Los Angeles Lakers public address announcer Lawrence Tanter is seen during an NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday, Dec. 23, 2017, at Staples Center in Los Angeles. Tanter passed away at the age of 76. MediaNews Group via Getty Images
Tanter was a huge part of the in-game experience.
His smooth, silky baritone voice echoed throughout the arena for 43 years before he suffered a stroke in March and moved into an advisory role in June.
The way he said each player’s name. The way he said Lakers girls. The way his voice became part of the tapestry of Los Angeles.
Tanter was behind the scenes but front and center. He was 6-foot-7 but in the shadows. He had been part of the Lakers’ organization since 1982 but was unrecognizable to most.
But his impact was deeply felt.
Tanter was a part of 10 Lakers championships. He made calls for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, LeBron James and Luka Doncic.
Johnson called him “the sound of the Lakers franchise,” adding that he was “an integral part of many Laker championships, right alongside us players.”
James added that he “made home games SPECIAL.”
Former Laker and current radio analyst Mychal Thompson said, “Maybe God’ll use LT’s voice to announce new arrivals to heaven.”
Announcer Lawrence Tanter poses for a photo prior to a game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Denver Nuggets at STAPLES Center on Nov. 3, 2015, in Los Angeles. NBAE via Getty Images
Behind the scenes in the media room at Crypto.com Arena, he was a friendly face with a warm smile. He greeted reporters, including once telling this writer that he liked the way she carried herself. It meant a lot to her.
Flea, the bassist for the Red Hot Chili Peppers and a Lakers super fan, wrote on X that Tanter always talked to him about jazz at games. Flea added that he’s “a great vibe dude” as well as “the best announcer in the NBA.”
He was kind. He cared deeply about his work. And he had the respect of everyone in the arena.
James, who’s arguably the greatest player of all time, would salute him before every home game because he believed Tanter deserved his flowers.
One of Tanter’s most memorable moments came after Los Angeles was heartbroken following the death of Kobe Bryant in a helicopter crash in January 2020.
When the Lakers played their first game following that tragedy, Tanter paid homage to the five-time champion who spent his entire 20-season career with the Purple-and-Gold.
He introduced all five starters using the same line.
“Number 24, 6-6, 20th year out of Lower Merion High School, Kobeeee Bryant.”
It was powerful. It was memorable. It was moving.
Tanter seamlessly knew when to stand out and when to blend in. Some other public address announcers around the league are bombastic. Tanter was melodic and understated.
As the Lakers enter their 80th season and try to win their first championship since 2020 behind superstar Doncic, one thing will be sorely missing at home games.
UNSPECIFIED - CIRCA 1900: Zoology - Reptiles - Thorny devil or lizard (Moloch horridus). (Photo By DEA / C. DANI I. JESKE/De Agostini via Getty Images) | De Agostini via Getty Images
Back-to-back daily Notes posts are all you need to know to start believing the season is right around the corner, starting with Monday’s media day. Can’t wait!
Karl-Anthony Towns’ contract situation remains the biggest storyline entering Knicks training camp. SNY’s Ian Begley reported the Knicks and Towns have remained in regular contact throughout the offseason, with discussions described as positive and the organization making clear it wants Towns in New York long term. However, no agreement is imminent.
Salary-cap expert Yossi Gozlan told Begley that extending Towns, Hart and McBride while also planning for future Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby extensions will require difficult financial decisions unless the salary cap rises faster than projected or James Dolan changes his stance on going over the second apron.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst and Tim MacMahon believe the two sides remain far apart financially, with the former saying there’s “tens of millions” separating them and MacMahon suggesting the gap could even be eight figures annually.
The Knicks’ final roster spot remains one of training camp’s biggest competitions, with Begley expecting veterans Bruce Brown, John Konchar and Ochai Agbaji to battle for a wing spot while Drew Eubanks and James Wiseman compete for the reserve center role. Unless New York sheds salary in a trade (looking at you, Paco), only one of those five veterans is likely to make the standard roster.
Keeping it Begley, the pundit also expects rookie Tyler Nickel to receive one of the remaining camp spots and believes Kevin McCullar will eventually earn a place on the roster as well.
Jalen Brunson shared the defining moment that shaped his basketball career during an appearance on the “Things No One Tells You” podcast. His parents told him he could only choose two of three priorities: school, basketball, or a social life. You know what happened next.
