Dirk Nowitzki and Luka Doncic have joined the basketball world in mourning the death of Don Nelson.
Nelson, the second-winningest coach in NBA history and a prominent Mavericks figure, died on Sunday at the age of 86.
“On Sunday morning our beloved husband, dad, grandfather and great-grandfather Don Nelson peacefully went to be with the Lord, surrounded by his loving family,” Nelson’s family said in a statement, according to long-time NBA reporter Marc Stein, who is connected closely to Dallas.
The Dallas Morning News reported that Nelson suffered a stroke a few weeks ago and had been admitted to hospice during his recovery.
“Throughout his last week, friends and family encircled him with love, sharing the blessing of his friendship and revisiting treasured memories,” the family statement continued.
Don Nelson passed away on Aug. 9 at 86. NBAE via Getty Images
Nowitzki wrote an emotional tribute to Nelson, who was his first and longtime NBA coach.
“Nellie… You didn’t just draft me. You believed in me,” Nowitzki wrote on X. “You saw things in my game before I ever realized I could do them. I’ve said it a million times and I will always say it: I don’t think my career could have turned out how it did without you being my first coach and giving me the freedom to play my game. I can only say THANK YOU. For everything.”
Nelson was hired as the Mavericks’ head coach and general manager ahead of the 1997-98 season and is credited with the development of Dirk Nowitzki, controversially selected No. 9 overall in the 1998 NBA Draft, and Steve Nash, whom the Mavs acquired prior to the 1998-99 season after he flopped in Phoenix for the first two seasons of his career.
Don Nelson (center) drafted Dirk Nowitzki (41) and traded for Steve Nash (13) in 1998 while general manager and head coach of the Mavericks. NBAE via Getty Images
Doncic, who played for the Mavs from 2018 until he was infamously traded in early February 2025 to the Los Angeles Lakers, reflected on Nelson’s legacy in a social media post. Nelson was team president when Dallas traded for him on draft night.
“It’s a sad day for basketball with the passing of Don Nelson,” Doncic wrote on X. “I have so much respect for him and everything he did for the game, especially the way he believed in international players. I’m grateful for the time I spent with him. Thinking of the entire Nelson family today. I loved getting to know you, Coach.”
It’s a sad day for basketball with the passing of Don Nelson.
I have so much respect for him and everything he did for the game, especially the way he believed in international players. I’m grateful for the time I spent with him.
Before becoming one of basketball’s great coaching innovators, Nelson spent 14 seasons as an NBA player and won five championships with the Celtics.
He later became much more accomplished from the sideline.
Nelson coached 31 seasons in the NBA, leading the Bucks, Warriors, Knicks and Mavericks.
He finished with 1,335 regular-season victories, which stood as the league record until Gregg Popovich surpassed him in 2022.
Nelson remains second on the NBA’s all-time coaching wins list and was named NBA Coach of the Year three times before eventually being inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012.
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - JULY 12: Craig Kimbrel #46 of the Tampa Bay Rays prepares to pitch against the Seattle Mariners during a game at Tropicana Field on July 12, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Royals have signed veteran closer Craig Kimbrel, according to New York Post reporter Jon Heyman. Kimbrel was designated for assignment by the Rays last week, and was released by the Mets earlier this year.
Kimbrel is a potential future Hall of Famer with 440 career saves, fifth-most all-time. He has pitched in 17 seasons with the Braves, Red Sox, Cubs, White Sox, Dodgers, Phillies, Orioles, Astros, Mets, and Rays. He was Rookie of the Year in 2011, led the league in saves in each of his first four MLB seasons with the Braves, and is a nine-time All-Star.
But his last effective season came in 2023, when he was an All-Star with the Phillies. He has a 4.78 ERA in 104 games since then, and has a 4.81 ERA in 33 games this year between the Mets and Rays, with 32 strikeouts and 16 walks in 33.2 innings. Kimbrel’s fastball sits at 93.6 mph, and he also throws a sweeper, curve, and sinker.
The Royals have been desperate to find enough arms to cover innings as pitchers continue to populate the Injured List. But bringing in a 38-year-old seems a curious move for a team that should be auditioning arms for next season. Beggars can’t be choosers, though, and so far, many of the options they have acquired have not gotten the job done. Kimbrel’s numbers haven’t been good enough for two other teams, but they may be welcome for a team struggling to find anyone that can get hitters out.
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - JULY 12: Alec Burleson #41 of the St. Louis Cardinals bats against the Atlanta Braves at Busch Stadium on July 12, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The St. Louis Cardinals wrapped up a 3-game series on Sunday against the Colorado Rockies badly needing a series victory before they welcome the team they’re chasing in the Wild Card race, the Philadelphia Phillies, to town. Michael McGreevy had a rough start, a good middle and a not great finish, but the Cardinals provided him a little run support for a change although a late rally would be necessary.
Sunday’s game started out very similar to Saturday’s game at Busch Stadium as the Colorado Rockies got off to a fast start when Jake McCarthy hit McGreevy’s 2nd pitch into right field for a leadoff double. Carrigg followed that with a bunt single giving the Rockies two on with no one out to start the game. Michael McGreevy would fortunately get Rumfield to hit into a double play, but McCarthy would eventually score when Hunter Goodman came through with a two-out RBI single giving the Rockies another early lead of 1-0.
St. Louis would answer in the bottom of the first when JJ Wetherholt drew a leadoff walk followed by Iván Herrera who reached on an infield hit. Two batters later, Jordan Walker smacked a RBI single scoring JJ and tying the game 1-1.
As Michael McGreevy settled into the game and kept the Rockies off the scoreboard in the middle innings, the St. Louis Cardinals bats gave him a lead in the bottom of the 3rd inning. Iván Herrera singled to left and then Alec Burleson walked. Jordan Walker lifted a fly ball to very deep center for the first out, but both runners moved up on his out giving St. Louis runners at 2nd and 3rd with just one out. Jimmy Crooks then hit a sacrifice fly to right which scored Herrera before Masyn Winn was not fooled by an 83 mph changeup that he crushed off of the left-centerfield wall scoring Burleson and giving the Cardinals a 3-1 lead.
One of the loudest contacts in Busch Stadium this season happened in the bottom of the 6th inning when Alec Burleson greeted a 91 mph sinker and launched it 441 feet deep into the right-centerfield stands increasing the Cardinals lead to 4-1. BOOM!
