Batter makes 111 against Cricket South Africa Invitation XI
Three-match Test series starts in Durban on Friday
The indefatigable Marnus Labuschagne has responded to all the hand-wringing over whether he merits a place in Australia’s Test future by just doing what he likes doing best – scoring runs.
After a difficult year, the under-pressure 32-year-old chose the most timely moment to score his first century in any form of cricket for 11 months in Potchefstroom, just five days before Australia play their first Test in South Africa since the 2018 ball-tampering scandal.
Lakers guard Matisse Thybulle says he has been tested on defense daily by dynamic scorers Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. (Eric Thayer/Los Angeles Times)
“I mean, you have to work soooo hard. They’re soooo talented,” Thybulle said, laughing. “And it’s just … I think for me it’s great because getting to play against two of the best offensive players in the NBA every day just primes you for — I think it primes all of us, but me specifically — just primes you for what to expect. And I think it was a big thing when you’re growing up that practice should be harder than the games. And I think in the NBA it’s a little different because you just have to pace yourself for such a long season. But guarding Luka and AR, practice is definitely going to be harder than the games.”
During the first four days of Lakers training camp, Thybulle was frequently listed as one of the players who has been a menace on defense.
Austin Reaves said Matisse Thybulle "annoys" him. How do Luka and Austin annoy him? "You have to work soooo hard! They're so talented." pic.twitter.com/Qz8g1NLGSt
It was why the Lakers signed the 6-foot-5 free-agent wing to a one-year, $3.2-million contract.
Thybulle, along with Ziaire Williams and Adou Thiero, has been praised for how disruptive he has been during workouts.
“I just think naturally it’s going to be a healthy competition and it gets you better. It’s going to make Austin better when Ziaire is picking them up full court every possession and Matisse is in the passing lane trying to blow things up,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “I think [Thybulle and Williams] — [and] Adou with his physicality — those guys are getting better from practicing that way. It goes both ways.”
Thybulle made a name for himself on the defensive end of the floor. He is a two-time NBA all-defensive second team selection, both times with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2021 and 2022.
Still, Thybulle said he’s picking up new skills.
“I think, like the best offensive players in the league — Luka being probably one of the best — change pace so well,” Thybulle said. “And I think as I’m growing in this league, growing as a defender, learning when to change pace and go for steals versus sitting back and being solid and make it more of a cat-and-mouse game as opposed to trying to be in every passing lane every single time.”
On offense, Thybulle will try to mold his game around Doncic and Reaves.
Thybulle will be asked to knock down corner threes and fill the lane on the fast break.
Over the course of his seven-year career, he has made 34.9% of his three-pointers.
“I think luckily for me, I started my career in an offense that was similar to that, and just understanding you never know when it’s going to come, but just to be ready,” Thybulle said. “And just for me personally, at this point, having the confidence in my shot to know that when it comes, I’m ready for it, as opposed to just hoping for the best. I think it goes a long way as well.”
Health has been an issue for Thybulle during the past two seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers.
He played in just 30 games last season while recovering from a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb and in just 15 games during the 2024-25 season because of right knee and right ankle injuries.
But he’s healthy now and ready for a breakout season.
He’s one of nine new players on the roster and he’s one of the Lakers that will compete for a starting role.
“I leave those decisions up to the coaches,” Thybulle said. “Yeah, so for me, if my teammates are happy with how I’m playing and the coaches are happy with how I’m playing, that’s a good sign to me that I’m doing a good job. But if that means I’m coming off the bench or that means I’m starting, I trust that the coaches know how to use me best to create the most impact, and we’ll go with that.”
Two starting spots up for grabs
When the Lakers play their first exhibition game Monday night in Sacramento, the big story line will be the starting five.
Redick has said Doncic, Reaves and Walker Kessler will for sure start and that the other two spots will be decided by an open competition.
Redick was asked who would be available in Sacramento.
“Obviously, [we’re] still working through stuff,” he said.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 09: Jalen Duren #0 of the Detroit Pistons waits during the fourth quarter of Game Three of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena on May 09, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Pistons 116-109. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Jalen Duren wanted to make one thing clear — he’s happy to have signed his long-term deal with the Detroit Pistons and wants to finish his career with the team that drafted him.
That might come as a surprise to many fans, who have been living and dying by unsourced media reports about him angling for a trade out of Detroit, feeling disrespected by the franchise, and the relationship being beyond repair.
During his introductory press conference following signing his five-year, $200 million deal to return to the Pistons, Duren said those reports certainly didn’t come from him.
“I’ve never spoken to anyone in the media, made any statements or comments about anything or everything that’s been out there, so you can accept those as rumors,” Duren said. “They do not represent how I feel or what I think.”
So what does Duren think?
That he loves his teammates, loves his team, loves his coaching staff, and sees himself in the Motor City for the long haul.
“I’ve built lifelong bonds and relationships with the people here, and I’ve always seen myself finishing my career here, leaving a legacy in an already legendary organization and city,” Duren said during his opening statements.
The bottom line for Duren?
“I am a Detroit Piston. I want to be a Detroit Piston for life. I want to give everything I’ve got to the Pistons and the fans.”
So how did we get here? Well, Duren said he also learned how much of a business the NBA is, and that all sides are working for the best situation for their respective sides. The Pistons certainly didn’t handle everything perfectly. Perhaps if they started out negotiations much closer to a $200 million number, we never would have gotten here. Duren’s camp seemingly did everything in its power to extract every potential dollar for Duren. That’s their job. But it can also lead to contentious negotiation and some fractured relationships.
If I were going to extrapolate from that just a bit further, I’d say it’s pretty clear where those unattributed comments were coming from that just kept finding their way into reporters’ notebooks, but it’s best to move on. Because there is no reason we all shouldn’t move on.
Jalen Duren wants to be a Piston. The Pistons want Jalen Duren to be their starting center in a legitimate title window. They made a deal that brings the big man back for the next five years. Nothing else really matters.
Alexey Toropchenko is the latest St. Louis Blues players to join the list of the wounded.
The Blues announced on Sunday that the forward will be re-evaluated in six weeks after suffering an upper-body injury in the Blues’ 4-0 win over the Dallas Stars on Friday night.
Toropchenko was injured when he was pushed from behind by Stars defenseman Lian Bichsel and sandwiched between Bichsel and Tyler Seguin behind the Blues net in the first period before skating off and leaving the game.
Toropchenko, 27, joins defensemen Tyler Tucker (knee) and Logan Mailloux (hand) on the injured list. Tucker is also on a six-week re-evaluation timeline, Mailloux was given an eight-week re-evaluation timeline.
As of Sunday afternoon, the Blues (1-1-0) have not recalled a forward from Springfield of the American Hockey League. Dillon Dube and Zach Dean were the extra forwards on the roster when the season opened and each played on Saturday in a 6-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche.
The Blues play Tuesday against the Chicago Blackhawks to conclude a season-opening three-game road trip before the home opener Thursday against the San Jose Sharks.
The Montreal Canadiens are already without one regular defenseman in Kaiden Guhle, but on Saturday night, against the Pittsburgh Penguins, they might have lost right-shot blueliner Alexandre Carrier. Early in the second frame, the diminutive defenseman fell awkwardly into the boards, back and neck first, after battling with Egor Chinakhov. The defenseman tried to keep playing, but he eventually left the game.
The Canadiens have a day off on Sunday, so we likely won’t have an update on Carrier, but if he misses time, Adam Engstrom should integrate into the lineup. While the Swede isn’t a right-shot defenseman, he played on his off-side last season in the AHL and made the team out of camp, so it wouldn’t make sense to recall David Reinbacher because he’s a righty and keep Engstrom as a healthy scratch.
That doesn't mean the Austrian blueliner won’t be called up; the Canadiens do need an extra defenseman. However, since they are entering a four-game homestand and Laval is so close to Montreal, they may not need to call anyone up yet. However, the Laval Rocket’s next game is on Saturday, October 10, meaning Reinbacher could conceivably join the Canadiens in practice this week without missing a game in the AHL.
The Canadiens’ defense corps also didn’t look great on Saturday. Mike Matheson had an awful game; Arber Xhekaj made a soft backhand pass in the neutral zone that directly led to one of the Pens’ goals; Jayden Struble’s coverage was awful, which led to another goal that was mercifully taken away by a coach's challenge for offside.
That said, Matheson plays too big a role to be scratched, and St-Louis wouldn’t even consider it. Lane Hutson and Noah Dobson are just as solid in the chairs. The question then becomes: did either Xhekaj or Struble play badly enough to deserve to be scratched in the home opener? I don’t believe so.
If Carrier cannot play, it stands to reason that Engstrom would be dressed, having watched the last two games from the press gallery. If Reinbacher is called up, he’ll have to wait his turn.
Pete DeBoer is a veteran coach so he’ll surely temper enthusiasm after two games, but he’s got to feel at least a fraction of the joy Islanders fans experienced from a proper home opener romp over a rival.
The Islanders’ 6-0 win over the Devils Saturday night had a little of everything: Ilya Sorokin’s 30th shutout, goal and assist contributions from all over the roster, first NHL point and first NHL goal by Victor Eklund in front of his mom, special teams contributions, and another Matthew Schaefer highlight to set up the 3-0 goal that set the night on course for a homecoming party.
Whatever directions this season takes, nights like that are essential, and the perfect tonic after the bland opener in Toronto.
Islanders News
A special, meaningful birthday night for Eklund and fam. [Newsday]
Takeaways: DeBoer liked the depth and balance. Includes video of fans singing “Happy Birthday” to Eklund after his interview with Shannon Hogan. [Isles]
Sorokin got the new post-game hero award, a canoe paddle, while Casey Cizikas got the orange hard hat. [Isles]
Matthew Schaefer continues to enjoy life at the Martins as uncle and babysitter. Piece from Compton includes some Barzal-with-Seidenberg and Tavares-with-the-Weights tales, too. [NHL]
Elsewhere
With some injuries up front, the Oilers are shopping for some forward depth. [Sportsnet] We’ve got a couple with cup-winning pedigree…
It’s somehow getting even uglier in Detroit, where unsigned former first-round pick Simon Edvinsson now reportedly prefers a trade. Feels like that franchise needs another Jimmy Devellano to come to the rescue them from another Dead Wings era. [Sportsnet]
Aleksander Barkov’s latest injury looks long term, but they hope not season-ending. [NHL | Sportsnet]
R.I.P. Lyle Odelein, former Canadien and Devil, among others, including the Blue Jackets’ first captain. [Sportsnet]
The Blackhawks big-ticket acquisition Bowen Byram will miss his team’s return to Buffalo. [TSN]
Mario Lemieux was part of the Penguins’ 60th anniversary celebration, which is maybe news since he’s supposedly been in and out and in and out with the ownership and management. [NHL]
The Sharsk arrived to their home opener in old cars. [NHL]
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 03: Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres reacts after striking out against the Milwaukee Brewers during the eighth inning in game one of the National League Division Series at American Family Field on October 03, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
What a heartbreaking way to lose a game. The San Diego Padres had what appeared to be the go-ahead run over the Milwaukee Brewers when Ty France slugged a moonshot out to left field in the top of the ninth inning. Instead, the ball hit the roof and fell straight down into Jackson Chourio’s glove for an out. It almost certainly would have been a homer, but the official ruling is out.
However, San Diego had plenty of positives. The offense got to ace Jacob Misiorowski, tagging him for two runs before he was lifted in the fourth inning. After that, it got hazy. The Padres kept taking worse and worse at-bats as the game went on. Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado both struck out on three pitches in key situations. They’ll need to do better to even the series this afternoon.
Taking the mound
Logan Henderson (MIL) v. Michael King (SD)
What Henderson doesn’t have in tenure, he makes up for in immense recent success. The right-hander posted a 2.47 ERA in 18 starts (98.1 IP) this season with a 1.93 ERA in his final seven starts of the year. Henderson would have been the best pitcher in Milwaukee’s starting rotation if not for a young flamethrower named Jacob Misiorowski.
The 24-year old has never faced the Padres, which should be an advantage for him. His four-seamer, changeup combo is devastating, but if San Diego can have some plate discipline they should be able to beat Henderson. If their offense keeps trying to play the hero, it’ll be another story.
King will be making his second start of this postseason, after pitching a gem against the Chicago Cubs in Game 1 of the Wild Card series. King took a no-hitter into the seventh that night and was incredibly dominant against a potent offense. He’ll need to do the same this afternoon to give the Padres a shot at winning the series at home.
The Padres’ ace faced the Brewers only once this season (May 13), when he faced off against Misiorowski. King twirled 5 2/3 innings of one-run ball. There’s an immense amount of pressure on King to perform similar to his Wild Card start. If he can get through six quality innings, it’ll be a huge sigh of relief for San Diego.
Batter up!
It was a rough game for the offense. The Padres could have won the game if they hadn’t regressed so much from how they looked in the Wild Card. San Diego’s lineup left 12 runners on and went a dismal 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position. The Friars will need to wake up if they have any hope of evening the Division Series in Milwaukee.
