theScore provides running analysis and insights throughout the 2025 MLB wild-card series, continu...

theScore provides running analysis and insights throughout the 2025 MLB wild-card series, continuing Wednesday and running through Thursday if necessary. Keep checking back for updates as the opening round unfolds and check out our <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3342755" href="https://thescore.com/news/3342755">Game 1</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3358529" href="https://thescore.com/news/3358529">Game 2 takeaways</a>.Jump to: <a href="#DET">DET vs. CLE</a> I <a href="#CHC">SD vs. CHC</a><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-j1Jxw" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/j1Jxw/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="141" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}})}();
</script></figure>Final: The Yankees get the best of their rivals by taking the last two games of the wild-card series to advance to the ALDS against the Toronto Blue Jays. Cam Schlittler was incredible, completely shutting down the Red Sox offense in the clincher. New York went 5-8 against the Blue Jays this season but took two of three in September. Boston now faces another critical offseason in which it'll need to add more starting pitching and determine the long-term future of Alex Bregman. The wild-card round was great. Bring on the LDS.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>8th inning: Cam Schlittler is making a name for himself on the biggest stage. The Yankees right-hander absolutely dominated the Red Sox, striking out 12 -the most by a Yankee rookie ever in the postseason - over eight shutout innings. Boston has managed five singles and just one runner in scoring position. If only the Red Sox had Rafael Devers for a game like this. Schlittler might have even pitched himself into a job on the Lumon softball team.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Schlittler 🔥— Ben Stiller (@BenStiller) <a href="https://twitter.com/BenStiller/status/1973932187956490502?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 3, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>4th inning: The Yankees are putting the ball in play and good things are happening. New York finally gets to Connelly Early as the rookie isn't getting a lot of help from his defense or the BABIP gods. The Yankees score four runs in the inning courtesy of a double, three singles, and an error. Early is lifted with two outs, though you have to wonder why Alex Cora left him in there so long without even a mound visit. Boston's been plagued by its poor defense all season, so it should come as no surprise that it led to its undoing here.2nd inning: Giancarlo Stanton's "hustle" double (lol) is stranded at second base. The Yankees DH rips a 114.5-mph rocket to the gap in left-center field that he thinks is launched over the wall. Stanton looks into his dugout in celebration before quickly realizing the ball is landing well short. He does somehow make it to second base, but Connelly Early buckles down to retire the next three batters to end the threat. It's been impressive how composed these young starters have been in the early going.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Giancarlo thought he hit a home run <a href="https://t.co/QWAXRRq8AT">pic.twitter.com/QWAXRRq8AT</a>— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) <a href="https://twitter.com/TalkinYanks/status/1973910794732478970?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 3, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>1st inning: After an incredibly entertaining undercard, we've reached the main event. Cam Schlittler is gassed up, topping out at 100.5 mph as he breezes through Jarren Duran, Trevor Story, and Alex Bregman with relative ease. Six of the 24-year-old's 14 pitches in the opening frame registered triple digits. Fellow rookie starter Connelly Early also looked unfazed in his first taste of postseason work, retiring the Yankees in order on just eight pitches.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-o45zJ" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/o45zJ/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="141" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}})}();
</script></figure><a id="CHC" name="CHC">Final:</a> Hey, Chicago, whaddya say? The Cubs hang on - with a little help from home plate umpire D.J. Reyburn - to knock off the Padres to clinch their first postseason series since 2017. The win sets up an NLDS clash with the Milwaukee Brewers. Chicago scored only six runs over the three games, but pitched well and played excellent defense to secure the series victory. An encouraging development is that Pete Crow-Armstrong and Kyle Tucker combined to go 5-for-8 in Game 3. For the Padres, it's just another disappointing playoff finish for a club that faces a lot of questions this offseason.7th inning: That's an enormous insurance run off the bat of Michael Busch. The Cubs first baseman, who hit a career-high 34 homers this season, is 3-for-4 in Game 3. It's just the second run the Padres' relievers have surrendered in 14 1/3 innings this series.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
MIKE DROP. <a href="https://t.co/gmmV86xhvz">pic.twitter.com/gmmV86xhvz</a>— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cubs/status/1973891964077814114?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>6th inning: Mike Shildt is pulling every lever to keep this game close in hopes his offense can finally wake up. Yu Darvish, Jeremiah Estrada, Michael King, Wandy Peralta, and now closer Robert Suarez have already appeared as we head into the seventh. The Padres are 0-for-2 with RISP in Game 3 and 3-for-20 in the series. Can they finally break through?5th inning: It's certainly been a series to forget for Fernando Tatis Jr. The Padres star is 0-for-3 with two strikeouts on the afternoon and 1-for-11 over the three games. In Tatis' defense, facing Daniel Palencia can't be easy. Craig Counsell is using his once-closer in a fireman role in the mid-innings this series, and the flamethrower's been electric. Palencia threw 1 2/3 perfect innings in Game 1, and he came out firing 100-mph four-seam fastballs in the fifth to retire Tatis with a runner in scoring position.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
G A S O L I N A. <a href="https://t.co/cD9zbbT3HG">pic.twitter.com/cD9zbbT3HG</a>— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cubs/status/1973882838648045784?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>4th inning: If you haven't watched a lot of the Cubs this season, you might not have known how good Jameson Taillon's been. The big right-hander posted a 1.57 ERA over his final six regular-season starts and looked fantastic today, tossing four shutout innings with four strikeouts before being lifted to start the fifth. The Padres have had only one runner in scoring position early on.2nd inning: Not having a fully healthy Michael King is a major blow for the Padres, and they're paying for it early in Game 3. The right-hander threw just 15 2/3 innings in September and is a big reason why Yu Darvish started this contest. Darvish faces seven batters and doesn't record an out in the second inning after allowing a single, double, hit-by-pitch, and RBI single. Mike Shildt is forced to go to former Cubs reliever Jeremiah Estrada, who gets out of the inning by surrendering only one inherited run. San Diego has already used its bullpen for 8 1/3 innings this series and will need to ask for at least 24 outs today.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-kKa9H" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/kKa9H/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="141" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}})}();
</script></figure><a id="DET" name="DET">Final:</a> The Tigers move on, winning the right to face the Seattle Mariners in a best-of-five ALDS matchup starting Saturday. Tarik Skubal will likely go in Sunday's Game 2. Let's be honest, this result is probably for the best. The Guardians entered the postseason as the only club with a negative run differential. They wind up scoring 10 total runs over the three-game series against a Tigers pitching staff that ranked 17th in the majors by ERA despite playing half its games in the spacious Comerica Park. Cleveland showed some late life, but Ramírez once again got caught advancing to second base by a great tag from Báez to end the eighth-inning rally.7th inning: So ... why is Sabrowski still out there? Instead of counting himself lucky that he managed to get an out from Sabrowski in a third straight game, Vogt rolls the dice on giving him another clean frame. The lefty coughs up a very loud double to Báez and then allows Parker Meadows to reach on a dribbler that he played a little too lazily. Vogt goes to the bullpen and signals for Hunter Gaddis, who's also working in his third straight game. The Guardians do, in fact, employ other relievers. I'm sure of it. He gives up a two-run single from Wenceel Pérez, and it's all Tigers. Sabrowski and Gaddis end up combining to allow four runs on five hits and one walk while retiring only two batters. Matt Festa mercifully gets the final two outs of the inning, but the damage is done. Why is this the first time the Guardians have used Festa in this series? Vogt will have to answer for this.6th inning: Call it the Dillon Dingler Game. There's no telling how that Guardians rally could've gone in the fourth inning if Dingler didn't catch Ramírez stealing. And now, he's hit the go-ahead homer into the left-field bleachers of Progressive Field. It feels like this contest will come down to the wire, but the Tigers are 12 outs away from heading to the ALDS. Meanwhile, on the Guardians' side, Vogt does end up calling upon Sabrowski for a third straight game, and the southpaw gets Zach McKinstry to ground out. His workload will surely end there.4th inning: Nothing can ruin a rally quite like the collective defense of Dillon Dingler and Javier Báez. The Guardians tie it up, thanks to a Ramírez single that cashes in George Valera. However, Ramírez gets a bit greedy and tries to steal second base. The throw and tag to get him are simply a thing of beauty.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The classic Javier Báez no-look tag 🫣 <a href="https://t.co/qfswDUoq60">pic.twitter.com/qfswDUoq60</a>— MLB (@MLB) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1973846404335296692?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>There's no one better in the game. Dingler caught nearly 32% of would-be base-stealers this year. And Báez? He's not nicknamed El Mago for nothing. We're back to even at 1-1.3rd inning: Stephen Vogt is once again showing his managerial acumen. A quick hook for Cecconi after he gives up back-to-back singles with one out in the third, and the skipper calls upon lefty Tim Herrin with Kerry Carpenter as the assignment. Herrin winds up allowing an RBI double to Carpenter but settles in to retire Wenceel Pérez for the second straight day and then strikes out Spencer Torkelson. Cleveland has only one other usable lefty remaining in the 'pen in Kolby Allard. Erik Sabrowski is also in there, but the fact that he worked Games 1 and 2 likely makes him unavailable. Early advantage: Tigers.2nd inning: Chase DeLauter's first big-league hit is a single into shallow right field during a must-win playoff game. Doesn't get much better than that after dropping the fly ball in the first inning of his debut Wednesday. It doesn't pay dividends, as Gabriel Arias strikes out next and Bo Naylor pops up to end the inning, but a hit is a hit.1st inning: Although Cecconi wasn't very efficient, he was effective, getting out of the first frame with two strikeouts on 26 pitches. Gleyber Torres squared up a Cecconi slider to lead off but hit it right at left fielder Steven Kwan. Flaherty looks a lot more comfortable early, getting through the first on 14 pitches and ending on a José Ramírez strikeout.Pregame: It's what sports fans live for: Win or go home. Tigers-Guardians kicks off three elimination games Thursday as only one of the wild-card matchups didn't go the distance. Slade Cecconi will take the mound first for the slightly favored Guardians at home (-130 on ESPN BET and theScore Bet). Cecconi has 236 MLB innings under his belt with a 5.07 ERA, but he put together the best season of his career this year in his first campaign as a full-time starter. He'll go up against Jack Flaherty, who signed a fresh two-year contract with the Tigers this past offseason. While Cecconi has made a couple postseason relief appearances, Flaherty has quite a lot of playoff experience as a starter, including last year's decisive World Series Game 5 for the victorious Los Angeles Dodgers. The righty allowed two homers and was yanked after recording four outs, but he's been here before. And that might count for something.

