Browsing: Central

Penn State freshman Gavin McKenna is one of 27 players to get an A rating from NHL Central Scouting in the preliminary players to watch list for next year’s draft.

The list, released Monday, gives an A rating to players considered first-round candidates.

McKenna, who moved to the NCAA from the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers this season after a rule change by the U.S. college sports governing body, has one goal and five assists in six games for Penn State to start the season.

The Whitehorse native is playing against older competition than in the CHL, where he led the Tigers to the Memorial Cup final last season and was named the top player in the country.

Sportsnet’s Sam Cosentino had McKenna ranked No. 1 in his October rankings for the draft.

All players in Cosentino’s top five also got A ratings — Frolunda winger Ivar Stenberg, North Dakota defenceman Keaton Verhoeff, Windsor Spitfires winger Ethan Belchetz and Niagara IceDogs centre Ryan Roobroeck.

Other notable players to get A grades include WHL scoring leader JP Hurlbert of the Kamloops Blazers, QMJHL defence scoring leader Xavier Villeneuve of the Blainville-Boisbriand Armanda and WHL defence scoring leader Ryan Lin of the Vancouver Giants.

The OHL leads the way with eight A prospects.

Here’s a list of all players to receive an A grade:

LW Ethan Belchetz (Windsor Spitfires, OHL)
D Carson Carels (Prince George Cougars, WHL)
C Alessandro Di Iorio (Sarnia Sting, OHL)
D Malte Gustafsson (HV71 Jr., Sweden)
LW Oscar Hemming (Espoo, Finland)
RW Elton Hermansson (Modo, Sweden)
LW JP Hurlbert (Kamloops Blazers, WHL)
RW Nikita Klepov (Saginaw Spirit, OHL)
C Tynan Lawrence (Muskegon Lumberjacks, USHL)
D Ryan Lin (Vancouver Giants, WHL)
C Caleb Malhotra (Brantford Bulldogs, OHL)
LW Gavin McKenna (Penn State, NCAA)
LW Marcus Nordmark (Djurgarden, Sweden)
LW Adam Novotny (Peterborough Petes, OHL)
D Juho Piiparinen (Tappara, Finland)
RW Mathis Preston (Spokane Chiefs, WHL)
D Chase Reid (Soo Greyhounds, OHL)
C Brooks Rogowski (Oshawa Generals, OHL)
LW Ryan Roobroeck (Niagara IceDogs, OHL)
D Daxon Rudolph (Prince Albert Raiders, WHL)
D Luke Schairer (U.S. national development team, USHL)
C Egor Shilov (Victoriaville Tigres, QMJHL)
D Alberts Smits (Jukurit, Finland)
LW Ivar Stenberg (Frolunda, Sweden)
C Oliver Suvanto (Tappara, Finland)
D Keaton Verhoeff (North Dakota, NCAA)
D Xavier Villeneuve (Blainville-Boisbriand, QMJHL)

Source link

Subscribe to The Dunker Spot

We have a mega episode for you!

Nekias Duncan and Steve Jones kick off the episode with the latest news, covering the Kings†latest news and ending with a salute to Malcolm Brogdon.

Advertisement

Then, the guys continue their NBA season preview series with both the Atlantic and Central divisions. They discuss what they’re excited about, key questions they have, potential breakout candidates, and the lineups that intrigue them the most.

If you ever have NBA or WNBA questions, email us at dunkerspot@yahoo.com.

(0:29) Introduction

(1:10) Kings sign Russell Westbrook, re-sign Keegan Murray

(5:14) Malcolm Brogdon retires

(7:09) Boston Celtics preview

(18:42) New York Knicks preview

(34:18) Toronto Raptors preview

(46:05) Brooklyn Nets preview

(53:20) Philadelphia 76ers preview

(1:00:35) Cleveland Cavaliers preview

Advertisement

(1:10:09) Indiana Pacers preview

(1:18:04) Milwaukee Bucks preview

(1:27:12) Detroit Pistons preview

(1:34:37) Chicago Bulls preview

Jalen Brunson and the Knicks offense will look different under Mike Brown. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

(AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

ðŸ–¥ï¸ Watch this full episode on YouTube

Check out the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at or atyahoosports.tv

Source link

Everybody knew entering the season the top end of the Central Division was loaded. A few games into the schedule, though, itâ€s hard to spot a soft touch anywhere in the group.

Alternatively, it also feels like you canâ€t swing a Sherwood without whacking one of the numerous superstars or burgeoning superstars in the division.

