The vibes inside Madison Square Garden were immaculate on ring night, with the first banner in 53 years going up to the rafters, the sudden appearance of an NBA Cup 2025 championship banner, Jalen Brunson getting his deserved love, OG Anunoby getting the second-loudest ovation (historic tip-ins will do that), and the crowd barking at coach Mike Brown (who has an odd love for the song "Who Let the Dogs Out"). Even a loss to the 76ers didn't spoil the mood much.
But owner James Dolan is trying to. Dolan still hasn't sprung for the rings for the Knicks assistant coaches, who received empty ring boxes during the ceremony and didn't open them, a story broken by Joe Varden at The Athletic. It's also unclear whether head coach Mike Brown got his ring.
Seven league sources, all speaking on condition of anonymity so they could talk freely about a sensitive matter, said the Knicks assistant coaches did not get rings on banner night. Two of those sources told The Athletic that the assistants learned earlier Tuesday that they would not be getting their rings that evening, which came as no surprise because they had not yet been fitted for one and that boxes without their rings were a late addition to the ceremony.
Those coaches are at various levels of pissed off — and they have every right to be. It's also worth noting that assistant coaches don't always get their rings on ring night — the Thunder assistants didn't last year. However, for most teams, they get their rings that night, but at least they'll get them. Someday.
Tradition with championship teams is that a number of the teams' staff also get rings — faces you know, like the broadcast team, but also the people who do the hard work on the business side of the operation as well. Usually, deeper in the team staff, those rings don't have all 80+ diamonds and all the baubles, but they get real, meaningful rings.
Not in New York. With the Knicks, those people not only didn't get rings — they got a phishing scam about the rings.
Those Madison Square Garden employees got their hopes up at the end of September when the Knicks sent an email to a long list of employees, which gave recipients a first glimpse at their would-be championship rings. Atop the email, a copy of which The Athletic has obtained, was a graphic of two differently styled rings...
But the email was a fake-out, a phishing test Madison Square Garden sent to see if those employees would click, multiple team sources said.
Clicking the link in the phishing scam meant those employees got to go to a cybersecurity class. Congratulations!
Viewers of the ring night ceremony on NBC and Peacock may also have noticed that NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, who usually addresses the crowd and shakes players' hands as they get their rings, did neither. That's just the latest installment of the long-running feud between Dolan and Silver.
Ring night in New York was still special, but only Dolan could find a way to take a little shine off the event to save a few bucks.
TORONTO, ON - AUGUST 25: Nate Pearson #61 of the Kansas City Royals looks on during the game between the Kansas City Royals and the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on Tuesday, August 25, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Peter Sarellas/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Baseball is a game about second chances. And third chances. And fourth chances.
Back in the 2017 MLB Draft, with the 28th pick of the first round, the Toronto Blue Jays selected right-handed pitcher Nate Pearson.
It was easy to see why. After leaving Florida International for the College of Central Florida, Pearson burst into the draft scene. According to Baseball America’s draft report on him, “[h]is fastball shows late running or sinking movement and he made tremendous growth with his command. His changeup now projects as a plus pitch, showing late fade when he locates it down in the zone. He throws both a slider and a curveball, and scouts see his slider as a more prominent part of his future. The pitch shows slurvy shape and sits in the low 80s. Pearson’s athleticism and rapid growth could lead him to come off the board as high as the back of the first round.”
He peaked as the Blue Jays No. 1 prospect in 2020 while ranking No. 2 in both 2021 and 2022. In 2020, Baseball America ranked him as the No. 7 prospect in all of baseball.
Debuting in that strange season of 2020, he started four games while appearing in another. That’s the most starts he’s made in a season in his career. Since, he’s started only two other games, pitching primarily as a reliever as he’s bounced between the Blue Jays, Cubs, Astros, and Royals.
Why?
Why else: injuries. He’s battled multiple elbow injuries while also suffering groin, shoulder, and lat injuries, as well as illness. It’s why, despite his tantalizing stuff, he’s bounced around four different clubs since 2024.
He began 2026 with the Astros. After 16 appearances with decent results, Houston designated him for assignment on July 19. Three days later, the Royals traded for him. He made his first appearance as a Royal on July 26.
Focus for a minute on Pearson’s first 20 outings for the Royals. It tells the story of a reliever who could very well help anchor the Royals bullpen in 2027:
21 innings pitched, 20 strikeouts, 7 walks, 11 hits (zero of which left the yard), 0.43 ERA, 2.62 FIP, .212 batting average on balls in play, 3 saves, 1 blown save, 11 holds, 4 doubles allowed.
Pearson became ineffective starting around September 13. Over his final six appearances, his numbers cratered – 5 innings pitched, 5 strikeouts, 7 walks, 10 hits (including 1 home run), 21.60 ERA (!), 9.10 FIP (!!), .474 batting average on balls in play, 0 saves, 1 blown save, 0 holds, 3 doubles allowed. By then, the Royals were out of it, but his spiral meant one less reliable option in a bullpen that didn’t have many reliable options with which to begin.
PIT – Rafael Flores Jr. 2-run HR (10) ⚡ Go-ahead HR ⚡
📏 426 ft | 💨 110.2 mph | 📐 29° ⚾️ 89.7 mph slider (KC – RHP Nate Pearson) 🏟️ Out in 30/30 parks 💣
Pearson remains arbitration-eligible for one more season. Will the Royals bring him back or non-tender him? He’s due for a raise from the $1.35 million he signed for last offseason with the Astros.
I wouldn’t mind bringing him back. There’s still something so intriguing about him, especially when considering his first 20 appearances with the Royals.
I trust you have been reading my series on the 17 (!) 2026 Cubs who are either free agents or who have various forms of contract options, either club or player or mutual. That series will continue through next week.
After that, during the first week of November I’ll begin my usual series on free agents who the Cubs might target. That’ll be right about when the World Series ends, and the free-agent period begins five days later.
The incoming free-agent class features scant stardom beyond [Tarik] Skubal. San Diego Padres starter Michael King and Boston Red Sox veteran Sonny Gray could also strike it big. Seattle Mariners outfielder Randy Arozarena headlines a group of hitters that includes Milwaukee Brewers postseason hero Jake Bauers, two-time All-Star second baseman Brandon Lowe and Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki. At 28, Padres lefty Adrián Morejón tops the relief market. The incoming class from Nippon Professional Baseball features pitcher Hiromi Itoh, third baseman Teruaki Sato and pitcher Kaima Taira.
