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Yankees offense, bullpen spoil Carlos Rodon's quality start in 11-1 loss to Tigers

The Yankees mustered just one run while the bullpen allowed nine runs in New York's 11-1 loss to the Tigers at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday night.

New York has dropped the first two games of their series with Detroit after scoring a combined three runs. After the Blue Jays' loss to the Astros earlier in the evening, the Yankees remain 3.0 games behind Toronto in the AL East race.

Here are the takeaways...

-Carlos Rodon was on the mound, searching for his career-best 17th win of the season but he was in for a fight with fellow starter Jack Flaherty in this one. Rodon was pitch-efficient, allowing just two hits through the first four innings on just above 60 pitches. But the Tigers threatened after a one-out single and walk put two runners on. Rodon hit Javier Baez with a pitch to load the bases but struck out Jahmai Jones swinging to bring up Gleyber Torres. The former Yankee lined a 3-2 fastball in front of Trent Grisham in center to drive in two for Detroit. The Yankees' southpaw struck out Wenceel Perez swinging to get out of further trouble. 

Rodon was very good, with just the one inning marring his line. The lefty allowed two runs in six innings (102 pitches/66 strikes), on five hits, one walk and six strikeouts. 

-The Yankees bullpen, after allowing 10 runs in Tuesday's series opener, was not much better. Mark Leiter Jr, fresh off of allowing four runs without recording an out, gave up back-to-back singles to start the seventh. He then bounced a ball in the dirt that got stuck in catcher Austin Wells' chest protector, which was ruled a wild pitch. Leiter struck out Kerry Carpenter before being pulled for Camilo Doval. Doval got Torres to ground out, but the runner on third would score. 

Doval would start the eighth, and after a leadoff single, Riley Greene took the right-hander deep to put the Tigers up 5-0. After picking up an out, Dillon Dingler doubled and advanced to third on a Cody Bellinger error in left field. Doval was lifted for Tim Hill, who allowed a single up the middle to allow the sixth run of the game. Two batters later, and Carpenter launched a two-out, two-run homer to put up a five-spot in the eighth. 

Even Luke Weaver struggled, allowing three runs on three hits, capped off by a two-run homer from pinch-hitter Colt Keith. With the score ballooned to 11-1, outfielder Austin Slater came in to finish off the top half of the ninth. Slater allowed a hit but got the final two outs to mercifully get the game to the bottom of the ninth.

-On the other side, Flaherty kept the Yankees down through five innings, allowing just two hits and one walk. While not as efficient as Rodon, the Tigers' right-hander made pitches when needed to get outs, including seven strikeouts. Flaherty would pitch five shutout innings on 99 pitches (57 strikes). 

-The Yankees offense was a no-show. Aaron Judge went 0-for-3 with a strikeout and grounded into two inning-ending double plays. Giancarlo Stanton, playing in right field, went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts.

The only run came on a Wells solo shot in the eighth inning. The backstop went 1-for-4. 

Jose Caballero got the start in place of the struggling Anthony Volpe. The shortstop went 1-for-3 with a strikeout, but made some impressive plays on defense. 

Game MVP: Tigers pitching

Whether it was Flaherty or the bullpen, Detroit's pitching held down the Yankees bats for a second consecutive game.

Highlights

What's next

The Yankees and Tigers complete their three-game set on Thursday evening. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.

Cam Schlittler (2-3, 3.24 ERA) will take the mound. Detroit has yet to announce a starter. 

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Silver has broad powers to punish Clippers, says he'd be reluctant to at 'mere appearance of impropriety'

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said he has broad powers that could be wielded to punish the Los Angeles Clippers and owner Steve Ballmer if it is proven that they circumvented the salary cap to get Kawhi Leonard more money through an endorsement deal with a team sponsor. However, he also said he would be reluctant to use that power for the "mere appearance of impropriety."

Mostly, Silver sounded like a cautious, patient lawyer when speaking after the NBA's Board of Governors meeting on Wednesday.

"I'm a big believer in due process and fairness, and we need to now let the investigation run its course," Silver said.

When asked about possible punishments the Clippers could face if it is proven the franchise knowingly circumvented the salary cap, Silver sounded like a man who understands he has a hammer to bring down.