That 4-1 lead wouldn’t last long for St. Louis as Michael McGreevy got hit hard in the top of the 6th inning. With two outs, Castro ripped a double off of the wall in right which was followed by Brett Sullivan connecting with a 91 mph McGreevy sinker and depositing it over the right field wall for a 2-run homer reducing the Cardinals lead down to just one run at 4-3. Justin Bruihl would finish the 6th and also pitch the top of the 7th for St. Louis without allowing any more runs during his watch.
Many of the St. Louis faithful know the trepidation of the Cardinals entering the late innings with only a one-run lead. That’s why we were encouraged that the Cardinals bats threatened to increase that lead in the bottom of the 7th when JJ Wetherholt led off with a solid single to center followed by another from Iván Herrera giving St. Louis runners at first and second with no outs. No runs would be scored unfortunately after those two hits were wasted after a flyout and two groundouts.
That sinking feeling after missing a great scoring opportunity in the bottom of the 7th inning was realized in the top of the 8th inning when the Rockies Hunter Goodman connected with a 95 mph George Soriano sinker and sent it 394 feet into the left field stands tying the game at 4-4.
The St. Louis Cardinals seemed determined to not wait until the bottom of the 9th inning to overcome the Coloradoans. Masyn Winn and Nathan Church led off the bottom of the 8th with back-to-back singles and then José Fermín laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt moving Winn and Church up to scoring position and second and third with just one out. Unfortunately, Bryan Torres struck out on 3 pitches for the second out which left the Cardinals 8th inning fate in JJ Wetherholt’s hands. The Rockies went to the bullpen and brought in lefty Parker Mushinski. JJ made Colorado understand they made a mistake immediately as he unloaded on Mushinski’s first pitch which was a 92 mph four-seam fastball and blasted a triple (that the official scorer somehow declared a double and an error) off of the centerfield wall scoring both Winn and Church giving the Cardinals a 6-4 lead. Iván Herrera added another invaluable single into left-center scoring Wetherholt and upping the St. Louis advantage to 7-4.
The top of the 9th inning was Riley O’Brien’s responsibility as he had to face Cardinals killer Jake McCarthy first. He lined out to newcomer Pereira in left field for the first out. Carrigg was next up and he was robbed by a nice play from JJ Wetherholt up the middle that also included a nice stretch by Alec Burleson that was confirmed after a Colorado challenge. Rumfield was the Rockies last hope, but he lined out to Pereira who made a great diving catch in left to seal Colorado’s fate.
The St. Louis Cardinals begin a crucial 3-game homestand against the Philadelphia Phillies Monday night at Busch Stadium. Hunter Dobbins gets the start for the Cardinals while the Phillies will give the ball to Andrew Painter who’s returning from hamstring issues. First pitch is scheduled for 6:45pm central time and the game broadcast will be available through Cardinals.tv.
The Cubs finished up a stretch of 17 games without an off day with a 12-5 mark, which is likely better than any of us had hoped for when this run began.
And they did it emphatically, with yet another solid outing from Matthew Boyd and the bats going strong. All of that resulted in a 10-2 Cubs victory over the Royals, taking the series.
The Cubs wasted no time in taking the lead in this one. With one out, Michael Busch doubled and then the bases became loaded on infield singles by Alex Bregman and Ian Happ.
Boyd breezed through the first two innings, recording his first six outs on just 15 pitches. Then the Cubs made it 3-0 in the third. Busch singled with one out, his second hit of the game. After a fly out by Alex Bregman, Happ also posted his second hit of the game, a single, with Busch stopping at second.
The Cubs made it 4-0 in the fourth. Miguel Amaya led off with a single. Tyrone Taylor attempted a bunt, which resulted in a force play at second. Pete Crow-Armstong also hit into a force play. Busch followed with his third hit of the game, a single, with PCA stopping at second.
Boyd then made his only real mistakes of the day in the bottom of the fourth, a one-out single by Salvador Perez, followed by a ball hit by Starling Marte that was absolutely demolished for a 413-foot two-run homer.
I really, truly hope this is the beginning of one of Happ’s patented late season hot streaks. He went 5-for-13 in this series with a double and two home runs.
The Cubs put the game away in the seventh. Hoerner led off with a double and Swanson walked.
Boyd completed seven innings, throwing 98 pitches (64 strikes), a really good performance on a very hot day in Kansas City (90 degrees at game time).
About Boyd’s outing, from BCB’s JohnW53:
Matthew Boyd’s quality start was his sixth of the season, tying Colin Rea for second most among Cubs pitchers. Shota Imanaga has 10. Seven others have a combined 17, for a team total of 39, about one of every three for the season.
Ryan Zeferjahn threw the eighth and struck out a pair, including getting Bobby Witt Jr. on a 99 mile per hour four-seamer. So far, Zeferjahn looks like an excellent acquisition by Jed Hoyer.
Royals infielder Josh Rojas threw the ninth and allowed a leadoff single to Tyrone Taylor, but that was it. The Cubs thus matched their season high with 18 hits. More on that from John:
They had 18 twice before, in an 8-7, 10-inning win over the Phillies on April 23 and in a 16-2 rout of the Jays on June 19. Both were at home.
Their most on the road before this game were 17, in a 10-2 win at St. Louis on July 28.
Javier Assad came in for the ninth to wrap things up. He retired the Royals 1-2-3 on just five pitches. Here’s the final out [VIDEO].
A few more game notes from John:
This is the Cubs’ 16th game of the season with at least 10 runs scored — about one of every 7.5. They had 22 last season, 11 in 2024 and 24 in 2023.
Today’s win was the Cubs’ 48th straight with double-digit runs, since a 12-11, 10-inning loss at Arizona on April 16, 2024. Before that, they had won 32 in a row, so now they are 81-1 since they were outslugged by the White Sox, 17-13, on Aug. 27, 2021. … The Cubs scored three runs in the sixth and three in the seventh, allowing none. They have scored 84 runs in the sixth, eight more than in their second-best inning: the seventh, with 76.
The Cubs are +34 runs in the seventh, their best, and +23 in the sixth, their second best.
Overall the Cubs left 11 runners on base — but at the same time, went 7-for-15 with RISP, which is a really good showing in that situation. Well done on all counts. The Cubs win another series and, as noted, went 12-5 in the 17-game stretch without an off day, just an outstanding performance. At this writing the Brewers and Twins are in extra innings, tied 3-3.
