Cubs Minor League Wrap: Owen Ayers walks it off for Iowa

DYERSVILLE, IA - AUGUST 11: Owen Ayers #4 of the Iowa Cubs takes batting practice prior to the MiLB Field of Dreams game between the St. Paul Saints and the Iowa Cubs at MLB Field at Field of Dreams on Tuesday, August 11, 2026 in Dyersville, Iowa. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Outfielder Kevin Alcántara has been optioned down to Triple-A Iowa, in what I assume is a prelude to Matt Shaw being activated off the injured list tomorrow.

Catcher Michael Carico has been activated off the Development List and rejoined High-A South Bend.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs used an umbrella to ward away the Omaha Storm Chasers (Royals), 7-6.

Andrew Wantz put the I-Cubs in a great place to win, giving them five scoreless innings on just three hits. Wantz struck out three and walked two.

Wantz left with a 5-0 lead, but Antoine Kelly gave all five runs back in the sixth inning, retiring only one batter before exiting.

Jaxon Wiggins tossed another scoreless inning of relief. He gave up a leadoff double and then after one out, he tossed a wild pitch to move the runner to third. But he got out of the jam with a strikeout and a line out to center.

Grant Kipp let the Storm Chasers take the lead in the eighth with a run, but he got the win when Iowa walked it off in the bottom of the ninth. Kipp allowed one run on one hit and two walks over two innings. He did not strike anyone out.

Catcher Owen Ayers hit a walk-off double in the bottom of the ninth two score two runs and win the game. Ayers went 1 for 5.

Third baseman James Triantos led off the ninth inning with a single. He then stole second and went to third on an error on the throw. He scored the tying run in the ninth on Ayers’ double. Triantos went 2 for 4.

After Triantos made it to third with no outs in the ninth, first baseman Owen Miller walked and stole second. He then scored the winning run. Miller went 1 for 4 with the walk and two runs scored.

Left fielder Chas McCormick went 2 for 4 with a stolen base. He drove in two runs and scored twice.

Second baseman Ben Cowles was 2 for 3 with a walk and two runs batted in.

DH BJ Murray led off the second inning with his league-leading ninth triple. This after not hitting a single triple in all of 2024 and 2025. Murray was 1 for 3 with a walk and one run scored.

Ayers’ walk-off double. Maybe a major league center fielder catches that. Maybe he doesn’t. In any case, it would have tied the score.

Nice defense from shortstop Greg Jones.

And nice defense in center field by Justin Dean,

Knoxville Smokies

The Knoxville Smokies got shelled by the Biloxi Shuckers (Brewers), 8-1.

Jake Knapp started and took the loss after going 2.2 innings and allowing five runs on five hits. Two of those five hits were two-run home runs. Knapp did strike out seven while walking just one.

Brewers 2025 first-round pick Andrew Fisher had three home runs in this game, giving him 42 on the year.

Left fielder Carter Trice went 2 for 3 with an RBI double and a walk.

This game was delayed by rain in the seventh inning for an hour and 51 minutes.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs were bitten by the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Brewers), 9-0.

Starter Nazier Mulé took the loss after getting hammered for five runs over 2.1 innings. Mulé surrendered three hits, walked four and had two wild pitches. Mulé struck out three.

South Bend only had four hits in the shutout. The only extra base hit was a double by second baseman Matt Halquist, who was 1 for 3.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans landed in the water against the Augusta GreenJackets (Braves), 8-4.

Starter Kevin Camacho allowed a two-run home run in the first inning and that was enough to give him the loss. He was good after that, going four innings and allowing two runs on just two hits. Camacho struck out three and walked one.

Center fielder Caden Sorrell kept the Pelicans in the game with a three-run home run in the top of the sixth inning, It was Sorrell’s third home run. Sorrell also had an RBI single in the first inning, giving him all four RBI on the game. Sorrell went 2 for 4 with a stolen base.

Corey Nunez was 3 for 4 with a double and two runs scored.

Sorrell’s home run.

Which Browns players are subject to waivers

BEREA, OHIO - JUNE 03: Executive vice president, football operations & general manager Andrew Berry of the Cleveland Browns watches a drill during the Cleveland Browns OTA Offseason Workouts at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 03, 2026 in Berea, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images

The Cleveland Browns have 59 players who are subject to waivers if the team includes them among their roster cuts as they work to figure out who the initial 53-man roster will be. This becomes particularly relevant if Cleveland waives a player who you hope they can still eventually sign to the 16-man practice squad. During the waiver claim process, it’s possible another team can jump in and add them to their 53-man roster.

Which Cleveland Browns are subject to waivers?

  • QB Dillon Gabriel
  • QB Shedeur Sanders
  • QB Taylen Green
  • RB Ahmani Marshall
  • RB Davon Booth
  • RB Dylan Sampson
  • RB Quinshon Judkins
  • RB Raheim Sanders
  • WR Ben Patterson
  • WR Denzel Boston
  • WR Gage Larvadain
  • WR Isaiah Bond
  • WR KC Concepcion
  • WR Kole Wilson
  • WR Luke Floriea
  • WR Malachi Corley
  • TE Carsen Ryan
  • TE Drew Biber
  • TE Harold Fannin Jr.
  • TE Jermaine Terry
  • TE Joe Royer
  • C Kingsley Eguakun
  • C Parker Brailsford
  • T Austin Barber
  • T Izavion Miller
  • T Jeremiah Byers
  • T KT Leveston
  • T Spencer Fano
  • G Zak Zinter
  • DE Adin Huntington
  • DE Jamil Muhammad
  • DE Jared Verse
  • DE Khordae Sydnor
  • DE Logan Fano
  • DE Tyreak Sapp
  • DT Coziah Izzard
  • DT Elijah Chatman
  • DT Mason Graham
  • DT Mike Hall Jr.
  • DT Patrick Jenkins
  • DT Travis Bell
  • LB Carson Schwesinger
  • LB Easton Mascarenas-Arnold
  • LB Edefuan Ulofoshio
  • LB Justin Jefferson
  • LB Nathaniel Watson
  • LB Winston Reid
  • CB Jeremiah McClendon
  • CB Michael Coats Jr.
  • CB Myles Harden
  • CB Nate Evans
  • S Christopher Edmonds
  • S Donovan McMillon
  • S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren
  • S Zion Washington
  • K Andre Szmyt
  • LS Rex Sunahara
  • P Nik Constantinou
  • P Wes Pahl

Which NFL players are subject to go on waivers and not be released?

