and the risk of him missing development time during a potential extended lockout this winter — if Walcott isn’t added to the 40 man roster, he would continue to get to work with organization’s coaches and staff during any work stoppage — Walcott could be an option for the major league roster for the final week of the regular season.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 15: Brayan Bello #66 of the Boston Red Sox pitches against the Texas Rangers during the third inning at Globe Life Field on September 15, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Is today the day? The magic number is 2. As Bob outlined, there are multiple paths to clinching, but they all require the Sox to win today and it’s the mysterious Brayan Bello climbing the bump.
ARLINGTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 18: Texas Rangers second baseman Nicky Lopez (33) scores a run during the MLB game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Texas Rangers on September 18, 2026 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Texas Rangers lineup for September 19, 2026 against the Toronto Blue Jays: starting pitchers are Cal Quantrill for the Rangers and Jose Soriano for the Jays.
Cal Quantrill will try to keep his magical 2026 run going against the Jays. Corey Seager gets the DH slot, with Joc Pederson apparently still not ready to hit.
The lineup:
Duran — SS
Seager — DH
Jung — 3B
Nimmo — RF
Langford — LF
Burger — 1B
Lopez — 2B
Jansen — C
Carter — CF
6:05 p.m. Central start time. Rangers are -117 favorites.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 07: Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres is congratulated by Jackson Merrill #3 after scoring a run during the third inning against the Washington Nationals at Petco Park on September 07, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With eight games remaining in the regular season, the San Diego Padres are up five games on the Arizona Diamondbacks for the last Wild Card spot in the National League. They play five of their last eight games at home, where their record is nine wins better than on the road.
By winning 10 of their last 11 and having 12 wins out of 15 games in September, their odds for making the postseason have crept up to 96.0% (per Fangraphs). They are also tied with both the Philadelphia Phillies and the Chicago Cubs for the fourth and fifth playoff positions.
Baseball is crazy and unpredictable, but there are probably few Padres fans who saw this team bouncing back from the awful offensive performance we saw in the early months of the season to accomplish what we are seeing now.
The Dynamic Duo
A major reason for that change of fortune is the performance of two of the best players on the team who weren’t playing like they were capable of until after the All-Star break.
Both Fernando Tatis Jr. and Jackson Merrill had subpar starts to their year. And that start lasted until mid-July and the All-Star break.
Pre-break, Tatis was hitting a healthy .277 but notoriously lacked power, with his first home run not coming until May 30. He had a total of five from then to the break. Post-break, Tatis has hit .300 with a .989 OPS while clobbering 18 home runs. He has stolen 35 bases out of 48 attempts for the season and has more steals than in any other season of his career. With two more home runs, Tatis will be a member of the 25 homers and 25 steals club for the fourth time in his seven-year career.
Merrill had a much worse start to the season than Tatis. He appeared to be searching for his groove while chasing outside the zone at a high rate. His 98 strikeouts in 360 at-bats were the most on the team by a wide margin. He still strikes out more than any other Padre, but his 21% rate post-break is down from 27%.
More importantly, he is hitting the ball in the zone more, and his post-break .314 batting average beats his pre-break .219 average. Merrill has a .943 OPS after July 17 compared to a .628 OPS before the break. With his 26 home runs and 26 stolen bases in 30 attempts, Merrill has already become a member of the 25/25 club for the first time in his three-year career.
Few teams have two five-tool players, much less having them both playing at their peak at the same time. The success of Tatis and Merrill in the second half of the season goes a long way toward explaining the surge the Padres have had since July 17.
The core performs
The Padres’ core of Tatis, Merrill, Manny Machado, and Xander Bogaerts are all contributing to their winning over the past couple of months. Although Machado is still only hitting .220 for the season, his post-break numbers show improved performance. Machado is hitting .248 with a .739 OPS in the second half. They are the worst numbers of his career, but he still has 28 home runs and 84 RBI. Machado still leads the team in homers but was passed by Merrill in RBI during the past series in Colorado, 85 to 84. Machado’s defense has been elite this season with 10 OAA (Outs Above Average), the 95th percentile of all third basemen.
Bogaerts has hit well below his career norm or his previous career low. With a .226 average and .661 OPS, Bogaerts has done one thing well this year offensively. He is still getting on base at a normal rate. His .325 OBP is close to his career average OBP of .348. Bogaerts was a single short of the first cycle of his career in the final game versus Colorado. His tendency to finish strong is also playing out this season. For September, Bogaerts is hitting .302 with an .856 OPS, his best month of the season so far.
Bogaerts’ defense remains above average, and he is a steadying influence in the middle of the infield. His 3 OAA is in the 85th percentile for shortstops.
