BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - SEPTEMBER 21: Pete Alonso #25 of the Baltimore Orioles celebrates after hitting a home run during the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 21, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
For the last few months, this space has featured the Rays heavily, given there was real intrigue about whether they or the Yankees would end up with the AL East title. Tampa slipped ahead of the Yankees in the division early in the season, but they never got too far afield, and as the season progressed and New York saw its cavalcade of wounded stars start to recover from injury, it seemed very plausible that the Yankees would eventually challenge the Rays at the very top of the American League.
Unfortunately, that never quite materialized. The Yankees are six back with seven to play, needing a miracle to catch the Rays in the division, meaning that the primary focus of our Rivalry Roundup may about to be extinguished. Now, we’ll have to focus more on the periphery, as there still is much to be decided out in the AL Central, the AL West, and in the race for the third Wild Card. That latter race was the only one impacted yesterday, with just three total MLB games on the slate, one of them featuring the Toronto Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles, who maintain slim but non-zero chances of snagging a playoff spot.
Baltimore Orioles (76-81) 4, Toronto Blue Jays (77-80) 3
This game was delayed by rain, but the Blue Jays wasted no time getting to Baltimore starter Shane Baz once the contest got underway. Toronto opened the game with back-to-back walks from Brett Bateman and Alejandro Kirk, before singles by Nathan Lukes and George Springer scored both runners. A run-scoring sac fly by Kaz Okamoto put the Orioles in a 3-0 hole by the time Baz recorded his first out.
That gave Trey Yesavage a comfortable lead to work with, the young right-hander making his first start since undergoing meniscus surgery in early August. The O’s got on the board against Yesavage in the first thanks to a remarkable piece of hitting from Pete Alonso, who climbed the ladder to drive a high Yesavage fastball over the wall in right field:
That’d be the only blemish for Yesavage in a brief outing, with the Jays pulling Yesavage after just two frames as he ramps up at the end of the season. Baz settled in after his first-inning bump as well, allowing just one hit over the next five innings. That gave Baltimore some time to pull closer, and they did in the sixth, Gunnar Henderson hitting his 24th homer of the season off rookie reliever Chad Dallas:
Toronto essentially deployed a bullpen game with Yesavage serving as an opener, and for a while, it seemed the strategy might work. Brendan Cellucci, José Rodríguez, and Mason Fluharty each turned in scoreless outings of relief, but with two outs in the bottom of the eighth, the Jays turned to the typically dependable Tyler Rogers to face Alonso with one on. The Polar Bear got off a mighty swing on a Rogers sinker, hitting a stinger that cleared the left field wall in the blink of an eye:
Alonso’s two-homer game gave him 40 on the season, and was enough to deliver Baltimore a 4-3 win, with (Yankee legend) Rico Garcia closing out the ninth to earn the save. It’s a crushing loss for Toronto, who looked like they might run away with it early, but now drift to 3.5 games back of the White Sox for the last AL Wild Card with just five games to play. The O’s remain technically alive, 4.5 games back of Chicago.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - SEPTEMBER 08: Manager Pat Murphy #00 of the Milwaukee Brewers looks on against the Chicago Cubs in the seventh inning at American Family Field on September 08, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We are close enough to the MLB playoffs that we can assume the postseason field in the National League is set—by the time you read this, it’s possible that the Diamondbacks could be eliminated from postseason contention and the six teams who will participate in the NL playoffs are finalized, with only the order of the three Wild Card teams remaining to be sorted out. So, a week out from the start of the postseason, let’s take a look at the five teams the Brewers could end up facing when they suit up for the National League Division Series on October 3rd.
I don’t do this necessarily to create a ranking of who I’d most like to face, but to highlight the strengths and weaknesses of each team in order to judge what sort of threat they present. Of course anything can happen in the postseason, so this is likely all moot anyway, but it’s an interesting exercise.
I will go in alphabetical order, and I’ll include run differential plus ranks from FanGraphs for overall offense, overall defense, wRC+, and expected ERA.
The Braves won the NL East without too much trouble this year, as they’ve got a six-game advantage over the Phillies as of Monday afternoon and have been in first for essentially the entire season; the last time they weren’t in first in the NL East was on April 7th. The East was expected to be a competitive division, but the Mets’ tailspin and the Phillies’ awful start made it easy.
The Braves might have reason to be nervous, though. They jumped out to a nine-game lead in the division by mid-May and were rocking a winning percentage near .700, which held out until the second week of June. But since they were 42-20 on June 4th, they’ve gone 50-44 and they let the Phillies get to within three games at the beginning of September. Atlanta won two of three from the Phillies last week and then swept the Astros over the weekend, which clinched the division, but this isn’t a team that’s playing its best baseball at the moment.
While Atlanta hasn’t quite lived up offensively to the juggernaut it looked like they’d be for the foreseeable future after a team of young stars led them to the World Series in 2021, they’re still heavy on offensive talent. Matt Olson is the most reliable player in baseball, and no, he’s not at the level that nearly won him the MVP in 2023, but this season he’s got 40 homers and 33 doubles—not too shabby. Acuña, likewise, isn’t the same player he was before knee injuries sapped some of the explosiveness that won him the 2023 MVP, but he’s still a dangerous player who managed 20 homers in just 103 games so far this season (though his baserunning has gone from “weapon” to “liability”—he’s stealing bases this season at just a 71 percent clip).
The other big offensive piece is 2025 Rookie of the Year Drake Baldwin, who for much of this season looked like Atlanta’s best offensive player. A midsummer swoon hurt his overall numbers a bit, but he’s hitting .313/.370/.478 over the last two months, essentially, not too shabby for a catcher. There are a lot of other familiar names in the lineup: Michael Harris II can certainly win you a game, Ozzie Albies has 22 homers, Austin Riley has 17 (even if his game has mostly fallen apart otherwise).
On the other side, the big story is Chris Sale, who should finish third in NL Cy Young voting after winning the award two seasons ago. Even at age 37, Sale is killing it—over the past three seasons, he is 39-17 with a 2.37 ERA and 2.31 FIP in 460 1/3 innings while striking out 11.3 batters per nine and walking only two. He’s a Hall of Famer, and he’s pitching as well as he has ever pitched. There are only a couple of pitchers in the league who can match up with Misiorowski, and Sale is one of them.
Injuries have been a big problem for the Braves’ pitching staff over the past couple of seasons, so there are bigger questions after Sale. Grant Holmes and Martín Pérez have ably filled their roles; neither is likely to throw a postseason shutout or anything, but they’ve both covered over 140 innings with ERAs below 3.50. (Both have FIP numbers significantly higher, though, so who knows.) Deadline pickup Tyler Mahle has also been huge: after posting a 5.13 ERA in 18 starts with the Giants before the trade, he has a 1.28 ERA (!) in eight starts since joining Atlanta. I’ve been waiting for Mahle to get blown up for weeks and it hasn’t happened, so who knows, we may keep waiting.
The bullpen is a strength, though their closer, Raisel Iglesias, has been mediocre over the past couple of months after an incredible start. Overall he has good numbers, but I suspect Braves fans will be nervous if he needs to protect a one-run lead late in a playoff game. Atlanta has also gotten big relief seasons from Didier Fuentes and Dylan Lee, and there is one big question mark here: Robert Suárez, the former San Diego closer who started the season with a 0.56 ERA in 32 innings, hasn’t pitched since mid-June because of elbow inflammation. He was sent on a rehab assignment this week, though, and pitched for Triple-A Gwinnett on Sunday. If he’s able to pitch at the level he was early in the season, it’s a game-changing addition for Atlanta.
Strengths: Bullpen, a deep lineup, a real ace. Weaknesses: Inconsistent offense, can the rotation keep producing after Sale?
Chicago Cubs
87-69, currently holding first Wild Card position Offense: 1st; Defense: 1st; wRC+: 115 (1st); xERA: 4.60 (24th)
The Cubs are a strange team. Their offense and defense are both ranked first. Their pitching is not. It’s been a struggle on the mound this year; injuries decimated the staff (most prominently with Cade Horton, who threw only 7 1/3 innings before his elbow blew up, and Ben Brown, who looked like the team’s best pitcher when healthy but who hasn’t pitched since late June) and it’s just been a real struggle.
There is real danger here. Pete Crow-Armstrong is going to win the MVP award, and as much as I don’t want to admit it, he will 100% deserve it; he has a strong case as the league’s best defensive player and he’s leading the league in OPS, runs scored, and homers. He’s almost surely going to have a 40/40 season and he has 10.4 WAR via FanGraphs. It is a historically good season.