Whether or not a player enters the waiver wire of becomes a free agent depends on a player’s NFL service time. Players with at least four years of accrued NFL service time are outright released. For example, if Deshaun Watson was released, he would immediately become a free agent. He would be eligible to sign with any team, with no waiting period involved.

However, if a player has less than four years of service time, they are waived and subject to waiver wire claims. Any player who is not claimed after being waived is eligible to sign wherever they’d like, including their former team’s practice squad.

What is the NFL waiver order right now?

The NFL waiver order during the preseason and the first three weeks of the regular season mirrors the 2026 NFL Draft order. After Week 3, the order resets to the current NFL standings. Will the Browns’ Super Bowl odds improve by the time that time rolls around? According to FanDuel, the Browns are 225/1 odds to win the Super Bowl, heading into final roster cuts. If they start winning early, by Week 4, maybe their waiver wire priority will be near the bottom of the pack.

The first batch of waiver claims will be due by 1:00 pm ET on Monday, August 31.

The Raiders will have first waiver claim priority for cutdowns to 53-man rosters, while the Browns will be sixth in line.

  1. Las Vegas Raiders
  2. New York Jets
  3. Arizona Cardinals
  4. Tennessee Titans
  5. New York Giants
  6. Cleveland Browns
  7. Washington Commanders
  8. New Orleans Saints
  9. Kansas City Chiefs
  10. Cincinnati Bengals
  11. Miami Dolphins
  12. Dallas Cowboys
  13. Atlanta Falcons
  14. Baltimore Ravens
  15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  16. Indianapolis Colts
  17. Detroit Lions
  18. Minnesota Vikings
  19. Carolina Panthers
  20. Green Bay Packers
  21. Pittsburgh Steelers
  22. Los Angeles Chargers
  23. Philadelphia Eagles
  24. Jacksonville Jaguars
  25. Chicago Bears
  26. Buffalo Bills
  27. San Francisco 49ers
  28. Houston Texans
  29. Los Angeles Rams
  30. Denver Broncos
  31. New England Patriots
  32. Seattle Seahawks

Former AFL star Nicky Winmar jailed for six months for assault on woman

Barrister for former St Kilda player says he will appeal both the sentence and the conviction for unprovoked assault in May 2025

Former AFL star Nicky Winmar has been jailed for six months for attacking a woman in a violent assault.

Winmar, 60, dropped his head as he was sentenced in Bendigo magistrates court over the May 2025 assault against a woman at Cohuna in northern Victoria.

Continue reading...

Patriots roster cuts tracker: All the latest news, rumors, and more

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - AUGUST 22: A view of a New England Patriots helmet ont he bench during the second half of the preseason game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on August 22, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images

With training camp and the NFL preseason wrapped up, the New England Patriots are on to building their initial 53-man roster for the 2026 season.

New England, including the league’s other 31 franchises, will need to reduce their rosters from a maximum of 90 to no more than 53 by 6 p.m. ET on Sunday, Aug. 30. As a result, hundreds of players will hit the waiver wire and the open market over the next few days, including up to 37 Patriots.

In addition to the roster cuts, a multitude of other transactions, ranging from trades, waiver-wire pickups, free-agent signings and players being moved to injury lists, will be made. To not get lost in all the action, we have you covered: welcome to our annual Patriots roster cuts tracker.

Make sure to bookmark and regularly visit this page, where we will compile all the latest news, rumors and instant analysis in one place. For an up-to-date look at the team’s roster, please click here. For all the latest odds about the Patriots’ 2026 season, head over to Fanduel Sportsbook.

Patriots moves

Soon to come.


Patriots cutdown tracker

Latest news at the top. The Patriots had 91 players on their roster coming out of their preseason finale against the Cleveland Browns.

Soon to come.


Patriots rumors tracker

Latest rumors at the top.

Soon to come.

Klint Kubiak still doesn't name a starting quarterback for Week 1

The Raiders' preseason has ended. Both Kirk Cousins and Fernando Mendoza played in the finale, against the 49ers.

After the game, coach Klint Kubiak still didn't name a starting quarterback.

The audio was dead for the first couple of questions during Kubiak's postgame press conference. Apparently, one of them dealt with the QB1 issue. Via Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Kubiak said he's not ready to name a starter for the Week 1 game at Miami.

In the portion of the press conference for which the sound was on, Kubiak arguably spoke about Mendoza as a player who may not be spending extensive time practicing or playing moving forward.

"He needs another three preseason games," Kubiak said. "You know, all those rookies do. And now that the season's starting, you know, the practice reps get smaller, and that's just life. But, us as coaches, we gotta get them ready to play, keep developing them."

Later, Kubiak said regarding Mendoza, "We got him plenty of time, and I'm happy where he's at, but we just got to keep pushing him to be better."

Regardless, Kubiak hasn't named a starter. And the first real game is only 17 days away.

Longtime NFL QB expects Deshaun Watson to fail with Browns: 'It's gonna happen'

The Cleveland Browns named Deshaun Watson their starting quarterback to begin the 2026 NFL season over Shedeur Sanders.

Former NFL quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick believes that could actually end up working to Sanders' benefit.

Fitzpatrick expressed his thoughts about Cleveland's quarterback battle during Amazon Prime Video's broadcast of the Browns vs. New England Patriots preseason game. The 43-year-old voiced little faith in Watson holding onto the starting job for the entire season.

"Once [Watson] fails, Shedeur's gonna jump into this thing, and he's going to be the guy," Fitzpatrick opined. "And this city is gonna be behind him."

Prime Video's color analyst, Kirk Herbstreit, quickly jumped in to ask Fitzpatrick to confirm he believed Watson would fail as Cleveland's starter.

"Yeah, it's gonna happen," Fitzpatrick replied. "I mean, Shedeur's playing this year. I think all three of these guys – I think [Dillon] Gabriel's gonna have a chance to play as well."

Tony Romo faces three charges after OWI arrest, new court records show

Tony Romo is facing three charges after his July arrest in Milwaukee County.

Romo, who was arrested on suspicion of operating a vehicle while intoxicated on July 23, faces three charges stemming from that arrest, online court records show: unsafe passing on the right, possessing open intoxicants and operating a vehicle while intoxicated (OWI). All three charges were filed on Thursday, Aug. 27.

The former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and CBS NFL analyst was stopped going southbound on I-43 and "performed poorly on SFSTs (standard field sobriety tests)." On July 28, new details emerged as body cam footage surfaced.

The arresting officer indicated that Romo was stopped for "unsafe passing on the right," and "cutting across the gore," the former of which is reflected in the citation. An open container was found in the passenger seat of Romo's vehicle during the stop.

Romo also refused to take a breathalyzer test following the arrest.

He is scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 21, court records show.

Romo has been placed on leave by CBS. On Aug. 11, CBS Sports president David Berson said there's no timetable for Romo's return to the broadcast booth.

Tony Romo bodycam video

Days after Romo's arrest, traffic stop bodycam footage surfaced showing Romo explaining he was heading to his grandparents' house after visiting a nearby golf course where he played in the Wisconsin Amateur Championship. After a back-and-forth with the officer, Romo exited his vehicle and was placed under arrest and into the back of the police cruiser.

Later footage showed Romo undergoing a field sobriety test and declining to take a breathalyzer test.

Romo placed on leave from CBS

On July 31, CBS placed Romo on leave following his arrest.

J.J. Watt, who operated on CBS' second team alongside Ian Eagle, was called up to replace Romo and work alongside Jim Nantz.

When asked when Romo may return to the network, CBS Sports president David Berson said they must consider their "image" when making a decision.

"We have to consider the impact on our image and on our brand," Berson said.

Jerry Jones throws support behind Romo

The Dallas Cowboys owner was asked about his longtime quarterback during an interview with KDFW Fox 4, revealing that he had "been talking to" Romo in the aftermath of his arrest. Jones spoke glowingly about his former quarterback's character and talent.

"I love him," Jones said of Romo. "I love what he’s about. I love his character. I love his love of sport. And he’s a very, very unique talent. And the real question is – and I don’t even have to ask what the answer is: Do you think Tony Romo knows how to get up when he gets knocked down? He had a life of that. And absolutely, that’s one of his greatest attributes, is that he can handle adversity."

Contributing: Chris Bumbaca, Nick Brinkerhoff

This story will be updated.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tony Romo faces three charges after OWI arrest, new court records show

Steelers winners, losers vs Bills: QBs Will Howard and Drew Allar fail to impress

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ preseason is in the books after a 28-27 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Thursday, Aug. 27 at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York.

Young players and fringe roster hopefuls saw most of the action. Coach Mike McCarthy chose to rest most of his starters and top depth players with the goal of staying healthy ahead of a Week 1 matchup with the Atlanta Falcons on Sept. 13 back home at Acrisure Stadium. 

Nevertheless, the game carried some intrigue for the team’s depth. Here’s a look at the evening’s winners and losers:

Winners

Kaden Wetjen

The rookie receiver had not flashed the return skills that the Steelers drafted him in the fourth round for back in April. That was, until the fourth quarter of this one. The Iowa product took a punt back 44 yards for a touchdown that put his team ahead, 27-17. He broke multiple tackles on the play to show why he averaged nearly 30 yards per punt return during his final season with the Hawkeyes. The explosive play was badly needed to solidify his spot on the 53-man roster come cut-down day this weekend. His passing game contributions were limited at Iowa, so expectations for him are low in that realm. This is where the Steelers need him to shine, and he came through in a big way. 

Eli Heidenreich

The Pittsburgh-area native and Navy product carried nine times for 35 yards and a touchdown in the loss. He capped the first drive of the second half with a 9-yard scamper for his score. Heidenreich was another player drafted with an eye toward special teams contributions, but roster spots are limited behind Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle at running back. He’s needed to show the coaching staff that he can be relied upon for solid carries, and this game was a step in that direction as he competes with names like Lew Nichols, Travis Homer and Kaleb Johnson. At the very least, it was a cool moment to see him score for the team he grew up watching after he was embraced by fans on stage at the NFL draft, which was held in Pittsburgh this year. 

Max Hurleman

The second-year receiver signed as an undrafted free agent in 2025 is not perceived to be a 53-man roster threat by many. DK Metcalf, Roman Wilson, Michael Pittman Jr. and Germie Bernard are likely locked in as the top four. Wetjen is projected to get a spot for his return skills. And Ben Skowronek is a returning Pro Bowler as a special teams ace. Still, Hurleman has done about as much as you could ask for from a guy in his position. His three catches for 50 yards Thursday against Buffalo pushed his preseason totals to seven catches for 99 yards. He’s also returned some kicks, so if the Steelers are looking for more receiving utility than Wetjen offers – or if there’s a significant injury – McCarthy could do worse than giving him a shot at some point in 2026. 

Losers

Max Iheanachor

The team’s first-round pick in 2026 made his long-awaited debut against Buffalo. He’d missed most of training camp and the preseason with an injury. He promptly gave up a sack of Will Howard on his second series. Things settled in a little bit better thereafter – he threw some nice lead blocks on Heidenreich’s touchdown. Still, it was clear that he’s probably not ready to challenge Dylan Cook and Troy Fautanu for starting reps quite yet. 

Will Howard

The second-year quarterback wasn’t bad, per se. He completed nine of 15 passes for 69 yards and threw two touchdown passes. He also floated an interception to Buffalo’s Damar Hamlin on an apparent miscommunication with tight end Lake McRee. And he needed two Buffalo mistakes – a muffed punt and a shanked punt – to set up his scoring drives, which went just 13 yards and 28 yards, respectively. Through three preseason games, he drove the offense the length of the field for points one time, and that came in the two-minute drill of the opening game against the Green Bay Packers. That probably shouldn’t be enough to justify a roster spot for a former sixth-round draft pick. Not when the starter is a future Hall of Famer in Aaron Rodgers, the backup is a proven veteran in Mason Rudolph and the other option is a 2026 third-round pick in Drew Allar, who was actually brought in by the current coaching staff. Maybe the Steelers will make an exception and carry four QBs with an eye toward a 2027 competition. But that would be in spite of the preseason results, and not because of them. 

Drew Allar

Before the Howard fans get cranky, let’s call the Penn State product’s performance what it was, too: Not great. After he completed three of four passes on the first drive of the second half to set up Heidenreich’s touchdown, the misses piled up. He finished nine of 18 for 88 yards. He averaged 4.9 yards per attempt, barely more than Howard’s 4.6. And he didn’t come close to getting the job done on the final drive with the Steelers trailing by a point. He missed on three of his four attempts to turn the ball over on downs. As exciting as his three-touchdown performance in the opener was, he’s shown in the last couple of games that he still needs to develop within McCarthy’s system. The one big positive that stands out from his preseason as a whole is the lack of turnovers compared to Howard. 

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Steelers winners, losers vs Bills: QBs Will Howard and Drew Allar fail to impress

Mike Vrabel provides new insight into Patriots’ decision to trade Kayshon Boutte

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 14: Kayshon Boutte #9 of the New England Patriots is congratulated by head coach Mike Vrabel after scoring a touchdown reception against the Miami Dolphins during the first quarter in the game at Hard Rock Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Had Kayshon Boutte remained on the Patriots’ roster for Week 1 against the Seattle Seahawks, he would have been inactive.

Head coach Mike Vrabel revealed that detail Thursday night, speaking for the first time since Boutte was traded to the Houston Texans on Monday.

“That was one place where we do have some depth, and I think for all parties involved, that was probably the best thing,” Vrabel told reporters in Cleveland. “Without injuries, Kayshon probably would have been inactive. Unfortunately, it just, it’s kind of the way it was. It’s just with him not playing special teams.”

As Vrabel noted, New England’s wide receiver room is the deepest position on the roster, with A.J. Brown, Romeo Doubs, DeMario Douglas, Mack Hollins, Kyle Williams and Efton Chism. All six are expected to be on the team’s 53-man roster.

The Patriots added both Brown and Doubs to the mix this offseason, pushing Boutte down the depth chart. Vrabel made sure to show appreciation for Boutte, as he often did throughout last season.

“I tried to thank Kayshon as many times I could. I texted him again today,” Vrabel said. “It’s just his maturity, his growth, his ability to put into words last year and share his own personal struggle, but also the growth that he made from that. That’s positively going to affect a lot of people. And I know that that wasn’t easy for him to do, and I tell him all the time about how much I respect him for being able to do that.”

The Patriots traded Boutte to the Texans for safety Jaylen Reed and a 2028 seventh-round pick. Reed will add depth at safety while also providing another option on special teams.

Raiders receive clear answer about Fernando Mendoza’s future

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows Kirk Cousins in a black Raiders uniform with the number 8, preparing to throw a football, Image 2 shows Fernando Mendoza smiling while wearing a black football jersey with the number 15, Image 3 shows Mike Washington Jr. running with the football during a game

LAS VEGAS — The Raiders wrapped up their preseason Thursday with an 18-12 loss to the 49ers.

They finished the preseason with a 1-2 record and now set their sights on their season opener against the Dolphins on Sept. 13.

Here are some takeaways from a sluggish preseason finale:

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins throws during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher) AP Photo/John Locher

Quarterback competition may have been settled

With Kirk Cousins opening the game and directing two field-goal drives before giving way to Fernando Mendoza, the Raiders got one final side-by-side look at the two quarterbacks ostensibly competing for the starting job.

How genuine that competition ever was remains open to debate. But until coach Klint Kubiak makes an official declaration, Mendoza technically remains in the running to start the season opener.

Practically speaking, however, every logical sign points to Cousins.

The Raiders brought in the veteran specifically to buy Mendoza time and to avoid the mistake so many teams have made by rushing a young quarterback onto the field before he is ready. Mendoza may be the future face of the franchise, but Cousins was signed to protect that future while stabilizing the present.

If there were any lingering questions about the pecking order, Cousins may have answered them Thursday night.

He was hardly spectacular. In fact, it is worth noting that the Raiders’ first-team offense failed to reach the end zone on either of his two possessions against a defense made up largely of 49ers backups. That is not exactly the emphatic closing argument Cousins might have hoped to make.

But he was steady, efficient and, most importantly, mistake-free. Cousins was 8-of-11 passing for 51 yards, moved the Raiders into scoring position twice and avoided the kind of damaging play that can swing a game — and a quarterback competition.

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza leaves the field after an NFL preseason football game against the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker) AP Photo/David Becker

Mendoza’s night was considerably more uneven.

For the second consecutive game, the rookie was intercepted, this time sailing a pass to Jalen Nailor over the middle. Nailor climbed to make the catch, but the ball glanced off his hands and into the arms of 49ers linebacker Tatum Bethune.

The throw was high, but it was not entirely on Mendoza. Nailor had a chance to make the play, just as Mendoza had to operate under increasingly difficult circumstances once the Raiders began turning to their backups in the second quarter.

The offensive line offered him little protection. Mendoza was sacked twice in the second half and spent much of the night throwing with defenders closing around him. That pressure helped explain his ragged first-half numbers — 5-of-9 passing for only 38 yards — and made it difficult for him to establish any rhythm.

Mendoza finished 7-of-14 passing for 57 yards.

Still, quarterback competitions are often decided as much by who avoids losing the job as by who emphatically wins it. Cousins provided calm and control. Mendoza supplied another reminder that, for all his promise, he remains a rookie navigating the mistakes and growing pains the Raiders signed Cousins to absorb.

Thursday night did not necessarily reveal which quarterback has the brighter future.

It may have confirmed which one is better prepared for the present.

Mike Washington Jr. continues to make his case

With the Raiders still holding their breath over Ashton Jeanty’s sprained ankle, Mike Washington Jr. continued doing everything he could to lower their anxiety.

