It was worth the wait for Crystal Palace. After being denied their rightful place in the Europa League last season, Pierre Sage’s side made the perfect debut by brushing aside Lech Poznan with a victory that will take some of the heat off their new manager.
The Frenchman has big shoes to fill in replacing Oliver Glasner after his predecessor won three trophies in 12 months and there had been some talk of disquiet behind the scenes following his decision to drop the teenager Jaydee Canvot at the weekend. But while Palace face a testing trip to face in-form Leeds on Sunday having conceded 11 goals from their opening four Premier League matches, they were given a big helping hand by their opponents here well before Radoslaw Murawski was sent off late on for a reckless foul on Canvot.
The Chicago Blackhawks held their first practice of 2026 Training Camp on Thursday at Blackhawks Ice Arena. Most of the players have been skating there for a couple of days now, but Thursday was the first official skate.
There are some new names, including Ian Cole, Bowen Byram, Cole Smith, Jordan Greenway, and Roman Kantserov. Of course, Patrick Kane is back as well. Connor Bedard is still out as he continues his comeback from shoulder surgery, which will leave a hole in the lineup for a little while longer.
Right off the bat, there were some line combinations forming. Jeff Blashill had them skating like this:
Kantserov-Nazar-Kane
Bertuzzi-Frondell-Lardis
Donato-Moore-Teravainen/Mangiapane
Smith-Greene-Greenway/Slaggert
Vlasic-Byram
Kaiser-Levshunov
Cole-Rinzel
Korchinski-Del Mastro
Knight
Soderblom
With Bedard out, Frank Nazar skated as the top-line center. Playing with Patrick Kane, a franchise icon, and Roman Kantserov, a superstar KHL goal scorer, is a great opportunity for Nazar while they wait for the captain to return.
Anton Frondell skated as the second-line center. Even before Bedard hurt his shoulder, the plan was for both Nazar and Frondell to operate as centers coming into camp. So far, the Blackhawks are sticking to that plan. If it works, they will be much deeper in the long-run than if they were forced to become wingers.
Skating with Frondell were Tyler Bertuzzi and Nick Lardis. For Frondell, that's two goal-scoring wingers to help him with that transition to the middle of the ice.
The bottom-six forward group is where things get interesting. Andrew Mangiapane and Landon Slaggert each rotated in and out with Teuvo Teravainen and Jordan Greenway, respectively. Ryan Donato, Oliver Moore, Cole Smith, and Ryan Greene were part of that bottom-six group as well.
When Bedard comes back, that will push a third player from this group out of the top-12. There are injuries and inconsistencies that will play a factor in these decisions throughout the year, but it is going to be a revolving door.
It should be noted that AJ Spellacy, who was incredibly noticeable at the Prospect Showcase and appears to be NHL-ready, did not skate with the NHL group on day 1 of training camp. Although he is a candidate to make his NHL debut at some point in 2026-27, it is not likely to come out of camp.
Sacha Boisvert, who played in the NHL a little bit at the end of last season but was less noticeable at the Prospect Showcase, is also likely to be in the AHL.
For Spellacy, this is a chance to dominate in the AHL and force the team to have no choice but to call him up. For guys like Boisvert and Marek Vanacker, playing in the AHL will be a great opportunity to advance their skills.
On defense, Alex Vlasic was paired with Bowen Byram to form the new top pair. If Byram's offensive game continues to improve, this could be an outstanding two-way pair that the Blackhawks can use against anyone.
Wyatt Kaiser and Artyom Levshunov, who skated together a lot last season, were back together while Ian Cole was paired with Sam Rinzel. The extra pair consisted of Kevin Korchinski and Ethan Del Mastro. The Blackhawks are likely to carry a 7th defenseman, which should be Korchinski, while Del Mastro may be destined for waivers/AHL time.
In goal, it is Spencer Knight and Arvid Soderblom. Some are expecting Drew Commesso to get his chance, but he is with the non-NHL group for now. Due to the two-way contract that he has, becoming a one-way contract at the same time that Soderblom becomes a free agent, expect this to be the mold for the 2026-27 season. Adam Gajan is projected to back up Commesso in the AHL.
Both Jeff Blashill and Kyle Davidson admitted after practice that the NHL group that skated today is likely where the opening day lineup is coming from.
With training camp being so short, it will take a lot longer than that for someone from the non-NHL group to earn their way up. Spellacy, Boisvert, and Vanacker may not like hearing that, but they will get some good work in with the Rockford IceHogs to boost their confidence and prepare for when their name is called.
For Spellacy specifically, he can go to Rockford and play so well that the decision makers decide it is finally time to play him over an NHL forward who isn't as impactful as him.
On Friday, each group will practice again. On Saturday, the non-game group will have a practice at Blackhawks Ice Arena, followed by the game group having a morning skate. Then, the game group will make their way up north for that night's preseason tilt against the Minnesota Wild at Grand Casino Arena.
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NHL training camps are officially back in session.
But, for the Pittsburgh Penguins and everyone else, everything looks quite a bit different.
