Kawhi Leonard returns to Toronto as Raptors and Clippers complete long-awaited deal

Kawhi Leonard returns to Toronto as Raptors and Clippers complete long-awaited deal originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The trade sending Kawhi Leonard back to Toronto is finally complete, with the Raptors and Los Angeles Clippers getting league approval on Monday to close the deal that was agreed to earlier this summer.

In the end, the deal was the same as what was agreed to 2 1/2 months ago: Leonard returns to the Raptors, with the Clippers getting Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two first-round draft picks, two second-round picks and a pick swap.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Kawhi back to Toronto,” Raptors general manager and executive vice president Bobby Webster said. “His impact on our organization, our city, and our country is undeniable, and he embodies the competitiveness and championship mindset that we value. We believe his leadership, experience and talent will help us as we continue building toward our next championship.”

It’s a huge move for Toronto, which won the 2019 NBA title with Leonard leading the way and is expecting to contend in the Eastern Conference. But the sides put the agreement on hold in early July pending any resolution of NBA’s investigation into whether the Clippers circumvented salary cap rules with regard to Leonard’s compensation.

The NBA hit the Clippers earlier this month with massive penalties as a result of that probe, suspending owner Steve Ballmer for one year, fining the team $30 million and forcing it to forfeit five first-round draft picks, among other sanctions.

Leonard, a two-time NBA Finals MVP, was hit with a $700,000 penalty as a result of that investigation. But he was not suspended and his contract was not voided, and the Raptors evidently are certain that his status will not be affected.

Leonard, 35, spent one season in Toronto — and led the Raptors to their lone title. He is coming off the highest-scoring season of his career, averaging 27.9 points for the Clippers in 65 games.

Leonard is a seven-time All-Star, seven-time All-NBA selection, a two-time NBA champion (also winning in 2014 with San Antonio) and is considered one of the game’s top defensive players. He is expected to sign an extension with the Raptors once the trade is finalized.

Toronto visits the Clippers on Nov. 2 and hosts the Clippers on Jan. 1. The teams are also scheduled to meet at Vancouver in a preseason game on Oct. 10.

Kawhi Leonard returns to Toronto as Raptors and Clippers complete long-awaited deal

Kawhi Leonard returns to Toronto as Raptors and Clippers complete long-awaited deal originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The trade sending Kawhi Leonard back to Toronto is finally complete, with the Raptors and Los Angeles Clippers getting league approval on Monday to close the deal that was agreed to earlier this summer.

In the end, the deal was the same as what was agreed to 2 1/2 months ago: Leonard returns to the Raptors, with the Clippers getting Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two first-round draft picks, two second-round picks and a pick swap.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Kawhi back to Toronto,” Raptors general manager and executive vice president Bobby Webster said. “His impact on our organization, our city, and our country is undeniable, and he embodies the competitiveness and championship mindset that we value. We believe his leadership, experience and talent will help us as we continue building toward our next championship.”

It’s a huge move for Toronto, which won the 2019 NBA title with Leonard leading the way and is expecting to contend in the Eastern Conference. But the sides put the agreement on hold in early July pending any resolution of NBA’s investigation into whether the Clippers circumvented salary cap rules with regard to Leonard’s compensation.

The NBA hit the Clippers earlier this month with massive penalties as a result of that probe, suspending owner Steve Ballmer for one year, fining the team $30 million and forcing it to forfeit five first-round draft picks, among other sanctions.

Leonard, a two-time NBA Finals MVP, was hit with a $700,000 penalty as a result of that investigation. But he was not suspended and his contract was not voided, and the Raptors evidently are certain that his status will not be affected.

Leonard, 35, spent one season in Toronto — and led the Raptors to their lone title. He is coming off the highest-scoring season of his career, averaging 27.9 points for the Clippers in 65 games.

Leonard is a seven-time All-Star, seven-time All-NBA selection, a two-time NBA champion (also winning in 2014 with San Antonio) and is considered one of the game’s top defensive players. He is expected to sign an extension with the Raptors once the trade is finalized.

Toronto visits the Clippers on Nov. 2 and hosts the Clippers on Jan. 1. The teams are also scheduled to meet at Vancouver in a preseason game on Oct. 10.

MLB Injury Report: Core muscle injury ends the season for hot-hitting Rafael Devers

In this week’s Injury Report, Rafael Devers will undergo core muscle surgery, ending his season three home runs shy of 40 with two weeks to play. Kyle Bradish is also likely done for the season as he landed on the injured list with an abdominal injury. And the Cubs are eyeing a Friday return for Dansby Swanson. All that and more as we review all of the latest injury news.

⚾️ Baseball is back! MLB returns to NBC and Peacock in 2026! In addition to becoming the exclusive home of Sunday Night Baseball, NBC Sports will broadcast MLB Sunday Leadoff, “Opening Day” and Labor Day primetime games, the first round of the MLB Draft, the entire Wild Card round of the postseason, and much more.

Rafael Devers (core muscle)

Devastating news that seemingly came out of nowhere on Sunday. A day after slugging his 37th homer, the Giants placed Devers on the 60-day injured list with a core muscle injury, ending his bid to become the first Giants player to hit 40 homers since Barry Bonds in 2004. The 29-year-old first baseman had been one of the hottest hitters in baseball this month, carrying fantasy teams in September with seven homers and a .342 batting average. It’s even more incredible to find out he’s apparently been playing through the injury for some time. The team saw it best to shut him down for the final two weeks, with plans for Devers to undergo core muscle surgery. He’s expected to be recovered and ready for spring training. With Devers out, the Giants now make for one of the top teams to target for streaming pitchers the rest of the way.

camineropowerranks.jpg
The playoff picture comes into focus, with the White Sox and Guardians set to clash to begin the week.

Kyle Bradish (abdominal)

Bradish’s season came to an end a day after giving up five runs over three innings on Saturday against the Blue Jays. Toronto placed the 30-year-old right-hander on the 15-day injured list on Sunday with lower abdominal discomfort. The 30-year-old right-hander was a popular sleeper pick after finishing the 2025 season strong in his return from Tommy John surgery. Instead, he struggled in his first full campaign back, posting a 4.12 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, and a career-low 21.2% strikeout rate.

