Earlier today, The Hockey News took a closer look at Braeden Bowman’s mindset heading into the 2026-27 season.
The 23-year-old forward wanted to prove he belonged in the Vegas Golden Knights’ long-term plans. He wanted to turn last season’s promising NHL debut into something more permanent and show that he was more than a player simply passing through the lineup.
As it turns out, Bowman didn’t have to wait very long for an answer.
The Golden Knights had already made up their minds.
Vegas general manager Kelly McCrimmon announced Thursday that the organization had signed Bowman to a six-year contract extension worth $3.4 million annually, keeping him under contract through the 2032-33 season.
It is a substantial commitment to a player who, not long ago, was still trying to establish himself within the organization.
Bowman made his NHL debut against the New York Islanders on Nov. 13 and wasted little time making an impression. He scored in three consecutive games and recorded a point in five straight, tying franchise rookie records in both categories. He finished the season with 26 points — eight goals and 18 assists — in 54 games, tying for seventh among Vegas forwards.
But his impact went beyond his initial NHL audition.
Bowman continued to dominate when he returned to the Henderson Silver Knights, recording 26 points in just 20 AHL games during the 2025-26 campaign. Fourteen of those points came during an eight-game stretch in April, earning him AHL Player of the Month honors.
His 1.30 points-per-game rate was the highest among AHL forwards who played at least 15 games last season.
That production helps explain why Vegas was willing to make such a significant investment now.
Bowman wanted this season to be about proving he was worth a permanent place in the Golden Knights’ lineup.
Instead, Vegas just gave him six more years to show exactly why he was worth it.
ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 10: Ha-Seong Kim #7 of the Atlanta Braves celebrates with teammates after the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Truist Park on September 10, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Jack Casey/Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It really just feels like each series the Atlanta Braves have been in lately has been like them leaving a snake pit for a lion’s den only to realize that they’ve stepped into a piranha’s pond and escaped that just to find out that the dry land was quicksand. “I don’t know how much more battle-tested we need to be,” quipped Walt Weiss when he was asked by the media during Tuesday’s pregame press conference about the tough schedule that the Braves have been dealing with as of late — and still have to navigate going forward.
Indeed, one of the takeaways from this patch is that the Braves will have faced some of the toughest teams that baseball currently has to offer once they eventually reach the Postseason and they should be more-than-ready to handle whatever’s in front of them. With that being said, the Braves had to deal with another serious test in the form of the Tampa Bay Rays and once the smoke cleared, it was less about acing the test and more like simply doing enough to pass the test. Did Atlanta manage that? Let’s get into it.
This one was competitive for two innings, as the Braves matched Junior Caminero’s two-out dinger off of AJ Smith-Shawver in the first inning with a run of their own in the bottom half of that frame. The deadlock didn’t last long at all, as the Rays made the third inning a long one for Smith-Shawver. AJSS was one out away from potentially putting two outs on the board against the Rays in that inning. Instead, Liam Hicks sent one flying into the Georgia night sky for a two-run shot. Smith-Shawver was one out away from keeping it at 3-1 before Victor Mesa Jr. hit a bouncer that eluded the glove of Ozzie Albies and dribbled into the infield for an RBI single that made it 4-1.
AJ Smith-Shawver was only able to make it through 3.1 innings with those four runs allowed, but credit is due to Brent Suter for going 3.2 innings while only giving up a single run while he was out there. Elieser Hernández wasn’t as fortunate, as he surrendered two runs across his two innings of work and then got the DFA treatment once the next morning rolled around. It really felt like the Rays were either dinking and dunking or hitting moonshots, there was no in-between in this one.
Meanwhile, a nasty trend for the Braves was emerging while they were on the mound. It’s not particularly shocking that Freddy Peralta ended up going six innings with just one run allowed since he’d done pretty well in two previous starts against Atlanta with the Mets. It wasn’t shocking either to see the Rays bullpen clamp down on the Braves they did on Tuesday, either. What was shocking is that the Braves came out of this game with 11 batted balls that were at least 95-mph that ended up turning into outs. Folks, that’s tough!
This felt like a near-carbon copy of the first game. The two teams were tied after the first inning, the Rays pulled away shortly after the first inning, Atlanta’s starting pitcher didn’t get deep and the offense was left holding the bag despite hitting the ball hard all night. Indeed, that’s the path that both of these teams doubled back on on this particular night as the Rays once again cruised to another big win. A home run from Victor Mesa Jr., a double steal and then old friend Jorge Mateo slapping one into the outfield off the end of his bat led to three runs in the second for Tampa Bay.
The Rays added three more in the fourth in a way that would’ve had Atlanta fuming considering how their batted ball luck was turning. With two men on and nobody out, Cedric Mullins plated an RBI in similar fashion to how Jorge Mateo did it — he put the bat out there on a ball that was outside of the zone and got rewarded for it. Richie Palacios poked one into the outfield in left to bring home another one of his Rays teammates and then Yandy Díaz’s sacrifice fly made it a 6-0 lead as Reynaldo López’s head was probably spinning.
Drake Baldwin homered off of Griffin Jax in the fourth inning in order to ensure that the Braves didn’t get shut out and then Matt Olson continued to work his way out of his current slump with a sacrifice fly to make it 6-2 in the sixth but by then, the damage had been done — and frustratingly so. Once again, the Braves hit the ball hard all night and received little reward for it. This time, Atlanta saw 12 batted balls that were at least 95-mph end up finding Tampa Bay’s leather instead of the grass. The final out of the game was a 99-mph bullet from Mauricio Dubón that was seemingly magnetized to Richie Palacios’s glove. Dubón used his knee to turn his bat into two separate and large toothpicks in response and the Braves ended up taking an incredibly frustrating series loss.
Martín Pérez and Nick Martinez were in complete and total control in this one for the seven innings in which they participated. Pérez bounced back from a tough start against the Phillies by going out and tossing seven shutout innings against the Rays in this one. Considering how the first two games of this series had gone, Pérez was basically in a situation where he had to come up big and he did so in crucial fashion. Atlanta needed to stabilize things as far as their pitching was concerned and for what feels like the umpteenth time this season, Pérez came through in a big moment for the Braves.
