CLEVELAND, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 15: Brayan Rocchio #4 of the Cleveland Guardians celebrates with teammates after hitting a walk-off two-run double to defeat the Chicago White Sox 7-6 at Progressive Field on September 15, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Chicago White Sox came to town coming off of back-to-back series losses and have been hunting for the divisional title. The Cleveland Guardians put up a feckless fight last night, but looked to still be in the fight to start tonight’s game.
Foster Griffin, sandwiched between Gavin and Parker starts, was pulled after 4.0 innings of work. Griffin gave up two runs on five hits and two walks, striking out five. Stephen Vogt was super aggressive with the bullpen today with an off day coming on Thursday, something that played into his favor. Erik Sabrowski pitched a clean fifth inning, walking one and striking out two. Craig Yoho struggled hard in the sixth, only pitch 0.1 innings. He allowed three runs on one hit and two walks.
Hunter Gaddis recorded his fourth blown save of the season, throwing 1.0 full inning. He allowed one run on two hits. Tim Herrin locked back in after last night’s outing and threw a scoreless 1.0 before Vogt turned to Cade Smith early in the eighth. Cade pitched 1.2 innings and was solid. He struck out one.
This game ended up giving me whiplash from the roller coaster of emotions; the epitome of the “its so over, we’re so back” meme. In the bottom of the first things looked like they were going to be smooth sailing for Cleveland. Steven Kwan drew a lead off walk and quickly scored when Jo Adell hit a towering home run to the bleachers, scoring two.
Travis Bazzana got in on the home run action immediately, following Adell with a homer to right center.
In the bottom of the fifth, back-to-back singles and an forceout had Rocchio on third and Ramírez on first. A flubbed pickoff attempt gave Rocchio the lane to score, giving an insurance run.
When Cleveland took the early lead, it made me feel confident, but the White Sox quickly reminded me that they have some fantastic hitters on the team. The White Sox answered immediately in the sixth inning, taking a two run lead over the Guardians.
In the bottom of the sixth Travis Bazzana brought Cleveland within one with his second home run of the night.
In the bottom of the ninth, down one, Cleveland had one last shot to save their AL Central pennant goal. Nathaniel Lowe hit a hard single, 106.9 mph off the bat, to right field to start the inning. He was lifted for Daniel Schneemann to pinch-run. Patrick Bailey drew a crucial one-out walk and Petey Halpin grounded out to first to move both runners into scoring position. David Fry was brought in to pinch-run for Bailey.
With two outs, two on, none other than high leverage Mr. Late Season himself was up to bat. Brayan Rocchio took a called strike, fouled off the next pitch, then hit a sinker out of the zone 100.9 mph to left field for the walk off double.
And because I can, here are the Hammy and Los Guardians calls:
Knoxville Smokies pitcher Brooks Caple (19) opens against Columbus Clingstones during a Minor League Baseball game on July 1, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co
Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs were rained out in Omaha tonight, which ruined the scheduled rehab games for Dansby Swanson and Gavin Hollowell. It hasn’t been decided yet when or even if the game will be made up.
The Smokies fell behind early when Knoxville starter Brooks Caple gave up a leadoff home run in the second inning by Caleb Bartolero. The Trash Pandas got another run in the second after Caple allowed a walk and a single to the next two batters, followed by two ground outs.
The Smokies tied the game back up 2-2 with a run in the top of the third and another one in the fourth. Third baseman Angel Cepeda hit a solo home run in the third for the first run. The second one was a double by left fielder Carter Trice that scored catcher Ariel Armas in the fourth.
But Caple gave up a one-out infield single in the sixth inning and was taken out for Tyler Schlaffer. Schlaffer hit a batter and then gave up a three-run home run to Eddie Micheletti Jr. The game was never close again after that.
Caple pitched fairly well but took the loss. He was charged with three runs on four hits over 5.1 innings. He walked two, hit one and struck out four.
Schlaffer gave up five runs on four hits over two innings. Schlaffer struck out two, walked two and hit one batter.
Cepeda went 1 for 3 with the home run. Trice was 1 for 3 with the double. Armas was 0 for 2 with a walk.
The Smokies managed just three hits.
The Smokies now return home to Knoxville for Game 2 on Thursday. They will have to win both on Thursday and on Friday to keep their season alive and advance to the Southern League Championship Series.
TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 15: Drew Anderson #38 of the Detroit Tigers wears a '21' patch for Roberto Clemente Day during a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on September 15, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The 2026 Detroit Tigers are not going quietly into that good night. The youth movement, with some assistance from Spencer Torkelson, victimized a pretty shoddy looking Toronto Blue Jays’ staff with 10 hits and eight walks to crush them 10-1 on Roberto Clemente Day. That makes six straight for the Kitties.
Drew Anderson got the start for the Tigers on Tuesday, while the Blue Jays went with a bullpen game. Right-hander Braydon Fisher started for the Jays, and he started the game by walking Gleyber Torres and Kevin McGonigle. Unfortunately, Hao-Yu Lee grounded into a double play, and Riley Greene struck out.
Anderson meanwhile started his night well with a quick 1-2-3 bottom of the first.
Eduardo Valencia opened the second inning with a hot grounder off of Fisher, but Ernie Clement made a diving stop and got the slow moving catcher at first. Lefty Brendon Cellucci succeeded Fisher at that point, and he punched out Max Clark and Spencer Torkelson with high heat.
