NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 20: Bo Bichette #19 of the New York Mets hits his sixth inning solo home run against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citi Field on September 20, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Evan Bernstein/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Mets lost to the Phillies 7-2 Sunday in their final home game of the season.
On a rainy day in New York, the Mets lineup never got going against Philly starter Cristopher Sanchez. Mets starter Jonah Tong had a rough day, giving up four runs and four walks with five strikeouts.
The Phillies took a 2-0 lead in the first inning with a sacrifice fly from Luis Arraez and an RBI single from Alec Bohm. Tong gave up a walk and two hits in the first, then was knocked to the ground on a collision with Bryson Stott in the process of getting the final out at first base. Tong limped to the dugout but shook it off and returned to the game.
Tong bounced back with a 1-2-3 inning in the second, but gave up a pair of runs in the third with a steady rain falling at Citi Field.
The Mets had multiple baserunners in both the second and third innings but couldn’t capitalize against Sanchez, who finished with six strikeouts and two runs allowed. Sanchez settled in after giving up a pair of hits in the third, retiring nine straight Mets batters. Finally, Bo Bichette crushed a solo home run off Sanchez in the sixth inning to get the Mets on the board. Sanchez retired Mark Vientos and Carson Benge to get through the sixth inning for the 24th time this season.
Phillies manager Don Mattingly brought Sanchez out for the seventh inning, but pulled him with one out after giving up a single to Francisco Alvarez. The Mets briefly took advantage, getting back-to-back pinch-hit singles from AJ Ewing and Brett Baty against Phillies reliever Alex McFarlane. Baty’s single scored Alvarez to cut the deficit to 4-2. Unfortunately for the Mets, a popout from Francisco Lindor and a strikeout from Juan Soto ended the inning.
Jack Weisenburger and Jefry Yan combined for 2.1 shutout innings in relief of Tong, but Kodai Senga couldn’t keep it going. Senga gave up a three-run triple to Justin Crawford in the eighth inning to blow the game wide open and renew questions about Senga’s place on the team.
Beloved radio voice Howie Rose got his final broadcast in despite the rain. The Mets dugout walked out onto the field after the final out to raise their caps to Rose. He will get his official farewell next season.
The Mets have Monday off before starting a three-game road series with the Texas Rangers on Tuesday. With the Rangers in the thick of the Wild Card race, New York has a chance to keep playing spoiler.
This will be the first of four preseason games for the Penguins before they open the regular season against the Philadelphia Flyers on Sept. 30.
Monday's game will feature a mix of veterans and younger players who are trying to crack the roster. Here's the lineup:
Forwards
Andrei Kuzmenko
Filip Hallander
David Gustafsson
Justin Brazeau
Bryan Rust
Connor Dewar
Hendrix Lapierre
Elmer Soderblom
Tristan Broz
Tanner Howe
Carter Sanderson
Ben Kindel
Avery Hayes
Defensemen
Ryan Graves
Tomas Galvas
Owen Pickering
Chase Pietila
Harrison Brunicke
Trevor van Riemsdyk
Kris Letang
Goaltenders
Sergei Murashov
Joel Blomqvist
We could get our first glimpse of Ben Kindel centering Bryan Rust and Andrei Kuzmenko in game action since they've been on a line together to start training camp. They've had solid chemistry thus far.
The same can be said for Trevor van Riemsdyk and Kris Letang since they've been paired together throughout camp and look comfortable.
We'll see if both goaltender play or if one of them will get the entire game.
Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh. You can also listen to the game on 105.9 'The X.'
Aug 25, 2023; San Francisco, California, USA; San Francisco Giants television announcer Duane Kuiper before the game against the Atlanta Braves at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports...
The Giants released a statement on behalf of Kuiper on Sunday morning. that ready, “I was recently diagnosed with throat cancer and began treatment last week with my doctors at Stanford Medicine. This cancer is unrelated to the one I experienced five years ago, and I’m optimistic that it will be successfully treated,” per USA Today’s Bob Nightengale.
