CLEVELAND, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 19: Catcher Austin Hedges #27 celebrates with relief pitcher Slade Cecconi #44 of the Cleveland Guardians after the game against the Athletics at Progressive Field on September 19, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Guardians defeated the Athletics 12-6. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The playoffs are within reach and the Guardians are in the driver’s seat for the AL Central as they head into a tough place to play against a good team in the Boston Red Sox.
The Guardians are 81-75 with a +2 run differential, 21st in team wRC+ since the trade deadline at 96, eighth in baserunning runs above at 5.2, ninth in Defense at -8.2, eighth in starting pitcher ERA at 3.94 (3.93 FIP), and sixth in bullpen ERA at 3.55 (3.66 FIP).
The Red Sox are 84-72 with a +80 run differential, 16th in team wRC+ since the trade deadline at 100, 18th in baserunning runs above at -3.5, eighth in Defense at -5.4, ninth in starting pitcher ERA at 3.95 (3.74 FIP), and first in bullpen ERA at 3.09 (3.56 FIP).
One of our regular posters asked which of our hitters and pitchers have performed well at Fenway. I don’t generally consider park-specific stats as very predictive, but, for what it’s worth, Austin Hedges has a 159 wRC+ at Fenway, Jo Adell 133 wRC+, Nathaniel Lowe 128 wRC+, Steven Kwan 127 wRC+, Brayan Rocchio 120 wRC+, and Jose Ramirez 108 wRC+. If any of that makes you excited, good! Joey Cantillo has a 1.50 ERA in Fenway and Tanner Bibee 1.80 ERA. I REALLY would not read anything into pitcher stats at specific parks, but it is possible hitters may see the ball better at given stadiums.
Matchups: Tuesday, 6:45PM ET: Messick, LHP 2.59 ERA since 8/4 vs. Tolle, LHP, 2.36 ERA since 8/4 Wednesday, 7:10PM ET: Griffin, LHP 5.79 ERA since 8/4 vs. Gray, RHP 2.55 ERA since 8/4 Thursday, 6:45PM ET: TBD vs. Suarez, LHP 3.53 ERA since 8/4
Since August 4th, the Red Sox are led by Mickey Gasper 201 wRC+, Jahmai Jones 184 wRC+, Trevor Story 137 wRC+, Wilyer Abreu at 135 wRC+, Caleb Durbin 125 wRC+, Roman Anthony 113 wRC+ and Nick Sogard 108 wRC+.
Since 8/4, the Guardians are led by Chase DeLauter 159 wRC+, Angel Martinez 157 wRC+, Steven Kwan 138 wRC+, David Fry 118 wRC+, Travis Bazzana 114 wRC+ and Jo Adell 105 wRC+.
Gotta find a way to get one to make a playoff berth likely, two to keep the division title in sight.
Andy Green will manage the Mets in 2027, the team announced Tuesday. The interim tag he inherited when he took over for Carlos Mendoza earlier this year is gone, with Green signing a three-year deal.
The deal represents a pivot for Green and the organization, the former because he initially said he was reluctant to manage beyond this year since it would keep him away from his family, the latter because Steve Cohen and David Stearns said they planned to conduct a search for their next manager after this season.
But people in the organization, who were careful to speak anonymously so as not to complicate his decision, said they started sensing a change in Green’s mindset in recent weeks. They speculated that as a once turbulent Mets clubhouse seemed to coalesce around him, Green started warming to the possibility of balancing a dream job and his desire to by present for his daughters’ final year of high school.
In fact, multiple people pointed out that there might be no better time for a father of seniors in high school to take a job like this: Given that a lockout is a near certainty and a shortened spring training – if not a delayed start to the season – seems likely enough to plan around, he might never encounter a baseball spring that would let him stay home longer.
Still, exactly what changed and when is still unclear, though as of earlier this month, Green had not approached Cohen or Stearns about any change in plans, according to people familiar with the situation.
But by Saturday’s celebration of Carlos Beltran – when Beltran all but declared he was not interested in a managerial job for which he seemed like an early favorite – Green’s path seemed to have cleared. The Mets decided not to subject him to the rigors of a public search before committing.
Green, 49, managed the Padres to a 274-366 record over four years from 2016-2019. He was serving as the Mets senior vice president of baseball development when they approached him about taking over for Mendoza in June.
