Yankees news: The Wild Card Series begins

MLB Trade Rumors | Charlie Wright: The big news prior to last night’s matchup with the Boston Red Sox was the expected, yet nonetheless somewhat disappointing, news that Aaron Judge would be left off the Wild Card roster. The right fielder, dealing with a “moderate” right calf strain, will not be eligible to return until the ALDS, should the Yankees make it that far. On the flip side, though, Giancarlo Stanton and Trent Grisham were activated, and while neither projects to slot into the starting lineup, they serve as key depth as potential pinch-hitters late in the game. Grisham came in to play late in last night’s game when Heliot Ramos was removed for defense, Spencer Jones sliding over to right and Grisham moving into center.

MLB.com | Sarah Langs: The Yankees got off to a great start in the Wild Card Series opener, blanking the Red Sox 9-0 to move one win away from advancing. For much of the night, the clear-cut star of the show was the same man who slammed the door on Boston in their playoff showdown last year: Massachusetts native Cam Schlittler. (Ben Rice had a heck of a ballgame, too.) We turns it over to Langs, the queen of the fun facts, for seven of her favorite ones from Schlittler’s 6.1 brilliant innings of 10-K ball. Here’s one: Of the 56 pitchers to have ever made at least two playoff starts against Boston, only two have fanned 10 Red Sox twice. One is Cam; the other is the legendary Bob Gibson. Not bad!

Yahoo Sports | Bob Klapisch: On Monday afternoon, Judge made one last attempt to prove he was ready for the postseason, taking batting practice off Elmer Rodríguez (the projected starter for Sunday’s cancelled game) and Ryan Weathers. It was, unsurprisingly, unsuccessful, as the right fielder was only 13 days out from an injury that usually takes 4-6 weeks to heal. And yet, the fact that he can even make an attempt at all is the result of a somewhat-experimental medical procedure, PPP (platelet poor plasma) injections. Early indications suggest that these injections — the inverse of the platelet-rich plasma injections that have been used to treat tendons and ligaments — may help speed the process of soft-tissue injuries.

Also, on the topic of injuries, Red Sox leadoff hitter Roman Anthony had to leave Wild Card Series Game 1 in the sixth inning for a pinch-hitter. The 22-year-old missed nearly four months with various hand and wrist issues, and Boston manager Chad Tracy said they flared up again after an uncomfortable check-swing. There’s no word yet on whether the Red Sox will replace him on their roster or keep him around to see if he bounces back at all.

ESPN: Prior to the start of Wild Card play yesterday, ESPN posted their predictions for this year’s postseason. Perhaps surprisingly, the Yankees were the consensus in the Wild Card round, with 18 voters selecting the Bombers, and only six the Red Sox — tied for the highest margin in the first round matchups. Following rounds, though, went much worse for the Yankees, with the Rays the overwhelming favorite regardless of who they play in the ALDS; those numbers turned out to be identical for the ALCS as well, as none of the Central and West teams got any love.

MLB.com | Anthony Castrovince: We wrap up today’s news with a position-by-position breakdown of the Yankees and Red Sox, courtesy of MLB.com. In Castrovince’s opinion, the Yankees are the clear favorites, both collectively and on a position-by-position basis and collectively — so naturally, he picks the Red Sox in three, because “that’s baseball.” Here’s hoping he’s wrong.

A Night to Remember: 3 Observations as Golden Knights Defeat Blackhawks in Home Opener

Las Vegas, N.V.– With its legalized gambling, world-renowned restaurants, magic shows, and acrobatic circus acts, Las Vegas is widely viewed as the entertainment capital of the world. The Strip has something for everyone and attracts an unfathomable amount of foot traffic every day. On Tuesday, a good chunk of that traffic flocked to T-Mobile Arena for the Vegas Golden Knights’ home opener against the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Golden Knights are known for their pregame theatrics, and they didn’t cut any corners in their 10th season. The ‘Season X’ pregame show included a walk down memory lane with a nostalgic video, and finished with a call to the city’s rich history with neon signs.

Even before puck drop, the building was electric. 

The good time certainly didn’t stop when the Golden Knights struck first. After spending most of the 2025-26 season playing catch-up, the fans were all-too eager to cheer as their team took a two-goal lead and spent the rest of the night fending off every push that the Connor Bedard-less Blackhawks could muster. And in the end, when the final horn sounded on a 5-2 Golden Knights victory, well, they liked that too.

1. A Milestone Knight

Usually, an NHL debut is enough cause for celebration. But tonight, 20-year-old Trevor Connelly killed two birds with one stone and became the second-ever Golden Knight to score a goal in his NHL debut.

“I mean, it’s incredible,” said Jack Eichel about Connelly’s milestone. “You see his family here before the game; it’s his first NHL game. He’s been awesome all camp. He’s a great part of our locker room, and he’s obviously a special player. [I’m] so happy to see him get his first, definitely a night and a moment that he’ll never forget.”

Eichel, too, hit a pretty big milestone tonight. With a goal and two assists, Eichel recorded his 700th career point. 

“I’ve been really lucky and grateful to be a part of this organization,” said Eichel following the 5-2 win. “But I think those things just come kind of organically. I’ve played with some great players in my career, and like I said, those things kind of just come. Yeah, it was cool.”

2. Guess Who’s Back, Back Again?

There’s been a fair bit of chatter about the Golden Knights’ new-look power play heading into the season. There are questions about how they’ll replace Pavel Dortofeyev’s 25 power play goals, and how the top unit will fare without a one-time option for Jack Eichel. They went 1-4 tonight against the Blackhawks.

Who scored the lone goal? Why, Victor Olofsson, of course! 

After a partial change, Olofsson found himself out on the ice with most of the top unit. Shea Theodore left the puck for Jack Eichel at center ice, and Eichel found Olofsson entering the zone with a full head of steam. In his first game back with the Golden Knights, Olofsson flew towards the left dot and ripped a shot past Spencer Knight.