All might find a home before the lockout, or face a lengthy wait for the sport to resume operations. The prospect of a market compressed by a deadline is far from the union’s ideal — but the landscape beyond this winter is even harder to predict.
“I think there’s going to be more urgency,” one executive said. “And I think it could be a fun month of November, if we treat Dec. 1 like, ‘This is a deadline. So let’s get some s— done.”
The article hints that some free agents — and teams, too — might want to get some sort of deals and cost certainty before a new CBA that could put some limits on both. For example, in addition to the owners’ proposed salary cap, there’s another proposal on the table that could limit the maximum length of a contract:
In June, MLB proposed for the 2027 season a maximum contract of five years and $202 million for a free agent joining a new team. The player could sign with his current team for six years and $265 million. Compare that to what Skubal might command this winter: One executive floated a 10-year, $400 million deal as a hypothetical.
“Major League Baseball can’t stop that right now,” the executive said. “But after the lockout’s over and the settlement, it might not be possible for that guy to get that contract.”
Any deals signed before Dec. 1, under the current CBA, seem likely to be grandfathered if the payroll system has a major revamp done. That would also apply to current deals such as the 15-year, $765 million deal signed by Juan Soto with the Mets prior to the 2025 season, and any other long-term deals that go far beyond this year. Even if some sort of salary cap/floor system is agreed to — and who knows? — it will take a while to unwind all those large deals. There will have to be cap exceptions, to use an NBA term, for those sorts of contracts.
There was a feeding frenzy of sorts like this five years ago when the last CBA was up:
On Dec. 1, 2021, hours before the CBA expired, the Texas Rangers introduced their $500 middle-infield duo of Corey Seager and Marcus Semien. Teams were handing out nine-figure contracts across the sport: Max Scherzer received $130 million from the New York Mets. The Detroit Tigers flung $140 million at Javier Baez. Robbie Ray got $115 million from the Seattle Mariners and Kevin Gausman agreed to a $110 million deal with the Toronto Blue Jays.
You will likely remember that the Cubs signed Marcus Stroman to a three-year, $71 million deal at that time. The deal came with two opt-outs. Stroman was pretty good the first year, not so much in 2023, then he opted out and signed with the Yankees.
Could the Cubs be part of this sort of free-agent circus, if such a thing comes to pass? You’d like to think so, at the very least to retain Seiya Suzuki, who might be the best hitter available this winter.
One thing’s for sure. There is going to be a lockout. No one from MLB has specifically said that yet, but all signs point to the sport being shut down after the deal expires at 11:59 p.m. ET (10:59 p.m. CT) on Dec. 1. After that — well, as always, we await developments.
DENVER, COLORADO - AUGUST 03: Taylor Walls #6 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates after hitting a second inning two-run single against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on August 3, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Last week, I wrote about the things the Colorado Rockies were doing well to follow the “Moneyball-like’ ways of the Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays based on the keys to success laid out by The Athletic’s Eno Sarris. I compared the Rockies improved stolen base rate and decreased strikeout rate as evidence of the ways Colorado did better in 2026.
This week, I wanted to look at some of Sarris’ other points and see how the Rockies measure up. This time, pitching is the focus, specifically with Colorado’s use of technology and creative pitching strategies.
Everyone knows the Rockies have been late to the game in the research and development department. However, based on this framework, there is both promising news and worrisome news.
“Rays and Brewers were both early on using tech and data”
Sarris points to several innovative technology tools that capture data that have helped Milwaukee and Tampa Bay be more informed. Both organizations have been using them for several years, even a decade in some cases. The good news is that the Rockies have upped their data and tech game in the last few seasons, some of which Purple Row has covered, but they are still playing catch-up behind the Rays and Brewers.
The first tech Sarris mentions is KinaTrax, which captures biomechanics without markers. The Rays started using KinaTrax in 2015. The Rockies have only been using it since 2023 and only really optimising the data with the opening of the performance lab in 2024. Implementing systems like this throughout the farm system and at the Major-League level is a monumental undertaking. The organization has to give it time to work. Plus, having a front office and manager that didn’t embrace analytics as much as current president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta and manager Warren Schaeffer do now likely delayed the maximum effectiveness of the data.
The same goes for the other technologies innovative teams are using to get the best out of their pitching staffs. The Rockies are using Edgertronic (high-speed cameras that better capture ball release out of the pitcher’s hand), Catapult, which helps with fatigue monitoring, and virtual reality to prep for games.
As Purple Row’s Renee Dechert wrote in September, the Rockies pitching coaches are using Catapult now, but the organization was one of the last teams to adopt it. Using it and learning how to use it to improve will also take time.
When it comes to virtual reality work, the Rockies should have been pioneers with the tech, considering it was developed by Chris O’Dowd, the son of former Rockies GM Dan O’Dowd. But the tech-resistant ideology persisted long after other teams were benefiting from wearing VR. Even the performance lab was behind the timeline of most other teams. While the Rockies opened theirs in 2024, the Brewers have been utilizing theirs since 2019.
It takes the tech and the people who believe in it and know how to use it for a team to truly thrive in the analytics department. As Sarris says, “It takes great communicators to turn all that data into insights that the best coaches can use to improve their players.”
The Rockies are getting there, but they are tardy. Time will tell if the data, the communication, the coaches and the players can align and improve.
“Rays were early on using the opener and other out-of-the-box pitcher-use strategies”
Creativity is a mixed bag in MLB. As Sarris writes, the Rays have always been on the cutting edge in this area. It’s a high-risk, high-reward endeavor that can label an organization as an innovative trailblazer or as a ridiculous flop.
The Rockies found this out in 2012-13 when they embarked on the four-man rotation with 75-pitch limits. It didn’t work out so well, but neither has any kind of pitching on a consistent basis. In this way, the Rockies don’t have much to lose and, therefore, have more wiggle room to try new approaches.
In 2026, the Rockies experimented with nine openers or bullpen days. This can be hard to classify with some Colorado pitchers — like Chase Dollander, Tanner Gordon and Ryan Feltner — going back and forth from the rotation to the bullpen. The Rockies went 1-7 in those games, but it wasn’t necessarily due to pitching. The Rockies scored two or fewer runs in seven of those games, including two shutouts.
As Sarris notes, one feature teams like the Rays sometimes use is having a follower, a pitcher who enters the game after the opener and can eat up innings in the middle of the game. Some teams are finding success with using a follower on bullpen days or opener games and finding success.
The Rockies did this with Dollander early in the season. Dollander was a follower five times, pitching at least four innings in each of those appearances when he was the second arm to enter the game. As a follower, Dollander posted a 3.20 ERA in 25.1 innings. It was better than the 4.82 ERA he posted in the 18.2 innings when he wasn’t a follower or starter.