Per the NHL's new Collective Bargaining Agreement - which took effect on Sept. 16 - there are several changes to how training camps operate with the new 84-game season. For one, camps are much shorter, as more than a week has been eliminated from the drop of the first puck at the open of camp to the drop of the puck on opening night.
Within those 12 or so days, players cannot access camp practices and meetings for more than three hours per day, there are only a small handful of actual camp practices for players to make themselves stand out, and the team cannot exceed four pre-season games, which - for most clubs - are all condensed into a week's time.
In addition, NHL players with more than 100 games of experience can only play in up to two pre-season games.
So, in a nutshell, the three initial practice days during training camp and the first two pre-season games - the first on Sept. 21 against the Buffalo Sabres and the second a day later against the Detroit Red Wings - will hold much more weight than they have in previous years, and not everyone is going to earn an opportunity to appear in a game.
"The practice days probably carry more significance for guys," Penguins' assistant general manager Jason Spezza said. "I think you see a little extra level of urgency, [and] we saw it with guys reporting to Pittsburgh earlier. They're used to having a longer camp. They want a shorter camp, and then, they want to make sure they're up and running as well.
"So, for us, we're going to try to have some intersquad mixed in. There's only four pre-season games. There's not going to be opportunity for everybody in the pre-season like we normally would have, so it's a matter of rewarding the guys that have kind of shown that they are getting closer by giving them games and seeing where they are. But, also, [with the] understanding that it is a short camp."
But it's not just the player side of things where adjustments must take shape: There is also a whole lot to digest for NHL coaches and front offices, and from an evaluation standpoint, it presents a whole new set of challenges.
"There's not going to be massive decisions made based on a couple days of how you play," Spezza said. "We've talked through these things, sat with [head coach Dan Muse] and talked as a management group... But, really, it's new for all of us. Dan's been very intentional with his practices and how he's planned the pre-season games."
And while Muse himself understands the challenges and demands a shorter camp brings, he tries not to emphasize that difference when it comes to trying different combinations and giving players opportunity.
"Over the summer, we talked about things that we want to see," Muse said. "And I say 'we' in terms of all of us - coaching staff, management - and conversations we've had, things that we've discussed. Different things that could be a fit. But, right now, it's a "could be." ... It's going to be fluid, especially early on."
He added: "It's an opportunity for people to make an impression. They have a little bit of a shorter window to make it, to do those things, and it's the same for everybody. I'm not, honestly, going to get too hung up on it or think about it at all. It's the first time for everybody having the camp in this format, and it's the same for everyody throughout the league.
"I think, for us, we wanted to outline things that we wanted to make sure we accomplished over the course of camp. Going into it, [I'm] feeling strongly that we will be able to do that. So, for us, it's just going to be taking it each day looking to execute that plan, looking to provide that opportunity for players to go out there and make the impression that they want to make."
For the 13th time in the last 14 years, the Dodgers are division champs. The team was evidently ready to celebrate in the visiting clubhouse at Great American Ball Park as champagne showers and loud music ensued.
Kiké Hernandez pulled off one of the funniest stunts when he shoved a bottle of champagne down Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s shorts. Hernandez caught Yamamoto by surprise with latter unable to stop the prank from transpiring.
The Dodgers pose for a team photo after they clinched the playoffs after a win against the Reds. AP Photo/Tanner Pearson
It appears Kiké Hernández shoved a bottle of champagne down Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s shorts during the Dodgers division title celebration pic.twitter.com/zE3vycFEaj
The Dodgers have the most division titles out of any MLB team with a total of 24. The Braves and Yankees trail the Dodgers with 23 and 21 division titles, respectively.
While LA is taking Thursday to celebrate, a roster full of veterans understands clinching the division is only part of the ultimate goal.
“It’s a big deal. It’s not easy,” Roberts said pregame. “I think a lot of people think it’s easy, it’s a rite of passage. But it’s not easy to win a division when everyone is gunning for you, to keep everyone motivated to play over the course of 162. It’s something we’re all really proud of. But that’s not the end goal.”
The Dodgers have their eyes set on a third consecutive World Series with postseason baseball quickly approaching. Though the juggernaut is considered the favorite to hoist the Commissioner’s Trophy, everyone is waiting to see if the Dodgers will actually pull it off.
Clinching the division is a step in the right direction and hopefully Thursday isn’t the final champagne shower of the season.
The Dodgers clinched the division for the 13th time in the last 14 years. USA TODAY Network via Reuters ConnectMiguel Rojas hit a home run in the Dodgers’ 8-2 win over the Reds. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
Any concerns about Steph Curry leaving the Warriors can be put to rest.
During an interview with CNBC, Curry was asked if seeing LeBron James leave the Lakers during free agency was “appealing” to him, to which the future Hall of Famer immediately shut down.
“Not at all. I’ve always stated that I want to be a lifer with Golden State,” Curry said. “What we’ve built there. The fact that I get to run it back this year with Draymond [Green] and Coach [Steve] Kerr.”
Stephen Curry calls himself a Warriors “lifer.” Anadolu via Getty Images
Since James departed from the Lakers in July after an eight-season run, rumors started to emerge that Curry could be entering his final season in a Golden State uniform.
