SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 26: Michael Arroyo #96, Randy Arozarena #56 and Lazaro Montes #99 of the Seattle Mariners celebrate their win against the Los Angeles Angels at T-Mobile Park on September 26, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Starting in centerfield for what is all but assuredly his penultimate game with the Seattle Mariners, Randy Arozarena carried Randyland with him once again. I wonder what goes through his mind.
I often wonder this, in fairness, whether it’s while hopscotching away from 2-0 pitches, filling out a bingo card as he rounds the bases on a big fly, or trotting into the corner, following a Gentleman‘s Double™️. What does the kid from Cuba, later choosing Mexico to represent in the World Baseball Classic, think of home?
Arozarena is the defining player for the Mariners this year. A star in search of a solar system. Not bright enough alone, nor gravitationally engrossing to draw adherence from his compatriots, but just shy. The Kyle Seager of Mantua.
I wonder what Arozarena must have thought of his flanking companions. To his left, the field’s right, his erstwhile countryman. Lazaro Montes, gifted with the physicality Randy lacked and was overlooked for accordingly time and time again. A child, yet a fellow father in a foreign land. No player who has made the journey that Montes or Arozarena have can claim life to be comfortable, but Montes brings a joi de vivre few from any rearing can muster. A bilingual titan at 21, if he were not so muscle-bound, Montes might be a diplomat-to-be. Montes went 1-3 with a walk and clubbed a RBI double for the game’s first run. Arozarena’s compatriot in right has just one more night to absorb the wisdom and the perspective of his elder. For one night, Arozarena was nearer for Montes than he may ever be again.
The compact, quixotic Cuban from the Pintar del Rio region, the westernmost tip of an island famed for its participation in this nation’s pastime and resistance to its sphere of influence on all other fronts. Arozarena excelled as a youth in his father’s sport before pursuing the first choice of his homeland. His younger brother maintained the family commitment to soccer, but Arozarena must have known the path to prominence lay on the path of Tony Oliva and not the pitch.
Did Michael Arroyo know the same? His homeland of Colombia is no stranger to baseball brilliance, but Edgar Rentería taught the country to consider baseball mere decades ago, while Valderrama, Falcao, and James would be names familiar to every child. And yet, he chose baseball, faithful to his family’s favorite sport in defiance of his country, more Raiko Arozarena than Randy.
A month ago, when the season rested on a hopeful bed of nails, Arroyo arrived briefly in the M’s clubhouse. Arozarena welcomed him, with gifts of gear and good nature. Perhaps he saw a slice of his younger brother to his right as he glanced to left field tonight. Both hitters shone tonight as they have at every opportunity this year, Arozarena 2-5 with a double, Arroyo a clean 3-5.
They filled the bases for Seattle on a night things seemed easy, then crushingly grim, then smooth again. The M’s leapt out to a 4-0 lead before fear filled their hearts, as southpaw Kade Anderson wore a 104-mph-hued friendship bracelet he did not request from Angels INF Christian Moore. Though initially maintained after his fourth-inning exit, and mercifully deemed safe with merely bruising, Anderson’s exit beckoned the better natures of the rest of the Mariners.
José Ferrer wore the shame of pitching in front of this defense again one last time, and decided to stitch his own patch upon it. Facing the first real threat from Anaheim all day, he hurtled a ball wide, then watched as a single to center became a multi run mess thanks to a credited error to Arozarena that more accurately was an on target throw with a short hop which Cal Raleigh couldn’t corral. Ball after ball testing the infield yielded runs, and it seemed certain that Seattle and it’s beleaguered bullpen would cede the night to fate.
Instead, a glimpse of another world. A better world. A world of safe surprises and risks rewarded. A world of world where Taylor Ward finally has a big moment for his new club, lashing a two-run single to drive in Arroyo and Cole Young. A world where J.P. Crawford follows with a two-run smash off a southpaw to double the lead and double up on Anaheim. A world that could be ours, without too much trouble and a few turns of the calendar pages. A world where the Mariners win 8-4 and it’s meaningful, like every day in this world is to Randy, to Lazaro, to Michael Arroyo, to Kade Anderson.
The Chicago Blackhawks put a mostly NHL lineup out to play the St. Louis Blues in the final preseason game. At the United Center, the Blackhawks defeated the Blues 3-2.
Chicago took a 3-0 lead in the game thanks to goals scored by Anton Frondell, Ian Cole, and Roman Kantserov. The Blues later added two goals of their own but were unable to tie it.
Frondell's goal was proof that they can rely on him to score goals from dangerous areas because of his shot. The puck popped to him in the middle of the ice, and he blasted it home.
The Cole goal came after the Blackhawks killed a 5-on-3. He came out of the box at the perfect time to be fed for a breakaway, and he did not miss. Cole is not relied on for offense anywhere he goes in the NHL, but anything he can bring will be welcomed.
To go up 3-0, Kantserov's goal was a sight to see. He caught the puck on the backhand and lifted it neatly to the top shelf for his first NHL preseason goal. Seeing Kantserov score goals like that is important for the Blackhawks' long-term quest to become a winning team.
Although the Blackhawks allowed the Blues to get back into it with a late-game goal to put themselves back within one, they put together a solid effort in their final tune-up before the games begin for real. 2 of their 3 goals also came from young players that they are relying on to develop into stars.
Chicago was outshot 31-22 by St. Louis. Spencer Knight made 29 saves on 31 shots. He appears to be ready to continue his role as the team's number one guy.