As far as the bats went, today appeared to be the day when Atlanta’s batted ball luck finally turned around. This time, the Braves only had three batted balls of 95-mph or faster end up turning into outs. That’s not to say that things were easy-peasy for Atlanta, though — Nick Martinez was absolutely dominant and cruised through six innings while only having to deal with two baserunners throughout. After retiring Ronald Acuña Jr. in to start the seventh, Martinez had only thrown 68 pitches on the day and seemed well poised to get even deeper into the game.
Instead, the Rays pulled a Rays and manager Kevin Cash went out there and pulled Martinez so that they could let the bullpen carry them for the rest of the way. It worked out for the rest of the seventh inning — it did not go well for them in the eighth. Kevin Kelly ran into a pinch-hitting Ozzie Albies in that inning and Ozzie promptly hit one 99.2-mph towards right field and it didn’t land inside the glove of a Rays fielder. Austin Riley then came through with a ground ball that split two of Tampa’s defenders on the right side of the infield for the breakthrough RBI single. Mike Yastrzemski followed that up with a pinch-hit ground-rule double and then Ha-Seong Kim continued his revival with a big two-RBI single that gave the Braves yet another big bottom-of-the-eighth inning in front of the fans at Truist Park.
Victor Mesa Jr. homered off of Raisel Iglesias with one out in the ninth and then a walk from Chandler Simpson meant that Tampa Bay had two outs to play with with the tying run at home plate. They didn’t get any further than that and the Braves had officially salvaged the series.
Well, that certainly wasn’t ideal but the Braves did just enough to make sure that the status quo from the start of this series in the NL East remained the same. Thanks to some help from another first-place club in the American League, the Braves will be heading into their huge weekend home series against the Philadelphia Phillies with the same four-game lead that they had when they left Philadelphia on Monday evening. Crucially, that’s three games lopped off the calendar where the Braves maintained their position instead of ceding ground. As long as Atlanta can keep it steady (and a series win this weekend would be huge), that’ll do the trick for the Braves as far as the division is concerned.
With that being said, it’s looking more and more like the Braves are going to be destined to facing someone in the Wild Card Round. Both the Brewers and the Dodgers have started to really put pedal to the medal with the Brewers essentially wrapping up the NL Central and the Dodgers taking care of business with their soft schedule. Past the obvious ramifications of the bye being out of reach, this essentially ensures that this intense ride ain’t stoppin’ until the Braves either lift the trophy or get sent home for the Fall and Winter. Strap in, folks. The water will only get choppier from here.
Hopefully the hard-hit balls that Atlanta collected during this series will start to trend more towards being successful rather than turning into the many, many frustrating outs that we had to witness. That’s just about the only solace you can take from this series if you’re a Braves fan and concerned about the offense. They’re hitting the ball hard — the ball just has to find some green or some seats instead of leather. Now would be a perfect time for that luck to turn and it would also be a great moment for the pitching staff to continue holding the opposition at bay. There’s still time for everything to click and if it does, the Braves will be able to navigate this month safely and be in good shape heading into October. We’ll see what happens.
The Winnipeg Jets open training camp next week, and goalie Connor Hellebuyck is likely hoping that a trade will occur before that. The Vezina and Hart Trophy winner revealed his trade request late last month and according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, there appears to be no chance of reconciliation between the Jets and the netminder who has played 625 games over 11 seasons in Manitoba since 2015.
“Some things that happened last year that were out of the Jets control, post-Olympics, that have made the situation impossible to resolve. I think the Jets were hopeful that maybe it would change, but I don’t think that’s possible at all.” Friedman said on Thursday’s 32 Thoughts podcast. ““I do think the Jets understand that now & we'll see where this goes over the next few days.”
Friedman indicates that a Hellebuyck trade may move more swiftly, since the 33-year-old has a much larger list of destinations than other players who looked to move this summer, but that deals that were discussed around the NHL Draft in June are not possible now, since assets that were involved in trade offers (such as first round picks, players or prospects) were either selected, used in other deals, or unavailable due to no-trade clauses that fell into place after July 1.
Specific to Buffalo, the fourth overall pick (used to select defenseman Daxon Rudolph) is now unavailable, and goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen five-team no-trade clause came into effect in July. The Florida Panthers were reportedly interested, but some of the pieces offered in the deal for Hellebuyck were since used to acquire forward Brady Tkachuk and goalie Jacob Markstrom from New Jersey.
Friedman indicated that it is imperative for Winnipeg GM Kevin Cheveldayoff to do well in a Hellebuyck trade, and is looking for a hockey trade rather than future assets to keep the Jets as a competitive club. Along with the Sabres, the Utah Mammoth and Carolina Hurricanes are still in the mix, but there are mixed signals of whether the New Jersey Devils are.
Former Boston Celtics star, now Philadelphia 76ers player Jaylen Brown decided to get in the squared circle with absolutely no preparation in Nigeria.
Brown took part in a boxing match earlier this week, a little over a month before the start of his first season in his new city. Footage of the boxing match was shown on Brown’s clips page on Instagram.
Brown commented on the post saying he ‘had 0 prep for this,” although he does have some boxing in his blood with his father being former WBU champ Quenton Marselles Brown. The match appeared to call extra attention to Brown’s 7uice Foundation, which, according to social media, “partners with leaders and institutions to bridge opportunity gaps and empower youth through education and innovation.”
In July, Brown was traded by the Celtics to the 76ers for Paul George and a pair of future second-round draft picks. Brown and the Celtics won the NBA title in 2024 after destroying the Mavericks in five games, where Brown was named Finals MVP.
Boone began with a clear, concise update on Chisholm's health.
"With Jazz, it will be seven to ten days of no baseball activity," he stated. "We'll see as he gets ramped up, he does have a history of being a fast healer if you look at his injury history, but we'll listen to the thumb and see how he recovers."
The skipper then moved onto Volpe, talking about how he's met the challenge of being sent down on Aug. 7 to play second base at Triple-A during a crucial stretch of the Bronx Bombers' season.
