Browsing: push

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After a quiet summer, Austin Theory seemed set to emerge in a big way this fall. Recent reports had Theory joining former WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins, Bron Breakker, Bronson Reed, and Paul Heyman as the newest member of The Vision, with Theory’s debut set to occur prior to Survivor Series: WarGames. But those plans have had doubts cast on them after last week, when Rollins was kicked out of The Vision and revealed to be out long-term with a shoulder injury.

For the moment, however, things still look good for Theory, though perhaps not as good as before. Taking to X this morning, Wrestlevotes reported that many voices within WWE were continuing to push for Theory to be involved with the promotion’s ongoing creative plan. It was also confirmed that discussions involving Theory joining The Vision had occurred, and that, regardless if he joined the group or not, Theory had plenty of “internal support” regarding a return in “a significant manner.” While this outlook still appears largely optimistic, and suggests Theory’s return is imminent, it must be noted that the idea of Theory joining The Vision appears to be far less definitive than it was in previous reports.

Sources indicate there are still voices within the company pushing to keep Austin Theory involved in creative plans, even after the recent shuffling caused by Seth Rollins’ injury.

The idea of Theory joining The Vision was at least discussed, and he still has internal support…

— WrestleVotes (@WrestleVotes) October 21, 2025

Theory has been absent from WWE since July 12, when he was defeated by El Grande Americano in an episode of “WWE Main Event.” A week later, Theory’s long-time partner Grayson Waller announced that Theory was injured and that their tag team had officially broken up. Though there was some speculation about Theory’s WWE future after he was removed from the internal roster, it was later confirmed that Theory was still with WWE, and had been moved to the injured section of the internal roster.

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Rangers face increased pressure to complete a deal for Kevin Muscat to become their new manager after another leading candidate, Danny Röhl, made it known he has withdrawn from the process.

Röhl, who left Sheffield Wednesday in the summer, becomes the second coach after Steven Gerrard to remove his name from consideration following detailed talks with the Rangers board. The messiness of this situation is unlikely to placate an already angry fanbase. There was, however, an increased confidence from Rangers sources on Wednesday that Muscat could be delivered.

Russell Martin was sacked as the Rangers manager last Sunday, his spell lasting just 123 days amid constant negativity from supporters. The Ibrox hierarchy only turned attention towards Muscat, who spent a brief time as a Rangers player, earlier this week. Yet appointing the Australian will not be completely straightforward; he is under contract with Shanghai Port for another year, with the club leading the Chinese Super League title race with four games to go.

Shanghai Portâ€s season will not end until 22 November, before which time Rangers have eight games at home and abroad. Muscat would almost certainly have to take a pay cut to move to Glasgow. He is, though, known to be keen on managing in Britain after prior spells at Melbourne Victory, Belgiumâ€s Sint-Truiden and Yokohama F. Marinos. The 52-year-old has maintained an affiliation with Rangers despite leaving in 2003.

Danny Röhl has joined Steven Gerrard in withdrawing from the process to find a new Rangers manager. Photograph: Craig Brough/Action Images/Reuters

There was awareness within Ibrox that Röhl, 36, was likely to meet with a lukewarm reception in the stands if appointed. This caused unease among Rangers†decision-makers. The Germanâ€s only experience as a first-team manager came at Wednesday. Muscat is considerably more popular among Rangers fans, partly because of a prior connection to the club but also because of his supposed no-nonsense approach to management.

Muscat was previously in the running for the Rangers post in 2023, when Philippe Clement was instead appointed. Rangers are expected to at least clarify their short-term management plans by Friday. Dundee United visit Ibrox on Scottish Premiership business on Saturday afternoon.

Rangers are eighth in the table and currently trail the leaders, Hearts, by 11 points. Celtic are nine points ahead of their Old Firm rivals after just seven fixtures, while Rangers have also lost their opening two Europa League group games this term.

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Derrick Henry is a powerful back and one of the most dominant players of his generation who is seemingly the perfect option to give the ball on the goal line.

