Sports
Mets ride magical week into NLDS showdown vs. rival Phillies
Oct 3, 2024; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso (20) celebrates with teammates after hitting a three run home run against the Milwaukee Brewers in the ninth inning during game three of the Wildcard round for the 2024 MLB Playoffs at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images PHILADELPHIA — When the New York Mets begin their National League Division Series on Saturday afternoon against the Philadelphia Phillies, they will hope to author another chapter in what is fast becoming a storybook season.
The Mets advanced to the NLDS when Pete Alonso keyed a four-run rally in the ninth inning Thursday night by slugging an opposite-field three-run homer, lifting New York to a 4-2 victory over host Milwaukee in Game 3 of the teams’ wild-card series.
“You go through those scenarios as a little kid,” Alonso said. “It’s like, ‘Alright, you’re in the playoffs, you’re down by two runs.’ I don’t know. Words can’t explain it.”
The Mets managed just two hits in the first eight innings and entered the ninth in a 2-0 hole. But Francisco Lindor coaxed a leadoff walk from Brewers closer Devin Williams, and one out later Brandon Nimmo grounded a single through the middle.
That set the stage for Alonso, who since Sept. 19 was in a 5-for-41 slump and had not managed an extra-base hit. The right-handed slugger worked the count to 3-1, then lined Williams’ changeup over the right field fence to give the Mets the lead.
Later in the inning, Starling Marte singled home Jesse Winker, accounting for the final margin.
It was the latest bit of heroics by the Mets, who qualified for the postseason by beating Atlanta 8-7 in the first game of a doubleheader Monday on Lindor’s two-run ninth-inning homer. They used a five-run fifth inning to beat Milwaukee in Game 1 of their series, then saw the Brewers come from behind to win Game 2 5-3.
The Mets were just 24-35 on June 2, but went 65-38 thereafter to finish 89-73, six games behind the Phillies in the National League East. This is the teams’ first postseason meeting.
The Phillies will send their ace, ex-Met Zack Wheeler, to the mound Saturday. Wheeler thrust himself into the NL Cy Young Award conversation by going 16-7 in the regular season, with a 2.57 ERA and 224 strikeouts in 200 innings.
“You always get nervous,” Wheeler said Friday of postseason appearances, “but once you get out there you kind of settle down a little bit, kind of forget about (the fans) and just do your normal job.”
The Mets will counter with right-hander Kodai Senga, who because of shoulder and calf injuries pitched one game all season — a July 26 victory over Atlanta, in which he pitched 5 1/3 innings and allowed two runs on two hits, one of them a homer. Senga, a native of Japan, went 12-7 with a 2.98 ERA as a rookie in 2023.
The Phillies have been among the best teams in baseball all season. Their victory total (95) was exceeded only by the Dodgers, who won 98, and their run differential (113) was fourth-best behind the Dodgers, Yankees and Brewers.
But while the Mets have played five games this week, the Phillies have been resting, playing only an intrasquad game on Wednesday.
History suggests that down time might not be the best thing. Of the eight teams to earn first-round byes in the first two years of the current playoff format, five were eliminated in the divisional round. Only one — Houston, in 2022 — won the World Series.
The Phillies were on the losing end in that series, and last year fell to Arizona in the National League Championship Series, a series in which they seized a 3-2 lead but surprisingly lost the final two games in their raucous home stadium.
They own a 12-4 home record the last two postseasons, and this year they won the season series from the Mets, 7-6. That includes a split of a two-game series the teams played in London in June. New York did, however, win three of the teams’ last four meetings.
–Gordie Jones, Field Level Media
Sports
Report: Timbers signing Dutch F Vincent Janssen
Apr 3, 2022; Portland, Oregon, USA; A view of the Portland Timbers logo before the game against the LA Galaxy at Providence Park. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-Imagn Images The Portland Timbers are finalizing a deal to sign Dutch forward Vincent Janssen, The Athletic reported on Monday.
Janssen, 32, is a free agent after departing Belgium’s Royal Antwerp earlier this summer.
He reportedly will not occupy a designated roster slot in Portland, where he could fill the vacancy opened by Felipe Mora’s recent departure to Liga MX side Atletico San Luis.
Janssen had 13 goals and seven assists in 40 appearances across all competitions last season with Royal Antwerp.