San Francisco Giants television announcer Duane Kuiper is seen before a game against the Atlanta Braves at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Friday, Aug. 25, 2023. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters ConSan Francisco Giants announcer Mike Krukow waves at fans during the sixth inning of a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“I’ll miss the broadcasts tomorrow and Wednesday as I continue treatment, but I’m looking forward to returning Tuesday and this weekend to celebrate my partner, Mike Krukow, and his remarkable career as he calls his final game before retirement. I’m incredibly grateful for the care I’m receiving and for the tremendous support from my family, the Giants organization, my broadcast partners and so many others,” the statement added.
As Kuiper alluded to, he underwent chemotherapy for a cancer diagnosis back in 2021, which caused him to miss much of that season for San Francisco.
This has already been a brutal season for Giants fans because of the team’s mediocre results on the field. And this news regarding Kuiper has made matters even worse.
Duane Kuiper of the San Francisco Giants prepares for a game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Oracle Park in San Francisco, California, on Sept. 9, 2026. Getty Images
The Mets went down early and couldn't muster enough of a comeback, dropping their final home game of the regular season to the Philadelphia Phillies, 7-2.
New York finishes the year with a 36-45 record at Citi Field.
Here are the takeaways...
-- Jonah Tong couldn't replicate his scoreless outing from last time on the mound, allowing four earned runs on five hits with five strikeouts and four walks over 4.2 IP (95 pitches).
Tong let up two runs in the first inning, surrendering a sacrifice fly to Luis Arraez and an RBI-single to Alec Bohm. Fans held their breath at the end of the first as Tong stumbled over first base while beating Bryson Stott to the bag for the third out. He limped to the dugout immediately but appeared to be fine and returned to the mound in the second inning.
After a 1-2-3 second, he walked Kyle Schwarber in the the third for a second time and gave up an RBI-double to Trea Turner. Tong got Harper to flyout, but Turner tagged up and later scored on Arraez's single up the middle, making it a 4-0 game. The right-hander hung around into the fifth inning, but exited with two on base and two outs. Jack Weisenburger was tasked with escaping the jam, getting Stott to hit a fly ball for the third out.
-- Carson Benge recorded New York's first hit of the day against lefty Cristopher Sanchez in the second inning, but he and Francisco Alvarez (single) were left stranded as Nick Morabito struck out to end the scoring chance.
Luis Torrens and Juan Soto gave the Mets another opportunity in the third, although Sanchez struck out Bo Bichette and Mark Vientos to keep them off the scoreboard.
-- After fouling off six straight pitches against Sanchez, Bichette lifted a slider to the second deck in left field for a solo home run, cutting the Philadelphia lead to 4-1. It's Bichette's 17th home run of the season and first since Sept. 6.
--New York attempted to rally in the seventh inning as A.J. Ewing and Brett Baty delivered pinch-hit singles, with Baty driving in a run to make it a 4-2 game. Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto couldn't follow suit, popping out and striking out to end the frame.
-- Kodai Senga struggled in the eighth inning, allowing a three-run triple to Justin Crawford that extended the Phillies' lead to 7-2. Senga recorded just one out, as he walked three and let up two hits. Austin Warren walked another to load the bases but prevented further damage by forcing a 6-3 double play.
Game MVP: Cristopher Sánchez
The left-hander kept the Mets offense relatively quiet, allowing two runs on six hits over 6.1 IP with six K's and no walks. His 18 wins are the most for a Phillies pitcher since Roy Halladay (19) in 2011.
Highlights
Jonah Tong limps off the field after colliding with Bryson Stott at first base for the third out pic.twitter.com/hv3xOx6aSX
After going 0-for-10 with four strikeouts in the first two games of this series, Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong had himself another big day in the third contest. PCA singled, doubled, homered and stole a base and helped lead the Cubs to a 9-1 blowout of the Reds, a victory tempered by a freak injury to Alex Bregman. More on the latter anon, first let’s wrap this win.
