Greg Chappell has a theory about batsmen that he suspects applies perfectly to the lament Marnus Labuschagne is experiencing after the Queenslander’s double-despair in Gqeberha on Wednesday placed his career on a knife’s edge.
Clippers to start season with several notable players out
The Los Angeles Clippers will start the season with several notable players absent to start the season.
The team’s initial injury report for the season opener against the Kings on Wednesday, Oct. 21 featured five players ruled out.
Brandon Ingram will be the biggest absence for the team, considering he would’ve been a potential starter and was one of the primary trade assets in the package sent over by the Toronto Raptors for Kawhi Leonard during the offseason.
Ingram was named an All-Star last season before finishing with 77 starts for the Raptors last season. He averaged 21.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists. He is recovering from right heel surgery he had in May. He is also dealing with a partially torn Achilles tendon.
A timetable has not been set for Ingram’s return.
Max Strus is another new addition to the roster who will miss time to start the season. He suffered a right plantar fascia partial tear during a preseason game against the Golden State Warriors in Hawaii on Oct. 4.
He was initially seen limping back to the locker room after he tried to cut across the top of the key to receive a pass from guard Darius Garland during the first quarter. Strus was acquired in August as part of a multi-team trade that involved the Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets and Washington Wizards.
Yanic Konan Niederhauser and Bradley Beal are among the returns on the injury report.
Konan Niederhäuser, Beal, Ingram and Strus are making progress in their recovery but are not expected to travel with the team to Oklahoma City.
The Clippers will play the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday, Oct. 23, before traveling to play the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday, Oct. 25.
Clippers’ injury report
Brandon Ingram - Right Heel Surgery
Jordan Miller - Left Rotator Cuff Surgery
Yanic Konan Niederhäuser- Right Lisfranc Surgery
Max Strus - Right Plantar Fascia Partial Tear
Bradley Beal - Right Knee Injury Management
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Clippers to start season with several notable players out
Lakers announce starting lineup for first game in post-LeBron era
The Los Angeles Lakers have announced their starting lineup for Wednesday night's season opener against the Golden State Warriors.
Matisse Thybulle and Ziaire Williams will round out the starting five for the Lakers alongside the three obvious starters in Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler. They may be in for extended minutes with JJ Redick's decision to go with a short rotation due to the injuries that leave them without Collin Sexton, Adou Thiero or Cam Carr to begin the season.
Thybulle and Williams are both strong defenders who can knock down threes, making them ideal fits next to Dončić and Reaves on both ends of the floor. Williams' wiry 6-foot-9 frame makes him versatile on defense, a plus for Reddick's new scheme that centers on one-on-one matchups with Kessler anchored near the paint.
Here is the full starting lineup for the Lakers against the Warriors, and who might get minutes in the rotation:
Los Angeles Lakers starting five vs Golden State Warriors
- Guard: Luka Dončić
- Guard: Austin Reaves
- Forward: Ziaire Williams
- Forward: Matisse Thybulle
- Center: Walker Kessler
Lakers potential rotation
- Sandro Mamukelashvili
- Quentin Grimes
- Jake LaRavia
- Kevon Looney
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lakers announce starting lineup for first game in post-LeBron era
Lakers forwards Ziaire Williams and Matisse Thybulle grab final two starting spots
Matisse Thybulle and Ziaire Williams are the final pieces to the Lakers’ much-anticipated starting lineup.
The free-agent acquisitions will join guards Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves and center Walker Kessler in the Lakers’ first starting lineup of the new season Wednesday against the Golden State Warriors at Crypto.com Arena. Lakers coach JJ Redick previously said he already knew three of the starting spots, marking down the team’s star backcourt and the center they traded four first-round picks to get, but left the other spots open for competition during training camp.
Williams emerged as a winner of the competitive preseason. He started both of the preseason games he played in, giving the Lakers the type of versatile defender they coveted to cover up for Doncic’s and Reaves’ defensive deficiencies. The 6-foot-9 forward who signed a veteran minimum contract showed willingness to pick up opposing ball-handlers full court. He also made all five of his preseason three-point attempts.
Thybulle, a 6-foot-5 wing, is a maestro guarding off the ball. The rangy defensive specialist had 1.3 steals per game during the preseason. He flummoxed his teammates during training camp practices by jumping into passing lanes.