It’s far too early to form conclusions about the power play. However, one thing is for certain: Victor Olofsson sure does know how to score goals.

3. Meet the New Boss…

Ryan Craig has been working up to his first game as an NHL head coach for a long, long time. He spent six years serving as an assistant coach for the Golden Knights, then three years as the head coach of the Henderson Silver Knights. Now, he’s back behind an NHL bench, and this time, he’s the boss.

It only took Craig one game to record his first win as head coach.

“I don’t think anyone in this locker room is surprised,” said Jack Eichel postgame. “Craiger’s an unbelievable person, and a great leader. It’s been a really seamless transition. He’s done a great job in the meetings, before the game, on the bench. 

“I’m so happy to have this opportunity, and it’s so deserved,” Eichel continued. “He’s been in the organization for a while. It was a pleasure when he was on the bench a few years ago, and now to have him back, it’s great. For him, I’m sure this is a special moment as well, his first win as a head coach. So, super happy for him, and plenty more.”

Craig, who has been fielding questions about ‘firsts’ like a champ for the past two weeks, understandably wasn’t too interested in talking about himself following the 5-2 victory.

“It’s nice to have my family here to witness the first win,” he said following the game. “Proud of our guys and our effort, and we’ll get back to work.”

Ben Rice has Yankees on brink of ALDS with MVP-type performance in Game 1 win

For as often as it is applied with certainty, “Most Valuable Player” can feel uncomfortably inexact. Pitchers are valuable in different ways than hitters. Hitters are more valuable in good times than when they are slumping. Sheer productivity is valuable, but players can help win games in ways statistics obscure. Maybe “Most Valuable” is best explained as “you know it when you see it.”

And in the Yankees’ Game 1 win against the Red Sox on Tuesday night -- as on so many nights during the regular season -- Ben Rice was the player heaving them over a finish line that was not immediately clear they would cross without him. He went 4-for-5 with two home runs, one of which gave the Yankees a second run when the game was close early, the second of which was a grand slam that allowed them to preserve key arms late. He drove in six of the Yankees’ nine runs while becoming the first Yankee to homer twice in a playoff game in half a decade’s worth of Octobers. He left no doubt.

“Count on one hand,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “One of the best hitters in the league.”

Rice’s regular season will earn him plenty of down-ballot MVP votes, though he almost certainly will not beat out Yordan Alvarez’s near-Triple Crown season to win it. But if the award were given for sheer offensive productivity, his numbers alone would solidify him as a top-five finish. 

Rice posted the fourth-best OPS (.897), fifth-highest wRC+ (149), and tied for the fourth-most home runs (41) in the majors. Only eight players had a higher OPS with runners in scoring position than Rice (.975), who became the focal point of the Yankees’ lineup – and was therefore under more pressure to produce while being pitched more carefully – when Judge was on the injured list for three months this summer.

Built into that three-month period was one month (August, mostly) during which Rice struggled to prop up the lineup in Judge’s absence, hurt further by an injury to Cody Bellinger. He endured a .184 average and .641 OPS in August, and the Yankees’ offense sputtered without him.

“It was a great offensive season, and obviously, we needed it,” Boone said, before recalling that second-half swoon.

“That’s the thing you love to see. For as great a year as he had, he had a stretch there for a month where it was really a grind and a struggle, but he kind of got himself out of it.”

As Rice recovered, the Yankees’ offense followed, and it exploded after Judge returned from his rib injury. And when a strained calf pulled Judge out of action again, Rice slid back into the role of offensive anchor.

The 27-year-old is, and has been, the hitter around whom the Yankees built entire lineup plans this year. Even Judge’s injury made his production so crucial, and even with their catchers enduring historic offensive struggles, the Yankees did not put Rice back in his old position, too desperate for his offense to risk injury or overload from catching duties.

And as Judge, a three-time MVP, tries to work his way back from this injury in time for a potential Division Series, Rice represents the lineup lynchpin once again. Judge has said he will have to be healthy enough to play right field when he returns -- not just serve as the designated hitter -- because the Yankees lineup functions better with Rice in that spot. Meanwhile, Boone said before Game 1 that Major League Baseball’s active home run leader, Giancarlo Stanton, is effectively on the roster just to take a pinch-hit at-bat each night because getting him more chances would require maneuvering with Rice.

In fact, Rice is one of the Yankees’ few immovable objects. Luis Garcia Jr., whose .831 regular season OPS was 25th among qualified hitters, did not start Tuesday night because the platoon matchup favored Paul Goldschmidt at first base. Rice has been immune to Boone’s otherwise all-inclusive platoon considerations for quite some time.

“He’s one of the best hitters I’ve ever seen,” rookie George Lombard Jr. said. “And he shows why all the time.”

Still, Cam Schlittler was the one who heard MVP chants Tuesday night, and for good reason. He was untouchable, almost literally, for a Red Sox lineup that has seen him many times and planned for this. And when he was asked about those chants, he deferred to another Yankee more deserving of the title.

“We already got an MVP in this locker room. He’s won three of them,” Schlittler said of Judge. “If he were in there this whole season, he’d probably have it.”

But Judge was not in there this whole season -- wasn’t even in there for half of it -- and despite his best efforts to heal a strained calf in record time, he was not in the Yankees lineup Tuesday, either. Without him, against the kind of left-handed starter seemingly poised to punish the Yankees for the absence of their right-handed superstar, Rice was the unstoppable weapon.

His first-inning double signaled Payton Tolle was vulnerable. His home run against Erik Miller in the fifth gave the Yankees a two-run lead while signaling to the Red Sox that none of their lefties were safe. His bases-loaded single in the seventh gave the Yankees breathing room as Schlittler tired. And it would not be an exaggeration to suggest that his grand slam in the bottom of the eighth might decide the series. Because of that swing, Boone felt safe using John Schreiber in the ninth instead of David Bednar. Because of the size of the lead late, he did not need Brent Headrick, either.

