KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - SEPTEMBER 02: Alex Lange #56 of the Kansas City Royals pitches during the ninth inning against the Miami Marlins at Kauffman Stadium on September 02, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
KC can learn a lot from both the Brewers and the Rays. Essentially, the Royals are trying to replicate what those franchises do so well these days.
The Royals plucked manager Matt Quatraro from the Rays organization in 2022. And they got their hitting coach, Connor Dawson, from the Brewers. Other unique crossovers include starter Michael Wacha — a former Ray — and former Brewers rookie Isaac Collins.
If the Royals want to reach the next level, however, they will need to rely on their own farm system and prospect development.
For what it’s worth, if they trade Pasquantino, that’s fine. I think it would relieve some roster tension. But I also think a lot about trading him doesn’t quite add up for me. Say what you want about the way he starts a season. The numbers always seem to be there in the end. By OPS+, he’s been 114, 118 and 113 the last three seasons. By wRC+, it’s 109, 116 and 109. The slow starts absolutely have to be figured out. Nobody is arguing that. But that’s a bat that needs to be replaced. Given that they already need at least one corner outfielder anyway, if you move Pasquantino, you now need two for sure. And where is that player? There’s no doubt they could throw money at the problem, but that’s easier said than done. There aren’t a ton of players available for a trade. Finding two middle of the order bats in essentially one position in one offseason is a very tall task.
Unlike the others, Black does not have the right to elect free agency. This is his first career outright and his service clock is under three years. He also isn’t eligible for seven-year minor league free agency because he has only participated in five minor league seasons.
The Royals can keep him in a non-roster capacity and try to get him back on track.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 23: Junior Caminero #13 of the Tampa Bay Rays and the Milwaukee Brewers infielders look on during a play review in the ninth inning in game one of the 2026 World Series at American Family Field on October 23, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Happy Saturday, everyone!
The World Series continues later this evening at 5 p.m. PDT, with the Brewers hosting the Rays in Game 2 at American Family Field in Milwaukee. Here are some links to kick off your morning.
Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski broke the record for fastest pitch in World Series history with a 103.5 mph four-seam fastball to Yandy Díaz to begin Game 1. Though Misiorowski only went five innings allowing one run and striking out three, it was enough for a winning decision.
In Mariners news…
Voting for the Fifth Annual Lookout Landing Awards has been extended to October 31! If you have not voted yet, a link directly to the form is provided here. Sign-in to a Google account is required to vote.
Randy Arozarena appeared alongside other MLB stars in a promo for Marvel Studios’ “Avengers: Doomsday” that debuted during Game 1 of the World Series, marking one of, if not the last time he is seen in a Mariners uniform before hitting free agency.
With the salary cap debate between the players and owners ramping up, Evan Drellich and Eno Sarris of The Athletic examined competitive balance in MLB and looked at potential next steps with the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) set to expire on Dec. 1.
The St. Louis Cardinals are reportedly moving on from hitting coach Brant Brown, who previously served as the Mariners bench coach and offensive coordinator for 58 games to begin the 2024 season before being fired on May 31 of that year.
Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman of Yahoo! Sports ranked their top 50 free agents available in the coming offseason.
DENVER, COLORADO - MAY 7: Francisco Alvarez #4 of the New York Mets looks on as he catches in the eighth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on May 7, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
At the beginning of the year, many questions surrounded Francisco Alvarez. People wondered whether he could stay healthy, whether he would maintain the offensive momentum he showed in 2025, and whether he would show the hoped-for defensive improvements. Unfortunately, 2026 did not turn out like anyone hoped, for Alvarez or the Mets, and while his offense was better than his defense, it was not the breakout year some desired.
Alvarez started the season strong with the first successful ABS challenge in Major League Baseball and hit his first home run of the season on Opening Day. Things were looking up until he tore his right meniscus on May 12 during a plate appearance and was expected to be out for six to eight weeks. However, in keeping with his custom of quick healing, he returned less than four weeks later, on June 9.
Given the number of injuries on the team, Alvarez spent more time as designated hitter than expected at the beginning of the season. Offensively, the season was a mixed bag for him. He had a good start to the season, but some of the same issues that have plagued him in the past came up. He struggled with identifying the best pitches to hit this year. He took more pitches in the zone than he should have, whiffed more on pitches outside the zone than the team average, yet his chase rate was right around the team average. Alvarez hit a long slump after the trade deadline, when his strikeout rate jumped from 26.4% before to 39.4% after. His OPS was .777 before the trade deadline and .579 after the deadline. He ended the year hitting .233/.311/.399, and his wRC+ was 99.
