South Bend Cubs pitcher Nazier Mule throws a pitch during a Midwest League West Divisional playoff game against the Quad Cities River Bandits Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, at Four Winds Field in South Bend, Indiana. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co
We’ll start with South Bend tonight.
South Bend Cubs
The South Bend Cubs were hijacked by the Quad Cities River Bandits (Royals), 3-1. The River Bandits win the best-of-three Division Series 2 games to 0 and advance to the Midwest League Championship Series. South Bend season ends now.
Nazier Mulé started and took the loss, although he pitched well. Mulé allowed one run on two hits over three innings. The one run scored on a pop fly that landed just fair down the line in left in the second inning for a double. Mulé walked two, hit one batter and struck out three.
South Bend’s bad luck continued in the sixth inning when reliever Cole Reynolds gave up another RBI double on a soft pop up that landed near the line just beyond first base.
South Bend could not do much against Quad Cities starter and the Royals’ top prospect Kendry Chourio. He held South Bend without a hit through four innings and while he did give up a pair of singles in the fifth, the Quad Cities bullpen bailed him out.
The only South Bend run came in the seventh inning when center fielder Caden Sorrel, playing in his first game in High-A, singled home second baseman Reginald Preciado. Both Sorrell and Preciado were 2 for 4.
Reliever Anhuar Garcia hit a batter with the bases loaded in the top of the eighth to give the River Bandits their two run lead back. South Bend went quietly in the eighth and ninth to end the season.
It was a disappointing loss for South Bend, who had one of their best seasons in memory. But that happens in baseball.
Here’s Sorrell’s RBI single. His first hit looked a lot like this one too.
Connor Noland started and took the loss. Noland gave up three runs on four hits over four innings. One of those hits was a two-run home run. Noland struck out three and walked one.
Justin Steele came on to pitch the fifth inning in a rehab assignment. His first inning went poorly as he allowed two runs on three hits. He was better in the sixth inning as Steele hit a batter, but that runner was thrown out trying to steal. He then gave up another hit before recording a strikeout to end the inning without any more damage.
The final line on Steele was two runs on four hits over two innings. He struck out three and walked no one while hitting that one batter.
You can take this as you wish.
Some notable context for this outing for Steele — he had some pretty awful BABIP luck.
Of the 4 hits he allowed, not one of them was hit harder than 91 mph.
I agree that center fielder Justin Dean misjudged that fly ball into a triple.
Shelby Miller threw the seventh inning and did well. He allowed a leadoff bunt single, but that runner was thrown out trying to steal and he retired the other two batters, striking out one.
But Jaxon Wiggins struggled in relief, allowing four runs on four hits in just two-thirds of an inning in the eighth. He also walked two while striking out no one.
The only Iowa run came on an RBI groundout in the fourth inning by right fielder Kevin Alcántara. Alcántara went 1 for 4.
Left fielder Chas McCormick was 1 for 3 with a double and a walk.
Iowa only had four hits tonight.
Omaha was 1 for 3 trying to steal off of Owen Ayers.
Brody McCullough was strong tonight as he got the win after giving up five scoreless innings. McCullough allowed three hits. He walked three and struck out seven.
Jackson Brockett then gave the Smokies three more scoreless innings, giving up just one hit and walking just one. He struck out four.
DH Alex Ramírez was the hero tonight, going 3 for 4 with a walk and two RBI.
Second baseman Alex Madera went 2 for 3 with a walk and two runs scored.
Knoxville banged out ten hits tonight, but all of them were singles.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 10: Anthony Volpe #11 of the New York Yankees connects on his seventh inning grand slam home run against the Colorado Rockies at Yankee Stadium on September 10, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Rockies hung around for most of Thursday night at Yankee Stadium.
Then the seventh inning happened.
Colorado had just pulled within two runs when the Yankees answered with six in the bottom half, capped by Anthony Volpe’s grand slam, and turned a quiet, almost competitive game into a 10-3 rout.
The loss completed a three-game sweep and dropped the Rockies to 55-91, while New York improved to 84–62. John Schreiber earned the win for the Yankees, while Ryan Feltner fell to 5-10.
For much of the night, though, the final score did not match the feel of the game. The Yankees grabbed an early lead, but Feltner settled in, Colorado kept finding small openings and New York never quite put the game away.
Until they did.
Feltner digs a hole, then settles in
Feltner’s first two innings looked like they might lead to another short night.
Ben Rice opened the first with a single and advanced on a wild pitch before Luis García Jr. crushed a two-out changeup for his 30th home run of the season.
There were flashes of good stuff mixed into the trouble. Feltner struck out Cody Bellinger on a well-sequenced first-inning plate appearance, leaning on his changeup to finish him on a foul tip.
The command, particularly with the fastball, was much less consistent.
That carried into the second. Ryan McMahon singled, Austin Wells walked and recently recalled Anthony Volpe flicked an inside fastball into left field to score McMahon. Rice followed with a groundout that advanced both runners, and Bellinger’s sacrifice fly stretched the lead to 4-1.
Feltner needed 46 pitches to get through the first two innings.
Then, almost abruptly, he settled in.
He worked a nine-pitch, 1-2-3 third and followed with another clean inning in the fourth. After Volpe’s RBI single in the second, Feltner retired 10 consecutive Yankees before Bellinger finally broke the streak with a double in the fifth.
Even that nearly became an out.
Bellinger lifted a towering drive to right, where Jordan Beck tracked it all the way to the wall and leapt with his glove over the fence. Beck caught the ball, but his collision with the wall knocked it loose and back onto the field. Instead of a home run, Bellinger settled for a double.
Feltner made the play matter. He struck out Jasson Domínguez and got García to pop out in foul territory, ending his night by retiring 12 of the final 13 hitters he faced.
His final line — 5.0 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 2 K — looks fairly pedestrian, but the outing had two very different halves.
Feltner’s four-seam fastball averaged 93.9 mph, about a tick below his season average, and the Yankees hit it hard when they put it in play. He also struggled to consistently locate it.