Esmerlyn Valdez (hamstring)

Valdez suffered a hamstring injury on Friday against the Cubs, departing in the sixth inning. He was placed on the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain. The 22-year-old outfielder had come out of the gates hot in his debut, hitting .309 with ten homers in the first half. His high strikeout rate led to a second-half skid as he hit just .184 with seven homers since the All-Star break. Valdez’s placement on the injured list coincides with Ryan O’Hearn’s activation, with O’Hearn now filling in for designated hitter duties.

Dansby Swanson (oblique)

Swanson will begin a brief minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday. Manager Craig Counsell told reporters that the team is planning to activate him from the 10-day injured list on Friday for the start of a weekend series against the Reds. The 32-year-old shortstop has been out of action since mid-August with a left oblique strain. Nico Hoerner has filled in at shortstop with rookie Pedro Ramírez getting playing time at second base. Ramírez will likely shift to a bench role when Swanson returns.

Trey Yesavage (knee)

Yesavage tossed 30 pitches in a simulated game in his last mound session and was cleared to start a rehab assignment with Triple-A Buffalo. He’ll make a start on Wednesday and is aiming to throw two or three innings. The 23-year-old right-hander is making his way back from left knee meniscus surgery that has sidelined him since early August. This late in the season, he may make it back for just an appearance or two for the Blue Jays in the regular season before he’s available for a potential playoff run should the team make the postseason.

Connelly Early (elbow)

Another pitcher looking to get some major league work in before the end of the season, Early was scheduled to make a second start with Double-A Harrisburg on Sunday, but the game was rained out. He could instead make a start with Triple-A Rochester this week before he’s potentially cleared to make his Nationals debut before the end of the season. The 24-year-old left-hander has been on the shelf with left elbow inflammation since late June when he was still with the Red Sox.

Ryan Weathers (forearm)

Clarke Schmidt (elbow)

More reinforcements are on the way for the Yankees’ pitching staff. Weathers is recovering from a left forearm flexor strain and is scheduled to throw another bullpen session on Tuesday. The 26-year-old left-hander had initially hoped to make it back before the end of the regular season, but it seems unlikely he’d get ramped up in time to rejoin the rotation. Instead, he’d be an option for either the starting staff or the bullpen in the postseason. Meanwhile, Schmidt will be making his return from Tommy John surgery this week and will be used in a relief role through the rest of the season and into the playoffs.

Down, but also out

Grant McCray walking to the dugout after striking out.
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - SEPTEMBER 14: Grant McCray #58 of the San Francisco Giants returns to the dugout after striking out against the St. Louis Cardinals in the second inning at Busch Stadium on September 14, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) | Getty Images

On Sunday, in their broomstick loss to the San Diego Padres, the San Francisco Giants rolled out a lineup almost entirely devoid of players who had been on the roster when the year began. In the recap, I took note of the almost unfathomable turnover: two players from the Opening Day roster, one player from another team’s Opening Day roster, two players who began the year in AAA Sacramento, two players who began the year on other AAA teams, and two players who began the year in AA Richmond.

As if to one-up themselves on Monday against the St. Louis Cardinals, the Giants turned it up a notch, removing Jung Hoo Lee from the lineup for a veteran off-day. The final tally:

One player from the Opening Day roster (Christian Koss)
One player from another Opening Day roster (Brett Harris)
Two players from AAA Sacramento (Bryce Eldridge and Grant McCray)
Two players from other AAA rosters (Shay Whitcomb and Andrew Knizner)
Three players from AA Richmond (Jonah Cox, Turner Hill, and Scott Bandura)

And for half the game, you, I, and everyone watching the game, were convinced that the Giants were going to get no-hit by Quinn Mathews.

Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. Play Minor League games, win Minor League prizes. Play 95-loss games, flirt with 100 losses, which is still in play if the Giants turn their current four-game losing streak into a 15-game skid. Just tack on 11 more losses, how much can it hurt?

Yes, the Giants didn’t have a baserunner in the first inning, and they didn’t have a baserunner in the second inning, and they didn’t have a baserunner in the third inning, and Eldridge broke up the perfect game with a walk in the fourth inning, and they didn’t have a baserunner in the fifth inning, and then, mercifully, McCray bopped a double to lead off the sixth, and New Rock Bottom watch was called off.

The small victories we uncover this time of year. They really are something, aren’t they?

Stunningly, given the way that Mathews had carved through the Giants lineup, they even converted that first hit into a run, when Koss moved McCray to third on a productive groundout, and Cox brought him home with a single. With that, the deficit was cut in half, from 2-0 to 2-1, and the offense was off and running.

Off and running and stalling, unfortunately. McCray’s hit opened the floodgates for the knocks, but Cox’s RBI did not open the floodgates for the runs. Whitcomb and Hill hit back-to-back singles to open the seventh, but they would never score: Harris bunted them over, but a Lee pinch-hit fly ball fell short of being deep enough to score Whitcomb. After Knizner drew a walk to load the bases, Mathews was replaced by Justin Bruihl, and while McCray fought to the seventh pitch in a tough lefty-on-lefty matchup, he ultimately lost.

It wasn’t their only rally that fell short. Eldridge smacked a two-out single in the eighth, and a pinch-hitting Drew Gilbert made like his first name and drew a walk, but Hill lined one sharply into an infielder’s mitt. Lee smacked a one-out single in the ninth, and a pinch-hitting Drew Cavanaugh (another player who began the year in AA) followed it up with a walk, but McCray struck out and Koss grounded out and the game was over, as meek as it possibly could have been.

The Giants remained in it, however, thanks to the rarest of things (for them, that is): some good run suppression from the pitchers. It began with A Very Landen Roupp Start.

Ever since Roupp’s brilliant first month of the season, you can fit nearly all of his starts into two very similar but very different categories:

  • Get into a lot of trouble, but somehow get out of it
  • Get into a lot of trouble, and very much don’t get out of it

That’s kind of it. He has bad games, and he has good games where he looks like he might have a bad game but then somehow doesn’t. It’s basically like watching Camilo Doval, except for five innings instead of one, and with a little side sprinkle of bigotry to make you less upset when it doesn’t work.

