Do you have baseball fever yet? If you’re still watching, I’ll assume you do.
I normally put some sort of analysis in the preview. I’m told nobody reads these, but it gives me a head start on the recap. Unfortunately, there’s not much analysis left. The Mariners lost their chance for a winning season last night. And they’ll officially have a losing record if they lose again tonight. If they don’t, that’ll be on the table again tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day, and so on until this season is mercifully over.
So instead analysis, I’ll steal Zach Mason’s bit from last night, and ask a question to see who reads these things: Let’s name some Mariners-Angels crossovers. Who’s your favorite? Who’s your least favorite? Who should have been a Mariner but never was? Who should have been an Angel but never was? What do you think of the Angels, as an organization?
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 15: Junior Caminero #13 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates with Chandler Simpson #14 and Jorge Mateo #9 after hitting a walk-off home run in the ninth inning to defeat the Athletics 2-1 at Tropicana Field on September 15, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Seriously, nothing much happened in this game on offense — for either team.
The Rays first — and for many innings, only — run came when Chandler Simpson scored from third on a passed ball, but perhaps what is most notable is how Simpson came to be on third. He hit a deep line drive (98 mph!) that bounced of the back wall for a double. He moved to third on a ground out and was then able to score when the Oakland catcher failed to grab an errant pitch. Simpson, in fact, was pretty much the Rays offense until the Cami home run: the Rays had six hits, total, and Chandler had three of them.
Griffin Jax picked up from his last, very effective start. He shut down the A’s almost entirely for five innings. He walked no one and gave up two forgettable hits while striking out seven.
But apparently the Rays are determined to manage his workload, because despite pitching just five relatively low stress innings — a mere 67 pitches — he was pulled before the sixth inning.
Jax wasn’t the only pitcher on top of his game today. Jack Perkins, the A’s starter whose ERA is north of 6.00, held the Rays in check for 6.2 innings. He scattered a few hits, walked just one, and made the Rays hitters, even the “big three,” look lost.
After Jax left the game, Cash brought in Ty Johnson, who was the weak-ish link among tonight’s pitchers. He gave up two hits and then threw a very wild pitch that scored a run to tie the game at 1-1. But the rest of the bullpen — Cam Booser, Kevin Kelly and Bryan Baker — cruised through their innings. After Baker polished off the A’s in the top of the ninth, I was hoping hard that the Rays would manage to walk it off in the bottom of the inning because I didn’t like the pitching options that would follow Baker.
And then: BOOM. Junior did indeed put this game to bed. He’s got the bat, and he’s got the confidence too; this 23-year old is ready for this moment, beckoning to the post-game crowd to raise the volume as they chanted “MVP.”
With the win the Rays magic number to win the division is down to nine (as I write the Yankees are leading the Minnesota Twins so we’ll get no help there), and they have two more games against the A’s. Tomorrow Nick “our workhorse” Martinez takes the mound.
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 15: Jack Perkins #50 of the Athletics delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on September 15, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Athletics opened a three-game road series against the Tampa Bay Rays on Roberto Clemente Day. The Rays won a 2-1 pitching duel on a walk-off home run by superstar third baseman Junior Caminero.
Pitching Duel in Florida
The Athletics had trouble generating offense against Rays right-hander Griffin Jax, who opened the game with seven strikeouts across five scoreless innings. A’s right-hander Jack Perkins nearly matched him, as it quickly became apparent that this game would be a low-scoring affair.
After failing to capitalize on their first scoring opportunity in the bottom of the first, the Rays took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Chandler Simpson scored on a passed ball by A’s catcher Jonah Heim. The visitors had a chance to immediately respond in the top of the third. With two outs, shortstop Alika Williams doubled for the A’s first hit of the game, but he was stranded at second when Jax struck out center fielder Henry Bolte to end the inning.
A’s Tie The Game
With their sights set on a deep playoff run, the Rays removed Jax after 67 pitches and five scoreless innings. Rookie right-hander Ty Johnson entered from the hosts’ bullpen, looking to maintain his team’s 1-0 lead.
With one out, Bolte and first baseman Jeff McNeil hit back-to-back singles, giving the A’s a golden opportunity to at least tie the game. Bolte scored the game-tying run on a wild pitch by Johnson. The Green and Gold stranded McNeil at second, wasting a chance to take the lead.
Perkins turned in arguably his best start of the season. The command-challenged right-hander pitched into the seventh inning for the first time this year, allowing just four hits and one unearned run while striking out eight and issuing only one walk over 6 2/3 innings.
With two on and two out in the bottom of the seventh, A’s right-hander Luis Medina replaced Perkins, looking to keep the game tied. Medina struck out second baseman Richie Palacios on three pitches, ending the Rays’ scoring threat.
Another Close Game Late
The game remained deadlocked as Rays left-hander Cam Booser, setup man Kevin Kelly and closer Bryan Baker shut down the A’s offense over the final three innings.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, the Rays had an opportunity to take the lead after getting a runner to second with one out. However, A’s left-hander Hogan Harris retired the next two batters to strand the go-ahead run at third.
