Following the 2026 NHL Prospects Tournament, the Detroit Red Wings are ready to focus on the beginning of Training Camp, which officially begins on Thursday, Sept. 17.
One player who participated in two of the tournament's three games was 2023 first-round (ninth overall) pick Nate Danielson, who began last season with the American Hockey League's Grand Rapids Griffins before eventually being called up to the Red Wings.
Danielson, who appeared in 28 NHL games last season, recorded two goals and five assists before being returned to the AHL. However, he suffered a stress fracture in mid-February that sidelined him for the remainder of the Griffins' season.
This time around, Danielson has his sights set on earning a spot on the Red Wings' roster out of Training Camp.
"For sure," he said of his goal to make the Red Wings' roster. "I mean, I want to come into Camp and definitely earn a spot. I mean, ultimately my goal is to be an impact player in the League this year and be someone who contributes. That's kind of my goal for the year."
Danielson got his first taste of NHL action with the Red Wings last season, and while he viewed the experience positively overall, he believes he can improve his ability to capitalize on scoring opportunities.
"I feel like there's a lot of different things you can work on," he said. "I think finishing is definitely something I kind of need to bear down on. I felt like last year, I lacked that at times."
Griffins head coach Dan Watson, who coached Detroit during the Prospects Tournament, believes Danielson is almost overly focused on his defensive responsibilities to the point where it hinders his offensive abilities.
“His vision, the way he thinks the game, he’s very responsible, maybe sometimes too responsible," Watson said of Danielson's attributes. "And that sometimes can hurt you, but I just think his willingness to go to the net, his willingness to create some more offense around the net; that’s what he was asked to do last year, and he started to do that with us before he got injured.
"So, hopefully he’s been able to rehab himself, to feel stronger, get stronger, and have the ability to do that."
Danielson appeared in 18 games with Grand Rapids last season, recording three goals and 12 assists. The previous season, his first full campaign with the Griffins, he posted 12 goals and 27 assists in 71 games.
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ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 13: Ray Kerr #58 of the Atlanta Braves pitches in the fifth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Truist Park on September 13, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There were a few overarching themes in play in the first half of September for the Braves:
They are still great at accumulating more wins than warranted by their production
They are also great at beating the Phillies
The two things above have made them overwhelmingly likely to win the division for the first time since 2023
The schedule was very tough, and they did okay-ish
But, this team still isn’t playing well by an objective measure
Put the above together, and the Braves went 7-7 in September’s first half. That 7-7, though, was well-scattered, as they went 4-3 against the Phillies, capturing the tiebreaker and more or less cementing their spot atop the division unless they suffer a late September collapse and the Phillies actually get it together enough to win a bunch of their remaining games. Still, as I describe below, this hasn’t exactly been a triumphant ride to the division title. Yeah, the schedule has been a gauntlet, but the Braves are once again winning games moreso than doing a bunch of stuff that leads to winning games.
How did the Braves do recently?
As noted, they went 7-7. 12 of those 14 games were against contenders, but they went 6-6 in those games while also going 1-1 against the Nationals. In terms of game-by-game odds, yeah, they should’ve gone 7-7. One thing this stretch featured was their two lowest-win odds games of the years, both in Philadelphia. They did indeed lose both of those games. To date, the Braves have lost all four of their games where their pre-game odds were below 40 percent, and have gone 11-5 in games where their pre-game odds were above 60 percent. In some ways, this feels intuitively “right” to me, even if there’s no real reason why that shuld be the case.
Production-wise, it’s more or less the same story. The Braves finished 23rd in position player fWAR in the first half of September, including 22nd in offensive inputs and 21st in offensive inputs. They finished 17th in pitching fWAR, with relative ranks of 11th, 21st, and 21s in ERA-, FIP-, and xFIP-, respectively. Both the rotation and the bullpen were basically in that same place. With their total of 1.0 fWAR each in the position player and pitching buckets over these 14 games, the Braves “should have” gone 6-8. They went 7-7. Surprise, surprise, they did it again.
Ranks aside, the September numbers are underwhelming so far: a 91 wRC+ with a marginal xwOBA overperformance, and a 93/106/107 (again, ERA-/FIP-/xFIP-) pitching line. That doesn’t feel like a team that has largely survived a September gauntlet to nearly sew up a division crown, but here we are, as we have been.
How are the Braves doing on the season?
Well, again, they have MLB’s fourth-best record. It looks like they’ll finish with 94-95 wins, unless something strange happens. They are almost certain to win the division, but very unlikely to catch the Dodgers or Brewers. Right now, though, they’re 20th in position player fWAR, though they’re at least 13th in xwOBA and seventh in team defense (park effects ding their offense, while xwOBA isn’t park-adjusted). It’ll feel strange if/when they win the division with a sub-100 wRC+, but again, here’s where we are.
Amusingly, for all the droning and hand-wringing about the pitching both in the offseason and at the Trade Deadline, it’s actually been pretty good. The Braves are up to tenth in pitching fWAR, with an average rotation and top-ten bullpen. The rotation’s line is 89/102/98; the bullpen’s line is 81/93/97. Perhaps one reason the Braves win a lot of games relative to production is that bullpen ERA-x/FIP gap: it’s easier to win when you allow relatively few runs, and fewer runs than you “should,” late in the game.