That being said, Dollander was one of the Rockies best pitchers this year before suffering his season-ending injury on May 15. So it probably wouldn’t matter when Dollander pitched because he would have been significantly better than the combined Rockies ERA of 5.59.
Conclusions
In my opinion, the Rockies don’t seem opposed to thinking outside of the box. They just don’t have the depth to do it. Whether it’s injuries or ineffectiveness, the Rockies are usually forced into pulling up prospects or signing sub-par free agents, often aging veterans who aren’t as good as they used to be. Since the Rockies already struggle so much with pitching at altitude and transitioning to and from lower elevations, they also aren’t able to attract high-level talent. This is where the failure in development is so devastating.
Perhaps if the technology and data implementations take hold, combined with the new front office and coaching regime, the Rockies recent draft picks and newer prospects will be better prepared to succeed. That could allow the organization more freedom to be creative and find ways to win in Colorado.
ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 29: Jonah Heim #20 of the Atlanta Braves takes the field before the game against the Detroit Tigers at Truist Park on April 29, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Veteran backstop Jonah Heim’s stay in Atlanta was brief, but he helped the Braves temporarily bridge the gap between the team’s starting catcher and his injured handcuff.
How Acquired
The Atlanta Braves signed Heim to a big league contract on February 10, 2026, after he’d lingered on the free agent market and Sean Murphy’s recovery from late-season surgery in 2025 looked like it was going to prevent him from being ready for the start of the 2026 regular season.
What were the expectations?
Heim, who was an All-Star and Gold Glove winner in 2023, was coming into Atlanta to be the (initial) primary back-up to reigning Rookie of the Year winner, Drake Baldwin. Heim had been a regular starter with the Texas Rangers, having played in 124 or more games for four consecutive season. His 2024 and 2025 campaigns saw his production crater: after 2.7 fWAR in 2022 and a career-high 4.0 in 2023, Heim posted marks of 0.0 and -0.4 the following two years. The decline was across the board: he both hit worse (from a 103 wRC+ in 2022-2023 to a 71 wRC+ in 2024-2025), and his once-vaunted defense fell into “truly abysmal” territory.
Projection systems ahead of the 2026 season were still splitting the difference, figuring he was something like a below-average regular, with a well-below average bat balanced by still being able to play catcher fairly well.
The Braves didn’t need him to do much else; they just needed him to hold down the fort for a while.
2026 results
Heim started 12 games behind the plate for Atlanta, giving the team a .231/.311/.410 slash line. In some ways, that was better than expected… but really, it was just the result of outhitting his xwOBA in a 45-PA sample. His .277 xwOBA as a Brave was basically the same as his .279 xwOBA in 2024-2025. While a tiny sample, he continued his trend of being rated poorly by defensive metrics, with no recovery whatsoever from the depths he started to plumb after 2023 in that regard.
Heim started intermittently for the first six weeks of the year, while Sean Muprhy was out. In a bittersweet twist of fate, he had his best game as a Brave on May 3, hitting a homer (his only homer as a Brave) and a double against the Rockies on May 3. However, Murphy was activated, and Heim ended up designated for assignment and subsequently traded to the West Sacramento Athletics for cash.
For the Braves, that ended up being fairly awkward, as Murphy ended up with another lengthy injury stint a week later, and the Braves had to make do with options that were even worse than Heim. It got even more dire when Baldwin also hit the shelf, and the catcher situation started to look like the 2021 Kevan Smith et al. disaster.
For Heim, though, things ended up similarly unfortunate, but in a more circuitous way. Heim was a semi-regular for the Athletics, logging 345 PAs in 93 games. He finished with -0.6 fWAR, a new career low, in large part due to a continued, and worsening inability to actually play the catcher position all that well. But, the way he got there was particularly painful, as he was actually hitting fairly well for his new team (105 wRC+) through the end of June, until once again falling apart down the stretch. Basically, Heim finished at a 66 wRC+, which involved a 103 wRC+ through June, and a 44 wRC+ from July-afterwards. The Braves didn’t miss aggregate-production-in-2026 Heim, but they did miss May-and-June Heim… not that it really works that way.
What went right?
Heim did manage to become an unexpected regular with the Athletics, something that probably wasn’t in the cards for him after how bad he was in 2024-2025.
His aforementioned final game with the Braves was great, and not in the stat-padding way. His homer turned a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 lead, and then he added a lead-extending sacrifice fly and a two-run double, both of which came in fairly close games.
While these didn’t come with the Braves, Heim also had two epic games for his new team in the span of 11 days. On June 8, he was a big part of a barnburner against the Brewers, hitting a game-tying pinch-hit homer in the tenth (an inning the Athletics started down four runs). Then, he did it again against the Angels, this time a two-run shot in the ninth that set up a walkoff walk victory an inning later.
Another thing went right for Heim — perhaps one unexpected given his defensive issues. No one in baseball was better at gaining value via ABS: Heim’s 4.3 runs above average led MLB.
What went wrong?
Heim, a switch hitter, hit much better from the right-side in 2026 — so much so that he faced a few right-handed pitchers as a right-handed hitter. He simply couldn’t hit righties, though, which was an issue given how much playing time he got. Overall, his 2026 season was his third straight year with a drop in production. Outside of a few categories like chase rate, Heim rated poorly, bottom third or worse, in most offensive, defensive and base-running metrics according to Baseball Savant.
The real issue, though was his defense: you can tolerate a platoon-ish catcher even if he has a weak bat against right-handed pitchers. What you probably can’t tolerate is a guy who gives away runs in all three of framing, throwing, and blocking — even if he gets some of those back through his mastery of the challenge system.
Only two catchers were definitively worse at blocking than Heim in 2026. Combine that with below-average performance in framing and throwing out baserunners, and it’s a recipe for bleeding value.
Heim didn’t have a particularly bad game as a Brave: his worst WPA performance before he was sent west was an 0-for-2 against Tarik Skubal in a game the Braves won (one of his outs was a double play ball). He had many grislier performances down the stretch, but we won’t dwell on those.
2027 outlook
Heim, who will start the 2027 season at age 31, is likely in his full-time back-up portion of his career, and even that might be optimistic. Maybe his ability to hits righties rebounds… or maybe his defense does, but neither has shown any inclination of happening. He’ll likely land a job somewhere in 2027, pending the occurrence of an actual season, but if he gets an MLB deal this time, it might be the last one he gets. He’ll still be projected for above-replacement, well-below average performance, but even that seems like a tough sell given how poorly he’s played for three seasons now. Never-say-never on a return to Atlanta, but that seems doubtful.
