While Nolan Mclean has been one of the Mets’ more reliable starters this season, consistently commanding his pitches has been a bugaboo for the young-right-hander, and Thursday’s outing against the Cleveland Guardians was another example.
McLean walked three in his 5.0 innings, and only 54 of his 94 pitches went for strikes. While he cruised through the middle innings, he walked two in the first inning, and that led to a pair of Guardians runs.
He then appeared to be tiring in the fifth inning, routinely missing to his arm side. McLean then allowed a three-run homer to Nathaniel Lowe, with a four-seam fastball that ended up middle-middle.
"He made the adjustment," interim manager Andy Green said. "Was in typical Nolan cruise control there for a while, spinning the baseball really well, mixing really well. And then in that fifth inning, I know he doesn’t want to fall behind 3-0. Falling behind 3-0 to good hitters puts you in some tough spots."
"Unfortunately for me I wasn’t really able to locate the fastball that well today," McLean said of his outing. "I always talk about offspeeds for strikes, and that was pretty much the only thing that I had going for me today. From the get-go I noticed that they were trying to jump me early, but I just didn’t do a great job staying in the zone."
McLean allowed five earned runs on eight hits, striking out eight and walking three. His season ERA rose slightly to 3.51. Despite his iffy command, particularly in those two innings, McLean left with the lead, and the Mets went on to a 13-6 win to complete a series sweep.
Next up, the Mets continue their nine-game road trip with three games in Pittsburgh, beginning on Friday, and the Mets will obviously look to keep the momentum in their favor.
"We’ve got some good energy in the clubhouse right now," McLean said. "We got to see Jefry [Yan] throw the other day, and it’s pretty special, and I think it’s cool to watch guys with that much passion play the game of baseball. It kind of gets you back to your routes a little bit of just remembering why you play. It’s just to have fun, and it’s a great blessing to be 25 years old for me and playing the game that I played when I was six or seven years old, so it’s awesome."
"Winning is a good start," McLean added. "Anytime you’re winning baseball games, the vibes are always a little bit higher."
Only one prospect drafted by the Vancouver Canucks in 2021 currently remains with the organization — goaltender Aku Koskenvuo. Forwards Danila Klimovich, Connor Lockhart, and Lucas Forsell, as well as defencemen Jonathan Myrenberg and Hugo Gabrielson have all parted ways with the team since their draft year.
Also part of the organization now, all added within the past year or so, are trade acquisitions Ilya Safonov and Jack Thompson, as well as free-agent signings Anrī Ranvinskis and Matt Stienburg. Here’s how the 2025–26 season went for Koskenvuo, Safonov, Thompson, Ravinskis, and Stienburg.
Aku Koskenvuo
2021 R5, 137 OVR
Abbotsford Canucks, AHL and Kalamazoo Wings, ECHL
The Canucks’ lone 2021 draftee after the departure of Klimovich in free-agency, Koskenvuo spent the 2025–26 season familiarizing himself with pro hockey after two seasons with Harvard University in the NCAA.
Koskenvuo began his first pro season in the ECHL with Kalamazoo, recording a collective total of 59 saves in his first two starts for the K-Wings. The landslide of injuries from both Vancouver and Abbotsford resulted in the goaltender quickly being called-up to the AHL. In his first AHL start, Koskenvuo managed to make 33 saves to backstop Abbotsford to their first win in 11 games. He stayed with Abbotsford for nearly a month before being re-assigned to the ECHL in mid-December.
After some time in the ECHL in December, Koskenvuo was brought back up to Abbotsford in January, in what would be his last stretch of AHL play for the remainder of the year. He played in his final game for Abbotsford on January 30, finishing the year with a 3.20 GAA and .895 SV%. The goaltender was also called-up to the NHL during the Olympic break, serving as a practice netminder with Kevin Lankinen at the Olympics and Thatcher Demko injured.
Koskenvuo will likely see more playing time in Abbotsford during the 2026–27 season, though this will be dependent on what Vancouver chooses to do with goaltender Nikita Tolopilo.
Acquired via trade during the 2025 off-season, Safonov signed his entry-level contract with the Canucks back at the start of June. The forward was previously picked in the sixth round of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft by Chicago, though he never ended up skating for the club that selected him.
Safonov has played for Ak Bars Kazan in the KHL since the 2019–20 season, with the 2025–26 season expected to be his last depending on how his journey to the NHL goes. The forward, whose versatility allows him to play at both center and wing, scored 16 goals and 17 assists in 68 games in the KHL this year. While his team ultimately came short of winning the KHL championship, Safonov did put up two goals and seven assists in 20 playoff games.
Since signing with Vancouver, Safonov has made it clear that his goal in 2026–27 is to make the NHL.
“I am not going there with a guaranteed place in the lineup, and I am not arriving as a star... I will have to prove that I belong, and I am ready for that. Based on the conversations we have had, I understand that I will have an opportunity,” he said in a translated interview with R.org.