The Colorado Avalanche won 3-1 in Buffalo on a holiday Monday and donâ€t have a 60-minute loss in four outings this season. The Winnipeg Jets do have one ‘L,†but are also now 2-1-0 after a Monday victory on Long Island. The Dallas Stars, meanwhile, account for the only blemishes on both Winnipegâ€s and Coloradoâ€s records, as the Stars are 2-0-0 with road wins over their chief division rivals.

Minnesota and St. Louis — the fourth and fifth teams the Central sent to the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs last spring — both also got victories on Monday and have decent 2-1-0 starts going.

Those squads being good is nothing new. Itâ€s at the bottom of the division, though, where things might be tightening up. The Chicago Blackhawks and Nashville Predators not only finished in the Centralâ€s basement last season, they had the second- and third-worst goal differentials in the entire league (Chicago was No. 31 at minus-70 and Nashville was only slightly better, at minus-60).

Nashville spoiled Ottawaâ€s home opener on Monday with a 4-1 win and the Preds, who certainly had some bounce-back potential after last seasonâ€s miserable showing, are off to a 2-0-1 start. Meanwhile, in Mondayâ€s only all-Central affair, the young Blackhawks topped Utah 3-1. The victory marked Chicagoâ€s first ‘W†of the season, but all three losses were by just a single goal. As for Utah, the Mammoth have played only Central rivals this year — all as the visitor — and have a respectable 1-2-0 mark with a tight 2-1 loss in Colorado and a 3-2 OTW in Nashville in the mix.

• 
• 32 Thoughts: The Podcast

  Hockey fans already know the name, but this is not the blog. From Sportsnet, 32 Thoughts: The Podcast with NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman and Kyle Bukauskas is a weekly deep dive into the biggest news and interviews from the hockey world.

  Latest episode

Now glance at the top of the NHL scoring charts and ask yourself if anything but the Central could be called the leagueâ€s “Group of Death.” Coloradoâ€s Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas lead the way with eight points, followed closely by the seven both Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy of the Wild have in one fewer contest. Right behind Minnyâ€s guys sits Mark Scheifele, whoâ€s just over here putting up 3-3-6 in three outings on his way to another boring point-per-game year as a six-foot-three centre. Scheifeleâ€s runningmate in Winnipeg, of course, is Kyle Connor, who has five points in three outings.

Truly, MacKinnon-Necas, Kaprizov-Boldy and Scheifele-Connor probably represent three of the best, what, half-dozen duos in the NHL? And we havenâ€t even mentioned the reigning league MVP and back-to-back Vezina winner, Connor Hellebuyck, or last yearâ€s top defenceman, superfreak Cale Makar.

Last season, the best team after Februaryâ€s 4 Nations Face-Off was the Blues and their top centre, Robert Thomas, was the most productive player in the league to close out the year. On Monday, St. Louis freshman Jimmy Snuggerud popped his first two goals of the year to give himself three points on the season.

One of the biggest off-season trades involved Utah acquiring young sniper JJ Peterka from Buffalo and heâ€s already on the board with a goal against the Blackhawks, the first of many heâ€s going to net for the Mammoth. In Minnesota, Zeev Buium (more on him in a minute) is showing why he was such a heralded prospect, just as his fellow Wild defenceman Brock Faber was a very short time ago.

There may still be a long road back to contention in Chicago, but weâ€re seeing early good signs from Connor Bedard, who has two goals, and a fantastic start for sophomore Frank Nazar, who has five points in as many outings with the Hawks.

With young studs and established megastars alike, the Central could be at the centre of NHL conversations for a long time to come.

• Itâ€s impossible not to be struck by the start Matthew Schaefer has had to his NHL career. The 2025 first-overall pick has picked up a point in each of his first three games, giving him a 1-2-3 line in his earliest days as an Islander. Perhaps more impressively, the defenceman who turned 18 barely a month ago is leading the team in ice time per game with an average of 23:18. In fact, Schaefer played over 26 minutes both on Saturday versus the Caps and Monday versus the Jets, and thatâ€s despite neither game going past three periods.

As it happens, Schaefer isnâ€t the only rookie teenager looking like he belongs in the worldâ€s best league right now. Beckett Senneke, the third-overall selection in 2024, scored for the second time in as many games on Saturday during Anaheimâ€s wild 7-6 overtime win in San Jose. The 19-year-old has been skating as a winger on the top line with Mason McTavish and Cutter Gauthier. A late bloomer in major junior, the six-foot-three Sennecke has good size and loads of skill.

Meanwhile, Zeev Buium has been living up to the hype early on in Minnesota. The 19-year-old defenceman who dazzled in the NCAA the past couple years had three points in two weekend games, netting his first NHL goal and assist in a 7-4 loss to Columbus on Saturday, before tacking on another helper in Mondayâ€s 4-3 shootout victory over the Kings.