Quentin Grimes was considered a strong option to start after he signed a four-year, $60-million contract this offseason. Grimes started the first four games of the preseason, averaging 12 points and 2.6 assists while 51.3% shooting in 25.1 minutes per game.
The Lakers are without guard Collin Sexton, who is out because of a right soleus strain. Sexton, who missed all five preseason games, was a full participant in practice Monday and did not suffer a setback, Redick said.
Read more:Lakers center Walker Kessler believes his competitive side will overcome pressure
“Collaborative decision with performance, everyone involved,” Redick said of the decision for Sexton to sit out Wednesday after previously participating in a full practice. “I always say this with soft-tissue injuries, the athlete has to have confidence and full confidence.”
Rookie Cameron Carr is out and day-to-day because of a right oblique strain. Forward Adou Thiero is sidelined with a left knee effusion. After struggling with chronic knee injuries during his rookie season, Thiero will be “shut down for a couple of days,” Redick said, then be considered day-to-day while he ramps up.
Sign up for our weekly newsletter on all things Lakers.
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Clippers announce starting lineup vs. Kings in season opener
Point guard Darius Garland and the Los Angeles Clippers will begin the 2026-27 season against the Sacramento Kings at the Intuit Dome on Wednesday, Oct. 21.
Garland will serve as the featured player for the Clippers this season after the departure of Kawhi Leonard.
Leonard was traded during the offseason to the Toronto Raptors for a package that included forward Brandon Ingram, guard Gradey Dick and various draft picks.
Ingram would've played a big role for the Clippers to start the season but is expected to miss time as he recovers from right heel surgery. He also has a partially torn right Achilles tendon.
Garland will be in the starting lineup alongside Kris Dunn, Derrick Jones Jr., Rui Hachimura and Isaiah Jackson.
Coach Tyronn Lue stated that having this lineup allows for an extra ball handler to be on the court and creates more opportunities for Garland.
“Just being able to move Darius off the ball, running around a little bit so teams can’t just lock into him when he’s running pick and roll,” Lue explained. “If’we had to come off, catch and shoot, if it’s not there, they’re running pick and roll to try to move them around more because of his speed and his ability to shoot the basketball.”
Dunn and Jones are familiar faces for the Clippers, having been with the team since the 2024-25 season.
Hachimura has spent the last few seasons in Los Angeles as a member of the Lakers but joined the rival Clippers as a free agent during the offseason.
Jackson was traded by the Indiana Pacers to Los Angeles in February as part of a package deal.
Rookie Keaton Wagler will make his regular-season debut coming off the bench for Los Angeles.
Wagler was the fifth overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft out of Illinois.
Clippers' starting lineup
- Guard Darius Garland
- Guard Kris Dunn
- Forward Derrick Jones Jr.
- Forward Rui Hachimura
- Center Isaiah Jackson
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Clippers announce starting lineup vs. Kings in season opener
Giannis stands out in Miami debut, but Timberwolves smoke the Heat
Well that didn’t take long.
Two-time Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo, making his Miami Heat regular-season debut Wednesday, Oct. 21 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, immediately imposed his will and erupted in the first half. The problem, however, for Antetokounmpo and the Heat is that the rest of the team fell woefully flat.
The Timberwolves, thanks to a 45-point outburst from All-Star guard Anthony Edwards and a 21-point showing from new guard LaMelo Ball, smoked the Heat, 131-106, in their regular season opener.
Antetokounmpo finished the game with 35 points on an efficient 13-of-19 shooting. He added 6 rebounds, but recorded only 1 assist, as many of his teammates missed their catch-and-shoot looks when Antetokounmpo found them. That was where Miami imploded: from deep.
The Heat shot just 8-of-33 (24.2%) from 3-point range, compared to Minnesota’s onslaught from beyond the arc, where the Timberwolves drained 21-of-50 (42%), creating a 39-point advantage on 3-pointers.
Antetokounmpo scored his first bucket just 13 seconds into the game, on a 16-foot pullup jumper he laced with ease after the Timberwolves dared him to shoot. That would be the last time Minnesota would do that. Antetokounmpo actually scored Miami’s first eight points of the game and dropped a 14-point quarter to introduce himself to his new fan base.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra empowered Antetokounmpo to handle the ball and attack the paint at will, especially in transition. Antetokounmpo, who played just 36 games last season in Milwaukee because of various calf injuries, used his size, handles and length to charge to the rim. Another byproduct: Antetokounmpo got to the line in the first half, hitting 5-of-8 attempts.