Wrong Kind of Music from Elvis
Right-hander Elvis Alvarado entered for the bottom of the ninth with the A’s hoping he could send the game to extra innings. However, he did not record an out.
After achieving walk-off wins in two of their past three games, the Athletics were on the other side of that equation tonight. In an 0-2 count, Caminero sliced a walk-off opposite-field home run down the right field line. His 41st long ball of the season gave the American League-best Rays a 2-1 series-opening victory.
The Athletics’ offense will look to have more success tomorrow as the team looks to even the series. Left-hander Brady Basso will open for the Green and Gold, with the length of his outing likely depending on his performance. The Rays will counter with right-hander Nick Martinez, who pitched a complete game when these teams met in Sacramento last month.
Teoscar Hernández gestures as he rounds the bases after hitting a two-run homer in the third inning Tuesday. (Carolyn Kaster / Associated Press)
A simple change opened up a dramatic offensive turnaround for Dodgers left fielder Teoscar Hernández.
Hernández’s two-run homer Tuesday, in the Dodgers’ 4-0 win against the Reds, was his second home run in as many nights, as the team trimmed its magic number to clinch the division to one behind Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s seven innings of one-hit ball. And, significantly, this one was against a right-handed pitcher.
“It’s been very helpful,” manager Dave Roberts said after the game. “As certain guys are not seeing the ball as well, it’s nice to kind of backfill with guys like Teo swinging the bat. And when you can slug like he can, you can win baseball games, and he can carry us for a while. And the last 10 days, something like that, it’s been really good from him.”
Through the end of August, Hernández had just a .668 OPS against right-handed pitchers this season. So, when Roberts was asked in Detroit whether the Dodgers would consider setting up a left-field platoon with the team’s September call-ups, he said yes.
Hernández homered off Tigers left-hander Framber Valdez on the last day of the series. And before the Dodgers opened a three-game set against the Cardinals at Dodger Stadium, Hernández met with the hitting coaches.
Against Valdez, Hernández was in a closed stance, to delay his front hip from opening, according to Dodgers hitting coach Aaron Bates. But the team’s hitting group thought a return to a familiar setup could be a long-term solution.
“It was a great meeting we had,” Bates said. “We all talked about it, and then he felt comfortable enough to do it, and then the rest is to his credit. He’s just been who he is.”
In the past, Hernández had used a “twister tap” as his stride. He started in a more open stance, tapped his toe in line with the pitcher, and then set his foot down. But lower-body injuries the last couple of years — a left groin strain last season and a left hamstring strain earlier this season — forced him away from it.
His improved health and hip flexibility opened up the avenue for him to return to that timing mechanism.
“When Teo’s hips are loose that way, and his front leg looks like an Elvis knee, it’s a good sign for us,” Bates said. “Because that means that he can open and close it without his upper body going with it.”
The advantage of the twister tap, as Hernández explained it, is how repeatable it is. A more traditional stride can be sped up or slowed down.
“Just being able to control my body and being in a good position,” Hernández said earlier this month. “I can see the pitch a little sooner and identify what kind of pitch it is and if it’s going to be a strike or a ball.”
Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitches during one of his seven shutout innings against the Reds Tuesday. (Carolyn Kaster / Associated Press)
With that change, he’s rewarded the Dodgers for deciding against platooning left field. Hernández entered Tuesday with a .777 OPS against right-handed pitchers — a sample size of just 28 plate appearances but still a significant jump.
“The biggest thing is his plate coverage away,” Bates said. “Because now he can spoil pitches, and he’s staying in at-bats longer.”
Hernández’s dramatic offensive turnaround, along with fellow corner outfielder Kyle Tucker’s improvement, have helped steady a Dodgers offense that’s missing Shohei Ohtani (on the IL with right biceps and left knee injuries) and includes a hobbled Freddie Freeman (right knee soreness).
Rookie Josue De Paula, mostly filling in for Ohtani at designated hitter, has already shown he can take mature at-bats and provide some pop. But he’s still finding his footing in a new league.
It lengthens the Dodgers lineup for Hernández, after a slow start to his year, to return to being a veteran power threat — just in time to, ideally, carry the momentum into the postseason.
On Monday, he launched his two-run shot off left-hander Nick Lodolo. On Tuesday, he replicated the feat off right-hander Rhett Lowder.
On the second pitch of the at-bat, Hernández recognized a hung slider, and he roped it over the left-field fence at 109.3 mph, according to Statcast. The blast put the Dodgers up 3-0 in the third inning, with Dodgers starter Yamamoto settling into a groove on the other side.
Yamamoto had walked the first two batters he faced, but he reined in his control to pitch seven scoreless innings and allow just one more baserunner, on a double by Reds star shortstop Elly De La Cruz.