Anderson retired Alejandro Kirk on a ground out and struck out Nathan Lukes to start the bottom of the second. Kazuma Okamoto singled to right field, but a fly ball to center from Andres Giménez was hauled in by Max Clark to send us to the third inning.
The Tigers went in order again in the third, as Zach McKinstry flew out, John Peck struck out, and McGonigle hit a deep drive to center that was caught by Brett Bateman.
Anderson was cruising thus far, but he got into a spot of the old bother in the bottom of the third. He struck out Josh Smith looking at a curveball, walked Clement, and locked up Bateman with a changeup. However, Clement stole second and Anderson walked George Springer and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to load the bases. A pair of well located fastballs away to Kirk got him behind 0-2, and a good curveball drew a ground out to third to end the inning.
Escaping that potential disaster seemed to inspire the lineup in the fourth. Old friend Michael Lorenzen took the mound, and while he got Torres and Lee, he then walked Greene and Valencia with two outs. Max Clark was up next, and the kid stayed hot, slashing a double the opposite way into the left field corner to score Greene and get Valencia to third.
Torkelson was up next and got a tasty 1-1 sweeper right in the heart of the plate. The first baseman lifted a towering blast high and deep to left and into the bullpen for a three-run homer. McKinstry grounded out, but it was now 4-0 Tigers.
Anderson took inspiration from that lead and locked in his command again. He got Lukes on a grounder to first, and then whiffed Okamoto with a high fastball after an eight-pitch battle. Giménez flew out, and we were on to the fifth.
Lorenzen was still in there in the fifth. He popped up Peck, but walked McGonigle. Torres flew out, and so it was up to Hao-Yu Lee and the third baseman singled to right to get McGonigle to third. Lorenzen got a first pitch strike to Greene, but the Tigers slugger spat on the next two and in a 2-1 count Lorenzen left a slider up in the zone and Greene hammered it off the wall in right just short of a home run. McGonigle scored and Lee took third, while the ball was hit so hard that Greene stayed at first base with a single. Valenica fought Lorenzen to a 3-2 count, but ultimately popped out to end the inning. 5-0 Tigers.
Anderson continued to roll in the fifth. He got Josh Smith to ground out and then popped up Clement. Bateman lashed a single past a diving Torres into right field, but Anderson dropped in a curveball to Springer that was fouled off and came back with a changeup that was grounded to third. The long third inning wasn’t good for Anderson’s pitch count, which stood at 88 pitches through five frames, but he threw a really good game otherwise. 5.0 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 3 BB, 4 K was his line, and right-hander Jacob Waguespack was warming up to take over in the sixth.
Lefty Brendon Little succeeded Lorenzen in the top of the sixth. He coaxed a grounder to first from Clark to start the inning. Little was wary of Torkelson though, and put him on with a five-pitch walk. With McKinstry at the dish, and Little’s leg kick making him slow to the plate, Torkelson then shocked the world by stealing second for his first of the season. McKinstry bounced one to Clement at second and couldn’t quite beat out the throw, but Torkelson got to third and Peck had an opportunity to add to the lead. He did so, slashing a 1-0 sinker the opposite way down the right field line. Really nice piece of hitting to make it 6-0, though he was cut down trying to take second on a good throw from Lukes in right field, ending the inning. It was worth a try. Lukes just made a pretty perfect play on that one.
Waguespack did take over in the bottom of the sixth. He got a comebacker from Guerrero to start the inning, and then a soft tapper from Kirk than Valencia handled. Lukes reached on a grounder to Torres, but Okamoto flew out to McKinstry to snuff any threat from developing. The right-hander doesn’t strike anyone out, walks too many, and gives up too many homers, and yet he still holds a 2.70 ERA. How long can it last? Place your bets, but the funk, overhand delivery, and changeup have generally kept the contact light most of the time.
Former Astros right-hander Spencer Arrighetti was on the mound for the Jays in the seventh. He walked McGonigle to start the inning, but Torres flew out and Lee struck out. Greene battled through a seven pitch AB but eventually popped out.
Waguespace whiffed Giménez with a good changeup to start the bottom half. Smith lined out to McKinstry, and Waguespack got a routine grounder to Peck from Clement to send us to the eighth. Still 6-0 Tigers.
The eighth started quite strangely. Valencia battled Arrighetti for six pitches. The seventh was fouled off but Valencia took the ball right out of Kirk’s glove. The foul nearly caught Max Clark in the batter’s box, and it was also catcher interference, putting Valencia at first. Clark grounded into a force of Valencia, but Torkelson hammered a 2-1 pitch hard off the left field wall. It was hit so hard and played so well by Smith that the ricochet came straight to him, and Clark was held at third as Torkelson took second.
Clark then made some things happen with his baserunning. His lead from third wasn’t even egregious, but he caught Kirk’s attention and drew a throw after a pitch to McKinstry. Kirk fired to Okamoto, but the throw skipped past him down the left field line. Clark jogged home, and Torkelson read it well and scored from second before Smith could corral the ball. 8-0 Tigers. A Malek, as it’s known colloquially.
McKinstry struck out, but John Peck drew a walk and Brett Callahan entered to hit for McGonigle as it was a good time to rest the rookie infielder. He flew out to center to end the inning.
