CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Blackhawks have agreed to a two-year contract with defenseman Kevin Korchinski.
Chicago announced the deal with the restricted free agent on Saturday. It carries a salary-cap hit of $1,325,000.
The 22-year-old Korchinski posted two assists in 13 games with the Blackhawks last season. He also had two goals and 24 assists in 53 games with Rockford of the American Hockey League.
Korchinski was selected by the Blackhawks with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2022 draft. He has six goals and 13 assists in 105 career NHL games.
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 1: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Dillon Brooks #3 of the Phoenix Suns look on during the game on December 1, 2025 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. 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 Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Rivalries in the NBA might not carry the same weight they once did. Perhaps that’s because, from a Phoenix Suns perspective, we haven’t won a playoff game since 2023. And for rivalries to truly exist, postseason battles usually have to come with them.
But getting to the postseason is a challenge in itself, and part of that means handling your division. Even then, division rivalries don’t carry the same importance they once did. Sure, you still see your division opponents more than any other teams in the league. Four games against each of the other four teams means 16 games on the schedule are tied directly to the division.
Division standings haven’t truly mattered in the same way since 2014–15. That was the season the Portland Trail Blazers won 51 games, which was only the sixth-highest total in the Western Conference. Because they won the Northwest Division, however, they received a higher playoff seed than both Memphis and San Antonio, who each won 55 games. The Board of Governors changed that rule the following offseason.
Division standings still matter to a certain extent, though. They remain part of the playoff tiebreaker process. The hierarchy goes:
Head-to-head record
Division winner over a non-division winner, even if the teams are in different divisions
Division record, but only if the tied teams are in the same division
Conference record
Record against postseason eligible teams in the conference
Record against postseason eligible teams in the opposite conference
Point differential
But alas, we really don’t care about division standings. If you’re somebody who likes to sprinkle a little movie money on NBA futures bets, though, they do come in handy. And I think there’s some opportunity here.
The Phoenix Suns began the offseason projected to finish third in the Pacific Division, and that’s not where the Bright Side community believes they belong. In our latest survey, 49% of the community picked Phoenix to win the division, finishing ahead of both the Lakers and the Warriors, who previously had better odds than the Suns.
That’s where I see some opportunity if you’re someone who likes placing a few preseason bets. It’s something I enjoy, especially this time of year when there isn’t much else happening. Why not throw $5 on the Suns to win the division and potentially have something to be very happy about next April? Because I believe Phoenix can absolutely win it.
The Lakers lack continuity and feel like a team that has been patched together like Frankenstein in an effort to build something around Luka Doncic. We still don’t know if it’s going to work, and that uncertainty creates opportunity. There’s also the reality that the Lakers are always overbet. Their fan base has a way of moving the lines.
So do what you will with this information. There’s opportunity there if you want to seize it. Of course, all of this is predicated on the belief that the Suns will actually win the Pacific Division, which clearly isn’t a guarantee This is also the part of the offseason where I probably find myself a little too optimistic and talk myself into believing the Suns might be better than they actually are. On paper, it makes sense to me. Which can be dangerous. Why? Because I talked myself into the idea that this team would win 35 games last season and more than 50 in each of the previous two seasons.
The lesson here is simple. I don’t know shit. The offseason has a way of doing that to you. You buy into a storyline, then time and overanalysis start reinforcing it until eventually you’ve talked yourself into the most extreme version of that belief. We’ll know more once the season tips off on October 21 in Portland against the Trail Blazers.
The Mets won the second game of their three-game series against the Houston Astros on Saturday by a score of 6-2.
Here are the key takeaways...
-- Nolan McLean continued his case for NL Rookie of the Year with another superb outing at Citi Field. The right-hander went seven innings and allowed an unearned run on two hits and three walks while striking out four to earn his 10th win of the season and improve his ERA to 3.06.
It was the fourth time McLean has gotten through seven innings this season and the first time since June 17 against the Cincinnati Reds. The rest of New York’s pitching staff has done it a total of six times.
It was also the fourth straight outing the rookie has allowed one earned or fewer, something he’s done 14 times this season.
-- Offensively, the Mets’ biggest contributor was Jared Young who drove in three runs as part of a 3-for-4 game. The first run he drove in came in the first inning on a fly ball single that tied the game. Young then had a two-run triple in a three-run fifth inning that extended New York’s lead. He singled to lead off the eighth and came around to score on a Francisco Alvarez two-run double.