The Heat acquired Antetokounmpo in a June blockbuster deal with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Miami Heat debut highlights
His first basket
Giannis scores his first bucket in his Miami debut 🔥
— NBA (@NBA) October 21, 2026
Wolves/Heat is LIVE on ESPN! pic.twitter.com/VWtbJcThFA
Antetokounmpo crosses up Rudy Gobert
Giannis in the first half of his Heat debut:
— NBA (@NBA) October 22, 2026
21 PTS
8-10 FGM https://t.co/fmX3VgNpqepic.twitter.com/NCRArPcHCO
Antetokounmpo chirps at Anthony Edwards
YEAHHHH 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/DbrHJUoMv5
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) October 22, 2026
Antetokounmpo takes two strides to get to the rim ... from the top of the key
I mean come on... pic.twitter.com/QvyOPeSo9B
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) October 22, 2026
Anthony Edwards highlights
Not to be outdone, Anthony Edwards went on an absolute heater.
He fell five points short of the NBA record for most points in a debut season opener, which Kyrie Irving holds. Edwards dropped 45 points on 16-of-29 shooting and rattled home 9-of-17 from beyond the arc. That means Edwards actually made one more 3-point basket than the entire Heat team.
He also added 10 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals.
ANT & LAMELO ARE HOOPIN' 🔥
— NBA (@NBA) October 22, 2026
ANT 3.
LAMELO 3.
ANT 3.
Ant's got 27 PTS (5 3PM), and LaMelo's up to 19 PTS (5 3PM) as the Wolves lead in Q3! pic.twitter.com/WWGtN70YKI
LaMelo Ball Minnesota Timberwolves debut highlights
Antetokounmpo wasn’t the only new addition to shine; LaMelo Ball also made an immediate impact with his new team, scoring 21 points on 7-of-17 shooting, including 5-of-13 from beyond the arc.
Ball’s perimeter shooting stretched the floor, and he was able to sink shots with flair, including one-legged 3-pointers while fading away.
LaMelo SWISHES the one-legged 3 🎯
— NBA (@NBA) October 22, 2026
He's got 12 PTS (4 3PM) in the first half of his Wolves debut! pic.twitter.com/vfhENgnz9b
LaMelo's first bucket in his Wolves debut is a DEEP THREE 🎯
— NBA (@NBA) October 21, 2026
Minnesota/Miami is LIVE on ESPN! pic.twitter.com/40zi7vAvBe
The biggest stories, every morning. Stay up-to-date on all the key sports developments by subscribing to USA TODAY Sports' newsletter.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Giannis stands out in Miami debut, but Timberwolves smoke the Heat
Warriors vs. Lakers injury report: Brandin Podziemski out, Steph Curry probable
It’s finally time! After a long and arduous offseason, the 2026-27 NBA season has arrived, and with it the first game of the season for the Golden State Warriors, who visit the Los Angeles Lakers to kick off the year.
The Dubs, unfortunately, are far from at full strength for the first game of the year, while the Lakers are fairly healthy. Here’s the complete injury report for both teams.
Warriors
Out — Brandin Podziemski (bilateral low back soreness)
Podziemski figures to have a huge role in his fourth NBA season. He shined in the preseason, and recently inked a five-year, $110 million deal. So it’s a bummer that he’ll miss the opener, but after suffering from some back soreness late in camp, he won’t be able to suit up. Thankfully he isn’t expected to be out long.
Out — Charles Bassey (right patellar tendinopathy)
Bassey might have been in line to start tonight, as he did in the preseason finale, if he were healthy. Unfortunately, he suffered a mild injury in that finale, and that will cost him the opener. As with Podziemski, it’s not considered a serious injury, and he should be back on the court soon.
Out — Kristaps Porziņģis(not with team)
The latest news about Porziņģis isn’t good. He’s not with the team, the Warriors are already looking at trading his contract, and the Latvian All-Star is reportedly considering calling it a career. It’s fair to wonder if he’ll ever play for the Warriors again, and with both he and Bassey out, you can expect two-way center Graham Ike to get a lot of playing time.
