Kyle Tucker, their $60 million-a-year-man who was rarely heard from the first five months of the season, homered for the fourth time in his past eight games and drove in three runs as the Dodgers thumped the Cincinnati Reds 8-2 Thursday, Sept. 17 at Great American Ballpark to clinch the division title with nine games remaining.
The Dodgers (93-60) hold a four-game lead over the Atlanta Braves in the race for the No. 2 seed in the NL and a first-round bye. Atlanta holds the head-to-head tiebreaker so Los Angeles must finish a game clear of the Braves to avoid playing in the wild-card series.
The likeliest scenario is the Dodgers playing host to the winner of an Atlanta-San Diego best-of-three in the NL Division Series. They most certainly won't have Shohei Ohtani, the pitcher, in this postseason and they may not have Ohtani the hitter near the height of his powers, or even at all.
Yet they will carry the deadliest 1-2 pitching combo - 2025 World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto and two-time Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal - into the postseason tournament.
And they'll also have, it seems, a sentient Tucker.
The 29-year-old right fielder who signed a four-year, $240 million deal was batting just .221 with a .671 OPS on Sept. 8. Thursday, he went 4-for-5 with three extra-base hits, capping an eight-game stretch in which he went 12-for-29 (.414) with four homers and a 1.566 OPS.
The @Dodgers are NL West champions for a 5th straight season!
His outfield mate, Teoscar Hernández, has been similarly potent, boosting his season OPS by 68 points thanks to a .385/.492/.712 line over his previous 15 games. They need the lineup length right now with Ohtani resting due to right biceps and left knee injuries.
Should the four-time MVP return, and lefty starter Blake Snell's groin scare is truly just that, the Dodgers should be well-stocked for October.
For now, their preliminary accomplishments are well in hand. This is the Dodgers' fifth consecutive division title and the lone runner-up finish in this 14-year run came in 2021, when their 106 victories were one fewer than the San Francisco Giants' 107. They probably won't get to 100 wins this year. But they certainly were good enough - and hope that holds true in October, too.
The Senators have added some local flair to their blue line, signing veteran defenceman Ben Hutton to a professional tryout.
Hutton was born in Brockville and raised in Prescott, making him a familiar name in these parts. He also spent more than 200 games in the CCHL with the Kemptville 73’s and Nepean Raiders before playing three seasons at the University of Maine.
The 33-year-old was the chosen by Vancouver in the fifth round of the 2012 NHL Draft, Hutton played his first four NHL seasons with the Canucks before stops with the Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks and Toronto Maple Leafs.
Drake Batherson kept the faith that he'd get something done with the Senators.
He spent the past five seasons with the Vegas Golden Knights, serving primarily as a reliable depth defenceman who could step into the lineup when needed.
In all, Hutton has appeared in 575 NHL regular-season games, recording 30 goals and 139 points. He also won a Cup with Vegas in 2023, appearing in two games during that run.
Last season, the six-foot-three, 209-pound left-shot D played 55 regular-season games for the Knights, contributing six goals and 15 points. He also dressed for seven playoff games and recorded one assist as Vegas advanced to the Stanley Cup Final.
Hutton’s year-to-year totals have fluctuated, partly because of injuries and partly because of his position on a deep Vegas blue line.
But his 55 games last season showed that he remains capable of handling a fairly steady NHL workload.
At a glance, the Sens don't have an obvious opening for Hutton on the left side. Jake Sanderson and Thomas Chabot are firmly established in the top four, while Tyler Kleven is expected to hold down the third-pairing role. But all three missed time with injury last year, and there isn't really an obvious fill-in at the AHL level.
The uncertainty is on the right side, where Artem Zub will miss the start of camp as he continues recovering from the lower-body injury he suffered in the playoffs last spring.
Head coach Travis Green said Wednesday that Zub is skating and could rejoin the team within the next week or two. That timetable doesn’t sound especially concerning, but with a compressed training camp, the Sens have to be ready with a backup plan.
Without Zub, the Senators would almost certainly begin camp with Jordan Spence, Carter Yakemchuk and Nikolas Matinpalo filling the three right-side positions. That would put both Yakemchuk and Matinpalo inside the top six, while leaving the club without an obvious option for the seventh-defenceman job.
Hutton's arrival probably changes that.
By Steve Warne The Hockey News
This article was first published in The Hockey News. For more Sens coverage at The Hockey News, click on one of the latest THN Ottawa headlines below:
Michael Sweetney, an All-American big man for the Georgetown men’s basketball team who went on to be a top-10 NBA draft pick, has died, his wife, India, announced on social media on Thursday, Sept. 17.
He was 43 years old. No cause of death was specified.
