Bellinger's first game back

Playing for the first time since July 25 when he suffered his left hamstring strain and one day later went on the 10-day injured list, Bellinger emerged healthy.

"I felt really good," Bellinger said. "Honestly, I felt like 100 percent. Running after those balls and on the bases, I felt really good."

Bellinger's 1-for-4 afternoon at Yankee Stadium saw him rebound from an 0-for-3, two-strikeout start with a leadoff single in the seventh inning.

"OK -- I think he was expanding a bit early on in his first couple, and then he got into a 3-1 count against a tough lefty to square it up against and smokes the ball up the middle," Boone said. "So, that was good to see ... a good way for him to kind of finish in his first game back after it felt like he expanded the zone more than he wanted to, got himself into a good count and was able to sting one against a tough lefty there at the end."

Three at-bats later, Jazz Chisholm Jr.'s two-out home run to right field scored Bellinger and padded New York's 7-2 lead against Toronto (64-68).

"I felt all right," Bellinger said. "I felt like I was a little jumpy early on, and in that fourth at-bat I was able to settle down a little bit. It's obviously nice to get some results in the first and obviously to get the win as well."

Through 103 games this season, Bellinger is slashing .259/.349/.418 with 11 home runs and 53 RBI.

He gets Monday off before the Yankees (74-56) begin a three-game series against the Houston Astros with Tuesday's 7:05 p.m. opener in the Bronx.

Rodón's room for improvement

Building upon last Tuesday's 3-1 win at the Baltimore Orioles, in which he threw 39 strikes on 66 pitches over four innings, Rodón again went four frames Sunday.

His second start back from an IL stint that sidelined him from the Yankees since June 28 due to left elbow inflammation was a 76-pitch, 42-strike outing with two runs (one earned) one two hits while striking out two and walking two.

"It's good," Rodón said. "Obviously, there's some things I want to refine and obviously be in the zone a little more -- crisper with strikes and just attacking and getting ahead. So, there's things I can work on."

Rodón is in line to start Saturday's 1:05 p.m. game against the Boston Red Sox, a four-game series that stretches from Friday through Monday at Yankee Stadium.

"Obviously, hopefully, totally built up," Boone said of Rodón's ramp-up period. "I think he's in a really good place. I think his stuff, physically, is where it needs to be -- and, hopefully, he just continues to get a little bit sharper as he does build up here and expect him to be a key contributor in our rotation moving forward and what we hope is beyond the regular season."

Kodai Senga takes next step as reliever

After pitching the ninth inning in Saturday’s 10-5 win, Senga was back on the mound on consecutive days for the first time in his career and although he allowed a game-ending home run in the process, he and the Mets can check off another box as the former starter continues to make the transition to the bullpen.

“For him it’s good to get that under the belt and to have done that,” said interim manager Andy Green. “... I think overall Senga’s got something done now that he hadn’t done and that’s good for us.”

In a 1-1 game and New York off on Monday, it seemed like the perfect time to introduce Senga to pitching in back-to-back games as he’ll have extra time to recover from the appearance. The hope is that the right-hander, who has fallen into the closer role, comes out of the experience feeling good and healthy so that he can possibly do it again this season and beyond.

In fact, Green is hardly concerned with the result of the outing and called it a “step forward” for Senga who has been solid as the team’s new closer during Devin Williams’ absence.

For his part, Senga was disappointed in the outcome but said he had “no big issues” being on the mound.

“I felt good today,” he said via an interpreter. “I had no doubts being out on the mound, believed that I could do it and it was partly my decision to go out there and say that I’m ready to pitch today.”

As for the results, a walk-off solo shot to Tristan Peters on a 3-1 fastball in the middle of the zone, it reminded Senga just how different closing a game is compared to starting, how intense a closer’s job is and how important it is to the success of a team.

“It’s kind of like a moment of realization that I’m in a position where the game could end potentially in one pitch with one swing of the bat,” he said. “Seeing the ball like that, it just kind of dawned on me that that’s the type of role that I’m playing right now.”

Nolan McLean becoming an ace

Before the White Sox walked it off against the Mets’ bullpen, McLean had shut them down for six scoreless innings while allowing just one hit. It was the rookie’s third consecutive start allowing one earned run or fewer and it lowered his ERA to 3.21.

Still, the outing wasn’t without its hiccups as the right-hander walked four and hit a batter, both for the second straight start. In fact, McLean had to work out of a two-out jam in the fourth inning after a single and two walks loaded the bases, which he did by striking out Andrew Benintendi – one of three strikeouts, all looking, in the frame.

Aside from that, McLean was in control all day and has easily been New York’s ace in his first full season in the big leagues.

“Just a really good mix today,” Green said. “Those are good hitters that have been swinging really well against us all series, having tough at-bats. I thought he was on the attack all day, mixed, it was hard, really unpredictable, hard to know what he was gonna do so I felt good about what he did today. Six strong innings.”

After running into some struggles in May that raised his ERA to as high as 4.40, McLean was able to put that behind him and has been dominant ever since, looking like the pitcher that burst onto the scene last year in eight starts as he tries to finish this season strong.

“I feel good. I wouldn’t say stronger or any better than I felt to start the season, it’s just every time I go out there I’m trying to learn and I’m hopefully doing a better job of that,” he said.

With 31 games remaining for the Mets this season, the rookie, who has pitched 148.2 innings in 26 starts, will likely have about five or six starts left and is “fairly confident” he won’t run into any possible fatigue that often shows up for pitchers setting career-highs in innings pitched.

“I think I’m still behind what I threw last year so I got some room to go to continue to grow and continue to build those innings up,” he said. “Ideally it’s 200 [innings] every single time, once you start a season your goal is to get to 200 innings.”

McLean won’t get to 200 innings this season but there’s no doubt that he’s trending in the right direction to get there soon and continue to be the ace for a talented Mets pitching staff for a long time.

In fact, McLean’s sights seem to only be set on helping his team win games and he isn’t worried about anything else when he’s on the mound like the Rookie of the Year award, even though he’s certainly in the running – one of two Mets rookies who are.

“My job is to go out there and try to put my team in the best position to win and overall if you control that good things tend to happen,” he said. “I think any competitor would like to win the award but I don’t pay too much attention.”

Meanwhile, McLean’s teammate, Carson Benge, added to his case for ROTY with another two-hit game on Sunday, including a double and a run scored. The outfielder went 6-for-13 in the series and is up to a .278 average at the plate with a .765 OPS as he continues to be on fire following a slow start to his career.

That problem won’t disappear anytime soon as New York has one of the most expensive teams in the NBA. Looming contract extensions for Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart are on the horizon. A solution to the salary cap crunch is player development and the Knicks will need young players like Mohamed Diawara and Pacome Dadiet to grow into legitimate rotation players in the future. 

Currently, Diawara and Dadiet are set to earn a combined $5.6 million for the 2026-27 season. So far, the development of both players has varied. A second-round pick in 2025, Diawara had some stints in New York’s rotation before being glued to the bench for the latter part of the season and the playoffs. 

Overall, the 21-year old forward was a pleasant surprise. Diawara has a good feel for the game. His three-point shooting was much further along than expected, as he shot 36.9 percent from beyond the arc. The Knicks were impressed enough by the forward to re-sign him to a four-year, $11.2 million contract. He has the potential to be a three-and-D wing for the Knicks going forward. 

Diawara did have a rough showing with New York’s Summer League team in July, but that hasn’t erased all the hints of a rotation player from his rookie campaign.

Dadiet has played just 247 total minutes in two seasons with the Knicks and hasn’t been able to earn any trust. At just 21 years old, Dadiet still has potential to evolve, but time is running out for New York to decide whether to keep him around long-term. The Knicks have two first-round picks over the next four years, so that is another way they could find cheap talent.

With 13 players on the roster, New York is currently $3.3 million away from the $221.7 million second apron. The Knicks will eventually have to sign a 14th player to the roster cutting into that already-thin wiggle room.

Future flexibility

Knicks owner James Dolan made it clear earlier in June that the Knicks will not be going into the second apron, which penalizes teams through various mechanisms. This includes not being allowed to aggregate salaries in a trade or having future first-round picks frozen.

Going forward, New York will be dealing with the second apron for the next few years. The Knicks' starting lineup is particularly expensive, earning a combined $191.7 million during the 2026-27 season. It’s created a salary structure where no one on the bench makes more than $5.5 million next season.

Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby are both extension eligible in 2027. Brunson’s future salary will be important to watch. The 2026 NBA Finals MVP will earn $37.7 million for 2026-27. After sacrificing some money by avoiding free agency, Brunson is sure to sign for a max contract in the future and could annually earn $60 million or more depending on when he signs a new contract.

To avoid the second apron in future years, New York might have to alter its starting lineup by dealing away a key starter like Hart or Mikal Bridges. That makes it even more important for Diawara and Dadiet to emerge.

Both players provide size on the perimeter, something New York’s current bench is lacking. Currently, New York’s reserve rotation will include 6-foot Jose Alvarado, 6-foot-2 Miles McBride and 6-foot-5 Landry Shamet.

After a short summer break, it’s very possible Knicks head coach Mike Brown opts to keep his starters fresh by limiting minutes and also giving stars like Brunson, Towns and Anunoby the occasional night off. 

In that case there should be plenty of opportunities for Diawara and Dadiet to crack the rotation. But they will need to play well to help the Knicks compete for a championship next season. But their play could also dictate what the future makeup of the team will be years from now.

Takeaways

1. Carlos Rodón's second start back from the IL for left elbow inflammation was a 76-pitch, 42-strike outing across four innings that saw him start strong but allow two runs (one earned) over his final two frames. He followed last Tuesday's 66-pitch, 39-strike return with more activity in the same amount of innings, allowing two hits while striking out two and walking two. Especially with Max Fried and Ryan Weathers injured, the Yankees (74-56) building Rodón (4-2, 3.15 ERA) up for the postseason is one key development to watch entering September. Will he take a bigger step in his next start?

