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Mets believe Jonah Tong can impact team in final month and beyond

The Mets wouldn't have called up rookie Jonah Tong if they didn't think he could help them win games down the stretch and secure a wild card berth -- if not the division.

But it's one thing to hope for an outcome, and seeing the results first-hand and that's what Tong gave the Mets on Friday night against the Marlins. While he wasn't as great as Nolan McLean was in his MLB debut, Tong showed the team enough when he picked up the win after his five strong innings to warrant another start at the big league level.

In Tong's five innings, he allowed just one earned run without allowing a walk and struck out six batters. He worked in and out of trouble and the atmosphere or moment never seemed to big for the right-hander. And if you ask his new teammates, Tong has already made an impression.

"He was excellent. Glad that he’s here on this team with us," Luis Torrens said through an interpreter. "He’s a tremendous personality, tremendous person. Glad he’s able to share these moments with us moving forward.

"He’s the type of personality that’s easy to manage. He’s one of those guy that’s excited and happy to be here. It was really easy to work with him. His presence, it feels like he’s immediately been integrated with the guys. It’s been a smooth transition."

"Putting out some 23-inch, 97 mph fastballs. That’s impressive," Brandon Nimmo said of Tong's night. "Really happy for him. Got a great, long career ahead of him. Extremely nice kid and happy for him that he got to enjoy that moment. I hope he soaks it in and I know it can go by pretty quickly...It was a blast to watch him pitch."

The Mets will insert Tong into a newly formed six-man rotation for the time being. And while they hope he can build on his debut, if he delivers what he gave them on Friday, the team knows Tong can be a contributor down the stretch and even in the postseason.

"He can help us a ton," Torrens said. "The type of arm that he has, he’s the type of pitcher for the next month of the season and, God willing, beyond in the playoffs, he’s one of those impact arms that can help us a lot." 

Starting pitching has been the Mets' weakness for most of the season, but with the call-ups of McLean and Tong, there's an energy surrounding the team that continues to shine through in every game they pitch. 

After Friday's win, the Mets are now firmly in a playoff spot -- 5.0 games ahead of the Reds -- and still within striking distance of the Phillies for the NL East title (5.0 games). And both young pitchers are expected to play big roles in whatever happens with the 2025 Mets in the final month and beyond.

"You feel [the energy]. I think the whole team was in the dugout for the first pitch. Everybody wanted to see that, wanted to watch that," Carlos Mendoza said. "They are going to feed off each other and when you see what the potential that could be, and they are contributing right away. Yea, obviously exciting. I don't want to put too much pressure on them, but definitely something, especially where we're at in the schedule and the meaning of every game moving forward, to get performance like that, it's pretty impressive and we're going to need them."

 

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Top-20 Penguins' Prospects 2025: Forward Has Outside Shot At NHL Roster Out Of Camp

Heading into the 2025-26 season, the Pittsburgh Penguins have shifted the focus to youth and development.

With more talent in the system than Pittsburgh has had in years - and 13 picks in the 2025 NHL Draft - top prospects lists are becoming more competitive and more difficult to discern. Since the prospect pool is deepening, The Hockey News - Pittsburgh Penguins takes a look at the top-20 prospects in the organization. 

Today, we finally delve into the top-10, and we start with a forward who - despite facing some adversity last season - managed to grow his game at the center position and could push for a roster spot with a standout camp. At No. 10 on our list is Tristan Broz.

#10: F Tristan Broz

Sep 21, 2024; Buffalo, New York, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Tristan Broz (26) waits for the face-off during the first period against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images

Broz, 22, was drafted in the second round (58th overall) by the Penguins in 2021. He played one season for the University of Minnesota after that before transferring to the University of Denver, where he won a national championship in 2024. He recorded 16 goals and 40 points in 43 games that season for Denver.