Defensively, Alvarez struggled again this year. He split his time behind the dish with Luis Torrens, starting 82 games as catcher and playing a total of 88 games at the position. His DRS was -5 (-6.9/1000 innings), and his FRV was -2 (-2.8/1000 innings) in 720.0 innings, despite being slightly above average at 2.2 framing runs. His cERA was 4.54. He did not benefit from comparisons to Torrens, one of the best defensive catchers in the game. Overall, his fWAR clocked in at 1.4.
At the end of the season, it did not feel like much had been resolved. It’s been pointed out that Alvy is only 24 years old, which is fair. He has spent four full seasons in the majors, which is also fair. Who knows, maybe next year will be the year of realizing stuff when it comes to questions about Francisco Alvarez.
SCOTTSDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 19: Dax Kilby #11 of the Salt River Rafters runs home during the game between the Desert Dogs and the River Rafters at on Monday, October 19, 2026 in , United States. (Photo by Norm Hall/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
Week 3 is in the books in Arizona, and even as temperatures cool across the country, things are heating up. Salt River entered the Friday offday with a 9-7 record at the halfway point of the season, sitting just a half-game back of a first-round bye in the postseason. In their 3-2 week, no star shined brighter than Yankees’ top prospect Dax Kilby, who crushed a home run and four extra-base hits as he continued to level up his power. As a reminder, if you want a quick rundown on who’s in the desert this month, check here.
October 17 (Rafters 5, Solar Sox 0): It was a very quiet shutout victory for Salt River to start the week last Saturday, as only one Yankee got into a game. Core Jackson, who had struggled mightily through two weeks, went 1-for-3 with a walk, stolen base, and a booming home run that traveled 421 feet and was 105.4 mph off the bat. By far the best swing he’s had all fall.
October 19 (Rafters 7, Desert Dogs 1): In another strong win for the Rafters, the other two Yankees’ hitters got into the game. Kyle West made another start at first base and went 1-f0r-3 with a walk, with his single registering at 104.9 mph. Monday was more known for the start of the Kilby show. The top prospect went 2-for-4 with a walk, two stolen bases, a double, and a triple. His triple was hit just 95.4 mph down the right-field line, but the double went off the top of the wall in center field, 420 feet away at 103.5 mph.
October 20 (Rafters 10, Javelinas 11): Six different Yankees played on Tuesday and were very involved in the outcome. Jackson (playing second base this time) went 0-for-3 with a walk, a stolen base, and two strikeouts. West went 1-for-3 with a strikeout and a stolen base; Chris Veach allowed a run in 1.2 innings with two strikeouts; Anthony Mena pitched around some command woes to only allow one run in 2.2 innings, and Antonio Gomez threw a scoreless eighth. The main attraction was Kilby once again, who blasted an early home run a staggering 107.1 mph and 410 feet before tying the game at 10 in the ninth on a 109.8 mph RBI double. He also contributed to the walk-off loss, unfortunately, as he was thrown out at third on a fielder’s choice to end the inning.
October 21 (Rafters 7, Scorpions 5): After seemingly everyone got into the game on Tuesday, it was calmer on Wednesday. West went 0-for-3 with a walk, Jackson walked thrice in four plate appearances (and stole his ninth bag), and Mack Estrada took the win by getting the last two outs of the fourth.
October 22 (Rafters 8, Scorpions 15): Salt River ended a solid week on a bad note by allowing 15 runs on 18 hits and eight walks, but none of the five pitchers on the roster appeared in the game. Kilby went 1-for-5 with a strikeout and a 104 mph flyout, while Jackson ripped a long triple to center field and stole his 10th base in a solid day for him.
AFL totals thus far
Dax Kilby: 12-38, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 6 2B, 3B, 3 BB, 4 K, 4 SB Core Jackson: 5-33, HR, 2 RBI, 2B, 3B, 12 BB, 11 K, 9 SB Kyle West: 7-32, 5 RBI, 6 BB, 7 K, 3 SB JT Etheridge: 6 IP, 5 H, 3 R (2 ER), 3 BB, 9 K Mack Estrada: 4 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 4 BB, 2 K Chris Veach: 7.2 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 BB, 10 K Anthony Mena: 7.2 IP, 7 H, 4 R (3 ER), 4 BB, 6 K Antonio Gomez: 3.2 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 3 BB, 3 K
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 23: Jacob Misiorowski #32 of the Milwaukee Brewers walks off the mound during the 5th inning against the Tampa Bay Rays in game one of the 2026 World Series at American Family Field on October 23, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With it being the World Series, we’re bringing you some of the key quotes and storylines from each game following the postgame press conference.
Pat Murphy
In his postgame press conference, Brewers manager Pat Murphy discussed what he was most impressed by, specifically shouting out Milwaukee’s star catcher.
“[William] Contreras was incredible. If anybody doesn’t notice the contributions of Contreras, he was the player of the game. We had a lot of good performances, a lot of good things,” Murphy said. “Contreras was unbelievable. The two caught stealings, the ABS, the hits, calling the game.”
