Umpires had to intervene as a brutal onslaught from wonderkid Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in Indian domestic cricket prompted a heated on-field interaction with a rival captain.
Penguins' Positional Battle Tiers: Center
Training camp is fast-approaching for the Pittsburgh Penguins, and that means positional battles are, too.
And, no, these won't be the positional battles of training camps past for the Penguins. This time around, the organization has prospects who are legitimately on the verge of full-time NHL minutes, and they also have a collection of players who, even if they were on an NHL roster last season, are not guaranteed a spot this season.
The forward front will certainly be the most interesting for the Penguins, as they have 15 forwards currently listed on their roster per Puckpedia, and that's not even accounting for prospects who are sure to push and make legitimate cases for roster spots. After covering the battles on both wings, we shift our focus to the middle of the ice.
In these battle tiers, there are a few more guarantees than at the other positions. The Penguins do have legitimate center depth, and there are four players who are locks to be on the roster. Even if that's the case, though, that doesn't mean that other centers have no shot.
So, how will the positional battle at center come together? Here are the guarantees, the maybes, and the long shots.
Guarantees
Sidney Crosby
There is no explanation required for this one. Onto the next.
Ben Kindel
Kindel took the organization by storm last season when he broke camp as an 18-year-old, impressed with his advanced two-way ability at such a young age, and ended up staying the entire season as the team's default third-line center.
There is zero question that Kindel will be on this team. The thing to wonder is where he'll ultimately be positioned in the lineup, especially with the sheer number of centers the Penguins now employ. Now, it's only up for Kindel, who recorded 17 goals and 35 points in 77 games last season and figures to be a top-six center in due time.
Like he did last season, he will play an important role for the Penguins in their push for the playoffs now and for the long-term future.
Tommy Novak
It was a bit surprising when the Penguins announced over the summer that they had extended Novak for three more years beyond 2026-27, but they clearly like him enough to keep him around. Novak found some chemistry centering Egor Chinakhov and Evgeni Malkin on the second line last season, and that's where he will likely begin this season.
His versatility is a nice asset for the Penguins. If Kindel pushes for the top-six, Novak can easily slide down to center the third line or shift to the wing. In any case, he was brought back for a reason, and he will be on this team to start the season.
Blake Lizotte
Lizotte, 28, is a valuable player to the Penguins, and that was on full display for the Penguins last season. They rewarded him with a three-year contract extension with a $2.25 average annual value midseason.
Lizotte may not amount to anything more than a fourth-line center with the Penguins - even if he showed some tiny flashes as a third-line center two seasons ago - but he is one of the best in the NHL for the role he is in. The Penguins are a better team with him in the lineup, and they have one of the better fourth lines in the league with him on it.
He'll be on the roster, no doubt.
'I'd Like To Continue Playing For A Number Of Years': Crosby Clarifies Contract Talks Between Him And PenguinsDuring the NHL's Media Tour on Tuesday, Pittsburgh Penguins' captain Sidney Crosby discussed the state of current contract negotiations with Penguins' GM Kyle Dubas.Maybes
Hendrix Lapierre
The "maybes" for this particular positional battle are a bit tough because there are, pretty much, four guarantees for NHL roster spots at center, which doesn't leave room for much else.
Lapierre was acquired from the Washington Capitals this summer for a pair of picks, and because Dubas spent assets to acquire him, it's hard to imagine he might not make the team. But given the crowded pool at forward, his roster spot is certainly no guarantee, and he will have to earn a spot over others. He hasn't quite hit his offensive potential at the highest level yet, as the former first-round pick (22nd overall in 2020) had just four goals and 16 points in 74 games.
The risk in Lapierre not making the roster is waivers, as he's someone who would likely be scooped up by another team. His job may be a bit more secure than others in this tier, but if the others outplay him in camp, it could make things interesting.
Tristan Broz
One year ago, Broz, 23, put together an outstanding training camp for the Penguins. HIs camp was impressive to the point that many were convinced he was going to crack the NHL roster.