Jalen Brunson says his parents made him choose between basketball and a social life
“My parents told me when I was in high school that I have three things to choose from. I have school, I have basketball, I have my social life to choose from. And I can only pick two of the… pic.twitter.com/uCf30XV3Ec
Salty ESPN “analytics pioneer” Dean Oliver isn’t buying the consensus on Brunson’s standing among the league’s elite. While ESPN’s Top 100 panel ranked Brunson No. 6 overall, Oliver said his statistical models place the Finals MVP “around the No. 25 range” and argued New York media attention inflates public perception.
“I love Brunson’s game, but his lofty ranking benefitted not only from recent bias but also from the New York media bias. (That bias might also help you forget that Brunson missed the shot in the most iconic image from the Finals, when OG Anunoby swooped in for the putback game-winner to clinch Game 4.)
“The metrics place Brunson around the No. 25 range heading into the season. That’s not a huge gap. He’s elite, just not No. 6 — at least not during the regular season.”
Stephen Curry has agreed to a two-year, $116 million extension with the Warriors that includes a player option for the 2028-29 season. Curry, set to turn 39 midseason, still had one year left in his deal, meaning he could get to complete a nicely rounded 20-season career in The Bay if he retires at the end of his next pact.
Greg Oden admitted he never expected to be selected ahead of Kevin Durant in the 2007 NBA Draft and actually wanted to return to Ohio State.
North Macedonia great Pero Antić can only joke about making the Rising Stars Challenge at age 31. “I was already a falling star. Everyone was laughing, including my mom and dad.”
Reed Sheppard is fully embracing the Nacho Libre comparisons after his media day photos went viral 😂📸 pic.twitter.com/Crs5BTUjmZ
When it comes to making roster moves, the Mets are unmatched. On the penultimate day of the season, the team has optioned left-handed reliever Jefry Yan to the minors and called up right-handed reliever Chayce McDermott to take his place on the active roster.
Known for his enthusiastic and elaborate strikeout celebrations, Yan made his major league debut with the Mets this year and wound up throwing 20.1 innings with the team. In that time, he had a 4.87 ERA and a 4.82 FIP with 26 strikeouts and 15 walks.
McDermott had brief stints with the Orioles and Dodgers before the Mets picked him up this year, and he’s thrown 5.1 innings with the team at the major league level. In a total of 7.2 innings with the Mets and Dodgers this season, he has a 5.87 ERA and a 6.49 FIP. In 41.1 innings in the minors, he has a 3.92 ERA and a 3.82 FIP.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - OCTOBER 27: Grayson Allen #8 of the Phoenix Suns drives to the basket against Walker Kessler #24 of the Utah Jazz during overtime of their game at the Delta Center on October 27, 2025 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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.(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka and head coach JJ Redick spoke at length on several topics at Thursday’s season-opening presser. A central theme was personnel. They wanted to recruit players whose profiles match Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves at their primes.
Acquiring a new big-man anchor and younger athletes this offseason will help implement a more aggressive defensive identity than last year.
Despite winning 53 games, the Lakers finished with the tenth-worst defense. Every other 50-win team finished at least in the top seven, except the Nuggets (21st) and the Cavs (15th).
An identity shift will begin this season at the center position with Walker Kessler.
“I think Walker’s a perfect fit for Luka and [Reaves],” Redick said. “Just in terms of his rim protection and really being an anchor for our defense. It’s an area we’ve struggled with.”
Struggled is an understatement. The Lakers ranked second-to-last in opponents’ shooting percentage at the rim last season, giving up 72% in the restricted area. Not unrelated, the team traded away starting center Deandre Ayton and backup big man Jaxson Hayes was not re-signed.
While the Lakers offense has clear direction with Luka and Austin leading the charge, the defense now does too. Players will all be funneled toward Kessler at the rim.
The gap in rim protection is canyon-sized. LA got 1.8 blocks per game total out of their main centers last season, while Kessler averaged 2.4 himself in his last healthy campaign. He pairs elite timing with a quick jump and a 9’5” standing reach to erase attempts like the one shown below.
His addition alone instantly turns the Lakers from a poor rim-protection team into an elite one. This is predicated, of course, on whether they can keep the big man near the basket.
“I know we have switched a lot one through five the last two years,” Redick said. “That has been by necessity.”
The hopeful advantage of one-through-five switching is to negate any screen action. It can help slower foot players, since chasing over and around screens takes a lot of effort, and switching conserves energy.
Good offenses took advantage by controlling the terms of engagement. They consistently got the matchup they wanted with little to no resistance and forced LA’s big man out of the paint.
Watch below as the switching scheme the Lakers go to on Christmas Day lets Kevin Durant find Ayton with ease. He backs up helplessly, giving Durant the space to knock down his patented jump shot.