Lastly, as noted on the Marquee broadcast, the Cubs have now won eight straight road series — something not accomplished by the franchise since 1912 (!) — well done!
And so the Cubs will certainly enjoy their off day Monday, then will open a three-game series against the Nationals in Washington Tuesday. Shōta Imanaga will start the series opener Tuesday. At this writing the Nats do not have a starter listed at MLB.com, though it was mentioned on the Marquee broadcast that Jake Irvin will start for Washington on Tuesday. Game time Tuesday is 5:45 p.m. CT and TV coverage will be via Marquee Sports Network.
Former members of the Vancouver Canucks will take the spotlight in this off-season article series. From those skating with new NHL teams heading into the 2026–27 season to those who are now playing for international clubs, these featured players have skated in at least one game at the NHL level as a member of the Canucks.
Today’s segment will take a look at the eight former Canucks that are set to compete for teams in the NHL’s Central Division during the 2026–27 season.
Cole’s tenure in Vancouver was short, only one season long (2023–24), but seemed to leave a lasting impression on the team following his departure. The veteran defenceman has been praised for his leadership even a couple of years after leaving Vancouver. On the ice, Cole made a strong defensive impact for the Canucks, particularly in their first-round series against the Nashville Predators in 2024.
Cole’s 2025–26 season saw him skate for the Utah Mammoth for the second consecutive year, during which he put together a three-goal, 20-assist campaign. After Utah lost to the Vegas Golden Knights in the first-round of the playoffs, Cole signed a one-year, $4M contract with Chicago.
The longest time Juulsen has spent with an NHL team through his career so far has been his four-season stretch with the Canucks (2021–22 to 2024–25). A depth defender, the most games he has played in a single NHL season is the 54 he skated in with Vancouver in 2023–24. He departed from the Canucks last off-season, signing a one-year deal with the Philadelphia Flyers.
In his time with the Flyers, Juulsen skated in 52 games and recorded one goal and nine assists. He logged the second-lowest TOI in his career during this time with an average of 13:49 minutes per game. The defenceman signed a two-year, $1.1M AAV contract with the Avalanche in free-agency.
A Canuck for nearly seven full seasons, Myers first signed a five-year deal with Vancouver during the 2019 free-agency period before inking another contract with the team, this time for three years. Despite some chaotic times with the defenceman on Vancouver’s blueline, by the end of his Canucks tenure, Myers had established himself as one of the team’s leaders.
Myers was traded to the Stars only a couple of days ahead of the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline, with the defenceman having played in 57 games with Vancouver before his departure. As a member of the Stars for 16 regular-season games in 2025–26, he registered three assists and logged an average of around 17 minutes per game. His current contract will expire at the end of the 2026–27 season.
Casey DeSmith, Dallas Stars
DeSmith’s one year as a member of the Canucks saw the goaltender post a record of 12–9–6, logging a GAA of 2.89 and a SV% of .896. Vancouver’s backup in 2023–24 ended up getting injured during the playoffs, with both his and Thatcher Demko’s injuries forcing Artūrs Šilovs into the starter’s crease mid first-round series. While DeSmith was able to back-up following Šilovs’ first game, the now-Dallas Star didn’t end up playing in any more games.
In free agency in 2024, DeSmith signed a three-year deal with Dallas, making him the Stars’ backup to Jake Oettinger. During the 2025–26 season, DeSmith played in 30 regular season games, registering a record of 15–8–6. He logged a 2.43 GAA and .907 SV%, also collecting one shutout.
The 2018 seventh-overall draft pick, Hughes played for Vancouver for nearly seven full seasons. During that time, he collected franchise record after franchise record for club defencemen. He was named the 15th captain in franchise history at the beginning of the 2023–24 season — a year in which he also recorded his highest single-season point total (92) and won the James Norris Memorial Trophy.
Hughes was traded to the Wild on December 12, 2025, in a move that would ultimately change the course of Vancouver’s long-term future. Upon joining Minnesota, Hughes put together a five-goal, 48-assist effort in 48 games en route to the post-season. Despite the defenceman logging 15 points in 11 games, Hughes and Minnesota ultimately fell to the Avalanche in the second round. Hughes is entering the final year of his six-year contract and will become a UFA at the end of the 2026–27 season if not signed by then.
May 11, 2026; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes (43) skates with the puck against the Colorado Avalanche during the second period in game four of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Grand Casino Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
Höglander has only ever played for one NHL team throughout his hockey career, though that will change come the start of the 2026–27 season. The forward, who was Vancouver’s lone selection remaining with the team from the 2019 NHL Draft, has spent the past six seasons as a member of the Canucks, putting together a grand total of 60 goals and 60 assists during that span of time.
In his final season as a member of the Canucks, Höglander skated in 38 games and put up two goals and three assists. He missed the first two months of the season due to an ankle injury sustained during pre-season. One day before the opening of the 2026 free-agency period, Höglander was traded to Nashville in exchange for a third-round pick in 2029.
In a surprising turn of events, Suter spent some of his time in Vancouver as the Canucks’ first-line center. After J.T. Miller was traded and Elias Pettersson and Filip Chytil were both felled by injuries, Suter wound up skating as Vancouver’s number-one center — an opportunity that helped him eventually snag a two-year, $4M AAV contract with the Blues in the following free-agency period.
The 2025–26 season was Suter’s first with the Blues. Despite missing time due to an ankle injury, he still finished the season with 13 goals and 16 assists in 64 games, replicating the point total he registered in his first year with Vancouver.
Vancouver was one of Schmidt’s career stops en route to a Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers in 2024–25. The defenceman joined the Canucks during the 2020–21 season, scoring five goals and 10 assists in 54 games during the shortened season. He was dealt to the Winnipeg Jets immediately after, where he spent three seasons before heading to Florida.
Schmidt signed a three-year, $3.5M AAV contract with the Mammoth during the 2025 off-season, with the past season being his first with Utah. He ended up skating in all 82 games of the season for the first time in his career, recording five goals and 17 assists in that span of time. He had one assist in six post-season games during Utah’s six-game playoff run.
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KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - AUGUST 09: Miguel Amaya #9 of the Chicago Cubs reacts while rounding the bases after hitting a home run during the 7th inning of the game at Kauffman Stadium on August 09, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It was hard to tell which was hotter, the Kansas City August weather, or Cubs bats.