That’s far from all in the lineup. Seiya Suzuki is just a good hitter and has been dependable. Ian Happ has struggled a bit but he’s got 24 homers. Michael Busch is dangerous, even if the surface numbers have taken a step back. Michael Conforto has recovered from his nightmare 2025 season and has been a very good role player. Tyrone Taylor has been great since coming over at the trade deadline. Everyone walks—only the Brewers have a higher walk percentage this season than the Cubs.
Then there’s the defense. Whether you are a fan of Defensive Runs Saved or Outs Above Average, the Cubs are far and away the best team in the league.
Now, there are some issues here: Alex Bregman, who has been their second-best offensive player in the second of the season and who is a good defender, suffered facial fractures after being hit by a foul ball on Sunday. For now, we don’t know what his situation is; according to Jeff Passan, he is electing not to undergo surgery at this time, which could mean a return in the postseason is possible. We also don’t know what to expect from Dansby Swanson, who was playing well when he strained an oblique a little over a month ago. He had a good weekend, but we’ll see.
But the biggest problem is pitching. Shota Imanaga, Colin Rea, Matthew Boyd, Edward Cabrera, and David Peterson are all players who have thrown at least 75 innings for the Cubs this year, and not one of them has a FIP better than 4.20. Kevin Gausman hasn’t been good since coming over at the deadline. Clay Holmes started well after his trade to the Cubs but his September has been disastrous. The bullpen isn’t in any better shape; they can’t figure out who their closer is (no Cub has more than nine saves this season) and even the players who have pitched better have serious questions. No joke, their best reliever of late has been Aaron Civale (who has allowed only five earned runs in 32 1/3 innings with Chicago this season).
This team could win the World Series. The offense and defense are that good. But if they do, I’m fairly certain they’d be doing it with the worst pitching staff to ever win a title.
Strengths: the MVP, the lineup, the defense. Weakness: Almost everyone who steps on the mound.
Los Angeles Dodgers
96-60, clinched NL West, likely to get first-round bye Offense: 2nd; Defense: 13th; wRC+: 111 (2nd); xERA: 3.62 (2nd)
The Dodgers are now in the “favorites until they’re not” phase of their dynasty, and a glance at any betting market (for whatever that’s worth) will show you that even if the Dodgers don’t have the best record in the league, they’re the clear favorite to win the World Series, at least in a casual sense. I’ve observed this amongst my own friends, who follow the Brewers but aren’t die-hard baseball fans—they all assume the Brewers will just lose to the Dodgers again in the postseason.
Maybe, maybe not. While the Dodgers are undoubtedly still very good, cracks may be beginning to show. Shohei Ohtani, who is banged up and currently on the injured list, has his lowest OPS+ (a still stellar 146, but still) since 2022. While he was outstanding when on the mound this year, he couldn’t stay healthy and it seems certain that he will not pitch in the postseason. He recently turned 32, so this may be the new normal for him. Will Smith has only played 69 games. Freddie Freeman, at 36, is having his worst season since he was 22 in 2012. A good September (he has a 1.215 OPS in 17 games this month) has buoyed Mookie Betts’ numbers, but he was about a league-average hitter for the season’s first five months. He’s also about to turn 34. Teoscar Hernández, at age 33, hasn’t been the same hitter the last two seasons that he was the six or seven before that. Kyle Tucker has been, mostly, a very expensive bust.
And yet, they still have the second-best offense in the league, which is frustrating. Unexpected sources have stepped up: Andy Pages became one of the league’s most well-rounded players and has over 20 homers. Max Muncy, another mid-30s guy, doesn’t seem to have lost anything and is having his best season by WAR since 2021. He’s got 29 homers and 26 doubles. Josue De Paula, the uberprospect who was called up all the way from Double-A to take some at-bats after Ohtani got hurt, is hitting .286/.474/.500 in 38 plate appearances. Like I said, frustrating.
On the whole, though, the offense looks beatable. They’re a little beat up and they’re definitely aging; this season more than any other since he got there, it feels like if you don’t let Ohtani beat you, then you can (carefully) deal with the rest of the lineup.
The pitching staff is impressive, though. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the reigning World Series MVP, continues to be one of the most reliable players in the league and should finish in the top five or so in NL Cy Young voting. Blake Snell missed much of the season but has been incredible in eight starts since returning; he has a 1.86 ERA and 1.73 FIP in 38 2/3 innings and looks like one of the two or three best pitchers in baseball right now. Tyler Glasnow looks like the best number four starter in the league. Oh, and they have Tarik Skubal.
The bullpen isn’t exactly a strength but it’s been a lot better than last year, even though the high-priced Edwin Díaz move hasn’t worked out thus far. After a horrible year last year, Tanner Scott has ably stepped into the closer role. Alex Vesia continues to get outs. Jack Dreyer has been solid. Edgardo Henriquez has been excellent, though he’s on the injured list with back trouble at the moment. Plus, guys like Emmet Sheehan, Justin Wrobleski, and Rokie Sasaki—who’ve been up and down as starters this year—could fill Chad Patrick-like roles for this bullpen in the postseason.
I understand why they’re the favorite, and it’s definitely possible that everything will come together at the right time again the way it did last year. But this team isn’t invulnerable.
86-70, currently holding third Wild Card position Offense: 27th; Defense: 18th; wRC+: 92 (27th); xERA: 3.64 (3rd)
This Phillies team is a weird inversion of the Phillies teams I feel like I’m used to from the last few years. Aside from a couple of notable exceptions, they can’t really hit. But after years of absolute chaos in their bullpen, they’re rocking one of the league’s best closers, and in the rotation there is some real juice.
Let’s start there, with Cristopher Sánchez. While I still think it’s likely that Misiorowski wins the Cy Young, Sánchez is almost certainly going to prevent him from winning unanimously. He’s made 32 starts and thrown 200 innings, with a 2.93 ERA and 2.81 FIP. The advantage in innings means that he’s comfortably ahead of all other pitchers in Baseball Reference’s version of WAR.
The rest of the rotation is in good shape too, though a shoulder injury for Jesús Luzardo creates some uncertainty. Luzardo has had an excellent season: in 29 starts, he’s actually ahead of Sánchez in both ERA and FIP and is striking out 11.1 batters per nine. He’s one of the league’s best pitchers, but while the team is hopeful he can return from this late-season injury, it’s unclear if he’d be able to start or would need to move to the bullpen.
Zack Wheeler is here, and he’s been typically excellent. It’s been mostly a struggle for Aaron Nola over the past two seasons, but he’s got a 2.92 ERA since the beginning of July (though there’s some noise in those numbers). The bullpen is anchored by Jhoan Duran, who has a 1.76 ERA and 1.45 FIP in 56 1/3 innings, but there are some questions beyond him. Luzardo could play a major role there, if he’s not able to start.
Offensively, though, it’s rough. Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber are getting older—both are in their age-33 seasons—and have done what they can. Harper leads the NL in walks and is hitting .271/.382/.491 with 28 homers; a good season. Schwarber leads the NL with 45 homers and is having what I’d describe as a fairly typical Schwarber season. But after that, there is nothing. Amongst J.T. Realmuto, Bryson Stott, Trea Turner, Alec Bohm, Brandon Marsh, Justin Crawford, Edmundo Sosa, and Luis Arraez, there are precisely zero players with an OPS+ above 90. That’s really, really rough.
The offensive problems are probably too much for the pitching staff to overcome, especially with Luzardo’s health as a question mark. Harper has a history of elevating his play in the postseason and Schwarber is not a mystery, but there’s just too little.
Strengths: Starting rotation, the closer, Harper and Schwarber. Weaknesses: Bullpen depth, everyone else who hits
San Diego Padres
87-69, currently holding second Wild Card position Offense: 7th; Defense: 4th; wRC+: 102 (11th); xERA: 3.98 (9th)
The Padres are a surprisingly well-balanced team. They might have the best 1-2 punch in the bullpen in all of baseball with Mason Miller and Adrián Morejón, and there are several other solid contributors amongst the relief corps. After a weird, homerless start to the season, Fernando Tatis Jr. has looked much more like the perennial MVP candidate we have come to expect in the second half. Ty France is having maybe the most random great season in the entire league—be honest, did you know that Ty France is hitting .301/.366/.519 with 21 homers and 4.8 WAR this year? They’ve gotten good contributions from a variety of role players, like Luis Campusano and Samad Taylor and even Luis Rengifo, though his season is over after a torn ACL.
It comes down to the starting pitching, though. Michael King has turned into a really solid player, and he holds the top spot in San Diego’s rotation. Walker Buehler has stayed healthy this year (31 starts, his most since 2021), but he’s far from the player he was before his injuries and has been solidly below average. Randy Vásquez has been, in a word, fine. Casey Mize and Robbie Ray were acquired at the deadline to play major roles in the rotation… and they’ve combined for an ERA of 5.93 in 17 starts.