The fourth-round rookie out of Arkansas punctuated an impressive preseason Thursday night by rushing eight times for 49 yards — an average of 6.1 yards per carry. That pushed his preseason total to 168 yards on 23 attempts, a striking 7.3 yards per carry.

Yes, much of Washington’s production came against backups. But eventually, production demands attention, regardless of who is lined up on the other side. Washington repeatedly displayed the combination of size, burst and power that persuaded the Raiders to invest a fourth-round pick in him.

Las Vegas Raiders running back Mike Washington Jr. (30) runs the ball during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker) AP Photo/David Becker

More importantly, his success appears transferable. Washington runs decisively, gets downhill quickly and has enough speed to turn a crease into a substantial gain. He has not merely collected yards; he has consistently looked like an NFL running back.

That matters considerably while Jeanty’s immediate availability remains uncertain.

Washington cannot replace everything Jeanty brings to the offense, nor should the Raiders expect him to. But if Jeanty misses time, Washington has shown enough to give them confidence he can handle a meaningful portion of the workload without forcing the offense to dramatically change course.

In the short term, he looks capable of serving as a sturdy replacement. In the bigger picture, Washington may establish himself as something even more valuable: a powerful, complementary running mate who can lessen Jeanty’s workload and give the Raiders a potentially formidable one-two punch for years to come.

Wide receivers remain missing in action

Kubiak spent much of the preseason prodding the Raiders’ wide receivers, challenging them to create separation, execute their assignments and establish themselves as dependable pieces of the offense.

Against the 49ers, they once again failed to answer the call.

The Raiders’ receivers were largely invisible Thursday night. They did not consistently separate from coverage, make their presence felt or produce the kind of explosive play that might have changed the complexion of the offense.

Or Kubiak’s evaluation of the room.

It has become a recurring theme throughout the offseason.

Yes, the Raiders operated with vanilla game plans designed to reveal very little about what Kubiak intends to run during the regular season. And inconsistent quarterback play and shaky pass protection did the receivers few favors. But basic route-running, separation and playmaking ability should still emerge, regardless of how much of the playbook is being used.

Instead, the Raiders reached the end of the preseason without anyone emphatically seizing a prominent role.

That does not mean the receivers are incapable of contributing once Kubiak unveils the full offense. But after repeatedly challenging the group to step forward, the coach received few convincing answers. At some point, continued invisibility becomes more than a preseason footnote. It becomes a roster concern.

Fortunately for the Raiders, they hold the first waiver claim after finishing last season with the NFL’s worst record. That gives them the first opportunity to claim any eligible player waived during the league-wide roster reduction.

Given what their wide receivers showed — or failed to show — this summer, it would hardly be surprising if the Raiders used that advantage to add another option on cutdown day.

Rebecca Allen has no misgivings over benching for healthy Leonie Fiebich

Rebecca Allen of the New York Liberty looks to pass the ball during a game against the Golden State Valkyries on Thursday, August 27, 2026, at Barclays Center Arena in Brooklyn, New York. (2026 NBAE)

When the Liberty performance staff greenlit Leonie Fiebich’s return, the starting lineup inevitably had to change.

Rebecca Allen was the odd woman out. After a month as a starter, she shifted back to the bench for Saturday’s win against the Indiana Fever.

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In her 11th and final season, Allen knows this is how it goes.

“It just carries on as normal,” Allen said before Thursday’s 79-60 loss to the Golden State Valkyries. “It’s just starting the game at a different point.”

She also sees the bigger picture and understands what Fiebich brings.

“I mean, having Leo back is such a luxury for all of us,” Allen said. “You’ve got this length, this defensive, you know, she goes on all the best players as well defensively but offensively, we saw such a great game, especially the last one, so I think, I mean, there’s only good things having her back in the lineup. My role changes a little bit, but still my mindset doesn’t.”

Feibich scored just three points on 1-of-7 shooting in 32 minutes in her second game back Thursday. Allen had five points on 2-of-6 shooting in 12 minutes.

When Fiebich went down with a left foot injury in early July, coach Chris DeMarco had no choice but to tinker with the starting lineup that also included Sabrina Ionescu, Pauline Astier, Breanna Stewart and Jones.

Initially, DeMarco plugged Rebekah Gardner into the starting lineup.

After back-to-back losses, he decided to go big and start Han Xu alongside Stewart and Jones.

After another loss, he went with Marine Johannès.

None of it worked.

On a four-game losing streak, DeMarco turned to Allen.

Up to that point, Allen had sparingly cracked the rotation. Some of that was because she gradually eased into the season after missing most of training camp as she worked her way back from an undisclosed injury.

Allen appeared in only 10 of the Liberty’s first 25 games and logged the second-fewest minutes among players on the 12-player roster.

But Allen’s start resulted in a win. And then another. And then another.

DeMarco stuck with it, keeping Allen in the starting lineup for 12 consecutive games. New York went 9-3 during that stretch.

The five-player starting lineup featuring Allen was the Liberty’s best five-player grouping during that span, posting a net rating of plus-9.5.

Allen found her flow too.

“That was sort of obvious to see,” she said. “You sort of go those extended minutes, you can feel the ball a little bit more and it was good for myself and my confidence, too.”

Allen averaged nine points and 3.3 rebounds while shooting 48.2 percent from the field and 45.1 percent from deep.

When the Liberty performance staff greenlit Leonie Fiebich’s return, the starting lineup inevitably had to change. 

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Rebecca Allen was the odd woman out. After a month as a starter, she shifted back to the bench for Saturday’s win against the Indiana Fever.

In her 11th and final season, Allen knows this is how it goes. 

“It just carries on as normal,” Allen said before Thursday’s 79-60 loss to the Golden State Valkyries. “It’s just starting the game at a different point.”

She also sees the bigger picture and understands what Fiebich brings. 

“I mean having Leo back is such a luxury for all of us,” Allen continued. “You’ve got this length, this defensive, you know, she goes on all the best players as well defensively but offensively, we saw such a great game especially the last one, so I think I mean there’s only good things having her back in the lineup. My role changes a little bit, but still my mindset doesn’t.”

When Fiebich went down with a left foot injury in early July, DeMarco had no choice but to tinker with the starting lineup that also included Sabrina Ionescu, Pauline Astier, Breanna Stewart and Jones. 

