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Mets' Mark Vientos flaunts power for second straight game: 'I'm just focused on winning'

Mark Vientos hasn't lived up to his potential as a key lineup fixture this season, but his daily approach to game preparation is helping him produce on the field when the Mets' roulette wheel of platoon players lands on his number.

Just hours after manager Carlos Mendoza expressed a need for contributions from Vientos as the NL playoff race intensifies, the slugging infielder answered the call, delivering a welcome two-run home run in the Mets' 8-1 beatdown of the Nationals on Tuesday night at Nationals Park. He finished the night 1-for-4 with a walk.

Vientos, who produced a four-RBI effort in Sunday's win over the Mariners, demolished a hanging two-strike curveball from Nationals starter Jake Irvin in what became a five-run third inning. The ball traveled 419 feet into the left field seats with a 35-degree launch angle, and it was his second straight game with a homer. 

"I was just trying to capitalize on the situation," Vientos said after the win. "We were hitting well on [Irvin] that inning and I was staying ready for a pitch in the zone. Luckily, I was ready and put a good swing on it... [I stay ready] with practice, honestly. Showing up every day like I’m starting and going about my business like I’m playing that day. Working hard, talking to my coaches, staying ready..."

While his role remains fluid -- he batted sixth as the designated hitter on Tuesday and played third base as the eighth hitter on Sunday -- Vientos' mentality as a regular starter is paying off. He's constantly in communication with Mendoza, who fully endorses the be-ready attitude that can only do good.

"I know it's there. We saw it last year," Mendoza said of Vientos' mettle. "He's a really good player, and it's been hard for him. I said it before the game, we're going to need him. He stepped up again today. He'll continue to get opportunities... For him to continue to put together some really good at-bats, I thought he hit the ball hard a few times today."

Call it a regular season to forget for Vientos, who's slashed an underwhelming .232/.278/.381 with only 23 extra-base hits across 85 games. But the ending to his 2025 story isn't required to match the beginning, and the team-first mindset that he's embraced only makes the latest personal success sweeter.

"I’m just focusing on winning," Vientos said. "I just want to win and whenever I get my opportunity, to help in whatever way. As long as we’re winning, I’m happy."

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Mets' David Peterson returns to reliable form with bounce-back gem: 'Hell of a job'

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza knew what he wanted to see from David Peterson before the night even arrived. He summoned his most reliable starter to attack Nationals hitters in the zone, all while keeping the ball on the ground and limiting the walks that plagued him in his shortest outing of the season last week.

A demanding task, but by no means a challenge that Peterson couldn't conquer. And much to the Mets' delight, the dependable southpaw excelled, completing eight dominant innings of one-run ball with a season-high 10 strikeouts in an 8-1 win on Tuesday night at Nationals Park.

"Hell of a job. That's where it starts -- when he's throwing strikes, using all of his pitches, basically competing in the strike zone," Mendoza said after the game. "The changeup was really good. The curveball, the slider, the sinker. He got groundballs. 

"For him to go eight [innings] was really good. Solid, in complete control -- which was good to see, especially after his last outing. For him to bounce back that way... It was nice, not going to lie."

If he broke a sweat during the first four innings, Peterson didn't show it. He faced the minimum through those frames on a career-best 41 pitches, and after escaping a jam in the sixth inning, he registered his ninth outing of six-plus innings over the last 60 games (since June 8). No other Mets starter has even achieved this feat once.

Peterson was given a rather comfortable lead, as a five-run rally in the third provided him ample cushion to pitch with conviction. After retiring the Nationals in order in the seventh, the Mets trusted him for an eighth inning of work. And while his shutout bid was ultimately lost after allowing a leadoff triple, he recovered to walk off the mound with double-digit punchouts.

"Being aggressive, getting ahead early in the count, and staying on the attack," Peterson said. "I honestly felt like we had a really good feel for [the changeup] and [Luis Torrens] was all over it with the calls on it. Being able to get some swing and misses, some soft contact, being ahead in the count helps with that."