Marcus Smart, Rui Hachimura and Luke Kennard were all in the top eight of minutes last year and now are on different franchises. Smart was the only one with a defensive reputation, but he turned 32 with a ton of playoff miles and needed to be load-managed.
Superstar LeBron James, who turns 42 in December, also walked in free agency, bringing a brand new perimeter and forward rotation.
“We have the guys who can pick up full court, guard, and be disruptive,” Redick said. He specifically named Ziaire Williams,Matisse Thybulle, Adou Thiero and Quentin Grimes as main contributors in this area.
They all bring different styles and skill sets, with Thybulle having the highest pedigree as an NBA All-Defensive member for two seasons. Together, they form a rotation of defensive playmakers and attackers.
Williams and Thybulle led their respective teams in deflections a year ago and having an elite center behind them gives them the freedom to play more aggressively, knowing protection is there.
The Lakers will hope screen navigation is a strength this year, with players fighting over and bothering the league’s top playmakers. They have the personnel to get deflections and force turnovers as shown below, a place they were middle of the pack last season.
Ball pressure and great rim protection are synergistic on the defensive end and accentuate each other.
The starting backcourt won’t be asked to do that, given the offensive burden on their shoulders. Even so, they need more consistent effort and attention to detail on that end. There’s no world where the Lakers have a good defense without Luka and Reaves contributing.
Reaves has shown to be a strong “chaser,” navigating off-ball screens effectively and staying attached to his man in different actions. Depending on who the fifth starter is, he likely will be the one the Lakers put on speedy guards.
Luka’s effort has increased and is better than his reputation suggests as he led the Lakers in deflections last season, but he still has major room for improvement. With a slimmer frame, there’s optimism for more consistent investment.
With LeBron out the door, they are the two leaders, and setting the tone begins with them.
Pelinka stressed that he built this roster through the prism of what Luka needs and Redick’s basketball philosophies. Adding Kessler and moving toward a younger, more athletic roster should shift the defense from passive to more active.
“With this group, probably the first time in my three years here that I feel like the pieces actually fit together,” Redick said.
Jefry Yan's season has officially comes to an end.
The Mets optioned the left-hander to the minors to bring in Chayce McDermott for Saturday's game.
Yan joined the big-league roster midseason after they dealt all of their big bullpen arms.
The reliever showed some of the positives he put on display with Syracuse but ultimately faltered, being optioned back to the minors after allowing runs in each of his last four appearances from late-August to early-September.
He eventually rejoined the squad and enjoyed some success, putting together 5.1 scoreless innings before allowing a pair of runs while serving as the opener for the first time in his career on Friday.
Yan finishes his season with 4.34 ERA and 1.67 WHIP over his first 17 MLB appearances.
It's a bit tough to see him back pitching for the Mets in meaningful games early on next season, but perhaps he'll be able to compete for a spot with the state of their bullpen.
This is McDermott's second stint with the Mets since being acquired from the Dodgers at the deadline.
DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 18: Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (29) walks off the field after a strike out in the fifth inning during a game between the Seattle Mariners and the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on September 18, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
I missed that one in the Chinese New Year list of animals. I remembered the sheep, rabbit, and snake, and then completely overlooked the “didn’t see that one coming” creature (possibly symbolized by a dead chicken in the road who crossed not noticing the approaching Toyota).
When anyone refers to baseball as “the most unpredictable of games,” 2026 provides a fine template. It also offers a useful reminder of the limited value pre-season predictions, projections, and prognostications hold. You may not have cared for the last sentence but please, give p’s a chance.
Exhibit A: The AL West
Much has been made of the AL West’s mediocrity and it reached a crescendo Friday night when both the Astros and Rangers lost (to teams with over 90 losses). Each club suffered its 81st loss in the process, ensuring they will not finish the season with a winning record.
What one of them will finish with, however, is a division crown. This means had the A’s been able to assemble a .500 team they would lining up their post-season rotation as we speak.
Exhibit B: The Sunken Mariners
Missing from the AL West showdown are the Mariners, who were practically unanimously picked to waltz away with the division title. Most projections had them winning somewhere between 88-94 games and had they gone, say, 91-71, they would have taken the division by 10-11 games.
Instead Seattle sputtered, treaded water, and sunk like the Holey Mariner, entering the final weekend 74-86. Inexplicably, Cal Raleigh followed up his historic 60 HR season by batting .169/.271/.310 in the first half of 2026, including a woeful May in which he hit .056/.128/.056 (2 for 36 with 2 singles) and a 41% K rate.