“If people aren’t noticing Contreras, like he was maybe the MVP, like should have been co-MVPs. He was maybe MVP of the Dodgers series. He was maybe MVP of the Padres series. I don’t think they pick one for that, do they? But this guy has been incredible, and he does both sides of the ball. And the side that you can’t measure, I don’t know what his numbers are, but he does so much for the team. He’s incredible. That’s all I could tell you. He’s incredible. We wouldn’t be in the position we’re in without Contreras,” Murphy said.
Murphy added that Jackson Chourio, Christian Yelich, and the bullpen were the other heroes of the night, and he was also impressed by Jacob Misiorowski’s performance despite striking out just three.
“This is the best team in the American League. They proved that during the regular season and proved that in the postseason so far. One of the ways they do that is to make contact better than anybody in baseball,” Murphy said. “For Miz to go five innings the way he did, give up only a few hard contacts, only walked one guy, [he] was great.”
Murphy also spoke on the overturned call at second base that initially ended the game before Trevor Megill was required to get one more out, explaining that he’s glad reviews like that are part of the game.
“No, we want to get it right, man. We’ll be doing the checked swing there later on. The obstruction play will be replayed. MLB makes rule changes for the better. They just do. Then things happen, and then they make another adjustment and another adjustment. Even if we gave up two runs there and we lose the game and we’re sitting here and we’re all dejected, the rule is put in place for the right reason, to get it right. I don’t know if they got it right. I’m assuming they did. There’s a lot of people that have better vision than I,” Murphy said.
Jacob Misiorowski
Jacob Misiorowski discussed how he felt in the high-energy environment of American Family Field, specifically noting the adrenaline of the moment and his fastball-heavy diet early.
“[The atmosphere was] electric. The fans were — it was crazy. It’s everything I dreamed of. It’s really cool that we got to do it here in Milwaukee. It’s been awesome to feel the city and feel just the atmosphere they’ve been creating. It’s been amazing,” Misiorowski said. “The adrenaline kind of took over, and I tensed up and threw it hard. Then I settled down, and that was the game plan to settle in and do me. Don’t try and overdo it. I think that’s also a part of what I’ve been doing this postseason not trying to overdo stuff and understand I have a whole defense behind me to help me out.”
After pitching just 78 pitches and being pulled after five frames, Miz was asked if he felt like he had more in the tank. Being the gamer that he is, he said that he would “want to throw 130 [pitches].”
“I’ll keep going. It’s the World Series. I’ve got more rest to come,” Misiorowski said. “No, the situation we had looked better going to the pen and turning it over that way. You have to trust the staff and understand that they’re making a decision for later in the game.”
Jackson Chourio & William Contreras
Jackson Chourio and William Contreras, two of the Brewers’ biggest stars, did a joint presser after the game, where they were also asked about the environment and their performance on the field, especially Contreras’ in-game management of his pitchers.
“That was something for me that this year I definitely took it a little bit more personal and upon myself to make a point of that and to go out there and talk maybe a little bit more stern to the pitchers,” Contreras said. “It’s kind of my way of giving them some confidence and giving them a boost, the lift they need whenever they’re out there on the mound. I’m not sure how some of the guys take it, but that was something for me that was a priority of mine coming into this year and something that I made the adjustment on.”
When asked about Murphy’s faith in him, Contreras explained that he expects to play everyday, even if that’s unconventional for a catcher.
“I think Murphy’s always been someone that’s very special to me. I think in a lot of ways we share some similar personality traits. We want to win, and I think any time Murphy’s had to say something to me, he’s been very honest with me, and he’s told me directly to my face. That’s something I appreciate, and I think that’s something we share in common,” Contreras said. “I think when it comes to playing every day, that’s something I’m always going to prepare to do. That’s always a goal of mine. Why I work so hard in the offseason is to — if I feel good, if I feel ready to play, I’m going to expect to be in there.”
Chourio spoke about the build-up to the World Series after the weeklong layoff, also mentioning how it compared to the World Baseball Classic, which Chourio and Contreras won with Venezuela earlier this year.
“Honestly I think in these games today, there’s a little bit less pressure, it felt like, compared to maybe the World Baseball Classic. Some of the pressure was removed maybe in some of the earlier rounds of the playoffs, and I felt a little bit more free just to go out there and play my game,” Chourio said. “I think on my end, for me it’s always been a little bit of a question of more anxious feelings than pressure. I think I’ve always seen it in that light. Yeah, I think with these series and with the days off in between, I think there was some anxiousness for the games to begin and ready for the games to begin and get them — we know that these are the last games of the season here.“
Kevin Cash
While Rays manager Kevin Cash mostly spoke about his team in the postgame press conference, he did get asked about Contreras catching two baserunners after the Rays were previously perfect in stolen base attempts this postseason.