Yet the Baltimore Ravens decided to go a different route during its final possession of the first half of Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams.

After reaching the Los Angeles 1-yard line, the Ravens attempted two consecutive tush pushes with tight end Mark Andrews. The Rams stuffed him on both attempts and were then ready to stop Henry on the ensuing fourth down.

“They got [Derrick Henry], who I would probably want to just give him the ball,” Tom Brady said in his analyst role on Fox Sports. “And I love Mark Andrews. It’s just a hard thing, you don’t practice it that much.”Â

The sequence drew plenty of reaction on social media:

That Henry played so well in the first half only made the sequence all the more confusing.

The five-time Pro Bowler had 90 rushing yards by intermission and was largely carrying a Ravens offense that is playing without injured quarterback Lamar Jackson for the second straight game.

Los Angeles deserves plenty of credit as well, as it stuffed the middle of the line and didn’t give Andrews any space to successfully run the tush push. It even appeared to force a fumble on the third-down attempt, but officials ruled forward progress and blew the play dead.

When Baltimore lined up in a traditional look for fourth down, it was far too obvious that Henry would be getting the ball after the previous two failed attempts. The Rams were not fooled and forced a turnover on downs much to the chagrin of the frustrated fans.

Frustration has been the predominant emotion for the Ravens this season, who are off to a 1-4 start and look nothing like the Super Bowl contender they hoped to be at the start of the campaign.

Injuries are a large part of the issue, but poor play calling and missed opportunities like the one in the first half against the Rams aren’t helping.

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Next Match:

at Saint Anselm College

10/15/2025 | 6:00 p.m.

Oct. 15 (Wed) / 6:00 p.m.

at Saint Anselm College

RINDGE, N.H. –In a seesaw battle on Saturday afternoon, Pace University Volleyball went the distance on the road, ultimately falling in five sets to Franklin Pierce University (18-25, 25-19, 22-25, 25-22, 12-15). The Setters, who now stand at 8-6 overall and 0-3 in conference play, traded momentum throughout a back-and-forth match that featured 34 tie scores and 16 lead changes.

The opening frame saw the host Ravens take control late, using a 6-1 run to edge ahead 25-18. Pace quickly found its rhythm in the second set, as a balanced attack powered the Setters to a 25-19 win to even the match at one. Freshman outside hitter Kadence Ackmann and senior right-side hitter Cyanna Shirley combined for six kills in the frame, while setter Aralyn Saulys helped direct the offense with precise distribution.

The middle portion of the match remained a tug-of-war. Despite trailing by as many as six in the third, Pace clawed back behind the steady play of Skyler Tennant and Ileann Alessandra Perez, who each connected on efficient swings to bring the Setters within reach.

Franklin Pierce held on for the 25-22 win, but Pace refused to go away quietly. The Blue and Gold answered in the fourth, hitting an even .200 as Shirley, Tennant, and Emily Cineus each came through with key kills to take the set 25-22 and force a decisive fifth. In a thrilling finish, both teams exchanged points deep into the final frame before the Ravens narrowly prevailed, 15-12.

Shirley and Tennant led the Setters’ offense with 10 kills apiece, while Ackmann followed with eight kills and a team-high five service aces.

Saulys orchestrated the attack with 21 assists and 10 digs, while freshman Camila Rodriguez added 17 assists and five aces of her own.

Defensively, libero Alice Bender anchored the back row with 17 digs, and Tennant recorded 14.

The Setters return to action on Tuesday, when they travel to Worcester, MA., to face Assumption University in another NE10 matchup at 7:00 p.m.
 
 
Â

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Ric Flair has already cemented his legacy as one of the most decorated stars in the history of WWE. Recently, Flair shared his opinion on a WWE veteran whom he believes never got the push he deserved.

The star in question is William Regal, who is presently serving as the vice-president of Global Talent Development in WWE. In a conversation with Escapist Magazine, Ric was asked who his top technical wrestlers are. Flair called Regal a good technical wrestler, adding that despite being an excellent in-ring performer, Regal really never got the push he deserved.