"My powers are very broad," Silver said. "Full range of financial penalties — draft picks, suspensions, et cetera. I have very broad powers in these situations."

However, sounded cautious about using that hammer. While the NBA's Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) says a case for cap circumvention can be based on circumstantial evidence — which is all that is public right now, although there is a flood of it — Silver sounded like a lawyer who wants something more concrete.

"We and our investigators look at the totality of the evidence... I would be reluctant to act if there was sort of a mere appearance of impropriety," Silver said. "I think that the goal of a full investigation is to find out if there really was impropriety."

The Clippers and Ballmer have vehemently denied any impropriety, Ballmer saying he was "dupped" by the company Aspiration and its CEO Joe Sanberg (who has pled guilty to bilking investors of $248 million).

The appearance of impropriety in this case is still pretty damning. In early August of 2021, Ballmer made a personal investment of $50 million in Aspiration, a "green bank" company planting trees to gain carbon credits they could sell to clients. A couple of weeks later, Leonard signed a four-year, $176 million max contract extension with the Clippers. By the opening of Clippers training camp that year, Aspiration was a $300 million key sponsor of the Clippers, as Ballmer was building the Intuit Dome and had made a priority of making it a green building. A couple of months later, Leonard formed an LLC and, through that, signed a $28 million endorsement deal with Aspiration. This deal eventually grew to $48 million after a later $20 million stock deal (stock that is now worthless as the company went bankrupt).

The core of the problem for the Clippers and Leonard is this: He did nothing, absolutely nothing, for this endorsement money. No appearances, marketing or advertising, not even a social media post. He got the money for nothing.

That all smells fishy, but proving that Ballmer and the Clippers knew about this or orchestrated it is a much higher bar. The original report from Pablo Torre and the Pablo Torre Finds Out podcast reported that there were seven people in the office who said they were told Leonard's endorsement deal was lined up to help the Clippers circumvent the salary cap. Okay, but investigators will want to know "told by whom?" and where did that person learn of it? What is the source of this knowledge, and is it verifiable?

There are too many coincidences here for this all to be random, but is it more likely that the Clippers orchestrated this, or that "Uncle Dennis" — Leonard's uncle and business manager, who had asked for “no show” endorsements before in Toronto — just worked this out with Aspiration, and the Clippers really did know nothing? Every option is on the table. All the existing evidence we know matters, but how much weight will Silver and the other owners give it?

"The answer is we're not a court of law at the end of the day, either," Silver said. "We have broad authority to look at all information and to weigh it accordingly."

Silver said that his cautious approach has been echoed by the other owners he has spoken to on the matter.

"At least what's being said to me is a reservation of judgment," Silver said. "I think people recognize that that's what you have a league office for. That's what you have a commissioner for, someone who is independent of the teams... At least what those governors have said directly to me, to the extent we have had discussions, they've been limited."

Some around the league feel, considering all that is already known, that there is a burden on the Clippers to prove they didn't put this together, or at least know about it. The NBA CBA suggests there is some burden on the Clippers. However, Silver said the burden of proof remains with the NBA and investigators.

"The burden is on the league if we’re going to discipline a team, an owner, a player or any constituent members of the league," Silver said. "I think as with any process that requires a fundamental sense of fairness, the burden should be on the party that is, in essence, bringing those charges."

It's possible that when all this ends, the NBA will realize its current system of oversight on player endorsements needs updating (something the NBA players' union would have strong opinions about). NBA owners may be hesitant to want to punish Ballmer if it sets a precedent where they could be in trouble if one of their sponsors goes rogue with a player. When asked about that oversight, Silver's patient, cautious side came to the front.

"Let's get through this investigation. We'll reassess," Silver said. "We'll see what happened here. Then we'll sit down both among our owners and then potentially with the Players Association because some of that is a function of collective bargaining, and see if there's additional things we need to do."

For now, Silver is willing to sit back and let the New York law firm of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz lead the investigation. What Silver does with that hammer he wields will depend on what the investigation finds.

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Mets' losing streak reaches five games with 11-3 loss to Phillies

The Mets' offense stayed cold and their pitching struggles continued in an 11-3 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday night at Citizens Bank Park.

New York (76-70) has now lost five games in a row, falling 10 games back in the NL East.

Here are some takeaways...