He said then that he took the job with the understanding it would be temporary out of a sense of responsibility to the organization. He, Stearns, and Cohen maintained that approach in the months that followed, though none of them fully ruled out the possibility that something could change any one of their minds.
And while the Mets did not exactly catch fire under Green – they were 37-38 under his watch at the time of the announcement – they did seem to find a more sustainable sense of self. Carson Benge flourished. Green challenged the young starting pitchers around whom the Mets must build next year. A surprisingly effective bullpen grew from the ashes of the one the Mets dismantled at the trade deadline. Bo Bichette seemed to find new comfort and spoke glowingly of Green’s people skills. Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor, well, spent the last month or two acting like two superstars working toward shared goals on perfectly good terms.
New York Mets interim manager Andy Green (70) leaves the field after changing pitchers against the Atlanta Braves during the seventh inning at Truist Park. / Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
“I have a lot of respect for Andy. I think he’s been good at the role that he’s got right now. Not necessarily the role of managing, because I didn’t see his role this year as to manage. His role, right now, was to come in and bring light, bring ownership, bring respect, and bring accountability. He’s succeeded at it,” Lindor told SNY last Saturday, at which point he said he had had not spoken to Green about changing his mind.
“In-game stuff, plays and all that stuff? He’s made good moves, but I don’t judge him on those things. I don’t really care about that. He was put in here more to bring light to the players, to bring accountability, to bring respect, to bring self-awareness. And that’s what he brought into the role he’s in right now.”
That role, of course, has been molded by the fact that the Mets have been effectively, if not mathematically, out of contention since he took over. The Padres teams he managed never played under the kind of scrutiny or expectations these Mets will next year.
But Green has passed the tests he has encountered with grace, particularly with his style of communication. His news conferences have blended candor with empathy in ways that are so far landing with both players and the public.
Last week, for example, Green navigated the emotional hurricane that was Pete Alonso’s return to Citi Field without discounting his players’ frustration with fans nor scolding fans for theirs. Presented with a fan base that operates with sometimes unparalleled, but often unregulated, passion, many Mets managers before him have struggled to do the same.
“I think he’s been good. Andy has his personality, he’s great. I feel like he’s a guy who is on top of everything. He pays attention to every single detail and stuff like that. I really like that,” Soto told SNY last weekend. “He’s been open with me and talking to me about a lot of stuff.”
It is not clear how much of the current Mets coaching staff will return, though Green helped assemble the revamped staff that worked with Mendoza to start the season and some of them are under contract beyond this year. Answers to those questions, and others, will come later.
For now, the Mets have certainty in the dugout entering an important offseason – one in which Bichette will be deciding whether to opt out and free agency will likely be condensed to a November frenzy ahead of the anticipated lockout in December. And that certainty comes in the form of Green, whose previous player development role means he knows better than anyone the young players who will carry the Mets’ future.
ATLANTA, GA MAY 04: Atlanta center fielder Michael Harris II (23) rests on the field following the last out of the inning during the MLB game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves on May 4th, 2025 at Truist Park in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Did you think there were going to be days off? There are no days off. At least not yet. Maybe a partial day off? We’ll see.
This is the same lineup the Braves rolled out when they last had to face a lefty (8-4 loss to the Cubs). They also used this lineup in the opener against the Cubs, which they also lost. So, maybe that fortune changes here.
The Braves have a combined four, count ‘em, four PAs against Brandon Williamson. Two are from Ha-Seong Kim (strikeout, flyout), and one each comes from Michael Harris II (a homer), and Matt Olson (a homer). Kind of bizarre that the two lefties are 1-for-1 with a homer off a southpaw but… four PAs, y’all.
The Reds’ lineup is at least moderately interesting, or as much as can be for a bad team playing out the string.
Promoted pseudo-prospect Carlos Jorge, he of the 27 career PAs and a terrible line in them, starts at leadoff. He’s joined in the outfield by another promoted prospect, Hector Rodriguez, who also hasn’t hit at all but has had some more exposure.
The Reds’ quartet from two through five in the lineup has hit well this season. Everyone else has hit terribly. That’s not too different from how the Braves have gone through the season, though. Still, JR Ritchie has a tough test and should hopefully find it easier to loop through the rest of the lineup.
The 2026 pre-season has presented some interesting challenges for teams across the NHL. Not only was the number of games cut, but a new rule has also limited how many times certain players can suit up in the pre-season. While there are some positives in that prospects can get more opportunities, it does create some strain on coaching staffs who need to balance their lineups throughout the four pre-season games.
The NHL's new "veteran" rule prohibits certain players from playing more than two pre-season games. Using the Vancouver Canucks as an example, Aatu Räty will be ineligible to play the final two pre-season games, as after Tuesday he will have suited up twice already. Here is how the NHL defines a "veteran" for the pre-season:
Any player who has played one hundred (100) or more career NHL Games
any player who has played four hundred (400) or more career games in the NHL and/or AHL
A forward or defenseman who played in thirty (30) NHL Games during the previous season
A goaltender who either dressed in fifty (50) or more NHL Games or played in thirty (30) or more NHL Games in the previous season
A first-round draft choice from any of the five (5) previous years’ NHL Drafts
A second-round draft choice from any of the three (3) previous years’ NHL Drafts.
After morning skate and practice on Tuesday, Manny Malhotra was asked about the new rules and how they have impacted his roster selection for pre-season games. In addition to the new rules, teams must also ensure they have at least eight "veterans" in the lineup. As Malhotra explained, a shorter pre-season means that players need to be ready to go, as they won't have as many opportunities to stand out before the season begins.
"We've thought about this all summer long," said Malhotra. "Just in terms of the new rules and the limit on how many games a guy can play. So that definitely weighs into the equation. I think it kind of goes without saying that the guys have a very clear understanding that there's not a lot of runway leading up to the season. I think we calculated about between eight and 10 ice sessions. You get your two games, and that's what you have to show. So, I think in terms of the preparation for the guys, it makes it that much more important to show in our skates, in our morning skates, the attention to detail. And then, once we get into these games, it puts everything out there."
The pre-season plays an important role for every team because it lets those on the bubble shine. They also allow players to get up to game speed and battle against opposition that is not wearing the same jersey. According to Malhotra, there have been plenty of conversations amongst the players about the new pre-season roster rules this year.
"Yeah, it's been a topic of discussion, and they're the ones that are bringing it up to us. A lot of veteran guys, they would like to get into three or four games potentially. So the limiting factor on not being able to get games is definitely a topic of conversation amongst the players. But there's definitely an understanding that there isn't a whole lot of time when you take away a week of camp."
Based on Vancouver's first two lineups, Malhotra appears to be saving his potential NHL roster for the final two home pre-season games. Besides Räty, other key players who will have played one pre-season game after Tuesday include Kevin Lankinen, Tom Willander, Victor Mancini, Arshdeep Bains, and Max Sasson. With the limited pre-season games, it will be interesting to see how ready players are when the regular season begins on September 29.
Mar 24, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Jake DeBrusk (74) and forward Elias Pettersson (40) and forward Brock Boeser (6) celebrate Boesers goal against the Anaheim Ducks in the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
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Boston, MA - April 21: Philadelphia 76ers center Adem Bona rejects a shot attempt by Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum in the third quarter. The Boston Celtics played the Philadelphia 76ers at TD Garden in the first round of the NBA Playoffs on April 21, 2026. (Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
It feels like a make-or-break year for Adem Bona.
With all the excitement and anticipation around the 2026-27 Sixers squad on top of the fact that he is entering his third year as an NBA center, there is going to be a lot of pressure on Bona’s shoulders this season to actually solidify himself as rotation-worthy at this level.
With two years in the NBA under Bona’s belt, there have been ups and there have certainly been downs. That feels like the crux of the issue for Bona, actually. There have been moments that he shows incredible promise to be an impactful player with his high level of energy… but other times, he has looked completely lost, making more than his fair share of unforced errors. The balance, as it stands, is not exactly in Bona’s favor.
For what it’s worth, the 23-year-old has likely featured more heavily in NBA play than he might have ever expected to as a young center (making 71 appearances and 18 starts in 2025-26) simply due to the context of being on the Sixers. The backup five position in Philadelphia in the era of Joel Embiid has been and will continue to be an absolutely critical one. Even at his healthiest, Embiid is simply not going to be out there every game. Even if he was, he can’t be out there every minute. Having someone reliable to step in off the bench and even to start in those Embiid-less moments has been a continuing story (and struggle) for this team for years.