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The Chicago Cubs will be without right-hander Cade Horton for at least their wild-card round agai...

The Chicago Cubs will be without right-hander <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/19127" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/19127">Cade Horton</a> for at least their wild-card round against the San Diego Padres, the team announced Saturday.The Cubs placed the rookie starter on the injured list due to a rib fracture, and the earliest he'll be eligible to return is Game 5 of the National League Division Series.Horton is considered a favorite to win the NL Rookie of the Year, authoring a 2.67 ERA and 3.59 FIP over 118 innings this season. The righty exited his last start early with back soreness and underwent an MRI. The decision to place Horton on the IL came after a scheduled bullpen session to help assess the severity of his injury.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The Cubs' first-round matchup is set against the Padres. All three games will be played at Wrigley Field after Chicago secured home-field advantage by beating the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday.Left-hander Jordan Wicks was called up in the corresponding roster move. He's posted a 7.94 ERA this year over 11 1/3 frames.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 23: Cade Horton #22 of the Chicago Cubs pitches in a game against the New York Mets at Wrigley Field on September 23, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.

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The Washington Nationals are finalizing a deal to name Paul Toboni the franchise's next head of b...

The Washington Nationals are finalizing a deal to name Paul Toboni the franchise's next head of baseball operations, sources told <a href="https://x.com/JeffPassan/status/1970914990136885390">ESPN's Jeff Passan</a>.Toboni, 35, is currently serving as assistant general manager for the Boston Red Sox.The Nationals have been without a baseball operations leader since firing GM Mike Rizzo as well as manager Davey Martinez in early June. Senior vice president and assistant GM Mike DeBartolo filled the role on an interim basis.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Toboni originally joined an MLB front office in 2013 when the Athletics hired him as a baseball operations intern. He then quickly rose through the ranks with the Red Sox, going from intern in 2015 to assistant GM in 2023.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none">
For a Nationals team in need of a serious infusion of talent, it's worth noting Paul Toboni ran the draft for Boston when it chose Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer, Kristian Campbell, Payton Tolle, Connelly Early and the prospects who went to Chicago in the Garrett Crochet deal.— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffPassan/status/1970918635788189705?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Toboni played two years of college baseball at California, hitting .115/.219/.115 over 24 games.

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 19: A view of a Washington Nationals baseball cap in the dugout during the game against the Colorado Rockies at Nationals Park on June 19, 2025 in Washington, DC.

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So, you wanted robot umpires? You've got them. Sort of.  Major League Baseball will introduce the...