Kyle Finnegan took over in the bottom of the eighth, while Ben Malgeri entered the game for Riley Greene in left. The way Finnegan is going this year this was optimal usage. Bateman greeted him with a leadoff single, and Finnegan quickly started falling apart. With his splitter ineffective, he had to turn to his fastball and it just isn’t a good one. Springer singled to right, and Guerrero smoked a ball to center that Clark hauled in. Kirk singled in Bateman, and Hinch was done. Brant Hurter was warm and he entered to face Myles Straw, hitting for Lukes. A 1-2 changeup got a grounder to Torres for a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning.
Old friend Joe Mantiply took over in the top of the ninth. Torres lined out, but Hao-Yu Lee is a big believer in eight-run leads. A 1-0 curveball up from Mantiply got absolutely crushed to left field and into the second deck for his ninth homer of the year. 9-1 Tigers.
Ben Malgeri followed with a single that Clement, now at shortstop, had to dive for and couldn’t make a throw. Valencia smoked a double to left, getting Malgeri to third. Clark got jammed a bit by the lefty, but grounder one right between Davis Schneider at second and Clement at short. It wasn’t hit hard, but the two infielders sort of stared at each other as it rolled into right field, scoring Malgeri. 10-1 Tigers.
Mantiply struck out Torkelson, and McKinstry lined out to Clement to end the inning, but man this team is hot right now.
Hurter stayed in there to finish this game, and he quickly got Okamoto to ground out on a nice play by Peck at shortstop. Schneider was up next, and he battled through a lengthy at-bat but Hurter whiffed him with a sweeper, and so it was up to Charles McAdoo, hitting for Smith. He grounded the first pitch to Torkelson ranging off of first base, but his throw was behind Hurter and had to be collected by Valencia as McAdoo was safe. A fly ball to Callahan in right field from Clement ended things.
That is six straight for the suddenly streaking Tigers, but streaks one way or the other seem to be par for the course for them. The Tigers are now five games back in the AL Central, but the Guardians won on Tuesday, and so the Tigers remain 4.5 games out of the Wild Card with 11 games left in the season. Hey, nothing to do but keep winning.
Tomorrow’s 2:30 p.m. ET matchup will see RHP Keider Montero taking on a badly struggling RHP Max Scherzer as the Tigers hunt for the sweep.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JANUARY 07: Drew Eubanks #14 of the Phoenix Suns reacts after dunking over Desmond Bane #22 of the Memphis Grizzlies and John Konchar #46 during the game at Footprint Center on January 07, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Grizzlies defeated the Suns 121-115. 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 Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In a league where everyone seems to have lost their minds, the Knicks have had a quiet offseason. I mean, after you win a championship, why be overtly active when you have everything you need to go back-to-back?
We haven’t heard of a real roster move since the attempt to sign Mavericks center Moussa Cisse to an offer sheet back on July 19, but as training camp approaches in the next few weeks, the Knicks need to figure out who’s filling the final roster spots.
Two of those names who will be competing for that spot will be former Grizzlies wing John Konchar and former Kings forward Drew Eubanks, who were both signed on Tuesday night.
Free agent forward John Konchar has agreed to a one-year deal with the New York Knicks, agent George S. Langberg of @GSLSportsGroup tells ESPN. Konchar is entering his eighth NBA season. pic.twitter.com/gKZ0yDqgBx
Konchar, an undrafted free agent out of Purdue-Fort Wayne in 2019, grew from a little-used role player into a key contributor for several years in Memphis. He played just 62 games in his first two seasons, but began to become a serious member of the rotation in 2021-22.
Across the next three seasons, Konchar averaged 4.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.6 assists on 45.7% from the field and 35.5% from three in 199 games (53 starts) for a turbulent team that went from being one of the league’s youngest and brightest to most disappointing. He never played nor contributed much when the playoffs came around, but was soli regular season depth.
He began to be phased out of the rotation in 2024-25, playing just 46 games without any long-term injuries. A sharp regression from downtown (28.4% in 2025-26) made him expendable, leading to him being sent to Utah as part of the Jaren Jackson Jr. trade as expiring salary, where he played out the rest of the season with a crummy, tanking Jazz team.
When things are going right for Konchar, the 6’5” wing plays a lot taller than his height, averaging 8.2 rebounds per 36 with two stocks (steals+blocks). He’s had stretches where he can be a real sniper, shooting over 37% from three on three different occasions, but is also extremely streaky, having shot sub-34% also in three different seasons.
As for Eubanks, affectionately nicknamed the “Michael Jordan of Troutdale, Oregon”, he signed as an undrafted free agent out of Oregon State in 2018 with the San Antonio Spurs, playing 3.5 years as a solid bench player for a transitional era in Spurs basketball before being traded to the Raptors at the 2022 trade deadline for Goran Dragic and a first-round pick, eventually being bought out.
Since then, he’s shuffled around the league. He played the best basketball of his career in 22 games as a starter for the Portland Trail Blazers in late 2022, averaging 14.5 points and 8.5 rebounds, but reverted to the regular role player he’s always been the following year.
He’s played for four different teams over the last three years, making stops in Phoenix, LA (Clippers), Utah, and Sacramento, where he played 42 games last season. In his eight-year career, he’s averaged 5.6 points and 4.3 rebounds on 60.3% from the field.