So - heading into his first professional season with the Penguins - the organization already quite liked Broz's overall game and offensive upside. The goal heading into 2024-25 was for the 6-foot, 205-pound forward to work on his game at center, which is a position that the Penguins - at the time - were lacking organizationally.

It was mission accomplished for Broz last season - even with some adversity along the way.

In his first professional season, Broz recorded 19 goals and 37 points in 59 games, and he also put up a goal and three points in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's (WBS) two playoff games. Although those numbers might not jump out entirely, it's worth noting that Broz was second on the team in goals until a long bout with mononucleosis kept him out of the lineup from late December all the way to early February. 

Top-20 Penguins' Prospects 2025: First-Round Pick Beginning To Turn HeadsTop-20 Penguins' Prospects 2025: First-Round Pick Beginning To Turn HeadsHeading into the 2025-26 season, the Pittsburgh Penguins have shifted the focus to youth and development.

Broz himself admitted that the road to recovery after mono was terrible, and it took some time to adjust his game back to the level it was prior to his illness - at which point, he had 12 goals and 19 points in 27 games. But even if his production didn't exactly match up to the level it was prior to his illness, his all-around game at center was still thriving. 

And once he got his legs back under him, he thoroughly impressed in the home stretch. During the final 10 games of the regular season, Broz put up two goals and nine points, showing off his playmaking prowess and his ability in transition. He plays a simple, intelligent game with the puck, and his play away from the puck is equally as impressive.

Broz knows how to find passing lanes, and he isn't afraid to drive the middle. He also has a shot that plays well at the professional level, plays a responsible defensive game, and doesn't shy away from contact, either.  

Despite Setback, Penguins Prospect Broz Experiencing Growth In First Professional SeasonDespite Setback, Penguins Prospect Broz Experiencing Growth In First Professional SeasonPittsburgh Penguins forward prospect Tristan Broz endured quite the setback midway through the 2024-25 season.

If his development keeps trending in the right direction, he could very well be a reliable middle-six option for the Penguins, perhaps even a second-line center. He has the ability to thrive alongside other intelligent players - for example, he and Ville Koivunen were often linemates in WBS throughout the AHL season - and he knows how to find players in transition and expose the danger areas of the ice.

The Penguins are impressed with Broz's growth from this past season, and they should be. He is one of the more mature, intelligent players in the Penguins' system, and if he has a good camp, he could - potentially - push for an NHL roster spot. 

He is, arguably, just as NHL-ready as Koivunen and Rutger McGroarty. Had mono never set back his season, he likely would have gotten an NHL opportunity right alongside those two at the conclusion of the Penguins' 2024-25 season.

Don't count this guy out. He is one of the more sure bets in the organization to become at least a serviceable NHL player, so don't be surprised to see him on NHL ice at some point next season.

Penguins Prospects Beyond McGroarty, Koivunen Eye NHL Roster Spots Penguins Prospects Beyond McGroarty, Koivunen Eye NHL Roster Spots Pittsburgh Penguins training camp is about a month away, and there are a lot of storylines to watch going into it. 

The list so far:

- No. 11: F Will Horcoff
- No. 12: F Mikhail Ilyin
- No. 13 F Filip Hallander
- No. 14: F Bill Zonnon
- No. 15: F Melvin Fernstrom
- No. 16: D Emil Pieniniemi
- No. 17: F Avery Hayes
- No. 18: F Cruz Lucius
- No. 19: D Finn Harding
- No. 20: D Peyton Kettles

Join the THN - Pittsburgh Penguins Community to follow and chime in on the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!    

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Mets Notes: Offense sets home record, Ryan Helsley bringing pitch adjustments to field

The Mets' offense was historic on Friday night, at least in franchise standards.

The 19 runs scored were the most the Mets have ever scored at home in their 64-year history. Six home runs contributed to that mark, with 12 coming in the first two innings alone.

New York chased Marlins young phenom Eury Perez after just two outs in the first inning and never looked back. One way the Mets got to Perez was by being on his fastball.

