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The glue that’s been holding it all together: Garrett Mitchell

MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 11: Garrett Mitchell #5 of the Milwaukee Brewers is introduced prior to Game One of the National League Championship Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Sunday, October 11, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Aaron Gash/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Doubted from the very start, Garrett Mitchell fell from a projected top-10 draft pick to the Milwaukee Brewers at No. 20 during the 2020 Major League Baseball draft.

Battling injuries and diabetes, Mitchell has not had the easiest path to the Brewers. Entering his fifth season in a Brewers uniform, the most Mitchell has played in a season was 69 games, and that came in 2024. During that season, he missed the start of the season due to a fractured left hand, specifically a left index finger, that he suffered during spring training.

Mitchell rejoined the team on July 1, when he was an every-day starter for the rest of the season. Brewers fans finally saw what Mitchell’s potential was on a larger slate. Mitchell had a line of .255/.342/.469 and had a memorable moment when he hit a go-ahead home run in the bottom of the eighth inning against the New York Mets to keep their season alive.

After it looked like things were turning around for Mitchell, he suffered a shoulder injury. He muscled out 25 games before undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery. Entering 2026, fans, media, and the front office didn’t know what to expect.

“When you’re looking at our team, maybe the reason we didn’t get picked early on to be as successful in the regular season was because of the unknown about Mitchell,” Manager Pat Murphy said. “He had been injured for four years basically.”

Was Mitchell going to be able to pick back up where he left off a year ago? Would we finally see the fully homegrown outfield roster of Jackson Chourio, Mitchell, and Sal Frelick? Would Mitchell be dealt at the deadline if he gets injured again?

These were all real, genuine questions. When Mitchell hasn’t been healthy enough to take the field, the Brewers have had a revolving door at that position, especially since Lorenzo Cain retired following the 2022 season. Chourio spent the majority of the time in center field last year, with Isaac Collins, Brandon Lockridge, and Blake Perkins making appearances as well. Before that, Joey Wiemer, Tyrone Taylor, and Jonathan Davis. None of those pieces were quite the right fit in center field like Mitchell has been.

During the regular season, Mitchell played in 145 games, which surpassed the amount that he had between the 2022-2025 seasons, which was 141. Never in his playing career, going all the way back to the first collegiate pitching he saw with the Walla Walla Sweets, Mitchell hadn’t played in more than 69 games collectively. To take it a step further, the most games he played in one season with the same team was in 2019 with the UCLA Bruins, as he played in 62.

There’s no doubt that playing center field is one of the harder positions to play on the field, especially when 82 games out of the year you’ve got to navigate the unique dimensions of American Family Field. A day ago, the 2026 Gold Glove finalists were announced, and Mitchell did not find himself on that list. Mitchell had committed three errors all season, which is three fewer than Pete Crow-Armstrong, who was nominated. After a full and healthy 2026, the Brewers finally got what they’ve been waiting for in Mitchell. A no-doubt lockdown defender in center field, right in the middle of two other Gold Glove finalists.

His presence in the postseason has been up-and-down, but he established himself in game four of the National League Division Series against the Padres. With the Brewers leading by two, Manny Machado launched a ball into the San Diego night sky, but on the other end of that ball was Mitchell, stealing away the potential tying blast. Two years prior, Mitchell used his bat to extend the Brewers’ life by one more game; after a flood of injuries, he was right back on the field making an impact in the postseason again.

Despite spending more time on the injured list than on the field, Mitchell hasn’t allowed that to impact his first full healthy season as a Brewer. Making you wonder how much different the last four postseason results could’ve been with a healthy Mitchell.

Although he’s had his struggles at the plate this season, he has came in clutch when the Brewers needed it most, specifically last night’s solo home run to follow Jake Bauers go-ahead shot. That brings his postseason totals to five hits, two RBIs, four walks, and 12 strikeouts. The strikeouts have been concerning, yes, but it’s nothing that we haven’t seen from him throughout the season. Mitchell has become the missing piece that the Brewers have needed since the moment he was drafted.

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Who are Giants fans rooting for in today’s ALCS/NLCS games?

CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 03: A general view of Progressive Field prior to Game One of the American League Division Series presented by Booking.com between the Chicago White Sox and the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on Saturday, October 3, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Leigh Bacho/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Good morning, baseball fans!

The 2026 MLB Playoffs continue today with ALCS Game 3 and NLCS Game 4! As ever, I’m writing this before Wednesday’s NLCS game has been played, but if there is any justice in the world, we’ll be looking to see a sweep from the Milwaukee Brewers! (I can try to manifest it, anyway.)

First up today will be the visiting Tampa Bay Rays taking on the Cleveland Guardians in Game 3 of their series. The series is currently tied at one game a piece. Griffin Jax (RHP) is expected to start for the Rays, facing off against Guardians right-hander Gavin Williams. The game will be at 10:00 a.m. PT, airing on TBS/HBO Max with national radio coverage available on ESPN Radio.

After that, the visiting Brewers will take on the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 4 of their series. As I mentioned, this is being written before Wednesday night’s game, so you’ll know what the series score is by the time this comes out. Milwaukee has not yet announced a starting pitcher for this game, but whoever it ends up being will likely be facing off against Dodgers right-hander Tyler Glasnow. This game will begin at 5:00 p.m. PT, airing on Fox Sports 1/Fox One, with national radio coverage available on ESPN Radio.

Regardless of who you’re rooting for in the ALCS, I think we can all agree that it’s another excellent day to Beat L.A.!

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NBA’s 9 best rookies in preseason, ranked

(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The NBA is welcoming an absolutely loaded rookie class ahead of the 2026-27 season that places good young players all over the league. The top of the 2026 class got most of the attention with Washington’s A.J. Dybantsa, Utah’s Darryn Peterson, Memphis’ Cameron Boozer, and Chicago’s Caleb Wilson looking like one of the strongest top-4 in recent memory, but that’s only the start of the incoming talent pool.