Headrick and Bednar have been the Yankees’ best relievers all season. They will be fully rested in relief of Max Fried in Game 2. With a series win in reach, there might be nothing more valuable than that.

Yankees’ Anthony Volpe takes advantage of playoff shot: ‘It’s all hands on deck’

An image collage containing 1 images, Image 1 shows Anthony Volpe rounds first base after hitting a single in the second of the Yankees' 9-0 Game 1 blowout win over the Red Sox in their AL wild-card series on Sept. 29, 2026 at the Stadium

Anthony Volpe sure looked comfortable in his first playoff start at second base while delivering a key hit and sacrifice bunt in a 9-0 win over Boston in Game 1 of the wild card series at the Stadium.

It was a highlight in a rocky season for the one-time shortstop of the future for the Yankees, who bounced from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to The Bronx and all around the infield in a wild season.

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Now he looks like he could be a key piece to a potential playoff run.

“I’m just in the moment and ready to go,’’ Volpe said. “Everything that happened, happened. … It’s all hands on deck.”

His path to Game 1 included offseason surgery to repair his left shoulder a little less than a year ago, followed by a minor league rehab assignment that began in April before he was optioned to the minors when he failed to show enough to merit a trip back to The Bronx at short.

When he finally got back to the majors, it came because José Caballero, who replaced Volpe at short, was hurt.

And after more than one trip back to the minors, Volpe didn’t play his first major league game at second base until this month.

“It was frustrating,’’ Volpe said. “As bad as it was, it was a good opportunity.”

“Credit to him,’’ Aaron Boone said prior to the game. “It was an incredibly difficult situation, but that’s why I always [say], we live in the moment so much. It’s a snapshot in such a long grind of the season. There’s gonna be good times, bad times, twists and turns. A lot of times, the cream usually rises to the top.”

The Yankees went with Volpe over lefty-swinging Jazz Chisholm Jr. against Boston left-hander Payton Tolle, with Volpe having started at second just 11 times in the majors before Tuesday night.

Anthony Volpe rounds first base after hitting a single in the second of the Yankees’ 9-0 Game 1 blowout win over the Red Sox in their AL wild-card series on Sept. 29, 2026 at the Stadium. Jason Szenes for New York Post

Still, infield coach Dan Fiorito expressed confidence that Volpe would be solid wherever he was asked to play.

“I know he’s ready,’’ Fiorito said before the game. “He’s got some games there going back to the minors.”

And Fiorito said Volpe’s knowledge of the game has helped with the transition.

“He doesn’t have the same experience as he does at shortstop, but he’s a baseball player,’’ Fiorito said. “He knows all his responsibilities. He’s looked good out there so far.”

Prior to this season, Volpe had appeared in just two games as a pro at second base, as the Yankees prepared him throughout his career to be the shortstop for the foreseeable future.

But his offense stalled and his defense regressed and when he played through the shoulder injury last season, it took a toll.

Many scouts have long believed that, despite the Gold Glove he won as a rookie, Volpe was better suited as a second baseman and with George Lombard Jr. so far looking the part, the best chance Volpe has of sticking in The Bronx — and making a difference this postseason — is an ability to play second and perhaps third.

“Anthony is a competitor,” Fiorito said. “He’s dialed in. He knows where everybody’s got to be on the field at all times. And he’s in the right spot at the right time. That makes you feel good about him.”

And Fiorito has been most impressed with Volpe’s consistency at other parts of the infield.

“He’s made some really good plays there, but he’s also made the ones you expect him to and that’s what you need this time of year,’’ Fiorito said.

The Red Sox were completely unprepared for Game 1 of the Wild Card series

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 29: Willson Contreras #40 of the Boston Red Sox reacts after being struck out by John Schreiber #56 of the New York Yankees to end game one of the American League Wild Card Series at Yankee Stadium on September 29, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images

All September, we watched the Red Sox half-heart their way through the month. Guys got days off, pitchers were pushed back, bullpen arms were saved, and the general intensity of all the games flat out sucked, especially as a late season product where historically there’d be a race to get into or improve playoff positioning.

All of this uninspiring play was only potentially made palatable by one overarching theme: After losing their previous series in New York at the end of August — And with it the tiebreaker over the Yankees — the Red Sox essentially made a deal with the baseball devil in which they (apparently) made their return trip this week their sole priority. In short, they put the results of games in the first four weeks of September on the backburner in favor of getting healthier and being ready to go for September 29th.

Well, September 29th came, and they were woefully unprepared for the very matchup they were supposedly studying up on for the last month. They looked flat, overwhelmed, and like a team who didn’t belong on the stage.

Just as importantly, they looked like the same team they’ve been all month, where they not only rank dead last in runs scored with just 71, but are 18 runs behind the next closest squad.

They also mimicked multiple September games in which they ran out the white flag bullpen squad after falling behind early. When Payton Tolle walked off the mound in the fifth inning, it was still just a 1-0 game, but the next five pitchers through the bullpen door were Erik Miller, Greg Weissert, Alec Gamboa, Wyatt Olds, and Brayan Bello. Chad Tracy did this in a playoff game, in New York, with winter potentially breathing down their neck in 24 hours. That is some September 15th garbage!

Regardless of whether you felt the July and August Sox were legit or all smoke and mirrors, there’s no denying they had a certain fight to them, and it’s a quality that kept them in every single game.

And then all at once, after losing that Yankee serious to close August, they intentionally and strategically stopped pushing for wins every day with the same intensity. On one hand, I can’t even entirely blame them for doing that because it’s largely the box this playoff format puts you in … But wow, if you’re going to do that, you absolutely need to have a way to guarantee you can hit the ground running and be ready to go when Game 1 does come around, because tonight, this Red Sox team proved entirely incapable of flipping the summer switch back on.