• Though he had a career-best 31-goal season last season, Blue Jackets winger Kirill Marchenko closed the schedule by going nine games without a goal as Columbus made a push for the playoffs that ultimately came up short. Well, Marchenko isnâ€t fooling around to start this season, netting a hat trick on Saturday in Minnesota, before chipping in another tally during Mondayâ€s 3-2 loss versus the Devils.Â

With four goals in the bank already, itâ€s easy to wonder if this talented 25-year-old can push up toward 40 this year in Ohio.

Red and white power rankings

1. Edmonton Oilers (1-0-1)The Oilers get a tough test right out of the gate with seven of their next eight games on the road, beginning Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden versus the Rangers.

2. Winnipeg Jets (2-1-0)It was nice to see Jonathan Toews pick up his first point as a Jet — and first in the NHL since April 13, 2023 — with an assist on Nino Niederreiterâ€s PPG on Long Island during a 5-2 triumph over the Isles.

3. Montreal Canadiens (2-1-0)ÂThe season began with an extension for Lane Hutson looking light a real long shot. Now, the Canadiens will play their home-opener Tuesday night knowing the dynamic, second-year defenceman will be in their midst — at a friendly $8.85-million cap hit — for the next decade after he inked an eight-year contract on Monday.Â

4. Toronto Maple Leafs (1-2-0)Now that Easton Cowan has debuted in the NHL, it looks like the young man might get a good run beside Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies on the top line.

5. Ottawa Senators (1-2-0)ÂThereâ€s obvious concern over the health of Brady Tkachuk after the Ottawa captain left Mondayâ€s home opener following a cross-check from behind at the hands of Preds captain Roman Josi.Â

6. Vancouver Canucks (1-2-0)ÂThings only get tougher for the Canucks from here, with a five-game roadie beginning Thursday in Dallas.Â

7. Calgary Flames (1-2-0)ÂIt came in a loss, but Matt Coronatoâ€s two-goal game in Calgaryâ€s home opener on Saturday was a good sign the third-year NHLer is ready to build on last yearâ€s 24-goal showing.Â

• The NHLâ€s Board of Governors meet Tuesday in New York.

On the ice, Nikita Kucherov could hit a lofty benchmark with a big night in D.C. The Bolts scoring whiz needs four points to hit 1,000 for his spectacular career. After that, heâ€ll be only 137 behind Steven Stamkos for the all-time franchise lead.

Could you imagine if Alex Ovechkin potted goal No. 900 — heâ€s three shy — on the same night his countryman hit 1,000 points?

• Two teams — the Sabres and Islanders — have played three games this season without earning a single point. Buffalo will try to change that on Wednesday when it hosts old friend Dylan Cozens and the Senators, while New York will try to get the better of the Oilers the next night on Long Island.

Source link

• 

  David PurdumSep 29, 2025, 11:42 AM ET

  Close

  • Joined ESPN in 2014
  • Journalist covering gambling industry since 2008

In early September, the Cleveland Guardians were such long shots to overtake the front-running Detroit Tigers in the American League Central that sportsbooks took the odds to win the division off the board.

One month later, the Guardians are AL Central champs, after an odds-defying run that earned them home-field advantage in their wild-card series against the Tigers.

On Sept. 1, Detroit owned a 10.5-game lead over the Guardians and was listed at -20,000 to win their division at ESPN BET, meaning a bettor would have to risk $20,000 on Detroit to win just $100. A spokesperson for ESPN BET said the sportsbook did take “a few bets” on the Tigers at that price but declined to provide specifics. The Guardians were 80-1 to win the division entering September.

Editor’s Picks

Detroit promptly went on a downward spiral, going 7-17, the worst final month of a season by a playoff team since the World Series began in 1903, according to ESPN Research. Cleveland capitalized, overtaking the Tigers in the final week of the regular season and clinching the division title Sunday when Detroit lost to the Boston Red Sox and the Guardians beat the Texas Rangers.

It was an improbable turnaround. On July 28, the Guardians were as long as 281-1 to win the division at Circa Sports. The sportsbook took its division odds off the board on Sept. 4 and didn’t put them back up until nearly two weeks later.

“I typically stop offering odds to win a division if the odds for the favorite are north of -10000, which the Tigers were for a while,” Circa Sports sportsbook director Chris Bennett told ESPN. “People don’t like to bet into those implied probabilities.”

Kevin Higgins, a 33-year-old sports bettor from Brook Park, Ohio, didn’t wait until September to back the Guardians. He took his position on Cleveland in July, when few thought the Guardians were headed anywhere but home after September.

