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Despite Mets' rotation uncertainties, faith in Clay Holmes' future is warranted

Clay Holmes saved the Mets' season with a performance on Saturday afternoon that officially stamped his conversion from relieving to starting as a success. 

But will it matter?

The Reds beat the Brewers on Saturday night, which means the Mets enter Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Marlins hanging onto their postseason hopes by their collective fingernails, needing to win in Miami while praying the Reds lose their Game 162.

It has to be an ominous feeling for the Mets, knowing the Brewers have nothing to play for. But they have only themselves to blame for it, having played losing baseball for more than three months, some of it downright ugly with defensive misplays and mental errors as well.

However, there will be plenty of time to hand out blame if, indeed, the Mets are sent packing.

For the moment, they’re still alive and it’s only right to salute Holmes, as well as Pete Alonso, for Saturday’s 5-0 win that made everything right for at least one more day.

More than that, it was a reminder of the good old days, back in April and May when Holmes was fresh and strong, going six innings deep on many a night while the Mets were pitching their way to the top of the NL East standings.

Unfortunately for them, that feels like practically another lifetime at the moment. Which is why, in their 161st game of the season, they were potentially one loss from elimination and forever lamenting a second-half collapse that happened primarily because their pitching has been so shoddy for months.

So for Holmes to dig down deep -- after seemingly hitting a wall weeks ago in this first year of his transition from the bullpen -- stamped him as a clutch performer as he delivered a gem when the Mets needed it most.

Alonso took care of the offense, giving the Mets an early lead with an RBI double and a solo home run. He's finishing his show-me-the-money season in style, leading the majors in doubles and running his total of extra-base hits to 80.

It all made for a day when the Mets could heave a sigh of relief.

But, now what?

First, the Mets need to win Sunday. And they may be catching Edward Cabrera, the Marlins’ talented right-hander, when he’s less than at his best. He missed three weeks in September with an elbow strain before making his return last Tuesday, throwing 67 pitches while going four innings and giving up three runs, including two homers.

They also may have a favorable matchup in Milwaukee, where Brewers ace Freddy Peralta and his 2.67 ERA is scheduled to pitch. Because it’s a tune-up for his NLDS start next Friday, however, it remains to be seen how long he goes against the Reds.

For any of it to matter, meanwhile, the Mets need another well-pitched game. And for that, they’re giving the ball to Sean Manaea over David Peterson.

I think it’s the right call. Neither of them has pitched well lately, but Manaea has shown flashes of his 2024 form. Peterson just looks worn down by his career-high total of 168 innings. The home-grown lefty has a 9.72 ERA in his last four starts, giving up a whopping total of 18 runs in 16.2 innings.

Manaea’s numbers aren’t much better -- he has a 7.29 ERA between August and September, and he gave up a home run in his one inning of relief against the Cubs on Wednesday.

But he's also had games where he pitches with dominance for a few innings at a time, usually early when his fastball has life and he’s elevating it for swings and misses -- the way he did so successfully last season after adopting that Chris Sale-like sidearm delivery.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza should be able to tell early if Manaea has the good fastball, and if not, he needs to have relievers warming up so that he can get him out at the first sign of trouble.

In truth, it’s hard for Mendoza -- not to mention, Mets’ fans -- to feel good about any of the choices for the final game. This team has plenty of other flaws, but their long, hard fall from 21 games over .500 is due mostly to their problems in the starting rotation.

During Saturday’s game, SNY had a revealing stat that showed, since June 13 -- the by now-infamous date when they started the day at 45-24 -- their starting rotation had accounted for 421 innings going into Game 161, the fewest in the majors.

As it is, it took three rookie starters -- Nolan McLean, Brandon Sproat, and Jonah Tong -- to keep the Mets in contention. And surely there is a case to be made that McLean should have been called up sooner, especially when the Mets were giving starts to career minor leaguers and/or Blade Tidwell.

One way or another, injuries and underperformance left the Mets with barely a semblance of the rotation they had early in the year, when Kodai Senga was pitching to a sub-2.00 ERA before the hamstring injury in June and Griffin Canning was looking like the surprise of the season.

As it turned out, Holmes proved to be the steadiest of all the Mets’ starters, pitching to a 3.53 ERA, which is in the top 10 in the NL, and throwing 165 innings, or nearly 100 more than his previous high in the big leagues, when he threw 70 as a reliever in 2021.