Apparently, in their final tune up, they spent all weekend practicing against the Trajekt machine on the Schlittler setting, and despite seeing the difference between his velocity and off-speed pitches simulated, it didn’t make a lick of difference and they still got caught with their pants down for the second year in a row.

Unfortunately, there’s no perfect way to enter the playoffs, and this wretched, bloated postseason format only further complicates the conundrum. For this reason, I’m actually partially sympathetic to the idea there’s just a reality here where the line between getting the plane off the ground and never even getting started in October is razor thin and tough to gauge.

However, at the same time, solving this riddle is exactly what the guys who run this team get paid to figure out. That’s literally the gig. And borrowing a dramatic turnaround, it appears they’ve failed miserably.

Things aren’t quite over yet, but unless Wednesday and Thursday feature a flip of the script that’s as jarring, abrupt and surprising as that performance was hideous on Tuesday, it’s going to be a brutal and bitter winter in Boston. If there’s any bullets left in the gun, they need to find it and start firing now.

‘I needed to change’: Peter O’Mahony on ditching hard-edged ritual, and his love of gardening

The former Ireland captain talks about allowing his own feelings, why every coach except Andy Farrell has been ‘a bit mad’, and pain over a ruthless exit from Munster

“It’s a natural human instinct, especially as an athlete, that you don’t want to lose,” Peter O’Mahony says on a quiet evening in Dublin as a new rugby season looms over us. “But at times it got in my way and caused despair. I honestly don’t know where that deep-down hatred came from but it used to derail me at times.”

The former captain of Munster, Ireland and the Lions is settling into his second year of retirement and the taciturn grit and uncompromising commitment which defined his career have been replaced by more complex reflections. O’Mahony is a fascinating character and I ask whether he would have carried the same competitive zeal if he had been a wizard at, for example, chess or mathematics.

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Yankees bench Jazz Chisholm Jr. in Game 1 after up-and-down season

An image collage containing 1 images, Image 1 shows Jazz Chisholm Jr, who did not play, watches the action during the Yankees 9-0 Game 1 blowout win over the Red Sox on Sept. 29, 2026 at the Stadium

For the second straight year, Jazz Chisholm Jr. expected to be in the Yankees lineup for Game 1 of the AL wild card series.

For the second straight year, he was not.

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With the Red Sox opening the series with lefty Payton Tolle on the mound, Aaron Boone started the righty-hitting Anthony Volpe at second base over the lefty-hitting Chisholm, a platoon that worked out as Volpe went 1-for-3 with a sacrifice bunt in Tuesday’s 9-0 win.

“It’s a tough call there, one I deliberated on the last couple days, but ultimately this is the way I wanted to go in this first one,” Boone said before the game.

Last year, Chisholm was not happy to be sitting against lefty Garrett Crochet in Game 1, and spoke to reporters postgame with his back turned to them at his locker, showing his displeasure with the situation.

Boone described this year as “different scenarios, circumstances” — Chisholm played just three games after returning from the injured list for a right thumb sprain last week, with Volpe making the most of his call-up from Triple-A in the interim — and reiterated that he was OK with players being “ticked off at different points” because they are not in the lineup.

“I essentially just texted him, like, ‘Hey, you might be the most important person in the building tonight. We need you to be ready to go for the biggest spot, potentially,’ ” Boone said. “Obviously he’s going to play a huge role for us if we’re going to get deep in the playoffs and win a world championship.”

Chisholm figures to be back in the lineup on Wednesday for Game 2 against Red Sox righty Sonny Gray.

It has been a difficult contract year for the pending free agent, underperforming for most of it before finally getting hot right up until he injured his thumb earlier this month.

Jazz Chisholm Jr, who did not play, watches the action during the Yankees 9-0 Game 1 blowout win over the Red Sox on Sept. 29, 2026 at the Stadium. Robert Sabo for New York Post

Amed Rosario was also in the lineup for Game 1, starting at third base and going 0-for-1 with a walk against Tolle before Ryan McMahon replaced him in the top of the fifth.

In the regular season, Rosario hit just .208 with a .606 OPS in 160 plate appearances against lefties, but the Yankees have continued to give him opportunities.

“I know his numbers haven’t been as great as they have been the last few years against lefties, but you dig a little bit and I think he’s been very much in line with who he’s been, he just hasn’t got a lot of results,” Boone said. “But I feel like he’s a real threat.”

The Yankees could have started another right-handed hitter, José Caballero at third over Rosario, but they seem to value him as a 10th man off the bench.

Caballero is the best pinch-running option on the roster that has 10 pitchers and 16 position players, the latter allowing Boone to get aggressive with how he uses his bench.

The final spot in the bullpen came down to a pair of lefties — Ryan Yarbrough or Tim Hill — with the Yankees taking Yarbrough because of his ability to give them some length if needed.

Hill, a lefty specialist who was homer-prone late in the season, could get back on the roster if the Yankees advance.

By then, they also could add another lefty in Ryan Weathers, who was left off the roster to continue building him up from a left forearm flexor strain.

Weathers was likely only going to be available for one inning the whole series, so the Yankees had him throw live during Monday’s workout, giving him a chance to pitch more often if the Yankees reach the ALDS.

“If we go on a long run here, I feel like Weathers could play a massive role for us,” Boone said.


Trent Grisham made the roster after missing the final three weeks of the regular season with a hamstring strain and played the final two innings in center field (shifting Spencer Jones to right) after Heliot Ramos was pinch hit for by Luis García Jr.

Asked if the left-handed hitter would start in center in Game 2 against Gray, Boone said, “not necessarily.”

Jack Eichel Hits 700 Points, Earns Craig's Trust in Golden Knights' Opening Win

Jack Eichel reached 700 career points Tuesday night, but the number that mattered most to him belonged in the Golden Knights’ win column.

"Not much, honestly," Eichel said when asked what the milestone meant.

His contribution meant plenty to Vegas - and to the coach who trusts him to deliver at both ends of the ice.