Cubs hitters rapped out 17 hits and 10 runs as Chicago took the series on Sunday with a 10-2 win over the Royals. The Randy Dobnak magic that had worked so well in his first four starts was put on hiatus for this start. The right-hander went five innings, giving up ten hits and four runs, but it was the bullpen that made it a laugher, giving up six runs in four innings of work.
The Cubs got to Dobnak with a run in the first on a Michael Conforto sacrifice fly. In the third, Dobnak gave up back-to-back two out RBI singles to Conforto and Nico Hoerner to make it 3-0. Alex Bregman had an RBI single in the fourth to give the Cubs a four-run lead.
The Royals would get some of those runs back on a two-run home run by Starling Marte off Cubs starter Matthew Boyd. Michael Massey followed that up with a two-out triple, but Tyler Tolbert was unable to bring him home.
Easton McGee came in for the sixth and gave up six runs in just two innings of work. He allowed a two-run home run to Ian Happ in the sixth, and a three-run home run to Miguel Amaya in the seventh. Lucas Erceg worked around two singles to pitch a scoreless seventh, then it was infielder Josh Rojas on the mound for eighth to make this a true laugher. It was the sixth pitching appearance by a Royals position player this year, and the first by someone other than Tyler Tolbert.
The Royals managed just six hits on offense, going 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position. They lose the three game series to the Cubs an fall to 49-70 for the year. They head to Los Angeles to take on the Dodgers for a three game set beginning tomorrow evening.
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - AUGUST 9: Sean Manaea #59 of the New York Mets pitches in the second inning during the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on August 9, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The post-trade-deadline Mets are fun to watch.
Sean Manaea pitched a gem, and the Mets offense scored early and often as New York defeated the Pirates 11-1 Sunday in Pittsburgh. The Mets are 5-1 since their deadline selloff, taking back-to-back road series against teams that still have playoff hopes in the Guardians and now the Pirates.
Registering his fourth consecutive quality start, Manaea finished with a season-high 11 strikeouts, zero walks and just three hits allowed. Those 11 strikeouts also matched Manaea’s best mark in a Mets uniform.
Manaea came out with some of his best stuff of the season, striking out five Pirates batters in the first two innings, matching a career best. His fastball velocity was consistently in the low to mid 90s as the veteran continues his midseason turnaround. Manaea was mowing down batter after batter, recording six consecutive strikeouts before giving up a solo home run to Jake Mangum in the third inning.
While Manaea looked like an ace, the Mets lineup got RBIs from six different players, plating at least one run in four of the first five innings. Bo Bichette reached base six times, Jared Young had three hits, Luis Robert Jr. and Francisco Alvarez each homered, as the Mets have put up 42 runs on their current road trip.
Pirates pitching wasn’t up to the task against the suddenly surging Mets. They gave up 15 hits, seven walks, and two hit-by-pitches as the Mets consistently had traffic on the bases.
New York jumped on Pirates starter Jared Jones in the first inning with some good at-bats and a bit of luck. AJ Ewing led the game off by drawing a walk on seven pitches to lead off the game before Francisco Lindor took a pitch off the foot. Bichette lined a ball 110.9 MPH up the middle to load the bases and set up Carson Benge. The rookie outfielder missed Saturday’s game with a bruised wrist, but quickly made an impact with a check-swing single to score Ewing. Robert Jr. scored Lindor on a sacrifice fly to put New York up 2-0 and give Manaea a little cushion before even taking the mound.
New York added on in the third inning with Robert Jr.’s two-run home run. Young followed that up with a two-out triple, his second triple of the road trip. Marcus Semien singled Young home, contributing to Jones’ bad day at the office.
Jones’ implosion got worse in the fourth inning, when the Mets put the game out of reach. Jones hit Alvarez with a pitch, then walked Ewing and Lindor. The Pirates replaced Jones with Evan Sisk, but it didn’t help much. With the bases loaded and nobody out, Bichette launched a double to left field to clear the bases. Young knocked Bichette home to put the Mets up 9-1.
Alvarez shook off the hit by pitch, which he took off his oft-injured hands, and eventually crushed his solo home run in the fifth inning for good measure. The solo shot gave the Mets double-digit runs for the 12th time this season. Bichette and Robert Jr. couldn’t help but pad their stats in the seventh inning. Bichette doubled to left field before Robert Jr. got his fourth RBI of the day on a two-out single.
Bichette finished 5-5 with two doubles while everyone in the Mets lineup reached base at least once except Brett Baty, who went 0-5 with three strikeouts.
With the dust settling on Manaea’s gem and the lineup’s relentless attack, Jack Weisenburger made his MLB debut out of the Mets bullpen in the eighth inning. The 28-year-old had just gotten the call earlier today before pitching two shutout innings to close out the laugher. Weisenburger and Manaea’s effort helped interim manager Andy Green preserve the bullpen heading into a three-game series in Atlanta.
The Braves series starts Monday at 7:15 PM EDT with Christian Scott taking the mound for New York, and Bryce Elder starting for Atlanta.
Big Mets winner: Bo Bichette, +13% WPA Big Mets loser: Brett Baty, -3% WPA Mets pitchers: +11% WPA Mets hitters: +39% WPA Teh aw3s0mest play: Luis Robert Jr. home run, +15% WPA Teh sux0rest play: Jake Mangum home run, -4.7% WPA
Basketball: Brooklyn Nets Paul Pierce (34) standing in front of logo at center court during preseason game vs Boston Celtics at Barclays Center. Brooklyn, NY 10/15/2013 CREDIT: Guillermo Hernandez Martinez (Photo by Guillermo Hernandez Martinez /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X157074 TK1 R1 F88 )
Now, with most roster spots — even two-ways — filled and families getting ready for long-delayed vacations, things naturally get less busy. Mobile devices are still turned on but there’s less to talk about, particularly with Brooklyn whose off-season was mostly about one big trade, for Julius Randall, one big draft pick, in Mikel Brown Jr. and one big summer league surprise, Egor Demin. Free agency, which is becoming less of a big deal around the league, saw the Nets add some pieces — Moe Wagner and Keon Ellis, extend couple of others — Day’Ron Sharpe and Josh Minott, and bid farewell to Jalen Wilson, Ziaire Williams and Tyson Etienne.
Might they be part of some end-of-summer trade, if not a player? Sure, but that’s not what’s expected.
So we’re left as we often are this time of year tracking what’s going on with the players under contract, and there’s been a little bit of news, most of it far away from Brooklyn.
