Padres get beat up by Rockies, see winning streak snapped

DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 15: Cole Carrigg #16 of the Colorado Rockies celebrates after hitting a three run home run in the sixth inning against the San Diego Padres at Coors Field on September 15, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images

None of the San Diego Padres pitchers could find an answer for Cole Carrigg of the Colorado Rockies and the San Diego State product had a huge night finishing 4-for-5 with a single, a double and two home runs with two runs scored and five RBI to hand the Padres a 9-3 loss at Coors Field on Tuesday.

Carrigg connected on single in the first inning, but was thrown out attempting to steal second base. He hit a game-tying two-run home run in the bottom of the third inning and doubled in the bottom of the fifth. Wandy Peralta replaced Walker Buehler in the bottom of the fifth after the Carrigg double, which meant he would have to face a new pitcher in his next at-bat. That pitcher was Randy Vasquez and Carrigg turned in a 13-pitch turn at the plate that ended with a three-run home run to right field that gave the Rockies a 7-3 lead. Vasquez was able to strike Carrigg out in his final at-bat but the performance from Carrigg was all Colorado would need to snap the San Diego eight-game winning streak.

The Padres started the game with a bang when Fernando Tatis Jr. connected on a leadoff home run. They took a two-run lead in the top of the second when Luis Campusano connected on a solo home run. Carrigg hit the two-run home run to tie the game, but San Diego regained the lead with another solo home run, this time from Austin Hays, in the top of the fifth inning. That marked the end of the scoring for the Padres despite the fact that they finished with 11 hits in the game. San Diego was 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position in the game while Colorado finished 4-for-10. Outside of Carrigg, that was the difference in the game, the Padres could not string hits together and did not get hits when they had opportunities to drive in runs.

Buehler lasted just 4.2 innings and allowed two runs on seven hits with a walk and a strikeout. Peralta was abysmal and allowed four runs on four hits with a hit batter and one strikeout over 0.2 innings pitched. The only real positive to come from the game was Vasquez finished the final 2.2 innings and saved the high leverage bullpen arms for San Diego who have been taxed recently. He allowed three runs on five hits with a strikeout.

The Padres will try to start a new winning streak when they play the third game of the series against the Rockies today at 5:40 p.m.

Padres News:

Baseball News:

Wednesday Posted & Toasted Notes: Emmy Brunson, heated Kolek, no NBA expansion!?

13 January 2022, Brandenburg, Baruth: A Scottish Highland cow stands in the meadow in the Johannismühle Game Park. Recently, the black cow Berta had moved into the game park here with the small herd of four Highland cows and then surprisingly gave birth to a calf a few days ago. The game park in the district of Klasdorf was founded in 1997, is privately run and houses about 250 European animals on an area of about 100 hectares. Photo: Soeren Stache/dpa-Zentralbild/ZB (Photo by Soeren Stache/picture alliance via Getty Images)

You know things are heating up when start getting enough quotes to put together a Bulletin, only I’m keeping those for later this off/preseason.

For now, here’s the latest round of links and notes for you to enjoy as we approach media day about the end of September. Get excited!

  • Knicks Opening Night tickets have exploded in price after the championship, experiencing a silly 526% increase from last season’s home opener.
  • Jalen Brunson made a cameo in Mariska Hargitay’s Emmys cold open.
  • Tyler Kolek is entering Year 3 focused on being more aggressive whenever opportunities come his way, he told The New York Post, and he believes he’s got much more to offer the NBA world: “There’s definitely a lot left [for me to show].”

“I just gotta play my game everyday. Be consistent, whatever the coaches need just follow their direction and let it be what it is.”

  • Kolek echoed his teammates’ broader underdog mentality entering the season even coming off hoisting the Larry O’B. “At this stage, we shouldn’t have to be motivated. We’re champions,” Kolek said. “We know what it looks like, and we’re not just satisfied with one.”
  • Jordan Clarkson keeps openly reminding fans he’s fly.
  • Dirk Nowitzki admitted he never expected Jalen Brunson to develop into a franchise cornerstone in New York. That said, he gave kudos to JB for being “unbelievable on and off the floor” and fully deserving to lead the Knicks to a championship and win Finals MVP.
  • Mitchell Robinson’s move to Boston still stings inside the Knicks’ locker room, with Kolek calling his departure painful. Robinson, meanwhile, says he is entering his Celtics stint with renewed confidence. We’ll see how that goes.

“Right now, I’m just so confident in myself. I feel like this is going to be a great year for me.”

  • Taj Gibson was waived by New Orleans shortly after being acquired from Memphis, then called it a career and joined the Bulls on a coaching role. Also, Taj wants him kid to be like JB.
  • Julius Randle acknowledged returning to New York with Brooklyn feels natural after spending five seasons with the Knicks. “It’s definitely a place that just feels like home,” Randle said.
  • Kawhi Leonard’s trade to Toronto has officially been approved by the league, ending the uncertainty surrounding whether the Raptors would complete the deal after a year-long investigation and its massive aftermath.
  • Speaking of Kawhi, Nikola Jokić said he prefers playing every game rather than managing his workload.
  • Danilo Gallinari also chimed in on the Klaw saga, and blasted the NBA’s punishment of Kawhi Leonard, arguing that Leonard should have faced a much larger financial penalty because of the impact his decisions had on others.