Now, it’s extremely unlikely that these two players will both make the Opening Night roster, as the Knicks are currently unable to sign two players to standard contracts without exceeding the second apron. It seems like these two will be among the players competing for just one roster spot, with the 6’10” Eubanks likely being the favorite… or is he?
We haven’t gotten the financials, but Konchar is a guy who reportedly got interest from Miami, Orlando, and Toronto. As Ian Begley put it shortly after signing, he likely would not have signed here if he didn’t see a real path towards making the roster, something that the front office would have had to assure him of given the situation.
Could this be the precursor to a trade? Even if nothing is imminent, is this a sign that the Knicks are more willing to trade someone (Deuce McBride?) for a center during training camp?
The Knicks are currently at just 17 players on their training camp roster, with 13 standard deals, these two, Liam Robbins (signed to an Exhibit 10), and Tyler Nickel (likely to be signed to a two-way). They can sign four more.
It was only a matter of time. After the Ducks freed up $6.5 million in cap space by terminating Chris Kreider's contract last week, it was clear was that general manager Pat Verbeek's contract negotiations with Cutter Gauthier's camp were close to reaching a conclusion.
On Tuesday evening, the Ducks announced that they had signed Gauthier to a six-year, $81 million contract extension. This makes him the second-highest paid player on the team behind Leo Carlsson's $18 million AAV. The extension also buys one year of unrestricted free agency.
Getting Gauthier signed before the new collective bargaining agreement (CBA), which kicks in on Sept. 16, allowed the Ducks to front-load his contract with signing bonuses that would not been possible to structure under the new labor deal. Per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, about $69.5 million of the $81 million is comprised of signing bonuses. Gauthier’s camp reportedly declined an offer of four years at a $13 million AAV last month.
Mar 12, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Anaheim Ducks forward Cutter Gauthier (61) is congratulated after scoring against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the first period at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
“We are pleased to get Cutter signed to a long-term deal and have him in camp on time,” Verbeek said in a club statement. “He’s a major part of our young core, a pure goal-scoring talent that will continue progressing into an elite NHL player.”
“This is a very exciting day for my family and me,” Gauthier said in the same club statement. “I’m so pleased to be able to sign long term with the Ducks and be part of what I believe is a great future.”
Carlsson’s big-money offer sheet from the Philadelphia Flyers, along with Connor Bedard, Macklin Celebrini and Cale Makar’s monster contract extensions, have changed the financial landscape for players like Gauthier. Even “smaller” deals like that of the Ducks’ Pavel Mintyukov or the Boston Bruins’ Fraser Minten, in combination with the continued rising of the salary cap, have put the ball in the players’ court when it comes to collecting larger salaries moving forward.
With Gauthier signed, the Ducks have now completed the biggest tasks on their offseason checklist. Their minimal amount of cap space remains a concern, but they'll find some short-term relief by placing Troy Terry (out 2-3 months after hip surgery) on LTIR. A shortened training camp and preseason leaves little time for major preparations, but the Ducks' season opener is also fortunately later than most of the league. A strong start to the season, much like last year, could help give them some cushion as they vie for a second consecutive playoff appearance.
The Knicks have one open roster spot left (that they can afford under the second apron), and it looks like they'll use it on guard depth.
Veteran guard John Konchar has agreed to a one-year deal with the Knicks, a story first reported by Shams Charania of ESPN and since confirmed by Konchar's agents.
This is likely a non-guaranteed contract, but Konchar had options and would not have signed somewhere he didn't believe he was likely to make the final roster. The Knicks also signed veteran big man Drew Eubanks to a training camp deal, and he is competing for a roster spot, reports the well-connected Ian Begley of SNY.TV.
Konchar is a reliable 6'5" guard who has been in the league for seven years. He plays smart basketball, is a solid rebounder who averaged 4.3 a game last season splitting time between Utah and Memphis, and he is a career 34.9% shooter from 3-point range. That said, he's not much of a scorer (4.3 points per game for his career).
The Knicks have 13 standard contracts on their roster and Konchar brings them to 14 and close to the second apron.
The New York Mets had a decision to make about Pete Alonso last winter. David Stearns made it by not doing anything. The Mets GM let the very popular "Polar Bear" walk away after seven years in Flushing as a free agent.
On Tuesday night, he reminded Mets fans what they have lost.
Alonso, the former homegrown Mets star, cracked the 300th home run of his career against his former team wearing a Baltimore Orioles uniform. Alonso's solo blast came in the top of the ninth inning Tuesday with the Orioles trailing 3-2.
So Mets fans, who embraced Alonso's bold personality in his seven years in Queens, got to watch him hit this milestone. He earned a warm welcome back to Flushing, the fans saluting him in Game 1 of the series Monday night before honoring him more Tuesday.
The Orioles eventually won 7-5 in 11 innings.
Pete Alonso takes a curtain call at Citi Field after his 300th career home run pic.twitter.com/FWhWhiA8En
The Mets took Alonso in the second round in the 2016 MLB Draft, 64th overall, out of Florida, and had a star within three years. He set the rookie home run record with 53 in 2019, endearing himself to the Mets faithful because it surpassed the record set by crosstown rival Aaron Judge. He ran away with the 2019 NL Rookie of the Year. Todd Frazier nicknamed him Polar Bear that same season, telling Alonso he looked like a "big, damn polar bear," and it stuck. Alonso won the Home Run Derby that July, then won it again two years later. He made five All-Star teams and broke David Wright's franchise home run record.