2. Spencer Jones and Austin Wells held down the bottom of the order with RBI doubles in the second inning that put the Yankees ahead of the Blue Jays (64-68) early and gave Rodón a lead to build on. The sixth-batting Jones, who also worked a fourth-inning walk and added a sixth-inning single that fueled the Yankees' breakthrough frame against the Blue Jays, is slashing .233/.315/.428 with seven home runs and 22 RBI in 57 games this season.
3. Grisham and Rice delivered in their spots at the top of the order when they cashed the Yankees' bases-loaded opportunity with two outs and full counts, leading to three sixth-inning runs. Grisham's walk put the Yankees ahead, 3-2, before Rice's two-run double broke the game open. Rice, who added a first-inning single, is slashing .249/.345/.525 with 34 home runs and 82 RBI while serving as the Yankees' big bat without injured sluggers Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton. Grisham also hit his 18th home run of the season when he launched a solo shot in the eighth inning that padded the Yankees' eventual 8-3 final.
4. Chisholm, batting seventh, followed his sixth-inning single with a bigger insurance knock in the seventh inning when he launched his 18th home run of the season, cashing Cody Bellinger's leadoff single on a two-out long ball that pushed the Yankees ahead by five runs. The Yankees need Chisholm's bat especially with a potential loss of Stanton, who now has a strained left calf, for the season.
5. The American League East standings are tight with the Yankees winning six of their past seven and only trailing the Tampa Bay Rays by three games entering August's final week. The Rays (77-53) managed a 3-1 win at the Orioles, exiting Sunday with a much-needed victory after dropping three straight games in Baltimore (63-68). With September nearing, the Yankees are within striking distance to take the division.

Who's the MVP?

Rice, whose two-run double proved vital as the Yankees earned a bit of breathing room and held off Toronto.

Highlights

An RBI double for Spencer Jones! pic.twitter.com/303cUtRhax

— SNY Yankees (@snyyankees) August 23, 2026

Austin Wells with an RBI double of his own! pic.twitter.com/RLEHEJH7IT

— SNY Yankees (@snyyankees) August 23, 2026

A bases loaded walk for Trent Grisham and the Yankees lead 3-2 pic.twitter.com/9pi6CAUJ49

— SNY Yankees (@snyyankees) August 23, 2026

Ben Rice comes through!

Yankees lead 5-2! pic.twitter.com/egDYMSKQLp

— SNY Yankees (@snyyankees) August 23, 2026

A 2-run homer for Jazz Chisholm Jr.! pic.twitter.com/EaNjibrCnr

— SNY Yankees (@snyyankees) August 23, 2026

Trent Grisham’s turn to go yard! pic.twitter.com/vCZ3NREwDZ

— SNY Yankees (@snyyankees) August 23, 2026

What's next

The Yankees have Monday off before a three-game series with the Houston Astros begins with Tuesday's 7:05 p.m. opener.

RHP Will Warren (8-6, 4.43 ERA) is set to start.

Here are some takeaways...

-- If you like pitching, this was certainly the game for you, at least in the early going. After hitting a combined seven homers and putting 15 runs on the board on Saturday night, the two offenses were only able to muster nine baserunners (four hits, five walks) each as they went scoreless through the first six innings.

-- Nolan McLean was strong once again on the bump for the Mets. The young right-hander allowed just one walk and struck out five of the first nine batters he faced as he cruised his way through the White Sox lineup the first time through the order, but he finally ran into some trouble in the top of the third.

Chicago's first hit and a pair of walks loaded the bases with two outs, but McLean was able to get Andrew Benintendi looking at a perfectly placed sinker to escape the threat. McLean went right back to cruising, throwing just seven pitches in the fourth, before working around a two-out walk in the top of the fifth.

He was able to finish his day on a high note, breezing around another walk in the bottom of the sixth. McLean issued four free passes but allowed just one hit on the day while striking out six as he put together his 16th quality start of the season, pushing him into a tie for the third-most in the majors.

-- The Mets had a golden opportunity to get McLean in line for a win, as they got the first two on against Erick Fedde in the top of the seventh, but after a pitching change rookie left-hander Hagen Smith came on and struck out the next three batters in order to eliminate the threat.

-- Dedniel Núñez followed that with a scoreless bottom half of the seventh, but the White Sox were able to break through in the eighth as Benintendi changed the scoreless tie with an RBI double off Daniel Duarte. The righty struck out two to escape without further damage, but snapped a nine-outing scoreless streak.

-- In the ninth, it was the Mets' turn to snap a scoreless streak. Chicago closer Grant Taylor hadn't allowed an earned run since the beginning of July, but the scorching hot Jared Young brought that to an end, evening things up at one apiece with a one out RBI single up the middle.

New York would load the bases with two outs, but the struggling A.J. Ewing struck out to end the inning.

-- Kodai Senga had the bottom half of the ninth pitching on back-to-back days for the first time this season and it didn't quite go as planned. The newly turned closer served up a walk-off homer to Tristan Peters with one-out, sending the Mets home with a frustrating series loss.

Both of New York's defeats in this weekend set were in walk-off fashion.

Game MVP: Tristian Peters

Peters sent the fans home happy with the first walk-off homer of his career.

Highlights

Francisco Lindor starts it off with a leadoff double pic.twitter.com/I5nvzpbS0j

— SNY (@SNYtv) August 23, 2026

Nolan McLean gets three strikeouts looking in the third inning, including the last one to strand the bases loaded pic.twitter.com/KJqme09fIU

— SNY (@SNYtv) August 23, 2026

Luis Robert Jr. leaps at the wall in left to make the catch pic.twitter.com/9Eo1oGAcWl

— SNY (@SNYtv) August 23, 2026

Jared Young in the clutch!

The Mets tie it at 1-1 in the 9th! pic.twitter.com/OXzblLLBK7

— SNY (@SNYtv) August 23, 2026

What's next

The Mets head home to play the NL Central-leading Brewers on Tuesday at 7:10 p.m.

Last year's first-round pick Mitch Voit wasted absolutely no time settling back into the leadoff spot after missing the previous four games following a hit-by-pitch.

Voit started his day with a single up the middle in the bottom of the first.

He was retired his next two times up but was able to do more damage later on, extending Binghamton’s lead with a two-run single in the bottom of the seventh.

The 21-year-old finished the day 2-for-4 with a run and two runs driven in.

That run scored came via a Jefferson Rojas two-run homer in the bottom of the first.

Rojas has been absolutely spectacular since coming over from the Cubs at the deadline, and he kept that going with the 110 mph blast off the scoreboard in deep left field.

While he’s mostly made his presence felt with his bat, he also made his mark defensively, putting together a pair of highlight-reel plays at shortstop in the top of the third.

The top prospect finished the day 1-for-4, but that one was his fourth blast with the organization and brought his OPS to a strong .896 for the season.

Mark Vientos, meanwhile, went hitless again in his second rehab appearance.

On the pitching side, big right-hander Gabe Davis threw well behind the rehabbing Justin Hagenman, giving up just an unearned run while striking out seven batters across 4.0 effective frames.

Davis is now down to a strong 2.61 ERA with 14 strikeouts over 10.1 innings of work since coming to the organization from the White Sox in the Huascar Brazobán
deal ahead of the trade deadline.

On Judge's progress

Aaron Judge continues to make progress on his road to recovery from a stress fracture in his right first rib.

Judge was able to hit off the tee for a few days before taking yesterday off, but he is expected to resume hitting again before the Sunday matinee in the Bronx.

He has also been running, doing strength stuff, and is responding well.

Though there's still no timeline, the Yanks remain confident he'll be back at some point this season.

"The biggest thing for him now is building up the body to get back into playing shape," Boone said. "It's more getting the body fully back up to speed more than anything now."

This week marked Judge's first time swinging a bat since May 31.

Bellinger's back, now what with Jones?

Though Judge remains out, the Yankees' lineup is set to receive a nice boost on Sunday, as Cody Bellinger makes his highly-anticipated return from the IL.

Bellinger missed just under a month with a hamstring injury, but was deemed ready to return after getting in a pair of minor league rehab games this week.

"Excited obviously," Boone said. "He had a pretty good rehab process where things went smoothly, we feel like he's been tested properly, got a couple of days worth of at-bats down there so we feel like he's ready to go.

"A guy who helps us tremendously on both sides of the ball, so to get one of our core guys back is big."

With Bellinger back in the mix, though, it could mean less consistent playing time for the young Spencer Jones.

Jones has truly settled in during his most recent stint in the majors, but Boone said that there's a "good chance" he'll serve in more of a platoon with deadline pickup Heliot Ramos in right field for the time being.

"Just trying to do what's best for us every day," the skipper explained. "How exactly that unfolds, we'll see."

Boone feels that Jones is still a work in progress against left-handed pitching, but while there's still room to grow, he's held his own during this string of success over the past 25 games.

"He's made some real adjustments to the league," Boone said. "I feel like he has a good understanding of his strengths and weaknesses, has a good understanding of the opposing pitchers strengths and weaknesses, and for a young player has done a good job of making the adjustments to help him get better."

Next steps for Schmidt, good signs from E-Rod

Clarke Schmidt continues to make decent progress on his road back to the Yanks, as well. 

Boone said that the right-hander will throw a live bullpen session early next week, and if all goes well, he could head out to begin a rehab assignment from there. 

Though Schmidt could make sene as a potential rotation fill-in with Ryan Weathers hitting the IL, he likely won't be stretched out enough to make an impact there. 

The Yanks have planned on utilizing him as a reliever down the stretch. 