It wasn't Peterson's best performance of the season -- first place still belongs to his home start against the Nationals on June 11, when he delivered his first-career shutout. But Tuesday's rebound effort in the nation's capital checked off all the boxes. If only he could face that lineup 30-plus times a year.

"[My last start] felt pretty uncharacteristic to me. So, it was just kind of flushing it and getting on to the next one," Peterson said. "I kind of knew exactly what I didn't do well and needed to work on... I go out there and try to give the team a chance to win. Try to be efficient. Being on the attack, getting ahead in the counts helps that."

Peterson now owns a 3.18 ERA this season, and remains the only Mets starter to throw a pitch in the eighth inning this season.

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Mets smack four homers, David Peterson delivers eight strong innings in 8-1 win over Nationals

The Mets extended their winning streak to three on Tuesday night, as dominance from David Peterson and home-run power throughout the lineup lifted them to an 8-1 road win over the division-rival Nationals. 

Here are the takeaways...

-- While the Mets' first round of at-bats against Nationals starter Jake Irvin didn't inflict any damage, their second round of looks at the plate left a sizable dent. After a one-out double from Francisco Lindor and a walk from Juan Soto in the third inning, Brandon Nimmo broke the ice with an RBI single to left-center that gave the Mets a 1-0 lead. Then, with two outs and two runners in scoring position, Jeff McNeil stretched the lead to three with a sharp double down the right-field line.

-- Mark Vientos hasn't resembled an everyday player this season, but for a second straight game, he provided some welcomed pop. Behind in the count, he extended the Mets' third-inning rally to five runs by clobbering a hanging curve into the left field seats for a two-run homer. The 419-foot blast was No. 9 on the season for Vientos, who's driven in six across his last eight at-bats.

-- David Peterson sought to prove that his implosion last week was an aberration, and by all accounts, he did just that. The Mets' left-hander pounded the zone early, facing the minimum through the first four innings with four strikeouts. He also needed just 41 pitches to complete those frames, making it the most efficient start to an outing in his career thus far. Peterson maintained his groove in the fifth, inducing two groundouts and a punchout to put his pitch count to an economical 52.

 -- Brett Baty, manning the hot corner, increased the Mets' lead to 6-0 in the sixth with a mammoth first-pitch, leadoff homer off Irvin that traveled 428 feet and landed in the second deck in right-center. Then, in the seventh, Soto joined the homer party with an opposite-field blast to left off reliever Konnor Pilkington that bumped the Mets' cushion to seven. It was Soto's 51st career dinger at Nationals Park, and he's now hitting .281 with 10 RBI across his last 15 games.

-- Peterson was at risk of losing a streak of 23.1 scoreless innings against the Nationals in the sixth, when he allowed a leadoff double and a one-out single that set up runners on the corners. But the Mets' southpaw left the mound unscathed, striking out budding slugger James Wood and getting young star CJ Abrams to fly out to center. Over the Mets' last 60 games, Peterson has registered nine starts of six-plus innings -- no other rotation arm has even achieved this feat once.

-- After retiring the Nationals in order in the seventh at 80 total pitches, the Mets allowed Peterson to come back out for the eighth and continue his shutout bid. But a leadoff triple from Dylan Crews and a walk to Andres Chaparro doomed his 25.1 scoreless streak, as the Nationals wound up scoring their first run on a double-play groundout. Peterson still completed the frame, producing a season-high 10 strikeouts and nine groundouts on 96 pitches. 

-- McNeil placed the Mets back ahead by seven in the ninth, smacking a solo shot to right-center off reliever Jackson Rutledge. The bottom half of the inning belonged to Ryne Stanek, who induced a groundout, flyout, and popout to put a bow on the Mets' well-rounded performance.

Game MVP: David Peterson

Peterson couldn't produce a second complete-game shutout against the Nationals this season, but he once again shoved as the Mets' most reliable starter. He also remains the only rotation arm to throw a pitch in the eighth inning this season.