This rookie class already balled out in Las Vegas Summer League, and now they’re impressing in preseason. There are too many good rookies to name, so this list won’t include honorable mentions like the Spurs guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie, Pistons guard Ebuka Okorie, Mavericks guard Sergio de Larrea, or Milwaukee’s Brayden Burries. I also can’t wait to see Brooklyn’s Mikal Brown and Toronto’s Allen Graves, who haven’t played in the preseason yet.

Check out our list of non-rookie NBA preseason standouts for more coverage. Here is our list of the best rookies in the NBA preseason so far. These are the players who impressed us the most relative to expectations, not ordered by who we would take going forward. You can read my final draft board for my full opinions on this class coming into the NBA.

9. Darius Acuff, G, Sacramento Kings

Acuff has scored in bunches while also struggling with turnovers and taking enough questionable shots that even an opponent like Draymond Green had to tell him to move the ball. The most encouraging thing about Acuff to me is that he’s still shooting the cover off the ball from three. I was a bit worried he shot over his head at Arkansas last season, but he has hit 41% of his threes in preseason so far and clearly looks confidence shooting the ball from the NBA line. He’s going to have some nights where he looks like a masterful three-level scorer, but a deeper dive is going to be required to evaluate his shot diet and lack of defensive impact. I’m rooting for Acuff because he’s a cool player and Kings fans desperately need something to latch onto. He’s going to be good as a rookie, but maybe not quite as impactful as his loudest fans want you to believe. His game still needs a lot more development beyond the buckets before he’s actually influencing winning, but I think he can get there eventually as the supporting cast around him improves.

8. Kingston Flemings, G, Atlanta Hawks

Flemings won’t match Acuff’s scoring numbers or Mikal Brown’s best highlights, but he still feels like the most well-rounded of the rookie point guards to me. He’s going to defend bigger than his size, he’s going to make smart decisions with the ball, and his mid-range scoring will offer some value while his three-point shot catches up. Flemings has always had such a strong feel for the game, and he’s doing it again with a 3:1 assist-to-turnover ratio through four preseason games. He has such great hands defensively, and his excellent quick-twitch athleticism is going to create advantages even against bigger defenders. It’s easy to have some skepticism for a smaller guard who isn’t a knockdown three-point shooter, but Flemings simply brings so much to the table without taking much off of it. The Hawks have a lot of guards who need minutes, but Flemings is going to be dependable as C.J. McCollum’s understudy when he gets minutes.

7. Bennett Stirtz, G, Oklahoma City Thunder

It feels like Stirtz landed in the best possible spot on a Thunder team that can coverup his deficiencies on the defensive end while needing his creation magic and shooting. He’s been off to a tremendous start in preseason combining on- and off-ball versatility as only he can. Stirtz is a great shooter, a skilled pick-and-roll operator, and he has a good feel for the game. Those are qualities worth betting on even if he’s kind of weak and might be toast defensively. This is the perfect type of player to get the Thunder offense out of the mud when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is on the bench. Sam Presti has done it again.

6. AJ Dybantsa, F, Washington Wizards

It’s fair to say Dybantsa’s preseason run has been a bit of a mixed bag despite the fact that no one doubts his talent. It’s encouraging that he’s getting to the free throw line, taking some pride in his defense, and making some heads-up passes to start his pro journey. I’m less enthused by a shaky three-point stroke, and a shot diet that feels like it should be geared more toward the rim. Dybantsa has admitted himself that his defense got “lazy” in college, and it’s been great to see him put his outstanding physical tools to work on that end during preseason. I’d rather see the ball in Dybantsa’s hands than Trae Young’s, but Young has always been such an on-ball heavy player that it puts more pressure on the rookie to fix his three-point stroke. I don’t think anyone questions that Dybantsa is going to be really good both as a rookie and down the line, but he still has some stuff to clean up.

5. Caleb Wilson, F, Chicago Bulls

The Bulls are trying to stretch Wilson out from a majority play-finisher to a majority play-creator, and there have been some understandable growing pains early in that process. Added structure feels beneficial for Wilson in the short term, with his best moments coming as a roll man or running off pin-downs to show-off his newfound three-point stroke. It’s been more of a struggle when he’s tried to iso against NBA defenders, with nearly twice as many turnovers as assists to start the preseason. The good news is that Wilson really does look like he’s going to shoot it from deep this year, which is wonderful news given that he was a total non-shooter in college. Ultimately, the handle is going to be just as important for Wilson’s development as his shot, and right now he still can’t access certain parts of the floor off the dribble. The Bulls aren’t trying to win anything this year, and that means Wilson will get plenty of room to test the limits of his offensive skill set — something that could be good for his long-term development. Even as a work-in-progress, the highs are going to be very high, and the best moments are going to be incredible in his rookie season.

4. Darryn Peterson, G, Utah Jazz

Peterson followed up a terrible preseason debut with an awesome second game, and as always the truth on his performance is somewhere in the middle. The No. 2 overall pick is going to be extremely tough to defend because he can splash shots all over the floor — but sometimes he’s going to beat himself by not being able to generate easier shots. I wish Peterson got to the rim more instead of relying on tough pull-ups, and it’s possible that will come in time. The Jazz are going to need a point of attack defender next to Keyonte George this season, and that’s really where Peterson could have his biggest impact. His combination of shooting touch and defensive playmaking is still really intriguing, but I’m not sure I’m still seeing the all-world guard prospect we thought we had back at Prolific Prep. Then again, I did have Peterson at No. 2 on my draft board, so maybe I should just chill out.

