Most NHL players have to do their time in the minors before the big league comes calling, and Isaac Howard is one of them. He came to the Edmonton Oilers training camp this year after spending last season working on the parts of his game that needed more time in Bakersfield.
“I think from a year's time ago, I feel like a completely different player out there,” Howard said. “Just with my mindset on details. And I think a year is a lot of time, and I definitely feel a lot different.”
Howard has had a good camp too. Mike Babcock said he didn't love his game on Saturday night, though he also pointed out that it was just a preseason game. There are still practices and preseason games left before Edmonton has to make its roster decisions.
Howard spent last season in Bakersfield and used the year to mature his game. He had already shown his shot and speed, so much of his development involved the details required of an NHL forward
“[He’s] definitely a more mature player. He's a great kid," said Hyamn. "He wants to be an NHL player, a full-time NHL player. Doesn't just want it. He thrives for it. He's working as hard as anybody can work out there. I think he's really attentive to the details and what he has to do.
“I think everybody knows that he has an unbelievable shot,” continued Hyman. “Nobody worries if he can score or make plays. You can do all those things; it’s just going and being physical and getting in on the puck first and doing all the little things.”
Howard has been focused on those areas throughout camp and has remarked on how he has made things simpler for himself.
“I just feel a lot better rounded, [more] mature out there,” said Howard.. “[Some] confident with the puck, wanting the puck more, making the plays I know I can make, and I think also just harping on little details and making my game simpler in a way as well is just forechecking hard, creating loose pucks, using my speed, and it just makes the game easier.
“I worked a lot this summer on sprinting, conditioning, being able to hold a sprint longer, and I think it's helped me so far in camp,” said Howard. “I feel lighter. I'm even a little bit heavier, but I feel lighter on my skates.”
It's those kinds of changes that Hyman was talking about, such as getting to pucks, staying involved on the forecheck and handling the pace of an NHL game.
“Of course, it's a big opportunity, and I want to be an NHL player, and it's laid out in front of me to go work hard, harp on small details, and show up every day and just be hungry,” said Howard.
Babcock's assessment on Saturday is part of the process Howard is going through during camp. And it seems both parties had a reasonable understanding of what went wrong and how they were going to fix it. It is obviously not the reason Howard would get sent down, if he gets sent down at all.
“It's been fun playing with him,” said Hyman. “If he can establish himself as the player that we all think he can be and that he wants to be, then he's going to be a huge part of this team.”
Howard had a good understanding of the areas he needed to improve on from last season. His camp has shown some of that progress, and the rest of the preseason gives him time to earn the full-time NHL job he came to Edmonton looking for.
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 14: Cody Bellinger #35 of the New York Yankees celebrates clinching a playoff spot after defeating the Minnesota Twins at Target Field on Monday, September 14, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Michael Turner/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
It’s Sunday once more, and you know what that means — it’s time for our weekly social media roundup! This weekend has been yet another veritable whirlwind in the Bronx, as the team celebrated a postseason appearance, bid farewell to a fan favorite, closed an era of minor league baseball, and watched as their Captain hit the shelf once more. With so much in store, let’s get started!
Another Celebration in Minnesota
It was deja vu all over again! For what feels like the fifty millionth time, the Yankees celebrated in Minnesota, as they clinched a postseason berth earlier this week with a victory over their favorite AL Central punching bag.
This week, the New York Yankees named Carlos Rodón their nominee for the 2026 Roberto Clemente Award. The team honored the Rodón Foundation, which sets out to help families suffering with fertility issues.
Yankees reliever Brent Headrick welcomed Henry Ledlowe from his hometown in Illinois to the Bronx, courtesy of the National Down Syndrome Society. Unfortunately, the Instagram post cannot be embedded, but can be found here.
The Jazz Chisholm Jr. Foundation, meanwhile, marked the 25th anniversary of 9/11.
This week, the Yankees designated fan favorite Oswaldo Cabrera for assignment in order to make room on the 40-man roster for Clarke Schmidt. Unfortunately, he was claimed off waivers by the Cincinnati Reds, and while we’re all excited to see him (hopefully) get some regular playing time — as he was very much blocked in the Bronx — it will be sad to see the human golden retriever, well-loved by the fans and players alike, in a different uniform.
A testament to his popularity is the fact that the Yankees, RailRiders, Patriots, and YES Network all posted farewells to him on their social media accounts. David Cone also came back to Twitter briefly in order to wish him well.
Oswaldo Cabrera is one of the finest people that I have ever met in this game. I wish him all the best and will forever root for him! pic.twitter.com/gDZCgtZDq2
Starting next year, the Yankees’ Triple-A affiliate will undergo its second rebrand since joining the Yankees family, abandoning the RailRider moniker in exchange for a new nickname which has yet to be revealed. To honor the end of the era, Clint Frazier — who self-identifies as a Scranton RailRider more than anyone else in baseball — threw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to their final game.