23-year-old top prospect Elmer Rodriguez could also be a potential option, and Boone says the Yanks like what they've seen from him over his past few outings in Triple-A. 

"He's been doing a good job," he emphasized. "He's even pitching deep into some games down there, him and Brandon Beck as well, have earned the opportunity to certainly be in the conversation and hopefully if they get an opportunity here they can be a part of us winning games."

The Yankees activated the slugger from the IL ahead of Sunday's series finale with the Blue Jays in the Bronx. 

Bellinger was sidelined for just under a month due to a left hamstring strain. 

He had been progressing his way back over the past few weeks, and the team expected that he'd be able to make his return before the end of this weekend. 

Bellinger appeared in two rehab games, and was deemed ready to come back.

"Very excited," Boone said Saturday. "He's had a very good rehab process here, and he's gotten tested well enough the past two nights and has gotten a handful of at-bats, so we feel like he's ready to roll."

Bellinger went 1-for-6 over his two Triple-A rehab games but was scorching hot before landing on the IL, hitting .322 with three doubles and a .903 OPS over his last 12 games. 

Getting him back in the mix is certainly a huge boost for a Yankees offense that's been operating without three of their top bats in Bellinger, Aaron Judge, and Giancarlo Stanton.  

In a corresponding roster move, the Yankees have optioned UTL Max Schuemann back to Triple-A. 

The team officially placed the left-hander on the 15-day IL with a left forearm flexor strain.

Aaron Boone said that he'll now go through a 2-to-4-week no-throwing period, but the early prognosis is that he should be able to play a role for the Yanks down the stretch.

"Big picture, obviously some really good news," the skipper explained. "We'll try and get this thing calmed down here, and hopefully we'll be able to get him back in some capacity before the end."

Boone wouldn't commit to Weathers returning as a starter, but feels he'll be able to help in some way.

While the training staff is still drawing up an exact recovery schedule, the lefty said himself that he missed around a month with a similar strain while with the Marlins, and this one has been deemed less severe.

The injury occurred when he broke off an 0-1 sweeper to Toronto's Myles Straw on Saturday, and forcing him to leave his outing mid at-bat during the top of the fourth inning.

Though Weathers is eventually expected to return, this is another big blow to the injury-ravaged Yanks.

The 26-year-old has had a bit of an up-and-down first season in pinstripes, but he's been extremely steady of late, entering play on Saturday with a 1.94 ERA over his past seven starts.

While he's working his way back, the Yanks will likely keep Will Warren in the rotation, even when Max Fried (elbow) is ready to return from an IL stint of his own.

It’s been a bit of a rocky season for the Mets’ young top pitching prospect, but he’s been throwing the ball much better over his past few outings.

Tong finished just one out shy of recording a quality start on Saturday night, delivering 5.2 shutout innings in a 3-0 win over a veteran-filled Worcester lineup.

He walked the very first batter he faced on just four pitches, then immediately pushed him into scoring position with a throwing error on a pickoff attempt, but did well to strand him there.

The right-hander then worked around a two-single and another throwing error of his own to leave a man in scoring position with a strikeout via a fastball on the corner.

He worked around a one-out single in the third, a leadoff walk in the fourth, and a leadoff double in the fifth.

Tong came back out for the sixth but was pulled after retiring the first two batters he faced, ending his day with just three hits and a pair of walks allowed while striking out three.

He has now allowed one run or fewer in five of his past six starts, and two runs or fewer in six of his past seven.

Though his overall numbers still aren’t where they need to be, it’s encouraging to see the 23-year-old finding his footing down the stretch in the regular season.

If he can keep this up, perhaps he’ll be called upon to receive another opportunity to settle in with the big-league club before the year comes to a close.

Tong pitched to a 3.60 ERA over three MLB appearances earlier this season.

Their oldest rotation piece is 31-years-old and the front office can realistically keep them in place for at least the next two seasons, so their championship window remains open.

Although the league bolstered up and these guys aren’t exactly young, they only hit their peak during last year’s playoff run and it’s possible their ceiling is even higher. Just how long can New York keep this core team together and competitive?

Leon Rose and team have already suffered a loss in keeping under the second apron, as Robinson left for the Boston Celtics with the Knicks unable to match their offer. On the bright side, they locked in Jose Alvarado and Landry Shamet for the next three seasons, and Mikal Bridges is under contract for that long as well.

New York’s immediate concerns are Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart, and Miles McBride. Towns has a $61 million player option for next year but fans are hoping he and the Knicks can come to terms on a fair extension before the season following a legendary postseason run.

A team-friendly deal in the $50 million a year range, short of his near-$70 million max, would lock him up well past his prime and help the Knicks duck the apron in the years to follow. The alternatives would be losing a key starter or trading Towns before he could flee in free agency.

Hart has a team option for next season at $22.3 million, but just became extension eligible. The Athletic reports a likely three-year offer in the range of $20 million per year, which tracks with offering long-term security at a lower price to maintain this aging roster.

The league could throw gaudier numbers Hart’s way, but the Jalen Brunson connection makes a departure hard to imagine. His skillset and culture-setting are perfect for this team, which makes every dollar worth it even if his game starts to slip towards the back end.

McBride is a different story, as he and the Knicks didn’t reach an extension before the deadline, setting him up to his free agency this summer. Teams are likely to throw valuable role player numbers at him after New York all but swindled him the past few seasons, so retaining him would make retaining the rest of their rotation near impossible.

It would make sense for the Knicks to shop him this trade deadline to teams interested in picking up his bird rights in exchange for somebody still on their rookie scale or a similarly priced deal. If not, they run the risk of losing him in free agency, though seem to have their backup plans in Tyler Kolek and Jack Kayil (who will play overseas during the 2026-27 season).

Barring catastrophe here, the Knicks can keep their non-McBride minutes the same and continue competing through the next two seasons. They’d have a starting five of 32- and 33-year-olds, but can still keep the math working for even longer.

The assumption is Brunson inks a max extension with New York ahead of time, setting him up to make over $70 million a year starting in 2028-29. This is why the front office needs to pinch pennies with every extension so far.

OG Anunoby’s final year player option also hits in 2029 at $48 million. The magic annual number to keep the party going is somewhere below that - $45 million should work but $40 is even better.

This third year out is the tightest with Brunson’s and potentially Anunoby’s extensions kicking in. If Towns insists on closer to $60 million, or any of the others want bigger bumps, this plan goes awry quickly.

It’s possible this team isn’t worth keeping together past that point as they start to show their wear-and-tear or naturally drift apart like other "superteams." In that case there’s little to worry about here as the Knicks would just pivot, retool or rebuild.

But if it still looks like they could win, they just need to extend Bridges at the $40 million his contract ends on and reload the bench, and they could theoretically keep this team going for the next five seasons. It’s hard to imagine them wreaking havoc for that long, but many didn’t imagine them winning a championship in the first place.

The star wide receiver was quiet making his highly-anticipated preseason return with the Giants last week, but he had a chance to stamp his mark in the crowded WR competition on Saturday.

Beckham was able to create some separation from the Dolphins' secondary in the end zone on a third-and-two play, and backup QB Jameis Winston flung a perfectly-placed pass his way.

Had he come down with it, it would unofficially be his first touchdown back with Big Blue, but instead it went in the books as an ugly drop right off his hands.

The veteran was visibly frustrated after the play, then carried that to the sidelines as the Giants instead lined up for a field goal attempt as the first half came to a close.

“I’m pissed,” he said postgame. “This is the one that keeps me up at night, it’s a play that I know I can make -- I don’t care if it was high or lower, it is on me.

“I feel like if the ball is anywhere near me, especially if it touches my fingertips, I’m supposed to come down with it -- so that one right there is on nobody but me.”

Beckham was able to show some positive this time around, though, as he showcased his shiftiness breaking up field for 12 yards on one of his two receptions of the night.

Those were his first two catches of the preseason.

Head coach John Harbaugh has liked what Beckham has brought to the table thus far, whether or not it’ll be enough to crack the roster though, remains to be seen.

“I love Odell,” Harbaugh said. “What he’s going, what he’s fighting for, I don’t know how it is going to turn out.

Beckham has one more opportunity to strengthen his case in the WR room, next Friday night back home against the Jets, ahead of the Aug. 30 roster deadline.

The Mets scored 10 runs on the south-side of Chicago Saturday night, homering five times, as they held on to take the middle-game of a weekend set with the White Sox, 10-5.

Two of those five long balls came off the bat of Luis Robert Jr, who received more boos from his old fans playing in just his second game back against his former team.

Carson Benge also stayed hot with a homer of his own as part of a three-hit effort, gutting it out after having a bit of a scare on a collision with the outfield fence.

Bo Bichette and Luis Torrens continued to roll at the plate with the other two marks.

In all, every Met except star shortstop Francisco Lindor reached base safely on the night as they totaled two walks and a whopping 16 hits against Chicago’s pitching.

“The offense had some good swings,” interim manager Andy Green said. “Happy for Luis Robert to come here and put two swings on balls, that’s got to feel great, above that we got some good contributions off the bench as well.”

On the pitching side of things, Christian Scott wasn’t exactly thrilled with his outing, but he was able to get some big outs to keep Chicago’s offense at bay along the way.

The bullpen also did a tremendous job stepping up behind him with Jonathan Pintaro, Austin Warren, Dedniel Nunez, and Kodai Senga dancing around trouble of their own to allow just one run across the final 4.1 innings.

The new-look bullpen just continues to shine following the trade deadline.

“It was just a gritty, gusty win,” Green said. “That’s a good offense over there, they put themselves in a lot of good positions to score and we got some big outs -- just an overall good night for our guys.”