"He's done a great job down in Triple-A working on a lot of things," said Boone. "Obviously, adding the positional flexibility to his game, he's done a really great job on the defensive side, and he's been great with the bat for a while."
Volpe, who is batting ninth in the order and playing second base for the Yankees against the Rockies on Thursday night, has slashed a stellar .284/.381/.642 with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, clobbering 10 homers and tallying 21 RBI in just 28 games.
Boone, accordingly, praised the former Yanks top prospect and natural shortstop, who has shown resilience in the face of adversity and uncertainty as of late.
He has thoroughly earned this late-season opportunity to prove he has what it takes to be an everyday player in New York, albeit at a new position. After all, surging rookie George Lombard Jr. is continuing to make the six-hole his own, mashing a grand slam on Wednesday against Colorado.
"We're excited to get him back up here," the manager professed. "All the reports from player development, he's been excellent turning double plays from second base, and we're not surprised, since he's the type of athlete that should take to the position well."
"Over the past several weeks, we've seen really big results, and hopefully that starts to translate up here as well."
Of course, playing in New York means dealing with the intense spotlight of a rabid fanbase in a massive media market, and not everyone is built to handle that pressure cooker. In this regard, Volpe has the backing of his manager.
"I've never felt like the pressure has gotten to Anthony," Boone opined. "He's done a great job working and playing with his nose down, for him it's about continuing to develop his skills and getting to that next level as a player overall."
Finally, with the 25th anniversary of 9/11 on Friday, the Yankees are set to host their crosstown rival Mets in a three-game weekend set, and Boone understands the multi-faceted importance of the occasion.
"It's going to be an incredible, very emotional scene," he concluded. "There's going to be people in the building with strong ties, very personal connections to the tragedy that took place."
"Having two New York teams playing, during this time of the year, with important games on the line, it'll be an environment with some joy, some sorrow, and some reflection."
Shohei Ohtani steps in the batter’s box and decides this is the moment for him to ignore what could happen to his injured right arm or left knee.
He lets it rip – and he barrels one up.
The Dodgers go on to win the game, maybe even the series.
But that will be it.
That one at-bat will constitute the entirety of Ohtani’s postseason production.
Think the outlook is overly pessimistic?
Consider this: The scenario represents the absolute best-case scenario.
The Dodgers can’t expect anything more than that. How can they after manager Dave Roberts said Ohtani will be placed on the 15-day injured list before the Dodgers open their three-game series against the Miami Marlins on Friday?
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani reacts after fouling a ball off his foot during the seventh inning against the Cincinnati Reds on Monday, September 7, 2026, at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“Is it going to be 100%?” Roberts said. “Probably not.”
Ohtani shared similar thoughts earlier in the week, as he emphasized the importance of making adjustments that could make him offensively productive while being physically limited.
“With some creativity,” Ohtani said in Japanese,’ I think I can make up for what’s not right.”
If his health wouldn’t substantially improve over the final three weeks of the regular season, he figured, he might as well use that time to learn how to play injured.
His body kept him from doing even that.
The one game he played in the last week – an 0-for-3 performance in a win over the Cincinnati Reds on Monday – set him back enough to where he couldn’t take at-bats he felt he needed to be competitive in the playoffs.
This wasn’t a case of his condition not improving. This was a case of his conditioning worsening, perhaps even substantially.
At this point, it would be completely unrealistic to think Ohtani could be a consistent source of offense for the Dodgers this year.
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani reacts after fouling a ball off his foot during the seventh inning against the Cincinnati Reds on Monday, Sept. 7, 2026, at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
An imaginary threat that scares other teams?
Maybe.
A silver bullet who could change the game with one swing?
Less likely, but not impossible.
What Ohtani won’t do is homer one night, collect three hits the next, and drive in three runs the game after that. Doesn’t matter that he won’t be pitching.
Ohtani is six for his last 52. Since Aug. 5, he’s homered just once outside of Coors Field in high-altitude Denver.
Over the next seven games, Ohtani played just once.
Should the Dodgers have placed Ohtani on the injured list last week rather than let him play on Monday after sitting out four games?
Probably.
Position players have to spend a minimum of 10 days on the injured list, but Ohtani has to be sidelined for a minimum of 15 days because he is officially classified by the league as a two-way player.
Ohtani’s IL stint can be backdated to Tuesday, which means he could be activated at the earliest with five games remaining in the regular season. By placing him on the IL after he played in obvious pain on Sept. 2, the Dodgers could have made him eligible to return five days earlier.
The Dodgers’ failure to act cost Ohtani as many as four games – games in which he could have tested the adjustments he said he had to make.
But that’s almost beside the point.
By that stage of the season, there wasn’t a right answer. The Dodgers had already screwed up. Ohtani was damaged, and he and the team were doing no more than searching for the least-worst choice in a series of undesirable options.
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani looks on during the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Sometime after Ohtani made what turned out to be his final start as a pitcher on July 3, the Dodgers crossed the invisible line between involving their star player in decisions about playing time and allowing him to destroy his body.
The overwhelming desire to assist his return to the mound blinded them to what almost everyone else could see: Ohtani was falling apart.
Alex Toohey, the forward from Canberra, Australia, originally drafted by the Golden State Warriors before being waived is coming back for training camp, according to multiple reports.
Alex Toohey of the Golden State Warriors arrives at the arena before a game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. NBAE via Getty Images
Toohey was Golden State’s top selection in the 2025 draft, at No. 52 overall, but has yet to appear in an NBA game and played only two games for G League Santa Cruz because of a knee injury. He was waived in December so that the Warriors could sign Malevy Leons.
Toohey and Leons will be among the crop of players competing for the Warriors’ pair of two-way slots when they open training camp later this month in Hawaii. Also expected to be in the mix are sharpshooter LJ Cryer, rookie guard Lajae Jones and Deivon Smith and Graham Ike, who like Toohey both inked Exhibit 10 deals for training camp.
Alex Toohey of the Golden State Warriors drives to the basket during a game against the Memphis Grizzlies during the 2025 NBA Summer League on July 15, 2025, at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NBAE via Getty Images
The signing brings the Warriors’ roster to 20 players, one shy of the offseason maximum. After a quiet summer, they’ve rounded out their 15-man roster in recent weeks with veterans Georges Niang and Brandon Williams on minimum contracts.