-- In his first game off the IL, Juan Soto went 1-for-4 with an RBI and run scored as the designated hitter. He appeared to be in pain after fouling a ball off his shin in the fifth inning, but after shaking it off and getting back in the box he singled home Francisco Lindor who doubled before him.
-- Other notable performers: Marcus Semien (2-for-4 with a run scored, stolen base) and Brett Baty (2-for-3 with a double) while Carson Benge went 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored and is hitting .333 in August.
-- Daniel Duarte came in for relief of McLean in the eighth inning of a 4-1 game and gave up a solo homer to Yordan Alvarez for his only blemish.
-- Kodai Senga then pitched the ninth in a non-save opportunity after New York scored twice in the eighth and after allowing a leadoff double to Jose Altuve retired the next three batters in a row to finish things off.
Game MVP: Nolan McLean
The right-hander looked fabulous once again and is putting together a fantastic rookie campaign.
In the opener of a day-night doubleheader, Rodón limited the Red Sox damage, but only managed to go 4 ²/₃ innings in a dismal 6-0 loss Saturday in The Bronx. That was problematic, considering Game 2 starter Max Fried was expected to have a limited pitch count in his first start coming off the injured list with a bone bruise in his left elbow.
Because of that, the Yankees opted against using any of their high-leverage relievers, and Ryan Yarbrough was tattooed for four ninth-inning runs as the Red Sox put the game away late.
“Could’ve been in earlier counts, been in the strike zone a lot more. First-pitch strikes could’ve been better, a bit more efficient, gone deeper,” Rodón said. “We have two games, and you want to keep the work on the bullpen light in the first one. I fell behind a little bit too much and wasted pitches. I could’ve been better with that.”
The most frustrating part came in the fifth. With a runner on second and two outs, Nick Sogard reached on an infield hit. Ahead 1-2 on ninth-place hitter Eli White, Rodón couldn’t put away the light-hitting outfielder. He missed his spot with a slider by a large margin, and it went off catcher Ali Sánchez’s glove, enabling Adley Rutschman to score.
New York Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodón walks back to the dugout after being pulled from the game in the fifth inning against the Boston Red Sox on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026, at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. Robert Sabo for NY Post
“Better executed pitch, probably different result there,” said Rodón, who allowed three hits, two earned runs and a walk while striking out five.
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Rodón wound up walking White and hitting Jahmai Jones to load the bases and end his day. Yerry De los Santos got out of the jam.
Rodón put the Yankees in an early hole by allowing a first-inning homer to Wilyer Abreu. The Red Sox outfielder slammed a 2-2 fastball over the wall in right field for his 23rd homer of the season.
New York Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodón (55) reacts after Boston Red Sox catcher Adley Rutschman (31) slides into home and scores on a passed ball in the fifth inning at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, NY, on Saturday, August 29, 2026. Robert Sabo for NY Post
It has been a season of stops and starts for the southpaw. Due to offseason surgery on his throwing elbow, Rodón didn’t make his 2026 debut until May 10. He then missed seven weeks with left elbow inflammation, returning Aug. 18.
In his three starts, he has yet to allow more than two runs, but he hasn’t pitched past the fifth inning, either.
“Health-wise, I feel pretty good. Velo was pretty decent this afternoon,” Rodón said. “Obviously, I want to be a little more consistent with command and getting ahead.”
TORONTO, ON - AUGUST 27: Josh Rojas #40 of the Kansas City Royals bats during a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on August 27, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) | Getty Images
You could look at the final tally of 8-3 and feel like the Royals had this in control all along. You’d be so very, very wrong. The inning that we’re going to spend the most time on is the sixth inning, but let’s get there chronologically.
Daniel Lynch IV got the start for the Royals. This is a decision the Royals have made out of desperation, but it has yet to bite them on the butt. Today had all the markings of a game where it would happen. He had a quick first inning despite Isaac Collins misplaying a routine groundout. The Royals stranded Salvador Perez after a leadoff double in the second, and things started to get very, very bad.