Eichel finished with one goal and two assists in the Golden Knights’ 5-2 season-opening victory over the Chicago Blackhawks at T-Mobile Arena. His second-period goal produced his 700th career point, and he ended the night with 701. He recorded two shots while playing 18:01 across 25 shifts.

Two days after NHL Network ranked him No. 10 on its Top 50 Players Right Now" countdown, Eichel supplied a three-point illustration of his offensive ability. First-year Vegas coach Ryan Craig emphasized the broader game behind that production.

"Jack’s an elite player in this league, elite 200-foot player," Craig said. "And I think we saw it with how he can skate, how he can get to certain areas."

Craig’s Trust Goes Beyond the Scoresheet

Craig’s assessment reflected a relationship maintained during his three seasons coaching Vegas’ American Hockey League affiliate in Henderson. Their conversations helped establish an understanding that Eichel’s status comes with demanding expectations.

"I understand how I can push Jack, how I can hold him accountable," Craig said. "He expects that out of me."

That combination of talent, responsibility and accountability has become central to Eichel’s importance in Vegas. Acquired from Buffalo in November 2021, he made his Golden Knights debut the following February after neck surgery.

In his first NHL postseason, Eichel led the 2023 playoffs with 26 points in 22 games as Vegas captured its first Stanley Cup. He later produced the two highest-scoring seasons in franchise history: 94 points in 2024-25 and 90 last season.

His production helped earn NHL Network’s top-10 recognition and its No. 6 ranking among centers. Craig’s remarks explained why Eichel’s value extends beyond those numbers: his skating creates opportunities offensively, while his commitment to defending gives his coach confidence in demanding situations.

"He’s a guy that I can trust," Craig said.

Eichel, meanwhile, shared credit for his milestone. He praised Ivan Barbashev’s play on the goal and the preceding shift that helped create the opportunity, describing himself as "really lucky and grateful" to be part of the organization.

"I think those things just come kind of organically," he said.

Eichel Shares the Spotlight With Connelly

Eichel’s enthusiasm was more pronounced when discussing Trevor Connelly, who scored in his NHL debut. Before the game, Eichel had named a Connelly goal as something he hoped to see.

"He’s been awesome all camp," Eichel said. "He’s a great part of our locker room."

Watching the rookie score with his family in attendance gave Eichel another reason to celebrate.

"So happy to see him get his first," he said, "and definitely a night and a moment that he’ll never forget."

Eichel was equally measured about the victory, identifying encouraging offensive-zone pressure and quick transitions while acknowledging that timing and spacing still need improvement.

"By no means was it our prettiest effort, but we’re going to get better. We know that," Eichel said.

Opening night gave Eichel another career milestone and Craig his first NHL head-coaching victory. It also offered an early look at their shared expectations: an elite center willing to be pushed, and a coach who trusts him with more than scoring.

PHOTO CAPTION

Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel (9) looks on during the third period against the Carolina Hurricanes in game six of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena.

Padres rout Cubs 8-0 in emphatic Wild Card opener with Tatis’ leadoff homer, King’s no-hit bid

SAN DIEGO — Fernando Tatis Jr. hit the first leadoff homer in Padres playoff history on the Cubs’ first pitch, Michael King took a no-hitter into the seventh inning and San Diego rolled to an 8-0 victory over Chicago in their NL Wild Card Series opener on Tuesday night.

Manny Machado also homered in the first inning and added an RBI double in the third during an emphatic opening statement by the 91-win Padres. Xander Bogaerts also homered off Cubs starter Matthew Boyd, and Jackson Merrill added a two-run single later.

San Diego provided more than enough support for King, who struck out eight over seven stellar innings while thoroughly throttling the majors’ highest-scoring team. King set the tone by striking out probable NL MVP Pete Crow-Armstrong with the game’s first three pitches.

Nico Hoerner got the Cubs’ only hit off King with a one-out infield single in the seventh, but King racked up two more strikeouts to earn the last of several standing ovations from the raucous sellout crowd watching his third career playoff start.

Game 2 is Wednesday night at Petco Park. The series winner faces the MLB-best Milwaukee Brewers in the best-of-five division series.

Chicago had just one hit before getting to Joe Musgrove, the Padres veteran making his first major league appearance since Oct. 2, 2024, in the ninth inning. The Cubs got two singles and a walk before Musgrove struck out pinch-hitter Michael Conforto to preserve the shutout in his return from Tommy John surgery.

The Padres dominated the opener of this rematch of last fall’s Wild Card Series, won by the Cubs in three tight games. San Diego scored more runs in the first five innings of this series opener than it did last year in all three games at Wrigley Field combined.

San Diego finished this season with the majors’ sixth-best record, besting Chicago by two wins and setting franchise records with its third straight playoff berth and fifth straight winning record. The Padres hit the postseason on a 17-3 roll, and they’re still surging.

Boyd’s opening pitch was a changeup, and Tatis crushed it 405 feet to center in a blast reminiscent of his first-inning homer in Game 1 of San Diego’s 2024 NL Wild Card Series victory over Atlanta.

Moments later, Machado smashed another changeup out to left-center, setting off pandemonium at Petco with his franchise-record ninth postseason homer.

Tatis walked in the third and scored from first on Machado’s double to the wall. Bogaerts connected in the fourth, lining a full-count changeup into the seats on the Western Metal Supply Co. building above left field.

San Diego loaded the bases in the fifth against reliever Javier Assad, and Merrill cracked a two-run single to center before Ty France scored on a passed ball.

King escaped the minor trouble he faced, picking up key strikeouts and throwing his sweeper superbly. Hoerner got Chicago’s hit on a grounder that Machado stopped with difficulty, but couldn’t transfer to his throwing hand cleanly enough to make a play.

Tatis scored his third run in the seventh when he singled, stole second and ran all the way home when the throw trickled into center. Tatis slid headfirst past the tag and came up screaming while Machado theatrically signaled him safe.