Holmes had some rocky moments along the way, when he was having trouble getting through five innings. But to finish the way he did on Saturday, as Mendoza put it, “says a lot about the work he put in to prepare to be a starter.”

For a team that’s going to have all sorts of questions about pitching going forward, Holmes has established himself as someone the Mets likely can count on for the remainder of his three-year contract.

Or maybe even in the postseason next week. He would line up on regular rest to pitch a do-or-die Game 3 against Dodgers in Los Angeles.

Right now, that sounds more like a hope and a prayer for the Mets. But at least Holmes kept them in it for at least one more day.

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Blues Top Prospect Heading Back To Juniors

ST. LOUIS -- Justin Carbonneau is heading back to junior hockey.

The St. Louis Blues first-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft (No. 19) overall, played in his third straight preseason game on Saturday, a 4-2 loss against the Chicago Blackhawks, in which he didn't factor in the scoring while playing on a line with Dalibor Dvorsky and Juraj Pekarcik, playing 13:38 in the game.

Carbonneau, who scored in the preseason opener, a 2-1 shootout loss to the Dallas Stars, then had an assist in a 4-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, was seen hugging teammates after the game on Saturday and he will be heading back to Blainville-Boisbriand Armada of the QMJHL where the 18-year-old has played for the past three seasons. He had 89 points (46 goals, 43 assists) in 62 regular-season games there last season.

There was no disappointment, just encouragement from the likes of Mathieu Joseph and a big hug from Colton Parayko, who offered up quite the compliments for the forward.

"He's a good player, obviously a great player, a lot of skill, works hard," Parayko said. "I think you've just got to keep working and keep building. It's hard to make this league and I think he's going to be a great player. Just go back, enjoy his year. He's going to have a great year. Just keep getting better and stronger and faster, all the things that make you a better hockey player. Just keep getting better."

The Blues haven't made the roster move official, but cuts are likely to occur on Sunday, with Springfield of the American Hockey League beginning its training camp starting on Monday. But with three preseason games remaining, rosters will be getting reduced on Sunday for a more polished NHL version.

(UPDATED): St. Louis Blues, Cam Fowler Agree To Terms On Three-Year Extension(UPDATED): St. Louis Blues, Cam Fowler Agree To Terms On Three-Year Extension ST. LOUIS – Cam Fowler is staying put. Blues Place Pair Of Forwards On WaiversBlues Place Pair Of Forwards On WaiversThe St. Louis Blues have placed center Nikita Alexandrov and winger Hugh McGing on waivers. Toropchenko, Blues Feel There's More Offense To Big Russian's gameToropchenko, Blues Feel There's More Offense To Big Russian's gameMARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- Alexey Toropchenko returned to St. Louis this summer feeling like a new man.
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Marc-Andre Fleury Steals Show For Penguins On Saturday

It was Marc-Andre Fleury's night in Pittsburgh on Saturday as the Pittsburgh Penguins picked up their second preseason win. They beat the Columbus Blue Jackets by three, 4-1, thanks to two goals from Rickard Rakell, one from Sidney Crosby, and one from Ville Koivunen. 

Sergei Murashov was sensational in goal for the Penguins during the first two periods, but the story was all about Fleury. He came into the game at the start of the third period and shut the door on the Blue Jackets. He made the saves he needed to make and displayed his signature poke check at times. 

Every time he made a save or when the puck touched his stick, the crowd erupted. There were "Fleury, Fleury, Fleury" and "One more year" chants throughout the entire period until the final whistle blew. Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang were the first three players to congratulate him, as it should be. 

Fleury thanked the fans for everything during his post-game interview with Dan Potash after he was named the first star.

"Thank you, thank you. I feel very lucky that I've played hockey for so long and obviously being in Pittsburgh for so long, too," Fleury said. "I feel very fortunate and thankful for that. Like I said, some of the best years of my life. Appreciate it. Thank you."

He got to return to the place where his career began, and put a bow on what was a great homecoming over the last 24+ hours. He practiced with the team in front of a packed house at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex on Friday before playing in front of a sold-out crowd at PPG Paints Arena. 

Even though his career is over, his impact on the Pittsburgh community will be felt forever. 

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab  to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more! 