Lynch walked Jo Adell to lead off the bottom half of the inning. Jo Adell walks less than 5% of the time. Angel Martinez followed with a home run to left field, and the Royals were down for the first time in this series. But then Lynch walked David Fry, and Bobby Witt Jr. got a throwing error on a potential double-play ball that probably still should have been caught by Isaac Collins at second. Fortunately, the Royals got the double play right on the next play, and the damage was limited. But would they score any runs? And would Lynch prevent any more scoring?
Lynch worked around a leadoff bunt single in the third but gave up a one-out double in the fourth, and that was it for him. That left his line at 3.1 innings with 3 hits, 2 walks, and 3 strikeouts. That simply isn’t good enough. It’s remarkable he didn’t give up even more runs. That’s thanks to the Royals’ beleaguered bullpen that simply didn’t allow another baserunner until the ninth. But that wouldn’t have mattered if the offense hadn’t figured some things out.
First, they finally got to Foster Griffin in the fifth. Nick Loftin doubled off the top of the wall in left, Tyler Tolbert got an infield single, and Isaac Collins ripped a double down the third base line to tie the game. The Royals stranded him there, though. And we didn’t yet know how good the bullpen was going to be. So it was easy to expect the Royals to eventually blow it.
Then the top of the sixth happened. And everything changed.
Colin Holderman came on in relief. Holderman came into the game with a 2.25 ERA and 20 shutdowns to only 5 meltdowns in 52 relief appearances this season. Bobby Witt Jr. didn’t care. He smoked a single back up the middle at 110.3 MPH. Jac Caglianone celebrated the removal of Griffin by ripping a single to right at 111.8 MPH. Adell had the ball in his glove before Bobby touched second, but he was going to third or dying trying. Were it anyone else on the team, it would have been an incredibly stupid choice. But it’s Bobby, so he was in there, and it wasn’t even close.
Salvador Perez came to the plate, and I had just enough time to post on social media that I would pinch-hit Vinnie Pasquantino for him before he smashed a ball into the left-center gap at 107.6 MPH. Had he hit it much softer, it would have only been a sacrifice fly; instead, it was an RBI double, and the Royals had the lead with runners at second and third with no one out. Nick Loftin – what else? – hammered a grounder up the middle at 103.8 MPH. This time, Brayan Rocchio was in front of it. But Loftin had hit it so hard that when it took a little funny bounce, it popped up off the ground straight into the air, and Loftin beat it out for an infield single, loading the bases.
John Rave was tasked with pinch-hitting for Tyler Tolbert with a righty on the mound. The Guardians chose to stick with Holderman. Holderman pitched away, away, away until finally John Rave found himself looking out there too hard and chased a sinker off the edge to hit a routine grounder to José Ramírez. Who promptly let it go between his legs in his hurry to try and turn a double play. The Royals now had a two-run lead, but the bases were still loaded, and there was still no one out. Isaac Collins avoided a double play on a routine ground out, but that’s the best we could say. So Josh Rojas pinch-hit for Matthew Lugo (who honestly looked terrible at the plate in both of his at-bats, ending in strikeouts). The Guardians countered by summoning left-hander Erik Sabrowski from the bullpen.
Sure, a two-run lead was nice, but you always want more when you’ve got the bases loaded and nobody out. The Royals needed Rojas to come through, and the final swing of this highlight reel was the moment it finally felt like the Royals were really going to win this one:
He didn’t even mean to swing at it! It’s ridiculous that he made contact with it. But not only that, it dropped where he could hardly have thrown it better to drive in a pair more.
Rojas wasn’t done, though. In the eighth inning, John Rave singled in his second at-bat of the day, and Rojas decided to try a full swing and see what that felt like.
Just a silly, silly win. One of those wins that you always seem to get when you’re doing well and you lose when you’re doing poorly.
Let’s go ahead and shout out the relievers for their terrific work tonight
Anthony Gose pitched 1.2 perfect innings, earning the win. It was his first win since 2022.
Craig Kimbrel had a perfect sixth after the Royals took the lead.
John Schreiber had a perfect seventh.
Nate Pearson pitched a perfect eighth with a strikeout. That made 14 outs in a row for the bullpen
With a 6-run lead, Alex Lange allowed a run on two hits and a strikeout.
