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Potential Third Line of Copp and Appleton Drives Red Wings to 5-2 Preseason Win Over Sabres

Detroit forwards Andrew Copp and Mason Appleton show preview of third line, helping lead the Red Wings to a decisive 5-2 win over the Sabres in their second preseason game.

The Red Wings closed out their second preseason game in dominant fashion, scoring three unanswered goals and outshooting the Sabres 40-18 in a 5-2 win over Buffalo. They now hit the road for their next two exhibition matchups against the Pittsburgh Penguins and a rematch with the Sabres.

Red Wings Improve To 2-0 In Pre-Season Play With Dominating Win Over Sabres Red Wings Improve To 2-0 In Pre-Season Play With Dominating Win Over Sabres While it may have only been the second pre-season game, the Detroit Red Wings played as if they were in mid-season form took control over the Buffalo Sabres at Little Caesars Arena, handily winning not only on the scoreboard but on the shot counter. 

We highlighted stellar performances during the Red Wings preseason opener on Tueaday with Emmitt Finnie and his prospect heavy line with Nate Danielson and Michael Brandsegg-Nygard standing out as a force to be reckoned with. This time however, the lineup was more veteran-focussed with first looks at lines that will hopefully be kept together for the regular season. The trio of Michael Rasmussen, Mason Appleton and Andrew Copp is one that fans have been waiting to see after they were paired up during training camp. 

Detroit’s New 3rd Line?

Copp and Appleton made their presence known right out of the gate. Copp pressured a Sabres defender behind the net and quickly stripped the puck in an unexpected steal. He wasted no time, sliding the puck into the slot past Buffalo goaltender Alexandar Georgiev, where Appleton finished the play with a quick shot to open the scoring and give Detroit an early lead. If this sequence is any indication, this line's forechecking could be a major strength throughout the upcoming season.

Copp later added a goal of his own in highlight-reel fashion. After Lucas Raymond made a strong move in tight, his shot was knocked away and deflected off Georgiev’s stick. The puck popped into the air, and Copp timed it perfectly, batting it in with his stick just under the crossbar for Detroit’s fifth and final goal of the game.

Appleton nearly scored again while on the penalty kill, working alongside Albert Johansson. The pair turned defense into offense with a quick breakout, as Johansson waited and delivered a perfectly placed pass through a Sabres defender’s legs. Appleton got off a clean shot, but Georgiev made a spectacular save to keep the puck out.

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Danielson, Brandsegg-Nygard Stay Impactful, Sandin-Pellikka Records First Point

Prospects like Nate Danielson and Michael Brandsegg-Nygard continued to make strong impressions. Danielson intercepted a drop pass from a Sabres defender and broke in with only one man to beat. He made a slick move and fired a quick low shot to the stick side, but Georgiev turned it aside.

Brandsegg-Nygard had another impactful performance. He scored a sharp power play goal, picking the corner just below the glove, but also took two penalties, one of which led to a Sabres goal. Despite that, his presence was felt all over the ice. He delivered some heavy hits, disrupted plays with an aggressive forecheck that led to a scoring chance, and later drew defenders into the high slot before sending a pass to a rushing Amadeus Lombardi, who followed up with a quality scoring opportunity.

One name Red Wings fans are keeping a close eye on this preseason is top defensive prospect Axel Sandin-Pellikka. The Swedish blueliner generated plenty of excitement with several standout plays, including a key defensive stop on a one-on-one rush where he shut down a Sabres forward attempting to cut inside. Sandin-Pellikka continued to impress by setting up Brandsegg-Nygard’s power-play goal and notching his first point of the preseason and drawing a roughing penalty in the third period.