He previously played in North America with Mexico’s Monterrey from 2019-22, tallying 24 goals, in addition to stints with Turkey’s Fenerbahce, England’s Tottenham Hotspur and the Netherlands’ AZ and Almere City.
Internationally, he scored seven goals in 22 caps with the Netherlands and participated in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Reds place Spencer Steer (wrist) on 10-day IL
Jul 26, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Cincinnati Reds second baseman Spencer Steer (7) is checked on by Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona (77) and training staff during a game against the St. Louis Cardinals in the fifth inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Puetz-Imagn Images The Cincinnati Reds placed versatile infielder/outfielder Spencer Steer on the 10-day injured list Monday due to a right wrist sprain.
Steer was injured while making an awkward swing on Sunday when facing St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Kyle Leahy in the fifth inning. He fouled off the pitch and began shaking the hand.
A trainer and Reds manager Terry Francona had a conversation with Steer before the decision was made to have Edwin Arroyo finish the at-bat. Arroyo lined out and replaced Steer in the field at second base.
Steer, 28, is batting .238 with 16 homers and 40 RBIs in 98 games. He has started 27 games at first base, 26 in left field, 23 in right field, 14 at second base and two in center field.
Steer is in his fifth season with the Reds. He has 82 homers, 301 RBIs and a .242/.327/.739 slash line in 586 career games.
Steer has been rumored to be a possible trade candidate ahead of the Aug. 3 deadline.
Cincinnati recalled infielder/outfielder Ivan Johnson from Triple-A Louisville in a corresponding move. He went 0-for-5 in four games with the Reds earlier this season.
The Reds host the Cleveland Guardians on Monday night in the first of a three-game set.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Sixers give 'King James' royal welcome to Philadelphia
Feb 5, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) drives past Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) in the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images After the Los Angeles Lakers were eliminated in the second round of the 2026 postseason, superstar LeBron James wrote that he was “done,” but on Monday, the Philadelphia 76ers officially welcomed the four-time MVP and four-time NBA champion into the fold.
James, who turns 42 in December, signed a two-year deal worth $8 million to join a star-studded Sixers roster that includes former MVP Joel Embiid, former NBA Finals MVP Jaylen Brown, All-Star Tyrese Maxey and Rookie of the Year runner-up VJ Edgecombe.
The NBA’s all-time scoring leader, James will enter his 24th season with the goal of helping the Sixers win their first title since 1983. Like the Lakers, the Sixers were bounced in the second round, falling to the eventual champion New York Knicks. Philadelphia has not advanced past the second round since 2001.
“I cannot wait to see LeBron alongside Jaylen Brown, VJ Edgecombe, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and our talented roster as we work to deliver a championship for Philly,” team owner Josh Harris said.
Despite his age, James remains one of the league’s best players, coming off a season when he averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds over 60 games. Over his 23 seasons, the 22-time All-Star has averaged 26.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 7.4 assists in 1,622 games.
“There is no doubt LeBron is one of the greatest players to ever play the game of basketball and there are no words to measure the impact he’ll have on this organization,” team president Mike Gansey said.
Among James’ numerous accolades, he is a four-time NBA Finals MVP, a 21-time All-NBA selection, a three-time All-Star Game MVP and a member of the NBA’s 75th anniversary team. He is also the first player to earn NBA Finals MVP honors with three teams (Lakers, Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers).
Drafted No. 1 overall by the Cavaliers in 2003, James played seven seasons before taking his talents to South Beach with the Heat, winning his first two NBA titles in Miami. He went back home to Cleveland and helped end a 56-year title drought in 2016. In 2018, he joined the Lakers and led them to a championship in 2020.
James and Gansey, who have ties going back to their Ohio high school basketball days in 2001, will reunite in Philadelphia. Gansery took over GM duties after Daryl Morley was fired in May.
Gansey, who starred at Olmsted Falls High School, was runner-up for Ohio’s Mr. Basketball in 2001 to James, who won the award three times at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School before going straight to the NBA in 2003.
“I have had the pleasure of knowing LeBron since high school and have seen the high-level impact he’s produced at every stop of his basketball journey,” Gansey said. “He is a consummate professional, the ultimate competitor and a tireless worker. But he is also an incredible person with natural leadership traits, a family man, and someone who possesses unwavering commitment to community and those around him.”
–Field Level Media
Report: Timbers signing Dutch F Vincent Janssen
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