Initially, DeMarco plugged Rebekah Gardner into the starting lineup. 

Rebecca Allen looks to shoot the ball during the second half of the
Liberty’s 79-60 loss to the Valkyries on Aug. 27, 2026 at Barclays Center. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

After back-to-back losses, he decided to go big and start Han Xu alongside Stewart and Jones. 

After another loss, he went with Marine Johannès. 

None of it worked. 

On a four-game losing streak, DeMarco turned to Allen. 

Rebecca Allen looks to pass during the Liberty’s loss to the Valkyries. NBAE via Getty Images

Up to that point, Allen had sparingly cracked the rotation. Some of that was because she gradually eased into the season after missing most of training camp as she worked her way back from an undisclosed injury. 

Allen appeared in only 10 of the Liberty’s first 25 games and logged second-fewest minutes among players on the 12-woman roster.

But Allen’s start resulted in a win. And then another. And then another. 

Leoine Fiebich looks on during warmups before the Liberty’s loss. Michelle Farsi for NY Post

DeMarco stuck with it, keeping Allen in the starting lineup for 12 consecutive games. New York went 9-3 during that stretch. 

The five-player starting lineup featuring Allen was the Liberty best five-player grouping during that span, posting a net rating of plus-9.5.

Rebecca Allen looks on during the Liberty’s win over the Fever on Aug. 22,
2026, at Barclays Center. NBAE via Getty Images

Allen found her flow, too. 

“That was sort of obvious to see,” she said. “You sort of go those extended minutes, you can feel the ball a little bit more and it was good for myself and my confidence, too.” 

Allen averaged nine points and 3.3 rebounds while shooting 48.2 percent from the field and 45.1 percent from deep.

49ers waiver wire: What position are the 49ers in, and what players are subject to the process?

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 13: San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch enters the field prior to a preseason NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans at Levi's Stadium on August 13, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The San Francisco 49ers just finished up their final preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders and now will be scrambling to make final roster cuts to the 53-man roster. We say scrambling because the team needs to get on a plane to Melbourne, Australia, to play the Los Angeles Rams in Week 1. With that in mind, they need to figure out who is and isn’t going so they can make travel arrangements.

Over at FanDuel Sportsbook, the 49ers are currently sitting as 3.5-point underdogs in their game against the Rams. Since the game is in Australia, not in San Francisco or Los Angeles, it’s safe to say many of those odds were initially set based on the rosters.

While the 49ers are a bit more urgent, all NFL teams will be trimming their rosters from 90 to 53 in the coming days. The deadline to have a 53-man roster is Sunday, August 30 at 3:00 PM PST.

Those cut are either released outright or waived—depending on their time in the league. There are a few wrinkles in 2026 the 49ers can take advantage of. First is IR.

If a player is placed on IR, two players can be tagged as designated to return and can come back after missing at least four games. Teams must tag a player in this category, however. They can’t pick and choose players later in the season after putting them on IR months earlier. Any other players placed on IR (READ: Ricky Pearsall) are done for the year.

Then there’s the physically unable to perform or PUP list. If a player is on this list, it means they were placed on it before the season began. The moment they practice or play in even a preseason game, they are off the PUP list. Any players on PUP are subject to the same four-game minimum as one on IR. The difference is that PUP players didn’t practice or play in the preseason.

Players with at least four years of experience are released and become unrestricted free agents. They can go anywhere and sign with any team. No restrictions. Those under the four-year threshold are subject to waivers and the waiver wire. The following players have been, or are associated with, the 49ers’ 90-man roster this year and are subject to waivers:

QB Kurtis Rourke
QB Adrian Martinez
RB Kaelon Black
RB Jordan James
RB Sincere McCormick
WR De’Zhaun Stribling
WR Jacob Cowing
WR Jordan Watkins
WR Wesley Grimes
WR Will Pauling
TE Brayden Willis
TE Hayden Rucci
TE Khalil Dinkins
OG Dominick Puni
OG Connor Colby
OL Carver Willis
OL Drake Nugent
OL Enrique Cruz Jr.
OL Isaac Alarcon
DL Romello Height
DL Alfred Collins
DL Gracen Halton
DL CJ West
DL Sebastian Valdez
DL James Thompson Jr.
DL Bryson Eason
DL Evan Anderson
LB Jaden Dugger
LB Tatum Bethune
LB Nick Martin
LB Larry Worth III
CB Renardo Green
CB Upton Stout
CB Ephesians Prysock
CB Jakob Robinson
S Malik Mustapha
S Patrick McMorris
S Marques Sigle
S Jalen Stroman

On waivers, teams can claim players, but the order is determined by the draft order from earlier this year. The 49ers picked 27 (or at least their pick was 27, since they traded it to the Miami Dolphins), so they will be the 27th team to make a selection. So if there’s any player on waivers they want, then they have to wait for 26 other teams to decide they don’t want that specific player. Any team that makes a waiver claim must open a roster spot to keep the roster at 53 players. If the player is claimed, another player is waived/released in return.

Also, this isn’t like fantasy football; a team can’t place four waiver claims in order of importance and get only one before things switch to the next team. Any team can make multiple claims, and if they’re ahead of the 49ers, they can get all the players the 49ers may want—provided the team has opened roster spots for those players. That means the Las Vegas Raiders and New York Jets can be much more active on the waiver wire than the Seattle Seahawks, who go last due to winning the Super Bowl.

The current waiver order is as follows:

  1. Las Vegas Raiders
  2. New York Jets
  3. Arizona Cardinals
  4. Tennessee Titans
  5. New York Giants
  6. Cleveland Browns
  7. Washington Commanders
  8. New Orleans Saints
  9. Kansas City Chiefs
  10. Cincinnati Bengals
  11. Miami Dolphins
  12. Dallas Cowboys
  13. Atlanta Falcons
  14. Baltimore Ravens
  15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  16. Indianapolis Colts
  17. Detroit Lions
  18. Minnesota Vikings
  19. Carolina Panthers
  20. Green Bay Packers
  21. Pittsburgh Steelers
  22. Los Angeles Chargers
  23. Philadelphia Eagles
  24. Jacksonville Jaguars
  25. Chicago Bears
  26. Buffalo Bills
  27. San Francisco 49ers
  28. Houston Texans
  29. Los Angeles Rams
  30. Denver Broncos
  31. New England Patriots
  32. Seattle Seahawks

The 49ers have a lot of waiting to do if they want any hot players that couldn’t fit on any of the teams before them. That said, the teams before them need to do a lot of roster reshuffling. The one thing to take from all of this is that the 53-man roster you see on Monday isn’t going to be the same 53-man roster you see on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Or Monday a couple hours later.