And going into this campaign, he’ll have some competition for the role with 7’0”, 246-pound Ariel Hukporti, whom the Sixers signed with a portion of their bi-annual exception this offseason, joining the squad.
And to this point, Bona hasn’t exactly found the footing to really establish himself as the reliable backup big for Philadelphia by any means. He is an energetic young player and is one of the best shot blockers you could ask for, but he’s virtually inconsequential (at best) on the offensive end minus a few dunks, struggles with defensive rebounding and is no stranger to unforced errors like moving screens and silly fouls.
The one most puzzling (and I think most detrimental to his value overall) won’t necessarily show on a stat sheet, but you know it’s true if you’ve watched him play: Bona cannot catch a basketball at times. His hands seem to suddenly lose the ability to grip, and instead become two completely flat surfaces for the ball to bounce right off of. That is a really bad quality in a 6-foot-10 center (with a 7-foor-4 wingspan) that you’d hope could make up for some of the Sixers’ lack of rebounding, especially on the defensive end.
It’s an especially bad quality when Bona’s game has so many other weaknesses. Now, that might sound harsher or meaner than intended, but it actually just displays something that — if Bona could do it just a bit better — could really balance out his value on the floor even against some of his sloppier moments. As it stands right now, he just doesn’t do enough well.
That being said, I can’t imagine there’s anything that motivates quite like the idea of playing alongside LeBron James, and Bona is going to have to establish himself quickly to earn the trust of the likes of LeBron… or he may fall out of the rotation fast and find himself replaced by the February trade deadline.
I think a large key for Bona is going to be not trying to do too much, which is when he seems to get out of sorts and commits questionable mistakes, and instead work on improving some seemingly-small but hugely-impactful fundamentals — like defensive rebounding — to solidify himself as a guy Nick Nurse can really trust to help stem the tide of the Embiid-less minutes on the floor.
They say pressure is what turns coal into diamond. Enterting year three with more at stake than ever personally and for the Sixers team, it’s up to Bona now to try to make that happen.
(A final note that Bona is currently dealing with a left foot sprain suffered during World Cup qualifiers, but is reportedly expected to return within the first two weeks of camp.)
Kawhi Leonard’s future in Toronto has been revealed.
The Raptors and Leonard agreed on a two-year, $115 million contract extension with a player option for the 2028-29 season.
The Clippers traded Kawhi Leonard back to the Raptors. Getty Images
Just in: Toronto Raptors All-NBA star Kawhi Leonard has agreed on a two-year, $115 million contract extension with the franchise, plus a player option for the 2028-29 season, his agent Harrison Gaines of SLASH Sports tells ESPN. pic.twitter.com/naqrW8jBV3
Leonard is entering his second stint with the organization. He previously spent the 2018-19 season with the Raptors and led the franchise to its first and only NBA championship.
After being fined $700,000 for his involvement in the Clippers scandal, Leonard was traded to the Raptors after the transaction was previously put on hold amid the investigation. The two-time Finals MVP made his first public comments since the trade last week, when he explained why he chose to return to Toronto.
“I’m not really championship chasing, trying to find the best team I could win [with],” Leonard said on the Raptors’ Open Gym YouTube channel.
“I didn’t want to put on a thousand jerseys. The city took a liking to my family, I took a liking to the city. Really enjoyed it. My son was born here, and he’s been asking me forever when he’s going to come back.”
In Toronto, Leonard joins Scottie Barnes in the frontcourt. The Raptors are positioned to make a deep playoff run after securing a top-five seed last season in the Eastern Conference.
Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard speaks to reporters before a team practice. APToronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard holds Larry O’Brien NBA Championship Trophy after the Raptors defeated the Golden State Warriors 114-110 in Game 6. AP
On Tuesday, former Winnipeg Jets forward Kevin Hayes' NHL career has come to a close. Selected 24th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2010 draft, Hayes never actually suited up for Chicago.
Instead, he starred for four years at Boston College before signing with the New York Rangers as a free agent in 2014 after the Blackhawks failed to get him under contract before he finished his collegiate career.