“Look, [Contreras is] a very talented player on both sides of the ball. We knew that coming in. Not surprised by anything that he did, but that’s not going to change our aggressive approach, certainly on the bases,” Cash said.
Cash also talked about the difficulties of facing Misiorowski and the Brewers bullpen.
“Look, he’s so talented. He’s such a special pitcher. I felt like for him to be out of the game at five innings, there’s a small win in that,” Cash said. “The problem is when you knock him out of the game, you’ve got just an elite bullpen that can match up and come in the ballgame like they did and kept us quiet there between Uribe, Ashby, and at the end with Megill.“
AUSTIN, TX - OCTOBER 23: Amen Thompson #1 of the Houston Rockets make the game-winning block against Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs during the game on October 23, 2026 at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas. 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 (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Coming off a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder to start the season, the Spurs traveled to the Moody Center in Austin to host the I-35 Series against the Houston Rockets. Both teams traded fast and furious buckets in the first quarter, with the Rockets taking a five-point lead into the second. The Spurs trailed by as much as 11, but managed to claw their way back before halftime and cut the deficit to two thanks to a Fred VanVleet buzzer-beating three. The third quarter was tough and gritty, as both teams struggled from the field but managed to get to the free-throw line.
The bottom line: the Rockets controlled most of the contest until just over six minutes left in the fourth. The Rockets’ fourth-quarter offense mostly consisted of spamming Alperen Sengun in the post, and the Spurs could not stop it. The Spurs fell behind by five late, but put together a few clutch stops and buckets to get within one possession. With five seconds left, Victor Wembanyama caught the ball in the post and put up a layup, only for Amen Thompson to immediately block it. The Spurs ultimately lost heartbreakingly, 114-110.
Victor Wembanyama bounced back offensively after his worst shooting performance of his career against OKC (1-13 FG). He dropped another double-double: 25 points and 13 rebounds, along with two blocks and two assists. Vic played with more confidence and was not afraid to let it fly. However, he was late on multiple defensive rotations and was beaten on backdoor cuts too frequently for the reigning Defensive Player of the Year. After the game, he was asked if he would have done anything differently on the layup attempt to end the game. He simply said, “I would have dunked the ball.” Knowing Wemby, he’ll take that Thompson block personally the next time they match up in late January.
Wemby dropped a highlight reel of mostly dunks throughout the game. For the Spurs’ first points of the game, he skies in from outer space to clean up the mess.
The return of Area 51 had the Moody Center in a frenzy. Stephon Castle dropped 15 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and a steal. A couple of his dimes came on lobs like these to the Alien.
De’Aaron Fox had another solid game with 19 points, nine assists, and two steals. He’ll look to clean up his turnover problem in Dallas, but first he’ll lob this dime to a cutting Wemby for the alley-oop.
Dylan Harper dropped 20 points, three rebounds, and two assists in his second straight start to the season. Late in the game, he took over and brought the Spurs within two on this fast-break poster on Sengun.
Tennessee guard Dalton Knecht (3) reacts after hitting a three-point shot during an NCAA college basketball game between Tennessee and Kentucky in Knoxville, Tenn., Saturday, March 9, 2024. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co
Dalton Knecht’s frustrating time with the Los Angeles Lakers has come to an end. The team waived Knecht earlier this week, finally freeing the former Tennessee Volunteer to explore better opportunities. On Friday, he found one with the defending NBA champions.
Knecht signed a two-way contract with the New York Knicks, according to multiple reports. The two-way deal will allow Knecht to go back and forth from the Knicks to the team’s G-League affiliate.
Former Lakers forward Dalton Knecht has agreed to sign with the New York Knicks on a two-way NBA contract, his agents at Excel Sports Management tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/1gePugMy3Z
Knecht averaged 7.1 points per game during his time with the Lakers, appearing in 132 games. He made 16 starts during his rookie season, where he averaged over nine points per game. Knecht shot 36.8 percent from three point range during his two seasons. Somewhere along the way, Knecht fell out of favor with the Lakers and struggled to find the floor.
The Lakers had a trade in place to move Knecht to Charlotte, but the deal fell through after center Mark Williams failed his physical. Los Angeles ended up waiving Knecht 20 months later.
At Tennessee, Knecht put up one of the most prolific offensive seasons we’ve ever seen. The fifth-year senior transferred in from Northern Colorado and averaged 21.7 points per game while shooting over 39 percent from three-point range. Knecht took over several games for Tennessee down the stretch, helping push the Volunteers to another Elite Eight appearance.
Knecht now lands in New York, where he’ll wear No. 99 for the Knicks. We’ll see if he can find new life, now finally with a fresh start.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 23: A general view inside the stadium prior to game one of the 2026 World Series between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on October 23, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) | Getty Images
If you’re hoping that the league and the Players Association might extend their current agreement to avoid an impending lockout, don’t hold your breath.