The Braves do have the league’s fifth-best run differential, but are only ninth in BaseRuns. Only three teams have outperformed their BaseRuns more than the Braves, but one of those is the Phillies, so ha ha ha, I guess. The disparity with WAR-wins is a currently-insane 12. There’s more to say about the wins versus WAR-wins and BaseRuns versus WAR-wins differentials, but not here.
How are the hitters doing?
At this point, I don’t really even know how to say anything new.
These last 14 games were a stars-and-scrubs effort. Mike Yastrzemski and Ronald Acuña Jr. did some great stuff and got fortunate. Drake Baldwin was solid. Mauricio Dubon and Ha-Seong Kim were also there. Matt Olson and Ozzie Albies basically went full-on tire fire. Michael Harris II and Sean Murphy didn’t help. That’s the team, and that’s not great.
For the season as a whole, you basically have the team’s front four doing stuff, and everyone else…not doing doing stuff. Dubon has at least provided value via defense and versatility, but the back half of the starting crew has been pretty damaging to the team’s production. It’s still kind of amazing the Braves are where they are given the table above.
The wOBAs and xwOBAs have largely normalized for everyone. There’s a bit of “Albies has stolen the mojos of Baldwin and Acuña” but not much.
That said, and totally in keeping with this season as whole, guess who led the team in WPA for these 14 games among position players? First, Murphy, and then Kim just 0.01 WPA behind. Both guys had two huge games as part-time players. The Braves will take it.
How are the pitchers doing?
It was a good two weeks for HR/FB for the starters. Grant Holmes and Martin Perez were big beneficiaries despite problematic peripherals. Chris Sale and Tyler Mahle were worse than they have been peripherals-wise, but the lack of homers helped. The less said about AJ Smith-Shawver and Reynaldo Lopez at this point, the better.
The season-long stats are largely familiar to y’all at this point. Sale and Mahle rule, Perez has been decent, Holmes still doesn’t really have the juice to be an average-y starter, and so on and so forth.
Reliever-wise, Didier Fuentes was a beast these two weeks, but when is he not? Ray Kerr also reappeared and was surprisingly really good in a longer relief role. Kerr, in particular, managed three multi-inning outings, and earned shutdowns in two of them despite them being medium-leverage appearances. Between Kerr and Suter, the Braves seem very wealthy in “lefties who can avoid having to use multiple relievers to mop the game up,” which is not a super-useful thing to be wealthy in, but will probably help give guys rest that they may or may not desperately need down the stretch.
See you at the end of the season. Hopefully there’s no reason to skip one of these, though the short turnaround to the Wild Card round is awkward.
If you have any thoughts on how to amend these for next year, or do something different as a check-in, I’m all ears. These were in some ways easier to do than my old monthly recaps, but somewhat less fun though maybe more informative. That said, I don’t know if I have the time to do the old monthly recaps anymore, but maybe next year will be a lot easier than this year.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 15: Gabriel Moreno #14 of the Arizona Diamondbacks during the fourth inning of the game against the Miami Marlins at Chase Field on September 15, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Marlins defeated the Diamondbacks 4-2 in 11 innings. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Cardinals Made Right Move Trading Nootbar So far, this has been a win-win sort of trade. Arizona has benefitted from an improved Nootbar. St. Louis has benefitted from the promotion of Baez to fill Nootbar’s place on the roster and the pitching prospects have picked up right where they left off at the deadline.
The good news there is Crisantes hitting his third home run since joining the Reno Aces. The bad news is, they lost the game anyway. The worse news is, the Diamondbacks organization has probably seen Drey Jameson play his last game for them.
Drey Jameson appeared to intentionally hit Sterlin Thompson in the 8th inning, causing both benches to clear.
Jameson and Reno manager Jeff Gardner have been ejected.@Aces | #Dbacks
Additional note to that. Jameson missed Thompson with a 98 mph fastball that went behind the hitter. But, Jameson isn’t a quitter, so he went back to the well and threw another 98 mph heater at Thompson. Jameson has reportedly already been suspended.
Other Baseball News
Pete Alonso Hits 300th HR in Victory Over Mets Alonso, the longtime Met, launched his 300th career home run against his former club. That did nothing to dampen the standing ovation the Citi Field crowd gave him for achieving the feat.
MLB Teams with Potential 2026 Managerial, Front Office Changes The consensus seems to be that Mike Hazen is probably safe, given his multi-year contract and the fact that Arizona is still in contention for the playoffs. There is less certainty about Lovullo, whose contract expires at the end of the season. The looming 2027 lockout is likely to play a major part in some decisions, including potentially the retention of Hazen and Lovullo.
The Seattle Kraken are adding a familiar name with decades of NHL front-office experience to their hockey operations department.
Seattle announced Wednesday that Chuck Fletcher has joined the organization as a senior advisor to general manager Jason Botterill, bringing the veteran executive to the Pacific Northwest after two seasons in a similar role with the New Jersey Devils.
Fletcher’s arrival gives Botterill another experienced voice to lean on as the Kraken continue shaping their hockey operations department and searching for the right formula to establish themselves as a consistent force in the NHL.
The move also represents another chapter in a front-office career that has taken Fletcher through some of the league’s most prominent organizations.