If the Padres can get just enough starting pitching to shorten games to the point that their bullpen can handle things, things could go well for them this postseason. But this is a team that looks like it has one starting pitcher worthy of any level of trust in the postseason right now, and that’s a difficult place to be. While the offense has performed well this year, it doesn’t look to me like a group that came overcome major pitching woes, like the Cubs’ group might be able to do. The Padres, to have success, will need to get something unexpected from a starting pitcher or two, and I’m not sure who that’ll be.
Strengths: The bullpen, Tatis, King. Weaknesses: The rotation beyond King, is this a lineup prone to slumps?
The 2026 schedule hasn’t yet concluded, but the Cardinals’ playoff hopes are officially extinguished. From JJ’s debut and Burley’s monstrous blast that set the tone for the season on opening day, to a group of SFA baseball players taking their shirts off and swinging them over their heads. Jordan Walker reintroducing himself to the baseball world and taking down hometown favorite Kyle Schwarber in the home run derby, and Joshua Baez’s historic debut in Wrigley, the dropped fly ball that Dane Meyers missed in Cincinnati, and the ascension of the future at Catcher in Leo Bernal.
Although the season finishes with a flounder, rather than a fury, it’s hard to walk away from 2026 saying you weren’t entertained, you weren’t engaged, and you didn’t have fun. The Cardinals organization should feel emboldened in an upcoming offseason to push down on the accelerator and fill short-term gaps that have long-term solutions ascending through the system but still might be a year or two away. 3rd base would appear to be the only everyday spot that still remains unsettled for 2027. The top of the rotation could use a veteran leader with postseason experience, and the bullpen could use a versatile reliever with the ability to pitch high-leverage innings, in case incumbent Riley O’Brien’s consistency issues leak over into next season.
The entire roster, seemingly, was one big question mark after the franchise traded away organizational foundation pieces in Donovan, Arenado, Gray, and Contreras. Players like the aforementioned Jordan Walker, Alec Burleson, JJ Wetherholt, Nathan Church, Joshua Baez, Kyle Leahy, Andre Pallante, Michael McGreevy, and Leo Bernal positively answered questions we had about those positions; others like Nolan Gorman and Matthew Liberatore still provided answers, though in a negative light. Gorman isn’t the answer at 3rd base and has been provided ample opportunity to take the spot and run with it; he did not, so I feel it’s in the best interest of the organization to move on and let him try to succeed elsewhere. I still have confidence Matthew Liberatore can provide value out of a big-league bullpen; the strikeout stuff took a step forward, but the ability to navigate a big-league lineup several times effectively doesn’t appear to be something he can do without a big blowup somewhere. Perhaps a more targeted opportunity and return to a late-game reliever role will allow him to find more consistent success.
Since President of Baseball Operations Chaim Bloom has taken over at the top of baseball decisions, I have been met with nothing but optimism and future confidence in what the Cardinals’ brain trust is creating, and it led me to a unique place in my brain that this season feels a lot like an announcement that the Cardinals are nearing a return to prominence similar to Paul Revere’s revolutionary ride through Massachusetts in April of 1775. Chaim Bloom, of course, coming to the Cardinals after his time spent in Boston previously, I felt was a very clever tie-in to this metaphor.
Therefore, borrowing from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s famous poem and the assistance of ChatGPT, I repurposed the famous poem and cadence to further some of our reckless optimism as we await a long, potentially dark winter, with CBA strife and uncertainty surrounding the financial structure of the sport; the one positive of that, though, is that the Cardinals have almost no long-term or high-dollar investments tied up to the roster. JJ’s extension is peanuts and doesn’t kick in, in earnest, until 2028. So, once the “ground rules” of roster building are agreed to, the Cardinals can pursue any opportunity without financial restriction, further inflaming my reckless optimism that contention is just ahead and I proclaim to Cardinals fans, “The winning is coming, the winning is coming!”
The Prospects’ Ride
Listen, my friends, to the tale of the Cards, Of players who labor on diamonds and yards; When twilight descends on the Memphis lights, And Springfield awakens beneath summer nights, A whisper runs through the Cardinal land: “The future is coming—it’s close at hand!”
For deep in the system, the young players rise, With bats in their hands and ambition in their eyes; From Palm Beach to Peoria, Springfield to town, A red wave is rolling, and none shall slow down.
Then out from the shadows a catcher appears, A slugger so young, yet he conquers his fears; Rainiel Rodriguez, with thunderous might, Sends baseballs soaring into the night. The scouts write his name, the faithful rejoice: “The future has found us! We’ve heard his voice!”
And down from the mound comes a left-handed flame, With Liam Doyle bringing heat to the game; His fastball comes roaring, his breaking ball bends, And every young hitter discovers new friends— Or rather, discovers, when stepping inside, That sometimes the safest course is to hide.
Then Báez takes lumber and steps to the plate, With power enough to make outfielders wait; Joshua swings with a thunderous sound, And baseballs go sailing far over the ground. The Cardinals watch as the youngster takes flight: “Perhaps this is one who will play here at night!”
From Curaçao’s breeze came a pitcher unique, With Jurrangelo Cijntje possessing the mystique; A switch-pitching story that once made him known, Now throwing his best from one side alone. With fastball and slider and dreams in his heart, He waits for his moment to make his big start.
Then Quinn Mathews rises, determined and strong, A left-hander working his way right along; While Tanner Franklin, with fire in his hand, Is learning to start and to command. The farm fields are crowded, the competition fierce, But every young Cardinal continues to persevere.
And somewhere beyond them, the newest names grow, From the Class of Twenty-Six, eager to show; Trevor Condon arrives with a bat and a dream, The newest young star in the Cardinal scheme. With Rocco behind him and more on the way, The future gets brighter with each passing day.
So listen, St. Louis, when night settles down, And Busch Stadium glows over all of the town: For somewhere tonight, when the old stars have played, A new generation is quietly made.
No trumpet announces the moment they come, No banner is raised, and no beating of drum; They simply keep working, each day and each night, Till suddenly one of them steps into sight.
And then, when the call from St. Louis is heard, The dream will arrive with a single small word: “Debut.”
And the Cardinal faithful will know That the prospects they watched have begun to show.
So remember the names as they travel the road— The hitters, the pitchers, the players bestowed; For the future is riding beneath Cardinal red, And Springfield and Memphis are forging ahead.
The bats will keep swinging, the pitchers will throw, And from all across Missouri, the young stars will grow.
Then someday the gates will swing open at night, And a youngster will run underneath Busch’s lights; The crowd will rise up, and the redbirds will fly—
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 04: Head coach Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs smiles during the second half against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center on April 04, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. 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. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s not that he’s the winningest coach in NBA history. It’s not how he created a culture in San Antonio that continues to grow as the next generation of enter the fold. It’s not who he is at his core. It’s all of that and then some.
From time to time, we have to remind ourselves just how remarkable a man Gregg Popovich is. How amazing a coach he was. And how dominating a career he maintained for the better part of three decades.
And these reminders aren’t simply for those of us fortunate enough to witness the greatness in real time. This is for the younger fans who are just now learning about the Spurs, understanding what made the team special before Victor Wembanyama, Keldon Johnson, Devin Vassell, Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper, and Carter Bryant were drafted.
Things like this:
Gregg Popovich has won more playoff games than the:
Over his illustrious career, Pop won 170 playoff games as head coach of the San Antonio Spurs. More than the grand total for 20 NBA franchises. That is twenty teams (out of the twenty-nine that didn’t have Gregg Popovich as head coach) that as a franchise have not won more NBA playoff games than he did.
Only the Lakers, Celtics, 76ers, Hawks, Warriors, Bulls, Pistons, Knicks, and Thunder have won more. But that takes into account their franchise history. The Lakers, Celtics, 76ers, Hawks, Warriors, and Knicks starting competing in 1946. The Pistons have been in Detroit since 1957. The Bulls joined in 1966, and the SuperSonics in 1967.
If we limit the timeline to the same year that Gregg Popovich anointed himself head coach (the 1996-1997 season), then he has clearly bested each and every team the NBA threw at him.
• The Lakers (his closest rival) have won 169,
•The Celtics have won 160,
•The Hawks have won 57,
•The Warriors have won 118,
•The 76ers have won 79,
•The Bulls have won 70,
•The Pistons have won 89,
•The Knicks have won 80,
•The Thunder/SuperSonics combined have won 104 (90 as the Thunder and 14 the SuperSonics won from 1997 until the move to OKC).
From 1997 to 2025, no one won more playoff games than the Spurs. And considering the Spurs did not make the playoffs in 1997 or after 2019, El Jefe’s numbers pop (see what I did there) even more.
