The iPad Air is the best iPad for people who really like iPads. The regular iPad is great for kids and basic use, while the iPad Pro is designed to handle professional level creative workflows, with its latest M4 chip and tandem-OLED display. The iPad Air, on the other hand, gives you everything you need from an iPad, without the compromises of the base iPad, and for far less than the iPad Pro.
And during Labor Day sales, you can get the 128GB base 11-inch iPad Air for $449.99. That’s down from the sticker price of $599, and it’s the lowest price yet for the latest iPad Air.
The device has an 11-inch Liquid Retina display with 500 bits of brightness and 2360×1640 resolution. It’s powered by the M3 chip from last year, which is still way more powerful than most iPad users will need, with an 8-core CPU, a 9-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine. There is also 8GB RAM and 128GB storage. Even when you factor in the new multitasking and freeform window support coming to iPadOS 26, this thing can handle it.
The iPad Air supports both the Apple Pencil (USB-C) and the Apple Pencil Pro. And unlike the iPad Pro, it uses Touch ID in the power button for authentication, rather than Face ID. In its expert review, PCMag gave the M3 iPad Air a 4-star rating and an Editor’s Choice award, noting, “[The] iPad Air remains the best choice for students and creators who need a powerful tablet at a decent price.”
If you want to go a size larger, you can also check out the 13-inch iPad Air, which is also discounted to its lowest price ever, at $649 (down from $799).
He allowed two runs and three hits over 5 1/3 innings with eight strikeouts. The rookie arguably outpitched Skenes, who allowed one earned run and seven hits in six innings with six strikeouts.
“My goodness. Chills. A lot of chills,” Tolle said afterward, via MLB.com. “I came off the mound after the first [inning] and I couldn’t feel my feet.
“It was the greatest experience of my life,” he continued. “I’ll look back on this day for a long time, just thinking about this moment.”
Unfortunately, Tolle didn’t get the win in his MLB debut due to the Red Sox lineup only scoring two runs. Boston took an early 2-0 lead, highlighted by a home run from Roman Anthony. But after Tolle gave up consecutive singles to Nick Gonzales and Bryan Reynolds, he was pulled from the game.
Greg Weissert came in and left a sinker in the middle of the strike zone that Tommy Pham hit for a 2-run double. Andrew McCutchen followed by reaching low to hit another sinker for an RBI double that gave the Pirates a 3-2 lead. Pittsburgh added its fourth run when Ronny Simon scored on a sacrifice bunt by Henry Davis. Simon was initially called out at home, but the call was overturned on replay.
In the minors, Tolle registered a 3.44 ERA with 133 strikeouts in 91 2/3 innings, progressing from high Single-A to Triple-A this season.
Jonah Tong allows one run in Mets’ win over Marlins
At Citi Field, Jonah Tong received the run support Tolle lacked in his debut. The Mets’ No. 4 prospect benefited from his lineup exploding for a 12-0 lead in the second inning. Juan Soto and Brandon Nimmo hit first-inning home runs off Marlins starter Eury Pérez, who didn’t make it out of the inning after allowing five runs on three hits and two walks.
Reliever Tyler Zuber was even worse in the second, allowing seven consecutive runners to reach base after getting the first two hitters of the inning out. The hit parade included a two-run shot from Pete Alonso, followed by an RBI single by Starling Marte and a two-run double from Tyrone Taylor.
With that kind of run support, Tong didn’t necessarily have to pitch well. But he did anyway, allowing one earned run and six hits over six innings. He threw 97 pitches, 63 for strikes and notched six strikeouts.
The right-hander encountered trouble in the fifth inning, giving up consecutive singles to begin the frame in addition to throwing a wild pitch. Lindor didn’t help Tong out by missing a catch for an error. That led to four runs scoring before Tong got out of the inning by striking out Liam Hicks.
“That’s everything I ever dreamed of as a kid growing up,” Tong said, via MLB.com. “To see it unfold like that, it’s insane. That’s the only word that can really describe it.”
Prior to his call-up, Tong compiled a 1.43 ERA pitching in Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Syracuse this season, striking out an average of 14.2 batters per nine innings.
Tong joined Dwight Gooden as the second Mets rookie pitcher 22 years old or younger to go five innings or more while allowing one earned run or fewer. Mets fans couldn’t ask for much more than Tong pitching himself into the same sentence with a team legend like Gooden.