Hayes spent the bulk of his career in New York, where the first five seasons of his career were with the Rangers, featuring in 361 regular-season contests in Manhattan. Midway through the 2018-19 season, Hayes was traded to the Winnipeg Jets, a stop that turned into the best statistical season of his career.
Hayes closed out that 2018-19 campaign between the two teams with 19 goals and 36 assists for 55 points in 71 games, a career year that came to define his time in a Jets uniform before he moved on in free agency.
He later moved on to several other NHL clubs before ending his career with the Pittsburgh Penguins for two seasons. Over 12 NHL seasons, Hayes leaves the league with 185 goals and 446 points in 805 career games. He was also a finalist for the 2021-22 Bill Masterton Trophy, awarded annually to the player who best exemplifies perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to the game.
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The Flyers experienced their worst nightmare in the first period of Tuesday night’s preseason game at TD Garden.
Dan Vladar, their most valuable player, suffered an apparent injury with 6:29 minutes left in the opening stanza. The 29-year-old goaltender was hunched over, favoring his right arm and stick hand as he skated toward the bench after the Bruins scored to make it 1-0.
Vladar went down as he tried to corral a rebound and lost his stick. Michael Eyssimont took advantage by deflecting a shot past Vladar, who was back to his feet but banged up.
There was no immediate word on Vladar’s status. Aleksei Kolosov took over in net.
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Tuesday MLB Schedule and Moneyline Odds
6:35 p.m. ET
Blue Jays at Orioles
6:40 p.m. ET
Nationals at Tigers
Cardinals at Pirates
Brewers at Phillies
6:45 p.m. ET
Guardians at Red Sox
7:05 p.m. ET
Rays at Yankees — Doubleheader Game 2
7:15 p.m. ET
Reds at Braves
7:40 p.m. ET
White Sox at Royals
Marlins at Cubs
8:05 p.m. ET
Mets at Rangers
8:40 p.m. ET
Diamondbacks at Rockies
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9:45 p.m. ET
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Padres at Dodgers
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DENVER, CO - DECEMBER 16: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors huddles up with his team before the game against the Denver Nuggets on December 16, 2018 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The dust is finally settling around the Kawhi Leonard trade, as the forward has put the finishing touches on a $165 million dollar deal for three years with the Toronto Raptors. Shams Charania reported today that Leonard has signed a two-year extension for $115 million dollars, offering the team a slight discount of $11 million dollars, while waiving his trade kicker of $7.45 million dollars.
Both sides maintained consistent dialogue on Leonard’s long-term Raptors future since July after the reunion via trade — and the two-time Finals MVP expects to finish his career in Toronto. Leonard, 35, now has a total of three years and $165 million on his Raptors deal. https://t.co/kIvWY6859y
Leaving several million dollars on the table demonstrates a newfound willingness to pursue team success, and an early show of commitment to Toronto. Leonard retains a level of personal control with the addition of a player option in the third year of his contract, where he would be 37 years old.
Charania went on to note that Leonard believes that his second stint in Toronto will mark the end of his career in the NBA, reporting that he had been told that the Klaw’s insistence that he will retire a Raptor was a notable component of the agreement between the two parties.
Just in on NBA Today — Kawhi Leonard expects to finish his career in Toronto after signing a new $115M extension in his Raptors reunion: pic.twitter.com/V2dJAaxVh5
Leonard may be turning over a new leaf as he re-enters the Canadian market, seemingly moving past the pursuit of a paycheque that seems to have dominated his time in Los Angeles. As the superstar’s career is winding down, Kawhi’s unfinished business in Toronto seems that it will go on to dominate the latter half of the 2020s for this franchise, perhaps ushering the team into a golden age. Only time — and championships — will tell.
Kawhi Leonard spent most of his summer waiting on the NBA to let him go back to Toronto. Now he's seemingly not going anywhere else.
Leonard agreed to a two-year, $115 million contract extension with the Raptors that includes a player option for the 2028-29 season a person with knowledge confirmed to USA TODAY Sports. The person requested anonymity because the deal was not yet publicly announced.
Leonard is in the last year of a contract that pays him $50.3 million this season. To get the trade done, he waived his full 15% trade kicker, a bonus some players get when they're dealt.
He's coming off a 65-game season, up from 37 the year before. He averaged 27.9 points and 1.9 steals and made the All-NBA second team.
The last time Toronto had him, he gave the city a championship and left a month later.