3. Cameron Boozer, F, Memphis Grizzlies

Boozer is the youngest player in the NBA this season, but you would never know it from watching him play. The 19-year-old forward has remarkable polish offensively with a supercomputer brain, hulking strength, a sweet shooting stroke, and compact driving ability powering his unlimited offensive versatility. Boozer is rarely flashy, though he did have one poster dunk on this preseason run. Instead, the Grizzlies’ new superstar just always makes the right play. He has enough scoring gravity to compromise opposing defenses when they try to play him straight up, and he’s always moving the ball to the open man when the double comes. Boozer was obviously the best prospect in the draft, and it’s still wild he fell to No. 3. Memphis is going to immediately exceed expectations if they stay healthy around their new star.

2. Aday Mara, C, Oklahoma City Thunder

Mara has been dominant in preseason, and it’s absolutely not fair that the Thunder are adding a 7’3 guy who is this skilled at both ends of the floor. The former Michigan big man seems to have made strides in his conditioning since his college days, looking more mobile than ever in this short preseason run. Mara is an easy bet to protect the rim with his ridiculous 9’9 standing reach, and he’s shown Derik Queen how difficult it’s going to be for smaller bigs to finish over him in the clip above. It was fair to wonder how Mara would be able to score in the league, but he’s looked unreal so far with 79% true shooting fueled by stuffs at the rim and spinning post moves in the paint. It’s for the best that Mara will probably be in a smaller role this season, but he could be really effective in the right matchups — and that’s all that matters for a loaded Thunder team.

1. Yaxel Lendeborg, F, Golden State Warriors

There was a report that the Warriors would have drafted Brayden Burries if he fell to their pick in the 2026 draft. They should consider themselves lucky he went one spot earlier, because Lendeborg is going to be an ideal fit for this Golden State team in both the short term and the long term. Yes, Lendeborg is already 24 years old, but he might be the perfect role player. Start with the size: he’s gigantic for a forward at 6’9, 240 pounds with a 7’3 wingspan. He’s a very good athlete for that size who knows how to leverage his tools on both ends of the floor. Yaxel can rip three-pointers off the catch, he can clean the glass, he can rumble in transition, and he’s unselfish when he sees a passing lane. His combination of size, power, and skill is only surpassed by Boozer, who is nearly five years younger than him. Lendeborg is going to fit this Golden State team like a glove, and that will continue to be the case long after the Stephen Curry-Draymond Green era is over.

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MLB playoffs schedule: ALCS shifts to Cleveland

Oct 3, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; A view of the MLB Postseason logo on the field before the game between the Cleveland Guardians and the Chicago White Sox in game one of the ALDS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Thursday brings us two games on the postseason schedule, both of which had their start times altered due to bad weather in Cleveland.

Game 3 of the American League Championship Series between the Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Guardians was originally slated for a 6 p.m. local start at Progressive Field in Cleveland (3 p.m. PT), but on Wednesday was moved to a 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT) start in an effort to get ahead of a storm coming through.

The ALCS is tied at one game apiece, and Gavin Williams starts for Cleveland, after two starts with double-digit strikeouts during the Division Series, plus a scoreless inning of relief mixed in between. The right-hander has a 1.54 ERA with 24 strikeouts in his 11 2/3 innings this October.

Right-hander Griffin Jax will be first on the mound for Tampa Bay.

The ALCS moving to much earlier in the day also caused a switch in the NLCS, with Game 4 between the Dodgers and Brewers shifting from a 6:08 p.m. start time to 5:08 p.m. at Dodger Stadium. Tyler Glasnow starts Game 4 on Thursday, as the Dodgers try to keep their season alive.

Fox Sports has the NL playoffs this year, with TBS televising the AL side.

Thursday Championship Series schedule

10 a.m. PT: Rays at Guardians
Series tied 1-1
ALCS Game 3: Griffin Jax vs. Gavin Williams
TBS (Brian Anderson, Ron Darling, Jeff Francoeur & Lauren Shehadi)

5:08 p.m.: Dodgers vs. Brewers
Milwaukee leads, 3-0
NLCS Game 3: Tyler Glasnow vs. TBA
Fox (Joe Davis, John Smoltz, Ken Rosenthal, Tom Verducci)

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Australia 24-22 New Zealand: men’s Rugby League World Cup – live reaction

  • Kangaroos snatch victory from Kiwis in opener at Allianz Stadium

  • Jack Bostock scores hat-trick on debut

Tonight’s referee is Adam Gee, the man in the middle of the recent NRL grand final. He excelled quietly on that occasion and the big match rewards keep flowing his direction.

The 2026 men’s RLWC features ten teams. Eight of these qualified via their performances at the last world cup, back in 2022. That is: Australia, New Zealand, England, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, PNG, and Lebanon. The first seven countries in that list also happen to be the top seven on the IRL rankings; Lebanon are a lowly 23rd.

The remaining qualifiers, France and Cook Islands, won regional playoffs. Cook Islands are ranked eighth in the world, by the way, France recently held that position but have slipped to 11th. In other words, the cream of the crop will be on display.

The tournament will be played under NRL rules, including six players on the interchange bench with up to four to be used.

The ten teams have been distributed into three pools.

Pool A contains Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and Cook Islands. The top two from this group qualify for the semi-finals.

The teams in Pool B (England, Samoa, Lebanon) play the teams in Pool C (Tonga, PNG, France) with the top two on a combined group table qualifying for the semi-finals.

The winner of Pool A takes on the runner-up from Pool B&C in Sydney.

The winner of Pool B&C takes on the runner-up from Pool A in Newcastle.

The world cup final is in Brisbane on 15 November.

The group phase will take place over the following three weekends. After tonight, remaining matches will be staged only on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

The fourth weekend will feature the semi-finals, with the final wrapping up proceedings the following Sunday.

