The Vancouver Canucks snapped their 10-game winless streak in dramatic fashion on Tuesday as they defeated the Anaheim Ducks 6-5 in overtime. It looked like Vancouver was headed for an 11th-straight loss, but a dramatic third-period comeback helped the Canucks pick up their first victory since October 3. With the win, Vancouver is now 3-10-1 with a -22 goal differential.
When looking back on the first three victories of the season, all have featured a similar trend. That is the Canuck' ability to score at least three goals in the third period. Vancouver has also not held a lead heading into the third period in each of the wins, as they have trailed twice and been tied once after 40 minutes.
What makes this trend interesting is that the Canucks have struggled to generate offence during the third period in almost every other game this year. In the three victories, Vancouver has scored 11 goals in the third period, compared to nine goals total in the other 11 games. As for total goals this year, the Canucks have scored 26 times in their wins compared to just 17 in their 11 losses.
While these third-period performances like the one against the Ducks have been exciting, Vancouver needs to find ways to win games in conventional ways. There have been way too many nights where the Canucks don't show up in the third period, which is why their losing streak hit double digits. Ultimately, if Vancouver wants to become a more consistent team, they need to distribute their scoring more evenly and stop relying on chaotic third periods.
Oct 27, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Vancouver Canucks celebrate the goal scored by right wing Jonathan Lekkerimaki (88) against the Anaheim Ducks during the third period at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
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During the first few weeks of the NHL season, the Florida Panthers struggled in one particular, crucial area.
They weren’t scoring early in games.
It’s extremely difficult to win in the best hockey league in the world when you are constantly having to come from behind, and that’s the situation that Florida found themselves in during the majority of their opening schedule.
Entering Tuesday’s game against the Winnipeg Jets, Florida had scored just eight first period goals through their first 12 games.
As jarring as that stat sounds, it still doesn’t really tell the full story.
Of those eight goals scored during the first period this season, six had come over the Panthers previous four games.
That means Florida scored only one first period goal through their first five games.
It gets worse from there.
In terms of scoring the first goal of the game, after winning 1-0 in overtime on opening night in Carolina, it wasn’t until game number nine that Florida held a 1-0 lead again.
That’s right, they went seven straight games allowing the first goal, though escaping with a respectable 3-2-2 record in those outings.
“Everybody plays slightly different when you’re chasing the game,” said Panthers head coach Paul Maurice. “You’re trying to win, so if you’re down by one or down by two, your game has to open up a little bit. I think we’ve been pretty strong at not having that happen.”
Needless to say, early scoring was not something that came easy for the Panthers during the early stages of this season.
But perhaps the tide has turned.
Last Saturday, the Cats scored three goals during the opening period against the Seattle Kraken.
They went on to score another first period goal the following game in Ottawa, and added two more opening frame tallies on Sunday in Chicago.
Now, after putting up a 3-spot during the opening 20 minutes against Winnipeg on Tuesday, it might be safe to say that Florida has moved past their slow start issues.
“It is very nice,” Panthers defenseman Seth Jones said of playing with an early lead. “We played coming from behind quite a bit to start the season, so any time we get that first goal, it just plays into the game that we want. We want them to take chances, we want to be solid defensively and to capitalize on their mistakes.”
It also helps that Florida’s power play has finally gotten going after a slow start to the season.
Since the Seattle game, the Panthers have scored nine first period goals over a five-game span.
Five of those nine goals have come on the power play, including two of the three first period goals they scored in Winnipeg.
“I think right out of the gate, we came out moving the puck well, putting pucks in deep and drew a couple power plays, and that helped getting the first one and getting a little lead there,” said Panthers forward Carter Verhaeghe. “We just took off from there.”
Now the Panthers will return to South Florida for a three-game homestand that will keep them local for over a week.
They’ll face the two teams they’ve most recently defeated, Winnipeg and Chicago, along with a divisional matchup against the Detroit Red Wings.
While the Blackhawks have allowed the third-most goals per game so far this season (3.67), the Jets and Red Wings are both in the lower third of the league in that department, with Winnipeg giving up an even three goals per game and Detroit allowing 2.92.
We’ll see if Florida can keep their offense humming along when they resume their schedule on Friday when they host a rematch with the Jets.
Photo caption: Oct 25, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA;FloridaPanthersleft wing Sandis Vilmanis (95) celebrates his goal against the Chicago Blackhawks during the first period at United Center. (David Banks-Imagn Images)
Following an unsuccessful road trip to the East Coast in which the Anaheim Ducks only managed to notch two of a possible eight standings points, they returned to Southern California to host the basement-dwelling Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday at Honda Center.