Why the Raptors paused the Kawhi Leonard trade
Toronto went 46-36 last season and lost to Cleveland in seven games in the first round of the playoffs. The Raptors agreed to send Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, a 2027 pick swap and second-round picks in 2030 and 2033 to the Clippers for Leonard.
On July 9, Toronto hit pause. The investigation was still open and nobody could say yet whether Leonard would be suspended. The Raptors did not comment publicly the rest of the summer.
The report that started the NBA investigation
In September 2025, reporter Pablo Torre reported that Leonard had a $28 million endorsement deal with Aspiration, a climate-focused financial company, that asked almost nothing of him. Former employees told Torre the deal was a way around the salary cap. Investors tied to Clippers owner Steve Ballmer had put money in Aspiration.
What the NBA found
The league released its findings Sept. 2. Investigators found a "pattern of misconduct and multiple significant rules violations." The Clippers had lined up deals for Leonard with four companies, pushed those companies to sign him by offering them team business and paid personal expenses for him.
The Clippers lost five first-round picks, 2029 through 2033, and were fined $30 million. Ballmer was suspended for a year. Gillian Zucker, president of business operations, got a one-year unpaid suspension. Lawrence Frank, president of basketball operations, got six months unpaid. Dennis Robertson, Leonard's uncle and business manager, was banned from dealing with NBA teams for five years.
Leonard was fined $700,000 and was not suspended.
"I accept full responsibility for lapses in judgement by people within my inner circle," Leonard said in a statement. He also said he signed his Clippers contract and the endorsement deals in good faith.
What's next for Kawhi Leonard and the Raptors?
The trade became official Sept. 14. The extension means Leonard is signed for more than one season in Toronto this time. He joins Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley under coach Darko Rajakovic. General manager Bobby Webster, promoted to executive vice president this summer, made the deal.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 17: The sneakers worn by Jordan Miller #11 of the Los Angeles Clippers during the game against the Denver Nuggets during the 2025 NBA Summer League game on July 17, 2025 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Altman is a 6-foot-7, 26-year-old with college goaltending experience. Altman played four seasons at Quinnipiac but skated in only seven games. He last played during the 2024-25 season. Before attending Quinnipiac, Altman played for Shattuck St. Mary's, a prep school famous for producing Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon, Jonathan Toews, and recently, Macklin Celebrini.
Previously, the EBUG served as the goaltender in the team's home arena. But under the new CBA, Altman will travel with the Panthers rather than serve as the EBUG at Amerant Bank Arena.
The Panthers haven't officially announced Altman at the EBUG, but he's been skating with Brad Marchand and Jonah Gadjovich, both of whom are injured.
After graduating from Quinnipiac, Altman took a job at ESPN as a production assistant, according to his LinkedIn account. Now, he'll have the opportunity to be on the road with the Florida Panthers and maybe feature in an NHL game.
However, the Panthers' coaching staff and front office would likely rather not see Altman in between the pipes during a regular-season or playoff game, as that would mean both Jacob Markstrom and Akira Schmid had sustained injuries.
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BILOXI, MS - SEPTEMBER 20: Josh Adamczewski #6 of the Biloxi Shuckers celebrates during the game between the Rocket City Trash Pandas and the Biloxi Shuckers at Keesler Federal Park on Sunday, September 20, 2026 in Biloxi, Mississippi. (Photo by Sierra Gatz/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
Welcome back to the Minor League Roundup!
As a reminder, you can find this roundup — covering everything you need to know about each of the Brewers’ minor league affiliates — every Tuesday morning right here on Brew Crew Ball. For consistency, all organizational prospect rankings will reference MLB Pipeline unless otherwise noted.
The Sounds just finished up their season this week, and the Shuckers will be done either Tuesday or Wednesday. You can expect the annual Minor League Season Roundup next Tuesday, but for now, here’s the final weekly roundup of the season.