Mets Notes

• Carson Benge continues to roll, hitting .308/.367/.481 in 229 plate appearances dating back to June 18
• Luis Robert Jr. is hitting .318 with five homers and a 1.029 OPS over his last 14 games
• Nate Lavender has yet to allow a run in eight appearances with the Mets (7.2 IP)
• Nolan McLean tossed his 15th quality start his last time out, which is the seventh-most in the majors

Today's Lineups

It was so nice, he had to do it twice

Playing against his former team for the first time this weekend, Luis Robert Jr. made his presence felt on Saturday night. The outfielder blasted two of the team's five home runs, recording his first multi-homer game with New York, and said it was rewarding to do it in a place he played for six seasons.

"You know it feels good to hit home runs against any team to be honest with you," Robert said via an interpreter. "But I will say it did feel good to hit the home runs here just because it was a stadium that I played so many games in, especially my whole career."

Green said he was "really happy" to see Robert have a performance like he did, adding that "he deserves" it after working his way back from a long injury and rough season.

"Luis, I mean, the oppo home run is just so special from him," Green said. "Hardly anybody in baseball hits a ball that hard the other way the way he does that so well. And then obviously he turned on the last one and crushed it, so those are great swings."

He added: "He's just having great at-bats, he's put in a lot of work. He's been grinding really hard. It's fun to see somebody have success that works that hard."

Robert has only played in 51 games this year, as he was placed on the IL on April 27 and didn't return until July 20. Since coming back, the 29-year-old has struggled, but hopes Saturday's game will help get him back on track for the rest of the year.

"I feel good, I feel a lot better compared to where I was in the beginning when I first came back," Robert said. "But I think now, it’s just you got to continue to work, you got to continue to try to be as consistent as possible. I think that’s going to be the key for the rest of the season."

Carson Benge feeling 'pretty good' 

Right fielder Carson Benge had a brief scare in the bottom of the third inning, as he crashed hard into the chain link fence and the ball popped out of his glove and over the wall for a HR.

The 23-year-old toughed it out to stay in the game and made up for it later in the fifth inning, launching a towering solo home run to go up 5-3. He finished 3-for-5 on the night and joked that getting the win helps make up for the collision.

"Pretty good, pretty good. After a win, that always makes it feel better," Benge said.

He added on the play: "I saw it hit, I didn't get the best read on it, can't always be perfect. Went back on it fast toward the wall. And then kind of caught it in my glove, and then it popped out as I hit that fence."

"First thing, I checked my glove and I saw it wasn't in there, so I was kind of mad at that. After the adrenaline kind of wore off there quickly, I knew I was OK."

Benge then explained why he wanted to keep playing after getting checked out by the trainers, and was proud he could get the run back for the team with the homer.

"I like playing the game," Benge said. "I don't want to be taken out for anything unless it's anything too serious. Being able to get back in there and kind of take away the one I let up is good."

Christian Scott hoping 'to learn from' tough outing

Scott had a tough outing Saturday night, allowing four runs on five hits over just 4.2 IP. His night ended after loading the bases in the fifth inning with two outs, and wishes he could have some of those at-bats back.

"Just didn’t really have it today,” Scott said. "Especially with the offspeed stuff, didn’t really locate the zone well. Thought the bullpen did a really good job coming in there and cleaning it up and obviously going the rest of the game. Thought the offense played really well.

"Just put us in a tough spot, especially after getting a lot of runs early. Wish I had a couple of those at-bats back. Bullpen did a great job, good to get the win."

Overall, Scott threw 94 pitches against Chicago and said he'll be able to use it as a learning experience, especially the fifth inning.

"Obviously hit a guy first pitch and then walk a guy, obviously want those at-bats back," Scott said. "Just had to battle after that. Didn't think I was locating my sweeper very well or my cutter very well. Something to learn from for sure, just grind it out."

Here are the takeaways...

-- The rookies stepped up early to give the Mets a 1-0 lead in the first inning. A.J. Ewing hit a leadoff single and stole second base to get into scoring position, as he'd come around to score on Carson Benge's two-out RBI single to left field.

Although, New York's lead didn't last long as Christian Scott let up a solo homer to Braden Montgomery with one out in the second inning. Scott locked back in and recorded back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning. 

-- Perhaps a sign of how the third inning would go -- Bo Bichette won an 11-pitch battle by blasting a solo home run off Luis Castillo to put the Mets back up 2-1. It's his second straight day with a solo HR, extending his on-base streak to 12 games. New York continued to make Castillo work as Benge, the next man up, singled in a 10-pitch at-bat to push the right-hander's total to over 60 pitches in the third inning. 

Former White Sox Luis Robert Jr. took advantage of a flustered Castillo (including winning a challenge on what would've been strike three), launching a two-run homer on the eighth pitch of the AB to extend the lead to 4-1. After Brett Baty walked, Marcus Semien knocked Castillo out of the game with a two-out single. The star's day finished after just 2.2 IP, having thrown 42 pitches in the third and 80 pitches overall.

The wild third inning continued in the bottom half with Scott letting up a leadoff HR to Tristan Peters, making it 4-2. Benge got shaken up on the play, crashing into the chain link fence in right field with the ball ricocheting off his glove over the wall. Scott then loaded the bases and let up a sac-fly to Andrew Benintendi, cutting the Mets' lead to 4-3.

-- Benge showed his toughness, shaking off the hard hit and smashing a solo home run in the top of the fifth inning to make it a 5-3 game. Eric Wagaman kept it going with a pinch-hit RBI single and Marcus Semien then drove him in, pushing the lead to 7-3.

-- Scott tossed a much-needed 1-2-3 fourth inning to keep the score intact, but it unraveled for him in the fifth inning. He hit the leadoff man, walked two more to load the bases, and walked in a run to make it 7-4. RHP Jonathan Pintaro came in and struck out Colson Montgomery to escape the jam. Scott finished after 4.2 IP, allowing four runs on five hits with six strikeouts and four walks over 94 pitches.

Pintaro ran into trouble of his own in the sixth inning with two in scoring position, as a run scored on a chopper that Bichette couldn't handle. Austin Warren was able to hold the score at 7-5, striking out Munetaka Murakami and getting Benintendi to line out. 

-- Robert put an exclamation point on his big night with a second solo homer in the seventh inning, this time against former Met Huascar Brazobán to go up 8-5. Luis Torrens joined in on the fun in the top of the ninth, launching a two-run homer to right field to make it 10-5 -- it's his sixth home run in his last nine games. 

Warren, Dedniel Núñez, and Kodai Senga closed it out, tossing a combined 3.2 scoreless innings.

Game MVP: Luis Robert Jr.

In what's been a rough season for the outfielder, Saturday was easily his best game. It's his eighth career multi-HR game and first with the Mets, naturally against his old team.

Highlights

Carson Benge brings home A.J. Ewing to open the scoring! pic.twitter.com/ZqJdlt7IOn

— SNY (@SNYtv) August 22, 2026

Bo Bichette homers for a second straight night! pic.twitter.com/rxo2KYbN0b

— SNY (@SNYtv) August 22, 2026

LA PANTERA RETURNS TO CHICAGO.

Luis Robert Jr. with a two-run blast! pic.twitter.com/jxHx32XJdB

— SNY (@SNYtv) August 23, 2026

Carson Benge is staying in the game after a hard collision with the right field fence pic.twitter.com/DKkrcUDdsM

— SNY (@SNYtv) August 23, 2026

Carson Benge with a NO-DOUBTER! pic.twitter.com/Wk9W5XUWul

— SNY (@SNYtv) August 23, 2026

Pinch-hitter Eric Wagaman brings home another Mets run! pic.twitter.com/ZmamwlJAIe

— SNY (@SNYtv) August 23, 2026

Marcus Semien brings in the third run of the inning for the Mets! pic.twitter.com/kZm2xSCBNQ

— SNY (@SNYtv) August 23, 2026

Jonathan Pintaro strikes out Colson Montgomery to strand the bases loaded pic.twitter.com/D3T0qBJ0Be

— SNY (@SNYtv) August 23, 2026

LUIS ROBERT JR.'S SECOND HOME RUN OF THE NIGHT! pic.twitter.com/fTE2pJMh34

— SNY (@SNYtv) August 23, 2026

Luis Torrens goes the other way for a two-run blast!

His sixth home run in the month of August! pic.twitter.com/NkXoGT6VGL

— SNY (@SNYtv) August 23, 2026

What's next

The Mets and White Sox wrap up their three-game series on Sunday afternoon at 2:10 p.m. on SNY.

Nolan McLean (9-8, 3.34 ERA) will take the mound for New York while Chicago turns to Sean Newcomb (1-3, 2.44 ERA) as the opener in their bullpen game.

Jonquel Jones added 19 points and 10 rebounds for New York (23-15) in an entertaining game.

With the game tied at 100, Stewart made one of two free throws and then after Indiana missed, Fiebich had a basket and was fouled with 57.5 seconds. She missed the ensuing foul shot.

Caitlin Clark drove, but missed a running layup and Fiebich grabbed the rebound. Pauline Astier was fouled with 29.0 seconds left and hit both free throws to make it a five-point game.

Indiana (24-14) couldn’t recover.

Both teams knew how important this game was with playoff positioning at stake as the standings are so tight for the third through eighth spots. New York led by four at the half and then Sabrina Ionescu and Fiebich got going. The pair combined for 19 of the Liberty’s 31 points in the period as New York extended its lead to 85-78 heading into the fourth.

Indiana rallied to tie it on Kelsey Mitchell’s 3-pointer with 1:44 left. Mitchell finished with 25 points. Aliyah Boston had 22 and Clark 21.

New York finally had its full lineup healthy for the first time in nearly six weeks as Fiebich played her first game since suffering a foot injury. Jones was back after missing most of the Liberty’s last game against Chicago on Tuesday with a tweaked left ankle.

