New York Mets @ Texas Rangers
Thursday, September 24, 2026, 1:35 PM CDT (105.3 The Fan / Rangers Sports Network)
The Shed
LHP Zac Thornton vs. RHP Kumar Rocker
Go Rangers!
Game 159 Game Day Thread – New York Mets @ Texas Rangers
Jalen Duren and the Pistons: A relationship beyond repair?
Every friend group has that one couple. You can see the red flags from a mile away. The two sides seem miserable together, but insist there is still love there. Or each person stews in silence publicly and tells you how miserable they are privately. You never push too hard because it’s not your place.
That feels like the stage we have reached with the Detroit Pistons and free agent big man Jalen Duren.
Maybe all this animosity leaking through press sources is just gamesmanship and negotiating tactics, and none of it resembles reality. But from my limited vantage point, I think it’s time to break up this toxic relationship.
Nothing about the actions from the Duren camp nor the Pistons camp indicates that either is seriously invested in a long-term relationship. Every single move seems like a form of self-sabotage designed to force the other side to formally declare this union dissolved.
In a matter of days, maybe both sides will secretly get what they want, but neither side is willing to admit — Jalen Duren playing for a basketball team that is not the Detroit Pistons.
It might seem like the hostilities began on the eve of free agency when it became known that Duren was interested in talking to other teams with the potential cap space to sign him to the max contract he sought. However, the issues stretch back a year prior, when the Pistons weren’t interested in signing him to a post-rookie extension and were comfortable entering into restricted free agency.
It seems that, to paraphrase Michael Jordan, Duren took that personally.
Since then, we’ve had a seemingly endless series of leaks from Duren’s camp about various teams’ interest, and his interest in other teams. Nobody ever said, “Duren has no interest in playing for the Pistons,” but maybe that’s where we’ve always been.
The Pistons are not blameless. The post-rookie extension numbers they were interested in seemed low at the time and are laughably low in hindsight; reportedly, closer to $20 million per year than the $40 million per year Duren was seeking. Duren then delivered the best season of his career as a 22-year-old and earned an All-Star berth and All-NBA honors. Detroit upped offers into the low $30 millions while Duren was technically eligible for a $287-million, five-year extension.
Detroit has moved, but seemingly done so kicking and screaming. It’s almost like they like Duren, but they’re not in love with Duren.
Certainly not to the level they love Ausar Thompson. To the discerning Pistons fan, Ausar is the team’s second most important player behind Cade Cunningham. Unlike with Duren, Detroit was much more eager to secure the defensive wing on a post-rookie max, and announced a five-year, $155 million pact even while the Duren drama drags on.
Thompson is far from a perfect player, and his paycheck is counting on a level of needed improvement on the offensive end. I think he’ll improve offensively to the point he can’t be paid off the floor. When that happens, this deal will look like a steal. But from Duren’s perspective, it seems like just one more slight.
The latest salvo comes from recent reports that Detroit is looking at adding a weight clause as an incentive to Duren’s deal. Duren, reportedly, finds it disrespectful. Now, sometimes these incentive clauses are more face-saving moves. Either unlikely incentives so a player (and his agent) can say he got a deal higher than he did in reality, or a clause to give the Pistons the plausible deniability of smart fiscal management.
This might be that. Or it might be the kind of ultimatum that is the hallmark of the late stages of a relationship doomed to end.
The Pistons feel like a team that knows intellectually that investing gigantic sums of money in a player who lacks range and defensive dominance is risky. Doubly so if you’ve already committed to Ausar Thompson during what could be your entire title window.
Perhaps Trajan Langdon is a guy who, all else being equal, would have been much more interested in a center who fit the scheme and was the fifth-best player on the floor. Instead, he inherited a great young prospect. It’s the kind of talent that’s hard to walk away from, even as every move you’re making gives away that your heart just isn’t into it like it should be.
We are going to know where the truth lies in a matter of days. Duren is either going to sign a long-term deal with Detroit, or he is going to get sign-and-traded for a return that includes a more workmanlike center.
We’ll see if this was the kind of relationship where people are working the media for favorable coverage or if this is a truly dysfunctional couple headed for divorce. I’m finally starting to think it’s the latter.
Pittsburgh Penguins At Columbus Blue Jackets Preview: Lineup, Where To Watch
The Pittsburgh Penguins will play their third of four pre-season games on Thursday night against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The Penguins have split their first two pre-season games, beating the Buffalo Sabres 4-1 on Monday before losing to the Detroit Red Wings 7-4 on Tuesday.
Thursday's lineup will feature several players on the edge of the NHL roster, including Filip Hallander, Elmer Soderblom, and Ville Koivunen, as well as some of the system's top prospects, including Mikhail Ilyin, Harrison Brunicke, and Bill Zonnon.
They'll face some of the Blue Jackets' regulars, including Charlie Coyle, Kirill Marchenko, Zach Werenski, and Sean Monahan.
Goaltender Sergei Murashov will play the entire game for the Penguins. Collin Delia will be the backup goaltender.
Here's a look at the expected line combinations:
Forwards
Hallander-Dewar-Soderblom
McGroarty-Broz-Koivunen
Howe-Zonnon-Ilyin
Calvert-Gustafsson-Hayes
Defensemen
Graves-Jones
Livanavage-Solovyov
Pickering-Brunicke
Liam Ruck, Markus Ruck, and Chase Pietila are the expected scratches.
Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET, and you can stream it on the Blue Jackets' official website. You can also listen to it on 105.9 'The X.'
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Mets add Derek Falvey to front office, promote Kris Gross
When Steve Cohen joined the Mets’ broadcast booth during Saturday afternoon’s game against the Phillies, he talked about trying to “add certain voices into the front office” for 2027. Five days later, the Mets’ plans appear to be in motion.
After a report yesterday from Will Sammon and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic that the Mets were “moving toward” adding Derek Falvey to their front office, the organization today officially announced Falvey as senior advisor of baseball operations. The Mets also promoted Kris Gross to assistant general manager of scouting.