-- Clay Holmes struggled out of the gate, hitting Bryce Harper on the back of the foot to load the bases and giving up a RBI-single to J.T. Realmuto. After getting a strikeout, Holmes hit Max Kepler in nearly the exact same spot as Harper to walk in a run as the Phillies took a 2-0 lead. 

The right-hander avoided damage in the second despite letting up a one-out double to Harrison Bader. Holmes got in a little groove through the third and fourth innings, allowing just a single and a walk. The fifth inning was a different story -- the righty let up a leadoff single followed by a double to Brandon Marsh as the Phillies went up 3-1, ending his night after 76 pitches.

Overall, Holmes allowed four runs on six hits over four-plus innings with five strikeouts and three walks.

-- New York failed to capitalize after Juan Soto's one-out single against Cristopher Sánchez in the top of the first inning, as Mark Vientos and Pete Alonso both struck out. Sánchez kept it going and retired the next six Mets to breeze through the second and third innings.

-- In the fourth inning, Soto blasted what looked like would be a home run, but due to fan interference, resulted in a double. He moved to third on Alonso's single and scored on Starling Marte's single to left field as the Mets trailed, 2-1.  That's all the Mets would get on the board with Brandon Nimmo grounding into the double play.

-- Gregory Soto replaced Holmes with a runner on second and gave up a RBI-single to Kepler. The run was tacked on Holmes' line and made it a 4-1 game. Soto dialed in a retired the next three Phils, including back-to-back strikeouts. The left-hander couldn't stop the bleeding in the sixth inning, hitting two batters and letting two straight singles to Marsh and Kepler as the Phillies went up 7-1.

Ryne Stanek gave up a sac-fly and walk before ending the inning on a strikeout. Stanek surrendered another run in the seventh, a solo homer to Harper to make it a 9-1 game.

-- Soto got his homer in the eighth with a 410-foot shot, his 39th of the season, as the Mets trailed 9-2. Soto finished the night 3-for-4, combining with Marte (2-for-4) for five of the team's six hits prior to the ninth inning. New York recorded three straight hits against Lou Trivino with Brett Baty driving in a run to make it 11-3.

-- Ryan Helsley's struggles continued in the eighth, allowing two runs on three hits, including a homer to Kepler.

Game MVP: Max Kepler

Kepler finished his monster night 3-for-4 with five RBI.

Honorable mention: Sánchez, who gave up six runs against the Mets on Aug. 25, bounced back and dominated over six strong innings. He allowed one run on four hits with six strikeouts, lowering his season ERA to 2.57.

Highlights

What's next

The Mets and Phillies wrap up their four-game series on Thursday at 7:15 p.m. on FOX.

It'll be a battle of the left-handers, as David Peterson (9-5, 3.72 ERA) faces Jesús Luzardo (13-6, 4.01 ERA).

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Red Wings Lose Second Minor Leaguer To New Opportunity

A pair of depth players have departed the Detroit Red Wings organization in as many days to seek other opportunities. 

Just as 2020 Draft selection forward Cross Hanas (55th overall, 2nd round, 24th pick) signed a professional tryout agreement with the Dallas Stars, defenseman Brogan Rafferty (undrafted, signed as a UFA in July 2023) has also departed.

The West Dundee, Illinois native has taken his career overseas and signed a two-year contract with the Vaxjo Lakers of the Swedish Hockey League.

He was highly regarded by the club as evidenced by comments made by Vaxjo general manager Henrik Evertsson, saying that the team had coveted him for some time. 

“Brogan is a defender we have had our eye on for a few years,” he said. “With his exceptionally good passing game, he fits really well into our style of play."

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

Rafferty was never drafted into the NHL, and instead officially entered the League when he was signed by the Vancouver Canucks in 2019 to a one-year entry level contract.

He had previously played for the Quinnipiac University Bobcats, and was also extended a pair of invitations by the Chicago Blackhawks and New York Rangers as a Training Camp invitee, though he ultimately fell short of claiming a roster spot with both clubs. 

Following a stint with the Coachella Valley Firebirds, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Seattle Kraken, Rafferty signed with the Red Wings as a free agent with a two-year, two-way contract in July 2023. 

