The Detroit Tigers were unable to seal the deal on Tuesday night, falling to the Pittsburgh Pirates, 4-1, to even the weekday series at PNC Park. Brett Callahan hit his first major league home run, but that was all the offense the good guy got while Keider Montero was extremely mid on the mound for the Olde English D.
Toeing the rubber in the series finale for the Motor City Kitties is right-hander Jackson Jobe, who will be making his third start of the season after returning from Tommy John surgery. The 24-year-old looked good in his debut but got roughed up by the Chicago White Sox the last time out, coughing up six runs on nine hits (two homers) and a walk while striking out four over 3 2/3 innings to take the loss in a 9-5 defeat at Comerica Park.
Up against Jobe for the Bucs is fellow righty Paul Skenes, who has been great this season but a tick below the astronomic he set for himself during his first two years in the league. In the 24-year-old’s last four outings since his last quality start, Skenes has posted a bloated 6.52 ERA along with a very mediocre 4.22 FIP over 19 1/3 innings, allowing 20 hits (three homers) and 11 walks while striking out 18, hitting a batter and throwing a wild pitch, resulting in three personal losses and four for his team.
Here is a look at how the two 24-year-olds match up on paper for the rubber match of the three-game series on Wednesday afternoon.
Detroit Tigers (61-65) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (62-66)
Time (ET): 12:35 p.m. Place: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania SB Nation Site:Bucs Dugout Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network
Game 127: RHP Jackson Jobe (1-1, 6.23 ERA) vs. RHP Paul Skenes (9-11, 3.88 ERA)
Syracuse won their opening game against the Woosox, powered by good hitting and good pitching. On the hitting side, Ronny Mauricio was perfect at the plate and drove in three, and on the pitching side, Xzavion Curry and Tobias Myers combined to allow a single run on two combined hits.
Jefferson Rojas put the Rumble Ponies on the board in the bottom of the first with a two-run homer, but Gary Gill Hill gave both of those runs back in the top of the second. The right-hander settled down after that, not allowing another run and tossing six innings in total. In the seventh, the newly reactivated Felipe De La Cruz allowed a run and it looked like that was going to be that, but in the bottom of the ninth, Binghamton rallied. Rojas was in the middle of things once again, driving in a run on a double and then Chris Suero ended things with a game winning sac fly.
The top of the Brooklyn order struggled, with Sammy Stafura going 0-6 and Elian Pena going 0-4, but the bottom half of the line-up had their back, going a collective 8-22 with 7 runs driven in. The Cyclones offense really broke this one open in the later innings, scoring four runs in the seventh, two in the eighth, and one more for good measure in the ninth.
Toeing the rubber for the first time since Spring Training, when he was placed on the 60-Day Injured List due to a fractured rib, Justin Hagenman threw 2.1 innings and allowed a run on three hits and a walk, striking out three. The right-hander threw 43 pitches, 25 for strikes, and got 9 swings and misses. Things quickly went downhill for St. Lucie as the bullpen was extremely leaky, with Owen Woodward, Jose Lopez, and Tyler McLoughlin combining to allow nine runs.
The Athletic has published its NHL pipeline rankings, and journalist Corey Pronman ranks the Montreal Canadiens’ pipeline third, behind the league-leading San Jose Sharks and the Anaheim Ducks. For these rankings, Pronman focused on players 22 or younger as of September 15, 2026.
In his analysis of the Canadiens’ pipeline, he takes a closer look at 19 of the Canadiens’ prospects, including four netminders. The article includes a few surprising takes, but none more than his assessment of Jacob Fowler. Pronman wraps up his write-up on the Florida native with this statement: He projects as a quality backup goalie.
Granted, right now, the 21-year-old is not first on the Canadiens’ depth chart in goal, even though he has long been seen as the Habs’ goaltender of the future. While that may still be true, Jakub Dobes’ playoff performance has reminded everyone that there is a present before that future and that he’s very much in it.
He had such a solid rookie season that the team signed him to a three-year contract extension, which is a testament to the trust the organization has in him. The deal carries a $5,357,575 cap hit and a modified no-trade clause for the last two seasons, in which he can give a list of seven teams he cannot be traded to. Clearly, he has impressed with his performance, but Kent Hughes didn’t sign him to a long-term contract, and that’s in part because the Canadiens also have Fowler.
The 6-foot-1 and 223-pound goaltender was drafted in the third round by the Canadiens with the 69th overall pick at the 2023 draft. Since Montreal selected him, Fowler has impressed at every level. In his first year in the NCAA, he posted a 2.14 goals-against average, a .926 save percentage, and a 32-6-1 record, including seven shutouts. In his second year at Boston College, he went 25-7-2 with a 1.63 GAA, a .940 SV, and seven shutouts. Last season, with the Laval Rocket, he went 19-7-1 with a 2.23 GAA, a .916 SV, and three shutouts. Because of Samuel Montembeault’s struggle, he was given an extended look at the NHL level and went 9-6-2, with a 2.43 GAA, a .908 SV and one shutout.
While Pronman has a point when he says that Fowler is average-sized at best and that he doesn’t have true premier athleticism for the NHL, he may not need it. What Fowler lacks in size and athleticism, he makes up for with strong positioning and nerves of steel. He was more of a " thrown to the lions this past season when the Canadiens found themselves with two goalies who were struggling, and he rose to the challenge beautifully. Despite less-than-ideal circumstances, Fowler looked in full control and not at all out of his depth between the pipes of an NHL net.
Goaltending is a very volatile position, and it’s certainly not easy to predict how a prospect will turn out, but from what Fowler has shown so far, he looks like a future starting goaltender to me. In fact, right now, the Canadiens are in a position of strength in net with two very good young goaltenders in Fowler and Dobes, and I dare say that if Kent Hughes were to dangle Fowler as part of a package to acquire that elusive top-six forward, he could drum up a lot of business. Time will tell how fair Pronman’s assessment was, but right now, I struggle to see how he could turn into anything other than a number one goaltender.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - AUGUST 18: Jo Adell #7 of the Cleveland Guardians hits an RBI single during the fourth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Progressive Field on August 18, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Guardians hosted the Giants last night.
The Giants have had a terrible season, and they played like it last night. Their defense screwed up countless times, including an outfielder who Raburned a throw.
But the Guardians would have beaten most opponents last night—because Jo Adell had a career night.
• Sounds like someone is a bit skeptical of “let’s have a bunch of slap hitters watch tape of Jose Ramirez and then they will all hit like Jose Ramirez”
The Pittsburgh Pirates currently sit 6.5 games back from the third Wild Card spot in the postseason, and are running out of time to steer the ship towards the playoffs. There’s still some time to get back on track, but there are three factors that will leave the Pirates on the outside looking in.
Pitching day-to-day is shaky
At the beginning of the season, the strength of the Pirates was supposed to be the starting pitching rotation. However, at this point in the season the rotation has lost its reputation and has turned into a largely average unit. Paul Skenes this late in the year is just not dependable. He has not looked like himself all year, but it has become especially clear as of late that he is not performing at his best. Mitch Keller has been shut down for the rest of the season with an injury, so Carmen Mlodzinski has stepped back into his role as a starter. Even though Mlodzinski was solid to start the year, he clearly looks over it with the Pirates and has not been at his best since returning to the starting ranks.
Also — and this isn’t particularly Jared Jones’ fault — but the Pirates are still letting him play with the training wheels on. He has the potential to be the best pitcher on the team, but management is still keeping his outings incredibly limited. Pitching in the playoffs will not matter if the Pirates cannot first get to the playoffs.
