September 2025

There were 1,641 posts published in September 2025 (this is page 41 of 165).

Guardians DH David Fry broke his nose after taking 99-mph fastball to face from Tigers ace Tarik Skubal

In an ugly inning for the Detroit Tigers against the Cleveland Guardians, the worst moment came on the fourth pitch to David Fry. 

With no outs and a 2-1 count against Tigers ace Tarik Skubal, the Guardians’ designated hitter squared up to bunt over a runner on second. Unfortunately, the 99.1-mph fastball traveled way up and in and hit Fry on the nose after glancing off his bat. 

The pitch broke Fry’s nose and left other facial fractures, the Guardians announced the next day.

“He is doing OK. He’s in good spirits,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt told the Associated Press on Wednesday. “He’s upright. He’s alert.” 

Per the Guardians, Fry “sustained multiple, minimally displaced, left-sided facial and nasal fractures,” according to the team statement. He is expected to fully recover in six to eight weeks with no need for surgery. 

Yahoo Sports is not including video of the pitch in this article, but Fry took the impact and immediately fell to the ground, clutching his face on Tuesday night. No one was more horrified than Skubal, who seemed shaken for the rest of the inning:

Fry received attention from athletic trainers on the ground but felt good enough to give a thumbs-up to the Progressive Field crowd. He was later loaded onto a cart and taken off the field, with George Valera entering the game and taking over the at-bat. The pitch was scored as a foul bunt.

Among his well-wishers was Cleveland Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell.

Fry’s injury was only part of a memorably awful inning for the Tigers, who had a 2-0 lead entering the bottom of the sixth inning and exited the frame down 3-2, despite only one ball reaching the outfield.

That ball did so because the best pitcher in baseball threw it there, snapping it between his legs in an ill-advised attempt to throw out the runner at first.

The Guardians did not relinquish that lead and went on to win 5-2,tying them with the Tigers atop the AL Central and clinching the season tiebreaker. 

Skubal revealed to reporters on Wednesday that he visited Fry in the hospital after the game on Tuesday night, along with Guardians manager Stephen Vogt and a group of Guardians players.

On July 8, Cleveland was 15.5 games back of first place. On Sept. 4, they were still 11 games back. Now, with five games to play, they are in control of the division and will have completed the biggest comeback in MLBhistory if they finish the job.

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

The MLB postseason is a week away, and every team with World Series aspirations still has a lot left to play for.

Let’s break down the playoff picture, what’s at stake and who’s facing whom heading into Tuesday.

The Padres clinched a postseason spot with a walk-off victory in extra innings Monday. They are in line to secure the second NL wild card and the No. 5 seed.

The Blue Jays clinched a postseason spot on Sept. 21, making them the first American League team in the field. They’re in line to win the AL East and secure the No. 1 seed in the AL.

The Dodgers clinched a postseason spot on Sept. 19. They are in line to win the NL West and secure the No. 3 seed.

The Cubs clinched a postseason spot on Sept. 17. They are in line to secure the top wild card in the NL and the No. 4 seed.

The Phillies clinched a postseason spot on Sept. 14. They won the NL East and are in line to secure the NL’s No. 2 seed.

The Brewers clinched the first spot in the playoffs on Sept. 13. They won the NL Central and are in line to secure the NL’s No. 1 seed.

(Davis Long/Yahoo Sports)

Wild card: No. 6 Cleveland Guardians vs. No. 3 Detroit Tigers
ALDS: Wild-card winner vs. No. 2 Seattle Mariners

Wild card: No. 5 Boston Red Sox vs. No. 4 New York Yankees
ALDS: Wild-card winner vs. No. 1 Toronto Blue Jays

Wild card: No. 6 Cincinnati Reds vs. No. 3 L.A. Dodgers
NLDS: Wild-card winner vs. No. 2 Philadelphia Phillies

Wild card: No. 5 San Diego Padres vs. No. 4 Chicago Cubs
NLDS: Wild-card winner vs. No. 1 Milwaukee Brewers

The Yankees’ magic number to clinch a playoff spot is down to one. The Mariners’ number is two.