10 locations will host matches. Eight of these are in Australia: Sydney (Allianz Arena), Sydney (Commbank Arena), Brisbane, Newcastle, Gold Coast, Townsville, Wollongong, and Perth; while Port Moresby will host two Papua New Guinea matches, and Christchurch will stage one New Zealand fixture.

Continue reading...
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Report: Rangers 'Kicked Tires' On Maple Leafs' Anthony Stolarz

The New York Rangers suffered a huge blow when superstar goaltender Igor Shesterkin went down with a serious injury, sidelining him for the rest of the season. With that, the Rangers are scrambling for depth in goal, especially after having a very good start to the year with a 6-2-0 record.

Rangers GM Chris Drury has looked to the Toronto Maple Leafs to help bandage New York's goaltending situation. Even with Shesterkin out, Joonas Korpisalo is also out of the picture for the next few weeks.

As a result, TSN's NHL insider Darren Dreger hinted on the Ray and Dregs Podcast that the Rangers have poked around Anthony Stolarz.

"I think they've actually kicked tires on Anthony Stolarz," Dreger said on Wednesday's episode when discussing the Rangers' goaltending options.

In the meantime, the Blueshirts have had no choice but to rely on Dylan Garand, and he's stood tall for the Rangers with a 4-1-0 record, a .951 save percentage and a shutout. Regardless, the 24-year-old Garand only has seven total games of NHL experience, and the hot hand can only last so long.

Stolarz is Toronto's backup netminder behind Sergei Bobrovsky, and his new contract just took effect this season. Stolarz is on a four-year agreement at $3.75 million per season and has a 16-team no-trade list on his deal.

Second-Period Rush Goals, Anthony Stolarz Struggles Doom Maple Leafs in UtahSecond-Period Rush Goals, Anthony Stolarz Struggles Doom Maple Leafs in UtahA four-goal second period and five rush tallies proved too steep a hill to climb for Anthony Stolarz and the Maple Leafs, rendering a furious third-period rally moot in Salt Lake City.

The 32-year-old started in the Maple Leafs' last game against the Utah Mammoth on Tuesday in their 5-4 loss. That was Stolarz's first loss of the campaign, after winning his first two starts against the New York Islanders and Nashville Predators.

In total, the New Jersey native has registered an .875 SP and a 3.32 goals-against average for Toronto.

Last year, Stolarz posted an .893 SP and a 3.28 GAA over 26 games. The year before that was one of the best of his NHL career, recording a .926 SP and a 2.14 GAA, which is where Stolarz earned his current contract.

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Phillies News: Don Mattingly, Kevin Long, Dave Dombrowski

SEATTLE, WA - AUGUST 24: Philadelphia Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly (8) is in the visitors' dugout during the MLB game between the Philadelphia Phillies and Seattle Mariners on August 24, 2026 at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

In case you somehow missed the news yesterday, the Phillies have a “new” manager. The team announced yesterday that they removed the interim tag from Don Mattingly and named him their permanent manager with a new two-year contract. Later last night, it was reported that they will have a new hitting coach and infield coach, as Kevin Long and Bobby Dickerson will not be back under Mattingly. With that news the team also finally scheduled their end of season press conference for today at 10:30 am. There we will be able to hear from Dave Dombrowski himself for the first time since the Phillies season ended two weeks ago.

On to the links.

Phillies news:

MLB news:

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Orioles news: No Gold Glove finalists for the team

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 25: Pete Alonso #25 of the Baltimore Orioles in action against the New York Yankees during their game at Yankee Stadium on September 25, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Hello, friends.

There are now 160 days until the next scheduled Orioles game. Will there be a game on March 25, 2027 between the O’s and Rays? Only labor negotiations in December, January, and February can answer that question.

For now, there are the playoffs. The Rays and Guardians will play their third game today, while the Dodgers and Brewers play their Game 4 in Los Angeles. The ALCS game begins at 1pm, with the start time moved up due to the forecast for rain in Cleveland. Tough luck for anyone who paid excessive costs for those tickets and has to change their plans on short notice. They’ll probably feel better about it if they get to watch their team win. I would like to see the Guardians win in that series.

The Brewers mounted a comeback on the road against the Dodgers last night to put the two-time defending champions on the brink of being swept out of the NLCS. I can only guess that the other 29 teams fans are pulling for the Brewers to finish off the Dodgers today. It’s time for somebody else to get a turn.

In Orioles news, or rather non-news, the top three finishers for this year’s Gold Glove awards were announced on Wednesday afternoon. There were no Orioles on the list. At most positions on the diamond, this isn’t surprising, as O’s defense was chaotic, bad, or both just about everywhere. One notable exception was at first base, where Pete Alonso played some pretty darn good defense. I don’t know what more he would have had to do to end up in the top 3.

The actual top 3 at the position are Toronto’s Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Kansas City’s Vinnie Pasquantino, and Houston’s Christian Walker. The winners will be announced on November 1.

Anybody who spent time watching the Orioles this year knows that the defense needs to be better next year. Will the only person whose opinion matters – that is, Mike Elias, in his capacity as the president of baseball operations – take the actions that need to be taken to shore it up? We cannot know at this juncture, only hope.

If the post-mortems of the 2026 Orioles that have trickled into Orioles media are to be believed, manager Craig Albernaz wants to clean things up next year. I am skeptical that there is anything he didn’t try this year that is left to be tried next year. Somebody can probably clean it up even if most of the same roster comes back. I just have no confidence Albernaz is the guy, or that Elias is the guy who is going to prioritize it in his roster construction.

It’s not just how frequently it was bad – although, frequently, it was – but that it was so often unbelievably stupid, like how can a major league player do something that dumb. I will be thinking about “lose a fly ball in the sun while the sunglasses are on their hat instead of their face” for a long time. And that happened more than one time, and it wasn’t the same player each time it happened!