Out — Jimmy Butler III (right ACL repair surgery)
No surprises here. Butler remains sidelined indefinitely, and is likely targeting a second-half return.
Out — Moses Moody (right patellar tendon repair surgery)
And no surprises here, either. Moody is likely a few months from returning from the knee injury that ended his 2025-26 season. There’s no set timetable yet.
Probable — Steph Curry (right ankle soreness)
When Curry limped off the court at open practice on Sunday, it seemed like he might be out for a while. Instead, he thankfully is expected to play in the opener.
Lakers
Out — Collin Sexton (right soleus strain)
Sexton figures to play a huge role in his first year with the purple and gold, but his debut will have to wait. He shouldn’t be sidelined long, but won’t play in the opener.
Out — Cameron Carr (right oblique strain)
Carr was a late first-round pick, following a breakout campaign at Baylor a year ago. He likely won’t have to wait long to make his NBA debut, but it won’t be tonight.
Out — Adou Thiero (left knee effusion swelling)
Thiero had a modest role last year with the Lakers, appearing in 25 games and averaging 6.0 minutes per game in his rookie season. He’ll look to build on that this year, but will have to wait as it won’t happen tonight.
Available — Walker Kessler (left finger splint)
LA’s big offseason acquisition was a question mark in the days leading up to the opener, but has now been cleared to play. The Warriors have a serious disadvantage in the paint between Kessler’s availability and their own lack of centers.
Enjoy the game, everyone! It tips off at 7:00 p.m. PT on ESPN.
Marky Mark opens up on World Cup call … and the emotional Roosters moment as NRL return remains ajar
Mark Nawaqanitawase says representing either Fiji or Italy over Australia in next year’s Rugby World Cup is a genuine possibility.
Starter in Waiting
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 Starter in Waiting
Jhony Brito dominated in the minors this season. Between three different levels of the Padres’ minor-league system, Brito had his best season since being traded to the Friars. He came over as a kicker in the deal that sent Juan Soto to the New York Yankees. Brito was somewhat of an afterthought and hasn’t done much in San Diego since. He’s thrown a total of 52 2/3 innings for the big-league club.
Overall Grade: C-
Despite his incredible success in the minor leagues (2.97 ERA, 69.2 IP), Brito didn’t do much in the majors this year. In nine innings out of the bullpen, the right-hander posted a 3.00 ERA despite a minuscule 0.89 WHIP. Brito couldn’t limit hard contact, allowing two homers in that short stint with the big-league club. He likely would have been called up to the majors sooner, but the San Diego ‘pen is too deep.
Brito could figure into the Padres’ starting rotation plans for the 2026 season if he can prove himself in Spring Training. Brito had below-average marks in both WHIP (1.21) and strikeouts (46, 69.2 IP). The righty didn’t pitch very deep into games (3.2 IP on average), however some of that could be due to the nature of pitching in the minor leagues.
The right-hander missed the majority of the 2025 season after a UCL internal brace procedure in his throwing elbow. Brito posted resurgent numbers after returning from that surgery. If he can keep that up in 2027, he could legitimately work his way onto the Padres’ pitching staff. Regardless, he pitched quite well in 2026 but will need to produce more consistent results in order to make an impact with the big-league club.
What’s next for Dodgers? Andrew Friedman addresses Skubal, De Paula, roster
LOS ANGELES – The same night the Los Angeles Dodgers were swept out of the NLCS by the Milwaukee Brewers, owner Mark Walter asked president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and general manager Brandon Gomes about their thoughts for the offseason.
Despite the ongoing federal investigations into Guggeinheim's majority partner that has led to the sale of several of Walter's pro sports franchises such as the Los Angeles Lakers and Chelsea FC, Friedman said the directive he's gotten has been "business as usual." If there are plans for a sale, he hasn't heard anything about it. He's also gotten no indication that the Dodgers will have any less financial resources than normal.
"So much of his focus was, 'How do we put ourselves in the best position to win in '27?'" Friedman said during his exit interview at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday, Oct. 21.
Prepping for World Series run in 2027
How exactly they'll be able to do that, however, is another unknown in an offseason full of uncertainty for the back-to-back World Series champions. There is, after all, a pending lockout that feels inevitable as MLB owners and the players union don't appear to be getting any closer to agreeing to terms on a new collective bargaining agreement.