The big gathering was in L.A. as the players’ union, the NBPA, opened a west coast training center in an old Clippers training facility. A number of Nets were on hand for the inauguration of the union’s second players facility, the other in midtown Manhattan not far from Rockefeller Plaza.
We counted MPJ, Tre Mann, Drake Powell and Danny Wolf. Porter Jr. looked healthy and solid and Drake Powell (in the red shorts) was making shots and being aggressive. We don’t know if there were others out of camera range or if we missed any in quickly perusing IG videos. Nor do we know why so many Nets, none of them with SoCal roots, were in L.A. for the opening. In the past, Nets players have gathered near L.A. for self-organized training and bonding sessions. Could that be happening this summer as well?
Meanwhile, Day’Ron Sharpe is back home after an event-filled couple of weeks that saw him get engaged (congratulations!) in Puerto Rico…
… then move on to China — Shanghai, Huangzhou and Hong Kong — with Nets legend Kenyon Martin and assistant coach Juwan Howard (a former teammate of Yao Ming) on a team-organized tour…
… as well as with team sponsors in China and events with the “Cheer Nets,” the Chinese version of the Brooklynettes dance team that promotes the Nets at events across the PRC. They also visited the Huangzhou headquarters of Alibaba, which is headed by Joe Tsai, and an Asian University Basketball League championship game, also in Huangzhou, where Sharpe offered commentary. The league which seeks to replicate the NCAA at universities across the Asia was co-founded and financed by Tsai. Everyone eats.
Meanwhile, someone caught the back seat of Moe Wagner on his more quotidian European vacation, featuring the family dog and a vintage New Jersey Nets cap…
As our Bryan Fonseca noted both in 2018 and we reiterated after he signed with the Nets, a Wagner-Brooklyn mash-up has been in the stars for a while…
Before 2018 Draft, Wagner and those in his inner circle seemed to have an affinity for Brooklyn. During Michigan’s Big 10 run that year, his family arrived at MSG wearing Brooklyn gear. He also said in an interview that he roots for Nets over Knicks. Home.
We’ve also heard Wagner has been living in Brooklyn for a while.
Look Back
Earlier this week, the Nets released a nearly 1o-minute video retrospect on the Nets Summer League team in Las Vegas, focused on Egor Demin’s bonding with the Nets three rookies — Mikel Brown Jr., Joshua Jefferson and Tyler Bilodeau — whether on the court or out at a golf range.
There’s also some fun talk and video about Bilodeau’s family history with hockey, his father Brent’s career as a physical defender in the pro hockey circuits.
A couple of pieces of news about the Summer League we picked up recently. We know we’ve mentioned that Jefferson, the 6’9” senior point forward out of Iowa State, is seen as a steal by Brooklyn brass at No. 28. It’s an assessment that’s unchanged despite a lackluster performance in Las Vegas.
Jefferson couldn’t play, scrimmage or practice with Brooklyn at all until the Julius Randle-for-Nic Claxton deal was made official on July 9 so he got a pass. But don’t be surprised if you hear down the line, as we have of late, that that the Nets wanted the exchange of picks in that three team trade specifically so they could take JJ. The Nets had the No. 33 pick, at the top of the second round, before the trade … but believed Jefferson might not be there. So they attached the swap of the Nets No. 33 for the Timberwolves No. 28 in the deal. They believe that Jefferson fell in large part because he was a 22-year-old, four-year senior.
The other is more an interesting look at how the NBA at large can be at a disadvantage when offering Exhibit 10s to NCAA players with a year of eligibility left. The Nets recruited Duke Brennan, a solid 6’10” Villanova big man, to play for their Summer League squad. He didn’t play much in Sacramento or Las Vegas but was rumored to be a candidate for an Exhibit 10 deal with Brooklyn.
An Exhibit 10 contract can mean a training camp invite but it can also be a way for teams to populate their G League squads with prospects. A player signs an Exhibit 10, gets cut and immediately moves to the G League training center. Financially, a G League player on an Exhibit 1o can make about $135,000 a year max: the standard G League contract — a bit less than $50,000 — plus a bonus of up to $85,000 if they stick around the G for 60 days. (Our Connor Long reports that while some teams will try to negotiate that figure down, the Nets do not, providing the full bonus to all their Exhibit 10 deals.)
But Brennan has NCAA eligibility left and so, according to reports, at least five schools would like to add him — and pay him NIL money which could reach seven figures easily. At this point, it look like Brennan will return to school a richer man than if he joined the pros.
Meet and Greet
Last week, the 76ers moved their press conference introducing Jaylen Brown from the 76ers practice facility which is located across the Delaware from Camden, N.J. to the Francis J. Myers Recreation Center in West Philadelphia where dozens of children were ready to greet him. They formed a line to slap fives with the player who arguably will be their team’s best this season…
The Nets did it when they introduced their three rookies in early July at their Brooklyn Basketball Training Center also with a line of enthusiastic kids…
Nets did same thing in introducing their three draft picks last month, moving presser to Brooklyn Basketball Center from HSS Training Center. Picks were greeted by 85 kids at youth training facility across from Barclays. https://t.co/MYdy6fqK5Upic.twitter.com/VE8PhNMOPt
The rationales may be different — the 76ers training facility where pressers are usually held is divorced from either community — Camden or Philadelphia — while the Nets training facility is in a century-old industrial park on the Brooklyn waterfront but not far from Sunset Park and other Brooklyn neighborhoods. Traditionally, press conferences around the NBA are held without an audience, particularly kids.
Are we seeing a league trend to bring players closer to their younger fans? For the Nets of course, it’s their strategy: generational fandom — screw the proliferation of Knicks jerseys! Still, every team should be trying to break through what many see as the economic stratification of fandom brought on high prices for everything from tickets to concessions to team gear to streaming services to paywalls for sports pages. No one is hurt more by that stratification than youngsters.
The 76ers portrayed the decision to switch venues as Brown’s desire to get closer to the fans than he could have at a traditional press conference, particularly in Camden. The Nets would only say a presser in front of enthusiastic youngsters was more “festive.” It certainly wasn’t unscripted.
Several of the youngsters were already outfitted with the three rookies’ jerseys just days after the rooks were drafted. After YES Network and NBC Sports’ Noah Eagle asked his questions, the kids, sitting in a semi-circle, got their chance, all of it choreographed. The rooks and Sean Marks then adjourned to a back room where the media asked their questions in a more informal setting than usual. Nothing was lost.