Postseason Baseball Challenge

Create MLB postseason brackets for FREE! $50K in prizes. Make Your Picks

Before placing a series of bets on Cleveland, Higgins studied the Guardians’ schedule and noted that, as of July 8, they had played against more teams that were above .500 than any other team in the AL. He also noticed their schedule after the All-Star Break began with series against a string of bottom-dwellers such as the Athletics Athletics, Baltimore Orioles and Colorado Rockies. At that point, he placed around $85 in bets, some through promotional credits, on the Guardians to win the AL Central for a chance at $5,210.

“On Monday, I cashed it out for $1,277 to guarantee myself a good win no matter what happened in the series versus Detroit,” Higgins said. “I felt like I was setting myself up for a win-win — especially with my wife and I expecting our first baby to be born October 6th. It was a good idea to make sure of some profit.”

The Guardians host the Tigers on Tuesday in Game 1 of their wild-card series. Detroit is a slight favorite over Cleveland to win the series.

Source link

CLEVELAND — On July 4, after the Guardians lost for the eighth time during their 10-game skid, players lingered in the dugout at Progressive Field and stared out at the scene of the Tigers†celebratory handshake line.

The Guardians†season had hit a new low point, but Slade Cecconi declared that they could channel the tough times into something great.

“I’m really looking forward to the end of the season when we look back at this eight-game skid and go, ‘Man, remember, remember how tough that was?â€â€ Cecconi said that night. “‘Remember how we got through it? Remember how we trusted each other? Remember how we showed up the same every day and just kept working?â€

“It’s going to pay off. We’re going to see ourselves in a great spot at the end of the season. I fully believe that.â€

All they did was make baseball history. With the Tigers†4-3 loss to the Red Sox on Sunday, the Guardians clinched the American League Central for a second straight season and 13th in franchise history, bookending perhaps the greatest in-season comeback in baseball history. Then they started the party when Brayan Rocchio hit a walk-off three-run homer in the 10th inning for a 9-8 win over the Rangers.

The Guardians will host a familiar foe in the Tigers at Progressive Field in the best-of-three Wild Card Series that kicks off on Tuesday.

Cleveland was as many as 15 1/2 games behind Detroit for first place in the AL Central, as recently as the morning of July 9. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, that is the largest deficit a team has overcome to finish first in its division (since 1969) or league (pre-1969). The 1914 Braves (15 games back) previously held the record.

The Guardians were as many as 11 games behind Detroit this month, on the morning of Sept. 5. That is the largest September deficit overcome to win a division (since 1969) or league (pre-1969), surpassing the 8 1/2-game deficit erased by the â€64 Cardinals. Cleveland won 17 of 19 from Sept. 5-24.

“To win the division after everything we’ve been through … and we did it with a win, it just solidifies that these guys earned every bit of it,†manager Stephen Vogt said. “It wasn’t given. Nothing that these guys have accomplished all year has been given.

“They’ve gone out and earned every single bit of it, and I couldn’t be more proud of them.â€

The Guardians became just the fourth team to reach the postseason in a season in which they had a 10-game skid. They overcame adversity such as watching closer Emmanuel Clase and starter Luis Ortiz going on non-disciplinary paid leave in July due to MLB investigations. The same month, ace Shane Bieber was dealt at the Trade Deadline.

But those inside the home clubhouse at Progressive Field never gave in and maintained their belief they could do the impossible.

“I don’t think anybody ever lost the vision of where we were trying to go this year, even at our darkest point in the season,†Cecconi said Sunday morning. “It’s really cool to see it come full circle.â€

The Guardians clinched a postseason berth on Saturday and celebrated afterward, but to them, the job was not finished. They wanted to play the Wild Card Series at their park, in front of their fans. They wanted to clinch the division and not do so exclusively due to a Tigers loss.

Of course, players and coaches celebrated in the eighth inning on Sunday, when they learned they were AL Central champs as a lively crowd of 31,054 suddenly began to cheer loudly, reacting to Detroitâ€s loss.

“We wanted to do it for the fans,†catcher Austin Hedges said. “All these fans have been showing up all year. … For them to come out, they deserve to see us truly win the division.â€

Rowdy Tellez’s three-run homer in the top of the 10th threatened that goal, but Rocchio stepped up in the bottom of the inning and crushed a 95.6 mph four-seamer from Jose Corniell off the right-field foul pole.

“It was incredible,†Rocchio said through team interpreter Agustin Rivero. “Not only because of the homer and the walk-off, but knowing that we wanted to win the division the right way. We knew we had it at that point, but winning the game was really important for us.â€

Rocchio being the one to deliver the big swing was a fitting way to put a bow on the regular-season slate. The 24-year-old was a Gold Glove finalist at shortstop last year, had a big postseason and earned Clevelandâ€s Opening Day shortstop job this year. After a rough start offensively to 2025, the Guardians optioned him to Triple-A Columbus on May 12.

