Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders:W, 6-5 vs. Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp — Scranton got just four hits, but made the most of ‘em
LF Jarred Kelenic 0-5, K RF Jasson Dominguez 0-2, 2 BB, K, SB, throwing error C J.C. Escarra 1-3, 2B, BB 2B Marco Luciano 0-2, 2 BB, SB, throwing and fielding errors DH Yanquiel Fernández 0-3, BB, K SS Oswaldo Cabrera 0-3, BB, K, SB 3B Max Schuemann 1-3, 2B, SB, HBP 1B Ernesto Martinez Jr. 1-3, 2B, RBI, BB, K CF Duke Ellis 1-4, 2 RBI, 3 SB
Elmer Rodriguez 4.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R (1 ER), 5 BB, 3 K — he’s had a few starts this year where he just couldn’t corral the walks Zach Messinger 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K (win) Yerry De los Santos 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 K (hold) Chris Kean 1 IP, 1 H, 2 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 0 K, 1 HR (save) — things got hairy in the ninth bet held on for the save
Low-A Tampa Tarpons: W, 4-1 vs. Jupiter Hammerheads; we’re all tied at two apiece in the best-of-three FSL Championship Series
SS Dax Kilby 1-3, 2B, 2 BB, K CF Yostin Pena 0-5, 2 K RF Wilberson De Pena 1-3, RBI, 2 BB, CS — gave the Tarpons a lead in the sixth, scoring on a passed ball 3B Anthony Potestio 0-4, BB, 2 K, throwing error 1B Tyce Armstrong 0-3, 2 BB, K C Luis Puello 3-5, 2B, 2 K LF Diego Castellanos 2-5, RBI, 2 SB DH Luke Pettitte 0-2, 3 BB, 2 K 2B Luis Escudero 1-4, 3 K
Wyatt Parliament 5 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 2 K (win) Tyler Boudreau 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K (hold) Matthew Tippie 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K (hold) Pedro Rodriguez 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K (hold) Greysen Carter 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K (save) — struck out the final batter of the game with the tying run at the plate
Wyatt Parliament powered through 5 innings with a 1.80 ERA 🔥
PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 21: A young fan cheers for the Pittsburgh Penguins during the first period in the NHL game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Carolina Hurricanes on December 21, 2023, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Pittsburgh Penguins will begin training camp in earnest on Thursday, followed by preseason action. Before any pucks drop, a few Penguins players were spotted around Pittsburgh-area neighborhoods on Tuesday, delivering tickets to season ticket holders by continuing a yearslong tradition.
Penguins captain Sidney Crosby said the event has helped shape his view of Penguins fans, adding that the support they have given him and the team over the years has meant a lot.
“Every time we [deliver season tickets], you recognize the pride people have, and hearing their stories [about] how long they’ve had tickets for or how they got connected to going to games, it’s fun to hear that, but you always feel the support. That’s the main thing,” Crosby said. “I think it’s a pretty cool event we’ve been able to do for a long time and it doesn’t ever get old.”
Several other players hit the streets as well, including defenseman Erik Karlsson and forwards Bryan Rust, Rickard Rakell and Egor Chinakhov.
WASHINGTON - UNDATED: Milwaukee Bucks' Kareem Abdul Jabbar #33 looks to shoot as he is guarded by Wes Unseld of the Washington Bullets at Capital Center circa the 1970's in Washington, D.C.. 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 Focus on Sport via Getty Images) | Focus on Sport via Getty Images
Wes Unseld is somewhat overlooked today, and that’s a shame.
The Louisville native had a tremendous career at his hometown school, averaging 20.6 ppg and 18.9 rpg for his varsity career (freshmen were not eligible at the time) Drafted in 1968, he was brilliant in the NBA as well.
In the NBA, despite being just 6-7, Unseld played center. With his immense strength, he managed to limit much taller players like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
He was also one of the greatest outlet passers of all time. In our opinion, that list includes Bill Russell, Bill Walton, Unseld’s godson Kevin Love, and probably Nikola Jokic (Maurice Stokes gets a special mention here).
But when you get down to it, Unseld, who won both Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year in 1969, something only Wilt Chamberlain has ever done, succeeded largely through sheer strength and will.
He was able to use his massively powerful body to push bigger men around, and nobody wanted to run into him as a screener, because Unseld left bruises.