#2: Seattle Mariners (90 wins) #4: Toronto Blue Jays (88 wins) #6: New York Mets #8: Detroit Tigers #12: Baltimore Orioles (86 wins) #15: Kansas City Royals #17: San Francisco Giants (83 wins)
#21 on the list with a projected record of 79-83? That would be your Tampa Bay Rays, predicted to finish in the AL East cellar and offered a 23% chance of making the post-season at all.
In fact the Rays hold the American’s League’s best record at 97-63, sitting 18.5 games ahead of the Orioles and 19 up on the Blue Jays — the team ESPN figured would win 9 more games than the Rays). So they were only off by 28 games.
Individual anomalies also abound. I could have made quite the fortune had I been gutsy, flown to Vegas, and put my life savings on Carlos Cortes out homering Vlad Guerrero Jr. I mean there’s still 2 games left but the A’s LFer/reliever is leading 10-9. That’s partly because Guerrero Jr. is getting “out homered at home” 2-1 by Alika Williams.
So next spring, or whenever MLB and MLBPA cry “PLAY BALL!!!”, don’t be too quick to assume you know what’s going to unfold in 2027. Expect the unexpected and only then will you be right. It might just be the Rockies’ year.
“But it turned out awful nice, I’ll tell you that — 16 years. You know, I lasted more than I thought I would. Boy, what a life. I really enjoyed every minute of it. Even when I was horseshit, I still liked it.”
As he approached his 100th birthday in 2025, Bobby Shantz took the opportunity to reflect on his career in baseball. More than 60 years since he’d hung up his cleats, he still had the mind of a ballplayer, reminiscing about the legends he played with and against with vividness and vibrancy. But he also had the perspective of a man who’d been on a long journey — and was grateful for every stop along the way.
Robert Clayton Shantz Born: September 26, 1925 (Pottstown, PA) Yankees Tenure: 1957-60
Shantz grew up in the suburbs in Pennsylvania. A small kid (his height peaked at 5-foot-6 as an adult), the young Bobby distinguished himself through pinpoint control and all-around athleticism. After his high school coach refused to let him pitch due to his size, a youth baseball manager saw Shantz working out his curveball and decided to give him a shot on the mound. He joined the Army in 1944 and continued to hone his craft on Army baseball teams while stationed in the Philippines, competing against big-leaguers and building confidence in his ability to go pro.
Upon his return to the States, Shantz continued to impress in semipro ball but struggled to find any takers among MLB teams due to his stature. Finally, after a couple of teammates with connections in the Philadelphia A’s organization put in a good word, Harry O’Donnell, a scout with the team, signed him to an A-Ball deal. He immediately impressed, winning 18 games in 28 starts and striking out nearly a batter an inning. The next year, at the age of 23, he made the leap all the way to the big leagues, where he would be managed by none other than Hall of Famer and baseball lifer Connie Mack.
In his first three seasons in Philly, the southpaw established himself as a strong contributor, pitching around league average and making his first All-Star team in 1951. But it was the following year that would be Shantz’s campaign for the ages. Seemingly out of nowhere, he emerged as the best pitcher in baseball, winning 24 games, posting a 152:63 K:BB ratio, recording a 2.48 ERA, 9.4 rWAR, and taking home the AL MVP. The career year was aided in part by the use of a knuckleball Mack had forbade him from employing but his new manager, Jimmie Dykes, encouraged.
In the ‘52 All-Star Game, Shantz struck out the side in his only inning of work, including punchouts of Jackie Robinson and Stan Musial. His newfound stardom even netted him a guest spot on the Ed Sullivan Show.
As is so often the case after a superlative season like Shantz’s ‘52, the pitcher took a step back in the years that followed. As he struggled with injury and inconsistency, he went 13-26 with a 4.42 ERA over the next four years, failing to recapture his peak form on floundering A’s teams as the franchise moved to Kansas City. After the ‘56 campaign, the A’s traded their former MVP to the Yankees as part of a 13-player trade. Shantz was a man reborn, leading all of baseball with a 2.45 ERA in ‘57 and earning his first All-Star berth since his MVP season.
Shantz also took home the very first AL Gold Glove for a pitcher, his first of eight such awards earned between both leagues. The man’s legacy as one of the greatest fielding pitchers has never been in question. “I’ll occasionally hear a guy introduce me and say, ‘He was the best fielding pitcher in baseball,’ and I’ll say, ‘No, Bobby Shantz was,’” said Jim Kaat, winner of 16 Gold Gloves himself. “He didn’t win a Gold Glove until ’57. Had they given them out starting in ’50, he would have had 16 or 17 as well.”
Shantz made the only World Series start of his long career that October, taking the ball in Game 2 against the Milwaukee Braves. He struggled, allowing four runs (three earned) in three innings, but rebounded well in Game 4, tossing three scoreless innings in relief to keep the Yankees in a game they’d eventually tie up in the ninth.