“No one loved him more and he loved no one more than his family,” India Murray Sweetney wrote in a message on Facebook. “His children were the light of his life, and he lived every day to give them the best life possible. He’s been my best friend for 30 years and my husband for almost 20. I’m not sure what we or I will do without him.”
Sweetney made his greatest on-court mark in the college game, where the 6-foot-8, 275-pound forward averaged 18.2 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game over three seasons at Georgetown. As a junior during the 2002-03 season, he averaged 22.8 points, 10.4 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game for the Hoyas. His production that season earned him All-American distinction from the Associated Press, the National Association of Basketball Coaches and The Sporting News.
Despite playing only three seasons at Georgetown, he remains ninth on the program’s all-time scoring list and fifth on its all-time rebounding list.
Prayers to the family of Georgetown men’s basketball alum Michael Sweetney.
His size and college accolades made him a prized NBA prospect, with the New York Knicks selecting him with the No. 9 overall pick in the famed 2003 NBA Draft that also included LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Bosh. In four NBA seasons — two with the Knicks and two with the Chicago Bulls — he averaged 6.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.
He played professionally, primarily in South America and the Caribbean, until 2017.
Heading into his first season with the Knicks, Sweetney struggled with depression, maintaining his playing weight and suicidal thoughts after his father suffered a fatal heart attack in 2003, about a month after Sweetney was drafted.
“I was going through depression,” he said to the New York Post in 2019. “I honestly thought I would never get out of it,” Sweetney said. “When I share the story, as I’m talking, it’s still amazing to me this was going on. As an athlete, pride got in the way. I was fighting myself. I didn’t speak up. I kept it hidden and it became a snowball effect.
“Before my father(’s death), life was great. He came to every game. He was always there. I buried my father like two days before training camp. There was no time to digest it at all. Losing him, then coming to a basketball situation that wasn’t going the way I wanted, I’d never dealt with adversity.”
He remained in basketball after his playing days, serving as an assistant coach at Yeshiva University, a Division III school in Manhattan. With Sweetney on staff, the Maccabees won two conference championships and racked up a 50-game win streak from 2019-21.
“It’s not just about X’s and O’s,” Sweetney said to the Post in 2019. “Sometimes you need to see if a guy is going through something and pick them up. It’s been a great experience. I’m happy here. I’m comfortable here. I’m treated well here. It’s been amazing. To be happy and be at peace, I would’ve been shocked. I wouldn’t have thought it was possible.”
CINCINNATI, OH - JUNE 20: Casey Janssen #44 of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches in the ninth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on June 20, 2014 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Toronto defeated Cincinnati 14-9. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Casey Janssen turns 45 today. He has always been one of my favourites, and a favourite among readers of this site. Long before I joined, the site even interviewed him back in 2008.
Janssen was selected in the fourth round of the 2003 draft out of the University of California, during the J.P. Ricciardi era. That year, the Jays picked David Purcey in the first round, with Zach Jackson, Curtis Thigpen, and Adam Lind all chosen ahead of Casey.
Janssen made his Blue Jays debut at the end of April 2006, stepping in after A.J. Burnett landed on the DL due to complications from his 2003 Tommy John surgery. Casey started off strong, going 3-2 with a 3.12 ERA in six May starts, but struggled as the season progressed, ultimately finishing 6-10 with a 5.07 ERA.
In 2007, a string of pitching injuries shifted Janssen to the bullpen, where he became the setup man for closer Jeremy Accardo. He finished the year with 24 holds, 6 saves, and a 2.35 ERA in 70 appearances. While he only struck out 39 batters in 72.2 innings, he excelled at keeping the ball on the ground and consistently got the job done.
Casey missed all of 2008 and the early part of 2009 due to a torn labrum. The Jays tried him as a starter upon his return, but after five rough outings and a 6.23 ERA, he transitioned back to the bullpen for good, where he remained a key contributor for the next five seasons.
Between 2010 and 2014, Casey appeared in 279 games, recording a 2.99 ERA and 83 saves. He served as the team’s closer from 2012 to 2014 and currently ranks fifth on the franchise’s all-time saves list and fifth in games pitched by a Blue Jays pitcher.
You might recall that he battled a bout of food poisoning over the All-Star break, which likely contributed to a difficult second half. After a solid start to the season, he posted a 5.70 ERA following the break.
Following the 2014 season, Janssen signed with the Nationals, but struggled in 2015, leading the team to decline his option for 2016. He was briefly with the Padres and Red Sox organizations, but never made it back to the majors. In 2017, he continued his career in the Mexican League.
