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3 years ago

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7:05 AM ET

The NHL is having a moment in the New York metropolitan area. It’s a moment that we’ve never seen before.

The New Jersey Devils are the shock of the season, amassing a 19-4-0 record while playing an exhilarating brand of hockey. The New York Islanders are 15-9-0, bouncing back from a disastrous campaign last season thanks to Ilya Sorokin, who could be the NHL’s top goaltender. Although the New York Rangers have yet to get rolling, they went to the Eastern Conference finals last season and returned a roster with star players and recent award winners.

Through Tuesday night, the Devils, Islanders and Rangers had a combined .657 points percentage, or the number of points in the standings divided by the total possible points. If that holds, it would be the most successful season for the three rivals combined since the Devils relocated from Colorado in 1982. According to ESPN Stats & Information, the previous high for combined points percentage is .599 in the 1993-94 season.

As Stan Fischler told me recently: “I don’t recall a trifecta quite as special as this.”

That assessment carries the weight of history. Fischler attended his first Rangers game in 1939. As a journalist, he covered each of these franchises during their Stanley Cup championship runs. He’s seen a lot of New York hockey. He’s never seen it look like this.

“Right now, we have the rare opportunity — slumps notwithstanding — for each of the Met clubs having a shot at making the playoffs,” he said. “This is rare, exciting stuff for the fans overall, and me in particular. It feels like a once-in-a-lifetime experience and I’m sopping it up every night.”

Don La Greca doesn’t quite have Fischler’s work history. He has been covering hockey in New York since he was working for Sports Phone and making $15 per Devils game in the early 1990s. Now co-host of “The Michael Kay Show” on ESPN Radio 98.7 FM in New York, he’s also soaking in the moment.

“The Rangers are off to a slow start, but you know how good they are. If they get their act together, and if the Devils are for real, these are three of the better teams in the conference. And that never, ever happens,” he said. “As someone that makes a living talking about all sports, and as someone that’s dying for all three teams to be good so Michael Kay will let me talk hockey, this is a dream come true.”

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White Sox place Vargas on IL with oblique strain

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2 hours ago

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August 3, 2025

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White Sox place Vargas on IL with oblique strain

  • Associated Press

Aug 3, 2025, 04:32 PM ET

ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Chicago White Sox placed infielder Miguel Vargas on the 10-day injured list on Sunday because of a left oblique strain.

Vargas, 25, was scratched from Saturday night’s 1-0 victory at the Angels. Vargas, who was acquired from the Dodgers as part of a three-team trade in July 2024, is batting .229 with 13 homers and 44 RBIs in 106 games.

The White Sox also recalled infielder Curtis Mead from Triple-A Charlotte before their series finale against the Angels. Left-hander Bryan Hudson and right-hander Elvis Peguero were claimed off waivers from Milwaukee and assigned to Charlotte.

Mead, 24, came over when the White Sox traded right-hander Adrian Houser to Tampa Bay on Thursday. Mead hit .226 with three homers and eight RBIs in 49 games with the Rays this year.

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After red flag, White’s 2 HRs let Braves lap Reds

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2 hours ago

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August 3, 2025

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After red flag, White's 2 HRs let Braves lap Reds

  • Associated Press

Aug 3, 2025, 04:00 PM ET

BRISTOL, Tenn. — Eli White hit a three-run homer and a solo shot, helping the Atlanta Braves beat the Cincinnati Reds 4-2 on Sunday in the rain-delayed MLB Speedway Classic at Bristol Motor Speedway.

White’s first homer of the afternoon gave Atlanta a 3-1 lead in the second inning at the historic racetrack. The ball hit the safer barrier after clearing the outfield wall and the track itself.

He added his sixth homer of the season on a leadoff shot in the seventh.

Cincinnati went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position and left 12 on base. Brent Suter (1-2) got the loss.

Atlanta came in having clinched the season series, winning four of the first six games. The teams split the first two in Cincinnati before coming to Bristol.

The game was scheduled for Saturday, but it was suspended in the first inning because of persistent rain.

Hurston Waldrep (1-0) was on the mound for Atlanta when play resumed. The right-hander was brought up from Triple-A Gwinnett and traveled about 250 miles to Bristol Motor Speedway early Sunday morning. He pitched 5⅔ innings of one-run ball for his first career win.

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Rockies closer Halvorsen (elbow strain) put on IL

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5 hours ago

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August 3, 2025

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Rockies closer Halvorsen (elbow strain) put on IL

  • Associated Press

Aug 3, 2025, 01:19 PM ET

DENVER — The Colorado Rockies have put closer Seth Halvorsen on the 15-day injured list with a right elbow strain after he had to leave Saturday’s win over Pittsburgh.

Interim manager Warren Schaeffer said at the time the injury didn’t look good — following the right-hander’s exit after throwing five pitches in the ninth inning. Halvorsen leads the Rockies with 11 saves.

Colorado also recalled right-hander Nick Anderson and catcher Braxton Fulford from Triple-A Albuquerque on Sunday, and the Rockies optioned infielder Michael Toglia to Albuquerque.

The 25-year-old Halvorsen is 1-2 with a 4.99 ERA this year. He made his big league debut in August of 2024.

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