Still, none of that earned him a call worth taking from Stearns in the winter.
Alonso opted out of his contract with the Mets after a strong 2025 season, betting on himself the same way he had in 2024. This time, the Mets didn't counter. Stearns inherited Alonso when he took over the organization and showed no inclination to bring him back on a star-level deal. Baltimore, however, was looking for a star first baseman. The Orioles signed him to a five-year, $155-million deal in December.
Even Steve Cohen, the Mets' billionaire owner, understood the emotion of fans watching Alonso walk.
"I totally understand the fans' reaction," he texted a reporter at the time. "There is lots of offseason left to put a playoff team on the field."
Fast forward 10 months later and that is something Cohen probably wishes he hadn't put in print. Alonso returned to a dispirited Citi Field to face a team that imploded. The Mets fired their manager, they traded off their assets at the deadline and headed into this series 18.5 games behind the Atlanta Braves in the National League East and 12 games out of a wild card.
Alonso's Orioles have had a little better season.
While he came to New York hitting .269 with 35 home runs and 100 RBI this season, the Orioles have still underperformed. They sit four games back of the final AL wild-card spot.
Sep 15, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Philadelphia Phillies center fielder Derek Hill (49) scales the wall in an attempt to catch a three run go-ahead home run hit by Washington Nationals left fielder Daylen Lile (not pictured) during the seventh inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
On the night that their hottest pitcher hit the injured list, the overall fatigue of the Philadelphia Phillies (83-68) pitching staff shone through in a 6-3 defeat to the Washington Nationals (71-81).
The Phillies got three runners aboard in the first inning with a pair of walks by Kyle Schwarber and Luis Arraez and an RBI single by Alec Bohm which opened the scoring.
The Nats sprang back to take the lead in the bottom of the inning with a pair of doubles by Brady House and Yohandy Morales and a single by Jorbit Vivas.
Arraez tied the game in the third inning with an RBI double to score Trea Turner.
Kyle Schwarber hit a go-ahead lead-off home run in the top of the sixth but the Phillies would again relinquish the lead in the bottom of the inning on a solo shot by Andres Chaparro.
Kyle Schwarber's in his 5th season with the Phillies
Cristopher Sanchez’s ERA has increased by nearly half a point since the beginning of the month and those struggles continued tonight as he allowed eight hits for the tenth time this season, but it was his “relief” that surrendered the killing blow.
Daylen Lile blew the game open in the seventh inning with a pinch-hit three-run home run off of Jonathan Bowlan, two runs of which were inherited from Sanchez.
Daylen Lile crushes a pinch-hit three-run blast for the lead over the Phillies!
It was the 5th straight appearance in which Bowlan has allowed a run and the second in a row Sanchez has allowed five plus.
The ambitions of catching the Braves for the division are fading into the rearview as the Phillies are now 4-8 in their last 12 and hanging on to a wild card spot for dear life.
Zack Wheeler will attempt to outduel Washington ace, Cade Cavalli, tomorrow night in the second half of the short series.
PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 15: William Contreras #24 of the Milwaukee Brewers wearing #21 in honor of Roberto Clemente reacts to a play during the game between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on Tuesday, September 15, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The division has almost been secured. With their ace on the mound, the Brewers put together an all-around strong game to defeat the Pirates 5-1 on Tuesday night, lowering their magic number to one.
The Brewers got on the board first with some small ball. Jake Bauers led off the second inning with a single to right field. He moved over to second on a Christian Yelich groundout, then made it to third on a wild pitch by Lake Bachar. Luis Lara brought him in with a sacrifice fly, and the Brewers had a 1-0 lead.
They had another chance to score with two outs. Joey Ortiz and David Hamilton hit back-to-back singles, and Garrett Mitchell worked a 3-0 count before getting intentionally walked. Jackson Chourio had a chance to break the game open with the bases loaded, but a flyout to center ended the inning.
Meanwhile, Jacob Misiorowski was efficient through his first three innings. He struck out the side in the first and had six strikeouts. In the fourth, the Pirates had a chance to break through. After striking out Oneil Cruz to start the inning, back-to-back singles by Nick Gonzales and Ryan O’Hearn put two runners on base.
After a mound visit, Rafael Flores Jr. hit the Pirates’ third straight single when Hamilton couldn’t get to a ground ball. The deflection sent the ball into shallow center field, and it was a spot where Gonzales should have been able to score. However, third base coach Tony Beasley held Gonzales at third. O’Hearn didn’t see Gonzales stop and kept running toward third, assuming he would score, while Chourio caught up to the ball and threw it in. O’Hearn was an easy out in no-man’s land, turning a bases-loaded, one-out situation into runners at the corners with two outs. That loomed bigger when Spencer Horwitz flew out to Chourio to end the inning, keeping the Pirates off the board and bringing the boo birds out in Pittsburgh.
The offense blew the game open in the sixth inning. Brice Turang led off the inning with a walk, then William Contreras hit a double to deep right to put two runners in scoring position. After Bauers struck out, Yelich drew a walk, but reliever Gregory Soto threw a wild pitch on ball four. Turang scored to make it a 2-0 lead.
The offense kept going as Lara doubled into right field, scoring Contreras and putting runners at the corners again. Ortiz followed that up with another single, scoring Yelich and Lara all the way from first base. The rally ended there as Ortiz tried to steal but was caught, and Hamilton struck out to end the inning.