I’m not exactly sure why Janssen became such a favourite here, but he was undeniably effective. I always enjoyed his distinctive follow-through, especially the pronounced bend in his lead leg that brought him so low to the ground. It also helped that he seemed like a genuinely good guy.
Marcus Semien turns 36 today.
In 2021, Marcus played all 162 games for the Blue Jays, slashing .265/.334/.538 with 45 home runs and 15 steals. He earned both the Silver Slugger and Gold Glove awards for second base and finished third in MVP voting.
The Jays finished that season 91-71, which was only good enough for fourth place in the AL East.
Afterward, Semien signed a seven-year, $175 million contract with the Rangers. Before this season, the Rangers traded him to the Mets. He’s not having a great season there.
Over his 14-year career, Marcus has hit .251/.319/.429 with 267 home runs and a 49.9 bWAR.
Happy Birthday, Marcus.
On this day in 2019 (seven years ago), Cavan Biggio hit for the cycle—just the third Blue Jay to do so, joining Jeff Frye and Kelly Gruber.
His game unfolded like this:
– Strikeout in the first
– Two-run homer in the third
– Single in the sixth
– Double in the eighth
– Two-run triple in the ninth, part of a four-run inning that secured the win
He also stole two bases, scored three runs, and drove in four.
The game took place in Baltimore. I noted in the recap that the announced attendance was 9,280, but estimated that about 9,000 were disguised as empty seats. The Jays won 8-5.
Vegas Golden Knights General Manager Kelly McCrimmon doesn’t mince words. He speaks with conviction, and he means every word he says.
His statement about inking Golden Knights captain Mark Stone to a two-year contract extension was par for the course.
“The organization shifted when we acquired Mark Stone,” said McCrimmon. “For me, that was the player that we thought could be a star— [and he] has been a star. When you factor in the character of his leadership and what he’s meant to the organization, he’s just been a tremendous, tremendous player for the Golden Knights.”
Stone, who has played exactly 400 games in a Golden Knights sweater, is coming off a career year. In 60 games, he scored 28 goals and posted a career-best 73 points. Stone was a crucial part of the Golden Knights’ lethal power play— he scored nine goals and 27 points on the man advantage.
“With him going into the final year of his contract, we were really excited to keep him with our organization for this year, plus two more,” said McCrimmon. “He feels great, and he had one of his best years last year.”
Stone’s on-ice play speaks for itself. He’s an elite two-way winger who makes up for his lack of foot speed with one of the sharpest minds in the game. He kills penalties and is on the ice in every late-game scenario. He’s one of the most underappreciated players in the game, but those lucky enough to watch or play with Stone on a nightly basis have nothing but good things to say about him.
“I think the people in this room appreciate Mark’s contributions as much as anyone does,” said McCrimmon.
If anyone has earned the right to retire a Golden Knight, it’s Mark Stone. He’s the team’s emotional leader, and the amount of effort he gives every game is never in question.
“He’s our original leader,” McCrimmon finished. “I think that we’re thrilled with his level of play, his leadership, and everything that goes with him being our captain.”
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - MARCH 30: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers in action during a game against the Utah Jazz at Delta Center on March 30, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
They spent weeks waiting for LeBron James to make a decision, only for the King to choose Philly over returning home. This put Cleveland’s offseason on the brink of disaster. They needed a wing — and with the free agency pool drained, the Cavs had almost nothing to show for it.
James Harden not only paused his contract extension to allow them to keep searching, but also played an active role in recruiting their biggest splash of the summer, Peyton Watson.
“Getting a call or text from [Harden] throughout my process to let me know the Cleveland Cavaliers are interested,” said Watson during his introductory press conference.
“ That matters a lot because obviously he has one of the great basketball minds we’ve ever seen. Being embraced by him immediately was something that was very flattering to me.”
Watson was one of the hottest sign-and-trade candidates on the market this summer. The 6’8” wing had a career-best season shooting the ball and fit the mold of what the Cavs have been missing.
Meanwhile, Harden waited until September to sign an extension that he could have signed in July. This gave Cleveland the financial flexibility to go big game hunting.
More importantly, Harden used his reputation as one of the game’s greatest playmakers to reel in an organizational assist.
“I was super, super blessed to hear from him, and it made me more excited about what my role could be on the team,” said Watson. “It was early on when he had first talked to me… when I got that call and was informed that I was gonna be a Cleveland Cavalier, it just made it mean that much more to me because I knew I was being embraced day one by the team and front office. That just matters.”
Vibes matter. Enthusiasm is what leads to chemistry. Watson is excited about being in Cleveland and building a relationship with Harden. That’s some of the best news that you can hear leading into training camp.
Harden can’t pick up the phone and make the trade himself. But he did everything else in his power to facilitate this deal.