With Indiana visiting, there were rallies outside the arena before the game both for and against transgender women in sports. Fever reserve Sophie Cunningham had said in an ESPN profile published last month that she was opposed to transgender girls and women competing in girls’ and women’s sports. Cunningham was met with a mixture of boos and cheers from the sellout crowd.

Jones got going early, as she’s done ever since the All-Star break. The Liberty’s 6-foot-6 center had 17 points and seven rebounds at the half as New York held a 53-49 advantage.

The Fever are in the middle of a brutal stretch of five road games in eight days. They have gone 2-1 so far.

Up next

Fever: Visit Chicago on Sunday to finish off a back-to-back and close out its long road trip

So John Harbaugh didn’t. The majority of New York’s starters sat out their 26-3 victory over the Dolphins, including Jaxson Dart and Cam Skattebo. This was an opportunity for those fighting for a starting job, a roster spot.

Here are a few observations from the game …

-- When the summer began, and Tae Banks started making plays in West Virginia, it was tough to take him seriously. There was a renewed confidence to him, swagger. Still, the last two years were so bad (filled with poor coverage, ill-advised penalties and questionable effort) that the dropping of another shoe felt inevitable.

But it’s now Aug. 22. Banks keeps getting better. He’s been, unquestionably, their best corner this summer. Saturday might have been his best game.

Banks didn’t start. He came in after Greg Newsome II. He finished with two tackles and two pass breakups. On both disruptions, Banks stuck to his receiver in tight coverage then ripped the ball from their hands.

Ball skills were maybe the biggest criticism of Banks (aside from his effort) during his decline from first-round pick. To see him make those plays, after another good showing in the joint practice, positions him well to earn one of the starting corner spots

-- It’s been a pretty horrific two weeks for running back Tyrone Tracy. His missed block against the Vikings led to Dart getting hit back to Kaysville. Against the Dolphins, Tracy ran it well (six rushes, 26 yards), but fumbled in the red zone.

The Giants clearly aren’t thrilled with their backfield. They wouldn’t have signed Najee Harris if they were. It still seems a long shot he gets cut, but with Devin Singletary as trustworthy as they come, and now Harris in the mix, Tracy might not be as secure as originally believed.

Eagle-eye Dan Duggan of The Athletic noticed Tracy getting reps on the kickoff team. That’s not usually a great sign.

-- The Giants seem set on Malik Nabers and Malachi Fields as their starting two wideouts come Week 1. Calvin Austin seems to have fought off Odell Beckham Jr. and Braxton Berrios for that slot spot. He’s also in the lead for the punt returner job.

Against the Dolphins, Austin caught two passes for 20 yards, had an 11-yard run, and 18- and 11-yard punt returns.

I caught up with Austin at training camp last week. He’s a fascinating person. Really brilliant guy. He said Harvard and Columbia were his two target schools leaving Harding Academy. He walked on to Memphis because his ultimate goal was making the NFL.

-- Odell Beckham Jr. continues to impress, but he let one get away from him. The good: He ran a great route to get open on a comeback. After making the catch, Beckham broke a tackle, back-juked another and skirted forward for 12 yards. The bad: He had a touchdown in the back of the end zone go through his hands.

The broadcast caught Beckham getting open a go route, too, the ball just didn’t come his way. That’s been a theme this summer. You see the veteran beating his guy. For whatever reason, he just doesn’t get targets. We’ll see if that’s enough to make the final roster.

-- It was Dominic Zvada’s turn to kick after sitting out last week. He made 43- and 32-yard field goals, and both his point-after attempts. Ben Sauls also attempted two field goals, making them from 27 and 37 yards. Zvada has been the better kicker in practice. We’ll see what Harbaugh chooses.

-- Something to monitor, but the Giants had Darius Alexander playing late in the third quarter. That’s puzzling. Most every player expected to make the roster was on the sideline at that time. A third-round pick a season ago, Alexander has flashed pass-rush ability, but not much in terms of run defense.

New York was facing an overmatched Dolphins lineup that rested all of their starters and had third-string quarterback Cam Miller at the helm in the first half, with rookie Mark Gronkowski replacing him after halftime.

Jameis Winston led the Giants on four scoring drives in the first half as he passed for 150 yards. He finished the first of those off himself on an 11-yard touchdown scramble before Devin Singletary also scored on a 13-yard touchdown run.  Rookie kicker Dominic Zvada made two field goals, the second of which was a chip shot to put New York up 20-3 at the half.

Ben Sauls, who is battling with Zvada for the placekicker job, made a 27-yard field goal late in the third quarter and a 37-yarder early with nine minutes remaining to extend Big Blue’s lead to 26-3.

Miami posed no offensive threat whatsoever after halftime, as they picked up just 15 net yards in the second half to end the game with 102 yards and just three first downs.

Here are the takeaways...

-Although there weren’t many starters in action, New York gave some extra work to cornerback Paulson Adebo and center John Michael Schmitz, who were unavailable for last week’s game.  

-Arvell Reese was basically the only front seven defender from the starting lineup to see action, but the Giants’ secondary was almost at full strength with just Jevon Holland out. They produced well too, as Tyler Nubin, Deonte Banks and Greg Newsome II combined to break up four passes in the first half and Dru Phillips had a tackle for loss and was credited with two forced fumbles. Phillips was beaten deep on a 30-yard pass play, though.

-On offense, Jon Runyan and Darius Slayton were the only other starters apart from Schmitz to see action. Slayton had an impact, though, with four catches for 58 yards in the first half. New York undoubtedly would have liked to get Francis Mauigoa more reps at right guard too, but he’s sidelined with a stinger, so the Giants’ efforts to gel as an offensive line will probably be a work in progress when the regular season starts.

-The situation at running back is getting interesting, as Cam Skattebo and new signing Najee Harris did not play. Singletary had a solid first half with eight carries for 40 yards and a nice touchdown that saw him bounce a run to the outside, so could Tyrone Tracy Jr.’s future be in doubt?  Tracy also produced well with 48 yards on nine touches (three completions), but he also lost a fumble. After he was at fault on the big hit Jaxson Dart took last week, Tracy may not be impressing this coaching staff with his lack of consistency.

-Odell Beckham Jr. rolled back the years as he made a spectacular catch and juke move in the first half. However, he was frustrated with himself after a leaping catch attempt in the end zone saw the ball go right through his hands just before halftime.  His position is still up in the air, as none of the other players competing for a roster spot with him have stood out particularly.

-Any possibility that the Mauigoa injury could create an opportunity for former first-round pick Evan Neal could swiftly be disregarded as Neal entered the game at right guard with the third unit and gave up a bad sack almost immediately. His time with the Giants seems likely to be over within the next week or so.

-Brandon Allen, who struggled last week, took the reins in the second half and was much better as he completed his first seven passes and ended up completing 13 of 18 passes for 101 yards.

Game MVP: Jameis Winston

Winston picked apart the Dolphins backups fairly effortlessly as he completed 15 of 21 passes for 150 yards and rushed for a score, although he did almost throw an interception just before halftime. He has good chemistry with Slayton and the Giants can probably feel confident that their backup situation is as strong as most NFL teams. With Dart’s inability to stay out of the medical tent, that’s reassuring.

Highlights

Jameis Winston runs it in! 🏃‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/dxtpfjsRXS

— SNY Giants (@SNYGiants) August 22, 2026

Dru Phillips forces the fumble and the Giants recover 🔥 pic.twitter.com/5npsuqpNRO

— SNY Giants (@SNYGiants) August 22, 2026

Odell Beckham Jr.'s first catch goes for a first down 💪 pic.twitter.com/BEIbwDlVQ1

— SNY Giants (@SNYGiants) August 22, 2026

Devin Singletary motors in for the score! pic.twitter.com/TEzfUc4qqs

— SNY Giants (@SNYGiants) August 22, 2026

What's next

The Giants wrap up their preseason slate, going up against the Jets on Friday, Aug. 28.

New York was no-hit by Cease for 6.2 innings before back-to-back singles knocked the Cy Young candidate out of the game, and picked up a run along the way. A two-run shot by Luis Garcia Jr. off of Tyler Rogers in the eighth cut the Jays' lead to 4-3. Against Louis Varland in the ninth, Jazz Chisholm Jr. led off with a double, but Austin Wells struck out, Jose Caballero grounded out, and Trent Grisham struck out to end the game.

The Yankees' five-game winning streak was snapped and they were out-hit 15-4. New York finished 1-for-12 with RISP and left seven on base. Toronto was 4-for-18 with RISP and left 12 on base.

Here are some takeaways...

-The Blue Jays made Ryan Weathers work early, pushing across a run in the first inning on three hits, with George Springer lacing a one-out single to get Toronto on the board.

Weathers would pitch around baserunners in the second and third, but Toronto put the pressure on the southpaw in the fourth. Kazuma Okamoto led off with a ground-rule double and Ernie Clement reached on a perfectly placed bunt to put runners on the corners with no outs. Charles McAdoo punched a one-out single into center field. After a couple of pitches to Myles Straw, Weathers called for the trainers and left the game with left forearm discomfort. 

Yerry De los Santos came in and got Straw to fly out and, after a walk to load the bases, De los Santos got Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to ground out and escape without further damage.

Weathers tossed 72 pitches (51 strikes) in 3.1 innings, allowing two runs on eight hits while striking out three batters. 

-Going up against Cease, runs would be a premium, but the bats didn't do themselves any favors. They stranded a runner on third with one out in the first two innings. Heliot Ramos (strikeout) and Garcia (strikeout) stranded Grisham in the first, while Chisholm (flyout) and Wells (strikeout) left Spencer Jones 90 feet away from homeplate.

The Yankees put pressure on Cease in the fifth after two walks. Caballero smashed a line drive, but the shortstop snagged it and doubled up George Lombard Jr. at second to end the inning. Cease would push his no-hit bid until two outs in the seventh when Chisholm looped a single into right field. That hit made Wells the tying run with two runners on, and the Yankees backstop lined a hit to score the team's first run and chase Cease.