Instead, that spot went to Ben Kindel, who wasn't AHL-eligible and only had the WHL to go back to. Kindel ended up staying the season, Broz was injured at unfortunate times last season when the Penguins could have used him for center depth, and he was still the best two-way forward for the WBS Penguins in the AHL last season with 16 goals and 39 points in 47 games.
He did end up playing in one NHL game last season, but it can be argued that Broz was the one player who was, to a degree, robbed of a roster spot out of camp largely due to his waivers exemption. Even if he doesn't make the team out of camp, Broz will see NHL ice next season.
But he's one to keep an eye on. With as strong a camp as he had last season - and, perhaps, stronger - he may just force the Penguins' hand.
Filip Hallander
Don't forget about Hallander, either.
The 26-year-old Swedish center registered a goal and four points in 14 NHL games last season before a blood clot kept him out for the rest of it. Hallander has made progress in his recovery, and assuming he is ready to go for training camp, he will be vying for a spot on the roster.
Hallander is a smart, effective 200-foot player, and he showed some flashes of maturity and utility in that short sample last season. He may not quite have the intrigue that Broz has, but he has the capacity to be an effective middle-six forward, whether that's at center or on the wing.
The Penguins would more likely keep Hallander as a 13th or 14th forward than they would the younger Broz, so he might actually have a shot at securing one of those spots, even if he's not a lineup regular to begin with.
Penguins' Positional Battle Tiers: Right WingThe forward battles during training camp will be intriguing for the Pittsburgh Penguins, and the organization certainly has depth at right wing.Longshots
David Gustafsson
Given the volume of moves made by Dubas this summer, it's easy to forget about Gustafsson, who was acquired from the Winnipeg Jets on Jun. 29 in exchange for defenseman Jack St. Ivany.
He may be a longshot in terms of making the NHL roster out of camp. But that doesn't mean he won't get his shot at some point.
Gustafsson has limited offensive NHL upside, as he has just six goals and 20 points in 149 NHL games. However, he is a solid defensive center, and if the Penguins see an injury in their bottom-six or need help on the penalty kill, Gustafsson is a good option to have.
He is a longshot to make the roster but not necessarily a longshot to see NHL minutes next season.
Atley Calvert
We said Calvert would be included on this list, and here he is.
Look, the same logic from the right wing argument can be applied here: There are players ahead of Calvert on the depth chart that he'll have to discernibly outplay in order to make a case for himself, but that doesn't mean it won't happen.
The undrafted 22-year-old forward had 16 goals and 38 points in 70 AHL games last season and signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Penguins this summer. He has been an important player for WBS, and the Penguins are hoping he can eventually translate some of that to the NHL level.
For now, he is a longshot. But look for him to be a riser throughout the season.
Penguins' Positional Battles: Left WingThe forward battles during training camp will be intriguing for the Pittsburgh Penguins, and the left wing is no exception.Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!
Why Marnus reprieve may not be all it seems as ‘born to play’ rising star emerges — Talking Pts
Marnus Labuschagne’s reprieve from Australia’s selectors might not be all it seems as a host of questions arise from the 16-player squad to tour South Africa next month announced on Monday.
RISP finally leads to reward, White Sox take series from Twins
Call it a winning streak!
Not for the White Sox. Taking two of three from an AL Central rival in what wound up being emphatic 10-1 fashion is always satisfying, but it wasn’t two in a row. No, folks, I’m celebrating me and my absolute heater of 10 wins in 11 recap tries. Put me in every day, Brett!
The box score does betray the tension that underlined the majority of this one. Hosting their first Sunday Night Baseball broadcast as a first place team since 2008, the tone of the game was lively early, though the bulk of the early action was a straightforward redux of the frustrating offensive play the Sox have produced since the All-Star break. They rank near the bottom of the league with a .240 batting average with RISP since then, and it feels like that average should be a lot lower, because getting runners in from the basepaths without the longball has been like pulling teeth lately.