Orioles stuff you might have missed

Pete Alonso passed the eye test. Should he be a Gold Glove finalist? (The Baltimore Banner)
The Banner’s Andy Kostka looked at the common public defensive metrics and concluded that Alonso would probably not have been a deserving finalist. We can, of course, still be happy that the Orioles signed him, and don’t need any validation from Rawlings to have that feeling.

Looking at Orioles through the eyes of opposing scouts (School of Roch)
This one appeared in yesterday’s Bird Droppings too, so if you’ve already seen it, sorry! Slim pickings this time of year, and they’re going to get slimmer in December. I wonder what the real level of interest is for Heston Kjerstad and Jeremiah Jackson to have been mentioned as having gotten basic inquiries on trade availability.

Birthdays and Orioles anniversaries

Today in 1970, the Orioles beat the Reds in Game 5 of the World Series, taking down the team’s second championship in its history. It was a 9-3 victory in what ended up being the final game. Brooks Robinson was the MVP for the series. Maybe some day we’ll see the Orioles win it again.

In 1997, the Orioles lost an ALCS game to the then-Indians by a 1-0 score in 11 innings, with the lone run scoring as a solo home run hit off Armando Benitez in extras. Bummer. The lack of offense wasted eight brilliant innings from Mike Mussina.

There are a few former Orioles who were born on this day. They are: 2023 pitcher Jack Flaherty, 2018-20 pitcher Cody Carroll, 2004 outfielder Chat Mottola, 1982-83 infielder Glenn Gulliver, and Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Palmer. Today is Palmer’s 81st birthday. Happy birthday to him! Hopefully Albernaz sends him a birthday text.

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday to you as well! In addition to the franchise legend, your birthday buddies for today include: Russian author Mikhail Lermontov (1814), philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche (1844), author P.G. Wodehouse (1881), actress Penny Marshall (1943), and musician Tito Jackson (1953).

On this day in history…

In 1529, forces of the Holy Roman Empire broke an Ottoman siege of the city of Vienna after two weeks, blunting a period of European expansion for the Ottomans.

In 1888, a letter supposedly sent by mass killer Jack the Ripper, dubbed the “From Hell” letter, was received by those investigating the killings.

In 1956, the first computer programming language, FORTRAN, was shared with the public, or at least the very small part of the public that was interested at this time.

**

And that’s the way it is in Birdland on October 15. Have a safe Thursday.

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Blue Jays Birthdays: Teoscar Hernandez, Carlos Garcia and Chad Mottola

BUFFALO, NEW YORK - AUGUST 16: Teoscar Hernandez #37 of the Toronto Blue Jays swings during the fifth inning of an MLB game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Sahlen Field on August 16, 2020 in Buffalo, New York. This game is a continuation of last night's rain delay. The Blue Jays are the home team and are playing their home games in Buffalo due to the Canadian government’s policy on coronavirus (COVID-19). (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Today is Teoscar Hernandez’s 34th birthday.

When Teoscar arrived from the Astros, few could have predicted he’d develop into such a powerful slugger.

During his six seasons with the Jays, he posted a .263/.320/.503 slash line with 129 home runs. He ranks 13th in franchise history for home runs and 24th in RBIs.

The trade that sent him to the Mariners was unexpected. Erik Swanson excelled in the bullpen for us in 2023, though he struggled in 2024. Adam Macko made 16 starts for New Hampshire and one for the Bisons this year, tallying 105 strikeouts and 35 walks over 93.1 innings, with a 3.63 ERA.

Teoscar joined the Dodgers ahead of the 2024 season. Over his three seasons in Los Angeles, he has hit .262/.320/.462 with 74 home runs and collected two World Series rings. However, unless the Dodgers stage an impressive comeback against the Brewers, a third ring seems unlikely this year.

Happy Birthday, Teoscar. I wish you the best, but I hope your team loses. Sorry.

Today is Carlos Garcia’s 59th birthday.

You might recall that Carlos had a particularly rough season with the Jays. In November 1996, Toronto traded for Garcia, Orlando Merced, and Dan Plasac from the Pirates. Initially, we sent Brandon Cromer, Jose Pett, and Jose Silva to Pittsburgh, followed by Mike Halperin, Abraham Nunez, and Craig Wilson in December to complete the deal. For the record, I was never a fan of then-GM Gord Ash.

In 1997, Garcia batted .220/.253/.309 over 103 games, primarily at second base. He managed 3 home runs, 29 runs, 23 RBIs, and 11 stolen bases. Unfortunately, his defense was also underwhelming, and the Jays paid $2.55 million for that performance. By WAR, it was one of the worst seasons by a non-pitcher in team history.

Following that season, Garcia signed with the Angels as a free agent but hit only .143 in 40 at-bats. He then moved to San Diego, where his struggles continued, and soon after, he was out of baseball.

Garcia’s lone solid year in the majors came as a rookie with the Pirates, when he hit .269/.316/.399. He did have 12 home runs and 47 RBIs in 1993, making it difficult to understand what the Jays expected from the trade.

As for the players the Jays sent to Pittsburgh:

Craig Wilson went on to have a respectable MLB career, playing seven seasons—six with the Pirates—and hitting .262/.353/.474 with 99 home runs. His best year was 2004, when he played 155 games and posted a .264/.354/.499 line with 29 homers.

Abraham Nunez enjoyed a 12-year career, spending eight seasons with the Pirates. Over 1,030 games, he hit .242/.313/.314, primarily as a utility infielder.

Jose Silva pitched seven MLB seasons, finishing with a 25-28 record and a 5.41 ERA over 154 games, including 53 starts.

Happy Birthday, Carlos.

Today marks Chad Mottola’s 55th birthday.

Chad was an outfielder who appeared in just 59 MLB games over five seasons, 13 of them with the Blue Jays.