So, you wanted robot umpires? You've got them. Sort of.Major League Baseball will introduce the long-awaited and rigorously tested automated ball-strike challenge system beginning next year after an 11-person competition committee <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3352429" href="https://thescore.com/news/3352429">approved</a> its implementation Tuesday.The change will grant each team the opportunity to challenge two calls by the home plate umpire every game in 2026 and beyond. With the ability to retain your challenge if the team is vindicated by the replay review, this effectively presents unlimited challenges so long as you bat 1.000, as they say.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>That's a good thing, right?<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
This was last night. There are typically around 1,000 missed calls a week. The ABS challenge system is going to get plenty of use. <a href="https://t.co/NUeTDjgwoC">https://t.co/NUeTDjgwoC</a>— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffPassan/status/1970550626091462904?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 23, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>With approximately 90 games per week in MLB, that's roughly 360 opportunities for teams to attempt to overturn an incorrect umpire.But, as Passan points out above, there are 1,000 incorrect calls.So, MLB has done the calculus and decided that being wrong nearly 64% of the time is still acceptable.How is this being celebrated as a win?MLB has been on a heater when it comes to implementing new rules that speed up and modernize the game. The pitch clock has been wildly successful, limiting the defensive shift has gone so well even its loudest detractors have been quieted, and larger bases have brought back aggressive running.The introduction of the ABS doesn't maintain this direction. It's a step to appease fans who don't actually know what they want.Is there anything more frustrating in baseball right now than having the replay review room agonize over a pop-slide at second base for more than two minutes just to have the seemingly incorrect call upheld due to insufficient evidence to overturn?Overturned balls and strikes will admittedly be a lot more seamless, decisive, and faster than that. But it's relevant because baseball fans believe they want replay review until they see it implemented. And then they'll realize all they wanted was correct calls.A challenge system is a commitment to being right only sometimes - when the victim of the bad call feels it was too egregious to let slide.If we borrow from the experience of watching other leagues that are already well into the replay review eras, ask an English Premier League fan if they enjoy when the referee makes the VAR symbol. Check in with your local hoops fan and see if they enjoy an extended stoppage during a playoff game to assess whether a hard foul qualifies as flagrant or not. Sports needs less of this, not more.The notion of "correct calls" in sports is a mirage. The people playing the sports are fallible. Why should we expect our officiating to be any different? Not to mention, no current technology is perfect in knowing if the three-inch ball moving 100 mph crossed the 17-inch plate at a specific height that's dependent on the batter's size.The options going forward are very simple:<ul>
<li>Admit that umpires are fallible human beings who can make mistakes and are indeed standing behind well-trained catchers who are actively trying to fool them hundreds of times per night.</li>
<li>Adopt the automated strike zone as law.</li>
</ul>Option 1 is admittedly my preference and likely that of the umpires' union as well. However, pitch-framing defenders are increasingly in the minority. That leaves us with the second option: Don't have umpires make the original call at all.Don't create any need to slow down the game a handful of times just because a 2-0 pitch on the edge of the zone in the fourth inning of Rays-Reds was incorrectly called a strike by an imperceptible margin.Half measures simply aren't worth celebrating.

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Former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor says he's not only on the upcoming White House ev...

Former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor says he's not only on the upcoming White House event, but that he'll be facing Michael Chandler."I'm on it. I am. This is me," McGregor said Friday on <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/video/6379819173112">Fox &amp; Friends</a>."Michael Chandler," the Irishman quickly responded when asked who he'd face. "Michael Chandler and myself have done the show, "The Ultimate Fighter." We've had a good back and forth. He's a good, tough guy. The Mac is excited to get back for sure."<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The UFC White House event doesn't have a firm date yet but is tentatively scheduled for June 2026 on the South Lawn.Despite McGregor stating he's on the card, UFC CEO Dana White has remained non-committal on which fights will be featured and said that bouts won't be announced until February."We'll build the greatest card of all time for the White House fight," White said on Fox News Channel's Special Report with Bret Baier after McGregor's appearance. "And Conor and I have been talking consistently. He wants this fight bad. You know, when you get to a level that Conor's at, you gotta find things in life that motivate you, and the White House card has definitely motivated Conor McGregor."McGregor, 37, hasn't fought since suffering a 1st-round knockout loss and broken leg in his trilogy bout against Dustin Poirier in July 2021.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 11: Conor McGregor attends Charity Day 2025 Hosted by Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund at BGC Group on September 11, 2025 in New York City.

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Philadelphia Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber joined an exclusive club Thursday, obliterating his ...

Philadelphia Phillies slugger <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/4761" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/4761">Kyle Schwarber</a> joined an exclusive club Thursday, obliterating his fourth homer of the night in a rout of the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Kyle Schwarber slugs his way into MLB history 🤩 <a href="https://t.co/aIvgMzzfu5">pic.twitter.com/aIvgMzzfu5</a>— MLB (@MLB) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1961235455648960711?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 29, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Inning</th>
<th>Type</th>
<th>Opposing pitcher</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>1st</td>
<td>Solo</td>
<td>Cal Quantrill</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4th</td>
<td>2-run</td>
<td>Austin Cox</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>5th</td>
<td>3-run</td>
<td>Cox</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>7th</td>
<td>3-run</td>
<td>Wander Suero</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure>The Phillies went on to rout the division-rival Braves 19-4.Schwarber is the 21st player in MLB history to accomplish the feat. He's also the third to do so this season after Eugenio Suárez (then with the Arizona Diamondbacks) and the Athletics' Nick Kurtz.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Prior to Suárez and Kurtz, no player had launched four home runs in a single contest since 2017. That season is coincidentally the only other campaign that featured more than one four-homer game (J.D. Martinez and Scooter Gennett).Schwarber now sits at a career-high 49 dingers on the campaign. The 32-year-old is hitting .248/.370/.586 with 94 runs scored and 119 RBIs.He came up in the bottom of the eighth inning with a chance to become the first player in MLB history to hit five homers in a single game. However, he popped out to shallow left field with infielder Vidal Bruján pitching."It was pretty cool to go out there and do that," Schwarber said postgame, according to <a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/kyle-schwarber-hits-4-home-runs-against-braves">Paul Casella of MLB.com</a>. "And you get the opportunity for a fifth one …"He added: "I shouldn't have even asked the question, but I was in the cage and I was like, 'How many guys have hit five? And nobody said anything, so I was like, 'Oh, OK, well that answers the question.'"The Phillies now lead all other franchises in four-homer games.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Most individual four-homer games by franchise: Phillies: 4 Braves: 3 Dodgers: 2 Diamondbacks: 2 <a href="https://t.co/iwG2ZCr3ky">https://t.co/iwG2ZCr3ky</a>— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) <a href="https://twitter.com/SlangsOnSports/status/1961236253946646666?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 29, 2025</a>
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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - AUGUST 28: Brandon Marsh #16 pours a water bottle on Kyle Schwarber #12 of the Philadelphia Phillies during his post game interview after a 19-4 win over the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park on August 28, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Kyle Schwarber hit four home runs during the game.

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<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/teams/13" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/teams/13">Florida Panthers</a> superstar <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/5591" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/5591">Matthew Tkachuk</a> will be on the cover of NHL 26, EA Sports announced Monday.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
He’s a tone-setter, a leader, and now a cover star. Matthew Tkachuk is the face of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NHL26?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NHL26</a>. See the full reveal August 6th: <a href="https://t.co/gsLeVReKbu">https://t.co/gsLeVReKbu</a> <a href="https://t.co/S24tmSe834">pic.twitter.com/S24tmSe834</a>— NHL (@NHL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NHL/status/1952399385993576926?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 4, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Tkachuk is coming off another strong season, scoring 22 goals and adding 35 assists over 52 games while missing time with injury.The 27-year-old helped lead the Panthers to a second straight Stanley Cup, netting eight goals over 23 playoff games with 15 helpers. He scored the championship-clinching goal in Game 6 against the Edmonton Oilers.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Tkachuk is the first Panther to be on the standard cover since goaltender John Vanbiesbrouck was the featured player for NHL 97. Olli Jokinen was on the European cover of NHL 2005 while with Florida.The deluxe edition will also feature Matthew's brother Brady, the Ottawa Senators captain, and their father, Keith, on the cover.The game releases Sept. 12.

SUNRISE, FLORIDA - JUNE 17: Matthew Tkachuk #19 of the Florida Panthers hoists the Stanley Cup after Game Six of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final between the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers at Amerant Bank Arena on June 17, 2025 in Sunrise, Florida. The Panthers won the Stanley Cup Final series 4-2.

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Matthew Tkachuk gets NHL 26 cover

The Minnesota Twins traded right-handed reliever Griffin Jax to the Tampa Bay Rays for right-hand...