The secondaries gave him a way through it.
Feltner used his changeup 18% of the time, exactly in line with his season usage, and generated three whiffs on nine swings. The slider was arguably his best pitch, generating three whiffs on seven swings while avoiding hard contact.
He did not suddenly become dominant after the second inning. The Yankees continued to hit some balls hard, including a 109.7 mph flyout from Spencer Jones in the third.
What changed was Feltner’s efficiency.
His pitch counts by inning went 25, 21, 9, 17 and 11. Once he stopped fighting the zone, he let the defense work and gave the Rockies five innings after an opening that looked headed somewhere much worse.
The Rockies make Fried work, but little else
Max Fried was much better, although Colorado did make him work for it.
Connor Norby battled through a nine-pitch plate appearance in the first and appeared to earn a walk before Wells challenged the pitch. ABS overturned the call, turning ball four into strike three. Hunter Goodman then chased a curveball well below the zone to end the inning.
That curveball was good all night.
Fried threw it 19% of the time, above his season rate, and generated four whiffs on five swings. He also leaned heavily on his cutter while largely shelving the four-seam fastball.
Kyle Karros did punish one of those four-seamers in the second, crushing it for his 11th home run of the season and Colorado’s first hit of the game.
The Rockies otherwise did most of their damage to Fried’s pitch count rather than the scoreboard.
Beck walked to lead off the third and reached third when Norby got aboard on McMahon’s throwing error, but Goodman grounded into a forceout to end the threat. TJ Rumfield worked a seven-pitch walk to start the fourth, and Cole Carrigg extended his at-bat before Fried buried a curveball in the dirt for the strikeout.
Aaron Boone had already visited the mound. After Carrigg struck out, he went to the bullpen.
Fried finished with 3.1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 2 BB and 7 K, but needed 80 pitches to get there.
It was a peculiar sort of success for Colorado. They made an excellent pitcher labor.
They just did not score.
Colorado finally finds a spark
That problem followed the Rockies into the Yankees bullpen.
Carrigg doubled with two outs in the sixth, but another successful Yankees ABS challenge turned an apparent ball four to Karros into strike three and ended the inning.
Colorado finally broke through again in the seventh.
Adael Amador worked a seven-pitch at-bat before grounding out, then Beck lined a 98.9 mph drive to center that Jones chased down with a sliding catch.
Tovar kept the inning alive with a two-out walk.
Boone went to Brent Headrick, and McCarthy jumped the first pitch he saw, driving it off the wall in right-center. Tovar scored from first and McCarthy raced into third with his ninth triple of the season.
Norby followed with a six-pitch walk, bringing Goodman to the plate with two on and the tying run involved.
Goodman managed only a weak fly to left.
It was another opening.
And another missed opportunity.
The seventh finally breaks it open
Zach Agnos had already escaped trouble in the sixth.
Jones singled, Wells walked and Volpe reached on a hard one-hopper that Tovar did well simply to knock down. The bases were loaded, but Carrigg tracked Rice’s deep fly to the warning track to end the inning.
Agnos came back out for the seventh, and the traffic finally caught up with him.
Bellinger doubled to open the inning. Domínguez walked. The two then executed a double steal, putting both runners in scoring position with nobody out.
García grounded to Rumfield at first and both runners held, giving Agnos a chance to escape.
Jones erased it with his third hit of the night, lining a single up the middle to score both runners. Carrigg came up firing from center, but his throw sailed over Goodman and reached the backstop as Jones advanced to second.
The Yankees led 6-2.
Agnos got Lombard to pop out, then walked McMahon.
Warren Schaeffer had seen enough.
Jimmy Herget entered and immediately walked Wells to load the bases.
Then Volpe ended the suspense.
The Yankees’ No. 9 hitter got a 1-1 sinker and drove it to right field for a grand slam, turning a game that had spent most of the night hovering within reach into a 10-2 blowout. Volpe finished with five RBI.
Agnos’ pitch data showed just how dangerous his two innings had been. Seven of the eight balls put in play against him were hard-hit, with an average exit velocity of 98.1 mph. He survived the sixth, but couldn’t escape the seventh.
The offense leaves too much behind
Colorado did scratch across one more run in the eighth.
Zac Veen pinch-hit for Carrigg and worked a seven-pitch walk after falling behind 0-2 against Luis Gil, laying off several upper-90s fastballs in the process. Amador followed with a single that was deflected in right, allowing Veen to score and Amador to advance on the error.
The ninth inning offered one final, almost painfully tidy summary of Colorado’s night.
Tovar singled. McCarthy singled. Vimael Machín, pinch-hitting for Norby, singled in his Rockies debut.
Then Goodman flew out too shallow to score Tovar.
Rumfield did the same.
And Veen struck out.
Game over.
Final thoughts
The Rockies finished 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position and left 11 runners on base.
Over the three-game sweep, Colorado struck out 36 times, went 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position and stranded 19.
They had chances. They just did almost nothing with them.
There were still a few small positives. Veen showed good discipline against premium velocity, Machín picked up a hit in his Rockies debut, and Amador continued to look more comfortable in his latest opportunity. The sample remains small, but his at-bats increasingly look like those of a hitter who belongs.
Up next
The Rockies open a three-game series against the Detroit Tigers tomorrow night at Comerica Park, with first pitch scheduled for 4:40 p.m. MDT.
Mason Adams (0–0, 3.95 ERA, 17 K) will make his third career start for Colorado. Detroit will counter with veteran left-hander Framber Valdez (9–10, 4.17 ERA, 119 K).
The embattled former AFL club president Luke Sayers has apologised to his former wife for the harm he caused as her defamation case over a lewd photo settled.
Lawyers for Sayers, the immediate past president of the Carlton football club, read out the apology in the Victorian supreme court on Friday after indicating the settlement.
After they dropped an “Air Lara” shirt in August, they’re back with a “Luis Aura” shirt this time around. Lara, still just 21, has continued to shine defensively, making a huge catch late in Monday’s win over the Cubs before adding an exclamation point on offense with a walk-off single on Tuesday night.