With the Brewers up 5-0, and the top of the sixth taking a while, Misiorowski’s day came to an end a little early. He pitched five scoreless innings and threw 84 pitches, allowing just five hits and a walk while striking out seven. It was likely just a workload management decision, with the Brewers holding a five-run lead.
Aaron Ashby was the first reliever out of the bullpen. He started with a clean sixth inning before returning for the seventh, but started rough in his second inning of work. He walked O’Hearn, then Flores Jr. singled. Ashby recovered from there, getting two lineouts and a groundout to end the inning and keep the Pirates off the board.
DL Hall took the eighth inning and allowed a leadoff home run to Brandon Lowe, ending the shutout. Gonzales hit a two-out single, but that was it, as Hall got out of the inning with no further damage.
Trevor Megill took the ninth inning despite it being a four-run lead and not a save situation. The inning started rough as he allowed back-to-back singles to Flores Jr. and pinch-hitter Ronny Simon. Jake Mangum hit a ground ball to the left side of second, Ortiz grabbed it and threw to Turang, who ran past second but managed to get his foot on the bag for the out. After that, pop-outs from Konnor Griffin and Brandon Lowe ended the game.
It was a balanced day for the offense. Every starter other than Chourio reached base safely at least once. Ortiz led the offense with a three-hit day, and Turang reached base four times with four walks. Lara and Ortiz each drove in two runs.
Looking at the scoreboard, the Dodgers defeated the Reds 4-0 to keep the Brewers’ lead for the best record in MLB at two games. Meanwhile, the Braves have mounted a comeback and lead 4-3 in the bottom of the seventh thanks to two separate two-run home runs. If the lead holds, the Brewers will clinch the NL Central.
Tomorrow’s game will feature Logan Henderson and Jared Jones. First pitch is at 5:40 p.m. Meanwhile, stay tuned here to see if the Brewers clinch the division.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 15: Brayan Rocchio #4 of the Cleveland Guardians scores on a throwing error by the pitcher to first base in the fifth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Progressive Field on September 15, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
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TRAVIS BAZZANA IS GREAT, TAKE THAT, COMMENTER GUY!
YOU GOTTA WALK ROCCHTEMBER THERE, WILL VENABLE, WITH A BASE OPEN! CLASSIC BLUNDER. AND YOUR LEFT FIELDER WAS PLAYING LAUGHABLY SHALLOW HAHAHAHAHA
HE HIT A 101 MPH FASTBALL ABOVE THE ZONE LOL
I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THEY DID NOT GET SOMEONE UP HERE WITH DELAUTER AND MARTINEZ BOTH OUT BUT THEY SOMEHOW PULLED THIS OUT!
Kawhi Leonard is about to begin his second run with the Toronto Raptors, and it appears to come with a good reason.
According to ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania, Leonard had other potential suitors who wanted to trade for him, but he ultimately chose the Toronto Raptors because of his legacy.
“There were teams — Detroit, Minnesota — others that had interest in trading for him, that wanted to trade for him, that wanted to give him an extension,” Charania said on TSN. “But he made a decision because he had one year left on his deal to essentially weed out where he wanted to play, where he wanted to be. And so this is a legacy play for Kawhi Leonard. There’s no doubt about it.”
Kawhi Leonard is about to begin his second run with the Toronto Raptors, and it appears to come with a good reason. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST
On Monday, Leonard was officially traded by the Clippers to the Raptors in a deal that included Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks, one first-round pick swap, and two second-round picks.
Originally, Leonard was supposed to be traded by the Clippers to the Raptors in July, but the deal was put on hold as the NBA investigated him, his uncle and former business partner Dennis Robertson, and Clippers owner Steve Ballmer — due to the team attempting to circumvent the NBA Salary Cap.
On Tuesday, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said, “The discipline is final,” after making his first public comments about the punishment.
With the Clippers left in despair, Leonard will be on to new beginnings by rejoining the Raptors, the same team he led to its first NBA Championship in franchise history, during the 2018-2019 season.
The Raptors knocked off the reigning back-to-back champions, the Golden State Warriors in six games, and Leonard was crowned the Finals MVP for the second time in his career after having a dominant series where he averaged 28.5 points, 9.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 2 blocks, and 1.2 steals.
The Raptors were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs last year after losing in seven games to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Leonard was officially traded by the Clippers to the Raptors in a deal that included Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks, one first-round pick swap, and two second-round picks. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
It’s unknown what the offers were like from Detroit and Minnesota, but both teams are coming into the 2026 season as legitimate contenders to win the title this season.
Kawhi Leonard in an NBA game against the Brooklyn Nets while playing with the Los Angeles Clippers. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
Detroit finished the regular season as the No.1 seed in the Eastern Conference with a 60-22 record but suffered the same fate as the Raptors and were eliminated in the second round by the Cavaliers.
The general assumption for Detroit is that they needed a star to lead them in the playoffs — a role Leonard is familiar with. But he ultimately chose to return to Toronto.
Do you have baseball fever yet? If you’re still watching, I’ll assume you do.
I normally put some sort of analysis in the preview. I’m told nobody reads these, but it gives me a head start on the recap. Unfortunately, there’s not much analysis left. The Mariners lost their chance for a winning season last night. And they’ll officially have a losing record if they lose again tonight. If they don’t, that’ll be on the table again tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day, and so on until this season is mercifully over.
