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Mets continue downward trend as another late lead evaporates: 'We're all missing a little bit'

After their shocking loss on Wednesday, the Mets had Thursday's game all mapped out perfectly for them.

Starter Kodai Senga pitched into the sixth inning -- a rare feat of late -- and they had Tyler Rogers, Ryan Helsley and Edwin Diaz set up to close out the win. Well, as has often been the case this season, the plan didn't work and the Mets could not hold down another late lead.

Sure, Rogers allowed an inherited runner to score and tie the game in the sixth, but with another one-run lead in the eighth, Helsley allowed two runs in the Mets' eventual 4-3 loss to the Braves. The loss clinched a series win for Atlanta and the Mets' fifth consecutive series loss, tied for their longest such streak this season. They've also lost three straight home series and are 2-13 over their last 15 games dating back to July 28, their worst record in any 15-game span since May/June of 2018. 

"Obviously, we’re not playing well but too much talent. We’re going through a really tough time now," manager Carlos Mendoza said of his team after Thursday's loss. "There’s a lot of good players there. We just have to get through this. We can’t look at the standings. We know where we’re at, not playing well, but right in the thick of things. We have to find a way."

"There are a lot of guys doing good things and then there are a couple of guys that are not. Sticking together is the most important thing," Francisco Lindor said after the game. "It’s tough. You have to be put in a situation where no matter what happens, we stick together, fight for each other, play for each other. It’s a test we’re going through. Big adversity. Everyone here has a sense of urgency to win and try to win."

Lindor had his best game in a while on Thursday, going 3-for-4 with a home run and being the catalyst for the Mets' offense. But, again, it wasn't enough. 

They got the starting pitching they desperately needed, and just enough offense to hand the lead to their rebuilt bullpen. But the Mets couldn't put it all together.

"Today we got starting pitching, got timely hitting, just couldn’t close it out," Mendoza said. "When you go through stretches like this, overall, we haven’t been able to put it together."

"Obviously, if we lose it’s a little bit gloomier; if we win it’s a little more cheerful," Senga said of the mood surrounding the team via an interpreter. "I think the reason why we're not able to come out on top at the end is because we're all missing a little bit, that one little bit to put us on top. And I think that starts with the preparation. If we can all prepare as best we can and go into tomorrow and the next day, we have a better chance of winning."

That "little bit" could mean any number of things. In Thursday's loss, Cedric Mullins took an awkward route on a liner from Michael Harris II that tied the game. A better route could have kept Harris at first base and not in scoring position for Ozzie Albies' go-ahead double. Or Juan Soto throwing to second to try and get Albies on said double instead of hitting the cutoff man to try and catch Harris, who was running back to second to try and tag up, at home plate.

Or, as Senga pointed out, the fastball Albies smashed to tie the game at 1-1. A fastball thrown to a hitter looking for a fastball. 

All of those little things are contributing to the worst stretch of the Mets' season. They have blown nine different leads over their last six games, and lost 13 of their last 15 games. New York's record now stands at 64-57, just seven games over. 500, their lowest watermark since April 19 when they were 14-7. 

A recurring theme between Mendoza and the players during this stretch is that they are too talented not to play better and turn their season around. While that may be true, it's getting dicey with fewer than 40 games to go in the season. The loss has allowed the Reds to be just 0.5 games behind them for the final wild card spot, with the Mariners, who hold an AL wild card slot, coming to town for a weekend series.

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From The Archives: St. Nicklas: A Goalie's Best Friend

The Hockey News has released its archive to all THN subscribers: 76 years of history, stories, and features.

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St. Nicklas: A Goalie's Best Friend - August 1, 1997 - Volume 51, Issue 42 - Chuck Carlton 

Before he turned three, Kevin Lidstrom had a good idea about how father Nicklas earns a living. Not that he’s terribly impressed, though.

“He knows that I play hockey,” the elder Lidstrom said. “He sees me on TV, but that’s no big deal. He knows that it’s Daddy and then he’ll go play with his stuff again. Like, whatever. Maybe in a few years, he’ll realize it more.”

In that regard, Kevin is no different than most of the NHL.