CINCINNATI, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 06: Brice Turang #2 of the Milwaukee Brewers celebrates with teammates after scoring in the 8th inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on September 06, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After their first day off in September on Thursday, the Brewers will continue their stretch of NL Central foes as they’ll host the Reds for three games in Milwaukee, the second time they’ll see Cincinnati in the last two weeks, as the Reds took two of three in Cincy last weekend. The Brewers are coming off of a sweep of the Cubs to balloon their NL Central lead to 10 games over the rest of the pack, sitting at 91-56 with 15 games left. The Reds, who sit in last place, are 69-77 after being swept by the Dodgers to begin the week.
Since the last time these teams met, the Reds have activated right-hander Graham Ashcraft and third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes from the IL, with left-hander Sam Moll designated for assignment and utility man Edwin Arroyo optioned to Triple-A Louisville in the corresponding moves. The Brewers have only lost Grant Anderson, who was placed on the 15-day IL with biceps tendinitis. He was replaced on the active roster by Brandon Sproat, though Sproat was demoted once again on Thursday, with the corresponding move expected to be a recall of right-hander Garrett Stallings to shore up the bullpen. Jake Bauers is also continuing to deal with a variety of lower-body injuries, and the Brewers have opted to focus on managing the injuries rather than putting him on the IL.
Just to remind you of what these two teams bring to the table offensively and on the mound, here’s a quick rundown of both squads.
Milwaukee is hitting .257/.339/.400 (.739 OPS ranks fourth), with 137 homers (last), 742 runs scored (third), and 143 steals (fourth). The Reds are hitting .230/.308/.398 (.706 OPS ranks 23rd), with 196 homers (fourth), 611 runs scored (25th), and 102 steals (11th).
On the mound, Milwaukee ranks second in the majors with a 3.56 team ERA, including a 3.63 starter ERA (fifth) and a 3.46 bullpen ERA (fifth). They’ve struck out 1,406 batters (second) over 1,312 2/3 innings. Cincinnati ranks 27th with a 4.73 team ERA, including a 4.78 starter ERA (27th) and a 4.68 bullpen ERA (25th). They’ve struck out 1,186 batters (20th) over 1,293 innings.
Probable Pitchers
Friday, September 11 @ 6:45 p.m.: RHP Dustin May (6-9, 4.69 ERA, 3.51 FIP) vs. LHP Andrew Abbott (6-10, 4.43 ERA, 4.78 FIP)
May had two really solid starts to begin his Milwaukee tenure, but since that time, he went two innings and allowed seven runs against the Mariners, recorded just one out and exited after being struck by a liner against the Mets, and has had two so-so starts against the Rangers and Reds. Overall, he’s made six starts totaling 23 1/3 innings for the Crew, with a 6.17 ERA, 5.20 FIP, and 21 strikeouts. As mentioned above, his last outing came against these Reds, as he went 3 2/3 innings before a rain delay forced an early exit. He allowed two runs on five hits and no walks, striking out five on 56 pitches. Both of May’s starts against the Reds have come this season, as he’s totaled 9 2/3 innings with three runs allowed and 13 strikeouts.
Abbott has had a rough fourth season in 2026, as he has a career-worst 4.43 ERA and 4.78 FIP over 29 starts, which matches his current career-high from a year ago. He went four innings against Milwaukee last weekend, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits (one homer) and no walks, striking out five in Cincinnati’s eventual 5-3 win. Abbott is 3-4 with a 3.62 ERA and 52 strikeouts over 54 2/3 innings across 10 career starts against Milwaukee.
Saturday, September 12 @ 6:10 p.m.: TBD vs. RHP Brady Singer (6-13, 5.03 ERA, 5.16 FIP)
The Brewers haven’t announced a starter for either Saturday or Sunday, but these spots would fall to Shane Drohan and Kyle Harrison unless the rotation changes. Based on recent comments by Pat Murphy, it seems possible that Harrison will have a very short leash with a long reliever behind him. I’d bet that we will see both Drohan and Harrison in some shape or form on Saturday and/or Sunday. With that in mind, here’s a quick rundown on each.
Drohan is 7-5 with a 4.09 ERA, 3.61 FIP, and 115 strikeouts over 114 1/3 innings in his rookie season. He got hit hard by the Reds last weekend, allowing six runs on five hits (two homers) and two walks while striking out five over four frames, but his offense bailed him out to eventually win 10-7. Drohan has made three starts against the Reds this season, with worse results in each successive outing. Overall, he’s totaled 14 innings with eight runs allowed (5.14 ERA) and 17 strikeouts.
Harrison is 10-4 with a 3.66 ERA, 4.03 FIP, and 134 strikeouts over 110 2/3 innings this season, though he’s been roughed up by the Cubs and Reds in his last two outings, giving up 15 runs (13 earned) over just 7 1/3 innings, allowing 19 hits (six homers) and six walks to seven strikeouts. In four career starts against Cincinnati, Harrison is 0-1 with a 6.27 ERA and 24 strikeouts over 18 2/3 innings.
Singer hasn’t had a great season, but he remains in the rotation despite his 6-13 record, 5.03 ERA, and 5.16 FIP over 28 starts. He picked up the win against Milwaukee last weekend, though it wasn’t pretty — he went five innings, allowing six runs on four hits (one homer) and six walks, striking out three in Cincinnati’s eventual 12-8 victory. Singer is 3-2 with a 4.70 ERA and 30 strikeouts over 30 2/3 innings in six career starts against Milwaukee.
Sunday, September 13 @ 1:10 p.m.: TBD vs. RHP Chase Burns (15-3, 2.73 ERA, 3.09 FIP)
See above for rundown on Milwaukee’s potential starters for Sunday.