Caballero was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Grisham, but the outfielder grounded out to end the threat and put a bow on Cease's day.

The Cy Young candidate allowed one run on two hits and five walks through 6.2 innings. He struck out eight batters. 

-De los Santos would allow another run in the fifth on a pinch-hit single by Nathan Lukes before giving way to Bradley Hanner in the seventh. Lukes would take Hanner deep in the eighth to give the Jays some breathing room after the Yankees cut their deficit to two runs.

-Guerrero Jr., activated before the game from the concussion IL, went 2-for-5 with a run scored.

Game MVP: Dylan Cease

Without Cease's 6.2 no-hit innings, the Yankees may have been able to complete the comeback.

Highlights

What a play by Jazz Chisholm Jr.! pic.twitter.com/D8rIMP7mpt

— SNY Yankees (@snyyankees) August 22, 2026

The Yankees are on the board!

Austin Wells brings home a run pic.twitter.com/NACSbRpZiN

— SNY Yankees (@snyyankees) August 22, 2026

Luis Garcia Jr. hits a ROCKET to the second deck! 🚀 pic.twitter.com/Gba9dgm35J

— SNY Yankees (@snyyankees) August 22, 2026

What's next

The Yankees and Blue Jays wrap up their weekend series on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is set for 1:35 p.m.

Carlos Rodon (4-2, 3.22 ERA) will make his second start since coming off the IL. He'll go up against Jose Soriano (10-6, 3.23 ERA). 

New York has been ravaged by the injury bug of late, and now Ryan Weathers was forced to leave Saturday's start in the fourth inning due to left forearm discomfort.

Aaron Boone didn't have an update postgame, but Weathers is set to undergo further imaging. 

The young lefty was shaken up after throwing an 0-1 sweeper for a ball to Toronto outfielder Myles Straw. 

He took a few minutes after delivering the pitch, then, after a meeting around the mound, made his way to the dugout alongside the Yankees training staff. 

Ryan Weathers leaves the game with a Yankees trainer pic.twitter.com/OEQF4cy9YZ

— SNY Yankees (@snyyankees) August 22, 2026

Yerry De los Santos was called upon in relief.

De los Santos allowed Toronto to load the bases with two outs, but was helped out by Jazz Chisholm Jr. to escape the inning without further damage on Weathers' line.

The lefty saw his book close with just two runs allowed on eight hits while striking out three across 3.1 innings of work, but the elbow discomfort is certainly cause for concern.

Losing Weathers for a significant amount of time would be a blow for the Bombers, as he has been spectacular of late, entering Sunday with a 1.94 ERA over his last seven starts.

New York is also already without Max Fried due to a bone bruise in his elbow.

"You never want significant pieces to go down, but that's part of it," Boone said. "We're throwing the ball really well and expect to continue to do that -- if this creates an opportunity in the short term, we've had guys step up all year and we'll need to do it again."

The Yankees slugger was close to making a return from his current calf injury when he fell while running the bases and strained his other calf, slowing him down once again. 

This current one has been diagnosed as a moderate-grade strain. 

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said pregame Saturday that Stanton will continue working to try to be available, but he is facing an uphill battle with just 33 games left in the regular season. 

"We're not ruling anything out," the skipper said. "He'll continue working to try to get it right and hopefully be available, but obviously we're at a point in the calendar where it gets challenging, but also you never know."

Stanton was originally placed on the IL in late April after injuring his right calf running from first to second. 

He suffered a setback with that right calf in June, which extended his absence, and now has run into another speed bump, this time on the left side, after taking steps forward on the road to recovery. 

"Bummed for him," Boone said. "Been working his tail off every single day to try to get this thing right, you all know how bad he wants to be on that field and contributing to a championship, so obviously it's disappointing."

Stanton appeared in just 24 games before suffering the injury, hitting .256 with a .724 OPS over that span.

This is a significant blow for the Yankees' offense, which certainly could've used a nice boost from the five-time All-Star down the stretch in the regular season and into the playoffs. 

He knows how to react, he knows how to deal with it. 

The d-man was a bit caught off guard being moved by the Mammoth this offseason, but his focus quickly shifted to his new opportunity in the Big Apple.

“I’m a big believer in proving those who believe in you right,” he said during his intro Zoom. “I think having the opportunity to prove this staff with the Rangers right is exciting for me.”

Durzi, of course, landed in New York as part of the Vincent Trocheck deal -- a move that’s served as a nice motivator for him in the midst of the long offseason.

The 27-year-old is coming off a second straight frustrating campaign in which he missed 22 games after being limited to just 30 the entire year before. 

So much like the Rangers themselves, he’s ready for a clean slate heading into the year. 

“The beauty of the NHL is it’s a fresh start every year,” Durzi said. “It’s a prove yourself league and you have to do it every day -- you just look at last season and see how you can grow -- coming into the year, it’s a restart to start from zero.

“Finishing near the bottom of the standings is never the goal, but it's about how you learn from it and bounce back -- you look at this roster and it's an exciting team -- but again, everyone starts from zero. It’s a prove yourself league, and from Day One, we're going to do that.”

Durzi will likely slot in next to Marcus Pettersson on New York’s new-look second pairing, while also quarterbacking the second power-play unit.

Even with the missed time, he finished second among Utah defensemen in power-play points (4) and third in total points (27) last season. 

He’ll bring some much-needed puck-moving ability to the Blueshirts’ blueline.

Rojas has been swinging an extremely hot bat of late with Binghamton, and that continued Friday night. 

The youngster struck out his first time up but was able to get the Rumble Ponies on the board in his next AB, clobbering a pitch almost at his shoulders for a monstrous two-run homer. 

He did even more damage in the very next inning, driving in his third run of the night with an RBI single the other way in the bottom of the fourth. 

Rojas was retired each of his next two times up, but he left rehabbing Mets slugger Mark Vientos impressed with his strong 2-for-5 showing at the plate. 

“He’s for real,” Vientos said. “He’s a really good baseball player -- that home run and that single the opposite way, you could just see the talent in him, for sure.”

Vientos will be around Rojas and the Ponies for a few more days as he continues his rehab. 

As for the 21-year-old infielder, he's now up to three homers, four doubles, 17 RBI, and a .872 OPS over his first 14 games since joining Binghamton. 

If he’s able to keep this up, Rojas just might take that next step to Triple-A Syracuse, with his sights set on making his mark with Vientos and the big league club at some point next season.

The team announced on Friday that they came to terms on a one-year, two-way deal with D Vincent Iorio. 

Iorio came to the Blueshirts mid-season off waivers from the Sharks. 

While he failed to record a point in the six games he skated in with the club, it appears he made enough of an impression for them to keep him around for one more year. 

It remains to be seen exactly what his role will be for this season. 

The 23-year-old figures to be on the outside looking in at the revamped defensive pairings, so he'll likely begin the year as a depth option. 

Iorio will have to clear waivers if he fails to crack the pro roster. 

The highly-touted first-round pick had a pretty quiet first preseason showing against the Bucs, but he was able to make his presence felt early in Pittsburgh on Friday night. 

With the Steelers lining up for a third-and-eight on the brink of field goal range, Bailey flew past OT Broderick Jones and brought down QB Will Howard for an 11-yard loss.

It was (unofficially) the first of what figures to be many sacks in his NFL career. 

“It felt amazing, it was a sense of relief,” Bailey told Brian Costello of the NY Post postgame. “It felt good knowing that my interior line did their job and the coverage did their job and just allowed me to capitalize.”

Bailey brings some lofty expectations after landing with Gang Green as the No. 2 overall pick in this year's draft. 

He’s been able to live up to those thus far against teammates in camp and opponents in joint practices, and finally put it on display in live game action on Saturday night. 

The 22-year-old also logged a pair of QB pressures in his 12 total snaps. 

“It was good to see,” head coach Aaron Glenn said. “Obviously we know what he can do as a pass rusher. I already see in my head that there’s a couple of things that he has to improve on that showed up in the game, and he will.”

Bailey racked up a whopping 14.5 sacks and 19.5 TFL's during his All-American senior season with the Red Raiders. 

He’ll look to bring that type of impact now, rushing off the edge of New York’s defense. 

Mets Notes

• Carson Benge is hitting .300/.362/.463 in 223 plate appearances dating back to June 18
• Bo Bichette is hitting .311/.354/.475 (.829 OPS) with eight homers and 33 RBI in 260 plate appearances dating back to June 11
• Nate Lavender has yet to allow a run in eight appearances with the Mets (7.2 IP)
• Christian Scott lowered his ERA to 3.51 with 6.1 strong innings against the Nationals his last time out

Today's Lineups

Yan's premature celebration

In a tie game in the bottom of the ninth, Jefry Yan was called on to hold the line and send it into extra innings. However, the left-hander could not, ultimately allowing a walk-off two-run shot to catcher Jake Rogers.

But that inning started rather oddly. Going up against left-hander Colson Montgomery, Yan threw a slider down in the zone on a 1-2 pitch. The Mets southpaw was convinced he just struck out Montgomery and did his signature celebration. But it was called a ball and the at-bat continued. Two pitches later, Montgomery was on with a walk. 

"Jefry will learn not to jump before the play is over," Green said after the game. "That’s something he’s still working through. The emotions of the moment got him there."

To Yan's credit, he got the next two batters out and was one out away from stranding Montgomery on third. But a 0-1 fastball down in the zone was taken deep by Rogers. 

"I went out there with a plan to do what I always do. To execute, to compete," Yan said via an interpreter of the Montgomery at-bat. "That at-bat, I threw a pitch a little prematurely. I still don’t let my guard down at that point and I was trying to execute my pitches there, but I walked him."