Highlights

What's next

The Mets (67-58) will look to extend their winning streak to four games on Wednesday, with first pitch in D.C. scheduled for 6:45 p.m.

RHP Kodai Senga (7-4, 2.35 ERA) is slated to take the mound, opposite RHP Brad Lord (3-6, 3.26 ERA).

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Former Miami Heat security officer pleads guilty to selling stolen memorabilia

MIAMI (AP) — A former Miami Heat security officer pleaded guilty Tuesday to transporting and transferring millions of dollars worth of stolen game-worn jerseys and other memorabilia.

Marcos Thomas Perez, 62, was a 25-year retired veteran of the Miami Police Department. The Miami resident worked for the Heat from 2016 to 2021 and as an NBA security employee from 2022 to 2025.

According to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida and FBI Miami, Perez stole more than 400 jerseys and other items from a secured equipment room and sold items through various online marketplaces. He had access because he worked on the game-day security detail at the Kaseya Center. He was one of a few employees with access to a secured equipment room that stored memorabilia the Heat organization planned to display in a future team museum.

Over a three-year period, authorities say Perez sold more than 100 stolen items for approximately about $1.9 million and shipped them across state lines, often at bargain prices. They say he sold a Miami Heat jersey LeBron James wore during the NBA Finals for approximately $100,000. That same jersey later sold at a Sotheby’s auction for $3.7 million.

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Mets pitching prospect Brandon Sproat strikes out eight with Triple-A Syracuse

Mets pitching prospect Brandon Sproat bounced back from one of his worst starts in Triple-A this season on Tuesday night with Syracuse.

In his last start, Sproat allowed six runs (five earned) on three hits and three walks. It was a very different story for Sproat, who dominated Indianapolis hitters, striking out seven batters across five innings (83 pitches/54 strikes). He allowed one run on two hits and one walk.

The young right-hander got off to a hot start, striking out the side in the first inning. He then struck out three more batters in the second inning, sandwiching a two-out triple to put his punchout total to six. Indianapolis would get to Sproat in the third inning.

After a leadoff walk and a wild pitch, Sproat allowed a double to push across Indianapolis' first run of the game. Sproat would settle down, getting the next three batters out, including his seventh strikeout of the game to end the threat.

Sproat would cruise through the final three innings without much doing from Indianapolis, working around a fielding error to keep the score tied 1-1 after six.

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Know Your Enemy, Sabres Pacific Edition: Kraken Swept Buffalo Last Year — Will This Season Be A Different Story?

Tage Thompson (Timothy T. Ludwig, USA TODAY Images)

The Buffalo Sabres' 2025-26 schedule has been out for some time now, and in this ongoing THN.com Sabres site series, we're breaking down Buffalo's chances against every team in the league.

We've worked our way through the Atlantic, Metropolitan and Central division teams, and for the last week or so, we focused on the Pacific Division. And in this file, we're examining a team that swept the Sabres last year -- the Seattle Kraken.

The Kraken made some notable changes this summer, but they're a team that missed out on the Stanley Cup playoffs last season. So a team like the Sabres needs to target Seattle as a team they can play well against this year. With that said, let's look at the Kraken and see how we believe Buffalo should fare against them:

BUFFALO SABRES VS. SEATTLE KRAKEN

NEW KRAKEN PLAYERS: Mason Marchment, LW; Frederick Gaudreau, C; Ryan Lindgren, D

2024-25 SERIES: Sabres 0-2-0, Seattle 2-0-0

2025-26 GAMES AGAINST EACH OTHER:  December 14 at Seattle; March 28 at Buffalo 

CAN THE SABRES BEAT THIS TEAM?  The Sabres got a big dose of the Kraken in a short span last season, playing Seattle twice in a nine-day span in mid-January. And the Kraken handed Buffalo their hats, winning the first game 6-2 in Buffalo, then beating the Sabres 6-4 in Seattle.