He was a highly unusual player, and someone who is not acknowledged nearly enough today as one of the greats of the game.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 14: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees looks on during a game between the Minnesota Twins and New York Yankees on September 14, 2026 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As the Yankee offense wilted throughout the summer, Aaron Boone was asked repeatedly about what he would do to juice the lineup, and about when the club’s bats would turn things around. The team was pretty insistent that the offense would pull through, in spite of night after night of woeful performance, and that the recoveries of Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger, and Giancarlo Stanton on the horizon promised a return to form for the lineup.
Stanton, of course, failed to even make it back to the team, but Judge and Bellinger are both back in the fold. The playoffs are in sight, with the team in possession of a clinched spot and still gunning for the AL East crown. It’s time to ask: is the Yankee offense back?
The early returns have been promising in light of Bellinger and Judge’s respective re-entries to the lineup. Judge has only been back a week or so, but the Yankees have averaged nearly six runs a game in that span with a 123 wRC+ (and that’s before they hung another eight runs on Minnesota last night). If we zoom out to Bellinger’s return, the numbers aren’t quite as robust, but still strong, with the Yankees posting a 116 wRC+ since then, sixth in baseball.
That all jives very conveniently with the team’s performance before injuries ravaged the lineup. On May 31st, the day Judge finally went down, the Yankees had a 116 wRC+, best in the American League. In 2025, they posted a 117 wRC+, tops in MLB, and in 2024, you guessed it, a 117 wRC+, once again tops in MLB. In recent years, a reasonably healthy Yankee lineup has been drawn to a wRC+ in the 115-120 range like a moth drawn to a flame, and that’s exactly what they’ve been when anywhere near healthy this year.
So, now that the offense is rolling along basically just as well as it always does, can we confidently say that we’re out of the woods? The depth of this summer’s offensive swoon casts at least a little doubt. Up and down the card, whether it was Ben Rice, Paul Goldschmidt, Austin Wells, Trent Grisham, or Jazz Chisholm Jr., nearly every Yankee bat floundered with Judge, Bellinger, and Stanton gone. You’d be forgiven for worrying that the bounceback over the last few weeks could prove to be a mirage.
But to me, the track record of this offense when not brutally injured is compelling, and the consistency is hard to ignore. That they seemingly need Judge to maintain a respectable level of offense is frustrating, but he’s here now, and the offense is humming again. Have you seen enough to declare the offense back? Is the team going to peak at the right time with October right around the corner?
This morning, with a playoff spot in hand, Josh takes the first swing at analyzing the Yankees’ potential playoff roster. Also, Madison goes through Tuesday’s AL action in today’s Rivalry Roundup, Jeremy’s entry in the Yankee Birthday series features the great Tim Raines, and later, a longtime contributor bids farewell.
ALTOONA, PA - SEPTEMBER 08: Easton Carmichael #28 of the Altoona Curve bats during the game between the Akron RubberDucks and the Altoona Curve at Peoples Natural Gas Field on Tuesday, September 8, 2026 in Altoona, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Bryce Mosmen/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
The Pittsburgh Pirates have had issues in recent history of finding consistent play at the catcher position. However, there could be a possible catcher of the future for the Buccos playing in Altoona.
Easton Carmichael has impressed in his short stint as a professional baseball player, and his upside as a future major league contributor is what’s getting fans talking.
Carmichael was drafted in the third round of the 2025 MLB Draft after a solid college career at the University of Oklahoma. Ahead of the draft he was listed in the top 100 of the top 250 draft prospects in 2025 and certainly looked like one of the best college catchers in the class. During his time as a Sooner, Carmichael was named to the Cape Cod League All-Star Game and was awarded MVP honors from the game.
In his pro debut, Carmichael was out of action because of a wrist injury, and thus only saw action in 14 games with High-A Greensboro in 2025. Carmichael would start his 2026 back with the Grasshoppers, and was a consistent performer at the plate. In 74 games with the club Carmichael would finish with a slash line of .305/.350/.518 with an .868 OPS. He also had 16 homers as a Grasshopper.
On July 24, Carmichael was promoted to Double-A Altoona where he’s still been solid, but still seems to be finding his footing in the new league. Through 37 games he’s slashed .244/.313/.412 and just four homers. He’s certainly cooled off, but in just his second season of professional baseball there’s a lot to build on.
BOOM
Easton Carmichael gets us started with his 20th homer of the season (4th with us)! pic.twitter.com/QpEuDs0up9
Carmichael will get another platform to showcase his talents as he was just assigned as one of the three catchers to the Glendale Desert Dogs of the Arizona Fall League. Plenty of Pirates’ prospects over the past couple of seasons have had breakout success through the AFL, and Carmichael could very well be the next player to benefit from some playing time in the fall.
Carmichael has the attributes to become a very solid all-around catcher. He has above average athleticism for the position and has great arm strength from behind the plate. He has a disciplined approach at the plate, and with further development could be a capable power hitter as well. He has some mechanics to fine tune as far as receiving goes along with timing and glove positioning, but overall Carmichael has the makings of a very well-rounded player.
Easton Carmichael is currently ranked as the eighth-best prospect for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
24-race schedule includes returns to Turkey and Portugal
Formula One has announced its calendar for 2027, with an increase in sprint races to 10 events, including at Monaco, and the addition of meetings in Portugal and Turkey.
The season of 24 races will open in Bahrain, while the British grand prix at Silverstone is to take place on the weekend of 2-4 July. All four races in the Middle East are scheduled to take place in their normal slots.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 14: Austin Wells #28 and Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees celebrate clinching a playoff spot after defeating the Minnesota Twins at Target Field on Monday, September 14, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Andrew Ritter/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
New York Daily News | Gary Phillips: Put down the torches and pitchforks, people. The fan reaction was overwhelmingly negative to the Yankees’ champagne celebrations of clinching a postseason berth with a win over the Twins on Monday (they had technically already clinched with Toronto losing earlier). However, Aaron Judge provided a new and valuable perspective on the importance of celebrating even the small victories.
“There’s a lot of guys in this room that are going to wear this pinstripe jersey one time, and they might not have [another] opportunity to ever make it to a postseason. So you gotta celebrate that because, at the end of the day, you work your butt off in spring training and all season long to get an opportunity to go out there and win a World Series.”
To that point, eight Yankees have never made it to the postseason, including rookies George Lombard Jr. and Spencer Jones, trade deadline acquisitions Luis García Jr. and Heliot Ramos, and journeyman-turned-relief-ace Brent Headrick. However, the most poignant example is Michael Fulmer, who missed all of 2019 and 2024 to injury and contemplated retirement following his second Tommy John surgery in 2023. Fulmer soaked in the celebrations he once thought he’d never get to be a part of, but made sure to share a final point. With every hug he received, the message remained the same: “Job’s not finished.”
The Athletic | Brendan Kuty ($): Being the starting shortstop for the Yankees is one of the heaviest, most scrutinized burdens to bear in MLB, much less for a 21-year-old rookie called up midseason and handed the job. Anthony Volpe knows this better than anyone, and that’s principally because of the astronomically high bar set by a certain Derek Jeter. Now, George Lombard Jr. gets to experience the full weight of the job, but he’s not going into it unprepared.
In January, Lombard sat down for a private breakfast with Jeter and used the opportunity to pick the brain of the player perhaps more qualified than anyone to speak on what it takes to play for the Yankees. At that point, Lombard was coming off a successful half-season at High-A followed by some minor growing pains at Double-A, and was preparing to participate in major league spring training. Lombard focused his questions around the parts that the cameras don’t capture:
“I think the better questions — and the ones that are more valuable — are all the non-baseball (questions). How he approached dealing with New York. Dealing with everything that comes with it. The media. The off-the-field stuff. How, in his case, being the captain, dealing with all of those responsibilities.”
More than preparation, routine, media, and many other team-related responsibilities, the piece of advice that struck Lombard the most sounds simple: to be an authentic, stand-up human being. That impacts all facets of the game, from interactions with teammates to remaining grounded, humble, and hungry to always improve.
New York Post | Greg Joyce: Ryan Weathers is progressing in his rehab from a left forearm flexor strain suffered on August 22nd. Weathers threw his first bullpen session on Tuesday, throwing 15 pitches with the velocity sitting at 87-90, which he assured was harder than he normally throws in his bullpen sides between starts. The next step is to throw another bullpen on Friday followed by live batting practice. It’s a race against time to get fully built back up before the regular season ends Sunday after next, but Weathers has the added advantage of potentially not having to build up to a full starter’s workload if the plan is to deploy him out of the bullpen in the postseason. At the time of his injury, Weathers was 5-8 in 25 starts, with a 3.60 ERA, 3.62 FIP, and 143 strikeouts in 137.1 innings.
BRIGHTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 15: Paul George #13 of the Boston Celtics speaks to the media during a press conference on September 15, 2026 at The Auerbach Center in Brighton, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Paul George had zero control over his destiny this offseason.
It wasn’t until the Celtics began shopping Jaylen Brown on the trade market that wheels began to turn, ultimately leading to George’s unforeseen move from Philadelphia to Boston. Once the Celtics and Sixers shook hands and agreed to their Brown-George blockbuster on July 1, the 36-year-old’s situation changed dramatically.
He even admitted it was “a bit surprising” when he heard the news.
But George isn’t bothered by the change.
“I understand the circumstances,” George told reporters Tuesday at the Auerbach Center, per NBC Sports Boston.
“I didn’t take it personal, to be honest. They should have a relationship, emotionally, to that trade. But my job here is to come into a great opportunity for me.”
Instead of playing behind Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey in Philadelphia, George carries the burden left by Brown’s exit, which now awaits him at his TD Garden locker in Boston. He isn’t playing third fiddle. As the second-highest-paid Celtic (earning $54.1 million), George is under immense pressure to begin harkening back to the impactful presence he once was, this time as Jayson Tatum’s new running mate.
BRIGHTON, MA – SEPTEMBER 15: Paul George #13 of the Boston Celtics speaks to the media during a press conference on September 15, 2026 at The Auerbach Center in Brighton, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
“Again, no personal feelings towards the initial — how it [was] received here in Boston. To be honest, it’s fair. One foot in front of the other. Hopefully, with how we start this year, they understand this is a new team and something they can be proud of.”
George spent the greater bulk of last season battling a left knee hyperextension which required surgery and sidelined him for 41 games. He rejoined the Sixers just in time to square off against the Celtics in the first round of the playoffs, and delivered a performance that factored significantly into Boston squandering its 3-1 series lead.
During his postseason revival series versus the Celtics, George averaged 17.4 points, four rebounds and three assists while converting 55 percent of his 3-point attempts.
“It just felt like I was able to do things and, quite frankly, it might’ve caught Boston off guard,” George said with a smile while looking toward a stone-faced Mazzulla, “from an expectation that I could no longer move.”
George’s showing last postseason offers an avenue for optimism as Boston approaches a season that’ll need all the positivity it can collect.
The reality is the bright green-colored glasses Boston’s front office handed its fans three offseasons ago have turned dull. George is cognizant of the city-wide reception the Celtics triggered through trading Brown away in a decision that lead governor Bill Chisholm described as a decision “all about trying to win.”
That’s the bar Chisholm set alongside president of basketball operations Brad Stevens during their damage control presser back in July, and a standard George welcomes with open arms.
“I think we’ve got an unbelievable roster, an unbelievable coach, obviously, front office,” George said. “I’ve always admired everything Boston has done and stood for. So I think coming in with that attitude and that mindset to win, I’m all on. I’m happy to pull akong and do my part to try to lead this group back to where everybody here feels and wants.”
Stevens signed veteran guard Mike Conley and center Mitchell Robinson to help keep Boston in the running next season.
But all eyes will be drawn to George.
This upcoming season, much of Boston’s ability to compete in the long run will ride on George — his ability to perform like a No. 2 and stay healthy throughout an 82-game regular season and playoffs. The Celtics are counting on him to take the version of himself that had a hand in ending their season four months ago and maintain it.
“It’s fair to live with that emotion, given what JB stood for and what he brought, and the history,” George said. “He was a part of raising a banner and winning a championship here. That’s gonna forever stick.”
Coming into a situation with increased responsibility in the toughest market the NBA has to offer, George brings the level-headed mindset of a soon-to-be 17-year veteran.
“They’re getting someone that’s ready to not fill the shoes or fill the void of JB, but I think, from a personal standpoint, can still keep us in contention and give us a chance to win,” George added.
The message from Chisholm and Stevens is that the goalpost hasn’t shifted with Brown gone. George, who’s reached the conference finals just three times in his career, has already bought in.
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - APRIL 13: Luke Evangelista #77 of the Nashville Predators celebrates after a goal during the third period of the game against the San Jose Sharks at Bridgestone Arena on April 13, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images) | Getty Images
When the Devils acquired winger Luke Evangelista a few weeks ago, one of the first questions that I asked was whether or not the Devils should sign him to a contract extension.