The Montreal native entered the NHL in the early 1990s with the expansion Florida Panthers, where he worked as an assistant general manager alongside Bobby Clarke. Fletcher spent nearly a decade in Florida and briefly assumed interim general manager duties during the 2001-02 season before moving to Anaheim.
With the once-Mighty Ducks, Fletcher served as assistant general manager and director of hockey operations. He was part of the organization during its run to the 2003 Stanley Cup Final, gaining valuable experience with a franchise that was beginning to establish itself on the NHL stage.
Fletcher’s next stop came in Pittsburgh, where he joined the Penguins in 2006 as Ray Shero’s assistant general manager.
That stint ultimately brought the biggest team accomplishment of his early executive career. Pittsburgh captured the Stanley Cup in 2009, giving Fletcher a championship on his résumé before he received an opportunity to run an NHL franchise himself.
That opportunity came with the Minnesota Wild in 2009.
Fletcher spent nine seasons as Minnesota’s general manager, overseeing a team that reached the Stanley Cup Playoffs six times during his tenure. The Wild won two playoff series during that span, while Fletcher became closely associated with the organization’s decision to sign Zach Parise and Ryan Suter to matching 13-year contracts in 2012.
Minnesota did not renew Fletcher’s contract following the 2017-18 season, bringing his first lengthy run as an NHL general manager to an end.
He soon returned to an advisory role with New Jersey before landing his next major opportunity.
In December 2018, the Philadelphia Flyers hired Fletcher as their general manager, placing him in charge of an organization looking to regain its footing in the Eastern Conference.
His time in Philadelphia lasted just over four seasons. The Flyers reached the playoffs once during Fletcher’s tenure, and the organization dismissed him in March 2023.
Rather than remaining away from the NHL, Fletcher returned to the advisory side of hockey operations.
He joined the Devils for the 2024-25 season as a senior advisor to general manager Tom Fitzgerald, a role he maintained for the following two seasons. When Fitzgerald departed New Jersey before the conclusion of the 2025-26 campaign, Fletcher’s future with the organization became uncertain.
That uncertainty has now led him to Seattle.
Fletcher, the son of longtime NHL executive Cliff Fletcher, arrives in the Emerald City with more than three decades of experience across the league. His career has included front-office positions with expansion teams, Stanley Cup contenders and organizations undergoing major transitions.
Now, he will work alongside Botterill as the Kraken continue their effort to build a sustainable hockey operation.
For Seattle, Fletcher’s arrival adds another experienced voice to a front office focused on building the foundation of a team capable of competing for the Stanley Cup.
For Fletcher, it marks another chapter in a long NHL career — one that has taken him from assistant general manager roles to the general manager’s chair and now back into an advisory position, where his experience can help shape Seattle’s next steps.
OMAHA, NE - JUNE 26: Paxton Kling #28 of the LSU Tigers reacts towards the end of the game against the Florida Gators during the Division I Men’s Baseball Championship held at Charles Schwab Field on June 26, 2023 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by C. Morgan Engel/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) | NCAA Photos via Getty Images
The participants in the Arizona Fall League from the Texas Rangers’ organization were announced yesterday. The are Rangers farmhands who will be playing for the Surprise Saguaros are:
C Julian Brock
RHP Alejandro Chiquillo
IF Casey Cook
RHP J’Briell Easley
RHP Jesus Gamez
RHP Jacob Johnson
OF Paxton Kling
RHP Mason McConnaughey
It is a collection of players that is light on big time prospects and heavy on guys who missed a decent chunk of the season.
Johnson was the team’s 11th round pick out of Pearl River Community College in 2025, Johnson split the 2026 season between the complex league and low-A Hickory, though he went over a month without pitching in June and July. The 20 year old put up a 2.51 ERA in 43 innings over 14 appearances, striking out 48 and walking 12. He is ranked #22 on the Baseball America top 30 Rangers list.
Kling, a 7th rounder who spent two seasons at LSU before transferring to Penn State for the 2025 season, was the Rangers’ 7th round pick in 2025. A righthanded hitting center fielder with speed, Kling was slashing .261/.400/404 for high-A Hub City before a broken wrist landed him on the injured list for over six weeks. After struggling initially upon his return, Kling slashed .412/.574/.441 in his final 10 games at Hub City, and was promoted to Frisco last week, where he’s playing center field for them in the playoffs. For the season he slashed .243/.383/.361 with 57 walks and 102 Ks in 401 plate appearances, and is #19 on the BA Rangers list.
McConnaughey, a 22 year old righthander, was the Rangers fourth round pick out of the University of Nebraska in 2025, but didn’t make an appearance in game action until the end of June due to recovery from Tommy John surgery. McConnaughey put up a 3.48 ERA in 20.2 innings over 8 appearances between the complex league and low-A.
Cook, the Rangers’ third round pick in 2024 out of the University of North Carolina, missed the bulk of the 2026 season after undergoing shoulder surgery in February. In 47 games between the complex league and Hub City, he slashed .181/.310/.349.
Easley, 24, is a righthanded pitcher signed as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Kansas who the Rangers signed in March, 2025. He pitched mostly for Hub City but moved up to Frisco for the final week of the season and the playoffs. Easley was used as a reliever in the second half of the season, and for the year had a 5.43 ERA in 58 innings over 32 appearances.
Brock, 25, was the team’s 8th round pick in 2023 out of Louisiana-Lafayette. He split the season between Frisco and Round Rock, putting up a .197/.312/.332 slash line in 68 games.