Vegas Golden Knights- 8-4-0 - 16 Points - Lost 2 - 2nd in the Pacific
Columbus Blue Jackets - 3-5-0 - 6 Points - Lost 2 - 8th in the Metro
Team Notes Per CBJ PR
Teams have split the season series in five out of the eight seasonal matchups since the 2017-18 campaign (DNP in 2020-21).
Kent Johnson scored in three straight games from Oct. 10-17 (3-0-3), tying his single-season career-long (3-0-3 from Oct. 22-25, 2022). He leads the team in goals, while also ranking third in shots on goal (20) and fourth in points with 4-1-5 in eight games. During the 2025-26campaign, he had not scored his fourth goal of the season until Jan. 8, 2026 (42nd game).
Cole Sillinger, ranks second-T on the team in points (3-3-6 in 8 GP), had his three- game point streak snapped on Oct. 17 after scoring in each of his previous two games and posting his first multi-assist outing of the season on Oct. 9 vs. Pittsburgh (0-2-2). He set single-season career highs in assists, points (tied), and games played in 2025-26 with 8-25-33 in 81 GP.
Player Notes Per CBJ PR
Valeri Nichushkin has posted 4-2-6 in his past 7 games against Vegas while notching 6-4-10 in 24 career matchups.
Charlie Coyle has registered 5-7-12 in 17 career games against Vegas, with 1-3-4 in his last five matchups against the club, as well as posting 2-6-8 in 10 career games when playing on home ice.
Conor Garland has tallied 7-12-19 with four multi-point performances in 28 career matchups against the Golden Knights, including assists in back-to-back games (0-2-2).
Matthew Knies has notched all career points in the form of multi- assist outings (0-2-2) in his last two games against the club (six career GP).
Cole Sillinger has collected 4-2-6 in nine career games against Vegas, with points in two of his past three contests overall (1-1-2).
Zach Werenski has 1-9-10 in 14 career GP against Vegas, including assists in seven of his past eight matchups overall (0-8-8). He has tallied 1-3-4 in seven home contests when playing at Nationwide Arena.
Blue Jackets Stats
Power Play - 8.7% - 32nd in the NHL
Penalty Kill - 67.9% - 25th in the NHL
Goals For - 19 - 32nd in the NHL
Goals Against - 29 - 11th in the NHL
Golden KnightsStats
Power Play - 25.0% - 9th in the NHL
Penalty Kill - 96.4% - 1st in the NHL
Goals For - 45 - 3rd in the NHL
Goals Against - 36 - 26th in the NHL
Series History vs. TheGolden Knights
The Blue Jackets are 7-6-1 overall, and 4-3-1 at home vs. Vegas.
Columbus went 0-2-0 in 2025-26.
The home team has recorded points in eight of the past 10 meetings (6-2-2).
Who To Watch For TheGolden Knights
Mark Stone leads the VGK with 8 goals.
Jack Eichel leads the team with 13 assist and 19 points.
Goalie Carter Hart is 4-3-0 with a SV% of .888%. His last start was on 10-20.
Adin Hill is 4-1-0 with a SV% of .882%. His last start was on 10-22.
Injured Reserve & Other Injuries
Dante Fabbro - Broken Hand - IR - 8 Games Missed - Skating and could return next week.
Isac Lundestrom - Achilles Surgery - LTIR - 8 Games Missed
Ivan Provorov - Lower Body - IR - 8 Games Missed - Lightly skating.
TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 28
How to Watch & Listen: Tonight's game will be simulcast on The Blue Jackets Hockey Network and 97.1 The Fan, with Steve Mears behind the mic doing the play-by-play.
TV: CBJHN (Spectrum HD Ch. 320/1320; IP Ch. 349; Prime Video, Fubo)
Next Up For Columbus: The CBJ take on the Vegas Golden Knights tonight at 7:00 PM.
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AUSTIN, TX - OCTOBER 23: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs plays defense during the game against Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets during the game on October 23, 2026 at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas. 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 (Photos by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Isn’t it great when your mood depends on the performance of your favorite team? It’s not a feeling I’ve experienced since abandoning fandom at school, but I empathize with those that do because the emotions and time they give a team matter. I even saw it up close with my mother recently, who has become a WNBA fan out of nowhere, and her spirits improved when her beloved Atlanta Dream got back in the win column in the Finals.
Fortunately for those who have suffered this, there are no “statements” in an opener and the first weeks of the season are filled with weirdness with some teams taking long to get settled and some of the bad ones briefly performing above expectation. This means it might take a team like the San Antonio Spurs some time to reach sixth gear because they are getting creative with a three-guard set in the starting unit and they don’t have a high level of urgency at all times, so nobody needs to overreact to some speed bumps.