On the NL side, the Dodgers are in position to win the NL West, the last division up for grabs. The Reds currently hold the final wild-card spot via a tiebreaker over the Mets.

In the AL, only the Blue Jays have clinched, though the Yankees and Mariners have playoff odds of 99% or better. Also in playoff position are the Tigers, Red Sox and Guardians. The Tigers, Blue Jays and Mariners currently lead their divisions, with the Yankees, Red Sox and Guardians (via a tiebreaker over the Astros) making up the wild-card field.

Which of these MLB stars will lead his team to a World Series title this fall? (Davis Long/Yahoo Sports)

The Jays clinched a playoff berth Sunday with their victory over the Royals, making them the first AL team in the postseason. They have a two-game lead on the Yankees in the AL East. Toronto’s 90 victories lead the AL, which has it in position to clinch the No. 1 seed and secure a first-round bye and home-field advantage in the division series. The Jays’ magic number to clinch the East is four.

Up next: The Jays conclude the regular season with a six-game homestand, with three vs. the Red Sox starting Tuesday and three vs. the Rays starting Friday.

The Mariners swept the Astros this weekend to put them in the driver’s seat for their first AL West title since 2001. They also own the tiebreaker over the Astros. They’re currently in line to secure the No. 2 seed in the AL and a bye to the division series.

Up next: The M’s end the regular season with six games at home, beginning Tuesday against the Rockies with a three-game series. Their final series is a three-game set against the Dodgers beginning Friday.

They were swept by the Atlanta Braves this weekend, falling 6-2 on Sunday. That marked their third straight series in which they’ve either been swept or lost two of three. The Tigers are now clinging to a one-game lead in the AL Central after having a double-digit lead for much of the season.

Up next: On Tuesday, they’ll be in Cleveland to begin a critical, three-game series against the Guardians, who trail by one game in the division. Detroit finishes the regular season at the Red Sox, who currently hold the second wild-card spot.

The Yankees took three of four games against the Orioles this weekend in Baltimore. They trail the Blue Jays in the AL East by two games with six remaining, and Toronto owns the tiebreaker with New York. The Yankees are currently the top wild-card team in the AL, with a three-game lead over the Red Sox.

Up next: The Yanks have a six-game homestand that begins Tuesday, starting with the Chicago White Sox for three games. The Yankees’ regular season concludes with three more games against the Orioles.

Amid the chaos around them, the Red Sox have been holding on to the second AL wild card and the No. 5 seed for most of the past two months. They’re currently in line to face the Yankees for three games in the Bronx to begin the playoffs.

Up next: The Sox play a three-game series in Toronto that will get a lot of divisional attention. Boston enters the week trailing Toronto by five games, and the Yankees are just two back in the division. The Sox conclude the regular season by hosting the Tigers in a three-game series.

The Astros just got swept by the Mariners to put the division title largely out of reach. They’re now three games back of Seattle and fighting for the third wild card in the AL. They’re tied with the Guardians in the wild-card race, and Cleveland has the tiebreaker, so Houston will be sweating it out over the final week.

Up next: The ‘Stros finish the season on the road but against teams that should hand them wins. They have three in West Sacramento against the A’s before they visit the Angels for three games to conclude the regular season.

Their 10-game winning streak was snapped Sunday with a 6-2 loss to the Minnesota Twins, a defeat that kept them one game behind the Detroit Tigers in the AL Central. They are a game back of the Red Sox for the second wild-card spot and tied with Houston for the last wild-card slot. They own the tiebreaker against the Astros.

Up next: Starting Tuesday, the Guards host a three-game series vs. the Tigers with massive division implications. They’re 6-4 overall against Detroit this season. Cleveland closes out the regular season with a three-game series vs. Texas at home.

The Brewers are cruising to the No. 1 seed in the National League and the best record in baseball. They’ve already clinched the NL Central title.

Up next: The Brewers finish the season against NL wild-card contenders battling for their spots. First, they visit the Padres for two more games Tuesday and Wednesday. Then they host the Reds for three to finish the regular season.