Bogaerts’ lack of production is less noticeable because of Ty France’s outstanding performance. The first baseman is having the best season of his career both offensively and defensively. It’s no stretch to say he deserves a Gold Glove for the second straight season. His .299 average and .879 OPS are better than any other season of his career outside of the shortened 2020 COVID season.
France has 21 home runs for the first time in his eight seasons with his second-most RBI. He has achieved all that without the benefit of playing in as many games. If France finishes by playing every day the rest of the regular season, he will have 133 games played, the least of any full season of his career.
Ethan Salas has a day
After being called up to the Padres on September 1, catcher and top prospect Ethan Salas went 1-for-16 in his first seven games with a triple as his first MLB hit. In those games, he caught both Michael King’s and Nick Pivetta’s starts. They both commented in their post-game interviews on his game prep along with his pitch receiving.
Salas started Sept. 16, catching Robbie Ray for the first time, and it was the best start of his time with the Padres. Salas improved Ray’s chances of a successful game with a dramatic ABS challenge that turned a walk to load the bases into a strikeout.
The real excitement for Salas occurred in his first at-bat in the second inning, when he sent a fastball 426 feet over the center field wall for his first major league home run. He followed that in the fifth inning with a blast over the right field wall for the second home run of his career. His three RBI and eight total bases contributed to the Padres’ 9-3 win and made history as the youngest catcher ever to homer twice in a game.
He also joined Machado as the only Padres to have homered twice in a game in their 20-year-old season. That list includes active players Juan Soto, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bryce Harper and Mike Trout. Miguel Cabrera, Jose Reyes, Andruw Jones, and Ken Griffey Jr. complete the list of players to have achieved that feat.
Rest for the weary
Besides putting themselves in a solid playoff position with the series against the Rockies, the Friars also succeeded in scoring enough runs to allow their tired high-leverage relievers to have three days off in a row.
Mason Miller, Adrián Morejón, and Bradgley Rodriguez have worked extensively and were especially taxed in the San Francisco series, right before going to Colorado.
Giving them those rest days sets the bullpen up for the final eight games of the season.
Bradgley Rodriguez, 22, has not pitched this much in his professional career. It shows in that we have seen his velocity drop in his last two appearances.
Morejón has been used so extensively that he has 82.0 innings pitched with eight games remaining in the regular schedule. That is by far the most he has thrown in his career, with many of those appearances consisting of more than one inning, and he has appeared in 72 games. No other regular reliever comes close; Wandy Peralta is second at 73.1 innings. Morejon has a 2.85 ERA with 101 strikeouts.
His willingness to pitch no matter the circumstance is remarkable in light of his free agency this offseason. Morejon was quoted in Kevin Acee’s Padres Daily newsletter on Sept. 13.
“I’m ready every day. Doesn’t matter the situation. In the fifth (inning) every time, doesn’t matter the score. I’m moving around.”
Mason Miller is in his fourth MLB season. He has never pitched more than 65 innings over the course of a year. In 61 games and 37 saves, Miller has pitched 64.1 innings and leads the team with a 1.12 ERA.
Rotation shuffle?
The starting rotation, as it stands now, would have Robbie Ray start the first game against the Dodgers next Tuesday. The off day on Monday would allow the team to switch Ray and King, the new order making King available the last game against the Diamondbacks, if needed. If a playoff berth is clinched before then, King could be saved for the first game of the playoffs. The Los Angeles Dodgers would see King-Ray-Pivetta, with Arizona seeing Mize-Buehler-King if those games remain important to the outcome.
The new No. 2 hitter
Outfielder Dustin Harris appears to have assumed the No. 2 spot in the batting order on the days that he starts. With no clear player stepping up to fill the role, Harris has come on strong of late. Since being called up to the Padres after being signed on Aug. 7, Harris has hit second as well as fifth through ninth in the order. Overall, he is hitting .314 with a .776 OPS while contributing two doubles, two triples, and 13 RBI. Hitting second, Harris has a .373/.406/.475 line, albeit in a small sample size of 20 games.
Roster changes and injury updates
France was away from the team for three days during the Giants series for the birth of his twin girls. Infielder Mason McCoy was called up to cover for his absence but never entered a game.
RHP Jason Adam began a rehab assignment with El Paso on Sept. 13. He was roughed up in his second appearance, allowing five runs on four hits and a walk. He could join the team next week.
Miguel Andujar is also on a rehab assignment with El Paso and is likely to rejoin the Padres this weekend against the Miami Marlins.
Gavin Sheets and Lucas Giolito are both in Arizona playing in the instructional league.
Joe Musgrove continues to try to recover from the setbacks occurring over the course of this season. His inability to bounce back after pitching has put a stop to his rehab progression. There has been no reported timeline for his next rehab step.