He spent the majority of his time with the Grand Rapids Griffins, scoring 13 goals with 16 assists in 62 games in his first campaign with the organization, followed by six goals and 13 assists in 52 games played last season. 

Sergei Fedorov’s Mentorship Helps Boost Former Red Wing Daniel SprongSergei Fedorov’s Mentorship Helps Boost Former Red Wing Daniel SprongThe tenure of former Detroit Red Wings forward Daniel Sprong was relatively short, lasting only a single season. He played a role in Detroit's offensive attack by scoring 18 goals in 76 games, the second-highest total of his career in a single season. 

While he was called up to the Red Wings at various points during his tenure, he ultimately never saw the ice in regular season play in a Detroit uniform. 

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Luka Doncic's 39 not enough as Germany beats Slovenia at EuroBasket; Markkanen, Finland advance

Luka Doncic's run of dominant play at EuroBasket continued Wednesday, but this time it was not enough.

Doncic scored 39, with 10 rebounds and seven assists, and pushed Slovenia to a seven-point lead late in the third quarter. But then Germany's Tristan da Silva hit a half-court shot at the buzzer, and in the fourth the momentum swung to Germany, which pulled away for the 99-91 win.

Germany got 23 points and seven rebounds from Orlando's Franz Wagner, as well as 20 points and seven assists from Sacramento's Dennis Schroder. Center Daniel Theis added 15 points and nine rebounds for a deep German side that proved to be too much for Slovenia.

Germany, still undefeated at EuroBasket, will face a surprise Finnish team in the semifinals after Finland knocked off another upstart in Georgia, 93-79, in the other quarterfinal. This was another impressive game from Lauri Markkanen, who had 17 points and maybe, more importantly, four blocks in the win.

Mikael Jantunen, who played his college ball at Utah, led Finland with 19 points in the game.

Germany and Finland will face off in one EuroBasket semifinal on Saturday, while the other sees a showdown between undefeated Alperen Sengun and Turkey, and Giannis Antetokounmpo and Greece.

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Sam Rinzel Believes He Must Earn Spot On 2025-26 Blackhawks

The belief is that Sam Rinzel will be on the roster for the Chicago Blackhawks come opening night of the 2025-26 season. He only played nine games to end last season after his year with the University of Minnesota ended, but he immediately looked like he belonged in the NHL. 

He could produce offense, eat minutes, and properly position himself so that he would defend at a high level. The tools are there for him to be a top-pair defenseman. 

On Wednesday, the Blackhawks held their first prospect practice as they prepare for the 2025-26 Tom Kurvers Prospect Challenge. Rinzel, of course, made the roster and will participate in the event. 

After the first practice, a very physical one at that, was complete, Rinzel was one of the players to speak to the media. He was adamant that he wasn't a lock to made the team. 

"I gotta earn it, just like everyone else," Rinzel said when talking about making the team. That is the attitude to have when you've only played a short amount of games, despite playing well in them. If he gives the effort needed to make the team, he will. 

He talked about the things that he's been working on, including improving his shot, getting bigger and stronger, and being harder to play against in his own end. 

"I think being able to just change the angle," Rinzel said on improving his shot. "Being able to find little holes at the point." 

If Rinzel can become a goal-scoring defenseman by improving his shot, that will make him even more valuable to his team. His first goal in 2025-26 will be his first career NHL goal. 

As far as getting bigger and stronger, Rinzel said he played at 180 pounds last season and is up to 195 right now. He claims that drinking shakes helped him gain that weight. "It's always easier to drink the calories."

When the Blackhawks drafted Rinzel in the first round back in 2022, Kyle Davidson believed that he had the tools to become a great NHL player. Now, he's seeing the reward of taking that chance. 

Look for Rinzel to be one of the key Blackhawks players during this event, while giving him a really good chance to make the NHL team out of camp. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

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Sabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: Veteran Winger Zucker Looked To For Cluch Offense

Jason Zucker (Timothy T. Ludwig, USA TODAY Images)

The NHL’s 2025-26 season is nearly upon us, and here at THN.com’s Buffalo Sabres site, we're continuing our player-by-player series in which we break down expectations for each Sabres player this season. We've looked at Buffalo's goalies and defensemen, and in this latest column, we're turning our attention to veteran winger Jason Zucker.