There were plenty of penalty minutes in the game as the Blues ended with 27 to the Hawks' 17. Even in the preseason, these two teams have no love lost. When St. Louis returns to the United Center for Chicago's home opener, it will be interesting to see how physical a game it is.
All in all, it was a solid camp and preseason for the Blackhawks. There were good moments in games, and battles ensued within the group competing for lineup spots. Before Tuesday, the Blackhawks will make decisions on what came of it all.
The Chicago Blackhawks are done with all four preseason games now. Next up is their regular-season opener. This will come on the opening night of the entire season, as the Blackhawks are the nightcap. They will start on the road against the Vegas Golden Knights next Tuesday night.
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DETROIT, MICHIGAN - AUGUST 29: Alek Thomas #9 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates scoring a run in the sixth inning while playing the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on August 29, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It took a while for the Oklahoma City Comets to find their offense, but they did. Alek Thomas hit a three-run double in the 10th inning, giving the Dodgers’ Triple-A team a 5-3 win over the Rochester Red Wings, a Washington Nationals affiliate, on Saturday night in the Triple-A championship game in Las Vegas.
James Tibbs III (108) and Mike Sirota (100) led Dodgers minor leaguers in walks this season, so it’s only right that they walked to open the 10th inning, joining free runner Josue De Paula to load the bases with nobody out against Clayton Beeter, who was drafted by the Dodgers in the second round in 2020.
Thomas then drove a ball 99.5 mph to the wall in left center, clearing the bases for Oklahoma City’s first lead of the game.
Thomas in four games this postseason had a .500 on-base percentage in 21 plate appearances, including two hits and a hit by pitch on Saturday.
Seth Halvorsen inherited two runners on base with one out in the bottom of the ninth in a tie game, and escaped the jam, getting the game to extras. Then he got the final three outs in the 10th to close out the win, allowing the free runner to score but nobody else.
Halvorsen, named a Pacific Coast League All-Star earlier on Saturday, struck out Leandro Pineda for the final out, securing Oklahoma City’s win over the International League champs.
The Triple-A championship game has been played since 2006. This is the first time a Dodgers affiliate has won it.
Long road coming
Oklahoma City didn’t score for the first seven innings and were hitless in their first seven at-bat with runners in scoring position, and were down 2-0 entering the eighth inning.
Mike Sirota, playing in just his sixth game in Triple-A, singled home James Tibbs III, who walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Third baseman Ryan Fitzgerald, who led all of the minors in hits this season, struck out in his first three at-bats on Saturday before doubling off the wall in left center in the eighth to bring home Sirota with the tying run.
Zach Ehrhard had three more hits on Saturday to cap a stellar postseason. The outfielder had three doubles and a home run in the three-game Pacific Coast League championship series, and in four postseason games reached base 13 times in 21 trips to the plate, including nine hits in 17 at-bats, with six runs scored and five runs batted in.
Stretching out
Emmet Sheehan didn’t pitch badly, but he was laboring for the first time in his last seven starts between Triple-A and the majors. He didn’t pitch a clean inning until the fifth, and his six hits allowed matched the total for his previous three starts combined, all with the Dodgers and spanning 17 1/3 innings.
Even with all the traffic on base — Sheehan walked three batters and hit another — he still struck out seven in 5 1/3 innings and only allowed two runs. He also threw 90 pitches, keeping Sheehan fully stretched out should the Dodgers need his services at some point in the postseason.
Kyle Hurt, optioned to Triple-A on Wednesday, relieved Sheehan with two runners on and one out, then escaped the sixth inning with a single pitch, inducing a 3-4-1 double play. Hurt added a perfect seventh inning with a strikeout, giving him 1 2/3 scoreless frames on Saturday, after he pitched a scoreless inning with two strikeouts in Thursday’s win over Las Vegas that won the PCL title for Oklahoma City.
Keeping things close
While Oklahoma City took a while for the offense to get going, they did provide some standout plays with the leather, including this diving stab and throw from third base by Fitzgerald in the fifth inning.
SAN DIEGO, CA - SEPTEMBER 26: A general view of Petco Park during the game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on Saturday, September 26, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Brendon Baranov/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Diamondbacks came into tonight with a golden opportunity. Several golden opportunities, actually, given that by the time our game against the Padres was underway, the Phillies were already well on their way to getting decimated by Tampa to the final tune of 12-1 Tampa. We had a chance to achieve our first 7-game win streak since 2017, we had the chance to go into the final game of the season needing only a last-game win or a loss by Philadelphia to punch our ticket to the postseason, we had a chance to secure a final series win, as well as the season series win against San Diego, with a game to spare. Walker Buehler was going for the Padres, which made things look pretty good on paper; it was a bullpen game for us, with Taylor Clarke opening for us, which also looked pretty good on paper. Alas, however, it was not to be.