Shantz spent three more years in pinstripes, eventually transitioning to a bullpen role, where he pitched well as a proto-closer. Despite finding his greatest individual success in Philadelphia, Shantz would later recount that his time with the Yankees—who won a championship in 1958 and the pennant in three of his four seasons there—was the most rewarding of his career.
After the ‘60 season, the Yankees left him exposed in an expansion draft. Shantz was selected by the Washington Senators, who flipped him to the Pirates. He’d spend the final four seasons of his career in a state of perpetual motion, pitching for five different teams as a trusted reliever. After the ‘64 season, at the age of 39, Shantz retired. The 5-foot-6 non-prospect who was rejected repeatedly at the start of his career had stuck around for 16 years in the big leagues.
Shantz retired back to Pennsylvania, where he managed a restaurant and co-owned a bowling alley. In 2010, Pottstown High School renamed their baseball park Bobby Shantz Field in honor of their famous alumnus.
As the years have gone on and he’s passed the century mark, Shantz has increasingly become the “oldest living” designee in many areas — oldest living MLB MVP, oldest living A’s player, and on down the line. He’s accepted this status with grace and humor, giving colorful interviews and staying connected to the game he loves.
100-year-old former AL MVP Bobby Shantz autographs his baseball card 75 years later…pic.twitter.com/ZBDhqKw3HG
On the occasion of his 101st birthday, we celebrate the oldest living Yankee, Bobby Shantz. We’ll let him take us out in his own words: “I had a great life. Jesus, great life. Boy, I’d like to do that all over again.”
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - SEPTEMBER 23: William Contreras #24 of the Milwaukee Brewers and Kyle Schwarber #12 of the Philadelphia Phillies look on during a game at Citizens Bank Park on September 23, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We are all aware of the reputation Philadelphia has when it comes to underperforming athletes in this city. There are “boo birds” out en masse if a player does something that the city thinks isn’t up to their standards. Last night, against Tampa Bay, the fans were restless as scoring chance after scoring chance went wasted, frittered away by an offense that is so clearly pressing it’s barely funny.
When that ire is thrown from the stands, the suspects are usually the ones that have underperformed seemingly since the day they arrived. Trea Turner has been the subject of many a negative comment both in these parts and at the stadium in person. Alec Bohm frequently hears from the people when one of his cold streak appears out of nowhere. Much people’s current distaste has been directed at the currently 0 for his last 32 J.T. Realmuto, all of that completely justified.
However, there needs to be some criticism lobbed at the leadoff hitter. Kyle Schwarber has not just been ineffective lately, he’s been pretty ineffective for a while now.
The supposed fulcrum of the Phillies offense has been off for not just a little bit now. If we’re looking at recent runs, Schwarber’s last 14 days has seen him hit .143/.345/.262 with one home run. Stretch that back even 28 days and the line doesn’t really get all that much better (.185/.333/.380). His basing his entire offensive profile on hitting home runs is great and worth all the accolades he has been given in the past, but his dry spell is costing the team dearly.
Now, the entirety of the offense is currently to blame for their predicament. Meant to clinch a playoff spot earlier this week, they have found themselves in the position where missing the playoffs entirely is truly on the table and the cluster of the roster to blame is the offense. They have simply disappeared. When an All-Star starter disappears from the planet as far as production at the plate (Brandon Marsh’s wRC+ since 7/1 is 33), that is going to have an effect on the offense. When the catcher joins him in offensive ineptitude (Realmuto’s during that same time is a very not nice 69), that’s two hitters of nine that are just anchors on a lineup and what they can do.
But having a leadoff hitter that doesn’t do what he’s supposed to do is also a weight that is hard to ignore. Schwarber since 7/1 has hit .205/.336/.413, a paltry amount compared to what we have seen from him in the past. He’s hit 15 home runs in that time frame, which is great since the rest of the lineups has seen little power outside of him, but again, it’s not up to his standard.
And there are the strikeouts.
Holy cow, the strikeouts. He’s not nearly as strikeout prone as someone like Colson Montgomery, the young White Sox slugger that just whiffed his way to the MLB strikeout record for a season. But Schwarber truly looks lost at times at the plate, that he’s just unable to make contact when it is needed most. Two things that have been noticeable is that he’s not squaring the ball up
and he’s hitting the ball on the ground a lot more often.
It’s enough to make one wonder if there is something deeper at play, some kind of injury that he has been hiding that will require something done in the offseason.
There could be a few changes in mind to help with the malaise of the offense as a whole. Batting order changes, substitutions, something that can be used to shake up what looks to be a dormant group of hitters. Something in these final two games that maybe kickstart something drastic. Panicking? Maybe, but panic mode is probably in order right now.
What would really help is a leadoff hitter that was doing his job and right now, Kyle Schwarber is not doing that.
David Bernstein: a fine is not sufficient if appeal fails
Khaldoon Al Mubarak, the Manchester City chair, has spoken for the first time since the club was found guilty on virtually all counts of breaching Premier League financial rules, saying “nothing has changed” and “our confidence and intent in proving the club’s innocence is just as strong as when this began”.
News broke on Friday that City had been found guilty on all but one of the 115 charges laid by the Premier League in February 2023, charges the club have always strenuously denied.
SACRAMENTO, CA - SEPTEMBER 25: Christian Walker #8 of the Houston Astros hits a home run in the fourth inning during the game between the Houston Astros and the Athletics at Sutter Health Park on Friday, September 25, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Don Collier/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Magic Number remains at two, with two games remaining. A’s 6 Astros 5
In front of 9,012, Hunter Brown wasn’t spectacular; in fact, he was slightly above average for much of the night. By the time Brown’s pitch count hit 100, he’d exit with a body of work showing four issued walks, one each during each of the opening three frames. Along the way, there were plenty of missed targets, a pair of hits and Brown’s visual frustration.
Brown would exit in the 6th inning with 2 on (courtesy of an error by Jose Altuve that sabotaged a double play) and 1 out for Bennett Sousa. However, they wouldn’t be stranded for long. Sousa faced three batters, failed to register any outs and the runs began to pour in. The initial damage coming on Michael Stefanic’s two run pinch-hit RBI single. The wheels came off after that.
At one point, the A’s strung together four consecutive hits. By the time it was all said and done, they’d send 10 men to the plate, scoring 6 runs and in the process, busting things wide open. Brown was charged with two runs.
There were a few bright spots, the first coming from the bat of Christian Walker. Walker would take an inside fastball 425 feet to left field in the fourth inning which initially gave Houston a 1-0 lead. For Walker it was his third home run on this current road trip, his 28th for the season.
Cam Smith also used the long ball, hitting his first homer in roughly two weeks, making things 6-2.
In the Top Of the 8th, things would get interesting. A’s reliever Geoff Hartlieb failed to find the strike zone to the tune of loading up the bases. LaMonte Wade & Isaac Paredes drew walks with an Alvarez single sandwiched in between.
Luis Medina was dreadful as the next reliever, validating the anemic nature of the A’s bullpen. Jose Altuve would bring home Wade on a sacrifice fly, his 47th RBI of the year. Yainer Diaz scored Alvarez with a single to left, giving him 44 RBI on the year. Medina would then throw a wild pitch, scoring Paredes. The Astros put three up on the board, but it wasn’t enough.
With the loss, Houston is now 79-81.
Odds & Ends:
Yordan Alvarez now has 109 walks on this season.
The Astros will face Jack Perkins on Saturday Night. First pitch will once again be 8:40pm CDT. Perkins has a record of 3-12 on the season with an ERA of 5.90.
Former Astro, Justin Verlander will make his final career start on Saturday for the Tigers. It will be Verlander’s 557th time taking the mound.
Pfaadt Battles Hard, Diamondbacks Close to Within One Game of Philly Brandon Pfaadt was far from his crispest, most dominant self on Friday. He worked most of his night with runners all over the bases. He still managed to gut out 7.2 innings, allowing only four runs in what will not go down as a quality start in the books, but was everything Arizona could ask for and then some to take game one of the season’s biggest series.
What Happened to Corbin Burnes and What is Plan B for Saturday? Burnes was throwing a bullpen between his last start on Sunday and scheduled outing on Saturday, but it just did not feel right. General manager Mike Hazen said Burnes was not feeling pain, but the ball was not coming out right to where Burnes felt he could help the team. Burnes underwent an MRI in Phoenix on Friday and will receive a second opinion after landing on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation. The Diamondbacks, facing a do or die situation in game two of the series against the San Diego Padres, look likely to use Ryne Nelson as an opener for a full-on bullpen game on Saturday.
Diamondbacks’ Postseason Push Takes a Turn and a Moreno Update Diamondbacks’ backstop, Gabriel Moreno exited an Arizona rout of the Padres on Friday with tightness in his leg. Manager Torey Lovullo reports he expects Moreno to be fine and has pencilled him in as the team’s DH to rest the leg. Meanwhile, the team will be calling up another catcher to make sure they still have two available for the final two games of the regular season.
Sanchez DFA’d, Moreno Injured The Jesus Sanchez experiment did not last long. It may well have finished the season if Gabriel Moreno had not left Friday night’s game early, due to tightness in his leg.
Hear me out phillies fans…
We purposely lose out and let the dbacks make the playoffs, because with their hot bats they are GUARANTEED to sweep the braves in the wild card round. Even if the phillies make the playoffs, we aren’t winning shit anyways. So let’s purposely let the…
What to Watch for in MLB’s Final Weekend Playoff races will be determined. A Triple Crown is on the line. Gabriel Moreno tries to edge out Arraez for the NL batting title and more.
The updated NL Wild Card race with 2 games to go after the Diamondbacks win their 6th straight game.
Why Another 100-Loss Season is not Deterring Colorado Fans Colorado has lost 100+ games for the third season in a row now. However, despite crossing the century mark for losses yet again, the team also posted a doble-digit improvement in the winning ways.
How to Watch Justin Verlander’s Final Start Justin Verlander, future first-ballot Hall of Famer, one of only two players to ever tally a Rookie of the Year, MVP, and Cy Young Award, will make the final start of his career today. This is indeed the end of an era.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - SEPTEMBER 25: Carter Jensen #22 of the Kansas City Royals hits a home run during the second inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Kauffman Stadium on September 25, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Noah Cameron’s last start of the year did not go well, writes Jaylon Thompson.
Cleveland first pounded KC left-handed starter Noah Cameron. He surrendered seven runs (six earned) in five innings.
“I made some bad pitches,” Cameron said. “Some tough plays, which happens, since it’s baseball. But yeah, I think it just got out of hand a little bit there. Just need to make better pitches in big spots.”
With two more homers on Friday, Jensen notched his 61st and 62nd extra-base hits of the season, passing Piazza (61) for the most by a rookie catcher in MLB history since at least 1947. Jensen’s 27 dingers are already a franchise record for a rookie, and his five RBIs on Friday set a career high in a single game. The five came in three at-bats, tying the game each time.
“To me, that means the hard work’s starting to pay off. But understanding that this year for me personally has been a lot of growth, on the field and off the field as a person and as a player,” Jensen said. “Not letting it stop there is the biggest thing. Just continue to keep climbing and keep putting my best foot forward each day.”
Matthews has been in the booth for every single one. And after counting 86.6% of the total possible scorebooks in Royals history, it was discovered that Matthews will be calling his 8,000th game on Friday night against the Guardians at Kauffman Stadium.
“I don’t think I’ve really accepted that yet. It’s still just a number, and maybe when the season is over and I start thinking about that, it’ll take on a little different tone,” Matthews said. “But that’s a lot of foul balls.”
CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 03: Scottie Barnes #4 of the Toronto Raptors stands for the national anthem prior to Game Seven of the First Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs assistant coach at Rocket Arena on May 03, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Despite all the disappointment years ago when the Toronto faithful were so convinced the Raptors got it wrong at number 4, Scottie Barnes has done nothing but exceed expectations and lead the Toronto Raptors through an, at times, awkward rebuilding stage. Now, after a disappointing game seven exit, Toronto has swung for the fences in an effort to construct a team that will prove lightning can strike twice.
In order for that to happen, Scottie will have to continue improving again this year. First, let’s dish out expectations of Scottie. Then, talk about how he will meet them.
The Ceiling
Regardless of who he’s sharing the floor with, Scottie will need to spend at least part of the season as “the guy”. At his best, Kawhi might play 65 games and at his worst that could be closer to 50. When it comes to the playoffs, matchups and homecourt advantage are everything. This past year proved that. Making sure that easily winnable games are in the bag and they’re able to compete with teams above 0.500 when Kawhi is resting will be imperative. Scottie will have to be the key to that. Expecting numbers closer to 20-8-8 would be an adequate ceiling.
The Floor
We would need a Pascal Siakam version of Scottie. Now that might sound like an insult to PSkills, but the year the Raptors won the chip, he was only averaging 17-7-3 shooting 55% from the field and 37% from three. Compare that to Scottie last year, 18-8-6 shooting career highs of 51% and 30% from three. Fairly similar, with Siakam having the edge in efficiency but Scottie in overall numbers. Scottie also boasts better defence, so this feels like an easily manageable statline for him, especially when sharing the floor with Kawhi who will pull defenders aware from Barnes.
Of course, that range doesn’t allow much wiggle room for a rough start or dips statistically. Make no mistake, the expectations are extremely high. He has a habit of doing the expected though.