The Cubs extended their lead in the third. PCA led off with a double. A note on that double from BCB’s JohnW53:
With his third-inning double, Pete Crow-Armstrong has at least 30 homers, doubles and steals.
Only one Cub had done that before: PCA, last year.
Forty players on other teams have done it, 12 of them also multiple times. PCA is among 10 with two. Alfonso Soriano did it four times; Barry Bonds and Jose Ramirez, three.
It was noted on the Marquee broadcast that PCA’s 40-HR, 30-double, 30-steal year is the first ever by a MLB center fielder — nope, not Willie Mays, not Ken Griffey Jr., no one, until now. I’ve said it before, but don’t ever forget what you are seeing from Pete this year — it is truly historic.
Anyway, PCA then went to third on a ground out by Seiya Suzuki. The Cubs then loaded the bases on walks drawn by Michael Busch and Bregman.
Now to the Bregman incident in the fourth inning. With two out, Busch hit a foul ball that struck Bregman, who was in the on-deck circle, in the face. Bregman immediately left the game and was replaced by Matt Shaw. Here’s what that looked like [VIDEO].
Per Craig Counsell’s postgame remarks, the ball hit Bregman in the cheekbone, which is swollen. There was also a facial cut, but we don’t know anything beyond that. Hopefully it’s not too serious and Bregman doesn’t have a concussion.
While all this was going on, David Peterson was sailing along, striking out seven over the first four innings. The Reds made it 5-1 on a solo homer by JJ Bleday in the fourth.
That blast tied PCA with Kyle Schwarber for the MLB lead. The Cubs also lead MLB in home runs with 217; as noted on the Marquee broadcast, the last time the Cubs led all of baseball in home runs was 1958, led by Ernie Banks with 47 in his first MVP season.
David Peterson’s quality start was his fifth as a Cub, fourth most on the team. Shota Imanaga has 14, as many as the next two combined: Matthew Boyd, eight, and Colin Rea, six. Edward Cabrera and Jameson Taillon both have four. Five others have one to three.
Peterson could be a valuable weapon in the postseason, either as a starter or out of the bullpen.
With their three home runs, the Cubs have hit nine in their last four games (three, one, two, three). They had hit 12 in their previous 14 games, since smacking a team-record nine at home vs. the Brewers on Aug. 31.
Edward Cabrera was given the eighth inning, a good low-leverage situation. He allowed a leadoff single and after retiring the next hitter, another Reds batter reached on an error by Ramirez. But Cabrera got Elly De La Cruz to hit into an inning-ending double play.
Colin Rea finished up with a 1-2-3 ninth, his first game action in 11 days, on just eight pitches. Here’s the final out [VIDEO].
The Cubs will clinch a postseason berth if the Yankees defeat the Diamondbacks Sunday, a game that’s just begun at the time of this recap. The Padres, tied with the Cubs for the top wild card spot with the Cubs holding the tiebreaker, are playing the Marlins in a contest in San Diego that’s also just underway. The Phillies defeated the Mets Sunday, so the Cubs still lead Philadelphia by a game. Thanks to the Mets for taking two of the four games from the Phillies over the weekend.
The Cubs have Monday off, then open the final regular season home series Tuesday evening against the Marlins at Wrigley Field. Kevin Gausman will start for the Cubs and Janson Junk will go for Miami. Game time Tuesday is 6:40 p.m. CT and TV coverage will be via Marquee Sports Network.
The Lakers season is around the corner and Luka Dončić is returning to Los Angeles.
Dončić, who led the league in scoring last season (33.5 points) and was third in assists (8.3) is expected to leave Europe for Los Angeles on Sunday ahead of Media Day on September 28, according to Sportklub.
On Sunday, the Lakers superstar took to Instagram with a heartbreaking post. He posted images of his two daughters (Gabriela, who was born November 2023, and Olivia, who was born last December) in Slovenia spending time with him, while recognizing he had to leave them at home for the time being while he returns to America.