Final Notes

  • Detroit captain Dylan Larkin played his first preseason game and found the back of the net with a wrist shot after battling for the puck in front, and also featured in a slick passing sequence with Lucas Raymond and Emmitt Finnie.
  • Raymond continued his productive preseason with two assists on Larkin’s goal as well as Copp’s while nearly scoring himself with a power-play one-timer off the post.
  • Moritz Seider added a goal, credited after the puck deflected in off a Sabres player, and threw a couple hits to set the tone defensively.
  • Winger Elmer Söderblom and defenseman Jacob Truscott each picked up assists on Seider’s goal, with Truscott also generating a quality scoring chance off a pass from Marco Kasper.
  • Newcomer Jacob Bernard-Docker had a notable shift leading up to Larkin’s goal, circling the offensive zone with the puck before earning the assist, though he also took a high-sticking penalty.
  • Prospect Amadeus Lombardi showcased his skill with a couple of creative setups, including a slick move through defenders for a scoring chance and a pinpoint pass to Truscott from behind the net.
  • Albert Johansson registered an assist but had a tough moment on the penalty kill, losing his stick which led to the Sabres’ tying goal, though he later helped generate a short-handed 2-on-1.
  • Kasper battled hard along the boards and connected with Truscott for another dangerous look.
  • Ben Chiarot was involved physically but was caught out of position on the Sabres' second goal. Emmitt Finnie continued to push for a roster spot, nearly scoring off the passing play with Larkin and Raymond.
  • In net, Michal Postava stood tall with several key saves on the penalty kill to help preserve the win.
"It Should Be Our Goal": Moritz Seider Backs Red Wings' Playoff Quest As the Detroit Red Wings celebrate their centennial season in the National Hockey League, their goal remains the same - it's time to bring the Stanley Cup Playoffs to Little Caesars Arena for the first time. 

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Kings 2025-26 Player Preview: Brian Dumoulin

After signing with the LA Kings in the off-season, defenseman Brian Dumoulin looks to be a solid, reliable defenseman for the Kings heading into the 2025-26 season. 

Dumoulin is a veteran in the NHL, having played since 2013. Dumoulin is bringing lots of NHL experience to the Kings. Dumoulin is a two-time Stanley Cup champion, having won back-to-back Cups as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Since leaving the Penguins at the end of the 2023-24 season, Dumoulin has been on three different teams in three years: the Seattle Kraken, Anaheim Ducks, and New Jersey Devils. In the past offseason, the Kings signed Dumoulin to a 3-year, $4 million contract, which some fans were not the biggest fans of, as the contract ends when Dumoulin will be 37 years old. 

Dumoulin played for the Devils and Ducks last season. During his time with the Ducks, he registered 2 goals, 14 assists for 16 points in 61 games. On the Devils, he would register 1 goal, 5 assists for 6 points in 19 games. While Dumoulin may be past his prime as he joins the Kings, he can still be that reliable defensive defenseman that the Kings may need to improve their depth. 

According to PuckPedia, Dumoulin is on the 3rd pairing alongside Brandt Clarke. This pairing could be very beneficial for the young defenders, as Dumoulin is able to lead and teach them important aspects that he learned early in his career, thereby improving the Kings' young defence as they age and improve. Dumoulin is also not listed on any of the Kings' special teams, so for the start of the season, his playing time will be limited to the 3rd pair. 

2025-2026 Expectations 

Heading into the 2025-26 season, many fans are skeptical of Dumoulin as his career high in points is only 25, and that was nearly 4 years ago. However, given that his style of play is primarily focused on his defensive abilities, scoring points is secondary for Dumoulin. The 34-year-old defender also has strong, reliable breakout capabilities, which the Kings could use for certain set plays to create quick counterattacks. I truly believe that with Dumoulin's career high being at 25 points, if he remains healthy, he could set a new career high for his first season with the Kings. I would say that he gets around 25-30 points in his first season, all while proving he can still be a reliable defenseman. 

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What Should the Flames Do With Rory Kerins?

The Calgary Flames have an interesting decision to make with Rory Kerins this season. For the first time in his career, the 23-year-old forward will need to clear waivers if he doesn’t stick with the big club out of camp. That means if Calgary tries to send him down, there’s a very real chance another team could scoop him up.