Curry, 38, is entering the final year of his four-year, $215.4 million deal he signed with the team in 2022 and is nearing the end of a Hall of Fame career.
“All the contract stuff, this NBA thing from year-to-year is crazy. Things change really fast,” Curry said. “But I do know my interest and mission is to stay in Golden State and be competitive is there, and the contract stuff will take care of itself.”
Curry is eligible to receive a two-year, $136.7 million contract extension that would keep him with the Warriors through the 2028-2029 season.
Stephen Curry calls himself a Warriors “lifer.” Getty Images
The moves the organization made during the offseason were focused on acquiring depth and building around young talent, such as Yaxel Lendeborg, who was selected by the team with the No.11 pick of the 2026 NBA Draft.
Thompson II added that he doesn’t think the team would trade Curry and called him a “lifer.”
Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry calls himself a Warriors “lifer.” Robert Sabo for NY Post
Aside from being considered one of the greatest shooters of all time, Curry is the most iconic Warriors player. He’s led them to four NBA championships, including being Finals MVP in 2022.
Curry was crowned NBA MVP in back-to-back seasons in 2015 and 2016. He also was the league’s scoring champion in 2016 and 2021.
TONIGHT’S GAME: With just 10 games remaining on their regular season schedule, the Astros will continue their final homestand of the season tonight as they host the Royals for a rubber game of their three-game series in Houston, TX.
Rookie RHP Miguel Ullola (0-0) will serve as an opener for the Astros tonight opposite the veteran RHP Seth Lugo (7-8) and the Royals.
THE POSTSEASON CHASE: The Astros and Rangers are locked in a tight race down the stretch for the AL West with the two teams entering play today with identical 76-76 records the Astros own the tiebreaker over the Rangers with a season series victory (9-4 record).
TONIGHT’S OPENER: RHP Miguel Ullola served as an opener his last time out on Sept. 11 at TB, tossing 1.0 scoreless inning in his outing.
Ullola has been great in his limited Major League action this season, posting a 3.38 ERA (3ER/8IP) with a .172 opponent average (5×29) and a 0.75 WHIP in six games.
A longtime minor league starter, Ullola transitioned to a relief role this season and excelled to a 1.57 ERA (5ER28.2IP) in 29 relief appearances at the Triple A level.
TONIGHT’S BROADCASTS: Tonight’s game will be televised by FOX with Adam Amin and A.J. Pierzynski on the call.
The Astros English radio broadcast can be heard on SportsTalk 790 with Robert Ford and Steve Sparks behind the mic.
Francisco Romero and Alex Treviño will call the Astros Spanish broadcast on TUDN 102.9 FM.
GIVEAWAY MADNESS: The Astros will have giveaways for their remaining four home games, including all fans receiving a Jeremy Peña Telenovela Bobblehead tonight, presented by H-E-B.
The Astros will also give away a Jeremy Peña Retro Los Astros Jersey on Friday, an Orbit Sugar Skull Bobblehead on Saturday, and a Viva Los Astros Rally Towel on Sunday.
ABOUT LAST NIGHT: The Astros dropped the middle game of their series with the Royals last night by a score of 5-2.
SS Jeremy Peña (3×4) led the offense with his second consecutive three-hit game.
RHP Cristian Javier (2ER/5.1IP) started for Houston and was handed the loss.
STARTING STRONG: In their last 12 home games, Astros starting pitchers have combined for a 2.29 ERA (16ER/63IP), while allowing two-or-fewer runs in 10 of those contests.
Additionally, Astros starters have posted a 3.22 ERA (42ER/117.1IP) in their last 24 games dating back to Aug. 21.
TODAY’S ROSTER MOVE: The Astros have reinstated OF Taylor Trammell from the Paternity List and have optioned OF Joey Loperfido to Triple A Sugar Land.
TRIPLE THREAT: DH Yordan Alvarez, who is a solid candidate for the AL MVP Award, currently ranks first or second in the AL in all three Triple Crown categories.
He enters today leading the AL in batting avg. (.310), while ranking second in HR (39) and RBI (98).
Alvarez also leads the Majors in OPS (1.022), SLG (.594) and OBP (.428).
Since Carl Yastrzemski won the AL Triple Crown in 1967, there has been just one Triple Crown winner in the Majors, Miguel Cabrera in 2012 (AL):
NOTHING FINER THAN YAINER: C Yainer Diaz is hitting .372 (16×43) in the month of September with two homers, five RBI and a .971 OPS.
Diaz has multiple hits in seven if his 11 starts this month.
STALKING 200: 1B Christian Walker is currently sitting on 199 career home runs and needs just one homer to become the 35th active Major League player to reach 200 career long balls.
Walker has hit 25 homers this year for his fifth consecutive 25-plus homer season (2022-26).
THE FIREMAN: LHP Josh Hader converted his 26th consecutive save opportunity to open his season on Tuesday night, which sets the Astros club record.
Should Hader finish the season without a blown save, he would become just the seventh pitcher in MLB history to post 26-plus saves without a blown save and the first to do so since RHP Ken Giles in 2018 (26 SV).