The Phillies have been one of the top teams in baseball all season, and they were the first to claim a division title, leaving the Mets in their wake as they won the NL East on Sept. 16. They’re in line to claim the No. 2 seed in the National League and, with it, a bye to the division series.

Up next: The Phillies finish the regular season with six games at home against teams with nothing to play for. They host the Marlins for three to start the week, followed by three against the Twins next weekend.

The Dodgers are in line to win yet another NL West title, sitting 2.5 games up on the Padres with six games to play. They’re in line to get the No. 3 seed and host a wild-card series.

Up next: The Dodgers finish the season on the road against contenders. First, they visit the Diamondbacks for three games, and then they finish the regular season with three games in Seattle this weekend.

The Cubs have already clinched their first postseason berth since 2020. Even though they have one of the top records in the sport, they’ll claim a wild card and finish behind the Brewers in the NL Central. The Cubs are in line to get the No. 4 seed and hosting duties in the wild-card round.

Up next: The Cubs finish the regular season at Wrigley field, first hosting the wild-card-contending Mets for three games during the week and then hosting the already eliminated Cardinals for three games this weekend.

The Padres currently hold the NL’s second wild-card spot. They clinched their postseason spot on Monday. If the current standings hold, San Diego will finish as the No. 5 seed and face the Cubs at Wrigley in the wild-card round.

Up next: The Padres finish the season at home, first with a possible playoff preview versus the Brewers. (Milwaukee would be their opponent in the divisional round.) The Padres end the season with three games versus the Diamondbacks, who could be fighting for that last wild-card berth.

The Mets are nearing an egregious, late-season collapse, as they are now tied with the Reds for the NL’s final wild-card spot after losing 11 of their past 15 games. Cincinnati holds the tiebreaker based on head-to-head record, so the Mets have to finish ahead in the standings to make the postseason.

Up next: The Mets finish the season with a six-game road trip, facing the Cubs and Marlins. They might have to hope that the Cubs are more concerned with preparing for the playoffs than winning any more games. However, the Marlins might put up a fight with a chance to finish over .500.

The Reds have won five straight games and six of their past seven to capitalize on the Mets’ slide and tie them for the NL’s final wild-card bid. With a 4-2 record against the Mets this season, Cincinnati holds the tiebreaker. However, both teams still need to win to stay ahead of the Diamondbacks.

Up next: The Reds finish their home schedule with three games against the Pirates (and Paul Skenes scheduled to start Wednesday). Cincinnati then visits Milwaukee for a three-game set. The Brewers might’ve clinched the NL’s best record by then and thus have nothing left to play for.

Lurking one game behind the Mets and Reds in the wild-card standings are the D-backs, who could seize the NL’s final playoff spot if the teams ahead of them falter. Arizona has won seven of its past 10 games to put itself in position to earn a surprise postseason bid.

Up next: Perhaps no team has a more difficult final six games than the D-backs. First, they host the Dodgers for their final three home games. Then the D-backs close out the season with three games at San Diego.

The Nos. 1 and 2 seeds in each league go to the division winners with the two best records. Those teams earn a bye through the wild-card round and hosting rights in the division series. Currently, the Brewers, Phillies, Mariners and Blue Jays are in line to claim those byes.

The No. 3 seed goes to the third division winner, and that team will host the three-game wild-card series against the No. 6 seed (which goes to the third wild card). The top wild-card team will earn the No. 4 seed and host the No. 5 seed (the second wild card) in the wild-card round.

The higher seed also gets home-field advantage in the championship series, once we get that far.

No longer do teams play a Game 163 if they finish the season tied. Instead, tiebreakers are determined by head-to-head records first and, if needed, intradivision records second.

Here are the tiebreakers that could come into play:

  • The Blue Jays have clinched the tiebreaker against the Red Sox, Yankees and Tigers.

  • The Red Sox have clinched the tiebreaker against the Yankees.

  • The Tigers have clinched the tiebreaker against the Astros.

  • The Mariners have clinched the tiebreaker against the Tigers and Astros.

  • The Mets have clinched the tiebreaker against the Phillies and Padres.

  • The Phillies have clinched the tiebreaker against the Dodgers.

  • The Brewers have clinched the tiebreaker against the Phillies.