Green said that the premature celebration didn't affect Yan, and chalked it up to being a rookie who has a lot of enthusiasm but is still learning. 

"We encouraged him very strongly to wait til the play is over. The emotions got to him," Green said. 

"That’s one of those that becomes a learning experience," Yan said. "Can’t go out there and lose the goal, which is execute pitches. It won’t happen again. Once the job is done, you can celebrate the way you want to."

Yan also said his celebration didn't affect him, and he was just bested by Rogers.

"In the at-bat to Rogers, I threw the ball but I was trying to attack him and he got it," he said. "It’s the first home run I’ve given up in the major leagues. It’s something to learn from -- learn how to execute better. I wouldn’t say it affected me."

Jefry Yan did his strikeout celebration in the 9th inning on a pitch that was called a ball.

After the game, Andy Green said that the emotions got to Yan and that he will learn not to jump before the play ends. pic.twitter.com/S5TOnDQ4JC

— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) August 22, 2026

Manaea's tough sixth

Sean Manaea was on the verge of another fantastic start. He cruised through the first five innings without allowing a run and entered the sixth with a comfortable 4-0 lead.

That changed very quickly.

After allowing a one-out walk to Munetaka Murakami, Miguel Vargas, Randal Grichuk and Colson Montgomery took the Mets southpaw deep to tie the game at four apiece. 

"The sixth inning got away from me," Manaea said before later explaining what changed the third time through the order.

"I was throwing a little more sweepers than I was, and ultimately, fastballs home runs to two of them. Yanked them down instead of getting them up. Earlier in the game, I felt like I did a better job getting the ball up... Don’t know if I’ve ever given three [home runs] back-to-back."

"He was pitch-efficient throughout most of the day," Green said of Manaea. "He struggled to get the fastball up today. Got a lot of deep flyballs for outs." 

Green admitted that the team didn't "love" the part of the order that had Vargas and Grichuk for Manaea, but it was hard to take out his starter when he was cruising to that point. 

The interim manager was asked if he considered taking Manaea out after giving up the first two home runs, and Green said that he liked the favorable matchup against the lefty Montgomery.

Manaea has given the Mets some much-needed length of late. This is the sixth game in a row that he's gone at least six innings, but it's the second consecutive start he's allowed four runs. Prior to these two starts, Manaea had allowed two or fewer runs in four consecutive starts. 

Smith silenced them all on Friday.

The 35-year-old was perfect playing one series in the Jets’ 17-0 win over the Steelers. He marched the offense 69 yards in 10 plays, completing all seven of his attempts for 65 yards. He capped the drive with a 13-yard touchdown to Jelani Woods.

“Geno did what I expect him to do,” said head coach Aaron Glenn.

Smith took a shot early. It didn’t faze him. The Steelers pressured him. He moved in and around the pocket to aid his offensive line. Facing a third-and-nine and a third-and-six, Smith connected with Mason Taylor and Garrett Wilson for gains of 10 yards apiece.

It was everything you hoped to see from Smith, who should have silenced some who doubted his position atop the depth chart.

The unknown provides hope in the NFL – which is exactly what many see in Cade Klubnik. The Jets used one of their two fourth-round picks on the Clemson quarterback in this year’s draft. He’s flashed some this summer – dazzling with his strong arm as the Jets’ QB2. He made the start for the Jets in their preseason opener against the Bucs as Smith nursed his ankle.

Klubnik completed five of seven passes for 56 yards and led the Jets to 10 points on two possessions. This week at practice, Klubnik worked with Wilson, Armand Membou, Olu Fashanu and others – valuable experience if he’s forced to play when games matter.

But as Smith’s practice struggles mounted, so too did the desire for New York to turn things over to the rookie. Smith's drive against Pittsburgh illustrated the ridiculousness of that notion.

Klubnik has talent, but he is very much a developmental project whose ceiling still projects as that of a backup. He relieved Smith on Friday. He finished 10 of 14 for 75 yards, but his five possessions resulted in three punts, a missed field goal and a turnover on downs.

Smith, while older, is still just a year removed from a 4,320-yard, 21-touchdown campaign with Seattle. Last year wasn’t good with the Raiders, but neither was his supporting cast.

“Felt good to be out there with the guys," Smith said. "Obviously we got one drive in, but we scored a touchdown. You always want to start fast, so that was a good thing. Definitely a lot of room for improvement. Looking forward to getting back to practice and getting to work.”

Smith now has the best protection since his years with the Seahawks – and maybe better. He has a litany of playmakers at his disposal in Wilson, AD Mitchell, Omar Cooper, Kenyon Sadiq, Taylor, Breece Hall and Braelon Allen. He has competence in his ear with new coordinator Frank Reich.

The Jets can’t wait to see how it plays out when the games count.

Here are a few more thoughts from the game…

-David Bailey continues to beat whoever lines up in front of him. He’s given Fashanu fits all summer. The Bucs had no answer for him in their joint practices. Now, against the Steelers, he had his first sack when he fought past Broderick Jones to bring down Will Howard. Jones has had his issues (on field and medically), but a rookie easily cruising past a veteran with 38 starts is noteworthy. It’s yet another example of Bailey making a seamless transition to the NFL.

-The Jets started Isaiah Williams against the Bucs. It was rookie Omar Cooper against the Steelers. Cooper, the No. 30 pick in the draft, hasn’t had a great summer. He’s struggled to make his presence felt and acclimate himself to the NFL. Cooper didn’t catch a pass from Smith, but finished with one grab for nine yards. Williams, who also played, caught three for 17. He fumbled in the first half, too, but the Jets got on top of it.

-The Jets picked off a pass! Andre Cisco jumped a throw from Howard in the first half. It marked the first interception by the Jets since Aug. 22, 2025 – Malachi Moore got Kyle McCord in the preseason final against Philadelphia. Samuel Womack also had an interception. In 2025, the Jets became the first team in NFL history to not intercept a pass in the regular season.

-Corner Brandon Stephens had a nice pass breakup in the first half while Harrison Phillips broke through for a tackle for loss. The secondary and interior defensive line are two question marks entering 2026. That was good to see.

New York has won five in a row and, after the Rays' loss to the Orioles earlier in the evening, are now 3.0 games behind Tampa Bay for first place in the AL East. 

Here are the takeaways...

-Toronto made Cam Schlittler work in the first, picking up two hits and a walk, but a double play and some nifty scoops by Paul Goldschmidt at first saved the Yankees and their ace a run. 

Schlittler didn't have his best stuff. His command was iffy -- he walked three batters -- and the Jays hitters were picking up hit after hit. The fourth inning saw Toronto start with back-to-back singles. A groundout moved up the two runners, but Schlittler got out of the jam again with a strikeout and a flyball. He couldn't do the same in the fifth. A leadoff double came home on a one-out single by Alejandro Kirk to put the Jays on the board.

The AL Cy Young front-runner finished strong, pitching a 1-2-3 sixth inning to pick up another quality start. 

He tossed 96 pitches, allowing one run on six hits and three walks while striking out four.

-In a moment reminiscent of the team's trip to Baltimore, Jones hit a towering fly ball toward the right field foul pole in the second inning. Unlike Pete Alonso's blast, it was called fair and the call stood after a chief review. The blast gave the Yankees a 2-0 lead. On the defensive side, the young outfielder almost made an outstanding sliding grab in the seventh, but the ball popped out of his glove as he hit the ground. Brent Headrick worked around that triple by blanking the Jays in the inning. 

Jones finished 1-for-3.

The Yankees bullpen of Headrick, Paul Blackburn and David Bednar kept the Jays off the board, working around baserunners to finish the win.

-The offense wouldn't muster much else. A sac fly by Jose Caballero in the fourth accounted for the only other Yankees run. Toronto outhit the Yankees, 9-4, with New York going 1-for-8 with RISP and left six on base. The Blue Jays were worse, going 1-for-14 with RISP and leaving nine on base.  

Game MVP: Spencer Jones

The pitching was great again, but the two-run blast was the difference.

Highlights

Fair ball!

Spencer Jones with a 43° launch angle home run into the second deck! pic.twitter.com/XBbcelULN7

— SNY Yankees (@snyyankees) August 21, 2026

What's next

The Yankees and Blue Jays continue their weekend series on Saturday. First pitch is set for 1:35 p.m.

Ryan Weathers (5-7, 3.56 ERA) will go up against Cy Young candidate Dylan Cease (7-5, 2.42 ERA).

Vientos took three at-bats, starting as the team's DH, finishing 0-for-2 with a walk and two strikeouts. 

It's the first time Vientos has seen the field since fracturing his right hand after being hit by a pitch back on July 9. In 73 games this season, Vientos is slashing .211/.256/.388 with an OPS of .644 to go along with 11 home runs and 35 RBI.

In that same game, Mets No. 1 prospect Jefferson Rojas had himself a day. The infielder went 2-for-5 with three RBI, two coming off his third home run in the Mets organization. The third RBI was on a single that gave the Rumble Ponies a 5-0 lead. 

Rojas has played 14 games in Binghamton and is slashing .281/.328/.544 with an OPS of .872. 

"That ball is way, way gone!"

Jefferson Rojas hits his third home run for Double-A Binghamton! pic.twitter.com/2wlqOc6x7P

— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) August 21, 2026

Wenninger unhittable in Syracuse

For Triple-A Syracuse, Jack Wenninger had his best start in quite some time. The right-hander threw five hitless innings, walking two batters and striking out six.

Wenninger, the organization's No. 11 prospect, has had a tough first season in Triple-A. Even with the hitless outing, his ERA sits at 4.17 with a 1.38 WHIP. However, Friday is the second of back-to-back solid outings for the once-touted prospect. In his last start, Wenninger struck out eight batters in five innings of two-run baseball. 

