ARLINGTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 19: Members of the Texas Rangers hold Stand Up To Cancer signs during the game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on Saturday, September 19, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Courtney Kramer/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Texas Rangers lineup for September 22, 2026 against the New York Mets: starting pitchers are MacKenzie Gore for the Rangers and Sean Manaea for the Mets.
We begin the stretch of the final six games of the season. The games that will determine whether the Rangers win the American League West, or are staying home for the playoffs, or maybe, a sliver of a chance, they are the Wild Card team.
Are you a little nervous? I am.
The lineup:
Langford — LF
Seager — SS
Jung — 3B
Burger — 1B
Nimmo — RF
Duran — CF
Foscue — 2B
Diaz — DH
Jansen — C
7:05 p.m. Central time. Rangers are -127 favorites.
Barely two days after a foul ball caught him flush in the left eye and jeopardized his chances of playing in the postseason, Alex Bregman donned a helmet, grabbed a bat and tracked pitches off a machine.
Most notably, he was not placed on the injured list and Cubs manager Craig Counsell told reporters in Chicago that despite Bregman suffering facial fractures, the club hopes he will play in the final regular season series this weekend in Boston, and perhaps the club's opening-round playoff series in one week.
"I think Alex is going to be fine," Counsell told reporters Tuesday, Sept. 22. "He's planning on playing."
Bregman was last publicly seen Sunday, sprinting from the on-deck circle at Cincinnati's Great American Ball Park to the visiting clubhouse after a Michael Busch foul ball took one hop and drilled Bregman standing just a few yards away. An Instagram post showed how grim the damage was even as Bregman vowed a return.
The third baseman returned to Wrigley Field Tuesday, swelling in his face appearing to be down as he entered the stadium alongside baseball operations president Jed Hoyer. Eventually, he engaged in a light workout and headed to the club's Trajekt pitching machine − which mimics the deliveries of opposing pitchers − and tracked pitches, Counsell said.
Pic I took of Alex Bregman arriving at Wrigley Field this afternoon. He gave me a thumbs up.
I thought his eye and face looked better than in the Pic he posted yesterday.
It's a remarkable turnaround after a bloody and unsettling sequence just days earlier.
"That's a very positive sign," Counsell said, per the Chicago Tribune. "All things considered, he's in a good place."
The bigger questions − Can he swing? Will he be affected by a 100-mph fastball standing in the box? Is his face stable enough to play? − are still to come.
Yet for now, Bregman remains in play for the National League wild-card series that begins Tuesday, Sept. 29. The Cubs entered Sept. 22 needing just a win to clinch a spot, and they likely will host the Philadelphia Phillies in that best-of-three.
"He really is at a point where he can progress as tolerated," says Counsell.
Bregman, 32, hit 26 home runs and posted an .804 OPS in his first season with the Cubs after signing a five-year, $175 million contract in January.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - SEPTEMBER 20: Trevor Megill #29 of the Milwaukee Brewers celebrates with William Contreras #24 after a 3-0 victory against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 20, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
And just like that, the final week of the 2026 Major League Baseball regular season is upon us. Six games to go. Tonight could be a National League Division Series matchup preview as the Brewers finish their nine-game road trip against the Phillies.
Yes, the Brewers have the best record in baseball and the best in many other areas, but plenty still needs to be worked out. Perhaps the biggest glaring hole is the starting rotation, and what’s that going to look like now that Kyle Harrison has been having a rough stretch. Dustin May will dig into the mound for perhaps the final time this regular season, needing a solid outing to verify his spot either in the rotation or the bullpen.
As a starter, May has shown signs of greatness but also signs of “don’t come near my mound in the postseason.” During his time as a Brewer, May enters tonight with a 5.40 ERA in eight starts, not even making it out of the fourth inning in two of his last three starts. Tonight, though, he has one thing going for him: only two players have faced May in this Phillies lineup, and even the two players that have have only one hit combined.