If the owners are successful in their steadfast push to implement a salary cap, that would have a substantial effect on how the Dodgers could add to a roster that has eight pending free agents. For now, though, Friedman's approach isn't changing until the current CBA expires in December.
"We're just hard at work trying to figure out the best way to put together our roster," he said. "Those are things that we're not involved in and depending on how things play out, we'll adjust to whatever the rules are."
What are Dodgers' plans for to-be free agent Tarik Skubal?
The biggest name set to hit free agency is starting pitcher Tarik Skubal, who looked like a luxury when the Dodgers traded for him at the deadline but eventually became a much-needed steady presence in the rotation. The back-to-back AL Cy Young winner is projected to become one of the highest-paid pitchers of all time once he hits the open market. That might be a price even the Dodgers might not be willing to reach.
Friedman was noncommittal about bringing Skubal back, applauding the impact he had on the mound and in the clubhouse after moving cities midseason but also "wishing him nothing but the best" moving forward. It's worth noting that Friedman does expect to get at least one pitcher back in 2027: Shohei Ohtani, who will not need surgery on his knee or bicep injuries and could possibly be ready to go by spring.
Dodgers must deal with aging roster
As for other areas of the roster, Friedman did address the dinosaur in the room.
The Dodgers had the oldest lineup in the big leagues this season at an average age of 30.9 years old, according to Baseball Reference. Almost all of their core players are on the other side of 30. 2024 World Series MVP Freddie Freeman is 36 and entering the final year of the six-year $162 million deal he signed with LA in 2022. Mookie Betts (33) and Ohtani (32) are under contract for much longer, but they're not getting any younger, either. In fact, the only regular fixtures in LA's lineup under 30 years old this season were Kyle Tucker (29) and Andy Pages (25).
That might have been a factor in why the Dodgers have fallen off offensively in the second half of the season each of the last two years, to which Friedman admitted that he might have to be more proactive with getting guys rest once they get into the dog days.
Is help on the way from Dodgers' farm system?
But age isn't too much of a concern for Friedman, who pointed to the Dodgers' No. 1-ranked farm system according to MLB Pipeline. For him, the key is supplementing his veteran core with young guys and transitioning them gradually into more responsibility.
Therein lies another question: Where does Josue De Paula fit on this team next year?
The 21-year-old top prospect made such an impression in two weeks in September that he cracked the NLDS and NLCS rosters as a lefty bat off the bench. His bat is clearly ready for the major leagues, and his presence seems to be a spark for the Dodgers veteran offense. Still, Friedman and Gomes made it clear that he needs to take a leap forward as an outfielder.
"We've all seen what he's capable of in the box, which is incredibly exciting," Gomes said. "With that being said, we already have a very talented core group already here. So, it's finding those opportunities but also making sure that throughout this offseason and coming into spring that he continues to improve and gets to that bar and gets to be an above average defender."
Including De Paula, the Dodgers carry six prospects who are ranked in MLB Pipeline's Top 100: outfielders De Paula (No. 4), Eduardo Quintero (No. 15), Mike Sirota (No. 17), shortstop Emil Morales (No. 22), right-handed pitcher Christian Zazueta (No. 33) and outfielder Charles Davalan (No. 79).
There's some sorting around the front office will have to do, but this wave of young talent is what keeps Friedman hopeful that the Dodgers will be able to avoid "falling off a cliff" the way most veteran teams eventually do.
"That is why we have poured so much energy and focus into our farm system," he said. "... We couldn't feel more bullish on the position player core group, from A ball through Triple-A that are coming, and obviously we've traded away a lot of really talented players also.
"... We feel really good about our future outlook."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What’s next for Dodgers? Andrew Friedman addresses Skubal, De Paula, roster
The Ex-Files: How Are Former Sabres Doing? – Atlantic Division
The Buffalo Sabres are in the middle of the pack in the Atlantic Division nearly one month into the 2026-27 regular season, but we throughout the year will keep tabs on former Sabres around the NHL.