Burns, 23, is a former No. 2 overall pick and the lone probable starter to not have pitched in last weekend’s series. He’s turned in a great sophomore season, with a 15-3 record, 2.73 ERA, 3.09 FIP, and 176 strikeouts over 148 1/3 innings, though he’s on a very strict innings limit as we near the end of the season. He worked three scoreless innings on just 44 pitches against the Dodgers his last time out, allowing no hits and a walk while striking out five, though the Reds would ultimately lose 6-3. Burns has a 2.35 ERA and eight strikeouts over 7 2/3 innings against Milwaukee for his career, including six innings of two-run ball in a victory back in early July.
How to Watch & Listen
Friday, September 11: Exclusively televised on Apple TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Saturday, September 12: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Sunday, September 13: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Prediction
The Brewers are rolling, and there’s a solid chance they can lock up a postseason spot this weekend, while the Reds have struggled after taking two of three over Milwaukee last weekend. Give me the Crew to win two of three.
Sep 10, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees second baseman Anthony Volpe (11) celebrates in the dugout on a grand slam in the seventh inning against the Colorado Rockies at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Coming into this game, a lot of eyes were on one particular player. Earlier today, the Yankees officially placed Jazz Chisholm Jr. on the 10-day injured list with a thumb sprain. In his place, they recalled Anthony Volpe, who has been playing second a lot since he was sent back down to the minors in place of George Lombard Jr.
In the weeks since then, Volpe has hit pretty well, but it was Triple-A, and Yankees’ fans had seen a lot of him putting up .600 OPSes over the years. However with Chisholm’s injury, Volpe was the call to get some reps at second base. At least through one game, there’s reason to have hope that whatever he was working on in the minors has helped.
In his big league return, Volpe went 3-for-4 with five RBI, including a seventh inning grand slam that basically put the game away for the Yankees. Obviously, drawing any hard conclusions about one game against a 100-loss team is premature, but it was still good to see. Besides Volpe, the Yankees got a couple solid contributions on offense as they swept the Rockies with a 10-3 win.
After a good top of the first from Max Fried, the Yankees’ offense struck early. Ben Rice led off the game for New York with a single, eventually moving to third thanks to a wild pitch and a ground out. With two outs, Luis García Jr. was the Yankees’ last hope for the inning, and he delivered. His deep shot to center field hit off the very top of the wall for a two-run homer, the 30th of his very nice season.
The Rockies did answer right back, with a two-out homer of their own. After Fried got the first two Colorado hitters, Kyle Karros took an offering out to left field for a solo shot.
However, the Yankees proceeded to get that run back and more in the second. Ryan McMahon and Austin Wells started the inning with a single and a walk respectively, bringing Volpe to the plate. After working an eight-pitch at-bat, Volpe punched through a single to score McMahon and move Wells to third. A couple batters later, Wells tagged up and scored on a Cody Bellinger fly out.
The home run from Karros ended up being the only run that Fried allowed, but he didn’t have the most efficient day. After a seven-pitch at-bat that ended in a strikeout in the fourth, Fried was already sitting at 80 pitches, only 48 of which were strikes. With Fried still only a couple starts back from an injured list stint, the Yankees went to the bullpen. In his 3.1 innings, Fried allowed one run on one hit and two walks, striking out seven. Those numbers are fine other than the length, he just struggled putting batters away at times.
Following Fried, the bullpen held things down for a while, but the Rockies eventually threatened again. After getting the first two out of the seventh, Ryan Yarbrough issued a walk to Ezequiel Tovar, leading to Aaron Boone going to Brent Headrick. On the very first pitch Headrick threw, Jake McCarthy hit one to right center that nether Spencer Jones or Jasson Domínguez could track down, with it landing in between them. Tovar scored with McCarthy racing all the way to third with a triple. The tying run was suddenly at the plate, but Headrick did get out of the inning after that.
However much like the previous time Colorado scored, the Yankees’ offense answered and extended the lead. Bellinger and Domínguez started the inning with a double and walk respectively, before both moving up with stolen bases. Jones then came through with an RBI single, scoring both runners, and moving to second on the throw. A couple batters after that, McMahon and Wells drew walks to bring the order back around to Volpe. Once again, he came up with the big hit, getting a grand slam to just clear the porch in right. After the years of hubbub around Volpe and his play, he did get a deserved curtain call in this game.
In the top of the eighth, with Luis Gil on the mound, the Rockies picked up one run thanks in part to a Domínguez misplay in right field. Gil stayed on for the ninth and managed to load the bases with nobody out, causing Boone to get David Bednar up in the bullpen. Gil got the next three outs without allowing a run, preventing any further madness.
Having swept the set with Colorado, the Yankees will now welcome the Mets to the Bronx. Tomorrow’s 9/11 anniversary game is set to begin at 7:05 p.m. ET. Carlos Rodón and Nolan McLean are expected to be the starting pitchers.
In the final game of their three-game home series against the Colorado Rockies (55-91), the Yankees (84-62) completed the sweep with a 10-3 victory.
Here are the takeaways...
-- Luis Garcia Jr. opened the scoring for the Yankees with a two-run home run in the first inning off of right-handed Rockies starter Ryan Feltner, his second straight game with a round-tripper. Rockies third baseman Kyle Karros responded in the bottom half of the frame with a solo homer, taking advantage of the righty-lefty matchup against New York southpaw Max Fried.
-- In the second inning, Anthony Volpe made a triumphant return to Yankee Stadium, stroking an RBI single into left field in his first at-bat since he was promoted to play second base in place of the injured Jazz Chisholm Jr. Volpe's at-bat lasted nine pitches, and he stole third base later in the inning. Cody Bellinger brought home another run with a sacrifice fly, pushing the lead to 4-1.
-- Ryan McMahon made an errant throw with two outs in the bottom of the third, which put runners on the corners for Colorado catcher Hunter Goodman. Fried escaped the jam by getting the slugger to softly ground out.
-- Fried had a strange outing. He only allowed one earned run on one hit (the aforementioned Karros solo shot), but he also only managed to complete 3.1 innings across 80 pitches. The lefty struck out seven and walked two. Manager Aaron Boone was clearly keeping Fried on a pitch count given his recent return from injury, and pulled him for right-handed reliever Michael Fulmer. Fulmer retired the next two Rockies batters he faced with a strikeout and a groundout.