The Dodgers also scored on Hunter Feduccia’s second-inning single and Alex Freeland’s seventh-inning homer. And the Dodgers bullpen completed the shutout.
Freeman staying in the lineup
Freeman was all smiles after his three-hit game Tuesday — after going hitless for his last four games.
“I was supposed to be off tomorrow, but I played myself in there,” he said. “So I’m very excited.”
Roberts explained: “He was joking, saying, ‘If I get three hits, then can I be in there tomorrow?’”
Sure enough, the mechanical adjustments he made in the batting cage — focusing on getting his foot down early and making contact out in front — got him there.
“I’m just trying to find something that gives me results,” Freeman said. “We’re at the time where we’re just trying to get hot for five weeks here. So kind of like I did in the World Series a couple years ago, I did the step-out move. That’s not sustainable over six months. I’m not trying to find something that’s sustainable.”
Though Roberts has been trying to find opportunities to rest Freeman, he saw promising signs Tuesday beyond the results.
“Just my eyes, just watching him move, I feel good about him going tomorrow,” Roberts said.
De Paula, Freeland and third baseman Max Muncy will be out of the lineup Wednesday, Roberts said.
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 03: Isaiah Wong #21 of the Charlotte Hornets plays against the Washington Wizards during their game at Spectrum Center on February 03, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Dwight Murray Jr. and Isaiah Wong are officially joining the Brooklyn Nets organization. This morning, the team signed both players before waiving them shortly after. The Nets traded for Murray Jr.’s rights earlier this month and then Wong’s two days later.
What might seem like an odd transaction on the surface is actually a move commonly made by NBA teams ahead of training camp. When a team sign-and-waives a player, it secures that player’s G League rights and the opportunity to offer them a cash bonus of $91,000 on top of the G League max of $49,000. It’s highly likely that’s what Brooklyn is doing here to get Murray Jr. and Wong on the Long Island Nets roster. It’s also possible the two will be in Brooklyn for camp.
Murray Jr. has technically been a Net before. He played for Brooklyn in the Summer League this year, appearing in two games where he averaged 5.0 points, 1.5 assists, and 1.5 rebounds per game. He’s also played two seasons in the G-League already. There, he averaged 8.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 5.0 assists in 23.5 minutes per game.
‼️OMS CLIENT CONTRACT SIGNING‼️ We are thrilled to announce that our guy, Dwight Murray, Jr. @lildwight_23 has officially signed his second NBA Exhibit 10 Contract! He has come to terms with the Brooklyn Nets @BrooklynNets who he spent the 2026 NBA Summer League with!
Wong, however, has more experience at the pro level. He’s appeared in 21 NBA games over the past two seasons, including 20 with the Charlotte Hornets during their 2024-25 campaign. He’s also spent time in the Utah Jazz and Indiana Pacers organizations. In the G-League, he’s played 59 games while averaging 16.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.4 assists in 28.9 minutes per game.
After Charlotte didn’t renew his deal last season, he went overseas, playing first in Lithuania with Zalgiris, a Euroleague team, then in Spain with Gran Canaria. Wong averaged 14.6 points a game along with two assists and two rebounds. Wong’s grandfather was Chinese.
After filling their final two-way slot almost two weeks ago via Grant Nelson, the Nets certainly appear focused on solidifying their G-League roster here in September. Brooklyn’s training camp opens on September 29. Long Island’s a month later. The NBA G-League regular season begins on November 6.
At 6-foot-5 and 210 pounds, Konchar is bigger than most guards coach Mike Brown can put on the floor. He guards multiple positions and rebounds like a forward, not a backcourt piece.
The signing gets the defending champion Knicks to 14 players on standard contracts, with training camp opening Oct. 1 and roughly $3.2 million of room left below the second apron.
Konchar is entering his eighth NBA season. Though he plays different positions, he essentially replaces Mitchell Robinson, who left this offseason for a three-year, $47 million deal with the Celtics.
Last season, split between Memphis and Utah, Konchar averaged 4.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.5 steals in 56 games. He got more run in Utah and made it count, shooting 44.5% and posting a career-high 5.9 points a game.
According to reports, the Heat, Magic and Raptors were interested in him as well. The Knicks got him for the price of a roster spot, and got a body who can do a little of everything.
Konchar went undrafted out of Purdue-Fort Wayne in 2019, and he has had a long, winding road to Madison Square Garden. Memphis traded him to Utah in February. Utah traded him to Minnesota in August with Cody Williams for Josh Green and cash. Minnesota waived him the same day to free up the money to fit Jonathan Kuminga under the second apron.
The Mets' top prospect went 2-for-5, with three strikeouts and a home run in his first game with Syracuse.
In the first inning, Rojas hit a groundball single and came around to score on a Vidal Brujan double, but the big blast came in his second at-bat. With Syracuse already up 2-0 in the second inning, Rojas took Brian Keller deep with a runner on. Rojas smashed an 80 mph sweeper over the heart of the plate that went 361 feet.