Luka Doncic signs an autograph for a fan during the Los Angeles Lakers’ visit to Slovenia, Sunday, August 23, 2026. Andrej Tarfila/Shutterstock
Dončić finished fourth in MVP voting last season and helped the Lakers finish fourth in the Western Conference with a record of 53-29. He had a stunning March in which he averaged 37.5 points, 8 rebounds and 7.4 assists, carrying the Lakers to a 15-2 record over that period, before he suffered a strained hamstring on April 2 that sidelined him for the entire postseason.
Dončić, who said doctors told him he’d have to miss eight weeks with the injury, is expected to be healthy when training camp opens September 29.
Dončić had input on the Lakers’ roster moves this offseason, including re-signing Austin Reaves (four years, $180 million) and adding center Walker Kessler (four years, $130 million).
The Lakers completely overhauled their roster, including adding Collin Sexton, Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Kevon Looney, Matisse Thybulle, Ziaire Williams and Cameron Carr.
For the first time in his career, Dončić hosted a minicamp in Slovenia last month to help build team chemistry. He paid for the team to come out to his home country for four days, where the Lakers played basketball, golf and did sightseeing activities.
Since the Mavericks stunningly traded Dončić to the Lakers in February 2025, they were eliminated by the Timberwolves in the first round of the 2025 playoffs, followed by being swept by the Thunder last season.
Dončić, who has never won a championship over his eight-season career, will try to lead the Lakers to their first title since 2020.
Luka Doncic and a Los Angeles Lakers player are on the basketball court during the team’s visit to Slovenia on Sunday, August 23, 2026. Andrej Tarfila/ShutterstockLuka Doncic (77) of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles the ball against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan, Monday, March 23, 2026. Getty Images
PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 05: Alex Tuch #89 of the Buffalo Sabres carries the puck against Bryan Rust #17 of the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 5, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
The Penguins listed the players who will take part in the first preseason game on Monday night against Buffalo.
The roster for tomorrow's preseason game vs. Buffalo has been announced ⬇️
Below is the Penguins’ lineup for Monday night’s preseason game against the Buffalo Sabres at PPG Paints Arena. Puck drop is set for 7:00 PM ET, and fans can watch the game on SportsNet Pittsburgh, or tune into the game on the Penguins’ official flagship radio station, 105.9 ‘The X’.
FORWARDS
10 – Andrei Kuzmenko 11 – Filip Hallander 13 – David Gustafsson 16 – Justin Brazeau 17 – Bryan Rust 19 – Connor Dewar 22 – Hendrix Lapierre 25 – Elmer Soderblom 26 – Tristan Broz 40 – Tanner Howe 62 – Carter Sanderson 81 – Ben Kindel 85 – Avery Hayes
DEFENSE
27 – Ryan Graves 32 – Tomas Galvas 38 – Owen Pickering 44 – Chase Pietila 45 – Harrison Brunicke 57 – Trevor van Riemsdyk 58 – Kris Letang
GOALIES
1 – Sergei Murashov 30 – Joel Blomqvist
One forward and one defenseman listed will be scratched. Based on early practice pairs, that might be Tomas Galvas since all the other players have their partner from the early practices listed. The team might want to see Galvas in a game situation and shake up those pairings for this game.
For the forwards, the camp line of Kuzmenko, Kindel and Rust have been working together and might be a future middle line for the team in the regular season. Besides them, a host of fringe players fighting for a spot in the lineup – if not the roster all together – will be in the mix. Between Hallander, Brazeau, Dewar, Lapierre, Soderblom, Broz and Hayes there should be a lot of motivated forwards looking to stand out and show why they belong in the picture when it comes to the crowded situation at the bottom of the lineup.