So instead analysis, I’ll steal Zach Mason’s bit from last night, and ask a question to see who reads these things: Let’s name some Mariners-Angels crossovers. Who’s your favorite? Who’s your least favorite? Who should have been a Mariner but never was? Who should have been an Angel but never was? What do you think of the Angels, as an organization?
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 15: Junior Caminero #13 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates with Chandler Simpson #14 and Jorge Mateo #9 after hitting a walk-off home run in the ninth inning to defeat the Athletics 2-1 at Tropicana Field on September 15, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Seriously, nothing much happened in this game on offense — for either team.
The Rays first — and for many innings, only — run came when Chandler Simpson scored from third on a passed ball, but perhaps what is most notable is how Simpson came to be on third. He hit a deep line drive (98 mph!) that bounced of the back wall for a double. He moved to third on a ground out and was then able to score when the Oakland catcher failed to grab an errant pitch. Simpson, in fact, was pretty much the Rays offense until the Cami home run: the Rays had six hits, total, and Chandler had three of them.
Griffin Jax picked up from his last, very effective start. He shut down the A’s almost entirely for five innings. He walked no one and gave up two forgettable hits while striking out seven.
But apparently the Rays are determined to manage his workload, because despite pitching just five relatively low stress innings — a mere 67 pitches — he was pulled before the sixth inning.
Jax wasn’t the only pitcher on top of his game today. Jack Perkins, the A’s starter whose ERA is north of 6.00, held the Rays in check for 6.2 innings. He scattered a few hits, walked just one, and made the Rays hitters, even the “big three,” look lost.
After Jax left the game, Cash brought in Ty Johnson, who was the weak-ish link among tonight’s pitchers. He gave up two hits and then threw a very wild pitch that scored a run to tie the game at 1-1. But the rest of the bullpen — Cam Booser, Kevin Kelly and Bryan Baker — cruised through their innings. After Baker polished off the A’s in the top of the ninth, I was hoping hard that the Rays would manage to walk it off in the bottom of the inning because I didn’t like the pitching options that would follow Baker.
And then: BOOM. Junior did indeed put this game to bed. He’s got the bat, and he’s got the confidence too; this 23-year old is ready for this moment, beckoning to the post-game crowd to raise the volume as they chanted “MVP.”
With the win the Rays magic number to win the division is down to nine (as I write the Yankees are leading the Minnesota Twins so we’ll get no help there), and they have two more games against the A’s. Tomorrow Nick “our workhorse” Martinez takes the mound.
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 15: Jack Perkins #50 of the Athletics delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on September 15, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Athletics opened a three-game road series against the Tampa Bay Rays on Roberto Clemente Day. The Rays won a 2-1 pitching duel on a walk-off home run by superstar third baseman Junior Caminero.
Pitching Duel in Florida
The Athletics had trouble generating offense against Rays right-hander Griffin Jax, who opened the game with seven strikeouts across five scoreless innings. A’s right-hander Jack Perkins nearly matched him, as it quickly became apparent that this game would be a low-scoring affair.
After failing to capitalize on their first scoring opportunity in the bottom of the first, the Rays took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Chandler Simpson scored on a passed ball by A’s catcher Jonah Heim. The visitors had a chance to immediately respond in the top of the third. With two outs, shortstop Alika Williams doubled for the A’s first hit of the game, but he was stranded at second when Jax struck out center fielder Henry Bolte to end the inning.
A’s Tie The Game
With their sights set on a deep playoff run, the Rays removed Jax after 67 pitches and five scoreless innings. Rookie right-hander Ty Johnson entered from the hosts’ bullpen, looking to maintain his team’s 1-0 lead.
With one out, Bolte and first baseman Jeff McNeil hit back-to-back singles, giving the A’s a golden opportunity to at least tie the game. Bolte scored the game-tying run on a wild pitch by Johnson. The Green and Gold stranded McNeil at second, wasting a chance to take the lead.
Perkins turned in arguably his best start of the season. The command-challenged right-hander pitched into the seventh inning for the first time this year, allowing just four hits and one unearned run while striking out eight and issuing only one walk over 6 2/3 innings.
With two on and two out in the bottom of the seventh, A’s right-hander Luis Medina replaced Perkins, looking to keep the game tied. Medina struck out second baseman Richie Palacios on three pitches, ending the Rays’ scoring threat.
Another Close Game Late
The game remained deadlocked as Rays left-hander Cam Booser, setup man Kevin Kelly and closer Bryan Baker shut down the A’s offense over the final three innings.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, the Rays had an opportunity to take the lead after getting a runner to second with one out. However, A’s left-hander Hogan Harris retired the next two batters to strand the go-ahead run at third.
Wrong Kind of Music from Elvis
Right-hander Elvis Alvarado entered for the bottom of the ninth with the A’s hoping he could send the game to extra innings. However, he did not record an out.
After achieving walk-off wins in two of their past three games, the Athletics were on the other side of that equation tonight. In an 0-2 count, Caminero sliced a walk-off opposite-field home run down the right field line. His 41st long ball of the season gave the American League-best Rays a 2-1 series-opening victory.