Mike Vrabel on Christian Gonzalez's frustration: Players always free to feel how they feel

Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez expressed frustration at the pace of contract talks earlier this week, and the sides don’t appear close on an extension.

After the Patriots' 37-13 loss to the Browns in the preseason finale, coach Mike Vrabel was asked about Gonzalez's frustration with negotiations.

"I have conversations with Christian, and I understand that this is probably something that's difficult," Vrabel said, via Sophie Weller of Patriots Wire. "I've never been in that position to this extent. Try to treat it with class, but he and I communicate, and our players are always free to feel how they feel. They just have to stay patient and just hope that we can work to some kind of agreement."

The Seahawks recently signed cornerback Devon Witherspoon to a four-year, $132 million deal, which should provide a template for the Patriots. Gonzalez and Witherspoon have the same agent, Reggie Johnson.

Gonzalez is under contract for the next two seasons and is scheduled to make a base salary of $2.259 million this season.

The 17th overall pick in 2023, he made second-team All-Pro in 2024 and the Pro Bowl in 2025. He has totaled 145 tackles, two interceptions, 24 pass breakups and a sack in three seasons.

White Sox Minor League Update: August 27, 2026

George Wolkow took the express lane to third with a bases-clearing triple. | (George Wolkow/Instagram)

Memphis Redbirds 3, Charlotte Knights 2 (10 innings)
Davis Martin looked terrific in his first rehab start, tossing five scoreless innings while allowing just one hit and one walk with five strikeouts. Here’s hoping it was a preview of what he can provide when he returns to Chicago.

The Knights (68-61) gave Martin a little support in the second when Andy Weber launched a two-run homer, but that was the beginning and end of Charlotte’s offensive production. The Knights managed only three more hits and failed to score again because apparently two runs were plenty — until they weren’t.

Tanner McDougal surrendered two tallies in the sixth to earn his second blown save, continuing a rough return to Charlotte during which he has allowed seven earned runs over 4 2/3 innings. The 2-2 tie held through nine before Jaden Woods took over in the 10th. Memphis bunted the ghost runner to third and brought him home with a single to take a 3-2 lead. Charlotte attempted the same strategy in the bottom half, but Edgar Quero could not get the bunt down and Ryan Galanie followed with a fielder’s choice that erased Mario Camilletti at third. A wild pitch moved Galanie into scoring position, but Michael Turner popped out to end the game — and the Knights’ brief tutorial on how not to manufacture an extra-inning run.

Postseason watch: There’s little to no chance at the playoffs for the Knights. They are in eighth place and eight games out of first.

MVP
Davis Martin: 5 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 5 K

Runners-Up
Andy Weber: 2-for-4, R, 2 RBI, HR, 2B
Caden Connor: 1-for-3, BB, 2 SB
Aidan Anderson: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB

Cold Cat
Tanner McDougal: 1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, BB, BS

Runners-Up
Jaden Woods: 1 1/3 IP, 1 H, 1 R (0 ER), BB, 4 K, L
Mario Camilletti: 0-for-4, K
Michael Turner: 0-for-5, 2 K


Rocket City Trash Pandas 7, Birmingham Barons 4
The Trash Pandas tapped Connor McCullough for three runs in the first, but then he settled in to toss three scoreless frames. Birmingham (53-70) got on the board in the second when Jorge Corona smashed a solo shot to center, and the Barons pulled within one in the fourth when Ryan Burrowes singled and Corona drove him home with a three-bagger. The comeback was complete in the fifth. Caleb Bonemer worked a two-out walk, and Alec Briley followed with a two-run homer to right field, putting the Barons ahead, 4-3.

That lead survived until the ninth, when Rocket City dropped four runs on Jonathan Clark, handing him the unfortunate double whammy of his sixth blown save and the loss. Birmingham went down in order in the bottom half, ending the night with a 7-4 defeat and no last-minute heroics to soften the landing.

Postseason watch: The Barons are 27-27 in the second half and sit two games out of first place with 15 games remaining as they chase a chance to defend their back-to-back Southern League championships. There’s plenty of runway left, but setting the plane on fire in the ninth is generally discouraged.

MVP
Jorge Corona: 2-for-4, R, 2 RBI, 3B, HR, 2 K

Runners-Up
Alec Briley: 1-for-4, R, 2 RBI, K, E
Jackson Kelley: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
Pierce George: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, BB, 3 K, H

Cold Cat
Jonathan Clark: 1 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 0 BB, K, BS, L

Runners-Up
Connor McCullough: 4 IP, 3 H, 3 R, BB, 6 K
Dylan Campbell: 0-for-4, K
Anthony DePino: 0-for-4, 2 K


Winston-Salem Dash 10, Bowling Green Hot Rods 7
The Hot Rods zoomed out to a two-run lead on a two-out blast off Dylan Carmouche in the first, but the Dash (68-54) answered with a crooked number in the third. Jackson Appel drew a leadoff walk, Derek Cerda singled and the pair pulled off a double steal before Ely Brown ripped a two-run double. A wild pitch brought Brown home two outs later, giving Winston-Salem a brief 3-2 edge. Brief was the operative word. Bowling Green reclaimed the lead with two runs in the fourth, only for the Dash to take it right back in the bottom half, with Kaleb Freeman’s RBI single helping put Winston-Salem ahead, 5-4.

The Dash finally stopped trading punches in the sixth, erupting for five runs to blow the game open. James Taussig and Cerda each doubled, and George Wolkow cleared the bases with a triple to stretch the advantage to 10-4.