Chiquillo, 23, split the season between the complex league and Hickory, putting up a 4.79 ERA in 56.1 innings over 17 appearances.
Gamez, 23, made 42 appearances for Hub City this year, with a 3.74 ERA in 43.1 innings, striking out 69 and walking 47.
Single-game tickets to watch the new-look Sixers will go on sale to the public at 10 a.m. ET on Thursday, Sept. 17.
Following a tumultuous offseason that included signing superstar LeBron James and trading for former Finals MVP Jaylen Brown, there’s more excitement around the Sixers in Philadelphia than there has been in a long time.
James and Brown playing alongside the young backcourt of Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe plus franchise stalwart Joel Embiid gives the Sixers one of the most complete starting fives in basketball.
After joining the franchise in May, president of Basketball Operations Mike Gansey also acquired notable depth pieces Anfernee Simons and Dean Wade via free agency and drafted guard Labaron Philon Jr. 22nd overall in June’s NBA draft.
The team will debut on the road against the reigning champion New York Knicks on Oct. 20 before coming back to Philly to host the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Sixers’ home opener on Oct. 22.
Sixers fans can purchase single game tickets here starting Thursday at 10 a.m. ET.
New Celtics big man Mitchell Robinson's brother, Zeek, was hit by a car while out for a job on Tuesday, according to the victim's grandfather, who shared the news in a Facebook post.
New Celtics big man Mitchell Robinson’s brother, Zeek, was hit by a car while out for a jog Tuesday, according to the victim’s grandfather, who shared the news in a Facebook post.
Robinson, who was absent from the Celtics’ press conference Tuesday introducing their new players, reshared the Facebook post and wrote, “Prayers for my little brother my dawg can’t catch a break” with a cross emoji and a somber face emoji.
The Celtics said Robinson was absent due to personal reasons.
Mitchell Robinson was originally selected by New York with the 36th overall pick in the 2018 NBA draft. NBAE via Getty Images
The Celtics moved forward with the introductory press conference, which included Paul George and Mike Conley Jr., and said they “look forward to introducing [Robinson] soon.”
Taking to his Instagram Story later that day, Robinson shared a video edit of him getting shots up at his alma mater, Chalmette High School in Louisiana, and a clip of country singer Megan Moroney in her music video for the song, “Wedding Dress.”
Robinson, fresh off a 2026 NBA title run with the Knicks, signed a three-year, $47.4 million contract with Boston in July after spending his first eight seasons with the Knicks.
New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (23) puts up a shot during the third quarter of Game 5 of the 2026 NBA Finals on Saturday, June 13, 2026, at Frost Bank Center. Jason Szenes for NY PostMitchell Robinson #23 of the New York Knicks celebrates after winning the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs during Game 5 of the 2026 NBA Finals on June 13, 2026 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NBAE via Getty Images
Robinson played a key role in the Knicks’ road to their first championship in 53 years, when they beat the Spurs in five games in June.
The 7-footer averaged 5.6 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 60 games (16 starts) last season.
He shot 72.3 percent from the field and averaged 4.2 offensive rebounds per game, the latter ranking second in the NBA.
CINCINNATI — Shohei Ohtani hit off a tee in Los Angeles and remains on track to return before the end of the regular season, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.
“Shohei hit off the tee and felt good, too,” Roberts said. “Don’t know what’s in store for tomorrow, but I know that there’s going to be a consistent build-up. Don’t know when the time of return to play is, but today was positive, and hopefully we can just keep building towards that.”
Ohtani has been on the 15-day injured list since Sept. 8 with right biceps inflammation. His swings were his first since going on the IL.
The four-time MVP is not traveling with the team, but has been working out and getting treatment.
Roberts hopes Ohtani will play in a few more regular-season games. The Dodgers already have clinched a playoff spot.
“Whether it happens or not is to be determined, but I do expect him to be back to play in some regular season games,” Roberts said. “I don’t know how many.”
The magic number for the two-time defending World Series champions to clinch their 13th NL West title in 14 years is down to one.
Sacramento is still looking for the right veteran point guard to back up their star rookie, Darius Acuff.
Elfrid Payton is going to get that chance after signing a one-year, non-guaranteed contract to come to the Kings' training camp, reports Michael Scotto of Hoopshype.
Payton has nine seasons of NBA experience, but has played just 24 games in the league over the past four seasons and was not in the NBA last season. The 32-year-old point guard last played in the 2024-25 NBA season, splitting 24 games between New Orleans and Charlotte, and averaging 3.5 points and 6.9 assists a game, but he was never an elite scorer and shot just 32.8% from the floor that season.
That said, he's getting a chance as the Kings look for the right fit.
Sacramento has just 13 standard contracts on the roster and will bring in someone as a backup point guard to fill the 14th roster spot. Theoretically, they could keep both Simmons and Payton (or another player) on the roster to get to 15 players, but that would leave the team less than half a million below the luxury tax and with less flexibility to approach trades. The Kings will likely enter the season with a 14-man roster.
The Phillies on Wednesday announced opportunities for fans to acquire tickets to potentially watch playoff baseball at Citizens Bank Park.
“The energy at Citizens Bank Park during Red October is unlike anything else in sports, and it’s all thanks to the best fans in baseball,” Phillies senior vice president of ticket operations John Weber said in a release.