The Ducks, below .500, entered the game three points out of a wild card spot, while the Canucks had only tallied five points in 13 games to start the season and were the last-place team in the entire NHL, having failed to register a point in their previous ten games.
The Ducks elected to ice a near-identical lineup to the one that snapped a five-game losing streak of their own on Saturday, with the only change being shifting defenseman Tristan Luneau onto a pair with Tyson Hinds and inserting Drew Helleson next to Travis Mitchell on the third pair.
Here’s how the Ducks lined up to start this game:
Gauthier-Carlsson-Caulfield
Malott-Granlund-Sennecke
Nesterenko-McQueen-Killorn
Greer-Washe-Colangelo
LaCombe-Warren
Hinds-Luneau
MItchell-Helleson
Lukas Dostal got his ninth start of the season for the Ducks and stopped 27 of 33 shots. He was opposed by Leevi Meriläinen in the Vancouver crease, who saved 18 of the 23 shots he faced in this game.
“That was a terrible loss,” Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville said after the game. “5-2 and we were in a pretty good spot. (We) should have sealed the win. I think we do some things that come back to haunt us after a night like tonight.”
Game Notes
At 5v5, the game flow was somewhat even, and the Ducks showed encouraging and discouraging signs at both ends of the ice. Lack of discipline forced the Ducks to kill seven penalties as opposed to only drawing two, and overall team defense was lacking at critical moments of a game in which the Ducks needed to notch two points.
Cycle: One of the encouraging signs from the game was the Ducks’ ability to drive and manufacture chances deep in the offensive zone, a problem area for them over the past handful of seasons. In this game, they were sending their high F3 to the blueline, between the point defensemen, which allowed those blueliners to involve themselves more offensively by activating down the half-wall and to the tops of the circles.
It also cleared up space in the middle of the slot, as the opposing low defending forward was caught in no-man’s land, naturally drawn toward the top of the zone. This allowed the Ducks low forwards an easier path to the net to set up tips and screens, as well as win races to ensuing loose pucks.
Breakouts: Forwards grew careless as the game progressed during breakout sequences. Early in the game, they made efficient decisions to keep pucks moving up ice and remained low in the zone to provide better outlet angles. They recognized when their young defensemen were in trouble against a Canucks forecheck, and they retreated in support rather than flying the defensive zone.
As the Ducks built a lead, the forwards drifted further up toward neutral ice, allowing opposing defensemen to jump outlets and pinch successfully. They were also careless in their attempts to clear the defensive blueline, often leading to battles and even turnovers.
Team Defense: Much has been made over the lack of experience among the Ducks’ young defensemen this season. They’ve had their ups and downs when it comes to the details of defending at the NHL level in elevated roles. However, much as has been a theme for the majority of the early part of the season, their forwards aren’t aiding them in any meaningful way on the defensive side of the puck.
In this game, only one goal (Vancouver’s second) can be pinned on the blueline. For the remainder, backchecking errors and man-advantage coverage hiccups, in which poor puck-watching habits were prevalent, were the primary faults.
6v5: Vancouver scored two goals with Merilainen pulled late for an extra attacker. The Canucks were able to spread the Ducks’ wingers wide on the perimeter, which allowed them to outnumber the center and defensemen in front of Dostal 4 to 3. With multiple responsibilities, defensemen were unable to commit to tying up a net-front forward, and when they failed to block shots, Dostal was left with no field of vision in which to make a save.
Wingers either need to restrain themselves from pressing too high in the defensive zone and collapse toward the hashmarks to aid their defensemen and goaltender, or those defensemen have to put forth a riskier, vigilant effort to block those outside shots while limiting the ability of the net-front attacker to get a tip on said shots.
The Ducks will look to return to .500 on Thursday, when they’ll host the incoming Buffalo Sabres, who are hoping to remain above that .500 mark on the young season.
DENVER, CO - JUNE 11: Sammy Peralta #57 of the Colorado Rockies delivers a pitch in the eighth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Coors Field on June 11, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to the 2026 edition of Ranking the Rockies, where we take a look back at every player to log playing time for the Rockies in 2026. The purpose of this list is to provide a snapshot of the player in context. The “Ranking” is an organizing principle that’s drawn from Baseball Reference’s WAR (rWAR). It’s not something the staff debated. We’ll begin with the player with the lowest rWAR and end up with the player with the highest.
No. 33, Sammy Peralta (0.0 rWAR)
Sammy Peralta has played for five different organizations, including two different stints with two teams, since being drafted in the 18th round of the 2019 draft by the Chicago White Sox.