Triple-A Nashville Sounds
Current record: 80-69 Record this week: 2-4 This week’s opponent: vs. Memphis Redbirds (St. Louis Cardinals) Next week’s opponent: None
Standout performances:
Jonathan Ornelas: 7-for-20, 2B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 2 BB, 5 K Eduardo Garcia: 5-for-16, 2 RBI, BB, 7 K Brandon Lockridge: 5-for-18, 2 2B, HR, 3 RBI, BB, 6 K Akil Baddoo: 5-for-18, 2B, 3B, 3 RBI, 3 BB, 4 K Tyler Black: 5-for-22, 3 2B, RBI, BB, 4 K Bryse Wilson: 6 1/3 IP, 7 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 K Coleman Crow: 9 2/3 IP, 12 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 8 K Tate Kuehner: 4 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 1 K
The Sounds ended their season by dropping four of six games to the Memphis Redbirds, an inconspicuous ending to what was largely a successful season.
Infielder Jonathan Ornelas led the Sounds with a 7-for-20 performance that included his first two home runs as a Sound. Ornelas, who got a cup of coffee with the Brewers due to injuries earlier in the summer, is slashing .213/.327/.362 in 47 at-bats with Nashville.
Brandon Lockridge has now been in Triple-A for over a month. After this week’s 5-for-18 showing, he’s hitting .253 with a .701 OPS in the minors. Lockridge more than held his own in Milwaukee (.273 average, albeit with a .658 OPS), so while he’s not supplanting Luis Lara or Sal Frelick anytime soon, there’s a world in which he ends up on the bench in the playoffs as a pinch-runner and late-game defensive specialist.
Aside from Lockridge, Akil Baddoo, Tyler Black, and Eduardo Garcia each had solid weeks. None of the three appear to be in the Brewers’ future plans, but each has held his own this year in Triple-A. Black has put up a .755 OPS in 354 at-bats this year and seems like a candidate to end up somewhere else this winter.
As for the pitching staff, Coleman Crow got hit around a bit but managed to limit the damage, allowing 12 hits but only two runs over 9 2/3 innings. Tate Kuehner put together another solid start; since coming off the injured list last month, he hasn’t allowed more than three runs in any of his six appearances. In four of those outings, he’s allowed one or fewer earned runs, including this week’s start. Bryse Wilson was even better, tossing 6 1/3 shutout innings while striking out seven during his rehab assignment.
Double-A Biloxi Shuckers
Current record: 68-69 Record this week: 2-1 This week’s opponent: Pensacola Blue Wahoos (Miami Marlins) (Southern League Division Series) Next week’s opponent: Rocket City Trash Pandas (Los Angeles Angels) (Southern League Championship Series)
Standout performances:
Matthew Wood: 5-for-10, 2 2B, HR, 6 RBI, 3 BB, 3 K Dylan O’Rae: 5-for-12, RBI, 3 BB, 4 K Damon Keith: 4-for-12, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, BB, 6 K Andrew Fischer: 3-for-13, HR, 3 RBI, 4 K Jesús Made: 3-for-13, HR, 2 RBI, BB Bishop Letson: 5 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 K J.D. Thompson: 5 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K Josh Knoth: 6 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 6 K
Biloxi finished the first half with the best record in the South Division of the Southern League, so they’ve had a playoff spot secured for about half the season. This week, they finally got to prove their mettle and did not disappoint. The Shuckers swept a three-game set against the Blue Wahoos, winning the opener 6-3 and the clincher by an even more decisive 8-3.
Game 1 was deadlocked at 0-0 as Pensacola starter, and Madison, Wisconsin, native, Jacob Kisting (10-0, 1.72 ERA) no-hit the Shuckers through four innings. However, things took a turn when Kisting opened the fifth with two fastballs that were much slower than his normal velocity, and Shuckers outfielder Damon Keith tagged the second one for a solo home run. Kisting was clearly in pain after the pitch and was immediately pulled from the game. Biloxi then hung five runs on his replacement, Nigel Belgrave, to take the first game of the series.
Damon Keith gives the Shuckers a 1 run lead in game one of their playoff series against Pensacola.
In Game 2, Biloxi took a quick 6-0 lead and never looked back thanks to three two-run homers from Jesús Made, Matthew Wood, and Braylon Payne. Payne’s was an absolute laser, clearing the fence while he was still in the batter’s box.
Braylon Payne’s first postseason dinger leaves his bat at 117 mph 🔥
Yeah, you read that right: 117 mph, which happens to be the hardest-hit ball by a Shucker this season. It’s not surprising that it came off the bat of Payne, whose 28 homers this season trail only Andrew Fischer (who’s had a record-breaking season) and Blake Burke.