Dalen Terry, the former Bulls first-round pick, will also be in training camp but must earn a spot on the full-time roster; the 6-foot-6 wing is ineligible for a two-way contract.
The Warriors report Sept. 29 for training camp, which runs through Oct. 3 on the campus of BYU-Hawaii, before opening their preseason slate against the Clippers on Oct. 4 in Honolulu.
ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 30: Atlanta Braves left fielder Lane Thomas (20) sits in the dugout prior to the MLB game between the Colorado Rockies and the Atlanta Braves on August 30, 2026 at TRUIST Park in Atlanta GA. (Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Lane Thomas was a late scratch in the Braves lineup today. We have heard why from Walt Weiss.
Lane Thomas was a late scratch just before the game. He could to miss the remainder of the season with an intercostal strain.
This could mean a few more opportunities for Brewer Hicklen, who's made the most of limited chances (8-for-24 with 6 BB). https://t.co/YoliShNRaL
I’m not a doctor, but as I understand it an intercostal strain is slightly different from an oblique strain. An intercostal strain affects the muscles under the ribs. An oblique strain affects the sides of the abdomen. In any case, it’s an Injured List visit for Thomas. He will join Bryce Elder as the second Braves player placed there this week.
Mauricio Dubón is being checked on by trainers after twisting out of the way of this inside changeup – started reaching immediately for his oblique, grimacing the whole way.
In case you missed it, Mauricio Dubon pulled away from the plate with an oblique issue in today’s game. According to reports, Walt said postgame that he felt something in his back and it wasn’t a big deal. We might see DaShawn Keirsey Jr. on the active roster for the Philadelphia series tomorrow, but we don’t know at this point. I’m not sure what the Braves will do if that Dubon goes down. We will see more of Ha-Seong Kim, I’m sure. But I’ll take two hits a game like today while he’s gone.
From bobbleheads celebrating current stars to ones honoring key figures of the past, to Hello Kitty – yes, Hello Kitty – the Lakers are slated to have a well-rounded promotional nights schedule for 2026-27.
The team announced Thursday their full slate of promotional nights and special recognitions for the upcoming season.
The Lakers are having bobblehead giveaways of Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves during the 2026-27 season. Getty Images
They’ll celebrate superstar guard Luka Dončić as the NBA’s 2025-26 scoring champion with a bobblehead giveaway during the Nov. 1 home game against the Raptors.
Lakers star guard Austin Reaves will also have his own bobblehead giveaway night during the Dec. 27 home game against the Grizzlies.
The franchise will also honor legends through its new “League of Stars” program, which will include throwback bobbleheads of two-time All-Star and NBA champion Norm Nixon (Dec. 14 vs. Pelicans), NBA champion coach Paul Westhead (Jan. 14 vs. Magic) and four-time NBA champion Kurt Rambis (March 17 vs. Suns).
Keeping up with celebrating their past, the Lakers will have a 2020 Championship ring replica giveaway on Jan. 24, when they’re slated to host Anthony Davis and the Wizards.
The Lakers are hosting their first “Hello Kitty” night during the 2026-27 season. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
A few other promotional nights include a Lakers x Dodgers baseball-style jersey giveaway on Nov. 18 vs. the Jazz, the franchise’s first Hello Kitty night on March 7 vs. the Nets, in addition to giveaways during Opening Night against the Warriors on Oct. 21 and the 76ers on Christmas Day.
Lakers’ 2026-27 promotional nights
Oct. 8: LGBTQ+ Pride Night with Pride t-shirt
Oct. 21: Opening Night vs. Warriors
Nov. 1: Luka Dončić scoring champion bobblehead
Nov. 17: Veterans Appreciation Night
Nov. 18: Lakers x Dodgers baseball-style jersey giveaway
Dec. 1: League of Stars honors Norm Nixon with bobblehead
Phil Jackson is one of several Lakers legends who’ll be honored with a bobblehead during 2026-27. REUTERS
Dec. 25: Christmas Day vs. 76ers
Dec. 27: Austin Reaves bobblehead night
Jan. 14: League of Stars honors Paul Westhead bobblehead
Jan. 24: Lakers 2020 Championship ring replica giveaway
Feb. 10: Mental Health Awareness Night
March 7: Hello Kitty Night
March 17: League of Stars honors Kurt Rambis with bobblehead
April 9: Phil Jackson statue unveiling and Phil Jackson bobblehead
England moved inexorably towards a crushing series whitewash against Pakistan on Thursday with three days still remaining in a one-sided third Test at Edgbaston.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 18: The sneakers worn by Malik Williams #37 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the game against the Miami Heat during the 2025 NBA Summer League game on July 18, 2025 at the Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Jun 14, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Phil Kessel (81) waves to the crowd during the Stanley Cup championship parade and rally in downtown Pittsburgh. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Phil and Amanda Kessel have each been elected to the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame’s 2026 class.
During his 4 years with the Penguins, Phil Kessel helped the team win two Stanley Cup titles as a key part of the franchise’s infamous “HBK Line” alongside Carl Hagelin and Nick Bonino.
In his 4 seasons in Pittsburgh, Phil Kessel scored 110 goals and added 193 assists in 328 games.
After leaving Pittsburgh, Phil Kessel added another Stanley Cup title to his resume with the Vegas Golden Knights, completing his career with 992 points in 1,286 games.
“Obviously, this is a great honor,” Phil Kessel said to NHL.com. “I loved playing for USA Hockey over the years, enjoyed my time, enjoyed all the friends I made. It was always a great honor to play for the team, and I’m just happy to be inducted. This is a great class. Obviously, I’m excited to go in with my sister. She was a great player.”
At the international level, Phil Kessel represented the United States at the Winter Olympics in 2010 and 2014, bringing home one silver medal.
Phil Kessel’s younger sister, Amanda, who is currently serving as the Penguins’ Director of Minor League Operations and Assistant General Manager of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, had an outstanding international playing career, representing the United States at the the Winter Olympics three times, winning gold once and silver twice.