Fernando Tatis Jr., RF
Dustin Harris, LF
Manny Machado, 3B
Ty France, 1B
Jackson Merrill, CF
Xander Bogaerts, SS
Gavin Sheets, DH
Jake Cronenworth, 2B
Luis Campusano, C
It’s possible that Sheets continues to only be used in pinch-hit situations. He is still dealing with a foot injury that sidelined him for much of the stretch run. However, with his potent bat left on the bench in Game 1, it’s likely that San Diego turns to the slugger in such an important moment.
Relief corps
The Padres expended a lot of high-leverage relievers in the series opener last night. After starter Robbie Ray went just 2 2/3 innings, San Diego turned to Bradgley Rodriguez, Yuki Matsui, Jason Adam and Adrian Morejon to pitch the final frames. Mason Miller is the only traditional reliever left for the Friars.
That being said, with the off day on Monday, it’s highly likely that everyone except Morejon will be on the table. The southpaw threw two innings and probably won’t pitch unless it’s absolutely necessary. Matsui and Adam each threw just 15 and 16 pitches, respectively, so they’ll factor as the first out of the ‘pen. Should King stumble early, Randy Vásquez could enter the game in bulk relief.
Marnus Labuschagne has all but confirmed his place at No. 3 for the first Test against South Africa, hitting a century in Australia’s pre-series warm-up game.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 03: Garrett Mitchell #5 and Luis Lara #18 of the Milwaukee Brewers celebrate after the 3-2 victory against the San Diego Padres in game one of the National League Division Series at American Family Field on October 03, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After a drama-filled win in Game 1, complete with homers from Jackson Chourio and William Contreras plus a roof strike in the 9th inning, the Milwaukee Brewers are looking to take a 2-0 advantage in the series this afternoon.
The Brewers will have right-hander Logan Henderson on the mound, making his first career postseason start. Henderson had a 2.47 ERA in the regular season, and is yet to allow more than three earned runs in a start in his career.
“He’s an old fashioned executer.” Pat Murphy said.
The Padres will have their ace on the mound, Michael King. King was phenomenal in his start against the Cubs in the Wild Card series, going seven innings, allowing just one hit and no runs while striking out eight. He has a 3.21 ERA on the season and has won all three of his postseason starts in his career.
“I think the biggest thing with Mike is he sets the ton, and obviously we saw it in San Diego in the Wild Card series. He pounds the zone and keeps those guys off balance.”
The Brewers offense will do their best to throw King off his game. Jackson Chourio, the best big game hitter the Brewers have, will hit leadoff once again. Brice Turang and Jake Bauers will follow him. William Contreras will back cleanup while centerfielder Garrett Mitchell moves up to the 5th spot in the order. Christian Yelich will DH once again and bat 6th. Sal Frelick gets the start in right field today and will bat 7th. Cooper Pratt is back down in the 8th spot and David Hamilton rounds out the bottom of the lineup and is playing third base.
The Padres make just some minor changes from their Game 1 lineup. It’s Fernando Tatis Jr, Dustin Harris, and Manny Machado atop their order. Ty France, Jackson Merrill, and then Ethan Salas form the middle of the order. Salas swaps spots with Xander Bogaerts, who drops to 7th for this game. Then Luis Campusano is batting 8th with Jake Cronenworth batting 9th. Campusano is catching today after DHing yesterday and Salas is the DH after catching yesterday.
Pat Murphy did name his Game 3 starter as well. It will be Dustin May getting the ball in San Diego on Tuesday. May is a veteran that has pitched against the Padres more than anyone else in his career. He has a 3.14 ERA against San Diego over his career.
The Brewers will need Henderson to give them a little more length in this game after Jacob Misiorowski lasted just four innings in Game 1. Milwaukee used five relievers to cover the final five innings and King is going to present quite the challenge for this lineup.
It’s looking like it could be another pitcher’s duel. There was a lot of traffic on the bases in Game 1, but not a ton of scoring. Eventually, that dam is going to burst if that trend continues.
Also, the roof will be open for gametime! It’s not often to see October weather nice enough for the roof to be kept open, but on a clear, sunny day, it’ll be roof open and back panels closed. Ty France is sure to be one player who’s excited to see the roof open.
Logan Henderson. Michael King. Brewers. Padres. It’s Game 2 of the NLDS with the Brewers looking to go up 2-0 in the series before it turns to San Diego.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - SEPTEMBER 28: Yaxel Lendeborg #1 of the Golden State Warriors poses for a portrait during NBA media day on September 28, 2026 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Mike Rasay/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Golden State Warriors basketball is officially back as the team tips off their 2026 preseason opener with Sunday night’s matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers. The game will be played at 4:00 p.m. PT in Honolulu, Hawaii, and can be watched on NBA League Pass.
The 2025-26 season for the Warriors will unfortunately be remembered for injuries. Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody both suffered significant knee injuries that cut their seasons short, while Stephen Curry missed a significant portion of the year with a lingering runner’s knee issue. Midseason trade acquisition Kristaps Porzingis also missed multiple games due to illness. Despite the injuries, the Warriors managed to finish the regular season as the 10th seed in the Western Conference with a 37-45 record. Their season ultimately came to an end with a loss to the Phoenix Suns in their second game of the Play-In Tournament.
What to watch for tonight:
Sunday will provide the first glimpse of this year’s group, as Golden State’s starting lineup will feature Curry, Draymond Green, Brandin Podziemski, Al Horford and rookie Yaxel Lendeborg. Lendeborg, in particular, is coming off an impressive summer in which he earned Summer League MVP honors, averaging 14.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game. The team has been impressed with what they’ve seen from their 11th overall pick in the draft, so it should be interesting to see how quickly he can translate that success alongside Golden State’s veteran core.
Snippet of Steve Kerr interview with ESPN out in Hawaii on the Steph Curry paycut, the cap space flexibility and Yaxel Lendeborg’s immediate major rotation role: “Frankly, he deserves it. Summer league or pickup games or now, he’s one of our best players already.” pic.twitter.com/KCmiLCgKTE
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 03: Ty France #25 of the San Diego Padres reacts after flying out after his hit bounced off of the roof during the ninth inning in game one of the National League Division Series against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on October 03, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The second phase of this year’s Major League Playoffs are underway after yesterday’s full slate of electric games. From the Chicago White Sox blanking their division rival Cleveland Guardians to Tampa Bay Rays righty Drew Rasmussen nearly no-hitting the New York Yankees at a packed Tropicana Field, the American League matchups provided plenty of excitement.
Today, the spotlight is on the National League teams, who also provided plenty of memorable playoff baseball. The Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers slugged it out at a scorching hot Chavez Ravine. The temperature at first pitch on the field felt like 120 degrees and all eight combined runs in a 5-3 Dodgers victory were scored via the home run.
Meanwhile in Milwaukee, Jacob Misiorowski dialed up a 105 MPH fastball for the first pitch of the Brewers’ contest against the San Diego Padres. It was the fastest first pitch in post-season history. The Brewers and Padres played a tight contest until Milwaukee pulled ahead late on a solo home run. The Padres had a chance to take the lead in the top of the ninth, but a towering moonshot off the bat of Ty France bounced off the roof and landed in the glove of Jackson Chourio.
San Diego Padres (0-0) at Milwaukee Brewers (0-0) — 2:00 PM MDT
Pitching Matchup: RHP Michael King (12-10, 3.21 ERA) vs RHP Logan Henderson (11-3, 2.47 ERA)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 02: A detailed view of the shoes on Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers during the fourth quarter of a game against the Boston Celtics in Game Seven of the First Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at TD Garden on May 02, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Oct 1, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Ray Kerr (62) throws a pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies during the first inning in game three of the Wildcard round for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Truist Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Braves had a major starting pitching disadvantage in Game 1 of their NL Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday.
While the Dodgers trotted out one of the best pitchers in baseball, Tarik Skubal, on extra rest, Atlanta was forced to begin with a bullpen game due to its rash of late-season pitching injuries and the fact that its wild-card series against the Phillies earlier in the week went three games.
While there was the thought that Chris Sale would bounce back from his relief appearance in Thursday’s Game 3 of the wild-card series on one day of rest to start Sunday’s Game 2 of the NLDS, that won’t be the case.
The Braves will instead have left-hander Ray Kerr (0-0, 0.00 ERA in postseason), who delivered as an opener in Thursday’s winner-take-all game against the Phillies, start Sunday night’s Game 2 (8 p.m. on FS1).
Sale, who would have been in line to start Game 2 on normal rest, threw 21 pitches to record the final four outs Thursday on his normal bullpen day.
The 32-year-old Kerr, who made his postseason debut Thursday and wrote another chapter in his long and winding journey to the majors, allowed just one hit and one walk over 3 1/3 scoreless innings, doing his job against the challenging top of the Phillies order.
He’ll have an even tougher task against a Dodgers lineup which will have Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman as challenging left-handed bats in the top few spots of the order. But Los Angeles’ lineup is far more balanced and lethal than Philadelphia’s, making for a more difficult all-around challenge in Kerr’s second career postseason start.
Kerr is on two days’ rest from throwing 47 pitches, so it’s a little unclear how many pitches he’ll be available for in this game. The better news for the Braves is that they’ll have a mostly full allotment of their top bullpen arms available for this game after Didier Fuentes, Dylan Lee and Raisel Iglesias were relied on heavily in the wild-card round.
While Sale could in theory be available for a limited pitch count Sunday, it seems far more likely they’re holding him back for Game 3 in Atlanta on Tuesday with the hope that the Braves aren’t in a 2-0 hole.
The Dodgers, in pretty much the exact opposite situation to the Braves, announced their full-series pitching plan before it began. That plan sees left-hander Blake Snell (4-1, 1.90 ERA) get the ball for Game 2 with a chance to grab a 2-0 lead before the series flips to Atlanta.
Snell made just nine starts this regular season, missing the start of the year due to left shoulder fatigue and then loose bodies in his throwing elbow which sidelined him an additional three months after he made his first start.
Since returning and being able to stay healthy since August, though, he’s been effective. He’s thrown five-plus innings in six of his eight starts over the last two months, allowing no more than one run in any outing. He had a 1.17 ERA in four August starts and a 1.08 ERA in four September starts. Over that span, he has 50 strikeouts to 14 walks over 39 2/3 innings.
Snell’s metrics, albeit in a small sample size, look great with his xERA (2.17) not far above his actual ERA.
Snell also has a strong track record in the postseason, with a 7-5 record and 3.27 ERA over 18 games (15 starts) spanning four postseasons with the Rays (2019-20), Padres (2022) and Dodgers (2025). Last season for Los Angeles, he pitched in six postseason games (five starts) with a 3-2 record and 3.18 ERA over 34 innings. He took the loss in Game 5 of the World Series, giving up five runs on six hits over 6 2/3 innings, but then tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief on two days’ rest in Game 7.
Snell’s lone start of this season before August came against the Braves on May 9 in Los Angeles. Atlanta tagged him for five runs (four earned) on six hits over three innings, handing him his only regular-season loss. In six career appearances against the Braves, Snell is 0-3 with a 3.49 ERA but has never faced them in the postseason.
Once again, it would seem the odds are stacked against the Braves Sunday night. They’ll likely need to beat those odds this time to have a realistic chance at keeping their season alive and advancing to the NLCS.
Milwaukee, WI - October 3: Ty France #25 of the San Diego Padres reacts after popping out where the ball hit the roof in the ninth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers during Game One of the National League Division Series at American Family Field on October 3, 2026 in Milwaukee, WI. (Photo by K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images)
With one on and one out in the ninth inning of Saturday’s NLDS Game 1, the Padres trailing 3–2, Ty France lofted a deep fly ball to left that hit the roof at American Family Field — and dropped right into the glove of Brewers left fielder Jackson Chourio.
Was it a home run? An out? Even the broadcast booth couldn’t agree on the ground rules, and things only got weirder from there.
Oh. My. Goodness.
This ball hit by France looked to potentially be a go-ahead home run, but it hit the roof and was caught, and was ruled an out. pic.twitter.com/E6pnoausP7
The immediate reaction from FOX analysts and former big-leaguers AJ Pierzynski and Adam Wainwright, citing the pregame ground-rules meeting, was that a ball hitting the roof meant a home run. Meanwhile, play-by-play man Adam Amin was adamant that the umpires had it right in calling it an out.
Despite three-ish minutes of absolute chaos and a massive spike in Google searches for “what happens when a ball hits the roof in baseball,” Amin did have it right. Per American Family Field’s ground rules, a ball that hits the roof over fair territory stays in play, so France’s fly ball was ruled a catch by Chourio for the second out. Now down to their last out, San Diego challenged whether the ball hit the roof over fair territory and lost.
If Pierzynski and Wainwright didn’t know the ground rules, the average baseball fan probably didn’t either. Here are (brief) answers to all of the questions you may have had while watching last night’s game.
This doesn’t happen often, right?
Correct, although France’s fly ball was at least the third time in history that a ball has hit the roof in fair territory at American Family Field. It’s actually not the first time that it’s happened in the NLDS; in Game 4 of the 2008 NLDS, Phillies outfielder Jayson Werth hit a fly ball that struck a roof truss and was snagged on a diving catch by none other than Craig Counsell. The second time was in a regular season game in 2018; Reds infielder Scooter Gennett hit a fly ball that, again, came down in fair territory and was caught for an out by Eric Sogard. The third time was last night.