The Minnesota Twins traded right-handed reliever <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/12684" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/12684">Griffin Jax</a> to the Tampa Bay Rays for right-handed starter Taj Bradley, the teams announced Thursday.Jax, 30, is posting a 4.50 ERA and 2.00 FIP over 46 innings across 50 appearances this season. The righty was considered one of the top arms on the market this trade deadline, posting an elite 36.4% strikeout rate and 6.6% walk rate while working as Minnesota's high-leverage reliever.Bradley, 24, was recently optioned by the Rays amid a tough campaign, authoring a 4.61 ERA and 4.20 FIP over 111 1/3 innings.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The righty showed promise over his first two years in the majors, recording a 27.3% strikeout rate and 8.3% walk rate over 252 2/3 innings, with 46 starts and a pair of relief appearances.

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JULY 30: Griffin Jax #22 of the Minnesota Twins delivers a pitch against the Boston Red Sox in the ninth inning at Target Field on July 30, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Red Sox defeated the Twins 13-1.

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Twins trade Jax to Rays for Bradley

The Toronto Blue Jays traded infielder Will Wagner to the San Diego Padres for catcher Brandon Va...

The Toronto Blue Jays traded infielder <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/15496" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/15496">Will Wagner</a> to the San Diego Padres for catcher Brandon Valenzuela, the teams announced Thursday.Wagner, 27, was hitting .237/.336/.298 with seven doubles and one steal this season through 40 games with the Jays while primarily playing third base and first base.The corner infielder broke out over 24 games last year as a rookie, posting a .788 OPS with two homers.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>He's the son of Hall of Fame reliever Billy Wagner, who was inducted into Cooperstown as a member of the 2025 class this past weekend. Valenzuela, 24, is hitting .229/.313/.387 with 12 homers and six steals over 87 games with Double-A San Antonio this year.He has been in the Padres' system since 2018.

DETROIT, MI - JULY 25: Toronto Blue Jays third base Will Wagner (7) during the game between the Detroit Tigers versus the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday July 25, 2025 at Comerica Park in Detroit, MI.

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Blue Jays trade Will Wagner to Padres

The Tampa Bay Rays have optioned Taj Bradley to Triple-A Durham following a rough outing in the t...

The Tampa Bay Rays have optioned <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/15419" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/15419">Taj Bradley</a> to Triple-A Durham following a rough outing in the team's 11-9 loss to the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday.Manager Kevin Cash called it a "tough decision," but reiterated that Bradley is "massive to our success."<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Here’s Kevin Cash’s full comments on the decision to option Taj Bradley. <a href="https://t.co/6iREy3dY9h">https://t.co/6iREy3dY9h</a> <a href="https://t.co/vL7AUtDO6f">pic.twitter.com/vL7AUtDO6f</a>— Ryan Bass (@Ry_Bass) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ry_Bass/status/1948224059797332378?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 24, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>The right-hander allowed four runs on four hits and three walks while collecting only five outs. He didn't record a strikeout and gave up a three-run homer to <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/15803" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/15803">Colson Montgomery</a> before getting lifted in the second inning.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Bradley was never the pitcher of record, though, leaving the game tied 4-4. The Rays battled back to lead 7-5 at one point but coughed up six runs in the eighth en route to defeat.The 24-year-old has struggled this year, authoring a 4.61 ERA and 4.20 FIP over 111 1/3 innings.The young starter has battled command issues for much of his major-league tenure, posting an 8.5% walk rate and 1.46 HR/9 entering the evening. Over his first two campaigns, Bradley flashed a promising 27.3% strikeout rate, but that's dipped by nearly seven percentage points this year.Tampa Bay's starting rotation ranks 18th by FanGraphs' WAR but possesses the eighth-best ERA in MLB (3.80).The Rays didn't announce a corresponding move.

TAMPA, FLORIDA - JULY 23: Taj Bradley #45 of the Tampa Bay Rays pitches in the first inning during the game against the Chicago White Sox at George M. Steinbrenner Field on July 23, 2025 in Tampa, Florida.

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Rays option Taj Bradley after rough outing vs. White Sox

We offer our insights and analysis from Day 1 of the 2025 MLB Draft. (All times ET.) See all 105 ...