This week, the Yankees will be hosting Josh Hart bobblehead night, celebrating the 2026 NBA Champion (and 2016 NCAA Champion!) who is related to Yankees legend Elston Howard. Fun fact — this has been scheduled since last year, so it actually predates the Knicks’ championship; what fantastic luck for the marketing team!
Last Sunday, Mets broadcaster Howie Rose called his last game at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees set out to make the day special, and many of his friends and coworkers in the Yankees broadcast teams celebrated his career with him.
We’ve got a special edition of this week’s Question of the Day, as we not only have the Yankees answering questions, we’ve got the Somerset Patriots reading Thank You Cards as they wrap up their season.
We are officially three days into 2026 NHL training camp for the Pittsburgh Penguins, and it has been quite the battle so far. Unlike in years past, these three camp days are the only full camp practices, making the three days - and the upcoming four pre-season games in five days - that much more meaningful.
Before the Penguins kick off their pre-season schedule with a home tilt Monday against the Buffalo Sabres, however, there are likely to be a few areas of the roster trimmed. On day one of camp, assistant general manager Jason Spezza did say that not everyone would get a look in the games due to the condensed schedule.
"There's only four pre-season games," Spezza said. "There's not going to be opportunity for everybody in the pre-season like we normally would have, so it's a matter of rewarding the guys that have shown that they are getting closer by giving them games and seeing where they are."
Yes, Sidney Crosby, Bryan Rust and Egor Chinakhov, specifically, have looked the part in training camp, but we know they will make the team. Guys like Nick Robertson and Andrei Kuzmenko have showed well, too, but it's highly unlikely they won't be on the NHL roster.
So, which fringe players have stood out enough to earn an opportunity in pre-season games? Here are five of them, plus a few others to keep an eye on.
Hallander, 26, is a name many folks had been omitting when talking about players who could break camp. After all, he did play in only 13 games last season before a blood clot kept him out for the rest of it and into the summer.
But, after a long and challenging return-to-play process, Hallander is healthy and ready to make a run at the roster again.
And, as one of the best players through three days of camp, no one is omitting him anymore.
He said that he had been skating throughout his recovery, and that is noticeable. He looks like he's gained a step. And that's not the only thing, either: He is performing like a player with a season-long lost opportunity due to circumstances entirely out of his control, and his drive to make this roster is tangible.
Hallander is making the small plays. He's showing 200-foot acumen. He's showed off his playmaking ability. Basically, he's picking up right where he left off last season, and then some.
At this point, it will be surprising if he's not on this roster at the end of camp. Unless he tanks in the pre-season games, I think he's earned a spot already.
Okay, maybe I'm cheating a bit here. But hear me out.
Last training camp, the pairing of Pickering and Brunicke was tried in camp until Brunicke separated himself far enough away from Pickering that he was working with the NHL guys. They also got a brief NHL regular season sample that looked, well, pretty disastrous.
Now? They both look NHL-ready, and they look ready as a tandem.
Through these three days of camp - and, particularly, on the third day - Pickering and Brunicke have been paired almost exclusively with the top line of Robertson, Crosby and Rickard Rakell in drills. On day three, they were the only pairing to get reps with that line in any of the line drills, and that was with Sam Girard and Kaedan Korczak in the same group.
They have a great feel for each other out there. Pickering looks poised, has vastly improved his gap control and defensive posture and makes the right decisions in relation to Brunicke. His partner is doing what he does best in joining the rush, creating offense and making better reads at NHL speed. He's made some ridiculous passes, too, and they all look crisp.
At the very least, Pickering and Brunicke have earned a good look in the pre-season. Even if they are still likely to start the season as Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's (WBS) top pairing because of the sheer numbers game, I think there's a good chance they stick around until the very end of camp.
It's not exactly a secret that Sergei Murashov probably has the inside track to the second NHL goaltending spot to tandem with Arturs Silovs.
But do not overlook Blomqvist, who has been the most consistent goaltender to open camp.
It has been a tumultuous couple of years for the 24-year-old Finnish netminder, who sustained an injury during a 2025 camp in which he did not look particularly confident. Now, however, it appears he has gotten that confidence back, and he came ready to earn that second NHL spot.
On day one, he outshone Murashov, making save after save and making it look relatively easy. Murashov did come around on day two, and, especially, on day three, making some ten-bell saves. But Blomqvist's performance has not wavered at all during these three days.