They recalled Rocchio on July 1 and moved him to second base, where he has played strong defense alongside shortstop Gabriel Arias. As his numbers before the All-Star break (.530 OPS) and afterward (.689) show, Rocchio has continued to work to get better.

“For him to hit that walk-off, it’s super emblematic of our season in that we never quit,†Vogt said. “Every step, every setback is an opportunity to get better, and Rocchio embodies that better than anybody.â€

Progressive Field popped when that ball left Rocchio’s bat. The ballpark has had a playoff atmosphere all week, as the Guardians have pushed for the postseason. Now that itâ€s here, they canâ€t wait to get in front of their fans and keep this run going.

“The cool thing is it’s felt like playoff baseball,†Hedges said, “but it still doesn’t come close to what this fan base can do actually in the playoffs. The noise they’re about to make, I keep telling some of these rookies, ‘You haven’t seen anything yet.â€â€

Source link

• 

  Jesse RogersSep 26, 2025, 10:00 AM ET

  Close

  Jesse joined ESPN Chicago in September 2009 and covers MLB for ESPN.com.

CLEVELAND — The inningspoke volumes for both teams.

It came in the bottom of the sixth in the opening game of a crucial series between the Cleveland Guardians and Detroit Tigers on Tuesday. The two rivals had been going in opposite directions for the better part of a month — the Guardians surging from a seemingly insurmountable deficit while the Tigers were falling faster than a ball dropped from the upper deck of Comerica Park.

All-world pitcher Tarik Skubal was nursing a 2-0 lead, meaning the end of the Tigers’ woes were just a few innings away, right? Not so fast. Not with “Guard ball” ready to be deployed.

What is Guard ball?

“It was just a bunch of team-focused at-bats, trying to scratch a few runs across,” first baseman Kyle Manzardo said.

How about three consecutive bunt attempts, forcing the defense — and Skubal in particular — into uncomfortable positions while the Guardians took advantage. Left fielder Steven Kwan started the inning with a bunt single toward third base and the wheels quickly came off for the Tigers against Cleveland’s form of havoc.

“It’s always in the back of my mind against Skubal,” Kwan said after the 5-2 series-opening victory.

Editor’s Picks

2 Related

Kwan has tried bunting toward first base against Skubal previously, knowing the lefty would have a tough time making the play. This time he went the other direction.

“Was more of a desperation play,” he explained. “Just trying to get something in play and create some chaos.”

“Chaos” is a word you’ll hear yelled often from the Guardians’ dugout. Or perhaps it’ll be “turmoil.” Anything that screams action. The Guardians want things in motion.

Kwan’s bunt was followed by one from Angel Martinez. He accomplished what Kwan had wanted to do previously: push the ball toward first base.

“We didn’t even talk about it, which is the fun part,” Kwan said. “Everyone was like ‘great idea, back-to-back bunts.’ I didn’t tell anyone. He didn’t tell anyone.”

When Skubal fielded Martinez’s bunt up the line, he didn’t have time to turn and fire to first, so instead he flicked the ball between his legs with his back toward the bag. It sailed over first baseman Spencer Torkelson’s head and landed down the right-field line, putting runners on second and third with no outs.

Cleveland had the Tigers right where they wanted them while Detroit was entering the what-can-go-wrong-will-go-wrong phase of their game.

“That’s Guard ball right there,” catcher Austin Hedges said with a smile.

Postseason Baseball Challenge

Create MLB postseason brackets for FREE! $50K in prizes. Make Your Picks

Perhaps the only surprise is that it would be Skubal who would continue to make mistakes — some of which came after a scary moment when Guardians DH David Fry was hit in the face by a 99 mph fastball during his own bunt attempt.

Fry would eventually be carted off the field and taken to a local hospital with facial fractures and lacerations. When the game resumed, the Guardians had a cause to play for.

“What happened next was because of the Fry hit by the ball,” second baseman Brayan Rocchio said. “We took a bad moment and turned it. That game was for him.”

‘What happened next’ was Skubal threw a wild pitch to Fry’s replacement, George Valera. That plated a run. Then moments later, he balked Jose Martinez to third who then scored on a Gabriel Arias ground out. Skubal was shaken and the Guardians had the lead.

“I was just trying to get into a rhythm, just to steal third and when the infielders saw I was moving more than normal they said something to [Skubal] to step off and he got a little sped up,” Ramirez said of the balk through the team interpreter.

Cleveland would not surrender the lead they just took, taking Game 1 before doing much of the same in Game 2 — pouncing after Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler dropped a foul popup then putting the game away when Ramirez delivered a bases-loaded, two-run double. They won that game 5-1 and in the process won the series and secured the tiebreaker with Detroit.