We offer our insights and analysis from Day 1 of the 2025 MLB Draft. (All times ET.) See all 105 selections <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3281280" href="https://thescore.com/news/3281280">here</a>.Jump to: <a href="#Nationals">WSH</a> | <a href="#Angels">LAA</a> | <a href="#Mariners">SEA</a> | <a href="#Rockies">COL</a> | <a href="#Cardinals">STL</a> | <a href="#Pirates">PIT</a> | <a href="#Blue%20Jays">TOR</a> | <a href="#Orioles">BAL</a> | <a href="#Tigers">DET</a> | <a href="#Mets">NYM</a> | <a href="#Phillies%20/%20Athletics">ATH</a> | <a href="#Phillies%20/%20Athletics">PHI</a>10:36 p.m. - That's a wrap! The Los Angeles Angels select Nate Snead 105th overall as a compensation pick at the end of the third round to complete Day 1. That's eight Tennessee Volunteers taken.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-YKwdG" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/YKwdG/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="415" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}})}();
</script></figure>The penultimate selection of Day 1 was an interesting one as well. The Dodgers nabbed Landyn Vidourek, who is unranked by Pipeline. The 21-year-old outfielder posted a 1.010 OPS, slugged 14 homers, and went 39-for-40 in stolen-base attempts with Cincinnati this year.It should be noted, not having any prospects at the draft was a massive miss this year. MLB moved it to well after the College World Series and into the All-Star break so they could turn it into more of an event. This wasn't one.The 2025 MLB Draft continues Monday at 11:30 a.m. ET with Rounds 4-20.9:45 p.m. - While the draft continues toward its third and final round of the night, the Mariners have reportedly already agreed to an $8.8-million signing bonus with No. 3 pick Kade Anderson, according to <a href="https://x.com/AramLeighton8/status/1944524052774683133">Aram Leighton</a>. That's roughly $700,000 below slot, which now represents additional money the Mariners can use elsewhere in the draft. There's a decent chance some or all of those savings go directly to their 57th overall selection, Nick Becker, a prep shortstop who is committed to playing for Virginia with his brother.<a id="Phillies / Athletics" name="Phillies%20/%20Athletics">9:06 p.m.</a> - The first round is over! Under three hours to make 36 picks - MLB deserves some credit for how quickly this moved along. I'm going to clean up some quick thoughts as things slow down:Athletics draft Jamie Arnold 11th overall: It wouldn't surprise me if this ends up being the steal of the draft when we look back on this in a decade. Over his final two years in college, the lefty struck out 278 batters and issued 53 walks over 190 1/3 innings. This played out great for the A's, an organization that, historically, loves drafting college arms.Phillies draft Gage Wood 26th overall: This feels like a pick made by a Dave Dombrowski team, without a doubt. Wood has star potential and that was on full display with his 19-strikeout no-hitter in the College World Series. He also has some bust potential in that he simply hasn't thrown many innings and might be destined for a relief role. The good news is a Dombrowski-run team always needs a closer.<a id="Mets" name="Mets">8:56 p.m.</a> - The Mets take two-way player Mitch Voit 38th overall! But don't get too excited, Voit doesn't even have Bryce Eldridge upside, let alone Shohei Ohtani ceiling. Even announcing Voit as a two-way player feels like malpractice, as he hasn't pitched since he was a sophomore when he posted a 5.49 ERA over 10 starts with Michigan. The Mets would be best to develop him solely as a hitter, where he can be a very good slugging second baseman.8:44 p.m. - The Tigers go even further off the board by drafting Michael Oliveto, who was ranked No. 219 by Pipeline, 34th overall. It's hard to tell if they love his skillset or if this is an under-slot selection that ensures they can afford to sign their top selection in Yost. It's probably a little bit of both and we're a long way from figuring out what Oliveto is.8:37 p.m. - The Orioles convert their third pick of the night into Arkansas shortstop Wehiwa Aloy at No. 31. Some teams that took those prep shortstops early are going to look foolish for passing on Aloy, who unequivocally has a higher floor than most of them. The 21-year-old posted a 1.107 OPS with the Razorbacks as a junior and also performed well in the wooden-bat Cape Cod League, hitting .309/.352/.642 with eight homers and three doubles over 21 games. He might not have the best defensive instincts, but he has the arm to manage third base and would fit great at second as well.<a id="Tigers" name="Tigers">8:13 p.m.</a> - We have a big reach alert. The Tigers added to the suspicion that teams will do anything to get a prep shortstop by selecting Jordan Yost out of Florida's Sickles High School at 24th overall. Yost entered the night ranked 50th by <a href="https://www.mlb.com/milb/prospects/draft/jordan-yost-803723">Pipeline</a>, but he was expected to follow through on his commitment to Florida if he slipped that far. Detroit drafts again at No. 34 but may need to wisely utilize its $10.9 million bonus pool (17th in MLB), as Yost likely wants close to full slot value ($3.73 million).<a id="Orioles" name="Orioles">7:52 p.m.</a> - The Orioles, one of the more intriguing teams in this draft with three picks in the top 31, made their first selection of the night by choosing slugging catcher Ike Irish at 19th overall. The best guess here is that they wanted one of the prep shortstops to fall to them and use their ample bonus pool to sign them over slot. Instead, Baltimore ends up with the best player remaining on the board at the time, according to <a href="https://www.mlb.com/milb/prospects/draft/">MLB Pipeline</a>. Irish is a fascinating prospect with elite pop and improving swing decisions. The concerns around him are either about durability (if he hits his ceiling, his bat will play in a corner outfield spot anyway) or that he got eaten up in the wooden-bat Cape Cod League.7:39 p.m. - Prep shortstops continue to be at a premium. The Nats set the tone by going a smidge off the board to nab Eli Willits, and here's how it's looked since:<figure class="article-segment--embed"><iframe title="" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-AcG9v" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/AcG9v/1/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="433" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}})}();
</script></figure>It'll be fascinating to follow along with this class of high school shortstops as organizations take sizable risks on them in a relatively weak class. Pierce to the Rays at 14th overall is one of the more interesting ones to follow, as Tampa Bay adds another light-hitting prepster with speed to a system that loves to develop those types of players.<a id="Blue Jays" name="Blue%20Jays">7:07 p.m.</a> - We're jumping ahead a bit to the Blue Jays' pick of JoJo Parker at eighth overall. Teams seem to be favoring prep shortstops this draft. In a class with no slam-dunk star, it makes sense to take a big swing on a high-floor player like Parker. Scouts like his likelihood of sticking at short, and he's a polished left-handed hitter with an all-fields approach. But it's a bit odd to make this selection with Florida State lefty Jamie Arnold still on the board. Like Arjun Nimmala (selected 20th overall by Toronto in 2023), Parker is a long-term project. And, for now, the Jays have shown an ability to develop malleable, high-ceiling infielders.<a id="Pirates" name="Pirates">7 p.m.</a> - The Pirates continue to show no fear in drafting high variance high schoolers by taking right-hander Seth Hernandez sixth overall, which is odd because they're so bad at developing them. The Vanderbilt commit has incredible stuff for a prep arm, but he's a long way from the majors. The only thing Pittsburgh seems to excel at drafting is players who are already MLB-ready or close to it. The pick is a good one. The ability to develop? Inconclusive.<a id="Cardinals" name="Cardinals">6:56 p.m.</a> - Tennessee lefty Liam Doyle goes to the Cardinals fifth overall. Doyle may be the most MLB-ready pitcher, but only if St. Louis sees him as a reliever. The comparisons to Garrett Crochet are too easy to make. Both were Vols, both are southpaws, and Doyle could come out of an MLB bullpen later this season - his fastball is that good. If the Cardinals view Doyle as a starter, he must work on not throwing with maximum effort 100% of the time while also refining his repertoire.<a id="Rockies" name="Rockies">6:44 p.m.</a> - A pick that made sense since before the draft lottery even began - the Colorado Rockies get Ethan Holliday. As the son of Rockies legend Matt Holliday, Ethan will be beloved in Colorado. It's possible that the development of Jackson Holliday with the Orioles caused some to sour on Ethan, and that seems wrong, as they're not the same player at all. Even if Ethan doesn't land at shortstop for the Rockies, he could be a legitimate power-hitting third baseman, and that's pretty exciting.<a id="Mariners" name="Mariners">6:30 p.m.</a> - The rich get richer as the Mariners snap up Kade Anderson third overall. Despite being widely regarded as the best pitcher in the class, Anderson still has work to do to develop. His deep repertoire helps make him an incredibly interesting prospect, but no single pitch he features would be deemed a reliable out pitch in MLB. And that's fine, since the perfect organization has just drafted him to help him refine his craft. If you thought Anderson could be a frontline starter for any team, believe he can be an ace when the Mariners develop him.<a id="Angels" name="Angels">6:18 p.m.</a> - The Angels select right-hander Tyler Bremner second overall. If you yelled "WHO?" at your TV, you weren't alone. <a href="https://www.mlb.com/milb/prospects/draft/">MLB Pipeline</a> had four college pitchers ranked higher than Bremner. The 21-year-old is no slouch, though. If Bremner were eligible last year, he would've also heard his name called very early. This season was a bit tougher for him, but he still posted a 111-to-19 strikeout-to-walk ratio as a junior over 77 1/3 innings with UC Santa Barbara. This pick resembles the 2020 selection of Reid Detmers at 10th overall. While Bremner's ceiling might not be as high as his peers, his floor looks pretty strong. It wouldn't surprise me if he's the first pitcher from this class to reach the majors.<a id="Nationals" name="Nationals">6:11 p.m.</a> - It didn't take long for the first surprise of the night. The Nationals selected prep standout Eli Willits first overall. He's a 17-year-old switch-hitting shortstop with elite contact and plate discipline who reclassified from the 2026 cycle. This is a huge swing by interim GM Mike DeBartolo in an attempt to get his version of Bobby Witt Jr. But Willits' profile may be a bit more Bryson Stott, depending on how he develops.5:40 p.m. - One pick that'll be fascinating is the Baltimore Orioles at 19th overall. Despite not picking until pretty late, the O's command the largest bonus pool. That's largely because they acquired the 37th overall selection from the Tampa Bay Rays for Bryan Baker earlier this week. Mike Elias and Co. likely believe they can pick someone who falls to them and comfortably sign them over slot.5:30 p.m. - The Nationals are on the clock. Expect them to take either LSU pitcher Kade Anderson or high school infielder Ethan Holliday. The Nationals haven't had the No. 1 pick in the MLB draft since 2010, when they selected Bryce Harper. They've used their most recent first-round picks on college bats. With longtime general manager Mike Rizzo recently fired, it'll be fascinating to see how interim GM Mike DeBartolo puts his first fingerprints on the organization as boss.5 p.m. - Here we go! The Nationals own the first pick, followed by the Angels, Mariners, Rockies, and Cardinals. The first night of the draft will cover the opening three rounds (105 picks). Washington won the draft lottery in December despite owning 10.2% odds.