Thompson’s time with the Canucks only lasted a total of 14 AHL games in 2025–26, but the defenceman made a strong enough impression to warrant a one-year contract extension signed in mid-June. He went from putting up 12 points in 42 games with the San Jose Barracuda to surpassing that mark in his 14 games with Abbotsford.
The former third-round selection by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020 started the season off with the Barracuda, scoring his first goal of the year on November 1 against the Ontario Reign. He played in his final game for San Jose on March 4, before lacing up for the AHL Canucks two days later.
Thompson kicked his Abbotsford campaign off with a notable two goals and three assists in his first two games with the AHL Canucks, recording four multi-point games between then and the end of the season. By the end of the season, the defenceman had already carved out a spot on Abbotsford’s top-pairing.
Thompson will undoubtedly play a big role with Abbotsford come the 2026–27 season, especially now that he has inked an extension with the team.
Anrī Ravinskis
Signed to two-year, $910k AAV contract in 2025
Abbotsford Canucks, AHL
A free-agent signing out of Finland during the 2025 off-season, Ravinskis’ 2025–26 season saw him make both his North American pro hockey and AHL debut. He spent the prior two seasons in Finnish leagues Mestis and Liiga, also skating with the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada in the QMJHL in 2021–22 and 2022–23.
Ravinskis made his AHL debut on October 17 when Abbotsford took on the Laval Rocket. He registered his first AHL point in a 3–2 shootout loss to the Colorado Eagles on November 8, assisting on the game’s opening goal scored by Josh Bloom. The forward scored his first AHL goal on January 2 against the Manitoba Moose, finishing his first season with two goals and two assists in 32 games played.
During 2025–26, Ravinskis also ended up taking part in the first Winter Olympics of his career, as he was named an injury replacement for Team Latvia. While his role with Latvia was limited, the forward did skate in four games with his team.
Matthew Stienburg
Signed to one-year, $850k AAV contract in 2026
Colorado Eagles, AHL
Stienburg is the most recent prospect to join the Canucks, as he signed with the organization in free-agency back on July 2. The forward, who turns 26 in October, was drafted in the third round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft by the Colorado Avalanche but has only played in a total of eight NHL games.
Stienburg’s hockey career has been pelted by injuries, resulting in his limited playing time on a per-season basis. The forward has not played in more than 20 NHL and AHL regular and post-season games put together through the past two years, with the 2025–26 season seeing him play in only eight with the Eagles. In the eight games that he did skate in during the 2025–26 season, Stienburg scored two goals and one assist.
Stienburg is expected to play for Abbotsford during the 2026–27 season, likely joining fellow free-agent forward signings Akil Thomas and Trey Fix-Wolansky.
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BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - AUGUST 04: Caleb Durbin #5 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates with Ceddanne Rafaela #3 and Willson Contreras #40 after hitting a grand slam home run against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning at Fenway Park on August 04, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images) | Getty Images
TV: NESN First Pitch: 7:10 p.m. ET Location: Fenway Park
The Red Sox could secure their third straight series sweep with a victory over the Chicago White Sox on Thursday at Fenway Park.
Boston’s recent stretch of success is almost difficult to put into words, though you can put it rather simply by looking at their 25-4 record since July 1.
Ranger Suarez will toe the rubber for the third time since being placed on the injured list, with his last two outings lasting just 4.2 innings and 4.0 innings, respectively, against the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays. It’s expected that he’ll be given a longer leash moving forward with innings becoming an issue for Payton Tolle and Jake Bennett.
Willson Contreras will get the day off after being removed from Wednesday’s game with an illness, with Nick Sogard sliding over to first base and being replaced at second base by Anthony Seigler. Red Sox manager Chad Tracy won’t make any other personnel changes.
Luis Castillo will make his first start since being acquired from the Seattle Mariners on Monday, carrying a 5.06 ERA over from his time in the Pacific Northwest.
Brenton Doyle, Joey Bart, Luisangel Acuña, and Randall Grichuk will enter the lineup for the Southsiders. Sam Antonacci, Andrew Benintendi, Tristan Peters, and Drew Romo will depart.
CHICAGO, IL - June 17: Luke Little of the Chicago Cubs pitches in a game against the San Francisco Giants at Wrigley Field on June 17, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Matt Dirksen/Chicago Cubs/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Royals continue to search for pitching, claiming young left-hander Luke Little off waivers from the Cubs today. Little has appeared in 40 games over parts of the last four seasons with the Cubs with a 2.97 ERA, showing great velocity, but poor control.
Little was a fourth round pick in the 2020 draft out of San Jacinto College after going viral for some videos that exhibited some elite velocity. He stands at 6’8” and has a fastball that averages 96 mph. He made his MLB debut in 2023 with the Cubs, strikihng out 12 of the 30 batters he faced, and made 30 appearances for them in 2024. He had a 3.46 ERA that year with 28 strikeout and 18 walks in 26 innings.
Little appeared in just one game with the Cubs this year, and has struggled with his control in the minors. He has 34 walks in 39.1 innings to go with 44 strikeout and a 5.03 ERA across Double-A and Triple-A. The Cubs designated him for assignment this week after the trade deadline and the 26-year old is in his final year of options.