The Rockies became a short stop on Peralta’s MLB journey in 2026 as the 28-year-old reliever made two appearances for Colorado, neither of which went especially well. He recorded a 10.13 ERA in 2.2 innings with two walks, two hit batters and four strikeouts. After 84 days as a Rockie, a tenure that included yo-yoing back and forth from the big leagues to Triple-A Albuquerque.
The Rockies picked up Peralta, who made his MLB debut in May of 2023, on April 4 after the Milwaukee Brewers designated him for assignment. He went straight to Albuquerque before being called up for three days in late April without seeing any action with the Rockies.
After another three weeks with the Isotopes, Peralta was called up again and made his purple debut as an opener against the Texas Rangers at Coors Field on May 19. It didn’t go as planned, however, as Peralta didn’t even make it out of the first inning. He walked the first batter, got a pop-up out and then hit the next batter. He then gave up a single, a double and a walk as the Rangers went up 2-0. He then got Alejandro Osuna looking for his first strikeout with the Rockies to end his first outing.
The Rockies went on to lose the game 10-0. Colorado sent Peralta back to Albuquerque two days later.
By June 7, he was back in Colorado, and made his second appearance on June 11 against the Chicago Cubs at Coors Field. This time, he entered the game in the eighth inning. The Rockies were already down 8-3 when Peralta gave up a solo homer to Carson Kelly. However, Peralta also registered three strikeouts, including Dansby Swanson and Ian Happ. He also got Pete Crow-Armstrong to ground out.
But that was the last appearance Peralta would make for the Rockies. He was optioned to Triple-A the next day and designated for assignment on June 21. He cleared waivers and opted for free agency, inking a minor league deal with the Los Angeles Angels on June 27.
Peralta then made two stints with the Angels to finish out the 2026 season, pitching 20.1 innings over 14 appearances with a 6.20 ERA. He finished 2026 with decent numbers for the Isotopes, posting a 5.06 ERA in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, going 7-1 in 21 appearances (two starts) with 24 strikeouts compared to seven walks. Peralta is now playing for the Estrellas Orientales in the Dominican League, where he’s played in the past as well.
Peralta has had similar seasons with the White Sox (2019-2024, break, 2024 again), Seattle Mariners (2024), Angels (2025, 2026) and Brewers (2025-2026). A lot of relievers come and go from the Colorado Rockies bullpen and Sammy Peralta became another name on that list in 2026.
New York, NY - September 29: Boston Red Sox reliever Erik Miller watches from the dugout in the sixth inning. The Boston Red Sox played the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the 2026 Wild Card Series at Yankee Stadium on September 29, 2026. (Photo by Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
Before we begin looking ahead to 2027, OTM is looking back at 2026, diving into the highs and lows of the roster. Today, we look at a midseason addition to the bullpen.
2026 In a Nutshell
Miller was acquired at the trade deadline in exchange for Marcelo Mayer. With that return, the expectations for Miller were high. The lefty reliever met them at first, dominating over his first 14 appearances. After the honeymoon period, he struggled down the stretch, allowing six earned runs over his final five regular-season appearances and retiring just two of the five hitters he faced in the Wild Card Series.
The Good
Miller’s end of season performance probably left a bad taste in a lot of people’s mouths, but there’s a lot to like about the lefty going forward. His combination of velocity and horizontal movement from his arm slot is unique, creating a really difficult look for lefties. Those factors combined for a massive ground ball rate and miniscule hard hit rate against the pitch. He also features a wipeout slider that pairs well with it and returned a huge swining strike rate, fueling his 33% strikeout rate against lefties. Those two pitches will allow him to match up favorably against left-handed hitters going forward.
The Bad
Miller has control problems. At the time he was traded to the Red Sox, he had a 15% walk rate in 38 games with San Francisco. Upon his arrival in Boston, he simplified his approach by eliminating his four-seam and changeup from his arsenal. In his first 11 games, he walked just 3 of the 46 hitters he faced (6.5%). Unfortunately, it didn’t last. In the month of September, he walked 9 of 39 (23%). In the postseason, the walks didn’t show up, but he left a sinker over the heart of the plate to Ben Rice that ended up in the bleachers. While it was in the zone, which is often a problem for Miller, it was decidedly not where he wanted to throw it.
The next day, he surrendered a base hit to Cody Bellinger that extended the Yankees’ lead. Miller got crushed for giving it up on back to back days, but I’ll stick up for him and say that one was a perfectly fine pitch, and Bellinger put a good swing on it. That’s baseball.
The control issues are a problem, though, and I can’t defend those.
Weird Fact That I Stumbled Upon In The Writing Process That Doesn’t Really Fit In Any Of The Usual Buckets
Miller was called upon in the fifth inning of both games one and two of the Wild Card Series. In both games, he entered with two outs. In game two, he entered with runners on first and third. During his time with the Red Sox, the only time he entered a game in the middle of an inning was his first appearance, back on August. In every other appearance he made for the team (19 games), he was given a clean inning.
