Travis Head has described Australia’s stunning collapse in Gqeberha as “s**thouse” but said the tourists are the world’s top-ranked Test team with good reason.
Brewers barrel through Rays in Game 1 after 44-year World Series wait
MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee Brewers fans patiently waited 44 years for this night, and three hours later, with hoarse throats and weary legs, oh, was it ever worth it.
The Brewers, in front of 43,250 screaming fans who stood most of the game Friday at American Family Field, delivered a powerful victory in Game 1 of the World Series, 3-2, over the Tampa Bay Rays.
It was hardly easy, with the Rays refusing to fade into the night, but the Rays were their own worst enemy, three times running into outs on the bases, and having two balls glance off their gloves in the field.
“This team was the best team in the National League," Rays first baseman Jonathan Aranda said before Game 1, “best team in baseball for a reason. … They do almost everything well."
The Brewers, led by ace Jacob Misiorowski, dominated for five innings, and then sat back and watched the Brewers’ bullpen completely suffocate the Rays’ offense. The Brewers’ bullpen pitched four shutout innings, giving up just two singles, while Aaron Ashby continued his brilliance, pitching 1 ⅔ shutout innings. He has pitched 14 shutout innings this postseason, giving up just four hits.
The Brewers had just two extra-base hits without a homer, but scrapped and clawed their way to three runs with the top four hitters in the lineup_Jackson Chourio, Jake Bauers, Christian Yelich and William Contreras_producing six of their eight hits. They did most of their damage in the first inning with Chourio leading off with a single, Yelich hitting a one-out triple to center field field that glanced off Jonny DeLuca’s glove with Contreras following with a sharp single off shortstop Taylor Walls with a drawn-in infield.
But the real heroes, the Brewers say, are their fans.
“They're a big impact on these games, how loud they've been,’’ Yelich said. “The atmosphere they've created, it's definitely a difference maker. You kind of just see how excited everybody is in this city. You can kind of feel the energy….
“It's cool to be able to provide memories for people to be able to share with their family, their kids, their grandparents, or just friends that have been Brewers’ fans over the years for decades and getting to kind of experience this together. We know we represent a city and a state, and we're proud to do it. People coming up to you and saying they’ve been waiting their whole life for this and for this series.
“Looking forward to creating more memories for people.’’
Misiorowski, pitching on 11 days’ rest, set the tone on the first pitch of the game, throwing a 103.5-mph fastball, the fastest ever thrown in a World Series game when they first began tracking in 2008. He threw 10 pitches over 101-mph alone in the first inning, with five pitchers over 102-mph.
And then he went out and dominated for five innings, yielding four this and one run while striking out three batters.
It wasn’t vintage Miz, but after a long season – throwing 45 more innings than his career-high – still kept the Rays’ offense in check.
He nearly gave up a homer to Yandy Diaz to lead off the game, and then back-to-back singles to Jonathan Aranda and Chandler Simpson. But he escaped when Junior Caminero lined out to third baseman David Hamilton, who then threw to second base to double-up Aranda who was fooled on the liner.
It was the first of three critical mistakes by the Rays. Victor Mesa ended the fifth inning by inexplicably trying to steal third base with Diaz at the plate when he was already in scoring position. And Aranda ended the sixth inning when he was caught stealing second on a botched hit-and-run with Simpson at the plate, striking out for the second time. It was the first time Chandler struck out twice in a game since June 9.
Misiorowski graciously accepted the gifts, and even though he has not lasted past five innings in any of his three postseason starts, the Brewers have won all three games.
“He hasn't been as crisp,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “I don't think people are up there thinking it's going to be 104, and I think they're elated if it's anything less than that. They're trying to exploit everything. He's exposed, like all these guys get at some point. He's exposed."
The Brewers now are three victories away from their first World Series championship in a year where everyone doubted them at the start of spring training. They traded away ace Freddy Peralta and rookie third baseman Caleb Durbin during the winter, following the past few years when All-Star shortstop Willy Adames left as a free agent, and All-Star closers Josh Hader and Devin Williams were traded, along with Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes.
“The guys who walked out the door, they're some of the best players in baseball,’’ Yelich said. “Cy Young winners, relievers of the year, Willy was a really great player for us. So really what it does… everybody kind of doubts you again because you lose some big pieces, which is understandable. But this group just ends up finding its identity throughout the year, and coming together as a team, and finding our formula to win, and how we do it as a team.
“That's really what it's been year after year."