MARYLAND
HEIGHTS, Mo. -- Jimmy
Snuggerud isn’t going anywhere and won’t be going anywhere for a while.
Despite
not being a part of a flurry of NHL players to get in long-term
contracts that could go as long as eight years by the end of the
Collective Bargain Agreement that ended on Tuesday at 11 p.m. (CT)
before the new CBA kicked in that only offers max contracts at seven
years, the first-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft by the St. Louis
Blues isn’t concerned about not getting something done by Tuesday.
“No,
not at all,” Snuggerud
said Thursday after Blues opened training camp for the 2026-27
season.
“I think there’s certain ways teams do things and every player is
different honestly. Every guy goes through talks and what not.
Nothing really occurred and I’m just happy to keep going here. Like
I said, it’ll all take care of itself. I’m not too concerned with
it.”
Snuggerud,
who had 51 points (21 goals, 30 assists) in 70 games in his first
full NHL season, enters this season in the final year of his
entry-level contract and will be quite the bargain at a $950,000 cap
hit that includes a $1.55 million average annual value. But what
about beyond? We won’t speculate, but it’s a known factor that
the 22-year-old, who was recently engaged, will get a nice, hefty
payday. Depending on what the term and dollars come to eventually,
Snuggerud has no desire to get a deal done with anyone but the team
that drafted him and he most certainly sees himself here for the long
term as part of the core.
“For
sure. I want to be here,” Snuggerud
said.
“I would love to be here for as long as I can. I love this city. I
love everything about it. It’s calm, people are really nice. Fans
are crazy and the home games are fun. When I say it’s going to take
care of itself, I think just come to the rink every day and try to do
my best as I possibly can. Obviously I would love to be here for as
long as possible. I love what we’re doing, the direction has a
purpose.”
There
were a flurry of deals done on
Tuesday by other teams, including Cutter Gauthier (six years, $13.5
million AAV) with the Anaheim Ducks; Drake Batherson (eight years,
$10.75 million AAV) with the Ottawa Senators; Ryan Leonard (eight
years, $10.75 million AAV) and Justin Sourdif (eight years, $6.35
million AAV) with the Washington Capitals; Luke Evangelista (five
years, $7.25 million) with the New Jersey Devils, and Alex Newhook
(four years, $5.55 million AAV) with the Montreal Canadiens.
Batherson,
Leonard and Sourdif took the max eight years and got their payday
now, some didn’t, and in Snuggerud’s case, he preferred to wait
it out. And that’s OK with both the player and the team.
It
doesn’t mean the Blues aren’t looking at the dynamics and what’s
been going on around the league.
“We
spend a lot of time discussing all these things internally and what
the options are, but at the end of the day, we’re back to our
philosophy on how we want to approach it,” Blues
general manager Alex Steen said.
“We do our best to continually communicate with the players and the
representatives. We don’t want our players guessing anything so we
keep them as informed as we can and we go from there.”
President
of hockey operations Doug Armstrong signed two players coming out of
his entry-level contract to long-term deals immediately: Vladimir
Tarasenko (eight years, $60 million, $7.5 million AAV) in 2015 and
Alex Pietrangelo (seven years, $45.5 million, $6.5 million AAV) in
2013.
“Yeah
we've kept an eye on everything that's going on,” Armstrong
said.
“Our belief all along has been 'trust but verify' on our players.
Our philosophy isn't like philosophies of other groups and I'm not
saying what's right or wrong -- to rub the crystal ball and to hope
things might happen and work out.
“Since
2010, I think we've had two players come out of entry level that
signed long-term extensions and that was Tarasenko and Pietrangelo,
both second-team All-Stars after their third year. So yeah, my belief
and I've shared it with Alex (Steen)
and
he agrees with me, we trust these guys. We want them to get rich. We
want to pay them. We just want to make sure that they've earned that
paycheck. So we're willing to allow them to play like we did last
year with Broberg and Holloway.”
The
Blues signed Broberg to
a six-year, $48 million extension ($8 million AAV) on Jan. 10, then
extended Holloway on May 1 for five years at $38.75 million ($7.75
million AAV), opting to go for shorter term than the max.
So
for Snuggerud, his next contract could fall anywhere in the five to
six, and up to seven years, and if making a comparable, he could very
well fall into a category that Leonard got in Washington. Just let
the process play out and it will get done.
“Come
to the rink every single day and do my job,” Snuggerud
said.
“I’d say it’s there, but I’m not thinking about it. I think I
can speak for everyone in this room. We just want to win games and
contracts take care of themselves if you win games. I think everyone
in here wants to do it. There’s a lot of guys other than me that
are going through the same thing. I’d say it’s there, but I just
want to win.”