But any clinching celebrations would have to wait at least a day as Detroit took Game 3, breaking an eight-game losing skid, and the Houston Astros won, leaving Cleveland’s magic number for a postseason berth at one.

Nonetheless, the Guardians’ playoff odds have risen to 94%, according to ESPN Analytics, and they enter the final weekend of the season in the AL Central driver’s seat. It’s an unfathomable position for Cleveland to be in considering they entered September 10½ games out in the AL Central and seven games behind the Astros in the wild-card race.

“We find ways to win,” Hedges said. “We don’t rely on home runs and outslugging teams. It’s just not our identity. It’s other teams’ identity and that’s great. But for our group, it’s this way.”

Manzardo added of the two games this week that turned Cleveland’s dreams of playing in October to the verge of becoming reality: “That’s the most extreme version of Guardians ball and making stuff happen that you’ll see.”

“That’s been the story of the second half for us”

Tanner Bibee and the rest of the Guardians rotation have heated up down the stretch, powering Cleveland’s surge. Jason Miller/Getty Images

The Guardians’ journey can’t be told without the events of July 3 and July 28. That’s when starter Luis Ortiz and closer Emmanuel Clase were placed on administrative leave, respectively, in an MLB gambling investigation that is still ongoing.

The news sent shockwaves through the team and the league, leading most observers to believe Cleveland’s postseason hopes were cooked. When they traded rehabbing starter and former Cy Young winner Shane Bieber to the Toronto Blue Jays on July 31, it further cemented that idea. The Guardians were already nine games out in the AL Central and, from the outside, appeared to be playing for next year.

Handing out 2025 MLB season awards

From best slugger to best game to … badonkadonk of the year?! It’s time for The Passans, our alternative regular-season accolades. Jeff Passan »

But those remaining in the Cleveland clubhouse had other ideas. After shaking off a 10-game losing skid — and the subtractions from their roster — the Guardians put their head down and went to work.

“This is life,” Ramirez said. “Sometimes bad things happen. Sometimes good things happen. Now is a good time.”

Ramirez, a perennial AL MVP contender, led an offense that found its stride by manufacturing runs in any way possible while the team’s starting pitching turned whatever scoring the offense could muster into wins with a historic stretch of run prevention.

Though none of them are household names nationally, Gavin Williams, Tanner Bibee, Logan Allen, Slade Cecconi and Joey Cantillo have been dominant in the second half. Their stretch of 19 consecutive games giving up two runs or fewer came to an end on Thursday, but not before their performance carried them to the top of the AL Central.

“We were built on our bullpen last year,” manager Stephen Vogt said. “We didn’t have the length from our rotation we’re getting this year. We had a historically good bullpen so we went to them as often as possible.”

That formula has been flipped this season, according to Vogt, especially after losing Clase. Now, the strength of the team lies in the rotation.

“When we lost the ninth inning, the starters picked up the sixth,” Vogt said of replacing his star closer. “That’s been the story of the second half for us.”

Final grades for all 30 MLB teams

Whether your team is headed to October or packing its bags for the offseason, how did 2025 measure up to expectations? David Schoenfield »

While Vogt’s sentiment rings true, the numbers don’t exactly fit the narrative. Before Clase was put on leave, Cleveland’s rotation was averaging 5â…“ innings pitched. Since he’s been gone, they’ve bumped it up to 5â…” innings. A small but impactful improvement and being able to pick each other up wherever needed has only added to the vibe in the clubhouse.

“It’s been so fun,” Gavin Williams said. “We’ve had a good stretch.”

Reliever Koby Allard added: “The amount of fun we’re having is really memorable.”

But entering the final days of the regular season, the Guardians know that nothing has been clinched yet and those memories won’t be as special if they don’t finish the deal. And they know better than anyone how quickly the story of a season can be turned upside down.

“Two months ago, it didn’t feel like we were playing for a lot,” Kwan said. “Just the sheer fact that we’re playing for a playoff spot is such a blessing.”

Source link

The final weekend of regular-season baseball is here, and every team in the majors will conclude its marathons with a three-game series. We’ll have some enticing divisional matchups and some head-scratchers like … Phillies-Twins?

Here are the top storylines entering Friday in a chaotic finish for the 2025 regular season:

Advertisement

[MLB playoffs 2025 tracker: Standings, schedule, clinch scenarios and more with 3 games to go]

Will the Marlins play the ultimate spoiler for the Mets?

The New York Mets are clinging to the final wild-card spot in the NL playoff race. They sweated out an 8-5 victory against the Chicago Cubs on Thursday and took two of three games at Wrigley Field to maintain their lead in the wild-card race against the Cincinnati Reds (one game) and Arizona Diamondbacks (two games). The Mets don’t own the tiebreakers against those teams, so yeah, the pressure is on for New York.