Brewers vs Rays World Series schedule
- Game 1: Friday, Oct. 23 — 8 PM ET, at Milwaukee – TICKETS
- Game 2: Saturday, Oct. 24 — 8 PM ET, at Milwaukee – TICKETS
- Game 3: Monday, Oct. 26 — 8 PM ET, at Tampa Bay
- Game 4: Tuesday, Oct. 27 — 8 PM ET, at Tampa Bay
- Game 5 (if necessary): Wednesday, Oct. 28 — 8 PM ET, at Tampa Bay
- Game 6 (if necessary): Friday, Oct. 30 — 8 PM ET, at Milwaukee – TICKETS
- Game 7 (if necessary): Saturday, Oct. 31 — 8 PM ET, at Milwaukee – TICKETS
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Brewers barrel through Rays in Game 1 after 44-year World Series wait
William Contreras owned World Series opener. And Rays fell into his trap
MILWAUKEE – William Contreras is already having a historic run through this postseason. The Tampa Bay Rays certainly didn’t need to play into his hands in Game 1 of the World Series.
Yet over the course of just a few innings, Contreras, the Milwaukee Brewers’ dynamic catcher, showed just how much he can control a single baseball game – on both sides of the ball.
It is not often that one man smokes his team’s hardest-hit ball of the night for a run-scoring hit that stood up as the winning run, then snuffs out two of the opposition’s scoring chances by cutting down baserunners foolhardy enough to run on him.
Contreras, though, is truly built different.
The three-time All-Star finally has a stage befitting his massive skills and nickname to match – Wild Bill – for the baseball world to appreciate. And Friday, Oct. 23, as Milwaukee was ready to burst over its first World Series appearance in 44 years, Contreras gave them what they asked for as he commanded the Brewers’ 3-2 victory before 43,250 giddy onlookers at American Family Field.
Milwaukee takes a 1-0 lead into Saturday’s Game 2, thanks to a victory in a game that was taut yet also featured several unforced errors by the Rays.
Then again, Contreras forced the issue on numerous occasions.
This game turned on the game’s third batter, when Rays center fielder Jonny DeLuca fell just shy of making a terrific diving catch on Christian Yelich’s fly ball that landed for an RBI triple.
Just one man was out. Yelich was on third. And so the Rays infield, per the laws of baseball, was condemned to play in on the grass with Contreras at the plate.
No wonder this game is considered so cruel.
Contreras ranks in the 89 th percentile in squaring up balls. His top exit velocities the past four seasons have ranged between 114 and 118 mph. He drove in 94 runs this season.
Little wonder, then, that he drilled a Nick Martinez fastball 108.4 mph, just to the right of Rays shortstop Taylor Walls. The ball ticked off his glove, and not even the most sadistic official scorer might consider giving Walls an error.
Yelich trotted home on the play for a 2-0 lead, the Rays halving that with a run in the fourth. And Milwaukee would not score again until a Jackson Chourio RBI single in the seventh.
No matter. Contreras was preventing runs as easily as he drove one in.
With starter Jacob Misiorowski starting to wobble in the fifth and Victor Mesa Jr. on second, Misiorowski emptied his tank against slugging leadoff man Yandy Díaz – three fastballs of at least 101.7 mph. With Díaz in an 0-2 hole, Mesa broke for third.
Foolish. Contreras threw him out easily, ending the threat and forcing Díaz to lead off the next inning, the bases empty.
Next inning, similar scenario.
After reliever Abner Uribe retired Díaz, Jonathan Aranda reached for the third time in Game 1, on a single.
This was the exact spot the Rays likely eyeballed in the run-up to this World Series: Early enough in the game to avoid Milwaukee’s deadliest relievers, and with slugging third baseman Junior Caminero on deck.
Speedy No. 3 hitter Chandler Simpson worked a full count. The man only struck out 7.8% of the time this season. Rays manager Kevin Cash decided to send Aranda on the full-count pitch.
And Uribe threw one of the nastiest sliders Simpson’s likely ever seen. The back-foot offering to the left-handed hitter elicited a meek half-swing on a ball way low and in.
Simpson was rung up.
Despite the suboptimal pitch to throw on, and the uncertainty of the play, Contreras gunned an absolute strike to second. Aranda was easily out.
Caminero was stranded helplessly on deck. Uribe was beyond amped.
And the Brewers were nine outs from victory.
STRIKE ‘EM OUT, THROW ‘EM OUT 😤
— Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) October 24, 2026
Abner Uribe and William Contreras combine for a magnificent double play to end the 6th! pic.twitter.com/5qjdsNSvN8
It was the latest tour de force from Contreras, who keyed the Brewers’ sweep of the Dodgers by delivering three game-tying or go-ahead hits in a Game 2 victory. Now, there are no other teams standing.
This is Contreras’ stage. And so far, he’s commanding it.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: William Contreras owned World Series opener. And Rays fell into his trap
Knicks' Mike Brown encourages Mikal Bridges 'to keep shooting' after going scoreless in loss to Celtics
The Knicks' championship defense has gotten off to a slow start, dropping their first two games after Friday's loss to the Celtics, but not as slow as the play of Mikal Bridges.