Except in this game he introduced a third category of start:

  • Get into a lot of trouble, somehow get out of it, then get into more trouble and the bullpen can’t get out of it

Roupp gave up a single to the very first batter he faced, but then immediately induced a double play. He walked the next batter, then got out of the inning.

He gave up a leadoff double in the second, followed by a two-out walk, but again got out of the inning.

In the third, it was back-to-back two-out singles that started an ultimately futile Cardinals rally.

After a clean fourth, Roupp got back into trouble in the fifth, ceding a one-out single, a stolen base, and a walk. With 88 pitches to his name, and the Giants being very careful with him these days, Roupp’s night was over. He had bent without breaking time and time again, but his own fate was now out of his hands, and instead in Reiver Sanmartin’s.

Sanmartin gave up on RBI single on the very first pitch he threw, which was followed by a walk, another RBI single, and the slow march to the mound from Tony Vitello.

From there, the Giants bullpen was, shockingly, nearly perfect. Joel Kuhnel escaped the bases-loaded, one-out jam, and tossed in a perfect sixth for good measure. Trent Harris, who I think is no longer auditioning for a role in next year’s bullpen and is instead auditioning for a high-leverage role in next year’s bullpen, was a dominant force in a perfect seventh. Carson Seymour easily worked around a leadoff single in the eighth.

But the damage was done by the bottom of the fifth, and by a Minor League offense. You get what you pay for and, well … I’m guessing none of you are paying much for this.

Devin Williams likely to be fast-tracked back to Mets bullpen after injury

New York Mets pitcher Devin Williams (38) closes out the ninth inning during a 4-2 win over the Miami Marlins on Thursday, July 30, 2026, at Citi Field in Queens, NY.

In a lost season, Devin Williams is trying to establish health, if nothing else, and is nearing a return.

The Mets closer, who has been out since Aug. 7 with a shoulder strain, threw his third session off a mound at Citi Field on Monday and is expected to face hitters for the first time Thursday. If that goes well, he likely would be fast-tracked to the major league pen without a rehab assignment for a season that has less than two weeks remaining.

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“He looked good on the mound today,” said interim manager Andy Green, who watched most of the session and cautioned there will be more boxes to check before an official activation. “Stuff was coming out really well.”

Williams said that finishing the season healthy and “having a normal offseason is ideal.” If and when he does return, he would rejoin a very different group than the bullpen with which he spent most of the season’s first four months.

Without Williams, Kodai Senga has flashed intriguing stuff as fill-in closer. Nate Lavender has been untouchable in replacing Brooks Raley and A.J. Minter. Daniel Duarte has made a case that he belongs on the 2027 Mets.

“For the most part, they’ve been lights-out,” said Williams, who would be the rare veteran reliever among the group. “I think moving forward it’s going to be really beneficial for a lot of these guys. … The only way to get good in those situations is by being put in them. So I think they’re all getting a lot of really valuable experience.”

New York Mets pitcher Devin Williams reacts on the mound in the ninth inning at Citi Field in Queens, New York, on Sunday, August 2, 2026. Mack singled on a ground ball to New York Mets first baseman Jared Young. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST

Senga has embraced his late-game role but often has noted he feels best as a starter, a job he could not hold on to this year.

A healthy Williams would bump Senga to a slightly lesser role, but Williams sounds intrigued by the possibility of them both pitching in late-game situations.

“He’s 6-for-6 [in save chances]. He’s punching tickets. Throwing 100 [mph] and with a nasty forkball. What else do you want?” Williams said of Senga. “… I’d love to have him in the back end. I can’t really speak to what he wants.”


With the 2-1 loss to the Orioles, which was decided by Gunnar Henderson’s eighth-inning home run against Dedniel Núñez, the Mets (69-81) were mathematically eliminated from playoff contention.


A.J. Ewing homered in the fourth inning and has reached base in 12 of his past 13 games, a span in which he has slashed .370/.434/.640.

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Senga pitched around two singles in a scoreless, three-strikeout ninth inning and has pitched to a 1.88 ERA since his role was elevated after the trade deadline.


Lefty Cionel Pérez, who has been out with a left forearm strain since July 29, has pitched two scoreless innings in Double-A Binghamton to begin a rehab assignment.

Pérez, who owned a 4.21 ERA in 20 games with the Mets, is expected to pitch with Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday, after which the Mets will “evaluate where he’s at,” Green said.

Rockies’ late rally thwarted by Padres in 8-7 heartbreaker

DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 14: Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres is congratulated in the dugout after hitting 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

The Rockies battled, but couldn’t score the run they needed or prevent San Diego’s late insurance runs as they fell 8-7 in a heartbreaker on Monday night at Coors Field.

Colorado trailed 6-1 after four innings, but made a game of it before San Diego’s shutdown, slider-throwing closer Mason Miller posted two strikeouts to earn his 37th save of the season — the Rockies’ only two strikeouts of the game.

“We have lost a lot of tight games this year,” Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer said. “…The next step is to start winning the one-run games and that happens throughout the game. There’s moments in the first inning, there’s moments in the ninth inning, and every inning in between where we can improve. But we are right there. It’s just a matter of time before we start winning those one-run games.”

The loss was the eighth in a row for the Rockies, while the Padres won their eighth straight. The Rockies are now 1-9 against San Diego this season.

Digging a hole

In the end, it turns out a team that consistently beats up on the Rockies facing a pitcher who gives up his fair share of homers is a bad combo. Manny Machado and Fernando Tatís Jr. each homered early off Tomoyuki Sugano (菅野 智之) to put the Rockies at a disadvantage from the jump.

Sugano gave up two homers for the fourth time in his last seven games as the Rockies once again found themselves down early and without enough offense to come back.

Machado hit a two-out solo homer in the first inning to put the Padres up immediately. In the second inning, Jackson Merrill led off with a single, Xander Bogaerts drew a one-out walk and Rockies killer Jake Cronenworth hit an RBI single to put the Padres up 2-1. Freddy Fermin followed with a sac fly, which set the table for Tatis’ two-run bomb to increase San Diego’s lead to 5-1. Just like that, it was four hits, one walk and five runs.