Up next

Nick Pivetta (3-2, 2.86 ERA) starts Game 2 for the Padres in his fifth game back from a near five-month absence with a right elbow injury. Kevin Gausman (4-2, 4.83) goes for the Cubs.

George Lombard Jr. meets the moment — and more — in impressive Yankees playoff debut

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows New York Yankees shortstop George Lombard Jr. hits a single in the second inning during Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, Image 2 shows New York Yankees shortstops George Lombard Jr. and Anthony Volpe celebrate after completing a double play against the Boston Red Sox
lombard

The youngest Yankee to start in a postseason game since Mickey Mantle in 1952 did little to slow the comparisons to Yankees greats. 

Just by watching, you would not have known George Lombard Jr. — all 21 years, 119 days of him — only became legally allowed to drink the champagne the Yankees soon hope to taste in June. 

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You would not have known Lombard was playing against Double-A competition as recently as late April. 

You would not have known Lombard began his major league career with questions both about his defense and his mind — going through a surreal, six-game error streak that questioned his readiness. 

Because in the 9-0 win over the Red Sox in Game 1 of the wild-card series in The Bronx, Lombard began his playoff career without betraying a nerve or even an awareness of the stakes. 

All while making baseball historians reach for their record books about the youngest — and best — playoff debuts ever. 

“It’s really cool,” Lombard said of being included with Mantle, who started his first playoff game at 19 years, 349 days in Yankees history. “It’s definitely an honor. I have to pinch myself every now and then. 

George Lombard Jr. hits a single in the second inning of the Yankees’ 9-0 Game 1 blowout win over the Red Sox in their AL Wild-Card matchup on Sept. 29, 2026 at the Stadium. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

“But we know what the goal is, and we know what we’re all trying to do as a group, so it’s easy to just focus on that.” 

It was just one postseason game, but the poise Lombard showed at a sold-out Yankee Stadium reinforced why the club has thought so highly about a first-round pick whose calm-and-cool demeanor, if not game just yet, earns comparisons with Derek Jeter. 

In his very first postseason at-bat, Lombard looped a single into shallow center just out of the reach of racing second baseman Nick Sogard. In his next, he chopped an infield single to the left side on a play former Yankees prospect Caleb Durbin could not make.

And after a fielder’s choice in the seventh, Lombard stroked a single to center in the eighth and came around to score his second run of the game. 

So a player whose name already had evoked Mantle became the fifth player in franchise history to record at least three hits in his playoff debut, a feat most recently accomplished by Bernie Williams (who had three hits in Game 1 of the 1995 ALDS against the Mariners). 

George Lombard Jr. (left) and second baseman Anthony Volpe react after turning a double play to end the seventh inning of the Yankees’ Game 1 blowout win. Robert Sabo/New York Post

It was just one postseason game, but Lombard — spotless defensively — again showed the spotlight was not too large. 

“The whole clubhouse — all the guys, the coaching staff — I think the comfort and the confidence comes from the preparation and the work we put in,” Lombard said. “So that’s the biggest thing: Just be prepared, put in the work and just let things handle themselves on the field.”

White Sox strike first in AL wild card, beating Astros 6-3 in Game 1

HOUSTON — Colson Montgomery hit a solo homer and Sam Antonacci drove in two runs to lead the Chicago White Sox over the Houston Astros 6-3 in Game 1 of an AL Wild Card Series on Tuesday.

The White Sox, in the postseason for the first time since 2021, made a remarkable turnaround this year to become the only team in major league history to follow consecutive 100-loss seasons with a playoff berth. They had lost 100 games three straight seasons, including 121 defeats in 2024, setting the record for most losses since 1899.

“We came here to win the series and the first part of that is getting this first win, which is great,” manager Will Venable said.

He added that he was impressed with the poise his young team showed.

“A bunch of young guys that haven’t been in this situation before, they didn’t back down at all,” he said. “So really good stuff to come out and have an early win.”

The White Sox got a letter of support from Pope Leo XIV, a Chicago native, prior to the game and got to work immediately to show off for the pontiff.

They led 3-0 after two innings and held on for their first playoff win since Oct. 10, 2021 in the ALDS against Houston.

The AL West-winning Astros eked out a playoff spot with an 81-81 record to become the first team to reach the postseason without a winning record. Houston lost its eighth straight home playoff game in its ninth trip to the postseason in the last 10 years.

Game 2 in the best-of-three series is Wednesday in Houston.

Manager Joe Espada is confident his team will respond Wednesday to force a Game 3.

“Our backs have been against the corner before and I think that’s when we are our best, when we fight back,” he said. “We know it’s a do or die and we’ve been here before, so I really admire how they bounce back and they react to challenges. I expect them to go out there and bounce back and our offense to get going.”

MVP-favorite Yordan Alvarez said they’re ready for the challenge.

“Tomorrow we have to come out here and win or there’s no tomorrow after that,” he said in Spanish through a translator.

Houston had runners on first and third with two outs in the eighth after singles by Jeremy Peña and Alvarez when Jose Altuve reached and Peña scored on an error by third baseman Miguel Vargas to cut the lead to 6-3.

The Astros’ tough day came in front of a surprisingly thin crowd. The announced attendance was 34,011 in a park with a capacity of 40,963. The home fans peppered the team with some boos when it fell behind early.

Both teams went with a bullpen game and combined to use 13 pitchers. Chicago opened with rookie left-hander Hagen Smith, and he allowed two hits in three scoreless innings.

“It was cool just to get the opportunity to go out there and do that,” he said. “And, yeah, just try to go out there and compete the best I can for the team and give us the best chance to win.”

Houston’s rookie opener AJ Blubaugh gave up two walks, and an error by Christian Walker left runners on first and third with one out in the first. The White Sox took an early lead on a sacrifice fly by Murakami.