The theme continued with verve for what I’d call the majority of the game — though ultimately, and fortunately, not the entirety of it. Sam Antonacci led off the first and fifth innings with a double, sandwiching back-to-back free bases from the non-brothers Montgomery to open the second frame and preceding Tristan Peters’ own leadoff double an inning later. They even queued up a rally in the third inning, when Miguel Vargas and Andrew Benintendi reached base before Colson Montgomery’s second punchout of the game ended the threat. Colson finished with a golden sombrero, bringing him to 197 on the season. When he presumably reaches the ignominious 200-K milestone, he’ll make the White Sox the only team to have three separate players break the 200 strikeout threshold in a season. Yoán Moncada did it most recently, and I don’t think I need to type the name of the one who did it first.
If you’ve been following the team as of late, it won’t be surprising that almost none of those White Sox rallies resulted in any runs, as Twins starter Bailey Ober labored through 4 1/3 innings with highly-diminished stuff. Still, when the Minnesota pen got the call, only one Sox run had been stuck on the board, as Antonacci did make his way around in the fifth, after Murakami shot a single through the right side:
Remarkably, and I should say unfortunately, it’s the first time since August 9 that Murakami has knocked in a run with a hit that didn’t leave the yard. That day was also the last time until this evening that he had driven in runs on back-to-back days. Ideally, a September recharge will be in the books when the team needs it the most.
On the White Sox pitching side, a motley crew of bullpen arms strung together a masterpiece, seemingly without the use of a premeditated bulk man. Bryan Hudson opened with aplomb, his sixth scoreless outing in eight first-inning tries. But the star of the effort was once again rookie Hagen Smith, who delivered three brilliant innings that bought the offense just enough time for the BABIP gods to begin taking mercy.
After the Peters double in the sixth and subsequent Chase Meidroth walk, Kyle Teel’s fielder’s choice in the infield made it, effectively, a whopping 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position before the two-thirds point of the action. Perhaps Smith’s electricity on the hill gave the offense the jolt they needed. Smith is now up to nine scoreless outings out of his first 10 tries in the majors. With the way he filled up the strike zone and made hitters look silly, ultimately going nine-up nine-down with four outs via punchie, you would truly have no feel for the roiling roller coaster that Smith’s prospectdom took us on for a two-year run.
The jolt finally exploded into a lightning blast after that Teel sixth-inning chopper. Antonacci solidified his charge at Smith for player of the game honors with his third double, tripling the South Siders lead to 3-0.
Some things in baseball remain simple. Tonight, much of it came down to the fact that Twins relievers just couldn’t throw any strikes. Seven walks in 2 2/3 innings from any combination of pitchers isn’t going to cut it, and it eventually led to an additional run in the seventh. A five-run cascade in the eighth put the game away, courtesy of Randal Grichuk’s 12th blast of his comeback summer, Peters’ second double of the game (and 30th of the season) and a comeback blast of his own for Kyle Teel (whose 406 foot blast to dead center was probably the best batted ball we’ve seen from him all season).
Peters is now four extra-base hits shy of 50 on the year, which would make him the 11th Sox rookie to ever reach that plateau, most recently Eloy Jiménez in 2019. It also seems likely that Peters will finish with handily the least home runs of that group (the modern group at least, with all due respect to Willie Kamm’s stellar 1923 effort).
The platoon of Benintendi and Grichuk, who went 2-for-2 with that aforementioned homer after pinch-hitting for the former in the fifth inning, continues to be comically effective. Through roughly a full-season’s worth of 566 at-bats, they’ve reverse-osmosised into a .261 batting average with 68 extra-base hits and 106 driven in.
Rick Hahn: Vindicated? More tonight at 6 p.m.