Here are how some former Sabres are doing with their division rivals:
JJ Peterka - Boston
Peterka is one of five former Sabres on the Boston roster. The former Buffalo second-rounder was dealt to Utah for Michael Kesselring and Josh Doan in June 2025 and acquired by the Bruins exactly one year later for a pair of first-round picks after scoring 25 goals. In 10 games, he has started with six points (3 goals, 3 assists).
Sam Reinhart - Florida
The 2014 second overall pick has been remarkably consistent since being acquired from Buffalo in 2021 for Devon Levi and a 2022 first-round pick (Jiri Kulich), scoring 30 or more goals in four of his five seasons with Florida. Reinhart scored twice in the Panthers loss to the Sabres last week, and in nine games, he has eight points (5 goals, 3 assists).
Dylan Cozens/Linus Ullmark - Ottawa
Cozens was swapped for Josh Norris in March 2025 and in his first full season with the Senators, had his second-best offensive season (28 goals, 31 assists), but the 25-year-old has struggled mightily this season, posting only two assists in nine games. Conversely, former Sabre Ullmark has built on an excellent playoff performance in a loss to Carolina, and is tied for the NHL lead with six victories, with a microscopic 1.33 GAA, and .945 save %.
Other Sabres Stories
Mrtka Looking To Take The Next Step Towards The NHL
Zemgus Girgensons - Tampa Bay
Some do not consider Brandon Hagel an ex-Sabre because he never played a game for them, but the former Buffalo draft pick currently leads the Lightning with seven goals and is second behind Nikita Kucherov with 12 points. Girgensons signed with Tampa in the summer of 2024 after a decade in Buffalo and had his best offensive season since 2015 with 20 points last season. This year, the 32-year-old has two points (1 goal, 1 assist) in nine games.
Jake McCabe - Toronto
The former Sabres blueliner has been part of Toronto’s shutdown pairing with Chris Tanev, but after Tanev was injured earlier this month, began partnering on the top pairing with Darren Raddysh. In the Leafs 6-2 win over Columbus, McCabe received a high stick under his visor from Blue Jackets forward Kent Johnson and did not return to the game. Leafs head coach Jim Hiller indicated after the game that he was kept out for precautionary reasons, but it appears that a serious injury was avoided.
Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo
After NLCS exit, Dodgers face big questions about their aging lineup and future
Dodger Stadium was eerily quiet on Wednesday, as a light rain fell over the already yellowing grass. A crow perched on an empty seat. Scattered lights flickered in mostly dark hallways.
Before the World Series begins, the stadium was closed for the season, hosting just one last event before officially wrapping up the 2026 slate.
In the interview room, tucked away at the entrance to the clubhouse, president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and general manager Brandon Gomes took their seats at the podium for their end-of-season press conference.
There was the usual end-of-season question checklist: Are you expecting any changes to the coaching staff or front office? “I expect status quo,” Friedman said. Is Shohei Ohtani going to undergo offseason surgery? “That’s not on the table,” Friedman said.
Read more:Plaschke: Enough is enough. The Dodgers must stop letting Shohei Ohtani pitch
But from that emerged a persistent through line.
The Dodgers had fallen short of their goal of a three-peat. But considering the age of the position-player core, the scrutiny owner Mark Walter is under, and MLB owners’ insistence on a salary cap in their early collective bargaining agreement proposals, was the Dodgers’ dynasty over?
“I welcome it,” Friedman said of such claims. “For us, and we’ve talked about this a lot, even after successes and we winning a World Series and then winning back to back, everything we do is for our fans. And there’s a lot of noise around us in general. We don’t really pay much attention to it. It’s a partnership we feel with our fans, and so people saying that we’re done and we’re on the downside of this run — it’s just more noise to us because everything for us is about the motivation we have to have a parade in the streets of Los Angeles next November.”
Friedman also didn’t seem to anticipate any trickle down from Walter’s outside ventures — Walter’s insurance companies are under federal investigation and face several lawsuits — affecting the Dodgers’ offseason budget.
“It’s been business as usual for us,” Friedman said. “We talked to Mark after we lost, and he was obviously really disappointed. But so much of his focus was on, ‘OK, what can we do? What are our plans? What are our thoughts for the offseason?’ And our brains weren’t quite there yet, but so much of his focus was, how do we put ourselves in the best position to win in ‘27?”
How will the Dodgers go about picking themselves up from their NLCS exit?