Tickets to a possible Wild Card series will go on sale on Sept. 18 with tickets for the National League Divisional Series going on sale a week later on Sept. 25.
Additionally, fans can register for a chance to buy tickets to see the Phillies should they make it to the National League Championship Series or the World Series.
The Phillies are currently 5.5 games back of the Braves in the NL East, but they’re second in the Wild Card standings and just a half-game behind the Cubs as of Wednesday afternoon.
However, the Phils’ 5-8 start to September has the team just a half-game up on the Padres for the third Wild Card spot and 2.5 games ahead of the rest of the field. With 11 games left on the schedule, it’s all to play for.
With Clarke Schmidt being activated off the 60-day IL as he returns from Tommy John surgery, the Yankees are creating room on the 40-man roster by designating utility player Oswaldo Cabrera for assignment.
Cabrera was then claimed by the Cincinnati Reds, ending his time with the Yankee organization after five seasons in The Bronx.
Cabrera played just three games for the Yanks this season as he spent the majority of the year with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre, where he was hitting .288/.345/.444 in 122 games while getting starts at all four infield positions and both corner outfield spots.
The 27-year-old appeared in 304 games at the big league level, posting a .232/.292/.343 slash line for a .635 OPS. In 15 postseason games, Cabrera tallied three hits in 34 at-bats with a .420 OPS.
As for Schmidt, he has been out since July 3 of last season, when he was diagnosed with a torn UCL that required Tommy John surgery that also included an internal brace procedure.
Schmidt had a 3.32 ERA (3.95 FIP) and 1.09 WHIP in 14 starts last season before going down with his injury.
In another notable move on Wednesday, hard-throwing pitching prospect Carlos Lagrange was activated off the IL in Triple-A.
Lagrange, who had been dealing with a right shoulder sprain, last pitched on June 28.
NEW YORK — Pete Alonso hit plenty of memorable home runs for the New York Mets.
This one came at their expense — and still earned him a curtain call in Queens.
Alonso launched his 300th career homer, a tying shot in the ninth inning against his former team, and Coby Mayo’s inside-the-park homer in the 11th sent the Baltimore Orioles to a 7-5 victory at Citi Field.
“There’s a lot of history here with me,” Alonso said after receiving a beer shower from his Baltimore teammates. “It doesn’t matter where and when, I just want to help the team win. I’m just really, really happy for us to come back the way we did.”
The Orioles were two outs from a defeat that would have dropped them four games behind Cleveland for the last American League playoff spot when Alonso hit a 414-foot solo drive off Kodai Senga to tie the score 3-all.
A pumped-up Alonso, who hit a club-record 264 homers for the Mets before signing with the Orioles last December, fired his bat toward the Baltimore dugout and shouted in excitement. He rounded the bases as the Citi Field crowd of 28,097 — down from 35,800 for the slugger’s return — roared.
Fans chanted his name until Alonso emerged from the dugout for a curtain call. Then chants of “Fire Stearns” began, aimed at Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns.
“Everyone in the dugout was saying go out there,” Alonso said. “And they were right.”
Said Orioles manager Craig Albernaz: “The dugout was fired up for Pete for a lot of different reasons. It was cool to get an acknowledgment from the crowd.”
The rare curtain call on the road continued an outpouring of support from Mets fans for Alonso over the past two nights — and apparently annoyed at least one of his former teammates.
“As the 2026 Mets, I know we have definitely underperformed. But we are — the guys in here work their (tails) off every single day and to have that kind of reaction to an opposing player — could be anybody — is crazy to me,” said New York pitcher Sean Manaea, who started the game. “Again, I’ve got nothing but respect for Pete. But yeah, just never seen anything like that before.
“Pete’s not here,” the veteran left-hander added. “He’s just not here. So, I know everybody loves him. He’s the man. But, yeah, he’s not here. So, to see the reaction from the fans like that, I don’t know, it’s just different.”
Alonso became the third player to hit his 300th home run against a team for whom he played in 1,000 or more games. Willie Horton hit No. 300 with Seattle against the Detroit Tigers in 1979, and Torii Hunter did so for the Tigers against the Minnesota Twins in 2013.
Alonso received a two-minute tribute video before the Orioles’ 2-1 at Citi Field. He was showered with a thunderous ovation before his first at-bat minutes later, when he was accompanied to the plate by “Layla,” one of his walk-up songs, as “Welcome Back, Pete!” flashed next to his picture on the scoreboard.
He got standing ovations before each of his final three plate appearances as well, when rookie pitcher Jonah Tong was booed after walking Alonso in the third, and warm receptions prior to his first three at-bats.
“I appreciate all the support for all the years I’ve been here, all the life I’ve lived here,” Alonso said. “Obviously, they’re recognizing that and they appreciate that. It’s a two-way street. Really appreciate it.”
Alonso was given his home run ball by the trio of Long Islanders — Michael Shaw, Nick Maldarella and Chris Makarius — who teamed up to catch the milestone drive, which caromed off the second deck of stands in left field and fell into the first deck.
“On the way here, we were saying we’re going to catch his 300th home run,” Maldarella said. “And sure enough, man. It’s crazy.”
Maldarella and Makarius said they each got a hand on it before sharing it with Shaw.