The Twins did manage to dent the scoreboard on Grant Taylor for a second straight outing, as Brooks Lee became the sixth hitter to go ding-dong-johnson on the Sox relief ace. Taylor looked sharp as ever otherwise, striking out three over what I was happy to find was another two-inning outing. If you want to be a little dishonest and include the 8 2/3 Spring Training innings Taylor posted, he’s now on the precipice of 85 innings in total on the season. Somewhere in the realm of 82-85 regular season innings seems like a reasonable late guesstimate, and if you can pencil in a few more postseason reps, we find ourselves right on the edge of the 100-inning goal that Brian Bannister set out for the LSU product at the season’s outset.
Taylor’s three punchouts tonight also brought him to 97 on the season, putting him on the edge of being the fifth pure reliever in team history to break the century mark. It was most recently accomplished by Liam Hendriks and Michael Kopech in 2021, following Keith Foulke’s legendary (in the SSS slack) 1999 campaign and Terry Forster’s 1972.
The Sox finish their season series against the Twins with an 8-5 record, a repeat of 2025. With Cleveland’s voodoo magic having struck yet again in Detroit this afternoon, that’ll only be good enough to keep pace at 2 ½ games ahead in the Central. But the magic number is 17, and continues steadily dropping.
The squad gets to enjoy a breather at home tomorrow, getting a rest day before the Pirates come to town. Sean Burke is lined up to take the ball on Tuesday opposite flamethrowing rookie Bubba Chandler, and while Wednesday’s Bucco of the day has yet to be announced, it seems like the Sox will be fortunate enough to miss Paul Skenes this time around. One can never be sad about this, even accounting for his recent troubles. First pitch on Tuesday is at 7:10 p.m. CT, and we’ll see you there!
MVP
Sam Antonacci: 3-for-4, 3 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI
Runners-Up
Hagen Smith: 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K
Tristan Peters: 3-for-5, 2 2B, 3 R, RBI
Cold Cat
Colson Montgomery: 0-for-4, BB, R, 4 K
Runners-Up
Brenton Doyle: 0-for-1, K
Braden Montgomery: 0-for-3, R, 2 BB, K
What Mark Vientos’ first-base struggles could mean for his Mets future
The emergence of Jared Young “is real,” David Stearns contended Friday, which further suggests the Mets will plan to retain the reliable first base/DH type who plays enough defense and is capable against righty pitching.
Bringing the lefty-hitting Young back in the same role (while presumably giving the switch-hitting Jorge Polanco another shot) would create an opening for a righty-hitting complement who can crush lefty pitching and hold his own at first base — a job Mark Vientos has not run with this season.
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Try it freeAmong the data the Mets hope to collect during a lost September is whether Vientos can be counted on, particularly defensively, next season. Vientos’ latest round of auditions did not start well.
Naturally a third baseman whose lack of mobility moved him off the spot, Vientos received another look at first Sunday and committed another error in what became a 4-2 win over the Giants at Citi Field.
During the fifth inning, Christian Koss cueballed a grounder that Vientos said had “weird spin.”
“It started like on the foul line and ended up to the right of me, so it was just a weird one,” said Vientos, who was unable to knock it down and allowed Koss to reach second and lead runner Drew Cavanaugh to make it to third.
“It was a tough play,” interim manager Andy Green added before also referencing the spin. “… It’s a play he expects to make and we expect him to make.”
The play did not end up costing a run, with Christian Scott and Nate Lavender striking their way out of trouble, but it will be one more play that works against Vientos in roster discussions this winter.
Among 40 players who had logged at least 100 innings at first base entering play, Vientos ranked 39th in Outs Above Average.
Stretching back to before the hand fracture that cost Vientos almost eight weeks, he has committed six errors in his past 13 games at first base. He spent much of Sunday morning working on picks and footwork around the base with several coaches, including bench coach Kai Correa, but if he is making progress, it is not tangible.
“I think as the year goes on, I’m feeling more and more comfortable with the position,” Vientos said.
The Mets were happy to put up with Vientos’ defense in 2024 — at third base, primarily — because his bat forced its way into daily lineups. But what once looked like a breakout, 27-homer, .837-OPS season is looking more like an aberration.