After scoring just four points on 2 of 8 shooting in 33 minutes during New York's series opener against the 76ers, Bridges was held scoreless in 22 minutes on 0 of 8 shooting -- including 0-for-5 from three -- versus Boston.
"For the most part, most of his looks... I mean, he had three or four wide open threes. And we want them to make half of them if they're open," head coach Mike Brown said of Bridges after the loss. "But he's got to keep shooting them. And hopefully, they'll eventually go in sooner than later, but he's getting the looks that he needs to get. He's just gotta knock them down now."
Bridges' offensive ups and downs date back as long as he's been a Knick. Last season, he averaged 14.4 points per game, his lowest since the the 2021-22 season when he was with the Suns.
While the offensive inconsistencies Brown can manage, he can't go too long without Bridges' defense.
Searching for offense against the Celtics, Brown rolled with Miles McBride, who scored 20 points in 30 minutes off the bench. That left Josh Hart in charge of guarding Jayson Tatum, a task that even Hart had trouble with. Tatum finished with a game-high 36 points and made some clutch buckets down the stretch when the Knicks threatened to steal the win in the final moments.
Perhaps the game result could have been different with Bridges guarding Tatum. But Brown won't put it all on missing Bridges, as the Knicks head coach pointed to how Boston was more physical than the Knicks.
"He's got to make sure that he's physical on the defensive end," Brown continued on Bridges. "And he, as well as everybody else because it was all of us, are laying on screens when we get hit, and that when we do switch, there's a level of physicality to the switch so that they're not able to take advantage of us."
The Knicks will look to get their first victory of the season when they return home to host the Magic on Sunday. Perhaps Bridges' offense and defense will be a factor in that one.
Pistons lose starters Jalen Duren, Ausar Thompson to injuries in win over Heat
The Detroit Pistons are on their way to a 2-0 start this season, but may be contending with an injury to one of their All-Stars.
Center Jalen Duren, who is fresh off of a $200 million contract extension signed earlier this month, suffered a right thigh injury Friday, Oct. 23 in a game against the Miami Heat. The Pistons won 128-111.
The injury occurred midway through the second quarter. Duren attempted a spin move past Heat forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, but Duren appeared to tweak something, as he abruptly pulled up and grabbed his leg in apparent discomfort. Duren immediately went to the locker room.
The Pistons declared him questionable to return, but Duren did not play the remainder of the game, which Detroit dominated from the opening tip.
In his place, backup Paul Reed filled in admirably, perhaps allowing coach J.B. Bickerstaff to exercise caution with Duren’s injury. Reed scored 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting, adding 11 rebounds and 4 assists.
Duren played just 10 minutes and scored 4 points on 2-of-4 shooting, adding 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block and 1 steal.
Duren wasn’t the only Pistons player to suffer an injury Friday night, as forward Ausar Thompson, a first-team All-Defense selection, fell awkwardly on his back, forcing him to the locker room. Thompson played just 19 minutes, recording 4 points, 4 assists and 3 rebounds.
After the game, Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said he did not have any updates on either injury.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pistons lose starters Jalen Duren, Ausar Thompson to injuries in win over Heat
Shaikin: Tensions between MLB and players' union continue to escalate amid salary-cap battle
It was an evening for pomp and pageantry, for celebrating a World Series between two of the five major league teams never to win one. But, before the first pitch of the first game, the commissioner of baseball and the head of the players’ union held separate media gatherings that only served to reinforce the notion that a lockout in December is a virtual certainty and Opening Day next March is in serious jeopardy.
Of all the major North American sports, baseball is the only one without a salary cap. The players and their union vow to keep it that way, and union chief Bruce Meyer said every proposal the owners make on every issue is contingent upon a salary cap. How, someone asked commissioner Rob Manfred, can the owners strike a deal if the union is entrenched against a cap?
“Re-thinking where you are is a really important part of trying to make a deal,” Manfred said. “It’s actually a skill in collective bargaining. It’s easy to say, ‘I’m here and I’m never moving.’ That’s not a particularly skilled approach to the process.”
Read more:Shaikin: Why Dodgers fans need to be cheering for the Brewers in this World Series
That is perilously close to telling the other guy at the negotiating table how to negotiate. It’s also something you might say when you’re feeling pretty darn good that you’re going to win the negotiation.
“We have an unprecedented level of unanimity among ownership that it is something that we need to do,” Manfred said.
He wouldn’t say otherwise at this point, of course. The owners were unified in 1994, when they last demanded a salary cap. They didn’t win, and fans lost the final two months of the 1994 season and the first month of the 1995 season.