Things didn’t start off great, with Buehler setting us down in order on 10 pitches to start things off, and then Clarke retiring Fernando Tatis Jr. for the first out before surrendering three straight singles and a hit batsman to give the Padres the early lead. He managed the second out on a popup on the infield, but Torey Lovullo replaced him after that with Jonathan Loaisiga, who ended the threat, but with us trailing. 1-0 San Diego
We started to make a bit of noise in the top of the second, thanks to a leadoff Geraldo Perdomo walk and a Corbin Carroll single to left to put runners on first and second. Then Padres catcher Ethan Salas tried to pick Carroll off first but threw the ball away down the right field line, which allowed Gerry to score and tie things up. 1-1 TIE
Loaisiga pitched a clean second, retiring the Padres in order, and the Diamondbacks took their first lead in the ballgame in the top of the third. Tim Tawa led off with the a single to left off the glove of shortstop Xander Boegarts, advanced to second one out later on a slow Ketel Marte groundout, and scored on a Gabriel Moreno single to right. 2-1 DBACKS
Johnny Lasagna couldn’t hold the lead though, allowing the Friars to take the lead back in the bottom of the frame thanks to a leadoff triple to center that Tim Tawa lost in the lights, followed after some extra foolishness by a slow grounder to first that scored the run. Kevin Ginkel came on to relieve Loaisiga, and promptly surrendered a Jake Cronenworth popup to shallow center that both Tawa and Perdomo lost track of and allowed to drop for an RBI double. 3-2 San Diego
But not to worry, the Diamondbacks were ready to take the lead right back themselves. With one out in the top of the fourth, Nolan Arenado was hit by a pitch with one out and was forced at second by a fielder’s choice groundout by Pavin Smith. James McCann stepped into the batter’s box and after getting ahead 3-0 on Buelher, deposited a middle-of-the-plate fastball just over the wall in pretty much straightway center field for a two-run homer:
Sadly, however, that was the last fun we were going to have for awhile, as the bullpen cracked, and basically broke, in the next three innings. Jose Cabrera took the mound for the bottom of the fourth, put two runners on, and then watched Manny Machado go yard. 6-4 San Diego
Nevertheless, he came out for the fifth as well, because he was supposed to be our “bulk” guy today, but he gave up another longball, followed by two more base hits, which earned him the hook after four outs recorded. Juan Morillo came in and got the final two outs, but not before another run scored from third on a groundout. 8-4 San Diego
Dennis Santana came out for the seventh, and allowed two more runs to score, thanks to three singles and a walk. To be fair, he pitched the eigthth as well, and sat down the top of the Padres’ lineup in order, but things were pretty out of hand by then. 10-4 San Diego
Meanwhile, the Padres’ bullpen had gotten involved in the game in the top of the fifth, and while they allowed traffic in every inning, none of that traffic found its way home, as the Diamondbacks hitters were kept in check until, somewhat unexpectedly, San Diego closer Mason Miller came out to pitch the ninth. And he was not sharp.
Tim Tawa didn’t wait around, going oppo on the first pitch he saw for a line drive single into shallow right. That turned the lineup over for Lars Nootbar, who walked. Ketel Marte than lined a single to left to load the bases. Somewhat oddly, Torey Lovullo sent Adrian Del Castillo, newly up from Reno, to pinch-hit for Moreno, and ADC promptly struck out. I assume that Torey was playing the lefty-righty matchup there, but Moreno’s bat has been fire while Del Castillo has been languishing back at AAA for god knows how long at this point, and having the first MLB pitcher he’s faced in months be a flamethrower like Miller didn’t seem like it would go well. That said, we weren’t done yet, as Miller walked Perdomo to bring in a run. Corbin Carroll then rolled over to second for a fielder’s choice that scored Nootbaar. Nolan Arenado, with an 11-game hitting streak on the line, then singled to center to score Marte and advance Carroll to third. Ildemaro Vargas, who’d pinch-hit for Pavin Smith in the eighth, came to the plate as the tying run, but alas he struck out to end the ballgame. 10-7 San Diego FINAL
A Whale of a Player: James McCann (4 AB, 1 H, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 HR, 2 K, +21% WPA) King Salmon: Gabriel Moreno (3 AB, 1 H, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K, +12% WPA) Fish Food: Jose Cabrera (1 1/3 IP, 5 H, 5 ER, 1 HR, 1 BB, 2 K, -45% WPA), Taylor Clarke (2/3 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 HBP, -12% WPA)
Sadly, due to some late afternoon discombobulation that left me in a diabetic low blood sugar fugue state for the first three innings or so, I never managed to stop by the penultimate Game Day Thread of the regular season, which made me sad. We seem to have had banner attendance, though, with a whopping 583 comments at time of writing. I’m not quite sure what all was going on in the thread this evening, but the two top comments by popular acclaim both seem to be hitting the same theme, so rather than choosing between them, I’m going to split the CotG between Diamondhacks and onedotfive, for these two statements that I very much agree with:
Damn straight. It sucks to lose one-run games, but we win more of them than we lose, and it is indeed magical that, given where we were two weeks ago or a month ago or, really, coming into this season, that we’ll still playing to get into the postseason tomorrow, in game 162. Speaking of which.
So, About Tomorrow….
So, besides two essentially meaningless early games, first pitch for every single game 162 happens at the same time, which is 12:05pm AZ time. Michael Soroka is going for us, and the Padres, having clinched the home field advantage that comes with grabbing the top wild card spot, haven’t announced who’s going to be taking the mound for them. This is significant, because while San Diego has been playing for seeding position in the first two games, they have nothing whatsoever to gain or lose tomorrow, whatever happens in our ballgame. So we may very well see them resting all their starters, and most of their “A” bullpen, and running out a bunch of filler guys to go up against us while we’re going to be playing for our lives.