The bullpen looks revamped, but it’s still a position group with a lot of question marks. In some of these close series down the stretch, they are not dependable enough from what we’ve seen to this point to put a lot of faith in. I do think the group has looked better, but I wouldn’t be willing to wager anything just yet given their track record.
The lineup lacks consistent punch down the stretch
The Pirates’ lineup that was completely transformed for the 2026 season, completely fell apart following the All-Star break. It’s almost like the week off was the worst possible thing for the red hot Buccos. The offense has been shutout five times since returning to action, and have scored two runs or less in seven contests in the second half of the season.
This is a lineup that had a lot of potential, but after taking their extended layoff it might be too late for them to crawl back into playoff contention if the offense continues to lack consistency. Esmerlyn Valdez has gone cold after his hot stretch. Ryan O’Hearn is back on the IL. Bryan Reynolds looks unrecognizable in his last 30 games. For some reason, Jared Triolo is still regularly in the lineup and Henry Davis is still a liability at the plate.
Out of all the things that can get the Pirates back into playoff contention, it could be this lineup. Luckily, Oneil Cruz is back and looking like a threat again, and Konnor Griffin will also be returning. Hopefully those pieces back can help the lineup find some consistency, but the team lacks a true offensive superstar at the moment. There is potential for players to grow into those roles, but that likely won’t happen between now and the end of the regular season.
No easy series left
Part of the Pirates’ problems all season long is that they have grossly underperformed against teams that they should beat easily. That has remained true in the second half of the year. They should have easily won their recent series against the Mets, Marlins and Reds. They should win the series against Detroit, but time will tell if they can seal that series victory.
Don Kelly’s had enough. “It felt like we felt sorry for ourselves. We didn’t compete.” At least he’s admitting there’s a problem. pic.twitter.com/mDz1S1h6t1
Moving forward there are no series that the Pirates can take lightly. Following Detroit they have back to back series against playoff teams in the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres. They then travel to St. Louis who they’ve struggled mightily against all year. They also have series against the Brewers and Cubs still left on the schedule as well. It’s not impossible for the Pirates to make it to the postseason if they can string together some wins, but their strength of schedule will allow very little to any breathing room. This team is going to have to play tighter than they have all year if they want to keep their dreams of Buctober alive.
Paul Skenes pitches Wednesday night at PNC Park on seven days' rest and the industry will be watching to see how he responds. He was supposed to start Sunday, but after scuffling for the last three months, Pittsburgh Pirates manager Don Kelly said they wanted to give him extra rest. The Pirates and Skenes swear there is no injury or anything wrong with him, other than the normal wear and tear on a pitcher in August.
Five months after the World Baseball Classic, Team USA's hitters are fine for the most part, but the pitchers seem to be showing the effects of ramping up early.
Since April, every star on the injured list or in a slump who played in March has been Exhibit A that the WBC broke him. Team USA's roster is the easiest way to test that. Thirty guys who went through the same spring and there is very little evidence that the suggestions hold up.
But it doesn't exactly fall apart either. There's a toll on many.
Through May 12, Skenes looked like the defending Cy Young Award winner ready to contend for another. He had a 1.98 ERA through his first nine starts. Since then, it's 5.00. His four-seamer, which sat at 98.2 miles an hour, has dropped to an average of 96.8. Again, the Pirates and Skenes said he is not hurt.
But five other Team USA pitchers have been on the injured list with arm or shoulder issues.
Gabe Spier had a shoulder issue in April. Griffin Jax is on the injured list now with an elbow injury. Garrett Whitlock has twice had an elbow injury that put him on the IL. Brad Keller needed internal brace and flexor tendon repair in July and is done for the year. So is Will Vest, who had surgery on a stress fracture in his elbow.
Four other pitchers from Team USA have gone on the IL this season with injuries to a calf, a biceps, a knee and a broken leg.
In all, 15 of the 29 Team USA players have been on the injured list, including six of the 14 position players.
Even Tarik Skubal, who capped himself at one start and 55 pitches before heading back to Tigers camp, missed time to have a loose body removed from his elbow.
He's been fine since.
On the position player side, Pete Crow-Armstrong is the strong counterbalance.
He has a 30-30 season going, picking up his 30th homer Monday night as a walk-off against the White Sox. He's hitting .281 after a .247 mark last year. Kyle Schwarber leads the majors with 37 home runs. Byron Buxton, who did have a stint on the IL, has a 138 OPS+ at 32. All of them were in Miami in March, too.
Cal Raleigh is the glaring exception everybody has pointed to and his issues are real. He hit 60 homers in 2025 and finished second in the MVP voting. He's hitting .158 now with a .564 OPS, last among 165 hitters with at least 350 plate appearances. Six weeks on the IL with an oblique injury certainly did not help. Last week in the Bronx, he said his timing is just off.
Aaron Judge has missed almost three months with a fractured rib, but he can clearly dismiss any connection to the WBC. He did that diving for a catch in an April game.
Roughly 600 players went, and some of them are having bad years the way some player always do. So the sleuths looking for answers to Skenes' struggles don't have much evidence to go on. Sure, the early ramp up could have led to an early onset of fatigue, but three months is a long time to be tired.
There is no strong argument that the WBC is to blame, so Skenes and the Pirates have to keep searching.
Skenes gets the ball Wednesday night against Detroit. It's his 24th start of a season that started early in March for him. Maybe this time, the extra rest will be the answer to his struggles.
If the early expert predictions are accurate, the 2027 NBA Draft doesn't have an obvious No. 1 pick like Cooper Flagg in 2025 or a rare collection of players who project as future All-Stars near the top of the class like the 2026 draft. There is, however, an emerging consensus forming that Kansas freshman Tyran Stokes is the player most likely to open the season atop draft boards.
Stokes will be a featured attraction for NBA scouts this season, but he's not an overwhelming favorite to go No. 1. Not yet, at least. And there appears to be even less clarity after that, with uncertainty created by lucrative NIL opportunities that have caused the basketball ecosystem to reconsider how it arrives at draft decisions.
To sort through the chaotic early days of 2027 mock drafts, USA TODAY Sports tasked Microsoft Copilot's AI chatbot with generating a ranking of the top 30 eligible prospects for the first round of this year's draft. The chatbot was prompted to base its selections on current mock drafts from reputable websites, as well as the latest intel related to prospect analysis.
Here's a breakdown of Microsoft Copilot AI's 2027 NBA mock draft rankings, including an explanation of the chatbot's reasoning for why it ranked each player where it did:
2027 NBA mock draft: AI ranks top prospects, picks
Note:AI models still have issues with accuracy as seen in the mock draft below. Of particular note, Microsoft Copilot needed additional prompts after several players who were previously selected in the NBA Draft were inaccurately assigned rankings for the 2027 draft class.
This 6-foot-8 downhill playmaker is the early consensus pick to be the top choice in 2027 ahead of what's expected to be a one-and-done campaign at Kansas. Microsoft Copilot cites his "elite physical tools, transition playmaking, defensive upside and improving shot creation." Stokes can cement his status atop draft boards by showing an improved outside shot and decision-making with the Jayhawks this season.
Considered "the most explosive guard in the class," according to AI, Smith could vault even higher if he's able to become more of a threat as an outside shooter. Whether the Washington D.C. native can consistently play point guard at the next level also lingers his freshman campaign, but Razorbacks coach John Calipari has a proven track record molding perimeter players into top NBA draft picks. Smith's defense and downhill pressure will have an immediate impact.