“Tomo was behind in counts and, therefore, got hit hard like hanging a two-strike breaking ball to Machado in the first,” Schaeffer said. “I just thought he was behind in counts and didn’t get to really see his good stuff with two strikes.

Sugano was hit hard again in the third when he gave up a double to Ty France and Merrill hit his second RBI double as San Diego went up 6-1. Sugano got a double play to get out of the inning and gave up lone singles in the fourth and fifth innings, but didn’t allow further damage. He was pulled after five innings, giving up six runs on eight hits with two stikeouts and one walk.

Stuck in the Mize maze

Casey Mize gave up a two-out double to Hunter Goodman and an RBI single to TJ Rumfield in the first inning when the Rockies briefly tied the game, but then regained control. Rumfield extended his on-base streak to 19 games, which is second-best in Rockies history.

Despite allowing a runner in each of the five innings he pitched, Mize didn’t allow any more runs for the next three innings. In the fifth, Connor Norby singled and Goodman drew a walk, once again providing runners for the hitting machine that is TJ Rumfield. Collecting his second run-scoring hit, the first baseman cut San Diego’s lead to 6-2.

After five innings, Mize gave up eight hits and two walks, but only allowed two runs.

“I thought we played a very good game. I thought we battled all day. We had Mize on the ropes from the get-go, traffic every inning, solid at-bats up and down the lineup. We let ‘em off the hook a few times like with a double play ball [Tovar hit into one in the second inning],” Schaeffer said. “It’s easy when you get down 6-1 and you’re on a seven-game losing streak to mail it in. But the guys in that room didn’t do that and that’s why we’re going to be good here eventually.”

Sticks come alive in late

When Kyle Hart entered the game for San Diego in the sixth and issued back-to-back one-out walks to Adael Amador and Ezequiel Tovar, the Rockies finally took advantage. Jake McCarthy came up clutch with his 10th triple of the season to plate in his 79th and 80th RBIs and cut San Diego’s lead in half.

Norby followed with a sacrifice grounder to score McCarthy and the Rockies were back in the game only down 6-4. Goodman then hit a triple of his own, reaching base for the third consecutive time, but the Rockies rally was done. Unfortunately, when Goodman came back out to catch in the bottom of the frame, he was struggling with left thumb soreness and had to leave the game. The injury came from a head-first slide on his triple.

“He jammed his thumb going into third base. We’ll re-evaluate tomorrow,” Schaeffer said.

In the seventh, Cole Carrigg smashed a 96-mph Bradgley Rodriguez fastball 424 feet to right field to cut the Padres lead to 7-6. The blast was Carrigg’s eighth of the year.

In the eighth, Tovar singled and Norby came up with a huge double that once again cut the Padres’ lead to one at 8-7. But Brett Sullivan, who entered the game after Goodman left injured, and Rumfield each grounded out to strand Norby at second.

In the ninth, Kyle Karros posted an infield single that hit off Miller’s leg, but Amador hit a high-bouncing chopper to end the game.

Bullpen blemishes

Blas Castaño relieved Sugano in the sixth and put up a scoreless 1.1 innings. Mark Manfredi’s outing didn’t go as well. With one out in the seventh, he walked Dustin Harris. Harris then stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch before coming home to score on a France RBI single.

Juan Mejia was able to end the seventh without surrendering any more runs, but he did give up one in the eighth when he gave up two singles and then an RBI double to Harris. Jordan Romano threw a scoreless ninth to give the Rockies a chance.

The Rockies actually struck out the Padres eight times, while only striking out twice themselves (both off Miller in the ninth). Sugano, Castaño, Mejia and Romano all posted two strikeouts apiece.

Up next

The Rockies and Padres will be back at it on Tuesday at 6:40 p.m. Kyle Freeland (4-10, 6.37 ERA) is back from the IL and will start for Colorado, while Walker Buehler (8-6, 4.61 ERA)will start for San Diego.


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MLB playoff picture: AL and NL wild card standings, postseason bracket

The 2026 regular season is into its final two weeks, with half of Major League Baseball's divisions still up for grabs.

In the AL East, the New York Yankees have closed the gap on the first-place Tampa Bay Rays and begin a climactic series beginning Tuesday, September 22. The Chicago White Sox are trying to hold off the Cleveland Guardians in the AL Central and the Houston Astros barely lead the Texas Rangers with both teams hovering around .500.

The AL wild card's final spot has four teams within three games, the Guardians ahead of the Toronto Blue Jays, Rangers and Baltimore Orioles entering play Tuesday. The red-hot San Diego Padres have opened up some distance for the third NL wild card spot over the Arizona Diamondbacks, and the two teams end the season facing each other at Petco Park.

The regular season ends on Sunday, Sept. 27, with the postseason beginning on Sept. 29.

Here's the latest postseason bracket and standings:

Entering play Tuesday, Sept. 15

MLB playoff bracket

*clinched at least a wild card spot

American League

  • Byes: Tampa Bay Rays* (1), Chicago White Sox (2)
  • Wild card series:
    • Guardians (6) at Astros (3) – Winner vs. White Sox
    • Red Sox (5) at Yankees (4) – Winner vs. Rays

National League

AL wild card standings

Top three teams qualify

  1. *New York Yankees (87-63) +11.5 games
  2. Boston Red Sox (82-68) +6.5 games
  3. Cleveland Guardians (76-75)
  4. Toronto Blue Jays (75-76) – 1 GB
  5. Texas Rangers (74-76) – 1.5 GB
  6. Baltimore Orioles (73-78) – 3 GB
  7. Detroit Tigers (71-79) – 4.5 GB
  8. Seattle Mariners (70-80) – 5.5 GB
  9. Minnesota Twins (70-80) – 5.5 GB

NL wild card standings

Top three teams qualify

  1. Chicago Cubs (84-67) +1.5 games
  2. Philadelphia Phillies (83-67) +1 game
  3. San Diego Padres (82-68)
  4. Arizona Diamondbacks (80-71) – 2.5 GB
  5. Pittsburgh Pirates (75-75) – 6.5 GB
  6. St. Louis Cardinals (75-76) – 7 GB
  7. Miami Marlins (74-76) – 7.5 GB