HADER’S HEART: LHP Josh Hader will host a group from Covenant House at tonight’s game as a part of his Hader’s Heart program.
Tonight’s visit is just a small part of Hader’s charitable efforts, as the closer has been recognized as the Astros nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award, baseball’s most prestigious individual honor for MLB players.
ASTROS-ROYALS: The Astros and Royals have a memorable history, with the two clubs meeting each other in the 2015 ALDS, won by the Royals in five games.
11 years later, 2B Jose Altuve and C Salvador Perez remain on their team’s active rosters, while SS Carlos Correa, currently on the IL, also played in the series.
More recently, the Astros are 10-5 in their last 15 games vs. the Royals, including a 3-2 record this season.
SCHIAVONE REACHES 30-30: Prospect C Jason Schiavone, the Astros 2026 Minor League Player of the Year, recorded three steals for Triple A Sugar Land last night, giving him 32 stolen bases on the minor league season.
Schiavone has also hit 32 home runs this season, making him the first minor league catcher to post a 30- 30 season since C Willie Royster did so for theCharlotte O’s in 1981.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Thursday, September 17, 6:15 p.m. CT
Location: Daikin Park, Houston, TX
TV: FOX
Radio: KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)
The Mets are making a move to bring in a fresh arm for Thursday's series opener with the Phillies.
Cameron Weston has been recalled from Syracuse, while Xzavion Curry has been optioned back down.
Weston, a right-handed reliever, joined the Mets after being claimed off waivers from the Orioles this month.
The 26-year-old had a rough Triple-A season with the Norfolk Tides but has been pitching well since joining Syracuse, allowing just one hit while striking out eight over his three appearances.
He made his big league debut earlier this season with Baltimore, throwing a scoreless frame.
If/when he gets into a game down the stretch, Weston will be the 40th pitcher the Mets have used this season.
Curry, of course, joined the club on Wednesday to start in place of the injured Robert Stock and he was knocked around for six runs on six hits and three homers over just three innings of work.
Co-owner of the Vancouver Canadians, Jeff Mooney, shows off his three North-West League championship rings before the start of the game between the Vancouver Canadians and the Everett Aquasox at Nat Bailey Stadium. (Photo by Christopher Morris/Corbis via Getty Images) | Corbis via Getty Images
The Jays are in the thick of a slapstick caper of a wildcard race, but with today being an off day I thought I’d look at the minor leagues as their seasons wrap up. The International League (AAA) goes through this weekend, so the Buffalo Bisons have a few more to play, but the other levels’ seasons came to a close over the course of the last couple of weeks.
The Vancouver Canadians won the Northwest League championship in a 12 inning thriller on Friday night. You can read a full recap here, but it involved a three run comeback in the ninth to force extras and plenty of other drama. It’s the Canadians’ sixth league championship since they became a Blue Jays affiliate in 2011, and their second since the Northwest League was converted from short season ball to A+ in the minor league reorganization.
As Tom mentioned in his roundup yesterday, the rosters for the Arizona Fall League were released. The AFL is a developmental league that is mostly used to give prospects who missed time or otherwise need a little more work an opportunity for some additional reps. This year, it runs from October 3rd through November 14th. Because the number of players teams want to send is limited, especially on the pitching side, AFL rosters are blended. The Jays team up with the Cubs, A’s, Red Sox and Angels to form the Mesa Solar Sox.
Participation in the AFL can be a big opportunity for prospects. They get a chance to shine when there aren’t any other minor leagues going, with scouts from all 30 teams paying attention. Recent proof is Spencer Miles, who caught the Jays’ attention with 8.2 impressive innings in last year’s AFL.
The Jays prospects going this year are:
Brandon Barriera: The 2022 first round pick has alternated between injured and ineffective so far in his career. This season was more of the same, as he managed just 38.2 innings but walked 29 in that span. He’s managed just 66 innings over four pro seasons, so the Jays are likely both inclined to get him more action and not too concerned with sheltering him anymore.
Gilberto Batista: It was a rough year for Batista. He recorded a 7.86 ERA across 87 innings as a multi-inning reliever for Vancouver. He did show some promise last year with Dunedin, after being acquired from the Red Sox in the Danny Jansen trade.
Jake Bloss: Bloss is the exciting name from a Jays fan point of view. He came back from Tommy John surgery throwing 2mph harder than he had before the surgery, but then went down almost immediately with a teres major strain. If he can make a few healthy appearances, retain the stuff bump, and continue to rediscover his command after the surgery, he’ll be set up for a potential rotation role with the big league club next year.
Fernando Perez: The word for Perez’ season is mysterious. He ranked high on our prospect list last winter on the strength of his elite command and strong results across A+ Vancouver and AA New Hampshire, but had a disastrous start to his 2026, walking 10 in nine innings over his first three starts. He was placed on the Development List, a new addition to the minors since the 2021 reorganization that basically allows teams to take players off the roster indefinitely to manage workloads or to work on things outside of game action. He returned for three more appearances in August and September and didn’t look any better. Command is Perez’ whole draw as a prospect, so losing it so completely is concerning. The AFL will be a big opportunity to show that he’s righted the ship. He’s Rule 5 eligible, and coming into the season I’d have expected him to warrant protection, but that seems a distant concern now.