Rojas, acquired from the Cubs for Clay Holmes and Tyrone Taylor at the trade deadline, has made his mark in the Mets' system since the deal.
In 29 games with Double-A Binghamton, Rojas slashed .280/.336/.593 with an OPS of .929 to go along with nine home runs and 29 RBI, nearly doubling both season totals in a third of the games from when he was in the Cubs system -- Rojas hit 15 homers and drove in 57 runs in 91 games with Knoxville while slashing .270/.339/.461.
With the minor league regular season set to end Sunday, Sept. 20, Rojas will get to experience Triple-A pitching for a few more days before he enters the offseason before playing in his first spring training with the Mets.
CINCINNATI –– There’s not much the Dodgers can do, manager Dave Roberts said Tuesday afternoon, to get their all-important rotation ready for the added workload that will come in the postseason.
That’s what appeared to happen with Yoshinobu Yamamoto on Tuesday night at Great American Ball Park, in what was the right-hander’s most dominant performance of at least the last couple months.
In the Dodgers’ 4-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds, Yamamoto threw a one-hit masterpiece over seven scoreless innings, flashing the kind of ruthless efficiency that defined his heroics during last year’s playoffs.
Dodgers starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto delivered his most dominant performance of at least the last couple months on Tuesday night in Cincinnati USA TODAY Network via Reuters ConnectIn the Dodgers’ 4-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds, Yamamoto threw a one-hit masterpiece over seven scoreless innings AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster
After walking his first two batters in the first inning, he retired 21 of the 22 after with seven strikeouts and virtually no stress.
“After the first two hitters, it was vintage Yama,” Roberts said. “Just attacking, not trying to be too fine.”
The reigning World Series MVP hadn’t exactly been struggling lately, of course. Just last week, he held the Reds to one run over seven innings with 10 strikeouts back in Los Angeles.
But what Yamamoto did on Tuesday was different, keyed by quick and easy outs on soft and harmless contact.
“I’d like to carry this,” Yamamoto said through an interpreter of his renewed stuff, “into October.”
The Dodgers are hoping they won’t have to ask as much out of Yamamoto this time around; that they need him to pitch back-to-back complete games (like he did in Game 2 of the NLCS and Game 2 of the World Series) or provide back-to-back nights of season-saving heroics (following up a victorious Game 6 start in the Fall Classic with a winning three-inning appearance out of the bullpen in Game 7).
But in a postseason environment, it’s impossible to know what exactly will be required.
“You can’t just try to create that during the regular season because you want these guys as strong and healthy for the October run [as possible],” Roberts said pregame. “But it’s one of those things that, once we get to the postseason, all bets are off and everyone is going to do what they can to contribute.”
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto throws a pitch in the first inning of the MLB National League game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026 USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
The biggest development: Freddie Freeman returned to the lineup amid his ongoing right knee injury, and finally snapped out of a 3-for-30 slump by collecting three singles in the first, fifth and seventh innings.
“Feels better today than he did yesterday,” Roberts said, after Freeman missed his third game in the last week on Monday, “which is a good thing.”
The Dodgers’ scoring, meanwhile, came from elsewhere.
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Hunter Feduccia laced an RBI single in the second off Reds starter Rhett Lowder, maintaining his unexpected status as the Dodgers’ best hitter against right-handed pitching since being re-acquired at the trade deadline (with a team-leading .292 average in such splits since the start of August).
Even Alex Freeland chipped in with a solo blast in the seventh and a double in the ninth, helping him outshine fellow rookie Josue De Paula (who went 0-for-5 with his first two strikeouts of the season after getting bumped up to the leadoff spot).
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernández celebrates with teammates after hitting a two-run home run against the Cincinnati Reds in the third inning at Great American Ball Park on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, in Cincinnati, Ohio. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
That was all enough to help the team lower its magic number to clinch the National League West to one.
Still, when it comes to October, no position group will be more important than the Dodgers’ rotation.
That’s why, right now, outings like the one Yamamoto made on Tuesday, or Tarik Skubal spun the night before (also seven scoreless innings) are the most promising ways the Dodgers can ramp up toward the playoffs.
Once they get there, they’ll need their starters to be on.
PHOENIX, AZ - MARCH 30: A general view of the exterior of Chase field is seen prior to the game between the Detroit Tigers and the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday, March 30, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Today’s Lineups
MARLINS
DIAMONDBACKS
Kyle Stowers – DH
Lars Nootbaar – LF
Heriberto Hernandez – LF
Ketel Marte – 2B
Otto Lopez – SS
Gabriel Moreno – C
Griffin Conine – RF
Geraldo Perdomo – SS
Javier Sanoja – 2B
Corbin Carroll – RF
Jakob Marsee – CF
Nolan Arenado – 3B
Agustin Ramirez – C
Jesus Sanchez – DH
Graham Pauley – 3B
Pavin Smith – 1B
Deyvison De Los Santos – 1B
Jordan Lawlar – CF
Janson Junk – RHP
Zac Gallen – RHP
Roster moves
The Arizona Diamondbacks made the following roster moves. The D-backs’ active roster is at 28 and the 40-man roster is at 40.