Competition continues in net with the two goalies battling for one NHL roster spot both dressing for tomorrow’s game. Typically goalies early in the preseason are planned to split the time in net, though it hasn’t been announced yet who will start and if the other will get the opportunity to get into the game.
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 20: Patrick Sandoval #43 of the Boston Red Sox pitches during the second inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on September 20, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mark Taylor/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Boston Red Sox played today like a team that knew the region’s attention would be turned to the New England Patriots. Patrick Sandoval started the game and almost immediately ended it, surrendering four runs before even recording an out. The offense, for most of the day, was non-existent. They loaded the bases in the fifth inning, but Roman Anthony ultimately struck out to end the inning with no runs scored.
Immediately after the Patriots took a knee to end the game, the offense started to wake up. Trevor Story hit a solo home run to cut the Rays’ lead to four, and Caleb Durbin singled to force the Rays to Kevin Kelly to finish the game. He did so, and the Red Sox will need to wait for at least another hour or so to find out if they’ve clinched the division. Go Braves.
Seriously, like nothing happened. The whole game took only 2 hours and 20 minutes, and the only runs scored came via home runs outside of the first inning. If you didn’t watch, you didn’t miss much.
Three Studs
Patrick Sandoval
Today’s game, in the grand scheme of things, probably doesn’t matter. Entering the game, the Red Sox needed to win one of their final seven games to clinch a postseason spot (if Houston wins out). Sandoval had a brutal first inning, but settled in and ultimately got through seven innings. At this point, it’s about lining up the pitching staff, resting the bullpen, and getting to the postseason as healthy as possible. Sandoval lost the game for the Red Sox early, but at least he ate some innings in a fairly meaningless game.
Trevor Story
He hit a home run. That’s all.
Mike Yastrzemski
A three-run home run gave the Braves a 4-1 lead over the Astros in the sixth inning. If the Braves can hold on, the Red Sox will be going to the postseason.
Two Duds
Patrick Sandoval
Sandoval isn’t very good. He has one good pitch, and it’s only a useful pitch if he can throw strikes with his other pitches, which he often can’t. Because of that, it’s often a tightrope act for Sandoval, who has to navigate his way through traffic in seemingly every inning. On Sunday, he fell off the tightrope and allowed four runs in the first inning. The offense couldn’t pick him up, and that was that.
The Offense
They only scored one run and barely made any noise all afternoon. Again, it doesn’t really matter, but they’ve gotta swing the bats to go anywhere in the playoffs.
Los Angeles Lakers' Luka Doncic reacts on the court during the fourth quarter of a game against the Brooklyn Nets at the Barclays Center, March 10, 2025. The Brooklyn Nets defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 111-108.
This means that Dončić has to leave his two daughters (Gabriela, who was born November 2023, and Olivia, who was born last December) in Slovenia, with his ex-fiancée, Anamarie Goltes.
Los Angeles Lakers’ Luka Doncic reacts on the court during the fourth quarter of a game against the Brooklyn Nets at the Barclays Center, March 10, 2025. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post
Dončić is clearly upset about parting ways with his two daughters, which he revealed with a heartbreaking Instagram post on Sunday.
The post showed several photos of the Lakers star interacting with his two daughters. It was captioned (in translated English), “G+O, no matter where in the world your daddy is. No day passes when you wouldn’t be in my heart. Wherever I go, you are always with me. I love you! ”.
Dončić has had a tumultuous past year or so regarding his family. Goltes was seeking child support from the Lakers superstar for the couple’s two kids earlier this year, after news broke that the two had broken up.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic reacts on the court during the second quarter of a game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026. JASON SZENES/ NY POST
Goltes submitted a request to dismiss her petition for child support back in August. But she still lives in Slovenia and shares custody, which is clearly hitting Dončić hard.
Perhaps the Lakers star can use this as motivation once Los Angeles’ regular season begins.