Falvey had been the president of baseball operations for the Minnesota Twins since November of 2019. He worked with Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns from 2011-12, when the two were co-directors of baseball operations in Cleveland.
“I am excited to join the New York Mets and become part of a franchise that means so much to so many people,” said Falvey via a Mets press release. “Throughout my conversations with the organization, what stood out were the high expectations and the commitment to winning at every level. What I’ve always loved most about this game is being part of a team, and I look forward to bringing my experiences and contributing to this group in any way I can. I want to thank Steve and Alex Cohen and David Stearns for this opportunity.”
Gross had been the Mets’ vice president of amateur and international scouting since November of 2023 after spending more than a decade as a scout with the Astros. The Mets happened to offer a window into the inner workings of their scouting process on Thursday with the release of “Searching For Tomorrow,” an original production featuring interviews with Gross and other scouts.
Per Stearns, Gross will now contribute to major league transactions as well as amateur talent acquisition.
“I would like to thank David and the New York Mets for the recognition,” said Gross. “Scouting plays a crucial role in our ability to build a sustainable winning organization. I would like to thank the entire Amateur and International Scouting departments, whose tireless work allows me to be successful. Their dedication is the reason we are able to find exciting young Major League players as well as promising prospects. I am excited to continue the work we are doing to bring more homegrown talent to Queens.”
Five takeaways from Wizards GM Will Dawkins’ presser
WASHINGTON — Washington Wizards general manager Will Dawkins called the 2026-27 campaign a “season of growth” when he met with the media on Thursday.
Dawkins said that while the Wizards want to increase moments of competitive basketball, player development remains the No. 1 goal.
“We want to take meaningful strides as an organization towards building towards sustained success,” Dawkins said. “It definitely won’t be linear … But we’ll chip away as we’ve done in previous seasons … We just want our team to have expectations of being more competitive.”
Alex Sarr expected back by opener
Alex Sarr, who in June underwent surgery to repair a fractured left foot, is expected to return for Washington’s season opener against the Milwaukee Bucks on Oct. 21.
“We expect [Alex] to be a partial participant at the start of camp. He’s progressing really, really well. And I anticipate that he’ll be able to play opening night.
Dawkins lauded Sarr’s maturity and discipline during his recovery process, which continues to progress as training camp nears.
Sarr blossomed in his second NBA season, averaging 16.3 points and 7.4 rebounds while shooting 48.2% from the field — an 8.8% improvement from the season before. He defended the most rim attempts per game (9.7) while blocking two shots per contest.
“The paint is going to be a tough place for people to score on us,” Dawkins said. “Alex was second in the blocks last year, and that’s without having Anthony Davis and DeAndre Ayton.”
Dawkins said Jamir Watkins, who in July underwent surgery to repair a torn ACL, is out “a good amount of time.”
Anthony Davis ‘motivated’ to start season
On August 6 — the same day Davis became eligible to sign a four-year, $285 million max extension with the Wizards — The Athletic’s Joshua Robbins reported the sides had agreed to wait until the season to have extension talks.
Dawkins, as he does with all players, declined Thursday to discuss the team’s ongoing negotiations with Davis. But he said Davis is ready to start the season when Washington opens against Milwaukee.
“AD is in a great frame of mind,” Dawkins said. “He’s focused and ready to start the season. I would say he’s very much a motivated player right now, and I expect that he will remind the basketball world who he really is.”
Davis has played just 71 games over the previous two seasons due to various injuries, including a left hand injury that sidelined him from early January through the end of last season. When healthy, Davis is a perennial NBA All-Star and Top-75 player who protects the rim and scores from multiple levels.
Tempered expectations
After a 50-196 record across three rebuilding seasons, Wizards fans have lofty expectations entering the 2026-27 season. But the Wizards —players, coaches, and front office members alike —have declined to set expectations for the upcoming campaign.
While it’s certainly not another chapter in the “deconstruction phase,” Dawkins declined to place a threshold on Washington’s ceiling or floor this year.
“I won’t really put a number on our season or our wins. I won’t put a cap on our potential for our team,” Dawkins said. “The East has gotten better. I think there’s a lot of teams competing and trying to win, which we are doing.”
Dawkins said he feels “comfortable” with his team’s growth entering his fourth year in charge. He said the team has several “carry-forward” players that will take the team into the next phase of the rebuild, and now it’s about continuing that development in more competitive environments.
“[This season is] about taking that proper growth so that we can continue to move toward the same success,” Dawkins said. “We’re still at the infancy of building. I think we just added a really really important pillar to that build in AJ [Dybantsa] … We feel like we have a lot of other carry-forward players in the building right now, and we’re excited to see that all come together.”
Confidence in Keefe
Brian Keefe inherited a near-impossible situation when he was named Washington’s interim head coach in January 2024 before his promotion to full-time duties five months later.
The 50-year-old head coach navigated the Wizards through a tough rebuild, spearheading key player development strides with Sarr, Kyshawn George and more. But his .212 winning percentage — a 43-160 record — is the worst among active head coaches across that span.
On Thursday, Dawkins reiterated his confidence in Keefe and his ability to lead Washington into more competitive basketball.
“I have a lot of confidence in Brian Keefe,” Dawkins said. “Full confidence in him to develop the roster and continue to take us into the next phase of Wizards basketball.”
Dawkins noted the offseason hires of Steve Clifford and Patrick Ewing as experienced coaches that will bolster Keefe’s staff. Clifford was hired as an advisor in July. Ewing joined as an assistant later that month.
“I have to commend [Keefe] for the summer he had internally … [Clifford] has a wealth of knowledge and experience. [He] will be someone really good, not only in Brian’s ear, but helping develop our coaching staff. Bringing in someone like Patrick Ewing, who knows the city, who knows being a No. 1 pick, who knows the pressures of trying to win at a high level, a Hall of Famer, a top 75 player — that experience is really important to us.”
