A’s Comeback Falls Short in 4-3 Loss to the Rays

Sep 16, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Athletics center fielder Henry Bolte (33) runs the bases after hitting a home run against the Tampa Bay Rays in the third inning at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Athletics faced the Tampa Bay Rays, looking to even the series and force a rubber match Thursday afternoon. The Rays staved off the A’s comeback attempt, prevailing 4-3 in another tightly contested affair between these two small-market clubs.

Rays Strike First

A’s left-hander Brady Basso struggled this evening. After recording the first two outs of the bottom of the first inning, he allowed three consecutive doubles, giving the Rays a 2-0 lead. Tampa Bay scored two more runs in the second inning to double its advantage. Meanwhile, Rays starter Nick Martinez was sharp early, retiring the first six hitters he faced.

Athletics Start Comeback Attempt

In the bottom of the third, the visitors began their comeback against Martinez. Playing in his hometown, first baseman Tommy White led off the inning with his third career home run, a solo shot that just cleared the left-field fence.

With two outs, fellow rookie Henry Bolte hit his 11th home run of the season, a solo shot to center field that cut the deficit to 4-2.

After allowing the first two batters of the bottom of the third to reach safely, Basso retired the next two hitters. Right-hander Seth Johnson replaced him and struck out Jorge Mateo to strand the two inherited runners. Johnson kept the score unchanged, striking out four Rays over 2 1/3 scoreless, hitless innings of relief.

A’s Inch Closer

For a second straight night, the Rays removed their starter after five innings, likely as a precaution with the playoffs around the corner. Martinez could have pitched deeper into the game, having throwing just 72 pitches over five innings while allowing two runs. Right-hander Kevin Kelly took over in the sixth.

The first batter he faced, Athletics second baseman Jeff McNeil, doubled to left. McNeil promptly scored the A’s third run on designated hitter Shea Langeliers’ RBI single to center. Kelly rebounded to strike out the next three hitters, preserving his team’s one-run lead.

Athletics left-hander Drew Rom pitched the bottom of the sixth, making his first relief appearance since his re-call from Triple-A Las Vegas. He recorded two outs after allowing a leadoff double before making way for right-hander Scott Blewett, who secured the final out of the scoreless inning.

White turned in his best game in a while, accumulating three-hits. He opened the seventh inning with his second single of the game, but Kelly quickly shut down the potential game-tying rally. Athletics left fielder Carlos Cortes has yet to make the most of his everyday playing time, while it is difficult to expect much offensive production from third-string catcher Brian Serven.

Rays’ Bullpen Seals the Deal

After the A’s failed to score in the top of the eighth against Rays left-hander Cam Booser, Blewett and left-hander Hogan Harris combined to keep it a one-run game heading into the ninth inning.

According to Martin Gallegos, A’s beat reporter for MLB.com, Harris became the fourth A’s reliever since 2012 with at least 70 games pitched and 15 saves in one season. Can you name the other three players?

Right-hander Cole Sulser, not All-Star closer Bryan Baker, entered for the save opportunity. Leading off the ninth, A’s third baseman Zack Gelof just missed a game-tying home run, hitting a 407 foot fly out to center field. Sulser retired the side in order, securing his third save of the season and another series victory for the American-League best Rays.

Takeaways and Preview for Tomorrow’s Game

Back-to-back one-run losses sting for the A’s, especially after recording several close wins during their last homestand. Even though their run of series victories came to an end, tonight was another encouraging competitive display against a really good team. The Athletics’ bullpen did not allow a run, Bolte’s strong second half continued and White performed well in front of family and friends.

The Athletics will try to avoid a season sweep against the Rays Thursday afternoon. Left-hander Jeffrey Springs is expected to take the mound against his former team. The Rays will counter with right-hander Drew Rasmussen, who has formed a formidable duo with Martinez at the front of their rotation this season.

Jets' Connor Hellebuyck suspended for not reporting to training camp amid trade request

Award-winning goalie Connor Hellebuyck, a U.S. Olympic gold medalist, did not report to the Winnipeg Jets' training camp and is being suspended as a result, the team said.

The announcement on Wedesday, Sept. 17, comes amid Hellebuyck's request to be traded. He asked earlier in the offseason and then went public with the request on Aug. 27.