Thus, you can see why the Kraken would feel confident in their chances against Buffalo this coming season. However, from this writer's perspective, the changes Seattle has made still aren't enough to make them a playoff team in the Western Conference next season. And Buffalo's desperation to make the playoffs means they can't afford to drop both games to any team, the Kraken included.

One of the differences between last season's Buffalo/Seattle series is the fact their games are spread out much further than they were last year. Indeed, the second game in the series will be the Sabres' ninth-to-last game of the regular-season -- and that means Buffalo could be fighting for its playoff life at that point in the year.

Know Your Enemy, Sabres Pacific Edition: Sweeping Rebuilding Sharks Should Be No Problem For BuffaloKnow Your Enemy, Sabres Pacific Edition: Sweeping Rebuilding Sharks Should Be No Problem For BuffaloThe Buffalo Sabres' 2025-26 schedule has been out for a while now. And although Sabres fans have known when and where their team will be playing at any given time, it's still worthwhile to examine each Buffalo opponent next year -- and specifically, how the Sabres should fare against team NHL team in 2025-26.

To be sure, the Kraken are a proud bunch that is fully intent on earning a post-season berth. But while the addition of Marchment from the Dallas Stars is a solid deal for Seattle, additional additions Gaudreau (formerly of the Minnesota Wild) and Lindgren (most recently, a Colorado Avalanche defenseman) don't move the needle. 

That said, the Kraken still have $4.5-million in salary cap space, so the Seattle team Buffalo faces in Game 1 of their series next season could be significantly different from the Kraken team the Sabres face after the trade deadline. But even then, unless Seattle GM Jason Botterill hits a home run with a difference-maker on the trade market, it's difficult to envision the Kraken being a force to reckon with. 

As the NHL's newest team, the Kraken are still on an expansion timeline. That means improvement isn't always linear for them, and more struggles could be ahead as their young core establishes their identity.  And that's where the Sabres need to come in and answer back for last season's struggles against Seattle. The Sabres are a better team on paper than the Kraken, and they need to make that translate into the win/loss columns.

Know Your Enemy, Sabres Pacific Edition: New-Look Kings May Be Vulnerable In Sabres Series Next SeasonKnow Your Enemy, Sabres Pacific Edition: New-Look Kings May Be Vulnerable In Sabres Series Next SeasonThe Buffalo Sabres' pursuit of its first Stanley Cup playoff appearance in 15 years means that there's no room for error for them, at any time of the season.  A prolonged losing streak can and will knock down any team's post-season hopes, but the Sabres are particularly desperate, so Buffalo fans will be watching each and every game in the hope the Sabres can secure a playoff spot.

We've said it before, but it bears repeating: the line between making and missing the playoffs could be one or two standings points. So if Buffalo loses both games against the Kraken -- and worst-case scenario, lose both games in regulation-time -- it could be disastrous for the Sabres' playoff hopes. Buffalo has to get at least one win against the Kraken, but to ease Sabres' fans anxieties, Buffalo should be aiming to win both games -- or one win and one loss in overtime or the shootout.

The Sabres have little-to-no-room-for-error next season. Ultimately, if they don't win more series than they lose, a playoff berth is going to be a pipe dream for Buffalo. And beating non-playoff teams like the Kraken has to be a priority for the Sabres. Because if they can't take care of business against the NHL's lesser lights, Buffalo doesn't deserve to be a playoff team.

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New Penguins Top Six Projection Has Intriguing Look

The Pittsburgh Penguins brought in several new players this off-season, so their lineup will certainly look different next season. They will also have plenty of decisions to make when it comes to assembling their lineup, so they will need to be watched closely during the pre-season.

The NHL's official Facebook account recently shared its top six projection for the Penguins, and it offers a mix of everything.

For the Penguins' first line, they are predicting that Sidney Crosby will center Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust. If Rust and Rakell both end up not being traded this off-season, it would not be surprising if they played on a line with Crosby. They both are coming off career-best seasons and have great chemistry with Crosby. Thus, if this ends up being the Penguins' first line, they should make a big impact offensively.