Backup PG duties
If it wasn’t already clear when the Wizards handed Trae Young a four year, $212 million max contract extension in June, Dawkins reiterated that the four-time All-Star will start at point guard. Who backs him up remains unknown.
Washington has several candidates, ranging from sharpshooting guards like Bub Carrington to 6-foot-9 wings like Kyshawn George and AJ Dybantsa. Dawkins said the Wizards have “multiple ball handlers.”
“We got multiple ball handlers that can make decisions,” Dawkins said. “Bilal [Coulibaly] Paul can handle, Kyshawn can handle, Bub can handle, AJ can handle and create … I like having multiple decision makers, multiple initiators, because it’s harder to defend.”
Dawkins praised Dybantsa’s commitment to working on his game this summer, lauding his work ethic and ability to retain information as he enters his first NBA season.
”We got some guys here that bring sleeping bags to the gym because they’re here all the time. And [Dybantsa] is one of those guys that adopted that right away and kind of fell in line with some of our other guys,“ Dawkins said.
For those who prefer podcasts, here’s a 30-minute breakdown of everything Dawkins said in Thursday’s presser:
Alcaraz tops the bill as the Laver Cup returns to London still aiming to prove its worth
The Ryder Cup-style event has struggled financially since its legendary founder, Roger Federer, retired but still offers a spectacle unlike any other in tennis
The sight of a tennis player marching to the bathroom between sets has become increasingly common in modern tennis but Alexander Zverev’s journey back to the locker room in Prague nine years ago remains particularly remarkable. On this occasion, Zverev happened to be sandwiched between two of the greatest male players of all time. Neither legend was happy.
To his right, an incensed Roger Federer spent their walk back to the locker room brutally laying down the law: “I want a fist pump or a ‘Let’s go!’ every fucking point you win,” he said. “And every point you lose, you fucking take it like a man. Because the problem is, when you don’t have the [result] you want, it’s like: ‘Ah, I knew it. Fuck, shit.’ I don’t want … honestly!”
Continue reading...Blackhawks Vs Blues: Projected Lineup, Patrick Kane, How To Watch, & More Ahead Of Preseason Game 3
The Chicago Blackhawks were defeated in overtime by the Minnesota Wild in preseason game 1 in St. Paul last Saturday. Both teams mostly dressed AHL lineups for that one.
Then, on Monday, the Blackhawks defeated the Wild in overtime at the United Center. The Blackhawks had more NHL players in their lineup for that one, so it was a match they expected to play better.
Now, they are set for a similar situation against the St. Louis Blues. It is a home-and-home preseason series, set to begin in St. Louis on Thursday. The difference is that there won't be any more "all-AHL" lineups.
Scouting St. Louis
The St. Louis Blues will have a lineup with plenty of NHL players in front of their home crowd. That includes star players Pavel Buchnevich, Connor McMichael, Cam Fowler, and Jordan Binnington.
They won't have their captain, Robert Thomas, or young stars like Jimmy Snuggerud and Dylan Holloway, but they will still be stiff competition with the lineup they do have. Their entire roster can be seen below:
#stlblues morning skate lines (9/24):
— Lou Korac (@lkorac10) September 24, 2026
Buchnevich-Dean-McMichael
Neighbours-Dvorsky-Dube
Johnston-Finley-Peterson
Kaskimaki-Sundqvist-Walker
Lindstein-Parayko
Fowler-Carlo
Rosen-Jiricek
Binnington
Romanov
Projected Lines, Defense Pairs, & Goalie For Chicago
The Blackhawks will have Patrick Kane in their lineup for the first time during the preseason. This will be his unofficial re-debut after a couple of seasons away playing for other teams.
Other NHL players like Frank Nazar, Roman Kantserov, Nick Lardis, Oliver Moore, and Wyatt Kaiser will play as well. Drew Commesso and Arvid Soderblom are the two goalies going to St. Louis. The entire lineup can be seen below:
A player worth keeping an extra close eye on is Kevin Korchinski. He has been dialed in during camp, and he played extremely well in that all-AHL first preseason game. He deserves some run with NHL talent, which he will get in this preseason game against the Blues. If he is truly in the running for an NHL roster spot, which his spot in camp suggests he is, this is his chance to capitalize.
Guys like AJ Spellacy and Sacha Boisvert are going to start in the AHL, but these games are a great way to show management that they are ready. Spellacy, in particular, is an early call-up candidate if he continues to rise up the ranks.
How To Watch
The game can be heard locally on AM 720 WGN in the Chicagoland area. You can watch the game locally on CHSN. The puck will drop shortly after 7:00 PM CT.
Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay up to date on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.
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Five players facing the most pressure this season, including James Harden, Joel Embiid
The NBA is a pressure-packed league and everyone feels it in one form or another: Championship pressure, legacy pressure, financial pressure, now-or-never pressure. For most players, it's simply "make sure I stick in the league and keep getting paid" pressure.
For the players on this list, the pressure is bigger picture — legacy and championship questions. How will we remember them? For these players, a lot hinges on this season. Here are five players under the most pressure this season.
James Harden
Since Donovan Mitchell arrived four years ago, the Cleveland Cavaliers have been one of the best teams in the NBA, averaging 54 wins a season in part thanks to quality guard play and an impressive front line of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. The one lingering hole in the Cleveland roster has been at the three, but this offseason the Cavaliers poached Peyton Watson from Denver to be an athletic two-way wing and fill that role. The Cavaliers reached the Eastern Conference Finals a season ago and got better this summer, they are title contenders.
If James Harden doesn't become the new weak link.
The pressure on Harden is about legacy. To be fair, he already has an impressive and secure legacy: Harden is unquestionably a Hall of Famer, an MVP, a three-time scoring champion and the $97 million contract he signed with Cleveland this offseason will put him at more than $500 million earned in his career. On that level, his legacy is secure.