Is this quirk unique to Milwaukee?
Definitely not — almost a quarter of big-league stadiums (7 out of 30) have retractable roofs, and the Rays’ Tropicana Field has a fixed roof. There have been some way crazier examples than what happened in last night’s game.
One of the most famous examples of balls hitting roofs occurred over fifty years ago, on June 10, 1974; Mike Schmidt crushed a towering fly ball that hit a public-address speaker hanging from the roof at the Astrodome — about 117 feet up and 329 feet from home plate. The ball dropped into shallow center field, and under the ground rules it was in play, so Schmidt only got a single despite estimates suggesting it would have traveled over 500 feet. In the words of Schmidt himself, “That damn speaker cost me a homer.”
On May 4, 1984, Dave Kingman of the Oakland Athletics hit a fly ball that rose towards the roof, then disappeared and never came down. The ball had gone through a seven-inch-wide drainage hole in the roof. Umpires Jim Evans and Ted Hendry conferred and realized there was no ground rule for this situation. Evans made a judgment call and awarded Kingman a ground-rule double, partly based on precedent: he had made a similar call in Seattle’s Kingdome when a fly ball got stuck in a speaker. A’s manager Steve Boros backed the call, saying that Evans used common sense.
The Tropicana Incidents
Tropicana Field, the home of the Tampa Bay Rays, has perhaps the most famous roof in baseball. The “Trop,” as it’s known to Rays fans, has four catwalk rings, lettered A (highest, innermost) through D (lowest, outermost). Because the dome tilts toward the outfield, the catwalks hang lower out there.
Under the current rules, the A Ring and the fair portion of the B Ring are in play, so a ball can drop for a hit or be caught for an out. The C and D Rings are out of play, and hitting either between the foul poles is a home run. Those rules are only in place because of a number of weird roof-related incidents that led to rule changes; for the sake of brevity, I won’t cover all of them, but here are the ones most similar to the France fly ball.
On May 26, 2008, Rays slugger Carlos Peña hit a pop fly to center that Josh Hamilton probably would have caught, but it hit the B Ring and stayed there. Peña was mistakenly given a home run before the umpires conferred and changed it to a ground-rule double.
On August 5, 2010, with the game tied 6–6 and two outs in the top of the ninth, Jason Kubel of the Twins hit a sky-high infield pop-up that would have ended the inning. Instead, it hit the A Ring and fell safely on the infield, letting the Twins score the go-ahead run in an 8–6 win. MLB then made A and B Ring hits automatic dead balls, but that change lasted only for the 2010 postseason.
In June 2018, the Yankees’ Clint Frazier hit a ninth-inning fly ball in a 6–6 game that bounced off a speaker on the B Ring and was caught by Adeiny Hechavarría. Some argued it would have been a go-ahead homer; the Rays went on to win in extras on a walk-off.
This season, on May 2, the Giants’ Heliot Ramos hit what looked like a two-run homer, but it came down in Cedric Mullins’ glove. The Giants challenged, believing it had hit a catwalk, but crew chief Vic Carapazza said no camera angle could prove it, so the call stood. Two members of the Giants (pitching director Frank Anderson and Brewers legend Adrian Houser) were ejected for continuing to argue.
Would France’s fly ball have been a homer?
No, probably not. You can’t say definitively one way or another (because, well, the ball did in fact hit the roof), but Statcast data strongly supports the conclusion that France’s ball would have fallen short of the left field fence.
France hit that ball 105.3 mph at a 49-degree launch angle, which — per Statcast — would have been a homer in only one park: Daikin Park in Houston. There were 27 fly balls this season at 105 mph and 49 degrees, and none were home runs. Batters hit .038 this season on balls with a 49-degree launch angle.
The most convincing point: only 10 over-the-fence homers in the Statcast era have had a launch angle that high, and there has never, ever been a home run recorded at American Family Field with a launch angle above 46 degrees. Ironically, the ball clearing the fence would have been rarer than the ball hitting the roof. The most likely scenario would have been a deep fly-out, which is exactly what ended up happening.
So, should we ban roofs in baseball?
Every baseball stadium has its quirks. Fenway Park’s “Green Monster” wall in left field is extremely close and extremely tall, meaning that line drives that would go out at, say, American Family Field turn into doubles (and sometimes singles). Wrigley Field’s outfield walls are made of ivy-covered brick. Daikin Park used to have a “fun and quirky” hill in center field.