This athletic two-way wing is a rising prospect because he has added more shot-making and shot creation to his arsenal over the past year. Already armed with a sturdy 6-foot-5 frame and a long wingspan, his consistency and defensive tools will make him attractive in a draft class expects have deemed devoid of a surefire superstar prospect.
This 6-foot-7 ballhandler has drawn comparisons in style to fellow countryman Luka Doncic and he's the top international prospect after winning MVP honors at the 2025 Basketball Without Borders Europe camp last August. Joksimovic will play for Saski Baskonia in Spain this season.
Branch was the No. 1 player in the 2027 recruiting class before reclassifying last year in order to be eligible for the 2027 NBA Draft. He will attempt to succeed in the slot vacated by 2026 No. 1 pick A.J. Dybantsa at BYU, though Branch is billed as more of a shooter than slasher. "Scouts love the shooting touch and offensive upside," according to Microsoft Copilot. "A huge season under Kevin Young could launch him into No. 1 pick discussions."
"The best returning player in college basketball," according to AI, Haugh turned down the chance to be a lottery pick in 2026 to return to the Gators this season. The versatile forward could step in immediately as a high-level role player in the NBA and he can boost his stock this year by continuing to improve as a 3-point shooter.
Allen was listed in some first-round mock drafts in 2026 before coming back to Alabama. "Dynamic scorer with NBA athleticism and significant upside if his playmaking continues to evolve," according to Microsoft Copilot.
Mullins returned for a sophomore season at UConn despite one-and-done hype and a first-round grade in 2026. Known as a dynamic outsider shooter coming out of high school, he shot just 33.5% from 3-point range last year. But the 6-foot-6 guard seems poised to fulfill his potential as the centerpiece of coach Dan Hurley's team after capping off last year with a buzzer beater to beat Duke and send UConn to the Final Four.
There's significant upside for the son of former NBA player Gilbert Arenas if he performs well at USC after his stock fell following serious injuries suffered in a car accident in April 2025. His scoring instincts, 7-foot wingspan and intriguing background will be enticing if his game returns to form.
The 6-foot-9 freshman is a "consensus five-star recruit whose physical profile and two-way potential fit perfectly with NBA wing archetypes," according to Microsoft Copilot.
The 7-foot-3 Italian center opted out of the 2026 NBA draft despite the potential to be a late first-round pick. Suigo has "surprising mobility and touch" and is considered "one of the highest-upside big men eligible for the draft," according to Microsoft Pilot. He played BC Mega Basket in the Adriatic League last season.
A rim-protecting center with soft touch around the basket, Krivas is another player who returned for a big NIL payday instead of being a potential late first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. His physically imposing 7-foot-2 frame is NBA-ready.
Bidunga was a first-team all-Big 12 selection and the Big 12 defensive player of the year at Kansas last season before transferring to Louisville this offseason. "NBA teams will value" his defensive capabilities, according to Microsoft Copilot, and it gives him a higher floor as a 6-foot-9 interior prospect.
Ngongba is a "physical center with growing offensive skill set and strong defensive projection," according to Microsoft Copilot. If his mobility catches up to his polished footwork and passing instincts, Ngongba's size and versatility will be intriguing for teams to consider.
This 6-foot-7 slasher is hard to contain on both ends of the floors thanks to his superior athleticism and motor. An improved jump shot this season at Arkansas might lock Richmond in as a lottery pick because his versatility is tailor-made for the NBA.
Chinyelu is "one of the safer frontcourt projections" in 2027, according to Microsoft Copilot, because his defense, rebounding and 7-foot-8 wingspan should easily translate to the next level. If he can make strides as a shooter and decision-maker with the Gators this season, he could push to be a lottery pick.
Harris was a coveted player in the transfer portal after being named the ACC's Most Improved Player at Wake Forest last season. He trailed only NBA first-round picks Ebuka Okorie and Cameron Boozer among ACC players in scoring (21.4 points)
Yessoufou withdrew from the 2026 NBA Draft after a solid freshman year at Baylor and then transferred to play for Rick Pitino this season. Flashing more comfort as a ballhandler and outside shooter, to pair with the physical gifts and explosiveness he has already shown at the college level, could boost his stock further.
A skilled big man known for his mobility and touch near the basket, Moreno returned to Kentucky after testing the draft waters in 2026. Improved strength and a more versatile offensive skillset will be areas to watch for Moreno if he's to maximize his 2027 draft stock.
Able transferred from rival North Carolina State to the Tar Heels this offseason and he's an "athletic scoring wing who falls into the 'if the jumper pops' category," according to Microsoft Copilot.
This versatile 7-footer from Australia could blossom into a lottery pick with the chance to showcase his ballhandling and outside shooting during another year in college. He's already viewed as a potential first-round pick based on his mobility and rebounding prowess.
Tanner was one of the most accomplished players to return to college after becoming the only player in the nation to average more than 19 points, 5 assists and 2 steals per game as a freshman at Vanderbilt. He still must prove to NBA scouts his smaller stature (listed by Vanderbilt at 6-foot, 175 pounds) won't be a liability at the next level.
The former Iowa State star transferred to Kentucky this offseason after withdrawing from the 2026 NBA Draft, but his 3-point shooting ability at 6-foot-9 will ensure he's a commodity for NBA teams outside the lottery in 2027. His lack of mobility, particularly defensively, likely limits his ceiling as a prospect.
Perhaps the most intriguing prospect at Duke because of his combination of coordination and floor spacing at 6-foot-11. He's considered a raw prospect, despite being ranked No. 3 in the 2026 recruiting rankings, because of a developing feel for the game and a lack of overall strength.
Teammates have referred to Muurinen, a Finland native, as "Baby Dirk" because of his 6-foot-11 frame and offensive skillset on the perimeter. He played last season with Partizan KK of the Adriatic League and appeared on Finland's National Team at the 2025 FIBA EuroBasket Championship.
Rippey was considered the best point guard in the 2026 recruiting class with athleticism that should allow him to impact both sides of the court at Duke. An improving jump shot could elevate his stock as the college season progresses.
A breakout candidate after the Cyclones lost most of their top players from last season's Sweet 16 team, Batemon shot 37% from 3-point range as a freshman.
The 6-foot-8 forward can score at all three levels and transferred to UConn after averaging less than 20 minutes per game as a freshman at Duke last season. How he holds up as a defender and shot creator in space with a bigger role on the Huskies will determine whether he's a first-round pick in 2027
Once the No. 1 recruit in the 2027 recruiting class, Oladotun reclassified a year ago and then committed to stay near home at Maryland to begin his college career. His 6-foot-10 frame and multi-faceted offensive skillset make him the kind of high-upside wing prospect NBA teams covet, though he'll need to mature more physically before he can fulfill that potential.
This 6-foot-3 point guard can score at a high level while also showing potential as a distributor. Playing alongside Stokes in the Jayhawks' backcourt will force Kinney to improve with the ball in his hands less than his prep career. He led USA Basketball's U18 team in assists when it secured a silver medal at the FIBA U18 AmeriCup this summer.
John Havlicek (17) taking last-second shot during second overtime vs Phoenix Suns, Game 5, Boston, MA 6/4/1976. With him are assistant coach John Killilea (left) and trainer Frank Challant. (Photo by Dick Raphael/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
NBA history spans 80 seasons, and as CelticsBlog readers well know, the Boston Celtics have won a league-high 18 championships. This month, we are recapping each of those title years.
In 1974, the Boston Celtics won their 12th championship in a tension-filled seven-game Finals versus the Milwaukee Bucks. Game 6 of that series went to double overtime and was one of the closest, most hard-fought battles fans had ever seen. Nothing could top that, we thought.