However, he's on track to go down as one of the greats who never won a ring, and that is why the pressure is on him. His playoff legacy is… unimpressive. It has big ups, but also some poorly timed, painful downs. This Cavaliers team is the closest one they have had to a serious contender since LeBron James left (the second time), and if it off nights from Harden in critical playoff games sink them, a decade from now the opening paragraph of stories about him will feature his playoff struggles as much as the MVP. This is Harden's chance, he has to step up and show he can be a playoff force.
Chet Holmgren
It may be a little unfair to have a 24-year-old player entering his fifth NBA season (just his fourth playing) on this list, especially one that already has a championship ring and is the second-best defensive big man in the NBA. But here we are.
Fair or not, Holmgren will be judged on how he performs against Victor Wembanyama and, in the broader picture, how his Thunder come out against Wemby's Spurs. Oklahoma City and San Antonio are the two juggernauts in the NBA right now, and in last season's Western Conference Finals, Holmgren was neutralized. He averaged 10.7 points per game (down from 17.1 in the regular season), didn't shoot 3-pointers or space the floor enough, and at one point literally fell over while dribbling. If the Thunder have a chance against the Spurs this season, Holmgren simply has to be better in that matchup.
While neither team is nearing the end of their run, the second apron is coming for the Thunder sooner than it is for the Spurs. Sam Presti and company have a lot more roster juggling to do in the short term (that already started this summer with Lu Dort, Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe leaving). That means there is more pressure on OKC to win a second title (and maybe a third) before that window closes, or at least before the opening gets so narrow it's much harder to climb through. And fair or not, a lot of that falls on the shoulders of Holmgren. (And on Jalen Williams staying healthy and getting back to an All-NBA level, which is why he is in the honorable mention part of this list below.)
Joel Embiid
This is it. Fair or not, it feels like the final test of whether "The Process" can produce results falls on this season (frankly, "The Process" has been dead for years, but it still feels tied to Joel Embiid in some ways).
Philadelphia has built a true title contender. Jalen Brown and LeBron James join Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe on a 76ers team with an elite starting five. Plus, Philly has real depth in Dean Wade, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Anfernee Simons.
However, the ceiling for this team — whether they can truly bring the 76ers their first title since 1983 — comes down to Joel Embiid and his health. Specifically, his knees. We saw how he can still take over a game and change a series against Boston in last season's playoffs. However, in the next series against the Knicks he missed Game 2 and did not have the same impact. That can't happen in these playoffs. In the regular season, if Philadelphia can get its starting five (particularly Embiid and LeBron) together on the court for 35-40 games, that's a win. (They have the talent to get a high seed even with them playing limited minutes.) They can even find ways to give Embiid some nights off during the playoffs, but ultimately he has to be out there for most games and make an impact, or Philly stands no chance in the postseason.
This is all about legacy for Embiid, this is his chance. Will he be able to grab it?
Walker Kessler
For 40ish games over his first four seasons in the league, Walker Kessler has looked exactly like the big man the Lakers need next to Luka Doncic: a big body to set screens, rolls hard, has good hands and can finish lobs, plus he's a rim-protecting defensive force on that end of the court. It's why Doncic reportedly pushed for the Lakers to pry the center away from Utah (and the Lakers gave up two first-round picks to make it happen). It's why the Lakers paid him for what he can be with a four-year, $130 million contract.
Now the pressure is on Kessler to live up to all of it.
Kessler is fully capable of this, but he has to stay healthy — he only played five games last season due to a shoulder injury and has not played in 65 games since his rookie season — and show some maturity in his game. If Kessler lives up to expectations, the Lakers can be a top-four seed in the West and advance out of the first round, at least. However, if he is not up to the job, these Lakers start to look too much like last year's version, and that's not a long-term path forward.
(Note: Luka Doncic easily could have been in this top five as well, he's now got a roster in Los Angeles that better fits his style of play, but he has to stay healthy and lift the role players up. If he does, he's in the mix for MVP. If not, his contract extension talks get more interesting.)
LaMelo Ball
LaMelo Ball and the Charlotte Hornets were one of the feel-good stories of last season, an entertaining team led by Ball's offensive creation that went 18-9 after the All-Star break and got into the play-in. Charlotte was everyone's favorite League Pass team because they were fun to watch and played without expectations.
Ball is now a key player on a team with high expectations. A team that expects to play into May and wants to return to the Western Conference Finals, where it has been two of the last three seasons. A team that made bold moves this summer and has the specter of Anthony Edwards' next contract and his future plans looming a few years out (other teams are monitoring Edwards' situation, league sources have told NBC Sports).
That's a lot more pressure on Ball than he's ever played under in the NBA. He's going to be asked to step up — in the regular season and especially in the playoffs — against high-level, physical guards like Stephon Castle in San Antonio, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (plus a lot of good wings) in Oklahoma City, Fred VanVleet in Houston (another team with a lot of good, physical wings), and the list goes on and on.
Ball is no longer the breezy feel-good story — he has to step up and perform at a level he has not been asked to so far in his NBA career. That changes starting this year.
Honorable mention names: Jalen Williams (Thunder), Giannis Antetokounmpo (Heat), Luka Doncic (Lakers), Trae Young (Wizards), De'Aaron Fox (Spurs).
NHL’s Andrei Kuzmenko steps away from team after father killed in Siberia bear attack
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Andrei Kuzmenko has stepped away from the team after his father, Alexander Kuzmenko, was killed in a bear attack in Siberia this week.
REN TV was the first to report the death of the 62-year-old, who was a well-known hockey coach in Russia.
Kuzmenko was with a group on a fishing trip on Tuesday in Tuva, a landlocked region in Siberia near Russia’s southern border with Mongolia, according to REN TV’s reports. The group encountered a bear that attacked Kuzmenko.