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2025 MLB Draft: Running analysis of Day 1

The Kansas City Royals have signed left-handed starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel to a minor-league ...

The Kansas City Royals have signed left-handed starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel to a minor-league contract, <a href="https://x.com/JeffPassan/status/1942948507339415810">ESPN's Jeff Passan</a> reports.Keuchel is expected to report to Triple-A Omaha. At the major-league level, the deal is worth $2 million.The 37-year-old last appeared in the majors last year, making four starts for the Milwaukee Brewers. He authored a 5.40 ERA and 1.86 WHIP over 16 2/3 innings.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The two-time All-Star and five-time Gold Glove winner memorably won the 2015 AL Cy Young, leading the Junior Circuit with 232 innings while posting a 2.48 ERA. He also finished fifth in AL MVP voting that year.The Royals have the third-best starting rotation in MLB, according to <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders/major-league?pos=all&amp;lg=all&amp;qual=0&amp;type=8&amp;season=2025&amp;month=0&amp;season1=2025&amp;ind=0&amp;team=0%2Cts&amp;rost=0&amp;age=0&amp;filter=&amp;players=0&amp;stats=sta">FanGraphs WAR</a>. Their starters collectively possess a 3.42 ERA and 3.75 FIP. Breakout southpaw <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/10665" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/10665">Kris Bubic</a> has become the ace of the staff, boasting a 2.36 ERA and 2.78 FIP over 103 innings while <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/14571" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/14571">Cole Ragans</a> is sidelined.

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JULY 13: Dallas Keuchel #60 of the Milwaukee Brewers throws a pitch in the first inning against the Washington Nationals at American Family Field on July 13, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

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Report: Royals, Keuchel agree to minor-league deal

The Oklahoma City Thunder and Chet Holmgren have agreed to a five-year rookie maximum contract wo...

The Oklahoma City Thunder and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/102801" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/102801">Chet Holmgren</a> have agreed to a five-year rookie maximum contract worth $239 million, his agent Bill Duffy told <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/45700873/chet-holmgren-agrees-rookie-max-extension-thunder">ESPN's Shams Charania</a>.The fully guaranteed pact could reach $250 million, Charania adds.The 23-year-old averaged 15 points and eight rebounds per game while starting 32 contests in 2024-25. He missed three months after sustaining a pelvic fracture in November.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Holmgren was a pivotal component of Oklahoma City's championship run. The 7-foot-1 center put up 15.2 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game while starting all 23 postseason contests. Though his averages dipped against the Indiana Pacers in the Finals, his 100.9 defensive rating was the <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/players/advanced?CF=MIN*GE*15&amp;PORound=4&amp;PerMode=Totals&amp;dir=A&amp;sort=DEF_RATING">highest</a> among players who averaged at least 15 minutes in the series.The Thunder selected Holmgren with the second overall pick in 2022, but he missed what would've been his rookie campaign due to a Lisfranc injury in his right foot, which he suffered during an offseason pro-am competition. However, he returned to start all 82 regular-season games in 2023-24 and finished second in Rookie of the Year voting behind unanimous winner <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/110276" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/110276">Victor Wembanyama</a>.The Thunder have had an active offseason following their championship campaign. After extending big man <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/102798" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/102798">Jaylin Williams</a> and re-signing guard <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/121739" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/121739">Ajay Mitchell</a> with three-year deals, they reportedly <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3306575" href="https://thescore.com/news/3306575">locked</a> up league and Finals MVP <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/60411" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/60411">Shai Gilgeous-Alexander</a> to a four-year, $285-million supermax extension, keeping the franchise star in Oklahoma City through 2030-31.Charania says the team's attention will now turn toward extending <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nba/players/102799" href="https://thescore.com/nba/players/102799">Jalen Williams</a>.

MEMPHIS, TN - APRIL 24: Chet Holmgren #7 of the Oklahoma City Thunder celebrates during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies during Round One Game Three of the 2025 NBA Playoffs on April 24, 2025 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE

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Thunder, Holmgren agree to 5-year, $239M rookie max

It had been brewing for a while.  The San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers stormed the field ...

It had been brewing for a while.The San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers stormed the field Thursday night after Dodgers reliever <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/18792" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/18792">Jack Little</a> plunked <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/8286" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/8286">Fernando Tatis Jr.</a> on the right hand in the ninth inning. It's the third time the Padres superstar has been hit by a Dodgers pitcher in nine days.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Benches cleared during Padres-Dodgers after Fernando Tatis Jr. was hit Dave Roberts and Mike Shildt had words for each other <a href="https://t.co/5NQkbRKtlg">pic.twitter.com/5NQkbRKtlg</a>— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) <a href="https://twitter.com/TalkinBaseball_/status/1935923660776440125?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 20, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/15623" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/15623">Trenton Brooks</a> entered the game to pinch run for Tatis and played left field in the bottom of the frame.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>This was the seventh hit-by-pitch of the series.While Tatis was on the ground, Padres manager Mike Shildt and Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts seemed to kick off the brouhaha, arguing from afar. Both were ejected.Postgame X-rays came back negative on Tatis' hand but Shildt said the team is still evaluating the severity of the injury. Shildt added that Tatis got hit in a "tough spot where there's a lot of bones," according to <a href="https://x.com/annieheilbrunn/status/1935937759946084619">Annie Heilbrunn of the San Diego Union-Tribune</a>. More imaging is scheduled for Friday."Let's just hope the CT scan comes back negative," Padres third baseman <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/2577" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/2577">Manny Machado</a> added, according to <a href="https://www.si.com/mlb/padres/san-diego-padres-news/padres-manny-machado-issues-warning-to-dodgers-following-fernando-tatis-hbp">Valentina Martinez of Sports Illustrated</a>. "(The Dodgers) gotta pray it comes back negative tomorrow. They better put out a candle."<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/9519" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/9519">Shohei Ohtani</a> was later drilled as well in the ninth, representing the eighth HBP of the set. Ohtani shooed his teammates back to the dugout, preventing a second benches-clearing fracas. Padres pitcher <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/13691" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/13691">Robert Suarez</a> was ejected.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Robert Suarez hits Shohei now and is tossed from the game <a href="https://t.co/0T0iZiw9KM">pic.twitter.com/0T0iZiw9KM</a>— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) <a href="https://twitter.com/TalkinBaseball_/status/1935929329466421491?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 20, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>The Padres were ahead 5-0 at the time of the original incident, looking to avoid a four-game sweep at Dodger Stadium.Despite the Dodgers bringing the winning run to the plate in the bottom of the ninth, the Friars held on for the 5-3 win with <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/17233" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/17233">Yuki Matsui</a> striking out <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/16368" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/16368">Dalton Rushing</a> with two runners on to end the game.The two NL West rivals meet again for a three-game series beginning Aug. 15.