There are so many ways to point out Popovich’s greatness. This is just one. But it is important to note. The Spurs are at the dawn of a new era. In their first trip into the postseason since the pandemic, the Spurs made it to the Finals.
It’s time to lift your heads up and prepare to root for a great year. The foundation was laid years ago when a coach from Pamona-Pitzer caught the eye of Larry Brown. At the time no one knew, but that relationship changed the trajectory of the San Antonio Spurs and the NBA.
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Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens made the boldest move of his front office tenure when he dealt away Jaylen Brown at the start of the summer. The dramatic roster shakeup adds a somewhat unique layer of volatility to how the 2026-27 season might unfold for Boston.
For the latest installment in our Ramp to Camp series, we asked our experts to harness that boldness and make one intrepid prediction about the upcoming season.
Our experts didn’t disappoint. We got six audacious suggestions, ranging from a Jayson Tatum MVP season to two first-time All-Stars to Neemias Queta emerging as a double-double machine.
The underlying theme, though, was optimism that Boston can patch things together despite the departure of a five-time All-Star, with the remaining pieces elevating their play to keep Boston competing at a familiar level.
Here’s our bold prediction: The Celtics finish atop the Eastern Conference in defensive rating this season.
The Celtics have lived in the top 5 of defensive rating the past half decade, but all the roster changes have stressed their ability to maintain that feat. While so much of the attention about Brown’s departure falls on Boston’s need to fill his offensive void, his willingness to defend elite scorers must be replaced as well.
But when we examine Boston’s roster construction, we see a team that could soar defensively, especially given some of the talent added this offseason.
Derrick White is an All-Defense stalwart; Tatum’s defense — both his rebounding and ability to contest shots with his length — has long been underrated; and Paul George remains an above-average, steal-hunting defender even at an advanced age. Neemias Queta and Mitchell Robinson could emerge as one of the best big-man defensive tandems in the entire NBA, with Robinson likely back-lining for a second unit that could deploy energetic wings like Hugo Gonzalez and Jordan Walsh to harass opposing scorers.
We wanted to be *really* bold and suggest the Celtics could have the best defense in the NBA. But Oklahoma City exists, and the Thunder had the best defensive rating in the league by more than 2 full points last season. The Spurs with Victor Wembanyama are going to live near the top of the league in defense for a long time.
But even in a beefed up East, we like the chaos potential of these Celtics. The Robinson addition, along with another season of progress from Queta, could really allow the guards and wings on this team to crank up the intensity on the perimeter.
The Celtics ranked 26th in opponent turnover rate last season (12.9%). That number should improve. Boston should be one of the best rebounding teams in the NBA and routinely limited second-chance opportunities last year. The Celtics have been elite at keeping teams off the free throw line.
It should all add up to one of the best defenses in the NBA. And while everyone obsesses about the scoring lost in Brown’s departure, the best defense in the East would certainly take some stress off Boston’s need to fill his void.
Josh Canu: Editor
Payton Pritchard will be an All-Star. For the second straight year, Pritchard will have endless opportunities to put up big numbers on this team. I think even Pritchard would agree that he came up a little short of expectations last season and I think he is primed and ready to explode this year. Jayson Tatum is going to get a lot of different looks thrown at him defensively and Pritchard will have the chance to make teams pay for that every single night.
Derrick White gets his first career All-Star nod. I fully expect him to shake off last season’s shooting struggles, and if he does that while continuing to play elite defense, he should at least be in the conversation.
I think their regular-season record will be worse, but I think they’ll do better in the playoffs. Jaylen Brown was excellent in leading the Celtics to the 2 seed last year, but there was no change on the roster as significant as the addition of Paul George. That chemistry is going to take some time to develop, so I don’t think the Celtics will be rolling to another 56 wins. At the same time, come April, I’m expecting at least one series win while leaving open the possibility of Tatum driving them to the conference finals.
Kevin Miller: Vice President, Content Creation & Strategy
Last year, the Celtics ranked 19th in points per game. I think this year they will be a top-10 points-per-game offense this season.
Jason Levine: Executive Producer, Content Integrations
Neemias Queta is the big that makes the biggest impact (not Mitchell Robinson). He and Tatum are a dynamic pick-and-roll duo, and Queta averages 13 points and 10 rebounds per game.
Having a defensive presence sets the tone for your team’s identity. The Warriors and 49ers share one thing in common: they know their defensive anchor.
Former Defensive Player of the Year Draymond Green, on the latest episode of his podcast, “The Draymond Green Show,” made NBA-to-NFL player comparisons, and chose another legendary Bay Area athlete for his.
“I think the way that Fred Warner at linebacker can completely f–k up an offense,” Green said. “He hasn’t been your typical linebacker, and yet he created his path and became great. I would say the Fred Warner comp is none other than myself. A guy who would absolutely f–k your entire team’s offense. Not quite the status quo of what everyone was looking for at that position. And yet, come out, and kind of recreate.”
Coming out of college, neither prospect was expected to develop into the impact player they ultimately became. Green, a second-round pick out of Michigan State, had to earn his minutes with relentless effort on both sides of the floor. Warner, a third-round pick out of BYU, was in a similar boat.
It didn’t take long for Warner to earn the respect of his teammates and coaches. He was first named a captain ahead of the 2020 NFL season.
“Everybody’s looking for the next Fred Warner,” Green continued. “I kind of recreate that space, you know. Played the position at such a high level that everybody’s looking for that next one. But wasn’t touted that way. I got it out the mud and became that.”
Green impacts the game in many of the same ways as Warner. The 36-year-old single-handedly sent the Clippers home last year in the NBA Play-In Tournament with a defensive masterclass.
DRAYMOND GREEN WITH A PAIR OF INCREDIBLE STEALS IN THE CLUTCH.
Positionless basketball has been a trend in the NBA for years now. Players are becoming more and more versatile, and Warner shares those qualities on the football field. He can line up in different spots and be just as effective in different ways.
The 49ers are hoping Warner can be the defensive difference-maker who helps bring a championship to San Francisco, much like Green did four times with Golden State.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 20: Manager Aaron Boone #17 of the New York Yankees walks to the dugout after a pitching change in the fifth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on September 20, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Diamondbacks defeated the Yankees 8-4. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The regular season is coming to a close, and there’s just two series left in the regular season for the Yankees to play — the Rays and the Orioles are coming into town for four and three games, respectively. There’s still technically something to play for as the Yankees are, for the moment, alive in the AL East race, but they’d need to effectively run the table and still get some help from the Phillies against Tampa to win the division. They’ll play for it as long as it’s available, but at some point it’s fair to assume that the Rays will be popping champagne sooner or later.
With that being said, the Yankees will be playing in the postseason one way or another, and they’ve got plenty to fine tune before they face their first opponent. So what should we keep our eyes on as they play out these final seven games, and what will the team be looking out for?
New York has their rotation lined up for this Rays series, with all of their potential playoff starters getting a game: Carlos Rodon and Max Fried will handle the doubleheader, Gerrit Cole is being tasked with Wednesday’s game, and Cam Schlittler will toe the slab in the series finale. With Will Warren probably starting the opening game of the Baltimore series, that leaves only two more games to cover before the postseason rotation needs to be lined up for next Tuesday. That means that this will be Cole and Schlittler’s final tune up before the regular season ends, and likely Fried’s as well considering he’d have too quick a turnaround for Game 2 of the Wild Card Round where he’s expected to slot in. For Cole this is the chance to make sure he’s got the gopher ball under control and instill confidence that the home runs won’t be flying out of the park in a potential elimination game, while for Schlittler this is the final act of a Cy Young campaign and he’ll be looking to end it on a high note. In Fried’s case, he threw 88 pitches in his previous outing which was the most he’s tossed since his most recent IL stint, and this last go around gives him the chance to push it beyond 90 pitches assuming he can get in a rhythm.
Turning our attention over to the lineup, this is make or break time for some of the bats looking to be penciled in for Game 1. The Yankees’ likely opponent in the Wild Card Round is Boston, and their lefty-heavy rotation is going to stress-test their lineup. The team’s best hitter since the Deadline has been their big get in Luis Garcia Jr., but he’s a platoon bat that hasn’t seen the field much against lefties. Aaron Boone could use this final week to look for the right spots where Garcia could pinch-hit in the games where he doesn’t start, because it’ll be hard to go a full nine innings without him having some kind of impact on the game if the Yankees want to go far.
As for the bullpen, the question is simple: who can be trusted outside of the big three? Paul Blackburn, Brent Headrick, and David Bednar are going to get the call when the chips are down in a critical inning, but there will undoubtedly be some frames that need to get handled by someone other than them or the starter. The team’s anticipated cavalry hasn’t panned out the way they hoped, with Ryan Weathers not expected back before the postseason putting him in a Nestor Cortes-esque state of limbo and Clarke Schmidt had a bit of a scare with his biceps prompting the team to not use him in their most recent series with Arizona. Luis Gil finally got some looks in non-mop up duty and handled them well, but does he have the inside track to being used in the postseason over someone like John Schreiber who has pitched well in pinstripes up until his most recent outing? Both will be under the microscope in this final week.