Ambulances were reportedly delayed in reaching the group because they were in a densely forested area along the Krasnaya River. REN TV said the group traveled down the river for four hours before an ambulance could locate them. Kuzmenko was airlifted to a hospital with severe facial injuries before he was pronounced dead on Wednesday.
“The Pittsburgh Penguins organization was deeply saddened this morning to learn of the passing of Andrei Kuzmenko’s father, Alexander,” team president and general manager Kyle Dubas said in a statement on Thursday. “Our deepest thoughts and sympathies are with the Kuzmenko family and their loved ones as they grieve the loss of Alexander. We ask that the privacy of Andrei and the Kuzmenko family be respected at this time.
“Andrei chose to be surrounded by his teammates and practice with the team this morning before returning to Moscow to be with his family this afternoon. Andrei and the Kuzmenko family have the full support of the Penguins organization during this time.”
REN TV reported that the forested area where the group went had previously been restricted because of bear activity. The outlet said at least 15 people have been killed in bear attacks across Russia this year.
Andrei Kuzmenko, 30, signed for the Penguins in July. After breaking out with CSKA Moscow and SKA Saint Petersburg in the Kontinental Hockey League, he made his NHL debut in 2022 with the Vancouver Canucks. He also had stints with the Calgary Flames, Philadelphia Flyers and Los Angeles Kings before joining Pittsburgh. He has 85 goals and 97 assists in 271 NHL appearances.
After Andrei Kuzmenko left the Canucks in 2023, his father, mother Galina, sister Victoria and a childhood friend wrote a letter to the city’s fans thanking them for their “warm hospitality towards our son” and “for helping him grow professionally”.
The NHL season begins on Tuesday.
Why Maple Leafs Announce Steven Lorentz Placed On Waivers, Nick Paul Status
Following the Toronto Maple Leafs' final practice before heading to Arizona for an off-ice bonding trip, the team made a roster cut. The Maple Leafs announced on Thursday that Steven Lorentz has been placed on waivers.
Lorentz, 30, has played two seasons with the Maple Leafs since joining the club as a free agent for the 2024-25 season.
Last season, the left winger scored seven goals and 18 points in 71 games and averaged a career-high 11:52 of ice time per game.
Lorentz was strong for Toronto's fourth line when he first joined the team and didn't have a solidified spot on the roster. Since his first year, he has signed a three-year contract with the team at a $1.35-million salary cap hit.
What could be the reasoning behind this decision?
The Kitchener, Ont., native has been a one-dimensional player to some degree. He's a viable option for the penalty kill, but aside from that, he doesn't utilize his 6-foot-4 frame as he could and has only scored 10 goals in one NHL campaign on one occasion (2022-23 with the San Jose Sharks).
So while his style of game couldn't excel in some ways, the Maple Leafs might've found someone to fill his place on the fourth line, and that's right winger Zack MacEwen.
Why The Maple Leafs Placed A Pair Of Defensemen On NHL Waivers And More Roster MovesThe Toronto Maple Leafs have placed two defensemen on NHL waivers on Wednesday. On top of that, several others have been sent down to Toronto Marlies training camp, the ECHL's Cincinnati Cyclones, and the CHL.MacEwen, featuring in the NHL-heavy lineup on Wednesday at Scotiabank Arena, made his presence felt in different ways. The 30-year-old continued to play his physical style of game - getting into a scuffle at the tail end of the contest - playing hard on the forecheck and along the boards, while also contributing on the scoresheet
"Well, we like the physicality," Hiller said. "I mean, I know he scored last night, but I think what was equally or probably more, important to us was, you know, there was some stuff going on, and he was able to get in there fairly quickly and do his job."
Three Reasons Why Jim Hiller's Maple Leafs Are Completely Different Than Craig Berube'sJim Hiller is changing the way the Toronto Maple Leafs play, drastically. Here are three reasons why Hiller's team is completely different from Craig Berube's over the last two years.Lorentz hasn't featured in the AHL since 2019-20, as a member of the Charlotte Checkers in the Florida Panthers organization.
If he were to be claimed by another NHL team within the next 24 hours, that would get the organization under the maximum number of standard contracts in the organization. Going into training camp, Toronto didn't have a free spot, with 50/50 standard contracts in the organization.
That would allow Toronto to keep defenseman Nick Blankenburg, who has joined the team this training camp on a PTO. He requires a standard contract to join the team officially for the regular season.
If he's not claimed, most of Lorentz's cap hit will come off the books, leaving a remaining $125,000 on the Maple Leafs' payroll.
Four Key Takeaways The Maple Leafs' Final Pre-Season Fixture Against The SenatorsHere are four takeaways from the Toronto Maple Leafs' final pre-season fixture against the Ottawa Senators.Nick Paul was the other member of the Maple Leafs who didn't skate today, but his absence is injury-related.
Paul, 31, only played 4:42 of ice time in Wednesday's pre-season game against the Ottawa Senators at home. Head coach Jim Hiller didn't have an update following that game, but said he'd have more on Thursday after practice.
Here's what he said of Paul on Thursday.
"I'll just say it like this. Obviously, he didn't skate today," Hiller said. "That's nothing I think that we're overly concerned about. But we have to take it day by day. That's what I would leave it with."
He added that he can't say with certainty that he'll be available for the season opener on Tuesday. He, as well as Dakota Joshua, who skated with the Leafs today, will be travelling to Arizona for the team trip.
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Father of Penguins forward Andrei Kuzmenko dies in bear mauling in Russia
The father of Pittsburgh Penguins forward Andrei Kuzmenko has died in a bear attack in Russia.
Ren TV reported that Alexander Kuzmenko, a hockey coach, was mauled Sept. 23 in the Tuva region. A bear reportedly came out of the woods quickly and bit Kuzmenko. His companions were able to free him from the animal, but attempts to treat him failed.