FAYETTEVILLE, AR - MAY 31: Arkansas Razorbacks outfielder Justin Thomas Jr. (4) at bat during the NCAA Division I Regional baseball game between the Creighton Blue Jays and Arkansas Razorbacks on May 31, 2025, at Baum-Walker Stadium in Fayetteville, Arkansas. (Photo by Andy Altenburger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Asheville Tourists had a really rough season but still had some standout performers on the offense. Let’s take a look.
Asheville Tourists 2026 Record: 43-87
The Tourists got off to a brutal start going 6-18 over their first 24 games in April. In May, they struggled more going just 5-21 over 26 games. They performed better in June going 12-13 in 25 games. In July, Asheville would go 10-14 over 24 games. They played another 24 games in August going 8-16. They finished the season in September going 1-5. It was a rough season for Asheville.
Justin Thomas, OF Thomas was an 11th round pick by the Astros in the 2025 draft and put together a big year for Asheville. The outfielder started the season in Asheville and was really good posting a .868 OPS with 20 doubles, 17 home runs and 34 stolen bases over 94 games. This earned him a promotion to Double-A where he played in 20 games with a .750 OPS. Thomas finished the year with 19 home runs and 41 stolen bases over 114 games between High-A and Double-A as he had a breakout performance.
Cole Hertzler, RHP Hertzler dealt with a few injuries early in his career but finally had a healthy season and was able to show what he could do on the mound. The right-hander started in Asheville dominating with a 2.72 ERA over 10 starts. He was promoted to Double-A where he posted a 4.20 ERA over the final 40.2 innings of his season. He was nearly unhittable this season holding opponents to just a .183 BAA.
Caden Powell, INF Powell had a solid 2025 season until he got injured and missed time. He returned with a vengeance in 2026 putting together some nice numbers. The 22-year-old played the full season in High-A and compiled 18 doubles, 18 home runs, 69 runs batted in and 30 stolen bases. He was even better over the final 86 games batting .291 with a .890 OPS. He lead Asheville in hits, home runs and runs batted in.
Jack Moss, 1B Moss was released by the Reds early in the season and the Astros signed him as a free agent. After a few games in Fayetteville, he moved up to High-A and was great batting .339 with 16 doubles, 4 home runs and 48 runs batted in over 69 games. He finished the season in Double-A hitting .286 over six games. While he doesn’t have a ton of power, he makes a lot of contact and showed a great hit tool in 2026.
Kyle Walker, INF Walker was drafted in the 2025 draft and had a solid first full season in 2026. The infielder played the full season in Asheville and was a mainstay at the top of their lineup hitting .251 with 26 doubles, 5 home runs and a team leading 37 stolen bases. Walker posted solid walk and strikeout rates while also transitioning back to playing shortstop.
Ethan Frey, OF Frey was selected by the Astros in the third round of the 2025 MLB Draft, with the team going over slot to secure his signing. He came into the season with high expectations but had a rough start. After a slow April, he turned things on before getting injured and missing some time. Despite that, Frey still managed to post a reasonable stat line hitting .288 with 16 doubles, 10 home runs, 19 stolen bases and a .845 OPS over 70 games.
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 19: Freddy Peralta #51 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates after wining the ALCS MVP after defeating the Cleveland Guardians in game six of the American League Championship Series at Tropicana Field on October 19, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Tampa Bay Rays are ready to face the Milwaukee Brewers in the World Series as they have announced their roster of 26 players for the Fall Classic.
The roster is identical to what they rolled out when they swept the New York Yankees in the American League Division Series, as they have swapped top prospect Brody Hopkins for southpaw Garrett Cleavinger.
Although Brody Hopkins was on the Rays roster for the American League Championship Series against the Cleveland Guardians, Kevin Cash never found the correct moment to utilize Hopkins’ tantalizing arm as his command issues make him a liability in close games.
The Brewers roster of position players consists of six left-handed hitters, so Kevin Cash opted to have another southpaw in the bullpen, joining Steven Matz and Ian Seymour.
During the 2025 campaign, Cleavinger at times was the best reliever in the Rays bullpen but the 32-year old southpaw has dealt with injuries in 2026 and poor performance while on the active roster. He finished the regular season with a 4.79 ERA | 4.12 FIP with a 29.8 K% & 12.2 BB% over 41.1 IP. Cleavinger last pitched on September 4th, he was placed on the Injured List following that outing with left forearm tightness; Cleavinger has not pitched since that performance.
The rest of the Rays roster remains the same.
PITCHERS (12): RHP Bryan Baker, LHP Cam Booser, LHP Garrett Cleavinger, RHP Griffin Jax, RHP Kevin Kelly, RHP Nick Martinez, LHP Steven Matz, RHP Freddy Peralta, RHP Drew Rasmussen, LHP Ian Seymour, RHP Cole Sulser, RHP Tyler Wells
CATCHERS (2): Nick Fortes, Liam Hicks
INFIELDERS (7): Jonathan Aranda, Junior Caminero, Yandy Díaz, Jorge Mateo, Richie Palacios, Taylor Walls, Ben Williamson
OUTFIELDERS (5): Jonny DeLuca, Victor Mesa Jr., Cedric Mullins, Chandler Simpson, Ryan Vilade
TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 23: Joe Carter #29 of the Toronto Blue Jays trotting around the base is met by teammates with jubilation after Carter hit a game winning and World Series winning three-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies during game 6 of the World Series on October 23, 1993 at Exhibition Stadium in Toronto, Ontario. Toronto won the series 4 games to 2. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) | Getty Images
33 Years Ago Today
I vividly remember that moment. Whether the Blue Jays won or lost, I felt confident we’d be okay. With Pat Hentgen lined up to start game 7 after his impressive outing in game 3, there was reassurance. Still, I’m grateful for how it all turned out. Even after countless viewings, Joe Carter’s ability to keep that ball fair continues to amaze me.
A few years back, I had the chance to interview Hentgen and finally ask him a question that had always been on my mind:
I remember thinking when Joe Carter came to bat in game 6, “Oh well, even if we don’t win, you would be pitching the next day.” All would be good. Do you ever think about that you could have been pitching game 7?