Reported to the Major League roster: OF Jesús Sánchez (No. 18)
Optioned to Triple-A Reno following last night’s game: OF Tommy Troy
The team’s efforts to improve against right-handed pitching go on. That’s why we saw Pavin Smith come up the other day, and now another left-handed bat joins them. Sánchez (I wonder how long it’ll be before I can’t be bothered with the acute over the a?) comes right into the starting line-up tonight, facing another right-handed starter. He bats seventh and plays DH. Arizona are a mediocre 53-58 in games where the opposition start a right-hander, and looks like they will be seeing a few more over the remaining eleven games, so ramping that up is going to be very helpful.
DH is another area where the team could use more production. I don’t know how much Sánchez will be able to move the needle, with less than two weeks to go. But currently the D-backs rank 27th by OPS at the position, at only .644. [Hey, still better than 1B, where they are 30th at .635, 46 points below anybody else. Although that is up 75 points from the mid-June figure] It’d be lower, except for the time Ketel Marte and Gabriel Moreno have spent at the position this year. They are the only occupants of it to have hit more than one home-run. It likely says a lot that we have had seventeen different players take bats as the Arizona DH.
Michael Soroka starts for the team tonight at Chase, and we’ll see if Zac Gallen follows him, flip-flopping their roles from Soroka’s last start. I imagine Michael will be on a similar pitch-count as Corbin Burnes was last night, somewhere around 75. Get him twice through the order, and then turn it over to Gallen for a bit? I think we would all feel more comfortable if the Diamondbacks had a healthy lead by the time that came to pass. Be nice if the Padres would lose too, but the Rockies are about as useful as a chocolate teapot in this situation. Just keep winning, D-backs…
Since he bought the Portland Trail Blazers, Tom Dundon's script has looked very familiar to many in the Pacific Northwest. The complaints about the Moda Center and the lease with the city, plus the penny-pinching and apparent disregard for the fan base, feel a lot like what Clay Bennett and that ownership group did after buying the Seattle SuperSonics, a group that always had the intention of moving them to Oklahoma City.
Dundon and the Trail Blazers are negotiating with Portland City officials on a new lease to that would keep the team in the city to 2050, provide much-needed arena upgrades, plus the taxes on tickets and more, with a deadline at the end of the year (before some approved government funding goes away).
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver was asked about the apparent lack of progress in those negotiations, following the league's Board of Governors meeting.
"I want to be very direct about it: I would see it as a failure if we did not keep the team in Portland," Silver said. "I've spent a lot of time in that community over the years. They've shown amazing support for the Trail Blazers. They're some of our best fans around the league.
"At the same time, now I speak for our WNBA team in the market as well, we need a state-of-the-art arena. I think by any objective measure now, the current building there is in the bottom measure of any arena in the league...
"It's my hope that we can lower the temperature honestly a bit in these negotiations."
The temperature has been high.
Negotiations should have started in earnest a couple of months ago, after the Portland City Council approved $120 million to pay for much-needed renovations to the Moda Center. Combine that with already approved state and county funds, and there is a pool of $586 million to update the arena — and Silver is right, it needs it.
The negotiations would include a new lease that would keep the Trail Blazers in Portland until 2050, an additional 20 years beyond the current lease.
The City Council also approved a terms sheet with that money, which Dundon and the Trail Blazers have said is a non-starter. That terms sheet includes a $3 million annual rent charge, on top of the fact that the city already gets a 6% tax on each ticket sold and every parking fee at the building. The Trail Blazers want all of that reduced and the new rent charge eliminated. The city's term sheet also calls for the Trail Blazers to hire union workers for the renovations and construction process, as well as for concession workers and others on game night. The Trail Blazers have asked for increased security around the game.
There's no real pressure on the negotiations yet, with the City Council's final vote on a term sheet currently set for Dec. 17. As we move closer to that date, we'll see if Dundon and the city can move toward a compromise, or if that was never Dundon's intention and he wanted to move the team from the start.
He also may have gotten a sense at the Board of Governors meeting whether the other owners would back him in such a move, especially considering the city and regional governments did step up with the needed money.
The Lake Elsinore Storm, the San Diego Padres’ Single-A minor league affiliate, finished their season with a 66-65 record, 4.5 games behind the Ontario Tower Buzzers (LAD) in the South Division. After winning the first-half crown, the Storm floundered during the second half and finished with a 27-35 record in the last half of the year.
The last week of their season ended on a high note with a series win versus the Inland Empire 66’ers. For the start of the division playoffs, the Storm went up against the Ontario Tower Buzzers for the South Division title. In a best-of-three series, the Storm captured the first two games, beating Ontario 10-9 on Sept. 8. Lake Elsinore out-hit Ontario while starter Jesus Castro pitched six innings of one run ball. Despite the bullpen relinquishing nine runs, the offense scored ten runs on twelve hits.