-- Fulmer was relieved by John Schreiber in the fifth inning, who allowed a two-out single but still worked a scoreless inning. In the bottom of the frame, Rockies right fielder Jordan Beck robbed Bellinger of a potential home run with a leaping effort to keep the ball from going over the wall, but Beck couldn't keep the ball in his glove, holding Bellinger to a double. Feltner was able to strand him at second base and keep the score at 4-1.
-- Despite allowing a two-out double to Cole Carrigg, Ryan Yarbrough protected the Yankees lead in the sixth without allowing a run. He nearly replicated the feat the following inning, but after issuing a two-out walk to Rockies shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, he was swapped out for fellow lefty Brent Headrick. Headrick surrendered an RBI triple to the first batter he faced, Jake McCarthy, and walked Connor Norby to put the potential tying run on base. Thankfully, he got Goodman to harmlessly pop out to end the threat with the score now 4-2 in favor of New York.
-- With men on second and third with one out in the seventh, Spencer Jones roped a single to center field, which scored both baserunners. Later on in the inning, the bases were juiced with two outs for Volpe. He fought off a sinker the opposite way, muscling it into the right-field seats for a grand slam that put the game out of reach at 10-2.
-- Luis Gil was given the ball to handle the final six outs in his new bullpen role. He allowed a run in the eighth and allowed three straight singles in the ninth before recording an out. Remarkably, Gil retired the next three batters in order, with two flyouts not deep enough to score Tovar from third and a strikeout, to put the finishing touches on the 10-3 win.
Game MVP: Anthony Volpe
With Aaron Judge out of the lineup tonight as the Yankees continue to be cautious with his health, it was the returning infielder who did the most at the dish to pick up the slack. Volpe played second base and recorded three hits on the night, tallying a career-high five RBI. The crowd was fully on his side all night, most vocally when Volpe took his curtain call following his grand slam. He looks primed to make the most of what could be his last chance to nail down an everyday role in the Yankees lineup.
On Friday, Sep. 11, the 25th anniversary of the horrific terrorist attacks, the Yankees will play host to the Mets in the opener of their three-game series. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.
Carlos Rodón (3.09 ERA, 1.17 WHIP in 64.0 IP) is set to take the mound for the Yankees.
The Mets will send out NL ROY candidate Nolan McLean (3.06 ERA, 1.14 WHIP in 161.2 IP).
Jazz Chisholm Jr. may want to familiarize himself with Wally Pipp.
His injury has opened the door for Anthony Volpe at second base. If Thursday night was an indication, the back-from-the-minors Volpe doesn’t plan on relinquishing the job.
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In his first game back in The Bronx, Volpe put on an offensive show: three hits, including a grand slam to the opposite field, as the Yankees completed a three-game sweep of the Rockies with a 10-3 victory to move within three games of the AL East-leading Rays.
After Volpe’s seventh-inning slam, the crowd of 40,706 chanted “Volpe, Volpe, Volpe” until he came out for a curtain call.
“A little bit of a blackout,” said Volpe, whose five RBIs are a career high. “I didn’t know what was happening.”
Anthony Volpe rounds the bases after hitting a grand slam home run during the seventh inning of the Yankees’ 10-3 blowout win over the Rockies on Sept. 10, 2026 at the Stadium. Robert Sabo for NY Post
Later, he added: “That’s why it’s a special place, for sure. I wouldn’t trade anything for it.”
Suddenly, everyone’s favorite whipping boy is a fan favorite.
Chisholm was placed on the 10-day injured list earlier in the day after suffering a sprained right thumb in Tuesday’s win over Colorado. He was wearing a protective brace on it, and will be shut down for at least a week.
Before the game, manager Aaron Boone declined to say if Volpe would be the everyday second baseman, pointing out that he could use José Caballero there as well in Chisholm’s absence. But, obviously, Volpe is going to stay in the lineup if he hits like this.
“You root for games like that, especially with how hard he’s been working and everything he’s been doing down in Triple A,” starting pitcher Max Fried said.
Volpe was demoted to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Aug. 4, replaced by top prospect George Lombard Jr. as the team’s starting shortstop. He produced in the minors.
Anthony Volpe celebrates with teammates in the dugout after belting a grand slam during the seventh inning of the Yankees’ blowout win over Rockies. Charles Wenzelberg / New York PostAnthony Volpe waves to Yankees fans after the final out of the ninth inning. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Volpe was named the International League Player of the Week from Sept. 1-6 after going 11-for-21 (.524) with three homers, eight runs scored and five stolen bases. Over his past 17 games at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Volpe was batting .333 with eight home runs and a 1.218 OPS. Teammate Jasson Domínguez recently joked that he “became Barry Bonds, all the time, every day.”
“I don’t know if physically as much as just mentally [there was a change], having the mindset I wanted to get a lot out of it,” Volpe said before the game. “You have a game every night, try out different stuff. Seeing what works and you feel like it’s gonna translate in case an opportunity like this comes. So there was just a lot of trial and error.”
Boone noted that it can sometimes be difficult for a player to handle a demotion the right way, especially if that player starts well following being sent down like Volpe did, but isn’t immediately recalled. Volpe felt he had no other choice being surrounded by positive people who work hard, such as teammate Oswaldo Cabrera and manager Shelley Duncan.
“I wasn’t alone when I went there,” he said. “Cabrera, I feel like I got so close to him. To see his positivity and how he just enjoys playing and having fun, if you don’t do that when you’re down there, you’ll stick out like a sore thumb.”
Anthony Volpe hugs shortstop George Lombard Jr. after the final out of the ninth inning in the Yankees’ win over the Rockies. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
During pregame introductions, Volpe received cheers. In his first at-bat, he singled in a run. He added another hit in the sixth and then came up with the bases loaded an inning later. He smashed a 1-1 Jimmy Herget sinker over the wall in right field at 104 mph to put the game away. The curtain call followed.