When the NHL got its salary cap, owners shut down the league for a full year. Would MLB owners forgo a year — or at least several months — of ticket sales and media revenue to get their cap? Would MLB players forgo a year — or at least several months — of their salaries to stave off a cap?
We won’t know the answer to either question until the spring, and until then a new collective bargaining agreement would require one side or the other to abandon its position.
That makes this year’s World Series something of a Rorschach test: Is a Brewers-Rays series proof that the system actually works just fine the way it is?
To Manfred, the answer is no. A series featuring two of baseball’s smaller markets is an anomaly when history shows a correlation between payroll and success, not only in the regular season but in advancing through the playoffs.
“It’s not that no small market can win,” Manfred said. “It’s just that it’s pretty rare.”
To Meyer, the answer is yes.
“It has nothing to do with what the Dodgers are doing,” Meyer said. “There is no reason whatsoever that the Pirates can’t do what the Brewers have done, or what the Rays have done.”
The Pirates, Meyer said, do not spend all the money they are allotted to sign draft picks. The Brewers, playing in baseball’s smallest market, might not routinely hand out free-agent riches, but owner Mark Attanasio said his team ranks “right in the middle” of the 30 teams in spending on baseball operations.
Attanasio publicly stumped for a salary cap here Friday, saying it would “help us compete but more importantly all of the other teams with lower payrolls too.” He said Brewers fans already fear it might take another 44 years to return to the World Series.
Read more:Shaikin: As a kid, this World Series starter rooted for the Astros. Then he learned they cheated.
Said Meyer: “That doesn’t seem like a great way, with all due respect, to try and generate excitement among your fans.”
Meyer said this year’s series “undermines their argument” for what he called “the nuclear bomb of a salary cap.” He said the owners are uninterested in the union’s proposals for addressing competitive balance, including increased revenue sharing among owners and a tax against teams that fail to win consistently, and he alleged the league’s argument is “a charade” for what the owners really want: “to suppress salaries and gut player rights.”
The takeaway: Don’t book non-refundable airline tickets and hotel rooms for spring training.
On other topics:
— As The Times has reported, MLB is keeping an eye on federal investigations into Dodgers owner Mark Walter and his insurance empire, which is under scrutiny for allegedly violating laws designed to protect investors. Walter also is a defendant in multiple civil lawsuits filed by investors alleging fraud and breach of contract.
“As always when we have an investigation — external, law enforcement, whatever — we monitor that,” Manfred said. “That’s where we are right now. We’re just watching what’s going on right now.”
Over the past two months, amid efforts to find what could be more than $20 billion to recapitalize insurance funds, Walter has sold his controlling interest in the Lakers and a minority share of Chelsea, the English Premier League club. On Friday, Bloomberg reported he is seeking to sell the Sparks. He has no plan to sell the Dodgers, team president Stan Kasten has said.
— Meyer said the MLBPA continues negotiations with LA28 over how major league players would be accommodated in the 2028 Olympics. “As of now, we’re not getting satisfaction on those things,” Meyer said.
Both the league and the union say they want to participate in the Games, but Manfred said MLB would normally start preparing its 2028 schedule early in 2027. The league has agreed to an extended All-Star break to accommodate the Olympics, but MLB also could tire of waiting for the union to agree with LA28, which badly wants MLB players to participate.
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Knicks drop second consecutive game to begin season following 107-103 loss to Celtics
The Knicks lost to the Boston Celtics on Friday night, 107-103.
Here are the takeaways...
-- In search of their first win of the season, the Knicks went down 4-0 and didn’t hit their first shot until Karl-Anthony Towns hit a deep three to get New York on the board. Towns finished the opening quarter with eight points while going 3-for-3 from the floor.
-- OG Anunoby had five points and Jalen Brunson added four in the first 12 minutes, but the rest of the starters were held in check so the Knicks went to their bench looking for a spark.
-- They got it in the form of Miles McBride who checked into the game with 6:21 left in the quarter and immediately went to work by draining two threes and drilling two free throws and matching Towns’ eight points.
-- McBride’s second three-pointer gave the Knicks a five-point lead with just under three minutes left in the quarter, but from there New York was outscored 7-3 and the Celtics cut their deficit to one point and entered the second quarter down 27-26.
-- Boston opened the second quarter by outscoring the Knicks 13-4 to take an eight-point advantage. Anunoby’s made three put an end to the ambush and eventually New York tied the game at 41-41 thanks to Josh Hart’s first points of the game following a two-minute stretch of misses and turnovers by both teams.
-- Hart tied the game again with a three with 56 seconds left in the half before giving the Knicks their first lead since midway through the first quarter on a driving hook shot.