As Josh Rojas said in the post-game interview, “This is baseball!” This is a lot more fun than the baseball we’ve watched for most of the season. The Royals have guaranteed a winning road trip now. If they hadn’t completely sunk themselves earlier this season, that would be more than enough. That said, if they can somehow pull off the sweep tomorrow, they’d find themselves 5.5 games back of a playoff spot with 24 left to play. Still really long odds, but a far cry from the 10 games back they were at the start of the month. To say nothing of the 10.5 games back they were before they started this 13-2 stretch in Anaheim of Los Angeles two weeks ago.
Winning tomorrow is going to be very difficult. I know I said last night that Seth Lugo (4.61 ERA, 4.51 SIERA) was pitching today, but I was a game early on that. He’ll pitch tomorrow afternoon. Unfortunately, even tougher than Foster Griffin will be tomorrow’s opponent, All-Star lefty Parker Messick (2.50 ERA, 3.52 SIERA). If they can win tomorrow, they get that much closer to what could be a really fun final weekend of baseball where the Royals might be battling for that final playoff spot with these division rivals at home. Wouldn’t that be something?
New York Mets starting pitcher Robert Stock reacts after giving up a three-run home run to Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Brice Turang in the fourth inning on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at Citi Field in Queens, New York.
Robert Stock knows his reality. The journeyman right-hander — 36 years old and getting his first consistent look at starting games at the MLB level — knows that each outing doubles as an audition.
The Mets have other options — including Jonah Tong — in the minors who could push for starts across the final month of the season. They have 26 games left after Saturday’s contest against the Astros to figure out potential roles for 2027, when they expect to compete again.
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And Stock, who has flashed some good and some ugly, is scheduled to start Monday against the Rays coming off his worst outing of the year, when he allowed seven runs on 10 hits across four innings against the Brewers on Wednesday.
With more clunkers like that one, his feel-good story from the last month — and his spot in the rotation — could be in jeopardy.
“Luckily, they’re still giving me the ball,” Stock told The Post when asked about what the last month has meant and what the final month could mean, “so I’m gonna keep on making improvements and try and prove that it’s something that I can do — regardless of what my role is next year or even for the rest of the year. It’s just, I want to be pitching in the major leagues and so I’m gonna continue to improve.”
At his best, Stock allowed one run across five innings against the Marlins on Aug. 2. He strung together 8 ²/₃ innings across two starts where he allowed just two runs — with only one of those earned.
New York Mets starting pitcher Robert Stock throws to the Milwaukee Brewers in the first inning at Citi Field in Queens, New York on August 26, 2026. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST
But in between those promising glimpses were two brutal outings, where Stock surrendered 15 combined runs and 19 combined hits.
He received a semi-endorsement for, at the very least, one more start from interim manager Andy Green earlier this week — that “without being fully committed,” Green anticipated handing the ball to Stock the next turn through the rotation. Tong, who struggled for most of the season, pitched 5 ²/₃ shutout innings in his last start Aug. 22 and made another start Saturday for Syracuse.
Stock’s winding career has included stops in Korea and Mexico, as well as a stint with the Long Island Ducks. He also underwent thoracic outlet syndrome surgery earlier this year before returning and clawing his way to the majors.
Recently, he has tried to recover some of his velocity that he said he lost by being so focused on trying to throw strikes.
New York Mets starting pitcher Robert Stock reacts after giving up a three-run home run to Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Brice Turang in the fourth inning on August 26, 2026, at Citi Field in Queens, New York. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST
During his Aug. 8 start against the Pirates, his four-seam fastball averaged 96.8 mph, and that has dipped to 95.5 and 95.4 in his two most recent starts on Wednesday and Aug. 19, respectively, according to Baseball Savant.
And Stock knows that each start now carries ramifications that could impact his immediate Mets future.
“I have to prove that I can get guys out every fifth day, and especially through the third time through the order — I’ve had tremendous troubles doing that so far,” Stock said.
Mark Vientos (right hand fracture) continued his rehab assignment with Triple-A Syracuse on Saturday, hitting second and serving as the designated hitter. He entered just 2-for-14 through his first five games with Double-A Binghamton and then with Triple-A.
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Carson Benge, who drove in the lone Mets run in the series opener against the Astros, entered play Saturday with a .352 average and a .955 OPS across his last 27 games — collecting the third-most hits in the majors (37) and the best average in the National League across that stretch.