As it turned out, Winston-Salem needed nearly every one of those insurance runs. Aric McAtee loaded the bases on three straight singles in the seventh before allowing a two-run knock, and Jarold Rosado surrendered another RBI single after taking over to make it 10-7. Thankfully, Rosado put out the fire, and Jake Curtis silenced the Hot Rods over the final two frames to secure the Dash victory — because apparently a relaxing finish would have been too much to ask.

Postseason watch: With the win, the Dash are tied with the Hot Rods for first place in the division. Bowling Green has already secured its playoff spot, and if the season ended today, Winston-Salem would claim the division’s other postseason berth. The Dash hold a 2 1/2-game lead over the third-place Greenville Drive with nine games remaining.

MVP
George Wolkow: 1-for-5, 3 RBI, 3B, 2 K

Runners-Up
Ely Brown: 2-for-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, 2B, SB
Javier Mogollón: 2-for-5, R, RBI, PO, 2 K, CS
Derek Cerda: 2-for-4, 2 R, RBI, 2B, SB
Jake Curtis: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, S

Cold Cat
Aric McAtee: 1/3 IP, 4 H, 3 R, K

Runners-Up
Dylan Carmouche: 5 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 4 K, W


Hill City Howlers 7, Kannapolis Cannon Ballers 6
Gabe Tanner dug the Cannon Ballers (65-58) an early hole, serving up five runs over the first two frames. Abraham Núñez opened the game with a single, but Kannapolis did not muster another hit until the seventh inning. By then, Hill City had also smacked a solo homer in the sixth to stretch the deficit to 6-0. The Ballers finally broke up the shutout in the seventh, scoring on a bases-loaded walk and a wild pitch before Steven Lancia launched a two-run homer in the eighth to pull Kannapolis within two.

Unwilling to go quietly, the Ballers completed the comeback in the ninth. Núñez delivered an RBI single, and a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch forced home the tying run as Kannapolis stormed all the way back from six runs down. Unfortunately, the bullpen had other plans. Marco Barrios packed the sacks in the bottom half before surrendering a walk-off single. All that work climbing out of the crater, only to step on a rake at the finish line.

Postseason watch: Despite slotting in at second place, the Ballers are 7 1/2 games behind the Hickory Crawdads with only nine games remaining.

MVP
Steven Lancia: 1-for-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, HR, K

Runners-Up
Abraham Núñez: 2-for-4, RBI, BB
Clay Burdette: 1-for-4, R, RBI, 2 K
Jake Berkland: 1-for-3, R, RBI, BB

Cold Cat
Marco Barrios: no outs, 2 H, R, 2 BB, L

Runners-Up
Gabe Tanner: 5 IP, 7 H, 5 R, BB, K
Alexander Albertus: 0-for-3, 2 K

Yankees remain confident in George Lombard Jr. as errors start to pile up: 'He will get through it'

The Yankees dropped their series with the Astros after a futile offensive performance on Thursday.

But it's the defense of their rookie shortstop that has raised eyebrows. 

George Lombard Jr.'s defense was touted as "major league ready" for awhile and he showed that when he was first called up to the big leagues. However, he made his seventh error of the season Thursday. Of those seven, he's made one error in at least six straight games. 

The defensive misplay occurred in the eighth with the Astros up 4-1. Yainer Diaz hit a roller to the left side that both Jose Caballero and Lombard charged at. The third baseman gave way to Lombard, who booted it. The ball was hit to Caballero, who tried to throw out the runner and end the inning, but it sailed. 

"I don’t know [what's going on], it’s something I’m trying to figure out," Lombard said after the loss. "It’s not acceptable, can’t happen at this level. If you make your pitchers get extra outs and makes it way harder on us. Teams will definitely capitalize. It’s something I have to clean up and I’ll be better tomorrow." 

Yankees manager Aaron Boone called the play a bit tricky since Lombard wasn't sure whether Caballero was going for it, and by the time it reached him, there was some indecisiveness, which played into what caused the error. 

Although the Yankees dropped the series to the Astros and have a huge four-game series with the Red Sox coming up, most of Boone's postgame was about Lombard's defense, asking what is going on with his rookie shortstop. The Yankees skipper didn't have any definitive answers, and said that he and other players have gone through similar defensive lulls. 

In Boone's mind, it's about "go make plays instead of guarding against a mistake."

"The good thing about George is that he’s so skilled and gifted out there. And foundationally, he’s really good," Boone said. "He will get through it, just gotta get a few going and start playing carefree. That’s why I hang my hat, foundationally speaking, he’ll get through this and put it in the rearview mirror."

When Lombard first got to the team, he accumulated plus-8 Defensive Runs Saved across his first 11 games. That has since dropped to plus-6 and his six-game error streak has put him in rare company. According to Katie Sharp, Lombard Jr. is the first Yankees shortstop to have such a streak since Roger Peckinpaugh in 1915.

Despite that, Boone and the rest of the team believe in Lombard and that this is just a part of the process.

"Errors happen, and unfortunately, they happen in groups for everyone," Gerrit Cole, who took the loss Thursday, said. "It’s important to remember he’s a young player and he’s working his tail off to get better."

"We all have the utmost confidence in George out there," Ben Rice said. "We know the ability he has out there. We trust him to stick with it and we know what he's capable of and it's fun to watch when he's in rhythm out there."

Lombard Jr. says he's gone through stretches like this in the past and understands there are ups and downs to the game. He'll talk to the coaching staff to see if there's anything he's doing or can do to try and figure out what's going on, but Lombard Jr. is confident this will pass.

"My mindset every single play is I want the ball to you. That doesn't change whether it’s going great or not," he said. "I’m still going to put 100 percent effort into making every play I can.

"Obviously it’s frustrating. It’s not something I want to happen. My main focus is turn the page and make the next play. It’s definitely not something I’m happy with at all... Tomorrow is another day and I have to be better." 

The Yankees and Lombard Jr. hope that error streak ends Friday as the Red Sox come into town for a crucial four-game series with major playoff implications. It's the 21-year-old's first taste of the rivalry, but he is ready.

"I'm excited for it. Obviously, have to treat it just like another series and see what we can do against them," Lombard Jr. said. "Going to look into them and see how we can find ways to win. It's going to be exciting."