"Several months ago, I privately requested a trade," Hellebuyck said in a statement released through his agent in August. "I have tried to handle the situation quietly and respectfully while giving the organization time to explore its options. With training camp approaching, I felt it was important to publicly confirm my request. My position has not changed, and I believe moving on is the best path forward for me and my family.

"I appreciate everything Winnipeg Jets fans have meant to me throughout my career and hope that a resolution can be reached soon."

The Jets said general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff will address the matter on Thursday.

Hellebuyck signed a seven-year extension averaging $8.5 million a year in July 2023 and is entering the third year of that deal.

In addition to the gold medal, Hellebuyck was voted the Hart Trophy winner in the 2024-25 season. He has won three Vezina Trophies, including back-to-back in 2024 and 2025.

Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin, Hellebuyck's Olympic teammate, also requested a trade, but he agreed to report to camp.

He won't take part in early on-ice sessions, though, because he suffered an upper-body injury during offseason training, interim GM Shawn Horcoff said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jets' Connor Hellebuyck suspended for not reporting to training camp amid trade request

Jets suspend goalie Connor Hellebuyck for failing to report to training camp

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — The Winnipeg Jets suspended goaltender Connor Hellebuyck on Wednesday night for failing to report to training camp.

The team said general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff would address the media Thursday morning. It did not specify the length of the suspension for the U.S. Olympic star.

Hellebuyck, a three-time Vezina Trophy winner and 2025 Hart Trophy winner as NHL MVP, publicly requested a trade from the team on Aug. 27.

In a statement posted on X by his agent, Ray Petkau, Hellebuyck said he had privately requested a trade “several months ago” and that he gave the organization time to address it “queitly and respectfully.”

“Winnipeg has been my home for my entire NHL career, and I will always be grateful for my time there,” Hellebuyck said. “I have never forgotten June 23, 2012. That’s the day Winnipeg took a chance on a goalie playing in Odessa, Texas. I gave everything I had from that moment to prove that the Jets made the right decision.”

Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff had said before June’s NHL draft that he was listening to offers for Hellebuyck. At the time, he did not confirm that the goaltender had asked to be traded.

___

See AP’s full NHL coverage here

Yankees come up empty in too many big spots in 13-inning loss to Twins

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Luis Garcia tosses his bat after striking out in the eighth inning of the Yankees' 5-4, 13-inning loss to the Twins on Sept. 16, 2026 in Minneapolis, Image 2 shows Ryan McMahon tosses his helmet after striking out in the 13th inning of the Yankees' 5-4 loss to the Twins on Sept. 16, 2026 in Minneapolis

MINNEAPOLIS — For a few teasing moments Wednesday afternoon, it looked as if the Yankees might sneak away with a sweep in a game that was overshadowed by Aaron Judge’s early exit with an injury.

Like when Anthony Volpe lifted a two-run, two-out double to tie the game in the ninth inning.

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Or when Ali Sánchez gave the Yankees their first lead of the day with a single in the 10th inning. Or when José Caballero put them back on top with a sacrifice fly in the 11th.

Or when they loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the 12th and looked primed to break the game open for good.

Instead, they just delayed the pain and frustration until the bottom of the 13th, when a bouncing ground ball slipped under the glove of George Lombard Jr. and sent the Twins to a 5-4 win at Target Field.

“Obviously a lot of good things, but not enough good things,” manager Aaron Boone said. “Tough one, obviously, when you got a chance to sweep and heading into an off-day. But we got to get over that and get ready for a good Diamondback club.”

On a day when Judge left the game in the top of the sixth inning with right lower leg tightness, the Yankees dropped to four games back of the Rays (pending their Wednesday night game) for the division with 10 games to play.

Luis Garcia tosses his bat after striking out in the eighth inning of the Yankees’ 5-4, 13-inning loss to the Twins on Sept. 16, 2026 in Minneapolis. AP

The walk-off “single” came off the bat of Victor Caratini against John Schreiber, and while it took a bounce off the mound, Boone acknowledged it was a play Lombard “expects to make and we know he can make.”

But the Yankees had plenty of other chances to win the game before it got to the 13th inning, even after they mustered just four hits through the first eight innings against right-hander Zebby Matthews and the Twins bullpen.