While we’ve got a super busy day with the doubleheader on deck, we’ve still got some things prepared to start your morning off. Jake handles the Rivalry Roundup with most of the league resting up letting the O’s and Jays take center stage, and then Michael delivers the weekly minor league recap covering the finale of the MiLB season. Matt celebrates Urban Shocker’s birthday with a look back on his time with the Murderers’ Row Yankees, Andres debates the idea of letting the rotation stay rolling with Gerrit Cole getting the Game 1 start for the Wild Card, and Peter gives George Lombard Jr. the spotlight for the latest At-Bat of the Week.
From: @rookvania.bsky.social Sort of a two-part question: With camp still underway we don't know who will go to WBS yet, but who do you expect to be a player to follow closely down there? You mentioned Pickering as much improved, so maybe he fits that billing, but has anyone else surprised you or improved as much?
Pickering and Harrison Brunicke are obvious candidates, assuming neither makes the roster out of camp. They are likely to be WBS's top pairing and look pretty darn close to NHL-ready. In fact, I think they are NHL-ready and should probably be this team's third pairing, but that's highly unlikely this season because of a sheer numbers game.
But, otherwise, I'll throw a hat in the ring for a forward and a defenseman.
As far as forwards, I'd say Atley Calvert. This guy isn't talked about quite as much as some other guys like Avery Hayes, Rutger McGroarty and Tristan Broz, but I think he has the tools to be an effective NHLer one day. His versatility helps his cause, he's good on both sides of the puck, and he's relentless on the forecheck. He can also put the puck in the back of the net.
Harding is the defenseman I'd keep an eye on. I think this guy is going to be a solid, reliable NHL defenseman, and if you're looking for a success story in development in the Penguins' pipeline, it's him. He went from a longshot seventh-round pick in 2024 to, easily, one of the top defensemen in Pittsburgh's system, and it's apparent why when you watch how effective he is in all three zones. He's a smart player and a good all-around blueliner.
He's improved his skating and mobility quite a bit, too, which was an area he self-identified last season that he wanted to work on. He's the purest form of a student of the game.
From: @Jeffs_Penguins on X Not the players who looked the best or most "flashy" but who are the Young Penguins that looked like they had Hockey IQ or showed the Hockey brain to be NHLers at the very short Training CampFinn Harding was the 1 that impressed me most in Prospect games w/ his Hockey IQ
Since you've already named Harding, I won't get into detail with him even though I agree entirely.
The two who have stood out to me so far from an IQ standpoint are Broz and Chase Pietila. Broz is not the flashiest or most exciting player, but there are few players in the whole of the Penguins' organization who play as clean a game as Broz. He's never out of position, always makes the right reads on plays, and has excellent offensive instincts in-zone.
I personally think this guy's ceiling as an NHLer is a bit undersold, to be honest, but even if he only turns out to be a good fourth-line center, his smarts in all three zones are evident. Other guys in the room will tell you that, too. He's a very cerebral player.
And same goes for Pietila. I think Pietila plays a pretty similar game to Harding with some added physicality and not as high an offensive ceiling. But there's a reason he got the second-most minutes during the Penguins' first pre-season game against the Buffalo Sabres, and it's because his processing is already up to NHL speed. His decision-making is quick, his breakouts are solid, and his defensive posture is impressive.
I think both he and Harding will be solid, reliable NHL defensemen, even if their ceilings are probably bottom-pair. They both have the brains and the defensive instincts to stick at the NHL level.
From: @TheAud25 on X Has Solovyov's skating improved?
Solovyov stayed in Pittsburgh all summer to train, and it shows. I do think his skating has improved marginally, but I'm not sure it's something that will distinguish or differentiate him, either.
There is a healthy competition between him, Ryan Graves, Jake Livanavage, Harrison Brunicke, and Owen Pickering for what will, presumably, be the seventh and final defensive spot on the NHL roster. Three of those guys are still better skaters.
Solovyov makes up for his shortcomings in mobility in other aspects of his game, and the coaching staff recognizes this. However, I'm not sure the skating itself will hurt his chances of securing a spot as much as the fact that they have three higher-upside players knocking on the door.
From: @GenoMalkCHIN on X Late to the party but what do you think the reasoning was to trading Wotherspoon and how do you think it could impact the team? Was it for the young guys? I thought he complemented EK v well. Was kinda bummed to see that trade.
I think the decision to trade Wotherspoon came down to two things: Vegas coveted him, and the Penguins, essentially, traded for a young, cost-controlled Wotherspoon comparable. Korczak makes $325 million for more years.
Yes, Wotherspoon had a breakout career year for the Penguins last season and complemented Erik Karlsson well, but realistically, he's probably not a regular top-pairing left defenseman. His play also tailed off in the back half of the season. There's a decent chance that, 29, had a career year with the Penguins, and Kyle Dubas simply capitalized off of that perceived maximum value.
In the grand scheme of things, I don't predict it's a loss that the Penguins - on paper, anyway - should feel that greatly, especially with three additional solid defensive defensemen in Trevor van Riemsdyk, Declan Carlile, and Kaedan Korczak. One of those guys is bound to play well enough with Karlsson.
From: @The_Gas_Man_01 on X just how big is the gap between an NHLer, a borderline player, and an AHL or lower guy? and can you spot the difference?
I love this question. In a broad sense, yes, I think you can typically spot the difference between these tiers, although the gap between an NHLer and an AHLer is quite substantial. Players will tell you it's the biggest jump for a reason, and if you tune in to an AHL game, you'll see why: things happen so very much faster at NHL speed, and the ones who are able to process plays at NHL speed are the ones who will make it.
That - for me, anyway - is the differentiating factor between an NHL regular and someone who is borderline and always being caught between levels. If someone can make quick, correct decisions against NHL competition on both sides of the puck consistently, they will make it as an NHLer. If not, they are bound to be career AHL All-Stars.
And, well, I do think there's quite a gap between an AHL All-Star and a regular AHL player, too. Typically, for forwards, production is the name of the game when examining that. For defensemen, I'd say it's how well they handle themselves at both ends of the ice.
All that said, some guys - like Pickering - simply take longer than others to fully develop, and spotting that difference is a bit more nuanced. A year ago, I may have been hesitant to call Pickering an NHLer because his processing and his footspeed simply weren't up to NHL speed. After a year of growth, both of those things have changed, and he looks far more ready.
Some guys can adapt with experience annd runway, some get it right away, and some never adapt. At the end of the day, though, it's all about that processing and decision-making.
From: @TheGM42 on X Is there a possibility that some of the free agent signings are released or traded before the opening of the season to make room for the youth movement?
From @JGardonis on X Out of the 6-7 forwards fighting for one roster spot, how many are waiver exempt?
From: @cocaine-ewok.bsky.social Do you expect any trades prior to opening night?
All of these questions are cut from a similar cloth, so I'll answer them together, starting with the second one: McGroarty, Hayes, Broz, Calvert, Brunicke, and Pickering are all waivers-exempt, and whether or not anyone will admit this, that does play a role in roster decisions, especially when so many players aren't exempt.
As far as trades, there's always a small possibility. But trades are difficult to execute during camp because - especially for guys on the fringes of rosters - why would teams surrender assets for a player when they may be able to get them at no cost at the end of camp? Unless a particular fringe player is coveted by an organization and they want to ensure they snag said player, most trades don't happen during camp.
I wouldn't rule out trades happening early in the season, though.
And, also, while I do think there's a difference between overcrowding and creating competition so players have to earn spots - I think the Penguins are teetering on the former - the young players do need to earn spots. If they show Penguins' brass that they should be on the NHL roster and leave no room for questions, they will be on the NHL roster.
Which is where waivers come in. Yes, I absolutely do think the Penguins are willing to exercise waivers on some players, and I think that will happen by the end of camp. We saw it with Graves last year. I would not be surprised to see a guy like Justin Brazeau end up there if other guys show out better.
From: @Retiredcrayon on X Since Hayes announced retirement, could we get some insight on his impact on the room last year? He seemed like a gem.
Ask any guy in that locker room, and they will tell you just how incredible a teammate and how incredible a human Hayes is. It's very rare that a veteran player who is virtually always scratched and never plays is that integral to a locker room, but Hayes was truly that much of a glue guy, which is the reason he stuck around all year.