“The Pittsburgh Penguins organization was deeply saddened, this morning, to learn of the passing of Andrei Kuzmenko’s father, Alexander,” Penguins GM Kyle Dubas said in a statement Thursday. “Our deepest thoughts and sympathies are with the Kuzmenko family and their loved ones as they grieve the loss of Alexander. We ask that the privacy of Andrei and the Kuzmenko family be respected at this time.
“Andrei chose to be surrounded by his teammates and practice with the team this morning before returning to Moscow to be with his family this afternoon. Andrei and the Kuzmenko family have the full support of the Penguins organization during this time.”
Bear attacks in this area of the country have surged in 2026. According to Ren TV, 15 people have been attacked across four provinces, with experts blaming a poor harvest of berries and pine nuts.
Andrei Kuzmenko signed a one-year deal with the Penguins on July 1 and had just reported to Pittsburgh for training camp. The 30-year-old has 85 goals and 97 assists across four NHL seasons with the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, Los Angeles Kings and Philadelphia Flyers.
Pittsburgh opens its season Sept. 30 against the Flyers.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Father of Penguins forward Andrei Kuzmenko dies in bear mauling in Russia
Russell vows to ‘keep fighting’ in F1 title race despite Antonelli’s advantage
‘I want to try and win every single race. That’s my goal’
Briton quickest in practice for Azerbaijan Grand Prix
George Russell has insisted he will keep fighting for the Formula One world championship until it is mathematically gone but while he made an encouraging start to his efforts by going quickest in practice for this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix the makeup of said numbers remains somewhat in limbo.
Russell is 81 points behind his Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli going into the race in Baku which is taking place on Saturday to avoid clashing with Azerbaijan’s national remembrance day. The Italian has eight victories this season including the past two in a row, coming through to win from 19th on the grid in Monza and then taking the flag in Madrid.
Continue reading...The Phillies wild card possibilities are getting wilder
With four games left in the regular season, it is still impossible to predict where the Phillies are going to play in the opening round of the postseason next week.
Yes, this is assuming the Phils don’t blow a 3-game lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks with four to play, but I’m willing to take that risk.
Things got even murkier on Wednesday night.
- The Phillies fell 4-1 to the Milwaukee Brewers after going 0-12 with runners in scoring position.
- The Miami Marlins edged the Cubs 3-2, their second win over Chicago in as many nights.
- The San Diego Padres handled the Dodgers in L.A., 5-1.
Suddenly, the Padres now sit atop the wild card standings at 88-70, holding a one-game lead on the Cubs and Phillies, both of whom are 87-71.
San Diego is going to enter the playoffs as the hottest team in baseball, 15-5 in September, and 32-16 since the start of August, the best mark in baseball (the Phillies are 30-18, by the way, 4th-best). If the season ended today, the Padres would host the Cubs in the wild card round, with the Phillies heading to Atlanta.
However, the Padres would need to finish with the best record, as they would lose the tie-breaker to both the Cubs and the Phillies. They went 1-5 against Chicago and 0-6 against Philadelphia. The Cubs went 6-1 against the Phils and hold that tie-breaker.
The ideal scenario for the Phillies would be for them to finish as the top wild card team and the No. 4 seed, with the Padres slotting in as the 5-seed and Chicago landing at 6. In that situation, the Phils would welcome the Padres to Citizens Bank Park, and that is a realistic scenario given what’s coming this weekend.
On Thursday, the Phils will wrap up their series against the Brewers, who will be throwing a bullpen game as they ready themselves for the postseason. The Padres finish their series against the Dodgers and the Cubs play one more against the feisty Marlins.
This weekend, the Cubs could be in real trouble. With nasty weather anticipated up in Boston, MLB is scheduling a day-night doubleheader between Chicago and the Red Sox on Friday and a single game on Saturday, understanding that one, or multiple, of those games might have to be made up. That kind of disruption could be difficult for the Cubs, even going up against a Red Sox team that is locked in as the AL’s second wild card.
The Padres, meanwhile, are hosting a Diamondbacks team that may or may not still have an outside shot at a playoff berth. San Diego should be able to handle Arizona at home, and may have the clearest path to the NL’s top wild card spot now.
As for the Phils, it remains to be seen how the Rays are going to play things this weekend at Citizens Bank Park. They have the American League’s No. 1 seed locked up, so these games are meaningless to them. They are unlikely to pitch their top starters for more than a couple innings, and their regulars will likely get some rest. That said, Tampa is still a very good, and deep, team, capable of handling the Phils even with some of their regulars out of the lineup.
There is a realistic path to the Phillies earning the top wild card spot and hosting either the Cubs or the Padres. There’s just as likely a chance they’ll finish as the second wild card and travel to Chicago or San Diego for the best-of-three series, and also as likely a chance they are the NL’s final wild card and head to Atlanta for a series against the Braves.
Obviously, a first round match-up with the Padres would be the ideal scenario. The Phillies have owned them over the last few years. A trip to Wrigley would, for the sake of spectacle, be terrific. Despite both teams having existed for more than 100 years, the Phils and Cubs have never squared off in the postseason.
A trip to Atlanta would be ick.
There’s an argument to be made that starting the playoffs on the road, as an underdog and away from the crushing expectations of the fanbase, might be the best thing for this group. They could sell themselves as the upstarts, the same way they did in 2022 against the Cardinals in St. Louis, rather than “the favorite,” expected to win.
Fans should continue to hope for a home wild card series, but it wouldn’t be the end of the world if they started the postseason away from home.
On the latest Hittin’ Season podcast, I discussed all the scenarios with Mike Robertson of FranzkeLA, so make sure to check it out!