Ryan McMahon tosses his helmet after striking out in the 13th inning of the Yankees’ 5-4 loss to the Twins on Sept. 16, 2026 in Minneapolis. AP

That best one came in the 12th inning, when they loaded the bases with no outs for Heliot Ramos, who had pinch hit for Judge in the sixth inning.

Ramos did just about the worst thing possible by hitting a chopper back to the mound, where Travis Adams started a 1-2-3 double play before Sánchez struck out to squash the threat.

Schreiber pulled off a Houdini escape in the bottom of the frame on just two pitches, when he intentionally walked the leadoff man, picked off the automatic runner at second base and then got an inning-ending double play.

Before the game went haywire, Carlos Rodón was solid, giving up two runs across six innings, extending his franchise record with a 25th consecutive start in which he has allowed three runs or fewer.

The left-hander’s velocity was down across the board in his first three innings but started to tick back up by the fourth inning.

“I just started off a little slow, a little tight,” Rodón said, indicating that was not totally out of the norm. “It loosened up on me going out the next few innings, so that was nice.”

Mariners Game #153 Preview and Discussion: SEA at LAA, 9/16

Sep 20, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Seattle Mariners pitcher George Kirby (68) walks off the field after the second inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

The Mariners take the field again Wednesday, looking to avoid being swept by the worst team in the American League only a day after clinching their first losing season since 2019.

In the offseason prior to the 2019 season, the Mariners went back to the drawing board and kicked off the rebuild that ultimately led to their first playoff appearances since 2001. Yusei Kikuchi, a left-hander out of NPB, signed with the Mariners as one of the first moves of this rebuild, and would become the team’s lone All-Star in 2021 before leaving in free agency.

Somewhat fittingly, Kikuchi gets the nod for the Angels on Wednesday. He’ll be countered by George Kirby, who was the Mariners’ first-round pick in the 2019 MLB Draft. Go figure.

Lineups

With the Mariners facing a lefty, Taylor Ward will make his first start of the series against his former team. Weston Wilson will also round out the lineup at third base.

Game Information

First Pitch: 6:38 p.m. PDT

TV:Mariners.TV

Radio: Ol’ Reliable

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Mets top prospect Jefferson Rojas enjoys second straight strong showing since Triple-A promotion

New level? No problem. 

Jefferson Rojas has settled right in following his promotion to Triple-A, putting together his second straight strong showing on Wednesday night. 

The Mets’ top prospect wasted no time getting the team on the board, singling on the second pitch he saw in the bottom of the first, before coming around to score on a Ronny Mauricio double.  

Rojas did some damage of his own just two innings later, jumping all over a first-pitch slider, lifting it 398 feet to deep right for his second homer in as many games. 

The two-run blast was his 26th on the minor league season.

He singled again on the first pitch he saw in the bottom of the fifth but was stranded, then reached a fourth time with an eight-pitch walk leading off the seventh. 

Rojas finished his day 3-for-3 with the homer, two singles, two runs scored, and two RBI. 

The 21-year-old has now reached six times over his first nine at-bats through two games with Syracuse. 

He's hitting a strong .276 with 26 homers, 27 doubles, 20 stolen bases, 90 RBI, and a .838 OPS on the season. 

Rojas has done nothing but continue to add to his impressive resume as he looks to work his way into the big-league mix heading into his first spring training with the organization. 

Also with Syracuse, Ryan Clifford lifted his second homer since returning from the Development List. 

Recently named organizational Pitcher of the Year, Jonathan Santucci had a bit of an up-and-down start, allowing four runs (three earned) on three hits and three walks across 5.1 innings of work. 

With six more Ks, Santucci is up to 163, which is top among minor leaguers for the season. 

The Golden Knights, They Are A-Changin’: 3 Biggest Questions Heading Into Training Camp

The leaves are changing, there’s a nip to the air, and pumpkin spiced lattes are out in full force. All those things, and a back-to-school Target special, signal that hockey is just a stone’s throw away.

Admittedly, no temperature or aesthetic changes are happening in Las Vegas– palm trees’ leaves don’t change colors, and it’s still 93℉ and sunny. Nevertheless, the start of the 2026-27 season is right around the corner, and after a long summer, the Vegas Golden Knights are preparing to head to Training Camp.

Of course, the Golden Knights had a shorter summer than most, as their 2025-26 season didn’t end until June 14th, when they had to stand and watch as the Carolina Hurricanes were awarded the Stanley Cup. I imagine that, as the runners-up, the Golden Knights’ offseason felt impossibly long.