This year, Zucker is entering the first season of a two-year contract extension. He obviously did enough last year to warrant his return to the Sabres, but even at a slight cut in salary, Zucker can still be a valuable contributor as Buffalo tries to end its 14-year Stanley Cup playoff drought. 

Let's look at Zucker's impact last year, and what is fair to expect from him in '25-26:

Player Name: Jason Zucker

Position: Left Wing

Age: 33

2024-25 Key Statistics: 73 games, 21 goals, 53 points

2025-26 Salary: $4.75-million

2025-26 Expectations: Zucker has never been the most spectacular performer, but after a down season that saw him produce only 14 goals and 32 points in 2023-24, Zucker put up. 21 goals and 53 points in 73 games last year. For the mid-tier salary of $5-million, Zucker provided the secondary scoring the Sabres need from their veterans.

And this year, given that he's taken a $250.000-pay cut to come back to Buffalo, you have to give him credit for putting his chips behind a Sabres team that direly needs a strong year in 2025-26.

Sabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: Entering Contract Year, Star Winger Tuch Will Be Feeling The HeatSabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: Entering Contract Year, Star Winger Tuch Will Be Feeling The HeatThe NHL’s 2025-26 season is almost here, and it’s a great time on THN.com’s Buffalo Sabres site to continue our player-by-player series in which we analyze expectations for every Sabres player in 2025-26.

Zucker did get some no-trade protection in his contract extension with the Sabres, but for both seasons of his new two-year deal, Zucker will be able to veto a trade to only five teams of his choice. That leaves 26 teams Zucker can be traded to. So he's hardly going to be able to stomp his feet and demand to stay in Buffalo if things don't work out well.

Indeed, if the Sabres do fall out of the playoff picture once again -- and so long as Zucker continues producing at a 20-goal pace -- there will be a market for Zucker's services. But that's a worst-case scenario for him. The best-case is that he stays in Buffalo, the Sabres do rebound, and Zucker gets to 25 goals and 60 points. 

Sabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: Buffalo Center McLeod Has New Contract, Heightened Bar To ClearSabres 2025-26 Player Expectations: Buffalo Center McLeod Has New Contract, Heightened Bar To ClearThe NHL’s 2025-26 season is close at hand, and here at THN.com’s Buffalo Sabres site, we're continuing our player-by-player series in which we analyze expectations for each Sabres player this coming year.

If Zucker can be a thriving contributor on a Buffalo team that, against all odds, becomes a playoff team next year, the gamble the Sabres took on Zucker will be regarded as well worth it. But if by this time next year Buffalo is playing without Zucker, it will be because the experiment ended and Sabres management tried to make the most of him as a hockey asset and get a return for the future.

Zucker will almost assuredly be a 15-goal-scorer next season. But it's that next level of five-to-10 goals that is separating Zucker from cementing his status in Buffalo from being on the move once again when the Sabres move in a different direction.

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Pedro Martinez joins list of former Mets returning for Alumni Classic

Pedro Martinez wasn’t expected to be in attendance at the Mets’ Alumni Classic this weekend at Citi Field. 

However, after changing some things around in his schedule, the three-time Cy Young award winner will now be on hand on Saturday afternoon.

“I couldn’t miss the opportunity to see my Mets family again,” Martinez told Jay Horwitz. “It will be great to see the fans, they were always wonderful to me during my time there and I can’t wait to say hello again.”

Martinez spent four years at the backend of his career in the Big Apple, locking up his final two All-Star appearances. 

His former teammates Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado, John Maine, Jose Reyes, Endy Chavez, Paul Lo Duca, and Mike Pelfrey will also participate on Team Shea Stadium in the three-inning exhibition. 

The action is set to get underway prior to the 4:10 first pitch between the Mets and Rangers.

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Healthy, dominant Jacob deGrom looking forward to Citi Field return: 'It’s going to be fun'

Jacob deGrom already made his return to New York earlier this season. 

He took the mound when the Rangers visited the Yankees in the Bronx for a three-game set back in May, but Friday night will mark the talented right-hander’s first time pitching at Citi Field as a visitor.

DeGrom is set to face-off with young Mets top prospect Jonah Tong in the opener of a three-game set.