"He didn’t have his best stuff today, but he’s a really good arm," Mendoza said of Perez after the win. "[Juan] Soto staying on the fastball, and [Brandon Nimmo] the same thing. We knew we had to be ready for the fastball and we did that. It comes down to attacking the fastball and not missing."

Soto and Nimmo provided three of the team's six homers in the win. Nimmo launched two, one off Perez in the first inning, which capped off five straight Mets getting on base to start the game.

"The guys were on his fastball pretty well," Nimmo said after the game. "He has an elite fastball. Guys were able to put it in play and have quality at-bats against him, keep the line moving…he’s a good young arm. The guys did a good job of turning the fastball around."

If you want some more historical facts about the Mets' offensive onslaught on Friday, here are a few:

  • Tonight marked the fourth time in franchise history that the Mets scored five or more runs before recording their first out of the game
  • The team’s 12 runs through the first two innings of tonight’s game were the most in franchise history, breaking the previous high of 10 set on four separate occasions
  • The Mets had 20 plate appearances through the first two innings of the game, a franchise record 
  • The team’s seven runs in the second were tied for their most in any inning this season. Their five runs in the first inning were tied for their most in any opening frame this season

"Good at-bats, up and down the lineup," Mendoza said of the performance. "We got to a really good starter today. Hit the ball out of the ballpark, went the other way when we needed to with two strikes. With runners in scoring position, we controlled the strike zone. Offensively, we know what we're capable of. It was good to see Nimm, Pete, Soto, all of those guys putting together some really good at-bats. It's always good when you're talking about records and things like that. It was a good performance."

"It’s a testament to this offense and what we’re capable of," Nimmo said. "We’ve seen it during the Phillies series and over the last 10 days. Guys really coming together and putting good ABs. It shows what this offense is capable of when it’s clicking. We did it against good arms, too. I’m very impressed and proud of this offense and what we’re capable of."

Latest on Ryan Helsley

Helsley has been dealing with a pitch tipping issue, which he believes is the cause of his struggles with the Mets.

The right-hander allowed a leadoff double in his one inning of work. While there were some hard-hit balls and a nifty play by Francisco Lindor and Alonso ended the inning, putting up a zero and getting out of trouble was good for Helsley.

 "The fact that he's making adjustments, he's trying. It was a different hand positions today, threw strikes, got out of the inning. It was good to get him some work. There's only so much you can do dry side, and getting on the mound. But when you're facing batters in real competition, that's what's going to tell you. For him to get that inning was good."

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Mets' Jonah Tong calls debut 'insane' experience: 'Everything I've ever dreamed of as a kid'

Top pitching prospect Jonah Tong was impressive in his MLB debut Friday night, striking out six Marlins over five strong innings and got beyond enough help from the Mets' offense en route to a 19-9 win.

The 22-year-old was all smiles after earning his first major league victory, in which he allowed one earned run on six hits with no walks, and showed some resilience in tough situations with runners on base. When asked by reporters what the experience on the big stage was like, Tong couldn't hold back his excitement.

"Insane," Tong said. "I mean, that's everything I've ever dreamed of as a kid growing up and to see it unfold like that, it's insane. It's the only word I can really describe it as."

Tong then joked that the team scoring 12 runs over the first two innings of the game may have helped calm any nerves he had. 

"I'm never really going to complain about run support and that was insane, but no, that just made pitching easier on my part," Tong said.

New York would go on to score the most runs (19) in team history at home, but seven came after Tong's night was done. He finished by striking out Liam Hicks looking to escape a rocky fifth inning. The righty called the moment a "blur" and added that the feeling continued as he walked off the field with the fans cheering.

"Yeah that last pitch I don't even think I remember everything, not a blur after," Tong said. "It was one of those [moments] I really couldn't hear myself talk, which is a new one. The fans are amazing."

He added: "I couldn't really feel my feet."