“Never leave a man behind,” Shaw said.
Alonso signed a bat and a ball for each fan in return. He also signed the shirts they were wearing — an Alonso Mets jersey for Shaw and Makarius and a Carlos Delgado shirt for Maldarella — and offered them tickets and batting-practice access at Camden Yards in Baltimore next season.
“Thank you, guys,” Alonso said to the trio outside the visitors’ clubhouse. “You guys are so kind. Thank you so much.”
Alonso also posed for a group picture and for photos with each person individually.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - OCTOBER 29: Jake LaRavia #12 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts to his three-point basket against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the fourth quarter at Target Center on October 29, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Lakers defeated the Timberwolves 116-115. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to our Lakers Season Preview Series! For the next several weeks, we’ll be writing columns every weekday, breaking down the biggest questions we have about every player the Lakers added this offseason. Today, we take a look at Jake LaRavia.
When the viral moment last season where a Minnesota Timberwolves fan asked “Who is No. 12?” with Anthony Edwards hilariously responding, “That’s what I’m saying! I don’t know,” Jake LaRavia was catapulted into a bright purple and gold spotlight. Excitement filled the air as it seemed the Lakers had found a surprise gem as he torched the Timberwolves for 27 points while shooting 5-6 from behind the arc that night.
He followed that up with a few more impressive games before hitting a brutal slump that lasted through March. His minutes continued to dwindle into the postseason, where he averaged 15 minutes per game against the Rockets and played in just two of the four games against the Thunder.
Now, with the addition of quite a few new players including Sandro Mamukelashvili, Matisse Thybulle, Ziaire Williams and Quentin Grimes, LaRavia might find himself being outshined by his teammates if he doesn’t tap into his “Who is No. 12?” identity again.
What is his best-case scenario?
The easiest answer is that he finds consistency. While the Lakers played their best basketball in March last season, LaRavia didn’t provide much offensive impact during that stretch. He went 6-25 from behind the arc for the month, only scored in double figures once, and only shot 43% from the field. He did have games, though, where his good effort, hustle and defense impacted the team.
If he could add an offensive bag to his hustle and effort, that would be his best-case scenario. He ended last season shooting 32% from behind the arc. LaRavia found himself open quite a bit, with attention often shifting to Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves and LeBron James, and he struggled to knock down those wide-open threes the team desperately needed.
LaRavia turning into a player who can impact the game on all cylinders adds an extra weapon to a new Lakers team that likely won’t struggle offensively but will need players to do a bit of everything.
What is his worst-case scenario?
Head coach JJ Redick went to LaRavia often last season, even in games he played badly, but that was mostly because the team wasn’t particularly deep. This upcoming season, with a team that has much more talent that can contribute in a multitude of ways, LaRavia’s minutes will likely start disappearing if he’s struggling.
Lakers fans may find themselves asking who number 12 is again, and this time it won’t be a fun viral moment. Was all that hype in the first half of last season just some random momentum he picked up? When his slump kept going and he showed no signs of improving, his worst-case scenario, you could say, started as soon as the lights shone too bright.
What is his most likely role on the team?
With Luka and Austin as the obvious two starters out of the five, LaRavia’s most likely role will be a battle with the newbies as well as Adou Thiero and rookie Cameron Carr, who shined in the Summer League. The best way he can earn minutes is by becoming a player who can contribute immediately when called upon, instead of someone who comes in, steals the ball a few times, but can’t consistently knock down triples. The Lakers likely have better versions of that type of player, particularly in Thybulle.
For many seasons, the Lakers have been in dire need of wing players. We saw LaRavia’s capabilities early on with a few stellar games and then a nice hustle performance here and there, so if he finds consistency, he’ll find the important minutes again.
Jaden Schwartz's time with the Seattle Kraken was rarely straightforward, but even through five seasons of injuries, the veteran forward managed to leave behind a productive chapter of the franchise's young history.
Schwartz played 301 games for Seattle, recording 79 goals and 89 assists for 168 points while becoming one of the more experienced players in the organization's locker room.
Now, he's taking that experience somewhere else.
Schwartz signed a three-year, $9.75 million contract with the Colorado Avalanche this offseason, returning to a place that has been part of his hockey story since he was a teenager and giving him another opportunity to chase a Stanley Cup.
The 34-year-old dealt with injuries in nearly every season with the Kraken, but he still found ways to produce. His 26 goals during the 2024-25 season nearly matched the career-high 28 he scored with the St. Louis Blues in 2014-15.
That production helped make Schwartz an important piece of Seattle's early years, even as injuries repeatedly interrupted his time on the ice.
Schwartz arrived in Seattle in 2021 as an unrestricted free agent after spending the first 10 seasons of his NHL career with St. Louis. He brought 2019 Stanley Cup experience with him and became one of the veteran voices on a team attempting to establish itself as a new NHL franchise.
He ultimately spent five seasons with the Kraken, including Seattle's run to the Western Conference semifinals in 2023.
Now, after leaving the organization, Schwartz has landed with an Avalanche team he believes is already close to another championship.
“Obviously, Colorado was very high on my list,” Schwartz said.
When the Avalanche reached out this offseason, the opportunity immediately caught his attention.
“There’s so many good players, good organization, like I said, very good guys,” Schwartz said. “When they reached out, obviously, I was pretty excited.”