They watch Lidstrom log close to 30 minutes a night on defense, launch ferocious one-timers from the point, almost always win the 1-on-1 battles and they shrug. Whatever. Maybe it’s because he’s from Sweden, with the same blend-into–the-wallpaper personality seemingly indigenous to that Nordic country. Maybe it’s because he makes everything seem effortless on cue. Detroit Red Wings’ scout and former teammate Mark Howe opts for the former.

“It’s because of his personality,” Howe said. “He goes out and does a great job, but the media and everybody want to read about the players who are flashy and have the controversial quotes. He goes in, takes a shower, ices down and goes home.”

Lidstrom is the perfect poster boy for anonymous excellence. Red Wing teammate Darren McCarty was baffled by Lidstrom’s exclusion from a Norris Trophy finalist spot last season. “He’s always getting lost in the shuffle,” McCarty said.

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Well, almost. Coach Scotty Bowman, not one to gush about players, salutes Lidstrom. “He’s one of the more underrated defensemen in the league,” Bowman said. “He’s a much better defensive defenseman than people give him credit for. When you compare him to other defensemen in the league, he’s right there.”

That was the case this season. Although Lidstrom wasn’t a Norris Trophy finalist or first- or second-team all star, he might have been both if the voting had been done after the playoffs. Wings' captain Steve Yzerman listed Lidstrom and Conn Smythe winner Mike Vernon as the team’s post-season MVPs.

Wings’ associate coach Dave Lewis, himself an NHL defenseman for 18 seasons, points to the Red Wings’ near-constant use of Lidstrom. “He’s one of the top five or six defensemen in the NHL,” Lewis said. “He’s the first guy we think of to play in a situation. He plays the left side, the right side, he kills penalties. He’s on the ice at the end of the game and he’s on the power play. There’s no time when he doesn’t play.”

The Red Wings’ dependence on Lidstrom, already high, will certainly increase this season. The limousine accident and subsequent head injury to Vladimir Konstantinov has friends, fans and teammates focused on his recovery to a normal life with his family, not hockey. His return for this season, at the least, is highly unlikely.

Aggressiveness, which Konstantinov brought to the table every shift, is the one area critics fault in Lidstrom’s game. Teammates say the only time they’ve seen Lidstrom visibly angry is when he lost a game of Helicopter, a card game brought to the team by its Russian contingent. Even Lidstrom acknowledges his restraint can be mistaken for passivity.

“It’s a tough question,” Lidstrom said. “I think it gets back to the desire to win. Some guys really show it with their aggressiveness, fighting or big hitting. I’m not a big hitter. I don’t fight. I feel I have that inside. I can bear down in those situations and get it out. I think I would be a better hockey player if I could get it out more, be more aggressive and show it in different situations. It’s hard to explain how to get it out.”

Lidstrom finished last season third in scoring among defensemen with 15 goals and 57 points in 79 games. In the playoffs, despite needing 47 shots to record his first goal, he finished with two goals and eight points in 20 games. He and partner Larry Murphy saw the most even-strength shifts against Eric Lindros and the Legion of Doom in the Stanley Cup final. Lindros and power winger John LeClair were a combined minus-10 in the final.

“I try to think of teams in the league that wouldn’t want to have him,” Howe said, “and I can’t think of any. From all the games I saw, I thought Brian Leetch was very deserving of the Norris Trophy. But I thought Nick had a great season, especially in the playoffs when we needed him to play between 25 and 30 minutes and against all of the top lines.”

Growing up in Vasteras, south of Stockholm, Lidstrom played hockey in the winter and soccer in summer and studied to be an engineer. Like most Swedish players, he idolized Borje Salming, Sweden’s first quality contribution to the NHL. “He was my hero, my idol. He was the big guy back then,” Lidstrom said. “I had the opportunity to play with him in the (1991) Canada Cup. He was my partner. It was a big thrill with him being the legend he is, especially back in Sweden.”

Lidstrom was still available in the third round of the 1989 entry draft, part of the Red Wings’ heist of Europeans with later-round picks. Sergei Fedorov, Slava Kozlov and Konstantinov all were taken no earlier than the third round. Lidstrom came to Detroit in 1991, well versed in hockey and English, but still trying to learn North American culture. Countryman Johan Garpenlov, then a Red Wing, helped Lidstrom make the jump.