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Oliver Moore Scores Late, Blackhawks Win Preseason Game 2

The Chicago Blackhawks took on the St. Louis Blues on Saturday night. It was a road match against a Blues squad playing mostly an NHL lineup. The Blackhawks were icing a young group, largely filled with players trying to snag a last-minute roster spot. 

Connor Murphy and Jason Dickinson were the veterans in the lineup, and they played like it. After being down 0-2 in the third period, the Hawks came back and won 4-2. 

Dominic Toninato scored to get Chicago on the board at 10:58 of the third. Less than a minute later, at 11:25, Toninato set up Gavin Hayes for the tying goal. 

With 3:03 remaining in regulation, Oliver Moore scored to give the Blackhawks the lead. His shot, which has needed some improvement, seems to have gotten better. It made a difference in this one after he used his speed to create a chance off an odd play. This is a big moment for him in his effort to make the NHL team. 

Jason Dickinson deposited one into the empty net to secure the 4-2 final. This comeback was a great confidence boost for the players looking to secure roster spots out of camp.  

Spencer Knight took the crease for the Blackhawks and played for the whole game. He made 31 saves on 33 shots for another sparkling performance. It appears as if Knight is getting close to being ready for things to count. 

There is a quick turnaround now. Chicago will now head to play the Minnesota Wild in St. Paul on Sunday. The lineup is sure to include some of the players who went on Saturday, in addition to more NHL roster locks. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

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Marc-Andre Fleury Signs Off On His Career With the Penguins In A 'Special' Night

The Pittsburgh Penguins and the entire hockey community said goodbye to goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury as he played his final NHL game. The team signed him to a PTO earlier in the month to allow him to call his career from where it all began.

Fleury spent the moments leading up to the game with his former Penguins teammates, Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang. The organization also provided a great gesture with a nod to his iconic nickname ‘Flower’ by creating a flower arrangement to form a No. 29, Fleury’s number.

When it was time for the walkout, Fleury strapped on his vintage all-yellow pads and gloves, just like he did when he last played a game for the Penguins over 3,000 days ago. 

Fleury didn’t start the game, but subbed in for Sergei Murashov to begin the third period against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The fans at PPG Paints Arena roared and cheered whenever Fleury appeared on the video board, made a save and every moment in between. With that, the fans chanted “Fleury” multiple times throughout the evening.

At one point, fans were chanting, “one more year!”

While the fans would like to see Fleury remain an NHLer, The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun believes that there are teams around the league that want the same thing.

Whether or not Fleury agrees to come out of retirement is to be determined. But there is no doubt he left an incredible legacy behind him.

It was a poetic send-off as Pittsburgh defeated the Blue Jackets 4-1 in this pre-season outing. Seconds after earning the victory, he was embraced by Crosby and Malkin as the three hugged it out.

Marc-Andre Fleury (Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images)

In terms of his performance, he was not out of place by any means. He faced eight shots in that third period, stopping every single one for the Penguins. Some of these saves required exceptional rebound control, and Fleury was up to the task, swallowing every puck that went his way. 

Following regulation time, the two teams competed in a shootout to give Fleury one last challenge.

After the shootout, it was time to officially say bye to the fans and his teammates. He received a long-standing ovation, followed by another loud cheer when he was named the first star of the game.

He signed off on his NHL career for the last time by reflecting on the evening and thanking the fans in Pittsburgh.

"Some of the best time of my life... It's a big part cause of you guys. Thank you for making this night special," Fleury said.

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Chicago Cubs place RHP Cade Horton on 15-day IL with right rib fracture

CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs placed Cade Horton on the 15-day injured list on Saturday, sidelining the right-hander for their first-round playoff series against San Diego.

Horton, one of the leading contenders for NL Rookie of the Year, has a right rib fracture. The IL move was made retroactive to Thursday.

The loss of Horton is a big blow for Chicago going into its first postseason appearance since 2020. The 24-year-old Horton, a first-round pick in the 2022 amateur draft, is 8-1 with a sparkling 1.03 ERA in 12 starts since the All-Star break.

Horton threw on the field before the Cubs’ 7-3 victory over St. Louis on Saturday. He was slated to throw a bullpen session Sunday before the IL move was announced.

Horton pitched three innings against the New York Mets on Tuesday before departing because of back tightness. He was sick after his previous start and was coughing, leading to issues with his back and ribs, manager Craig Counsell said.