And
if you think Snuggerud will want to go for the fame and fortune,
think again. He’s not a big city guy coming from Minneapolis. St.
Louis is his style of place to live.
“Growing
up in the Midwest, it kind of has that Midwest feel,” Snuggerud
said of St. Louis.
“There’s not too much going on. It’s relaxed, it’s calm and
it’s nice to have that. You don’t really get that everywhere in
other cities. Kind of that homey feeling that you get. When you get
into the games, the fans are unbelievable and they care so much about
us.
“I’m
just kind of that low-key, relaxed guy.”
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
The Utah Mammoth will have a familiar face watching from afar for much of the upcoming season.
Former Mammoth forward Nick Bjugstad is expected to miss four to six months after undergoing surgery last week to repair a torn left pectoral muscle, the New Jersey Devils announced Thursday as NHL training camps begin to ramp up.
Bjugstad sustained the injury during the offseason, putting a significant dent in his first season with New Jersey before he even had an opportunity to get back on the ice. The 33-year-old joined the Devils at the trade deadline last season after being acquired from the St. Louis Blues.
Before that move, however, Bjugstad spent the 2024-25 season with Utah, appearing in 66 games and recording eight goals and 11 assists for 19 points.
His time in Utah represented another chapter in a lengthy NHL career for the 6-foot-6 forward, who was originally selected 19th overall by the Florida Panthers in the 2010 NHL Draft. Bjugstad has since suited up for eight organizations, including the Panthers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Minnesota Wild, Arizona Coyotes, Edmonton Oilers, Utah, St. Louis and New Jersey.
Across 821 career games, he has accumulated 163 goals and 339 points.
Bjugstad reached the 20-goal mark twice in his career, including a 22-goal campaign with Arizona in 2023-24, while his most productive season came in 2017-18 when he established career highs with 19 goals, 30 assists and 49 points in Florida.
His offensive production has dipped considerably in recent years, though, with only 14 goals over the span following his 22-goal season. Last year was particularly difficult, as he managed six goals and nine points in 61 games between St. Louis and New Jersey after posting 19 points in Utah.
The Hockey News wishes Bjugstad a safe and successful recovery. After working to prepare for another NHL season, the veteran forward undoubtedly hopes to put this setback behind him and return to the ice as soon as his recovery allows.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - SEPTEMBER 15: Max Fried #54 of the New York Yankees pitches against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning of the game at Target Field on September 15, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It wouldn’t have been a proper Yankees-Twins series in Minnesota without a game that devolved into extra-innings madness. The Yankees failed to cash in multiple bases loaded opportunities and so missed a chance to sweep, falling farther behind the Rays in the standings. Nonetheless, the Bombers took care of business in the first two games of the series, and it is from the middle game that we pull our candidate for Sequence of the Week.
We join Max Fried with two outs in the bottom of the fifth on Tuesday at Target Field. The Yankees have a 3-1 lead courtesy of a Cody Bellinger two-run homer and George Lombard Jr. RBI single. However, the Twins are threatening to cut the lead to one with Emmanuel Rodriguez on second with a two-out double. That brings the number nine hitter Austin Martin to the plate, a batter Fried absolutely wants to retire to avoid the lineup turning over with a runner in scoring position.
After going almost all fastballs the first time he faced Martin, Fried looks to steal a called first-pitch strike with a backdoor sweeper.
After seeing mostly hard stuff that moved away from him, you can understand why Martin would give up on this pitch early given how far from the strike zone it is initially aimed. Fried sweeps in a dandy on the outer half for called strike one.
Establishing that backdoor breaking ball for a called strike forces Martin to respect any pitches that start away, even those that look like balls out of the hand. This opens up a host of possibilities for Fried, including the changeup low and away for chase.
This is a pretty well-executed changeup out of the zone down and outside. It looks like it is aimed at that corner of the zone before fading away from the hitter. You can see Martin was initially tempted to chase the pitch — a product of that first pitch backdoor sweeper — before holding up for an impressively disciplined take.
With Martin taking against that last pitch away, Fried and Ali Sánchez feel that there is an opening for another backdoor sweeper.
Another decently executed pitch, just a little too low to nip the bottom of the zone for a second called strike. It is worth noting that Martin showed some willingness to offer before backing off, so that outside pitch is still open for chase opportunities.
Not wanting to fall any further behind in the count, Fried throws his first fastball of the encounter. However, unlike the four-seamers and sinkers he threw Martin in the first AB, this cutter breaks toward the hitter instead of away. Therefore, if the hitter succeeds in reading fastball spin out of the hand, a backdoor cutter that starts off the plate away should freeze Martin.