After sweeping the Blue Wahoos, Biloxi advanced to the Southern League Championship Series, where they dropped Game 1 to the Rocket City Trash Pandas, 5-4, despite home runs from Josh Adamczewski and Andrew Fischer. Fischer went opposite field to give the Shuckers a 4-2 lead.
Starter Josh Knoth went six strong innings and put the Shuckers in a position to win, but the bullpen couldn’t hold the lead. Each of Biloxi’s starters this week — Bishop Letson, J.D. Thompson, and Knoth — went at least five innings and allowed no more than two runs. All three have had their fair share of ups and downs this year, but they’ve looked better as the season has gone on, and their playoff performances can only give Brewers fans more reason to be excited about their development.
Finally, Blake Burke was named the Southern League MVP (despite having been in Nashville since August 10). This season, he became the first player to hit 30 home runs in the Southern League since 2015, while his 91 RBIs broke the Shuckers’ single-season record of 90, set by Jackson Chourio in 2023. Burke slashed .285/.367/.603 (.970 OPS) in 375 at-bats with the Shuckers.
Biloxi will need to win each of its next two games to claim the first title in franchise history — and the first outright title by a Brewers Double-A affiliate since 1994. Game 2 & a potential Game 3 will be held in Madison, Alabama at the home of the Trash Pandas. Game 2 is set for 6:35 p.m. CT on Tuesday night, and Game 3 would also be at 6:35 p.m. on Wednesday night.
Good ol' animosity. It's like an extra player roaming the field at Dodger Stadium as the San Diego Padres open play for a three-game series with their rivals to the north, the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The National League West teams have a midweek turn that can go a long way to determining either team's plans for postseason glory. The Dodgers are four games in the black over the Atlanta Braves for the second-best record in the senior circuit, which would come with the benefit of a first-round bye in the playoffs.
The Padres have their sights set on more than just October. San Diego remains on track to secure the top NL wild-card seed, carrying a five-game advantage over the Arizona Diamondbacks with only six games left in the regular season. The D-backs face a much steeper challenge, sitting four games behind the Phillies for the league's final wild-card berth.
If the standings were to remain, the Padres would open the postseason in a battle with the Chicago Cubs in a best-of-three series. Just one game ahead of the Phillies, San Diego could slide to the No. 6 seed in the playoff bracket, putting them in a wild-card series in Atlanta.
After that, the Dodgers.
One of the sport's greatest rivalries kicks off Tuesday with storylines aplenty.
Dodgers vs Padres previews possible playoff clash
The Dodgers are 14-3 over their past 17 games and are showing flashes of a team that is leaving the dog days of August behind them. Granted, much of the latest heat check has come at the hands of the San Francisco Giants, Cincinnati Reds, Miami Marlins and Washington Nationals.
Mookie Betts is again showing life as one of the best hitters in the league. His 1.214 OPS is good for third in all of baseball in September, and he has chipped in six home runs and 20 RBI in that span.
The team is getting healthier, with Roki Sasaki and Andy Pages returning for the Padres series, giving the Dodgers much-needed depth on offense and defense and time to acclimate.
Still, the Dodgers have cause for concern in a playoff collision course with the Padres. For one, San Diego has been just as hot, winning 14 of their past 16 games.
Fernando Tatis' resurgence and 1.083 OPS this month are big reasons San Diego feels hopeful, especially after the offensive doldrums he suffered earlier in the season.
Both teams are hot with the bats lately and are top two in OPS and home runs in September.
There remains the one sizable question in the form of Shohei Ohtani. The Dodgers' previous World Series run was boosted by the star's two-way availability, pitching in four games in the 2025 postseason.
This year, the Dodgers will have to live with a percentage of Ohtani.
Dave Roberts gave hope that he might see action after his 15-day stint on the IL (biceps, knee). "There's a good chance next series we'll see him," Roberts said recently, pointing to this week's series with San Diego.
The Dodgers skipper continued, "It's going to be the best physical place he's been in in quite some time."
Clearly hampered by injuries, Ohtani has played in just nine games this month and batted .111 with six strikeouts.
The Padres meet the Dodgers in L.A. in the penultimate series for both teams before October baseball comes calling. These three games will be crucial to showing which team is more ready for prime time.