Well, we thought wrong, because Game 5 of the 1976 Finals between Boston and the Phoenix Suns, tied at 2-2, had more ups, downs, plot twists and unbelievable moments than any championship-series pivotal game in the NBA’s 80 years. It’s widely considered the NBA’s Greatest Game, especially by Celtics fans. And Glenn McDonald became a household name in New England (for a little while, at least) for helping bring home Banner 13.
John Havlicek (17) taking last-second shot during second overtime vs Phoenix Suns, Game 5, Boston, MA 6/4/1976 (Photo by Dick Raphael/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) | (Photo by Dick Raphael/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
The regular season
After winning in 1974, the Celtics were 60-22 in 1975 and looking like a favorite to repeat, but they were upset in the Eastern finals by a Washington Bullets (Wizards) squad (coached by K.C. Jones) that got hot at the wrong time for Boston. Those Celtics were led by veterans John Havlicek, JoJo White and Dave Cowens, all of whom were back for 1975-76 and surrounded by a strong supporting cast. There were many reasons to think they could get back to the top for the second time in three years.
Paul Silas and Dave Cowens gave the Boston Celtics a relentless pair of defenders and rebounders. Copyright 1975 NBAE (Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The main rotation players included elite rebounder Paul Silas, crafty scorer Don Nelson (who had announced this would be his last season) and energy guys Steve Kuberski and Kevin Stacom. Don Chaney, a starting guard for the ’74 champs, had scored a lucrative free agent contract from St. Louis of the rival American Basketball Association. Such player movement was common during the Seventies, as the NBA and ABA competed for the best talent. The leagues settled that by merging before the 1976-77 season.
One more key player no longer in green was dynamic young guard Paul Westphal, traded by Boston to Phoenix for high-scoring guard Charlie Scott. Two future Hall of Famers, they ended up facing off in the 1976 postseason, where it was evident that the trade worked out for both teams.
Boston’s regular season began slowly, but a nine-game winning streak brought their record up to 19-8. Two more streaks, of seven and six games, helped them finish 54-28, first place in the East, behind only the Golden State Warriors (59-23). Cowens and Havlicek were voted All-NBA second team.
This season also featured an amusing incident that pretty much represented Cowens’ style of play. The 6-foot-9, 230-pound center body-blocked Houston guard Mike Newlin to the floor intentionally. “Big Red” was incensed that Newlin had twice gotten away with flopping, so he sent Newlin flying and screamed to the referee, “Now that’s a foul!” Cowens was T’d up, but stayed in the game, so you could say his point was made.
Charlie Scott’s Celtics odyssey
Hall of Fame guard Charlie Scott played 152 regular-season games and 27 playoff games over three seasons with Boston. He directly helped the Celtics win in 1976, but he indirectly determined the outcomes of several other years, as well. Scott’s transaction history also confirms the genius of Red Auerbach as a team builder.
Scott was eligible for the NBA draft in 1970, but was known to have signed with the Virginia Squires of the rival ABA. The common wisdom for NBA teams was not to bother drafting him. But Auerbach saw it differently and used a seventh-round choice (106th overall) to select the 6-foot-5 guard from North Carolina. Boston would own the rights to sign Scott if he ever decided to come play in the NBA.
Charlie Scott of the Boston Celtics moves the ball up court during a game played in 1976 at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. Copyright 1976 NBAE (Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Two years later, Scott was ready, and Phoenix was his choice. Boston traded Scott’s rights to the Suns and filled a need by getting All-Star power forward Paul Silas in return. Silas was a key member of the Celtics title teams in 1974 and 1976.
Scott was in Phoenix for four seasons, then was traded back to the Celtics for Paul Westphal and a couple of second-rounders. Westphal was up for a contract that Auerbach did not want to pay, which was too bad because Westy ended up an All-NBA player. Game 5 in ‘76 demonstrated that potential.
In 1977, the Celtics traded Scott again, this time to the Lakers for Don Chaney (reunited with his original team), Kermit Washington and a 1978 first-round pick. Washington was serving a long suspension for punching and severely injuring Houston’s Rudy Tomjanovich in a fight on court. The Lakers washed their hands of him, even though he was a top rebounder and defender. By the way, that was the first time the two rivals ever traded with each other.
What happened to that Lakers first-round pick? The Celtics took Freeman Williams, who ended up traded away in another deal. But having the Lakers pick at no. 8 in addition to their own pick at no. 6 enabled the Celtics to gamble a bit and draft someone named Larry Bird.
Bird was going to play out his last season of college eligibility and, by NBA rules, whoever picked him would have just one year to sign him, or he’d go back in the draft. Teams with only one draft pick didn’t want to risk it, but armed with the backup pick, Auerbach went for it, and it obviously worked out, with Bird-era titles in 1981, 1984 and 1986.
That’s not all. In 1980, the Suns traded Westphal to the Seattle SuperSonics for guard Dennis Johnson. After three seasons in Phoenix, DJ was traded with two picks (one first and one third) to Boston for Celtics backup center Rick Robey and a couple of second-rounders. DJ went on to help Boston win in 1984 and 1986; have his number retired; be recognized as Bird’s “favorite teammate” ever; and retire as a beloved Boston sports icon.
Summing up, Charlie Scott and the assets he brought to Boston influenced the outcomes of five championship seasons in the Seventies and Eighties. He’s a Celtics legend.
Eastern playoffs
The Celtics would need to win three best-of-seven series, beginning with the Buffalo Braves (now the LA Clippers). The Braves finished eight games behind Boston but were potent offensively with center Bob McAdoo, the league scoring leader at 31.1 points per game, and a quick, clever backcourt of Randy Smith and Ernie DiGregorio.
In Boston, Game 1 went to the Celtics, 107-98. Cowens had 30 points, 17 rebounds, seven assists and five steals, obliterating McAdoo’s stats. Cowens was physically a good matchup with McAdoo, the Celtic being a top defender and shot-blocker who could also outscore the Buffalo star on occasion.
Celtics head coach Tommy Heinsohn (right) watches from the bench during the 1976 NBA Finals at the Boston Garden. With him is assistant coach John Killilea. Copyright 1976 NBAE (Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Havlicek injured his foot in Game 1, and thought he could still play after implementing an icing routine. But he was forced to sit the next three games, and the foot would nag Hondo throughout the postseason.
Game 2 was also in Boston, and the Celtics protected homecourt, 101-96. McAdoo erupted for 40 points, but Cowens and Nelson combined for 49. The Cs won the boards, 53-41, and shot better at the free-throw line to win a game that was close throughout.
Games 3 and 4 were in Buffalo, and both went to the home team, 98-93 and 124-122. In Game 4, Cowens had 29/26/8, White added 28 and 11 assists, and Nelson had 27 points. Trouble was, Buffalo’s starters all were between 18 and 30 points, too much to give up.
Havlicek returned in a limited role for Game 5, a win at home. The heavy lifting was done by Cowens with 30 points and 16 rebounds, and Silas with 15 and 22. The difference in the 99-88 score was the field goal attempts: Celtics 113, Braves 83.
Game 6 in Buffalo was taken over by Charlie Scott, who this night had game highs of 31 points and 8 assists. His backcourt mate, JoJo White, added 23 points in the 104-100 closeout win. Havlicek was able to play his second straight game, posting 14 points, 6 assists.
The Eastern Conference Final brought on the Cleveland Cavaliers, coached by future Celtics head coach Bill Fitch. The Cavs were founded in 1970 and this was their first year in the playoffs. They had acquired bruising center Nate Thurmond from the Golden State Warriors as a veteran defender, rebounder and leader. Thay did not have a dominant scorer, but instead relied on having seven players average double figures. They had led the Central Division with a 49-33 record.