That is precisely what happens, Fried pinpointing this cutter with precision on the corner up and away. Martin leaves the bat on his shoulder, only to watch the pitch cut across the black of the plate for called strike two.
Now that he has established his fastball in the zone and has the count leverage in his favor, Fried has an opening to climb the ladder with the cutter hoping for a chase and whiff under a pitch elevated above the zone.
Even though this offering misses the top of the zone by about a foot, it’s not a complete waste pitch. Fried has reset the hitter’s eye level for the fastball up, which should open the door for a breaking ball down and in.
That is just what Fried’s thought process is with the count full. He doesn’t need to give in with a fastball with first base open, knowing that it will be very hard for Martin to lay off a breaking ball that looks like a strike out of the hand.
Now this is what you call a back-foot sweeper. The pitch looks like a strike for much of its journey toward home until the lateral sweep really seems to accelerate in the final 15 feet. It’s just where you want to land a pitch like this, close enough to the strike zone to extract the chase but close enough to the batter that he is not able to pull in his hands in time to make contact.
Asked after the start what positives he would take away, Fried cited breaking ball command and an economical pitch count to go seven strong on just 88 pitches, the first point certainly highlighted by this sequence.
The Yankees desperately needed this start from Fried, not only to boost their chances of winning this particular game but also as a sign of continued build-up from the recurrence of his left elbow bone bruise. Fried labored in the start before this one, needing 80 pitches to complete 3.1 innings. Seeing him back to his best when it comes to pitch efficiency and damage limitation has to be encouraging as they formulate their postseason rotation plans.
Steph Curry shared his thoughts on the Clippers and owner Steve Ballmer’s punishment for circumventing the NBA’s salary cap.
“I wasn’t surprised,” Curry said. “I think the reason the investigation took as long as it did and the idea that Steve Ballmer, who I’ve gotten to know and is a great guy, is standing by the punishment. So there’s a reason it’s happened the way that it has.
“At the end of the day, Adam Silver had a job to do, and I think the punishment makes sense. And we all move forward.”
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry is seen during an NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets. AP
"I wasn't surprised. … Adam Silver had a job to do, and I think the punishment makes sense, and we all move forward."
Steph Curry on Steve Ballmer and the Clippers being punished for circumventing the NBA's salary cap
The Clippers were stripped of five first-round picks and fined $30 million for their violations. Ballmer faces a yearlong suspension, but after initially disputing the NBA’s findings, he has accepted the league’s punishment.
“This has been a very difficult time for everybody associated with the Clippers, and for that, I have sincere regrets,” Ballmer said in a statement. “I want to apologize to our fans, employees, and my fellow NBA team owners for the distraction and distress this matter has caused, for which I accept responsibility as principal owner.
“We are committing to put this chapter behind us. We have communicated to the NBA that we are complying with the penalties assessed by the league, have paid the fine, and are moving forward.”
As for Kawhi Leonard, he is officially a Raptor after he was given a $700,000 fine for his involvement in the scandal.
Who will run the Clippers’ day-to-day operations while owner/chairman Steve Ballmer is suspended? APKawhi Leonard of the Los Angeles Clippers in action during a game against the Sacramento Kings. Getty Images
Mike Sweetney, a Georgetown star whom the Knicks selected with the No. 9 pick in the 2003 NBA Draft, died at 43 years old.
The news was announced by his wife, India, in a Facebook post Thursday.
“With the heaviest hearts, we are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our beloved Michael,” India wrote. “To know Mike Sweetney was love to him. No one loved him more and he loved no one more than his family. His children were the light of his life, and he lived every day to give them the best life possible. He’s been my best friend for 30 years and my husband for almost 20. I’m not sure what we or I will do without him.”
Mike Sweetney #50 of the New York Knicks slam dunks the ball during the first quarter of a game against the Boston Celtics at Madison Square Garden, Wednesday, March 23, 2005. Charles Wenzelberg/NY Post
No cause of death was announced.
India recently set up a GoFundMe that simply said, “God Bless and thank you,” with a goal of $10,000. “He was the best son, brother, family member, friend, father and husband ANYONE could ask for,” India wrote. “We appreciate every call and text of love and support. We just asked that right now You give us all a little time before you start to reach out because it’s been pretty overwhelming. Thank you and God bless.”
Sweetney, who battled weight issues throughout his NBA career, played two seasons for the Knicks and showed improvement in Year 2, averaging 8.4 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.
Mike Sweetney #50 of the New York Knicks grabs his jersey during a game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Madison Square Garden, Sunday, January 23, 2005. Susan May Tell for NY Post
He was traded that offseason to the Bulls, though, in a deal that brought Eddy Curry and Antonio Davis to New York.