“He should pay all of that $50 million. He changed the trajectory of my career and put me in a difficult situation by sending me away from Los Angeles.

“What happened to my NBA career (when he was traded from the Clippers as part of the SGA-Paul George deal to convince Kawhi to sign with LA) wasn’t decided by a general manager or an owner, but by a player who decided that team wasn’t good enough and wanted something else.”

  • The NBA Board of Governors discussed a possible expansion to Las Vegas and Seattle during meetings in New York on Monday and Tuesday. Commissioner Adam Silver, however, keeps stressing that nothing is guaranteed, with the league still weighing whether to add both cities, one, or neither. Yeah, right?
  • Jalen Duren and Detroit remain far apart on a new contract, with the Pistons’ most recent offer reportedly around five years and $190 million and Duren seeking at least $200 million. The big fella is supposedly seriously considering taking the $9.6 million qualifying offer to reach unrestricted free agency next summer.
  • Dwight Howard is continuing his career overseas, signing with Black Fortress Tbilisi in Georgia.
  • Team USA won the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup by trouncing France 97-79. Breanna Stewart finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds and was named tournament MVP.

Mets vs. Orioles: How to watch on Sept. 16, 2026

The Mets conclude a three-game series against Pete Alonso and the Orioles at Citi Field on Wednesday night at 7:10.


Mets Notes

  • Francisco Lindor enters play on Wednesday with 299 career home runs
  • A.J. Ewing is hitting .380/.448/.620 with three homers and three doubles in 58 plate appearances over his last 13 games
  • Robert Stock allowed three runs on five hits while walking two and striking out four in four innings against the Marlins in Miami during his last start on Sept. 9

Today's Lineups

ORIOLES
METS
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How can I watch Mets vs. Orioles online?

To watch Mets games online via ESPN, you will need a subscription to a TV service provider or to ESPN+. This will allow fans to watch the Mets on their computer, tablet or mobile phone browser, or via the ESPN App.

Detroit Tigers News: Kevin McGonigle, Tarik Skubal, Justin Verlander, Shohei Ohtani, Arizona Fall League, Pete Alonso

CLEVELAND, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 06: A young fan wears "McGoni Goggles" in support of Kevin McGonigle #7 of the Detroit Tigers during the ninth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on September 06, 2026, in Cleveland, Ohio. The Guardians defeated the Tigers 3-2. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Happy Wednesday, everyone! We are enjoying a little unexpected winning streak, and I, for one, would like to see it go as long as possible, because winning baseball games is the most fun. We’ve got some little news bites to get you through your day, including looking at who the successes and disappointments of the Tigers’ season are (not a lot of surprises there) and Justin Verlander is the Tigers’ Roberto Clemente Award candidate for his work with veterans.

We also look at some controversial topics like whether now is the time the Braves should sell, and whether or not Shohei Ohtani should give up pitching for good.

So let’s just get into it!

Detroit Tigers News:

  • ESPN released a list breaking down the biggest successes and disappointments on each MLB team. For the Tigers, the results are unsurprising. Writer Bradford Doolittle singled out Kevin McGonigle as the biggest success of the season, and there aren’t many who would argue that the rookie’s breakout year has been magical to watch. He said:

McGonigle [has surpassed] the six-win mark on the way to a probable AL Rookie of the Year award. An even better race: Can McGonigle walk more than he strikes out as a 21-year-old rookie? He’s at 88 walks and 89 strikeouts, so it’s going to be close.

In terms of the biggest disappointment? The trade of Tarik Skubal. While most of us looked at the trade as inevitable, Doolittle pointed out how one-run games in particular—the extra-winnable games of the season—really went against the Tigers and could have given them a better opportunity to win, and as a result, potentially keep Skubal on their roster.

Given the circumstances, the Tigers did the right thing in trading Tarik Skubal. Still, it’s disappointing that Detroit’s struggles in close games left the team in that position. While you can point to pitching injuries and other factors for the Tigers’ disappointing record, it all still might have worked out if Detroit wasn’t a surreal 26 games under .500 in games decided by one or two runs.

  • The Tigers celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.
  • Learn more about why Justin Verlander is the Tigers’ nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award.

MLB News:

  • Here are the 2026 Roberto Clemente Award Nominees.
  • A good reminder on Roberto Clemente Day.
  • MLB owners are being tight-lipped about the looming offseason drama.

Braves 6, Cubs 3: The Jacob Webb disaster, part 4

What would you call the opposite of a baseball manager’s “circle of trust”?

Because that’s where the Cubs are probably going to have to send Jacob Webb after yet another blown save, yet another two-run homer served up, yet another game where it’s clear he can no longer be used in high-leverage situations.

The numbers are horrific. In his last eight appearances, Webb has thrown 6.2 innings and has a 14.85 ERA, 2.100 WHIP, 14 hits and four walks allowed and the worst part, four home runs — all of which either gave the other team the lead or tied the game. In those eight games, Webb had four blown saves.

Convert even two of those save opportunities and the Cubs are a lot more comfortable in the Wild Card race. Unfortunately, these games are in the books and they are, at the moment, not.

All right, that’s out of my system, let’s look back at the Cubs’ 6-3 loss to the Braves, all of Atlanta’s runs scoring via three two-run homers.