Yondrei Rojas: Our #32 prospect entering the season, Rojas struggled to build on his strong 2025 this year. He struck out just 20% of batters, mostly at AA, and missed fewer bats that last season. He’s 23 and Rule 5 eligible, so this might be one more chance to harness his plus fastball-slider combination and mark himself as a future Blue Jays bullpen hand.
Aaron Parker: 2026 was a breakout for the third year pro. He cut down his swing rate and went on a power binge at New Hampshire, launching 19 home runs in 87 games. He’s a below average defensive catcher and his 67% contact rate is scary, but plus power is plus power, and he may have a shot at the third catcher role at some point in 2027.
Jake Casey: The Kent State prospect has just hit since the Jays took him in the 15th round last year. This season, a broken hamate wiped out his first couple of months, but he managed 13 home runs in just 64 games. He still needs to show he can adjust to upper minors quality spin, and the results are iffy so far, but as long as he keeps producing he’ll warrant watching.
Jake Cook: Last year’s third rounder was just average in A ball, which would be concerning for most pedigreed college draftees. Cook is just two years into switching back to the field from the mound, though, and working to overhaul the pure slap, inside-out swing he used in college to try to develop a modicum of power. He did up his home run total over last year, from 3 to 5, in spite of switching to wood bats and facing better pitching, and he improved as the year went on. He was also 22 for 27 stealing bases, showcasing the athletic tools that convinced the Jays to gamble a top 100 pick on him. He needs reps, and the AFL will offer an opportunity against pitching a bit better than he’s seen so far.
Because they share a team with the Angels, the Jay’s prospects will get a chance to catch up with Arjun Nimmala. He finished the season red hot, clubbing four home runs and four doubles last week for the AA Rocket City Trash Pandas.
Baseball America has graded the year for each farm system. They give the Jays a B+ overall, which seems about right to me. When I reviewed the performance of the top 40 before the deadline, there were a lot of guys moving in different directions, but the overall trend seemed to be upwards.
There were several impressive breakouts, although many of those guys will miss next year’s list because they’ve already graduated. Miles, Brandon Valenzuela, and Brett Bateman have all already far exceeded their prospect expectations. Valenzuela has fallen off badly in the second half and Bateman is surely playing over his head offensively, but both still project as at least quality role players now. For Miles, his peripheral stats fully support his exceptional performance this year, and continued health seems like the only real question. Still on the farm is Nolan Perry, who returned from Tommy John and immediately torched three levels, striking out 117 in only 82.2 innings. Sean Keys, who raced through AA and AAA early in the season, is in between. He’s with the Jays right now but not seeing a lot of playing time. His early MLB results haven’t been good, but the underlying contact and power data remain tantalizing.
Of course, there were some disappointments as well. Bloss showcased improved stuff in his own TJ comeback, but remained healthy only briefly. Juan Sanchez, last year’s Dominican Summer League star, has so far failed to consistently translate his success in the US. Ricky Tiedemann, among others, continued to struggle with his health.
The farm’s ranking, in BA’s reckoning, rose from 17 to 15 between the preseason and the midseason update. That’s impressive given that a lot of the preseason value was tied to Trey Yesavage, who graduated soon after returning from his early season shoulder issues. They might dip slightly this winter, as they traded top prospect Arjun Nimmala and had fewer resources in the draft than most other teams, but the system produced new talent, fed the major league team, and allowed them to make major deadline acquisitions without moving backwards in overall talent. That’s a good year.
ARLINGTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 15: Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung (6) swings at a pitch during the MLB game between the Boston Red Sox and the Texas Rangers on September 15, 2026 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Texas Rangers lineup for September 17, 2026 against the Boston Red Sox: starting pitchers are Tyler Alexander (opening for Cody Bradford) for the Rangers and Sonny Gray for the BoSox.
Texas will look to sweep the series against Boston this evening. Tyler Alexander will be opening for Cody Bradford (though not for Ed Sheehan, as he stands in solidarity with Macklemore). Joc Pederson is apparently still not ready to go, so Josh Jung is at DH, giving his calf some extra rest.
The lineup:
Duran — 3B
Seager — SS
Jung — DH
Nimmo — RF
Langford — LF
Burger — 1B
Lopez — 2B
Jansen — C
Carter — CF
7:05 p.m. Central time. Rangers are +105 underdogs.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MAY 21: Jackson Chourio #11 of the Milwaukee Brewers bats against the Baltimore Orioles during the tenth inning at American Family Field on May 21, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Milwaukee Brewers, who have officially locked up the NL Central, have just three three-game series left this season, and they’re still looking to lock up the top seed in all of baseball at 95-58 this year, two games ahead of the Dodgers at 93-60. On the other side, the Baltimore Orioles sit at 75-78 and are surprisingly still in the AL playoff picture despite sitting in last place in the very deep AL East, sitting just 2.5 games behind the White Sox for the final AL Wild Card spot with nine games to go. Baltimore is coming off a series sweep of the Mets in New York.