On the goaltending front, it's best not to assume anything, even if the outcome seems like a foregone conclusion. Blomqvist is a very capable goaltender who knows his NHL chances with the Penguins are on the line, and he's playing like it. The battle between the two of them will be, perhaps, the most interesting one to watch when games begin Monday.
I can imagine there are few worse feelings in the world as a professional athlete than mixing up a schedule and being late for the first day of tryouts, especially when you know your job is on the line.
And, make no mistake, Soderblom's job is on the line. He is waivers-eligible, and there is so much competition on the forward front that it's difficult to say with certainty that he'll be on the final NHL roster. What makes matters worse for that first day - when he was supposed to report for Team 1 but mixed up the schedule, was late and skated with Team 3, the prospect group - is that camp is shorter, and every day is more impactful.
But, boy, has he showed out since. In addition to scoring a few nice goals in camp on day three, he looks comfortable. He's been showing off his soft hands, his hockey sense, his ability down low and, of course, his advantageous 6-foot-8, 254-pound frame in one-on-one battles.
There is no one else quite like Soderblom on the Penguins' roster, and honestly, he's kind of a bigger, more rounded-out version of Justin Brazeau, who is one of the players in the same positional battle.
He will get a good look in pre-season games, but despite his day one mishap, he looks better than most vying for the precious few NHL roster spots up to this point.
I'm going to put out a name that I feel hasn't been talked about a whole lot in Livanavage.
The Penguins signed him to a two-year, entry-level contract out of the University of North Dakota at the end of the 2025-26 regular season, and he played in one game, activating his ELC. He didn't really have a real opportunity to show much in that one game, but he is really showing out so far in camp.
He's largely been paired with Ilya Solovyov, which is a good indicator of who the Penguins feel is close to NHL action, as Spezza suggested. Solovyov was the seventh/eighth defenseman for the stretch run of the season last year, so it's not a nothing burger that these two are paired together.
And Livanavage, who added 15 pounds to his 6-foot frame this offseason, has looked entirely comfortable in all the drills. He hasn't missed a beat when jumping into plays or helping drive offense from the blue line, but he has been calculated in his defensive efforts, too. He's even sniped a few pucks with authority past Murashov and Blomqvist.
His tandem with the bigger, more stay-at-home Solovyov has been seamless. I expect that pairing to stick in pre-season games, but to me, this almost reads like a legitimate one-v.-one battle for what is likely the seventh and final defensive spot on Pittsburgh's roster.
- I didn't name him in this piece, but Rutger McGroarty is putting together a nice camp, too.
Perhaps, other than Hallander, there is not a soul at camp who wants this more than McGroarty. His effort and drive is tangible, as are some of his improvements in skating and other aspects of the game.
It's an uphill climb for him to make this roster, but I do think he's right in the mix as far as the battle for the final spots. This is a guy who wants to be an NHLer, and he wants to be an NHLer right now. That is very evident through three days of camp.
- Ville Koivunen has put together a solid camp, too, although I liked his first two days better than his last. He's one of the guys who needs to be seen in game action before any further determination can be made on his readiness.
Just through the drills, it looks like his decision-making and processing is happening a bit quicker, which is the main hurdle that has prevented him from securing a full-time spot. He's also, noticeably, a whole lot bigger than he was last year, and he is noticeably harder to knock off the puck.
He needs to stand out just a bit more to have a legitimate shot over some others like Hallander and Soderblom, though.
- Robertson is worth mentioning again because, man, has he looked good.
The speed is noticeable. The shot is popping. He already looks to be developing some chemistry with Crosby, and he looks like a natural fit on that line along with Rakell.
I think this line will stick. It's hard to tell with the different groupings, obviously, and Rust has been Crosby's longtime winger. But Spezza said groupings and lines are a bit more intentional this time around, and I don't think Robertson and Rakell being glued to Crosby for three straight camp days - and the only camp days - is a coincidence.
- Piggybacking off of that, the idea of a Kuzmenko-Ben Kindel-Rust third line is certainly an intriguing prospect.
Rust's five-on-five defense has sharply declined, and Kuzmenko has never been particularly apt defensively. But, in a third-line role, Rust may not feel as much pressure to sacrifice defense for offense, so that could be mitigated a bit.
At the end of the day, though, if this is a line that sticks, it's a line that can score. Rust is good for 25-30 goals in a full, healthy season. Kuzmenko has 30-goal upside and scored 39 during his rookie season. Guess who benefits greatly from that?
The 19-year-old Kindel, who still has a ton of untapped offensive potential. If this is the third line to start the year, I'd expect Kindel's production to spike quite a bit.
- Dan Muse was voiceless after days two and three, to no one's surprise. He is a high-energy coach who operates a high-energy camp and expects maximum effort from every single player there. He demands a lot.