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LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 18, 2026: Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts (50) hits a 2-run homer in the eighth inning against the San Francisco Giants in the Dodgers 8-2 win at Dodger Stadium on September 18, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
With Mookie Betts in the leadoff role for only the sixth time this season—having gone deep three times in his first five games there—the Dodgers host the Giants, aiming for a sweep. Left-hander Jack Dreyer will be the opener for Los Angeles in a bullpen game.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - SEPTEMBER 14: Will Warren #29 of the New York Yankees delivers a pitch against the Minnesota Twins in the first inning at Target Field on September 14, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The final road game of the 2026 regular season is upon us, as the Yankees will conclude it with a seven-game homestand before likely hosting the Red Sox for the Wild Card Series. If the season ends there, this is the end of the line for the gray uniforms for 2026, but obviously, we all hope we’ll see them next in Tampa (and more) in early October.
Looking to end a road slate that has been very generous to the Yankees on a high note is Will Warren, who’s finishing his sophomore season strong after his great start to the campaign unraveled into a bit of a mess over the summer. Rotation reinforcements that threatened to throw him in the bullpen never came with the recurring injuries, so he’ll finish 2026 with 30 starts for the second straight season. This is No. 29, as he enters with a 3.89 ERA (108 ERA+) and 4.07 FIP in 148 innings. No matter what happens from here, Warren has had a successful year in solidifying himself as a true MLB-caliber rotation arm.
Opposing him will be a former Cy Young winner trying to round into form off Tommy John surgery in Corbin Burnes, whom Yankees fans remember well from his lone season in Baltimore in 2024. Returning from a 16-month absence on September 8 to help with the playoff push, Burnes has allowed five runs across 7.2 innings with six strikeouts to two walks against the Royals and Marlins. He isn’t totally built up, having thrown 75 pitches in his last start, so expect him to settle around 80-85 today. He’s always befuddled the Yankees, pitching to a 1.93 ERA across 23.1 innings in his career, but he doesn’t have a win in any of those four starts.
Ben Rice will once again lead off, followed by Cody Bellinger, Heliot Ramos, and Luis García Jr. We’ve seen better ABs and swings from George Lombard Jr. lately, who’ll bat fifth. Spencer Jones is back after a one-day absence due to a sore foot and will bat in front of Anthony Volpe, Austin Wells, and José Caballero.
Lars Nootbaar will also be a repeat leadoff hitter for the D-backs, followed by Ketel Marte, Gabriel Moreno, and Geraldo Perdomo. Corbin Carroll is batting fifth, Nolan Arenado will bat sixth, and former Blue Jay Jesús Sánchez bats seventh ahead of last night’s hero Pavin Smith and Tim Tawa.
How to watch
Location: Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ
First pitch: 4:10 pm ET
TV broadcast: YES, DBACKS.TV
Radio broadcast: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280 (NYY), ESPN 620 AM, La Campesina 101.9 FM & 860 AM (AZ)
3 Nov 2001: Fans hold banners before the start game 6 of the World Series between The Arizona Diamondbacks and the New York Yankees at Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix, Arizona. The Diamondbacks won 15-2 to force a game 7. DIGITAL IMAGE. Mandatory Credit: Jed Jacobsohn/ALLSPORT | Getty Images
Today’s Lineups
YANKEES
DIAMONDBACKS
Ben Rice – DH
Lars Nootbaar – LF
Cody Bellinger – LF
Ketel Marte – 2B
Heliot Ramos – RF
Gabriel Moreno – C
Luis Garcia – 1B
Geraldo Perdomo – SS
George Lombard – SS
Corbin Carroll – RF
Spencer Jones – CF
Nolan Arenado – 3B
Anthony Volpe – 2B
Jesus Sanchez – DH
Austin Wells – C
Pavin Smith – 1B
Jose Caballero – 3B
Tim Tawa – CF
Will Warren – RHP
Corbin Burnes – RHP
The final game at Chase Field in the 2026 regular season. Though hopes of any post-season are likely dampened by the early lead the Phillies have taken over the Mets in New York. Still, the team are set to remain at least theoretically in contention for playoff spot until at least Tuesday night. And, of course, the more they win, the more the meaningful part of the season can be extended. The majority of the National League has already been mathematically eliminated, but despite injuries, under-performance in some quarters, and too much off-field drama, Arizona are still here. Somehow, this is Torey’s fault. 🙂
It’s effectively another “rehab” start for Corbin Burnes, though having thrown 75 pitches last time, there shouldn’t be much of a limit on him there this afternoon. His last outing, against the Marlins, was a bit rough, allowing five runs over 4.2 innings, though giving up home-runs on consecutive pitches was a factor there. He’s going to be a key part of the rotation in 2027. But it’s an area which has struggled of late, with Arizona’s starters getting just one win (Eduardo Rodriguez against Houston two Sundays ago) since the opener of the double-header in San Francisco on August 29. That’s an eighteen-game span.