To make room for Little on the 40-man roster, the Royals transferred Luinder Avila to the 60-day Injured List. Avila is out for the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery yesterday.
CLEVELAND — All it took was a trade deadline overhaul to get the Mets on track.
Whether it was balls exploding beyond the fence or unproven relievers emerging, the Mets had their act together for three straight days, which is saying a lot for a team that hadn’t swept a series since May.
This three-game sweep was completed Thursday with a 13-6 victory over the Guardians. The sweep was only the third by the Mets this season.
For a third straight day, the Mets hit three homers. Marcus Semien, Luis Torrens and Francisco Lindor compiled the latest barrage to lead an 18-hit attack. The Mets averaged 8.3 runs in the three games.
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It followed Monday’s deadline purge, in which Huascar Brazobán, Brooks Raley, Luke Weaver, Clay Holmes and Tyrone Taylor departed in trades. Freddy Peralta and A.J. Minter were traded in the days leading up to the deadline.
“It’s a new group of guys, so getting to know everyone is a great step,” Carson Benge said. “We have already jelled together quite nice, and losing all those guys hurts, but there is plenty more depth for this organization.”
The new arrivals have included Jefry Yan, a fireballing lefty reliever with colorful strikeout celebrations.
“We have got some good energy in the clubhouse right now,” Nolan McLean said. “We got to see Jefry throw the other day, and it’s pretty special. I think it’s just cool to watch guys with that much passion play the game of baseball, and it kind of gets you back to your roots a little bit of just remember why you play and it’s just to have fun.
“It’s a great blessing to be 25 years old and for me and playing a game that I played when I was 6 or 7 years old, so it’s awesome.”
New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor celebrates with catcher Luis Torrens (13) and first baseman Jared Young (29) after hitting a three-run home run during the seventh inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Interim manager Andy Green noted the Mets slumped offensively in losing three of four games to the Marlins before the trade deadline.
“We didn’t swing the bats well, and so when you come in here guys are swinging the bats and feed off each other and then you add in those debuts and guys just touching their dreams for the first time,” Green said. “Everybody wants to be a part of that, no matter how the season has gone.”
It was a seesaw outing for McLean, who sandwiched three strong innings around two stinkers. Overall, the right-hander surrendered five earned runs on eight hits with three walks and eight strikeouts over five innings.
McLean slogged through the first inning, allowing two walks and three hits in placing the Mets in a 2-0 hole. Angel Martinez stroked a two-run single with the bases loaded, but McLean escaped further damage by retiring Patrick Bailey for the final out after surrendering two additional singles in the inning.
Semien and Torrens homered in the second to give the Mets a 3-2 lead. Torrens’ blast, a two-run shot, was his second in three days.
Benge just missed hitting a homer in a third straight game and settled for an RBI triple in the third that increased the Mets lead to 4-2. Semien hit a sacrifice fly in the inning to boost the lead to 5-2.
New York Mets’ Francisco Lindor watches his three-run home run off Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Craig Yoho as catcher Patrick Bailey looks down during the seventh inning of a baseball game on Thursday, August 6, 2026. AP Photo/Phil Long
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Jared Young delivered an RBI single in the fifth that gave the Mets a 6-2 lead.
McLean retired 11 straight batters into the fifth, but Nathaniel Lowe crushed a three-run homer to bring the Guardians to within 6-5.
Lindor’s three-run blast in the seventh extended the Mets lead to 9-5. Lindor’s homer was his eighth since returning from the injured list June 24.
The Mets padded their lead with four runs in the eighth. Alvarez stroked an RBI double and Young and Torrens each walked with the bases loaded before Bo Bichette singled in the final run.
“That Lindor home run today was huge for us after they scored three in the fifth and got to Nolan a little bit,” Green said. “To answer back and get those three runs back, I think, ended the game for us. We still had some things to do, but that was huge for us.”
CLEVELAND, OHIO - AUGUST 06: Luis Torrens #13 celebrates with Francisco Lindor #12 of the New York Mets after both scored on a three-run homer by Lindor during the seventh inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on August 06, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Mets racked up 18 hits on their way to their third win and series sweep against the Guardians, 13-6. Nolan McLean was good for most of his outing, and when he needed to come out after the fifth inning, the bullpen smothered the Guardians’ hitters, allowing two hits and one run.
The first inning was deceptively quiet for the Mets. With two outs, Luis Robert, Jr. sneaked a ground ball into left field for a single, but Carson Benge struck out immediately after that. When McLean took the mound for the bottom of the inning he issued two walks back-to-back, and then allowed a line-drive single to Nathaniel Lowe to load the bases. After this, Angel Martínez managed an RBI single on a grounder to center field that scored Chase DeLauter and José Ramírez. After getting the second out, McLean gave up another single, this one on a fly ball smacked into left field by Petey Halpin. Fortunately, McLean got Patrick Bailey to fly out right after that, and the inning ended with the Guardians leading 2-0.