“I wanted to be back up here, I wanted to be helping and contributing, but when you’re down there, there’s obviously no guarantees,” he said. “You work really hard for yourself and for the player that you feel like can help the organization.
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“I never thought I was going to be back here in this moment. But I wanted to be ready and prepared in case something happens.”
MR. THROWBACK -- "Eric Roth Costs a Fortune, Bro" Episode 106 -- Pictured: (l-r) Stephen Curry as himself, Tien Tran as Lucy -- (Photo by: David Moir/Peacock via Getty Images)
Fresh off of bringing the New York Knicks their first title in more than 50 years, Jalen Brunson has been tapped to host the season premiere of “Saturday Night Live.” It may have to wait until he retires, but Steph Curry should be the next hooper to take the stage at 30 Rock.
The city that never sleeps has been in the midst of a months-long love-fest with the Knicks since they took down the San Antonio Spurs in June. Over two million people attended the team’s victory parade, Karl-Anthony Towns had a star-studded guest list to his wedding, including celebrity super-fans Ben Stiller and Timothee Chalamet, and best of all, owner James Dolan didn’t release a single piece of music.
Brunson will be joined by musical guest Katseye, which is a “global girl group” and not a Third Eye Blind cover band fronted by Karl-Anthony Towns. Don’t be surprised if Brunson’s Villanova buddies Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges cameo in a sketch, probably about Domingo, but Forever Warrior Donte DiVincenzo will probably be too busy rehabbing his Achilles tear to make an appearance.
The reigning Finals MVP will be the fifth NBA player to host the show, following in the footsteps of LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Bill Russell (he was retired), and Charles Barkley, who has hosted four times, one short of legendary Five-Timers’ Club status. He’s following in the footsteps of New York Knicks forward and future U.S. Senator Bill Bradley, who appeared on the show’s second episode ever to present a trophy to host Paul Simon, after a short film featuring Simon defeating Hall of Famer Connie Hawkins in a game of one-on-one.
September 26 2026: Jalen Brunson 1st Knick host SNL
While Brunson is quite popular in NYC, he hasn’t displayed the same kind of comedic chops as Curry, who has hosted the ESPY’s and appeared in his own mockumentary series, “Mr. Throwback.”
Curry has starred in New York for years, going 12-1 at Madison Square Garden. He scored 54 points in a 2013 game and broke the all-time three-point record during a game in 2021. Even as a visiting player, Curry has received a lot of love from the fans of New York, dating back to when his Davidson Wildcats upset West Virginia in the Garden during his final year of college.
More than that, Curry has shown he’s comfortable on camera, and unlike Russell or James, he’s much easier to fit into a camera shot with normal-sized SNL cast members, standing 6-foot-3. He’s got a lot of Li Ning products to promote. Like SNL itself, Curry has had an up-and-down working relationship with Muppets.
But perhaps the biggest motivating factor for Curry to host Saturday Night Live is the chance to best LeBron again. James was only 22 when he hosted the show, but let’s just say he didn’t set a high bar with his acting.
If they’ve both got four rings, the obvious tiebreaker is SNL hosting performance to determine who the greatest of his generation truly is. And when Steph Curry delivers a tour de force performance on “Snack Homiez,” the real G.O.A.T. will be obvious.
The Justice Department has opened a criminal investigation into the Clippers' efforts to secure "no-show" endorsement deals for Kawhi Leonard, the New York Times reports. This investigation is being run out of the U.S. Attorney's Office in Brooklyn, the office that has traditionally looked into issues with professional sports leagues.
The investigation is in its earliest stages, and it's unclear what, if any, federal charges could come out of it, according to the report.
The Justice Department investigation comes in addition to the Securities and Exchange Commission looking into Daktronics' role in the scandal, as it had an endorsement deal with Leonard despite never having had a celebrity endorser before and there being no evidence Leonard did anything for the company. Daktronics is publicly traded, and the SEC is tasked with protecting shareholders.
The NBA oversaw a year-long investigation of its own into the Clippers working to circumvent the salary cap with Leonard and last month came down with the harshest penalties ever imposed on a team:
• The Clippers surrender five first-round draft picks (2029, 2030, 2031, 2032, and 2033).
• The Clippers are fined $30 million.
• Clippers owner Steve Ballmer is suspended from anything to do with the team or the league for one year.
• Clippers President of Business Operations Gillian Zucker is suspended for one year, while President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank is suspended for six months.
• Kawhi Leonard must pay a $700,000 fine, and his already-fired business manager, Dennis Robertson (better known as "Uncle Dennis"), is banned from conducting NBA business for five years.'
Ballmer and the Clippers have steadfastly denied any wrongdoing and released this statement after the NBA released its findings and punishments.
"We vehemently reject the NBA's findings, which are the result of a heavily biased investigation seeking to justify a predetermined narrative rather than facts and evidence. What the league told us privately differs from what it announced today publicly, and they have not held themselves close to the standard Commissioner [Adam] Silver set at the start of this investigation to ensure its fairness and accuracy."
The Clippers attorney also sent a letter to the league, but the franchise's only recourse now is the courts, and legal experts have suggested that is a serious uphill fight for Ballmer and the Clippers.
Now, that might not even be the worst of their legal troubles.
The Pittsburgh Pirates have lost one of their best players as they cling to hope of making a late charge to reach the MLB postseason.
The team announced Thursday that All-Star starter Braxton Ashcraft is headed to the 15-day injured list with right arm discomfort, retroactive to Sept. 7. Manager Don Kelly told reporters that his season is finished ahead of the series finale against the White Sox in Chicago, though he added that there's no indication of any structural issues.
Ashcraft is 14-6 with a 3.65 ERA and 173 strikeouts this season. He was selected to his first All-Star game in July alongside reigning Cy Young winner Paul Skenes. He's been particularly solid since Aug. 1, allowing no more than three runs in any of his seven starts and allowing no more than one in four of those outings.
His performance has been a key building block of a late-season surge that's lifted the Pirates back to the .500 mark at 73-73 and on the fringes of wild card contention. The club has not had a winning season since 2018 and hasn't been to the playoffs since 2015 but has won seven of its past eight series to stay in the mix following a midseason swoon.