“It’s, obviously, really special to go in with my brother, who’s helped me a ton throughout my career, and I couldn’t be more proud of him as well,” Amanda Kessel said.
In addition to her international career, Amanda Kessel won three national championship titles at the University of Minnesota and played two seasons in the NWHL.
The Kessel duo will become just the second brother-sister pair to be elected to the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, joining Cammi and Tony Granato, the latter having served as a Penguins assistant coach under Dan Bylsma.
The official enshrinement ceremony will take place on November 30.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - SEPTEMBER 10: Cam Smith #11 of the Houston Astros reacts after hitting a solo home run in the top of the ninth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on September 10, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Astros defeated the Phillies 2-1. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Was this the dumbest baseball game ever played? No, that would be a stretch.
But if you didn’t have school or work today and decided to watch this one, your brain would be in danger. From Alec Bohm hesitating at second base on a groundball to his left or Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña getting caught on a double-play line drive because he was going to third base no matter what, this game was pretty unique in its stupidity. It’s a little scary that a game could look like this and the Phillies don’t even play the Mets until next week.
Zack Wheeler’s seven-inning, one-run, nine-strikeout performance did not jump off to a great start. In the second inning, Christian Walker knocked a soft one-out single to Marsh in left field. After a Cam Smith strikeout, Taylor Trammell took a first-pitch curveball to the right field wall, scoring Walker all the way from first in-part because Bryce Harper overthrew the cutoff man.
As both teams lagged through the next few innings because both teams have a flight to catch, the Phillies fans in Citizens Bank Park were getting flashbacks to 2022 when Christian Javier started carrying a no-hitter through four innings.
Luis Arraez was not on the 2022 team, although he would’ve fit right in as another first baseman playing out of position. He punched a high fastball to left field for a leadoff single in the fifth to break the no-no. Two pitches later, Alec Bohm smoked a high fastball to the track for a one-hopper off the wall that put runners on second and third with no out.
In the next four pitches, the Phillies tied the game but broke everyone’s brain. Stott hit a routine groundball to Alec Bohm’s left but he froze between second and third base, leading to a very easy throw for Jeremy Peña to third baseman Issac Paredes.
On the very next pitch, Brandon Marsh hit a changeup right to the sure-handed first baseman Christian Walker, who stepped on the first base bag and immediately got Bryson Stott into a run down which ended the inning.
In the bottom of the sixth, Justin Crawford legged out a Baltimore chopper that future Hall of Famer Jose Altuve had no chance at.
Right after, Don Mattingly instructed for Rafael Marchán to lay down a bunt to try and move Crawford over. Javier threw him a high fastball that was fouled, which sometimes happens. On the second pitch, Marchán pulled his bat back but it landed in the bottom right corner of the strike zone, putting in an 0-2 hole. They still made him try and bunt Crawford over, which is fine because Rafael Marchán’s OPS starts with a three and his batting average starts with a one.
On the next pitch, Javier threw a fastball right to Christian Vázquez’s face and eye to eye with Marchán in the box. Marchán still tried to bunt it anyway, the ball went foul, and he took a full knob of wood to the face. He’s out.
A passed ball with Kyle Schwarber in the box allowed for Crawford to advance to second anyway but Schwarber struck out on a high fastball. A very normal breaking ball and cutter in, then high fastball for a late swing sequence.
Trea Turner saw seven pitches and none of them were in the strike zone. He chased two Javier sweepers, fouled off a fastball, then spat on three straight off-speed pitches before going down on a changeup in the left handed batters box that never looked like a strike.
We can skip over Zack Wheeler overcoming back-to-back two-out walks that loaded the bases for the Astros in the seventh. Yanier Diaz struck out on a nasty sweeper. It was fine.
In the top of the eighth, after having Alex McFarlane warm up in the seventh in case Wheeler got into more trouble, he sat McFarlane down for José Alvarado. On the seventh pitch to Jeremy Peña, he hit a grounder in the shortstop hole that Trea Turner backhanded and threw the ball into the seats. It’s what Drake Maye should’ve done last night so maybe that’s the idea.
After falling behind 3-0 to Yordan Alvarez, Don Mattingly puts up four fingers so there are two on with no one out. With a one-one count, Issac Paredes hit a line drive right to Trea Turner’s glove, Jeremy Peña decided to start running to third even though the ball never came close to hitting the ground and a double play bailed them out.
Against Altuve, Alvarado hung a cutter that was smoked right between Brandon Marsh and Justin Crawford in left-center that put runners on second and third with two outs. Daulton Varsho then hit a one-pitch pop up to Bryson Stott that ended the threat.
Bryan Abreu then threw a dominant, ten-pitch, ten-strike, three-strikeout eighth that was one Justin Crawford foul ball away from being an immaculate inning. Brandon Marsh smoked a foul ball off his foot and then had to leave the game for Derek Hill.
In the top of the ninth, with out out, Cam Smith caught a hanging splinker and did not miss it. Smith broke the one-one tie for Josh Hader to throw an easy one-two-three inning. Of course the ending can’t be dramatic!
Anyway, the Braves beat the Rays 3-1, so the Phillies immediately lost the game they gained from last night and travel to Atlanta down four games. Never say never on the division but they probably need a sweep to have a real chance.
PORT ST. LUCIE, FLORIDA - MARCH 19, 2026: Theo Gillen #24 of the Tampa Bay Rays prepares to bat during the first inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the New York Mets at Clover Park on March 19, 2026 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
The Tampa Bay Rays have announced the winners of their 2026 Minor League awards:
Minor League Co-Player of the Year: Catcher Caden Bodine
Bodine, 22, has slashed .344/.411/.519 (156-for-453) with 27 doubles, two triples, 16 home runs, 97 RBI, 49 walks, and 81 runs scored over 112 games across four levels of the Rays system this season. He is the only Rays farmhand to play 10 games or more for all four full-season affiliates in a single campaign since at least 2005. Bodine’s .344 average is the second best among full-season minor leaguers. The switch-hitting backstop is on pace to be the first Rays minor leaguer to finish with a top-two batting average in the minors since Chandler Simpson won the minor league batting title in 2024. Bodine’s .344 clip would mark the fifth-highest average by a full-season Rays minor leaguer (min. 316 plate appearances).