Meanwhile, the Phillies are going to be playing for their lives as well, hosting Tampa at what, by the weather forecasts, seems like it’s going to be a very waterlogged Citizens’ Bank Park. The Phillies are pretty much in the same boat we are, but the Rays are not. The Rays have already secured their top AL seed and their first-round bye. As such, they have no real incentive to rest starters or send out trash pitchers to the mound, because they’re going to have plenty of downtime during the bye and plenty of time to order their ALDS starters in whatever sequence they desire. So I’d say, in terms of opponents and opponent motivation tomorrow, it seems like it’s advantage Diamondbacks.
The kicker, of course, because we lost tonight, is that not only do we need to beat the Padres tomorrow, the Phillies also need to lose to the Rays. We lose, or the Phillies win, and they’re in and we’re out. So it really is for all the marbles tomorrow, and we will need a final dollop of help from the baseball gods to keep our wacky and improbable season going into October.
So please join us in the Gameday Thread, as we celebrate the final game of the 2026 regular season, and cheer our Snakes to help get them back to October baseball, and to just enjoy what might be the very last regular season baseball any of us might get to watch for some time to come. We hope to see you tomorrow!
If this is my last recap of 2026, so be it….it’s been an uneven season, but it’s always a pleasure to write up these recaps and share the triumphs and defeats of the Diamondbacks with the lovely denizens of the Snake Pit. As always, thanks for reading. And as always, especially tomorrow, GO DIAMONDBACKS!
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 26: Michael Arroyo #96 of the Seattle Mariners celebrates a run with J.P. Crawford #3 against the Los Angeles Angels during the seventh inning at T-Mobile Park on September 26, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s safe to say the Senators leaned heavily on their power play Saturday night.
They faced the Montreal Canadiens in a pair of split-squad games to round out their 2026 preseason schedule, defeating the Canadiens 4-3 in Ottawa with what was essentially their main group, while their second group fell 4-2 in Montreal against a lineup that was much closer to the Habs’ full-strength roster.
Of the six goals the Senators scored in the two games on the night, all six came with the man advantage.
Travis Green is asked Saturday after Jake Sanderson leaving the game in his preseason debut.
In Ottawa, the Senators had eight power-play opportunities and capitalized on four of them. In Montreal, they had five chances and scored twice.
Injuries
The bigger concern for the Senators, however, is the injury bug. Of course it is.
Jake Sanderson had been dealing with a minor injury throughout camp and finally made his preseason debut in Ottawa but left the game halfway through. Head coach Travis Green described the move as precautionary and said Sanderson should be ready for opening night.
Andre Burakovsky also left the game after a hit in the third period. Green had no update on him.
The game in Montreal also brought some bad news. Sens prospect Adam Nemec left the game with an upper-body injury after Florian Xhekaj drove him hard and awkwardly face first into the glass. Nemec was just hours away from his probable return to junior where he’s expected to have a big OHL season.
The Game in Montreal
As for the scoring, the Senators got goals in Montreal from Philip Tomasino and Tyler Boucher.
Tomasino patiently drifted into the slot before ripping a gorgeous shot into the top corner over Jacob Fowler. Boucher then showed off an equally impressive release, ripping a one-timer off a pass from Xavier Bourgault. Sam Ersson allowed 4 goals on 26 shots.
One of the most notable moments in the game was a fierce, bomb-filled tilt between six-foot-seven, 225 pound Djibril Touré and six-foot-five, 220 pound Tyler Thorpe. Touré absorbed some jarring upper cuts to the chin but then came back with a medley of left hands that landed.
The Montreal game also featured both Suzukis, as Nick faced his younger brother Ryan off the opening faceoff. Ryan is expected to be a key player for Belleville this season.
The Game in Ottawa
Veteran Claude Giroux continued what has been an excellent preseason with another strong performance, recording a goal and two assists. Drake Batherson and William Eklund also found the back of the net.
Burakovsky chipped in with a couple of assists, while Linus Ullmark stopped 20 of 23 shots from the Canadiens. Thomas Chabot was back in the lineup after missing time while his wife gave birth to a baby girl.
Final Cuts by Monday at 5pm
The Senators finish the preseason at 1-3-1 and now have a little more time to get healthy before their opener on October 3. The Canadiens, meanwhile, have only a couple of days before opening the regular season on September 29.
Final roster cuts must be made by Monday at 5 p.m. and they aren’t nearly as predictable as they were at the start of camp. Artem Zub remains out after trying to rehab a lower-body injury for the past five months, and his status has become a legitimate concern.
Warren Foegele and Kurtis McDermid are also out, while Ridly Greig still has to serve the remaining two games of his suspension stemming from last year’s playoff series against Carolina, when he punched Sean Walker during a scrum between whistles.
Shane Pinto is also a concern for the moment. Green said Pinto “came in sore” after Wednesday’s loss in Toronto. He hasn’t practiced since then and missed Saturday’s game. And then you had Sanderson and Burakovsky leave the finale early on Saturday.
As a result, there are suddenly all kinds of NHL opportunities opening up in Ottawa that at the beginning of training camp, few people expected. So the Senators have some difficult decisions to make.
Meanwhile, the NHL preseason may have been shortened this year, but somehow, in these parts, it still felt too long.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 26: Zack Gelof #20 of the Athletics hits into a fielders choice that scored a run against the Houston Astros during the fourth inning at Sutter Health Park on September 26, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Athletics faced the Houston Astros in the penultimate game of the 2026 MLB season. In a season full of blowout losses, how fitting that the A’s suffered another lopsided defeat, falling 13-2 as the team’s league-worst pitching staff once again failed to keep the ball in the ballpark.