“I’m excited to go and pitch at Citi Field,” he told reporters including Kennedy Landry of MLB.com. “That’s where I started my career, so it holds a special place in my heart -- their alumni game is going on there too so some guys I came up with will be there as well, it’ll be an all-around cool experience.”

DeGrom spent the first nine years of his big-league career in orange and blue.

Despite being a ninth-round draft pick he went on to solidify himself as one of the greatest pitchers in franchise history -- logging a Rookie of the Year, two Cy Young awards, and four All-Star appearances. 

He seemed like a lock to have his No. 48 sent up into the Citi Field rafters, but when he hit free agency following the 2022 season, he opted to leave to the Rangers on a big money five-year deal.

DeGrom made just nine starts his first two years in Texas after battling through injuries, but has finally been able to stay healthy thus far this season and he’s returned to his once dominant form atop their rotation.

He logged his fifth-career All-Star appearance earlier this year in Atlanta and has recorded a 2.78 ERA and 196 strikeouts across 155.2 innings of work, his most since 2019.

The 37-year-old is expecting some nerves when he finally toes the Citi Field rubber once again, but he’s looking forward to what he thinks will feel like a playoff atmosphere.

“I’ve pitched a lot there, Mets fans were always good to me,” he said. “Pitching in front of that crowd was always a fun experience, now I’m on the other side doing it, it’ll be interesting to see how it goes -- all these games are important for us, same for them with the spot they’re in, so it’s going to be fun."

Juan Soto, Cedric Mullins, and Starling Marte are the only three Mets with experience against deGrom. 

The latter two don't have much success, but Soto has a homer and a .909 OPS across 18 career at-bats. 

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Providence Bruins Sign Jacob Perreault To One-Year Contract

The Providence Bruins announced they have signed forward Jacob Perreault to a one-year deal for the 2025-26 AHL season. 

Perreault went pointless is in six games with the Laval Rocket and notched five points in five ECHL games before being dealt to the Bakersfield Condors where he picked up three goals and 14 points in 31 games.

A first round pick of the Anaheim Ducks in 2020, Perreault has 36 goals and 107 points in 218 career AHL games with the Rocket, Condors, and San Diego Gulls. He is pointless in one career NHL game with the Ducks. 

The 23-year-old has flashed high-end offensive skills at different points throughout his AHL career and looks to become a more consistent producer with a good Providence team. 

Check out our AHL to KHL signing tracker and AHL Free Agency signing tracker.  

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Brennan Othmann Comes Into Rookie Camp With A Different Mindset And Confidence Level

Danny Wild-Imagn Images

Brennan Othmann has come into the New York Rangers rookie camp with a different mindset. 

This past season, Othmann got a 22-game audition with the Rangers and while he showed some positive flashes, he failed to score a goal during that time frame. 

Not being able to get on the stat sheet with a goal impacted Othmann as he began to lose confidence in himself.

“It just wasn’t going in,” Othamann said. “It wasn’t like I was playing bad hockey, but it just wasn’t going in. That takes a toll on your mind, and that is something that not everybody prepares you for that side of the game.”

After experiencing the trials and tribulations of NHL play, Othmann decided to change up his trainer and whole offseason training program. 

He worked out at the gym of hockey performance expert, Gary Roberts, along with some of the top NHL players in the world, including Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Gabriel Landeskog, Sean Durzi, and Quinton Byfield.

“I just thought at this point it's just time to kind of make a change,” Othmann said about his change of trainers. “They helped me gain my confidence back that I didn't really have here towards the end of the year, so they did a great job.”

On top of his on-ice training, Othmann gained some muscle this summer and said that he weighed in at about 195 pounds. 

“You just want to put on as much size and muscle as you can, and then after that, once you stop growing, and that's kind of your making, make and model,” said Othmann. “I had all the engines for the car, and Gary and his staff built the car.”

Othmann has been attending Rangers rookie camp for many years now, but that didn’t stop him from coming back this season.

The 22-year-old forward views rookie camp as an opportunity to grow and improve as a player.

“Doing camp here is just another confidence builder,” Othmann said. “We discussed coming here, and at the end of the day, I wanted to because it helps with confidence. It gets you ready for main camp, and it gives you a week’s head start.”

With training camp just around the corner, Othmann will compete to earn a spot on the Rangers’ opening-night roster. 