But finally, at long last, it’s Training Camp Eve, and the Golden Knights are just one sleep away from their revenge tour. Tomorrow, they’ll embark on their quest for redemption. Tomorrow, they’ll be given the opportunity to attempt to right all their wrongs, to write themselves a new story in which they emerge victorious.

Tomorrow, all the questions will be answered. But for tonight, here are the three biggest questions heading into training camp.

1. Who Will Become the Golden Knights’ New Goalscorer?

Turnover is inevitable in hockey, but the Golden Knights did their best to keep the band together. As it stands, their roster is almost identical to the one that fell just two wins short of the Stanley Cup. 

Almost identical. Almost.

When the Golden Knights take the ice on September 29th, they’ll do so without a former mainstay in their lineup: Pavel Dorofeyev. General Manager Kelly McCrimmon is never afraid to make difficult decisions, and he hammered that point home when he traded Dorofeyev, a sharpshooter who led the team in goals for the past two years, to the New York Rangers at the NHL Entry Draft. This year, they’ll have to look elsewhere for a late tying goal or game-winner.

But where will they look? The Golden Knights are a team that does things by committee and takes pride in their depth scoring, but 35-goalscorers don’t just grow on trees. They’ll likely need one of their two superstars to step up and prioritize shooting the puck. They’ll also probably need a healthy season from William Karlsson and a bounce-back season from Tomáš Hertl.

2. Can the Golden Knights Replicate their Elite Power Play?

Looking back, the Golden Knights’ 2025-26 season was like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde– it was the tale of two seasons. 

They entered the playoffs on shaky ground, but most of their regular season failures were overshadowed by their postseason success. For three rounds, the Golden Knights would not be denied. They cut through the Utah Mammoth, shot down the Anaheim Ducks, and militaristically dismantled the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche.

Essentially, the Golden Knights’ postseason was nothing like their regular season. In the regular season, they were a fragile team. They rarely scored first and, as a result, spent a concerning amount of time trailing in games. Their defensive woes resulted in an inability to keep the puck out of the net and an occasionally devastating struggle to stop the bleeding. 

Honestly, for most of the season, the Golden Knights had just one saving grace: an utterly lethal power play. And, boy, was it ever magnificent. That power play helped Mark Stone enjoy a career year at age 34. The Golden Knights trotted out a five-forward unit with Mark Stone at the goal line, Jack Eichel at the half wall, Hertl in the bumper, Pavel Dorofeyev as the one-time option, and Mitch Marner as the quarterback. 

Now, Pavel Dorofeyev is gone, and the Golden Knights will need to find a way to replace his team-leading 20 power-play goals.

3. Which Goaltender Will Take Control of the Net?

While some teams are desperately searching for a starting goaltender, the Golden Knights have the opposite problem. Both netminders will be looking for redemption, but both Carter Hart and Adin Hill are more than capable of shouldering a starter’s load.

Carter Hart struggled during the regular season, but thrived under latecomer head coach John Tortorella and looked unbeatable until the Stanley Cup Final. Then, he came back down to earth, setting records for all the wrong reasons while showing signs of fatigue. Hart is one of the biggest reasons that the Golden Knights swept the Avalanche, and he’ll look to regain that form and prove to new head coach Ryan Craig that he’s the right man for the starting job.

Adin Hill, who backstopped the Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup in 2023, is coming off of a season he’d like to forget. He fell victim to the injury bug, started just 27 games, and posted a career-worst .871 average save percentage. He lost the net to Hart when Tortorella took over for Bruce Cassidy, but with a new head coach behind the bench, Hill has the chance to reestablish himself as the starter.

A new CBA kicks in this year, and the regular season grows from 82 to 84 regular games. Both netminders will get their chance to make their case for the starting role, and only time will tell who will win the job. 

Countdown to October: Padres’ postseason magic number dwindling

San Diego Padres celebrating a recent victory (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) | Getty Images

With less than two weeks remaining in the 2026 Major League Baseball season, the San Diego Padres have firm control of the third and final National League Wild Card postseason position. 

The magic number is nine, and with a little luck, they can clinch a playoff berth against division foe, the Arizona Diamondbacks, at Petco Park next weekend. Any combination of Friars wins and Diamondbacks losses totaling nine allows the Brown & Gold to pop some champagne and celebrate.

2026 regular season has been a grind

That’s all well and good; the path to the postseason has been a grind. The season has been a Jekyll and Hyde campaign: the bats went silent early on, and so did the team’s ability to win games.

The Friar Faithful criticized the club for failing to take advantage of lesser teams on the schedule. It seemed like the Padres were playing down to their opponents. 

Once the lineup found consistency at the plate and the starting rotation came together to produce quality starts, the wins have come in bunches. All of it has helped to maintain a 2.5-game lead over the D-Backs in the Wild Card standings.

Wild Card standings wide open

The two teams will meet in the final regular-season series at Petco Park on Sept. 25-27. No need to analyze the series, as the Friars can make it meaningless by continuing to win. The magic number dwindles; the D-Backs will lose ground to make up the deficit, as games are removed from the schedule. 

At worst, Arizona wants to be trailing by three games heading to San Diego.

The Padres will likely open on the road against the Atlanta Braves in the Wild Card round. However, the club is narrowing the gap on the Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago Cubs in the standings. 

Both teams are struggling to play .500 baseball, keeping the Friars in the hunt to gain ground in the Wild Card race. Because San Diego lost the season series to the Phillies and Cubs, they don’t hold the tiebreaker and must finish ahead of both teams in the standings to advance.

But before we get ahead of ourselves, the Padres must first clinch a postseason berth.

D-backs vs. Marlins discussion

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MARCH 30: A general view of Chase Field prior to the MLB game between the Detroit Tigers and the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on March 30, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Kelsey Grant/Arizona Diamondbacks/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Today’s Lineups

MARLINSDIAMONDBACKS
Kyle Stowers – 1BLars Nootbaar – LF
Heriberto Hernandez – LFKetel Marte – 2B
Otto Lopez – SSGabriel Moreno – C
Griffin Conine – DHGeraldo Perdomo – SS
Javier Sanoja – 3BCorbin Carroll – RF
Jakob Marsee – CFNolan Arenado – 3B
Xavier Edwards – 2BJesus Sanchez – DH
Joe Mack – CPavin Smith – 1B
Esteury Ruiz – RFTim Tawa – CF
Ryan Gusto – RHPMerrill Kelly – RHP

Roster moves

The Arizona Diamondbacks made the following roster moves. The D-backs’ active roster is at 28 and the 40-man roster is at 40.

  • Reinstated from the 60-day injured list: RHP Ryne Nelson (strained right elbow; retro to June 16)v
  • Designated for assignment: RHP Derek Law

So, that’s now… Seven starters on the active roster for the D-backs? Kinda. Given the lack of length in his rehab outings, it looks like Nelson will instead be joining Zac Gallen in working out of the bullpen the rest of the way, which will be interesting. Nelson had made 15 appearances this year, purely as a starter, but does have experience out of the bullpen, in particular last year, when he came on in relief ten times. Small(ish) sample size, but he has actually been significantly better in that role. He has a 2.82 ERA across 44.2 IP, compared to 4.43 over his 93 starts. His starts this year were higher still, at 4.97.

I am a little surprised to see the team make room for Nelson by dumping Derek Law. In some ways, it is a case of, “easy come, easy go.” He’d not pitched in the majors since 2024 due to injury, and began the year on the Injured List. After a couple of rehab outings and another IL stint, he joined the Reno Aces in August, and was then quickly promoted to the major-league roster, making his first appearance there on August 29. He allowed a run in his first outing, but since then has tossed 7.2 scoreless frames across six outings, decent numbers. But with no minor-league options remaining and a free agent at season end, I guess the math didn’t add up.

I’m going to be taking my own advice this evening and stepping outside to touch grass. Well, not literally. It’s still summer in Arizona, so you really don’t want to step outside, and the grass died several months ago. But I’m going to put the phone away for the evening and fully commit to other pastimes! I’ll check back in around 9:30 pm, in the hopes of seeing a series win, in advance of tomorrow’s off-day.

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Longtime NHL enforcer Ryan Reaves retires after 16 seasons

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows New York Rangers right wing Ryan Reaves skates the ice during an NHL hockey game, Image 2 shows Ryan Reaves celebrating a goal for the San Jose Sharks

Ryan Reaves is calling it a career. 