“There was a little bit of an adjustment, not as much as what our Russians went through,” Lidstrom said. “Sweden is getting more and more like America over here with fast food and everything. It’s real similar. Still, everybody has to make an adjustment. There’s the language. Even though I spoke English and understood everything, there are a lot of things there are different and words I don’t know. There are things maybe you guys take for granted that I had to learn over again.”

The hockey was second nature, despite adjusting to the smaller NHL rinks. He finished his rookie season of 1991-92 with 11 goals and 60 points and was runner-up to Pavel Bure of the Vancouver Canucks for the Calder Trophy. When Howe came to Detroit as a free agent, friend Brad McCrimmon had a scouting report. “He told me, ‘We’ve got a guy who's going to be one of the best defensemen in the league in a couple years,’” Howe recalled.

The second year was less successful for Lidstrom. He never got going and then had to adjust in mid-season to playing with Paul Coffey, acquired from the Los Angeles Kings in a trade. Partnered with Coffey, the highest-scoring and arguably the best-skating defenseman in NHL history, taught Lidstrom much and also forced him to be more disciplined. “Having Paul developed my game even more,” he said.

He bounced back with solid seasons and played in the All-Star Game in 1996 when he posted career highs in goals (17) and points (67). Along the way, he developed one of the best one-timers in the NHL.

“I think I started to work on it more and more after I came over here,” Lidstrom said. “1 don’t think I was shooting the puck as much when I played in Sweden. I was more setting other guys up for shots or down-low plays. Over here, my shots got better and better. We’ve been using it a little more, too. I’ve been kind of the guy, the puck gets to me and I shoot it. That developed after I got over here.

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Mets trying to get Ryan Helsley 'back on track' after second straight blown save

The Mets lost their 13th game in their last 15 contests on Thursday night, falling 4-3 to the Atlanta Braves. New York scored early and took a 3-2 lead in the sixth inning, but, as they've experienced a lot recently, that lead was not safe.

Ryan Helsley, one of David Stearns' trade deadline acquisitions to bolster the bullpen, entered in the eighth inning and Atlanta took advantage. Helsley allowed a one-out walk to Marcell Ozuna and then left a slider over the middle for Michael Harris II to drive a double to center field and tie the game at 3-3. Two pitches later, the right-hander gave up a line drive double to Ozzie Albies as the Braves went up, 4-3.

It's the second straight save Helsley has blown. He previously allowed one run in the eighth inning to the Milwaukee Brewers on Aug. 10, in what ended up being a 7-6 loss. After the loss, manager Carlos Mendoza noted how Helsley is having issues with his slider and the team is trying to sort that out so he can be the piece in the bullpen they envisioned.

"The fastball's been getting hit, and it's a plus-plus fastball, right, but I think he's leaving that slider in the middle of the strike zone, Mendoza said. "That's kind of like the big difference for me. You see that pitch today to Harris, that slider. They're going to get ready for 100 (mph), and when that slider stays right there in the middle of the zone, good hitters are going to make him pay for it.

"We just got to get him to continue to finish those pitches, especially the breaking ball, the slider in this case. So that way the fastball when he throws it, he can use it effectively. This guy's elite, man, we just got to get him back on track."

Since coming over from St. Louis, Helsley is 0-2 with a 5.40 ERA, allowing seven runs (three earned) over 5.0 IP. The veteran acknowledged that he's been throwing lots of hittable pitches and is hoping to make adjustments to his slider so it can be better located.

"Leaving too good of pitches [over the plate]," Helsley said. "The pitch to Michael Harris, you know right down the middle, breaking ball, and he put a good swing on it. The pitch to Albies was actually a ball, a couple balls below the zone, and he put a weird swing on it but ended up a good result. Just got to keep working and try to figure it out."

"Just leaving it up," Helsley added about his slider. "Feels good, the shape's there. Just got to change the sights a little bit, I think, to get it in a better location."

Helsley was asked if it's been a bit of an adjustment for him in his new role with the Mets, and said he's still "trying to figure out" pitching in the eighth inning as the set-up man to Edwin Diaz, instead of his traditional closer role.

"Just trying to figure out that role and that routine to be ready when my name's called. I just haven't been good," Helsley said. 

He added, "For everybody else to do their job and you not to do yours, it sucks. You never want to be that guy and be the reason the team loses. All of the guys did a great job tonight, offense did a good job, just wasn't able to pull through."