Oh, of course. That whole day is like, I was charting the game, and I could tell you those numbers were starting to get a little scribbly towards the end there. We were down by 2 going into the 9th. You know Joe pulls those balls all year long and pulls them foul. So when he hit that ball, I was in the corner of the dugout. I’ll never forget it. I had my back to left field. I had my back to the foul pole. When he hit it, I remember just thinking, ‘Stay fair, stay fair’, because I felt it was hard enough hit to go out. And it just stayed fair that day for whatever reason.
But yeah, I thought about how it would have went down. And how you play 174 games or whatever, and it comes down to one game. It would have been pretty exciting, I’ll tell you. I know one thing in those situations: managers never let the starting pitcher get in any trouble. The minute I would have had some trouble going, we’d have had Harry Wholestaff in there. Every guy would have been available.
Thankfully, we never needed that seventh game.
Game 6 got off to a fast start, with the Jays putting up three runs in the first inning.
Devon White worked a one-out walk and raced home on Paul Molitor’s triple. Molitor then scored on a sacrifice fly by Carter.
John Olerud followed with a double, coming around to score on Roberto Alomar’s single.
The Phillies scored once in the fourth, but the Jays answered in the bottom half: Alomar doubled, advanced on a Tony Fernandez groundout, and scored on an Ed Sprague sac fly. Another run came in the fifth thanks to a Molitor solo home run.
The seventh inning brought trouble. Dave Stewart, after 120 pitches, allowed a walk, a single, and a three-run homer to Lenny Dykstra. Cito Gaston, in his first stint managing the Jays, was slow to pull him from the game.
Danny Cox came on and struggled, giving up three hits, a walk, and two runs while recording just one out. Al Leiter got the final two outs of the seventh and pitched a scoreless eighth despite a Dykstra walk and stolen base. Duane Ward handled the ninth efficiently.
The final frame was set up perfectly. The top of the order came to bat: Rickey Henderson walked, Devon White drove a deep fly out, and Molitor singled, putting the tying run on second. That’s when the unforgettable happened—Mitch Williams, my all-time favourite reliever, took the mound.
Henderson later said he tried to distract Williams from second base, forcing him to pitch out of the stretch and lose a bit off his fastball. With Rickey representing the tying run, Williams’ attention was split—understandably so. Carter, meanwhile, was always a threat to bring in a run with a sac fly.
Molitor was named series MVP after slashing .500/.571/1.000 with 10 runs, 8 RBI, 2 doubles, 2 triples, and 2 home runs. Alomar wasn’t far behind, hitting .480/.519/.640 with 5 runs and 6 RBI. Fernandez drove in 9 runs with a .333/.423/.381 line. Ward contributed 2 saves and a win—the clincher in Game 6.
And then there’s Joe Carter. He finished with a .280/.250/.560 slash line and 8 RBI, three of which were pivotal. Interestingly, his 3 sacrifice flies dropped his OBP below his batting average—something I’ve always found odd.
It was truly one of the greatest moments in World Series history, and probably the most significant in Blue Jays lore.
Beyond the home run itself, Tom Cheek’s legendary call made it even more iconic.
TORONTO, CANADA - OCTOBER 21: Caleb Wilson #8 of the Chicago Bulls dunks the ball during the game against the Toronto Raptors on October 21, 2026 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Quite a few Carolina fans by now heard about former Tar Heel Caleb Wilson’s first NBA regular season game with the Chicago Bulls. The talented forward finished his outing against the Toronto Raptors with 16 points, four rebounds, three steals, a block, and nine (!!!) turnovers. The detail that made everyone’s jaw drop is that he finished with a franchise-record -45 plus/minus, which as one could imagine triggered a lot of conversation.
I got to watch Wilson’s first game as a Bull, and my honest take is that his debut was indeed pretty bad, but the plus/minus is a bit misleading. So, let’s discuss three takeaways from Caleb Wilson’s official “welcome to the NBA” game.
Wilson’s teammates had an equal hand in his tragic plus/minus
Before we even touch anything that is specifically focused on Wilson, let’s talk about how his teammates helped make his plus/minus ended up as bad as it was. Bulls starting point guard Josh Giddey had an awful night on the floor, and it’s honestly not even really worth getting into his numbers. Giddey at times had tunnel vision on the floor, had some really goofy turnovers, and it was all made worse by the fact that he only made one of his 10 field goals. It shouldn’t be much of a secret that Wilson needs a good point guard by his side as he acclimates to the NBA, but he did not get that Wednesday night.
Zooming out, the entire team shot terribly from the field, and even worse from three. The Bulls were 4-36 from deep, which was one of the worst three-point shooting performances I’ve seen in a while. To be fair, it was less of a shot quality issue and more of an issue of just not being able to make shots. Wilson also got some quality looks from deep, but he just couldn’t get them to drop. When the whole team is shooting this poorly, it isn’t shocking that Wilson’s plus/minus was ugly, especially since he led the team in minutes with 32. That is all important context when assessing such a tragic game.
Wilson’s body at times moved faster than his mind
Something that we all saw during NBA Summer League at times was Wilson’s body deciding to execute something without really thinking it through. Against Toronto, there were times when the Bulls’ offense was stagnant, and when the ball ended up in his hands he just….tried something. That something didn’t go well more times than it did, and it played a huge role in his nine turnovers. It also seemed like Bulls head coach Tiago Splitter had Wilson on the perimeter a lot in this game, so when he did get the ball in the later part of the shot clock he had a ways to go before he could get to the rim, and his handle just isn’t good enough for that yet when he’s having to get past guys like Scottie Barnes and Kawhi Leonard.
As cliché as it sounds, Wilson just needs the game to slow down so that he makes the right decisions at the right time. It seemed like that was happening during preseason, but he also had his first experience dealing with some of the better defenders in the NBA in the Raptors, so it was a wake up call to say the least. These types of opponents are really good for his development, but this also means that nobody should be surprised if he has another stinker because he is trying to do too much against a playoff-caliber team.
When Wilson stuck to the greatest hits, he played well
Chicago Bulls head coach Tiago Splitter was very willing to let Wilson cook against the Raptors, and while that came with a good amount of bad, it also came with some good. Remember how much Wilson loves to live above the rim? He had a handful of dunks, including his first poster official NBA poster. That mid-range fadeaway he likes to take? It still looks good. His defense? Surprisingly solid against a team that flamed the Bulls.
Focusing on the defense part for a moment, there was a conversation before the season started about whether or not Wilson would be able to be a positive guarding NBA players. It’s safe to say that he will not be a deep negative thanks to his athleticism and length, which is how he ended up with three steals in a block. Even when players scored on him, his defense wasn’t bad at all. NBA All-Star Scottie Barnes drilling shots over Wilson isn’t exactly surprising, and it will happen quite a bit against some of the better players in the league. But he did pretty well for his first regular season game, and over time I expect him to only get better and better, especially when he gets a chance to bulk up next summer.