Up next: Three games in Miami against the Marlins. Despite the payroll disparity between the clubs — $69 million vs. $340 million — the season series is tied 5-5.

Advertisement

For the Mets, it’s sad that it has come down to this. But at least they’re in control.

Who will blink first: Yankees or Jays?

The stakes are high for New York and Toronto in the AL playoff race, as the team that comes out on top in this division will get a first-round bye, joining the Seattle Mariners. The runner-up will get a ticket to the wild-card round as host.

The clubs enter Friday tied, and the Jays have the tiebreaker. Each will have its regular-season finale at home, with the Yankees hosting the Baltimore Orioles and the Jays playing the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Yankees went 6-4 against the Orioles this season, with New York taking three of four games in their last series. As for the Jays, they’re 3-7 against the Rays this season. Toronto split a four-game set with Tampa in their last matchup earlier this month.

Advertisement

Dodgers, Mariners are in, but they’ve got some things to work out

Go ahead and chuckle about a schedule that concludes the regular season with Mariners vs. Dodgers. What a natural rivalry, eh?

Anyhow, the Mariners have secured a first-round bye en route to capturing the AL West. They still have a shot, albeit a long one, at snatching away the No. 1 seed from the Yankees and Blue Jays. Plus, Cal Raleigh wants to swing that trident around a couple of more times in pursuit of that AL single-season home run record. So don’t expect the Mariners to coast here.

As for the Dodgers, they’re locked into the No. 3 seed in the NL. However, could we see more work from Roki Sasaki out of the bullpen as a tune-up for the postseason? Will anyone in the Dodgers’ bullpen show a glimmer of improvement heading into October, starting Friday?

Advertisement

It all comes down to this as Guardians, Tigers battle for AL Central crown

Three games over this final weekend of the 2025 MLB regular season will decide the American League Central division title. Neither team has officially clinched a playoff berth, but both teams could make their way into the postseason regardless of who wins the Central.

Cleveland ends the season with a three-game series hosting the Texas Rangers, who have been eliminated from playoff contention but could play the role of spoiler for the Guardians. If the Guardians and Tigers remain neck and neck through the weekend, the most likely scenario is them facing off in the wild-card round.

Advertisement

The Tigers could have a bit of a tougher fight to close out the regular season, thanks to their recent free-fall that saw them drop eight straight. They visit Boston on Friday night, taking on a Red Sox team also fighting for wild-card positioning. The Tigers swept the Red Sox in their lone series earlier this season.

If these AL Central rivals end the season with the same record, the Guardians hold the tiebreaker with a head-to-head record of 8-5 in the season series with the Tigers, after taking two of three games from them this week. No matter who wins the AL Central, both Cleveland and Detroit hold tiebreakers over the Houston Astros in the wild-card race. The Astros are currently one game behind the Guardians and Tigers for the wild card heading into this final weekend.

Advertisement

Friday’s notable games

Baltimore Orioles vs. New York Yankees, 7:05 p.m. ET
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Toronto Blue Jays, 7:07 p.m. ET
Detroit Tigers vs. Boston Red Sox, 7:10 p.m. ET
Texas Rangers vs. Cleveland Guardians, 7:10 p.m. ET
New York Mets vs. Miami Marlins 7:10 p.m. ET
Cincinnati Reds vs. Milwaukee Brewers 8:10 p.m. ET
Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Seattle Mariners, 9:40 p.m. ET

Source link

Subscribe to Baseball Bar-B-Cast

After 159 games have been played and settled, the final weekend slate of the 2025 MLB regular season is upon us, and there is plenty of drama set to unfold. With a few postseason spots still up for grabs, as well as a couple of division crowns, weâ€re sure to be in for a memorable finish to an unforgettable regular season of baseball.

Advertisement

Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman discuss all the headlines going into the weekend, including whether the Cleveland Guardians will be able to hang onto their improbable division lead in the AL Central over the Detroit Tigers, whether the New York Yankees or Toronto Blue Jays will be crowned the kings of the AL East and the incredible season weâ€ve seen from Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh. They then talk about how crazy it is that the Houston Astros probably wonâ€t be making their annual postseason trip this October.

Also on this episode of the Baseball Bar-B-Cast, Jake and Jordan talk about the current postseason picture in the National League, which currently has the New York Mets holding onto the final Wild Card spot despite the Cincinnati Reds and Arizona Diamondbacks trying their best to overtake them. They also discuss how strange itâ€ll be to see the Los Angeles Dodgers playing in the Wild Card round, the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) challenge system coming to MLB next season and make their picks for The Good, The Bad & The Uggla.