The Phillies enter tonight neither technically eliminated nor having clinched a playoff berth; they currently own the third NL Wild Card spot by four games over the Arizona Diamondbacks. It’s been a bit of a rough month for the Phillies as they have gone 4-6 over their last 10 games, coming off a series split with the New York Mets. Sometimes, though, you need your rock there to settle things down and be consistent, and that’s what Zack Wheeler is expected to do tonight.
Wheeler has been around the league long enough that everyone in the Brewers’ lineup has seen him at least three times, with the exception of newcomers Cooper Pratt and Luis Lara. Wheeler has thrown seven innings in each of his last two starts, but more specifically, he threw seven innings of scoreless baseball against the Washington Nationals, striking out five and allowing only four hits.
As we approach game time, lineups have been set, and this Phillies offense has been one of the more consistent offenses in baseball. Only two players have a batting average north of .270, while fewer players have double-digit home runs than the Brewers. For the Crew, David Hamilton will make the start at third base, batting ninth, with Garrett Mitchell leading off the game.
First pitch at Citizens Bank Park is at 5:40 p.m., and you can watch the game on Brewers.TV and listen to it on WTMJ 620.
Five weeks ago, David Stearns said he expected Andy Green to return to the front office after the season. Instead, the New York Mets interim manager is staying in the dugout with the "interim" title removed.
The Mets signed Green to a three-year deal as their full-time manager, the team announced on Tuesday, Sept. 22.
"Andy has connected with and pushed our players to perform, despite the disappointment of the season,” owners Steve and Alex Cohen said in a statement. “Over the last several months he has brought discipline, accountability and positivity to the clubhouse, attributes we were seeking in our next manager. We want to congratulate Andy, his wife, Jessica, and their three daughters. We are excited for his continued leadership in the dugout."
Green, 49, took over on June 26, the day the Mets fired Carlos Mendoza with the team at 34-47 and 13 games under .500. They've gone 37-38 since. That won't get the $370 million roster, second in baseball, anywhere near the postseason. The Mets are 71-85 going into Tuesday night's game at Texas and in last place in the National League East.
Nobody inside the organization had been pointing this way. On Aug. 17, Stearns, the team's president of baseball operations, said: "It's my expectation that he returns to the front office."
He went a step further.
"Andy's expectation is he's going to rejoin the front office," Stearns said, "and I have no reason to believe otherwise right now."
ESPN's Buster Olney reported last week that the plan still had not changed. There was even talk of Green becoming general manager, a job the Mets have left open since Billy Eppler resigned in October 2023.
Green has done this before. Green managed the San Diego Padres from 2016 to 2019 and went 274-366 with a rebuilding roster before he was fired in September 2019. He then spent four seasons as David Ross' bench coach with the Chicago Cubs. The Mets hired him before the 2024 season to run player development.
Some of the players he helped develop in that job are the ones he's been writing into the lineup. On Saturday, rookie outfielder Carson Benge got his 156th hit, a check-swing bunt single up the third-base line. That broke the franchise rookie record set by Pete Alonso set in 2019.
Mendoza went 206-199 in two-plus seasons. He took the Mets to the NL Championship Series in 2024, then watched a strong start fall apart in 2025, when they missed the playoffs.
Beckett Hamilton's first NHL preseason game was only the latest step in what has been an impressive month for the Colorado Avalanche prospect.
From development camp to his time in San Jose and, finally, his first taste of NHL competition, the 18-year-old forward has steadily given the Avalanche more reasons to be excited about what he could become.
Hamilton's latest opportunity came Sunday at Ball Arena, where the Avalanche defeated the Utah Mammoth 4-1. Playing alongside established NHL talent, including Martin Necas, Hamilton scored his first preseason goal and showed enough of his offensive skill to leave another positive impression.
Hamilton opened the scoring at 8:54 of the second period after finding himself in the right place at the right time.
Utah defenseman Maveric Lamoureux attempted to clear the puck from the zone, but Necas knocked down the pass and immediately fed Hamilton. The young forward made no mistake, lifting the puck over the goaltender to give Colorado a 1-0 lead.
It was the kind of goal that came from simply staying involved in the play and refusing to let off the gas pedal.
Hamilton may have looked overwhelmed at times by the pace, but he continued to push through it. Had he not kept battling, he likely would not have been in position to capitalize when the puck came his way.