Farewell Rick: Mariners vs. Angels Series Preview
Technically, there’s a miniscule chance the Mariners could sneak into the playoffs. They’d need to win out and both the Rangers and Astros would have to lose out. That would give all three teams a 78-84 record and Seattle would take the division via a three-way tiebreaker. FanGraphs thinks the chances of that happening are … 0.0%. Really, this weekend is all about sending off Rick Rizzs into retirement. (If you’re watching these final four games on Mariners.TV or MLB.TV, make sure you’re switching your audio feed to the radio broadcast!) We never got a chance to say goodbye to Dave — he was here one season and then he was gone the next — so cherish this opportunity to say thank you and godspeed to Rick. The sound of our summer will be different next year.
| Game | Time | Mariners Starter | Angels Starter | Mariners Win% | Angels Win% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | Thursday, September 24 | 6:40 pm | RHP Bryan Woo | RHP Grayson Rodriguez | 67.7% | 32.3% |
| Game 2 | Friday, September 25 | 7:10 pm | RHP Bryce Miller | LHP Reid Detmers | 56.5% | 43.5% |
| Game 3 | Saturday, September 26 | 6:40 pm | LHP Kade Anderson | RHP Ryan Johnson | 69.8% | 30.2% |
| Game 4 | Sunday, September 27 | 12:10 pm | RHP Logan Gilbert | LHP Yusei Kikuchi | 66.6% | 33.4% |
| Overview | Mariners | Angels | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Batting (wRC+) | 102 (6th in AL) | 92 (15th in AL) | Mariners |
| Fielding (FRV) | -52 (15th) | -33 (13th) | Angels |
| Starting Pitching (FIP-) | 99 (8th) | 100 (9th) | Mariners |
| Bullpen (FIP-) | 103 (10th) | 99 (7th) | Angels |
What can I say about the Angels that John didn’t already say last week when the Mariners faced them in Anaheim? This organization is in a weird spot right now. They’re on the verge of losing 100 games for the first time in franchise history but the team also just got out from under former owner Arte Moreno. This is the worst the team has ever played, yet it might be the most optimistic the fan base has been in a long, long time.
| Player | Position | Bats | PA | K% | BB% | ISO | wRC+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zach Neto | SS | R | 684 | 30.6% | 9.5% | 0.194 | 114 |
| Mike Trout | DH | R | 619 | 26.0% | 16.6% | 0.183 | 132 |
| Wade Meckler | LF | L | 321 | 18.7% | 9.7% | 0.081 | 117 |
| Vaughn Grissom | 1B | R | 455 | 18.2% | 6.6% | 0.151 | 99 |
| Moisés Ballesteros | C | L | 339 | 22.7% | 8.3% | 0.121 | 75 |
| Denzer Guzman | 3B | R | 290 | 25.5% | 5.5% | 0.122 | 71 |
| Josh Lowe | RF | L | 331 | 30.2% | 7.6% | 0.153 | 76 |
| Jose Siri | CF | R | 244 | 32.4% | 6.1% | 0.167 | 91 |
| Christian Moore | 2B | R | 131 | 34.4% | 6.1% | 0.066 | 31 |
From a previous series preview:
Anaheim has a couple familiar faces up top in Zach Neto and Mike Trout, but not many. They’ve taken the back half of the year to wisely audition several young players, finding some promise in folks like Wade Meckler but still waiting on more elsewhere. Moises Ballesteros was a highly regarded prospect with the Cubs but has not found his swing yet since coming over in return for reliever Ryan Zeferjahn. There’s a few post-hype hopes here as well in Josh Lowe and Jose Siri, but hope has been their predominant currency.
Probable Pitchers
| Pitcher | IP | K% | BB% | HR/FB% | GB% | ERA | FIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grayson Rodriguez | 93.2 | 19.7% | 9.0% | 14.2% | 39.2% | 5.96 | 4.85 |
| Bryan Woo | 167.2 | 24.4% | 5.3% | 9.2% | 37.8% | 3.92 | 3.27 |
| Pitch | Usage vRHB | Usage vLHB | Velocity | Stuff+ | Whiff+ | BIP+ | xwOBA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Four-seam | 51.4% | 51.7% | 96.1 | 103 | 75 | 89 | 0.383 |
| Changeup | 15.2% | 32.8% | 83.2 | 109 | 107 | 102 | 0.290 |
| Curveball | 7.8% | 13.8% | 80.8 | 94 | 79 | 109 | 0.392 |
| Slider | 25.6% | 1.7% | 85.0 | 104 | 103 | 99 | 0.355 |
At one point a few years ago, Grayson Rodriguez was considered the best pitching prospect in baseball. Unfortunately, a variety of injuries have prevented him from making good on those lofty expectations. He was traded from Baltimore to the Angels this past offseason — straight up for Taylor Ward — and returned from a major shoulder injury in May. He definitely hasn’t looked as sharp in his first major league action since 2024, though he’s slowly improved as the season has gone on. The good news is that his fastball velocity is still intact, but his command has really slipped and he’s just not generating as many swings and misses with his secondary pitches this year.
| Pitcher | IP | K% | BB% | HR/FB% | GB% | ERA | FIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reid Detmers | 179 | 28.4% | 6.4% | 9.5% | 37.8% | 3.47 | 3.05 |
| Bryce Miller | 112.2 | 24.4% | 7.8% | 14.6% | 37.9% | 3.99 | 4.43 |
| Pitch | Usage vRHB | Usage vLHB | Velocity | Stuff+ | Whiff+ | BIP+ | xwOBA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Four-seam | 45.8% | 44.9% | 94.1 | 102 | 95 | 102 | 0.314 |
| Sinker | 0.5% | 2.5% | 93.5 | ||||
| Changeup | 12.3% | 0.9% | 83.8 | 101 | 123 | 112 | 0.294 |
| Curveball | 12.0% | 8.6% | 72.3 | 101 | 117 | 110 | 0.307 |
| Slider | 29.5% | 43.2% | 86.0 | 110 | 109 | 97 | 0.218 |
From a previous series preview:
Reid Detmers has thrived in his return to the rotation this year, accumulating a career-high 4.4 fWAR with career-best marks in ERA and FIP. His strikeout rate is right in line with his career norms but the big reason he’s taken a big step forward is because he’s cut his walk rate by nearly three points and has dramatically reduced the amount of hard contact he has allowed.