Scottie the scorer
Two seasons ago, approximately 58% of the points Scottie scored were on two-point makes. The following year that ballooned to 67% and in the most recent season was 80%. This drastic increase shows how Scottie is developing his game. His size and physicality make him a dominant force in and around the paint, something we have undoubtedly enjoyed watching.
Plays like that one prove his ability to overpower opponents, something that he wasn’t this confident doing at the beginning of his career, but now make him someone defenses have to be extremely worried about.
Becoming a human highlight reel with poster dunks like this is one thing, but Scottie has also consistently been developing a midrange over the last couple seasons. Two years ago 7% of his scoring came from the midrange, this past season that figure is now 12%. Now, when defences collapse on him in an effort to block paths to the basket, he has another option.
This low key feels like the Scottie Barnes "I need to get this midrange shot going" era. pic.twitter.com/4zC3Gob9av
His long range shooting is still a work in progress. The percentage of his points that come from beyond the three-point line is steadily decreasing from 25% two years ago to a mere 14%. In some ways, that’s not a bad thing as he’s taking more of the shots that he is more efficient at, but does hurt in the way of spacing.
His next stage as a scorer will hopefully be to continue to improve that shot. This past season was his career best at 30.4%, but if he could eventually improve that number closer to 33 or 35 that would be far more impactful, especially in minutes shared with Poeltl who has no long range either.
Having the gravity he does on the floor also opens up his teammates. Scottie has proven time and again to have a high basketball IQ and find the open man when he has drawn a second defender. This fits perfectly into the brand of basketball that Toronto has been playing the last two seasons under Darko.
Scottie the Facilitator
Last season, Scottie had a 2.26 assist to turnover ratio on almost 6 assists per game. Solid numbers for someone who isn’t even playing the point, but showing his skill and smart decision making as a facilitator nonetheless.
Some of them are plays almost no one would be able to see, like Ja’Kobe Walter sprinting the floor for a wide-open dunk:
With the face-paced ball-movement oriented system that is developing in Toronto, Scottie is the perfect prototype of what the Raptors need. Unselfish, smart basketball. If he can score, he does. If there’s a better shot available, he’ll pass. He makes things easier for everyone who shares the floor with him.
All of that before even mentioning his impact on the other end of the floor.
Scottie the defender
Last season, a lot of people (including me) felt like he was being snubbed from DPOY conversations. Not to say that Wemby didn’t deserve it, but to be left out of discussion entirely felt a little bit insulting. Then to be delegated to the Defensive Second Team was adding insult to injury.
He ranks 15th in the League for defensive win shares, but is one of only five on that list that played more than 60 games. He ranked ninth in the league for total steals, sixth for total blocks, and helped Toronto become the fifth-best defence in the League.
He leads the team in defensive rebounding, steals, and blocks per game. It’s unsurprising that you can find mixtapes just of his defense all over the internet proving his prowess at that end of the floor.
His timing, fearlessness, and effort make him able to guard virtually anyone. Including guys taller and longer than him:
This was enough of a case for First-Team last year, but hopefully if he’s able to put together another year like this he will finally get that nod.
Despite additions and changes to the roster, Toronto will undeniably have to rely on Scottie to continue to do what he is capable of. His role as a defender, facilitator, and scorer means that he is a critical piece of this roster as they seek their second title. If he is “the guy” or if he is the “Pascal” to Kawhi, either way Toronto won’t have another title this year without him.
The Mets' star shortstop has dealt with a number of different injuries over the past year, leading to him posting all-around one of the worst statistical seasons of his 12-year career.
Lindor underwent a procedure to clean up tissue in his elbow during the winter, he missed most of camp after arriving with a broken hamate bone, then was sidelined for two months after tweaked his calf just weeks into the season.
He’s shown flashes of the expected All-Star form since returning from the IL, but still hasn’t quite looked like himself at times at the plate, in the field, and even on the bases.
With just two games remaining this season, the 32-year-old carries a career-worst .731 OPS, has committed a career-high 11 errors at shortstop, and sits in the 41st percentile according to Statcast in OAA (-1).
You could potentially point at the slow start and injuries for the down offensive production, but the several mental mistakes on both sides of the ball have been very head-scratching.
Whatever the reasoning behind it, Lindor knows that he needs to be better next year.
“I have no other option,” he told Mike Puma of the NY Post. “I have to go back to being a plus-player at shortstop -- not only defensively, but running and hitting, too.”
That happening is a must if the Mets hope to get things turned around next year.
There are plenty of exciting pieces shining throughout the system as part of this developing young core, but they absolutely need their stars in Lindor and Juan Soto to stay healthy and lead the way at the top.