So the question is: do the Flames risk losing him, or do they find a spot for him on the roster?

Kerins sees himself as a natural centre — and let’s be honest, the Flames could use more stability down the middle. The problem is, at the NHL level, he hasn’t quite earned the coaching staff’s trust to take on those heavier defensive minutes. His skating still needs another gear, and his overall two-way game has to tighten up before he’s handed full-time centre duties.

© Sergei Belski-Imagn Images

That said, you can’t ignore the upside. Kerins has great hockey sense, he’s committed to improving, and he knows how to generate offence. Just think back to his final year in junior with the Soo Greyhounds, where he racked up a ridiculous 118 points (43g,75a) in 67 games.

He scored the game-winning goal on the power play and added an assist in the Flames’ 4-1 preseason victory against the Seattle Kraken on September 23.

Last season was another big step forward for Kerins. He lit it up with the Calgary Wranglers, putting home a career-high 33 goals and leading the team with 61 points. Even in limited NHL action, he chipped in four assists in five games and finished plus-3. For a sixth-round pick back in 2020, that’s hinting at some serious value.

Calgary rewarded him with a one-year, two-way deal in July — essentially a “show us what you can do” contract. Now it’s up to Kerins to prove he can turn those AHL numbers into NHL consistency.

The Flames have to decide if he’s worth a roster spot right now, or if they’re willing to gamble that he slips through waivers. Either way, Kerins has put himself squarely in the conversation. For a guy who’s been flying under the radar, he’s quickly becoming one of the more intriguing storylines heading into the season.

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Mets Notes: Bullpen dominant again, Brett Baty playing like an everyday player

After the Mets' 8-5 win over the Chicago Cubs on Thursday night at Wrigley Field, manager Carlos Mendoza and players spoke about the bullpen and Brett Baty's performance...

Mets bullpen continues to come up clutch

Mets starters have not given the bullpen any breaks for most of the season, but although length has not been had, the relievers have come up clutch of late.

In Thursday's win over the Cubs, Nolan McLean could only give the Mets 5.1 innings and the bullpen had to get the final 11 outs. Similar to Tuesday's win, the bullpen was dominant, not allowing a run over the final 3.2 innings that they had to pitch. Going up against a high-powered offense like the Cubs was no easy task and the bullpen was up for the challenge.

"They’ve been through ups and downs, but they were able to bounce back," Mendoza said. "We’ve been asking a lot of them…We’re going to continue to rely on those guys. They know where we’re at. They know where we’re at and they’ll continue to ask for the baseball."

Brett Baty playing like an everyday player

Arguably, the biggest hit of the night came off the bat of Brett Baty. With the team up 3-0, Baty took southpaw Shota Imanaga deep for a three-run shot that gave the Mets a six-run cushion that they would not relinquish. 

The three-run blast proved to be the difference on Thursday, but it wasn't just the offense that impressed Mendoza. In the third, Baty made a nifty barehanded play that helped McLean finish the inning. 

"It’s pretty impressive," Mendoza said of Baty's growth this season. "It hasn’t been easy for him, but he feels like he’s an everyday player at this level. The defense at third, defense at second base, but some of the left-on-left at-bats, like what we saw today. Confident player now, having good results, playing with joy and with confidence."

Baty went 2-for-4 with that three-run blast on Thursday and is now hitting .289 with an OBP of .333 and slugging .533 over his last 15 games. But it's his numbers against left-handers that's pretty impressive. He's slashing .247/.301/.377with an OPS of .678, which isn't that much lower than when he takes on right-handers.

"I think just hanging in there, not trying to do too much with them," Baty said of his success against lefties of late. "And really just trying to stay on the slider [of Imanaga] there."

 

Francisco Lindor joins 30-30 club

Lindor joined the offensive barrage with a solo shot, his 30th of the season.