Astros In Control Early
A’s starter Jack Perkins did not get through the first inning unscathed. With two outs, Astros third baseman Isaac Paredes hit his 25th home run of the season, a solo shot to left field that put the visitors ahead 1-0. Perkins rebounded to strike out the side in the second inning.
Houston increased its lead in the top of the third inning when shortstop Jeremy Peña’s 21st home run of the season, a two-run shot to center field off Perkins, made it a 3-0 game. Meanwhile, Astros right-hander Hayden Wesneski needed just 20 pitches to complete three scoreless innings. The A’s obsession with double-plays continued, as Wesneski induced a double play to end two consecutive innings.
A’s Comeback Begins
The Athletics generated their first scoring chance against Wesneski in the bottom of the fourth inning, loading the bases with one out. The hosts caught a break when Peña mishandled a potential inning-ending double-play grounder.
Zack Gelof hustled down the line for an RBI force out, bringing home Lawrence Butler for the A’s first run of the game. Peña made another mistake on that play, as his throw pulled the first baseman off the bag and allowed Gelof to reach safely. The A’s had a chance to score more, but Donovan Walton grounded out to strand runners at the corners.
Perkins failed to complete a shutdown inning in the fifth. With two outs and two runners on, Houston’s superstar designated hitter Yordan Alvarez hit his 42nd home run of the season, a three-run shot to right field that extended the visitors’ lead to 6-1.
One pitch before, A’s catcher Jonah Heim failed to challenge a pitch that appeared to clip the bottom of the strike zone. Instead Alvarez crushed Houston’s third home run of the night and the 10th allowed by A’s pitchers through the first 2 1/2 games of this season-ending series.
Perkins allowed six runs on five hits over five innings. He struck out nine, but that was offset by the three home runs he allowed.
Jonah Heim opts not to challenge a ball call on Yordan Alvarez that would have gone for strike three, setting a career high in K's for Jack Perkins.
Right-hander Scott Blewett entered out of the A’s bullpen to pitch the sixth inning. Blewett quickly found himself in a jam after the first two batters he faced recorded hits, putting runners on second and third with zero outs. Blewett struck out the next two Astros before left-hander Drew Rom replaced him and completed the houdini act.
With a five-run cushion, Wesneski cruised through six innings on 60 pitches. The Athletics plated a second run against Wesneski in the bottom of the seventh on first baseman Tommy White’s two-out RBI single.
A’s Relief Struggles Continue
Rom remained in the game for the seventh inning, allowing four singles and two more runs. With two outs, Lucas Spence’s RBI double brought home the third run of the inning, the Astros’ ninth, and sent Rom back to the dugout.
Right-hander Yunior Tur continued to look overmatched against major league hitters. In the eighth inning, Peña’s second home run of the night, a two-run shot, extended his team’s lead to 11-2. Two more hits made it a dozen runs for the Astros. The following inning, Spence hit his fourth home run of the series, this one off Tur.
With a double-digit lead, Astros right-hander Ronel Blanco pitched a scoreless final two frames, preserving the rest of his team’s bullpen for tomorrow’s high-stakes matchup.
The Athletics will look to win the season finale to earn a series split and potentially knock the Astros out of the playoffs. Right-hander Seth Johnson will serve as the Green and Gold’s opener, while the Astros have yet to reveal their starter.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 26: Jeremy Peña #3 of the Houston Astros reacts as he rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run against the Athletics during the third inning at Sutter Health Park on September 26, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It will come down to the final day of the season to decide the A.L. West, but Houston has inched closer.
Astros 13 A’s 2
The odd innings paid dividends all night for the Astros, as they’d score in the first, third, fifth and seventh and ninth, along with the eighth for good measure. Isaac Paredes started things with a solo shot to make things 1-0.
In the top of the third, Cam Smith drew a walk and then came around moments later on Jeremy Pena’s 21st home run of the season.
The fifth inning was the exclamation point of the night and on Yordan Alvarez’s MVP season. Alvarez launched his 42nd HR, a 3-run blast, making things 6-1. The lead expanded with three more runs in the seventh, highlighted by Jose Altuve’s 48th RBI.
Aside from the offensive output, largely driven by long balls, the night was really about Hayden Wesneski, who earned the win. Since emerging from a 449-day rehab from Tommy John surgery in a victorious effort back on July 29th, Wesneski has been a vital cog in pushing Houston to the brink of their 9th post season berth in 10 years. Saturday night marked his 11th start. Wesenski’s threw just 82 pitches, going seven innings with five strikeouts and 1 earned run. It was the third time this season that he’d go seven innings.
For good measure, Pena added to his impressive night, registering a fourth hit with his 22nd homer of the year. Pena has tied his career high. By the time 8th was completed, the Astros had 12 total runs on the board. Lucas Spence made it a baker’s dozen, hitting his fourth homerun of this A’s series in the 9th for the final run of the night.
Pitching for the first time in almost two weeks, Ronel Blanco would come on and secure two innings of scoreless relief.
Sunday will be a day of scoreboard watching. The Rangers will complete their season at Target Field, sending left hander MacKenzie Gore to the mound. With a win or a Rangers loss tomorrow, the Astros will host the White Sox on Tuesday at Daikin Park for the Wild Card round.
Odds & Ends:
Yordan Alvarez now has 105 RBI on the season.
The Astros now lead all of baseball with 225 home runs.