Los Angeles, CA - June 19: Benches cleared after Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres was hit by a pitch by relief picture Jack Little (not pictured) of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the ninth inning during a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Thursday, June 19, 2025.

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Dodgers plunk Tatis again causing fracas, manager ejections

The Edmonton Oilers pulled starting goaltender Stuart Skinner after the first period in Game 4 of...

The Edmonton Oilers pulled starting goaltender <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/6553" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/6553">Stuart Skinner</a> after the first period in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final on Thursday after he allowed three goals.<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/1766" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/1766">Calvin Pickard</a> came out to start the second frame in net.Skinner has allowed 13 goals over three games dating back to the Oilers' Game 2 loss.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The 26-year-old was shelled early, as Edmonton allowed 17 shots in the opening stanza while taking three penalties.Skinner entered the game with a 2.84 goals-against average in the playoffs this year and an .894 save percentage. He had become known for big performances in Game 4s, boasting a 6-0 record with a 1.26 GAA and .955 SV% with a pair of shutouts.Playing in front of Pickard, the Oilers quickly erased the 3-0 deficit, scoring a trio of unanswered goals with 4:55 remaining in the second period. That left Skinner off the hook for a potential loss, maintaining his undefeated streak in Game 4s.The Oilers ultimately won 5-4 in overtime as Pickard stopped 22 of 23 shots.

SUNRISE, FLORIDA - JUNE 12: Stuart Skinner #74 of the Edmonton Oilers sits on the bench after a goalie change during the second period against the Edmonton Oilers in Game Four of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena on June 12, 2025 in Sunrise, Florida.

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Oilers pull Skinner after allowing 3 goals in 1st period of Game 4

Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice seems to be expecting some supplementary discipline for ...

Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice seems to be expecting some supplementary discipline for <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/3007" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/3007">Max Domi</a> after the Toronto Maple Leafs forward hit captain <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/3004" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/3004">Aleksander Barkov</a> from behind at the end of Sunday's Game 4."I think the league looks at those things," Maurice said postgame, according to <a href="https://x.com/ColbyDGuy/status/1921763358723719539">Colby Guy of The Palm Beach Post</a>. "Especially at that point of the game, and they'll do their job."Domi hit Barkov from behind and into the boards with mere seconds remaining in the Panthers' 2-0 victory, sparking a post-whistle fracas between multiple players from both teams. <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/2631" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/2631">Eetu Luostarinen</a> and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/3946" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/3946">Aaron Ekblad</a> quickly came to their captain's defense, hitting Domi and jumping on him with six seconds remaining.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div><figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Max Domi's hit on Sasha Barkov sparks chaos at the final horn <a href="https://t.co/j3zVuJUsDk">https://t.co/j3zVuJUsDk</a> <a href="https://t.co/uqREDFahJs">pic.twitter.com/uqREDFahJs</a>— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sportsnet/status/1921754148690710921?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 12, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure><a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/5591" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/5591">Matthew Tkachuk</a> even <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3284454" href="https://thescore.com/news/3284454">got involved from the bench</a> by chirping at the Leafs' <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/4180" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/4180">William Nylander</a> and others.Both Domi, 30, and Barkov, 29, skated off the ice afterward without any apparent ailments."Yeah, I think he'll be alright," Maurice said of Barkov, according to <a href="https://x.com/ColbyDGuy/status/1921761643618242662">Guy</a>.The Panthers tied the series 2-2 with the shutout victory, outshooting the Leafs 37-21. Florida lost the first two games in Toronto before defending home ice in the next pair. The series now heads back to Scotiabank Arena for Game 5 on Wednesday.

SUNRISE, FLORIDA - MAY 11: Aleksander Barkov #16 of the Florida Panthers and Max Domi #11 of the Toronto Maple Leafs fight for possession of the puck during the second period in Game Four of the Second Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena on May 11, 2025 in Sunrise, Florida.

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Maurice expects league will 'do their job' after late Domi hit on Barkov

Marc-Andre Fleury announced his retirement from the NHL on Thursday after the Minnesota Wild's Ga...

<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///nhl/players/1010" href="https://thescore.com/nhl/players/1010">Marc-Andre Fleury</a> announced his retirement from the NHL on Thursday after the Minnesota Wild's Game 6 loss, officially ending a career that spanned 21 seasons.The 40-year-old racked up 575 wins and is one of three goaltenders to eclipse the 500-victory plateau, ranking second all time behind Martin Brodeur (691).The first overall pick in 2003, Fleury won three Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins. His lone Vezina trophy came in 2021 with the Vegas Golden Knights.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Fleury's last NHL appearance came in relief of Filip Gustavsson during Game 5 of the Wild's first-round elimination against the Golden Knights. Gustavsson exited the game due to illness, and Fleury stepped in for the third period and overtime. He made six saves on seven shots in the loss.The 40-year-old played one season with the Chicago Blackhawks. He was traded to the Wild during the 2021-22 campaign and spent the final three and a half years of his career in Minnesota.

ST PAUL, MINNESOTA - MAY 01: Marc-Andre Fleury #29 of the Minnesota Wild reacts after losing to the Vegas Golden Knights 3-2 in Game Six of the First Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Xcel Energy Center on May 01, 2025 in St Paul, Minnesota.

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Fleury retires after illustrious 21-season career

Major League Baseball's Opening Day is an occasion of hope. Unless, of course, you lose. Then the...