Last year and this year, he has struggled against righty pitching. He remains a force against southpaws — against whom he owns an .899 OPS with eight home runs in 104 plate appearances this year — and in today’s game, there are not many righties who consistently crush lefties, which helps Vientos’ cause.
But it is still difficult to squeeze that one tool onto a roster if he cannot offer much on defense or hit righty pitching, especially because he cannot be optioned to the minors.
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It is possible Vientos, who is set to reach arbitration for the first time this offseason, is playing for his Mets future, but that is not how he thinks of these September games.
“I’m just here playing games, enjoying the time with my teammates and having fun,” Vientos said.
Guardians Win A Crucial Series Finale over Tigers
Sorry for the late recap, but the Guardians won yet another walk-off game from the Tigers, besting them 3-2 in the 10th inning.
Shoutouts to Steven Kwan and Travis Bazzana who had two hits a-piece, to Brayan Rocchio who found a way to hit a game-tying home run into a stiff breeze,
and to Daniel Schneemann for the walk-off single rifled to right.
Shoutouts to Gavin Williams, who had a bad first inning but shut the Tigers out for the next five innings, striking out 11, and to the electric bullpen of Erik Sabrowski, Hunter Gaddis and CADE SMITH WHO WAS AS DOMINANT AS I HAVE EVER SEEN HIM STRIKING OUT FIVE OF SIX BATTERS.
This was a great series. They need, now, to find a way to win a series in Baltimore starting tomorrow and then in Minnesota following that. The Blue Jays lost so the Guardians, again, lead in the wildcard and the White Sox won, so they are still 2.5 back for the division.
A good day for our Guardians who have one more homestand this season… UNLESS October has something different to say.
White Sox bullpen throws gem in 10-1 win over Twins to maintain AL Central lead
CHICAGO (AP) — Randal Grichuk and Kyle Teel homered in a five-run eighth inning, Chicago’s bullpen combined on a four-hitter and the White Sox rolled past the Minnesota Twins 10-1 on Sunday.
Sam Antonacci added three doubles and two RBIs for the White Sox, who maintained their 2 1/2-game lead in the AL Central over Cleveland.
Brooks Lee homered and singled for the Twins, who have lost three of four.
Chicago used Bryan Hudson as an opener and he and four fellow relievers — Jordan Hicks, Hagen Smith, Grant Taylor and Tyler Davis — combined for 15 strikeouts and a walk. Smith (3-1) pitched three hitless innings before Taylor allowed Lee’s leadoff homer in the seventh.
Twins starter Bailey Ober (7-5) worked 4 1/3 innings and left after yielding Munetaka Murakami’s RBI single that gave Chicago a lead it never lost. The right-hander allowed four hits, struck out six and walked three. He’s gone eight starts since his last victory.
Antonacci extended the lead with a two-run double in the sixth and Grichuk tacked on an RBI double. Miguel Vargas drew a bases-loaded walk in the seventh and the White Sox turned the game into rout in the eighth, when Grichuk led off with his 12th homer, Tristan Peters smacked an RBI double and Teel added a three-run drive.
Up next
The Twins had not announced a starter for Monday afternoon’s series opener at Detroit. RHP Troy Melton (7-4, 2.20 ERA) is scheduled to pitch for the Tigers.
The White Sox get Labor Day off, then begin a three-game series Tuesday night against visiting Pittsburgh when Sean Burke (8-6, 3.20 ERA) faces fellow right-hander Bubba Chandler (6-9, 4.30).
Welcome to Splitsville: Rangers 8, Rays 6
Globe Life Field has been a house of horrors for the Rays in recent years, so walking away from this four-game road set with a split should be seen as a blessing. The Rays are still four games up on the Yankees in the race for the AL East, and could clinch a postseason berth by the middle of next week. So why do I leave this series with such a bitter taste in my mouth?