The Mariners managed to score three runs off Detmers last week and he struggled in his next outing against the Twins over the weekend.
| Pitcher | IP | K% | BB% | HR/FB% | GB% | ERA | FIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryan Johnson | 95 | 18.5% | 9.5% | 13.0% | 34.1% | 4.93 | 5.38 |
| Kade Anderson | 32.1 | 21.4% | 6.1% | 11.1% | 38.3% | 4.18 | 3.72 |
| Pitch | Usage vRHB | Usage vLHB | Velocity | Stuff+ | Whiff+ | BIP+ | xwOBA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sinker | 21.7% | 15.3% | 92.4 | 81 | 17 | 73 | 0.515 |
| Cutter | 37.0% | 38.8% | 89.7 | 104 | 102 | 88 | 0.317 |
| Splitter | 8.1% | 29.3% | 84.6 | 74 | 93 | 146 | 0.253 |
| Sweeper | 33.2% | 16.7% | 80.9 | 107 | 90 | 80 | 0.279 |
From a previous series preview:
Ryan Johnson is a perfect encapsulation of everything wrong with the Angels current player development philosophy. He was drafted in the second round in 2024 after dominating in college ball at Dallas Baptist. He made the Opening Day roster in 2025 as a reliever, skipping the minor leagues entirely. After a month and a half and a 7.36 ERA, the Angels pulled the plug and sent him to High-A to continue his development as a starter. He made 12 starts in the minors and looked really good. Fast forward a year and Johnson had a solid, but not outstanding, spring training and Los Angeles opted to start the season with Johnson on the big league roster again. After allowing six runs in his first start of the year, the Angels sent him back to the minors for a few months before recalling him for good in mid June. It’s really too bad because Johnson has a really intriguing profile, and obviously has some raw talent, but the games the Angels have played with his development pathway have really hurt his ability to grow.
Johnson held the Mariners to just a single run in six innings last week, striking out seven against zero walks.
| Pitcher | IP | K% | BB% | HR/FB% | GB% | ERA | FIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yusei Kikuchi | 62.2 | 21.3% | 10.3% | 10.1% | 40.8% | 4.88 | 4.12 |
| Logan Gilbert | 182 | 26.7% | 6.5% | 14.3% | 38.0% | 3.81 | 3.91 |
| Pitch | Usage vRHB | Usage vLHB | Velocity | Stuff+ | Whiff+ | BIP+ | xwOBA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Four-seam | 41.1% | 42.0% | 95.5 | 99 | 88 | 115 | 0.304 |
| Cutter | 6.0% | 5.7% | 90.2 | 76 | |||
| Splitter | 20.7% | 7.1% | 86.6 | 107 | 91 | 66 | 0.344 |
| Curveball | 10.4% | 9.9% | 79.4 | 97 | 76 | 168 | 0.301 |
| Slider | 21.7% | 35.3% | 87.4 | 93 | 78 | 122 | 0.356 |
From a previous series preview:
Yusei Kikuchi missed nearly four months of the season with a shoulder injury. He returned to the majors towards the end of August and resumed his brand of effectively wild pitching. After a slight dip in velocity last year, his heater is back to averaging close to 96 mph. It’s the eighth hardest four-seamer from the left side among all starting pitchers this year. He continues to mix in a hard slider and a curveball as his primary secondary pitches, but he’s replaced his changeup with a true splitter and added a cutter this season. The split has been an excellent pitch but the cutter has been hit pretty hard.
Kikuchi did not have his best stuff against the Mariners last week. He allowed five runs on five hits and five walks in just 4.1 innings.
The Big Picture:
| Team | W-L | W% | Games Behind | Run Diff | Recent Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Astros | 78-80 | 0.494 | — | -53 | L-L-L-W-L |
| Rangers | 78-80 | 0.494 | — | -42 | W-W-L-L-L |
| Mariners | 74-84 | 0.468 | 4.0 | -62 | W-L-W-L-W |
| Athletics | 63-95 | 0.399 | 15.0 | -217 | L-L-L-W-W |
| Angels | 60-98 | 0.380 | 18.0 | -93 | L-W-L-L-L |
Like I said above, the Mariners can sneak into the postseason if they win out and the Astros and Rangers both lose out. That means we’re rooting for the A’s against Houston and the Twins against Texas.
Cubs skipper unhappy with MLB's schedule change for Red Sox series
With his team locked in a furious battle for an NL wild card playoff spot, Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell isn't pleased with MLB's decision to alter the schedule for this weekend's series against the Boston Red Sox.
With a major storm system on track to hit New England on Sunday, the Cubs' regular-season finale in Boston that day has been rescheduled as part of a doubleheader on Friday.
"They never move games up and especially within a five-day window of a starting rotation," Counsell told reporters on Wednesday, Sept. 23. "So we can't have somebody ready to pitch on Saturday. They just moved games up on us. I understand there's extenuating circumstances, but you just don't see that happening."
After the regular season concludes, there's a rest day on Monday before the start of the wild card playoffs.
MLB could conceivably move a rained out game on Sunday to the off day, but that would leave the Red Sox and Cubs very little time to travel to and get ready for their wild-card openers on Tuesday.
The Red Sox are just about locked in to the No. 5 seed in the American League, which will send them to New York to face the Yankees in a best-of-three AL wild card series.
The Cubs are still battling for the top spot in the NL wild card race, but they would still need to get from Boston to the site of their playoff opener, be it home or away.
One other disadvantage for the Cubs is that with expanded rosters in September, they aren't allowed to add an extra player for a doubleheader, as they would normally. So Counsell will have to juggle his pitching staff for two games on Friday and lose one day of rest for his starter on Saturday.
"The decision is made always on a balance of everybody's interest," Counsell said. "And you get shortchanged in some … or not have the optimal solution."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cubs skipper unhappy with MLB's schedule change for Red Sox series