Bronx, N.Y.: New York Mets pitcher Christian Scott on the mound during his game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York on Sept. 13, 2026. (Photo by Thomas A. Ferrara/Newsday RM via Getty Images) | Newsday via Getty Images
Mets lineup
Francisco Lindor – SS
Juan Soto – LF
Bo Bichette – 3B
Carson Benge – RF
A.J. Ewing – CF
Marcus Semien – 2B
Brett Baty – 1B
Francisco Alvarez – C
Ronny Mauricio – DH
SP: Christian Scott – RHP
Phillies lineup
Kyle Schwarber – DH
Trea Turner – SS
Bryce Harper – RF
Luis Arraez – 2B
Alec Bohm – 1B
Bryson Stott – 3B
Brandon Marsh – LF
J.T. Realmuto – C
Justin Crawford – CF
SP: Andrew Painter – RHP
Broadcast info
First pitch: 4:10 PM EDT TV: SNY Radio: Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM, Audacy App, 92.3 HD2
The Vancouver Canucks hit the ice at the South Okanagan Events Centre on Saturday for the annual training camp scrimmage. After regulation, the score was tied 3-3, with Team White picking up the win over Team Blue in the shootout.
Liam Öhgren's Shot Is Dangerous
The star early on in the scrimmage was Liam Öhgren. The 22-year-old scored twice, including a hard wrister that went post-and-in. Öhgren has been a standout throughout training camp thanks not just to his shot, but his confidence with the puck.
Based on line combinations, Öhgren appears set to start on a line with Marco Rossi. The two showed some chemistry at the end of last season and will likely be joined by either Brock Boeser or Jonathan Lekkerimäki. While it is still very early in the campaign, Öhgren looks ready to break out this season.
Zeev Buium Mobility On Full Display
Zeev Buium has always been known as a strong skater with high-end puck-handling. Both those skills were on full display Saturday. Buium not only broke up plays in the defensive zone, but he also took every opportunity to jump up into the neutral zone and join the rush.
Buium also appears to be developing some chemistry with his partner, Luke Schenn. Having a stay-at-home defender on his right side may be beneficial for the 20-year-old as it would allow to take more chances knowing that the extra layer of protection is there. Overall, Buium looks energized and ready for the start of the campaign.
Brendan Gallagher Comes As Advertised
Brendan Gallagher is the type of player young guys should be learning from. He never takes a shift off and can push the pace in practice. Even though Saturday was just a scrimmage, Gallagher was up to his old tricks, as he was one of the most noticeable players on the ice.
On top of battling hard against the board, Gallagher crashed the net and demanded the puck all game. He also spoke to the crowd afterward, which drew a huge cheer from the fans. Gallagher's ability to lead on and off the ice will be key to building an environment where young players can thrive in the future.
Elias Pettersson's Engagement Level
There was a scary moment during the scrimmage where Elias Pettersson was hit into the boards by Cole Clayton. That moment appeared to wake him up, though, as he had a strong scrimmage overall. Pettersson made plays at both ends of the ice, including scoring the game-tying goal for Team Blue.
Pettersson is always going to be a storyline as long as he is with the team. Overall, he has looked decent in training camp, but we all know his performances don't matter until the puck drop on the regular-season. That being said, it was a positive to see him moving his feet and shooting the puck in Saturday's scrimmage.
Luke Schenn Shootout Moment
The moment of the shootout involved Schenn. After receiving a loud cheer from the crowd, the 36-year-old defenceman scored, beating Ty Young up high. Not only were the fans in attendance excited to see the goal, but so were both benches.
Schenn is expected to play a key role for the organization this season, not just on the ice, but off it as well. He will be a leader in the dressing room and has already received plenty of praise from both his teammates and Manny Malhotra. The question now is: will we see Schenn get a chance in the shootout this year?
Vancouver Canucks 2026 Training Camp (Photo Credit: Izzy Cheung/The Hockey News)
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OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - APRIL 12: Rasheer Fleming #20 of the Phoenix Suns drives around Brooks Barnhizer #23 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half at Paycom Center on April 12, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by William Purnell/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Every day, we’ll take a closer look at another member of the 2026-27 Phoenix Suns, examining what they bring to the roster and what their role could mean for the season ahead as we count down to training camp and the preseason.
Khaman Maluach
Center, 7’1”, 250 lbs., 20 years old, 2nd season
Khaman Maluach enters his second season in Phoenix after a year of “slow-burn” development under his belt. That was always the plan, especially since they traded for Mark Williams on the same night they drafted him 10th overall.
The 10th pick was a key return from Houston in the Kevin Durant trade, of course. “Man Man” is a core piece for this franchise, and will be a popular “breakout” pick among pundits, especially after his terrific Summer League showcase.