While still riding high from the win, Tong acknowledged there is lots of room for improvement with his next outing.

"I'm happy with it all things considered, but I do think there's work to be done moving forward," Tong said. "Excited for that. But I'm really enjoying the moment."

Manager Carlos Mendoza clarified that Tong will make another start with the team transitioning to a six-man rotation for the time being. The pitcher laughed with reporters when being told that news, but he knows there could be a lot more in store for him if things continue to go well.

"Sweet," Tong said. "Take it one day at a time, but that's awesome to hear."

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Jonah Tong to make another start as Mets transition to six-man rotation for now

Just like it was when Nolan McLean made his MLB debut, the Mets are keeping Jonah Tong in the rotation for the time being.

Tong, who pitched five strong innings against the Marlins on Friday, earned the win in his first game on a big league mound. 

Manager Carlos Mendoza was asked straight out if Tong earned himself another start, and the Mets skipper was quick to confirm.

"Oh, he’s getting another one, yes," he said.

"Sweet!" Tong said after he learned he would get another big league start. "Take it one day at a time, but that's awesome to hear."

Mendoza confirmed the plan is to transition to a six-man rotation, but offered that the plan can change over the final month of the season. 

"That’s the plan, but it’ll be fluid," Mendoza said of the Mets adding Tong to the rotation. "We have some off days coming up after the Detroit series, but yeah, he’ll make another [start]."

The Mets going to a six-man rotation makes sense considering the arms in it. Kodai Senga, who pitches Sunday, is best when getting a full five days' rest. Clay Holmes, who is a transitioned closer, has logged the most innings of his career this year. And with Sean Manaea easing his way back from his injuries, the added days off could benefit everyone.

After the completion of this four-game series with the Marlins, the Mets travel to Detroit for a three-game set. They'll have an off day on Thursday before going to Cincinnati for three and Philadelphia for four games. They immediately head home for three against the Rangers before finally getting Monday, Sept. 15 off.

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Trent Grisham's grand slam powers Yankees to 10-2 win over White Sox

Trent Grisham's grand slam put the game out of reach early as the Yankees defeated the White Sox, 10-2, in Chicago on Friday night.

The win extends New York's winning streak to six games and with Toronto's loss earlier in the night, they are now 3.0 games back in the AL East.

Here are the takeaways...

-The Yankees had the bases loaded with no outs (all on walks) in the first inning off of former pitcher Yoendrys Gomez, but could only scratch across a run thanks to a GIDP by Ben Rice. 

It wouldn't be the only time Yankees hitters couldn't get the clutch hit. In the fourth, the Yankees had two on and no out, but Ryan McMahon and Anthony Volpe struck out before Austin Wells walked to load the bases. But unlike his teammates, Trent Grisham came through with a 387-foot grand slam to give the Yankees a 5-0 lead. 

-Carlos Rodon made his return to the southside of Chicago for the first time as a visiting pitcher on Friday and he was effective. A White Sox hitter didn't get into scoring position until the fifth, when the southpaw got into trouble. Two singles and a soft hit ball fielder's choice allowed Chicago to push across their first run.

The White Sox would get ducks on the pond in the sixth inning, but Rodon worked out of a two-runner jam to complete the quality start. The Yankees southpaw tossed 97 pitches (58 strikes) across six innings, allowing one earned run on seven hits and two walks while striking out five batters.

-Volpe, a day after getting two hits in the series opener, was hitless in his first two at-bats, but came up in the sixth inning with runners on first and second and no outs and lined a single to drive in the Yankees' sixth run of the game. A batter later, Wells hit a single of his own to drive in another run. Rice capped off the inning with a two-out single to push the Yankees' lead to 8-1.

Volpe wasn't done, though. In the seventh, the shortstop slammed a 406-foot blast to center field to drive in two runs. Volpe finished 2-for-4 with three RBI. In the first two games of the Chicago series, Volpe is 4-for-7 with four RBI.