He allowed two runs and three hits over 5 1/3 innings with eight strikeouts. The rookie arguably outpitched Skenes, who allowed one earned run and seven hits in six innings with six strikeouts.
“My goodness. Chills. A lot of chills,” Tolle said afterward, via MLB.com. “I came off the mound after the first [inning] and I couldn’t feel my feet.
“It was the greatest experience of my life,” he continued. “I’ll look back on this day for a long time, just thinking about this moment.”
Unfortunately, Tolle didn’t get the win in his MLB debut due to the Red Sox lineup only scoring two runs. Boston took an early 2-0 lead, highlighted by a home run from Roman Anthony. But after Tolle gave up consecutive singles to Nick Gonzales and Bryan Reynolds, he was pulled from the game.
Greg Weissert came in and left a sinker in the middle of the strike zone that Tommy Pham hit for a 2-run double. Andrew McCutchen followed by reaching low to hit another sinker for an RBI double that gave the Pirates a 3-2 lead. Pittsburgh added its fourth run when Ronny Simon scored on a sacrifice bunt by Henry Davis. Simon was initially called out at home, but the call was overturned on replay.
In the minors, Tolle registered a 3.44 ERA with 133 strikeouts in 91 2/3 innings, progressing from high Single-A to Triple-A this season.
Jonah Tong allows one run in Mets’ win over Marlins
At Citi Field, Jonah Tong received the run support Tolle lacked in his debut. The Mets’ No. 4 prospect benefited from his lineup exploding for a 12-0 lead in the second inning. Juan Soto and Brandon Nimmo hit first-inning home runs off Marlins starter Eury Pérez, who didn’t make it out of the inning after allowing five runs on three hits and two walks.
Reliever Tyler Zuber was even worse in the second, allowing seven consecutive runners to reach base after getting the first two hitters of the inning out. The hit parade included a two-run shot from Pete Alonso, followed by an RBI single by Starling Marte and a two-run double from Tyrone Taylor.
With that kind of run support, Tong didn’t necessarily have to pitch well. But he did anyway, allowing one earned run and six hits over six innings. He threw 97 pitches, 63 for strikes and notched six strikeouts.
The right-hander encountered trouble in the fifth inning, giving up consecutive singles to begin the frame in addition to throwing a wild pitch. Lindor didn’t help Tong out by missing a catch for an error. That led to four runs scoring before Tong got out of the inning by striking out Liam Hicks.
“That’s everything I ever dreamed of as a kid growing up,” Tong said, via MLB.com. “To see it unfold like that, it’s insane. That’s the only word that can really describe it.”
Prior to his call-up, Tong compiled a 1.43 ERA pitching in Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Syracuse this season, striking out an average of 14.2 batters per nine innings.
Tong joined Dwight Gooden as the second Mets rookie pitcher 22 years old or younger to go five innings or more while allowing one earned run or fewer. Mets fans couldn’t ask for much more than Tong pitching himself into the same sentence with a team legend like Gooden.
SAN FRANCISCO – Giants All-Star reliever Randy Rodriguez has opted to undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, manager Bob Melvin announced Saturday.
The 25-year-old pitcher was having a solid campaign in his second MLB season before the Giants placed him on the injured list earlier this week. Rodriguez had a 1.78 ERA with 53 strikeouts in 50 2/3 innings with four saves while helping anchor the back end of San Francisco’s bullpen.
“Randy is going to get the surgery,” Melvin said in the Giants’ dugout before Saturday’s game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oracle Park. “He’s just now deciding on who’s going to do it and what the [timetable] will be.”
Rodriguez had hoped to avoid surgery and was considering to treat the injury with rest and rehabilitation. After seeking multiple opinions, the recommendation from two doctors was for the pitcher to have the surgery.
The Giants had been using Rodriguez to close games after trading Camilo Doval to the New York Yankees at the deadline. Rodriguez had three saves in four opportunities but also suffered three losses in his new role.
Ryan Walker now will take over the closing duties for the Giants.
The news that Rodriguez will have elbow surgery confirms what most people in the organization already knew.
The main concern now is how long Rodriguez will miss. Tommy John surgery generally requires at least a year of rehab, although Melvin declined to say whether Rodriguez will miss all of the 2026 MLB season or not.