Anyways, the logistical casualty that caused us to wait three nights for the Spurs’ second game offered some time to watch the other teams and the Oklahoma City Thunder came up again in their winning effort against the Denver Nuggets on Thursday. There was a need to see if they could follow up their opening win by making another high-quality team look as ordinary as they did the Spurs, and for the most part, they did.
The Houston Rockets got checked out, too, and they looked mighty against the Dallas Mavericks. Some of the new swag was obvious when they played the Spurs because using another connector like Fred VanVleet added juice to the offense, but some of the extra intensity of the game was caused naturally by the matchup and its history. The battle for Texas supremacy is serious business and that was why the rebounding in the trenches looked like a mosh pit at times.
The team was down 10 points late in the third quarter, but never let the game get out of reach while not playing their style. As much as I am a fan of playing fast, the court was like a speedway in the third quarter, which will greatly diminish anyone’s legs, even if they have a fast set of wheels.
So, there’s no surprise some players were slow to make defensive reads in the fourth quarter- one example was Wembanyama not switching onto Kevin Durant when he made the handoff triple in the last few minutes. The priority always has to be protecting the 3-point line late in a close game and that was an easy enough switch.
The Rockets led 89 percent of the night and upstaged the Spurs, yet it was some top-notch NBA action in large part because big-man battles, when done right, are maybe the best the league has to offer from a matchup standpoint.
It’s super early in the season, but I feel ashamed for underestimating the Rockets because Durant’s length gave Stephon Castle problems and Jabari Smith Jr. was equally impactful as an off-ball defender. I’m already eager for the next matchup on Jan. 26 in San Antonio to see how the Spurs get their lick back.
Wish I could report to the fans that things will be easier for the Spurs, but it seems like they’ll only have three easier games — two against the Sacramento Kings and one versus the Chicago Bulls — in the next 18 days.
Takeaways:
Yes, an 0-2 record is hideous, but trust me on this, things could be so much worse, like how they look for the Miami Heat. They looked a class below both the Minnesota Timberwolves and Detroit Pistons on opening week and Kaseya Center got sacked on both nights. Spurs fans would be shook up if they saw the same lack of effort and cohesion.
Castle should keep working on his ball handling like he did this summer, but the 3-point shooting needs to come around soon. Opponents think so little of him from long range that they keep giving him those shots, and he needs to drain them to prevent his teammates from being schemed by an extra help defender. Yet if he loses his confidence shooting from deep, an adjustment that can be made is parking him in the dunker spot; he has the hops to be effective there and it would force his defender to play him closer.
Devin Vassell and Julian Champagnie are nice shooters, but there is still a need for them to be more assertive when playing next to Harper, De’Aaron Fox and Victor Wembanyama. Obviously, there are some things to straighten out if this three-guard set is going to be permanent, but in Champagnie’s case, there should never be a world where he only takes five shots when he is ignitable like jet fuel.
Luckily for Wembanyama, I won’t charge for this advice, but he should remember the importance of added strength training and having post moves. Going to the body is the only way the big guys can offset his length, and think about how Şengün was collapsing the defense with post ups and was scoring. Improving in the post would give Wemby more angles to pass to his teammates, and it can also be a way to leverage a turn-around jumper.
Houston’s frontline having three scoring threats and a fourth on the glass (Tari Eason will) be problematic in future matchups with the Spurs because Wembanyama can only do so much. It’s not ideal, but the next time Houston goes huge, I’d like to see what he can do sharing the court with Luke Kornet. There are plenty of moments that Houston had three of those guys together, and one figures they wouldn’t be as effective if the counter was a two-man zone with Wembanyama up front and Kornet in the back.
Amen Thompson’s block on Wembanyama was spectacular, and I won’t forget it all season. Thompson and his twin, Ausar, have impressive springs in their legs and there may not be anyone who gets off the ground quicker than them in the league.
ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 06: Tarik Skubal (29) of the Los Angeles Dodgers watches from the dugout the NLDS game 3 between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves on October 6, 2026 at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Tarik Skubal is the top free agent on the market. On top of that he is a left-handed ace that should be the Opening Day starter for any team in the league not named the Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves, Milwaukee Brewers or Pittsburgh Pirates… and even those teams would strongly consider putting Skubal on the mound in Game 1 of the 2027 season.
The San Diego Padres have been rumored as a possible landing spot for the lefty in at least a few publications, and the argument for the move is that it would echo the commitment new owners Jose E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones made in press conferences and in their end-of-season letter to season ticket holders. The Padres are in need of pitching this offseason and a move to land Skubal would show the Padres fans and MLB the new owners mean what they say.