AL East

  1. *Tampa Bay Rays (90-59)
  2. *New York Yankees (87-63) – 3.5 GB
  3. Boston Red Sox (82-68) – 8.5 GB

AL Central

  1. Chicago White Sox (77-73)
  2. Cleveland Guardians (76-75) – 1.5 GB
  3. Detroit Tigers (71-79) – 6 GB
  4. Minnesota Twins (70-80) – 7 GB

AL West

  1. Houston Astros (75-75)
  2. Texas Rangers (74-76) – 1 GB
  3. Seattle Mariners (70-81) – 5.5 GB

NL East

  1. Atlanta Braves (88-63)
  2. Philadelphia Phillies (83-67) – 4.5 GB

NL Central

  1. *Milwaukee Brewers (93-57)
  2. Chicago Cubs (84-67) – 9.5 GB

NL West

  1. *Los Angeles Dodgers (91-59)
  2. San Diego Padres (82-68) – 9 GB
  3. Arizona Diamondbacks (80-71) – 11.5 GB

*clinched at least a wild card spot

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB playoff picture: AL and NL wild card standings, postseason bracket

Jonah Tong delivers best start of Mets career even as fans boo him in favor of Pete Alonso

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows New York Mets starting pitcher Jonah Tong throws a pitch, Image 2 shows Pete Alonso (25) wearing a black and orange Orioles jersey, holding up his batting helmet and acknowledging a standing ovation

Now accustomed to being featured in fine print for a game in which a beloved former Met earns top billing, Jonah Tong fared better than the last time.

Last time, when Tong took the mound to face off with Jacob deGrom in his return to Citi Field, he did not make it out of the first inning in the worst outing of his career.

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A season later — when the 35,800 on hand were cheering for his opponent and booed Tong at one point for walking Pete Alonso — he authored the best outing of his career.

On a night on which fans pined for the past and cursed the present Mets front office, Tong made his best argument yet that he should be a part of the club’s future.

The young right-hander recorded his first quality start in his 11th career major league appearance, completing six innings without allowing an earned run in what became a 2-1 loss to the Orioles on Monday.

“Very, very effective in every way,” interim manager Andy Green said of Tong, who struck out six and allowed one unearned run on four hits and, notably, just one walk. “Demeanor outstanding. … [He] was a bulldog on the attack today, and I think we love seeing that from him.”

The game, though, took a backseat to the singular opponent, virtually everyone on the field who was not Alonso viewed by the crowd as at best an afterthought and at worst an obstruction to the history they desired.

New York Mets starting pitcher Jonah Tong throws to the Baltimore Orioles in the first inning at Citi Field in Queens, New York, Monday, September 14, 2026. JASON SZENES FOR NEW YORK POST

The crowd wanted an Alonso moment — preferably the 300th homer of his career, regardless of the fact he was playing for the opposing team — and thus Tong, a popular top prospect, was briefly the enemy.

During Alonso’s third-inning plate appearance, he smoked a long, would-be homer that went foul to left field and would have brought the crowd to its feet — if the crowd were not already on its feet cheering for the Baltimore first baseman. Alonso returned to the plate and walked, which elicited boos and a Tong smile.

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“I think next time [the fans] got to give the pitcher a little more love, too,” said Francisco Lindor with a smile after praising the love the fans showed Alonso.

“We’re proud of the young kid on the mound that stepped off the mound,” Green added. “Didn’t let anything derail him, attacked every hitter, pitched as well as he possibly could.

“… He’s taken some real major strides, and it’s fun to see.”

The real strides have come after Tong took real steps back, struggling after being arguably rushed to the majors last season and working on both arsenal and arm-angle tweaks with Triple-A Syracuse this season that made it a year of lessons rather than major league breakthroughs.

Baltimore Orioles first baseman Pete Alonso (25) responds to a standing ovation during the first inning of a game against the New York Mets on Monday, September 14, 2026, at Citi Field in Queens, NY. Robert Sabo for NY Post

But he pitched well enough in August to earn another major league chance in September. And he might be coming out on the other side of what he acknowledged has been a “long year” stronger.

“I think [the 2026 struggles are] something I’m going to have to live with, and I’m happy for it,” Tong said. “I mean, there’s a lot of times in life that you’re going to struggle, and the best learning happens through that. I welcome it.”

'A lot of grit': Yankees clinch playoff berth after rallying past Twins

Monday's 8-3 comeback at the Minnesota Twins gave the Yankees the series-opening win, their sixth victory in their past seven games and a playoff spot entering the 2026 regular season's final two weeks.

"You start back in February and the goal is to go play in October and go win a championship," New York manager Aaron Boone told YES Network near the dugout at Target Field after the game, which brought the Yankees to 87-63. "And we've checked that first box and have that opportunity now, and obviously there's a lot of important games still in front of us here the rest of the way, but we're excited that we'll be able to take our shot. Feel like the group's coming together at the right time, but today's a good day."

The Tampa Bay Rays lead the American League East by 3.5 games, but the Yankees have a chance to take the division with next week's four-game series at Yankee Stadium.

They do so with Aaron Judge, who homered in his sixth game back from a three-month absence on the injured list, among those entering the mix as the Yankees ramp up against the Twins (70-80).

"It's one thing as a team we try to talk about every series ... as we get down the stretch -- just clean up the little mistakes, trying to fin-tune the situational hitting," Judge said. "So, I was just trying to do a job there. You've got guys on base, guys in scoring position. Either move 'em over or drive 'em in. So, I'm just happy to drive in add more runs there and let our pitchers do the thing."

What makes the 2026 Yankees different from New York's World Series contenders of the past decade?

"Got a lot of grit," Judge said. "Even going into tonight's game -- Twins put some good at-bats against us. They go up 2-1. The offense wasn't really going. But we found a way to fight back there."

Entering Tuesday's 7:40 p.m. start in Minnesota, continuing the three-game series with the Twins, the Yankees possess the AL Wild Card's first spot by a sizable margin over the Boston Red Sox (82-68) and Cleveland Guardians (76-75).