That’s not at all an excuse for the performance, but it is interesting to note that he spent all of August and September pitching in clean innings, and then was put in a new situation in the postseason. I don’t know if that matters, but it’s food for thought.
Best Game or Moment
Miller didn’t have any signature moments, but he was dominant for a time. He threw two scoreless innings in the 13 inning game against the White Sox, striking out three hitters in the process. In late August, he struck out the side on 13 pitches to send the game to extra innings.
The Big Question
Is his control problem fixable? The Red Sox have had success at getting historically wild pitchers such as Aroldis Chapman and Tyron Guerrero in the zone, but couldn’t do the same for Jordan Hicks. If they can get Miller throwing strikes consistently, he’ll be dominant.
Call for urgent talks after gaming machines tax increase
Brant Dunshea: ‘thousands’ of betting shops may close
Brant Dunshea, the chief executive of the British Horseracing Authority, said on Wednesday that the sport’s ruling body will “urgently engage with the government to establish how we can work together to reduce the impact” after John Healey, the chancellor, raised the duty on the profits from fixed-odds gaming machines in betting shops from 20% to 25% in his first budget.
The widely anticipated rise in Machine Games Duty (MGD) was well below the doubling of the rate, from 20% to 40%, recommended by the Social Market Foundation think-tank earlier this year, but Dunshea warned that the move could “still prove devastating for our sport” since it presented a “clear risk” that “hundreds, if not thousands” of betting shops nationwide face closure as a result.
LOS ANGELES, CA: Mike Marshall #5 of the Los Angeles Dodgers circa 1989 bats at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Owen C. Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Something stuck with me over the last two months that I never actually got around to looking into, until now. I’m a regular listener of the Effectively Wild podcast on FanGraphs, with Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley, and in August they did a stat blast that happened to involve the Dodgers.
A listener wondered what was the longest succession of the same first name batting consecutively in a starting lineup, and it turned out to be the 1988 Dodgers who topped the list. In two different games, the Dodgers had these four players batting in order, fifth through eighth:
Mike Marshall, first base
Mike Davis, right field
Mike Deveraux, center field
Mike Scioscia, catcher
Four straight players with the same first name is the record, so let’s look into the two games in question from 38 years ago.
Rainouts are so rare at Dodger Stadium, that the preemptive rescheduling in August 2023 due to a tropical storm was the first schedule change due to rain in Los Angeles in 23 years, the longest such streak in major league history. The previous record without a rainout was also at Dodger Stadium, between rainouts in 1988 and 1999.
It began even before the first pitch, when a vote of Dodger players overturned the Giants’ plans for making up Friday night’s rainout on Monday night–originally a day off for the teams. Since teams are not required to come to the ballpark for more than 20 consecutive days, the Dodgers could–and did–veto the plans of Giant General Manager Al Rosen. The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader in July.
“It’s difficult for me to understand why a team that had four days off can invoke the 20-day rule,” an indignant Rosen said. “Seems to me they would want to go back to work.”
The Dodgers would make up the Friday rainout on July 26, and won both games of that doubleheader.
But for the Saturday, April 23 game, it was Mike Marshall who stood out. He walked and scored in the seventh inning, and singled in the eighth. In the ninth inning, the Dodgers were up 6-3 with two outs and runners on second and third base. Giants manager Roger Craig intentionally walked Pedro Guerrero to bring up Marshall.
But on April 23, 1988, Marshall was more muted when he crushed a grand slam, widening the Dodgers’ lead to 10-3. More from McManis in the LA Times:
“I don’t blame any manager for walking Pete,” Marshall said. “He’s one of the top five hitters in the National League. It’s important that I do the job, because batting in the fifth slot is important on this team. The most important thing is that, next time, maybe Pete will get to hit.”
Also in this game, Mike Scioscia singled three times and walked, and scored three runs, the latter matching his career high.
Mike Davis did not get in on the hitting party in that April 23 game, going hitless in five at-bats, with three strikeouts. After hitting 65 home runs in the previous three seasons with the A’s, Davis signed with the Dodgers before 1988. This was a different time in baseball, such that free agency was barely more than a decade old, and the Dodgers for the most part avoided free agency entirely between the disastrous signings of pitchers Don Stanhouse and Dave Goltz after 1980, until 1988.
Davis hit just .216/.279/.315 with a 75 wRC+ in his two seasons with the Dodgers, and he never played in the majors again after his age-30 season in 1989. But he’s also etched in franchise lore for working a walk off the stingy Dennis Eckersley in the ninth inning of Game 1 of the 1988 World Series, keeping the game alive for Kirk Gibson to do his thing.