-The Yankees' bullpen wasn't perfect like they were on Thursday, but it was still effective. The combination of Fernando Cruz, Tim Hill and Camilo Doval got the final nine outs, allowing just one run. Here's how the bullpen breakdown went:

  • Cruz: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 K
  • Hill: 1.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 K
  • Doval: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB

Game MVP: Trent Grisham

The Yankees were leaving runners on left and right, but Grisham's grand slam put the game away early.

Highlights

What's next

The Yankees and White Sox play the third of their four-game set on Saturday evening. First pitch is set for 7:40 p.m.

Cam Schlittler (2-2, 2.76 ERA) will take the mound against Shane Smith (4-7, 3.87 ERA).

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Mets' offense explodes, Jonah Tong solid in 19-9 win over Marlins

With an early offensive barrage that helped make life easy for Jonah Tong, the Mets jumped out to a 12-0 lead after two innings and coasted to a 19-9 win over the Miami Marlins at Citi Field on Friday night.

The 19 runs are the most the Mets have ever scored in a home game, though the final six runs were scored against a position-player doing the pitching, infielder Javier Sanoja. Catcher Luis Torrens pitched the ninth for the Mets, allowing four runs before being relieved by Ryne Stanek.  

In his major league debut, the 22-year-old Tong pitched a solid five innings to earn the win while displaying the talent that helped him zoom through the minors and reach the big leagues ahead of schedule.

Here are the top takeaways...

-- Tong wasn’t quite as dazzling as Nolan McLean, as major league debuts go, but he showed plenty of promise in going five innings, allowing only one earned run, though four in all due to back-to-back errors by Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso on rather routine plays.

The 22-year-old Tong struck out six Marlins’ hitters, while walking none, and demonstrated an impressive mix of pitches, changing speeds effectively off his 95-96 mph fastball with a change-up and curve ball. He threw 97 pitches as the Marlins battled him into deep counts, in addition to the extra pitches he needed after the errors.

Tong also had a long time to sit in both the first and second innings, as the Mets scored 12 runs against three different pitchers.

All in all, he wasn’t quite the strikeout monster he had been in the minors, leading all of minor league pitchers in Ks, but that’s likely because major league hitters aren’t as likely to chase his high fastball. But he clearly has the weapons to be a successful starter in the bigs. It’s just a matter of whether the Mets decide to keep him in the rotation right now, as he was being used in this spot as a sixth starter to give the others in the rotation an extra day of rest.

-- The Mets blew the game open early, scoring five runs in the first inning and seven in the second against three different Marlins’ pitchers.

Juan Soto got the party started with a towering, two-run home run after Lindor led off with a single and a stolen base.

By the time Brandon Nimmo hit a three-run home run to right field, the Mets had a 5-0 lead and had yet to make an out against Marlins’ starter Eury Perez.

The Marlins pulled the 22-year-old Perez in the first after 39 pitches, then the Mets beat up on Tyler Zuber for seven more runs in the second inning, all with two outs.

The highlights included a two-run, opposite-field home run by Alonso, a two-run double by Tyrone Taylor, and a two-run double by Lindor.

-- With their 12-run barrage over two innings, the Mets continued their hot hitting with runners in scoring position as well.

Remember when the RISP blues were the theme of their offensive season for so long? They’ve turned that around in a huge way: after going 5-for-6 in those situations in the first two innings Friday night, the Mets are hitting .379 w/RISP in August, the highest such average in the majors.

--  With his two-run home run in the second inning, Alonso raised his RBI total to 110, remaining second in the majors behind Kyle Schwarber’s 119.

-- Struggling late-inning reliever Ryan Helsley was used in a low-leverage spot, pitching the sixth with a 12-4 lead. Though he gave up a leadoff double into the left-field corner by Connor Norby, Helsley got through the inning without allowing a run, getting two ground balls and a fly out.