(Photo by Michael Mooney/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

(Photo by Michael Mooney/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

3:19 – The Opener: Where things stand in the AL

Advertisement

13:28 – Yankees or Blue Jays in the East

29:56 – Where things stand in the NL

36:36 – Dodgers in the Wild Card round

42:01 – We Need to Talk About: ABS in 2026

47:15 – The Good, The Bad & The Uggla

ðŸ–¥ï¸ Watch this full episode on YouTube

Check out the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at or atyahoosports.tv

Source link

Sep 25, 2025, 09:58 PM ET

CLEVELAND — Jahmai Jones led off the game with a home run, and the Detroit Tigers snapped an eight-game losing streak, beating Cleveland Guardians 4-2 on Thursday night to move back into a tie with the Guardians atop the American League Central.

Detroit and Cleveland are 86-73 with three games left to play. The Guardians hold the tiebreaker after going 8-5 in the season series.

The Tigers head to Boston, where the Boston Red Sox have a one-game lead for the AL’s second wild card. The Guardians will host Texas Rangers, which has lost nine of 10. Meanwhile, both Detroit and Cleveland are one game ahead of the Houston Astros for the final AL wild-card spot.

Detroit snapped an eight-game losing streak, beating Cleveland to move back into a tie with the Guardians atop the American League Central with three games left to play in the regular season. David Richard-Imagn Images

Jones drove a sinker from Cleveland starter Parker Messick (3-1) on a full count 400 feet over the wall in left for his third career leadoff home run.

Wenceel Perez and Riley Greene also homered off Messick.

Brant Hurter (4-3) got the win, and Will Vest picked up his 22nd save in 29 opportunities.

Editor’s Picks

1 Related

Troy Melton allowed one run in 3 2/3 innings in what was a bullpen game for the Tigers.

C.J. Kayfus and Jose Ramirez had RBI doubles for the Guardians, who are 18-6 in September.

Ramírez’s double was his 726th extra-base hit, passing Earl Averill (725) for the most in franchise history. Ramírez has 398 doubles, 43 triples and 285 home runs in his 13-year career.

Messick allowed four runs in five innings, snapping a 19-game streak where Cleveland’s starting rotation had allowed two or fewer runs in 19 consecutive games, which matched the 2019 Tampa Bay Rays and 1916 New York Giants for the second-longest streak since the mound was moved.

Source link

Gavin Williams posted a career-high-tying 12 strikeouts and Daniel Schneemann drove in two runs Tuesday as the host Cleveland Guardians rallied for a 5-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers to forge a tie atop the American League Central.

The AL Central race could be seen as an epic comeback by the Guardians or a huge meltdown from the Tigers, depending on your allegiances. The Tigers had led the division since 23 April and had a 10-game lead over Cleveland as recently as 6 September. But the Guardians have the best record in MLB this month (17-5) while the Tigers have lost seven straight games and 10 of their last 11.

Advertisement

Related: Cubs†Matt Shaw defends missing teamâ€s defeat to attend Charlie Kirkâ€s memorial

Williams allowed two runs on four hits and walked only two to outduel Tigers ace Tarik Skubal, who gave up three runs (one earned) on four hits while fanning eight and walking three.

It was a shaky outing for Skubal, who has been excellent for most of the season. After he hit Clevelandâ€s David Fry in the face with a pitch, he looked shaken and threw a wild pitch to George Valera, who replaced Fry, allowing Cleveland to score. Skubal also had an error – he inexplicably tried to make a blind throw to first between his legs – and was also called for a balk in the sixth inning as the Guardians rallied for three runs to take a 3-2 lead without hitting a ball out of the infield.

“We did a lot of uncharacteristic things, and itâ€s hurting us,†Tigers manager AJ Hinch said after the game.

Advertisement

Fry was taken to a local hospital for observation after being hit by the 99 mph pitch and Skubal admitted the incident had affected him.

“Really tough,†said the left-hander. “Iâ€ve already reached out to him. Iâ€m sure his phone is blowing up. I just want to make sure heâ€s all right. Obviously, he seemed like he was OK coming off the field and hopefully it stays that way.â€

With the victory, the Guardians now have a better head-to-head record against the Tigers this season and own the tiebreaker over Detroit should the teams finish joint-first in the division.

“I feel like weâ€ve been this way for a couple of series now,†Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler said. “Itâ€s not quite pressing but we definitely feel some of the pressure and weâ€ve got to mitigate it. Weâ€ve got to eliminate it. Weâ€ve still got to find ways to stay loose, focus in and hone in on what we need to do and go out there and do it.â€

The teams play each other again on Wednesday and Thursday before the Tigers complete their season with a series against the Red Sox and the Guardians face the Rangers.

Source link