The Pirates enter action Thursday five games back of the San Diego Padres for the final wild card spot. Fangraphs pegs their odds of making up that deficit to reach the postseason at 1.3%.
Pitcher Antwone Kelly was promoted to the active roster in the corresponding roster move. He's allowed five runs in 8.1 innings of big-league action in 2026. He has a 4.93 ERA across 23 appearances - 17 of them starts - with Class AAA Indianapolis in the minors this season.
Stephen Curry intended to turn his post-workout exit in Beijing into an autograph stop. The crowd turned it into an evacuation.
Footage from Curry’s China tour shows the Warriors star emerging from a building in a gray sleeveless shirt, a white towel around his neck and a Curry-branded cap after completing a workout.
Curry initially appeared willing to linger. He briefly stopped as a fan handed him a red jersey to sign, but the opportunity disappeared as dozens of people closed around him with phones, Warriors flags and memorabilia raised overhead.
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry gestures after scoring a three-point shot during the first half of an NBA play-in tournament game against the Phoenix Suns at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Ariz., Friday, April 17, 2026. San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images
Security and staff attempted to form a moving barrier, guiding Curry through the crowd toward a group of waiting black vehicles. With fans continuing to press closer, the informal autograph session was abandoned and Curry left the area.
Steph Curry was mobbed by fans after a Beijing workout, ending his autograph attempt as new footage appeared to ease concerns about a possible injury.
The encounter provided an emphatic reminder of Curry’s popularity in China, where he is beginning a new commercial chapter after ending his lengthy relationship with Under Armour.
He signed a 10-year agreement with Li-Ning in June reportedly worth $400 million, pairing the Chinese sportswear company with Curry Brand across basketball, lifestyle and golf products.
It also offered Warriors fans a potentially encouraging visual.
An earlier 21-second video of Curry stepping out of a vehicle in Beijing generated concern online because the 38-year-old appeared to walk with a noticeable hitch. Some viewers interpreted it as a possible injury, although neither Curry’s representatives nor the Warriors announced that he was dealing with a new issue.
Stephen Curry attends the 7th Annual Workday Charity Classic hosted by Stephen and Ayesha Curry’s Eat. Learn. Play. and Workday on Monday, August 31, 2026, at Palo Alto Hills Golf & Country Club in Palo Alto, California. Getty Images for Eat. Learn. Play.
In the footage captured after his workout, Curry does not appear to favor either leg or display the same noticeable limp while walking through the crowd. Completing the workout also offers more useful context than the brief clip that triggered the speculation.
The latest video is not a medical report, and crowd-obstructed footage cannot establish Curry’s physical condition. The concern was understandable after knee trouble limited him last season, but there is currently no official indication of a setback.
This time, the fans’ enthusiasm ended a moment Curry appeared prepared to provide. The encouraging part for Golden State was that his exit seemingly became hurried because the crowd could not be controlled — not because Curry could not move comfortably.
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The probe comes just days after the NBA dropped a staggering punishment on the Clippers, fining the team $30 million, suspending owner Steve Ballmer for one year and stripping the franchise of five first-round draft picks.
Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and Kawhi Leonard received different punishments for the Clippers’ circumventing the league’s salary cap. Getty Images
It wasn’t clear as of Thursday what possible crimes federal prosecutors are investigating, or which people are the target of the federal inquiry.
It also wasn’t clear whether criminal charges would come from the investigation.
Spokespeople for the Clippers and the NBA didn’t respond to messages from The California Post on Thursday asking about the investigation.
“The NBA’s collectively bargained system for determining player compensation is a fundamental component of the basketball competition that the league oversees for the benefit of the teams and players and ultimately the fans,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement after the Clippers’ punishments were announced. “I am deeply disappointed by the flagrant violations of our rules and by the Clippers’ institutional and leadership failures that led to this misconduct. The severity of the penalties reflects the seriousness of the violations.”
The Clippers aren’t taking the league’s punishment lying down.
The team said in a statement last week that it intends to “vigorously challenge” the NBA’s findings and penalties.
Kawhi Leonard in action against the Sacramento Kings at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, on Dec. 30, 2025. Getty Images
“We vehemently reject the NBA’s findings, which are the result of a heavily biased investigation seeking to justify a predetermined narrative rather than facts and evidence. What the league told us privately differs from what it announced today publicly, and they have not held themselves close to the standard Commissioner [Adam] Silver set at the start of this investigation to ensure it’s fairness and accuracy,” the statement read.
But now the stakes are considerably higher.
What began as a dispute over NBA rules has moved into the realm of a criminal investigation by federal prosecutors.
LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) dunks in the first half against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on Friday, March 28, 2025, in Brooklyn, NY. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
The league has already delivered a massive blow to the franchise; the federal probe threatens to turn the controversy into an even bigger crisis.
There isn’t an appeal or arbitration process available to the Clippers to challenge the NBA’s findings. In other words, if the Clippers want to fight against the league’s punishments, they’ll have to take it to court.
At the center of the allegations is Leonard, a two-time NBA champion, two-time Finals MVP and seven-time All-Star widely recognized as one of the greatest two-way players in basketball history.
Leonard was forced to pay the NBA $700,000 for restitution for improper benefits provided by the Clippers, while his uncle and former business manager, Dennis Robertson, has been banned by the NBA from all business dealings for five years.
Kawhi Leonard attends the match between Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan and Naomi Osaka of Japan during the quarterfinals of the National Bank Open Presented by Rogers on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, at Sobeys Stadium in Toronto, Ontario. Getty Images
In a statement he issued after the league’s punishments were announced, Leonard stated he accepted “full responsibility for lapses in judgment by people within my inner circle and regret the distraction this situation has caused the fans and my family.”
His statement continued: “I entered into my contract with the Clippers as well as the agreements in question in good faith, fully committed to fulfilling my obligations and with no knowledge of any intent on anyone’s part to circumvent the salary cap.”