  • The Cubs have clinched the tiebreaker against the Brewers.

  • The Dodgers have clinched the tiebreaker against the Padres.

  • The Astros have clinched the tiebreaker against the Blue Jays.

  • The Guardians have clinched the tiebreaker against the Astros.

  • The Reds have clinched the tiebreaker against the Mets.

Game 1: Tuesday, Sept. 30
Game 2: Wednesday, Oct. 1
Game 3: Thursday, Oct. 2*

ALDS

Game 1: Saturday, Oct. 4
Game 2: Sunday, Oct. 5
Game 3: Tuesday, Oct. 7
Game 4: Wednesday, Oct. 8*
Game 5: Friday, Oct. 10*

NLDS

Game 1: Saturday, Oct. 4
Game 2: Monday, Oct. 6
Game 3: Wednesday, Oct. 8
Game 4: Thursday, Oct. 9*
Game 5: Saturday, Oct. 11*

ALCS

Game 1: Sunday, Oct 12
Game 2: Monday, Oct. 13
Game 3: Wednesday, Oct. 15
Game 4: Thursday, Oct. 16
Game 5: Friday, Oct. 17*
Game 6: Sunday, Oct. 19*
Game 7: Monday, Oct. 20*

NLCS

Game 1: Monday, Oct 13
Game 2: Tuesday, Oct. 14
Game 3: Thursday, Oct. 16
Game 4: Friday, Oct. 17
Game 5: Saturday, Oct. 18*
Game 6: Monday, Oct. 20*
Game 7: Tuesday, Oct. 21*

Game 1: Friday, Oct. 24
Game 2: Saturday, Oct. 25
Game 3: Monday, Oct. 27
Game 4: Tuesday, Oct. 28
Game 5: Wednesday, Oct. 29*
Game 6: Friday, Oct. 31*
Game 7: Saturday, Nov. 1*

(*if necessary)

Golden State Warriors jersey history – No. 22 – Malcolm Thomas (2013)

The Golden State Warriors have had over 600 players don the more than 60 jersey numbers used by their players over the more than 75 years of existence the team has enjoyed in its rich and storied history.

Founded in 1946 during the Basketball Association of America (BAA — a precursor league of the NBA) era, the team has called home the cities of Philadelphia, San Francisco, Oakland, and even San Diego.

 To commemorate the players who wore those numbers, Warriors Wire is covering the entire history of jersey numbers and the players who sported them since the founding of the team. For this article, we begin with the 16th of 18 players who wore the No. 22 jersey for the Warriors.

That player would be Golden State Warriors forward alum Malcolm Thomas. After ending his college career at San Diego State, Thomas would go unselected in the 2011 NBA Draft, instead playing abroad and in the G League before signing with the San Antonio Spurs in 2012.

He’d return to playing abroad and in the G League after until he signed with the Dubs in 2013. His stay with the team would span just five games before he’d sign with the Chicago Bulls.

During his time suiting up for the Warriors, Thomas wore only jersey No. 22 and put up 1.0 rebounds per game.

All stats and data courtesy of Basketball Reference.

This article originally appeared on Warriors Wire: Warriors jersey history – No. 22 – Malcolm Thomas (2013)

OKC Thunder jersey history No. 44 – Greg Foster (1999-2000)

The Oklahoma City Thunder (and the Seattle Supersonics before them) have 51 jersey numbers worn by the players who have suited up for the franchise since its founding at the start of the 1967-68 season. To commemorate the players who wore those numbers, Thunder Wire is covering the entire history of jersey numbers and the players who sported them since the founding of the team.

And while those Supersonics jerseys may not remain part of the franchise history should a new team be established in Seattle as was the case with the return of the Charlotte Hornets, they are part of the Thunder’s history today.

For this article, we continue with the 42nd jersey number in the series, jersey No. 44, with 15 players in total having donned the jersey in the history of the franchise.

The ninth of those players who did so in the Seattle SuperSonics era, big man alum Greg Foster. After ending his college career at Texas El Paso, Foster was picked up with the 35th overall selection of the 1990 NBA Draft by the (then) Washington Bullets (now, Wizards).