That persistence has been a recurring theme throughout his time with the Avalanche this month.
Hamilton scored in Colorado's 7-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks' prospects on Sept. 12 before finding the net in the shootout against the Vegas Golden Knights' rookies two days later. Vegas ultimately won 6-5, leaving Colorado with a 1-0-1 record at the tournament.
New Colorado Eagles head coach Jussi Ahokas was behind the bench for those games and came away impressed with what he saw from Hamilton.
Those qualities have continued to stand out as Hamilton has moved through each stage of his first experience with the Avalanche organization. His offensive instincts have been noticeable, but so has his willingness to stay involved when things don't necessarily go his way.
That caught the attention of Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar as well.
“He’s a young kid,” Bednar told Colorado Hockey Now’s Aarif Deen and other reporters Tuesday. “He’s got top-nine potential, I think. That’s what he has. He’s a skilled player.”
Bednar also wanted Hamilton to experience the difference between playing against younger competition and trying to make plays against established NHL players.
That's why the Avalanche put him on a line with players such as Necas, who's coming off his first 100-point season in the league.
"I wanted to play with some skill and I wanted to play against other teams' top guys, so he could kind of feel like where he needs to grow and what he's got," Bednar said.
Hamilton got a firsthand look at that difference Sunday.
"You could tell in the game that everything was happening fast for him," Bednar said.
There were moments when Hamilton appeared to be processing the game rather than reacting to it.
"Sometimes it gets a little quick for him," Bednar said. "You can see him thinking and not reacting. And he was the same way in the game."
That's just a part of the process, but what carried significant weight for the Avalanche was that Hamilton continued to compete, found ways to create offense and made the most of his opportunity.
Bednar said the coaching staff, including Ahokas, was impressed with what Hamilton showed in San Jose, where he stood out as a noticeable impact player. That carried into training camp, where the young forward continued to make an impression.
"I talked to Jussi about him, and everyone raved about his rookie camp," Bednar said. "So I thought he did a nice job in practices."
Now, that first stretch with the Avalanche is over for Hamilton.
The club reassigned him Tuesday morning to the WHL's Red Deer Rebels, where he'll continue his development after making the most of his opportunity in Colorado.
Bednar said Hamilton is aware that there is still work to do before he's ready for the NHL.
"He's got a good head on his shoulders," Bednar said. "I think he's aware that he's a little ways away from getting to the NHL."
That's not necessarily a bad thing.
"It was nice to see him score in his first game," Bednar said. "We send him off back to junior on a good note and a good experience in training camp."
For Hamilton, it's an opportunity to continue growing his game and take the next step in his development. For the Avalanche, the focus remains on winning another Stanley Cup, but they may have another promising depth piece on the way.
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 2: Andy Green #70 of the New York Mets looks on after a pitching change against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on September 2, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Parker S. Freedman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Since being hired as the team’s interim manager, Andy Green has continuously stated that he was not interested in having the full-time gig, citing his family as the primary reason. Thus, the expectation has been that the Mets would conduct a complete search for a new manager in the offseason. Well, that impending search has ended before it even began, as the team has given Green a three-year deal to serve as the full-time manager.
Green, the former Padres manager who had been serving as Senior Vice President of Player Development in the front office, has been in the dugout since the team fired Carlos Mendoza at the end of June following a disastrous start to the season. While the team has not exactly been world-beaters in the time since then, they have generally played better with Green in charge (to the tune of a 37-38 record), and he has earned plaudits for his handling of the media and his willingness to challenge his players. In the press release announcing the deal, Green addressed his previous reticence to accept the full-time job:
I am excited and humbled to officially be named manager of the New York Mets. When I accepted the interim role, I didn’t anticipate it becoming permanent, but the more time I spent with our players and staff, the clearer it became that this is where my passion and experience could make the greatest impact. That realization led to many conversations with my family, and together we agreed this is the right opportunity at the right time. I want to thank Steve and Alex for the love, ambition and commitment with which they lead this organization, and David for the trust he has placed in me. I believe deeply in what we can build together, and I’m honored to continue serving our players, this organization and the amazing Mets fans.