The Cavs allowed 99 points per game, fewest in the league. After the Celtics won game 1 at home, 111-99, they did not break 100 again. Game 2 was 94-89, Boston going up 2-0. In the first game, Havlicek led all scorers with 26 points and looked like his foot was fine for 40 minutes. In the second meeting, White led all with 24 points and the Cs staged a fourth quarter comeback to pull out the 94-89 win.
But just as in the Buffalo series, the 2-0 lead vanished on the road. The Cavs notched wins of 83-78 and 106-87. In the latter, the Cavs’ Bingo Smith was lifted by the loud home crowd to 13 of 17 shooting and 27 points.
Game 5 in Boston was a nail-biter. Coach Tommy Heinsohn was ejected in the third period for arguing, leaving his only assistant, John Killilea, to take over. Red Auerbach moved from his seat down to near the bench, just in case. Cowens led the way with 26 points and 11 rebounds, and in the final moments, Havlicek swished two clutch free throws and Paul Silas tipped in a miss for two crucial points that helped lock it up, 99-94.
Game 6 in Cleveland saw White deliver 29 points on 12-22 shooting, supported by Cowens’ 21 points (and 18 rebounds) and Scott’s 20 points. The Celtics used a 27-18 fourth quarter comeback to end the series, 94-87. The key play was a midcourt steal and dunk by Scott that enabled the Celtics to take final control. Also notable: The Cavs did not have a single 20-point scorer in three of the six games. Meanwhile, White scored 20 or more five times.
So, the first two rounds played out similarly: Facing a young, hungry team that was not intimidated, the Celtics went up 2-0, were tied 2-2, then won a tense Game 5, and closed it out on the road, 4-2. That exact pattern was about to happen a third time, but much, much more intensely.
NBA Finals
The Celtics were in the Finals for the 14th time, and the Phoenix Suns for the first time since they joined the NBA in 1968.
The matchup
Phoenix was 42-40 in the regular season, third in the Pacific Division, and lost four of the six games they played against the Celtics. It’s doubtful anyone except themselves thought they’d get near the Finals. But they upset the 59-win Warriors in the Western final, winning Game 7 on the road. At this point, their regular season record meant nothing. They got hot at the right time. To not take them seriously would be a fatal error.
JoJo White of the Celtics moves the ball up court against Paul Westphal during Game Six of the NBA Finals on June 6, 1976 at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix, Arizona. The Boston Celtics defeated the Phoenix Suns 4-2 and won the 1976 NBA Championship. Copyright 1976 NBAE (Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The series
Once again, Boston won the first two on their home court, only to see their underdog opponent return the favor and tie the series 2-2.
Game 1 saw Suns rookie center Alvan Adams score an impressive 26 points, but his counterpart, Dave Cowens, delivered a magnificent 25-point, 21-rebound, 10-assist triple-double. JoJo White added 22 and John Havlicek, still dealing with the foot injury, added 16 off the bench. Ex-Celtic Paul Westphal shot terribly and scored only eight points for Phoenix.
In Game 2, Boston blasted the Suns 56-32 in the second and third quarters combined. That was enough to bring home the win, 105-90. Westphal came alive with 28 points, offset by 23 from Havlicek. It seemed as if Phoenix had hit a wall.
In Game 3, the Suns smashed through that wall, 105-98. Adams was again impressive with 33 points. Westphal added 22. Only White scored well for Boston, with 24. Game 4 was closer, 109-107, but still a loss for a 2-2 tie. Game 5 would be the turning point.
Game 5
“There were so many highs and lows. You thought you had it won, and all of a sudden you were elated. Within a second, it would turn around and you thought you were defeated.”
John Havlicek on Game 5
No lead is safe in the NBA, and this Game 5 was Exhibit A. The game looked to be over countless times, yet again and again, the plays that had to be made were made, and the overtimes piled up. If you were a neutral fan watching, this would have been basketball heaven, but for Celtics and Suns fans, it was endless hours of agony.
Game 5 began with the Celtics owning the first quarter, 36-18, then stretching the lead to 42-20 early in the second quarter. Their running game was in high gear. The Suns began to get their footing, but the lead at halftime was still 16. The score tightened up when the Suns took the third quarter, 27-16. The tension was rising in Boston Garden and in front of televisions everywhere.
Boston led by nine with under four minutes to go. Then Westphal caught fire, scoring nine points in a couple of minutes to pull Phoenix even. Near the end of regulation time, Phoenix was ahead one, when Havlicek was fouled. He made the first but missed the second.
Phoenix had one more possession, but the Celtics broke up the inbounds pass. Paul Silas briefly signaled for timeout but the Celtics had none. That would’ve been a technical foul except that referee Richie Powers ignored the signal. Phoenix assistant coach was so upset that he later had a fake Suns championship ring made for the referee. Inside it was inscribed: “Bleep you, Richie Powers.”
On to overtime.
The first OT was somewhat calm, both teams scoring six points. The second OT also proceeded normally – until the last 19 seconds:
JoJo White runner off the glass, Celtics lead 109-106.
Suns’ Dick Van Arsdale midrange jumper, 109-108.
Westphal steal of inbounds pass.
Curtis Perry miss, gets own rebound.
Perry 15-footer, Suns 110-109.
Celtics timeout, 5 seconds to play.
Havlicek running bank shot, Celtics 111-110.
Fans think game is over, swarm onto court, Celtics leave floor, but referee Richie Powers correctly signals one second on clock.
In the swarm, Powers is attacked by a fan who apparently wants the game to be over.
Celtics recalled from their locker room for remaining one second.
Suns purposely call timeout, knowing they have none left, to get the ball at halfcourt after timeout. Technical foul.
White swishes free throw, Celtics 112-110.
Suns’ inbounds pass goes to Garfield Heard near top of the key, maybe 20 feet out, turnaround jump shot at buzzer, 112-112.
Overtime no. 3.
Here are the huge shots by Havlicek, then Heard in those final seconds of OT no. 2. More videos appear below.
Fouls were an issue by the third OT. Suns centers Alvan Adams and Dennis Awtrey had fouled out, as had Celtics Cowens, Silas and Charlie Scott (who played just 33 minutes). Little-used Celtics center Jim Ard and forward Glenn McDonald were about to play the most important minutes of their lives.
<p>Glenn McDonald grabs the rebound during a game at the Boston Garden. Copyright 1975 NBAE (Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images)</p><br> | NBAE via Getty Images
With the score tied at 118, Ard tied up Perry and then won the ensuing jump ball. Boston had a fast break and McDonald banked in a runner off White’s assist. Another Celtics stop led to McDonald’s baseline turnaround fadeaway for a four-point lead. Westphal made a ridiculous spinning bank shot but White answered, then McDonald was fouled on a rebound for two free throws. He made both, Celtics 126, Suns 120, with 36 seconds to play.
Suns rookie Ricky Sobers quickly made a driving layup, then Phoenix intentionally fouled Ard. The big man made both crucial free throws for a 128-122 advantage. Westphal then threw in an even more outrageous 360-degree spinning bank shot, 128-124.
Boston beat the Phoenix press, but a pass to a cutting McDonald bounced off his hands near the hoop. Sobers grabbed it and threw a full-court pass to Westphal for a layup. The lead was cut to two with still 12 seconds left. Westphal came within an inch or two of another steal, but Ard got the ball to White, who mercifully dribbled out the clock. Final: 128-126.