Conversely, the bullpen is 7-2 with a 2.54 ERA this month. It has been a bit of a wild ride, undeniably. But it’s the fourth month they have won seven games this year. I know relief wins is far from a perfect start, but with seven games to go, their 35 wins is already tied for the second-most relief W’s in franchise history. It trails only 2023’s thirty-eight victories, and that bullpen had a higher ERA (4.22 vs. 3.91). Whenever the story of the 2026 D-backs gets written – and we’ll probably be starting with that in the next week! – the relievers are going to be a very interesting chapter.
Stick around for the guest recap, which will hopefully appear this week. But it’s TheRealRamona, so I have faith!
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 19: Manny Machado #13 of the San Diego Padres is congratulated in the dugout after scoring a run during the third inning against the Miami Marlins at Petco Park on September 19, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Miami Marlins (76-79) at San Diego Padres (86-69), September 20, 2026, 1:10 p.m. PST
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PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JANUARY 04: Jordan Goodwin #23 of the Phoenix Suns reacts after a three-point shot against Alex Caruso #9 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half of the NBA game at Mortgage Matchup Center on January 04, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Thunder 108-105. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Every day, we’ll take a closer look at another member of the 2026-27 Phoenix Suns, examining what they bring to the roster and what their role could mean for the season ahead as we count down to training camp and the preseason.
Jordan Goodwin
Guard/Forward, 6’3”, 215 pounds, 28, 6th season
The 2025-2026 Phoenix Suns season was defined by surprises. Few expected them to make the playoffs, not many saw Dillon Brooks averaging a career high in points per game, and after getting an invite to training camp, few were prognosticating Jordan Goodwin would become a reliable rotation for Jordan Ott and his staff. His second stint on the Suns, the three-year $19 million deal he inked this summer puts him in Phoenix for the foreseeable future.
Averaging career-highs in nearly every statistical category, the coaching staff trusted Goodwin to start in Game 1 of the playoffs and when the team clinched their playoff birth against the Golden State Warriors, he had 17 points, four threes and nine boards.
Building on the best season of his career and locked into a longterm deal, he’s set help anchor the team’s defensive rotations, recreate the gritty identity many teams viewed the Suns as from a season ago and play wherever he’s needed on a given night.
Last Season
GP
MIN
PPG
RPG
APG
STL
FG%
3PT%
FT%
OFFRTG
DEFRTG
+/- (TOTAL)
70
22.5
8.7
4.9
2.2
1.5
41.3%
37.1%
69.6%
113.4
110.1
+93
It was not a guarantee Goodwin would make the team’s roster last season. Signed in late August, he beat out Jared Butler for one of the team’s final roster spots.
Mostly playing a reserve role for the Suns last season, Goodwin was a key part of the team’s rotation. With his improved shooting and ability to guard multiple positions despite being undersized, the coaching staff trusted him late in games to make big plays, which was best on display in the team’s miraculous comeback against the Minnesota Timberwolves when the team rallied from eight down in the final 50 seconds to win.