“Technically. Well, Shawn could be a technical wrestler with The Rockers. They were technically amazing. I respect Marty, but Shawn was in a different league. From day one. Another good technical wrestler is Steve Regal. Very good. Very technical. He never really got the push he deserved. But, Steve is an excellent technical wrestler and, and on top of that, a great guy.â€

Regal was a featured midcard performer in WCW, where he won the companyâ€s Television Championship four times. He had a steady push in WWE as a General Manager and wrestler.

There, he won the Intercontinental, European and WWE Tag Team Championship. He also won the 2008 King of the Ring tournament. However, that run was stopped prematurely as he was suspended for violating the companyâ€s Wellness Policy.

What does Ric Flair think about John Cenaâ€s 17th title victory at WWE WrestleMania 41?

In the same interview, Ric Flair also shared his opinion about the 17x World title victory of John Cena in WWE. Flair and Cena had a record tie as both were 16x World Champions. However, after Cena managed to win the title one more time at Mania 41, he broke Flairâ€s record and set a new bar.

Meanwhile, when asked about Cena in the interview, Ric expressed a positive opinion about the Franchise Player. He said that he loved John Cenaâ€s 17x WWE World title victory. “I love it. I think the world of John.â€

Currently, Ric and Cena have not yet interacted during the Franchise Player WWE retirement tour. It remains unclear if the Game has any plans for this.

Read More:James Gunn Doesnâ€t See John Cena As A ‘Wrestler Turned Actorâ€

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The atmosphere at this week’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland will be quite different from the one the European Ryder Cuppers just conquered at Bethpage Black.

Four members of Team Europe — Tyrrell Hatton, Tommy Fleetwood, Matt Fitzpatrick and Robert MacIntyre — will tee it up on the DP World Tour this week, but the golf world doesn’t seem ready to turn the page just yet. Especially when it comes to their historic victory and the New York crowd that relentlessly hurled insults at European players and families for three days.

Rory McIlroy, who got the worst of it, called the behavior “unacceptable.” Shane Lowry said that the verbal abuse McIlroy’s wife, Erica, dealt with was “astonishing.” On Saturday, American captain Keegan Bradley said some fans crossed the line, but he also didn’t see the environment as being that different from the one the Americans faced in Rome in 2023.

“I thought the fans were passionate,” Bradley said of the fans on Saturday. “I mean, their home team is getting beat bad. They are passionate fans. I wasn’t at Rome but I heard a lot of stories that Rome was pretty violent as well.”

In an interview with the BBC on Sunday of the Ryder Cup, PGA of America president Don Rea also suggested the crowd abuse was similar to what happened at Marco Simone.

There’s a lot you can say about the fans at Bethpage — but I think it’s worth starting at the source.

When the leader of your org says he hasn’t heard much verbal abuse of Rory McIlroy, perhaps there wasn’t much care about it happening pic.twitter.com/qPYGl7Pcr7

— Sean Zak (@Sean_Zak) September 30, 2025

“I haven’t heard some of that — I’m sure it’s happened,” Rea said when asked about the torrent of verbal abuse hurled at McIlroy on Saturday. “It happened when we were in Rome on the other side and Rory understands … things like that are going to happen and I don’t know what was said. But all I know is golf is the engine of good.”

Hatton, who was also a member of the winning European Ryder Cup team in Rome, pushed back on the assertion that both sides have the same problem.

“Personally, I don’t think they were close at all,” Hatton said on Wednesday in Scotland. “I certainly, with what I heard last week, I don’t think Rome comes anywhere near that. … I don’t know what else to add to that. I think they are quite far apart to be honest.”

Fitzpatrick, whose parents didn’t travel to the Ryder Cup due to the expected crowd abuse, didn’t appreciate the whataboutism being thrown around by the U.S. decision-makers.