Last season, Othmann finally got a crack at some NHL action, but now he’s looking to carve out a permanent spot with the Blueshirts.

During the first day of rookie camp, Othmann was sentimental when discussing his love for hockey and his career. 

Regardless of what transpires at training camp, Othmann is confident in himself and his pathway into the NHL.

“I’m brutally honest, I’m not worried about my abilities or when I’m going to play in the NHL, I will play in the NHL at some point,” Othmann stated. “Whether it’s this year or whenever, I’m going to play in the NHL. I'm just confident in my ability as a player…

“I don't know what other job I'd rather be doing. I'm a professional hockey player going on my third year now, like, it's exactly what I want to do. Obviously, in the NHL, but I'm a professional hockey player. I get here, I work out, I skate, I laugh, I have fun. That’s the best part of it, being around guys that you love and guys that love you back.”

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Here's what's at stake for Red Sox in weekend series with Yankees

Here's what's at stake for Red Sox in weekend series with Yankees originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

After unexpectedly losing the opening two games of their series in Arizona over the weekend, the Red Sox were in some trouble on Sunday.

Facing a 3-1 deficit through six innings, the Red Sox were facing the very real possibility of getting swept by a sub-.500 Diamondbacks team, a setback that could have suddenly put the team in peril of potentially flirting with the possibility of missing the playoffs.

Yet with a three-run seventh inning and a three-run ninth, the Red Sox salvaged a win in that series finale before winning their first two games in West Sacramento against the A’s. The Red Sox came up short of sweeping the A’s — with Aroldis Chapman’s historic streak of dominance ending — but finished the road trip at 3-3.

The Red Sox now have just five three-game series remaining in their regular season, and they have a rather significant one coming up this weekend at Fenway Park.

The Yankees will be coming to Boston for the second and final time this year. They’ll be coming off a home series loss after dropping the first two games of their series against the Tigers in rather ugly fashion.

After Wednesday night’s action, the Red Sox and Yankees are in a virtual tie for second place in the AL East, with the Red Sox having played two more games. And with the Blue Jays losing on Wednesday as well, the division crown remains a possible — if unlikely — goal for both the Red Sox and Yankees, who are both three games back of Toronto.

What’s more attainable for the Red Sox and Yankees this weekend is some control in the wild-card standings. They’re both three games clear of the Mariners, who currently hold the final wild-card spot, and they’re four games clear of the Rangers, who are the top team outside of the playoff bubble.

A sweep either way would obviously shift the picture dramatically, as the winner would maybe be a game out of first place while the loser could be stuck fighting just to make the playoffs.

Yet for the Red Sox, what’s really at stake this weekend is the opportunity to really assert dominance over the Yankees one last time before a potential meeting in October. Regardless of Thursday’s outcome, the Yankees will be headed to Boston feeling wounded, after getting outscored 23-3 in their first two games against the Tigers this week.

For the Yankees to deal with that beatdown from a playoff team before taking on the Red Sox, against whom they’re just 2-8 this season? That will surely test the confidence and belief inside Aaron Boone’s clubhouse.

A sweep for the Red Sox would be far too high of an expectation. Yet with the state of the Yankees, with Boston having an off day on Thursday, and with the Red Sox having Lucas Giolito, Brayan Bello and Garret Crochet lined up for the weekend, Boston is certainly in the driver’s seat to at least take two out of three.

At the same time, the Red Sox have lost numerous series they were supposed to win in recent weeks — notably against Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Arizona — so the Yankees can’t be expected to simply roll over.

Whichever way it goes, this series represents a major opportunity for either side to deliver one final haymaker to either knock the opponent off cruise control in the playoff race or send a message for a potential wild-card series that could take place in just a few short weeks.

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Kepler, Sánchez lead Phillies to rout over Mets

Kepler, Sánchez lead Phillies to rout over Mets originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

There seems to be a simple set of directions for the Phillies when pitcher Cristopher Sánchez starts a game. That is to score early, settle in and watch the master go to work, score some more runs and pretty much call it a game.

They followed that guideline Wednesday night against the Mets and it led to an 11-3 victory, their 10th win in their last 13 games. The Phillies sent eight batters to the plate twice. They got three hits and five RBI from Max Kepler and three hits and two RBI from Brandon Marsh in their 14-hit barrage that led to the lopsided win.