Schwartz also had a firsthand look at Colorado while playing in Seattle, and despite watching the Avalanche's season end against Vegas in the Western Conference Final, he didn't see a team that needed major changes.
“I think the Avs are definitely in a win-now mode,” Schwartz said. “Which is awesome to be a part of.”
That belief was a major reason Colorado appealed to him.
Schwartz already knows what it takes to win a Stanley Cup, having played a key role in St. Louis' championship run in 2019. He also understands how little can separate teams once the playoffs begin.
When asked what Colorado was missing after its postseason exit, Schwartz didn't point to one specific area.
“I don't think they're lacking much,” he said. “The difference between winning and losing the playoffs is very, very tight, very narrow.”
Schwartz wasn't able to watch much of the Avalanche's series against Vegas because he was traveling, but he knew injuries had affected Colorado and understood how quickly circumstances can change a playoff series.
“So, a bounce here or there in whatever game, two or three, I think it probably could have been a different series,” Schwartz said.
Now, he'll have a chance to experience Colorado's pursuit of another championship from inside the locker room.
Exactly where Schwartz fits remains unclear as training camp approaches.
“We'll see,” Schwartz said. “I'm not sure. Different guys are going to slide and we'll just see how camp goes. Just excited to be a part of it.”
That excitement has already been evident.
Schwartz was among the first players to arrive for optional skates, using the extra time to settle into Colorado, look at houses and get to know his new organization and teammates.
Some of those teammates aren't strangers.
After years of playing against them, crossing paths internationally and getting to know some through mutual friends, Schwartz is now on the same side.
“A lot of guys that I've just played against for a long time,” Schwartz said. “Seems like an awesome group. Everyone kind of reached out, so I'm looking forward to getting started with that.”
There is also a personal connection to Colorado that predates his NHL career.
At around 15 years old, Schwartz and his family traveled to Colorado to watch his older brother, Rylan, play for Colorado College. The trip eventually helped lead Jaden to the Tigers, where he recorded 32 goals and 56 assists for 88 points in 60 games over two seasons.
The Blues selected him 14th overall in the 2010 NHL Draft, beginning a career that eventually brought him a Stanley Cup, five seasons in Seattle and now another opportunity in Colorado.
For the Kraken, Schwartz's departure closes the book on one of the more experienced players from the franchise's formative years.
For Schwartz, it's the beginning of another chapter — and another chance to chase a championship.
MARYLAND
HEIGHTS, Mo. -- On the eve of training camp for their 59th season in
the NHL, the St. Louis Blues have a plethora of players that you will
want to keep an eye on for one reason or another as camp progresses.
Let’s
take a look at my top 10:
1.
Mason McTavish – For obvious reasons, the Blues’ biggest
acquisition this past off-season when they acquired the 23-year-old
from the Anaheim Ducks on Day 1 of the 2026 NHL Draft for a pair of
2026 first-round picks, McTavish comes in with plenty to prove,
plenty of motivation and a huge chip on his shoulder, like he
disclosed here recently.
McTavish
will come in and be given the keys as the No. 2 center behind Robert
Thomas and will be a driving force whether the Blues will have the
ability to put forth two strong top two lines on the ice behind Dylan
Holloway-Robert Thomas-Jimmy Snuggerud top line.
McTavish
said he’s worked on his power skating this past summer that should
affect his defensive awareness on the ice. That will be something to
look for from the get-go. I expect him to be highly motivated after
being cast off the island in Orange County, Calif. Just one year
after signing a six-year, $42 million ($7 million average annual
value) contract.
2.
Connor McMichael – Another top acquisition by the Blues this past
summer, acquired from the Washington Capitals for a package that sent
Jordan Kyrou to the nation’s capital.
It’s
going to be human nature for Blues fans to look at the 25-year-old as
the guy that needs to replace Kyrou’s production since he is the
one that was traded for him, but what I will be looking for is if
McMichael can fit onto that second line next to McTavish and bring
with him similar numbers (57 points; 26 goals, 31 assists) that he
put up two seasons ago.
McMichael
has speed and plays with some sandpaper and grit and has a cutting
edge to his game and the Blues are banking on him getting back to
that after investing in him on July 16 with a six-year, $40.50
million ($6.75 million AAV) contract.
3.
Pavel Buchnevich – Which Buchnevich will come out for the Blues
this season, the one who first came to St. Louis five years ago and
averaged over a point per game (76 points in 73 games) in 2021-22 or
the one that struggled mightily at times last season but came on
strong in the end to reach the 20-goal marker for the sixth straight
season?
What
I’m going to watch for is if Jim Montgomery puts Buchnevich on that
second line with McMichael and McTavish, and if he does, it will be
because the 31-year-old will have earned it.
McTavish
and Jake Neighbours have a history together playing for Team Canada,
so that’s a possibility but my sense is Buchnevich will get first
dibs on that right wing in the hopes of jump-starting his offense
early.
Buchnevich’s
six-year, $48 million contract ($8 million AAV) kicks in this season,
so there will be more pressure on him to perform to the standards the
Blues paid him at, and if he can find that stout two-way play of his
and play between the dots, success should follow him.
4.
Robert Thomas – Now that Thomas has bought into new GM Alex Steen’s
concept and vision for the Blues moving forward and was recently
named the 25th captain in franchise history, this should be another
player hungry and motivated.