“I saw the interview with the PGA guy discussing how it was the same in Rome,” Fitzpatrick said. “It’s pretty offensive to European fans that he said that, really.”

Fleetwood, who went 4-1-0 in the Ryder Cup, didn’t want to paint all American golf fans with a broad brush. Bad actors at Bethpage crossed the line between supporting the home team and attacking the European players and their families, but it wasn’t representative of everyone who came out to see the biennial event.

“There’s a big difference between a hostile environment and personal comments,” Fleetwood said. “Again, I think we were all prepared for it. Of all the talk that there’s been, it’s not about the entire U.S. fans or the crowd. Like I don’t think that we should be sort of using that as a whole. I have so many friends that are Americans and that were at the Ryder Cup, people close to me, saying, I’ve got to support my own team, things like that. That’s just what it is. You’re going to get a tough environment when you get to an away Ryder Cup. Yeah, personal comments can go too far, and you obviously hope that that doesn’t happen again, or it shouldn’t happen. But it’s just so out of our control, and I think Keegan and — you just have to understand what you’re getting into and what you’re there for and go play golf.

“Like I say, how many people were there — 50,000 people, 60,000 people? You can’t have a go at everyone because the majority don’t do that. I have no hard feelings about it at all.”

At Ryder Cup marred by ugliness, U.S. showed class in defeat

By:

Michael Bamberger

Derek Sprague, the CEO of the PGA of America, condemned the behavior in an interview with Golf Channel and said he planned to apologize to all of Team Europe.

“And I can’t wait to reach out to Rory and Erica and really, quite frankly, the entire European team,” Sprague told Golf Channel’s Rex Hoggard. “He might have been a target because of how good he is, but the whole European team should not have been subjected to that. And because of that, I feel badly and I plan on apologizing to them.”

As for the jeering he faced in New York, Hatton knows he didn’t get the worst of it. However, he hopes that when the Ryder Cup goes to Adare Manor in 2027, the crowd will choose to celebrate their team’s achievements instead of abusing the opponent.

“To be honest, I think some guys on the team had a lot worse than others,” Hatton said. “For me personally, yeah, there was a lot of insults maybe around height or hair line or weight, which — some of which I pretty much said to myself anyway, so it wasn’t like anything new.

“If it was my choice, and obviously what I say isn’t really going to affect how people behave, but I don’t really think that the insults is the way forward,” Hatton said when asked about the expected atmosphere in 2027. “I would much prefer it to be a respectful atmosphere; you let the guys play and the best team wins, rather than trying to affect the outcome by trying to putt off players or things like that.”

As for this week at the Dunhill, the Ryder Cup champions will welcome the change of pace after a week at Bethpage.

“The atmosphere will be worlds apart,” Hatton said. “Last week was pretty intense. This week will feel somewhat quieter but in some ways, also looking forward to that.”

Itâ€s become apparent that many people feel Randy Orton has been really underutilized by WWE for a long time now. Thatâ€s why it comes as no surprise Mark Henry wants the Viper to turn heel again.

While speaking on Inside the Ring, Mark Henry believes Randy Orton is being underused in his current role and says the best version of Orton is as a heel, not a babyface champion.

According to Henry, Orton should go back to punting people, RKOâ€ing anyone in sight, and stomping people out; because thatâ€s when heâ€s at his most effective.

“Some people think heâ€s being underused right now, and Iâ€m one of those people. But I wouldnâ€t want Randy to be champion as good guy Randy. I want Randy in the role thatâ€s tailor-made for him—coming in, punting people again, RKOâ€ing peopleâ€s grandmothers and kids, stomping everyone. Let Randy be Randy.â€

Henry even compared Orton to the classic story of the frog and the scorpion, where the scorpion convinces the frog to carry him across a pond, only to sting him midway, dooming them both. Henry explained the lesson is that the scorpion acted true to its nature, and Orton is the same way.

To Henry, Randy Orton is a natural heel, and letting him fully embrace that role would just show why heâ€s one of the greatest heels in wrestling history.