He spent much of his playing career in the minors. In 2007, his final minor league season, he played Triple-A for the Jays and hit .267/.324/.467. At 35, he began transitioning into coaching.

In 2008, he became the hitting coach for the Gulf Coast League Jays. By 2009, he was the roving minor league hitting coach, and from 2010 to 2012, he coached hitters for the Triple-A Las Vegas 51s. In 2011, he earned the Bobby Mattick Award for excellence in player development.

In 2013, he was promoted to the Blue Jays’ major league staff, but was let go at the end of the season. One year he was praised as a miracle worker, the next he was out—the unpredictable life of a coach.

The Rays hired him as a roving instructor, and in 2017, he became their major league hitting coach—a role he still holds today.

Happy Birthday, Chad.

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Today on Pinstripe Alley – 10/15/26

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 14: Jake Bauers #9 of the Milwaukee Brewers rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run in the seventh inning during Game Three of the National League Championship Series between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday, October 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Nicole Vasquez/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Holy moly, that was some kind of playoff game last night in LA. A first-pitch homer by Jackson Chourio was the only scoring until an Abner Uribe meltdown allowed the Dodgers to jump back in front, 2-1. But Jake Bauers—yes, the same 2023 Yankees legend—put in his second epic at-bat of the offseason to win an 11-pitch battle with Blake Snell on a two-run blast that turned the game upside down. Garrett Mitchell immediately followed with a lefty/lefty homer of his own.

Now suddenly the Brewers are on the verge of avenging last year’s NLCS sweep at the hands of the Dodgers by giving LA a taste of its own medicine. It would be the first World Series appearance since 1982, when they were still in the American League. They have never won it all. They’ll get multiple shots at it, but best to just step on the Dodger blue-shaded cockroach now and not give it a chance at survival, right? Here we go Brew Crew, here we go. (Oh, and don’t forget to root for Cleveland to take a series lead on Tampa Bay now that they’re back in Ohio, too.)

Our eyes are mostly focused on the day/night playoff action today, but we still have material for you! Peter will recap NLCS Game 3 in greater detail, Dani will discuss Joe Girardi’s recent appraisal of his successor as Yankees skipper, and Jonathan well celebrate the birthday of the man known as “Babe Ruth’s Legs” (no, really).

Today’s Playoff Matchups:

American League Championship Series Game 3
(Series tied 1-1)

Cleveland Guardians vs. Tampa Bay Rays
(RHP Gavin Williams vs. RHP Grifin Jax)

Time: 1:00 p.m. EST [they pushed the start time back due to bad weather in the forecast]

TV: TBS/HBO Max/truTV

Venue: Progressive Field, Cleveland, OH

National League Championship Series Game 4
(Milwaukee leads 3-0)

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Milwaukee Brewers
(RHP Tyler Glasnow vs. TBD)

Time: 8:00 p.m. EST

TV: FOX/FS1/FOX ONE

Venue: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA

Questions/Prompts:

1. Does the Brew Crew finish off the sweep tonight or do the Dodgers survive?

2. What do you think of the Phillies’ decision to bring back Don Mattingly for another two years as skipper?

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Daniel Gafford is still a valuable piece of the Mavericks’ puzzle in 2026-27

MACAO, CHINA - OCTOBER 11: Daniel Gafford #21 of the Dallas Mavericks talks to the media during the game against the Houston Rockets as part of 2026 NBA China Games on October 11, 2026 in Macao, China at Venetian Arena. 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 Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Daniel Gafford was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in 2024 to pair his rim-running abilities with Luka Doncic’s playmaking. Gafford quickly became a key part of the Mavericks, contributing to Dallas’ 2024 NBA Finals run. Two and a half years later, the entire franchise has been flipped upside down, with everything around Gafford changing. Doncic, traded. Coach Kidd, gone. A new budding star in Cooper Flagg. On a roster that has completely transformed since his arrival, Gafford has remained one of Dallas’ few constants.

The previous front office regime signed Daniel Gafford to a three-year, $60 million contract extension in the 2025 offseason. As the 28-year-old enters his third full season in Dallas, he will have to carve out a role for himself in a new offensive system led by Coach Dusty May. The Mavericks are a frontcourt-centric team, leaving Gafford among the group jockeying for position in the center rotation. As the Mavericks progress towards building a contender around Flagg, they will have to evaluate Gafford’s role with the team. With early frontcourt injuries, Gafford will have an opportunity to cement his place in the Mavericks’ future.

Big Question

Can Gafford evolve his offense under Coach May’s system? For the entirety of his career, Gafford’s offensive role has been setting screens, rolling hard to the basket, and finishing at the rim. He is one of the league’s best finishers, scoring efficiently at the basket every season. Coach May wants the Mavericks to shoot more threes, something that stood out in the Mavericks’ two preseason games in Macao. When asked about adding a three-point shot to his game, Gafford noted that the coaching staff is putting a lot of faith in him and that it will be uncomfortable at first. Gafford had one career three-point attempt from his early years with the Washington Wizards.

Gafford answered the call in the first quarter of the Mavericks’ first preseason game in Macao against the Rockets with a spot-up three off a crafty pass from Sergio de Larrea. It’s safe to say he shook off his discomfort early with his impressively smooth jump shot.

Coach May values bigs who can play as “connectors,” who can dribble, pass, and shoot. For Gafford, this means short-roll passing and shooting the occasional three when open. Coach May has given Gafford a green light, as long as he “earns the right.” With Dereck Lively out to start the season, Gafford has an early opportunity to adapt his game to the Mavericks’ new system.