So we’ve now seen it twice. Once more and we’ll declare it a trend.
NBA Schedule comes out this week
We don’t know the day, but the NBA schedule will finally be released. For Nets fans, who are not going to play on Christmas and their national games will probably be counted on one hand, maybe one finger, the big news will be when they open, against who and where; the home opener, and when they will be playing the NBA champion New York Knicks. Remain strong.
The Mets had everything working in Sunday's series finale against the Pittsburgh Pirates and won the rubber game, 11-1.
Here are the key takeaways...
-- A day after getting shut out, New York’s offense broke out in a big way and returned to its recent form on this road trip with an 11-run and 15-hit performance.
Bo Bichette led the pack by going 5-for-5 (his second five-hit game of the season) with two doubles, a walk, three RBI and three runs scored. His bases clearing double was the big hit that blew the game wide open in a four-run fourth inning.
-- Before that, the Mets had already mounted a big lead thanks to two runs in the first and three more in the third where Luis Robert Jr., who entered the day as a career .406 hitter in 18 games against the Pirates, unloaded a two-run shot to put New York ahead, 4-0. The home run traveled 408 feet to right center field – a rare spot for a right-handed hitter at PNC Park.
Robert finished 2-for-5 with a game-high four RBI and a run scored. He drove in three of the Mets’ first four runs after lifting a sacrifice fly in the first inning and he knocked in the team’s final run with an RBI single in the sixth.
-- Jared Young also had a great day at the plate with a three-hit performance, including a triple (his second three-bagger of the road trip), that was aided by a defensive miscue. He also drove in a run and scored a run.
-- Carson Benge, back in the lineup after a day off on Saturday to recover from wrist soreness after crashing into the left field wall on Friday, seemed completely unaffected by the injury scare and stayed hot, getting things started for New York in the first with a bases loaded check-swing single through the massive hole on the left side of the infield.
The rookie went 2-for-5 and has had multiple hits in his last three games and at least one hit in every game he’s started on the road trip. He’s up to a .272 average on the season with a .744 OPS.
-- Francisco Alvarez got in the mix with a solo shot, his 13th of the year, in the fifth for his only hit of the game, although he walked and scored twice. Marcus Semien also drove in a run with a single and went 1-for-4 with a walk.
-- A.J. Ewing went hitless in six at-bats at the top of the lineup but scored two runs on two walks. Behind Ewing, Francisco Lindor also didn’t have a hit until he singled in the ninth, but like Ewing he scored twice.
In the first inning, Lindor was hit by a pitch on the foot and was briefly looked at by trainers before being good to go.
-- On the mound, Sean Manaea pitched like an ace. The left-hander went seven innings and allowed one run on three hits while striking out a season-high 11 batters and walking none. At one point Manaea struck out six in a row before it was broken up by Jake Mangum’s solo home run, the only run the Pirates scored.
It was Manaea’s best start of the season and he looked like the 2024 version of himself. The veteran southpaw has looked a lot better lately and lowered his season ERA to 4.13 in 25 games (11 starts).
-- Jack Weisenburger made his MLB debut and pitched the final two innings where he struck out two and allowed one hit.
Game MVP: Sean Manaea
Manaea gets the nod for his dominant performance and because the Mets offense split the vote between them.
BOSTON, MA - AUGUST 9: Willson Contreras #40 of the Boston Red Sox hangs his head after making a wide throw to second base on a pick off attempt during the ninth inning against the Athletics at Fenway Park on August 9, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Red Sox are playing a few men short, and it’s come at a difficult time. The 13-inning, marathon game on Thursday night required Brayan Bello to throw three innings, limiting his availability today. It also led to Greg Weissert being optioned to bring up Raymond Burgos to provide length, which he did for two days before being optioned for Seth Martinez. Martinez isn’t exactly a trusted arm at this point; bringing him in to a close game would only be done by necessity.
On Sunday (and Saturday), the lack of rotation depth caught up to the Red Sox. With no starter available, the Red Sox needed six pitchers to get 27 outs. It nearly worked, as the Red Sox led the game after eight innings. Unfortunately, Garrett Whitlock and Aroldis Chapman are human, and both scuffled on Sunday. Whitlock nearly pitched a scoreless inning, but a bloop single and double just out of the reach of Jarren Duran tied the game. In the ninth inning with the game tied and two outs, Aroldis Chapman had Donovan Walton picked off, but Willson Contreras’ throw to second wound up in the outfield, and the inning continued. Max Muncy promptly doubled, and the Athletics had a lead. While the defense let Chapman down, he wasn’t particularly sharp. Whitlock and Chapman are each in the top five in appearances since the second half began, and pitch exclusively in high-pressure situations. Those two will continue to be effective, but the Red Sox need more length from the rotation to navigate a difficult stretch of the schedule.
Of course, the offense can bail out the bullpen on any given day. Today, that didn’t happen. They managed to score four runs on Sunday, but lacked any power and primarily moved station to station, taking extra bases with their speed. Small ball has shown up in big moments for the Red Sox, but it’s actually the home run ball that’s propelled the turnaround. Since the All-Star break, the Red Sox have 33 home runs, the third most in baseball over that span. Today, Wilyer Abreu hit a ball that looked like it had a chance, but was caught in right field for a sacrifice fly. Besides that, the contact was mostly weak, and Boston didn’t record a single extra-base hit. That meant the team couldn’t turn to Seth Martinez for a reprieve, and the high-leverage arms faltered on the same day, giving the A’s a 5-4 victory. It’s the first time the Red Sox have lost on back-to-back days since June 21st and 22nd, and the first series they’ve dropped since the end-of-June series against the Nationals.
Sonny Gray will go tomorrow against the Toronto Blue Jays. The next off day is still a week away, but Adley Rutschman could be returning to add some thump to the offense.
The Hockey News' Adam Proteau is currently in the process of ranking each NHL team from worst to best ahead of the 2026-27 season.
The Columbus Blue Jackets have officially been ranked as one of the NHL's worst teams right now, as Proteau gave them the No. 27 spot.
"Columbus needed a big 2026 off-season, and they didn’t get it. That’s why the Blue Jackets are in 27th place in TheHockeyNews.com’s off-season ranking," Proteau wrote.