In the second inning, Marcus Semien responded by bouncing a home run off the top of the fence, slightly confusing the announcers. Next up, Eric Wagaman lined a single into center field, setting up Luis Torrens to drive a two-run home run into right field, stunning new Guardians pitcher Foster Griffin and giving the Mets the lead. McLean continued to struggle slightly with walks, allowing one to Travis Bazzana. Bazzana stole second base after Torrens’ throw to second was a bit too high, but he was stranded there when Wagaman dove to stop a ground ball from Ramírez and got it to McLean in time for the third out. The score remained Mets 3, Guardians 2 at the end of the inning.
Bo Bichette walked to lead off the third inning but was caught in a fielder’s choice out when Robert grounded to third softly. With Robert on first, Carson Benge smacked an RBI triple off the wall above Halpin’s head, scoring Robert. Francisco Alvarez walked as well, and Semien scored Benge on a sac fly into left field for the second out. Wagaman struck out for the third out, but after Nolan McLean retired the batters in order at the bottom of the inning, the score was Mets 5, Guardians 2.
With two outs in the fourth inning, Lindor drove a single into left field, and Bichette doubled on another line drive, sending Lindor to third base. However, Robert flied out to right field to end the half-inning and strand the pair in scoring position. McLean once again worked a 1-2-3 inning. Matt Festa replaced Foster Griffin in the top of the fifth inning and gave up another walk to Alvarez with one out. Semien then rolled a double down the left field line, and Alvarez slid into to third. Jared Young pinch-hit for Wagaman and threaded an RBI single through the infielders into left field, scoring Alvarez. Young then stole second base completely uncontested. However, the next two outs came back-to-back to strand the runners in scoring position again.
At the bottom of the fifth inning, the Guardians punched back. DeLauter lined a single into right field, and Ramírez followed up by socking a single into right field. Nathaniel Lowe then smacked a three-run home run to score both DeLauter and Ramírez and bring the Guardians within one run of the Mets, with only one out. McLean’s troubles did not end there. After striking out Martínez, he allowed singles to both Brayan Rocchio and Halpin. McLean managed to get Patrick Bailey to ground out to end the inning, but his outing ended after the fifth inning, and the score stood at Mets 6, Guardians 5.
In the sixth inning, the Mets once again hit a couple of singles, this time from Robert and Benge, and once again stranded the runners without scoring. Nate Lavender worked a 1-2-3 inning in his second big-league outing. At the top of the seventh, Semien lined a single into right field. Jared Young popped a ball up that Angel Genao allowed to drop before getting the force out at second. Young once again stole second base, this time because nobody was covering second base. When Torrens hit a fly ball single to right field, Young made it to third base. When A.J. Ewing tried for a safety squeeze, he was thrown out at first, even though Andy Green came out to discuss if it was foul or fair with the umpires. With two outs, Lindor belted a three-run home run to right field, providing more cushion to the Mets’ lead. Kodai Senga replaced Nate Lavender in the bottom of the seventh and demonstrated again how well his new role is working, retiring the side in order. The score was now Mets 9, Guardians 5.
Slade Cecconi came out for the top of the eighth inning for the Guardians, and the Mets proceeded to take him for a ride. Robert led off with an infield single, and Benge followed up by lining a single into left field. A wild pitch by Cecconi allowed both runners to move up, and when Alvarez clobbered an RBI double off the wall in left field, Robert scored. With no outs yet recorded, Semien walked to load the bases, and then Young worked a walk to score a run. At that point, Tim Herrin replaced Cecconi on the mound, but he walked Torrens on four pitches to walk in another run and keep the bases loaded, still with no outs. Ewing struck out for the first out, but not before narrowly missing a hit by pitch, and Lindor struck out for the second. Next up, though, Bichette bounced a grounder just past third base for an RBI single to score Semien. Catcher Austin Hedges became the third pitcher in the inning for the Guardians when he replaced Herrin, and he struck out Robert, who was in his second plate appearance of the inning, for the third out. Xzavion Curry piled on for the Mets by retiring the Guardians batters in order, the third straight inning that the Mets bullpen shut down the Guardians offense. The eighth inning ended with the Mets 13, Guardians 5.
The ninth inning was quiet offensively for the Mets, and Xzavion Curry came back out after only needing seven pitches to close out the eighth. He struggled a bit more this time, allowing a leadoff single from Genao, who advanced to second on defensive indifference. With one out, DeLauter tapped an RBI single into center field and advanced to second base on defensive indifference himself. After allowing a walk to Lowe, Curry closed things out by getting Martínez to pop out to center field for the Mets’ win, the final score being Mets 13, Guardians 6.
The Mets begin a new series in Pittsburgh tomorrow against the Pirates. Zac Thornton will face TBD with first pitch at 6:40 PM ET.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 13: Mauricio Dubon #14 of the Atlanta Braves and Ozzie Albies #1 of the Atlanta Braves share a moment prior to the game against the New York Mets at Citi Field on June 13, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
For 114 games this season, Ozzie Albies has been in the starting lineup. Sometimes he’s hit third, sometimes he’s hit sixth, he had a long stretch hitting second… but he’s been in there.
Tonight, for the first time in 2026, Albies won’t be in there. He gives way to Mauricio Dubon, who will slide over to the keystone and bat fifth.
The rest of the lineup is more or less as expected, with the Braves loading up on lefties against right-hander Janson Junk, a day after they loaded up on righties against right-hander Eury Perez. Austin Riley remains set in the eight-hole, as the Braves double up on lefties after Dubon.
Given that Junk has already made one start against the Braves this year, there’s no lack of familiarity here, though neither Drake Baldwin nor Jim Jarvis have stood in against him yet. And, really, we’re not talking a lot of PAs for the other seven guys, as Mike Yastrzemski leads the way with nine. The collective line is just a .255 xwOBA in 34 PAs… but it does come with a .340 wOBA. Both Riley and Dominic Smith hit three-run homers off Junk earlier this year.
Aha, here’s the Miami lineup, after I posted this:
It’s a bit of an interesting one: Agustin Ramirez is making a start for the first time in about three months. He’s pinch hit in both games of this series, but has been mostly toiling in Triple-A, and is now back and batting third. Ramirez is supposed to be a fairly big-time prospect who provides huge power with the ability to at least fake it at catcher. The knock on him has been plate discipline, but he’s actually avoided a lot of chase this year, and has reasonable walk and strikeout rates. Instead, Ramirez has been killed by fairly awful contact, including grounderitis.
Though Perez has been around a long time, many of these Marlins bats haven’t. Only six guys in this lineup have faced him, and none for more than six PAs. It’s a collective .303 wOBA and .345 xwOBA in 28 PAs. Esteury Ruiz has nearly a .100 point xwOBA overperformance (.408 to .311) against lefties this year in 75 PAs, so that’s fun for him.
Fans at T-Mobile Park celebrated local raccoon celebrity Jimothy at the M’s game against the Tigers — and those who purchased tickets with a special promotional offer were given Jimothy shirts.
The first 20,000 fans at the game received Jimothy trading cards with his stats, including his hometown of Ballard and his throwing hand, “all fours.”
Fans pose with a Jimothy card before a game between the Seattle Mariners and Detroit Tigers on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026, in Seattle. (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) AP Photo/Kevin Ng
Many others arrived at the game with their own regalia.
Jimothy, who typically roams around the Ballard area, went viral for his interesting, spherical shape, likely caused by a spine condition.
Upon announcing the Jimothy theme night, special tickets quickly sold out, which prompted the team to schedule a second Jimothy night for later this week.
M’s fans came prepared for the celebration, such as Hannah McCausland, who wore matching headbands with friends Donika Saqipi and Robert Kinsey.
“It was specifically to wear our Jimothy attire and support the Jimothy,” McCausland said.
Seattle Mariners’ Julio Rodriguez, left, signs baseballs for fans before a game against the Texas Rangers on Friday, July 24, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) AP Photo/Jessica Tobias
Other fans were pleasantly surprised when they showed up to the game and caught wind of the festivities.
Payton Ives crocheted two Jimothys on the drive up from Portland, Oregon, and gave one to Mariners pre- and postgame TV host Brad Adam.
Even the players got in on the fun.
Mariners star Julio Rodriguez gave his teammates Jimothy batting practice shirts.
Jimothy, the viral short-spined raccoon, is seen drinking water in a Seattle backyard. Anna Miner via Storyful
It was hard to go anywhere in the stadium and not see a Jimothy reference.
An inflatable raccoon posed for pictures with the Mariner Moose on the field pregame, and the SEAcret Door’s drink for the game was called a Trashed Panda.
Jimothy raced in the Salmon Run, and the video board displayed a “Get Loud for Jimothy” graphic.
Aiden Karmil, a tutor at a local Mathnasium, said the raccoon is a topic with the young kids at work.
“I love a theme night,” Karmil said. “I love something that brings something from Seattle into the park.”
The Calgary Flames have fully embraced their youth movement, but developing prospects isn’t just about giving young players ice time. It’s about putting them in an environment where they can learn what it takes to become professionals.
On the surface, it’s a one-year, two-way contract worth $850,000 for a veteran depth forward. Dig a little deeper, though, and it’s easy to see why Jones could become one of the most important players on the Calgary Wranglers this season.
Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
This isn’t a player walking into an unfamiliar situation. Jones was part of the Wranglers from the very beginning, playing a key role during the club’s inaugural 2022-23 season. He posted 54 points and a +28 rating while helping Calgary capture the Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy as AHL regular-season champions, along with the Pacific Division title. He understands the expectations, the organization, and what winning looks like in Calgary.
Since then, Jones has added another layer to his résumé.
Over the past two seasons, he appeared in 54 NHL games between the Vegas Golden Knights and Minnesota Wild, gaining valuable experience at hockey’s highest level. While his NHL role was primarily as a reliable depth forward, he continued to show he can produce offensively in the American Hockey League, operating at nearly a point-per-game pace with the Iowa Wild last season.
That offensive production is certainly a bonus, but it’s not the biggest reason Calgary brought him back.
The Wranglers are expected to feature one of the youngest rosters in the AHL, with several of the Flames’ top prospects taking on larger roles. Players like Aydar Suniev, Andrew Basha, William Stromgren and others will all be navigating the daily grind of professional hockey, and that’s where Jones’ impact could be felt the most.
Entering his 10th professional season, Jones knows what it takes to stick around. He understands the habits, preparation and consistency required to earn opportunities at the NHL level. Those are lessons that can’t always be taught by coaches alone.
Wild center Ben Jones (39) celebrates scoring his first NHL goal against the New York Islanders in the first period at Grand Casino Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images
As Calgary continues building toward the future, the organization needs more than talented prospects, it needs experienced veterans who can help shape them along the way. Ben Jones may not be the headline signing of the summer, but his presence in the Wranglers’ dressing room could prove to be one of the organization’s most valuable additions for the 2026-27 season.
He didn’t shy away, however, from hints that his final days there weren’t without challenges.
During a Twitch stream in early July, Brown had said he felt there was “a bit of a lack of respect” during trade talks and discussions of Brown’s future, adding that he “wasn’t thrilled” with the way Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens “facilitated some of the conversations.”
When asked Thursday, Aug. 6 what bothered him about his final days with the Celtics, Brown wanted to look forward.
“The whole process,” Brown said. “But to be honest, my mind is so focused on what’s in front of me. I’m moving on. Maybe one day we can share the details of how everything transpired and all the moving parts that took place in this. Obviously, it’s a lot of speculation; I feel no need to chime in on it because I’m focused on what’s in front of me.”
Brown did say that he looks back on his time as a Celtic with gratitude from the city and how it helped him develop as a person. Brown also added the he’ll continue to be active in the Boston community.
Brown revealed that when he first learned of the trade from Boston to Philadelphia, he threw his phone across the room, though he did not elaborate on the emotions behind that.
There has been speculation that the relationship between Brown and Celtics star Jayson Tatum had become strained. The two were teammates in Boston for nine seasons, and the pair won the 2024 NBA Finals, with Brown winning Finals Most Valuable Player.
“We won a championship together,” Brown said when asked how he would characterize his relationship with Tatum. “So anybody that you win a championship with, you would think that’s a brotherhood or a life-long legacy would entail. Obviously, there’s ups and downs in any relationship, for sure. But on my end, there’s nothing but respect. Besides when he plays the Sixers, I hope he does well. But other than that, everything for me is just based in respect.”
When asked if the two had been able to talk, Brown responded: “Not really.”
The 76ers and Celtics completed the trade July 1, with Philadelphia sending Paul George, two first-round draft picks and two second-round selections back to Boston.
“People attacked my character,” Brown added. “Someone even went as far and said I had a disease. So it has been a crazy transition, to be honest. But none of it is completely surprising, even though some of these things were said externally. Internally and through the organization, there had been conversations. I wasn’t that surprised.”
Brown held his press conference at the Francis J. Myers Recreation Center in the Kingessing neighborhood of Southwest Philadelphia, opting to bypass the session being held at the 76ers facility and choosing to introduce himself to the city’s community. He also invited local children to attend.
“For me, and people who know my family and I, we are rooted in the community,” Brown said. “That space – that’s where we hang our hat, is being able to affect other people’s lives. We’re very blessed. We’ve been able to help our own family and be able to change the course of what our generation and our family name can possibly do, but we look forward to being able to impact others and being able to touch families and households that we may never get to see.”
The Mets crushed the Guardians, 13-6, on Thursday afternoon in Cleveland to secure a three-game sweep.
Here are the takeaways...
- Batting in the top of the sixth inning with the Mets leading, 6-5, Francisco Lindor was in an 0-2 hole with runners on second and third with two outs. He then went down and got a changeup at the bottom of the zone, golfing it into the right field seats for a three-run homer that upped New York's lead to 9-5.
The Mets poured it on in the eighth.
Francisco Alvarez hit a ringing double high off the left field wall, Jared Young and Luis Torrens drew bases loaded walks, and Bo Bichette had an infield hit as New York took a 13-5 advantage.
- Kodai Senga, pitching for the second time in his new, high-leverage relief role, fired a dominant 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the seventh.
Using almost exclusively four-seam fastballs and forkballs, Senga retired Jose Ramirez on one pitch before getting two swinging strikeouts -- one on a 97.3 mph four-seamer, the other on an 84.1 mph forkball. Senga's fastball topped out at 100 mph.
- The Mets answered back immediately after falling into a 2-0 hole, with a solo homer by Marcus Semien and two-run opposite field shot off the bat of Torrens giving them a 3-2 lead in the top of the second.
New York added on in the third, with Carson Benge smoking a run-scoring triple high off the center field wall and Semien cashing in a run with a sacrifice fly to make it 5-2.