The Dodgers’ 2026 season wasn’t exactly a failure. They won 100 games in the regular season and lost in the playoffs to the only team that won more than that — the Brewers. But the Dodgers, with their star power and payroll, aren’t in the business of accepting moral victories.
Though plenty went wrong in the postseason, from Ohtani’s struggles following his injured list stint, to stalwart Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s surprisingly short start in Game 2 of the NLCS, the overarching theme in the Dodgers’ four straight losses to the Brewers was a lack of offensive execution, especially with runners in scoring position.
“Obviously throughout the latter part of the year, it was stuff we were talking about and trying to put our finger on,” Friedman said of the offense. “And in a lot of ways, it’s a little bit of a game of whack-a-mole, where it can be one thing for some period of time, and then it’s something else, and then it’s something else. Sometimes it’s noise, and sometimes it’s real. And what’s important for us is to be able to sift out the noise and isolate what’s real and what things we can improve upon. We’ll spend a lot of time really focusing on that in the off season.”
Read more:Why impending free agent Tarik Skubal doesn't believe it's the end of an era for the Dodgers
Asked if the age of the lineup could be a contributing factor, Friedman pointed to the strong finishes of some of the more veteran players on the roster.
“I don’t think it’s as easy as to paint it with that broad of a stroke,” he said.
Friedman, in an effort to continue to extend the Dodgers’ run of success, has kept in mind the cliff that successful veteran teams can fall off of, if the roster isn’t properly backfilled.
“This isn’t something that we just woke up and were like, ‘Oh wow, the age of our position player group,’” Friedman said. “We knew what things were going to look like in ‘26, ‘27, but also how talented these guys are, the way they prepare. And so much of our long-term contract bats are betting on the human — betting on the person, betting on the work ethic, betting on them doing everything they can to keep themselves in the best position to have success. But when you couple the core talent that we have at the major league level with the position-player strengths that we have in our farm system, that’s what makes us excited, is the art of how to onboard some of these young, talented minor league players.”
The Dodgers had the No. 1 ranked farm system as of mid-August, according to MLB Pipeline. But many of those prospects, including the three outfielders who were the Dodgers’ top three (Josue De Paula, Eduardo Quintero and Mike Sirota), are blocked by veteran players.
“For us, it’s just about having as many talented players as we can, and things tend to sort themselves out,” Friedman said.
This offseason, the Dodgers will also have to figure out what to do about their soon-to-be free agents, a group headlined by left-hander Tarik Skubal. The two-time Cy Young winner was not only the best pitcher available on the trade market when the Dodgers acquired him from the Tigers at the trade deadline, but he’s in line to be the best pitcher available this offseason as well.
“It’s not easy for a guy to get traded in the middle of a season to come to a new city, new clubhouse,” Friedman said. “You have set routines, and you have to make those adjustments. It’s not easy. The way he was able to seamlessly transition, not just in terms of on the field, but in the clubhouse, I can’t say enough good things about the impact that he made in such a short period of time.
Read more:Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing to undergo elbow surgery for partial UCL tear
“We have a tremendous amount of respect for him on and off the field. … He’s put himself in this position to go out and be a free agent. And for us, it’s, continue to talk to [Scott Boras, Skubal’s agent]. But he and his family have to make a choice over where they want to spend the next X number of years, and obviously we wish him nothing but the best.”
When asked about negotiations, however, Friedman spoke generally, saying the Dodgers were still “wrapping [their] arms around” their offseason strategy.
The impending lockout, which is expected to go into effect on Dec. 1 as soon as the current CBA expires, and uncertainty over changes in the next CBA, will certainly affect the free-agent and trade markets this offseason. And though MLB navigated a lockout just five years ago, the owners’ push for a salary cap has many around the industry bracing for a longer work stoppage and murkier landscape on the other side.
“I never have any feel for how a market’s going to play out,” Friedman said. “We’ve kidded ourselves in the past that, like, ‘Hey, we think this is going to happen,’ and it just takes on its own life form. So for us, it’s just about being as prepared as we possibly can be, and pouncing on opportunities.”
Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Mavericks vs Rockets Preview and Injury Update: Game 1, Let’s do this
The Dallas Mavericks start the 2026-27 season by visiting the Houston Rockets. After playing twice in the preseason in Macau, these two face off twice in the first 10 days of the season. Divisional rivals playing four times in a month? Familiarity breeds contempt, even when two of the games were just tune ups. Here’s the main things you need to know tonight.