“Heâ€s gotta shave his head too. You canâ€t trust the snake. Youâ€ve heard that story about the frog and the scorpion? The toadâ€s sitting by the pond, minding his business, and the scorpion comes up and says, ‘Hey man, give me a ride to the other side.†The toad says, ‘No way, youâ€re a scorpion. Youâ€ll sting me and kill me.†The scorpion says, ‘Why would I do that? I need your help to get across.†So the toad agrees, and halfway across, the scorpion stabs him full of poison. The toad says, ‘Why would you do that? Now weâ€re both gonna die.†And the scorpion says, ‘You knew I was a scorpion when I got on your back.â€

Thatâ€s Randy Orton. Thatâ€s who he is. Let that guy be himself, because heâ€s so good at it. Can you really say anyone was more definitively a better heel than Randy when heâ€s a heel?â€

This comes after we had previously reported that WWE planted seeds for Randy Ortonâ€s heel turn after he lost to Cody Rhodes at Night of Champions this year. While Orton is currently on Rhodes†side, that could easily change in the future and so only time will tell whether WWE will pull the trigger and finally turn the Apex Predator into the dangerous heel fans know and love.

Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.

Do you want to see Randy Orton turn heel in WWE again? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.

September 30, 2025 5:37 pm

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While most public opinions from people within the NFL about the tush push seem to skew negative, one prominent voice has spoken out in favor of the Philadelphia Eagles’ signature play.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton said his “bulls–t” detector went up when the opposing teams were citing health and safety reasons as justification for voting to ban the play during the offseason.

“It might be the safest play in football,” Payton added.

The Green Bay Packers brought forth the proposal to ban the play, with one of the key points being player safety.

There’s no evidence from the league that anyone has ever been injured on the tush push, with the NFL’s internal data citing a zero percent injury rate from the 2024 season.

The play did receive a new piece of criticism earlier this season when the Eagles were playing the Kansas City Chiefs. Fox’s broadcast crew pointed out at least one instance when they should have been flagged for a false start.

Ramon George, the NFL’s vice president of officiating training and development, agreed with that assessment in a training video sent to officials in the aftermath of Philadelphia’s 20-17 win over the Chiefs.

There’s an expectation for a renewed push to ban the play after this season, with ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler citing one league executive as saying the difficulty of officiating the play “fairly…probably hurts the chance” of it not being banned in 2026.

If the ban is put back on the table during the offseason, it would require 24 votes from the 32 owners. The vote from this past offseason was 22-10, finishing two votes shy of approval.

Payton and the Broncos could potentially get a close look at the tush push this week when they take on the Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, looking to hand the defending Super Bowl champs their first loss of the season.

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Thereâ€s a fun little paradox to Kâ€Andre Millerâ€s move from the New York Rangers to the Carolina Hurricanes.

On one level, the big defenseman is going from The City That Never Sleeps – and the hyper-bustling borough of Manhattan – to the take-your-time, low-and-slow South. But on another level, heâ€s joining a Hurricanes team known for playing the game at such a high pace that it leaves most other teams strewn in their wake.

On both fronts, Miller is happy with his new home and team. “We always had great battles when I was on the other side in New York,†he said. “They have such a fast team and get up and down the ice in a fast motion. They do everything as a team. Itâ€s a fun group to watch, and theyâ€ve had a lot of success recently, so Iâ€m excited.â€

Miller also joked that heâ€s happy he no longer has to worry about getting hemmed in his own zone when playing against the Canes – heâ€ll now be a part of the relentless attack that has made Carolina one of the Eastern Conferenceâ€s best squads.

Now, the Hurricanes have yet to break through to another Stanley Cup final, but an effective summer by GM Eric Tulsky has Carolina once again threatening to make a run for the franchiseâ€s second championship. Along with Miller on defense, Tulsky also brought in one of the top forwards available this summer when he inked erstwhile Winnipeg Jets left winger Nikolaj Ehlers to a six-year contract.