"Unfortunately for the Blue Jackets, there’s not enough progress developing this Columbus team into a legitimate Cup front-runner," Proteau added. "The Jackets are fortunate that the Metropolitan Division they play in is one of the NHL’s weaker divisions. But that doesn’t change the fact that their roster isn’t imposing. And this summer did little to convince us that’s likely to change anytime soon.
The Blue Jackets being ranked as one of the NHL's bottom teams ahead of the 2026-27 season comes after they had some notable departures this off-season.
The Blue Jackets did not re-sign former captain Boone Jenner, as he signed a four-year, $23 million contract with the Washington Capitals in free agency. This was after he posted 13 goals, 38 points, and 147 hits in 67 games last season for Columbus.
Jenner is not the only former key forward that the Blue Jackets lost this off-season, either. Mason Marchment signed a five-year, $33.75 million contract with the San Jose Sharks after being a great mid-season addition for Columbus. In 39 games with Columbus following being acquired from the Seattle Kraken, he posted 15 goals and 32 points.
The Blue Jackets did find a replacement for Marchment in Valeri Nichushkin, though, acquiring him from the Colorado Avalanche. In 72 games last season for Colorado, he posted 17 goals and 49 points. However, he also had 21 goals and 34 points in just 43 games for the Avalanche in 2024-25 and 53 points in 54 games for Colorado in 2023-24, so he could end up being a big pickup if he bounces back.
The Blue Jackets will now be hoping that Nichushkin can end up being a strong addition to their top six. Another way the Blue Jackets could exceed expectations is if their young players like Adam Fantilli, Denton Mateychuk, and bounce-back candidate Kent Johnson hit new levels for them. The Blue Jackets will also be hoping that Jet Greaves can continue to shine as their No. 1 goalie.
Nevertheless, it is going to be interesting to see how the Blue Jackets perform next season. If their young guns break out and and their core players have strong years, they could very well surprise many and be far better than this No. 27 ranking.
The list of pitchers he joins is impressive. Strider again in 2023 (130 innings), Randy Johnson in 2001 (130⅔ innings) and Gerrit Cole 133⅓ innings in 2019.
It is also a red flag.
Strider had Tommy John surgery in 2024. Cole had a reconstruction with an internal brace in March 2025 and lost a season. Johnson is the only one who did this and stayed healthy, and he was 37.
Misiorowski is 24, and the Brewers have the best record in baseball. Milwaukee has never won a World Series. Down the stretch, the Brewers have to balance that drive versus keeping their star healthy.
He went six innings against the Minnesota Twins on Sunday, giving up three runs on four hits and a walk with nine strikeouts. He punched out No.200 in the third inning, and that was the exact moment he surpassed his work load for last season.
Misiorwski threw 129⅓ regular-season innings last year between Triple-A and the big leagues, plus 12 more in October. He matched that Sunday in the third inning. There are seven weeks left and he's at 133 innings.
The Brewers have already flinched. They scratched him July 12 in Pittsburgh with arm fatigue. He skipped the All-Star Game after making the team for the second straight year. He came back July 21 following a 12-day layoff, and they pulled him after four inning and 65 pitches.
Traditionally, the process is to add 20% to 30% to last year's total to protect a young arm. That would get Misiorowski 12 more starts of five innings. The Brewers have said they will tailor it to how Misiorowski feels and it pitching.
What makes this unique is what Misiorowski can do with the innings he does pitch. Against the Rockies last month, 66 of his 83 pitches hit 100 miles an hour. He touched 104.7 mph. He threw 33 fastballs at 103 or better, more than twice as many as anyone had ever thrown in a game since tracking began.
Over his last 15 starts, he has a 1.05 ERA with 144 strikeouts in 94.1 innings.
The Brewers have their best roster in franchise history and arguably the best pitcher in baseball right now. Every inning they let him go this regular season is one they may want in October.
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 09: Cam Schlittler #31 of the New York Yankees pitches during the game against the Atlanta Braves at Yankee Stadium on August 9, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
“Max Fried and Gerrit Cole combined to allow two runs through 13.1 innings in the opening contests. Should similar events unfold today, a sweep is tantalizingly close.”
So said the idiot who authored today’s game thread. And the monkey’s paw curled.
Similar events unfolded as Cam Schlittler delivered a masterful performance and the bullpen held Atlanta scoreless for the final two innings of regulation. Alas, you have to score runs to win baseball games. Today, like most days, New York strugged to do that. And it cost them in a 2-1 loss in 10.
“And I took that personally” were Michael Jordan’s infamous words from The Last Dance.
Judging by how Schlittler came out of the gate today, the fireballer was still umm … disgruntled, about his previous start. Touching 100 mph in the first inning with the fastball, Cam whiffed five of the first six Braves he faced. Entering today featuring his heat 90 percent of the time, through two frames Schlittler was also leaning on his curveball more than usual, with the hook accounting for 20 percent of his pitches.
Mike Yastrzemski led off the third with a double (no perfecto or no-no for Cam today). Showing he has more than just blow-away gas in his arsenal, Schlittler proceeded to pitch to contact to strand the grandson of the Red Sox legend. A pop out to first followed by a pair of fly balls. No harm, no foul.
The middle innings were more of the same from Cam, relying on his number one to hold down the Braves lineup. The Yaz double was the last time that Atlanta got to Schlittler for several innings. After surrendering the two-bagger, Cam retired 12 consecutive Braves, keeping them out of the run column and giving the beleaguered Yankee offense a chance to break through.
In the home sixth, the Yanks finally had a golden opportunity to get on the board. After an Austin Wells single, Trent Grisham ripped a double down the right field line to put runners on the corners with one out and the heart of the lineup looming.
Ben Rice then hammered a ball… directly at Ronald Acuña Jr. and his cannon of an arm. With Acuña coming in on the ball, sending Wells would have been an all-time bonehead decision. That left the job up to Heliot Ramos, who proceeded to strike out swinging. Just like that, the Yanks’ best chance to score to that point was extinguished.
Perhaps inevitably, New York’s failure to score immediately haunted them. Schlittler looked to catch a break on 3-1 pitch to Acuña, ultimately striking him out. Matt Olson, however, did not strike out. A rocket off his bat just cleared the fence in right field, putting Atlanta up 1-0. Schlittler recovered to escape without further damage.
His final line on the day: 7 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 11 K. It was another brilliant outing as Schlittler and Dylan Cease trade haymakers in a heavyweight bout for the AL Cy Young Award. It was Cam’s 15th start this season allowing one or fewer runs, best in the big leagues.