-- However, Paul George nailed a three-pointer as time expired and sent the Celtics into the locker room with a 50-49 halftime lead.
-- Both teams traded baskets to kick off the second half as Anunoby and Brunson got more involved offensively and each hit a three. Towns also made a triple later in the frame, but New York wouldn’t hit another shot for over two minutes before Brunson’s second three-pointer of the quarter.
-- The Celtics weren’t able to take advantage during the Knicks’ scoring drought, scoring just four points themselves.
-- After abandoning McBride following his hot start, New York went back to him late in the third and he stayed hot by making back-to-back threes to pull his team to within one.
-- Once again, though, Boston ended the quarter on a 13-4 run, spearheaded by Jayson Tatum, to go into the fourth quarter up by 10. Tatum had a monster third quarter, leading all scorers with 16 points.
-- The Knicks, down by as many as 12 points, did their best to climb back. Landry Shamet hit a couple of key threes off the bench to get back within striking distance which got New York going in the right direction.
-- They hung around for as long as they could, going shot for shot with Tatum and George, but in the end Tatum’s 36 points was too much and the Knicks lost for the second straight time to begin their season.
-- McBride had a great game, scoring 20 points on 6-for-9 shooting from the field (6-for-8 from three). Mikal Bridges, on the other hand, was held scoreless (0-for-8 from the field, 0-for-5 from three) and only played 22 minutes – far less than any other starter.
-- Anunoby, Towns and Hart all finished with a double-double and Anunoby led the team with eight assists. Still, the trio of Anunoby, Towns and Brunson combined for 10 turnovers as the Knicks gave it away 16 times compared to Boston’s 10 turnovers – the difference in the game.
-- In his first game against his former team, Mitchell Robinson was a non-factor with four points, four rebounds and a block in 22 minutes. He also picked up five fouls.
Game MVP: Jayson Tatum
Tatum led all scorers with 36 points and took over whenever the Celtics needed him to.
Highlights
KAT from deep! https://t.co/Us06WVZwY3
— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) October 23, 2026
Deuce from the corner! 👌 https://t.co/SnM0M3NikT
— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) October 23, 2026
KAT throws it down! https://t.co/9MfjRH7Efm
— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) October 23, 2026
DEUCE. DEEP. https://t.co/aSQmKTMwQG
— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) October 23, 2026
Andre Drummond 💪 https://t.co/LtW2R6A4ge
— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) October 23, 2026
What's next
The Knicks return home to take on the Orlando Magic on Sunday night. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Cooper Flagg injury update: Mavs star hurts shoulder as he's fouled on breakaway
The one player the Dallas Mavericks didn’t want injured, Cooper Flagg, got hurt. But initial comments from coach Dusty May signaled some optimism that Flagg may have avoided a serious injury.
Flagg, the reigning NBA Rookie of the Year, suffered a left shoulder injury Friday, Oct. 23 in a game against the Indiana Pacers, after a flagrant foul by Pacers guard Aaron Nesmith on a breakaway dunk attempt sent Flagg tumbling to the court. The Mavericks officially designated the injury as left shoulder soreness, which may be a positive sign that Flagg avoided a serious ailment.
May said Flagg would be evaluated “in the next couple of days” and added that Flagg was in “good spirits” when he saw him in the locker room. Though imaging results will provide the official diagnosis, the timeline May put forward suggests that Flagg will miss Dallas’ next game, which is Saturday, Oct. 24 against the San Antonio Spurs.
During the play, Flagg was streaking toward the basket on a fast break before he was fouled. Nesmith swiped at Flagg’s right shoulder, causing him to lose his balance. Flagg tried to brace his fall but landed awkwardly on his left shoulder, near where camera operators sit along the baseline.
Flagg immediately favored his left shoulder as he writhed on the floor in apparent discomfort. Trainers hustled over to tend to him for several moments. The foul incensed Mavericks players, as forward Naji Marshall confronted Nesmith and shoved him.
This led to a brief altercation as multiple players from both sides started shoving each other. Assistant coaches eventually separated the players.
PACERS-MAVS GET CHIPPY AFTER
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 24, 2026
A FLAGRANT FOUL ON COOPER FLAGG 😳
Flagg went to the locker room after the hard foul pic.twitter.com/pQjg9P61KK
The foul was eventually reviewed and elevated to a flagrant 1. Flagg would step up to the line and convert both his free throw attempts, though he was immediately subbed out.
Shortly afterward, the Mavericks ruled Flagg out for the rest of the game.
Flagg played just 17 minutes and scored 14 points on 4-of-6 shooting. He also collected 5 rebounds, dished out 6 assists and recorded 3 steals.
The Mavericks beat the Pacers, 121-105, in May’s first career NBA victory.