Leonard also alluded to returning to Toronto as part of the trade between the Clippers and Raptors that was agreed upon in late June but was halted in light of the investigation.
The Department of Justice is the second government entity to investigate the Clippers-Leonard scandal.
Daktronics, along with Aspiration Partners, Boingo Wireless and Lockton Insurance, was one of the four companies with endorsement deals with Leonard that were at the center of the NBA’s investigation.
The closest they will get to October baseball is scheduled over the next three days in The Bronx, and the timing probably couldn’t be better for the Mets.
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Just like for a playoff series, the Mets have their rotation aligned with their top guns set to face the Yankees. They also have collective confidence after winning three straight series (including a sweep in Miami this week) to escape the National League East basement, a domain they had owned for most of the season.
That the Yankees are playing for something — with the American League East title still a possibility — adds to a weekend that will begin with the raw emotion of commemorating the 25th anniversary of 9/11.
“The energy, the vibes, how loud it should be, it should feel somewhat like October,” Francisco Lindor said. “It probably will get a little cooler too, which usually when it gets a little cooler, you kind of feel like you’re in October.”
Aaron Judge on the field before the Yankees’ win over the Rockies on Sept. 9, 2026 at the Stadium. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Mets won two of three games against the Yankees at Citi Field in May, but plenty has changed since then. Manager Carlos Mendoza was fired June 23 — Andy Green replaced him on an interim basis — and the Mets went into full sell mode at the trade deadline, retooling their farm system at the expense of veteran pitching. Yet, the Mets are 21-12 since the trade deadline.
Their highest upside starter remains in the fold. Nolan McLean will lead the trio of young starters (Zac Thornton and Christian Scott also are scheduled to pitch this weekend) into Yankee Stadium.
They will face a lineup that again includes Aaron Judge following his return from the injured list this week.
“He’s super dynamic, a great player,” McLean said. “It will be a fun test for me, seeing how my stuff stacks up against one of the best hitters in the world.”
Juan Soto, who was targeted by fans in his return to the Stadium last season after a one-year hitch with the club, was asked by The Post if he expects it will be different for him this time.
“I don’t think so,” he said. “I think it’s going to be the same. I am not expecting less than that from Yankees fans. They are really passionate.”
Francisco Lindor runs the bases after hitting a home run during the first inning of the Mets’ win over the Marlins on Sept. 8, 2026 in Miami. AP Photo/Marta Lavandier
Does Soto, who left the Yankees for a record $765 million contract with the Mets, feel as if he’s hated in The Bronx?
“Who knows?” Soto said. “But they know I gave my best to them. Some of them appreciate it, some of them don’t. You can’t control that.”
Lindor, who has played previously on 9/11 in a Subway Series, understands the emotion of the day.
“The vibes, it’s almost like everybody comes together before the game, it doesn’t matter whether it’s Yankees or Mets, and it feels really good,” Lindor said. “And then once the game starts, it becomes Yankees vs. Mets, which is really cool. I’m looking forward to it. It’s a special day for a lot of people, and hopefully we can put a smile on people’s faces with a great showing and remember the ones that fought for everybody. They are the ones that lost their lives that day. It’s a truly special day.”
McLean grew up watching Subway Series games but said he hasn’t given much thought to the environment he will be entering Friday.
“I try not to look too much at that stuff because when you get out there, it really doesn’t matter that much,” McLean said. “It’s just you and the batter you are facing every time, so I am not too worried about it. I am sure it will be a fun [event] to be a part of, especially on the day that it is happening — not just like a Yankees-Mets thing, but a city thing as well.”
The Detroit Red Wings are only days away from starting Training Camp in preparation for the upcoming 2026-27 NHL campaign amidst a feeling of uncertainty.
Not only have the Red Wings not found Steve Yzerman's successor as general manager, but RFA defenseman Simon Edvinsson has yet to be signed to a new deal, while captain Dylan Larkin has reportedly not rescinded his trade request.
That hasn't stopped Red Wings forward Alex DeBrincat from expressing optimism about the upcoming campaign despite the departure of his good friend and longtime teammate Patrick Kane.
"I think we have a majority of our team coming back," DeBrincat said at the NHL/NHLPA North American Player Media Tour. "Obviously Kaner is gone, but we got a couple of additions that will really help us out. Going into the year, we're looking essentially the same as last year."
The Red Wings signed Viktor Arvidsson, who scored 25 goals with the Boston Bruins last season, on the opening day of free agency. They also acquired hard-nosed forward Keegan Kolesar and signed backup goaltender Daniil Tarasov.
Last season, Detroit lost what was a comfortable points cushion entering the month of March for the third consecutive year; they're now mired in the NHL's longest active postseason drought.
For DeBrincat, the new campaign represents a chance to correct the mistakes that have plagued them during critical times in previous seaosns.
"I think it's a fresh start, we can get our mindset and get confident again and learn from our mistakes last year, I think that's the biggest thing," he said. "We made too many mistakes late in the season, and it ended up costing us. But the first 60-75 percent of the season was really good; we were right at the top, but we just fell off a cliff."
"Try and get back that confident side of the game and hopefully not go through that same lull."
Last season, DeBrincat became the first Red Wings player since Marian Hossa in 2008-09 to reach the 40-goal plateau, many of which were assisted by Kane.
However, Kane decided to return to the Chicago Blackhawks, who will pay him $8 million a season over the next two years. While it's a disappointing loss for the Red Wings, DeBrincat believes the future Hall of Famer still has lots left in the tank.
"I think he's got a lot more (left) than people give him credit for," he said. "I feel like everyone thinks that he was a great player, but I think he still is. He's still almost a point per game, the way he still controls the play and makes passes and slows it down. Obviously still a power-play guy."
"I think Chicago is lucky to have him," he continued. "Obviously, we wish he were still in Detroit, but I guess if he's going anywhere, it's probably good that he's going back there, and the fans will treat him well there."
The Red Wings start Training Camp on Sept. 17, followed by their first preseason contest against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday, Sept. 21.
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