"It's what you've got to deal with as a major league club," Boone said. "We've certainly had our fair share (of adversity) this year, and I feel like the guys have persevered through that to this point. "There's a lot of grit in there with these guys, which I love. And we're used to playing in tight, difficult situations, and hopefully that's something that serves us well in the month of October."

70-81: Chart

ANAHEIM, CA - SEPTEMBER 14: Seattle Mariners left fielder Randy Arozarena (56) dives safely to third base during an MLB baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels played on September 14, 2026 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, CA. (Photo by John Cordes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Angels 6, Mariners 4

The Big A: Cal Raleigh, +0.09 WPA
The Big F: Kade Anderson, -0.19 WPA

Game Thread Comment of the Day

Which Penguins' Young Guns Have Best Chance Of Breaking Camp?

Believe it or not, NHL training camps start up this week, and regular season hockey is just two short weeks away from kicking off. 

And the Pittsburgh Penguins will be one of the more interesting teams to keep an eye on as far as roster battles and young talent. 

We already discussed some positional battle tiers for training camp, highlighting who the guarantees, the maybes, and the longshots were for each position. But what about the roster as a whole? 

With so much youth on the cusp of full-time NHL minutes - and a ton of competition for roster spots against more seasoned NHL players - it's going to be a difficult road for many of the Penguins' most promising young players to break camp. That said, there are some who are better-positioned than others.


Best chance: Sergei Murashov

Of all the prospects in camp, Murashov is the most sure bet to make the roster, even if that possibility isn't 100 percent. There is always a good chance that Joel Blomqvist will outplay Murashov in camp and earn the spot. 

However, with one goaltending spot absolutely open for the taking regardless - which is not the same case with the other positions - he is, naturally, the most safe bet to be on the NHL roster come Sept. 30. 

Penguins' Positional Battle Tiers: GoaltendersPenguins' Positional Battle Tiers: GoaltendersOne of the biggest positions of interest for the Penguins this season will be goaltending, and a few prospects will jockey for positioning as the other half of the NHL tandem.

Decent chance: Ville Koivunen, Avery Hayes, Harrison Brunicke, Tomas Galvas

Just behind Murashov is a small crop of players who should have a pretty decent shot at making the roster with a good camp.

Koivunen was just inked to an eight-year extension this summer, and although the contract makes him waivers-proof, the organization clearly chose to bet on him. He had a great summer in terms of training, his camp last year was excellent, and the top-six scoring potential is not lost on the organization. Even in a crowded pool of forwards, he's probably the young forward (not named Ben Kindel) with the best shot at breaking camp.

Hayes had a respectable NHL run last season, as he was called upon in the most crucial stretch of the season during the month of March. He registered five goals in 16 games at the highest level, two of which came during his NHL debut against the Buffalo Sabres on Feb. 5. The fact that he is someone who can thrive in a bottom-six role and work his way up the lineup might give him a leg up on some of his peers. 

Brunicke's road may be a bit more murky, as the high-upside right defenseman has Erik Karlsson, Kris Letang, and Kaedan Korczak ahead of him on the depth chart. But Brunicke has put together two standout camps in a row, he's put on a lot of size, and he is capable of playing the off-side if need be. If he has a repeat camp of the last several years - or, even, improves on them - the Penguins will have a hard time leaving him off the roster.

Then, there's Galvas, drafted in the second round (54th overall) this summer, who has been wildly impressive through three Prospect Tournament games. Even if it's just a tournament for prospects and Galvas should look comfortable in this format from playing against men in Czechia's Extraliga previously, he has been the standout for the Penguins, and he's showing legitimate upside as a two-way force.

Does Young Defenseman Have Legitimate Shot At Breaking Camp For Penguins?Does Young Defenseman Have Legitimate Shot At Breaking Camp For Penguins?With the departure of Parker Wotherspoon this summer, the left side is wide open for the Penguins - and one young prospect could surprise.

Fair chance: Rutger McGroarty, Owen Pickering, Tristan Broz, Joel Blomqvist

Unfortunately, there are a few young players who will be challenged quite a bit for a spot, but they still have a fair chance at cracking the roster with a stellar camp.

McGroarty is in the driver's seat, as he is, pretty much, Koivunen's and Hayes's primary competition for a roster slot. After a tumultuous start to the 2025-26 season riddled with injury and inconsistency, McGroarty finished the AHL portion of his season strong with 10 goals and 34 points in 30 games. The left winger could earn himself a spot if he manages to stand out and beat a few others, but it's going to take a very strong showing from him.

Pickering, 22, developed long-sought consistency in the second half of his AHL campaign last season, and he will join a legitimate battle for a spot on the left side. The 6-foot-5, 206-pound defenseman has faced some adversity at the NHL level but appears primed for an NHL breakout this season, and he can get a head start on that if he beats out Galvas, Brunicke, Ilya Solovyov, and Ryan Graves.

Broz, 23, probably should have broken camp last season, as he was arguably the most impressive young forward in camp along with Kindel. His ability to play each forward position helps him, and like Hayes, he is a guy with a two-way toolset who can play well in the bottom-six. However, his hill might be a little tougher to climb, especially since the center position is very crowded at the NHL level. If he stands out enough to separate himself, though, he will make decisions tough for the Penguins. 

For Blomqvist, it all comes down to whether or not he can outperform Murashov and demonstrably show that he should be the guy occupying the second NHL roster spot next to Arturs Silovs. Murashov is primed to be the other guy, but Blomqvist will absolutely have a fair chance at shooting down those plans with a better camp. 

Penguins' Positional Battle Tiers: CenterPenguins' Positional Battle Tiers: CenterEven if there is not much mystery surrounding some centers that will be on the Pittsburgh Penguins' NHL roster next season, there could still be room for a few players to surprise.

Shooter's chance: Jake Livanavage, Finn Harding, Bill Zonnon

As for these guys, there is a sliver of hope for an NHL spot out of camp. But their chances are just that: A shot in the dark.