Kevin Gausman had a rough first inning — 25 pitches — but got out of it scoreless. The Cubs put two runners on in the bottom of the inning via a pair of two-out walks, but could not score.

The Cubs took the lead in the bottom of the second. Michael Busch led off with a single and advanced to second on a walk by Matt Shaw.

Pedro Ramirez’s single scored Busch to make it 1-0 [VIDEO].

Miguel Amaya then sacrificed Shaw and Ramirez up a base, putting runners on second and third with one out. Pete Crow-Armstrong hit a ground ball to second and Shaw was thrown out at the plate. Seiya Suzuki then struck out, so the Cubs had just one run to show for all that traffic.

Gausman settled down and retired 10 straight Braves from the last out of the first through the fourth. The Cubs extended their lead in the bottom of the fourth. Busch led off with a walk and Shaw’s infield single moved Busch to second.

Then this happened [VIDEO].

That throw… what was that? That play should have resulted in at least one out. Instead, Busch scored to make it 2-0 and Shaw wound up on third, where he scored on this sac fly by Miguel Amaya [VIDEO].

About the Cubs’ two-sac night, from BCB’s JohnW53:

The Cubs went into Tuesday with nine successful sacrifice bunts, tied with the Braves and Twins for the second fewest. The Tigers had eighth; the Yankees, 10.

The Cubs were 11th in sacrifice flies with 43, one behind the Braves and Royals.

Tuesday’s game was the first this season in which the Cubs had at least one of each. They had not done it since May 26, 2025. They had played 260 games since then before Tuesday.

So it’s 3-0 Cubs going to the top of the sixth. Gausman had been sailing along, but a one-out single by Drake Baldwin followed by a two-run homer by Ronald Acuña Jr. made it 3-2. Gausman gave up another hit and a hard-hit line drive out and then was removed in favor of Daniel Palencia, who ended the sixth with a fly ball to right.

The Cubs did not score in the bottom of the sixth and that’s when Webb entered the game. Honestly, I was surprised Craig Counsell didn’t just leave Palencia out there — he’d thrown only two pitches to retire Mauricio Dubon to end the sixth.

Webb, as I noted above, did not have a good game. The two-run homer he allowed to Ozzie Albies gave Atlanta a 4-3 lead.

Still, that’s not insurmountable — usually. But the Cubs bats went silent. After Shaw led off the sixth with a single, the next 12 Cubs went down in order.

Meanwhile, Edward Cabrera made his Cubs relief debut. And actually, it was going along pretty well until a two-run homer by Baldwin in the ninth put the game out of reach. Cabrera threw 40 pitches — maybe too many for his first outing out of the bullpen? I do still think Cabrera can be a useful weapon in relief. He touched 99 with his four-seamer several times, and that, combined with his 94 mile per hour changeup, can record outs — but again, maybe in shorter bursts.

Here are Craig Counsell’s postgame remarks [VIDEO].

In that clip, Counsell doesn’t sound like he’s going to take Webb out of that circle of trust, and he really needs to. He notes that the team is giving up “too many home runs.” Ya think? This cannot keep happening:

Fortunately, all the other teams in Wild Card competition with the Cubs — the Phillies, Padres and Diamondbacks — also lost Tuesday, so no ground was lost and the Cubs still have the top wild card spot by half a game over the Phillies. The Cubs lead the Padres by 1.5 games and the Diamondbacks by four. Arizona’s loss reduced the Cubs’ magic number to clinch a postseason spot to 6.

The Cubs still have a chance at a series win over the Braves Wednesday evening at Wrigley Field. Shōta Imanaga will take the mound for the Cubs and JR Ritchie, just recalled from Triple-A by Atlanta, goes for the Braves. Game time is again 6:40 p.m. CT and TV coverage will be via Marquee Sports Network.

Where will Didier Fuentes finish in Rookie of the Year voting?

ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 11: Didier Fuentes #72 of the Atlanta Braves pitches in the eleventh inning during the game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Truist Park on September 11, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Jack Casey/Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images

I’m shamelessly stealing from the comments, because it’s a long season and I had nothing else for today anyway.

Didier Fuentes is 12th among relievers with 2.0 fWAR. He also ranks in the top 15 in WPA, which isn’t really something he did alone, but is a bit of a tiebreaker when others are close.

He’s not going to win. There are five position player rookies in the NL with more than 2 fWAR, including JJ Wetherholt, who has 4.4 while underhitting his xwOBA by .030. (If he weren’t underhitting it, he’d probably ge some downballot MVP votes.) The Mets’ Carson Benge has 3.5 fWAR and hasn’t missed any time with injury. TJ Rumfield has a .375 wOBA / 125 wRC+, though the former is very Coors-addled and he’s outperforming his inputs. Sal Stewart has 31 homers.

On the pitching end, you have Nolan McLean as the “full-time starter as a rookie” option (3.1 fWAR, about 170 innings), as well as Logan Henderson as the “pitched super-well but only up for like half a season” option (2.3 fWAR, under 90 innings).

But, Fuentes is still ninth in the NL in rookie fWAR, so maybe he gets some recognition, even if it’s not much. He does actually lead all NL rookies in WPA, but again, I don’t expect that to carry the day. It is pretty funny, though.

What do you think?

How does the Luzardo injury change your outlook for the rest of the season?

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 01: Starting pitcher Jesús Luzardo #44 of the Philadelphia Phillies reacts during the MLB game at Chase Field on September 01, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

No news is good news. That’s not always true (few fans feel this way during trade deadline season), but it’s arguably true during the final days of the campaign, where news can really mean only one thing: an injury. And this was so yesterday, as the Phillies placed Jesús Luzardo on the 15 day IL with the shoulder inflammation that had caused him to miss his last start. A return for the postseason is possible but certainly not guaranteed.

There’s no question that this is a major blow for the team. So today’s question is: how does it change your outlook for the rest of the season?

What was the real ceiling for this Orioles roster?

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JULY 25: Manager Craig Albernaz #55 of the Baltimore Orioles takes out Brandon Young #63 of the Baltimore Orioles in the seventh inning during a baseball game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on July 25, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Colton Cowser made a game-saving catch against the Rockies on August 31. The grab took the sports world by storm and lifted the Orioles back to .500 for the first time in four months. The play also preserved Baltimore’s spot as a contender for the third and final wild card spot.

With the benefit of hindsight, Cowser’s home run robbery of Jake McCarthy probably marked the high point of another disappointing season. The Orioles proceeded to lose their next six games (two in Colorado; four against Boston). Everyone chalked the Rockies result up to fatigue at the end of a long road trip, but the Birds came home and got taken behind the woodshed. Adley Rutschman hit multiple home runs during his return to Camden Yards, and Baltimore’s offense tallied only one run over the final three games of the four-game set.

And just like that, the season was lost. The Orioles took two-of-three from Cleveland when they desperately needed a sweep, and the O’s dropped two-of-three in Toronto.

In most years, the Orioles would have lost the privilege of competing for a playoff spot long before September. The third wild card spot, paired with a mediocre American League (outside of the AL East), allowed Baltimore one last chance to compete, but the team let that opportunity slip away.

Let’s put aside the early injuries to guys like Jordan Westburg and Zach Eflin. We can even look beyond the deadline sale of Rutschman, Taylor Ward, Tyler Wells and Dean Kremer. The Orioles held possession of the third wild card spot a little over two weeks ago. If I had told you back in March that the O’s would possess a wild card spot with a month to play, would you have taken that deal? I know that I would have. I would have anticipated a better record, but the playoff spot is the selling point there.

It’s clear that the 2026 season was a failure, but how would you evaluate the last three weeks? Did Craig Albernaz and his team ever really have a real chance of making the postseason? If so, what did they do wrong?

The final two games in Colorado cannot be discounted. I don’t care if the Orioles had spent a full month on the road. Baltimore, desperate for wins, had the luxury of facing the only team in the National League with a winning percentage that begins with the number three.

The team summoned Luis De León—the team’s seventh best prospect according to MLB Pipeline—to join the team in Colorado. The 23-year-old had started in 22 of his 26 appearances in the minors this year, but Baltimore gave the lefty a few relief reps before adding him to its major league bullpen. Albernaz immediately thrust the rookie into a high-leverage situation, and De León surrendered the go-ahead homer in a 4-2 loss.

It’s fair to wonder if De León should have even been with the team, let alone working in a leverage situation during his debut. The Orioles needed a fresh lefty in the bullpen, but they opted to go with a prospect that wasn’t exactly pounding down the door (6.50 ERA over 18 Triple-A innings) over a guy like Cade Povich.

The bullpen continued to bite the team as Andrew Kittredge and Grant Wolfram both blew saves in the series finale. Kittredge, one of the only experienced relievers in the bullpen, clearly lost a step in the second half. But did Albernaz mismanage the bullpen, or was he simply working with a bunch that shouldn’t be expected to deliver?

The four-game sweep at the hands of Boston all but put the final nail in the coffin. The Orioles, facing their former franchise player for the first time, all but crumbled under the pressure. The O’s failed to score on Friday and Saturday before exploding for one run in the finale. Do you blame the front office for the bats going to sleep? Can you blame the skipper?

The team deserves credit for claiming Luis Robert Jr., but the outfielder hit the injured list shortly after his arrival. Gunnar Henderson finished 3-for-13 with 0 RBIs in the Boston series. Samuel Basallo hasn’t hit since returning from the injured list. Carlos Narváez quickly reminded everyone in Baltimore what a true backup catcher looks like at the plate. Blaze Alexander attempted to manufacture a spark before returning to the injured list.

Baltimore entered last night with a season-low .650 team OPS in the month of September. Despite all the team’s struggles, the Orioles still managed to post an OPS in the .700s during every other month of the season.

It’s understandable that the pitching staff started to run out of gas. The rotation was filled with guys approaching a career high in innings pitched. Brandon Young, the starter with the highest WAR (2.1), had been pitching above his level all season. But at the end of the day, the bullpen didn’t have the dudes. The offense, with respect to Pete Alonso and Coby Mayo, didn’t have the juice.

The Orioles were the benefit of a weak field, but they proved to be the weakest of the bunch. Albernaz deserves some heat for how things unfolded this year, but it’s not like he managed this team out of a playoff spot. Players like Jackson Holliday and Colton Cowser did not take the step that everyone expected. Ryan Helsley got banged up, and Félix Bautista never returned.