Major League Baseball's Opening Day is an occasion of hope. Unless, of course, you lose. Then the season is over. Your chances of winning the World Series? Cooked. No team that's lost on Opening Day has gone on to win the Fall Classic. Don't fact-check that. Simply overreact.Cubs @ Diamondbacks Cubs win 10-6Three games into their season, the Cubs are finally in the win column.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The final game of 2025 Opening Day had multiple repercussions. First, the Cubs are no longer alone in the NL Central's basement - a position they held solely for 10 days. Second, the Diamondbacks, who have a legitimate claim to being the second-best team in baseball, are now two full games back of the Dodgers; an insurmountable hole. And third, the Rockies aren't in last place in the NL West for the first time in 363 days. If Colorado happens to win its opener Friday, while the Padres and D-Backs both lose, it'll be the first time the Rockies are higher than fourth in the division in 722 days.Athletics @ Mariners Mariners win 4-2<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/12376" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/12376">Logan Gilbert</a>'s splitter is going to propel him to superstardom. The young righty threw five different pitches at least 10% of the time last year, even sprinkling in a handful of sinkers for a sixth pitch. Well, he's clearly identified that those sinkers weren't a good idea, and neither were his cutters (which had a .325 expected wOBA against). Both offerings are completely gone from Gilbert's repertoire through one start as he leaned a lot more on the splitter, making it his put-away pitch for six of his eight strikeouts. This may not even be an overreaction: he's an ace.Tigers @ Dodgers Dodgers win 5-4Not a lot of people are paying attention to him, but watch for <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/9519" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/9519">Shohei Ohtani</a> to take a huge step forward this year. He's always seemingly had the tools to be a star, but hasn't quite put it together. Some people were alarmed when a former pitcher was batting leadoff as the Dodgers' designated hitter. But the 30-year-old went 2-for-4 with the game-winning home ru- (taps earpiece) ... He has how many MVPs and is paid how much!?Earnestly, on the Tigers side, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/12328" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/12328">Spencer Torkelson</a> might finally be ready for the bright lights. After going first overall in the 2020 MLB Draft, the slugger has really struggled to stick in the majors but has continued to show promise in the minors. At 25, he could finally be putting it all together, showing incredible discipline at the plate by walking four times while also socking a solo dinger. Buy in.Twins @ Cardinals Cardinals win 5-3Teams are going to regret not beating down the Cardinals' door to acquire <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/2381" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/2381">Nolan Arenado</a>. The 10-time Gold Glove winner was aggressively shopped this winter by John Mozeliak and Co., but there were no legitimate suitors Arenado felt comfortable joining. Instead, the eight-time All-Star hit a clutch insurance homer off <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/12684" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/12684">Griffin Jax</a> to help seal the win in a 2-for-4 day. The asking price will increase the closer the trade deadline gets.Braves @ Padres Padres win 7-4In what should have been an exciting potential postseason preview featuring reigning NL Cy Young winner <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/1577" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/1577">Chris Sale</a> against a top-heavy lineup, we have a game that was one of nine 4 p.m. ET starts. How does March Madness absolutely nail staggered start times on its first two days, but MLB is still figuring this out? Here, I've figured it out for you for 2026. Use this:<figure class="article-segment--table"><div class="table-responsive"><table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Game</th>
<th>Start time</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td>Noon</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2</td>
<td>12:30</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3</td>
<td>2:00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4</td>
<td>3:00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>5</td>
<td>4:00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>6</td>
<td>4:30</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>7</td>
<td>5:00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>8</td>
<td>6:00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9</td>
<td>7:00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>10</td>
<td>7:15</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>11</td>
<td>7:30</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>12</td>
<td>7:45</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>13</td>
<td>8:00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>14</td>
<td>9:00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>15</td>
<td>10:00</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table></div></figure>MLB's social accounts <a href="https://x.com/Cut4/status/1904952846312763665">post memes</a> about wanting us to call in sick to watch all these games. Make it worthwhile.Red Sox @ Rangers Red Sox win 5-2The headlines are about stud prospect <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/17320" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/17320">Roman Anthony</a> and when he might debut, but the real lefty outfielder whom opponents have to plan around is <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/13925" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/13925">Wilyer Abreu</a>. The 25-year-old will be an unsung star for the Red Sox this year, and the opener showed why, as he slugged a pair of dingers in a 3-for-3 performance. If we only counted Abreu's at-bats, the Red Sox still would've beaten the Rangers.Guardians @ Royals Guardians win 7-4 (10)<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/14506" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/14506">Kyle Manzardo</a> for AL MVP. The slugger almost hit for the cycle but couldn't get a single, objectively the least cool way to get a hit anyway. They don't pay you for singles and Manzardo knows it. He's heading into the second game of the year with a 2.250 SLG. A single would only lower that. (Even a double would, though by a marginal amount.) Why can't Manzardo just keep only getting extra-base hits? If it looks like a single, round for second base anyway.Pirates @ Marlins Marlins win 5-4Time for <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/17521" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/17521">Paul Skenes</a> to demand a trade. To start off his sophomore campaign, the dominant righty outdueled an NL Cy Young winner in <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/5647" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/5647">Sandy Alcantara</a>. With the win in sight, the Pirates' bullpen folded like a cheap suit and <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/10705" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/10705">Oneil Cruz</a> made a pretty crucial gaffe on a deep fly ball off the wall in center to give <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/12871" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/12871">Nick Fortes</a> a leadoff triple. Once-elite closer <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/9025" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/9025">David Bednar</a> gave up the walk-off hit to <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/13768" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/13768">Kyle Stowers</a>. How many times will the Pirates have to apologize to Skenes this year?Mets @ Astros Astros win 3-1<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/8415" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/8415">Framber Valdez</a> will beat his own record for consecutive quality starts. The underrated lefty fired 25 straight outings of at least six innings with three earned runs or fewer in 2022, breaking a record held by Jacob deGrom. Valdez started off his 2025 campaign against an incredibly potent Mets lineup, which includes $765-million man Soto, allowing four hits and two walks over seven shutout frames before turning it over to the bullpen. The streak starts now.Giants @ Reds Giants win 6-4The worst thing you can do on Opening Day is compare any player to one of the best hitters of all time. With that said, <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/9605" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/9605">Heliot Ramos</a> is well on his way to becoming the first Giants hitter since Bonds to break the 30-homer plateau. This team just needed proven winner Buster Posey at the helm to start reliving its prime years again.Phillies @ Nationals Phillies win 7-3 (10)Ace-level starting pitching is back, and the NL Cy Young front-runners are two-time runner-up <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/2917" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/2917">Zack Wheeler</a> and young lefty <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/12506" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/12506">MacKenzie Gore</a>. The latter, a former top prospect who came over in the Juan Soto trade, punched out a baker's dozen while allowing one hit over six innings against the Phillies. That's the most ever on Opening Day for a Nationals starter - a franchise that has employed <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/633" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/633">Max Scherzer</a> and Stephen Strasburg. Mere months after we <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///news/3089598" href="https://thescore.com/news/3089598">openly pondered if aces are gone</a>, they're so back.Angels @ White Sox White Sox win 8-1The Angels are going to set the record for most losses in a season. The White Sox did it last year, losing 121 contests to become the worst modern-era roster ever assembled. Starting your campaign with a loss to these White Sox, who objectively got worse this past offseason, is simply an insurmountable hole to climb out of.Orioles @ Blue Jays Orioles win 12-2The Orioles should somehow convince <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/5140" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/5140">Tyler O'Neill</a> that every day is Opening Day. That's six straight with a homer for the slugger. And that's despite being on different teams for each of the last three. In those six games, he's hitting a Barry Bondsian .450/.555/1.350.On the flip side, the only hitter who seemed to show up for the Blue Jays was offseason acquisition <a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/8766" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/8766">Andrés Giménez</a>, who controversially hit cleanup despite a career .393 slugging percentage. His two-run homer represented Toronto's only tallies on the day. Maybe give him the $500-million extension.Brewers @ Yankees Yankees win 4-2<a data-in-app-uri="thescore:///mlb/players/12678" href="https://thescore.com/mlb/players/12678">Austin Wells</a> was born to lead off. There was much hand-wringing over the decision to put a catcher at the top spot of the Yankees' lineup, but Aaron Boone was immediately vindicated when Wells became the first backstop in MLB history to homer in his team's first at-bat of the season. Last year's AL Rookie of the Year finalist is going to be incredibly important to New York's success.Rockies @ Rays No gameQuick, name a Rockies player. Don't worry if you can't; this roster is so forgettable that MLB even forgot to schedule them to play today.In actuality, this game was delayed because the league needed more time to prepare the Rays' temporary home for the season in Tampa. At least we can be glad that a real team's season wasn't postponed.

KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 27: A view of the 2025 Opening Day logo before an MLB game between the Cleveland Guardians and Kansas City Royals on March 27, 2025 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, MO.

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Overreactions from each Opening Day game

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Supervising editor

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Brandon Wile

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