But, off the ice, he is as mild-mannered as they come. When Team 3 was transitioning rinks Saturday, Muse took the time to chat with some young fans and sign a few jerseys. This is the kind of human he is. Very genuine, very conversational.
This is only year two for Muse, but I expect big things from him. The Penguins have a good coach on their hands.
- Don't be surprised to see Liam Ruck get one pre-season game. He was moved to Crosby's group on day three, and that's because he earned it.
I don't expect him to make the roster for a number of reasons, including his lack of an ELC. But he looked pretty natural in the NHL group, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him get a look in game action so the Penguins can see what they have and where he is.
- Pre-season rosters for Monday's tilt will be an interesting thing to look out for. Given the shortened camp - and the two-game maximum for NHL players with 100 or more games - it stands to reason that the first two will be prospect-heavy, especially with a day off Wednesday and roster cuts likely.
However, the first two games are also the home games. Traditionally speaking, veterans aren't typically asked to travel for pre-season action. So, we may see some veterans sprinkled into the home lineups.
But because the final two games are road games in Columbus and Buffalo and the roster will be smaller for those games, they might be travelling this year.
In other words, I actually have no idea what to expect as far as how rosters for four games in five days will be handled with all of the new circumstances. It will certainly be interesting to see who gets paired with who, nonetheless.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 19: Cal Quantrill #44 of the Texas Rangers walks off the field after leaving the game during the second inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Globe Life Field on September 19, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Texas Rangers pitcher Cal Quantrill has been placed on the 15 day injured list with a strained right lat, the team announced today. To take his place on the active roster, the Rangers have recalled pitcher Winston Santos from AAA Round Rock.
Quantrill had been dealing with this issue in his previous start, which he left after only 70 pitches, before being pulled after four batters yesterday. Going on the 15 day i.l. means Quantrill is out for the regular season and, if the Rangers make the playoffs and play in the Wild Card Round, Quantrill would not be eligible for that series. He would potentially be available after that, but, unlikely as it is that the Rangers would advance beyond a Wild Card Series, its even more unlikely than Quantrill, coming back from a lat strain, would be ready to return for one of those future rounds.
My guess is that the Rangers will have Nathan Eovaldi return to the rotation and start on Tuesday in the opener of the series against the Mets, which would also put him on track to pitch the final game of the season in Minnesota. Jacob deGrom, pitching today, would presumably go on Friday in the opener in Minnesota on five days rest, though they could push him back to Saturday if they wanted to give him an extra day. MacKenzie Gore, who was dealing with shoulder and back spasms in his last start on Wednesday, could go this coming Wednesday at home against the Mets on six days rest, with Kumar Rocker and Cody Bradford being used in the other two starts.
Of course, this assumes that Nathan Eovaldi is ready to go and able to start on Tuesday. If he isn’t, well, you’re looking at Gore or Bradford on Tuesday.
Santos is up to give the Rangers a long man out of the bullpen if needed. He was supposed to start last night’s game for Round Rock but was scratched after Quantrill was pulled.
DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 14: Starting pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano #11 of the Colorado Rockies reacts after giving up a two run home run to Fernando Tatis Jr. of the San Diego Padres in the second inning at Coors Field on September 14, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After dropping the first game to the Seattle Mariners (72-83) but winning the second, the Colorado Rockies (57-98) will look to take the rubber match today.
Incidentally, the Rockies logged their 36th come-from-behind win last night and their 29th by two or fewer runs. Their 46 losses in games decided by two or fewer runs are the most in the National League. Colorado is looking to win their 14th series of the season today, their first since Aug. 31-Sept. 2 vs. Baltimore. They are 6-14 in rubber games this year, but 3-1 in their last four.
Colorado’s 98 losses are tied for the fourth-most in franchise history with the 2012 Rockies. They will need to go 6-1 in the remaining seven games to avoid their fourth consecutive 100-loss season. The Rockies are also looking to avoid becoming the fifth club in Major League history to lose 100 or more games in four consecutive seasons alongside the 1962-65 New York Mets, 1961-64 Washington Senators, 1938-42 Philadelphia Phillies (5) and 1909-12 Boston Doves/Braves.
The news isn’t all bad, however.
The 726 team runs scored by the 2026 Rockies are the most since the 2021 team plated 739 runs. If Colorado reaches 740, it will be the most runs scored by the franchise in a season since 2019 (835). The Rockies 59 games with at least 10 hits are the second-most in the Majors behind the Brewers’ 64. The club’s 1,346 hits are their most in a season since 2023 (1,368).
Per Fangraphs, the Rockies went from a -3.1 offensive WAR in 2025 to an 8.6 WAR so far in 2026. They also improved from a 0.4 pitching WAR in 2025 to 3.3 in 2026.