The pitching staff took some hits this weekend, with IL stints for Shane McClanahan, Garrett Cleavinger, and Manuel Rodriguez announced. Bryan Baker left Friday’s game, although it was said he was dealing with an illness, but did not pitch for the rest of the weekend. To deal with these injuries, the Rays pitching depth will be put to the test for the remainder of the regular season, and potentially into October.
Well, when the Rays took a 4-0 lead when they batted around in the second, it seemed they might be cruising into a series victory. They got contributions from hitters at the bottom of the lineup like Victor Mesa Jr. and Nick Fortes, with Yandy Diaz and Jonathan Aranda also coming through with timely hits to build their lead.
The lead would evaporate in the fourth when the Rangers tied it at five.
On Sunday, we saw a mixed bag from a parade of arms. Ian Seymour got the start and didn’t have his normal strikeout stuff, and didn’t record an out in the fourth before being pulled.
Steven Matz gave up two runs in his lone inning of work.
We did see pitching prospect Ty Johnson’s MLB debut. He was ranked 14th in the Rays system by Fangraphs, and has pitched as a starter and reliever for AAA Durham this season. He went one inning, allowing no runs on a walk and two strikeouts. There’s a clearing for him to lock down a role on the staff this month.
All in all, this result isn’t the most disappointing. You scored six runs on the road, saw a couple of rough outings from relievers you won’t rely on much in high leverage, and got to see Johnson take the mound for the first time. It’s a good time for an off day, where the team will be getting ready for their three-game series in Atlanta against the Braves.
Purple Row After Dark: Is it okay for position players to pitch?
Last week, Jay Jaffe at FanGraphs wrote about the increasing popularity of position players pitching.
With (Andrew) Monasterio’s appearance, every team has now used a position player to pitch in a nine-inning game at least once this season; the Yankees have also only used one, while the Rockies have used a major league-leading nine, and the A’s and Diamondbacks eight apiece.
The Athletics Carlos Cortez has thrown the most (8), but given that the utility player had some experience as a closer in high school, the move makes some sense.
That is not the case for the players with the second-most innings — Colorado Rockies backup catcher Brett Sullivan with seven appearances on the mound this season. In 7.2 IP, Sullivan has a respectable 4.70 ERA.
Troy Johnston has also taken the mound twice this season. In 2.0 IP, he has a sparkling 0.00 ERA.
For Johnston, his brief experience as a two-way player stands as a season highlight.
“One of the one of my favorite things was that I did get to pitch a little bit, and it was so much fun because I throw like this air cutter that just kind of goes across the plate, and I don’t throw it very hard,” Johnston said. (Sullivan also throws an “air cutter.”)
Today in USA Today, Bob Nightengale noted that the trend is receiving MLB’s attention. As he notes,“ Major League Baseball, proposing that teams be permitted to have 14 pitchers on their 26-man rosters instead of 13 in the next collective bargaining agreement, will also discuss modifying the rule on when position players can be used as pitchers in the game.”
How does Nightengale feel about this trend?
“In what once was a bit of comic relief in blowouts has become a disgusting display that’s more suited for the Savannah Bananas than actual major league games,” he writes.
So tonight, we turn it over to the Purple Row Night Owls?
Should MLB adjust the rules regarding position players pitching?
Let us know in the comments.
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Dodgers vs. Nationals game chat
Justin Wrobleski faces Andrew Alvarez as the Dodgers look to sweep the Washington Nationals.
SUNDAY GAME INFO
- Teams: Dodgers vs. Nationals
- Stadium: Dodger Stadium
- Time: 7:10 p.m. PT
- TV: SportsNet LA
- Radio: AM 570 (English), KTNQ 1020 (Spanish)
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Washington Nationals vs Los Angeles Dodgers Game Thread
After a couple of close losses, the Nats are now looking to avoid a sweep. Earlier this year, the Nationals were excellent at avoiding sweeps but that has not been the case lately. Hopefully the boys can change that in this late night showdown.