Devereaux was a fifth-round draft pick of the Dodgers in 1985 out of Arizona State, and he played in 49 games for Los Angeles in 1987-88 combined. He only started 16 times for the Dodgers, including just five starts among his 30 total games in 1988. Two starts were these games to complete the consecutive Mike quartet.
The Dodgers traded Devereaux in March 1989 for another Mike, pitcher Mike Morgan, the former No. 1-overall draft pick who debuted in the majors at 18 and pitched for a dozen teams during his 22-year career.
Devereaux was 0 for 4 on April 23 against the Giants, then was 0 for 2 on May 1 at home against the St. Louis Cardinals before Franklin Stubbs pinch-hit for him in the eighth inning. Stubbs, more known as a first baseman and occasional corner outfielder in his career, remained in the game for Devereaux in center field, one of 32 career games for Stubbs in center.
In fairness to Devereaux, no Dodgers did much of anything in that May 1 game.
The Cardinals jumped on Tim Leary for six runs in the first inning and he was done after only two outs.
Meanwhile, John Tudor didn’t allow a hit in his six innings. He did walk Alfredo Griffin, he of the low 4.6-percent career walk rate, in the first inning and Devereaux reached on an error in the second. But Tudor got everyone else out, including retiring 13 in a row to finish out his six innings, and exited up seven runs.
Tudor was in his second start coming off the injured list, so the Cardinals were cautious.
“I knew I wasn’t going nine before the game,” Tudor said, per McManis in the LA Times. “But I guess at that point, it was my choice. I could have gone another inning, but I didn’t see the point. I was starting to feel a little stiff.”
“He’s an All-Star, a quality pitcher,” said Steve Sax, per the UPI game recap. “He’s gonna have days like that. We’re just not hitting right now, but the worm will turn.”
Back in that May 1 game, Scott Terry followed Tudor with a scoreless outing of his own to earn a three-inning save. Any chance at a combined no-hitter ended when Kirk Gibson greeted Terry with a single to open the seventh inning. But that was it for the Dodgers other than a Danny Heep walk in the eighth in a 9-0 loss.
The Mike quartet combined to go 0 for 11, but the rest of the team was just 1 for 17.
That was the last time a major league team started four players in a row with the same first name.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - FEBRUARY 11: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket during the second half against the Washington Wizards at Rocket Arena on February 11, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers will look to extend their winning streak to 17 games against the Washington Wizards. The last time the Wizards defeated the Cavs, Kevin Pangos started at point guard, and Kevin Love put up 24 points. 2021 was a while ago.
This Wizards team will look a little different than the ones that the Cavs have consistently beaten over the last five years. This new-look version seems to have modeled itself after the Cavs, with their new two-big frontcourt that features Anthony Davis and Alex Sarr. They also have a small guard in Trae Young who serves as the team’s offensive engine.
This game will also feature the NBA debut of number one overall pick AJ Dybantsa. He missed Washington’s first four games with an ankle injury.
This is a much better Wizards team than the one that the Cavs last faced back in April. Washington could make a push for the playoffs in a loaded Eastern Conference. The Cavs will need to play decently well to come out with a win.
Anything bought from the links helps support Fear the Sword. You can also shop all of Homage’s Cavs gear HERE. The link to the 2016 championship shirt HERE.
Joint statement said ‘resources focused on English clubs’
Prem Rugby and the Rugby Football Union have stated they are committed to expanding the top flight with English clubs in response to a report claiming that two Welsh sides could soon join the competition.
According to the report, the Welsh Rugby Union is in advanced discussions with Prem Rugby and the RFU over the possibility of turning the Prem into a cross-border competition.
(Original Caption) This is a close up of Willie McCovey, a San Francisco Giants' infielder, during Spring Training.
On Monday, we kicked off my favorite annual tradition ‘round these parts: the Willie McCovey Memorial Community Prospect List, in which we, as a collective, will rank the top 44 prospects in the San Francisco Giants organization.
The introductory post served not just to lay out the rules and regulations, but also to nominate the first group of names for us to vote on. I think we all know who is going to earn the coveted title of No. 1 prospect now that Bryce Eldridge has moved on to higher-paying pastures, but we still need to vote! It’s that time of year, after all, and we respect the democratic process around here.
Voting will take place in the comment section this year. I will leave a list of the players to vote on in the comments, and you can click the “rec” button on the name you wish to cast your vote for. And while you’re in the comment section, stump and debate!