The Mets (64-57) have now lost each of their last seven one-run games and are 32-30 in one-run games this season. They'll hope to save their season before it's too late, but it'll be a tough task at hand with the hot Seattle Mariners (67-55) coming to town for a three-game series this weekend.

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Red Wings Tried to Make Major Splash in Free Agency, NHL Insider Reveals

The Detroit Red Wings were among the more active teams in free agency during the offseason, bringing aboard multiple new players including James van Riemsdyk, Mason Appleton, Ian Mitchell, and Jacob Bernard-Docker. 

However, the Red Wings weren't able to land any of the more notable names which included Mitch Marner, Aaron Ekblad, Sam Bennett, and Brad Marchand. 

It was a tough reality that Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman acknowledged while addressing the early goings of their offseason on July 3.

"We didn’t even get a chance to talk to those guys (the top free agents)," he said. "They all signed with their clubs or were traded before free agency. Not much we can do about that."

Marner was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights by the Toronto Maple Leafs immediately after signing an eight-year, $96 million contract. Additionally, the Florida Panthers managed to re-sign Ekblad, Bennett, and Marchand to new multi-year contracts. 

Continuing with the back-to-back Stanley Cup champions was a difficult offer for Ekblad to turn down, especially given that he has been with the franchise since being selected first overall in the 2014 NHL Draft. 

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Ekblad had been linked to the Red Wings in the days and weeks leading up to free agency, and he could have earned even more in Detroit than the $6.1 million cap hit he ultimately re-signed for in Florida.

NHL Insider James Mirtle, a senior writer for The Athletic, disclosed that the Red Wings were “pushing” to land a big-name free agent and could have offered Ekblad a more lucrative contract.

"I know Detroit was pushing for some of the top potential UFAs this summer, but as mentioned above, a lot of them didn’t end up even getting to market," he wrote in a recent column. "Aaron Ekblad, in particular, could have signed for a much thicker average annual value in Michigan than the $6.1 million he took with Florida." 

Ekblad clearly felt that the appeal of playing for a Stanley Cup contender, combined with the familiarity of the only team he has ever played for, were important factors in his decision. 

The Red Wings had ample salary cap space entering free agency, which was aided by the trade of Vladimir Tarasenko and his entire $4.75 million cap hit to the Minnesota Wild. 

Currently, they still have approximately $12 million with which to work. 

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Jets Winger Named to NHL Network's Top-20 Wingers List

Winnipeg Jets forward Kyle Connor has been named to the NHL Network's annual Top-20 list. 

Each offseason, amid the dog days of summer's slowest period through mid-August, the NHL Network slowly releases its list of the league's Top-20 players at each position. 

Photo by Jerome Miron/USA Today 

Released systemically and over a lengthy period of time, NHL Network compiles 20 wingers, 20 centres, 20 defencemen and 20 goaltenders in advance of training camp, sparking debate amongst NHL fans throughout North America. 

This time around, Winnipeg's top winger, Kyle Connor earned the honour of NHL Networks' No. 9 winger in the league. 

Entering last season as NHL Network's No. 45 player in the league, Connor blew up for a career-high 97 points in 82 games, while also scoring 41 times. He was ranked seventh in the league in goals scored and led Winnipeg with 56 helpers on the year. 2024-25 marked Connor's fourth-straight season of 30-plus goals. 

Connor, 28, has 284 goals, 582 points and 139 penalty minutes in 613 games for Winnipeg over his nine-year NHL career. 

NHL Network's full Top-20 Wingers list:

  • Adrian Kempe, Los Angeles Kings
  • Matt Boldy, Minnesota Wild
  • Filip Forsberg, Nashville Predators
  • Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
  • Jason Robertson, Dallas Stars
  • Clayton Keller, Utah Mammoth
  • Brady Tkachuk, Ottawa Senators
  • Brandon Hagel, Tampa Bay Lightning
  • Jesper Bratt, New Jersey Devils
  • Jake Guentzel, Tampa Bay Lightning
  • Artemi Panarin, New York Rangers
  • Kyle Connor, Winnipeg Jets
  • Sam Reinhart, Florida Panthers
  • Matthew Tkachuk, Florida Panthers
  • William Nylander, Toronto Maple Leafs
  • Mitch Marner, Vegas Golden Knights
  • Mikko Rantanen, Dallas Stars
  • Kirill Kaprizov, Minnesota Wild
  • David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins
  • Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning
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Francisco Lindor's big night not enough as Mets blow late lead in 4-3 loss to Braves

The Mets and Braves played the final game of a three-game series on Thursday night at Citi Field.

Here are the takeaways...

- With the Mets leading, 3-2, in the eighth inning, Ryan Helsley coughed up the lead. After getting Drake Baldwin to fly out to lead off, Helsley walked Marcell Ozuna before serving up back-to-back run-scoring doubles -- the first to Michael Harris II, the second to Ozzie Albies -- as Atlanta went ahead, 4-3.

- The Mets didn't muster much after falling behind, with Lindor's one-out single in the eighth the only time they reached base the rest of the way.

- Francisco Lindorbroke a scoreless tie in the third, smoking a solo homer to center field off Braves starter Bryce Elder to give New York a 1-0 lead. It was Lindor's 22nd home run of the season.

- The inning after being staked to a lead, Kodai Senga gave up a game-tying homer to Albies with two outs in the fourth. 

It was a very strong performance for Senga overall, though, as he allowed two runs on five hits while walking one and striking out seven in 5.2 innings. The second run scored after Senga exited with runners on first and third and two outs in the sixth.

Facing Albies, Tyler Rogers allowed a run-scoring single to left field before ending the inning by inducing a dribbler in front of the plate.

- New York responded immediately in the bottom of the frame, almost entirely on the legs of Lindor. With one out, Lindor roped a single to left-center. He promptly stole second base and advanced to third on a throwing error by catcher Drake Baldwin.Following a Juan Soto walk, Brandon Nimmo ripped a sacrifice fly to left field to drive in Lindor with the tying run. 

Soto then stole second base and came around to score on a single by Pete Alonso to give the Mets a 3-2 lead. It was Alonso's 99th RBI on the season.

Meanwhile, the stolen base by Soto was the Mets' 36th straight attempt without getting caught, which set a new franchise record.

Game MVP: Francisco Lindor

Lindor did all he could in defeat, going 3-for-4 with a home run, two singles, a stolen base, and two runs scored. 

Highlights

What's next

The Mets open a three-game series with the Mariners at Citi Field on Friday at 7:10 p.m. on SNY.

Sean Manaea gets the start for New York, opposed by Luis Castillo for Seattle.

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Mets prospect Brandon Sproat struggles in latest Triple-A outing

Metsprospect Brandon Sproat made his 23rd start of the season for Triple-A Syracuse on Thursday, but it became a night to forget.

The right-hander allowed five earned runs on three hits over 3.1 innings, striking out six Rochester Red Wings and walking three.

Sproat tossed a 1-2-3 first inning with two strikeouts before allowing two runs in the second inning. He bounced back for another 1-2-3 frame in the third inning, but things fell apart in the fourth inning. 

The 24-year-old walked the first two batters he faced and allowed a two-run double as Rochester took a 4-2 lead. Sproat then got a ground out before another run crossed the plate due to Luisangel Acuña's fielding error. Richard Lovelady replaced Sproat and ended up allowing a two-run homer, tacking another run onto Sproat's scorecard.

Sproat's season ERA now sits at 4.40 after the rough outing. The five earned runs are the most he's allowed in a game since he gave up six earned runs in back-to-back starts on May 14 and May 20.

He was named International League Pitcher of the Month for July after pitching to a 0.67 ERA with a 0.81 WHIP and 33 strikeouts over 27.0 innings.

Despite Thursday's game, the righty may not make many more starts at Triple-A. Mets top pitching prospect Nolan McLeanis being called up to make his debut Saturday against the Seattle Mariners with Frankie Montas moving to the bullpen. Sproat could possibly join McLean in the bigs before the season and help New York during their postseason push.

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Yankees' Ryan Yarbrough, Fernando Cruz complete first rehab game with Triple-A

Yankees pitchers Ryan Yarbrough and Fernando Cruz began rehab assignments with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Thursday night, and it was a mixed bag for the two.

Yarbrough started the RailRiders' game against Indianapolis and got off to a good start. After stranding a runner in the first inning, Yarbrough made his one mistake in the second. He got the first two batters out -- one on a pop out and the other called out on strikes -- before Alika Williams smashed a 1-1 fastball over the plate for a solo shot. Williams' blast went 419 feet with an exit velocity of 101.6 mph.

That would be the only run Yarbrough would give up, and he finished his night with a 1-2-3 third inning, all on ground outs.

Yarbrough allowed one run on three hits and no walks across three innings (37 pitches/25 strikes) while striking out three batters.

When Yarbrough went down with an oblique strain in mid-June, the southpaw was a part of the team's rotation, but his spot may not be there when he returns. The Yankees' rotation is currently comprised of Max Fried, Carlos Rodon, Will Warren, the recently-returned Luis Gil and promising rookie Cam Schlittler. The team could conceivably option Schlittler back to the minors to limit his innings down the stretch to get Yarbrough back in the rotation, or use him in the bullpen like they did the first month of the season.

In 16 games (eight starts), Yarbrough has pitched to a 3.90 ERA with a 1.17 WHIP.

Cruz relieved Yarbrough to start the fourth inning and was in immediate trouble. After giving up a leadoff single, Cruz got a fly out before walking the third batter he faced. A stolen base followed by a single from Williams gave Indianapolis its second run of the game. 

After just four batters, Cruz's night was over. Sean Boyle allowed a single in relief of Cruz as the second run charged to the Yankees reliever crossed home plate.

Cruz tossed just 21 pitches (10 strikes) in his 0.1 inning of work, allowing two runs on two hits and one walk.

The Yanks placed Cruz on the IL back in late-June with an oblique strain, and the right-hander was finally in game action for the first time in over a month. Despite his bad outing, the Yankees need Cruz back in the bullpen as he was one of their best before the injury.

In 32 appearances, Cruz pitched to a 3.00 ERA with 54 strikeouts across 33 innings pitched in his first season in pinstripes. He also closed two games.

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Canadiens Defender Has Become Key Piece

Back in December, the Montreal Canadiens traded defenseman Justin Barron to the Nashville Predators in exchange for veteran blueliner Alexandre Carrier. With this move, the Canadiens gave their blueline a bit of a makeover, and it's a move that undoubtedly benefited them. 

After posting one goal, six assists, and a minus-14 rating in 28 games with the Predators before the trade, Carrier bounced back in a big way with the Canadiens. In 51 games with the Habs following the move, the right-shot defenseman posted two goals, 16 assists, 18 points, 120 blocks, and a plus-4 rating. With numbers like these, Carrier emerged as a solid part of the Canadiens' defensive group. 

Carrier's dependable defensive play undoubtedly gave the Canadiens' blueline a significant boost that it needed. Furthermore, because of his steady play, he also cemented himself a spot on the Canadiens' penalty kill.

Overall, the decision to acquire Carrier was certainly a good one for the Canadiens, and he should now build off his strong 2024-25 season with Montreal from here. It is clear that the change of scenery benefited him, and it is going to be very fascinating to see what kind of year he can put together in 2025-26. There is no question that he will be a defenseman that the Canadiens will continue to rely on as they look to continue to head in the right direction. 

Canadiens Have Interesting Potential Target In Kraken ForwardCanadiens Have Interesting Potential Target In Kraken ForwardIt is fair to say that the Montreal Canadiens have had a strong off-season so far. They notably boosted their blueline by acquiring Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders. They also acquired a young forward in Zack Bolduc, who has the potential to emerge as a top-six winger for them. 
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Former Golden Knight Marc-Andre Fleury Celebrates Retirement

Marc-Andre Fleury, a beloved figure from the Golden Knights’ inaugural season, officially celebrated his retirement from the NHL this past weekend. 

“Flower” as he is more affectionately known, spent 21 seasons in the league, and is the second-winningest goalie in NHL history, with 575 career wins. He won three Stanley Cup Championships along the way with his first team, the Pittsburgh Penguins. 

Following that, he became a key component in taking the Knights to their first Stanley Cup Final in their inaugural season, forever placing himself in the hearts of fans across the desert. Fleury earned himself the Vezina trophy in his 2020-21 season with the Knights having a 26-10-0 record, .928 save percentage, 1.98 goals-against average, and 6 shutouts. Over those four seasons in Las Vegas he played in 192 games and came out victorious in 117 of them. 

Though Fleury was eventually traded to the Chicago Blackhawks, his connection to Las Vegas never wavered. “Fleury 29” jerseys remained a staple among fans at T-Mobile Arena, a testament to the legacy he left. Fleury’s 500th career win, a 27-save shutout in his hometown of Montreal, came while wearing a Blackhawks jersey, making him just the third goalie in NHL history to reach that milestone. 

He closed out his career with the Minnesota Wild, mentoring younger players and still delivering his signature acrobatic performances. His final game fittingly was against Vegas during last season's playoff run. 

Fleury’s wife, Véronique, hosted a retirement gala bringing together NHL stars past and present to celebrate her husband's impressive career that spans four franchises. With Fleury hanging up his pads for good, the anticipated future Hockey Hall of Famer leaves behind a history of a great game—and an even greater heart behind it.

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Premier League: 10 things to look out for on the opening weekend

Another new era at Tottenham, De Cuyper can shine for Brighton and Aston Villa remind us this is a business

A visit to an expectant Anfield, where Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitiké will be out to impress on their Premier League debuts, represents a daunting start for a Bournemouth team that have lost three-quarters of last season’s backline to the pulling power of Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool this summer. Defensive issues are not exclusive to Andoni Iraola before the Premier League opener, however. Arne Slot voiced concern over the champions’ pre-season vulnerability before and after the Community Shield against Crystal Palace, when the absence of Ryan Gravenberch for family reasons was keenly felt. “Three times we lost the ball very simple in our midfield and three times they could counterattack us,” reflected the Liverpool head coach. Gravenberch will be missing again on Friday due to suspension but Slot expects the team with the second-best defensive record in the Premier League last season to react as soon as the serious business begins. “Mixed teams, new players coming in, Virgil [van Dijk] being sick, Alisson not being there,” he listed as reasons for Liverpool’s recent difficulties on Thursday. “But all of this is not an excuse when we start the league. We will 100% be ready on Friday.” Andy Hunter

Liverpool v Bournemouth, Friday 8pm (all times BST)

Aston Villa v Newcastle, Saturday 12.30pm

Brighton v Fulham, Saturday 3pm

Sunderland v West Ham, Saturday 3pm

Continue reading…

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NL East-leading Phillies going with a 6-man rotation when Aaron Nola returns on Sunday

WASHINGTON (AP) — Phillies manager Rob Thomson said Thursday that he will utilize a six-man rotation beginning this weekend when Aaron Nola returns from the injured list.

Nola is lined up for the series finale Sunday at Washington. The 32-year-old right-hander is coming back from a right ankle sprain.

Left-hander Ranger Suárez takes the mound on Monday against the Mariners. The NL East leaders also have ace right-hander Zack Wheeler, lefties Cristopher Sánchez and Jesús Luzardo, and right-hander Taijuan Walker.

Thomson said he isn’t sure how long he is going to use the six-man rotation.

“Once for sure and then we’ve got some other ideas how to attack this thing as we move forward,” he said.

Philadelphia starters lead the majors with 687 1/3 innings pitched. Sánchez is up to 150 2/3 innings, and Wheeler is at 144 2/3.

“Just getting some of these guys some extra rest cause we’ve been grinding on them pretty hard all year,” Thomson said before the opener of a four-game set against the Nationals. “The one downside to it is you’ve got to take somebody out of your bullpen, so you’re a little short there but we’ll just have to figure it out.”

Nola hasn’t pitched in the majors since May 14. He posted a 2.19 ERA in three rehab starts with Triple-A Lehigh Valley while striking out 17 batters in 12 1/3 innings.

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Cubs place catcher Miguel Amaya on the 10-day IL and bring up Owen Caissie from Triple-A Iowa

TORONTO (AP) The Chicago Cubs placed catcher Miguel Amaya on the 10-day injured list on Thursday and brought up top prospect Owen Caissie from Triple-A Iowa.

Amaya sprained his left ankle in the eighth inning of Wednesday night's 4-1 victory over the Blue Jays. His foot landed awkwardly at the front of first base on an infield single, and he was carted off the field.