LF Alex Conover and DH Nu’u Contrades, both 2026 draftees who joined the team in August, excelled for the Storm.
After an off day, the Storm scored six runs on six hits while LHP Kruz Schoolcraft and 2026 No. 1 draft pick Coleman Borthwick combined to throw seven innings with only one run allowed. Schoolcraft allowed two hits and no runs, striking out eight in five innings, while Borthwick, promoted just for the playoffs and making his professional debut, pitched two innings with two hits and one run, striking out four.
Taiwanese righty Lan-Hong Su also came in as a reliever, throwing two innings with no hits and three strikeouts. It was an overwhelming performance for three of the top four best-ranked pitchers in the system. Combined, they allowed four hits, and the three gave a glimpse of what the future could hold for the Padres.
On Sept. 13, the Storm took on the winners of the North Division of the California League for the Cal League Championship series. The San Jose Giants (SF) dominated their division with an 80-52 record, 11 games up on the next team (Fresno).
The Storm had their only home playoff game of the championship series and took full advantage of their home-field advantage. It was never a contest, with Lake Elsinore scoring early and often while their starter, RHP Tyler Schmitt, pitched 4.1 innings, allowing four hits and no runs.
Undrafted free agent RHP Jack Pineau finished the fifth with no hits allowed. Then LHP Adler Cecil pitched three innings, with two hits and no runs allowed.
By the end of the third inning, Lake Elsinore had scored six runs, and they added six more before finishing with 12 runs on 13 hits while their pitchers allowed one run on eight hits. The game was closed out by another undrafted free agent, RHP Ben Stubbs, who allowed the only run on two hits.
The Storm hurlers combined for nine strikeouts. The two UDFA pitchers were added to the Storm roster just for the playoffs. Both had been pitching in the Bridge League after signing in July.
The best-of-three series continues in San Jose today with a third game, if needed, on Wednesday.
El Paso Chihuahuas (58-86 record, last in PCL East)
El Paso lost their week-long series to Tacoma, two games to four. LHP Luis Gutierrez made his El Paso debut, throwing four innings with three hits, a run, and four strikeouts to two walks. After missing most of the season, Gutierrez is finishing strong but is a free agent after this year unless the organization re-signs him by Oct. 15.
Two Padres players were on rehab assignments with the Chihuahuas over the week. Miguel Andujar started off as the DH but then progressed to playing first base and left field. In his five games and 21 at-bats, Andujar has four doubles and an RBI while hitting .286/.286/.476 for El Paso.
RHP Jason Adam began his rehab on Sunday with one inning and 11 pitches. His fastball topped out at 93 mph, and he struck out one hitter without allowing a hit.
Infielder Rosman Verdugo was promoted to El Paso for the last two weeks of the season.
The Chihuahuas have one more week left in their season.
San Antonio Missions (59-79 record, last in the Texas League South)
In their final series of the season, the Missions lost all but the last game of their six-game set. RHP Carson Montgomery made his Double-A debut with San Antonio and was roughed up for 10 runs in 2.2 innings pitched with three walks and one strikeout. In his first season back after Tommy John surgery, Montgomery was inconsistent, with command issues plaguing his performances.
Outfielder Alex McCoy, 24, has hit at all levels in his pro career. An undrafted free agent out of Maryland, McCoy started the season with Fort Wayne and was promoted to San Antonio in the last month of the year. Combined over two levels, McCoy hit .278/.355/.467 with 31 doubles, a triple, and 19 home runs for 71 RBI. He also stole 24 bases in 33 attempts. His pattern in his two seasons in the Padres system has been consistent. There are some initial struggles when he begins a level, but he adjusts and starts hitting again. Although he has slumps, he adjusts again and comes back strong.
There is significant swing-and-miss in his game; his 26% K rate is too high, with most of that chasing, but his power is significant. He registered 119.7 mph max Exit Velocity during the season.
As a side note, MadFriars.com posted an interview with McCoy, and he reported that he is actually 6-6 and 275 pounds. He is listed at 6-5, 260 pounds.
McCoy currently sits as the No. 26 prospect in the Padres system per MLB Pipeline. I would expect that to change going forward.
First baseman Romeo Sanabria had a puzzling year in his age 24 season. Promoted to El Paso from San Antonio for his improved hitting, Sanabria floundered in Triple-A. A hitting haven for almost everyone, Sanabria played in 21 games for the Chihuahuas and hit .200 with a .575 OPS. Sent back to the Missions, Sanabria picked up where he left off and finished the season hitting .295/.389/.442 in a much more difficult league to hit. Limited defensively to first base, Sanabria will need to hit for power to maintain his status as a prospect in the system. He hit 12 homers in the last two seasons and 64 RBI combined over the two levels this year.
AFL starts in October
Next week will be the final affiliate report for this year and the Arizona Fall League will get started on Oct. 3. Rosters will be forthcoming and the schedule is available on the website. All games are also streamed on the website.