Milwaukee’s injured list currently includes right-handers Grant Anderson and Bryse Wilson, both of whom started rehab assignments with Triple-A Nashville this week and hope to return before the end of the regular season. The Brewers are also without Brandon Woodruff (possible postseason return), Brian Fitzpatrick (out for season), Quinn Priester (out for season), and Angel Zerpa (out for season).
Baltimore is without infielder Jackson Holliday (return TBD), outfielder Christian Franklin (late September), outfielder Luis Robert Jr. (TBD), utilityman Blaze Alexander (late September), first baseman Ryan Mountcastle (TBD), infielder Jordan Westburg (out for season), and outfielder Tyler O’Neill (TBD). Pitchers Zach Eflin (out for season), Keegan Akin (out for season), Colin Selby (out for season), Ryan Helsley (on rehab assignment), Félix Bautista (on rehab assignment), and Kyle Bradish (out for season).
Jake Bauers continues to pace Milwaukee’s offense with 26 homers, slashing .269/.394/.497 this season. Jackson Chourio is hitting .286/.343/.481 with 23 homers and 17 steals, putting him on the cusp of another 20-20 season. Brice Turang, William Contreras, Garrett Mitchell, Christian Yelich, and Joey Ortiz have also been hot, with Gary Sánchez, Andrew Vaughn, Sal Frelick, David Hamilton, Cooper Pratt, Luis Lara, and Bo Naylor also slotting in as regular contributors, especially over these last couple of weeks as Milwaukee hopes to rest their regulars. As a team, the Brewers are hitting .259/.342/.405 (.747 OPS ranks fourth), with 147 homers (tied for 28th), 792 runs scored (second), and 148 steals (fifth).
Pete Alonso paces Baltimore’s offense with 37 homers, 24 doubles, and an AL-best 102 RBIs this season, as he hit his 300th career homer earlier this week. Coby Mayo has 24 homers, and Gunnar Henderson has added 23 homers, while rookie catcher Samuel Basallo has 18 homers. Former Red Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Dylan Beavers, Colton Cowser, and Leody Taveras are also regulars, with Rece Hinds, Heston Kjerstad, Jeremiah Jackson, José Barrero, Carlos Narváez, and Yohel Pozo rounding things out. As a team, the Orioles are hitting .234/.315/.396 (.711 OPS ranks tied for 22nd), with 188 homers (10th), 688 runs scored (13th), and 76 steals (25th).
Aaron Ashby’s 72 appearances pace the Milwaukee bullpen, though the best arms have been Trevor Megill, Abner Uribe, and, lately, clean-up man Garrett Stallings, who hasn’t allowed a run across 14 major league innings. Chad Patrick, DL Hall, and Shane Drohan (recently moved to the bullpen) have also been solid, and trade deadline acquisitions JoJo Romero and Antonio Senzatela have shown flashes of their previous successes. As a staff, the Brewers have a 3.58 team ERA (second), including a 3.66 starter ERA (fifth) and a 3.47 bullpen ERA (fourth). They’ve struck out 1,467 batters (second) over 1,365 2/3 innings.
Rico Garcia leads Baltimore’s bullpen with a 2.94 ERA over 72 appearances, picking up nine saves, second only to Andrew Kittredge’s 10 saves. Kittredge has a 3.66 ERA over 53 appearances, Grant Wolfram has a 4.56 ERA over 57 appearances, and Yennier Cano has a 3.06 ERA over 65 appearances. Anthony Nunez (3.97 ERA over 56 2/3 IP), Josh Walker (1.61 ERA over 28 IP), Alex Hoppe (1.42 ERA over 12 2/3 IP), Cam Sanders (3.00 ERA over 18 IP), Luis De León (2.45 ERA over 7 1/3 IP), and Brewer trade deadline acquisition Codi Heuer (no appearances) round things out. As a staff, the Orioles have a 4.14 team ERA (15th), including a 4.36 starter ERA (19th) and a 3.84 bullpen ERA (10th). They’ve struck out 1,229 batters (22nd) over 1,364 1/3 innings.
Probable Pitchers
Friday, September 18 @ 6:05 p.m.: RHP Dustin May (7-9, 4.49 ERA, 3.42 FIP) vs. LHP Cade Povich (2-1, 4.05 ERA, 4.81 FIP)
May has now made seven starts since joining Milwaukee at the trade deadline. He’s 2-2 with a 4.91 ERA, 4.46 FIP, and 27 strikeouts over 29 1/3 innings with the Brewers, and he’s coming off one of his best starts yet, going six scoreless frames and allowing just two hits and a walk, striking out six in Milwaukee’s 20-0 blowout victory over the Reds. May has made two career appearances (one start) against Baltimore, totaling eight innings with two runs allowed (2.25 ERA) and seven strikeouts.
Povich, 26, is currently with Triple-A Norfolk, though he was scratched from his scheduled start on Thursday and is expected to start this weekend. The left-hander has made just seven appearances (six starts) in the majors this year, with a 4.05 ERA, 4.81 FIP, and 25 strikeouts across 33 1/3 innings, and he’s been even worse at Triple-A, with a 6.28 ERA and 69 strikeouts across 61 2/3 innings. Povich has never appeared against the Brewers.