ORLANDO, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 05: Egor Dëmin #8 of the Brooklyn Nets looks on against the Orlando Magic during the fourth quarter at Kia Center on February 05, 2026 in Orlando, Florida. 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 Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Nostalgia is coming back to Brooklyn in 2026.
According to the NBA Uniform Tracker, the Brooklyn Nets will bring back their 2018-19 City Edition uniforms for the 2026-27 season.
The Brooklyn Nets are bringing back their 2018-19/2025-26 "City Edition" for the upcoming season pic.twitter.com/GOWtIIPlCO
This will not be the uniform’s first return. The Nets brought back the Coogi-inspired “Brooklyn Camo” design for 11 games last season, beginning with Biggie Night against the Toronto Raptors on November 11.
In 2018, the Nets outperformed the consensus expectations. After an over/under win total set at 31.5, Brooklyn went on to go 42-40 while finishing sixth in the Eastern Conference.
Although they lost in the first round of the playoffs, it was a very fun season that created core memories for the fanbase. D’Angelo Russell had a major breakout, making his first All-Star team while leading the squad in scoring.
Caris LeVert and Jarrett Allen emerged as the faces of the team’s young corps, and Spencer Dinwiddie was the scoring punch Brooklyn needed off the bench.
Now, the 2026-27 Nets should look to follow a similar blueprint.
Nobody should expect this team to return to the playoffs immediately, but there are several areas where it compares to the 2018-19 squad.
Egor Dëmin and Mikel Brown Jr. are looking to solidify themselves as the future of the Nets’ backcourt, and Brooklyn has an opportunity to become a scrappy and competitive team under head coach Jordi Fernández that opponents hate playing against.
If the Nets can overachieve while feeling confident that Dëmin and Brown Jr. are long-term building blocks, that would be a successful season for the organization.
Either way, seeing those jerseys back on the court should be a welcome sight for Nets fans.
In a bit of a surprise move with the regular season winding down, the Mets have placed outfielder Luis Robert Jr. on waivers, SNY MLB Insider Chelsea Janes confirmed.
If Robert were to be claimed by another team, they would pick up the remainder of his contract. But it is not guaranteed that he will be claimed. Saturday is also the last day you can take someone on waivers and have them be postseason eligible.
Robert has a team option worth $20 million for the 2027 season, making it unlikely the Mets were going to pick it up. Robert also has about $3 million remaining on his 2026 salary and a $2 million buyout for the 2027 option, MLB.com's Anthony Dicomo notes.
The 29-year-old has had a rough first season with New York after being acquired in January from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for INF Luisangel Acuña and RHP Truman Pauley.
Injuries continued to be a problem for him, as he landed on the 60-day IL at the end of April with lumbar spine disc herniation and didn't return until July 20.
Over 56 games, he hit just .229 with a .720 OPS, 10 home runs, and 23 RBI.
Teams will have 48 hours to claim Robert and take on his salary. He can continue to play while on waivers, and if he goes unclaimed, he will return to the Mets.
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 13: Max Fried #54 of the New York Yankees pitches during the game against the Seattle Mariners at Yankee Stadium on August 13, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
On Friday night, the Yankees came away with a win over the Red Sox despite not getting much in the way of offense. That was because they got a stellar start from Cam Schlittler and some big time defense from the likes of Cody Bellinger. In Saturday afternoon’s game, they still didn’t get much offense, but the other aspects also weren’t as sharp leading them to drop the second game of the series.
However, there’s no time for them to lick their wounds. The Yankees will be back in action tonight in the second game of today’s doubleheader.
In this game, Max Fried will get the start in his return from the injured list. Fried was placed on the IL earlier this month with a bone bruise, but he only ended up missing the minimum amount of time before returning tonight. As for the rest of the lineup, lefties Luis García Jr., Jazz Chisholm Jr., and Austin Wells are all starting after coming off the bench this afternoon.
Meanwhile, the Red Sox will be using pitcher Alex Gamboa as an opener in this game. The rookie southpaw has a 1.31 ERA in 20.2 innings on the season, including one previous game as an opener. Expect familiar face Brayan Bello to get some work in this one too, as he’s been working as a bulk guy for much of the second half.