Fans desperate to see the Mets play in the fall months can look into a trip to Arizona, where the club will be sending eight prospects looking to distinguish themselves.
Eight Mets minor leaguers will participate in the Arizona Fall League, which is played in October and November.and exists in part to allow prospects to further showcase themselves and in part for prospects to catch up on reps after suffering injuries.
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Agbayani, an infielder, played just three games with Low-A St. Lucie after the trade because ofdue to a shoulder injury.
Boston Baro, another interesting infield prospect who nearly had his whole 2026 wiped out due to a shoulder injury, and first baseman Cole Mathis are included.
Arguably the most intriguing Mets prospect in the AFL will be Calvin Ziegler, who was a 2021 second-round pick who has flashed excellent stuff — with 103 strikeouts in 67 career minor league innings — but has barely pitched because of repeated injuries, including 2024 Tommy John surgery.
Calvin Ziegler had Tommy John surgery in 2024. Diamond Images/Getty Images
The righty returned to the mound midseason this year and began to show something as a reliever as he allowed one run in his last 8 ²/₃ innings with High-A Brooklyn and Double-A Binghamton.
Also attending the AFL will be righty Ryan Lambert,, who received plenty of buzz as a flamethrowing reliever in Mets camp this spring but dealt with injuries this season, along with righties Irving Cota, Brendan Girton and Peyton Prescott.
Bruin Agbayani in 2025. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
He is the second Mets rookie (along with Gregg Jefferies in 1989) with at least 40 extra-base hits and at least 20 steals in a season.
Nate Lavender retired all five batters he faced and struck out four. The lefty has not been scored upon in 16 of his 17 appearances.
Francisco Lindor was honored before the game as the club’s nominee for the Roberto Clemente award for the fourth straight year.
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Bolstering his case for the humanitarian award, Lindor launched Lindor’s Leaders, which is “a yearlong leadership development program for students in Bayside High School’s Sports Medicine Program,” the Mets said.
The Mets claimed infielder Christian Cairo from the Phillies and optioned him to Triple-A Syracuse.
The 25-year-old spent his season in Triple-A, where he posted a .676 OPS with four home runs and 25 steals in 128 games.
Fans desperate to see the Mets play in the fall months can look into a trip to Arizona, where the club will be sending prospects looking to distinguish themselves.
Eight Mets minor leaguers will participate in the Arizona Fall League, which is played in October and November and exists in part to allow prospects to further showcase themselves and in part for prospects to catch up on reps after suffering injuries.
Access the Mets beat like never before
Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets.
Agbayani, an infielder, played just three games with Low-A St. Lucie after the trade because of a shoulder injury.
Boston Baro, another interesting infield prospect who nearly had his whole 2026 wiped out due to a shoulder injury, and first baseman Cole Mathis are included.
The righty returned to the mound midseason this year and began to show something as a reliever, allowing one run in his last 8 ²/₃ innings with High-A Brooklyn and Double-A Binghamton.
Also attending the AFL will be righty Ryan Lambert, who received plenty of buzz as a flamethrowing reliever in Mets camp this spring but dealt with injuries this season, along with righties Irving Cota, Brendan Girton and Peyton Prescott.
Francisco Lindor was honored before the game as the club’s nominee for the Roberto Clemente award for the fourth straight year.
Bolstering his case for the humanitarian award, Lindor launched Lindor’s Leaders, which is “a yearlong leadership development program for students in Bayside High School’s Sports Medicine Program,” the Mets said.
The Mets claimed infielder Christian Cairo from the Phillies and optioned him to Triple-A Syracuse.
The 25-year-old spent his season in Triple-A, where he posted a .676 OPS with four home runs and 25 steals in 128 games.
The Knicks did some end-of-roster maneuvering Tuesday.
They signed guard John Konchar and center Drew Eubanks to one-year deals, The Post confirmed.
Eubanks’ deal is nonguaranteed. It was not immediately clear whether Konchar’s is guaranteed.
Both will battle for a roster spot.
John Konchar gestures after scoring during the Jazz’s blowout win over the Grizzlies on April 10, 2026 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. Getty Images
If either makes the roster, it would bring the Knicks to the required minimum of 14 standard NBA contracts.
If it’s Konchar, though, it would leave them with only two true big men in Karl-Anthony Towns and Andre Drummond.
Teams are allowed up to 15 standard contracts, though the Knicks likely can’t reach that number and stay under the second apron.
Konchar, a 6-foot-5 defensive-minded guard, spent time with the Grizzlies and Jazz last year and averaged 4.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.5 steals per game.
For his career, the 30-year-old Konchar has shot 34.9 percent from 3-point range.
The 6-foot-10 Eubanks, 29, spent last year with the Kings, averaging 5.2 points and 3.0 rebounds per game.