No. 1 prospect nominees
JacobBresnahan — 21.4-year old LHP — 2.92 ERA/4.32 FIP in High-A (98.2 IP); 5.06 ERA/3.60 FIP in AA (16 IP)
BoDavidson — 24.3-year old OF — .861 OPS/122 wRC+ in AA (315 PA); .923 OPS/138 wRC+ in AAA (234 PA); .714 OPS/100 wRC+ in MLB (22 PA)
JacksonFlora — 21.5-year old RHP — 0.00 ERA/3.41 FIP in Low-A (1 IP); great numbers in a small sample in the playoffs (Low-A and AA)
JosuarGonzález — 19.0-year old SS — .966 OPS/139 wRC+ in the ACL (122 PA); 1.010 OPS/151 wRC+ in Low-A (153 PA)
LuisHernández — 17.10-year old SS — .917 OPS/117 wRC+ in the ACL (228 PA); .594 OPS/48 wRC+ in Low-A (98 PA)
JhonnyLevel — 19.6-year old SS — .968 OPS/134 wRC+ in Low-A (217 PA); .836 OPS/119 wRC+ in High-A (331 PA)
RamonMarquez — 21.1-year old RHP — 1.86 ERA/2.67 FIP in Low-A (29 IP); 2.48 ERA/2.45 FIP in High-A (40 IP)
Note: Each player’s first name links to their Baseball-Reference page, and their last name links to their Fangraphs page.All stats are from the 2026 season.
Dybantsa, 19, missed the Wizards' first four games this season due to a sprained left ankle suffered late in training camp. He steps into a Wizards offense already loaded with firepower, including Trae Young and Anthony Davis, the latter of whom has had a couple of very impressive games to start the season.
Dybantsa comes to Washington as the hope for the future, the top pick who will change the fortunes of a long-middling (or worse) franchise. Dybantsa was a standout at BYU, averaging 25.5 points a game, and followed that with an impressive Summer League. Dybantsa looked like a rookie still finding his footing in the preseason, averaging 12.8 points per game, shooting just 18.2% from 3-point range.
But that's just the preseason. Starting Wednesday night, things get real.
Oct 23, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Steven Matz (32) throws a pitch against the Milwaukee Brewers during the sixth inning in game one of the 2026 World Series at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
In the cinematic classic that is Pokemon: The First Movie, there is a scene where Mewtwo and his clone army face off against the heroes and their pokemon companions. The pokemon and their clone counterparts engage in an epic battle with neither side claiming a clear advantage. The battle rages on for an eternity until eventually both sides just collapse from exhaustion.
That is how I picture the Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers right now after playing 12 incredibly strenuous innings last night in game four of the 2026 World Series.
Tampa Bay came out victorious, stalling out the Brewers World Series hopes for at least one more night.
Now, they’ll have to do it all over again.
Who will be on the mound for the Rays?
Nick Martinez was the scheduled starting pitcher but after entering last night’s game in relief, delivering two scoreless innings, he might not be available to start tonight’s game for more than 1-2 innings, and that’s assuming he’s good to go.
Following the game last night, Kevin Cash said it will be all hands on deck and we know that each Rays pitcher would be willing to throw. However, realistically, Cash’s options are a lot more limited.
The Brewers offense has been relentless in grinding down the Rays pitching staff, forcing the hurlers to inflated pitch counts. The two most well rested arms for Kevin Cash to turn to will be Cleavinger and Steven Matz; Matz has made two appearances in the World Series, last pitching on Monday when he threw 17 pitches.
#Rays Cash said staff would meet last night to discuss Game 5 pitching options: 5 didn't pitch Tuesday: Cleavinger, Matz, Sulser, Peralta (87 pitches Mon.), Rasmussen (89 Sat.). Pitches for who did: Jax, 74; Kelly, 12; Martinez, 33; Baker, 21; Wells, 24; Booser, 9; Seymour 32
Tampa Bay may also call upon potential game 6 and 7 starters Drew Rasmussen and Freddy Peralta to help cover some innings. Drew Rasmussen told reporters that “I’ll be smoking hot” and both starters will need a bullpen day before their scheduled starts. It might as well be tonight!
The pitching plan is obvious for Milwaukee.
They’ll be sending the eventual National League Cy Young to the mound, Jacob Misiorowski.
Thus far in three postseason outings, Misiorowski is averaging under 5 innings a start with strikeout rate dropping to 25.5% compared to 37.9% during the regular season. During his start in game one of the World Series, Misiorowski allowed a run on 4 hits, while he walked one and struck out three over five innings pitched; the three strikeouts were the fewest he had in any start of 2026 and since striking out three Cubs in the postseason last year on October 11th, 2025.