We hope you’ll come join us in the game thread, so here’s everything you need to know on how to catch the action.
How to watch
Location: Yankee Stadium – Bronx, NY
First pitch: 7:15 pm ET
TV: FOX
Streaming: FOX One app
Radio broadcast: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280 – NYY | WEEI 93.7, WCCM 1490 AM (SP), WESX 1230 AM (SP) – BOS
Aug 29, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk (30) steals second base against Seattle Mariners second baseman Cole Young (2) during the sixth inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Mariners 3 Blue Jays 4
That was a terrific celebration for Buck Martinez. Seeing Tony Fernandez’s widow started me tearing up, and it didn’t stop until the first pitch of the game.
Congratulations, Buck. You deserve that.
The Jays got a very nice start from José Soriano. Seven innings, just five hits, two walks and six strikeouts, with three earned runs. He gave up a Cal Raleigh home run in the second. And he had some trouble with two outs in the fourth. Single, walk, walk, single (bringing in two runs). The first single was a very softly hit infield single that Charles McAdoo couldn’t get to quickly enough. Too bad, he could have been out of the inning without anything bad happening.
But still a good outing.
On offence, we waited until the fifth inning to get on the board and then took the lead in the seventh.
In the fifth: With one out, Myles Straw singles. Brett Bateman walked. After Alejandro Kirk struck out, Vlad took a six-pitch walk. Then George Springer walked on a wild pitch, Straw scored, but Bateman didn’t slow down rounding third and scored. The funny part was that Cal Raleigh got the ball back to pitcher Eduard Bazardo in plenty of time to tag the runner, but Bazardo apparently didn’t know he was coming. You would have thought he would have figured it from the catcher throwing him the ball in such a rush. I’m not sure if Bateman was very smart or very lucky.
In the sixth: McAdoo led off with a walk. Two outs later, Straw walked. Bateman singled home one. And Kirk singled home our fourth run. We could have had more. Vlad lined one to left field (116.3 mph) but right at the left fielder. Oh, I missed the big news: Kirk stole second in there, beating the throw to second.
We only had five hits on the day, but it was enough. Kade Anderson looked terrific, starting for the Mariners. They have a good pitcher there.
After Soriano’s seven innings, Tyler Rogers started the eighth. He got two strikeouts and then gave up a walk to Julio Rodríguez. John brought in Mason Fluharty to face the lefty Josh Naylor. Naylor managed a single, but Fluharty struck out Raleigh to end the inning.
Louis Varland got his 31st save, going ground out, strikeout and fly out. Very democratic to do one of each. Really nice job.
The first out of the ninth was a very nice play. Ground ball wide of first, Vlad got to the ball, made a nice toss to Varland, who barely beat Cole Young to the bag.
Jays of the Day: Varland (0.16 WPA), Springer (0.21), Bateman (0.17) and Kirk (0.09). Let’s give honourable mention to Straw for 2 hits and a walk. And Rogers, Fluharty and Soriano.
Other Award: Clement (-0.14).
Tomorrow we have game three with the Mariners. It is a 1:30 Eastern start time. Max Scherzer (1-7, 7.02) vs. Logan Gilbert (11-7, 3.36).
Aug 29, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (29) hits a solo home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during the second inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
MIAMI, FL - AUGUST 25: Alec Gamboa (68) of the Boston Red Sox pitches a ball during a game between the Miami Marlins and Boston Red Sox on August 25, 2026 at LoanDepot Park in Miami, Florida.(Photo by Chris Arjoon/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Alec Gamboa serves as opener as the Sox and Yankees play the second game of the day. The Sox turned on the gas in the ninth but the Yankees burned through a lot of their bullpen and bench in Game 1. Feels like the Sox still have the juice though.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - AUGUST 29: Andrew Benintendi #23 of the Chicago White Sox hits an RBI single against the Minnesota Twins in the first inning at Target Field on August 29, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The White Sox have rolled into Target Field and won what might have been described as a “must-sweep” series, the kind of outcome that you have to root for given the mathematical state of things, but that might deliver you a few side-eyes depending on how genuinely you think it’s going to happen. Today, it was a 3-2 Sox victory that saw Andrew Benintendi deliver three key hits, and Bailey Ober watch his bullpen cough up a loss despite another needle-threading outing.
Ober managed five innings, striking out five Sox and allowing just two hits. One was a first-inning single to Benintendi, scoring the opening salvo after Ober walked his first two men. The other was a Benintendi double in the fourth that came around to score on an error by Kaelen Culpepper. Ober notched just 80 pitches this afternoon, but has a 4.37 ERA in a bizarre season.
And while the Twins got to Erick Fedde for similar numbers — 5 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4K, nearly identical to Ober’s line — the Sox had the edge. A Josh Bell sacrifice fly and a Walker Jenkins RBI groundout were enough to match Chicago for a pair, but Andrew Morris couldn’t keep Benintendi off the bases, and the veteran’s sixth-inning homer split the difference.
Fellow veteran Sean Newcomb went three innings in relief, and Bryan Hudson locked down the save.
The most hilarious outcome for this season is that the Twins, now just 64-72 and only three games ahead of the fifth-place Royals, wind up in last place, where a great many fans anticipated them being after last season’s post-deadline performance demonstrated just how quickly rock bottom can be reached. It would be a deliriously roundabout way to reach that outcome, but it’s exponentially more likely than Minnesota suddenly righting the ship and going on a generational tear.
I’m pretty sure most of Twins Territory has accepted that the jig is up. Now, shades of 2022, 2024, and 2025 are being drummed up again, as a team floating in the realm of contention by the skin of their teeth finally sees the bottom drop out completely.
LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 13: Shane Drohan #55 of the Milwaukee Brewers pitches during the game between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium on Thursday, August 13, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Nicole Vasquez/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Brewers are raiding a three-game winning streak, as well as a four-series winning streak entering tonight’s game. They have the chance to extend both of those tonight in the second game of their series against the Rangers.
Shane Drohan gets the start tonight for the Brewers. Though the plan is to move him to the bullpen to manage his innings, he remains in the rotation for at least one more start. He’s coming off of a five-inning start against the Braves, where he allowed two runs, eight hits, and three walks while striking out five. Drohan has a 3.84 ERA and 3.33 FIP overall this season, but that jumps to a 4.58 ERA and 3.71 FIP as a starter. If the Brewers are limiting his innings, the bullpen should be in good shape to take an extra inning or two tonight.
The Brewers will have a tough challenge ahead of them tonight as they face Cal Quantrill of the Rangers. He is finishing up an incredible August tonight, posting a 0.72 ERA and 2.40 FIP over five appearances (25 innings). He has not allowed more than one run in an appearance since July 22nd, which was a three-inning relief appearance against the White Sox where he allowed two runs. He began the season in the bullpen but has shifted to the rotation since late June. This is Quantrill’s fifth career appearance against the Brewers. He faced the Brewers twice last season, allowing three runs in 8 2/3 innings pitched. Overall this season, he has a 2.90 ERA and 4.02 FIP with 60 strikeouts in 83 2/3 innings.
The Brewers will make a couple changes in the lineup tonight. The top four remains the same, with Brice Turang, Jackson Chourio, Jake Bauers, and William Contreras starting. Garrett Mitchell moves up to fifth with Christian Yelich sliding back to sixth. Luis Lara gets the start over Sal Frelick in right, and Cooper Pratt is back in the lineup at shortstop. David Hamilton rounds it out at third base, with Joey Ortiz on the bench.
Tonight’s game is at 6:15 p.m. on FOX, but is the secondary broadcast. It will be broadcast in Wisconsin and Texas, as well as some surrounding markets. It will also be available on the Brewers Radio Network, as usual.
The Cubs celebrated 150 years since becoming a National League franchise before Sunday’s game, with many of the team’s icons present.
Then the current Cubs put on an offensive show, with its newest potential franchise player, Pete Crow-Armstrong, solidifying his claim on this year’s National League MVP award. PCA hit three home runs, also singled, and had a chance at a fourth homer in the eighth inning. He got a standing ovation after grounding out against a Reds position player in that at-bat, and how often do you see that?
Alex Bregman, Carson Kelly and Seiya Suzuki also homered for the Cubs and all of that helped the team to a 17-5 blowout of the Reds.
The fun started in the first inning, after Kevin Gausman set the Reds down in order in the top of the frame.