Drew Eubanks dribbles the ball during the King’s loss to the Hornets on March 11, 2026, at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif. Getty Images
The Knicks lost much of their frontcourt depth this offseason with Mitchell Robinson and Ariel Hukporti signing with the Celtics and 76ers, respectively.
Training camp is set to begin Sept. 28.
The Knicks also signed 7-foot center Liam Robbins, who showed promise with the team at Summer League, to an Exhibit 10 contract.
He will battle for a two-way deal at training camp — the Knicks still have all three of their two-way slots available.
They announced the signings of Jaden Akins, Igor Milicic Jr., Mitchell Mascari, Toby Okani, Nick Jourdain and Paul Zilinskas to Exhibit 10 deals.
They were all subsequently waived, meaning they are likely headed to the Westchester Knicks in the G-League if they clear waivers.
These roster gymnastics allow the players to make a little extra money.
The Knicks are rounding out their bench with a new signing.
New York is signing John Konchar, according to GSL Sports Group, which represents the forward. Konchar chose the defending-champion Knicks among a group of suitors, so he comes to New York with a legitimate chance to make the regular-season roster. Additionally, center Drew Eubanks is signing with New York on a camp deal and will be competing for a roster spot, per SNY sources.
Konchar spent his first seven seasons with the Grizzlies before landing with the Jazz in the middle of last season. With Memphis, he averaged 14.5 minutes, 3.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 30 games last season, but produced more with Utah. Across 26 games with the Jazz, Konchar averaged 26.2 minutes, 5.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, and three assists per game.
Utah traded Konchar and Cody Williams to the Timberwolves in exchange for Josh Green and cash considerations this offseason. Minnesota then waived Konchar in late August.
Eubanks’ 2025-26 season in Sacramento was cut short in March following surgery to repair a UCL tear in his left thumb. The veteran is expected to be fully healthy for training camp, which begins later this month. A strong presence around the basket, he will presumably compete for a role as New York’s third center. Across 42 games in Sacramento last season, Eubanks averaged 5.2 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 0.6 blocks in 13 minutes.
Both Konchar and Eubanks are on one-year deals. ESPN first reported Konchar’s agreement with the Knicks.
If Konchar or Eubanks makes the roster, the Knicks will be right up against the second apron (unless they make a trade). Knicks owner James Dolan has said that he doesn’t want to exceed the second apron in team salary.
The Knicks also have three open two-way spots. One of those spots will presumably go to second-round pick Tyler Nickel. Big man Liam Robbins, who signed an Exhibit 10 deal on Tuesday, will presumably compete for another two-way spot. Who will get the third two-way spot? Former two-way player Kevin McCullar Jr. has been playing with some Knicks players in informal workouts this month. Other players the Knicks have been in touch with as training camp nears: big men Duop Reath and James Wiseman, per SNY sources.
Robert De Niro is expected to play Tommy Lasorda in an upcoming Hollywood film.
The legacy of Tommy Lasorda is expected to hit theaters in the near future, and it’s believed to have one of Hollywood’s finest playing the Hall of Fame Los Angeles Dodgers manager.
Robert De Niro is in talks to play Lasorda in the upcoming film “Tommy & Me,” according to Deadline,
Tommy Lasorda with the Dodgers after winning Game 4 of the NLCS in 1977. Sports Illustrated via Getty Images
Details have yet to emerge as to what approach the film will take in telling Lasorda’s story, but the script will be led by George Gallo, Cambron Clark and Reid Carolin. Skydance Sports is expected to help produce the movie that will highlight one of baseball’s most iconic figures.
Lasorda, known for his fiery spirit and larger-than-life personality, is one of the most iconic managers in Dodgers history, as he helped coach and manage the team from 1973 through 1996, leading them to two World Series titles in 1981 and 1988, and being crowned National League Manager of the Year in 1983 and 1988.
In 1997, the Dodgers retired his No. 2 jersey, the same year he was immortalized in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
After his managing career came to an end, Lasorda became an impactful member of the Dodgers front office, serving as a vice president, senior vice president, and special advisor from 1998 to 2021, where he is credited with making a large impact, such as helping scout and sign Mike Piazza.
Robert De Niro is expected to play Tommy Lasorda in “Tommy & Me.” Adela Loconte/Shutterstock for People Inc.
Before working as a coach and in front offices, Lasorda’s start in baseball began in 1954 as a player with the Dodgers, when they were still located in Brooklyn.
His playing career didn’t last too long, as he spent his first two seasons with the Dodgers and was later sold to the Kansas City Athletics in 1956.
Lasorda helped coach and manage the team from 1973 through 1996, leading them to two World Series titles in 1981 and 1988, and being crowned National League Manager of the Year in 1983 and 1988. Sports Illustrated via Getty Images
Lasorda spent the next four years in the Minor Leagues and would retire from playing following the 1960 season.
De Niro, who is known for being able to play characters that have a fiery passion like Lasorda, has been in many notable films during his acting career, including Taxi Driver, The Godfather Part II, and Goodfellas.