With that in mind, let’s turn to today’s game.
Starting for the Mariners is Kade Anderson. This will be his sixth start in 2026.
The lefty has a 5.33 ERA in 25.1 IP. He’s struck out 21, walked eight and given up four home runs. Anderson has a 1.42 WHIP.
According to Baseball Savant, he offers a four-pitch mix: four-seamer (41.5%), slider (21.6%), changeup (17.8%), and curveball (15.1%).
Taking the mound for the Rockies will be RHP Tomoyuki Sugano (菅野 智之).
Currently, he has an ERA of 5.49 in 142.2 IP. He’s struck out 86 while giving up 34 walks and 34 home runs with a 1.36 WHIP. Sugano suffered his 10th loss of the season his last time out on Sept. 14 against San Diego at Coors Field, allowing six runs on eight hits with one walk and two strikeouts. It was his third start at Coors Field this season when he allowed two or more home runs.
DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 14: Starting pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano #11 of the Colorado Rockies reacts after giving up a two run home run to Fernando Tatis Jr. of the San Diego Padres in the second inning at Coors Field on September 14, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After dropping the first game to the Seattle Mariners (72-83) but winning the second, the Colorado Rockies (57-98) will look to take the rubber match today.
Incidentally, the Rockies logged their 36th come-from-behind win last night and their 29th by two or fewer runs. Their 46 losses in games decided by two or fewer runs are the most in the National League. Colorado is looking to win their 14th series of the season today, their first since Aug. 31-Sept. 2 vs. Baltimore. They are 6-14 in rubber games this year, but 3-1 in their last four.
Colorado’s 98 losses are tied for the fourth-most in franchise history with the 2012 Rockies. They will need to go 6-1 in the remaining seven games to avoid their fourth consecutive 100-loss season. The Rockies are also looking to avoid becoming the fifth club in Major League history to lose 100 or more games in four consecutive seasons alongside the 1962-65 New York Mets, 1961-64 Washington Senators, 1938-42 Philadelphia Phillies (5) and 1909-12 Boston Doves/Braves.
The news isn’t all bad, however.
The 726 team runs scored by the 2026 Rockies are the most since the 2021 team plated 739 runs. If Colorado reaches 740, it will be the most runs scored by the franchise in a season since 2019 (835). The Rockies 59 games with at least 10 hits are the second-most in the Majors behind the Brewers’ 64. The club’s 1,346 hits are their most in a season since 2023 (1,368).
Per Fangraphs, the Rockies went from a -3.1 offensive WAR in 2025 to an 8.6 WAR so far in 2026. They also improved from a 0.4 pitching WAR in 2025 to 3.3 in 2026.
With that in mind, let’s turn to today’s game.
Starting for the Mariners is Kade Anderson. This will be his sixth start in 2026.
The lefty has a 5.33 ERA in 25.1 IP. He’s struck out 21, walked eight and given up four home runs. Anderson has a 1.42 WHIP.
According to Baseball Savant, he offers a four-pitch mix: four-seamer (41.5%), slider (21.6%), changeup (17.8%), and curveball (15.1%).
Taking the mound for the Rockies will be RHP Tomoyuki Sugano (菅野 智之).
Currently, he has an ERA of 5.49 in 142.2 IP. He’s struck out 86 while giving up 34 walks and 34 home runs with a 1.36 WHIP. Sugano suffered his 10th loss of the season his last time out on Sept. 14 against San Diego at Coors Field, allowing six runs on eight hits with one walk and two strikeouts. It was his third start at Coors Field this season when he allowed two or more home runs.
ARLINGTON, TX - JULY 04: A general view of the Guinness World Records World's Largest Glass of Beer event prior to a Between the Texas Rangers and the Detroit Tigers and the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on July 04, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Gunnar Word/Texas Rangers/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We have an early game today, 2:30 Eastern. And, of course, I’m busy until then, so getting the game thread together early.
I had a bad night last night. During the day I had a couple of notifications that someone was trying to get into my hotmail mail account. I stupidly ignored them, as I had gotten this sort of thing before, but the email address sending it turned out to be nothing to do with hotmail. The emails were scams. Well, this time the email wasn’t a scam. Just before I planned to go to be, the language on my hotmail accounts changed to something I couldn’t read. Some had accessed my hotmail account from somewhere else.
I only use that account for when a business asks for an email, so I can keep the stuff they mail to me out of my main accounts. I don’t send emails out of it. But it had me checking my online banking to make sure no one was accessing that. It took me a few minutes to changed the language back to English. Then a couple of minutes to change the passwords on it. And to download a handy app that Microsoft has to track attempted sign ins to my account. And then to change passwords to my online banking and all.
So, I was a little late to bed and also had a tough time falling asleep, because I keep checking. things.
I’m going to be a bit groggy today.
Anyway, all seems good now.
Today is a bullpen day, led by Spencer Miles. We are likely to see anyone and everyone.
Sep 19, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Detroit Tigers right fielder Ben Malgeri (53) slides into home plate to score against the Chicago White Sox during the fifth inning at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Detroit Tigers (73-82) vs. Chicago White Sox (79-76)
Time/Place: 2:10 p.m., Rate Field SB Nation Site:South Side Sox Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network Pitching Matchup: RHP Troy Melton (8-4, 2.52 ERA) vs. RHP Davis Martin (9-7, 3.96 ERA)
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - SEPTEMBER 14: Quinn Mathews #60 of the St. Louis Cardinals delivers a pitch against the San Francisco Giants in the first inning at Busch Stadium on September 14, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The St. Louis Cardinals wrap up their final homestand of the season Sunday as Quinn Mathews gets the start for the Cardinals while the Washington Nationals will assign starting duties to RHP Jake Irvin. First pitch is scheduled for 1:15pm central time and the game broadcast will be available via Cardinals.tv.
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - SEPTEMBER 19: Jorbit Vivas #84 of the Washington Nationals hits an RBI single against the St. Louis Cardinals in the tenth inning at Busch Stadium on September 19, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After a dramatic win last night, the Nats are in position to sweep the Cardinals this afternoon. The Nats have been playing good baseball since their 7 game losing streak. They will look to continue that today in St. Louis. With heavy bullpen usage this series, both teams will want length from their starters as well.
With a lefty on the mound, James Wood, CJ Abrams and Daylen Lile are the only left handers in the lineup. Wood will actually be the DH in this one in order to make room for Jacob Young in center field. Brady House will also be back in the lineup. Harry Ford is behind the plate. Jake Irvin is on the bump this afternoon.
The Cardinals will be adding some left handed bats to the lineup. Both JJ Wetherholt and Alec Burleson got days off yesterday, but they are back. We will also see Bryan Torres for the first time in this series. Masyn Winn is out of the lineup, which moves Thomas Saggese to shortstop. Rookie Quinn Mathews is on the mound for the Cards.
The Nats swept the Angels recently and now they are in position to do it again. This team has suddenly gone on a run down the stretch. Hopefully they can continue this strong finish and build momentum into the offseason. Follow along in the comments down below and let’s go Nats!
Sep 19, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; A view of the Texas Rangers fans and a tifo during the eighth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
HOUSTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 15: (Editor's Note: This image was taken with a tilt-shift lens.) Hunter Brown #58 of the Houston Astros pitches in the fourth inning during a game against the Kansas City Royals at Daikin Park on September 15, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images) | Getty Images
TODAY’S GAME: With just seven games remaining on their schedule, the Houston Astros (77-78) will play their final home game of the season today as they try to salvage a win in their three-game series vs. the Atlanta Braves (91-64).
Today’s pitching matchup is a good one between Astros ace RHP Hunter Brown (6-3, 3.43 ERA) and Braves veteran LHP Martín Pérez (9-9, 3.07 ERA).
BROTHER BROWN: Astros ace RHP Hunter Brown has posted a 5-2 record and a 3.00 ERA (19ER/57IP) in his last nine starts (since July 25), pitching through the 5th inning in all nine outings. Brown, who finished third in the AL Cy Young Award voting last season, has been limited this season, missing over two months due to a lengthy stint on the IL (April 1-June 15) with a right shoulder strain.
THE POSTSEASON CHASE: The Astros and Rangers are locked in a tight race down the stretch for the AL West with the two teams separated by just one game with seven left to play. The Astros own the tiebreaker over the Rangers with a season series victory (9-4 record).
CHALLENGING STRETCH: The Astros are within a stretch of playing 16 of 19 games against opponents with winning records (CWS, ARI, PHI, TB, ATL), going 6-9 so far in those contests. On the season, the Astros are 38-29 against teams with .500 or better records, the fourth-best mark in the Majors, immediately behind the Braves (42-30).
LOS ASTROS: Space City Home Network will televise today’s game in English and Spanish with the Spanish broadcast being televised on SCHN2. Danny Gonzales and Gene Flores will be on the call on the Spanish telecast today.
ROAD WARRIORS: After today’s game, the Astros will hit the road for their final road trip of the season which will take them to Seattle for two games and West Sacramento for four. The Astros have been better on the road (38-37) than at home (39-41) on the season and are 37-28 on the road after their 1-9 start in road games.
ABOUT LAST NIGHT: Staked to a 2-0 lead after the 5th, the Astros were unable to hold on in a 6-3 loss to the Braves last night. The offense collected 10 hits on the night, including a combined five by 3B Isaac Paredes (2×3, HR, 2RBI) and 2B Jose Altuve (3×4). RHP Hayden Wesneski (1ER/5.1IP) started for Houston in a no decision.
YESTERDAY’S ROSTER MOVES: The Astros made a pair of moves yesterday, first reinstating IF/OF Brice Matthews from the 60-day IL and designating OF Jorge Barrosa for assignment. Later, just before game time, the Astros recalled RHP Logan VanWey from Triple A Sugar Land and placed RHP Enyel De Los Santos on the 15-day IL with right knee tendonitis.
TWO-OUT MAGIC: The Astros lead the American League in two-out runs with 307 on the season, trailing only the Cubs (324) in the Majors. 3B Isaac Paredes has led this effort, as he leads the Majors with 44 two-out RBI, immediately ahead of second-place 1B Alec Burleson (43).
STRONG SEPTEMBERS: 3B Isaac Paredes has a .986 OPS this month to go along with a team-leading 17 RBI, which ranks second in the AL. C Yainer Diaz is also having a strong September, as he’s hitting .346 (18×52) with two homers, six RBI and a .901 OPS in 16 games (13 starts) this month.
TRIPLE THREAT: DH Yordan Alvarez, who is a solid candidate for the AL MVP Award, currently ranks first or second in the AL in all three Triple Crown categories. He enters today leading the AL in batting avg. (.312), while ranking second in HR (40) and RBI (99). Alvarez also leads the Majors in OPS (1.026), SLG (.597) and OBP (.429). Since Carl Yastrzemski won the AL Triple Crown in 1967, there has been just one Triple Crown winner in the Majors, Miguel Cabrera in 2012 (AL).
FOR THREE!: 2B Jose Altuve went 3×4 last night for his 226th career three-hit game, which is the Astros franchise record. He surpassed Hall of Famer 2B Craig Biggio (225 three-hit games) with last night’s performance.
THE FIREMAN: LHP Josh Hader has converted 26 consecutive save chances to open his season, which is the Astros record. Should Hader finish the season without a blown save, he would become the seventh pitcher in MLB history to post 26-plus saves without a blown save. The last Major Leaguer to do so was RHP Ken Giles in 2018 (26 SV).
RACKING UP K’S: RHP Bryan Abreu has posted 527 career strikeouts, which ranks fourth among relievers in Astros history. He’s closing in on third-place RHP Dave Smith (529), needing only two strikeouts to match the Astros reliever from the 1980s. LHP Billy Wagner (694) and RHP Brad Lidge (557) sit atop that all-time list.
ASTROS MILB PLAYERS OF THE YEAR: The five Astros prospects that won organizational awards this season will be recognized in a pregame ceremony at today’s game. Those are the Astros Minor League Player of the Year C Jason Schiavone, the Astros Minor League Pitcher of the Year RHP Bryce Mayer, the Astros Minor League Baserunner of the Year OF Anthony Huezo, the Astros Minor League Defender of the Year IF Max Holy, and the Astros Standard Award recipient IF Yamal Encarnacion.
TODAY IN ASTROS HISTORY: 2007 – Rookie C J.R. Towles, who was playing in just his sixth MLB game, sets a franchise record by tallying eight RBI in an 18-1 Astros win in St. Louis. Towles finished his night 4×4 with two doubles and a home run. This record stood alone for 12 years before being matched by 1B Yuli Gurriel on Aug. 7, 2019 vs. COL.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Sunday, September 20, 1:10 p.m. CT
Location: Daikin Park, Houston, TX
TV: SCHN, SCHN2 (Spanish)
Radio: KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)
Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Jonathan Aranda (8) receives a high five from designated hitter Yandy Diaz (2) after a Major League Baseball game against the Houston Astros at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, on September 13, 2026. The Rays defeated the Astros 14-4 to sweep the series. (Photo by Kim Hukari/Image of Sport/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images
The Carolina Hurricanes are going to have their work cut out for them Sunday night as they prepare to face the Florida Panthers in their preseason opener.
The Hurricanes will primarily be icing a roster comprised of prospects and AHL players while the Panthers meanwhile will be playing almost their entire NHL roster.
"It'll be a huge challenge for us, obviously," said Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour. "But it's also an opportunity for guys because if they can show in a game like that, they can show in any type of game."
The game will take place at Amerant Bank Arena in Florida, with puck drop set for 7 p.m.
The game will be streamed on the team's website.
Here's how the Hurricanes lined up at the morning skate on Sunday:
Bradly Nadeau - Charlie Cerrato - Felix Unger Sorum Juha Jaaska - Jesperi Kotkaniemi - Viktor Neuchev Josiah Slavin - Skyler Brind'Amour - Justin Robidas Gleb Trikozov - Ivan Ryabkin - Zach Lansard
Mike Reilly - Joel Nystrom Juuso Valimaki - Dominik Badinka Noel Fransen - Charles Alexis Legault
1. One of the keys for me will be seeing how some of the younger guys handle themselves in what's going to be a very difficult environment. There's a lot of very young and inexperienced players on the Hurricanes' roster, but will any of them be able to shine a little bit?
2. It'll also be notable to see which defensemen can separate themselves from the rest of the pack. With five guys competing for one roster spot (four of whom will be playing in the game), this is going to be a golden opportunity for guys to try and standout.
3. The final thing I'm looking for is how does Pyotr Kochetkov look. It's been a long time without NHL action for the Russian goalie and so I'm curious to see how he looks. Obviously he's not gonna have a lot of help, but I'm more so curious to see how he looks physically and if he is making good reads.
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"First of all, I just want to thank the Mets organization for honoring me," he began. "They were adamant about wanting to reschedule this ceremony for the opening weekend of next year, and I'm so flattered by that."
"There are so many emotions involved, running around inside me right now," Rose admitted. "There's a certain melancholy about reaching the end of a career, but God-willing, we'll all reconvene here next year, and it'll be a party!"
Rose took the time to acknowledge the seminal figures who made his incredible career journey possible.
"There are three people I want to recognize as the reason that I'm here: My wife Barbara, my daughter Alyssa, and my daughter Chelsea," before pausing so the trio could receive applause from the packed press room. "I would not be here today without their indulgence, their support, and their love."
He also recognized the role his two siblings - his sister, Debbie, and his brother, Bruce - played in his life.
"My eternal gratitude is for everyone connected with the New York Mets," he continued, calling out interim manager Andy Green from the crowd in attendance to thank him for his hard work during these last few months.
Rose also thanked former Mets and Yankees manager Joe Torre, who encouraged a younger Rose to embrace the emotions of the game and channel them into his commentary.
As with any baseball radio commentator worth their salt, Rose loves to tell stories to engage with the audience, and he shared a special one which was quite fitting for the occasion.
"There's some ironic symmetry to how this has worked out today, because the New York Mets were scheduled to play their very first game in the National League on April 10th, 1962, in St. Louis," Rose explained. "Y'know what happened? It was raining, and a whole bunch of [Mets players] got stuck in the hotel elevator on the way downstairs to the lobby."
"It took a long time for the players to get to the ballpark, and once they got there, the game was postponed, so all I would offer as a suggestion for everybody today is to take the steps," he smiled as the room erupted into laughter.
Rose is a New Yorker through and through, having been born and raised in Brooklyn before attending high school and college in Queens. That certainly impacted his sports fandom - and by extension, his career aspirations - from a young age.
"I always wanted to work for a team in New York, a team that I love, and I had the opportunity to work for two of them - the Mets and Rangers, two teams which controlled my mood growing up," said Rose.
"In retrospect, I really did feel that if I was working in New York, I didn't care about working anywhere else," he declared. "If someone had told me about my career when I was age 15, sitting in the upper deck of Shea Stadium, I wouldn't have believed it. The wildest fiction writer couldn't have come up with it. I am very, very, very blessed."
While Rose is excited with the free time retirement will bring, he admits that stepping away from the microphone isn't easy.
"I'm going to miss everything about it, because this is really all I know how to do." he chuckled, before switching gears to commend the foundational role that radio occupies in the sports media landscape. "Radio is the most intimate medium. You have to call, to craft, to describe. To me, that's the greatest challenge in sports broadcasting, painting that picture."
Rose was asked how he wanted Mets fans to remember him, a question that clearly meant a lot to him.
"As one of them," he responded after he gave it some thought. "We have the same sensibilities and same understanding of what the ballclub has meant to us. I was just the lucky one that got out of the upper deck and into the broadcast booth."
All in all, it was clear that Rose hoped to have the opportunity to be on the call one final time on Sunday afternoon.
Oilers Roll Past Jets 5-2 in Preseason Opener, Babcock Praises Favorite LineEvan Bouchard’s playmaking and Ryan Shea’s sparkling debut ignited Edmonton's offense, while Alex Formenton impressed coach Mike Babcock in a dominant, high-scoring display against Winnipeg.
Darnell Nurse Pushes Back On One Persistent Rumor From His Oilers ExitAddressing claims of a sour departure, the new Sharks defenseman clarifies his final days in Edmonton and explains why a change of scenery was necessary for his career.