Bodine began the season with Class-A Charleston and slashed .379/.433/.614 (50-for-132) with 12 doubles, two triples, five home runs, and 27 RBI in 33 games for the RiverDogs. He earned Carolina League Player of the Month and Rays Organizational Player of the Month honors in April. At the time of his promotion, he paced all Single-A hitters in batting average (.379), ranked second in slugging percentage (.614) and OPS (1.047), and was fifth in hits (50). Bodine reached base safely in 30 of his 33 games with Charleston.
He played 32 games with Class-A Bowling Green and posted a .341 (45-for-132) average with six doubles, four home runs, 30 RBI, a .411 on-base percentage, and a .477 slugging percentage. He hit safely in a career-best 18 straight games between June 4-25, a streak that included a South Atlantic League Player of the Week award for June 15-21. During the streak, Bodine went 34-for-79 (.430) with four doubles, one home run, 21 RBI, and a 1.003 OPS.
He was promoted to the Double-A level on June 30 and appeared in 37 games for Montgomery. During his stint in the Southern League, he turned in a .316/.397/.447 (48-for-152) slash line with five doubles, five home runs, 33 RBI, with 20 walks to 12 strikeouts. Between June 30 and Aug. 23, Bodine’s .316 average ranked fourth in the Southern League, while his .397 on-base percentage was seventh best and his 33 RBI tied for eight most. He closed his tenure with the Biscuits by reaching base safely in 12 straight games from Aug. 8-23 and was promoted to Triple-A Durham on Aug. 25.
Bodine began his Triple-A career with an eight-game hitting streak from Aug. 25 through Sept. 5, extending his on-base streak to a career-best 20 games across the Double-A and Triple-A levels. Across 10 games with Durham, he has hit .351 (13-for-37) with four doubles, two home runs, seven RBI, and a 1.017 OPS. Over his last 67 games since June 4, he has hit safely in 57 of those contests and has reached base safely in 60 of 67.
The Mount Holly, N.J. native was acquired from the Baltimore Orioles alongside outfielder Slater de Brun, right-handed pitcher Michael Forret, outfielder Austin Overn, and a 2026 Competitive Balance Round A draft pick (No. 33 overall) in exchange for right-handed pitcher Shane Baz. He is rated as the No. 51 overall prospect, including the No. 5 catching prospect, and the Rays No. 3 prospect by MLB.com.
Minor League Co-Player of the Year: Outfielder Theo Gillen
Gillen, 20, has hit .315 (138-for-438) with 23 doubles, seven triples, 22 home runs, 90 RBI, 44 stolen bases, a .422 on-base percentage, and a .972 OPS in 114 games across stints with Class-A Bowling Green and Double-A Montgomery. He has reached base safely in 107 of 114 games this season and in 185 of 195 games across his minor league career since the Rays selected him in the first round (18th overall) of the 2024 First-Year Player Draft out of Westlake High School (Texas).
Gillen batted .342/.449/.589 (75-for-219) with 12 doubles, three triples, 12 home runs, 44 RBI, 53 runs, and 28 stolen bases in 57 games with Bowling Green. At the time of his promotion on June 23, he paced High-A batters in average, ranked second in on-base percentage and OPS (1.038), was third in slugging percentage, tied for third in total bases (129), tied for fifth in hits, sixth in stolen bases, and tied for sixth in runs scored. Over 57 games with Double-A Montgomery, he has hit .288 (63-for-219) with 11 doubles, four triples, 10 home runs, 46 RBI, a .394 on-base percentage, and 16 stolen bases.
The outfielder was named Rays Organizational Player of the Month in June after reaching base in every game as part of a season-best, 32-game on-base streak between May 27 through July 4. In June, he went 33-for-97 (.340) with four doubles, three home runs, 18 RBI, 11 stolen bases, 20 walks to 21 strikeouts, and a .458 on-base percentage over 24 games. He also produced a 27-game on-base streak between July 17 and Aug. 21 and a 25-game on-base streak from April 21 to May 24.
With 22 home runs, 90 RBI, and 44 stolen bases, Gillen is one of five affiliated minor leaguers since at least 2005 to post 20 home runs or more, 90 RBI or more, and 40 stolen bases or more at full-season levels in a single season. The only others to accomplish the feat are Konnor Griffin (2025), Jackson Chourio (2023), Cade Marlowe (2022), and George Springer (2013).
On May 29 at Hudson Valley, Gillen reached base six times in six plate appearances with three hits, three walks, two RBI, and four stolen bases. He became the second minor leaguer since at least 2005 to reach base in each of six plate appearances or more and steal four bases or more, joining Milwaukee prospect Braylon Payne, who did so on Sept. 7, 2024 at Carolina.
Gillen is ranked as the No. 12 minor league prospect, No. 2 minor league outfielder, and the No. 2 Rays prospect. On July 8, he was named to the AL roster for the Futures Game during All-Star Week in Philadelphia, going 1-for-3 with an RBI in the July 12 exhibition.
Minor League Pitcher of the Year: Right-handed pitcher Ty Johnson
Johnson, 24, went 4-1 with a 3.03 ERA (62.1 IP, 21 ER), 84 strikeouts, 25 walks, a 0.96 WHIP, and a .164 (35-for-213), opponent batting average over 21 appearances (10 starts) with Triple-A Durham before his major league promotion on Sept. 5. He made his MLB debut on Sept. 6 at Texas, working a scoreless inning of relief with one walk and two strikeouts.
Over the course of May, he spun a 1-0 record, a 1.17 ERA (23.0 IP, 3 ER), 29 strikeouts, and a .171 (14-for-82) opponent batting average in five starts en route to an International League Pitcher of the Month award. He closed the month of June with 5.0 hitless innings against Norfolk on June 28, adding nine strikeouts and one walk to win International League Pitcher of the Week honors (June 22-28).