With Brent Headrick and David Bednar each having pitched back-to-back games, Aaron Boone needed to turn elsewhere for innings. For the eighth, he chose Kervin Castro. Castro rewarded his skipper with a clean eighth, keeping the deficit at one as the offense was quickly running out of chances.
With the Yankees down to four outs, “The Big Sleep” came through with a big swing. Trent Grisham obliterated a solo home run, his 11th high-leverage long ball since the start of last season, to tie the game and get Schlittler off the hook for the loss.
With the game knotted at one, Paul Blackburn came on for the ninth and retired Atlanta in order, punctuated by a strikeout looking of Olson. Unfortunately, Raisel Iglesias carved through the heart of the Yankee lineup like a hot knife through butter, sending the Yankees and Braves to bonus cantos for the second time this weekend.
It didn’t take long for the Manfred Man to score. Michael Harris II, leading off against Blackburn in his second inning of work, singled up the middle and plated the second Braves run of the day. And that was all Atlanta needed. Jazz Chisholm Jr. started the bottom of the 10th at second. He finished the inning and the game standing there, with Spencer Jones popping up, George Lombard Jr. grounding out, and Ryan McMahon going down on strikes. Whatever. You’re not getting many games to extras scoring only one run, let alone winning them.
The loss drops the Yankees to 7-6 this season when they have the chance to lock down a sweep. The only solace is that the Red Sox actually lost a series to the A’s at Fenway, so the game-and-a-half edge for the top Wild Card spot remains untouched.
The Yanks’ next opponent, Seattle, is currently playing the AL East-leading Rays. Once that’s decided, both the M’s and Yanks are off on Monday before convening in the Bronx on Tuesday night. It’ll be Ryan Weathers vs. Bryan Woo with first pitch scheduled for 7:05pm ET.
Randy Vasquez ranks in the third percentile in both xBA and xERA. He allows a ton of quality contact and bleed hits, which will lead to plenty of traffic on the bases.
This is a great spot for the Houston Astros as a whole to string together hits and keep the train moving. That won't afford opportunities to pitch around Yordan Alvarez.
He ranks third in the majors in RBIs and is a 100th percentile hitter in xwOBA, xSLG, and xBA.
Play to +110.
Jeremy Pena Over 0.5 singles (-155)
Jeremy Pena picked up at least one single in 60% of his games this season, and this is a prime spot to add to that output.
Vasquez owns a poor 1.41 WHIP despite strong walk suppression numbers because of his inability to limit hits. That sets up well for Pena, who owns an impressive .312 batting average against right-handed pitching this season.
Pena has hit .300 or better against each of Vasquez's three most-used pitches vs. righties, giving him few options to attack and get Pena out.
I'd bet Pena up to -170.
Fernando Tatis Jr. Over 0.5 singles (-110)
Cristian Javier has given up hits in bulk, allowing 10.28 per nine innings. He has struggled against righties in particular, allowing a .305 average.
That's good news for Fernando Tatis Jr., who has singled in 55% of his games this season and 65% when isolating home dates.
While Tatis Jr. does have some barrel ability in his bat, he has struggled hitting for power against fastballs. His ISO sits at .073 facing four-seamers, and that is by far Javier's most-used pitch.
I like Tatis Jr. to pick up a single, and would bet this to -133.
How to watch Astros vs Padres and game info
Location
Petco Park, San Diego, CA
Date
Sunday, August 9, 2026
First pitch
8:20 p.m. ET
TV
NBC/Peacock
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
BOSTON, MA - AUGUST 9: Max Muncy #3 of the Athletics splinters his bat on a ground out against the Boston Red Sox during fourth first inning at Fenway Park on August 9, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The A’s managed to string together a pair of wins! A day after snapping their nine-game losing streak the club made it two in a row as they won their road trip and series finale against the Boston Red Sox in a close 4-3 contest. They now sit at 47-71 and will stay out of the league cellar for another day.
The Athletics got out to a quick start in this one against a Red Sox club going with a bullpen game. A pair of hits started this game and the A’s were in early business. The club did well to cash in at least one run off an RBI groundout from Tyler Soderstrom, but it also felt like a minor wasted opportunity to give their starting pitcher some breathing room before taking to the mound.
It was right-hander J.T. Ginn on the bump today making his second start since getting activated off the injured list with a blister. He was looking good in this one, allowing just one run to score in the second to knot this game up at one apiece.
A couple innings later it was Soderstrom back up to bat and this time he hit a leadoff triple to start the fourth. He’d come in to score on the next pitch thanks to another RBI groundout, this one from rookie infielder Tommy White.
Boston would take the lead in the bottom of the fifth thanks to a throwing error from Ginn. He wasn’t charged with two runs on his final line but for all intents and purposes they were his responsibility. Ginn would pitch one more frame before departing this game, leaving down 3-2 and in line for a loss.
J.T. Ginn: 6 IP, 5 H 3 R (1 ER), 2 BB, 2 K, 95 pitches
Not the most dominant start we’ve seen from Ginn but he didn’t have his best stuff on the mound. He did well to battle through and give the club six solid innings and giving the offense a chance to make up the difference.
With their backs up against the wall and the final frames approaching the bats needed to push across just one run. They’d manage to do just that in the top of the eighth when catcher Jonah Heim smacked an RBI double to bring home Jeff McNeil and tie this game at 3:
Just one inning later the A’s would retake the lead for the first time since the fourth. A single off the bat from Alika Williams and then a pinch-steal from Donovan Walton set up the go-ahead run for Max Muncy. Facing the left-handed flamethrower Aroldis Chapman, Muncy connected on an RBI double to make it 4-3 A’s:
Lefty Hogan Harris was called on in the ninth to seal the deal. He walked the tight rope as he put a the winning run on base, but he managed to nail down his 11th save and the team’s 47th win of the season.
The road trip is over and the Athletics are likely already on a plane back home. The squad didn’t enjoy the greatest road trip, one that saw them go 2-4 but they ended it on a high note. The squad now welcomes the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays to town for the first of three games tomorrow night. Lefty Jacob Lopez is scheduled to take the ball for the home team, his fourth since rejoining the rotation. The results have been good so far as he’s allowed just five runs in 21 1/3 innings. Tampa has deadline acquisition Freddy Peralta going for them.
Yordan Alvarez Over 0.5 RBIs
Fernando Tatis Jr. Over 0.5 singles