This roster just didn’t have the talent to make the playoffs this season, and it will need to make several improvements if it hopes to compete next year.

Four Maple Leafs Who Must Have A Great Training Camp

Training camp for the Toronto Maple Leafs is nearly here, and with all the new faces around the organization, the roster and management, the lead-up to the 2026-27 season will be interesting.

It'll be an opportunity for new players to become accustomed to each other and build chemistry. It's also a chance for players to leave a good first impression on the ice with new head coach Jim Hiller. And for some, that early impression of the coach means more than for others.

Here are four players on the Maple Leafs who must have a great training camp to solidify their spots on the NHL roster. Especially for opening night on Sept. 29 against the Montreal Canadiens at Scotiabank Arena.

Emil Andrae, D

Emil Andrae was the main get when Toronto traded Joseph Woll and Simon Benoit to the Philadelphia Flyers. The 5-foot-9 defenseman backs himself as a mobile player who likes to move the puck. That's a defenseman that the Leafs could've used in last year's back end as they struggled to move the puck out of their own zone efficiently.

Emil Andrae Shares Reaction To Maple Leafs Trade, Pumped For A 'Fresh Start'Emil Andrae Shares Reaction To Maple Leafs Trade, Pumped For A 'Fresh Start'Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Emil Andrae said he suspected that he would get traded from the Philadelphia Flyers. "But when I found out it was Toronto, I couldn't be happier."

At training camp, Andrae must prove that his ability on the puck is enough to overcome his small frame and limited NHL experience. Not to mention, there will be competition among the Leafs' defense group, specifically with Troy Stecher, as well as Nick Blankenburg, looking to make a name for himself on a PTO. Even 20-year-old Ben Danford has set lofty goals for himself to make the NHL roster out of camp.

The 24-year-old Swede has played a total of 107 career games, 61 of which came last year. Andrae averaged 15:20 of ice time per game, scoring two goals and 13 points, and finishing second on the team in plus-minus with a plus-15.

Easton Cowan, LW

Easton Cowan isn't really at risk of losing a job on the Maple Leafs' NHL roster. But how many minutes he gets throughout the year remains unclear.

The 21-year-old certainly grew over the course of 2025-26. Cowan featured in 66 regular-season games for Toronto, registering 11 goals and 29 points. With that, he averaged 14:43 of ice time per game. 

If the Maple Leafs were in contention for the Stanley Cup playoffs, Cowan's young career to this point could look completely different. He wouldn't have received as much ice time or opportunity if the team had more to play for and had maintained their veteran players rather than trading them at the deadline (Scott Laughton, Bobby McMann and Nic Roy). Cowan didn't get an opportunity in the NHL just because some veterans got traded, but it definitely gave him some room in the lineup.

Nonetheless, with Hiller now overlooking the lineup, he'll need to prove that he's more than a player who benefited from a team that had little to play for. He's already a middle-six player on the team, but can he propel himself to a constant second-liner with a good first impression?

Maple Leafs 2026-27 Line Projections: Where Do Gavin McKenna And Easton Cowan Fit?Maple Leafs 2026-27 Line Projections: Where Do Gavin McKenna And Easton Cowan Fit?The Toronto Maple Leafs may not be done tinkering with their lineup between now and training camp. So we did our best to look at projected lines for opening night.

Dakota Joshua, LW

Dakota Joshua is another player who has a spot in Toronto's lineup. But his role is a little less solidified than Cowan's, per se.

He's projected to be the fourth-line left winger for opening night, with training camp still to happen between now and then. But for any fourth-line player, they can be taken out of the lineup the second the coach doesn't feel like they are fulfilling the role or having an impact on the game.

Joshua's challenge in camp is to show that he is a useful player who can be physical with his 6-foot-3 frame. If he can be that heavy player, as well as put up 10-plus goals in the year, that would be acceptable.

Where Does The Maple Leafs' Forward Group Rank In The Atlantic Division?Where Does The Maple Leafs' Forward Group Rank In The Atlantic Division?The Toronto Maple Leafs executed a near-overhaul of the forward group going into next season. Where does the team stand in terms of its offense on paper in comparison to the rest of the Atlantic Division?

Steven Lorentz, LW

With all the bottom-six additions to the Maple Leafs this off-season, Steven Lorentz appears to be the odd man out in terms of the 12 forwards to dress for opening night.

Lorentz, 30, will be competing for a regular spot on this roster just as much as anyone else will be going into 2026-27. Training camp is the opportunity for him to showcase himself to Hiller and the rest of the coaching staff. It's the chance for him to set himself apart from his peers and those also jostling for a fourth-line role.

He has to show that he can do a little more than skate the length of the ice each shift. The fallout with Calle Jarnkrok was that he didn't provide many dimensions other than being an option on the penalty kill. Lorentz can't fall into that realm.

As a 6-foot-4 forward, he should be able to be a little more physical and bring some energy. With that, he's got decent speed and can make plays offensively, notching 18 points last season on an average of 11:52 per game.

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Thoughts on a 4-2 Rangers win

ARLINGTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 15: Texas Rangers pitcher Jacob deGrom (48) reacts after hitting a batter with a pitch during the MLB game between the Boston Red Sox and the Texas Rangers on September 15, 2026 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Rangers 4, Red Sox 2

  • And that’s three in a row.
  • Oh damn…just realized that this has gotten us to the much feared and hated one-game-under-.500 spot again.
  • That’s been a bit of a stumbling block this season, hasn’t it?
  • But that is the next game’s problem, not this game’s problem.
  • This game featured some gritty gutty work from Jacob deGrom, who was originally scheduled to make his next start on Wednesday. But with the urgency of the Rangers’ current situation and Monday’s off day, the Rangers could move deGrom up a day and still have him start on regular rest.
  • Doing so also means that deGrom would be slated to start in the Sunday series finale against the Blue Jays.
  • Despite an ongoing groin issue which deGrom had to manage, he gave the Rangers five strong innings, with the blip being a two run Nick Sogard homer in the third inning.
  • deGrom has now allowed just nine hits in his last four starts, and just 16 hits in his last six starts.
  • Oh, and he struck out eight batters in the game, allowing him to pass Aaron Nola on the all time strikeout list.
  • deGrom is now tied with Dazzy Vance for 86th on the all-time K list.
  • There’s been not enough people named Dazzy in the world in recent years. Someone needs to look into that.
  • Rangers hitters didn’t do a lot in the game, but they did enough, putting up a four run inning in the second, with all the runs coming with two outs, and with the broadcast feed not working, so none of us watching at home were able to see what was happening.
  • I bet it was exciting, though.
  • Also exciting? A bases loaded situation in the fifth, an inning that started with deGrom’s first hit by pitch of the season, and was followed by a catcher’s interference. With two outs and the bases full, a seven pitch Adley Rutschman at bat ended with a 3-2 ground out, and also ended deGrom’s night at 92 pitches.
  • Meanwhile, in the eighth, an infield single, a fly out and a walk was followed by Robert Garcia being lifted for Jacob Latz, who was asked to get the final five outs. After a groundout moved the runners to second and third, Trevor Story was intentionally walked, leading to another lengthy at bat, this time by pinch hitter Andruw Monasterio, finally ending in a 3-2 swinging K.
  • I can say now that those bases loaded jams were exciting because things turned out okay. I’d use a different adjective if things had turned out poorly.
  • Corey Seager’s bloop single brought home the final two runs of the second inning for the Rangers. He was 2 for 4 in the game. Since returning from the injured list the first time in early June, he is slashing .280/.359/.511 in 206 plate appearances.
  • That’s pretty good, I think.
  • Cleveland won, so the Rangers are still a game and half back in the Wild Card race, and the Astros won so the Rangers are still a game back in the A.L. West. Toronto, however, lost, so the Rangers moved ahead of the Jays in the Wild Card chase, and now have no one between them and Cleveland.
  • Oh, and Martin Perez won his 100th career game. That’s neat.
  • Jacob deGrom topped out at 98.8 mph with his fastball, averaging 97.0 mph. Chase Silseth hit 97.3 mph with his fastball. Tyler Alexander touched 92.7 mph with his fastball. Robert Garcia’s fastball reached 92.1 mph. Jacob Latz maxed out at 97.5 mph with his fastball.
  • Corey Seager had a 108.8 mph single. Brandon Nimmo had a 106.3 mph single. Ezequiel Duran had a 105.3 mph single. Danny Jansen had a 103.9 mph single. Jake Burger had a 101.9 mph groundout. Wyatt Langford had a 101.9 mph fly out.
  • Eleven games to go.

Two-Time Stanley Cup Champion Returns Home To Join Utah Mammoth

Trevor Lewis never had the chance to play for his hometown team.

For most of his 17-year NHL career, that team simply didn't exist.

The Utah Mammoth played their inaugural season in 2024-25, the same season Lewis was preparing to close the book on a career that saw him win two Stanley Cups, play more than 1,000 NHL games and establish himself as one of the most accomplished hockey players Utah has ever produced.

Now, though, Lewis finally has a place within his hometown club.

Just not in uniform.

The Utah native has joined the Mammoth staff as a part-time video scout and youth and amateur hockey ambassador, bringing nearly two decades of NHL experience back to the state where his love for the game began.

“Trevor Lewis fell in love with the game of hockey right here in Utah,” Mammoth president of hockey operations Chris Armstrong said. “He went on to win two Stanley Cups over the span of his 17-year NHL career, retiring as the most accomplished player ever from this state.”

Lewis retired following the 2025-26 season, ending a career that began when the Los Angeles Kings selected him 17th overall in the 2006 NHL Draft. He spent the bulk of his career in Los Angeles, helping the Kings capture the Stanley Cup in 2012 and again in 2014.

His résumé extends well beyond those championships.

Lewis played 1,034 NHL games, the most in league history by a player from Utah, and finished second among Utah-born players with 237 career points. His draft position also remains the highest ever for an NHL player from the state.

Those accomplishments now give Lewis a unique perspective to bring into the Mammoth organization.

His role will extend beyond video scouting and hockey operations. Lewis will also work to help grow youth and amateur hockey throughout Utah, returning to the same community where his own journey in the sport began.

For a state whose hockey profile has grown considerably in recent years, having one of its most accomplished players involved at the grassroots level gives Lewis an opportunity to influence the game long after his playing career has ended.

“Being able to tap into the mind and championship experience of someone who cares so personally and so deeply about the continuous growth of hockey in Utah, and who knows what it would mean to bring a Stanley Cup to the fans here, is both a rare opportunity and a natural fit for us,” Armstrong said.

Lewis never got to wear the jersey of Utah's NHL team.

But after spending 17 years building a career that made him one of the state's hockey pioneers, he now gets to help build what comes next.

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Ex-Warrior James Wiseman signs training camp contract with NBA champion Knicks

Ex-Warrior James Wiseman signs training camp contract with NBA champion Knicks originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors haven’t had much luck with their first-round draft picks in recent years, dating back to 2020. James Wiseman didn’t pan out in Golden State, but the former No. 2 overall pick is getting another opportunity with the reigning NBA champions.

The New York Knicks have signed Wiseman to a non-guaranteed training camp contract. The former No. 2 overall draft pick will compete for one of the team’s remaining open regular-season roster spots.

Wiseman is a former second-overall pick who hasn’t quite panned out, averaging just 9.0 points and 5.5 rebounds in 152 games (56 starts) over five NBA seasons.

He appeared in a combined five games over the past two years with the Pacers after tearing his left Achilles in the 2024-25 season opener.

The University of Memphis product showed flashes of his athleticism during his time in the Bay, highlighted by a career-high 30-point performance against the Nets.

Wiseman averaged 9.9 points and 5.0 rebounds with the Warriors. Steve Kerr tried to get the most out of the big man, but ultimately, things didn’t work out in Golden State.

“We just didn’t have a sense of how raw he would be because we only had three college games of his,” Kerr stated on 95.7 The Game years ago.

In three career games at Memphis, Wiseman averaged 19.7 points and 10.7 rebounds per game. Unfortunately for the 25-year-old, his game has yet to translate to the next level.

Wiseman still brings a large frame to a team coming off an NBA title and can earn his keep if he plays efficiently.

With Mitchell Robinson departing for the Boston Celtics this offseason, there’s a realistic chance that Wiseman could add value to the Knicks.

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Cutter Gauthier signs six-year, $81 million contract with Anaheim Ducks

The Anaheim Ducks have reached an agreement to sign left wing Cutter Gauthier to a six-year, $81 million contract extension ($13.5 million average annual value), securing his place with the team through the 2031-32 NHL season.

Gauthier was selected fifth overall in the 2022 NHL Draft by the Philadelphia Flyers before being acquired by Anaheim via trade for defenseman Jamie Drysdale and a 2025 second-round selection in early 2024. Last season, Gauthier tallied 41 goals and 69 points as the Ducks' leading scorer. His offensive production helped lead Anaheim to its first playoff appearance since 2018, ending an eight-year postseason drought.

"We are pleased to get Cutter signed to a long-term deal and have him in camp on time," said Ducks General Manager Pat Verbeek in a statement Tuesday, Sept. 15. "He’s a major part of our young core, a pure goal-scoring talent that will continue progressing into an elite NHL player."

Gauthier’s contract was finalized in the final hours of the previous NHL collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Under the new CBA, which took effect at midnight, teams can now offer a maximum of seven years to re-signing players and six years to free agents. The updated agreement also changes the structure of signing bonuses and limits how much can be paid upfront, reducing the prevalence of front-loaded contracts.

"This is a very exciting day for my family and I," Gauthier said in a statement. "I'm so pleased to be able to sign long-term with the Ducks and be part of what I believe is a great future."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cutter Gauthier signs six-year, $81 million contract with Anaheim Ducks

Matt Cord forgoes retirement to return as Sixers PA announcer for 29th season

PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 10: Philadelphia 76ers Public Address Announcer Matt Cord smiles during the game against the New York Knicks during Round Two Game Four of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 10, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

You just knew this was too big of a Sixers season to not have Matt Cord on the mic.

After initially retiring following the conclusion of the 2025-26 campaign, Cord will instead return as public address announcer at Xfinity Mobile Arena for Philadelphia 76ers’ home games for the upcoming season. It will be his 29th year in the role in South Philadelphia.

The team took to social media to announce the change of plans for the longtime announcer.

(There is no in-arena announcer more deserving of a hype video than Cord also, in my opinion.)

Cord likely felt he had initially gone out on the best note possible, calling the home games of the Sixers’ seven-game takedown of the Boston Celtics in the first round of the playoffs last season before Philly was eliminated in the second… That was until the Sixers had their blockbuster summer, featuring game-changing additions of LeBron James and Jaylen Brown.

So now, Cord returns for his 29th season at the helm to call out the names of the Sixers’ newest stars (in addition to Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and the other returners) for Philadelphia in what will likely be a rocking, packed arena all season long.

“I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to return to the mic as PA announcer for 76ers for one more season,” Cord said. “Serving in this role for the past 28 years has been a dream come true, and I have been fortunate to witness so many memorable moments from the best seat in the house. This is going to be a special year, and I can’t wait to be back at Xfinity Mobile Arena with you all. Let’s go, 76ers!”

According to the team, Cord has also agreed to take part in working with the franchise to help identify the next Sixers PA announcer through a tryout process slated to start this winter.

Welcome back, Matt!