Best Case Scenario

The best case for Gafford starts with a healthy season. He hasn’t played more than 57 games in a single season in Dallas. With Kyrie Irving returning from a torn ACL and Flagg’s gravity, Gafford’s presence on both ends of the floor has already stood out to his teammates. An ideal season for Gafford is putting what Coach May envisions into play. His efficiency dropped slightly last season, likely due to the previously mentioned circumstances in Dallas. The best-case scenario is that he improves his efficiency and averages around 11 points, seven rebounds and close to two blocks. To add, he hits the occasional three, effectively passes out of short rolls, and doesn’t get burnt on switches. That version of Gafford becomes one of the league’s most valuable contracts at the center position.

Worst Case Scenario

Gafford falls down the pecking order of the center rotation. A quick return from Dereck Lively, combined with Morez Johnson earning Coach May’s trust early in the big leagues, could make Gafford the odd man out. If Santi Aldama emerges as a back-up stretch five, Gafford could fall even further down the totem pole.

The injuries from last season come back, and he’s in and out of the lineup again. By February, his $17 million contract ages poorly for a third-string or lower center, leaving Dallas no choice but to shop him for a lower price than it could have gotten last summer.

Season Goal

Stay on the floor and make the spot-up three a real part of his game. A realistic average attempts-per-game goal should be less than one, since he is just now adding this to his game. Gafford has struggled to put together a full, healthy season since the Mavericks’ Finals run. If he can play 70 games this season, it will be hard for Coach May to deny him playing time. If he can stay on the floor consistently and still has the green light from behind the arc come All-Star break, the season will be considered a success for Gafford.

Overall

Gafford has survived a coaching change, front office and roster overhaul, the biggest trade in sports history, and trade rumors of his own. Despite the rumors, the Mavericks’ new regime praised Gafford throughout training camp, outlining a path for him to be a part of their future. If Gafford can acclimate to the new-look Mavericks, he will continue to be a valuable piece to the Mavericks’ puzzle as they build towards a contending roster around Flagg.

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Swanson: Improbable tasks are Shohei Ohtani's jam. So what's a 3-0 NLCS deficit?

Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani singles during the eighth inning of Game 3 of the NLCS against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani singles during the eighth inning of Game 3 of the NLCS against the Milwaukee Brewers. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

You probably don’t believe the slumping Dodgers can come back from this gaping 3-0 deficit to beat the surging Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Championship Series.

And you probably didn’t believe that manager Dave Roberts should continue penciling in Shohei Ohtani — flailing and failing and having gone three for 20 this postseason entering the Dodgers’ 6-2 loss in Game 3 — as his designated hitter.

But Ohtani rejected Roberts’ invitation to remove himself — after a season of fighting biceps and knee issues — from the lineup.

Read more:Plaschke: The Dodgers are done. After putting up a fight, the champs are out of gas

Because Ohtani is an athlete whose belief in himself knows no bounds.

Exactly the kind of guy a team on the brink of elimination needs.

Remember back in 2018, most of baseball’s foremost brainiacs thought there was no way the 23-year-old hot-shot prospect from Japan would actually be able to do what no one in nearly a century had: both pitch and bat in the big leagues.

The majority of major league scouts believed Ohtani’s swing was flawed in balance and mechanics, that his bat-to-ball skills weren’t going to be good enough.

You know what happened: Ohtani only went on to become the first MLB player to record 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in the same season.

He became the first two-way All-Star starter.

And last year he gave us the greatest game ever, striking out 10 and hitting three home runs in Game 4 of the NLCS, sending Milwaukee home and the Dodgers back to the World Series, on the way to a second consecutive championship.

This is someone for whom the impossible is probable. Someone who’s made us all believe in unicorns. An audacious, delusional, radical optimist.

And with Wednesday’s defeat having backed them into the corner, the Dodgers should be glad to have Ohtani, for whom all things are possible, still working and tinkering and trying his best.

Read more:'How do we bounce back?' Dodgers collapse and fall into 3-0 NLCS hole vs. surging Brewers

Ohtani drove the Struggle Bus into Game 3, having struck out seven times in 22 playoff at-bats, with only three singles and no extra-base hits and no RBIs.

But he wasn’t dissuaded: “It’s a constant, ongoing process that’s headed in the right direction,” he said Tuesday, through interpreter Will Ireton, adding several times in an impromptu interview: “I take full responsibility.”

Ohtani stayed late Tuesday night working on his swing, Roberts said: “Out with the guys, talking about things on how we’re going to beat these guys … and I will say this, this was a different look from Shohei. Determined, and that’s an understatement.”

And then, while the debate around him raged — should he or shouldn’t he play — Ohtani clocked in and got to work.

The superstar who deferred most of his record 10-year, $700 million salary so as to enable — to obligate — the Dodgers to build a championship roster around him reached base in three of his four plate appearances Wednesday.

As a team, the Dodgers went one for six with runners in scoring position and left eight runners on base — including Ohtani those three times.

He took one for the team, getting hit by a pitch on the backside in the fourth inning. He drew a Josue De Paula-esque five-pitch walk in the sixth. And then in the eighth, Ohtani knocked a single up the middle that came off his bat with an exit velocity of 113.5 mph, one of his four hardest balls of the whole season.

Ohtani didn’t, however, pop one out of the park; he hasn’t homered since Aug. 18.

The live-by-the-slug, die-by-the-slug Dodgers have hit zero home runs in the NLCS. But the small-market Brewers known for their small-ball approach have hit five — including three off Blake Snell on Wednesday.

As a team, the Dodgers have much of their massive $415 million payroll going to hitters who are collectively batting .188 this postseason. They’re three for 32 with runners in scoring position.

Call it quiet-quittin’ hittin’, because the Dodgers’ bats and their stadium got so quiet you could hear “Let’s Go Brewers!” chants in the Ravine — and probably from as far away as Racine, Wisc.

And if it appears that L.A.’s hit baseball show is about to go on hiatus, its main actors are telling us they still believe in miracles.