If you’ve been paying attention to what’s going on around the league, there has been a flurry of contract extensions across the NHL. Yesterday was the last day for teams to sign players for a maximum of eight years, and we saw a few of those deals with Drake Batherson extending in Ottawa, Noah Ostlund in Buffalo, and Ryan Leonard and Justin Sourdif in Washington DC. So it was only to wonder if any of the Devils pending free agents would put pen to paper, as Jackson wrote about earlier this week.
Sunny Mehta didn’t quite go the full eight years of term with Evangelista, but late Tuesday night, he did get Evangelista to agree to terms on a new five year contract. The deal is for $36.25M total ($7.25M AAV). The deal will begin with the 2027-28 season and will be tacked on to the final year of his current $3M AAV deal.
The contract breakdown is as follows: 2027-28: $9,700,000; 2028-29: $8,260,000; 2029-30: $6,120,000; 2030-31: $6,085,000 & 2031-32: $6,085,000.
According to PuckPedia, the deal is signing bonus heavy, with roughly 75% of it coming in bonuses ($27.915M). There is also relatively light trade protection over the final three years of the deal with a 7-team no-trade list in 2029-30, a five team no-trade list in 2030-31, and a three team list in 2031-32. The deal is also buying out three years of UFA.
My initial reaction was that it seems a little high given some of the recent comparables. Evangelista secures a bigger AAV than Fraser Minten (7x$7.2M) who really just has the one full NHL season to speak of and plays a premium position. He comes in higher than Connor McMichael (6x$6.75M), although he does have a higher scoring rate for his career.
After taking a step back though and looking at it again, I think it’s just where the NHL is going nowadays and getting a top six winger under $10M is probably a bargain at this rate. Especially when you’re buying out three years of unrestricted free agency beginning in 2029-30.
We’re seeing more and more teams make those long-term bets on their young players that they envision being part of their core. When your options are sign the player now or pay more for the same player a year from now, I get why teams are being proactive when it comes to signing their own. The salary cap is only continuing to increase and yesterday’s price isn’t today’s price.
Evangelista has 253 games of NHL experience, so it’s not a pure gamble like, say, what the Sabres are doing with Ostlund and his 68 games of experience. Granted, we don’t know how he’s going to fit in yet with THIS Devils team since he has yet to play a game for the Devils. But if he fits in well, that contract would’ve only gotten more expensive next summer if he put up another 56 point season playing out his current deal.
I view this bet as being similar to the ones that Mehta (or more specifically, Bill Zito) made in Florida with players such as Carter Verhaeghe, Sam Bennett, Sam Reinhart, and others. Florida was proactive in getting their supporting cast locked up on manageable deals and it paid off in a big way on the back end of those deals when those players became key contributors on their Stanley Cup championship teams. I also look at the market in general and acknowledge that UFA isn’t going to be the answer. Especially when players like the aforementioned Batherson remove themselves from the equation by forgoing UFA and signing long-term in Ottawa.
At the end of the day, I’m not surprised that Mehta doubled down on the bet he previously made by acquiring Evangelista in the first place. This deal only reaffirms his belief in said player.
That’s how I’m looking at this deal. Perhaps you are looking at it differently. Please feel free to leave a comment below, and thanks for reading.
Sep 15, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Cade Smith (36) follow through on a pitch in the ninth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
For the second straight day (they might be on #3 by the time you read this) the White Sox went with a tried-and-true Guardian-dominating strategy: They started a left-handed relief pitcher.
But Chris Murphy was terrible. Adell & Bazzana hit b2b jacks off him and things were looking good. But as usual, the Guards did nothing against the “bulk” pitcher—one run was because he threw errantly to first base and drilled the helmeted umpire with his bouncy projectile.
The sleepy offense might have been enough, but Craig Yoho’s attempts to find the strike zone Only Lived Once and Hunter Gaddis couldn’t miss any bats.
Steve Vogt managed this game like he should have—like winning it would possibly earn him a 1st round playoff bye eventually—and got Sabrowski, Gaddis and Cade Smith in way earlier than usual. Cade was awesome and kept things close for our September and October hero Brayan Rocchio.
Captain looking forward to intimidating atmosphere when Wearsiders host AZ, after 53 years away
When Sunderland last played European football, club directors viewed it as a useful means of raising the cash necessary to fund floodlight upgrades at Roker Park necessitated by England’s widespread adoption of colour television.