Concluding thoughts
The Rays offense, despite walking it off last night, has been abysmal all postseason. They are currently averaging 3.5 runs a game and have a 68 wRC+, while the Brewers have a 110 wRC+. The World Series has seen the Rays unable to draw walks (4.2 BB%) or hit for power as they are collectively hitting .195/.236/.256 with only one homerun. For the Rays to have any chance of making a historic comeback, the offense needs to wake up.
There is also uncertainty regarding Junior Caminero who suffered a thus far undisclosed injury during the game last night. It looks like he might have gotten hurt during the play in the 4th inning, in which Caminero avoided a tag from David Hamilton. Later in the game, Caminero noticeably had difficulty making it up the line on a groundout. Then in the 12th, he also was seen in pain as he reached base on an error. He was still able to race to third base on Liam Hicks’ basehit but was then removed for Cedric Mullins.
Caminero told reporters that he would play in game five, but given his injury situation it may make things tricky for Kevin Cash in terms of a defensive lineup.
There are a lot of important decisions to be made between now and first pitch later tonight.
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 26: Jake Irvin #27 of the Washington Nationals pitches during a baseball game against the New York Mets at Nationals Park on September 26, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Since he was called up in 2023, Jake Irvin has been an ever-present in the Nats rotation. He has been a durable arm, tallying 595.1 innings since he got called up. In the first half of the 2024 season, Irvin flashed middle of the rotation potential. However, he has been on a downward slide since then.
Irvin has posted an ERA well over 5 in each of the past two seasons. As the Nats look to take the next step, Irvin may not be a fit in the rotation anymore. While Irvin is durable and seems like a great guy off the field, the results just have not been there. He has been plagued by home run problems and has been unable to capture that early 2024 magic.
From 2005-20, the Nationals had only 1 pitcher with 100 IP and an ERA over 5.50 (Ramon Ortiz in 2006).
Since 2021, they've had 9: Patrick Corbin (2021-22, 2024) Erick Fedde (2022) Trevor Williams (2023) Mitchell Parker (2025) Miles Mikolas (2026) Jake Irvin (2025-26)
Jake Irvin will be arbitration eligible this offseason entering his age 30 season. That means Paul Toboni will have to make a decision about whether to keep Irvin around. Honestly, there are cases for both sides, which I will break down.
According to the MLB Trade Rumors projections, bringing back Irvin will not exactly break the bank. He is expected to make around $3.4 million next season if the Nats tender him a contract. That is not nothing, but it is not some huge number either.
While the last two years have not been pretty, I think there is a path for Irvin to be worth this much and maybe even a bit more. Irvin posted a 5.48 ERA this season, but he did generate more swing and miss. He struck out 110 batters in 106.2 innings, or 9.28 K/9. That is by far the best mark of his career. For context, he only struck out 6.20 per 9 in 2025.
Irvin had plenty of issues in 2026, but his curveball was extremely effective. Batters hit just .161 against the pitch with a 34% whiff rate. It is an unusual curveball that moves a lot like a sweeper. Irvin’s curve has always been solid, but it was better than ever in 2026.
His 4-seam fastball also generated pretty good results. Batters hit just .242 with a 23.6% whiff rate against that offering. That is not elite, but it is a rock solid mark, especially for a 93 MPH fastball. Those two pitches worked well for Irvin, the issue is that everything else was very bad.
Hitters absolutely teed off on Irvin sinker, with a .338 average and .676 slugging percentage. He also struggled to find another secondary pitch to complement the curveball. His cutter and sweeper were not very good, while his changeup flashed, but he only threw it 7.8% of the time.
Another aspect of Irvin’s game that is problematic is his velocity fluctuations. He often started games throwing in the 94-96 MPH range pretty consistently. However, by the time the third inning rolled around, he would be sitting between 90-93.
A lot of these characteristics lead me to believe Irvin would be better off in a bullpen role. It would allow him to throw harder and shrink his arsenal. I think Irvin could be a solid middle reliever who leans heavily on his 4-seamer and curveball.
However, is a guy who could be a decent middle reliever worth $3.4 million? I am not so sure about that. With how the past couple of years have gone, I am not very high on Irvin as a starter. He will post every 5th day, but on a team that has real aspirations, I don’t think he will be effective enough.
This will be an intriguing decision for the Nats early this offseason. I actually think Irvin has some talent, but it is unlikely to work as a starter. The Nats also have a plethora of multi-inning relief options. In my opinion, Irvin is surplus to requirements at this point, but it would not be unreasonable to tender him a contract.
Remember when it felt like Semyon Varlamov might never play in the NHL again?
For nearly two years, that looked like a real possibility. Multiple knee surgeries and a long recovery kept the former Colorado Avalanche goaltender away from the game, and with every month that passed, a return seemed a little less likely.