“At the beginning of this year, we set out to do something historic,” Max Muncy said. “It looks like we’re going to have to make a little more history along the way if we want to accomplish that.”

“It’s certainly possible,” said Roberts, MLB’s only manager to have experienced a 3-0 postseason series comeback as a player when his Boston Red Sox did it against the New York Yankees in the ALCS.

Read more:Shaikin: Here's how Dave Roberts explained all the Dodgers' moves that backfired

“I’ve lived it, and I think the thing is that our guys have been battle-tested, as was that team I was a part of … it’s just you’ve got to win tomorrow. It’s an elimination game. We’ve played in a lot of elimination games. We’ve just got to get a win.”

Four wins, actually. In a row.

Does that seem impossible? Seems like Ohtani’s type of challenge.

Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Islanders Gameday: Over the border again

All your proper ‘90s colors are in play. | Getty Images

The Islanders begin a short Ontario road trip with a visit to Ottawa tonight, followed by a second visit to Toronto on Saturday. The Senators are without Brady Tkachuk (who had a hat trick the other night) due to classic Sibling Envy. Speaking of brothers, they’re also without Eklund the Lesser after a foot/ankle injury.

But they still have red jerseys of their own, at least some nights.

First Islanders Goal picks go here.

Islanders News

  • When will the Islanders grasp Pete DeBoer’s system? (And what is that system? And do they even have the horses to…?) [Newsday]
  • Kyle Palmieri’s teammates were very happy for his two-goal burst on his long comeback from injury. [Post]
  • Palmieri knows how lucky he is to be back at his age, especially after watching Alex Romanov go down yet again. [NHL]
  • The Islanders made things difficult for themselves agains the Canucks. They should really try to not do that against bad teams. [Newsday]
  • The Skinny: “Schaefer is also the youngest defenseman (and third-youngest player) in NHL history with an assist in each of the season’s first four home games. Wayne Gretzky and Sam Gagner also did in four straight games, but neither earned an assist in their fifth game. The record for a teenager is 10 games, set by Ron Francis.” [Isles]
  • The Swedish Meatball and Palmieri received the team’s post-game locker room awards. [Isles]
  • Give us your personal info and we’ll let you do some Bo Horvat trivia. [Isles]

Elsewhere

  • Behind the new official full-time EBUGs, which DeBoer says sounds like a pretty good gig. [Sportsnet]
  • Struggling teams and their panic meter: it’s kind of wild and tremendously funny that the Flyers are still winless. [Sportsnet]
  • Who says the Red Wings are a sinking ship? Alex DeBrincat just signed on for seven more years and $91 million. [NHL]
  • They say they aren’t trading unsigned Simon Edvinsson, either. [TSN]
  • Brady Tkachuks’ hat trick was the “first natural hat trick with all three assisted by a brother” in NHL history. Not even the Stastnys, apparently… [Athletic]
  • In which the Tkachuks sing about how nice it is to play with each other, and seem to suggest all the Hughes should gather in Minnesota. [Athletic]
  • The Hurricanes are dealing with some injuries, first Jordan Staal for two months and now Taylor Hall, too. [Sportsnet]
  • Where is Connor Hellebuyck headed, and when? [Sportsnet]
  • Speaking of whom, this is mostly just meaningless early-season power rankings, but “Over the last five years, only one goalie has saved more goals above expected than Sorokin and he’s currently sitting at home.” [Athletic]
  • Not sure why the NHLPA even needs to defend no-trade clauses that were freely negotiated, but here we are. [Sportsnet]
  • Faust Arp Aatu Raty is on waivers with the intention of an AHL assignment. [Sportsnet]
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Pens Points: Heading Further West

PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 24: Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins carries the puck against the Colorado Avalanche at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 24, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images

Coming off a loss in Chicago to open their first major road trip of the season, the Pittsburgh Penguins will now continue heading west and climb to a mile above sea level for a meeting with the Colorado Avalanche on Friday night to open a back-to-back set that will conclude on Saturday in Las Vegas against the defending Western Conference champion Golden Knights. The Penguins will then wrap up the trip with a stop in Salt Lake City to exchange pleasantries with the Mammoth.

Pens Points…

Tuesday night will not be remembered longingly by Sergei Murashov after his performance against the Chicago Blackhawks. His late game gaffe cost the Penguins at least a point, but those type of mistakes are commonplace for young goaltenders entering the league. [Pensburgh]

Coming off a forgettable start to the season, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins were looking to make amends in their second weekend of action and they did so in a big way, outscoring the opposition 13-3 in blowout road victories over Hartford and Providence. [Pensburgh]

It doesn’t matter what contract Ville Koivunen signed over the summer, his roster spot is not guaranteed and he’s well aware of that. Every night will still be an audition for Koivunen with plenty of players ready and waiting to take his spot at any moment. [Trib Live]

Forward depth will not be an issue for the Penguins this season, having already traded one forward to ease some of the log jam. By adding Ryan Johnson from Buffalo, the Penguins added depth to the blue line which is never a bad thing over the course of a long season. [Penguins]

NHL News and Notes…

Simon Edvinsson and the Detroit Red Wings remain at an impasse, with the former having lodged a trade request away from the team. Despite the current status of the situation, the Red Wings remain steadfast and have no plans on moving the young defenseman. [NHL]

In a unique bit of hockey history, the Tkachuk brothers teamed up for an NHL first on Tuesday night. Brady Tkachuk scored a natural hat trick against the Columbus Blue Jackets with brother Matthew assisting on all three tallies, the first time that has happened in the NHL. [On Tap Sportsnet]

A whopping 320 NHL players currently have a No Trade Clause attached to their current contracts. That works out to roughly 60% of the league’s rostered players who are eligible for the NTC distinction and it’s a number that just keeps growing every year. [The Athletic $$]