Flagg is the franchise player and No. 1 selection from the 2025 NBA Draft. Dallas is undergoing something of a rebuild, as the team builds around the 19 year old Flagg.
“Look, Nesmith is a great guy – heck of a player,” May said. “I’ve known him since he was in high school. Obviously, an unfortunate play. Hopefully Coop is fine, but obviously it’s something we wished wouldn’t have happened.”
Flagg injured the same shoulder in his rookie season.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cooper Flagg injury update: Mavs star hurts shoulder as he's fouled on breakaway
How did Miz do in World Series? Final stats, velocity from Game 1 outing
Jacob Misiorowski's first pitch of the 2026 World Series came in at 103.5 miles per hour.
That four-seamer to Yandy Diaz was a ball, but it certainly set the tone for the night. The Milwaukee Brewers right-hander made his longest postseason start against the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 1 on Friday night at American Family Field. He held Tampa Bay to one run on four hits and a walk in five innings. He struck out three.
Misiorowski threw 37 pitches at 100 mph or faster out of 78. His four-seamer averaged 101.2 mph and 10 of them reached at least 102. None were faster than the opener, according to StatCast.
Velocity has never been the question for the 6-foot-7 Misiorowski. He went 16-5 this season and led the majors in ERA (1.80) and strikeouts (252), throwing his fastball harder on average than any other starter in the league. The question this October was how long can he stay on the mound.
He made Friday's start on 11 days' rest. In his first two starts this postseason, high pitch counts kept him from finishing five innings. He threw 88 pitches over four innings in Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the San Diego Padres. Then he needed 94 pitches for 4 ⅓ innings in Game 1 of the NL Championship Series, which the Brewers went on to sweep against the Dodgers.
Misiorowski was more efficient Friday night. He went to his four-seam fastball and mxed in his cutter, slider and an occasional curveball. That helped him get through five, tying the longest postseason start of his career. He pitched five innings and struck out nine in a relief appearance in Game 3 of the 2025 NLCS at Dodger Stadium.
The Rays put runners on against him right away Friday. Jonathan Aranda lined a single on a 101.3 mph fastball and Chandler Simpson followed with a slapped single to left. Junior Caminero lined into a double play to end the threat. Misiorowski retired seven consecutive Rays after that.
Tampa Bay broke through in the fourth. Aranda drew a walk and Caminero turned on a 101 mph fastball for a double before Liam Hicks brought in the Rays' first run with a groundout.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How did Miz do in World Series? Final stats, velocity from Game 1 outing
Brandin Podziemski back in Warriors' starting lineup but shaken up vs. Grizzlies
SAN FRANCISCO — Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski started in the team's home opener against the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday, Oct. 23.
But his initial appearance proved to be brief. Podziemski left the game with 8:17 left in the first quarter after taking a shot from Grizzlies center Zach Edey.
Podziemski went backdoor and took a pass from Graham Ike as he went up for a layup over Edey. Podziemski scored but not without contact. Edey appeared to have struck Podziemski in the face as he was making a play on the ball. No whistle was blown and everyone played on ... except Podziemski, who stayed on the ground after the contact.
He got up and walked off the court and into the locker room on his own. Podziemski had scored four points, making both shot attempts.
He did eventually return to the bench and get back into the game.
Podziemski missed the Warriors' season opener, Wednesday's 127-105 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, due to a sore back.
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr told reporters before Friday's game that Podziemski was not only available, but starting at the two-guard position.
"He had a workout this morning," Kerr said. "Went through it fine, so he'll be in the starting lineup."
Podziemski appeared in all 82 games for the Warriors last season. His availability was one of the many attributes that gave Golden State confidence before extending the 23-year-old.
The Warriors and Podziemski agreed to a five-year, $110 million rookie-scale contract extension, which includes an option for the final year in 2031–32.
Podziemski averaged career highs with Golden State last year (13.8 points per game, 3.7 assists, 1.1 steals on 45% shooting). The Warriors drafted Podziemski out of Santa Clara with the 19th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Brandin Podziemski back in Warriors' starting lineup but shaken up vs. Grizzlies
Devon Toews, Nazem Kadri Score as Avalanche Take 2-0 Lead Over Lightning
DENVER — The Colorado Avalanche are making their chances count and keeping Tampa Bay at arm’s length. Colorado took a 4-2 lead into the second intermission, answering the Lightning’s push with timely goals from Fedor Svechkov and Artturi Lehkonen, while Jake Guentzel scored twice on the power play to keep Tampa within striking distance. The Lightning lead 27-17 in shots on goal, but the Avalanche have made the most of their opportunities.
First Period
Martin Necas found Devon Toews in front of the net just 68 seconds into the game, with Nathan MacKinnon picking up the assist to give Colorado an early lead.