Livanavage, signed to a two-year entry-level contract nearing the end of the 2025-26 season out of the University of North Dakota, has shown some flashes of his offensive capabilities and ability to run a power play. He burned the first year of his ELC with one NHL appearance last season, and while there is some intrigue with Livanavage, a simple numbers game on the left side renders his chances of cracking the roster out of camp minimal.

The same goes for Harding, who would have to knock off Brunicke, Galvas, Pickering, Solovyov, and Graves to earn a spot. The right-side defender is as steady as they come and is smart in all three zones, which is something that could play well on a bottom pairing. But the current NHL club simply has too many guys in the mix, so Harding would need to have an undeniable kind of performance in camp to be considered ahead of the others.

Finally, 2025 first-round pick (22nd overall) Bill Zonnon made his professional debut during the Calder Cup Playoffs last season, and he has done nothing but impress ever since. Like everyone else, there are simply a whole lot of formidable young players fighting for precious few forward spots, and Zonnon just isn't high enough on the depth chart right now. However, never say never: Kindel would be the first to tell you that. 

Penguins Announce Series Of Roster Moves Ahead Of Training CampPenguins Announce Series Of Roster Moves Ahead Of Training CampPittsburgh is working to finalize its roster for training camp later this week.

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!    

Islanders’ Matthew Schaefer plans to live with Matt Martin’s family again: ‘Guess they can’t say no’

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer (48) on the ice, Image 2 shows New York Islanders left wing Matt Martin acknowledges fans

The Martin family will be hosting Matthew Schaefer this upcoming season again whether they like it or not. 

The 19-year-old NHL star made the joke on Monday during the Islanders golf outing at the Glen Oaks Club in Old Westbury when a reporter asked if Matt Martin and his family wanted him back. 

“I don’t know if they want me back, but I’m going back,” Schaefer said. “I mean, I kept my stuff there and then I’m like, I’m coming back. I guess they can’t say no. I think they want me out probably sooner, but you know what? I’m like, ‘Hey, I’m planting my seed here and I’m staying here.’”

It’s doubtful that the Martin family really wants Schaefer out sooner than later, considering how big a part of their family he has become. 

Martin, who played 16 seasons in the NHL, including 14 with the Islanders before becoming an executive with the organization, welcomed the teenager into his home last season, and Schaefer quickly created a bond with the family.

New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer (48) plays during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers on Friday, April 3, 2026, in Elmont, N.Y. The Philadelphia Flyers won 4-1. Noah K. Murray for NY Post

In particular, he has taken on a big brother role to the family’s two daughters, Winnie and Alice. Martin’s wife, Sydney, has shared a number of adorable moments involving Schaefer and the Martin kids on social media. 

Earlier this month, Sydney posted on Instagram a photo of Schaefer celebrating his 19th birthday with the family. 

Martin praised how Schaefer carries himself on SiriusXM last month and said that the now second-year star would be staying with him and his family again this upcoming NHL season. 

New York Islanders left wing Matt Martin acknowledges fans during the third period on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in Elmont, N.Y. The Washington Capitals won 3-1. Noah K. Murray-NY Post

“From the moment he kind of stepped in our house and met our family, before it was ever decided he was going to live with us, you just feel the type of kid he is, the type of energy he has,” Martin said in the August interview. “Kind of gravitated towards our kids and our kids gravitated towards him. It’s a really special thing for my kids.” 

Schaefer is coming into this season looking to build off a monumental rookie campaign that saw him win the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie. 

He recorded 23 goals and 59 points while appearing in all 82 games during the 2025-26 season.

Cubs BCB After Dark: Which Wild Card is best?

CHICAGO, IL - AUGUST 2: A high home general view of Wrigley Field during a night game between the Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field on August 2, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Matt Dirksen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

It’s another week here at BCB After Dark: the coolest spot for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. We’re so happy you decided to stop by. Come on in. There’s no cover charge. The dress code is casual. We still have a few tables available. The hostess will seat you now. Bring your own beverage.

BCB After Dark is the place for you to talk baseball, music, movies, or anything else you need to get off your chest, as long as it is within the rules of the site. The late-nighters are encouraged to get the party started, but everyone else is invited to join in as you wake up the next morning and into the afternoon.

Last week I asked you who you thought should be the National League Rookie of the Year. There didn’t seem to be much debate as 71 percent of you voted for the Reds’ Sal Stewart. St, Louis second baseman JJ Wetherholt came in second with 21 percent.

Here’s the part with the music and the movies. You’re welcome to come join us there.


Next week will mark the 100th anniversary of John Coltrane, so it might be a good time to go back and remember his genius. In 1965, just two years before his death, Trane released his best-selling album and the one that many consider his masterpiece: A Love Supreme. In fact, it’s considered among the top jazz recordings ever made.

This is a music video that his estate made earlier this year to go with “Part 1—Acknowledgement,” the first track on A Love Supreme. Besides Coltrane on tenor sax, this number features McCoy Tyner on piano, Jimmy Garrison on double bass and Elvin Jones on drums.

Most of this video was shot at the famous Van Gelder Studio in New Jersey, where A Love Supreme was recorded with the aid of engineer Rudy Van Gelder.


First off tonight, I want to acknowledge the passing of legendary designer and costumer Bob Mackie (gift article) at the age of 87. As someone who grew up watching Cher and Carol Burnett on television, some of my earliest memories included his work. Of course, the Mackie-designed dress that Burnett wore in her “Went with the Wind” parody is still today one of the greatest visual jokes ever committed to television. Burnett’s line of “Thank you. I just saw it in the window and I couldn’t resist it” just took the bit up to 13. That dress now belongs to the Smithsonian.

Of course, Mackie didn’t just dress Cher and Burnett. As the obituary notes, he also designed outfits for Tina Turner, Bette Midler, Bernadette Peters, Liza Minelli and others. Pretty much every star from that era wore Bob Mackie clothes and pretty much every designer since then has been influenced by him one way or the other.

Costume designers are an underrated and under appreciated part of movies and television. Often they work in anonymity. But Bob Mackie, along with Edith Head, were two designers who became household names anyway.

Now on to tonight’s movie.

You Never Can Tell is a 1951 movie, written and directed by Lou Breslow, that stars Dick Powell as a dog. No, really. Wait. It gets even better.