As for the Penguins' second line, they have Evgeni Malkin at center, which is a no-brainer. However, things get interesting when it comes to Malkin's wingers, as the NHL's official account has newcomer Anthony Mantha and prospect Ville Koivunen playing with No. 71. When healthy, Mantha has shown during his career that he can be an impactful second-line winger, so testing him out with Malkin would be understandable. As for Koivunen, he is one of the Penguins' most promising prospects, so having him play with a legend like Malkin could be excellent for his development.

It will be interesting to see what the Penguins' top six ends up being at the start of the season. Some other candidates who could compete for a spot in the Penguins' top six include Rutger McGroarty, Philip Tomasino, and Tommy Novak, if he plays on the wing.

Penguins Star Invited To USA's Olympic Orientation CampPenguins Star Invited To USA's Olympic Orientation CampTeam USA has announced their 2026 Olympic orientation camp roster, and one Pittsburgh Penguins star has made the cut - forward Bryan Rust.
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Sharks And Sabres Split Series Last Season — Can Buffalo Sweep San Jose Next Year?

Owen Power (John Hefti. USA TODAY Images)

The Buffalo Sabres need all hands on deck if they're to be a Stanley Cup playoff team next season. And no matter who they play, the Sabres will be focused on winning every series against each of their 31 opponents next year. 

With that in mind, THN.com's Sabres site has been producing a series in which we focus on every NHL team's games against Buffalo last year, and what that might mean for their season series this time around. We've made our way through the teams in the Atlantic, Metropolitan and Central divisions, and in our latest files, we've been analyzing teams in the Pacific Division.

That said, let's turn our attention to the latest Pacific team -- the San Jose Sharks. The Sharks were the NHL's worst team last year, but they split the series against the Sabres, with one win apiece.

But we want your opinion -- how do you think San Jose will fare against the Sabres in 2025-26? Let your voice be heard by commenting below.

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Lots of magic in Phillies' 6-4 win over Mariners

Lots of magic in Phillies' 6-4 win over Mariners originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Maybe the Seattle Mariners should challenge the Phillies in a game of Quidditch, because through two games with them in baseball this series, they haven’t had much success.

Cristopher Sánchez showed off his pitching wizardry once again on Harry Potter night and J.T. Realmuto’s go-ahead home run propelled the Phillies to a 6-4 win over the Mariners.

Sánchez was wonderful. He went 7 1/3 innings with 12 strikeouts, two walks and six allowed hits. Of the 27 batters he faced, he threw a first pitch strike on 26 of them.

After getting his last strikeout of the night to begin the seventh, Sánchez walked nine-hole hitter Dylan Holmes on his 96th pitch. Manager Rob Thomson then called for Orion Kerkering out of the bullpen and he proceeded to walk the next two batters on eight pitches to load the bases.

A groundout by Julio Rodriguez made it 4-2 before Eugenio Suarez tied it with a double down the left-field line. Then quickly, a Sánchez win disappeared.

It was the seventh time in his career that Sánchez struck out double-digit batters and the fourth time he has done it this season. He left to a thunderous standing ovation, shortly taken over by boos after Kerkering’s effort.

“I think it was just about calming down the emotions during the game and calming myself down, and also to execute our game plan that we had,” said Sánchez, who allowed a leadoff baserunner in four of the seven innings he started. “I think (my slider) is just feeling better overall with every start and tonight wasn’t the exception. I just think that it’s a pitch that’s getting better when I go on the mound.

“That’s just a part of the game and I’m always going to have my team’s back. If the next guy up performs well or doesn’t, I always got his back. It’s just a part of it.”

Home runs were prominent for the Phillies again Tuesday. Kyle Schwarber opened the scoring in the first with his 44th homer. In the third, Bryce Harper drove in a run with a sacrifice fly and J.T. Realmuto added an RBI single. Bryson Stott then crushed one off the right-field scoreboard in the fourth for a 4-1 lead — one that looked safe until Kerkering’s rough seventh inning ended his streak of seven scoreless appearances.