Jaden Schwartz appeared to tie the game nearly five minutes in, but the goal was waved off after he kicked the puck past Mackenzie Blackwood. Colorado capitalized shortly after, scoring on the power play at 5:52 with Brandon Hagel in the box for tripping. Nazem Kadri buried a pass from T.J. Hughes in the low slot to double the lead.
Tampa had its chances, controlling possession at times and forcing Colorado’s defense to scramble around its own net. The Lightning also kept the Avalanche’s top line on the ice for extended shifts and tested Blackwood with a flurry of shots, but couldn’t find the back of the net.
Despite being outshot 12-9, Colorado took a 2-0 lead into the first intermission.
Second Period
Fedor Svechkov made it 3-0 just 24 seconds into the period, knocking in his own rebound past Andrei Vasilevskiy. Svechkov appeared to be looking for T.J. Hughes at the backdoor, but after Vasilevskiy poke-checked the puck, the rebound fell right back to Svechkov, who finished the play.
Logan O’Connor, playing for the first time this season after recovering from a lower-body injury and dealing with the loss of his father, was called for a two-minute goaltender interference penalty. Vasilevskiy had left his crease to make a save near the backdoor, and O’Connor, closing in quickly, had little time to avoid the collision. Colorado killed off the penalty.
Tampa later earned a 4-on-3 power play after Taylor Makar tripped Conor Geekie. Following the whistle, Sam Malinski cross-checked Dominic James, sparking a brief scuffle along the boards. Both players received roughing minors. On the ensuing power play, Jake Guentzel cut into Colorado’s lead, punching in a rebound off a one-timer from Charle-Edouard D’Astous.
After Colorado killed off a tripping penalty to Lehkonen with 7:10 remaining, the winger got his own goal back. MacKinnon set him up in the low slot, and Lehkonen buried his ninth goal in 11 games to restore the Avalanche’s three-goal cushion at 4-1.
Unlike in their previous two games, the Avalanche were making their chances count while doing a better job defensively and breaking up Tampa’s plays.
Colorado was called for too many men on the ice with less than three minutes remaining, and Tampa struck again on the power play. Brayden Point fed Guentzel at the doorstep for his second goal of the night, cutting the deficit to 4-2.
The Avalanche challenged the goal, arguing that the puck had hit the upper netting before crossing the line. After an extensive review, officials determined the puck had hit the glass, not the netting, and the goal stood.
Through 40 minutes, Colorado held a 4-2 lead, but Tampa continued to pour on the pressure, building a 27-17 advantage in shots on goal.
Paolo Banchero injury update: Why Magic star exited game vs. Timberwolves
For the Orlando Magic, it has already started.
A team that has had abysmal injury luck with its best players, the Magic may have another issue on their hands. Star forward Paolo Banchero left Orlando’s game Friday, Oct. 23 against the Minnesota Timberwolves with an ankle issue; the team later declared him doubtful to return with a sore right ankle designation.
Banchero tweaked his ankle early in the third quarter, prompting him to get subbed out and head to the locker room. The issue appeared to happen after he and Magic guard Jalen Suggs were going for a rebound. Banchero landed awkwardly and immediately grabbed his ankle as he fell to the floor.
The positive news was that Banchero not only returned to the bench, but also returned to action.
Yet, Banchero was subbed out at the start of the fourth quarter, which might be precautionary, as the Magic were getting blown out and down by 26 points at the time.
Both Banchero and fellow Magic forward Franz Wagner had injury issues over the past two seasons. During the 2024-25 campaign, an oblique injury limited Banchero to only 46 games. Wagner battled a similar injury the same season and played only 60 games that year; last season, he played just 34.
Banchero scored 14 points on 6-of-11 shooting Friday night, adding 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 1 steal.
The Magic lost 115-93.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Paolo Banchero injury update: Why Magic star exited game vs. Timberwolves
A Glove-First Outfielder
Welcome to our series grading every member of the San Diego Padres’ 40-man roster. The roster being evaluated is current as of Oct. 18, prior to the end of the World Series. Because of that, it will include players who will be free agents once the postseason concludes. Each player will be graded on their performance in the 2026 season, including the playoffs. That performance will be weighted based on how much time the player spent with the team (availability is the best ability).
A Glove-First Outfielder
After being drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 11th round of the 2019 draft, Jase Bowen flashed potential in his final season in the Pirates’ system. In 2025, he slashed .272/.353/.449 across four levels of the minor leagues. Most impressively, Bowen hit .294 with an .870 OPS in 36 games for Triple-A Indianapolis. In November of ‘25, Bowen elected free agency and signed with San Diego. He posted a .292/.362/.600 slash line in 49 games with Triple-A El Paso before being called up to make his MLB debut.