Horton is 11-4 with a 2.67 ERA in 22 starts and one relief appearance.

President of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said the Cubs received Horton’s diagnosis on Wednesday, but Horton wanted to try to continue to pitch.

Horton then felt discomfort and had difficulty getting extension when he threw Saturday.

“We wanted to give him a chance, but it was clear after today that it wasn’t going to be possible,” Counsell said.

Hoyer said he wasn’t sure when exactly Horton will return.

“Cade really wanted to pitch, he felt like he could do it,” Hoyer said. “He’s a tough kid.”

Chicago (91-70) clinched the top NL wild card with Saturday’s win over St. Louis. The Cubs will host San Diego in Game 1 of their best-of-three playoff series on Tuesday.

Left-handers Matthew Boyd and Shota Imanaga and right-handers Jameson Taillon and Colin Rea are the top options for the team’s postseason rotation.

“It’s a blow, there’s no question about it,” Counsell said. “That’s unfortunate. It means other guys are going to get an opportunity and other people are going to have a chance to impact the game and have success.”

In a corresponding move, the Cubs recalled left-hander Jordan Wicks from Triple-A Iowa. Wicks is 0-1 with a 7.94 ERA in seven appearances with Chicago this season.

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3 takeaways from Nashville Predators preseason road loss to Tampa Bay Lightning

Continuing with the trend of mixing NHL veterans with young prospects through the pre-season, Nashville Predators head coach Andrew Brunette went with 11 forwards and seven defensemen Saturday in Tampa Bay against the Lightning.

While it's typical to be inconsistent during the pre-season, the Predators appeared disjointed at times and looked like they could break through on other occasions, but fell to the Lightning 4-1 at the newly-named Benchmark International Arena.

Darren Raddysh scored at 5:34 of the first, Mitchell Chaffee tallied one in the second, Brandon Hagel got one late in the third and Gage Goncalves sealed the victory for the Lightning.

Ozzy Wiesblatt scored the only Nashville goal in an otherwise uninspiring night for the Predators, who fall to 2-1-1 in pre-season.

The two teams also met last Tuesday in Nashville, with Tampa Bay coming from behind to win in a shootout. The Predators attempted to pull a similar comeback Saturday, but came up well short.

Here are three takeaways from the matchup against Tampa Bay.

The Predators Started Sluggish

One of the biggest reasons the Predators had such a disappointing 2024-25 was their penchant for slow starts.

The first three games of this pre-season saw the opposite, with the Preds jumping out in front first. That was not the case Saturday, however, as Tampa Bay struck twice, once in the first period and once in the second, for a 2-0 lead. The Preds trimmed the margin to one, but that was as close as they came all night.

Juuse Saros, who had allowed only one goal in his first 60 minutes of pre-season action, yielded two scores on six shots through one-plus periods. He did make several key saves to keep Tampa from widening the gap before giving way to Matt Murray after 40 minutes Murray gave up the final two goals in the third.

The Predators couldn't get out of the defensive zone and had numerous erratic passes in the first 20 minutes. They picked up the pace in the middle frame, outshooting the Bolts 14-6 in the period and 29-17 for the game. But only one of those shots went in the net.

Ozzy Wiesblatt Gets An Emotional Goal

Some players were seeing their first action of the pre-season including Tanner Molendyk and Zach L’Heureux, who were both coming off injuries.

Ozzy Wiesblatt, who took a brief leave of absence following the death of his brother Orca earlier this month, also suited up for his first action of the pre-season, and he made his presence felt in an emotional way.

Wiesblatt, who played in the Gold Star Showcase Thursday and scored a goal in the five-a-side shootout, got his first goal in actual pre-season action to trim the Bolts’ lead to 2-1.

The 23-year-old forward deflected a shot from Fedor Svechkov to get the Preds on the board at the 11:48 mark of the second. Michael Bunting picked up a secondary assist.

It may not have officially counted in the career stat sheet, but it certainly counted in the hearts of all who have been pulling for the Wiesblatt family.