“I really don’t know,” Melvin said. “I think that depends on what happens in the surgery and what the doctor will have to say about what he saw.”
Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts prepares to throw to first base during a game against the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday. Dave Roberts has no plans to move Betts back into right field. (Carlin Stiehl / Los Angeles Times)
The only times Roberts said he envisioned Betts returning to right field was late in games in which the Dodgers ran out of bench players. A situation like that came up a few weeks ago in a game against the Angels. Miguel Rojas, an infielder, was deployed as a pinch hitter in the top of the eighth inning and remained in the game at shortstop. Betts defended right field for an inning.
Roberts isn’t sticking with Betts at shortstop because of their close relationship. He’s sticking with Betts at shortstop because of how Betts has played the position.
Betts entered his team’s weekend series against the Arizona Diamondbacks leading all major league shortstops in defensive runs saved (15).
He was ninth in outs above average (four).
He was also fifth in fielding percentage (.985).
“When you’re talking about shortstop play, you’re looking for consistency, and I’ve just loved the consistency,” Roberts said. “He’s made every play he’s supposed to make, and then the last couple weeks, he’s made spectacular plays. He’s been a big part of preventing runs. “
Roberts is equally, if not more, encouraged by how Betts has looked.
“Right now, it’s all instinct instead of the technical part of it, how to do this or that,” Roberts said. “I think he’s free to just be a major league shortstop. I truly, to this day, have never seen a position change like Mookie has.”
Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts throws to first base after forcing out Padres baserunner Freddy Fermin at second on Aug. 15. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
A six-time Gold Glove Award winner as a right fielder, Betts moved to shortstop late in spring training last year when it became evident the team didn’t have an everyday player at the position. The last time he spent significant time at shortstop was in high school.
By mid-June, Betts was about a league-average shortstop but further progress was derailed by a broken hand that landed him on the injured list. When Betts was activated a couple of months later, he returned as a right fielder. He remained there throughout the Dodgers’ World Series run.
However, Betts was determined to take another shot at playing shortstop. Unlike the previous year, he was able to train at this position over the offseason, working with Dodgers coaches and former All-Star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki. The preparation has made a noticeable difference.
Betts has improved to where he now feels comfortable dispensing advice on how to play the position, regularly offering pointers to rookie infielder Alex Freeland.
“It’s the smallest details,” Freeland said. “I give him so much credit because he makes the small things matter the most because a lot of those smaller details go overlooked by a lot of players where they’re like, ‘Oh, we don’t need to focus on that, something so minute, it’s not going to matter.’ But Mookie takes all the small details and makes them very important.”
Roberts expected this of Betts, whom he considers one of the team’s leaders alongside Freddie Freeman and Clayton Kershaw. He pointed to how Betts has carried himself in the worst offensive season of his career, his relentless work resulting in him batting .329 over the last three weeks.
“I love how Mookie is always accountable,” Roberts said. “There’s been times where he’s been really good and times he hasn’t but he’s never run from having the conversation or owning the fact that he’s underperforming. His work has never wavered. So for me, that’s something that when you’re talking about one of the leaders in your clubhouse, it really resonates with everyone, coaches included. I’m always going to bet on him.”
So much so that Roberts has wagered the season on him.
Mookie Betts is his shortstop — now, next week and in the postseason.
Cal Raleigh’s historic 2025 season has seen him reach the 50-home run mark, the most homers in a season by a primary catcher in MLB history. He’s also the first player in MLB history to hit at least 20 home runs from each side of the plate in the same season.
The Seattle Mariners catcher’s road to home run history began on the final day of March, with his first dinger of the season, and he has continued the power surge ever since. Raleigh has hit blasts in consecutive games eight times and recorded nine multi-homer games this season.
Raleigh is threatening the American League record of 62 home runs set by New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge in 2022. “Big Dumper” is also inching closer to Mickey Mantle’s record of 54 homers by a switch-hitter, which the Yankees’ legend achieved in 1961, and Ken Griffey Jr.’s Mariners record of 56 home runs, which “The Kid” reached twice, in 1997 and ’98.
As Raleigh approaches more history in his MVP-worthy season, we are tracking his notable 2025 home runs all the way through Game 162.