JoJo White played 60 of the 63 minutes and was so tired that, during a brief stoppage near the end, he sat down on the court. White made 15 of 29 shots, scored 33 points (15 of them in the OTs), six rebounds, nine assists, two steals, and countless clutch baskets and hustle/heart plays. For the whole series, White led the Celtics with 21.7 points and 5.8 assists per game, but it was no doubt his Game 5 performance that put his name on the Finals MVP trophy.
How stressful was Game 5? Tommy Heinsohn fainted in the postgame locker room from a combination of high blood pressure, dehydration and stress.
There are so many talented fans posting on YouTube that there are too many videos to choose from. Here’s an assortment of different approaches, including the full game original broadcast.
Highlights with Interviews
Short-version OTs
Full Game 5
Game 6
Less than 48 hours later, Celtics-Suns Game 6 tipped off in Phoenix. A test of survival of the fittest. The game was low-scoring and close, with Boston ahead by a single point after three quarters. The Celtics pulled away in the fourth quarter for a final score of 87-80.
The heroes we needed
Charlie Scott was the main attacker for Boston. Scott had played only 33 minutes of Game 5’s 63 minutes because of foul trouble, so he was relatively rested. In Game 6, he scored 25 points with 11 rebounds, three assists and five steals.
Dave Cowens still had energy. He was 10 of 16 for 21 points with 17 rebounds and three steals.
Turning point
With seven minutes left and Phoenix up one, the Celtics clamped down on defense and broke it open with a 17-6 run. The Suns didn’t make a field goal during that time. The key play was Cowens stealing the ball from Adams, driving the length of the court, and making a reverse layup with the and-one on Adams.
It wasn’t over until…
The Suns tried to rally back, but there was no Game 5-like magic this time. JoJo White beat Westphal on a burst to the rim for a layup, making it 79-71 with under three minutes left.
Notable facts and stats
White won the Finals MVP, joining 1974 winner Havlicek. Cowens never won FMVP, but he did win the regular season MVP in 1972-73.
Cowens and Silas combined to average 30 rebounds per game in the series. The team averaged 56.2, a large advantage over the Suns, at 42.3.
Both teams shot exactly 43.1% from the floor.
Glenn McDonald went out a hero. He was cut before the next regular season, signed with Milwaukee but only lasted nine games before the Bucks waived him. That was the end of his NBA career, but he will forever have a place in Celtics lore.
Jim Ard stayed with Boston for another season, then finished his career with a brief stint in Chicago.
Banner Years continues tomorrow with a review of the 1980-81 season and the road to winning Banner 14.
The 2025-26 season didn’t exactly start with a bang for the 2020 draft pick. On Sept. 26, 2025, the Penguins announced that Blomqvist had suffered a lower-body injury during a preseason game and would miss several weeks.
Sidelined until mid-November, he was returned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Nov. 15 and served as a platoon partner to prized prospect Sergei Murashov as the Baby Penguins marched to a 46-17-7 regular-season record and the Eastern Conference Finals of the Calder Cup playoffs.
Blomqvist compiled a 16-5-6 record over 26 games with a 2.40 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage. His goals-against average was the sixth-lowest rate in the AHL last season, while his save percentage was the seventh-best.
For reference, Murashov finished with a 24-9-4 AHL record, a 2.20 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage.
Blomqvist did not feature in the NHL during the 2025-26 season except for a lone recall as an emergency backup for a Pittsburgh playoff game against the Flyers on April 29. He was returned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton the next day.
Instead, it was Murashov who was called up for five NHL games in early November after Tristan Jarry was placed on injured reserve.
Despite Murashov’s emergence, Blomqvist still possesses a skill set that has made him a highly regarded goaltending prospect. He has been described as a calm, technically sound goaltender known for his anticipation and positioning. His primary strengths lie in his quiet demeanor and efficient tracking, while his physical posture remains a potential weakness at the highest level.
— Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) December 7, 2025
The Finn’s immediate future with the organization was addressed last month, when he signed a two-year contract with an average annual value of $875,000.
However, as Hooks dissected the contract structure in the days following the deal, he noted that the two-way contract carries a $300,000 downside guaranteed salary, worth up to $850,000 if he spends the full 2026-27 season in the NHL.
The second year of the deal is more intriguing. The second year switches the contract to a one-way deal that pays Blomqvist a $900,000 salary, regardless of whether he plays in the NHL or the AHL.
All told, Blomqvist is slotted as the organization’s third-string goalie and the WB/S starter heading into this season, with Arturs Silovs and Sergei Murashov primed to see the bulk of NHL action.
Still, another season in the AHL doesn’t mean Blomqvist has fallen out of Pittsburgh’s plans. He was a relatively high draft pick, named an AHL All-Star during the 2023-24 season, and showed some promise when recalled to Pittsburgh during the 2024-25 campaign, posting a 4-9-1 record over 15 games with a 3.81 goals-against average and an .885 save percentage.
All NHL organizations need goalie depth in this day and age. With the league expanding to an 84-game regular season, that depth may be tested in ways it has not been before, making Blomqvist’s presence that much more important heading into 2026-27. He remains one of the organization’s most accomplished young players and its most experienced goaltending prospect.
However, the path to Pittsburgh’s crease is considerably less clear than it appeared a year or two ago. Murashov’s play suggests the Penguins may now view him as the goaltending prospect with the higher ceiling.
Blomqvist needs to establish himself as Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s clear No. 1 and make the most of whatever NHL opportunity comes his way, whether that is this season or next.
BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 18: Trent Grisham #12 of the New York Yankees celebrates with teammate Ben Rice #22 after hitting a home run in the third inning during the game between the New York Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Tuesday, August 18, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Alyssa Piazza/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
It was a day that ended in “y”, so the Yankees played a close game last night. It’s all nail-biters all the way down, but as long as they can score just enough to make their stellar pitching stand up, it’s a good enough formula. The Yankees prevailed in their series opener with the Orioles last night 3-1, and they’ll send Will Warren to the mound tonight with a chance to cinch a series victory and put together a three-game winning streak.
On the site today, Peter will recap a busy Tuesday night of action in the Rivalry Roundup, and he’ll also analyze Ben Rice’s huge home run against the Blue Jays over the weekend. Later, John has the latest entry in the Yankees Birthday series, which features one Bobby Richardson, a hugely clutch Yankee.
Today’s Matchup:
New York Yankees at Baltimore Orioles
Time: 6:35 p.m. EST
TV: Amazon Prime Video, MASN, MLB Network
Venue: Camden Yards, Baltimore, MD
Questions/Prompts:
1. How confident are you that Carlos Rodón will be able to close out the season with the same level of production he showed early in the year?
2. Five division leaders (the Astros in the AL West are the exception) has a lead of at least four games right now. Which of those five teams is most likely to lose their grip in the division?
The Hens got another brilliant outing from Andrew Sears and added to a big lead all the way through this one.
Things did not start off so well. Brant Hurter was sitting 89-90 mph and couldn’t get out of the first inning, as he gave up a run and needed Nick Sandlin to clean up the inning.
Lefty Andrew Sears took over in the second and no-hit the Cubs for five innings, striking out seven against two walks. That’s a bit fitting, as Sears looks ready for a call-up to something like Hurter’s role with the Tigers. Sears got a whopping 16 whiffs in this one, 10 off his mid-90’s sinker, and racked up some whiffs with his high-80’s changeup as well. Sears typically has a good sinker-slider combo, so seeing growth from the changeup is excellent news. He might make a candidate for the rotation in 2027 as well and if the Tigers lose anyone else, Sears is probably the first number you’re going to call.