Finally, it is safe to say that Wilson’s energy that he plays with is still impressive. The Bulls got a steal at one point in the game and Wilson flew down the court faster than I’d seen him run before. He also at one point missed a bunny at the rim and immediately snatched the ball out of the air for a dunk. There was a good amount of positives from his first game, and if you would like a visual breakdown, check out Steph Noh’s film review:
One minute on Caleb Wilson's debut. Ballhandling and shooting were bad, way too many turnovers (9), but there was some good stuff too when I dove into the film. pic.twitter.com/HnY3uE0QdK
All and all, Caleb Wilson’s first regular season game was bad, but that isn’t to say there weren’t positives. There was really only one “good” rookie performance Wednesday night, and that was from former Illinois guard Keaton Wagler. Does it look like Wilson will be a bust? Absolutely not, and quite frankly, one would hope that nobody is thinking that after one NBA game. But this does prove that he is indeed a work in progress, but as long as he is willing to put in the work, he is going to be a really good player in the league for a long time.
WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 20: Riley Adams #15 of the Washington Nationals poses for a photo during the Washington Nationals Photo Day at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on February 20, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Adams is 30 years old but has played in only 263 MLB games. So it’s safe to say that, no, he has not proven himself capable of sticking on a big league roster. At the plate, he struggles to make contact big time, posting a career strikeout rate of 32.5%. Only two qualified hitters in all of baseball had a higher strikeout rate than that last year and one of them, Colson Montgomery, just set the all-time record for most strikeouts in a single season. It’s really, really hard to make it in the big leagues when you whiff that much. And in Adams’s case, it doesn’t help that he’s not known to be particularly special with the glove; he’s relatively adept at controlling the running game, but grades out as a poor framer.
But what Adams does have is a very quick bat and some serious power. During his last stint in the big leagues, which came with the Washington Nationals in 2025, Adams popped 8 dongs in just 286 plate appearances. That’s not quite what Mickey Gasper did this year, when he went crazy with 10 in 225, but it’s not all that far off. And like Mikey, Adams is a terror against AAA pitching; he put up a .273/.389/.506 slash line with 16 homers in 82 AAA games this past season.
When I said he has serious power, I meant it. Here he is launching a ball completely out of the park during a spring training game:
And here he is showing off his arm:
What’s he doing in his picture up there?
Tipping his cap and saying “I think my work here is done” after once again saving the backyard of a home in La Jolla, California from the ravages of pampas grass using his pioneering dry ice removal method.
What’s his role on the 2027 Red Sox?
This is a depth signing. In all likelihood he’ll have the same role on the ‘27 Sox as Jason Delay had on the ‘26 Sox, which is to say, no role at all. But having said that, there is something to like in that bat, and the Red Sox have a very recent history of getting gold out of 30-year-old journeyman catchers with power. That doesn’t mean you should expect him to do what Mickey Gasper did this year — you should never expect to see that ever again , actually — but it does mean that you should keep an eye on him.
CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 22: Taijuan Walker #99 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches during the game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Wednesday, April 22, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Kyle Sheridan/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
It would be unfair to blame Taijuan Walker for the 9-19 start and the firing of Rob Thomson, who was released after five miserable performances in the middle of the 10-game losing streak.
However, it is not unfair to use Taijuan Walker as a symbol of their biggest problem in 2026: failing to roster enough depth across the entire organization to overcome even minor injuries. They missed Zack Wheeler for 26 games to start the season and knew it was happening the entire offseason. Their starting pitching depth began and ended with Taijuan Walker during that time.
They did not face many significant rotation injuries the entire season. The starting rotation of Wheeler, Cristopher Sánchez, Jesús Luzardo, Aaron Nola, and Andrew Painter made 146 starts of a possible 162 during the season. There were only two instances where a rotation injury came into play, to begin with Wheeler, and the end of the year with Jesus Luzardo. Both were clear disasters.
Taijuan Walker pitched five games with the Phillies and they lost four of them. If you can read, you can see that they didn’t lose every single game he appeared in.
On April 11, Walker pitched five innings of two run ball with and recorded six strikeouts against the Arizona Diamondbacks. A perfectly solid outing for a number five starter, that is moving to the bullpen when their ace returns. They Phillies used five other pitchers to get through the game, including Orion Kerkering and Brad Keller, who did not last with the team the entire season for completely unrelated reasons.
Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper homered off Brandon Pfaadt, leading to a 4-3 win after Jhoan Duran closed out the ninth.
That one outing would end up mattering. If Walker put together one more stinker in a Phillies loss, both the Phillies and Diamondbacks would end up with the same record at 87-75. The Phillies do not make the playoffs and don’t have the privilege of getting body slammed by the Atlanta Braves in October to end the season.
In a way, Taijuan Walker is a massive part in the Phillies making the postseason. Think about it.
What went wrong
On a Wednesday night in Wrigley Field, Rob Thomson and the Phillies came up with a full-proof plan to fix Taijuan Walker. An opener.
Kyle Backhus would open against the top of the Chicago Cubs order, which included Nico Hoerner, Alex Bregman, and Seiya Suzuki in the top four. Walker would come in for bulk relief and the Phillies would pull off a crazy concept of winning a baseball game in April.
The Phillies lost this game 7-2, falling to 8-16 and were on the brink of firing Rob Thomson. Backhus surrendered a run in the first, Walker gave up five in bulk relief, and Alan Rangel came in to finish the final three innings to preserve the rest of the bullpen.
The Backhus-Walker-Rangel game is the lowest point in the losing streak. There is nothing else. How in the world did the Phillies think this was a strategy to deploy in a Major League Baseball regular-season game? How?
Just a complete failure from everyone, whoever you want to blame. It’s on them.
I will never forget the Backhus-Walker-Rangel game. Neither should you.
Final grade: F
This grade is not even as much about Taijuan Walker and how things went. As I stated earlier, he was a big part in the Phillies making the postseason.
This is on the organization for not providing enough pitching depth. They hung onto Walker for 22.2 innings because they had no other viable plan if a starting pitcher got hurt. It’s an organizational F. It’s more of an F on Dave Dombrowski and the entire Phillies organism than it is on Taijuan Walker.