In the fifth, the Mets tacked on a run on a YoungRBI single to make it 6-2, but couldn't capitalize further, withTorrenspopping out and pinch-hitter A.J. Ewing grounding out to strand runners on second and third.
Aug 6, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; New York Mets pitcher Nolan McLean (26) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. / Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
- Against a lineup that featured all left-handed hitters, Nolan McLean struggled with his control in the first inning (often missing away), issuing a pair of one-out walks to get into trouble. After a two-run single by Angel Martinez gave Cleveland a 2-0 lead, the Guardians loaded the bases with two outs on a flare single by Petey Halpin. McLean escaped a potentially disastrous inning by inducing a fly out to right field -- capping a frame where he threw nearly as many balls (12) as strikes (14).
After his laborious first inning, McLean settled in, needing just 39 total pitches to get through the next three innings -- retiring eight batters in a row to cap that span.
Things came crashing in for McLean in the fifth, though as he again had serious issues with control as he again missed predominantly arm side.
McLean struck out Travis Bazzana looking before giving up back-to-back singles by Chase DeLauter and Jose Ramirez. He then threw a four-seam fastball that caught too much plate, with Nathaniel Lowe turning it around for a three-run homer that trimmed New York's lead to 6-5.
Overall, McLean allowed five runs over 5.0 innings while giving up eight hits, walking three, and striking out eight.
- Semien had a huge day at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a sacrifice fly and a walk -- finishing a triple shy of the cycle.
- Rookie Nate Lavender twirled a perfect sixth inning with a pair of strikeouts, inducing a number of uncomfortable swings along the way.
The Buffalo Sabres have been proactive with a number of their own players in getting them signed to long-term extensions prior to them getting close to becoming eligible for an offer sheet or unrestricted free agency. The club did it with former team captain Jack Eichel and center Dylan Cozens before they were traded, and have also done so with current Sabres Tage Thompson, Zach Benson, Josh Doan, Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power, and Mattias Samuelsson.
On Thursday, the Pittsburgh Penguins locked up RFA forward Ville Koivunen to an eight-year, $32 million contract extension ($4 million AAV), being more proactive than Buffalo ever has, since the 23-year-old Finn has only 47 games of NHL experience and just 14 career points.
With the salary cap increasing exponentially, a $4 million cap hit is not an insignificant amount, but could be a homerun for GM Kyle Dubas if Koivunen becomes a consistent middle-six forward, but it also gives the Pens two years of evaluation time, as they can use a one-third buyout until he turns 26 years old.
The question for the 31 other clubs, including the Sabres, is whether they are willing to role the dice on any of their youngsters eligible for a new contract before the expiration of the eight-year max deal in the middle of next month. Even with eight years being the max, the only extensions that Buffalo has opted to go the full distance with is Eichel and Dahlin, and the only one coming out of their entry-level deal was Eichel.
Will the Sabres add scoring help before the start of training camp?
The youngsters eligible for an extension who have played similar NHL time coming off their ELC next summer are centers Noah Ostlund and Jiri Kulich. Winger Jack Quinn is entering the final year of a two-year bridge deal, and was connected in rumors to be part of the Connor Hellebuyck trade proposal with Winnipeg. Both Ostlund and Kulich are similar in age and lack of experience to Koivunen, which could give GM Jarmo Kekalainen the leverage to offer them a team-friendly deal.
This could be something that the Sabres are interested in doing, since both players are expected to be full-time NHLers this season with the departure of Alex Tuch. Their price tag could skyrocket with a solid regular season. If Buffalo chooses to be conservative, they can wait till next summer to get more proof of their worth, and each would be eligible to sign a seven-year deal, but they also would be eligible to sign an offer sheet with another NHL club as Leo Carlsson did with Philadelphia last month.
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Aug 4, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Detroit Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler (13) runs the bases after hitting a home run against the Seattle Mariners during the ninth inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Detroit Tigers (55-59) vs. Seattle Mariners (56-59)
Time/Place: 4:10 p.m., T-Mobile Park SB Nation Site:Lookout Landing Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network Pitching Matchup: LHP Framber Valdez (6-7, 4.41 ERA) vs. RHP Bryce Miller (4-5, 2.80 ERA
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 21: Wilder Dalis #3 of the Colorado Rockies covers to tag out Druw Jones #2 of the Arizona Diamondbacks at second base during the first inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on March 21, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Bernacchi/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
On Wednesday, Minor League Baseball announced that Wilder Dalis (No. 24 PuRP) was named July’s Player of the Month for the California League.
In winning the award, the Fresno Grizzlies infielder and native of Maracay, Venezuela, received recognition for his performance over the course of the month.
Over 24 games in July, Dalis batted .374/.443/.727 with a combined 1.170 OPS, while collecting 37 hits, including nine doubles, a triple, and eight home runs, 24 runs scored and 35 RBI.
He led the California League in hits, RBI and total bases (72) for the month, and finished second in the league in runs, doubles, home runs, stolen bases (10), and slugging percentage. In addition, Dalis ranked third in the league in OPS and fourth in batting average. His 35 RBI led all of Minor League Baseball for July, and his 72 total bases ranked second.