Then came the Realmuto heroics. Harper led off the eighth with a single to left. Then on the first pitch from Mariners right hander Matt Brash, Realmuto launched a no-doubter deep into the left-field seats for the winning runs. David Robertson got the win by pitching a perfect eighth and Jhoan Duran picked up his sixth save as a Phillie in the ninth.

“Just trying to get a pitch in the heart of the plate, honestly,” said Realmuto on his ninth homer of the season. “He’s got really good stuff, got a wipeout slider. I was just trying to get something in the middle of the plate to swing on and he gave me one.

“That one was exciting. That’s a really good team over there. That was a pretty intense game with them coming back and tying the game on us. The emotions were definitely high after that swing.”

They’ve been high for a few days now after the announcement that Zack Wheeler was diagnosed with a blood clot near his right shoulder. It’s been a reality check that life comes first, and baseball a distant second. But the game does have to go on, and if it does, winning is a pretty good distraction.

“Not at all,” said Sánchez of the thought of replacing Wheeler. “I think that no one can fill Zack’s shoes on the mound. He’s just one of the best pitchers, not just on this team, but in the whole game. I don’t think anyone would argue that.

“Very sad. He is one of my favorite pitchers and I really felt bad for him. We talked a little, we texted each other. Hopefully everything goes well.”

It did for the Phillies on Tuesday. Magical, some would say.

The Mariners were bound to face a 100-mile-an-hour reliever in this one, as the team activated Jose Alvarado earlier in the day after he completed his 80-game suspension for PEDs. He probably would have seen action if the margin of the game was wider. As it was, Seattle got to see closer Jhoan Duran in the ninth and he did what he does – throw extreme heat and save games. He did just that with a perfect inning that included a three-pitch strikeout on Cal Raleigh.

All three pitches were 102 MPH fastballs that Raleigh couldn’t catch up to.

That prompted Realmuto to give the line of the night about the team’s new closer.

“I know with how hard it is to catch, it can’t be fun to hit.”

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Giants' fizzling lineup continues to struggle vs. fastball as strikeouts pile up

Giants' fizzling lineup continues to struggle vs. fastball as strikeouts pile up originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants had a clear approach to the MLB draft this year, and that continued at the trade deadline. At every turn, they are trying to add hitters who are into bat control and limit strikeouts. 

It will take a while, though, to change the makeup of the big league roster, and right now this is a group that’s big on swing-and-miss. It’s a major reason why their season has spiraled in recent weeks. 

The lineup struck out 12 times in Tuesday’s 5-1 loss to the San Diego Padres, reaching double-digits for a fifth consecutive game and the eighth time in the last nine games. They have exactly 100 strikeouts over those nine games, and it’s not because they’re working deep counts or playing a “three true outcomes” brand of baseball. They have 16 walks during that span.

Manager Bob Melvin found it jarring last Monday when Yu Darvish opened his night with nine consecutive fastballs. The trend has continued, and thus far, the Giants haven’t found an answer.

Asked about it late Tuesday night, Melvin pointed out that the lineup is without Matt Chapman, who has the highest walk rate of any of the regulars who have been here all year. The Giants also traded away Mike Yastrzemski, who struck out a fair amount, but countered that by drawing plenty of walks. 

With Yastrzemski gone and Chapman (hand) and Willy Adames (side soreness) both out Tuesday, Melvin had just one player (Rafael Devers) in his lineup who has walked in more than 9 percent of his at-bats this season. 

“It’s a little bit different in the personnel right now,” Melvin said. “We’re trying to catch up to some fastballs and get ahead a little bit earlier and you try to hit the fastball. So it doesn’t look as good as far as the walks go.”

For a team that is trying to adjust on the fly, Nick Pivetta was just about the exact opposite of who they needed to see on the mound Tuesday. The right-hander has tremendous carry on his fastball and gets good extension. His four-seamer ranks as the second-best in the big leagues by Run Value, and he used it 48 times Tuesday. Six of his 10 strikeouts came on a fastball.