After two seasons in Chicago, Sweetney continued his basketball career overseas.
The Washington native played in China, Puerto Rico and South America before retiring in 2017.
Shaquille O’Neal #32 of the Miami Heat looks for an opening as Mike Sweetney #50 of the New York Knicks plays defense during the first quarter of a game at Madison Square Garden, Tuesday, March 15, 2005. Charles Wenzelberg/NY PostMike Sweetney #50 of the New York Knicks, Jerome Williams #31 of the New York Knicks, and Stephon Marbury #3 of the New York Knicks sit during a game against the Boston Celtics at Madison Square Garden, Wednesday, March 23, 2005. Charles Wenzelberg/NY Post
“The world lost a giant today. I lost a close friend,” Yeshiva head coach Elliot Steinmetz said on X. “The basketball world lost a beloved star. Our Jewish community lost an ally and someone who knew exactly how to show up.
“Mike Sweetney wasn’t just a friend. He was family. When you needed him, he was there. Always. You didn’t even have to ask.”
New York Knicks draft picks, from left, Slavko Vranes, Mike Sweetney and Maciej Lampe pose for photos outside of Madison Square Garden, Wednesday, June 25, 2003. Jim Alcorn for NY PostNew York Knicks 1st round draft pick Mike Sweetney attends a press conference at Madison Square Garden after being introduced to the press, Wednesday, June 25, 2003. Jim Alcorn for NY Post
Sweetney spoke to The Post’s Stefan Bondy in June about conquering his past mental health struggles and anxiety after not living up to the expectations that come with being a top draft pick in New York.
He said the Knicks invited him to three games this past season as they were on their way to the franchise’s first championship in 53 years.
“It means a lot,” Sweetney, who had moved to New Jersey five years ago, said. “I didn’t have the career I could have had. But for them to have me back and welcome me with open arms.”
Former New York Knick Mike Sweetney, center, and assistant coaches for Yeshiva University men’s basketball, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2019, in New York. Corey Sipkin for NY Post
The world lost a giant today. I lost a close friend. The basketball world lost a beloved star. Our Jewish community lost an ally and someone who knew exactly how to show up.
Mike Sweetney wasn’t just a friend. He was family. When you needed him, he was there. Always. You didn’t… pic.twitter.com/mwRh9UQgjA
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - DECEMBER 11: Duop Reath #26 of the Portland Trail Blazers drives to the basket during the first half of a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center on December 11, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 Tyler Kaufman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
No sooner did I publish an article saying the Phoenix Suns didn’t need an immediate solution to their center depth following the injury to Mark Williams than the team went out and acquired Duop Reath. Timing, am I right?
On the surface, the addition of Reath appears to provide a stopgap at center while Williams works his way back from his torn labrum. Ultimately, however, that might not be what this is. According to Suns insider Duane Rankin, Reath will join the Suns on a non-guaranteed contract as a training camp invite. So while Phoenix has added another center to the mix, his roster spot is far from guaranteed.
Still on vacation. Still working.
Sources inform @azcentral Duop Reath is a training camp invite for Phoenix Suns, who begin camp Sept. 29.
Mark Williams has shoulder injury that'll sideline him for months.
Haywood Highsmith signing put Suns at 15 players for standard roster.…
I think that makes this a great move by the Suns because it invites healthy competition into the third-string center role. Phoenix already has CJ Huntley on a two-way contract, and he could fill that role if needed. The expectation isn’t for the third center to play 23 minutes a night, after all. It’s to provide depth when necessary, especially when foul trouble presents itself.
Rather than simply hand that role to Huntley, the Suns are bringing in competition. Huntley still has plenty of development ahead of him after missing Summer League with hamstring issues. Reath, meanwhile, is 30 years old and preparing for his fourth NBA season. And that fourth season matters. Reath is still eligible for a two-way contract. So if the Suns like what they see in him but don’t believe he’s done enough to earn a guaranteed roster spot, there is another path available.
A guaranteed spot would likely require Phoenix to move off Jamaree Bouyea, whose contract doesn’t become fully guaranteed until January 10. The Suns still value Bouyea and would like to keep him within the organization, so there’s no reason to force that decision right now. Phoenix also already has all three two-way spots occupied by Koby Brea, Pat Spencer, and CJ Huntley, which puts more pressure on those players to perform as well.
That’s what I like about this acquisition. It creates competition at the back end of the roster. It allows iron to sharpen iron and reinforces the idea that the best man wins. It’s a shrewd move and another example of Brian Gregory thinking ahead rather than waiting until he absolutely has to make a decision.