The Phillies are now 86-60 on the season, leading the Mets in the National League East by 10 games. They also lowered their magic number to clinch the division to seven.

The Phillies have now taken the first three games of this four-game series and have clinched their 31st series win on the season, sixth best in club history. With five series left, they have a chance to beat the club record – which is 34 – set in 2011.

After Thursday’s game against the Mets, the Phillies close out the season with a three-game series against the Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Dodgers, Arizona Diamondbacks, Miami Marlins and Minnesota Twins.

In their last 151 games at Citizens Bank Park, the Phillies have posted 102 wins, have won 11 of their last 12 series and have victories in 29 of their last 40 games at home.

The outfield du-jour of Marsh, Kepler and Harrison Bader combined to go eight for 14 with five runs and seven RBIs.

“I think everyone’s on board with the same goal and everyone’s moving at the same pace,” said Kepler of the outfielders. “Even if you’re not playing and on the bench, people are contributing and they’re contributing as a teammate, by cheering the guy in the box or whoever is in the field. There’s a feeling of everyone has each other’s backs, if you’re playing or not.”

Phillies offense wasted no time in getting a lead for Sánchez, as they sent two to the plate in the first inning and six more by the seventh.

The Mets scored their lone run off Sánchez in the fourth when Juan Soto led off the inning with a fan-interference-helped double to deep left-center. He moved to third on a Pete Alonso single and scored on an RBI single by Starling Marte.

The Phillies and Sánchez got out of the inning when the newly formed double play duo of shortstop Bryson Stott and second baseman Donovan Walton turned it to end the inning.

It was Stott’s first appearance at short this season but may not be the last, with a hamstring injury sidelining Trea Turner.

“I just kept my focus on pitching and we’re at home so we have to take advantage of that,” said Sanchez, who let up six runs and eight hits in five one/third innings against the Mets a couple weeks ago. “Attacking with the plan that we had and just staying calm and keeping composure as well. That’s what you call adjustment. I think that we made the right adjustments, and we got the results to show that.

“There’s not many games left and we’ve got to keep going. This isn’t over until it’s over. We always have to keep going, winning games and step up, our defense, our pitching, everything. We just have to keep trying to win every game.”

The Phillies added two more in the fifth as J.T. Realmuto got an infield hit to third and scored on a double by Brandon Marsh. The Mets removed starter Clay Holmes and on the first pitch from reliever Gregory Soto, Kepler hit a broken-bat single to center to score Marsh.

They again had eight hitters go to the plate in scoring four runs in the sixth, which included two hit batters, a walk and three singles. Marsh drove in one with a single, Kepler two with a single and Otto Kemp had a sacrifice fly.

“I’m really proud of the ball club,” said manager Rob Thomson. “That’s the way it’s been here for a while. We’ve lost guys and other guys just step in and take hold of the situation. That’s what we’re going through right now. Everybody understands where we’re at and what we need to do to get this thing done. Things change in a heartbeat. I’m not counting my chickens right now. We’ve just got to keep moving.”

Bryce Harper hit his 25th home run of the season to right in the seventh for a run and Kepler blasted a solo shot to right in a two-run eighth inning. Juan Soto hit a solo homer off Jose Alvarado in the eighth for the Mets’ other run.

Sánchez left after six innings of work, allowing four hits, the one run and striking out six. He improved to 13-5 and lowered his ERA to 2.57.

“His changeup was really good tonight, better than last time (against the Mets),” said Thomson. “He had 11 whiffs, a little trouble in the fourth inning and worked out of it, only giving up one run. That shows his poise and character. He had a good night.”

As did Kepler. The Phillies are not 15-1 in games in which he homers. He also uncharacteristically broke his splintered bat over his knee after he singled in a run in the fifth.

“It’s a good feeling to smash one over your leg from time to time,” said Kepler. “That’s definitely not me. I’m not a hardo. That’s just in the moment I wanted to let that out and smash my bat. I’ve done that once before, also on a hit. I don’t know what got into me there. That’s a hardo moment, for sure.”

Call it hardo or maybe just relief that he and his outfield teammates are playing so well at just the right time of the season.

The Phillies close out the series on Thursday with a national broadcast on FOX. First pitch is set for 7:15 p.m. ET.