The Giants once hoped to use these two August series against the Padres as a way to get back into the MLB playoff race. Instead, they’ve dropped four of five to the division rival, striking out 50 times.

“This team does have a lot of guys that throw hard, and they throw at the top of the zone and they know where the top is,” Melvin said. “That’s something we have to solve, is when you go after it up there and when you don’t. [It was] 24 vert today from Pivetta — I don’t know that I’ve seen that before. We’ve seen some 21s, 22s … It looks good at certain levels, and when you have that kind of vertical [break] it’s easier said than done to stay on top of it and get it.”

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Mariners' Victor Robles suspended 10 games for throwing bat at pitcher

Seattle Mariners outfielder Victor Robles has received a 10-game suspension and an undisclosed fine for his conduct during the top of the third inning in Sunday afternoon’s game in Las Vegas during a rehab assignment, Major League Baseball announced Tuesday.

Robles is currently with the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers of the Pacific Coast League as he recovers from a shoulder injury.

Las Vegas starter Joey Estes’ first pitch to Robles in the third inning was inside and Robles whacked at it to avoid getting hit. After taking a few steps behind the plate and dropping his bat, Robles picked up the bat and threw it in Estes’ direction and was immediately ejected from the game by home plate umpire Joe McCarthy.

Robles, who has been hit by a pitch three times in his previous four games with Tacoma, took some steps toward the mound while yelling at the pitcher but was held back by McCarthy and Las Vegas teammates.

The suspension is to be effective on the first day Robles returns to the Mariners' active roster. He is appealing, so the disciplinary action is on hold until that process is complete.

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Six NHL Free Agents Who Could Sign PTOs Like Lucic And Smith

Milan Lucic and Brendan Smith joined NHL teams on a professional tryout agreement on Tuesday. 

Lucic joined the St. Louis Blues, while Smith is headed to the Columbus Blue Jackets. After Jack Johnson signed a PTO with the Minnesota Wild on Aug. 11, this could be the start of more NHL free agents taking a tryout to convince teams they deserve a contract this fall.

Lucic, 37, is trying to return to the NHL after a stint in the NHL Players’ Assistance Program. He played with Boston, Edmonton, Los Angeles and Calgary, with his point totals falling in his past few seasons.

The PTO gives St. Louis a low-risk opportunity to evaluate if the power forward can contribute in a bottom-six role. 

As for Smith, the 36-year-old will bring physicality and experienced defensive play to the Blue Jackets in the pre-season. GM Don Waddell said Smith has great character and professionalism, and he competes hard. That said, he averaged only 13:13 of ice time in 32 games with the Dallas Stars last season.

Here are other NHL free agents who may need to go the PTO route to earn a contract.

Robby Fabbri, C/LW

Robby Fabbri, 29, has shown glimpses that he can be a 20-goal guy, even if he’s never reached that marker in the NHL. 

He played 44 games last season with the Anaheim Ducks, posting eight goals and eight assists. This was after an 18-goal, 32-point season with the Detroit Red Wings.

He could be a solid secondary scorer, and if he’s placed with a playmaker, he could see a significant increase in his numbers. His shooting percentage has exceeded 15 percent four times in his nine seasons, which suggests he picks his spots well and has more goal-scoring in him. There is no reason to assume he can’t contribute at the NHL level, but he may need a tryout before earning a prove-it contract.

Victor Olofsson (Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images)

Victor Olofsson, LW

Victor Olofsson, 30, is a three-time 20-goal scorer who posted 15 goals and 29 points in 56 games with the Vegas Golden Knights last season.

Why he doesn’t have a contract offer yet is somewhat baffling. If he doesn’t get a PTO, the hint here is that 32 NHL teams must know something the public doesn’t.

His scoring ability and power-play proficiency make him a strong candidate to contribute. The biggest downside is that after he recorded three 40-point seasons with the Buffalo Sabres, his production dropped to 15 points in 51 games before he joined Vegas and hasn’t fully bounced back.