With a lefty on the mound, there are a few changes to the lineup. Andres Chaparro, Harry Ford, Nasim Nunez and Jacob Young all check in. Dylan Crews also goes from the 9 hole all the way up to the 2 spot in this contest. Andrew Alvarez is on the bump hoping to get more run support than he usually does.
The main attraction Shohei Ohtani is still out of the Dodgers lineup. However, the Nats will still have to deal with Freeman, Smith and Betts in the middle of the Dodgers order. With a lefty on the mound, Max Muncy is all the way down in the 8 hole. Justin Wrobleski is on the hill for the Dodgers.
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Game Info:
Stadium: Dodger Stadium
Time: 10:10 PM EST
TV: Nationals.TV
Radio: 106.7 The Fan
The Nats have not been awful in this series, they just have not made enough plays to take down an elite team. This game will be a good chance to try and do that. They have not beaten the Dodgers all year and this will be their last chance to change that. Follow along in the comments down below and let’s go Nats.
Dodgers on Deck: Monday, September 7 vs. Reds
Get ready to see a lot of Cincinnati Reds baseball over the next week and a half. Through their first 143 games of the season, the Dodgers have not played the Reds, but will play their longtime National League rivals seven times in the next 11 days.
Up first is three games at Dodger Stadium, beginning Monday night, followed by four games next week at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati.
Emmet Sheehan will be called up to fill-in on Monday with bulk innings, but whether he starts or follows an opener remains to be seen.
Stud second-year right-hander Chase Burns pitches for the Reds.
Monday is Labor Day, which brings a start time an hour earlier than usual.
Monday game info
- Teams: Dodgers vs. Reds
- Ballpark: Dodger Stadium
- Start time: 6:10 p.m.
- TV: SportsNet LA
- Radio: AM 570 (English), KTNQ 1020 AM (Spanish)
White Sox 10, Twins 1: Mostly flightless birds on Peacock
If the Minnesota Twins are finally featured on Sunday Night Baseball but the game is on a streaming service (Peacock) at an extremely odd (5:20 CST) time so very few people can watch it, did it actually happen?
Philosophical cud-chewing aside, I can confirm—as a subscriber to the plumaged bird—that the Twins did indeed close out their series with the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field tonight. It was perhaps a mercy this one wasn’t available to the majority of the viewing public.
Pitching-wise, it was an odd assemblage to start. The Pale Hose went with a bullpen game, while the Twins sent Bailey “might struggle to get the DeLorean back in time” Ober to the bump.
So what happened to this mishmash against the top two offenses (by runs/game) in the American League? Well: four and a half scoreless innings. Of course!
Alas, it was the ChiSox that kick-started the offensive portion of the ballgame in B5. After Sam Antonacci doubled off Ober to begin the frame, Sox stalwart Munetaka Murakami followed suit with a similar two-base hit. 1-0 CWS.
Protecting Ober’s 80 mph repertoire from seeing the South Side’s sluggers too many third times, MN manager Derek Shelton banished Bailey in favor of Kody Funderburk, who—despite walking the first batter he faced—cleaned up nicely the rest of the way.
Meanwhile, the MIN offense through six innings: two measly base knocks.
Fundy stuck around to start B6 and was greeted by a Tristan Peters double doinked into LF. Andrew Morris would enter and walk Chase Meidroth to stimulate a Sox scoring chance. After a terrific play from Royce Lewis at 1B, Antonacci would render the point moot with a dribbler up the middle past Kody Clemens, plating two foot-warmers. 3-0 CWS.
After issuing Murakami an intentional pass to the first sack, Randal Grichuk would take that personally with a whack a single to LF, scoring Antonacci. 4-0 CWS.
The Twins did get on the board before the 7th inning stretch when Brooks Lee sent a sphere 425 feet into the RCF seats. 4-1 CWS.
Lest any positive momentum be carried over to the other side of the stretch break, Taylor Rogers would enter with the bases clear and exit with them all jammed up. Enter Garrett Acton and his immediate four balls to Miguel Vargas. 5-1 CWS.