Jose Altuve has moved into spot #100 on baseball’s all-time hit list with his pair of hits Saturday Night. He can leapfrog Todd Helton next.
The San Jose Sharks were back in action on Saturday night, as they closed out the preseason on the road against the Vegas Golden Knights. The Sharks were defeated by the Golden Knights in a shootout at home earlier this week, so they were looking for revenge in the dress rehearsal for the regular season which saw both teams ice the majority of their NHL lineups, including the Sharks' new captain Macklin Celebrini.
Michael Kesselring blocked a Jack Eichel shot in the first period that appeared to leave him a little shaken up, but he didn't miss a shift. The Golden Knights were controlling play for the most part in the first half of the opening frame. Tyler Toffoli took the first penalty of the night when he tripped Brett Howden, giving the Golden Knights a power play with just over eight minutes remaining in the period. Askarov came up big for the Sharks on the penalty kill, helping the team survive the disadvantage.
Collin Graf had a breakaway attempt late in the period, but lost the puck due to the defensive play of Jeremy Lauzon.
Macklin Celebrini drew a hooking penalty when he was wrapped up by Mitch Marner with less than two minutes remaining in the first period, giving the Sharks their first power play of the night. Dmitry Orlov gave the Sharks the lead with just 40 seconds remaining in the frame, even though the game to this point had been widely controlled by Vegas.
The period wasn't over yet though, as Zack Ostapchuk was called for holding on Eichel in the neutral zone with just under 28 seconds remaining. The Sharks' penalty kill would continue to start the second period though, as they survived the remainder of the first.
The Golden Knights maintained heavy pressure for the remainder of the power play, but the Sharks were ultimately able to kill it off. Shortly afterwards, the Sharks were back on special teams, though this time they had the man advantage after Braeden Bowman was penalized for tripping Mason Marchment. Jacob Trouba had one play that was somewhat concerning on the breakout from the defensive zone, taking the puck through Askarov's blue paint with a defender attacking him. If he had lost the puck, it could have been disastrous. The Sharks were unable to convert on the power play, dropping to 50% efficiency on the night.
Captain Macklin scored his first goal with the "C" on his chest in the second period, shooting the puck over Carter Hart's blocker to extend the Sharks' lead to 2-0, despite trailing in shots 15-4.
Orlov gave the Golden Knights another power play opportunity late in the period, when he was penalized for hooking Jack Eichel. This time, Vegas cashed in on their opportunity and Tomas Hertl tapped in a loose puck in the crease, making it a 2-1 game. The Golden Knights' power play didn't get any time to rest either, as Marchment was called for slashing on the ensuing faceoff.
The Sharks killed off the penalty and maintained their lead heading into the second intermission.
Less than a minute into the final period, Celebrini took a high sticking penalty after he caught Ivan Barbashev up high, giving Vegas another power play opportunity. The Sharks were able to kill it off once again though, improving to 3-for-4 on the night. Moments after the penalty came off the board though, Nic Dowd tied things up as Vegas had a 3-on-2 rush.
The Sharks got a power play when Brett Howden got a four-minute double minor for cross-checking. At the same time, Kiefer Sherwood was called for roughing following a scrum. The Sharks were unable to convert on the man advantage.
Marchment restored the Sharks' lead halfway through the period, ripping a shot from inside of the faceoff circle to make it a 3-2 hockey game. Askarov made a big save with just over six and a half minutes remaining to help the Sharks' keep their lead.
A minute and a half later, Michael Misa broke Vegas's H(e)art by doubling the Sharks' lead with a glove-side shot from the faceoff dot.
Sam Dickinson tried to get involved with the offense by joining the rush with roughly three minutes remaining, but was denied by Hart. It was definitely a good attempt from a player who has struggled to this point in the preseason.
The Golden Knights were unable to score after pulling their goaltender, giving the Sharks a 4-2 victory to close out the preseason.
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The last question remaining with the Islanders’ forward lines was who they would surround Casey Cizikas with, and based on Saturday’s preseason finale, that appears to have been answered.
After waiving Mitchell Chaffee earlier in the day, the Islanders had Ondrej Palat and Anthony Duclair on their game roster against the Devils.
Though the 11-and-7 configuration in the Islanders’ 4-1 preseason loss to the Devils made for some inconsistent line combinations, indications are Palat and Duclair will form the fourth line with Cizikas on Wednesday night in Toronto, with Kyle MacLean looking likely to be the extra forward.
Ondrej Pajat passes the puck down ice as Brendan Dillon defends during the Islanders’ 4-1 preseason loss to the Devils on Sept. 26, 2026 at UBS Arena. Corey Sipkin for New York Post
It is not, on paper, a trio that looks like an easy fit together, with Cizikas very much a straight-line player, Duclair a skill-first winger with speed and the 35-year-old Palat still trying to prove he can conjure some of what made him such an effective player when the Lightning were winning Stanley Cups.
“We all bring something different to the table, which is nice, and it’s a lot about communication,” Cizikas said before Saturday’s exhibition game. “It’s a lot about understanding each other and each other’s games.”
With coach Pete DeBoer hoping to find some secondary scoring the Islanders lacked last season, it might be the Islanders’ best shot of a fourth line that can put the puck in the net. Duclair hasn’t found a consistent scoring touch since signing here in 2024, but has a history of 20-goal seasons the Isles are still hoping to tap into.
“He’s got a nose for the net and he’s as slick as anybody with that puck,” Cizikas said. “So we’re gonna try to do everything we can to get him the puck and get him in positions where he’s able to get an opportunity.”