Now, with Mark Williams suffering a torn labrum in his left shoulder, Maluach’s development becomes paramount. He and Oso Ighodaro will assume the majority of the minutes at center, and they just added Duop Reath for insurance purposes.
Just how confident will Ott be in Khaman from the jump? I am hoping they view Reath more as a depth piece than a necessary and immediate contributor, although I do like the signing.
What does it all mean for the second-year product out of Duke? Let’s talk about it.
Phoenix Suns center Mark Williams underwent surgery Thursday to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder and will miss an extended period of time, sources tell ESPN. Williams suffered the injury in an offseason workout. pic.twitter.com/iXVlVVItv4
Phoenix took their sweet time with Khaman last season. They did not rush him into the rotation as you might see from your typical 10th overall pick. They entered this whole thing playing the long game, understanding he will be a project that takes time to develop. Jordan Ott consistently stuck with veterans or players he could trust throughout the year, which limited the minutes we all wanted to see from Rasheer Fleming or Khaman Maluach.
Khaman only saw 15+ minutes in nine games last season, and cracked the 20-plus minute mark just four times.
“Man Man” had a pair of promising games late in the season, including an 18-point, 14-rebound season finale against the Thunder in game 82, and a 12-point, 9-rebound effort in game 74 of the season against the Utah Jazz in just 19 minutes.
But now, with the injury to Mark Williams, the timeline speeds up quite a bit for Maluach. He will likely be seeing at least 20+ minutes per night, sharing center duties with Oso Ighodaro and newcomer Duop Reath.
GP
MIN
PPG
RPG
APG
BLK
FG%
3PT%
FT%
OFFRTG
DEFRTG
+/- (TOTAL)
46
8.9
3.0
2.9
0.1
0.7
53.3%
23.8%
71.0%
106.0
103.5
+47
Contract and Roster Context
Maluach is on a rookie scale contract, of course. In 2026-27, Maluach will earn a base salary of $6,316,680, while carrying a cap hit of $6,316,680 and a dead cap value of $6,316,680, per Spotrac.
Nothing groundbreaking here for the 10th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
What He Brings
Khaman Maluach brings a rare blend of massive size, fluidity in his movement, plus the ability to finish with power or finesse. He can alter shots if he’s not blocking them, and serve as a true anchor defensively and a vertical rim threat. Now, we didn’t get to see a ton of it during his rookie year with the Suns, but all of those skills he showcased at Duke are still there.
He just needs to adjust to NBA pace, strength, and spacing. But he has shown those flashes. Most recently, he showcased what he can do during the Summer League, where he earned All-2nd Team honors after putting together a monster stretch of games.
Maluach averaged 19.5 points with a (Summer) league-leading 12.8 rebounds per game, plus 2.0 blocks and 1.3 steals per contest.
The Suns outscored their opponents by 48(!) points during the 109 minutes that Maluach was on the floor during that four-game stretch. He looked every bit the part of a second-year top-10 pick in Summer League. Which is exactly what you want to see in that environment.
Phoenix needs Maluach to be the defensive anchor who can disrupt the West’s elite bigs. He needs to be an elite lob threat for Devin Booker and Jalen Green. He needs to be able to knock down triples at a reliable rate. That’s who the Suns need him to be.
What Needs to Improve
Maluach has plenty of weaknesses, as you’d expect for someone as young, raw, and new to basketball as he is.
He can look lost on defensive rotations on the perimeter at times, or rotate just a bit too late on the weak side. These are habitual things. These are details that he can improve on over time as he improves his instincts and learns the ebbs and flows of an NBA game. It won’t happen overnight. Centers take longer to develop than just about any other position. He will get there if he is committed enough, and there’s no reason to think he is not based on everything this coaching staff and front office have said about him.
ESPN released a Three-year outlook for all 30 teams, and the Suns finished 26th overall. But what stood out was the note in the column, highlighting none other than Khaman Maluach, essentially tasking him as their saving grace. Quite a bold proclamation, though I do generally agree it’s vital he is a “hit,” considering their lack of an abundance of quality, controlled draft picks in future years.
Prediction
I have made it no secret that I believe Khaman Maluach will be the Suns’ starting center this season (even before the Williams injury) and play a huge part in this team’s success. Now, with Williams sidelined it only expedites the process.
We don’t need Maluach to play like an all-star center. He just needs to show up, build trust with the coaching staff and gain confidence in his game.
Consistency and confidence will be the two key traits that Maluach will need to showcase, along with flashes of dominance as a preview of what’s to come in his eventual prime. He has all of the tools to be a special center in this league for a long time. It’s your time to shine, Man Man.