On the offensive side, Syracuse received contributions from up and down the lineup. Nick Morabito went 1-for-5 with an RBI while Billy Amick came in to score in his four at-bats (0-for-4). Emilien Pitre went 1-for-4 with a walk while Ronny Mauricio drove in a run and finished 2-for-4. 

Hayden Senger was perfect at the plate, going 2-for-2 with two walks and driving in a run.

The Jets led 7-0 at the half, as Geno Smith’s first action of preseason couldn’t have gone much better for him. He went 7-for-7 for 65 yards and a touchdown as the starters marched downfield on their only possession, chewing up six minutes of clock.

Defensively, the Jets weren’t flawless in the first half, but they intercepted two passes and rookie David Bailey had an impressive sack to keep the Steelers off the board.

Neither team was able to score again until Jason Sanders made a 39-yard field goal with 7:08 remaining to increase New York’s lead to 10-0.

Gang Green iced the win with 1:53 remaining on Brady Cook’s fourth-down bomb to Quincy Skinner Jr. for a 31-yard touchdown. Skinner led the Jets with four catches for 47 yards.

Here are the takeaways...

-- Despite his perfect completion percentage, Smith had one negative play as one of his passes was batted down and ended up being caught by offensive lineman Dylan Parham, who was tackled for a loss. It was good to see Smith get Adonai Mitchell involved on two early catches after Mitchell wasn’t targeted last week.

-- The Jets will be encouraged to have intercepted two passes in the first half as Andre Cisco and Samuel Womack each made good reads to pick off Will Howard with the Steelers in Jets’ territory. The last Jets player to record an interception before Cisco was Malachi Moore, in the final preseason game last season.

-- There were some notable rotation changes this week, including some signs that the team is giving multiple players opportunities in some of the closest position battles. Safety Dane Belton was in with the starters in place of Cisco, while rookie Omar Cooper Jr. made the start at wide receiver ahead of Isaiah Williams.

-- Other lineup changes saw Kingsley Enagbare returning from injury to start on the edge ahead of Will McDonald and rookie guard Anez Cooper promoted from the third unit to the second unit. Cooper was slow to pick up a blitz on one play, though, allowing a sack.

-- Bailey’s impressive third-down sack knocked the Steelers out of field goal range on their second drive, as he beat former first-round pick Broderick Jones with a rip move around the outside. He also registered pressure on a similar play earlier on.

-- Cade Klubnik’s numbers were solid as he completed 10 of 14 passes for 75 yards. However, he was unable to complete a scoring drive and got rattled by pressure on a few occasions, as the game still looks to be moving a little fast for him, even against backups. One of his most encouraging plays was a decisive 16-yard run on third down.

-- Cade York had a chance to make a strong case for himself in the kicking competition with Sanders, but he missed on a 59-yard attempt just before halftime. Sanders made an extra point in addition to his successful field goal.

-- Two of the newest Jets made an impact despite being with the team for less than a week. Edge rusher Nate Lynn had two sacks and wide receiver Junior Bergen set up Sanders’ field goal on a 44-yard catch and run. Bergen also handled punt return duties all day and had a nice 30-yard return in the fourth quarter.

Game MVP: Geno Smith

After missing last week’s game with a foot injury, Smith was moving well and looked good on that opening drive, which was highlighted by third-down conversions to Garrett Wilson and Mason Taylor. One encouraging sign was how he handled pressure, as he was hit as he threw on an early completion and hung in the pocket well on his completion to Wilson.

Highlights

Geno Smith ➡️ Jelani Woods!

An opening-drive touchdown for the Jets! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Tdwo1tHBXC

— SNY Jets (@snyjets) August 21, 2026

David Bailey's first preseason sack 😤 pic.twitter.com/pYLGZ5yg1N

— SNY Jets (@snyjets) August 21, 2026

Cade Klubnik scrambles for the first down 🏃‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/9GI18zWfUN

— SNY Jets (@snyjets) August 21, 2026

Picked off by Andre Cisco! pic.twitter.com/5yOVHcqgR7

— SNY Jets (@snyjets) August 21, 2026

Samuel Womack gets the Jets' second interception of the night! pic.twitter.com/FUnVsJNwbX

— SNY Jets (@snyjets) August 22, 2026

What's next

Gang Green is back in action next week in their preseason finale against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 28.

Here are the takeaways...

-- Sean Manaea’s night started great but ended on a sour note after allowing back-to-back-to-back home runs in the sixth inning that tied the game.

The left-hander had been cruising through the first five innings, allowing just two hits and a walk while striking out four, although he was living on the edge with a number of flyouts to center and right field dying at the warning track because of the wind blowing in.

He also escaped out of a jam, his first all night, in the fifth when he struck out Brenton Doyle with runners at second and third to end the inning.

-- However, disaster struck in the sixth after Manaea retired the first batter he faced. He went on to issue a walk to Munetaka Murakami after initially striking him out on a pitch that was challenged and overturned on ABS. 

-- Miguel Vargas, already with a seed of a double off Manaea earlier in the game, followed with a two-run shot hit just as hard to get Chicago on the board and cut New York’s lead in half. Randal Grichuk cut into it even more with a solo shot to center and Colson Montgomery completed the trifecta with a bomb to right field that tied the game.

Manaea managed to limit the damage there and finished six innings, but he was surely not pleased with himself following the blowup inning.

-- After scoreless outings by Nate Lavender and Daniel Duarte, who both continue to look impressive out of the bullpen, Jefry Yan started the ninth. Yan walked the leadoff batter and then, with two outs, allowed the final blow to Jake Rogers, who smashed a walk-off two-run home run that completed the comeback.

-- Before all of that, the Mets struck first against Sean Burke in the second inning thanks to Marcus Semien’s RBI single, which drove in Carson Benge, who stayed hot with a single to lead off the inning. 

-- Two more runs came around to score in the fourth after a misplay by Doyle in center field allowed New York to pounce. With runners on second and third and one out, Brett Baty had his second hit of the night, a two-run double down the right-field line that put the Mets ahead, 3-0. Baty and Semien finished a combined 4-for-8 with three RBI out of the seven and eight spot in the lineup.

-- An inning later, Bo Bichette muscled a solo home run just beyond the reach of Grichuk in left field. It was Bichette’s 13th long ball of the season.

-- A.J. Ewing and Francisco Lindor were 0-for-8 at the top of the lineup, and Francisco Alvarez's struggles continue after an 0-for-4 performance, including three strikeouts.

Game MVP: Jake Rogers

Obviously.

Highlights

Marcus Semien gets the Mets on the board first in Chicago! pic.twitter.com/XDzcNsx5ss

— SNY (@SNYtv) August 22, 2026

A two-run double for Brett Baty! 💪 pic.twitter.com/Yt918LzfLR

— SNY (@SNYtv) August 22, 2026

Sean Manaea gets the strikeout and gets out of trouble in the 4th pic.twitter.com/8PjBcRm3Fo

— SNY (@SNYtv) August 22, 2026

Bo Bichette's 13th home run of the year! pic.twitter.com/86aHCQTCY7

— SNY (@SNYtv) August 22, 2026

What's next

The Mets and White Sox continue their three-game series on Saturday night with first pitch set for 7:10 p.m. on SNY.

RHP Christian Scott (4-3, 3.51 ERA) will face off against RHP Luis Castillo (4-9, 4.99 ERA).

The hope is that first pitch will come at 8 p.m. ET.

Sean Manaea (4-5, 4.22 ERA) will take the mound against Sean Burke (7-6, 3.15 ERA). Friday will also mark the return of Luis Robert Jr. to the South Side as he's batting sixth and starting in left field. 

During his stint with the White Sox, Robert totaled 102 home runs, 115 doubles and 102 steals while slashing .259/.313/.455 for a .767 OPS in just 577 games as he struggled to stay on the field consistently.

“It was a time where there was a lot of highs and lows, both personally as a player but also for the team,” Robert said through an interpreter. “When I first got here, the team played really well, but those last few years we didn’t get the job done that we wanted to. But at the same time I can look back at it as a beautiful journey and a beautiful experience for me.”

Robert’s best season came in 2023 when he belted 38 home runs and 36 doubles to go along with 20 steals while driving in 80 runs and hitting .264. That year, the center fielder also played a career-high 145 games and was selected to his first and only All-Star Game.

In prime position for his career to take off from there, the 29-year-old had back-to-back disappointing seasons as injuries continued to pile up for him.

Traded to the Mets for Luisangel Acuña – in the White Sox lineup on Friday night batting seventh and playing shortstop – in the offseason as a potential high-ceiling player who could benefit from a change of scenery, Robert has once again been unable to stay on the field, playing in just 49 games.

“This season has been pretty similar to how other parts of my career have gone where I’ve been hurt, where I’ve been off the field,” he said. “But I think right now the most important thing for me is to finish the season strong and just go out there and try to be the best version of myself.”

While Robert has been hitting the ball better over his last 15 games, he’s still hitting just .215 with a .652 OPS and has even been plucked from his center field position to a foray in left field to give way to the rookie A.J. Ewing’s development.

Robert, who missed a significant amount of time this year due to a lumbar spine disc herniation, admitted that it’s been a difficult, albeit familiar, season.

“It’s difficult when you prepare yourself all offseason to be healthy, you work on your body and for it to happen the way that it did this season is just really disappointing,” he said.

As for his return to Chicago, Robert said it’s exciting but also a weird feeling coming back as a visitor and is unsure how the fans will react to him in the game, although he hopes it’s a positive reaction.

He also mentioned he’s not surprised that the White Sox (66-61, first place in the AL Central) have played well this season following three consecutive seasons of 100 or more losses.

“It doesn’t surprise me at all,” Robert said. “Before I got traded in the offseason, I saw the moves that they were making and the necessary moves to improve the team and that’s what they were doing, so seeing how they’re playing right now doesn’t surprise me at all.”