Ozzy’s brother, Oasiz, is also back in camp. He, too, notched a goal in the shootout in Thursday’s showcase. On Saturday, it was Ozzy’s night. He even got in a scrap in the third period, going off for cross-checking 

Wilsby Went To Work

Jan 31, 2025; Buffalo, New York, USA; Nashville Predators defenseman Adam Wilsby (83) skates away from Buffalo Sabres center Ryan McLeod (71) in the first period at the KeyBank Center. Mark Konezny-Imagn Images

One name both Brunette and general manager Barry Trotz has raved about throughout the first week of camp is Adam Wilsby. The 25-year-old left-shot defenseman is one of the candidates to make the roster with Hague out.

Wilsby was paired with Roman Josi throughout the night. With the Predators trailing 1-0 in the first, both made bids to tie the game, only to be stymied by Bolts goalie Brandon Halverson.

As expected, there were some hiccups. A high-sticking call in the first period and a somewhat questionable tripping call in the second landed Wilsby in the sin bin. Wilsby and Josi were both on the ice on Tampa’s second goal. Josi overextended and Wilsby didn’t get over in time, and the Lightning took a 2-0 lead.

Wilsby showed his athleticism throughout the game and continues to keep his name in front of Brunette and Trotz for making the roster out of camp. Having the experience and leadership of Josi as his partner can only help the younger player’s development and comfort level.

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Tigers clinch playoff berth with 2-1 win over Red Sox in Game 161, avert September collapse

BOSTON — The Boston clinch party moved across the diamond.

Less than 24 hours after the Red Sox drenched the home clubhouse at Fenway Park to celebrate their postseason berth, the Detroit Tigers were spraying Champagne in the visitors’ locker room Saturday after beating Boston to earn a spot in the American League playoffs.

“They didn’t forget to celebrate, I’ll tell you that,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch told reporters as he ducked into a hallway to try to get away from the postgame mayhem. “We’re having a good time because we’ve earned it. But it’s very rewarding to get to the postseason, no matter how you do it.”

After blowing a 14-game lead in the AL Central and an eighth-inning lead on Friday night that would have secured their spot a day earlier, the Tigers beat the Red Sox 2-1 on Saturday. Assured at least a wild card, Detroit can still win the division and host a first-round series — but only with help from Cleveland.

The victory with one game to play averted a collapse that would have been among the biggest in baseball history. The Guardians, who were in fourth place and 15 1/2 games back on July 7, can still post the biggest comeback ever if they win their last two games (or one if Detroit loses on Sunday).

“We’ll be watching and paying attention to what’s going on around the league,” said Hinch, who will save ace Tarik Skubal for the Wild Card Series opener on Tuesday instead of using him to try to win the division on Sunday.

“Our guys earned this celebration,” the manager added, “and because of how good we were for the majority of the season, we were able to withstand a really tough stretch and finish with a couple of wins.”

Will Vest retired Carlos Narváez on a groundout to third for the final out, pumping his fist in celebration before his teammates joined him at the mound. Before returning to the raucous clubhouse, the Tigers donned blue “October Baseball” T-shirts – just like the red ones the Red Sox wore the night before.

“I absolutely hated it” watching Boston celebrate the night before, designated hitter Jahmai Jones said. “I hate losing. So when you feel like it’s going to happen on night one, and it didn’t, everybody kind of understood the kind of taste that left in our mouth.

“But we knew that we had a great opportunity the next day,” he said. “And we really focused today on trying to get that win.”

Inside the clubhouse, Hinch tried to pull reporters away from the commotion, but Skubal tracked him down and sprayed him so enthusiastically he broke an exit sign hanging from the ceiling (which he then fixed).

The team surrounded owner Chris Ilitch and — after giving him a chance to get his goggles on — drenched him with beer and Champagne. They made a circle and sang along to the music blasting through the room, then posed for a team picture.

“Baseball, it’s not a straight line,” Ilitch said. “It’s a long baseball season. There’s going to be ups, and there’s going to be downs. We had a lot of ups and we had some downs, but here we are.”

Even Red Sox manager Alex Cora, whose brother Joey is the Tigers’ third base coach, was feeling the tension before the game.

“It’s been tough to watch, to be honest with you. It’s the total opposite of last year,” when Detroit was 16 games back in July but rallied to earn a wild-card berth and return to the playoffs for the first time since 2014.

“They’re a really good team. We’ll see what happens in the upcoming days. But talking to my brother throughout, it’s been a grind for them. Yesterday was tough for them. So we’ll see.”