The Oakland, California native would play parts of the first three seasons of his pro career with the Bullets. He would also have stints with the Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Utah Jazz before he signed with the Sonics in 1999.

His stay with the team would span a single season, coming to an end when he was dealt to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2000. During his time suiting up for the Sonics, Foster wore only jersey No. 44 and put up 3.4 points and 1.8 rebounds per game.

All stats and data courtesy of Basketball Reference.

This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Thunder jersey history No. 44 – Greg Foster (1999-2000)

Luka Doncic got some MVP love in recent ESPN NBA poll

There seems to be a growing number of people who are picking Los Angeles Lakers superstar Luka Doncic to win the MVP for this coming NBA season. It is no wonder, as he has gotten into fantastic shape and was already putting up stellar numbers for multiple seasons despite being fat and out of shape.

After being traded to the Lakers in February, he averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.5 assists a game while hitting 43.8% of his field-goal attempts and 37.9% from 3-point range. At EuroBasket 2025 a few weeks ago, he put up 34.7 points a game and seemed to have more speed, quickness and overall mobility than he previously possessed.

ESPN recently polled 20 coaches, scouts and executives across the league on a number of topics. When they were asked who would take home the MVP award, Doncic came in third with four votes. Overall, the Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic got the most votes, followed by reigning league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

“He’s in shape,” an East executive said of Doncic, “and will be motivated.”

There already seems to be a narrative brewing that the 2025-26 campaign will be a revenge season for the Slovenian, especially after the Dallas Mavericks, his previous team, took shots at him for not taking proper care of his body following February’s trade.

He has made it clear that he wants to win at least one NBA championship with the Lakers. He has already proven he can elevate his team beyond the sum of its parts when it matters most, and perhaps he will enable L.A. to overachieve in the coming months.

This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Luka Doncic got some MVP love in recent ESPN NBA poll

They used to call him ‘The Sheriff.” Now, he wants to earn his badge back

Utah Hockey Club left wing Lawson Crouse (67) and Dallas Stars center Logan Stankoven (11) jostle with each other as they chase the puck during a NHL game between the Utah Hockey Club and the Dallas Stars at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Dec. 23, 2024.
|
Brice Tucker, Deseret News

When I asked Lawson Crouse on Saturday what he wanted to do differently this year, I beat around the bush, trying not to offend him.

“Last year, you expressed some disappointment — maybe that’s not the right word, but you wanted to play a different way …,” I rambled.

“Better,” he said abruptly, cutting me off in a relieving way.

The 28-year-old, who’s already entering his 10th NHL season, saw his goals and points totals reduce by roughly half last season, compared to the previous year, despite playing the same number of games.

He even faced a healthy scratch in February.

“It’s a fresh start,” he said of how this year can be different. “(It’s) the things that make me intangible as a player, like the way that I was playing toward the end of the year. I’ve just got to do that from the get-go.”

Last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off break served as a wake-up call for the 6-foot-4 winger. Among the seven tournament-eligible players selected ahead of him in the 2015 NHL Draft, six were selected to play for their respective national teams. Crouse probably never expected to play anyway, but that doesn’t reduce the FOMO (fear of missing out) you experience when you hear your peers’ named called.

He spent that break doing homework: watching film of his more successful years, looking for the key to get back to what he once was. The conclusion? He needed to shoot more.

It only took him three games to score his first goal after the NHL schedule resumed. Three games later, he got another one. That’s still far from a superstar level, but it worked wonders for his confidence.

The rest of the year, he was more inclined to take the puck to the net, rather than dumping and chasing. He played on a line with fellow big bodies Jack McBain and Josh Doan, and the three of them embodied a crash-and-bang identity.

“As our identity progresses forward, I think we’re taking steps in the right direction,” Crouse said at the time. “It’s a lot of fun when we play this way, when we have everyone that’s on board, everyone that’s contributing. (It) creates team success and it pushes everyone to be the best they can possibly be.”

This year, his plan is to keep a clear headspace.

“When you get in your own head, it’s not great,” he said. “As athletes, you need to do whatever you can to stay out of your head. When you let that affect your game, it affects the team’s game. I got away from what makes me successful as a player, so it’s just about getting back to that.”