I think a perfect example of this is when Ryan Shea told me Hayes was the one who thought to invite Ben Kindel on a trip with some other teammates, including Shea and Connor Dewar, over the Olympic break. He's a standup guy and a standup teammate, and that's not an easy thing to maintain when things aren't going your way on the ice. He could have pouted and shut himself off like many others do in that situation, but he didn't.
Read Muse's and Letang's quotes about Hayes, and that will tell you everything you need to know. He wasn't always the most chipper guy with media depending on the day and the circumstances, but he was a world-class person and teammate and a huge presence in that room. I wish him the best in retirement.
From: @genocrisp on X will anyone of the younger guys bleach part of their hair and dye it gray to stand in solidarity with salt-n-pepper sidney
I can't say for certain. What I will tell you is that Sid seems perfectly comfortable embracing the gray.
From: @Jason_Shetler on X Do you advocate pizza for breakfast?
Generally, no. For a while, I had a health condition that didn't allow me to eat red pizza, and I still can't have a ton of it before not feeling great.
That said, breakfast pizza is legit. As in, pizza with some alfredo sauce, eggs, ham, bacon, sausage, cheese... the whole deal. Give me a good actual breakfast pizza any day of the week.
From: @rsoback94 on X Bold prediction for where they finish and playoff result?
I think there are a lot of possible outcomes for this team, as is well-documented in media.
But I think folks are underselling them by a good margin.
So many people say last year's playoff berth was a "fluke," and maybe when looking at the bigger picture, that's true to an extent. But as far as the team itself being fluky, I very much disagree with that assessment.
This was a top-three five-on-five offensive team, it was an upper-half defensive team until about the last month and a half, it had the highest degree of difficulty in schedule post-Olympics and still made it despite that and despite not having 87 for most of that stretch, and it didn't at all ride what was below-average goaltending for most of the year.
Despite losing Anthony Mantha, they added Andrei Kuzmenko and Nick Robertson, who should account for that deficit. Kindel is a year older and stronger. They added three pretty good defensive defensemen. They have a wildcard situation in net but with a promising Sergei Murashov this time.
I think this team, on paper, is better than last year's. Carolina and Washington are the two best in the division, but I'd say the Penguins finish third, and I think they beat the Capitals in a first-round series.
It is a point Pat Murphy rarely fails to make as he guides the Milwaukee Brewers toward another run at the World Series: Winning a Major League Baseball game is very hard.
Murphy, the Brewers’ two-time National League Manager of the Year, is no Captain Obvious. He is simply breaking down the notion of competition into bite-size moments, be it a spring training conversation, or a teachable moment after a loss, or tossing a young player into situations they might initially find untenable.
Doing the hard things. And sometimes, the end result is making things look very easy.
Externally, the Brewers are a machine, taking a club-record 98 victories into the final six games of the season. For the second consecutive postseason, they’re poised to seize the NL’s No. 1 seed and a first-round bye in an attempt to reach the World Series for the first time since 1982.
Easy.
Yet if you stick around Milwaukee long enough, you know the path to teamwide bliss is anything but.
"I’m super grateful they traded for me. Super grateful to be here these last three years," Jake Bauers, the Brewers’ first baseman who’s hit a career-best 26 home runs, tells USA TODAY Sports. "At the same time, I think playing here can be a little bit uncomfortable, compared to some places.
"There’s a lot of things that the staff, starting with Murph, and also the players in the clubhouse – we don’t let slide. That’s a big key to our success.
"At the same time, it can be uncomfortable at times if you’re not willing to face the man in the mirror."
When the Brewers stare into the mirror nowadays, the best team in baseball stares back. They hold a two-game lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers for the game’s best record and given the rampant mediocrity in the game this season, the two clubs appear on a collision course for a rematch in the NL championship series.
With a lockout looming, that matchup would once again be a metaphor for Massive Market Behemoth vs. Lower Revenue Pluckiness, a tired if apt comparison.
Perhaps the better matchup is the Brewers vs. Themselves, a group that’s won four consecutive NL Central titles, will play postseason baseball for the eighth time in nine seasons yet must overcome the notion they don’t have the staying power to outlast October.
"Cool and all," closer Trevor Megill said after saving the club’s record 98th victory, "but not trying to be regular season warriors."
Doing so might require them to be just a little less imperfect than their opponents.
1-2 punch enough?
Can you win a World Series title with just two starting pitchers?
The Brewers might have little choice but to find out. Presumed NL Cy Young Award winner Jacob Misiorowski will start every Game 1 he is lined up for, and fellow 24-year-old Logan Henderson – born one month earlier than Misiorowski in 2002 – is a potentially dominant No. 2.
Yet the second-half regression of lefty Kyle Harrison and recent struggles of trade deadline acquisition Dustin May puts the Brewers in a bit of a corner. They’re aiming to rebuild Harrison’s fastball and for now are spoon-feeding him in relief bursts; he’d do well to claim a swingman spot for the postseason.
May is more vexing. The man who flirted with a perfect game earlier this season hasn’t completed five innings in three of his past four starts. After diligent off day work with pitching coach Chris Hook, he’ll start Tuesday, Sept. 22 against Philadelphia on three days’ rest.
For now, May seems to be teetering between short-burst or bulk-man duties and fully snagging a starting role for the postseason.
"He’s shown flashes of brilliance. I firmly believe he’s going to do well," says Murphy.
The manager calls May "humble" and his stuff – a four-seam fastball and power sinker that both run up to 97 mph – is tantalizing.
"I feel really good in this moment," May said after failing to get out of the third inning of his last start at Baltimore. "I don’t have anything else to blame other than execution."
Fortunately, there’s the Miz.
He’s thrown nearly 1,100 pitches of at least 100 mph this season, according to MLB.com, a record in the pitch-tracking era. For old heads who scoff at velocity guns and ghoulishly predict a breakdown, Misiorowski has been utterly precise, too, leading the major leagues in both ERA (1.86) and WHIP (0.80).
He’ll likely claim the strikeout title as well, sure to cross the 250 mark in his final start.
And then, the postseason, where Misiorowski still has fond memories of his three- and four-inning relief stints in a stirring five-game defeat of the Chicago Cubs in the NL division series.
Misiorowski gave up just four hits and one run in Game 2 and Game 5 victories.
"It was all that and more. Hard to describe in words," Misiorowski tells USA TODAY Sports. "Just thinking about it, it was a blast. It was everything I thought postseason would be, all wrapped up in one series."
Now, he will enter the postseason squarely as The Guy.
It’s a slightly different spot than the rookie curiosity he was a year ago. At the same time, the man has thrown 169 ⅓ innings and is still hitting 102 mph on the radar gun in late September.
Playoff ace? Game 1 starter, no questions asked? Bring it.
"I’m excited. But still, I have a job to do," says Misiorowski. "The role might have changed a little bit, but still gotta do my thing.
"There’s still pressure with it. But it’s just understanding my role and doing it well and helping my team win."
Been here before
That’s in the water in Milwaukee, where Murphy can use almost all the roster on a given night, be it platoon shifts with Bauers and Andrew Vaughn at first base or young Luis Lara and Sal Frelick in right field. Some nights, almost every reliever in the bullpen might be summoned.
"Everyone knows their roles," says Frelick. "Everyone’s ready when their name’s called."
Not that these are simply working-class, lunch pail platoon guys and role players. The Miz, obviously, is a superstar. Garrett Mitchell, finally healthy after four seasons of injury, has few peers in center field and posts a 117 adjusted OPS.
And then there is left fielder Jackson Chourio, who just joined Julio Rodriguez and Bobby Witt Jr., as the only players to begin their career with three 20-homer, 20-steal seasons.
"An absolute talent. Quickest hands I’ve ever seen," says Frelick. "Just a pleasure to watch, especially when he catches fire like that.
"It shouldn’t be slept on that a guy like that’s been doing that. He’s one of the best players in the league and I don’t think he gets the recognition he deserves."
Chourio, All-Star second baseman Brice Turang – whose 6.9 WAR leads the club – and catcher William Contreras form an interesting cohort. All are supreme talents between 22 and 28, all playing in either their third, fourth or sixth postseasons.
Young, peak performers – yet playoff-tested.
"I know we have an incredible group here, a special group," says Chourio through a club translator. "In certain aspects, it helps going three years now. Last year, you view as a learning experience, more than anything.
"Just looking forward to giving our all and going further."
No, it won’t be easy. Yet if the theory that the more times you simply get in the playoffs greatly enhances your odds of winning proves true?
Well, one of these years the Brewers are going to find out the hard part is already over.
"We understand the atmosphere. We understand what it takes to be there and win a game," says Misiorowski. "There’s a lot that we can take into it."
Or, as Bauers puts it, "You start holding yourself to a higher standard. And on top of that, there’s just certain things you don’t know.
"And you don’t know what you don’t know until it happens, right?"