Back in the autumn of 1973 a lighting system compatible with the demands of broadcasting in black and white was proving increasingly outdated and Sunderland responded by doubling admission prices for the second leg of their opening European Cup Winners’ Cup tie against Vasas of Budapest. Coming at a moment when miners and railway workers were engaged in long-running industrial action and north-easterners’ finances were duly tight, it dictated that a disappointing crowd of under 23,000 turned out to watch Dennis Tueart’s penalty secure a 3-0 aggregate win.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 15: Starter Michael Soroka #34 of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitches against the Miami Marlins during the fourth inning at Chase Field on September 15, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dbacks had a real opportunity tonight to ride the momentum of the late heroics from last night as well as pick up a game on the Padres and the Cubs, yet the offense sputtered again in fantastic fashion.
Michael Soroka pitched well giving the team 5 IP allowing only 1 ER while striking out 6. The bullpen also continued to be terrific tossing 5 scoreless innings. All in all Dbacks pitching allowed only 1 run to the Marlins offense tonight for 10 innings which should have been plenty to get past a team like the Marlins.
Unfortunately it would not be as this Dbacks offense perhaps slumped to its lowest low of the season not being able to score against a very mediocre Marlins pitching staff for 9 innings after a first inning solo home run from Gabi Moreno.
There were a few questionable plays in this one including a blocking of home plate which is apparently completely legal if the infield is playing in according to Torey Lovullo in the post game presser. However the reality is this game shouldn’t have had to be that close. Especially when your pitching comes out and does what they did tonight. Its really not even worth diving that deep into the game when its pretty much the same thing day in and day out, this offense cant score. They went 1-13 tonight with RISP.
Of note, Pavin Smith continues to start almost every night since he has been called back up and he went 0-3 again tonight. Lars Nootbaar, who to his credit has been pretty hot, went 0-5 with 4k’s. Same can be said for Jordan Lawlar who also has been swinging a good stick lately, went 1-5 with 4 ks including an extra miserable 11th inning at bat where the Marlins reliever threw him nothing but fastballs middle middle and Lawlar struck out.
The Dbacks will look to salvage a series win tomorrow night against the Marlins and hope that they can get another opportunity like this with another Padres loss. They will send Merrill Kelly to the mound with almost no room for error with how this team has been swinging it. Snakes Alive (barely)…
Sep 15, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Boston Red Sox third baseman Caleb Durbin (5) reacts after striking out during the ninth inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Two weeks from tonight, the Red Sox will likely face the Yankees for Game 1 of the Wild Card series in New York. Not only that, but assuming the Yankees are unable to chase down the Rays and then choose to stack their rotation with Cam Schlittler at the top, the Sox will be facing a power right hander on the road in a game the opponent has to win and also has a solid bullpen to lock things down.
In other words, they’ll be facing a situation rather similar to what confronted them in Texas on Tuesday night:
Jacob deGrom is a power right hander worthy of a Game 1 start, and still has a fastball that sits in the upper 90s.
The Rangers are just one game behind Houston for the AL West lead, so they need to win to keep pace.
The Texas bullpen has been strong all season, and they’ve only lost one game when leading after six innings.
So for all the red herrings that run rampant in September baseball, tonight’s pedestrian performance by the offense isn’t one of them. This is as close as you’re going to get to a practice run for the setup on September 29th, and I’m sorry to say, the Sox failed miserably!
They struck out 15 times.
They went hitless with runners in scoring position.
Not a single Sox player batting one through eight managed an extra base hit.
If you rank all 71 plate appearances in this game by leverage index, the Sox were actually at the dish for 11 of the 13 highest moments. However, they didn’t manage a single hit during any of them. Meanwhile, Texas cashed in with a Corey Seager single and an Elias Diaz double during their only two high leverage at bats of the night.
In the end, this game perfectly illustrated what I consider to be the biggest problem with this Red Sox team: As good as they are at working together as a group, and as good as they are at pounding the pulp out of subpar pitching, and as good as they are at taking advantage of cracks in an opposing bullpen, they don’t seem to have the artillery necessary to match up when the war turns nuclear.
Tonight, they faced a great starter who despite only lasting five innings managed to strike out eight. That was enough to link directly to a deep and reliable Texas bullpen, who shut things down the rest of the way from there. This tenacity without thump routine scares the hell out of me because this is exactly how I fear a trip to Yankee Stadium might go at the end of September.
The Sox spend the whole night needing just one or two big hits, but the one that truly matters never comes, and we wait forever for a ship that doesn’t come in. The opponent bridges a power starter to a potent bullpen, and the Sox just don’t have an answer. They certainly didn’t when the Rangers used that formula tonight.
Studs
Nick Sogard: For all the lousy results at the plate in this game, Sogard was the exception. His third inning homer knocked in both Boston runs, and he then later added both a sac bunt and this tremendous double play on defense to end the Texas fifth:
The bullpen: Brayan Bello, Alec Gamboa, Wyatt Olds and Jovani Moran combined to go 5.1 scoreless innings and give the Sox a chance to come back. Unfortunately, the bats stayed silent.
Duds
Wilyer Abreu: Looked totally overmatched in this game. 0-4 with three strikeouts.
Andruw Monasterio: Pinch hit with the platoon advantage and the bases loaded in the eighth inning. He struck out on 97mph heat, ending the last best chance for the Sox on the night.
Patrick Sandoval: This one is obvious, and in a game earlier in the season he’d be the No. 1 dud for this dreadful performance in which he gave up four runs in just 2.2 innings. But let’s face it, this guy isn’t going to sniff a meaningful inning in October unless he somehow sneaks into the absolute last spot on the pitching staff and a game goes about 17 innings. So while he stunk again, and he’s a frustrating watch, and that 44 pitch second inning was a complete debacle, nothing he did here is a threat to carry over into the playoffs.
Unfortunately, I can’t say the same about the offense.
Play of the game:
This play is worth noting because not only did it result in what turned out to be the winning runs, but it also underscored why many fans find themselves holding their breath every time a ball is hit towards Trevor Story nowadays.
The Nick Watson moment came on Dustin Martin’s day. It was Dusty’s 300th, complete with pop-up barbers, the opening goal of the game and the final significant act of his career, when he walked to all four corners of the centre square and acknowledged his crowd. Michael Willson’s photo of Martin exiting the MCG perfectly captured the man, the moment and the mood.
It had been a rocky debut season for Watson until that day in June 2024, with injuries, tardy goalkicking and stints in the VFL. Halfway through the first quarter, he anticipated a spilling ball, collected it at full speed, took a bounce, absconded around the boundary line and hit up Dylan Moore with a perfectly weighted kick. It was one of those moments where you were left in absolutely no doubt that the person you were watching was going to be a great footballer.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - NOVEMBER 06: Payton Pritchard #11 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket while Mike Conley #10 of the Minnesota Timberwolves defends in the fourth quarter at Target Center on November 06, 2023 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Celtics 114-109 in overtime. 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 David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Mike Conley and Payton Pritchard have made a connection this summer. Conley revealed at his introductory press conference on Tuesday that they have begun working out together, playing a lot of five-on-five and one-on-one.
“Me and Payton [Pritchard] work a lot,” Conley said. “One-on-one with our workouts. Before practice or before five-on-five, we play [or] hoop or whatever, and we’re talking the game all the time. Like, ‘I should shoot a floater, you should shoot a mid-range shot.’”
Mike Conley might be key in a potential breakout season for Payton Pritchard 👀
Conley was a free agent signing this summer by the Celtics after previously spending his 19-year career with the Grizzlies, the Jazz and, most recently, the Timberwolves. He is going to provide the Celtics veteran leadership and guard depth this season.
Conley also noted that he and Pritchard do different things on the court and it impacts on how he gives some tips to Pritchard.
“Different things that compliment his game, might not compliment mine,” he said. “I recognize that and you just gotta know who you’re talking to and their personality.”
Conley has one of the most effective floaters the NBA has seen. Conley, a lefty, has primarily used his right hand to shoot the floater.
I present to you
every single Mike Conley floater and push shot thus far, all with the right hand pic.twitter.com/xUT1kfLVdt
Last season for the Timberwolves, Conley averaged 4.5 points and 2.9 assists per game in 54 games. He is going to have a role on the Celtics, even with the addition of Devin Carter, because Boston is a bit shorthanded at guard and will need Conley to play at certain points in the season.
Conley had his moments in the playoffs last season. His averages were relatively the same as they were in the regular season, but Minnesota lost a lot of their guards as the playoffs went on and they needed to insert Conley back into the starting lineup. He had 7 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists in Minnesota’s close-out Game 6 win against the Denver Nuggets.
Playing with Pritchard should also help Conley. Payton is a really good player who is ultra-quick. That will help get Conley ready for the season when he has to go against fast guard on either side of the court. They can also learn how to play off one another for when they share the court this season.