NEW YORK - 1912. Birdie Cree, outfielder for the New York Highlanders poses for a portrait in 1912 in Hilltop Park, New York. (Photo by Mark Rucker/Transcendental Graphics, Getty Images) | Getty Images
Before he was Birdie, William Cree was a little man with a big right arm and impressive speed. Born about an hour south of Pittsburgh, like many players of his day, the old-timer had a unique path to the majors, including playing under a fake name to preserve his eligibility.
William Franklin “Birdie” Cree Born: October 23, 1882 (Khedive, PA) Died: November 7, 1942 (Sunbury, PA) Yankees Tenure: 1908-15
After finishing school in Pennsylvania, Cree attended Southwestern State Normal School, where he played football and baseball while earning his teaching credentials. After graduating in 1903, Cree started teaching in the public school system while continuing to play baseball and football. His athletic prowess earned him a scholarship offer from Penn State.
In the fall of 1904, just three days into his Nittany Lion football career, Cree dislocated his collarbone and was out for the season. However, he was healthy and ready for baseball the following spring. After collecting several extra-base hits, the nickname Birdie was born.
Cree actually used a variation of that nickname for his secret identity, presenting himself as Bill Burde, to play amateur baseball for some spending money while still in school. Following the 1907 season, Burde was purchased by Connie Mack and the Philadelphia Athletics.
The team left him with his amateur club for the start of the 1908 season and they moved him to center field. Before the season was over, Detroit acquired Cree the outfielder, not Burde the shortstop, from the Athletics and then promptly traded him to the New York Highlanders.
In September of 1908, Cree made his major league debut. He appeared in 21 games the rest of the way, batting .269 with two triples. The Highlanders finished the year in eighth place with a 51-103-1 record.
At age 26, in 1909, Cree played his first full season of professional baseball. The Highlanders moved him all over the field as he saw time at all three outfield spots, both middle infield positions, and even made one appearance at third base. Cree hit his first home run, which also happened to be the first home run hit out of legendary Shibe Park in Philadelphia by a right-handed batter. The team improved overall but still finished below .500.
The 1910 season was Cree’s breakthrough campaign. The team finished second in the American League with an 88-63-5 record, in part due to Cree’s improvement. His average increased by more than 20 points to .287, while he hit 16 triples and tied for the team lead with four home runs.
For an encore, Cree followed up his breakthrough season with what ended up being his best campaign. In 1911, Cree ranked in the top five in the American League in several categories and had one of the best seasons in club history by a non-superstar player. His batting average was .348, while he slugged .513 on 181 hits. That included 22 triples, 30 doubles, and 48 stolen bases. His production was good for a 5.6 WAR and a 152 OPS+.
The amazing run peaked and he started to come back down to earth in 1912. That season, Cree still slashed a very respectable .332/.409/.453 but was limited to only 50 games after battling a severe cold to start the year and then getting his wrist broken on a hit by pitch at the end of June. Sadly, Cree was never the same after this injury.
With the wrist injury lingering, Cree battled through the 1913 season. His average dropped to .272, but he still managed to hit 32 extra-base hits in 145 games. This year was the first in which the club was officially known as the Yankees, giving Cree the distinction of having played under both names.
Rocky is the only way to describe Cree’s 1914 season. Arriving overweight and out of shape, Cree was released and briefly played for Baltimore in the International League before the Yankees bought him back. Finishing off the year, Cree hit .309 in 77 games with a 2.9 WAR.
Cree couldn’t lose the weight he had added and then suffered another injury during spring training in 1915. In what would be his final professional season, Cree slashed .214/.353/.276 in 74 games, opting for retirement after the season rather than going down a level into the minors. Cree ended his career having played parts of eight different seasons professionally all with New York. His final career slash line was .292/.368/.398 and a 125 OPS+.
In retirement, Cree worked in banking and took up several leisure activities, such as golf and tennis. He even appeared at a few Old-Timers’ Days as well. But in November 1942, Cree succumbed to an illness just a couple weeks after turning 60.
Happy birthday, Birdie!
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 15: Jake Bauers #9 of the Milwaukee Brewers is presented with the Most Valuable Player trophy after his team defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers in game four of the National League Championship Series at Dodger Stadium on October 15, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I don’t know about y’all, but I’m incredibly excited for this World Series. The Rays and Brewers are both really fun teams, and while neither was the one I was rooting for when the postseason began, they’ve both won my heart to some degree with the way they handled their business so far this October. Ever since the two teams won their spots in the upcoming World Series, I’ve been thinking about how similar they are to each other and to the Royals, and what changes the Royals should be making to be more like them.
Starting pitching matters
There has been a lot of conversation surrounding the playoffs this year about how starting pitchers might be a dying breed. After all, starters have been pitching fewer and fewer innings for years. Then you get to this postseason and the White Sox made it all the way to ALDS Game 5 while using only one pitcher as a starter. The Guardians made it to Game 6 of the ALCS while using only two.
I don’t think it’s a coincidence, however, that the two World Series teams were among the ones who were willing to throw a starting pitcher every single game, even if he wasn’t necessarily the best pitcher available to them. The White Sox raced out to a 2-0 lead in the ALDS on the backs of their relievers but couldn’t keep it going forever. The Guardians decided they’d rather use their exceptionally effective relievers than allow Tanner Bibee to start a single playoff game, and it burned them in the ALCS when all of their relievers were worn out and overexposed. The Padres entered the postseason with the best bullpen in the majors, but they blew two games against the Brewers because they simply didn’t feel confident in any of their starters except Michael King.
The 2014 Royals showed that an elite bullpen performance could get you really far in the playoffs, but one aspect people slept on was that the Royals had competent, though not elite, starting pitching to keep things close for five-plus innings and prevent their relievers from being overworked or overexposed. Who knows how Game 7 of the 2014 World Series might have gone if the Royals had thought to just throw a true bullpen game, but they only got that far because they didn’t try it earlier.
This is actually something people have been discussing since at least 2024, though for some reason teams don’t seem to have taken it into account yet. That article discusses how overusing relievers can have a similar penalty to starters the third time through; ironically, the realization of the “third-time-through-the-order penalty” is what led teams to use their relievers like this in the first place. It sure seems like they’ve swung too hard in the other direction, though. I tend to think letting Tanner Bibee start Game 6 of the ALCS would have led to better results for the Guardians than asking all their best relievers to go out there not just for the third time in the series, but for the third time in three days, likely increasing the familiarity effect.
The lesson from this postseason isn’t “starting pitchers are irrelevant.” Instead, it is “you’d better have and use four competent starters or even the best bullpen will blow up in your face when they have to cover that many innings against the same team.”