After appearing in 18 games in April and then three in May, Dalis was placed on the Injured List until June 16, when he returned to the Grizzlies’ lineup. It did not take long for him to get back on track. Dalis hit .341 with six doubles over his final 13 games of June. He followed that up by putting together one of the most productive months by any hitter in the California League this season.
Consider the numbers.
Dalis reached base multiple times in 11 different games during July. He set a career high with four hits on July 8 against Stockton and equaled it on July 26 against Rancho Cucamonga, when he went 4-for-5 with a home run, three runs scored, and four RBI. He also went 3-for-4 with a home run and five RBI on July 10 against Stockton and delivered a 3-for-4 day with a double, a home run, and four RBI on July 23 against Rancho Cucamonga.
To end July, on the 30th, his 20th birthday, Dalis hit a three-run homer and drove in four to spark a blowout win for Fresno.
Also notable, Dalis produced the numbers while manning multiple spots on the infield.
Over the course of July, he started at third base, second base and shortstop, giving Fresno’s lineup flexibility.
Since returning to the lineup on June 16, Dalis has hit .370 with 11 home runs, 50 RBI, and 17 stolen bases over his last 37 games, posting a .466 on-base percentage, a .705 slugging percentage and a 1.171 OPS in that stretch.
For the season, Dalis is hitting .310 with 15 home runs, 64 RBI and 21 stolen bases across 61 games. Entering August, he ranked seventh in the California League in batting average, tied for fourth in home runs, eighth in RBI, fourth in on-base percentage, second in slugging percentage, and third in OPS.
In August, he picked up where he finished July, going 6-for-11 with two home runs and eight RBI over his first three games of the month.
“Obviously, I know I’m talented,” Dalis said earlier in the season, “but I’m not thinking about ‘Hey, I’m a prospect in the Top 100’ or whatever. I know what I have and my abilities, and that’s it. I don’t worry about the other stuff.
“Hopefully in the near future, I’ll be there (in the majors) and can help the team win and make an impact with the team in Denver.”
And as a reminder, our PuPRs voting closes tomorrow. Leave your rankings here.
May 11, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies Colorado Rockies designated hitter Hunter Goodman (15) in the seventh inning against the San Diego Padres at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The St. Louis Cardinals return to Busch Stadium Friday night for the start of a 3-game series versus the NL West cellar-dwelling Colorado Rockies. It should (key word) be an opportunity for the Cardinals to relearn their winning ways while enjoying some home cooking, but we all know how best laid plans go this season.
The Colorado Rockies are a meager 45-70 this season trailing the billionaires Los Angeles Dodgers by 24 games so playoff talk is not a factor for them. They have lost 7 of their last 10 games so no worries about big momentum from the Coloradoans.
Here are the projected pitching matchups
Friday, August 7 – Kyle Leahy vs Ryan Feltner (RHP 4-5, 5.75 ERA, 57 SO)
Saturday, August 8 – Matthew Liberatore vs Kyle Freeland (LHP 3-10, 6.81 ERA, 93 SO)
Sunday, August 9 – Michael McGreevy vs Michael Lorenzon (RHP 3-10, 6.94 ERA, 80 SO)
Ryan Feltner won his last start for Colorado on August 1 as he tossed 6 innings allowing 8 hits and 4 earned runs vs the Royals, but he lost the previous 2 before that against the Brewers and Reds. Kyle Freeland also won his last start throwing a complete game gem vs the Royals on August 2 allowing just 5 hits and 1 earned run. Michael Lorenzon lost his last start vs Tampa Bay on August 3 lasting just 3 innings and getting thumped for 7 earned runs. He had 2 no decisions prior to that.
Here are the Colorado Rockies players to watch
Hunter Goodman (C): Leads the Rockies with 33 home runs and 66 RBIs.
TJ Rumfield (1B): Team’s highest batting average (.294) and on-base percentage (.374) with a team-leading 116 hits.
Mickey Moniak (LF): Extra-base power with 19 home runs and 52 RBIs.
Kyle Karros (3B): Decent contact bat hitting .268 with a .366 OBP.
What did the Colorado Rockies do at the trade deadline?
Brenton Doyle: Traded to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for a pair of minor league prospects.
Antonio Senzatela: Traded to the Milwaukee Brewers for pitching depth/prospect returns.
Victor Vodnik: Traded to the Miami Marlins
This is another series where on paper it looks like the St. Louis Cardinals should have an opportunity to win if not sweep the Colorado Rockies. However, St. Louis has a similar downward spiral since the All-Star break that Colorado has. The expectation is that Jordan Walker should be back in the starting lineup starting Friday after nursing knee soreness. Masyn Winn also expected to be back at short after a couple of days off including sitting out Wednesday night’s game in New York. I can tend to be unrealistically optimistic sometimes which is probably why I’m hopeful this young Cardinals team can rediscover their early season energy and make an unexpected run at the third wild card playoff spot. Is that delusional? Magic 8 Ball says “YES”.