Overall Grade: C-
To that end, Bowen struggled. He never quite found a groove at the plate in the big leagues. Bowen often looked overwhelmed against big-league pitching, batting an anemic .146 with a .438 OPS. The power all but disappeared. Bowen had hit 13 homers in 49 games with El Paso, but launched just two in 83 contests at the big-league level.
Some of that is due to his usage as a defensive replacement. Bowen was really only put in games late, often not starting. Of the 83 games that Bowen played in, he started in less than a quarter of them. He boasts a phenomenal glove, posting +2 Fielding Run Value and +1 Outs Above Average in such a small sample (283.0 INN). Still, his glove is not enough to keep him on the roster.
Bowen has a potent bat, but he needs more time to develop. Starting the season in Triple-A to get more time against high-caliber pitching could help him mature enough to face big-leaguers. Alternatively, if he shows improvement during Cactus League play, Bowen could work his way onto the Opening Day roster. That said, Bowen needs to improve, otherwise he’s not going to last long on this squad in a stacked outfield crop.
Cooper Flagg injury: Mavs star out after Flagrant-1 foul from Pacers on fastbreak
Cooper Flagg and the Dallas Mavericks were in the process of spoiling Tyrese Haliburton’s return in front of the home fans when the 19-year-old forward exited the game with injury. Flagg has been ruled out after sustaining a shoulder injury on a Flagrant-1 foul by Indiana Pacers wing Aaron Nesmith on a fastbreak. The injury happened in the final minute of the first half, and the Mavericks were already up 33 points when it happened.
Flagg raced down the floor in transition following a bad turnover by Indiana forward Pascal Siakam. Nesmith charged after him and challenged the play from behind. The two sides scuffled after Flagg went down, and the refs reviewed the play before assessing a Flagrant-1 on Nesmith. Flagg stayed in the game to make both free throws, and then headed the locker room. He didn’t start the second half, and wasn’t even on the Dallas bench.
Watch the play where Flagg was injured here:
Nesmith remained in the game. Players are only ejected for Flagrant-2 fouls, which Nesmith didn’t get because he hit Flagg in the arm while going for the ball, not his head.
Here’s the injury announcement from the Mavericks. The team called it “left shoulder soreness.”
Flagg had 14 minutes, six assists, five rebounds, and three steals in 17 minutes at the time of the injury.
We’ll update this story as it develops.
Cooper Flagg exits game at Indiana Pacers with injured shoulder after Nesmith flagrant foul
Aaron Nesmith rose to challenge Cooper Flagg’s transition dunk attempt, even though he was clearly beaten to the rim late in the second quarter on Friday as the Dallas Mavericks were putting the hurt on the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
The arm he went up to contest with didn’t come within a foot of the ball as Flagg extended it toward the rack, but Nesmith followed through anyway on a hard foul, sending Flagg to the hardwood with one minute left before halftime and the Mavericks up 73-40.
Flagg stayed on the ground for a minute while a shoving match escalated between Naji Marshall and Nesmith after the play. It looked like the hard landing was what hurt the shoulder, more so than the initial contact in the air with Nesmith. Flagg was with a member of the training staff for a few minutes while the officials sorted out what ended up being a double-technical foul situation, but did shoot and make the two free throws that resulted from the play.
But Flagg did not start the third quarter against the Pacers. Marshall took his place in the starting five for the second half after scoring five points and coming to his teammate’s defense late in the first half.
The officials’ debate in the extended review after the foul was called was most likely between a flagrant-1 and a flagrant-2 penalty. A flagrant-1 penalty is called when contact is made that is deemed unnecessary or outside of a normal, legitimate basketball play, such as a reckless closeout, tripping, or a hard shoulder check. A flagrant-2 is called when a player commits contact that is deemed both unnecessary and excessive, carrying a high potential for injury.
Flagg made both his free throws after the play to give him 14 points for the game. He was on his way to another big game to open his second season, also filling out the stat sheet with six first-half assists and five rebounds before the hard foul.
The team was slow to update the second-year star’s injury status throughout the halftime break, and mum was the word for the first half of the third quarter.
With about five minutes left in the third, the Mavericks PR team announced that Flagg would not return to the game. They officially designated the injury as “ left shoulder soreness.”
The play had all the markings of sour grapes against the young stud that was tearing the home team apart. The situation felt dirty, even if there were arguments to be made either way as to whether the play was dirty.
Tempers flared again late in the third quarter between Mavericks guard Marcus Sasser and Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard, when Sasser fouled Nembhard inside on a broken play.
Mavericks fans the Metroplex over now hold their collective breath in anticipation of further announcements on how long Flagg might be out. The good news is that the team initially termed the shoulder issue as “soreness” rather than a sprain.