Never stop trading
During the ALCS, there was a bit of schadenfreude in the fact that Tampa Bay beat Cleveland with home runs from their two best hitters, Junior Caminero and Yandy Díaz, two players the Guardians traded to the Rays. According to FanGraphs, the Rays have the most players on their 26-man roster in baseball who were acquired by trade – the National League champion Brewers were third. Even more interesting was that NLCS MVP Jake Bauers was part of the Guardians’ return for Díaz, and the Guardians DFA-traded him away, too.
The Royals could spend more, and they might be a better team. I’d actually argue that if the Rays and Brewers were willing to even spend half of what the Dodgers do, given how great they are at roster-building, they’d be able to have an even more dominant dynasty than LA has enjoyed. But if the Royals won’t spend more money, they need to follow the Brewers’ and Rays’ leads in this way – make lots and lots of trades.
A couple of weeks ago, I evaluated how both the Brewers and Royals front offices had done at getting appropriate value in their transactions. One aspect I didn’t properly consider was the types of transactions each team performed, though. I evaluated a total of 69 transactions for the Brewers, 41 of those were trades. The Royals made 55 transactions, and 3o of those were trades. Those are fairly similar ratios, but of the 30 trades the Royals made, only 15 were made for guys who might possibly help beyond a season or two. The Brewers made 27 such trades, a much higher percentage. I don’t think it is a coincidence that one of the Royals’ best trades in recent years was the deal that sent Freddy Fermin to San Diego for Ryan Bergert and Stephen Kolek. That trade helped them in the moment, but it also improved their team for the future. That’s exactly the kind of trade the Rays and Brewers do all the time that the Royals haven’t gotten the hang of.
Besides being willing to make bigger trades, the Royals should just be making more trades, period. People will act like the Guardians should have held on to Caminero and Díaz, but it’s not like the Rays or Brewers never make trades that send useful players away. After all, Bauers debuted with the Rays. And the Rays’ ALCS MVP, Freddy Peralta, was traded away by the Brewers earlier this year! To say nothing of how both teams have made trades in the past that sent valuable pieces away without getting anything good in return.
The Rays traded All-Star Tristan Peters to the White Sox for cash. They traded José Cabellero to the Yankees for Everson Pereira, then released him. They traded Jeffrey Springs and Jacob Lopez to the Athletics for three minor leaguers you’ve never heard of. The Brewers traded Tyrone Taylor and Adrian Houser for Coleman Crow. Until these playoffs, Corbin Burnes for D.L. Hall and Joey Ortiz wasn’t looking great. Honestly, the Peralta and Durbin trades aren’t looking great, either. But neither team lets the fear of failure stop them from doing more trades and recovering from the missteps.
The trades the Royals have made smack of fear in comparison. The Royals need to be bolder and be willing to be wrong if they ever want to have a chance of being gloriously right.
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 21: Trae Young #3 of the Washington Wizards and Anthony Davis #23 of the Washington Wizards look on against the Milwaukee Bucks during the second half at Capital One Arena on October 21, 2026 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Toronto Raptors couldn’t have asked for a much better start to the 2026-27 season after dismantling the Chicago Bulls 135-92, the largest home opener win in franchise history. Toronto heads to Washington on Friday looking to carry that momentum against a Wizards team that also opened its season with a win.
Toronto’s return to the court was highlighted by the reunion with Kawhi Leonard, who scored 23 points in his first regular-season game back with the Raptors. Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley also recorded 23 points apiece, while RJ Barrett added 20.
The Raptors established control immediately, scoring 43 points in the first quarter and forcing 27 turnovers. Their defensive pressure and balanced scoring proved too much for Chicago, although Toronto will want to see whether it can maintain that intensity against stronger opposition
TORONTO, CANADA – OCTOBER 21: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors drives against Matas Buzelis #14 of the Chicago Bulls in the first half of their NBA game at Scotiabank Arena on October 21, 2026 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Washington also began its campaign with an impressive performance, defeating the Milwaukee Bucks 128-116. Anthony Davis led the way with 34 points and 12 rebounds, while Trae Young contributed 20 points and 13 assists. The Wizards overcame a slow start with a decisive fourth-quarter run to secure the victory.
Players to watch
Kawhi Leonard will be one to watch after a successful first game in his return to Toronto’s lineup. His two-way presence gives the Raptors another scoring option, while Scottie Barnes’ ability to contribute as a scorer, rebounder and playmaker will be crucial to Toronto’s success.
While the majority of the starting five played well, I would like to see more production from the bench, as I expect them to play a bigger role in this game against the Wizards.
For Washington, Anthony Davis presents the biggest matchup concern after his performance in the season opener. His interior scoring and rim protection could challenge Toronto on both ends of the floor, while Trae Young’s playmaking will be key to the Wizards’ offence.
Young’s connection with Davis could create problems for the Raptors if they allow the duo to dictate the pace.
A player that I was excited to watch is first overall pick, AJ Dybantsa, though he has been ruled out for Friday’s contest.
WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 21: Trae Young #3 of the Washington Wizards and Anthony Davis #23 of the Washington Wizards look on against the Milwaukee Bucks during the second half at Capital One Arena on October 21, 2026 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Keys to the game
The biggest question is whether Toronto can force turnovers and generate easy points again. The Raptors thrived on defensive pressure against Chicago, but Washington’s combination of Young’s passing and Davis’ finishing presents a different challenge.
The battle inside will also be important. Toronto must find a way to limit Davis without overcommitting defensively and leaving Washington’s perimeter players open.
Meanwhile, the Raptors’ ball movement and ability to get contributions from multiple scorers should help determine whether they can control the game.
Washington will also be looking to improve its perimeter shooting after struggling from three-point range against Milwaukee. If the Wizards find their touch from deep, they could make this a much closer contest.
Prediction
Toronto has the momentum and demonstrated how dangerous its offence can be when Barnes, Quickley, Barrett and Leonard contribute together. However, Davis and Young give Washington a formidable duo that should make things more difficult for the Raptors.
TORONTO, ON- OCTOBER 21 – Scottie Barnes #4 of the Toronto Raptors and Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors share a laugh on the bench as the Toronto Raptors play the Chicago Bulls in their season opener at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. October 21, 2026. Steve Russell/Toronto Star (Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images) | Toronto Star via Getty Images
Prediction: Raptors 114, Wizards 108.
Toronto’s depth and defensive pressure should be enough to secure a second straight win, but I would expect this to be a much closer matchup.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - SEPTEMBER 26: Evan Carter #32 of the Texas Rangers celebrates his RBI double against the Minnesota Twins in the second inning at Target Field on September 26, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