MARCH
Home runs hit: 1
March 31: Raleigh opened his 2025 home run account in the Mariners’ fifth game of the season, a 9-6 loss to the Detroit Tigers. His 358-foot blast came six days after he signed a six-year, $105 million extension.
April 11: The history-making started early for Raleigh. During the Mariners’ 14th game, he launched his third blast of the season off Texas Rangers pitcher Chris Martin and set the franchise record for career home runs by a catcher with his 96th.
May 27: Raleigh’s third multi-home-run game of the season put his total up to 19 on the year and set an MLB record for home runs by a catcher in a team’s first 53 games of a season. Both dingers came against Washington Nationals pitcher Mitchell Parker.
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) May 28, 2025
May 30: Raleigh became the first catcher in MLB history with 20 home runs before the end of May with another multi-blast night that saw him knock in five runs in a 12-6 loss to the Minnesota Twins.
June 20: A prolific May continued into June for Raleigh, as he reached double-digit home runs again and set the MLB record for homers by a catcher before the All-Star break with his 29th of the season at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs.
June 21: Still at Wrigley one day later, Raleigh hit No. 30 to become the first switch-hitter in MLB history to do so before the All-Star break, moving ahead of of Mickey Mantle, José Ramírez and Lance Berkman. He also became the first player to hit 30 home runs in his team’s first 75 games since 2001, when Barry Bonds and Luis Gonzalez achieved that feat.
Cal Raleigh’s historic season with the Seattle Mariners has featured him winning the Home Run Derby and becoming the first MLB player to reach 50 home runs. (Photo by Gene Wang, Capture At Media/Getty Images)
Gene Wang – Capture At Media via Getty Images
JULY
Home runs hit: 9
July 14: By the time the baseball world descended on Atlanta for the All-Star Game, Raleigh had 38 home runs. He brought his power to Georgia, where he became the first catcher to win the Home Run Derby, edging Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero in the final. Raleigh is the second Mariner to win the event, joining Griffey, who won the Derby three times. Raleigh is also the first switch-hitter to win the Derby outright, as Rubén Sierra, the only other switch-hitter to win, shared the title in 1998.
July 26: Nearly two weeks after Raleigh’s Derby win, he hit No. 40 to become the seventh catcher in MLB history to post a 40-homer season, joining Salvador Perez, Johnny Bench, Javy López, Todd Hundley, Roy Campanella and Mike Piazza. It was the 133rd blast of Raleigh’s career, putting him ahead of Ken Griffey Jr. for the most by a Mariner in his first five MLB seasons.
Aug. 15: Homer No. 46 was launched during a win over the New York Mets that also saw Raleigh reach 100 RBI on the season. That matched his career high, set in 2024, and made Raleigh the first catcher since Mike Piazza in 1999 and 2000 with 100 RBI in consecutive seasons while playing at least 50% of his games behind the plate.
Cal passes Johnny Bench for 2nd most home runs by a catcher in a single season 🙌 pic.twitter.com/BlQIHh6Vg8
Aug. 24: An 11-4 win over the Athletics delivered yet another multi-homer game from Raleigh — one that saw him tie and then break the MLB record for home runs hit by a catcher in a single season when he hit Nos. 48 and 49 to leapfrog Salvador Perez.
Aug. 25: Raleigh reached 50 home runs before any other MLB player this season, getting there with a first-inning dinger during a win over the San Diego Padres. He is the only primary catcher to ever hit 50 blasts in a single season.
Baylor defensive lineman Jackie Marshall suffered an injury in the first quarter against Auburn on Friday. He was helped off the field by Baylor’s medical staff. In the second quarter, FOX sideline reporter Alexa Landestoy said she doesn’t think Marshall will be returning to the game.
Baylor defensive lineman Jackie Marshall suffered an injury in the first quarter against Auburn on Friday. He was helped off the field by Baylor’s medical staff. In the second quarter, FOX sideline reporter Alexa Landestoy said she doesn’t think Marshall will be returning to the game.
Baylor defensive lineman Jackie Marshall suffered an injury in the first quarter against Auburn on Friday. He was helped off the field by Baylor’s medical staff. In the second quarter, FOX sideline reporter Alexa Landestoy said she doesn’t think Marshall will be returning to the game.