Can
Thomas anchor that top line that helped fuel a run that put up 92
points after the Winter Olympic break (Thomas had 31 points; 14
goals, 17 assists in 22 games)?
This
is his team now, and Thomas needs to play like the No. 1 center that
averaged 1.41 points per game down the stretch for the Blues to get
out of the gates strong and have any chance of returning to the
Stanley Cup playoffs.
5.
Jimmy Snuggerud – Now
that the Tuesday 11 p.m. (CT) deadline has passed and the new
collective bargaining agreement has kicked in, the Blues no longer
have the option of extending the 2022 first-round pick that had 21
goals and 51 points in 70 games, his first full season in the NHL, to
a max eight-year contract. The highest they can go for Snuggerud,
entering the final year of his entry-level deal, is seven, but that’s
a topic of discussion for another day.
I
want to see if Snuggerud can pick up – just like Thomas and
Holloway – where he left off last season when what No. 1 line left
a trail of fire to end the season following the Olympic break.
Somehow
the 22-year-old doesn’t seem like the kind that would leave a
potential contract extension weigh in on his play on
the ice. He had 27 points (11 goals, 16 assists) in 25 games down the
stretch and is capable of putting up similar numbers moving forward,
but let’s see that hunger from the start; his shot and skating will
be something to watch as camp unfolds. The potential of 30-plus goals
or close to it is definitely in play.
6.
Dylan Holloway – With
a new five-year, $38.75 million ($7.75 million AAV) contract in the
bag, no pressure on Holloway from me … other than I have him pegged
to hit 30-35 goals this season.
No
pressure at all ;)
But
for a player that overcame a freak abductor injury late in the
2024-25 season and finally got his bearings underneath him, watch for
a player to open camp coming out flying looking to make an impact as
one of the young, rising players.
As
part of that line with Thomas and Snuggerud, Holloway, tied with
Macklin Celebrini with 34 points (14 goals, 20 assists) after the
Olympic break in just 25 games, should have a channeled focus when
camp opens on Thursday. He has a contract to live up to now, and I
see no reason why he won’t have a focused, high-energy level right
from the first whistle on Thursday.
7.
Jordan
Binnington – The 2019 Stanley Cup champion has clearly seen his
partner not only catch him but all but pass him as camp opens, so how
does the 33-year-old veteran in the final year of a six-year, $36
million contract handle the situation?
I
still think this will be an open competition, and Jim Montgomery will
play the guy that is the most consistent, but Joel Hofer, who was
tied for the league lead in wins (12-2-2 with a 2.04 goals-against
average) and third with a .933 save percentage after the Olympic
break, will get the leash to open the season as the No. 1
This
can be a solid tandem moving forward and a 45-39 start split isn’t
out of the question, but it will be highly important for Binnington
to have a sharp focus once camp opens; he did last year but the
numbers didn’t translate. That’s going to have to change if he
were to want to move on as a No. 1 elsewhere or continue to get a
large number of reps here. The goaltending situation should be a fun
storyline to watch.
8.
Dalibor Dvorsky – Two
questions I have when it comes to the 2023 first-round pick: can
he find ways to take the next step and be more of an impact player
(12 goals, nine assists in 71 games in his first full season last
year) and will he be used more down the middle or as a wing on the
third line?
We’ll
see what Jim Montgomery has in store, but you could see a third line
somehow in the form of a combination with Dvorsky, Jake Neighbours
and/or Pavel Buchnevich, Pius Suter and Jonatan Berggren.
The
third line makeup will be one of the more intriguing storylines as
camp unfolds, and Dvorsky will need to come out of the gates showing
that progressive steps will be necessary. The Blues aren’t souring
on him by any stretch, but the competition for ice time is most
definitely there and a sharp, focused Dvorsky will be imperative.
Keep an eye on this one.
9.
Adam Jiricek – Does the 2024 first-round pick have enough to knock
the socks off the coaches and management to win a job on opening
night? As former GM Doug Armstrong said, Jiricek will be given every
opportunity to win a job but nothing’s guaranteed.
A
couple of interesting observers noted to me that Jiricek’s play at
the two-game prospect play against Chicago Blackhawks prospects on
Monday and Tuesday produced mixed results but it’s not the tell-all
the direction the Blues are looking as far as the blue liner is
concerned.
Veteran
Brandon Carlo was brought in via trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs
for two third-round picks in 2026 for this very reason so Jiricek
isn’t rushed to the NHL, but I’ll be watching him closely to see
if he continues to make progress at this level.
10.
Dillon Dube – The noise surrounding one of the five 2018 Canadian
World Junior players accused of sexual assault before being acquitted
in court has been loud and clear.
But
the Blues brought the 28-year-old to St. Louis on a one-year,
one-way, $850,000 contract for this season after a successful run
with AHL’s Springfield last season.
Off
the ice aside, I’ll be looking to see if Dube can steal one of the
spots on the bottom six and really make this a quagmire of players
management and the coaching staff will have to address if Dube is
able to make this team. After all, this is a player that just as
recent as 22-23 had the second of two 18-goal seasons who also put up
45 points then.
Imagine
a player playing a third/fourth line role that can have that kind of
offensive output? Can he get back to that kind of form or anything
like it? It’s worth watching as camp progresses.
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