In Miller, Tulsky sees a player who will slot right in with what Carolina wants to do on the ice. “We think heâ€s a great fit for us,†Tulsky said. “Heâ€s a really powerful skater who can close out effectively and take away time and space. The aggressive way we play will suit him very well. Heâ€s also very strong in front of the net, which is also helpful and important. His skating and recovery speed will be effective for us. When we want guys to get up the ice, they need to be able to get back, too.â€

Miller came to Carolina via trade on July 1, with Tulsky sending prospect defenseman Scott Morrow, a 2026 second-round pick and a conditional first-round pick in either â€26 or ‘27 to the Rangers. Miller, an RFA, then signed an eight-year, $60-million ($7.5-million AAV) deal with Carolina. Tulsky said talks between the two teams had gone on for a while. And based on all the rumblings that had surrounded the Rangers throughout the season, thatâ€s not surprising. Before Miller, New York traded away Kaapo Kakko, who the team had selected second overall back in 2019, and Rangers lifer Chris Kreider. “There was a lot of noise throughout the season,†Miller said. “It was definitely in the back of my head that something could happen. I loved my time in New York, but Iâ€m excited for whatâ€s to come in Carolina.â€

The Hurricanes Used A Unique Strategy To Acquire K’Andre Miller
In order to acquire Kâ€Andre Miller, the Carolina Hurricanes used a unique strategy.

And while Raleigh is hardly a backwater – that area of North Carolina is part of ‘The Triangle,†a research-and-tech hub that has grown leaps and bounds in the past 20 years – there will be cultural differences from New York City, one of the most famous metropolises in the world. And thatâ€s just fine with Miller. “Iâ€m super excited for that aspect,†he said. “The style of living being a bit of a slower pace, Iâ€m really going to like that. Being from Minnesota, I think it will be comparable.â€

The biscuits and barbecue will certainly be better down there, even if the bagel quality takes a step back. But truly, Miller is there for the hockey. Playing for coach Rod Brindâ€Amour is another plus when it comes to the Hurricanes. “Iâ€ve heard nothing but great things about Rod,†Miller said. “I canâ€t wait to get to know him and talk hockey. A number of guys reached out to me and said, ‘Youâ€re really lucky to be in this position to have that coach and a team like Carolina supporting you.†So, Iâ€m super excited for the whole thing.â€

Playing for Carolina isnâ€t for everyone. Famously, Mikko Rantanen lasted only 13 games with the Canes, and the team does play a very specific, structured system that requires maximum buy-in. But the payoff is obvious. Since Brindâ€Amour took over, Carolina has been a beast, reaching the conference final three times in his seven seasons as coach.

The problem recently has been pushing through to that Stanley Cup final. Carolinaâ€s offense has dried up completely at the worst possible times in the post-season, and while itâ€s no shame to get shut down by the Florida Panthers, at some point, you need to score goals against good teams. Millerâ€s ability to make plays through the neutral zone and get pucks up to forwards will help that cause. And, at 25, heâ€s just starting to hit his prime as an NHL blueliner. Letâ€s not forget, the player heâ€s essentially replacing on Carolinaâ€s back end is Brent Burns, who turned 40 last season.

However, still starring on the Hurricanes†blueline is Jaccob Slavin, a two-time Lady Byng Trophy winner and a player who will serve as a potential partner and certainly a mentor. “Heâ€s definitely one of the guys Iâ€ve tried to model my game after the past couple of years,†Miller said. “Heâ€s obviously a generational player on this team, and itâ€s going to be great sharing ideas and sharing the ice with him.â€

So, itâ€s a remix of a lineup for the Canes heading into 2025-26, but itâ€s also one of the strongest units the franchise has put together in recent years. Is it enough to finally break through in the Eastern Conference? Slow and steady wins the race – even if Miller and Carolina will play fast in order to do so.