Bryan King plunked Montgomery to load the bases with no outs in the second before Antonacci’s single pushed the lead to 3-0.

Espada said having to use two pitchers so early made piecing together the game difficult.

“It puts you in a tough spot for sure,” he said.

Montgomery, who Venable dropped to ninth in the order Tuesday, opened the fourth with a 432-foot homer to straightaway center field to make it 4-0. He hit 31 home runs in the regular season but also set the single-season record with 227 strikeouts.

Chicago made it 5-0 on a bases-loaded RBI single by Chase Meidroth with one out in the fifth.

Pinch-hitter Nelson Velázquez hit a two-run homer to cut the lead to 5-2 with two outs in the fifth.

The White Sox tacked on another run on a wild pitch by Bennett Sousa in the seventh.

Up next

Ace Hunter Brown (6-4, 3.19 ERA) will start Game 2 as the Astros try to avoid elimination against RHP Sean Burke (11-7, 3.34 ERA).

Mattingly’s decision to bring in Phillies closer Duran in the 7th inning backfires in loss to Braves

ATLANTA — Interim manager Don Mattingly wanted the Philadelphia Phillies’ best reliever on the mound as early as possible in a tight opening game of a best-of-three National League Wild Card Series against the Atlanta Braves.

Turning to All-Star closer Jhoan Duran in the seventh inning made it appear Mattingly was hoping his best reliever could cover the final three innings and protect a beleaguered bullpen.

After Duran gave up a three-run homer to Austin Riley in the eighth inning of the Phillies’ 5-3 loss to the Braves on Tuesday, Mattingly and Duran faced questions about why the manager turned to his closer so early in the game and if he was asking too much from Duran.

“I threw the first inning and I go back to the dugout and they said be ready for another inning and so I go back out there and try to do my work,” Duran told reporters.

Duran’s perfect seventh inning only emboldened Mattingly’s plan to stick with the closer in the eighth. Mattingly may have hoped the 28-year-old Duran could pitch three innings to protect a 3-2 lead even though he made just one multi-inning appearance in the regular season.

“He made it look easy the first inning,” Mattingly said of Duran. “If the second one would have went really quick, I would have just checked with him. If not, we would have went to somebody else.”

Unfortunately for Duran and the Phillies, Duran’s second inning — the eighth — was not quick or successful. Duran gave up a two-out single to Michael Harris II before hitting Ozzie Albies with a pitch and then giving up Austin Riley’s three-run homer that gave Atlanta the lead.

“Anytime you lose a game late, obviously it’s frustrating, but in our minds we had our best guy out there,” Mattingly said of Duran. “You live with this one.”

When asked if he turned to Duran in the seventh because the Braves had the top of their lineup coming up, Mattingly said it wasn’t a matchup decision.

“Not with Jo,” Mattingly said. “We don’t really worry about the matchup. It was more the spot.”

Duran (0-1) allowed just two homers in 61 regular-season games. He was successful on 33 of 35 saves opportunities but others in the Phillies’ bullpen did not enjoy the same success.

Philadelphia’s relievers had a 5.79 ERA in September, worst in the majors.

Mattingly was asked about his ninth-inning plan if Duran had protected the lead in the eighth.

“It depended where we landed,” Mattingly said. “We had (Jonathan) Bowlan. We had different guys, we’d probably combo the inning a little bit. If (Duran) gets a quick out, we’ll check with him and we see.”

Mattingly said Andrew Painter, a starter in 23 of his 25 games this season, could have been another ninth-inning option.

The Phillies now turn to left-hander Cristopher Sánchez to start Wednesday’s must-win second game of the series.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s Game 1 or 2, just keep focused on what we have to do and follow the game plan,” Sánchez said before Tuesday’s game. “It’s not that difficult at all. It’s just a matter of being able to wait it out.”

Mattingly acknowledged the Phillies face another must-win scenario after being stretched to the final game of the regular season to clinch the wild-card spot.

Mattingly said his players will “show up and play.”

“These guys have been here before, so that game the other day felt like a must-win,” Mattingly said. “... We’re back there tomorrow.”

Mattingly said he’s confident having Sánchez for Game 2.

“Always feel good with Cristopher out there,” Mattingly said. “The playoffs are momentum-based it seems like, and really momentum starts with your starting pitcher. He goes out and gives you a good start to the game ... it’s just a game at that point.”

Duran’s availability on Wednesday is uncertain after he threw 27 pitches while allowing three runs in two innings.

“We’ll check tomorrow like we always do,” Mattingly said. “We let guys go throw, see how they are, and then we decide.”

Patrick Kane Scores In Return To Blackhawks, But Chicago Loses To Vegas 5-2 In Season Opener

The Chicago Blackhawks were in Las Vegas for their first game of the season, as they had a tough matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights. Vegas, of course, was in the Stanley Cup Final back in June, and now they're looking to defend their Western Conference crown while trying to finish the job this time around. 

Vegas has elite players up and down their lineup, and they are all filled with the pedigree needed to win games in bunches. Most of them were at the top of their game in a 5-2 victory over the Blackhawks on their home ice. 

The leader among them was Jack Eichel, who had a three point night (1-2--3) in the win for the Golden Knights. Victor Olofsson, Trevor Connelly (first career NHL goal), Noah Hanifin, and Mark Stone (empty-netter) also scored.

Jordan Greenway scored the first goal of the season for the Chicago Blackhawks, and it was a great shot to beat Carter Hart. Wyatt Kaiser made a great move that allowed Ryan Greene and Jordan Greenway to make a play, and the latter gave his team a great first impression. 

It was that fourth line with Greene, Greenway, and Cole Smith that played the best of all Chicago lines in the loss. They are the team's 4th line, but they created chances, kept Vegas at bay, and scored a goal. They will mostly need to simply be an energy line throughout the season, but they showed how good they can be in this one, despite losing the game. 