King, played by Hollywood veteran Flame, is a German Shepherd war hero who inherits six million dollars from his eccentric owner. So far, so good. Peggy Dow (who, according to IMDB.com, is still with us at 98) plays Ellen Hathaway, the old man’s secretary who is placed in charge of the dog. She also stands to inherit the money when King dies.

Charles Drake plays Perry Collins, who served in the K-9 Corps with King, shows up at Ellen’s door wanting to reconnect with King. He also immediately starts wooing Ellen and the $6 million he controls.

King, of course, turns up dead by poison. He goes up to animal heaven where he asks the lion named Lion who runs the place to return him to earth to solve his murder. King’s wish is granted and he is sent back to earth as private investigator Rex Shepard. A filly named Golden Harvest goes with him as his trusty secretary, Goldie Harvey (Joyce Holden).

Of course, Rex/King knows who killed him, he just has to find a way to prove it to humans.

That set up is pretty much all you need to know. Rex is a dog in Dick Powell’s body. Rex is both a dog and a tough-as-nails Sam Spade-style detective with a trusty secretary, who is also a horse. He needs to solve his own murder. He likes to eat kibble and dog treats and curl up onto his late-master’s favorite chair. He likes his hamburgers raw.

Much of the humor revolves around Powell and Holden acting like animals in human bodies. Powell does incorporate a lot of dog-related behavior, like the way he scratches his nose. Holden’s Goldie speaks with a thick Kentucky accent. She likes to go to track and she makes a lot of money betting on her granddaughters. Despite being in a human body, Goldie can still run 35 miles per hour.

We find out very quickly who the killer and the answer is not a surprise. The only suspense becomes how a dog is going to prove it. As a noir satire, You Never Can Tell is fine but a bit tame. It’s silly fun, but if you want a tighter noir satire, you want the Carl Reiner’s Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid.

Still, You Never Can Tell is one of those bonkers concepts that make watching it worthwhile. Powell and Holden really do get a lot of milage out of the ridiculousness. While the noir satire isn’t sharp, it is present and kind of clever. Overall, You Never Can Tell is the kind of movie that if you described the plot to me, I’d say “There’s no way I’m not watching that.” Luckily, the film didn’t make me regret that instinct.

I couldn’t find any trailers or scenes for You Never Can Tell, but it is available to watch until September 23 on the Watch TCM app if you have a cable or satellite subscription to TCM.


Welcome back to everyone who skips the music and movies.

It has been suggested by some that grabbing the third Wild Card spot in the National League is preferable to the first one. Quite honestly, it’s something that I’ve considered as well. I don’t think it’s controversial to say that the Brewers look like the best team in the National League. They have the best record. The Dodgers still look formidable, but they also look flawed and injured. The Braves are comfortably in the three slot as the division winner with the worst record and that seems unlikely to change.

Right now, the Cubs are the first Wild Card team. If they hold that position, they’ll open the playoffs with a best-of-three series at home against the second Wild Card, which is likely to be the Phillies. It could also be the Padres.

Were the Cubs to win that first series, they would then play the Brewers in a best-of-five series, with Milwaukee hosting games 1,2 and 5. In other words, just like last year.

However, were the Cubs to fall to the third Wild Card, they would play a best-of-three series in Atlanta and then face a Dodgers team that looks more vulnerable in the second round.

To be clear: NO ONE IS ARGUING THAT THE CUBS LOSE GAMES ON PURPOSE. For one, two bad things could happen if they do. The first is that they only fall to the second Wild Card, which would mean the same matchups except no games at Wrigley in the first round. The other bad thing is obvious: the Diamondbacks get hot and the Cubs miss the playoffs altogether.

However, it does seem like putting off a possible matchup with the Brewers until the Championship Series (with the chance that Atlanta, San Diego or Philadelphia knocks them out in the Division Series) is preferable to facing them in the Division Series. And it does seem like the Dodgers are a better matchup for the Cubs than the Brewers are. Just compare their record this year against LA and Milwaukee.

Of course, the problem with finishing third would be that the Cubs would have to win two out of three games on the road in the Wild Card series to get to either the Brewers. Maybe that makes a difference. Maybe it doesn’t make enough of a difference.

So with the caveat that the Cubs should try to win every game, would you feel better if the Cubs secured the first Wild Card or the third? (The second is definitely bad.)

Thanks for stopping by tonight. We’re glad to have you stop by. Please get home safely. Tell your friends about us. We won’t bug you with an annoying survey to fill out. Recycle any cans and bottles. Tip your waitstaff. And join us again tomorrow night for more BCB After Dark.

NHL star Alex Ovechkin appears in campaign ad for pro-Putin United Russia party

Alex Ovechkin has never hidden his support of Vladimir Putin. Photograph: Adam Hunger/AP

Alex Ovechkin, the NHL’s all-time leading goalscorer, has appeared in a campaign ad for the United Russia party, which supports Vladimir Putin, as he prepares for the new hockey season.

The Russian business newspaper Vedomosti published images of the Washington Capitals star alongside pro-Putin figures such as Russia’s foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, the leading parliamentary candidate on United Russia’s list, and Margarita Simonyan, the editor-in-chief of the propaganda network RT.

Related: Alex Ovechkin is now the NHL’s greatest goalscorer. It’s debatable what else he is

Ovechkin is a longtime supporter of Putin. In 2017, he launched Putin Team, a social movement that he hoped would unite “people who are proud of their country and want to make Russia stronger”. He also praised the Russian leader’s “trust in and respect for his people, his fairness [and] righteousness, and the fact that he really cares”.

The 40-year-old was more cautious about his backing of Putin after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. He said he hoped the war “was going to be over and we are going to be living in a good world”, although he still said that Putin was “my president”. Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed in the war that followed the invasion.

Ovechkin signed a one-year contract extension with the Capitals in July. The Capitals selected him with the first overall pick in the 2004 NHL draft and he has played his entire NHL career with them, winning the Stanley Cup as the team’s captain in 2018. In 2025, he scored his 895th goal, passing Wayne Gretzky’s all-time scoring record, a mark that had stood since 1999 and one few believed would ever be broken.