This article appeared in our 2025 Meet the New Guys issue. The cover story for this issue features the newest Vegas Golden Knight, Mitch Marner, as he looks to shine in the desert. We also include features on new Jets forward Jonathan Toews, Canadiens D-man Noah Dobson and more. In addition, we take a look at the top ‘new guys’ from each NHL division.

You can get it in print for free when you subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/Free today. All subscriptions include complete access to more than 76 years of articles at The Hockey News Archive.

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  Jorge CastilloSep 27, 2025, 08:50 PM ET

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  ESPN baseball reporter. Covered the Washington Wizards from 2014 to 2016 and the Washington Nationals from 2016 to 2018 for The Washington Post before covering the Los Angeles Dodgers and MLB for the Los Angeles Times from 2018 to 2024.

MIAMI — With the New York Mets facing potential elimination from postseason contention Saturday, manager Carlos Mendoza was prepared to exhaust every available pitcher to keep their October hopes afloat going into Sunday’s Game 162.

Clay Holmes ensured that was not necessary.

The veteran right-hander delivered the best start of his career to complete his first full regular season as a starter, holding the Miami Marlins to one hit over six scoreless innings in the Mets’ 5-0 victory.

“That’s the exact outing that we needed today,” said Mets first baseman Pete Alonso, who went 2-for-4 with a home run, a double and two RBIs. “And he really stepped up. That was a big-time outing for him. Just unbelievable. Picture-perfect outing for him.”

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The Mets departed LoanDepot Park a half-game ahead of the Cincinnati Reds for the third and final National League wild-card spot, with the Reds scheduled to play against the Milwaukee Brewers later Saturday. As a result, the Mets’ postseason fortunes will come down to the last day of the regular season.

“It’s a game we had to win today, and I just went out there and gave it my all,” Holmes said. “But I think once we finish the job, get in the playoffs, I’ll be a little bit more satisfied.”

Holmes had not started a game in 11 days as he sputtered down the stretch and the free-falling Mets sought alternatives. His previous two outings were in relief; he logged 3â…” innings last Sunday and was used as a conventional one-inning reliever Wednesday.

Pitching for the third time in a week Saturday, Holmes needed just 78 pitches to secure his 18 outs. He wiggled out of jams in the third and fifth innings. He retired the Marlins in order in his other four frames. It was the first time Holmes had completed at least six innings since Aug. 23 and just his second time since June 7.

The Mets signed Holmes to a three-year, $38 million contract over the offseason as a starter despite him not starting a game since 2018. He had, in the interim, become a two-time All-Star reliever with the New York Yankees. It was a risk the Mets determined worthwhile given his 6-foot-5 frame and high-powered arsenal. By the end of Saturday, the risk had paid dividends: With the performance, Holmes finished the season 12-8 with a 3.53 ERA over a career-high 165 â…” innings and avoided the injured list.

“Amazing, unbelievable,” Mendoza said. “On a day where we’re probably looking at 70 pitches from him, at most, going into that game.”

Holmes shined Saturday, utilizing a recent wrinkle: consistently switching from one side of the mound to the other to give hitters different looks. He said it was the fourth time he varied his position on the rubber — he debuted the strategy in a game with the bases loaded in a start against the Philadelphia Phillies on Sept. 10 — and felt comfortable enough to continue with it.

“It’s just a different window that hitters have to look at and try to see where my stuff is coming out of,” Holmes said. “Especially a guy that depends on east-west movement, moving even more side to side and just trying to take advantage of that a little bit.”

It was not the first time a Mets pitcher dominated the Marlins in Game 161 to avoid a collapse. In 2007, John Maine limited the Marlins to one hit over eight scoreless innings. A year later, Johan Santana, pitching with a torn meniscus in his left knee, tossed a three-hit shutout. Both times, the Mets lost the next day and failed to reach the postseason. The Mets hope the 2025 finale, with some help from Milwaukee, produces a different result.

“All I can say is, for today at least,” Alonso said, “‘Go, Brewers.'”

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