Further Acton meltdown in B8: Grichuk homer—Peters ground-rule double. 7-1 CWS.
Enter Tommy Nance: 3-run homer from Kyle Teel. 10-1 CWS.
Your Final: Chicago White Sox 10, Minnesota Twins 1.
The even fringe-hopeful competitive portion of the Twins’ 2026 season ends the night before Labor Day.
Zach’s Zealot
- Lewis: One hit and a number of really nice plays at 1B. Good to see him finding a home on that side of the diamond (it bodes well for the rest of his Twins tenure).
Zach’s Zombie
- Morris’ Meltdown: 1 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 2 ER. I know I have to keep in mind we were—just earlier this year—seeing Morris’ parents cheering on his Major League debut and how good he was in the middle months. But these blowups are far more frequent as the year folds up.
Egg-cellent Elocution
- Hide the children before clicking on this link, but it only took Matt Monittotwo words to sum this one up.
Who’s Got Next
- Quick turnaround to Detroit for a Labor Day Monday 2:10 PM game followed by Tuesday night and Wednesday afternoon contests with the Tigers.
Mets top prospect Jefferson Rojas clobbers home run in second consecutive game in Double-A
Jefferson Rojas cannot be stopped.
The Mets' No. 1 prospect was at it again on Sunday for Double-A Binghamton and hit another home run, his ninth for the Rumble Ponies and 24th of the season. It was also the second straight game Rojas has left the yard after he crushed a solo shot on Saturday night.
The latest long ball was part of a 4-for-5 day for the 21-year-old acquired from the Chicago Cubs which also included a double, three RBI and two runs scored in a 7-6 loss to the New Hampshire Fisher Cats.
Rojas took LHP Mason Olson deep in the bottom of the seventh inning on an 0-1 pitch that traveled 407 feet and got out in a hurry with an exit velocity of 107 mph.
Rojas raised his batting average to .286 in 26 games with Binghamton and now has a .961 OPS.
Batting behind Rojas was the Mets' No. 7 prospect Jacob Reimer who also had a good day at the plate, going 2-for-5 with a double and two RBI.
Shohei Ohtani might return to Dodgers' lineup soon, but will he pitch again?
Though Shohei Ohtani was out of the Dodgers’ lineup for the fourth straight game Sunday, manager Dave Roberts gave a promising update.
“[Saturday] was a good day,” Roberts said. “Came out of it feeling well. So if nothing else changes, or continues to trend, I see him in there [Monday against the Reds].”
Ohtani hit in the batting cage Saturday, and Roberts received positive reports from his hitting coaches, training staff and Ohtani about the work and his recovery. Both his right biceps problem, which flared Wednesday, and his left knee injury, have “calmed down” with the time off, Roberts said.
Read more:Tommy Edman delivers for Ohtani-less Dodgers in victory over Nationals
“Just a handful of days ago, where he was at, talking to him the day after, it just felt that a few days could potentially be of benefit,” Roberts said. “Fortunately that’s how it’s played out.”
The Dodgers have not yet officially taken Ohtani’s return to pitching off the table for the season, but it seems unlikely.
“Not officially,” Roberts said, “but obviously, if you’re looking at the calendar, how much he’s thrown in the last week, I think we can all do the math.”
The calendar is also working against catcher Dalton Rushing’s initial hopes of returning behind the plate.
Rushing returned to the injured list (sprained right elbow) Sunday, after catch play went poorly the day before. In a corresponding move, the Dodgers recalled catcher Eliezer Alfonzo.
An MRI scan showed “more of the same,” according to Roberts. The Dodgers activated Rushing last Tuesday after just shy of a month on the IL.
Read more:Before Mark Walter's companies faced inquiries, he kept a low profile and built loyalty
Rushing had been serving as a left-handed bat off the bench and a designated hitter option with Ohtani out, while also building up on the throwing side.
The plan is for Rushing to shut down swinging for a few days, Roberts said, and then restart a hitting progression that, this time, will include a rehab assignment.
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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.