Here’s every called strike and whiff from Andrew Sears’ 5 no-hit innings tonight: pic.twitter.com/74hsdeKceo
As Sears silenced the Cubs, the Hens offense started clicking. Chris Meyers was promoted out of his rehab assignment up to Toledo for this one, and he doubled in his first at-bat. Andrew Navigato singled him to third and then stole second base. Bennett Lee stepped to the dish after Cal Stevenson struck out, and crushed a three-run shot for his first Triple-A homer.
In the bottom of the third, Max Anderson singled and Josue Briceño walked. Meyers singled in Anderson, and Navigato doubled in Briceño for a 5-1 lead.
Right-hander Hayden Minton, who we had ranked 33rd in the system prior to the season, has started to find the mid-90’s velocity we were hoping for on his low arm slot, running sinker, to pair with his solid curveball and cutter. The Tigers promoted him to Triple-A on Tuesday, moving him to a relief role, at least for now, and this is the way. They’ll need a lot more of this to start building good homegrown bullpens rather than paying through the nose for veteran relievers. Minton doesn’t really profile as the guy, but now that he can focus on short outings, we’ll see if they can squeeze a bit more out of the stuff.
Here’s Hayden Minton’s Triple-A debut. He hit a batter and walked a batter, but he also struck out two in a scoreless inning. Fastball topped out at 95.5 MPH. pic.twitter.com/HrV6OIYDmX
Things were quiet through the middle innings until Max Burt led off the bottom of the seventh with a solo shot. Tyler Mattison surrendered a run in the top of the eighth, but in the bottom half the Hens poured it on.
Justice Bigbie led off with a walk and moved to second on a groundout from Meyers. Navigato singled and Stevenson walked to load the bases. Lee was plunked to force in a run, and Jace Jung followed with a two-run double to make it 9-2.
Beau Brieske struck out two in the top of the ninth sitting 95-97 with his heater.
Navigato: 3-4, 2 R, RBI, 2B, SB
Meyers: 2-4, R, RBI, 2B
Briceno: 0-3, R, BB
Sears (W, 1-0): 5.0 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 BB, 7 K
Coming Up Next: First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m. ET on Wednesday.
New Hampshire Fisher Cats 6, Erie SeaWolves 5 (F/11)(box)
Zyhir Hope had a huge game, but after tying this one up in the ninth and again in the bottom of the tenth, the SeaWolves couldn’t get it done in the 11th.
Hope doubled in the bottom of the first but was stranded.
Joe Miller got into some trouble in the top of the second, and a passed ball charged to Thayron Liranzo scored the game’s first run. The SeaWolves threatened in the second but failed to score. Finally in the bottom of the third, Woody Hadeen walked and rode home on a blast to right field from Hope. 2-1 SeaWolves.
Zyhir Hope crushes a 2-run homer to right to put the SeaWolves up 2-1. It’s his 2nd home run with Erie, and his 25th overall this season. @ZachSurdenik calls it. pic.twitter.com/QYnI9B0qoG
Unfortunately, Miller crumbled in the top of the fourth, allowing three runs. So it was 4-2 Fisher Cats until the bottom of the eighth. Hope led off with a single and took third on a Liranzo single. He then scored on a wild pitch to make it 4-3. Andrew Jenkins walked, but Izaac Pacheco struck out.
Tanner Kohlhepp took over in the top of the ninth and kept the Fisher Cats off the board despite a pair of singles. In the bottom half, Seth Stephenson was hit by a pitch and stole second as Hadeen struck out. Peyton Graham was snakebit in this one, and for the second time hammered a ball right to an outfielder in this one. Hope sprang eternal as he singled in Stephenson to tie the game and send it to extras.
Kohlhepp allowed the runner on second to score in the top of the 10th, but no more. In the bottom half, Jenkins singled in Liranzo from second to tie things up, and then stole second base. With three chances for a game winning knock, the SeaWolves went in order, and that was kind of the ballgame.
Yosber Sanchez gave up a run in the top of the 11th, and Stephenson, Hadeen and Graham all made outs to end it.
Hope: 4-5, 2 R, 3 RBI, 2B, HR, K
Jenkins: 1-4, RBI, BB, SB
Exposito: 2-5, 2B, K
Miller: 4.2 IP, 4 R, 3 ER, 9 H, 0 BB, 5 K
Coming Up Next: It’s a 6:05 p.m ET start on Wednesday. The SeaWolves still hold a 4.5 game lead in the Southwest division with a 31-15 second half record.
South Bend Cubs 5, West Michigan Whitecaps 1 (box)
A two-run shot late in Rayner Castillo’s outing spoiled it, but it mattered little as the Whitecaps got one-hit in this one.
The Whitecaps had trouble with starter Jostin Florentino, and their only hit came with one out in the first, and it was another monster shot to straightaway center field off the bat of Bryce Rainer. The talented shortstop has now homered in four straight contests, tying a Whitecaps record, according to Dan Hasty.
Bryce Rainer with a monster blast to dead center. It’s his 14th home run of the year, and his 4th straight game with a bomb. pic.twitter.com/DV5j1MTHBm
Castillo allowed a solo home run in the bottom of the second, but otherwise he was cruising, racking up a whopping nine strikeouts on the outing, a personal best. Unfortunately, they stretched things a bit too far, and the 22-year-old right-hander gave up a leadoff walk in the sixth, struck out the next hitter, and then surrendered a two-run shot to Josiah Hartshorn which kind of spoiled Castillo’s night. Still, we’ve been looking for him to get that easy 94-95 t97 mph sinker back and improve his breaking stuff and things are coming around after a rough season for him.
Preston Howey gave up a pair of runs in the eighth to complete the scoring.
Rainer: 1-4, R, RBI, HR, 2 K
Ankeney: 0-2, 2 BB
Castillo (L, 2-9): 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 9 K
Coming Up Next: The Whitecaps second half lead in the East division is just one game over Great Lakes. They’ll get back at it with a 7:05 p.m. ET start on Wednesday.
The Flying Tigers athletic young squad played excellent defense and pounded out 14 hits in this one while drawing eight walks to crush St. Lucie.
Caleb Leys got the start, and while he still isn’t missing many bats, he was effective for 3.2 innings of one-run ball. By then the Flygers were working with a nice lead.
Jude Warwick led off the top of the second with a walk and took second on a wild pitch. Maddox Molony lined an RBI single to center for a 1-0 lead.
In the third, Angel De Los Santos dumped a pop-up in for a speed double with one out. Nick Dumesnil struck out, but Jesus Pinto singled in the run. In the fourth, Anibal Salas singled with one out, and Brady Ballinger doubled him to third. Ballinger and Molony did a nice job repping the 2026 draft class in this one. Jordan Yost grounded one to second and then cut down Salas at the plate, but Yost stole second and Ballinger scored as the throw was wide of second base.
Congratulations to Brady Ballinger on his first professional hit, a 375-foot double that the St. Lucie announcers thought was a home run… pic.twitter.com/BBV2nBv7SQ
So it was 3-0 at that point. Leys allowed a run in the top of the fourth, but in the bottom half the Flying Tigers kept pouring it on. Dumesnil led off with a single and Pinto challenged a strike call correctly and walked. Warwick grounded out but advanced both runners. Molony then fought off a pitch into right field for a two-run single. 5-1.
Dumesnil challenged a strike call correctly in the top of the seventh and led off with a walk. He promptly swiped second and scored on a Pinto single. Pinto took second on a wild pitch and Warwick and Molony walked to load the bases. Salas struck out, but Ballinger walked to force in a run and Yost lifted a sac fly to make it 8-1. Michael Oliveto singled in Molony, and De Los Santos lined a single to left to make it 10-1.