Hutson got an audition last season with the Capitals, recording 10 points in 14 games after spending two seasons at Boston University. He's Lane Hutson's brother and shows the same skill level. He'll get opportunites with Rasmus Sandin out.
4. Anton Frondell, Chicago Blackhawks
He was named the best forward at the world junior championships after winning a gold medal with Sweden. Frondell played in Sweden's top league and had 12 points in nine games with Chicago at the end of last season. He'll get his share of ice time, especially with Bedard out early.
The Maple Leafs are giving the 2026 No. 1 overall pick a chance for early success. He has been skating with John Tavares and William Nylander in training camp and is on the second power play unit.
The Sharks jumped up to No. 2 in the 2026 draft during the lottery and grabbed a player who was in the mix for first overall. Stenberg played in the top Swedish league, getting 33 points in 43 games. He also was a standout in the world junior championships, especially in the gold medal game.
A Flyers player has never won the Calder Trophy, and he could be the first. Martone got solid NHL experience at the end of the 2025-26 season after finishing his junior hockey career. He played nine regular season games, recording 10 points. Then he played two round of the playoffs, finishing with five points in 10 games. He's built for the NHL at 6-foot-3, 216 pounds.
Others to watch: Roman Kantserov, Blackhawks; James Hagens, Bruins; Konsta Helenius, Sabres; Viggo Bjorck, Jets; Ilya Protas, Capitals.
PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 21: Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Sergei Murashov (1) tends net in the preseason NHL game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Buffalo Sabres on September 21, 2026, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Jeanine Leech/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Back on PPG Paints Arena ice for the first time since April, the Pittsburgh Penguins opened their preseason slate with a 4-1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres. Sergei Murashov got the nod in goal and pitched a shutout, stopping 13 shots, in his 30 minutes of action before Joel Blomqvist took over. Connor Dewar, Bryan Rust, Avery Hayes, and Elmer Soderblom were the goal scorers. [Pensburgh]
Pens Points…
It will be a quick turnaround for the Penguins with the Detroit Red Wings coming to town for the second preseason game later tonight right back at PPG. It will an entirely different roster suiting up for the Penguins, featuring Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin along with twin brothers Liam and Markus Ruck. [Penguins]
It’s pretty remarkable, that even over two decades into his NHL career, Sidney Crosby remains one of the best hockey players on the planet. NHL Network has Crosby ranked at No. 12 on their annual list of the 50 best players in the league. [Pensburgh]
If you’re going to get injured, might as well do so before the season starts to lessen the impact of how many games you’ll miss. It was announced on Monday that Blake Lizotte is going to be week-to-week with an upper-body ailment. [Pensburgh]
With fewer preseasons games to make your case for the Penguins roster, every time out will be important and those lineup battles started to take shape last night against the Sabres and will continue through the week as the preseason rolls along. [Penguins]
After posting a career season in 2025-26, Justin Brazeau is back for an encore with the Penguins this season, but his job is anything but locked down at the moment, and he’ll once again have to earn his place in the Penguins lineup with a strong preseason. [Trib Live]
There was some shuffling along with blue line this offseason for the Penguins, with a few familiar faces leaving for other opportunities with new faces coming in to take their place. One of those new faces is Trevor van Riemsdyk who brings a strong, veteran presence to the back end. [Penguins]
Former Penguins forward Kevin Hayes announced his retirement from hockey on Monday following a 12-year NHL career. After spending two seasons with the Penguins, Hayes signed with Ak Bars Kazan of the KHL last month but has decided to retire after only five games. [Trib Live]
NHL News and Notes…
Sam Steel could have opted to become an unrestricted free agent next summer, but instead has decided to reup with the Dallas Stars a year early with a new four-year contract extension that will begin next season. [Sportsnet]
There will be some big names up for the Calder Trophy this season, including top overall pick Gavin McKenna. Outside of the preseason front runners, there are some under the radar rookies who could put together big seasons and spoil the coronation. [The Hockey News]
Josue De Paula celebrates in the dugout after scoring on an RBI single by the Dodgers' Mookie Betts last weekend against the San Francisco Giants. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Dodgers rookie Josue De Paula sat down with third base and outfield coach Dino Ebel in the visiting coach’s room at Great American Ball Park. Ebel pulled up defensive metrics on three different outfielders.
One was Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, the National League MVP favorite and MLB’s defensive fWAR leader. Another was Dodgers center fielder Andy Pages, who has evolved into an elite center fielder during his time with the organization. And the third was De Paula.
“There’s a lot of colors in the game, and when you have red, it’s not good, and when you have green, it’s good,” Ebel said in a recent conversation with The Times. “And he saw a lot of green from the other two players, and he saw some green and some red on his side. So it kind of hit home with him.”
The reports broke down his first step, going right and left, arm strength, and so on.
“Just comparing [Pages’] journey, too, with mine — and that it’s possible,” De Paula said of what he took from the conversation. “I have all the tools under my belt to be able to do so. It’s more about just being focused throughout the whole thing, and having that drive to want to do it.
“And when I saw it, it was also a motivation for me. It was like, all right, let’s go now.”
It was De Paula’s bat that earned him a call-up when Shohei Ohtani landed on the injured list. And it’s his bat that’s now making his case for a postseason roster spot. (“This is more of a trial run,” manager Dave Roberts said last week.)
For De Paula to stick in the majors, however, his development on the defensive side is going to be key. As he has risen through the system, his outfield play has lagged behind his offensive influence. But the Dodgers have already seen growth this year.
“Our goal is to become, one day, a Gold Glover,” Ebel said. “And I think he’s young enough to do it, and his mindset is right, he’s got a chance to do that.”
Dodgers special assistant Jason Heyward started poring over video of the team’s top prospects — a group chalk full of outfielders, led by De Paula — as soon as he began working for the Dodgers’ front office at the beginning of May.
“He handles constructive criticism, for me, with some of the best of them that I’ve been around,” Heyward said.
Heyward, a five-time Gold Glove outfielder, first met De Paula in spring training in 2024, when the prospect jumped in on outfield drills with the major leaguers. In Heyward’s new role, he’s made multiple trips to Tulsa, Okla., to work with De Paula and the rest of the group there.
Heyward emphasized building a consistent and productive routine.
“He makes it so easy to have something to make relatable to this because I’ve seen his work in the cage, I’ve seen his attention to detail,” Heyward said. “He takes on challenges, but it’s not a, ‘Let me hurry up and get to this challenge, let me rush through this.’ He’s like, ‘No, I’m going to go about this how I want to go about it, I’m not going to be rushed, I’m going to lock in, and I’m going to give this like all my focus.’”
That process on the offensive side was something Heyward encouraged De Paula to tap into in all parts of his game, including defense. But De Paula said Heyward also acknowledged that the nature of playing in the outfield can make that more difficult.
“Hitting, you are always unfocused on the next pitch, your mind is always going,” De Paula said. “But you could go three days without getting a fly ball. So it’s kind of easy for your mind to drift and stuff like that. But it’s just more about tips of engagement and that intensity of focus.”
Heyward was a fitting person to deliver the message. Once a heralded prospect for the Braves, he put together a 16-year MLB career that included a second-place rookie of the year finish, an All-Star nod, and a stellar reputation for defense and veteran leadership.
“It’s a blessing to have somebody like that in your corner, especially rooting for you, to be able to see your talent, like what you’re capable of,” De Paula said. “He’s been through it, so he knows, man. So it’s awesome to have somebody like that as your mentor.”
“It’s a very commendable job that all of our staff have done at every level,” Heyward said. “... I’d be doing a big injustice without giving everyone their flowers on this because it’s definitely been a group effort. … For someone like him who became a part of the organization at 16 years old, he’s a Dodger through and through.”
Over the past week and a half, the major-league coaching staff, which also had De Paula in major-league spring training camp the last two years, has taken over. And already, they’ve seen the benefit of the routine he’s developed this year.
“All the reports that we’ve gotten from our minor-league staff are right on cue,” Ebel said. “He’s been working, he’s bringing it right here to the major leagues. And it’s a pleasure for me, with some energy, coming out early every day — hasn’t missed. We’re working on game situations, ground balls, left, right, right at him, fly balls, shags during BP. So we’re on the right track.”
Dodgers two-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell joined them one day in Miami, catching De Paula’s throws in early work. Though the new teammates wanted to keep the specifics of their conversations between them, Snell’s advice and encouragement made an impression — “It’s like putting fuel in a rocket,” De Paula said.
“He’s just really, really talented, lots to learn,” Snell said. “And excited for him in his journey and what it could turn into.”
In the next city, Cincinnati, Roberts spent an afternoon in left field with him while he was shagging fly balls during batting practice.