Gausman, though, was also susceptible to the long ball on an afternoon with the wind blowing out at 13 miles per hour. A double by Tyler Stephenson was followed by … sigh… yet another home run by Eugenio Suárez against the Cubs, the 39th career blast for him against the North Siders, making it 3-2.
But the Cubs came right back in the bottom of the inning. Tyrone Taylor led off with a single and went to second on a single by Pedro Ramirez.
That one clanged off the right-field foul pole, homer number 35 for Pete, and a 6-2 Cubs lead.
Again Gausman got taken deep in the third. After he walked De La Cruz, Sal Stewart homered and it was 6-4. That, though, would be as close as the Reds would get.
The Cubs added one in the fourth. PCA came up for the third time in four innings, with people cheering for another homer. Instead, he singled, then went to third on a single by Suzuki and scored on this single by Bregman [VIDEO].
So that’s 3-for-3 and four RBI for PCA in just four innings.
One more run scored off Gausman in the fifth to make it 7-5, and Gausman was removed after the fifth having thrown 102 pitches. It wasn’t a great outing, but with Cubs hitters smacking the ball all over the yard, it didn’t need to be.
The Cubs then began to pour it on in the bottom of the fifth. Taylor and Ramirez singled and Kelly went deep [VIDEO].
It’s now 10-5 Cubs, where it was in the seventh and that’s when the Cubs had even more offensive fun. Taylor and Kelly drew one-out walks, bringing up PCA again [VIDEO].
PCA three-homer game facts from John:
Pete Crow-Armstrong is the 30th different Cub since 1901 to hit three homers in a game. He is the third to join the club this season, after Dansby Swanson on July 1, at home vs. the Padres, and Alex Bregman, on Aug. 12 at Washington. Michael Busch did it on July 4 of last year at home vs. the Cardinals. So they have done it four times in less than 14 months, while playing 211 games.
The previous four had come over 23 years: Brant Brown in 1998, Moises Alou in 2003, Dioner Navarro in 2013 and Rafael Ortega in 2021.
The 30 players have done it a total of 45 times. Sammy Sosa leads, with six; followed by Ernie Banks, four; Dave Kingman and Aramis Ramirez, three; and Kris Bryant, Hank Sauer and Alfonso Soriano, two. PCA is the 23rd with one.
But the Cubs were not done in that inning. Suzuki walked and Bregman was hit by a pitch. One out later, Nico Hoerner came to the plate. He had gone 0-for-4 up to this point, but his single scored Suzuki to make it 14-5 [VIDEO].
At first it looked like Bregman had caught the ball, but he immediately threw to first. He knew he hadn’t, and on replay you can see the ball hit the dirt first. Nice grab.
With a nine-run deficit the Reds brought in backup catcher Jose Trevino to throw the bottom of the eighth. Taylor blooped a single to right, his fourth hit of the game. Ramirez flied to center, and then Taylor scored on a double by Kelly [VIDEO].
That brought up PCA. As you can imagine, with a 15-5 lead he was absolutely, positively trying to hit a home run. Who could blame him in that situation? Instead, he grounded out and left to a huge ovation.
Colin Rea, who hadn’t pitched since a week ago Friday (and only once since Aug. 15) threw two scoreless innings to finish things up. Here’s the final out [VIDEO].
A note on the three-run homers by PCA and Kelly from John:
The three-run homers by Carson Kelly and Pete Crow-Armstrong raised the Cubs’ total this season to 30 with two men on base, breaking the team record for such homers, set in 2017. They hit 28 in 2008, 27 last year and 26 in 1930.
Their 30 this year are the most by any team. The Nationals went into today with 26; the Mariners, 24; and the Brewers and Yankees, 23.
It was a fantastic day in and around Wrigley Field, both during and before the game. Here’s the full 150th anniversary pregame ceremony, which was well done, and it was wonderful to see all these Cubs greats together on the field:
The Cubs will go for the series win against the Reds Sunday evening at Wrigley Field — remember, this was originally a 1:20 p.m. CT game, it was moved for NBC, which is featuring it on Sunday Night Baseball at 6:20 p.m. CT. Announcers will be Jason Benetti, Anthony Rizzo and Jeff Brantley.
Starters for the game Sunday: Shōta Imanaga for the Cubs and Chase Burns for the Reds. Let’s hope the Cubs can start another winning streak here.