The question all San Diego fans have to ask themselves is whether or not Skubal is worth the huge payday he is expected to get. Padres fans know all too well how volatile a pitcher can be. Joe Musgrove missed the majority of two seasons with an elbow injury, Nick Pivetta missed most of the 2026 season with an arm injury and Yu Darvish never touched the mound this season as a result of an arm injury. San Diego ace and likely soon-to-be free agent Michael King missed a chunk of the 2025 season because he “slept wrong” and injured a nerve in his shoulder/neck.
Should the Padres want to spread their money around, whatever amount that might be, they may be better served. King is likely to opt-out of his contract and enter free agency. Reliever Adrian Morejon is a free agent and Ty France who many believe is the 2026 team MVP for the Padres is also a free agent. If Skubal wants $400 million-plus, it may be too rich for one player on a team that needs several players in the rotation and in the starting lineup.
San Diego could have a rotation of Pivetta, if the Padres pick up his option, Musgrove and Randy Vasquez. Others who could make a push for the spot like JP Sears are also on the roster, but unlikely to find what is needed to be in the San Diego rotation to start the season. Musgrove is still an unknown in terms of what he can provide and Darvish COULD return, but he could also just as easily retire depending on how he feels once he gets back to throwing competitive pitches off the mound.
This is an important offseason for the new ownership and as flashy as a Skubal signing might be, it may not be the most beneficial move for the team.
Padres News:
Walker Buhler gets his grade from Lincoln Zdunich of Gaslamp Ball after his first season in a Padres uniform.
The Bucks team visiting Philadelphia on Saturday night does not look much like the one the Sixers have grown accustomed to facing.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis are in Miami. Four former Heat players have entered Milwaukee’s rotation. Taylor Jenkins has replaced Doc Rivers as head coach, and the Bucks have opened the season with losses to the Wizards and Bulls.
The Sixers, who will be without LeBron James, will begin a back-to-back Saturday. Milwaukee will complete one at Xfinity Mobile Arena after playing its home opener Friday night.
Two games are not enough to establish what the Bucks will be this season. They have provided a few numbers worth knowing before the Sixers attempt to improve to 3-0.
139
Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel’el Ware and Kasparas Jakučionis have combined for 139 of Milwaukee’s 241 points.
The four players acquired from Miami in the Antetokounmpo trade have accounted for 57.7 percent of Milwaukee’s scoring. By comparison, Philadelphia’s offseason additions have scored 45 percent of the Sixers’ points.
Herro has scored 58 points. Jaquez has added 41, while Jakučionis and Ware have combined for 40 off the bench.
Herro and Jaquez have started both games alongside Ryan Rollins, Kyle Kuzma and Myles Turner. Jakučionis and Ware have been regular members of Jenkins’ rotation.
Herro has led Milwaukee in scoring and assists. Jaquez is averaging 20.5 points and nine rebounds. The four former Heat players have already become the largest part of the Bucks’ offense.
123.9
Milwaukee has allowed 123.9 points per 100 possessions through two games, the NBA’s second-worst defensive rating entering Saturday.
The Bucks have surrendered 130 points per game despite their opponents shooting only 18 for 73 from three-point range, the fourth-lowest opponent rate in the sport.
Washington and Chicago combined to make 24.7 percent of their threes. Milwaukee has shot 39.1 percent from deep and made 16 more three-pointers than its opponents, giving the Bucks a 48-point advantage from behind the arc.
They have still been outscored by 19 points.
The difference has come closer to the basket and at the foul line.
Plus-42 and minus-25
The Sixers have outscored their opponents 121-79 after halftime.
Their plus-42 second-half margin allowed them to erase a four-point halftime deficit against New York and a 24-point halftime deficit against Cleveland.
Milwaukee has moved in the other direction. The Bucks led at halftime in both games but have been outscored 148-123 during the second half. They have lost the two fourth quarters by a combined 24 points.
The way Philadelphia rallied against Cleveland also lines up with Milwaukee’s early defensive issues.
The Sixers scored 69 points in the second half Thursday. They scored 36 in the paint, went 18 for 22 from the foul line and committed only two turnovers.
They did that while making only three of their 13 three-point attempts.
The Sixers did not need a hot shooting half to come back. They protected the ball, reached the lane and drew fouls.
66
Milwaukee has allowed 66 paint points per game, the worst mark through two contests.
Washington outscored the Bucks 70-50 in the paint during the season opener. Chicago followed with a 62-44 advantage Friday.
That leaves Milwaukee with a minus-38 paint differential.
The Sixers scored 64 paint points against a Cleveland frontcourt featuring Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. Thirty-six came after halftime, when Philadelphia scored 69 points and turned a 24-point deficit into an eight-point victory.
Milwaukee starts Turner and brings the 7-foot Ware off its bench. That size has not prevented opponents from consistently reaching the paint.