“I wanted to be up close to watch him get off on the baseball, watch his reads, his angles to balls and make sure he’s shagging the right way,” Roberts said. “Had some instruction for him; he was great.”
Roberts, too, has challenged De Paula to make defense a strength, one that will keep him in games, rather than lifted for a defensive replacement. And De Paula has met it with bright eyes and motivation.
“The trust on the defense is going to come,” De Paula said. “I have to prove it over time. And with the work that I’m doing on the field, I know I’m going to gain it.”
A gold glove is a goal of his too.
“That’s one thing about me, when my mind is set on something, I feel like it’s no going back,” De Paula said. “So, I’ve gotten a lot of hate on my defense, and I just love to prove people wrong. So I’m like, hey, all right, there’s a weakness there, but I’m gonna shut you up. Just give me some time. I’ve got you.”
The slog is almost over, yet there’s still a fair amount of business to take care of during the final week of Major League Baseball’s 2026 season.
All three wild-card berths in the National League are technically still up for grabs, while the American League has two division titles and a wild card to give out. The slightly less pressing matter of playoff seeding also needs settling, though several teams are virtually locked into position.
With that, a look at four series that will impact this final week:
Key matchup: Tuesday – Guardians LH Parker Messick vs. Red Sox LH Payton Tolle
Outlook: The Chicago White Sox will certainly be interested to see just how motivated the Red Sox (who clinched a playoff berth Sunday) are to take down the Guardians. Cleveland enters the week holding a one-game lead over Chicago in the AL Central. Most notably, Red Sox aces Payton Tolle, Sonny Gray and Ranger Suarez are lined up for all three games – but how deep will they go in their final starts ahead of their highly expected AL wild-card assignment against the Yankees?
Regardless, Tuesday’s game is a fantastic matchup of rookie left-handers, both likely to finish high on AL Rookie of the Year balloting but likely behind Detroit’s Kevin McGonigle.
Key matchup: Tuesday – Rays RH Nick Martinez vs. Yankees LH Carlos Rodón
Outlook: Well, this four-game series got downgraded in a hurry, from "showdown for AL East title" to "possible ALDS preview" to "Will the Yankees be upright come playoff time?"
The Diamondbacks’ series win over the weekend in the desert was hardly the worst news for the Bombers, who learned Aaron Judge could miss at least part of the postseason. Now they will get an up-close look at a seemingly unstoppable Rays squad that’s 17-6 and likely to celebrate their East title on the Yankees' turf. After that, it's simply fine-tuning while taking the week off before the ALDS.
The Yankees have a 5 ½-game lead over Boston for home-field advantage in the wild-card series, so they're all but locked in. Yet the Yankees need to show some signs of life and get some good news – on Judge, and center fielder Trent Grisham, who’s aiming to return from a hamstring injury. Tuesday’s doubleheader will line up the Rays’ top starters – Martinez and Drew Rasmussen – against lefties Rodón and Max Fried.
Key matchup: Wednesday – Brewers RH Logan Henderson vs. Phillies RH Aaron Nola
Outlook: A carbon copy of Yankees-Rays: A small-market team simply tuning its engine before a first-round bye faces a bigger-market behemoth crashing out at the worst time. Make no mistake, the Phillies’ plight is much worse than the Yankees’. Their bullpen is a mess, with Orion Kerkering demoted to the minors and Jonathan Bowlan’s groin barking, All-Star lefty Jesus Luzardo will be fortunate to come back as a short reliever for the playoffs and the lineup ranks 26th in the majors in September OPS, at .671.
The Brewers? Basically sunning themselves before the NLDS, with a franchise-record 98 wins in hand and the No. 1 seed in the NL soon to follow. That said, they’ll want to see Dustin May provide quality length in his Tuesday assignment opposite Zack Wheeler and emerge as a solid No. 3 playoff starter. And Henderson-Nola is a fantastic matchup – perhaps one we’ll see in the NLDS, should the Phillies get their heads together.
Key matchup: Sunday – Diamondbacks RH Michael Soroka vs. Padres RH Michael King
Outlook: This is it. This is the big one.
OK, not really, but in a lackluster final week short on head-to-head showdowns, Arizona possibly fighting for its life against the team it’s been chasing all year is as good as it gets. Shoot, the D-backs could be eliminated by then, but winning two of three against the Yankees breathed new life into their flagging playoff hopes.
They cannot screw things up on their three-day diversion to Coors Field before heading to San Diego.
The Padres? Simply the game’s most devastating offense in the second half, second only to the Cubs in slugging and OPS and tied with the Brewers in batting average. The Padres and Cubs (87-69) and Phillies (86-70) enter the final week almost assured of a playoff spot yet could land in any of three slots: Hosting a wild card series, on the road at the division-winning Braves or out of the money altogether.
That can only happen if Arizona – four games behind the Phillies and five behind the Cubs and Padres – virtually wins out this final week. If nothing else, they can keep it interesting into the weekend.
English club rugby enters its fourth decade determined to meet its challenges with more high-profile investment deals and expansion
It has taken a while but the penny finally seems to be dropping with those in charge of English club rugby. Perhaps it is simply maturity striking as the professional club top tier reaches its 30th season. Remember how things felt when you began to settle down, look for a proper job and start a family? According to the league’s chief executive, Simon Massie-Taylor, it is a similar story with the Prem.
And maybe he has a point when he says the league, which kicks off this Friday, is entering a new phase. In the rear-view mirror are the toddler tantrums and playground politics that disfigured the early years, the teenage growing pains and the subsequent existential struggle of finding a foothold in a precarious world.
The Sacramento Kings enter the 2026-27 season as a team with plenty of room for improvement. The Kings snapped a 16-year long playoff drought in 2023 and haven't been back to the postseason since as a lot has unfolded, including a new general manager, head coach and face of the franchise.
The Kings finished their most recent campaign with a 22-60 record, the second-worst in franchise history since moving to Sacramento. It was the first full season for head coach Doug Christie, who initially went from assistant to interim coach when Mike Brown was fired in December 2024. The interim was tag removed last season under new general manager Scott Perry, whose focus has been set on rebuilding the team infrastructure and identity.
Perry has been able to begin the retooling process largely through the draft. In the 2025 NBA Draft he selected Nique Clifford and Maxime Raynaud and signed Dylan Cardwell as an undrafted rookie. All found their way into the rotation last season after the roster faced multiple injuries. They proved to be potential cornerstone pieces to a new era brewing in Sacramento. Perry followed that draft performance by selecting Darius Acuff Jr. with the No. 7 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, later selecting Alex Karaban and Emanuel Sharp to round out the event.
Sacramento will be an interesting case study in the league as the franchise attempts to field a competitive team and improve on their previous record while navigating the development its young players and monitoring potential trade offers vets like Sabonis and LaVine.
Here's a breakdown of the Sacramento Kings' offseason moves and what to expect from them heading into the 2026-27 NBA season:
G Darius Acuff Jr. (No. 7 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft)
F Alex Karaban (No. 29 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, trade with Cleveland)
G Emanuel Sharp (No. 45 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft)
Key roster losses
G Russell Westbrook (retirement)
G DeMar DeRozan (free agent)
C Dario Saric (international)
F Doug McDermott (free agent)
Biggest question entering training camp
How will the Kings' mix of veterans and young players mesh together?
Last season, the Kings' draft picks Nique Clifford, Maxime Raynaud and Dylan Cardwell earned minutes through development and injuries to Domantas Sabonis, who played just 19 games, Keegan Murray who played 23 games, and Zach LaVine who played 39 games. With incoming highly touted draft picks Darius Acuff Jr., Emanuel Sharp and Alex Karaban, it'll be interesting to see how everyone fits and minutes are divided. The Kings also added Ben Simmons, who's looking to have a resurgent season after sitting out last year with a back injury. Head coach Doug Christie is going to have his work cut out for him figuring that out.
Projected starting lineup and rotation
Starters
G Darius Acuff Jr.
G Zach LaVine
F De'Andre Hunter
F Keegan Murray
C Domantas Sabonis
Rotation players
G Malik Monk
G Ben Simmons
G Nique Clifford
G Emanuel Sharp
G Adam Flagler
F Precious Achiuwa
F Daeqwon Plowden
F Alex Karaban
F Jonathan Mogbo
C Maxime Raynaud
C Dylan Cardwell
What to expect in 2026-27 season
The Kings have a fun team. No one is predicting they will win a bunch of games, but expect the Kings to play hard. Sacramento will be exciting, energetic and to some extent entertaining. Monitor the gradual development of their future core, it could very-well influence the trade market. Overall, the growing pains will continue in California's capital. Anticipate struggle and expect lots of ugly games with the Kings – that's the price of development. Growth is coming. Try to appreciate the process and brace yourself for the ride.
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