While he missed a brief stretch in late February and early March after suffering a calf strain in the team’s double overtime thriller against the Orlando Magic, Goodwin remained mostly healthy throughout the regular season, playing in 70 games. At the end of the season, he started a few games after Collin Gillespie started to struggle and the team was struggling. He started in both play-in games and in Game 1 of the playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder but was sidelined the rest of the series after going down early in the contest with calf soreness.
His best game of the year? His career-high 26-point contest against the Thunder back in January when the Suns rallied from down double digits to defeat the defending champs.
Contract and Roster Context
Goodwin inked a three-year $19 million deal with a player option for the final season to return to Phoenix in June. The contract increases in value by year and starts at 3.55% of the cap up to 3.72%, an important metric to be paying attention to in the second apron era of the NBA salary cap. The deal is the largest and longest of the veteran’s six-year career.
He can’t be traded until January 15th, 2027.
What He Brings
Toughness.
Jordan Goodwin is the Suns version of the Thunder’s Alex Caruso or the New York Knicks’ Josh Hart. No task is too small for him, and he’s comfortable playing any position from shooting guard to power forward. He helps keep Devin Booker and Jalen Green fresh on offense by taking on the other team’s best perimeter scorers and is able to battle inside to secure offensive rebounds at an elite rate for players his size. He ranked 42nd in the entire NBA in total offensive boards. Amen Thompson and Dyson Daniels were the only guards ahead of him.
Another reason Goodwin has become so valuable to the team? He’s finally hitting threes consistently. Knocking down more than 37% of his triples on nearly 4.5 attempts per game. When he shot 5.6 triples per game in February, the most attempts per game he shot in any month of the season, he hit the deep ball at a 40% clip. His ability to space the floor is what makes him more valuable to the team than he was in his first stint on the Suns when he hit just 29% of his threes.
What Needs to Improve
It would be in the Suns’ best interest if Goodwin could become a consistent ball handler and playmaker. With Grayson Allen now in Charlotte, the team lacks any strong ball handlers off the bench outside of Collin Gillespie. After bringing in sharpshooter Luke Kennard this offseason, the main objective of the team’s second unit should be to get as many threes up as possible.
Goodwin started his career playing point guard, and he’s listed as one on Basketball-Reference, but in most lineups he played in last season, he was not the team’s primary ball handler. When he was with the Washington Wizards and in his first stint with the Suns, he had point guard responsibilities, but his second stint in Phoenix has had him playing mostly the two-four spots. It’s definitely something he is capable of.
Prediction
I expect a similar year from Goodwin a season ago, but with increased volume. Last year, he averaged 22:27 minutes per game; I expect that number to jump up to closer to 25-27 minutes per game. The team knows what they have in him, and their trust in him clearly increased as the season went on.
Look for a small statistical increase and a larger impact on both ends.
Jordan Goodwin is an important part of the brand of basketball that the Phoenix Suns are trying to build. He’s someone a lot of the league had doubted (even the Suns did) and proved people wrong. Now there’s no proving people wrong; he’s gotten paid. The team clearly believes in him. With higher expectations and a contract after a career year, it’s time for his impact to increase.
DENVER, COLORADO - SEPTEMBER 19: A bronze statue honoring Todd Helton is unveiled in front of the ballpark before the Colorado Rockies game against the Seattle Mariners at Coors Field on September 19, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The season could end today.
Well, the Mariners season has been effectively over for weeks now, but a loss and a Rangers win would be the dagger to finish off whatever long-shot odds remain in 2026. I hate to say I’m rooting for it, but a win today would extend the misery and hand the knife to the Astros next week. On the other hand, dropping a series to the worst team in the majors would be a hard way to go out on its own. You know, I’m starting to think there aren’t a lot of fun ways to lose a baseball season.
Lineups
SEA Starter: Kade Anderson COL Starter: Tomoyuki Sugano
Game Information:
Game time: 12:10 PT TV: Mariners TV Radio: 710 AM Seattle Sports