The assumption is that he’s waiting for a contract offer he likes, but hasn’t received it yet. If he wants bigger bucks, he has to prove in training camp that he’s ready to bounce back.

Luke Kunin, C

Luke Kunin, 27, split 2024-25 between the San Jose Sharks and Columbus, tallying 11 goals, 18 points and 187 hits in 75 games. 

The issue might be that he had no points in his 12 games with the Blue Jackets. That may have soured teams on his ability to produce, but perhaps one team could look quite smart for giving him a bounce-back opportunity.

Kunin can be physical and kill penalties, making him an option in a depth role, even if he doesn’t get regular NHL duties.

Milan Lucic Could Increase The Number Of Visor-less NHL PlayersMilan Lucic Could Increase The Number Of Visor-less NHL PlayersMilan Lucic is attempting an NHL comeback by joining the St. Louis Blues on a professional tryout.

Max Pacioretty, LW

Max Pacioretty, 34, remains a gifted offensive goal-scorer whose injury and health concerns follow him wherever he goes. That makes PTOs the way to go with him, something he tried successfully last season with the Toronto Maple Leafs. 

He made the team and produced 13 points in 37 games, as well as eight points in 11 playoff contests. The Leafs could still bring him back, or a contender might be on his radar. That said, teams may be hesitant to give a roster spot to an older veteran who might not play the full season, or even half of it.

Andreas Athanasiou, LW/C

Andreas Athanasiou, 31, is an experienced left winger coming off a difficult stint with the Chicago Blackhawks. Once a speedy 30-goal winger, Athanasiou’s stock has fallen over the past few seasons. He put up only nine points in 28 games in 2023-24, and last season, he played eight NHL games and 30 in the AHL. 

That said, he’s still quick and had a 20-goal campaign in 2022-23. 

As a free agent, he could take a PTO to prove he still has the skill to contribute effectively in a bottom-six role. Otherwise, he may need to sign in the AHL or overseas to continue his professional hockey career.

Marc-Edouard Vlasic, D

Marc-Edouard Vlasic, 38, played 1,323 games with the Sharks before they bought out his contract in late June. Vlasic told NHL.com’s French website he was under the impression he was going to San Jose next season, based on his end-of-season interview, so he wasn’t impressed the team didn’t tell him then that he might be bought out. 

He’s older, but Vlasic was once a steady shutdown defenseman, and he could bring leadership and quality minutes in a limited role.

A team signing him should know he’s likely not going to eat the minutes he used to, and he’ll be on the slower side, but there have been plenty of older defensemen who remain effective in the right role. Vlasic recently told Le Journal de Québec that he’s looking to come back to the NHL this season, and if the right team asks, a PTO could be a real option.

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Yankees' Jonathan Loáisiga believed to have flexor strain, awaiting more opinions

If there was any chance of the Yankees seeing Jonathan Loáisiga return to their bullpen before the end of August, it's been completely erased now.

Prior to Wednesday's road meeting with the Rays, manager Aaron Boonerevealed to the media that the veteran right-hander "probably" has a flexor strain, as he underwent tests on Tuesday after reporting soreness in his right elbow/triceps area. 

The Yankees are still gathering additional opinions.

The arm issue arrived just two days after Loáisiga began his rehab assignment with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, recovering from back stiffness.

While the severity of Loáisiga's suspected flexor strain remains unclear, the setback can be added to his laundry list of poor injury luck. Before joining the injured list on Aug. 3, the 30-year-old had posted an unreliable 4.25 ERA and 1.48 WHIP with 25 strikeouts across 29.2 innings (30 games).

Loáisiga's rehab appearance in Triple-A last weekend was adequate -- he struck out one while allowing one hit and one walk in one scoreless frame. At this time, there's no telling whether he'll make his way back into the big-league mix this season.

The Yankees also dealt with another bullpen issue on Tuesday, as they placed lefty reliever Brent Headrick on the 15-day injured list with a left forearm contusion.