A roof is just another quirk, except unlike a hill in center field, it actually serves a purpose. Cold-weather cities like Milwaukee, Seattle, and Toronto deal with freezing temperatures and weather concerns in April and sometimes late September. Hot-weather cities like Houston, Phoenix, Miami, and Tampa face the opposite: brutal summer heat, humidity, and frequent afternoon thunderstorms.
Eevery park has its own ground rules, and both teams go over them with the umpires before every game. A ball hitting the roof once every ten years doesn’t offset the positives of being able to play baseball when Mother Nature would deem it impossible.
DENVER — Artturi Lehkonen is giving the Avalanche plenty to think about in a contract year.
Three goals in the first two games of his 10th NHL season certainly don't hurt.
Lehkonen is in the final year of the five-year, $22.5 million contract he signed with Colorado in July 2022, just after helping the Avalanche win the Stanley Cup. He doesn't have a deal for next season, but this is hardly the first time Lehkonen has given Colorado a reason to want him around.
Cale Makar speaks to the media post-game, which included comments on Artturi Lehkonen
He scored the overtime winner against Edmonton in Game 4 of the 2022 Western Conference Final to send the Avalanche to the Stanley Cup Final. Two weeks later, he scored again in Game 6 against Tampa Bay, this time to clinch the Stanley Cup. A year earlier, while with Montreal, he scored the overtime winner against Vegas that sent the Canadiens to the Final.
That's been Lehkonen's thing for a long time. Put him in an important game and, more often than not, he finds a way to matter.
Now he's started this season with three goals in two games, the best two-game start of his career.
So is there something different about him?
Colorado's soon-to-be $20.4 million defenseman doesn't see a huge change.
“I don’t know if he’s playing with a different edge,” Cale Makar told The Hockey News. “I think that’s always just Art.
“The puck’s found his stick the last few games, and he’s doing a great job of knocking it down. But little intangibles in his game are the things that make him special, and when he does those super well, he’s getting rewarded right now.”
Those are the parts of Lehkonen's game that can get lost when the goals start piling up. He's not going to cheat for offense. He's going to the net. He's going to battle for pucks. He'll take the hit to make the play. And when he gets a chance, he's usually willing to put himself in a place where the play might hurt a little.
Jared Bednar used a different word for it.
“Relentless.”
“The things that we liked in the first game, they were multiplied in this one.”
The Avalanche coach said Lehkonen’s work ethic and competitiveness are about as consistent as anything he sees from a player in the league. The difference early this season is that Lehkonen looks sharp all over the ice.
“He looks sharp early (on) both sides of the puck,” Bednar said. “He’s getting great touches on the puck to put it in areas for his teammates.
He’s getting to the net, something he has always done well. And two games in, Bednar thinks Lehkonen already looks like he’s been playing for much longer.
“He’s always gone to the net hard,” he continued. “He just looks like he’s in midseason form already.”
That’s probably the most interesting part of Lehkonen’s start. The scoring rate is new. The way he’s getting those goals isn’t.
And that’s where the contract situation becomes interesting.
The Avalanche know what Lehkonen is. They know what he has meant to them in the biggest games, and they know what he brings on the nights when he doesn't score. They also know there have been stretches when injuries have kept him out, including the shoulder surgery he underwent in 2024.
Lehkonen, meanwhile, doesn't seem particularly interested in turning any of that into a personal campaign.
During training camp, The Hockey News asked how he manages to get himself ready for those moments when the game is on the line.
His answer was about as Lehkonen as it gets.
“I don’t know, it’s... Just trying to find that being in the right place at the right time, I guess.”
That's it.
No talk about having another gear. No explanation for why he seems to find himself around the puck when the game is on the line. Just being in the right place at the right time.
It's also a pretty good reflection of how Lehkonen approaches the rest of his game. He doesn't seem overly concerned with whether his name is the one getting talked about. He just wants to do his job, and that happens to fit pretty well with the way the Avalanche want to play.
There's a lot of talent in Colorado's lineup, but the team has always put a premium on players who are willing to do the less glamorous work, too. Lehkonen has never needed to be the star of the show to have an impact on it.
Maybe that's why Makar doesn't see a different edge from him now.
Maybe it's why Bednar already thinks he's in midseason form.
And maybe it's why, with a contract decision looming, the Avalanche have plenty to think about.
Because Lehkonen isn't trying to convince anyone he's a different player.