Well, Varlamov is back.
The 38-year-old returned to regular-season action Tuesday night, helping the New York Islanders beat the Nashville Predators 4-3 in a shootout. After everything he’s gone through just to get back in the net, picking up a win in his first game back makes the night even sweeter.
Look at the emotion of this team as they celebrate with Semyon Varlamov.
And if you watched Varlamov during his eight seasons in Colorado, you know this is pretty cool to see.
Varlamov hadn’t played an NHL game since Nov. 29, 2024. Heading into training camp, Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche called his progress “almost a miracle,” although he was quick to point out how much work the veteran had put in to get to this point.
Now, he has another NHL win to his name.
The Islanders made things interesting Tuesday, to say the least. They built a 3-0 lead against Nashville before the Predators battled back to tie the game and force overtime. Varlamov stopped both shots he faced in the extra period, and New York eventually got the job done in the shootout, with Kyle Palmieri and Bo Horvat scoring.
Not exactly the stress-free return you might draw up, but a win is a win.
The victory was the 290th of Varlamov’s NHL career. It’s a pretty remarkable number considering how uncertain his future looked not that long ago.
Avalanche Fans Know This Feeling
If Varlamov’s comeback sounds familiar, there’s a good reason.
Avalanche fans watched Gabriel Landeskog go through his own incredibly difficult journey back to the ice after missing nearly three full seasons with a serious knee injury. Plenty of people wondered whether Colorado’s captain would ever play again. Then he finally made his return during the 2025-26 season.
Varlamov’s situation isn’t identical, but the uncertainty surrounding both players was hard to ignore. At some point, you start wondering whether the next update will be the one that confirms a career is over.
Thankfully, that wasn’t the case for either of them.
Varlamov spent eight seasons with Colorado from 2011-12 through 2018-19, playing 389 games and posting a .913 save percentage with a 2.79 goals-against average. He later moved on to the Islanders, but plenty of Avalanche fans will remember the years he spent holding down the crease in Denver.
He’s now played 621 NHL games in his career, with a .916 save percentage and 41 shutouts.
Tuesday also gave Islanders rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer a place in the history books. He became the first player in NHL history to play the entire five-minute overtime period.
That’s quite a night for New York, but Varlamov’s return is what really stands out here.
At 38, after multiple knee surgeries and almost two years away from an NHL game, he could have called it a career. Instead, he kept working until he got another chance.
And now he’s back in the win column.
For those of us who remember watching Varlamov in an Avalanche uniform, it’s hard not to be happy for him.
The Buffalo Sabres have struggled for most of the month of October, whether it has been falling behind early in contests, to struggling on special teams, to inconsistent scoring and goaltending, the club held a .500 record prior to their 2-0 win over the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday.
GM Jarmo Kekalainen was unable or unwilling to meet the Winnipeg Jets price for goalie Connor Hellebuyck prior to his trade to New Jersey last week, but there have been some hints that the Sabres GM is still big-game hunting. The first to suggest a pivot after Hellebuyck to another big name was Expected Buffalo’s Chad DeDominicis, who stated that the Sabres should and have approached the Detroit Red Wings about disgruntled center Dylan Larkin.
Larkin, who was a teammate of Tage Thompson on Team USA’s gold medal winning Olympic squad, requested a trade from the Wings after the season and provided them a very narrow three-team trade list, which has recently been broadened to 10 teams.
Is Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen the Sabres goalie of the future?
Clubs that are in desperate need of a first or second line center, such as the Montreal Canadiens, are not on Larkin’s list, and the Sabres are also not on it. The 10 teams seem to be exclusively perennial playoff clubs and top contenders for the Stanley Cup (Carolina, Colorado, Dallas, Florida, Minnesota, New Jersey, Tampa Bay, Utah, Vegas, and Washington).
Montreal has made the playoffs two years in a row, but there appears to be little chance that Larkin would approve a deal to a Canadian club. Buffalo may have a better chance, but their slow start after snapping their 15-year playoff drought may be pouring cold water on their chances, since the whole purpose of leaving Detroit is to improve his chances of winning a Stanley Cup. The Wings have not made the postseason since 2016.
The Sabres appear to have the right ingredients for a Larkin trade, as the Wings reportedly are looking for young centers, and Buffalo has them in abundance in Noah Ostlund, Konsta Helenius, and Jiri Kulich. The question is whether Kekalainen is willing to trade one of them instead of names like Josh Norris or Ryan McLeod, and whether Larkin is willing to expand his list.
It is thought that the Devils, with the addition of Hellebuyck, and the growing possibility of Quinn Hughes joining his brothers in Newark next summer, could be the dark horse in the race for the 30-year-old.