And while I wrote previously that the Suns didn’t need to make an immediate move at center, I still believe that. They haven’t really made a decision yet. They’ve created competition. Training camp will determine what happens next, and from there, the organization can decide how it wants to move forward.
DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 14: Manny Machado #13 of the San Diego Padres celebrates his solo home run with Jackson Merrill #3 in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on September 14, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images
San Diego Padres (83-69) at Colorado Rockies (56-96), September 17, 2026, 12:10 p.m. PST
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DETROIT, MI - SEPTEMBER 12: Tanner Gordon #29 of the Colorado Rockies pitches against the Detroit Tigers during the second inning at Comerica Park on September 12, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The offense fell flat for the Colorado Rockies as Mason Adams struggled on the mound, leading to a 9-3 victory for the San Diego Padres. The Rockies will now look to settle for a series split in their final match-up against the Padres in 2026.
Tanner Gordon (1-4, 5.55 ERA) takes the ball for the Rockies, still trying to figure out a role with the Rockies. Since rejoining the rotation on August 21, Gordon has had two brilliant starts surrounded by three not-so-great starts. In his last two outings, he has allowed nine runs on 18 hits in 8.2 innings of work. Specifically, he allowed four runs on 10 hits in four innings against the Detroit Tigers. A familiar issue is that Gordon may throw a lot of strikes, but he gives up a lot of contact and that gets him into trouble. He doesn’t walk many and can get a modest number of strikeouts, but if he isn’t inducing the kind of contact that leads to groundball outs, things can get away from him in a hurry.
This will be Gordon’s first appearance against the Padres this season. He has made three previous starts in his career, going 1-1 with a 4.60 ERA. He made two starts in 2025, allowing seven runs on eight hits over 9.2 innings of work. He had 14 strikeouts against two walks, but was stung by four home runs. The Padres have a knack for hitting the ball hard, especially at Coors Field, so that will be something that Gordon has to be mindful of.
Michael King (11-9, 3.03 ERA) makes the start for the Padres. It’s been business as usual for King since his transition into a full-time starter when joining the Padres in 2024. In 175 innings of work, he has 148 strikeouts against 66 walks while opponents are hitting just .215 against him. King has been an effective workhorse all season, working at least six innings in all but nine of his 30 starts. He’s been on a hot streak lately, allowing just three runs over his last four starts, all of which came in seven innings. King’s command can get shaky at times, but he combats that with a strong strikeout ability and by getting weak contact.
He last faced the Rockies on July 28, allowing four runs on six hits over six innings. In five career appearances against Colorado, King has a 5.54 ERA over 26 innings of work. He has given up five home runs while striking out 30 against eight walks. A free-swinging Rockies offense will need to make him work and find a way to square up the ball like they did Tuesday night.
The first day of the Toronto Maple Leafs training camp has concluded, and head coach Jim Hiller is very pleased with how a number of his players performed and worked.
Toronto's bench boss revealed that one player who really caught his attention was 21-year-old Easton Cowan. Cowan, who was positioned on the right wing next to Colton Sissons and Nick Paul, was all over the ice in Hiller's eyes.
"If I just had to say 'who was the player that just jumped out at you in this morning's session,' to me it would be Easton Cowan," Hiller said. "He makes some plays with the puck, but he was a puck hound. He was everywhere, I thought."
Cowan is entering his sophomore year in the NHL. Last season, he recorded 11 goals and 29 points in 66 games, averaging 14:43 of ice time per game.
Coming into the league, he was seen as a playmaking forward, especially from his days with the OHL's London Knights, winning two OHL titles, a Memorial Cup, and collecting MVP awards in both the regular season and playoffs.
But with a year under his belt with the Maple Leafs to this point, he's providing another dimension to his game.
"We talked to him about that," the bench boss said. "He's got tremendous skill, but where he can help us best is be a puck hound and then use that skill. And to me, he was all over the ice."
Hiller later added who stood out to him from the second group on Thursday. The second group was mainly filled with players from the AHL's Toronto Marlies.
"I thought Groulx, Lettieri and Mermis," he listed as three that impressed him. "Those three were so dialled in and worked so hard and were complete pros out there. That's really what jumped out of me. And it wasn't one, it was all three of those guys. I was like, wow, did they set the tone for this group. So you hope it goes that way, but you never know. So those three in the second."
Groulx and Mermis both featured for the Leafs last season.
Groulx played 13 games for the Maple Leafs last season, registering three goals and five points. Mermis featured in 11 appearances, providing one assist.
Lettieri hasn't featured in the NHL for Toronto yet, but he led the American League in scoring during the Calder Cup playoffs. He scored 11 goals and 26 points for the Marlies in that run.
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