- WHO: Dallas Mavericks at Houston Rockets
- WHAT: Game 1, Lock in folks!
- WHERE: Toyota Center, Houston, Texas
- WHEN: 7:30 pm CST
- HOW: KFAA
On the injury front, Dereck Lively and Santi Aldama start the year on the injury report with long known about issues, though Coach Dusty May insists that Aladama is close to taking the court. New addition Tarik Biberovic will miss the contest with heel bursitis, which doesn’t sound comfortable. Caleb Martin will also miss the game with a thumb sprain.
As of this writing, Steven Adams is questionable for the Rockets with calf tightness. That’s one of those areas teams don’t mess around with, so unless he feels great, I actually would bet he misses the game.
Newly signed two-way guard Walter Clayton Jr. will be with Dallas and available tonight.
These two teams are in very different places in the team cycle. Dallas is trying to claw their way out of the bottom five in the Western Conference. The Rockets had an embarassing post-season exit, but were injury laden last season and hope to finish among the league’s elite with a talented, but mercurial squad. Keep an eye on the Dallas rotations and the Maverick defense tonight. The latter will take weeks to sort itself out but I’m curious what combinations May tried. The latter was very bad for most of the preseason and I expect them to pick up the pace.
If you’re checking out this post, it’s for one of two reasons:
- Injury report news
- Discussion and comment thread
If you’re part of the former, please consider signing up for an account. You get way fewer ads, and you can comment! If you’re part of the latter group: GO GET THE APP. I’m serious. The app has some real-time features specifically for game threads like this one and you can comment and get notified really, really easily. It’s part of what’s keeping this whole series of sites going. So go do it for us and in doing so, you’ll see why the experience is simply better.
Consider joining me on Pod Maverick live after the game on YouTube; I will be going live tonight after the game and it’s the show where I need y’all to join and participate!
Rockets kickoff 2026-2027 NBA season with matchup with Mavs
Houston Rockets vs. Dallas Mavericks
October 21, 2026
Location: Toyota Center, Houston, TX
Time: 7:30 PM CST
TV:Space City Home Network
Radio:KBME Sports Talk 790 / KLTN 102.9 (en español)
Probable Starters
Rockets: Fred Vanvleet, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun
Mavericks: Kyrie Irving, Zaccharie Risacher, Cooper Flag, P.J. Washington Jr., Daniel Gafford
The Rockets are kicking off the new season tonight! Join us at TDS or on the SB Nation app to talk game all night.
How Clippers fans can get free parking and new jerseys on opening night
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Clippers are doing their part and trying to welcome fans back to the Intuit Dome to start the 2026-27 season with select promotions on Wednesday, October 21.
The Clippers will host the Sacramento Kings in a Pacific Division battle.
The Clippers will have new faces on the court this season, having essentially hit the restart button with their roster. The team moved on from notable players such as Kawhi Leonard and James Harden over the past season and got younger in the process.
The Clippers drafted Keaton Wagler out of Illinois with the fifth overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft. The team also acquired Rui Hachimura as a free agent during the offseason.
Here's everything you need to know about the promotions on opening night:
Clippers offer free parking for fans
Fans attending the game must arrive at the East or West parking garage by 6:30 p.m. There is a limit on the number of spaces available.
Fans who prepaid for parking in advance may receive a refund if they secure a free spot.
Clippers jersey swap promotion
Fans can bring an eligible jersey to the plaza outside of the arena and choose a new Icon Navy Swingman jersey with the name of a current Clippers player on the back. The opportunity is limited to the first 4,000 ticketed fans to complete a swap, and it is one per person. It will begin 4-7 p.m. PT.
The fan’s jersey being brought for the swap must be either an NBA team’s Swingman or Authentic jersey featuring a current Clippers player, or a Clippers Swingman or Authentic jersey featuring a current or former Clippers player. Giveaway and replica jerseys will not be deemed eligible for this promotion.
Clippers t-shirt giveaway
The Clippers will also offer a free “home opener” shirt for the first 10,000 fans in attendance as well.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How Clippers fans can get free parking and new jerseys on opening night