After transitioning to the bullpen, Johnson made nine relief appearances in August to a 0.79 ERA (11.1 IP, 1 ER), 0.35 WHIP, and .059 (2-for-34) opponent batting average with 19 strikeouts, earning Rays Player Organizational Pitcher of the Month honors for his efforts. He faced 36 batters in August, with only four reaching base safely. He led all Triple-A pitchers with a 0.35 WHIP during the month, third best by a Ray farmhand in a calendar month since 2021 and third best by a Durham pitcher since at least 2005 (min. 10.0 innings pitched).
Johnson was acquired from the Chicago Cubs alongside infielder/outfielder Christopher Morel and right-handed pitcher Hunter Bigge for infielder Isaac Paredes on July 28, 2024. The Rockwall, Texas native is rated as the Rays No. 10 prospect by MLB.com.
Relief Pitcher of the Year: Right-handed pitcher Alexander Alberto
Alberto, 24, has split 46 appearances (five starts) between Double-A Montgomery (21 appearances) and Triple-A Durham (25 appearances/five starts), going a combined 3-1 with a 3.72 ERA (55.2 IP, 23 ER), 68 strikeouts, 22 walks, and a 1.26 WHIP. He began the year with Montgomery, posting a 2.20 ERA (28.2 IP, 7 ER), 0.94 WHIP, and .191 (18-for-94) opponent batting average. At the time of his June 16 promotion, it marked the sixth-best WHIP in the Southern League (min. 25.0 IP). He has gone 1-0 with a 5.33 ERA (27.0 IP, 16 ER) in 25 games (five starts) with Durham, tallying 29 strikeouts against 13 walks. The right-hander has held opponents scoreless in 28 of his 41 relief outings and kept them hitless in 15 of the 41. He did not allow a run in 10 straight relief appearances from May 15 to June 16.
Alberto was tabbed as Rays Relief Pitcher of the Year for the second consecutive season after turning in a 2.59 ERA (48.2 IP, 14 ER) and 1.17 WHIP in 2025. The native of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic was signed as an international free agent on Nov. 25, 2019. He is currently ranked as the Rays No. 25 prospect by MLB.com.
Defensive Player of the Year: Outfielder Mac Horvath
Horvath, 25, has appeared in 115 games for Double-A Montgomery this season, including 64 as a center fielder, 30 as a right fielder, 16 as a left fielder, and five as a second baseman. He has committed only three errors on 304 total chances for a fielding percentage of .990 over 968.0 innings. He is tied for the Double-A lead with 12 outfield assists, and his .989 fielding percentage as an outfielder ranks fifth among all outfielders at the level (min. 850.0 innings in the outfield).
The native of Austin, Minn. was acquired from the Baltimore Orioles alongside right-handed pitcher Jackson Baumeister and outfielder Matthew Etzel for right-handed pitcher Zach Eflin on July 26, 2024.
Baserunner of the Year: Infielder Tony Santa Maria
Santa Maria, 24, paces the organization with 58 stolen bases on 67 attempts (86.6 pct.) across 101 games with Class-A Bowling Green and 13 games with Triple-A Durham. He joined previous Baserunner of the Year winners Chandler Simpson (2023-24) and Homer Bush Jr. (2025) as the only Rays minor leaguers with 55-steal campaigns since 2021. The infielder is one of four full-season minor leaguers to have swiped 50 bases or more and produce a .400 on-base percentage or higher this season.
The Atlantic City, N.J. native was selected in the 19th round of the 2024 First-Year Player Draft out of Rutgers University.
Erik Walker Community Champion: Right-handed pitcher Aidan Haugh
Named after former Rays minor league pitcher Erik Walker, who died tragically in 2006 following his first season in professional baseball, the award annually recognizes a Rays minor leaguer who exemplifies teamwork, sportsmanship, and community involvement. Haugh was selected from a field that included nominees from each Rays affiliate. The Rays Up Foundation will make a $2,500 donation in Haugh name to his chosen charity.
In his first professional season this past summer with Class-A Charleston, Haugh recorded a 9-6 record, a 4.79 ERA (118.1 IP, 63 ER), 1.36 WHIP, and 114 strikeouts to 28 walks across 24 outings (23 starts). His 4.07 strikeout-to-walk ratio ranked eighth among Class-A arms (min. 100.0 innings pitched), while his nine wins tied for 10th. Between May 28 and June 10, he strung together 17.2 consecutive scoreless frames, a stretch that included a 7.0-inning, complete-game shutout in the opener of a doubleheader on May 28 at Columbia.
The 23-year-old was selected in the sixth round of the 2025 First-Year Player draft out of the University of North Carolina. Additional nominees for the award included Logan Workman (Durham), Mac Horvath (Montgomery), and Garrett Gainey (Bowling Green).
The Rays also announced Most Valuable Players for each of their seven affiliates:
Triple-A Durham MVP: Right-handed pitcher Ty Johnson
In addition to his Minor League Pitcher of the Year Award, Johnson earned Durham MVP honors one year after being named Double-A Montgomery’s Co-MVP in 2025.
Double-A Montgomery MVP: Infielder Xavier Isaac
Isaac, 22, slashed .255/.400/.510 (86-for-337) in 99 games for Double-A Montgomery with eight doubles, three triples, 24 home runs, 71 RBI, 80 walks, and 77 runs scored. He paces the Southern League in on-base percentage, ranks second in walks, third in OPS, fourth in slugging percentage, tied for fourth in runs scored, and sixth in homers.
The infielder was promoted to Triple-A Durham on Aug. 25 and has produced a .308 average (12-for-39) and a 1.079 OPS in his first 11 games with the Bulls. His .404 on-base percentage and .928 OPS across 2026 are single-season career highs. With 27 home runs between both teams, he is one of 12 full-season minor leaguers to have 25 home runs or more and a .400 on-base percentage or better in 2026.
Isaac earned Organizational Player of the Month honors in August after slashing .311/.443/.703 (23-for-74) with five doubles, eight home runs, 24 RBI, 18 walks, a 1.146 OPS, and three stolen bases over 21 games between Montgomery (14) and Durham (four), earning a promotion on Aug. 25. His eight home runs, 18 walks, 27 runs, and 13 extra-base hits (tied) led all Rays farmhands during the month.