“The Sheriff”

In junior, Crouse developed the nickname “The Sheriff.” Hockey’s unwritten code dictates that a cheap shot warrants a fight, and he was always willing to fill that role, policing the ice.

He has occasionally fought in the NHL, but not necessarily enough for the fans to identify him by that nickname. On Sunday, he showed that he wants to change that identity.

When Colorado Avalanche hopeful Zakhar Bardakov injured Logan Cooley with a hit from behind, Crouse punished him in a very one-sided fight. Not long after, Crouse dropped the gloves again — this time pummeling Matthew Stienburg.

“Ultimately, (I’m) just trying to be the best version of myself, and hopefully that’s contagious,” he said in an interview on Monday. “Do the right things and lead by example.”

His leadership was one of the things that set him apart as a teenager in the Ontario Hockey League all those years ago. His play, both offensively and physically, metaphorically game him the authority of a sheriff.

If he can bounce back and show up in those big moments, he’ll not only earn his badge back — he’ll earn the respect of a fanbase that has yet to be properly introduced to Lawson Crouse.

Sister Jean, a March Madness sensation, retires from Loyola Chicago at 106 years old

At 106 years old, Sister Jean is officially calling it a career as the campus minister and men’s basketball team chaplain of Loyola Chicago.

The former March Madness sensation, whose full name is Jean Dolores Schmidt, is retiring according to student publication The Loyola Phoenix and Fox 32 Chicago. She is reportedly doing so amid health concerns, after previously blaming “a summer cold and other health issues” for not being on campus at the start of the school year last month.

In the same statement, school president Mark Reed said that Schmidt is no longer on campus:

“While Sister Jean is no longer able to be physically present on campus, she remains a beloved friend, trusted advisor, and loyal Rambler—cheering for our teams and praying for us all daily.”

Schmidt also missed Loyola’s appearance in the NIT semifinals last season.

It was in the NCAA Tournament where Schmidt became a beloved figure well beyond a single Jesuit school in Chicago. Loyola became the darling of the 2018 tournament when it made the first Final Four as a No. 11 seed.

Sister Jean was much more than a team chaplain for Loyola Chicago. (Photo by Patrick Gorski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

As the Ramblers racked up wins, Schmidt — then a spry 98 years old — became the unlikely face of the team and regularly appeared courtside. Even after their season ended, Schmidt was still remembered in the college basketball world. She was fondly welcomed back for Loyola’s next March Madness appearance in 2021 and has even thrown a first pitch at Wrigley Field since then.

It is thanks to her we can definitively say that there is a nun with a Final Four ring.

Schmidt began teaching at Chicago’s Mundelein College in 1961 and followed along when it merged with Loyola in 1991. She became the team chaplain in 1994 and made the job her own, offering the team scouting reports, even during prayers. She is also popular around campus, greeting students even when she was north of 100.

Chelsea Sounds Alarm Liverpool’s Perfect Start Sparks Maresca Warning

Chelsea Sounds Alarm Liverpool’s Perfect Start Sparks Maresca Warning

Chelsea boss fears Klopp’s men too strong after perfect start to season

Chelsea Sounds Alarm Liverpool’s Perfect Start Sparks Maresca Warning

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca’s voiced his concerns over Liverpool’s early dominance in the Premier League warning that stopping the champions could be an “impossible” task this season.

Arne slot’s side have stormed to 5 straight win collecting the maximum 15 point and opening 5 point lead over Arsenal, Tottenham and Bournemouth. Chelsea sit 6th with 8 point after mixed start.

Speaking to ESPN, Maresca said:

“If they continue like this, I think it will be impossible to catch them, not only for us but for every club”

Big summer reinforcements

Liverpool sealed the league title early last season and strengthened further in the summer.

They secured 2 record deals:

  • Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen in move worth up to 116m sterling pound.
  • Alexander Isak from Newcastle for £125m on deadline day.

Chelsea’s rough patch

Maresca’s men are winless in their last three matches in PL. They’ll face Brighton on Saturday in the 6th round.