Patrick Kane scored Chicago's second goal of the game. This was the first goal that Kane has scored in a Chicago sweater since 2023, before he was traded to the New York Rangers. It was a breakaway goal that he created for himself. His hands and patience allowed him to find the back of the net. Vintage Patrick Kane was on full display there. 

In addition to the goal, Kane had 4 shots, 8 shot attempts, and managed to play 21:36. At his age, it is impressive to see him still playing at this level. The Blackhawks didn't bring him in for a feel-good story. It happens to be a feel-good story, but he is there to play well and help young guys develop. 

Spencer Knight was the main reason that the score wasn't worse than it showed. He would say he'd like to be better than four goals against, but they were hardly all on him. He made 32 saves on 36 shots, as Vegas peppered him all night long. The Blackhawks, especially early in the game, had no answer for Vegas's speed on the rush. Knight faced the brunt of that issue. 

Vegas is an incredibly hard team to face, especially for a young team like Chicago in their first game of the season. Not every opponent will be as good as they are, but they will all be difficult in their own way. For the Blackhawks, this is a process that they hope will lead to better results as the year wears on. 

Andrew Mangiapane Injury Update

Andrew Mangiapane was part of a few scoring chances in the first period, but he hurt himself one shift into the second period. He did not return for the rest of the game. Once the match ended, Jeff Blashill confirmed that Mangiapane would not play again on their current road trip, which has two more games on it. 

First Time Blackhawks

Roman Kantserov made his NHL debut in this game. He didn't score a goal or have an assist, but he clearly demonstrated high-end offensive abilities more than once. In 17:07 of ice time, he had one shot and three hits. He also didn't give the puck away once while earning a takeaway. When Mangiapane went down, Kantserov was one of the players to take a few shifts in his spot. Early on, Jeff Blashill already trusts the young star. 

Ian Cole, Bowen Byram, Cole Smith, and Jordan Greenway are the other players who made their Blackhawks debut in the game. Obviously, Greenway's goal was the most noticeable moment for any of them, but they all showed promise as they try to play a role in getting this team back on track. 

Watch Every Chicago Goal

What’s Next For The Blackhawks?

The Chicago Blackhawks are now 0-1-0 in the 2026-27 season. They will now head to Salt Lake City for their first Central Division showdown as they take on the Utah Mammoth on Thursday night. 

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Oilers Lucky To Salvage A Point In 2026-27 Season Opener: Lose 6-5 To Canucks

The Edmonton Oilers opened their 2026-27 regular season with a loss to the Vancouver Canucks. To say the least, fans have seen this story before.

After a perfect preseason in which the Oilers allowed only five goals in four games, Edmonton allowed six to a Canucks team many aren't expecting much from. A style of play that felt all too familiar to Oilers fans, night one of the season reminded everyone how little exhibition means.

"The bottom line is, if we want to work, we want to do things right, we're going to have a lot of success. We want to play like that, we're going to be chasing the game," said Mike Babcock. "To be honest, we've got to feel fortunate we got a point."

The Game BreakDown

Paul Cotter scored first for the Canucks, a shorthanded goal after a great save by Kevin Lankinen on a one-timer from Leon Draisaitl. The Oilers had dominated up to that point, 8-3 in shots. It was a nice shot, high glove, on Jarry.  

Evan Bouchard scored his first of the season, and what would be his first of three goals on the night. It came on a long-point shot that worked through a screened Kevin Lankinen. 

The shots were 13-5 in favor of the Oilers after the first, and Edmonton dominated at 5-on-5 play. They went 0-for-2 on the power play and tried to send an early message physically, outhitting the Canucks 14-3. 

The first was not an indicator of how the rest of the evening would go. 

Babcock On His GoaltendersBabcock On His GoaltendersMike Babcock was asked Monday afternoon if he could tell us who would start in net for the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers#google_vignette">Edmonton Oilers</a> on opening night.

Marco Rossi made it 2-1 for the Canucks early in the second. He got in behind the defense on a breakaway. Jake Walman made a poor choice to pinch, with Connor Murphy having gone down low; Colton Dach was the forward covering. It was just one of many odd-man rushes for the Canucks.  

Bouchard scored his second of the night on a pass from Connor McDavid. Alex Formenton drove the puck along the boards and got taken out, opening a lane for McDavid. Bouchard was in the slot to pick up a pass and score. 

The Canucks scored just over a minute into the third on a shot that Tristan Jarry should have had. Jonathan Lekkerimaki scored a five-hole goal. Max Sasson scored another quick one to give the Oilers a 4-2 lead. Jarry lets another one sneak by him, five-hole, on a backhand break. 

Elias Pettersson scored to make it 5-2. A nice tip past Jarry. It became clear that the Oilers were back to their old habits and had really crumbled in the second and third periods. 

Vasily Podkolzin got the Oilers back on the board with a goal on a nice loose-puck pickup from a Bouchard shot that didn't quite reach the intended target. Podkolzin had worked hard and deserved the reward. On the goal, Bouchard picked up his third point.

Bouchard scored his hat-trick goal on a long point shot that got through a crowded net.

Finishing off the comeback,  Podkolzin scored with 42.5 seconds left after the Oilers got a power play in the final minute. It was a bullet from Podkolzin.

The Oilers salvaged a point out of the comeback, but couldn't seal the deal with a win. Three successive good chances for the Canucks in overtime eventually led to a goal against the Oilers. 

Was it a valiant effort or a disappointing showing? Head coach Mike Babcock called it the latter. Down three goals, they tied the game at five. Still, when a player like Bouchard has five points, it makes no sense that the Oilers would lose. 

The Oilers looked solid in the first period but brutal in the second and the first half of the third. Jarry owned his poor performance, and Babcock noted there was no point in hammering home what their goaltender already knew, nor praising the individual performances of Bouchard and Podkolzin. There was a lot not to like here and Babcock said the team will get to work, and that there's a lot of work to do.

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