It is worth noting, of course, that Green’s job next season will be fundamentally different than the one he has been doing these past few months. We will see how he handles the pressure of managing a team that is expected to win versus one that had virtually already played itself out of the playoff race and was just navigating its way through the end of the season. Nevertheless, the 2027 team will now have some familiarity in the dugout (this presumably includes a number of the new coaches the team hired this past offseason, who will likely stick around with Green) as they look to rebound from a disappointing campaign.
Multiple, very obvious reasons made it clear it was time for the Clippers and Kawhi Leonard to part ways, but one kind of flew under the radar: Los Angeles wasn't about to give Leonard, 35, the kind of extension he wanted.
The Toronto Raptors will.
In a deal that was expected, Leonard and the Raptors have agreed to a two-year, $115 million contract extension for the two-time Finals MVP, a deal first reported by Shams Charania of ESPN. The second year of the extension, 2028-29, is a player option, but Leonard also waived his trade kicker.
While this extension was expected, and the two sides stayed in contact all summer, it was delayed because Toronto put the trade of Leonard on hold for a couple of months. It wanted to see the outcome of the NBA’s investigation into the Clippers for circumventing the salary cap to get Leonard "no-show" endorsement deals, before signing off. Leonard got off with a slap on the wrist (a $700,000 fine), and the trade went through just more than a week ago. The extension was always likely to follow.
Leonard has said he wants to finish his career in Toronto and this contract would take him through his age 38 season. This extension kicks in for the 2027-28 season, Leonard will make $50.3 million this season in the final year of a deal signed with the Clippers (which drew a lot of attention).
This is largely a bet on Leonard's health. When he is consistently on the court, as he was last season when he played 65 games — averaging 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.9 steals per game and still playing elite defense — he is a top-10 player in the league. However, in the previous eight seasons, Leonard played in 65+ games just once. He has played in Toronto before, leading the franchise to its 2019 championship, and he trusts the medical staff there, which kept him fresh that year for a playoff run.
Toronto adds Leonard to a stacked roster with another All-NBA-level player in Scottie Barnes, plus RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and a group of solid role players. If Leonard stays healthy, Toronto could be a top-four seed and make some noise in the East. But it's all a bet on Leonard's health.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 19: Christian Scott #45 of the New York Mets leaves the game during their game against the New York Mets at Citi Field on September 19, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Mets placed one right-handed pitcher on the injured list and activated another before Tuesday night’s series-opening game in Arlington against the Texas Rangers. Christian Scott landed on the 15-day IL with left knee inflammation, ending his year, while Devin Williams returns after being sidelined with a right shoulder strain since August 8.
Scott returned from Tommy John surgery on April 23 and proceeded to put together a fine sophomore season for the Mets. In 23 starts, he posted a 3.85 ERA with 134 strikeouts and 47 walks in 110 innings pitched. As he soared past his previous career-high in innings during a professional season, the 27-year-old began to falter, as he put up a 5.30 ERA over his final seven starts. His last outing came on Saturday afternoon, when he allowed three runs in 4.2 innings in the Mets’ 10-3 win over the Phillies at Citi Field.
Williams’ first season in Queens has been a mixed bag. The Airbender-brandishing reliever struggled in mid-April, allowing eight runs while recording just six outs in a span of four appearances, but was dominant from that point through late June. He struck out 51 batters in 38.2 innings pitched with the help of a 39.0% chase rate and 34.9% whiff rate, and has successfully converted 16 of 19 save opportunities – all positive signs – yet his 4.66 ERA and 1.66 WHIP aren’t exactly what the Mets had in mind when they signed the veteran to a three-year deal last offseason.
In Williams’ absence, Kodai Senga has emerged as an interim closer of sorts, converting seven consecutive saves to begin his closing career before Pete Alonso took him deep last Tuesday night. In his most recent appearance on Sunday, Senga surrendered three runs while recording just one out against the Phillies. Senga has six games remaining (three in Texas and three in Washington) to bounce back and finish strong out of the bullpen, while Williams will get a final taste of big-league action before the offseason.
There is still plenty of work for Suniev to do before the Flames finalize their opening-night roster.
Like many young offensive players, his work away from the puck has been an area of emphasis. The coaching staff gave him specific areas to focus on during the offseason, particularly in the defensive zone.
“It was mostly defensive zone, playing without the puck,” Suniev said. “But they also wanted me to continue doing what I can do with the puck and performing in the offensive zone.”
That balance will be important as Suniev looks to turn his offensive ability into a legitimate NHL opportunity.
He has appeared in seven NHL games with Calgary and picked up his first career point with an assist against the Utah Mammoth on April 12.
Now, Suniev is entering camp with a little more experience and a clear opportunity in front of him.
The Flames still have preseason games remaining and there are only so many roster spots available, but his early production has put his name into the conversation.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 19: Catcher Austin Hedges #27 celebrates with relief pitcher Slade Cecconi #44 of the Cleveland Guardians after the game against the Athletics at Progressive Field on September 19, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Guardians defeated the Athletics 12-6. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The playoffs are within reach and the Guardians are in the driver’s seat for the AL Central as they head into a tough place to play against a good team in the Boston Red Sox.
The Guardians are 81-75 with a +2 run differential, 21st in team wRC+ since the trade deadline at 96, eighth in baserunning runs above at 5.2, ninth in Defense at -8.2, eighth in starting pitcher ERA at 3.94 (3.93 FIP), and sixth in bullpen ERA at 3.55 (3.66 FIP).
The Red Sox are 84-72 with a +80 run differential, 16th in team wRC+ since the trade deadline at 100, 18th in baserunning runs above at -3.5, eighth in Defense at -5.4, ninth in starting pitcher ERA at 3.95 (3.74 FIP), and first in bullpen ERA at 3.09 (3.56 FIP).
One of our regular posters asked which of our hitters and pitchers have performed well at Fenway. I don’t generally consider park-specific stats as very predictive, but, for what it’s worth, Austin Hedges has a 159 wRC+ at Fenway, Jo Adell 133 wRC+, Nathaniel Lowe 128 wRC+, Steven Kwan 127 wRC+, Brayan Rocchio 120 wRC+, and Jose Ramirez 108 wRC+. If any of that makes you excited, good! Joey Cantillo has a 1.50 ERA in Fenway and Tanner Bibee 1.80 ERA. I REALLY would not read anything into pitcher stats at specific parks, but it is possible hitters may see the ball better at given stadiums.
Matchups: Tuesday, 6:45PM ET: Messick, LHP 2.59 ERA since 8/4 vs. Tolle, LHP, 2.36 ERA since 8/4 Wednesday, 7:10PM ET: Griffin, LHP 5.79 ERA since 8/4 vs. Gray, RHP 2.55 ERA since 8/4 Thursday, 6:45PM ET: TBD vs. Suarez, LHP 3.53 ERA since 8/4
Since August 4th, the Red Sox are led by Mickey Gasper 201 wRC+, Jahmai Jones 184 wRC+, Trevor Story 137 wRC+, Wilyer Abreu at 135 wRC+, Caleb Durbin 125 wRC+, Roman Anthony 113 wRC+ and Nick Sogard 108 wRC+.
Since 8/4, the Guardians are led by Chase DeLauter 159 wRC+, Angel Martinez 157 wRC+, Steven Kwan 138 wRC+, David Fry 118 wRC+, Travis Bazzana 114 wRC+ and Jo Adell 105 wRC+.
Gotta find a way to get one to make a playoff berth likely, two to keep the division title in sight.
Andy Green will manage the Mets in 2027, the team announced Tuesday. The interim tag he inherited when he took over for Carlos Mendoza earlier this year is gone, with Green signing a three-year deal.
The deal represents a pivot for Green and the organization, the former because he initially said he was reluctant to manage beyond this year since it would keep him away from his family, the latter because Steve Cohen and David Stearns said they planned to conduct a search for their next manager after this season.
But people in the organization, who were careful to speak anonymously so as not to complicate his decision, said they started sensing a change in Green’s mindset in recent weeks. They speculated that as a once turbulent Mets clubhouse seemed to coalesce around him, Green started warming to the possibility of balancing a dream job and his desire to by present for his daughters’ final year of high school.
In fact, multiple people pointed out that there might be no better time for a father of seniors in high school to take a job like this: Given that a lockout is a near certainty and a shortened spring training – if not a delayed start to the season – seems likely enough to plan around, he might never encounter a baseball spring that would let him stay home longer.
Still, exactly what changed and when is still unclear, though as of earlier this month, Green had not approached Cohen or Stearns about any change in plans, according to people familiar with the situation.
But by Saturday’s celebration of Carlos Beltran – when Beltran all but declared he was not interested in a managerial job for which he seemed like an early favorite – Green’s path seemed to have cleared. The Mets decided not to subject him to the rigors of a public search before committing.
Green, 49, managed the Padres to a 274-366 record over four years from 2016-2019. He was serving as the Mets senior vice president of baseball development when they approached him about taking over for Mendoza in June.
He said then that he took the job with the understanding it would be temporary out of a sense of responsibility to the organization. He, Stearns, and Cohen maintained that approach in the months that followed, though none of them fully ruled out the possibility that something could change any one of their minds.
And while the Mets did not exactly catch fire under Green – they were 37-38 under his watch at the time of the announcement – they did seem to find a more sustainable sense of self. Carson Benge flourished. Green challenged the young starting pitchers around whom the Mets must build next year. A surprisingly effective bullpen grew from the ashes of the one the Mets dismantled at the trade deadline. Bo Bichette seemed to find new comfort and spoke glowingly of Green’s people skills. Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor, well, spent the last month or two acting like two superstars working toward shared goals on perfectly good terms.
New York Mets interim manager Andy Green (70) leaves the field after changing pitchers against the Atlanta Braves during the seventh inning at Truist Park. / Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
“I have a lot of respect for Andy. I think he’s been good at the role that he’s got right now. Not necessarily the role of managing, because I didn’t see his role this year as to manage. His role, right now, was to come in and bring light, bring ownership, bring respect, and bring accountability. He’s succeeded at it,” Lindor told SNY last Saturday, at which point he said he had had not spoken to Green about changing his mind.
“In-game stuff, plays and all that stuff? He’s made good moves, but I don’t judge him on those things. I don’t really care about that. He was put in here more to bring light to the players, to bring accountability, to bring respect, to bring self-awareness. And that’s what he brought into the role he’s in right now.”
That role, of course, has been molded by the fact that the Mets have been effectively, if not mathematically, out of contention since he took over. The Padres teams he managed never played under the kind of scrutiny or expectations these Mets will next year.
But Green has passed the tests he has encountered with grace, particularly with his style of communication. His news conferences have blended candor with empathy in ways that are so far landing with both players and the public.
Last week, for example, Green navigated the emotional hurricane that was Pete Alonso’s return to Citi Field without discounting his players’ frustration with fans nor scolding fans for theirs. Presented with a fan base that operates with sometimes unparalleled, but often unregulated, passion, many Mets managers before him have struggled to do the same.
“I think he’s been good. Andy has his personality, he’s great. I feel like he’s a guy who is on top of everything. He pays attention to every single detail and stuff like that. I really like that,” Soto told SNY last weekend. “He’s been open with me and talking to me about a lot of stuff.”
It is not clear how much of the current Mets coaching staff will return, though Green helped assemble the revamped staff that worked with Mendoza to start the season and some of them are under contract beyond this year. Answers to those questions, and others, will come later.
For now, the Mets have certainty in the dugout entering an important offseason – one in which Bichette will be deciding whether to opt out and free agency will likely be condensed to a November frenzy ahead of the anticipated lockout in December. And that certainty comes in the form of Green, whose previous player development role means he knows better than anyone the young players who will carry the Mets’ future.
ATLANTA, GA MAY 04: Atlanta center fielder Michael Harris II (23) rests on the field following the last out of the inning during the MLB game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves on May 4th, 2025 at Truist Park in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Did you think there were going to be days off? There are no days off. At least not yet. Maybe a partial day off? We’ll see.
This is the same lineup the Braves rolled out when they last had to face a lefty (8-4 loss to the Cubs). They also used this lineup in the opener against the Cubs, which they also lost. So, maybe that fortune changes here.
The Braves have a combined four, count ‘em, four PAs against Brandon Williamson. Two are from Ha-Seong Kim (strikeout, flyout), and one each comes from Michael Harris II (a homer), and Matt Olson (a homer). Kind of bizarre that the two lefties are 1-for-1 with a homer off a southpaw but… four PAs, y’all.
The Reds’ lineup is at least moderately interesting, or as much as can be for a bad team playing out the string.
Promoted pseudo-prospect Carlos Jorge, he of the 27 career PAs and a terrible line in them, starts at leadoff. He’s joined in the outfield by another promoted prospect, Hector Rodriguez, who also hasn’t hit at all but has had some more exposure.
The Reds’ quartet from two through five in the lineup has hit well this season. Everyone else has hit terribly. That’s not too different from how the Braves have gone through the season, though. Still, JR Ritchie has a tough test and should hopefully find it easier to loop through the rest of the lineup.
The 2026 pre-season has presented some interesting challenges for teams across the NHL. Not only was the number of games cut, but a new rule has also limited how many times certain players can suit up in the pre-season. While there are some positives in that prospects can get more opportunities, it does create some strain on coaching staffs who need to balance their lineups throughout the four pre-season games.
The NHL's new "veteran" rule prohibits certain players from playing more than two pre-season games. Using the Vancouver Canucks as an example, Aatu Räty will be ineligible to play the final two pre-season games, as after Tuesday he will have suited up twice already. Here is how the NHL defines a "veteran" for the pre-season:
Any player who has played one hundred (100) or more career NHL Games
any player who has played four hundred (400) or more career games in the NHL and/or AHL
A forward or defenseman who played in thirty (30) NHL Games during the previous season
A goaltender who either dressed in fifty (50) or more NHL Games or played in thirty (30) or more NHL Games in the previous season
A first-round draft choice from any of the five (5) previous years’ NHL Drafts
A second-round draft choice from any of the three (3) previous years’ NHL Drafts.
After morning skate and practice on Tuesday, Manny Malhotra was asked about the new rules and how they have impacted his roster selection for pre-season games. In addition to the new rules, teams must also ensure they have at least eight "veterans" in the lineup. As Malhotra explained, a shorter pre-season means that players need to be ready to go, as they won't have as many opportunities to stand out before the season begins.
"We've thought about this all summer long," said Malhotra. "Just in terms of the new rules and the limit on how many games a guy can play. So that definitely weighs into the equation. I think it kind of goes without saying that the guys have a very clear understanding that there's not a lot of runway leading up to the season. I think we calculated about between eight and 10 ice sessions. You get your two games, and that's what you have to show. So, I think in terms of the preparation for the guys, it makes it that much more important to show in our skates, in our morning skates, the attention to detail. And then, once we get into these games, it puts everything out there."
The pre-season plays an important role for every team because it lets those on the bubble shine. They also allow players to get up to game speed and battle against opposition that is not wearing the same jersey. According to Malhotra, there have been plenty of conversations amongst the players about the new pre-season roster rules this year.
"Yeah, it's been a topic of discussion, and they're the ones that are bringing it up to us. A lot of veteran guys, they would like to get into three or four games potentially. So the limiting factor on not being able to get games is definitely a topic of conversation amongst the players. But there's definitely an understanding that there isn't a whole lot of time when you take away a week of camp."
Based on Vancouver's first two lineups, Malhotra appears to be saving his potential NHL roster for the final two home pre-season games. Besides Räty, other key players who will have played one pre-season game after Tuesday include Kevin Lankinen, Tom Willander, Victor Mancini, Arshdeep Bains, and Max Sasson. With the limited pre-season games, it will be interesting to see how ready players are when the regular season begins on September 29.
Mar 24, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Jake DeBrusk (74) and forward Elias Pettersson (40) and forward Brock Boeser (6) celebrate Boesers goal against the Anaheim Ducks in the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