Leonardo Rossell and Bryce Alewine were both a little wild in relief but gave the Flygers two scoreless apiece.
De Los Santos: 3-6, R, RBI, 2B, K
PInto: 2-5, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, SB
Molony: 2-4, R, 3 RBI, BB, SB
Ballinger: 2-4, 2 R, RBI, 2B, BB
Oliveto: 2-4, RBI, 2BB
Leys: 3.2 IP, ER, 3 H, 3 BB, 2 K
Coming Up Next: It’s a 6:10 p.m. ET start on Wednesday.
Not AI! LeBron James's NBA coach at a Brasileirão Série B game
Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse made an appearance in Brazilian soccer.
But if you thought it was Fla-Flu, Palmeiras vs. Corinthians, Grenal, Galo vs. Cruzeiro, or any other Série A derby, you were wrong!
LeBron James’ coach in the NBA went to Estádio dos Aflitos, in Recife, to watch the match between Náutico and Ceará in the 23rd round of Brazil’s Série B.
Connection to Brazil
At 59, the coach watched the match from the stands wearing a Náutico shirt.
After the game, he received a gift from the club from Pernambuco.
Reason for the trip
Nurse’s presence in the city is due to his family.
He has been married for 12 years to Roberta Nurse, a former volleyball player from Pernambuco, with whom he has two children: Noah and Leo.
History in the Northeast
This is not the first time the coach has been in the region. In 2022, he was in Recife to follow the FIBA AmeriCup at Geraldão arena and gave a sports clinic for local coaches.
In 2023, he traveled to Campina Grande, Paraíba, to give a lecture at a university.
NBA context
Nick Nurse is a major name in North American basketball, having won the NBA title in 2019 with the Toronto Raptors.
In charge of the Philadelphia 76ers since 2023, he will now have the mission of coaching LeBron James, the league’s all-time leading scorer, who recently signed a two-season contract with the franchise.
That's because Little League World Series games usually consist of six regulation innings. But there are a few circumstances why a game might end early. This means every pitch, hit and defensive play carries weight because momentum can change instantly and a game can end early or get extended.
During the Little League World Series, there will be plenty of drama as teams navigate the rules to perform at a high level with the games airing on the ESPN Networks and ABC. As you watch the Little League World Series unfold, here are some basic rules every fan should understand.
The "Run Rule" is the rule Little League uses to shorten baseball games when the run differential gets too large to continue. It is often mistakenly called the "mercy rule" by fans, but you'll hear the TV broadcasters refer to its proper name as the "Run Rule." A Little League World Series game can end before the sixth inning in the tournament, as the "15-Run Rule" and the "10-Run Rule" are observed.
The 15-Run Rule: If a team has a lead of 15 runs or more after three complete innings (or two and one-half innings if the home team is ahead), the manager of the team with fewer runs must concede the victory.
The 10-Run Rule: If a team has a lead of 10 runs or more after four complete innings (or three and one-half innings if the home team is ahead), the game is officially ended and the trailing manager concedes.
How many video replay challenges do teams get in the Little League World Series?
Team managers get up to two unsuccessful video replay challenges during a regulation six-inning game in the Little League World Series. Also, managers are granted one additional video replay challenge specifically for use during extra innings, regardless of whether they used their challenge allocation during regulation play.
What can be challenged by video replay in the Little League World Series?
According to Little League International Tournament Play Guidelines, managers can challenge objective plays such as safe/out calls at a base, force plays, tag plays, catcher interference and whether a ball was caught cleanly. Subjective calls like balls and strikes or check swings cannot be challenged.
What does 'continuous batting order' mean?
The continuous batting order (CBO) in the Little League Baseball World Series is a tournament mandate where every eligible player on a team’s roster must be placed in the batting order to hit sequentially throughout the entire game. It replaced traditional 9-player baseball/softball lineups for all World Series divisions below the Senior Division level.
When is a Little League baseball game considered official?
According to Rule 4.10(c) of the Official Little League Rulebook, a game is considered legally official if it is stopped early (due to weather, darkness, or curfew) after four full innings have been completed. If the home team is ahead, the game becomes official after three and a half innings.
What is a suspended game mean in Little League baseball?
If an umpire halts a game before reaching the exact thresholds described in Rule 4.10(c) of the Official Little League Rulebook, the game is declared a suspended game.It does not start over from scratch; instead, the rulebook requires the game to be resumed at a later date from the exact point of interruption, with all statistics, pitches and lineups remaining intact.
How can a game end early in the Little League World Series?
A Little League World Series game can end before the sixth inning under what Little League calls the “Run Rule." If, after three innings (or two-and-a-half if the home team is winning), one team is winning by 15 runs or more, the game will end. If, after four innings (or three-and-a-half if the home team is winning), one team is winning by 10 runs or more, the game will also end early.
How many innings are in a Little League World Series game?
A game becomes a standard regulation game when six full innings have been played, and the visiting team has completed its half of the sixth inning. If the home team is ahead, the game ends exactly when they secure the lead in the bottom of the sixth or after five and a half innings.
Is there extra innings in the Little League World Series?
Yes. If a regulation Little League baseball game is still tied after six innings, the game proceeds to a seventh inning and beyond until there is a winner. According to Little League, the tiebreaker will begin immediately in the seventh inning by placing the player who is scheduled to bat last in that respective half inning on second base to begin each extra inning.
How many innings can a Little League Baseball player throw in a game?
Little League Baseball doesn’t have a strict per-game pitching innings limit. However, Little League does monitor how many pitches a player can throw in a game and there are corresponding days of rest tied to how many pitches a player throws in each game. The maximum number of pitches a player can throw in a Little League World Series game is 85. However, a pitcher can go over the 85-pitch threshold to finish an at-bat that started under 85 pitches, but that batter would be the last one before the pitcher must be removed from the mound.
Here's what the corresponding days of rest would look like depending on how many pitchers were thrown
Number of pitches thrown
Corresponding days of rest needed
1-20
0 days
21-35
1 day
36-50
2 days
51-65
3 days
66+
4 days
What is the format of the Little League World Series?
A total of 20 teams compete in Williamsport, Pennsylvania each year.
Those teams compete in identical brackets − one for the United States teams and one for the International teams − in a modified double-elimination format until those teams reach the United State championship game and the International championship game.
The final two teams in each bracket play a single-elimination game to advance to the World Series, meaning even an undefeated team can be eliminated with one loss at that juncture of the tournament. Finally, the U.S. and International champions meet in a winner-take-all game for the world championship title.
How many players can a manager carry on a Little League World Series roster?
The minimum number of players on Little League World Series tournament roster is 12 and the maximum is 14.
What age are the players in the Little League World Series?
Baseball players must be ages 10-12 to participate in the Little League World Series.
What is a courtesy runner in Little League Baseball?
A courtesy runner is used strictly for the pitcher or catcher of record. That courtesy runner can enter only when there are exactly two outs in the half-inning. Also, the courtesy runner is in the continuous batting lineup and must be the player who made the last official out.
Sherlon Christie is a USA TODAY Sports senior trending editor and an expert on Little League Baseball and Little League Softball. You can reach him by email at schristie@usatoday.com. Follow him on X at @sherlonchristie, on Bluesky at @sherlonchristie.bsky.social.
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 07: Max Fried #54 of the New York Yankees takes the sign from the catcher during the game between the Atlanta Braves and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Friday, August 7, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Michael Urakami/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
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