Yankees Rivalry Roundup: Rays, Guardians walk it off

ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 15: Junior Caminero #13 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates with teammates after hitting a walk-off home run in the ninth inning to defeat the Athletics 2-1 at Tropicana Field on September 15, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images

History was in jeopardy for a bit when the Twins came into the Bronx earlier in the season and won a series against the Yankees, but the timeline course-corrected as the team has traveled up to Minnesota and won the first two games of the rematch. The Bombers’ perpetual punching bag have fallen out of the still-bloated race for the third Wild Card spot and that point’s been driven home by the Yankees taking a second-consecutive win with eight runs scored, this time only allowing a single run in exchange and getting their offense going much earlier than the eighth inning.

With their business handled, New York’s eyes drifted across the league to see what their rivals managed to do on Tuesday. The Rays and Red Sox were both in action, and there was a battle going on between the two top teams in the Central to check in on.

Tampa Bays Rays (91-59) 2, Athletics (61-90) 1

After taking consecutive series against Atlanta and Houston, the temporarily-relocated Athletics weren’t expected to put up much of a challenge to Tampa. However, after allowing an unearned run in the second inning on a passed ball the A’s buckled down and prevented the Rays from extending their lead, Jack Perkins going 6.2 innings without any more runs crossing home plate under his watch. Meanwhile, the A’s offense wasn’t managing much against Griffin Jax but Kevin Cash pulled him after just 67 pitches despite it being his third start back from the IL. The Athletics took advantage and pounced on the new pitcher Ty Johnson in the sixth, stringing a pair of singles before scoring the lead runner on a wild pitch to tie the game.

The Rays couldn’t be stifled forever though, and in the ninth inning they finally broke through. Elvis Alverado was brought on to start the frame facing Junior Caminero, and after getting a generous high strike to get ahead in the count Alverado threw two pitches middle-middle. Caminero fouled off the first one, but he wouldn’t get cheated on the second and drove it 345 feet for the walk-off homer. The big hit prevents the Yankees from gaining any ground once more, as they remain 3.5 games behind Tampa with 11 games left to play.

Other Games

Boston Red Sox (82-69) 2, Texas Rangers (75-76) 4: The Rangers blitzed Patrick Sandoval in the second inning for all four of their runs, Elias Díaz and Corey Seager getting the RBI base-knocks with a double and single, respectively. Nick Sogard got two of those runs back in the third, but that’s all they could manage against Jacob deGrom as he struck out eight over five innings and ended his night by performing a Houdini act to prevent any runs from scoring after letting the first two runners aboard in the fifth. The Rangers’ bullpen held serve with Boston’s, working themselves out of a bases-loaded jam in the eighth to secure the win and move to within a game of .500. The Sox now fall to six games behind the Yankees for the top Wild Card seed, and with New York owning the tiebreaker it’s looking all but guaranteed that the Yankees will have home field advantage for whatever their opening round of the playoffs are.

Cleveland Guardians (77-75) 7, Chicago White Sox (77-74) 6: Chicago’s opener strategy backfired as Chris Murphy gave up three runs on a pair of homers in the first inning, only recording two outs before getting pulled. The White Sox clawed a couple of those runs back before charging out into a lead of their own in the sixth inning as they plated four. Travis Bazzana got one of those back immediately with his second homer of the night, but Cleveland entered the ninth inning down a run and in need of a rally. Nathaniel Lowe started it with a single to lead off, and Kyle Teel walked to put the winning run on two batters later. A groundout brought Cleveland down to their last out, but Brayan Rocchio stepped up and delivered a double just out of the leaping Sam Antonacci’s reach to walk it off. The Guardians erased the previous night’s loss and move to within a half-game of Chicago again for first place, setting up a critical rubber match later today.

AL Wild Card Rock Fight

Toronto Blue Jays (75-77) 1, Detroit Tigers (72-79) 10: The Tigers punished the Jays for running a bullpen game, dropping five runs on Michael Lorenzen before adding at least one more run against each of the next three Jays pitchers. Toronto’s only offense came in the eighth when Kyle Finnegan entered and promptly gave up several hits with Alejandro Kirk getting the RBI single, but he quickly exited and the outs resumed without further incident.

Houston Astros (76-75) 4, Kansas City Royals (66-85) 2: Two hitters did it all for Houston, Jeremy Peña hitting a pair of solo shots to put the Astros up early before Yordan Alvarez launched his 39th homer of the year for a two-run shot that wound up as the game-winning runs. Hunter Brown struck out 10 over six innings with just one run allowed to earn the win, and Josh Hader continued his sub-1 ERA run with another clean inning for his 26th save.

Baltimore Orioles (74-78) 7, New York Mets (69-82) 5 (11 innings): Down 3-2 in the ninth inning, Pete Alonso hit his 300th career home run against his former team to tie things up and force extra innings. The O’s got one across in the 10th on a wild pitch but could muster no more and got matched by a Marcus Semien RBI double, but they exploded for three runs in the 11th as Coby Mayo hit an inside-the park three-run homer that he initially stopped to admire before actually running the bases. Fortunately for him A.J. Ewing wasn’t able to turn around in time to come up with the grab near the wall and the ball caromed into no-man’s land deep in center field allowing him to race home easily.