Game MVP: Mets Offense

The early ambush of Eury Perez turned Citi Field into a party after just two innings as the Mets’ hitters gave rookie starter Jonah Tong a huge cushion in his debut.

Soto, Alonso, Nimmo, Mark Vientos and Torrens supplied the power with a total of six home runs, including two from Nimmo.

Highlights

Upcoming schedule

The Mets and Marlins continue the four-game set on Saturday at 4:10 p.m. on PIX11.

David Peterson (8-5, 3.18 ERA) will take the mound opposed by Edward Cabrera (7-7, 3.32 ERA).

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Giants' offensive outburst revives ‘fun environment' after brutal summer skid

Giants' offensive outburst revives ‘fun environment' after brutal summer skid originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – A crowd of 40,000 at Oracle Park was treated to one of the best offensive games that the Giants have been able to muster this season.

Starting pitcher Robbie Ray was among those watching the offensive explosion, wearing a big smile as hit after hit lined the ballpark while runs piled up at a gratifying rate.

It was a perfect example of how good the Giants’ offense can be when all cylinders are firing.

“Man, it’s awesome,” Ray said. “If we can keep that going it’s going to be fun. It’s just fun to watch. When the hits are coming like that, it’s just a fun dugout to be in, it’s a fun environment.”

That hasn’t always been the vibe San Francisco’s dugout this season.

High expectations and a quick start to the season raised the bar for many fans and media, only to see those good vibes quickly fade away as the Giants’ offense sputtered through much of the summer.

Recently, however, that same offense has shown a lot of life.

Two days after scoring 12 runs amidst a three-game sweep of the Chicago Cubs, the Giants’ bats lit up the Bay Area sky once again with a resounding effort in a 15-8 win over the Baltimore Orioles that had fans dancing in the aisles like the good ol’ days at Oracle.

Ray said that the team as a collective had a tough time dealing with “outside noise” as the MLB trade deadline approached at the end of July.

That might have factored into the Giants’ seven-game losing streak in mid-August that pushed them to the brink of being an MLB playoff afterthought. 

Now riding a six-game winning streak, San Francisco’s outlook is a little more positive.

While they remain six games behind the New York Mets for the third and final wild card spot in the National League, the feeling inside the Giants’ clubhouse was a lot more good-natured than it has been in previous days.

“Now we’re just playing baseball and trying to control what we can control each and very day and go about the process the way we can,” Ray said. “Guys are just doing a batter job of focusing on what they can control.”

Ray was able to find the silver lining on a night when his own contribution was minimal.

The start of the game was delayed briefly as manager Bob Melvin and a team trainer came out to examine Ray, who had previously developed a blister on his pitching hand. The blister had popped before Ray took the mound but the remaining dead skin remained and had to be cut off.

“Everything underneath was fine,” Ray said. “It wasn’t raw or anything so it was a non-issue.”

Regardless, the 33-year-old pitcher needed as much support as the Giants could muster. He allowed six runs – all earned – on six hits in just 4 1/3 innings.

“I don’t know that we’ve seen a game like this out of Robbie,” Giants manager Bob Melvin said. “It’s going to happen every now and then. His stuff was better. It was just one of those games where he wasn’t as efficient with strikes and they made him work and throw a lot of pitches”

It didn’t matter much on a night when the Giants’ offense came out blistering and stayed hot the entire evening.

“We know we’re capable of it,” Ray said. “It’s just a little more focus and I feel like we had that tonight.”

Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast

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Giants' offensive outburst revives ‘fun environment' after brutal summer skid

Giants' offensive outburst revives ‘fun environment' after brutal summer skid originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – A crowd of 40,000 at Oracle Park was treated to one of the best offensive games that the Giants have been able to muster this season.

Starting pitcher Robbie Ray was among those watching the offensive explosion, wearing a big smile as hit after hit lined the ballpark while runs piled up at a gratifying rate.