Maxey, Brown and James all give the Sixers ways to attack off the dribble. Embiid presents another interior challenge if Philadelphia can deliver him the ball without repeating the turnover problems from Thursday’s first half.
71
Washington and Chicago attempted 71 free throws against Milwaukee.
The Bucks committed 32 fouls against the Wizards, who went 32 for 41 from the line. Milwaukee committed another 27 fouls Friday as Chicago made 28 of 30 attempts.
The Bucks have been outscored 60-33 at the foul line. They have allowed 22 more attempts and made only 67.3 percent of their own free throws.
Philadelphia has attempted 57 free throws through two games. The Sixers took 22 during the second half of their comeback against Cleveland.
The Bucks have allowed opponents to score 132 points in the paint and make 60 free throws. Those two areas have accounted for 192 of the 260 points Milwaukee has surrendered.
72:48
Milwaukee gave first- and second-year players only 318 minutes during the entire 2025-26 season, the lowest total in the NBA. Every other team gave that group more than 1,300.
The Bucks have already distributed 72 minutes and 48 seconds to first- and second-year players through two games.
Second-year guard Jakučionis has played 48:56. Rookie guard Brayden Burries has logged 23:52. They are the only Milwaukee players in their first two seasons who have appeared.
Their combined total is already 22.9 percent of Milwaukee’s full-season figure from last year.
That does not mean the same rate will continue over 82 games. It does show the immediate difference between a roster built around Antetokounmpo and one beginning to evaluate its younger players.
The Bucks’ roster is new. The clearest place for the Sixers to attack is not. Philadelphia scored 69 second-half points Thursday by getting inside and reaching the foul line. Milwaukee has spent its first two games allowing both.
LeBron James will sit out for the first time as a Sixer on Saturday night.
The 2-0 Sixers downgraded James’ status from questionable to out Saturday afternoon before their meeting with the 0-2 Bucks at Xfinity Mobile Arena. James’ official listing on the injury report was “low back/sciatica management.”
Dominick Barlow (lower back stress reaction), Ariel Hukporti (right Achilles tendon tear) and Tacko Fall (left quadriceps strain) were also listed as out. Dean Wade remained questionable as of Saturday afternoon with a left ankle sprain.
The night off for the 41-year-old James does not come as a surprise. The Sixers will finish their first back-to-back of the season Sunday when they host the Pistons.
The team hasn’t detailed its exact plans with James and Joel Embiid’s availability, but the Sixers have made it clear that neither star will be every-game players this season. Embiid said he expects to play one leg of the back-to-back, so it appears he’ll be out Sunday.
“We have plenty of meetings and discussions about it. … It’s obviously an important topic,” Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said on Sept. 29. “Like our fans and like all of us, we want those two guys ready to go come April.”
James averaged 33.5 minutes over the Sixers’ first two games and posted 15.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 2.0 steals per contest.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 23: Jacob Misiorowski #32 of the Milwaukee Brewers reacts during the second inning against the Tampa Bay Rays in game one of the 2026 World Series at American Family Field on October 23, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Milwaukee Brewers have been trending up for some time. They’ve made the playoffs eight of the last nine years. They’ve had 90 plus wins for the last four seasons. They lose pieces, but gain others. They’ve third in position player WAR and fourth in pitching WAR. And they’re in the driver’s seat to win this year’s World Championship.
Then you have the Dodgers and their pocketbook out west. Los Angeles isn’t going anywhere. Yes, neither the Dodgers or the Brewers are in the division with the Braves. But I’m sure what happens to divisions in a few years, anyway. Speaking of the division, the Phillies are on the downswing now, but they’re hardly in the rear view.
The Braves have a lot of questions to answer this offseason. What kind of offensive approach do they want? Can they keep their pitchers healthy? Are they selecting athletes that can stay healthy? And then assuming they resolve these, there are two teams ready to test what the Braves came up with. So are the Brewers a major problem for the Braves? I wouldn’t mind if they won it all this year, but I’ll be watching closely next season.
ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 01: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies enters the dugout prior to Game Three of the National League Wild Card Series presented by AbbVie between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on Thursday, October 1, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The World Series last night showed two teams at the top of their game. The rosters are chock full of talent, superstars at the stop, role players excelling at their role in the middle and more help on the way from the minor leagues by way of two player development systems consistently churning out talent. With the Phillies, they still have some of these things. There are stars at the top of the roster, the ones we have come to know and love. They have struggled to find a lot of role players, but there are some.
Think Bryson Stott and Jonathan Bowlan.
The less said about the player development system, the better. They haven’t truly brought a superstar to the majors in quite a while. There are some exciting developments with Andrew Painter once his season turned around following his return. Maybe Justin Crawford can carve out a role somehow and Aidan Miller looks promising.
Yet it’s worth wondering: is the championship window the Phillies opened up in 2022 still open?