The Athletics’ offense will look to have more success tomorrow as the team looks to even the series. Left-hander Brady Basso will open for the Green and Gold, with the length of his outing likely depending on his performance. The Rays will counter with right-hander Nick Martinez, who pitched a complete game when these teams met in Sacramento last month.
Teoscar Hernández gestures as he rounds the bases after hitting a two-run homer in the third inning Tuesday. (Carolyn Kaster / Associated Press)
A simple change opened up a dramatic offensive turnaround for Dodgers left fielder Teoscar Hernández.
Hernández’s two-run homer Tuesday, in the Dodgers’ 4-0 win against the Reds, was his second home run in as many nights, as the team trimmed its magic number to clinch the division to one behind Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s seven innings of one-hit ball. And, significantly, this one was against a right-handed pitcher.
“It’s been very helpful,” manager Dave Roberts said after the game. “As certain guys are not seeing the ball as well, it’s nice to kind of backfill with guys like Teo swinging the bat. And when you can slug like he can, you can win baseball games, and he can carry us for a while. And the last 10 days, something like that, it’s been really good from him.”
Through the end of August, Hernández had just a .668 OPS against right-handed pitchers this season. So, when Roberts was asked in Detroit whether the Dodgers would consider setting up a left-field platoon with the team’s September call-ups, he said yes.
Hernández homered off Tigers left-hander Framber Valdez on the last day of the series. And before the Dodgers opened a three-game set against the Cardinals at Dodger Stadium, Hernández met with the hitting coaches.
Against Valdez, Hernández was in a closed stance, to delay his front hip from opening, according to Dodgers hitting coach Aaron Bates. But the team’s hitting group thought a return to a familiar setup could be a long-term solution.
“It was a great meeting we had,” Bates said. “We all talked about it, and then he felt comfortable enough to do it, and then the rest is to his credit. He’s just been who he is.”
In the past, Hernández had used a “twister tap” as his stride. He started in a more open stance, tapped his toe in line with the pitcher, and then set his foot down. But lower-body injuries the last couple of years — a left groin strain last season and a left hamstring strain earlier this season — forced him away from it.
His improved health and hip flexibility opened up the avenue for him to return to that timing mechanism.
“When Teo’s hips are loose that way, and his front leg looks like an Elvis knee, it’s a good sign for us,” Bates said. “Because that means that he can open and close it without his upper body going with it.”
The advantage of the twister tap, as Hernández explained it, is how repeatable it is. A more traditional stride can be sped up or slowed down.
“Just being able to control my body and being in a good position,” Hernández said earlier this month. “I can see the pitch a little sooner and identify what kind of pitch it is and if it’s going to be a strike or a ball.”
Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitches during one of his seven shutout innings against the Reds Tuesday. (Carolyn Kaster / Associated Press)
With that change, he’s rewarded the Dodgers for deciding against platooning left field. Hernández entered Tuesday with a .777 OPS against right-handed pitchers — a sample size of just 28 plate appearances but still a significant jump.
“The biggest thing is his plate coverage away,” Bates said. “Because now he can spoil pitches, and he’s staying in at-bats longer.”
Hernández’s dramatic offensive turnaround, along with fellow corner outfielder Kyle Tucker’s improvement, have helped steady a Dodgers offense that’s missing Shohei Ohtani (on the IL with right biceps and left knee injuries) and includes a hobbled Freddie Freeman (right knee soreness).
Rookie Josue De Paula, mostly filling in for Ohtani at designated hitter, has already shown he can take mature at-bats and provide some pop. But he’s still finding his footing in a new league.
It lengthens the Dodgers lineup for Hernández, after a slow start to his year, to return to being a veteran power threat — just in time to, ideally, carry the momentum into the postseason.
On Monday, he launched his two-run shot off left-hander Nick Lodolo. On Tuesday, he replicated the feat off right-hander Rhett Lowder.
On the second pitch of the at-bat, Hernández recognized a hung slider, and he roped it over the left-field fence at 109.3 mph, according to Statcast. The blast put the Dodgers up 3-0 in the third inning, with Dodgers starter Yamamoto settling into a groove on the other side.
Yamamoto had walked the first two batters he faced, but he reined in his control to pitch seven scoreless innings and allow just one more baserunner, on a double by Reds star shortstop Elly De La Cruz.
The Dodgers also scored on Hunter Feduccia’s second-inning single and Alex Freeland’s seventh-inning homer. And the Dodgers bullpen completed the shutout.
Freeman staying in the lineup
Freeman was all smiles after his three-hit game Tuesday — after going hitless for his last four games.
“I was supposed to be off tomorrow, but I played myself in there,” he said. “So I’m very excited.”
Roberts explained: “He was joking, saying, ‘If I get three hits, then can I be in there tomorrow?’”
Sure enough, the mechanical adjustments he made in the batting cage — focusing on getting his foot down early and making contact out in front — got him there.
“I’m just trying to find something that gives me results,” Freeman said. “We’re at the time where we’re just trying to get hot for five weeks here. So kind of like I did in the World Series a couple years ago, I did the step-out move. That’s not sustainable over six months. I’m not trying to find something that’s sustainable.”
Though Roberts has been trying to find opportunities to rest Freeman, he saw promising signs Tuesday beyond the results.
“Just my eyes, just watching him move, I feel good about him going tomorrow,” Roberts said.
De Paula, Freeland and third baseman Max Muncy will be out of the lineup Wednesday, Roberts said.