Saturday, September 19 @ 3:05 p.m.: LHP Robert Gasser (4-5, 4.30 ERA, 4.32 FIP) vs. LHP Trevor Rogers (10-10, 4.22 ERA, 3.63 FIP)
Gasser, who is still auditioning for a spot in Milwaukee’s rotation come postseason time, has made 19 appearances (18 starts) this season, pitching to a 4-5 record with a 4.30 ERA, 4.32 FIP, and 92 strikeouts across 96 1/3 innings. The former second-round pick looked solid once again in Sunday’s loss to the Reds, allowing one run on three hits and a pair of walks, striking out five in a no-decision. This marks Gasser’s first career appearance against Baltimore.
Rogers, 28, was the runner up in the 2021 NL Rookie of the Year race and was acquired by the Orioles at the trade deadline in 2024. After a great season last year (5.3 bWAR with a 1.81 ERA and 2.82 FIP over 109 2/3 innings), he’s regressed a bit this year, pitching to a 10-10 record with a 4.22 ERA, 3.63 FIP, and 143 strikeouts over 157 2/3 innings. He got roughed up by the Blue Jays in his last outing, allowing four runs on seven hits and a walk over six frames, striking out five. Rogers had made five starts against Milwaukee, all of which came while with the Marlins. He’s 4-0 in those outings, with a 2.84 ERA and 26 strikeouts over 25 1/3 innings.
Sunday, September 20 @ 6:20 p.m.: TBD vs. RHP Brandon Young (9-4, 3.65 ERA, 4.57 FIP)
The Brewers haven’t yet announced a starter for Sunday’s series finale, but it could be Jacob Misiorowski, Shane Drohan, a bullpen game, or somebody else. We’ll see.
Young, 28, made 12 starts with little success (6.24 ERA) last season, but he’s been much better this year, with a 3.65 ERA, 4.57 FIP, and 118 strikeouts over 145 2/3 innings through 26 starts. He went five frames against the Mets in his last outing, allowing one run on five hits and five walks, striking out six. This would mark Young’s first career appearance against the Brewers.
How to Watch & Listen
Friday, September 18: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Saturday, September 19: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Sunday, September 20: Exclusively televised on Peacock/NBC Sports Network; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Prediction
The Orioles are still fighting for their playoff lives while the Brewers are looking to lock up the top seed in the National League (and all of baseball), making for an exciting late-season weekend set. I’ll take the Crew to win two of three.
HOUSTON, TX - JULY 01: Houston Astros left fielder Joey Loperfido (10) hits a single in the bottom of the sixth inning during the MLB game between the Minnesota Twins and Houston Astros on July 1, 2026 at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
It was great seeing you again, Joey. Sorry you have to leave so soon.
Recalled two days ago, Loperfido did get one pinch-hit AB. That is all it is going to be.
Recalled because OF Taylor Trammell was going on the Paternity List. Today, the Astros activated Trammell from the Paternity List, and optioned Loperfido back to Triple-A Sugar Land.
Barring an injury, Loperfido will have made his last appearance for the Astros this season due to the 10 day rule. Players optioned to the minors must wait 10 days before being recalled unless they are an injury replacement.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 18: Nolan Hickman #27 of the Dallas Mavericks wears Nike shoes against the Orlando Magic in the first half of a 2025 NBA Summer League game at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 18, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Mavericks defeated the Magic 92-69. 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 Candice Ward/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Los Angeles Dodgers defeat the Cincinnati Reds 8-2, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - SEPTEMBER 11: Roman Anthony #19 of Boston Red Sox exits the field during the top of the ninth inning of a game against the Kansas City Royals at Fenway Park on September 11, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Edward Monigan IV/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Garett Crochet wants to pitch in the postseason without making a single rehab appearance. That’s audacious enough, but how about playing in the postseason, without having ever played in the big leagues at all? That could be the situation Braiden Ward finds himself in. If you need to refresh your memory, Ward was the little speedster who was running wild all over Grapefruit League diamonds this spring. He hasn’t gotten a chance to show whether he can do that in the Majors yet, but Chad Tracy isn’t ruling it out. “Every time he gets on, he’s not afraid,” Tracy said. “That’s the thing. If he gets on base, he’s looking to go. That’s a unique trait. There’s a lot of guys who can run and steal bases and then there’s other guys who are, every single time they get on, almost regardless of the timing.” (Conor Ryan, Boston.com)
But a lack of speed on the base paths isn’t really the Red Sox problem right now as they muddle through a middling September. Strikeouts are. “The Red Sox are swinging and missing too much and not walking enough. This month, they have the eighth-most strikeouts and seventh-fewest walks. That doesn’t play in the postseason. Making contact does.” (Rob Bradford, WEEI)
After he initially returned to the big leagues with a bang, Roman Anthony is one of the Sox hitters who’s struggling to make contact right now. But he doesn’t sound worried. “I’m right where I want to be,” said Anthony. “I came back with enough time to get a good number of plate appearances, and to fail like I am right now and to succeed like I did in the beginning, and then kind of meet in the middle and continue to grind out every single day and get ready for what we want to be a long postseason run. [The playoffs are] what you play for after such a long year … At the end of the day, those few weeks are the only thing that really matters.” (Alex Speier, Boston Globe)