Anthony Duclair (11) takes a shot during the first period of the Islanders’ preseason loss to the Devils at UBS Arena. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
The Islanders lined up with 11 forwards and seven defensemen in their preseason finale, holding out Matthew Schaefer (upper body) and Brayden Schenn (lower body) after both had “tweaks,” in DeBoer’s words.
DeBoer said neither is a concern for Wednesday, with the decision to hold them out purely precautionary.
DeBoer called Mathew Barzal (left kneecap) day to day, but would not confirm whether he is skating.
The Islanders made a series of cuts before Saturday’s game, sending Alex Jefferies, Josh Kotai, Daniil Prokhorov, Matthew Highmore and Marshall Warren to AHL Hamilton while putting Chaffee, Pierre Engvall, Liam Foudy, Daylan Kuefler and Matt Luff on waivers.
While Engvall is in Hamilton, his $3 million cap hit becomes $1.775 million.
The last question remaining with the Islanders’ forward lines was who they would surround Casey Cizikas with, and based on Saturday’s preseason finale, that appears to have been answered.
After waiving Mitchell Chaffee earlier in the day, the Islanders had Ondrej Palat and Anthony Duclair on their game roster against the Devils.
Though the 11-and-7 configuration in the Islanders’ 4-1 preseason loss to the Devils made for some inconsistent line combinations, indications are Palat and Duclair will form the fourth line with Cizikas on Wednesday night in Toronto, with Kyle MacLean looking likely to be the extra forward.
Ondrej Pajat passes the puck down ice as Brendan Dillon defends during the Islanders’ 4-1 preseason loss to the Devils on Sept. 26, 2026 at UBS Arena. Corey Sipkin for New York Post
It is not, on paper, a trio that looks like an easy fit together, with Cizikas very much a straight-line player, Duclair a skill-first winger with speed and the 35-year-old Palat still trying to prove he can conjure some of what made him such an effective player when the Lightning were winning Stanley Cups.
“We all bring something different to the table, which is nice, and it’s a lot about communication,” Cizikas said before Saturday’s exhibition game. “It’s a lot about understanding each other and each other’s games.”
With coach Pete DeBoer hoping to find some secondary scoring the Islanders lacked last season, it might be the Islanders’ best shot of a fourth line that can put the puck in the net. Duclair hasn’t found a consistent scoring touch since signing here in 2024, but has a history of 20-goal seasons the Isles are still hoping to tap into.
“He’s got a nose for the net and he’s as slick as anybody with that puck,” Cizikas said. “So we’re gonna try to do everything we can to get him the puck and get him in positions where he’s able to get an opportunity.”
Anthony Duclair (11) takes a shot during the first period of the Islanders’ preseason loss to the Devils at UBS Arena. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
The Islanders lined up with 11 forwards and seven defensemen in their preseason finale, holding out Matthew Schaefer (upper body) and Brayden Schenn (lower body) after both had “tweaks,” in DeBoer’s words.
DeBoer said neither is a concern for Wednesday, with the decision to hold them out purely precautionary.
DeBoer called Mathew Barzal (left kneecap) day to day, but would not confirm whether he is skating.
The Islanders made a series of cuts before Saturday’s game, sending Alex Jefferies, Josh Kotai, Daniil Prokhorov, Matthew Highmore and Marshall Warren to AHL Hamilton while putting Chaffee, Pierre Engvall, Liam Foudy, Daylan Kuefler and Matt Luff on waivers.
While Engvall is in Hamilton, his $3 million cap hit becomes $1.775 million.
After the Nets traded a second-round pick in 2018, it got moved in three different deals before coming back to Brooklyn in the form of this sweet-shooting forward from UCLA. The two-way’s defense has to prove up to NBA levels.
Mikel Brown Jr., 20, G, 6-5, 190
The No. 6 pick from Louisville is the Nets’ highest since 2010 and foundation of their rebuild. Rookie point guards have growing pains, and Brown must bulk up and cut turnovers, but he will get every chance to play right out of the gate.
Noah Clowney, 22, F, 6-10, 210
After starting 60 games last season, he likely will come off the bench. But entering his fourth season — despite being younger than Danny Wolf — Clowney has to show growth, particularly as a shooter, rim protector and rebounder.
Dain Dainja, 24, F, 6-9, 255
Spent last season with Miami’s G-League squad after going undrafted as a rookie. The Nets saw his aggressiveness, 7-foot-7 wingspan and motor, and brought him to Summer League. Another likely Long Island Net after camp.
The acquisition of Julius Randle is a sign that the Nets aren’t tanking this season. J.C. Rice for NY Post
Egor Dëmin, 20, G, 6-8, 200
After doubts about his shooting, Dëmin showed a 3-point shot as a rookie. Now the young Russian has bulked up and must build on the improved downhill game he flashed in Summer League. If that’s real, he’s a legitimate building block.
Keon Ellis, 26, G, 6-4, 175
Brooklyn has desperately lacked point-of-attack defense. That’s why they signed Ellis, who played in Sacramento while coach Jordi Fernandez was the lead assistant and can provide valuable 3-and-D minutes off the bench.
Ben Humrichous, 24, F, 6-9, 224
Went undrafted after being a backup up Illinois’ Final Four team last season. Signed to an Exhibit 10, went to Summer League with Brooklyn and could end up with G-League Long Island after training camp.