The blast allowed the Mets shortstop to reach 30 homers and 30 stolen bases this year, the second time he's done it in his career. The milestone had more significance when looking at the entire 2025 Mets team. He and Juan Soto are just the third pair of teammates to have 30-30 seasons at the same time, joining Dante Bichette and Ellis Burks of the 1996 Rockies and Howard Johnson and Darryl Strawberry of the 1987 Mets. 

It's also the first time in franchise history that three players have had 30 home runs in the same season, joining Soto and Pete Alonso.

"Pretty impressive. Not easy to do," Mendoza said. "Elite players, guys at the top of the lineup all year. Lindor today reaching 30 homers to go along with 30 stolen bases is pretty impressive. Goes to show the type of players we have here and they’ve been caring us the whole year. They’ll continue to lean on those guys and they will step up."

Lindor didn't make too much of his milestone but chose to praise Soto and Alonso for being the best at what they do.

"I’m blessed to be around good teammates, good people who are elite and at the top of what they do," Lindor said. 

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Rangers' Young Prospects Show Promise In Preseason Loss To Islanders

Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

The New York Rangers lost 5-4 to the New York Islanders on Thursday night in their third preseason game, but that wasn’t the main story. 

Mike Sullivan played many of his veteran players while slipping the young prospects into the mix. 

Gabe Perreault was featured on the first line alongside J.T. Miller and Mika Zibanejad, which was a big test for him. 

Through the first two preseason games, Perreault scored two goals, and he’s had a strong performance through training camp thus far. 

It was no different for Perreault on Thursday night. The 20-year-old forward stood out playing with Miller and Zibanejad, as he did not shy away from this big opportunity he was given. 

“We’ve talked a lot about Gabe. He's a real exciting player for us,” Sullivan said. “I said the other day that he’s an NHL player in the making and I still believe that. I think he’s a real talented guy. I think he’s going to have a really successful career in this league. I think there are areas where he can improve and get better. That’s going to set himself up for success. We’ve got to help him get stronger, but that’s just a matter of time. He’s a really exciting player for us.”

Brennan Othmann is a player who’s had an up-and-down training camp, but was able to bounce back in a big way in the Rangers’ third preseason game.

Sullivan entrusted Othmann to play with Alexis Lafrenière and Vincent Trocheck. On that line, Othmann definitely appeared to look more confident and generated some offensive chances. 

The highlight of the night for Othmann came when he ripped a shot on the power play for a goal, giving him a much-needed confidence booster. 

“Otter has shown glimpses of brilliance,” Sullivan said. “He can really shoot the puck, you saw it tonight. We would like to see him get into the battles a little bit more, play in traffic, going toward the traffic as opposed to maybe moving away from it. We think he’s capable of playing that game, but that’s a conversation that we’ve had with him here through the first part of the training camp, just trying to define expectations.”

Arguably, the biggest surprise of this training camp and preseason has been the play of Noah Laba. 

The 6-foot-2 center has a lot of potential, and he’s really shown it over these past few weeks. 

Laba’s physical style of play, on top of his sneaky offensive skillsets, makes him a player who can really play up and down the lineup. 

Mike. Sullivan Had One Request Of John Tortorella Ahead Of The 4 Nations Face-Off Mike. Sullivan Had One Request Of John Tortorella Ahead Of The 4 Nations Face-Off From one New York Rangers head coach to another, Mike Sullivan and John Tortorella seem to have a strong relationship. 

The 22-year-old forward continued his impressive play on Thursday night, and even caught the attention of the already established veteran players. 

“Labs has kind of come out of nowhere and really stood out, in my opinion,” Vincent Trocheck said. “He’s making it tough on these guys to make decisions on the roster for opening night.”

Brett Berard has also built on the progress he made last season for the Rangers, showing promise both through training camp and the preseason. 

The 23-year-old forward scored a goal in the first period of this preseason game and he continues to make it harder and harder for the Rangers to send him down to the American Hockey League.

On the defensive side, Scott Morrow has played in every preseason game so far and he’s been given a major responsibility, quarterbacking the second-unit of the power play. 

Morrow’s speed and offensive attributes continue to look impressive. He is certainly a defenseman who has a lot of upside as shown since the start of rookie camp. 

While not all of these young prospects will ultimately make the Rangers’ opening-night roster, it’s a positive sign to see them thriving in these sorts of situations, a possible good omen for the future. 

"We're excited about some of these players, some of these young players that are potentially knocking on the door, that could break through,” Sullivan said. That's what this preseason is all about, just trying to find out what we have. We'll try to make the best decisions for the team as we go here.”

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Report: NHL Players To Receive 'Jock Tax' Refunds From Pittsburgh

Visiting NHL players who have played games in the city of Pittsburgh since 2005 will soon be getting a tad bit richer. 

According to a report by NHL insider Frank Seravalli, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has deemed the 3 percent Pa. Usage Fee unconstitutional. The Pa. Usage Fee is a type of "jock tax" - a common tax assessed to visitors of a city who earn income while they're in it.

In Pittsburgh's case, the city had assessed a 3 percent tax to non-resident athletes and entertainers who performed at public stadiums. According to WTAE Pittsburgh, the tax has contributed to more than $2.6 million in city revenue in just the year 2025, highlighting the scale of the expected annual revenue lost for Pittsburgh - and the expectation that the deficit will be will be passed on to residents.

Among the appellees were the NHL Player's Association, New York Islanders forward Kyle Palmieri, and former Pittsburgh Penguin Scott Wilson. According to Seravalli's report, refunds will be assessed to visiting players who paid the tax for every road game in Pittsburgh. 

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Nolan McLean looks human, but keeps Mets' playoff hopes alive with poise

Nolan McLean couldn't have possibly imagined pitching with the weight of the Mets' season resting on his shoulders in late September, but the rookie right-hander embraced the high-stakes assignment with grit and just enough efficiency.

With sole possession of the NL's third wild-card spot on the line, McLean helped save the Mets' postseason hopes on Thursday night, completing 5.1 innings with a career-high 11 strikeouts in the team's critical 8-5 win over the Cubs at Wrigley Field.

The outing was anything but blemish-free for McLean. He was responsible for all five runs, three of which came on a home run to Seiya Suzuki in the sixth inning that knocked him out at 94 pitches. But ample run support from the Mets arrived at an opportune time, and even the vulnerable version of McLean appeared tougher than most.

"You try to look at the positives the best you can," McLean said after the win. "Obviously, getting stung there at the end with a couple of solo shots. But tried to focus on the positives. A win's a win, and I just appreciate the offense keeping me in the game."

McLean didn't need much time to gain control over the Cubs. After working around a double in the first, he struck out the side in the second and four more between the third and fourth innings. He served up a pair of solo homers to Suzuki and Dansby Swanson, cutting the Mets' lead to 6-2 after five, but the 24-year-old added another three punchouts before the three-run blast.

It would've been unreasonable for the Mets to demand a flawless performance from McLean, making just his eighth MLB start. Much to their delight, perfection wasn't required. McLean received a boost from his teammates at the plate, and the bullpen delivered 3.2 scoreless innings in his stead.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza has been impressed with McLean's makeup since his big league debut in mid-August. And at a time when the team is desperately requesting quality length from starters, it just so happens to be the youngster stepping up and carrying the load.

"You feel good about your chances every time he takes the baseball," Mendoza said. "Today was the perfect scenario, a couple of guys on and he's up to 91-92 pitches and you still feel really good about him getting out of that situation...

"And I'm going to continue to say, the way he makes adjustments, recognizing what's working for him. Today was the cutter and he kept going after, using that pitch. There's a lot to like, and he's got so many weapons as well."

While one could easily argue that McLean's big-league promotion was weeks overdue, the Mets are thankful to have him now in crunch time, with only three games remaining in the regular season. He owns a stellar 2.06 ERA with 57 strikeouts across 48 innings, and his 11 punchouts against the Cubs were the most by a Mets pitcher in 2025.

Since he left the game with one out in the sixth, McLean still remains eligible for rookie status next season. If he logs two innings of relief work on the road this weekend against the Marlins, he'd lose that rank. But the Mets will undoubtedly need McLean fresh to start Game 1 of a potential best-of-three Wild Card series next week.

"I want to win every game," McLean said. "That's just how I was raised and how I compete. Every time I go out there, I'm trying to win and compete. I just like winning."

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Mets look to handle business vs. Marlins with playoffs on the line: 'This series in Miami is a must for us'

It comes down to three more games in Miami.

After the Mets' 8-5 win over Chicago on Thursday night, New York won its three-game series with the playoff-bound Cubs and the team is feeling good. They hit well, pitched well and played some really good defense to stay one game ahead of the Cincinnati Reds for the final wild-card spot. 

"Got three more, you feel good," Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said after the game. "It’s a good series win against a really good team that is already in the playoffs. We faced some really good arms and that is a good lineup."

Although winning two of three from the Cubs was impressive, Mendoza knows they can't overlook the Marlins. Miami, who took three of four from the Mets in Citi Field at the end of August, will look to play spoilers after being eliminated from postseason contention earlier Thursday evening.

"You walk away from this series feeling good but you still have to go out there and take care of business in Miami," Mendoza added. "We’re in this position, but we’re still in control."

"We feel good. We feel like we have to go down there and handle business," Brett Baty said of the upcoming weekend series. "We can’t think about winning three games because we got to win tomorrow night. We’re going to focus on tomorrow night and try and get a W and see where things are at. And keep fighting until the end of the season."

The Reds defeated the Pirates hours before first pitch for Mets-Cubs, so New York had some extra pressure heading into their game. If they lost, they would have lost control of their own destiny. Cincinnati holds the tiebreaker with the Mets, so even if both teams finish the 2025 regular season with the same record, the Mets will be the odd team out.

But the Mets played really well. Starter Nolan McLean struck out 11 batters and gave the Mets 5.1 solid innings while the offense put up eight runs, three of which came off the bat of Baty's home run that gave the Mets a cushion they would not relinquish. And then the bullpen tossed 3.2 shutout innings in relief of McLean to leave Chicago with two wins.

New York will enter Friday's series opener with not just a one-game lead over the Reds, but also a 78.1 percent chance at making the postseason, according to FanGraphs. But the Mets aren't looking at odds or scoreboard watching. They know they just have to win their games and they are in.

"We control our own destiny, so we have to go out there and take care of business," Francisco Lindor said. "At the end of the day, the teams that are fighting for playoffs are really good teams. And we have to get it done. No one cares what we’re going through; we have to get it done. This series in Miami is a must for us."

While the Mets are in Miami for three, the Reds travel to Milwaukee to take on the Brewers for a three-game set to end the regular season. 

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Red Wings Improve To 2-0 In Pre-Season Play With Dominating Win Over Sabres

While it may have only been the second pre-season game, the Detroit Red Wings played as if they were in mid-season form took control over the Buffalo Sabres at Little Caesars Arena, handily winning not only on the scoreboard but on the shot counter. 

By the time it was all said and done, the Red Wings improved to 2-0 in pre-season play with a 5-2 victory, which included a 40-18 shots advantage.

Detroit iced a roster that was a mixture of established players who will be on the team this season along with several names hoping to earn a coveted roster spot. It was also the first of two scheduled pre-season games against Buffalo before the regular season begins on Oct. 9. 

Newcomer Mason Appleton began the scoring for the Red Wings early in the opening frame, scoring shorthanded after Andrew Copp stole the puck from Sabres goaltender Alexandar Georgiev at the side of the net. 

Just moments later, the Sabres would knot the score courtesy of Noah Östlund, who beat goaltender Cam Talbot with a one-timed shot.

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Pacing the scoring for the Red Wings the rest of the way were Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, Andrew Copp, Moritz Seider, and Dylan Larkin; Brandsegg-Nygård's goal in the opening frame was on the power-play.

Josh Doan, the son of former Arizona Coyotes forward Shane Doan, scored in the second period for the Sabres. 

Goaltender Cam Talbot stopped two of the eight shots that he faced before being replaced as planned midway through the contest by Michal Postava; he stopped all 10 shots the Sabres fired his way. 

Postava, who joined the Red Wings during the offseason after backstopping Brno Kometa to the Czech Extraliga championship in 2024-25 and is expected to play for the Grand Rapids Griffins, looked poised and confident in net in what was his first unofficial competition against NHL players on the smaller North American-sized ice surface. 

He was also particularly strong in the shootout that followed the contest. 

With the victory, the Red Wings are undefeated in pre-season play with a perfect 2-0 record. They'll put the winning streak to the test on Friday evening when they face the Pittsburgh Penguins on the road at PPG Paints Arena (7:00 p.m. ET, NHL Network). 

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Mets' offense explodes, Nolan McLean strikes out 11 to hold on for 8-5 win over Cubs

Two homers helped propel the Mets to an 8-5 win over the Cubs in Chicago on Thursday night to take the series.

Nolan McLean, while dominant at times, had an uneven night. But with the offensive production, the Mets didn't need their young phenom to carry the weight of the season. And with the Reds winning their game earlier in the day, the Mets remain one game ahead in the wild-card race with three games remaining.

Here are the takeaways...

-New York got to Shota Imanaga in the first inning with Francisco Lindor setting the table with a leadoff walk. After Juan Soto nearly missed a two-run shot, Pete Alonso followed with a double to put runners on second and third with one out. Mark Vientos popped out toward the stands on the third base side, which Dansby Swanson caught in foul territory, but he fell into the stands, which automatically allowed Lindor to score from third since Swanson went out of play. Brandon Nimmo hit a single to score Alonso to give the Mets an early 2-0 lead.

Lindor would help the offense out again in the third, launching a fastball 408 feet out of Wrigley Field to put the Mets up 3-0. It's Lindor's 30th homer of the season, his second 30-30 year of his career. It's also just the third time in MLB history two teammates -- with Soto -- had 30-30 seasons, joining the 1996 Rockies (Dante Bichette, Ellis Burks ) and the 1987 Mets (Howard Johnson, Darryl Strawberry). 

It's also the first time in franchise history that three players have had 30 home runs in the same season, joining Soto and Alonso.

-The Mets' batters started to hit Imanaga hard in the fourth. Vientos hit a screamer tailing away from Ian Happ in left field, but the Gold Glover made a nifty diving catch for the first out. Nimmo and Luis Torrens followed with back-to-back singles before Brett Baty launched a three-run shot to give the Mets a comfy 6-0 lead.

With the Cubs trying to chip away, Tyrone Taylor got the runs back in the sixth with a two-out double that scored Nimmo and Baty. Taylor entered that at-bat 0-for-5 since returning from the IL, but delivered a massive hit to reestablish the Mets' six-run lead.

-McLean was asked to essentially save the Mets' season again, and he did his darnedest on this night. After allowing a two-out double to Happ in the first, he struck out Moises Ballesteros to end the first inning and kept the momentum on the Mets' side after their two-run opening frame. The young right-hander was cruising in the early going, striking out eight batters in the first four innings. He made one mistake, leaving a hanging changeup to Seiya Suzuki smashed it to straight center field for a solo shot, just the second home run McLean has allowed in his big league career. Swanson hit a solo homer of his own with one out in the fifth to get the score to 6-2. Despite the homers, McLean had reached a new career-high in strikeouts, fanning 10 Cubs across his first five innings of work.

After McLean picked up his 11th strikeout of the night, the most by a Mets pitcher this season, he started to lose his command. He walked Happ and allowed a ground-rule double to Ballesteros before Suzuki launched a three-run shot to trim the Mets' lead to 8-5. New York tried to stretch McLean to get through six innings with the bullpen taxed, but McLean hit a wall.

McLean allowed five runs on five hits (three home runs), two walks through 5.1 innings (94 pitches/63 strikes) while striking out those 11 batters. The five runs pushed McLean's ERA to 2.06 on the year.

-In relief of McLean, the taxed Mets bullpen was tasked with getting the final 11 outs of the game and performed masterfully. The combination of Ryne Stanek, Brooks Raley, Tyler Rogers and Edwin Diaz shut out the Cubs to hold down the win. Here's how each reliever did...

  • Stanek: 0.2 IP, 1 H
  • Raley: 1.0 IP, 3 K
  • Rogers: 1.0 IP
  • Diaz: 1.0 IP, 1 H

-Francisco Alvarez was not in the starting lineup, as manager Carlos Mendoza wanted to give the young backstop a day off after he had leg cramps toward the end of Wednesday's game. Torrens started and went 1-for-4 with a run scored. The Mets' skipper also said he had a decision to make with the lefty Imanaga on the mound, and chose Baty over Jeff McNeil. Baty finished 2-for-4 with the big blast and made a bare-handed web gem at third base to get McLean through the third inning.

Game MVP: Mets bullpen

With McLean unable to get out of the sixth, the 'pen got the final 11 outs without giving up a run from the high-powered Cubs.

Highlights

What's next

The Mets head to Miami to take on the Marlins. The series opener on Friday has a first pitch time of 7:10 p.m.

Brandon Sproat (0-1, 3.94 ERA) will take the mound for the Mets. Miami will send Sandy Alcantara (10-12, 5.48 ERA). 

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Clayton Kershaw and Dodgers celebrate 12th NL West title in last 13 seasons

PHOENIX (AP) — As the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrated their 12th NL West title in 13 years, Clayton Kershaw thought about participating in a division championship for the final time.

“This is what I’m going to miss,” the left-hander said after Thursday’s 8-0 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks. “Pitching is great and I love that, too, but getting to do this with a group of guys, all working for a collective goal, the camaraderie, that’s really special.

“You don’t get that anywhere else. There’s no jobs where 37-year-olds get to do that. But I’m good, I had a great run.”

An 11-time All-Star and three-time Cy Young Award winner, Kershaw said last week he will retire at the end of the postseason. He won the first of 14 division titles as a rookie in 2008.

“It was a lot of fun then and it’s a lot of fun now,” Kershaw said of the celebration.

While the Dodgers celebrated their 2013 division title by jumping into the Chase Field pool behind the right-field wall, they avoided the water this time — except when Shohei Ohtani hit a splash shot for his 54th home run.

“Winning the division title, you can never take it for granted,” said Freddie Freeman, who homered twice Thursday. “We feel like we’re really starting to click.”

Los Angeles, which reached 90 wins for its 12th straight full season, will play in a wild card series for the first time since the best-of-three round was added in 2022.

“You only play this game for so long, so you only get so many opportunities to do this,” Mookie Betts said. “I feel great. I really didn’t do anything the first half of the season, so I got plenty of rest and I’m just happy to help.”

Dave Roberts has reached the playoffs in all 10 years as Dodgers manager, nine times as a division winner. LA won the World Series last season, beating the Yankees in five games.

“This was expected. We got it done, maybe a little bit later than we hoped. But I’m happy with the way we’re playing,” Roberts said. “I do think we’re better for all the adversity and we’re playing our best baseball right now, What we’ve done before, nothing matters. It’s more about trusting each other and playing for a championship.”