Unfortunately, the other big power threat in the Sox lineup is also struggling to get back up to speed. Willson Contreras homered last night, but he’s still dealing with a nagging hamstring injury. “I ran pretty good there on the ground ball to shortstop, but I need to manage my leg better,” he said. “I know it’s feeling good and it’s feeling alright, but on a hard-hit ball like that, I know I’m going to be out. I was just trying to put pressure on him, see if he made a bad throw or whatever. Next time, I’ll manage better.” (Chris Cotillo, MassLive)
With Anthony and Contreras struggling in different ways, it’s important to remember that this team’s success has been built on depth, not individual star power. “Whether it was an expanded version of the trade that brought Caleb Durbin from Milwaukee to include Monasterio and Seigler, or waiver claims of Cheng and Gasper, or a minor league deal for Guerrero, the season has been a case study in the notion that perceived little moves can have a huge impact.” (Alex Speier, Boston Globe)
Fortunately, the Sox have some depth in the good guy department, too. After the departure of Liam Hendriks, who had been nominated for the Clemente Award seven times throughout his career for his charitable efforts, Garrett Whitlock has stepped in and picked up the baton. (Ian Browne, MLB.com)
Sep 17, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays left fielder Chandler Simpson (14) hits a two rbi single against the Oakland Athletics in the fourth inning at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
On Thursday afternoon, the Rays were looking to complete a series sweep against the A’s before going into a weekend series against the Red Sox. To get the job done, they had Drew Rasmussen on the mound, up against Jeffrey Springs for the A’s. Old friend alert!
The A’s went 1-2-3 in the top of the first, though they gave up an ABS challenge pretty early in the game when the final called strike of the inning was confirmed. The Rays also went 1-2-3 for the inning.
Zack Gelof singled to start the second, but Donovan Walton grounded into a double play to eliminate the baserunner. Rasmussen got another ground ball out to end the inning. In the home half, Liam Hicks got a leadoff single, but three outs followed to end the inning.
In the third, Denzel Clarke got a two-out single, then successfully stole second. Henry Bolte walked. We got a good old-fashioned double steal as Clarke and Bolte both stole a base, but despite both getting into scoring position, the A’s weren’t able to capitalize on the baserunners. The Rays went three-up, three-down in the home half.
Lawrence Butler singled to start the fourth, but three outs followed to leave him stranded. In the home half, things opened up for the Rays in a big way. Jonathan Aranda got things started with a leadoff double. Junior Caminero walked. Liam Hicks then walked. Jonny DeLuca grounded into a force out that ended with Aranda out at home, but the bases safely loaded. Chandler Simpson singled, driving in two runs.
Ryan Vilade was hit by a pitch. Richie Palacios then doubled, but thanks to a fielding error by Heim, three runs scored and Palacios ended up on third.
Taylor Walls then singled, bringing in another run. That was all she wrote for Springs, sorry old friend, but not sorry. He was replaced by Geoff Hartlieb who got the next two outs in a row, but the Rays were suddenly up 6-0.
Ras had to be breathing a little easier going into the fifth inning. Clarke managed a two-out walk, then Bolte singled, but the A’s couldn’t manage to bring either of them home. The Rays went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the inning.
Rasmussen was done after five innings with a final line of 5.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K on 76 pitches. Personally, I probably would have let him go another inning, but perhaps Cash has insights we don’t. Casey Legumina replaced him and immediately gave up a solo home run to Butler. Three outs followed, but the A’s had made their way onto the scoreboard. Joe Rock came out of the A’s pen in the home half and gave up a leadoff single to Simpson. Simpson stole second, and Vilade walked. Cedric Mullins replaced Vilade as a pinch-runner, then both Simpson and Mullins stole a base to put two runners in scoring position. Palacios walked to load the bases. Between a Rock and a hard place, the A’s went back to their bullpen for Chris Roycroft. Walls was walked, bringing in a run. With one out, Aranda walked to bring in another run. Two outs followed as the A’s finally got themselves out of their mess, but the Rays were now up 8-1.
Brody Hopkins was the new Rays’ pitcher for the seventh. Alika Williams got a leadoff walk. A wild pitch allowed Williams to advance to second. Hopkins got things back under control, though, and got the next three outs in order. Yunior Tur came in for the home half and got the Rays out in order.
Steven Matz came on for the eighth. With two outs, Gelof reached on a fielding error from Caminero, but it didn’t end up hurting the Rays as they got the final out in the next at-bat. In the bottom of the inning Palacios got a leadoff walk. Walls grounded into a force out to eliminate Palacios but keep a runner on. Aranda then reached on a fielding error to load the bases. Hicks then singled to score two more runs. Jake Fraley then walked. Drew Rom came in from the A’s bullpen to get the final out of the inning. The Rays now led 10-1.
Alex Cook took over for the Rays in the ninth and got the final three outs of the game to wrap up the Rays’ win and the series sweep.