The left-handed batter was selected in the first round (29th overall) of the 2022 First-Year Player Draft out of East Forsyth High School (N.C.) and is ranked as the Rays No. 18 prospect by MLB.com.
Class-A Bowling Green MVP: Catcher Nathan Flewelling
Flewelling, 19, hit .243/.364/.452 (98-for-403) with 17 doubles, two triples, 21 home runs, 67 RBI, and 68 runs in 106 games for Bowling Green. The backstop recorded a 19-game on-base streak between June 14 and July 8. Over that stretch, he produced a .328/.505/.672 (22-for-67) line with three doubles, one triple, six home runs, 12 RBI, and a 1.177 OPS. He reached base safely in 90 of 106 games with the Hot Rods.
The native of Red Deer, Alberta, Canada was one of three qualified South Atlantic League (SAL) catchers to post a .360 on-base percentage or better, ranking 17th among all SAL hitters. He was selected in the third round of the 2024 First-Year Player Draft out of St. Joseph High School (Alberta, Canada) and is currently ranked as the No. 65 minor league prospect and the No. 4 prospect in the Rays organization by MLB.com.
Class-A Charleston MVP: Infielder Cooper Flemming
Flemming, 20, produced a .298/.379/.450 (133-for-447) slash line in 116 games with Class-A Charleston. He added 29 doubles, three triples, 11 home runs, 79 RBI, 51 walks, and 16 stolen bases. The infielder registered a team-best 30-game on-base streak between July 17 and Aug. 23, that included a 12-game hitting streak from Aug. 4-18, tied for the longest by a RiverDog all season. The on-base streak was tied for the eighth longest at the Single-A level in 2026.
The No. 83 minor league prospect and No. 5 prospect in the Rays organization (MLB.com), Flemming was selected in the second round of the 2025 First-Year Player Draft out of Aliso Niguel High School (Calif.).
Antunez, 19, went 50-for-192 (.260) in 53 games in the Florida Complex League (FCL) with eight doubles, two triples, seven home runs, 40 RBI, 40 runs, 35 walks, 12 stolen bases, and a .397 on-base percentage. A year after being named DSL Tampa Bay MVP, the infielder launched seven home runs in the FCL, tying the most by an FCL Ray in a single season since at least 2005, matching Kaleo Johnson in 2018. He also ranked highly in the FCL in RBI (tied for fifth), hits (ninth), runs (10th), and total bases (10th).
The native of Valencia, Venezuela was promoted to Class-A Charleston on July 28 at the conclusion of the FCL season. Antunez was signed as an international free agent on Jan. 15, 2024. MLB.com rates the 19-year-old as the No. 19 prospect in the Rays organization.
Rodriguez, 17, batted .311 (61-for-196) with 10 doubles, one home run, 51 RBI, 26 walks, 33 stolen bases, and a .401 on-base percentage in 53 games during his first professional season with DSL Rays and DSL Tampa Bay. He ranked highly among qualified DSL batters in RBI (eighth), hits (10th), and stolen bases (tied for 10th). The infielder produced the two longest hitting streaks by a DSL Rays player this season, with a 10-game streak between June 30 and July 14 and a nine-game streak between June 1-12. A first-time DSL midseason All-Star, he led all of the organization’s Dominican Summer League prospects on both clubs in hits and RBI. The Caracas, Venezuela native was signed as an international free agent on Jan. 15, 2026.
Rookie-level DSL Tampa Bay MVP: Outfielder Maykel Coret
Coret, 18, slashed .303/.407/.491 (53-for-175) with six doubles, three triples, seven home runs, 36 RBI, 42 runs scored, 22 stolen bases, and an .898 OPS across 46 games. He produced a 14-game on-base streak from June 9 through July 3, which included an eight-game hitting streak (June 11-23). His seven home runs were the most by a Rays farmhand in the DSL since 2022. The La Romana, Dominican Republic native was signed as an international free agent on Jan. 15, 2025.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 09: Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates with Will Smith #16 after hitting a two-run home run against the Cincinnati Reds during the thir inning of the MLB game at Dodger Stadium on September 09, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) | Getty Images
LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani has not played in six of the last seven games, and is being placed on the injured list. Freddie Freeman missed two games in the last week and was the designated hitter for another game as he nurses a right knee issue. The Dodgers began their homestand with two frustrating losses to the middling Cardinals before finally found their way, ripping off seven straight wins.
After below-average offense as a team for two full months in Julyand August, the Dodgers scored 58 runs in nine games on the homestand, averaging 6.4 per game and they scored at least five runs seven times in the nine games.
They did all this despite suffering through an 0-for-24 stretch with runners in scoring position over the final two games against St. Louis. The Dodgers nearly got swept, with Freeman’s first-inning home run on September 2 the only hit with a runner in scoring position until the ninth inning of September 3 when Teoscar Hernández doubled home two, turning a deficit into a walk-off win.
The Dodgers made up for it by thriving with runners in scoring position against the Nationals and Reds, fueling two sweeps, hitting .288/.397/.577 but more importantly earning 63 such plate appearances in the six games, averaging 10.5 per contest.
Coupled with Freeman’s blast on September 2, the Dodgers’ four three-run home runs on the homestand matched their total for all of August, covering 27 games.
All that timely hitting gave way to pure bulk in the homestand finale on Wednesday, with the Dodgers exploding for nine runs in the first four innings in a 14-1 rout of the Reds.
Blowout wins are the hallmark of good teams, and the Dodgers led the majors with 25 such wins (decided by five or more runs) through the end of June, but only had two such wins in July and two more wins in August. Wednesday was their first blowout win of September, and was the first time the Dodgers led by five runs before the eighth inning since August 17 at Coors Field.
Hernández began his hot streak with a two-run home to to help the Dodgers win their last game of August, in Detroit, and has recaptured his old swing with a 10-game hitting streak during which he has 18 hits in 35 at-bats (.514) with six extra-base hits and 14 RBI.
Betts thrived on the homestand, hitting .375/.421/.750 with three home runs, three doubles, 10 runs scored and 13 driven in over eight games.
Betts has scored a run in nine straight games, and Hernández has driven in a run in seven straight. Both are the longest streaks by a Dodger in 2026.