It was a perfect example of how good the Giants’ offense can be when all cylinders are firing.

“Man, it’s awesome,” Ray said. “If we can keep that going it’s going to be fun. It’s just fun to watch. When the hits are coming like that, it’s just a fun dugout to be in, it’s a fun environment.”

That hasn’t always been the vibe San Francisco’s dugout this season.

High expectations and a quick start to the season raised the bar for many fans and media, only to see those good vibes quickly fade away as the Giants’ offense sputtered through much of the summer.

Recently, however, that same offense has shown a lot of life.

Two days after scoring 12 runs amidst a three-game sweep of the Chicago Cubs, the Giants’ bats lit up the Bay Area sky once again with a resounding effort in a 15-8 win over the Baltimore Orioles that had fans dancing in the aisles like the good ol’ days at Oracle.

Ray said that the team as a collective had a tough time dealing with “outside noise” as the MLB trade deadline approached at the end of July.

That might have factored into the Giants’ seven-game losing streak in mid-August that pushed them to the brink of being an MLB playoff afterthought. 

Now riding a six-game winning streak, San Francisco’s outlook is a little more positive.

While they remain six games behind the New York Mets for the third and final wild card spot in the National League, the feeling inside the Giants’ clubhouse was a lot more good-natured than it has been in previous days.

“Now we’re just playing baseball and trying to control what we can control each and very day and go about the process the way we can,” Ray said. “Guys are just doing a batter job of focusing on what they can control.”

Ray was able to find the silver lining on a night when his own contribution was minimal.

The start of the game was delayed briefly as manager Bob Melvin and a team trainer came out to examine Ray, who had previously developed a blister on his pitching hand. The blister had popped before Ray took the mound but the remaining dead skin remained and had to be cut off.

“Everything underneath was fine,” Ray said. “It wasn’t raw or anything so it was a non-issue.”

Regardless, the 33-year-old pitcher needed as much support as the Giants could muster. He allowed six runs – all earned – on six hits in just 4 1/3 innings.

“I don’t know that we’ve seen a game like this out of Robbie,” Giants manager Bob Melvin said. “It’s going to happen every now and then. His stuff was better. It was just one of those games where he wasn’t as efficient with strikes and they made him work and throw a lot of pitches”

It didn’t matter much on a night when the Giants’ offense came out blistering and stayed hot the entire evening.

“We know we’re capable of it,” Ray said. “It’s just a little more focus and I feel like we had that tonight.”

Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast

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How to Watch Serbia vs Latvia at EuroBasket 2025: Nikola Jokic vs. Kristaps Porzingis

Two of the top big men in the NBA will go head-to-head Saturday — in Riga, Latvia.

Nikola Jokic and the tournament favorite Serbian squad will face host Latvia and Kristaps Porzingis in a Group A game on Saturday. Here is everything you need to know about how to watch that game.

EuroBasket 2025: Serbia vs. Latvia: How To Watch

Serbia vs. Latvia tips off Saturday, Aug. 31 at 11 AM ET (6 PM local time in Latvia).

In the United States, games can be streamed on Courtside 1891, FIBA's official streaming platform. All EuroBasket games also can be viewed through DAZN on the Courtside app.

Jokic vs. Porzingis

Both big men come in off strong games.

Porzingis had a rough opening outing in a loss to Turkiye, but on Friday he had 22 points and seven rebounds against Estonia.

Jokic has looked like himself — the best player in the world — and dropped a casual 23 and 10 on Portugal.

Whatever happens with the big men, what makes Serbia the favorite in this matchup is its depth on the rest of the roster. Serbia features NBA players Bogdan Bogdanovic (Clippers), Nikola Jovic (Heat), Nikola Topic (Thunder) and Tristan Vukcevic (Wizards). They also have former NBA players Vasilije Micic, Filip Petrusev, and Alen Smailagic. Latvia does have former NBA player Davis Bertans.