The NHL enforcer announced Wednesday that he was retiring from hockey in a lengthy post on social media. 

“Today, I retire from the sport I’ve loved since I was 5 years old,” he wrote on Instagram. “It was a hell of a ride. Thank you to everyone who supported me throughout this journey. There are too many to single out, so you’ll hear from me at some point.

“I may not be on the ice anymore, but I know I will always be close to hockey in one way or another. You can rest easy knowing the corners are a little safer today. Mic drop, gloves drop. Reavo out.”

Reaves, who turns 40 in January, played 16 seasons in the league with stints on the Wild, Blues, Penguins, Golden Knights, Rangers, Maple Leafs, and most recently, the Sharks. 

Known more for his fights than his play, Reaves carved out a career as one of the NHL’s most feared enforcers.

Last October, Reaves got into an on-ice fight with Rangers enforcer Matt Rempe, who was left with a broken thumb.

After coming over in a trade with the Golden Knights in 2021, Reaves quickly became a fan favorite at Madison Square Garden.

San Jose Sharks right wing Ryan Reaves celebrates after scoring a goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Anaheim Ducks, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, in San Jose, Calif. AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez

His first fight as a Ranger came that November, when Canadiens rookie Michael Pezzetta challenged him at the Garden. Reaves pummeled Pezzetta in the one-sided bout before earning a standing ovation from the home crowd.

He played 81 games with the Blueshirts, recording five goals and 13 points, and appeared in 18 playoff games during their run to the Eastern Conference Final in 2022. 

New York Rangers right wing Ryan Reaves (75) skates the ice in the first period of Game 2 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs Eastern Conference finals against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Saturday, June 4, 2022, in New York. AP

The Rangers traded him to Minnesota that November.

The 6-foot-2, 225-pound winger finished with 66 goals and 140 points in 962 regular-season games, while piling up more than 1,100 penalty minutes.

He finished his career with three goals in 50 games for San Jose last season.

Brian Wolfe, a former Servite standout who pitched for the Blue Jays, dies at 45

Toronto Blue Jays reliever Brian Wolfe delivers a pitch.
Toronto Blue Jays reliever Brian Wolfe pitches against the Rangers on Sept. 1, 2009, in Arlington, Texas. (Ronald Martinez / Getty Images)

Brian Wolfe, a standout pitcher at Servite who played three seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays, has died at age 45, his wife shared Tuesday on Facebook.

“I’m am sorry to write this but after a really really difficult and torturous battle Brian Wolfe passed away early this morning,” Rachell Wolfe wrote.

No other details have been provided.

Wolfe was one of Orange County’s most dominant high school pitchers during the late 1990s. After going 8-0 with an ERA of 0.27 as a sophomore in 1997, he was the Friars’ ace the next two seasons.

Read more:'Nobody was cooler' than former Kings coach and beloved broadcaster Barry Melrose, who sold the U.S. on hockey

Honored both years as a member of The Times’ All-Orange County team, Wolfe went 11-2 with a 1.37 ERA and a county-best 139 strikeouts as a junior and was 12-0 with a 1.30 ERA and nearly 100 strikeouts as a senior.

After committing to Cal State Fullerton in the fall of 1998, Wolfe opted to sign with the Minnesota Twins organization after being drafted in the sixth round (179th overall) the following summer. He spent the next several years working his way up through the minor leagues with the Twins, Milwaukee Brewers and Blue Jays before making his major league debut with Toronto as a relief pitcher in 2007.

Wolfe appeared in 72 games over three seasons with the Blue Jays, compiling a 5-5 record and a 3.81 ERA in 82.2 innings pitched. He became a free agent after the 2009 season and spent the next nine years playing in Japan with Nippon Professional Baseball, playing for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters (including the 2013 season as teammates with Shohei Ohtani), Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks (winning the Japan League title in 2014 and 2015) and Saitama Seibu Lions.

Former MLB outfielder Brandon Barnes posted a tribute to Wolfe on Wednesday, calling his fellow Orange County native “one of my best friends and a mentor.”

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

The Mark Williams’ injury doesn’t require an immediate solution

Feb 24, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns center Mark Williams (15) against the Boston Celtics in the second half at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The news that Mark Williams tore his labrum during a recent scrimmage, with the possibility that he could be out until at least the All-Star break, is not how the Suns wanted to begin the season.

Every team needs health to remain competitive, and Phoenix already enters the year with limited flexibility. The Suns are carrying $23.2 million in dead cap money and currently sit $1.7 million below the second apron, where they are hard-capped. That makes replacing production even more difficult. It also accelerates the timeline for players like Khaman Maluach and forces the organization to alter the developmental path it likely envisioned for him entering the season. Instead of bringing him along gradually, Phoenix may now need meaningful production from him much sooner than expected.

We’ve already talked about what Williams’ injury means for both Khaman Maluach and third-year big Oso Ighodaro. We’ve also explored why Maluach should ultimately get the first crack at the starting role. But there’s another exercise worth exploring. Should the Suns look to the free agent market to fortify their center depth while Williams is out?

As things currently stand, the center rotation consists of Maluach and Ighodaro. Behind them, there isn’t much. Rasheer Fleming could theoretically play some small ball five if needed. Phoenix also has two-way big CJ Huntley, who can be elevated and remain available for up to 50 regular season games. If Phoenix chooses to lean on Huntley as the primary depth option behind Maluach and Oso, that 50-game threshold would carry them to roughly the All-Star break, which could line up rather conveniently with the current timeline surrounding Williams’ return. So yes, that is a viable path.

When you look at the free agent market for centers, there really isn’t a whole hell of a lot out there. You’ll see a few former Suns sitting around. Bismack Biyombo. Mason Plumlee. Drew Eubanks. And no thanks. I’m not really interested in running back old ideas simply because they’re familiar. Dwight Powell is out there too, but he’s 35. Xavier Tillman is probably the one name that gives me a little pause. He’s a quality screener, and BBall Index gave him an A- grade in rim protection. But he’s also only 6’8”, and at that point I start wondering whether you’re better off giving Rasheer Fleming some minutes at small ball five and seeing what you have there.

The free agent market at center probably brings more risk than reward, especially when you consider how tight the Suns already are financially. I don’t think this is the time to spend money simply to say you added another center.

If the Suns do decide to make a move for another center, they would most likely have to move off Jamaree Bouyea’s contract to create the room. Bouyea is owed $2.6 million this season, but that money doesn’t become guaranteed until January 10, 2027. If Phoenix waives him before then, it would create roughly $4.3 million in flexibility to go shopping for another big.

And I think that’s the important starting point in this conversation. The Suns do not need to make that decision right now. They can push it into January. By then, we’ll have seen plenty of Maluach and Ighodaro as the primary centers. We’ll have seen Rasheer Fleming get some small-ball five minutes if needed. And we’ll probably get a look at CJ Huntley in spot situations along the way, especially when foul trouble becomes an issue.

That part interests me. That’s why you have two-way players, right? That’s why you have the G League. That’s why you have a development system in the first place. To identify talent, develop it, and then allow those players to prove whether that development actually took hold.

So while some people may be beating the drum for the Suns to dig through the scrap heap that is the current free-agent center market, I don’t think they need to do that right now. The optionality is there to wait. Let the season tell you what you actually need. See what Maluach looks like. See what Oso looks like. See whether Huntley can give you anything. See how Williams’ rehabilitation progresses. Heck, if you want to try Koa Peat at the five, go for it. And then, if January rolls around and you still need help, you make the move. There’s no reason to force it today.

Williams’ injury changes the equation, but it doesn’t require Phoenix to solve it immediately. The Suns built a developmental pipeline for moments exactly like this, and now it’s time to see whether that investment pays off. Give Maluach the opportunity. Let Oso handle his role. See what Huntley can provide. January will arrive soon enough, and by then Phoenix will know whether it needs another center or whether the answer was already sitting on the roster. 

Yankees pull Aaron Judge for a pinch hitter in the 6th against Twins because of lower leg tightness

MINNEAPOLIS — New York Yankees star right fielder Aaron Judge was pulled for a pinch hitter in the sixth inning Wednesday because of tightness in his lower right leg, a precautionary move after an injury he characterized as a normal occurrence soon after a long layoff.

Judge, who was on the bench Tuesday for planned rest, struck out in both of his at-bats against Minnesota starter Zebby Matthews before being replaced by Heliot Ramos. Judge had to run to the gap to track down a double in the fifth inning, his last action in the field, but he didn’t show any sign of slowness on that play. He said he felt the discomfort while playing in the field in the first inning.

The three-time AL MVP is 4 for 26 with 13 strikeouts and one extra-base hit in seven games since returning last week from a broken rib.

“We’re still trying to ramp up so there’s still going to be little things like this that come up,” Judge said after the Yankees lost 5-4 to the Twins in 13 innings. “I just thought it would be best instead of pushing through it like I normally do.”

Judge said he couldn’t pinpoint exactly what happened to trigger the injury, which he declined to specify.

“I tried to kind of play it off and see how it would go because these games are important down the stretch, but after kind of talking it over I thought it would be the right move to come out so we don’t cost the team on the field or cost the team on the basepaths,” Judge said.

Judge homered in the series opener at Minnesota on Monday, when the Yankees clinched a postseason spot. They entered Wednesday trailing AL East leader Tampa Bay by 3 1/2 games. The Yankees are off Thursday before starting a three-game series Friday at Arizona and hosting the Rays in a four-game division-race showdown beginning next Tuesday.

“I feel like you deal with this every spring training,” Judge said. “Usually at the start of the season once you start ramping up again this pops up, and that’s where we’ve been thankful this whole time coming back nothing’s really nagged us. So hopefully it’s just one little thing and we’re back out there soon.”

Colorado Rockies vs. San Diego Padres game discussion: Robbie Ray vs. Mason Adams

DETROIT, MI - SEPTEMBER 11: Mason Adams #38 of the Colorado Rockies pitches during the game between the Colorado Rockies and the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on Friday, September 11, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Izzy Rincon/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Last night was fun.

The Colorado Rockies snapped a grueling eight-game losing streak —their longest of the season — with a commanding 9-3 win to snap the San Diego Padres eight-game winning streak. Now, the Rockies look to take a series lead with today’s third match-up!

Mason Adams (0-0, 3.38 ERA) takes the mound, looking for his first win in the big leagues. Adams looked great in his last outing on the road against the Detroit Tigers. He worked five innings with the only blemish being a Max Clark home run. He continues to pound the zone and now has 22 strikeouts in 18.2 innings of work against nine walks. The walks themselves have mostly come in bunches in an inning as he as walked at least three batters in two of his three starts.

Home runs have been a common occurrence for him thus far, as he has allowed five total home runs, at least one in each start. In his first start at Coors Field, Adams worked 4.2 innings, allowing three runs on eight hits against the St. Louis Cardinals. However, he did strike out seven while allowing just one walk in 4.2 innings. The recipe for success is that Adams has to work quickly and efficiently to put batters away. He has a pitch limit around 75 pitches, so if he can get through five and keep the Rockies in the game, it’ll be a successful start once again.

The Padres will send out veteran lefty Robbie Ray (12-8, 3.57 ERA). Ray enjoyed an excellent season in San Francisco, where he went 10-6 with a 3.08 ERA over 22 games. However, he hasn’t had as much success since being traded to the Padres. In seven starts with San Diego, Ray is 2-2 with a 5.35 ERA. The issue for Ray is that he is walking as many batters as he is striking them out. With 25 strikeouts and 24 walks in 33.2 innings, he’s dealing with a lot of traffic and has a 1.57 WHIP. He’s especially been beat up in September, allowing 10 runs on nine hits over his 7.1 innings of work across two starts.

Ray last faced the Rockies on July 10 at Coors Field. He was solid in that outing, allowing just one run on four hits over five innings with six walks and four strikeouts. He had faced the Rockies in the start before that in San Francisco on July 4, where he recorded a quality start. The Rockies have to be patient and make Ray throw strikes. This start will be his fourth against the Rockies this season. He is 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA in 15 innings with 14 strikeouts and 11 walks and just one home run allowed.

First Pitch: 6:40 pm MDT

TV: Rockies TV

Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM; KNRV 1150 (Spanish)

Padres SB Nation Site: Gaslamp Ball

Lineups:

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San Diego Padres at Colorado Rockies

DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 14: Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres hits a two-run home run in the second inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on September 14, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images

San Diego Padres (82-69) at Colorado Rockies (56-95), September 16, 2026, 5:40 p.m. PST

Watch: Padres.TV

Location: Coors Field – Denver, Colo.

Listen: 97.3 The Fan



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