The 26-year-old Amaya was just reinstated from the IL on Tuesday after he had been sidelined since May 25 because of a left oblique strain. He is batting .281 with four homers and 25 RBIs in 28 games this season.

“He’s disappointed,” manager Craig Counsell said of Amaya. “You spend two months on an injury, get back involved with a team that’s got a chance to accomplish some fun things, and you get one day and it’s over again.”

Caissie made his major league debut in a 2-1 loss to the Blue Jays, batting fifth while serving as the designated hitter. The 23-year-old Caissie was born in Burlington, Ontario, just outside of Toronto.

Caissie arrived at the stadium about 90 minutes before game time. He went 0 for 4 with a ninth-inning strikeout.

He nearly picked up a hit in his first at-bat in the second, but Davis Schneider made an outstanding catch on the rookie's liner to left.

“It’s a welcome-to-the-league moment, I guess,” Caissie said.

Caissie is the first Canadian player to make his debut in Canada since Josh Naylor for San Diego on May 24, 2019.

“It was surreal,” Caissie said of debuting so close to home. “I'm just super thankful that the Cubs could make my debut happen in front of the Canadian people that I cherish so much.”

Caissie's parents were among a large group of family and friends who attended the game.

“It means everything,” an emotional Caissie said of having his parents at his debut. “They supported me a lot. They just sacrificed pretty much everything for me. They did so much.”

Cubs left-hander Matthew Boyd, who was drafted by the Blue Jays in 2013, also made his big league debut in Toronto.

“I can't imagine the whirlwind that this day was for him,” Boyd said. “He handled himself like a pro.”

Caissie is batting .289 with 22 homers and 52 RBIs in 93 games with Iowa this season. He has been particularly good in August, hitting .393 (11 for 28) with two homers and five RBIs.

“I don’t know that this is going to be a big role for Owen, but I think we’re kind of just looking at where we’re going in this schedule, and just being a little more flexible in terms of whether we need to get guys some rest, get the guys to get the innings off,” Counsell said.

Caissie was selected by San Diego in the second round of the 2020 amateur draft. He was traded to Chicago in the Yu Darvish deal in December 2020.

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Tomoyuki Sugano earns 10th victory as Orioles outlast Mariners 5-3 after long rain delay

BALTIMORE (AP) Rookie Tomoyuki Sugano earned his 10th victory by working 5 1/3 sharp innings before a lengthy rain delay, and the Baltimore Orioles defeated the Seattle Mariners 5-3 on Thursday.

Julio Rodríguez homered for Seattle, which has dropped consecutive games since winning eight in a row. The Mariners (67-55) fell 1 1/2 games behind AL West-leading Houston.

Catcher Cal Raleigh, who leads the majors with 45 home runs, was out of Seattle’s starting lineup for only the fifth time this season. He walked as pinch-hitter in the ninth.

Sugano (10-5) won back-to-back starts for the first time. The 35-year-old from Japan threw 81 pitches and was pulled after the 2-hour, 18-minute delay.

Rodriguez hit reliever Rico Garcia’s fourth pitch after play resumed into the bleachers in right-center, a two-run shot to bring the Mariners within 5-2.

Dietrich Enns allowed Randy Arozarena's one-out RBI grounder in the ninth, but retired Josh Naylor on one pitch to earn his first save since Sept. 20, 2021.

The Orioles took the lead against Logan Evans (6-5) in the fourth inning. Jordan Westburg scored on Evans’ two-out wild pitch, and Ryan Mountcastle moved from first to third on the same play when Evans couldn’t field catcher Mitch Garver’s throw. After Daniel Johnson walked, Mountcastle scored when he and Johnson executed a double steal. Johnson came around on Jeremiah Jackson’s RBI single.

Baltimore added Gunnar Henderson’s RBI double and Mountcastle’s sacrifice fly in the fifth.

Evans allowed three runs --- two earned --- in four innings and matched the shortest outing of his 15-start career.

Orioles reliever Keegan Akin got Naylor to ground out to second to end the seventh, stranding two runners and preserving a 5-2 lead.

Sugano is 3-0 with a 2.31 ERA in his last four starts.

Mariners RHP Luis Castillo (8-6, 3.19 ERA) starts the opener of a three-game series against the host New York Mets. Baltimore has not announced its pitching plans for Friday’s game at Houston.