Egor Dëmin will be looking to build on the improved downhill game he flashed in Summer League. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Joshua Jefferson, 22, F, 6-9, 240
Taken with the first-round pick that came attached to salary-dumped Julius Randle. Jefferson was a versatile do-it-all forward at Iowa State, but comes into a crowded backup forward group that includes Noah Clowney, Danny Wolf and Josh Minott.
Chaney Johnson, 24, F, 6-7, 220
Got brought up last season and averaged 8.2 points on pure athleticism and hustle despite being undersized. The Nets used Johnson at center in Summer League despite the presence of Danny Wolf, and he showed enough to earn a two-way.
Terance Mann, 29, G/F, 6-6, 215
In an odd spot as a heady (and pricey) veteran stuck on a young team nowhere near ready to compete and determined to develop their youngsters. Does Mann steal late game minutes in nailbiters, or get moved to a contender?
Josh Minott, 23, F, 6-8, 205
An analytics darling, Minott has the potential to be a legitimate 3-and-D threat. Injuries, Boston’s wing depth and finally Brooklyn’s tanking efforts have conspired to limit his minutes. Now he finally will get his chance, and has to take it.
Grant Nelson, 24, F, 7-0, 215
Injuries curtailed Nelson’s last season and kept him out of Summer League altogether, both Sacramento and Las Vegas. But he got a two-way deal, and another shot at the third-strong job.
Michael Porter Jr., 28, F, 6-10, 218
Coming off a career season, Porter can build on that with more talent around him like Brown and Randle. The forward is set to make $40.8 million and be an unrestricted free agent next summer. Will he get extended, traded, or both?
Michael Porter Jr. is set to make $40.8 million and be an unrestricted free agent next summer. Corey Sipkin for New York Post
Drake Powell, 21, G/F, 6-5, 195
A plus athlete and gifted defender. But Powell is raw offensively and looked horrible shooting the ball over the summer. Can he hone his jumper and get his athleticism to translate to production?
Julius Randle, 31, F/C, 6-9, 250
Brookyn’s only All-Star, Randle has averaged 21.7 points and 8.9 rebounds over the past eight years. He’s a floor-raiser who will help, but for how long? At 31 and able to opt out next summer, he hardly fits the Nets’ timeline.
Ben Saraf, 20, G, 6-6, 200
Another 2025 first-round guard, Saraf has a solid frame, physicality and nose for getting downhill. But the young Israeli shot just 21.1 percent from 3-point range as a rookie, a figure that needs to improve.
Ben Saraf looks to improve his shooting in his upcoming second season with the Nets. Noah K. Murray / New York Post
Day’Ron Sharpe, 24, C, 6-10, 265
After years of backing up Nic Claxton, Sharpe finally gets his chance as the starter center. A great rebounder per 100 possessions, he has never averaged more than 18.7 minutes. Can his production handle scaled up playing time?
Nolan Traore, 20, G, 6-3, 185
The young Frenchman is quick and gets to the rim, but of every player who attempted at least 100 layups, his 44.4 percent was dead last. Will the former first-rounder’s added muscle help him finish?
Moritz Wagner, 29, F/C, 6-11, 245
With Claxton gone and Sharpe the starter, Wagner signed in free agency as Brooklyn’s only other proven center. He’s going to play — a lot — but can the floor spacing he provides compensate for a lack of rim protection?
Danny Wolf, 22, F/C, 6-11, 250
Despite the size, Wolf is far more of a jumbo wing than a backup center. He can dribble and pass, but with his ground-bound game, the 22-year-old is going to have to work on improving his finishing or jumper. It’s a recurring theme.
MIAMI, FL - SEPTEMBER 26: Michael Harris II #23 of the Atlanta Braves high-fives teammates in the dugout after scoring in the first inning during the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Miami Marlins at loanDepot park on Saturday, September 26, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Brandon Pratt/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Well Atlanta is positioned pretty well for the playoffs, with their seeding locked up for a while now and the ability to line up their pitching that comes with that. They managed Saturday’s game well, despite the injury to Martin Perez, with Brent Suter covering the first 3.0 innings and no blowups to disrupt plans in the bullpen. Meanwhile, the Phillies can’t quite finish the deal for their playoff spot, with a 1 game lead on the D-Backs, but losing the tiebreak to Arizona. They resorted to starting Aaron Nola on 2 days rest Saturday, which went very poorly for them. This could work out favorably for Atlanta if they end up facing the Phillies in the Wild-Card round, with the Phils having to pull out all the stops on their pitching staff just to get there, or they could even watch their division rivals flame out and miss the Wild-Card entirely, which is its own type of fun.
After leading the Knicks to their first NBA championship in 53 years, Jalen Brunson had the honor of hosting the 52nd season premiere of "Saturday Night Live."
The Finals MVP received a warm welcome from the home crowd at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, joked about his cold-blooded demeanor, his "pretty good summer," and said he hopes his hosting duties will go like a Knicks' game -- "God awful" for the first three quarters and "amazing" for the final sketch like a fourth-quarter comeback win.
Brunson discussed his "pretty good summer" and then held a "news conference" with the audience, where he was pestered by silly questions from Knicks teammates Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, and Josh Hart.
Anunoby got the biggest laugh by asking the point guard about missing the last-second shot in Game 4 of the NBA Finals -- which Anunoby famously tipped-in with 1.2 seconds left to pull off the miraculous 29-point comeback.
Brunson was even nice enough to bring the group on stage to close out his monologue, which you can check out here:
