Happy Wednesday, everyone! Well, we finally know what our World Series matchup will be, and it won’t be featuring the Cubs’ 2016 foes, the Cleveland Guardians. Cleveland was bested by the Tampa Bay Rays in six games, despite taking an early series lead, they simply couldn’t overcome the Rays. Now we’ll be watching a very intriguing small-market matchup of the Rays versus the Milwaukee Brewers. And while it would have been nicer to see a different NL Central team in the World Series, I suppose it’s too late to change it now.
This should make for a very fun match to watch over the coming week as we wait to see who will reign supreme. In the meantime, we’ve got lots of postseason discussion and other fun tidbits to get you through your Wednesday, so let’s just jump right into it.
Cade Smith, after giving up a HR to Junior Caminero then watching him take his time around the bases while celebrating in an exaggerated manner: “It's not my style but I guess if I don’t like it, I shouldn’t give up home runs.”
ST. PETERSBURG, FL - OCTOBER 05: Jazz Chisholm Jr. #13 of the New York Yankees looks on during Game Two of the American League Division Series presented by Booking.com between the New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on Monday, October 5, 2026 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
In the abstract, if you had told me going into the season that Jazz Chisholm, Jr. would hit 19 home runs, steal 40 bags, and be the second-most valuable second baseman in the American League by FanGraphs WAR, I probably would have signed up for that in a heartbeat (while complaining about the lack of power).
And that’s an excellent example of how cherry-picked statistics are the world’s most malleable clay. You can paint any picture you want with them. I apologize for mixing my metaphor. Anyway, the story of Jazz Chisholm, Jr.’s season is more complicated than that and even more disappointing. And uglier than a pair of used bowling shoes, to boot, at least offensively.
With his free agency looming, we’ve probably seen the last of Jazz in pinstripes. If nothing else, he was an exceptionally fun and likeable player when things are going well.
In hindsight, maybe this season was doomed to failure when Jazz proclaimed his mission to go 50-50 in his walk year and earn a $300 million-plus free agent contract. Talk about setting an unreasonably high bar by which to be judged. To be fair, he’d clubbed 31 round-trippers and swiped the same number of bags the season prior, all while missing more than a month worth of games. After becoming the third Yankee in history to go 30-30 in that smaller sample, some optimism was not unwarranted heading into 2026.
But it was quickly apparent that Jazz wasn’t going to have anything close to a 50-50 season. A putrid start to the season left him barely north of the Mendoza Line (.202 BA) with almost no power (3 HR and a .330 SLG) by the end of April. As late as April 23rd, he languished at .188 with zero home runs. Once that start baked in, the only question was whether Chisholm could begin the slow climb to respectability.
May made us wonder. “So you’re saying there’s a chance.” Easily Jazz’s best stretch of the season offensively, it looked like maybe he could climb the mountain after all. The power still was not there (3 HR for the month) but he drastically cut his strikeout rate and his batting average for the month was 80 points higher than it was in the opening month-plus of the season. Little did we know, we’d seen the best 2026 Jazz had to offer.
The rest of the season was a testament to mediocrity offensively, as Chisholm spent months flirting with league average at the plate. To add injury to underperformance, a sprained thumb in September cost him two weeks.
In retrospect, a look under the hood from the year before makes Jazz’s 2026 a lot less surprising. Even as he went 30-30 in 2025, the batted-ball data was less than ideal. He didn’t hit the ball hard (35th percentile average exit velo), he didn’t square the ball up (8th percentile Squared-Up%), and there was entirely too much swing-and-miss in his game (7th percentile Whiff% and 8th percentile K%). In 2026, his batted-ball metrics cratered.
This is not to say Jazz’s entire season was a catastrophe. Again, his baserunning and fielding value were such that, at least according to FanGraphs, he was the second-best player at his position in the Junior Circuit in 2026. That is off little solace to Jazz, the Yankees, and New York fans, however, considering his 2025 campaign and the tantalizing possibility he could put together a spectacular walk year.
Speaking of free agency, Chisholm is eligible to receive the qualifying offer from the Yankees. If they chose to tender one and Chisholm accepted, they would be on the hook for $23.15 million for 2027. I suspect though that the Yankees will pass. First, they seemed to reveal their confidence in Chisholm (or specifically, their lack thereof) when they had him riding pine to begin Game 3 of the ALDS versus the Rays. If you’re not starting him over one of Anthony Volpe and José Caballero, you’re not giving him $23 million in 2027.
Second, it would likely be entirely too tempting for Jazz to say yes. As Chris Kirschner remarked in The Athletic yesterday, “he could accept it and try to reset his market entering the 2028 free-agent class.”
Personally, I am of two minds. On one hand, Chisholm plays way too much Yankee Baseball (boneheaded errors, TOOTBLANs, the baseball awareness of a literal baseball). I’ve had enough of that for a lifetime.
On the other, if you subscribe to the old axiom that 1 WAR is worth somewhere between $8-11 million in free agency, his 2026 (perhaps his worst offensive season) had a value between $28-38.5 million because of his defensive and baserunning value.
For what it’s worth, in a vacuum, I’d lean towards tendering him the QO. If he declines, great. I’ll take the draft pick. If he accepts, great. I’ll plug him into the bottom of the lineup and focus my attention on other pressing roster issues (side-eyes third base, the bullpen, and backup catcher). Someone has to play second base anyway.
But it’s all hypothetical for me. In reality, I suspect we have seen the last of Jazz in the Bronx. Ah well. We’ll always have that time he borrowed Judge’s lumber to crush a clutch go-ahead home run against Cleveland.
See more of the Yankees Roster Report Card series here.
On a positive note, Lamkin bounced back with a nice performance on October 15th against the Glendale Desert Dogs. After giving up five runs in three innings in his AFL debut, he allowed only one run in four innings in this latest outing.
Lamkin did an excellent job of generating whiffs (30.8% whiff rate) and minimizing hard contact (.311 xwOBACON), which was his MO in Quad Cities and Northwest Arkansas last year and at Texas A&M previously. That said, his stuff hasn’t profiled well so far this fall, via TJ Stuff+ metrics. In his last outing, he had an 88 TJ Stuff+ overall, including an 81 TJ Stuff+ on his four-seamer, which is EXTREMELY subpar.
Tendering Michael Massey a contract this offseason is a must for the Royals front office. In his second year of arbitration and after an impressive comeback season in 2026, Massey is projected to earn between $3.2 and $3.5 million in 2027. For a team looking to get back into the playoffs and valuing high-quality defensive play, tendering Massey a contract in this range would be a great bargain for Gold Glove talent.
Massey does offer above-average offensive production for a traditionally weak-hitting position. Among all American League second basemen in 2026 with 450 or more plate appearances, he finished 3rd in batting average (.272) and 4th in slugging percentage (.428). High-level two-way middle infielders are difficult and expensive to acquire on the open market. Letting a player like Massey walk over a modest $3 million contract would be a step backward for the organization.
The 35-year-old southpaw does not overpower hitters with his velocity, averaging 91 mph on his fastball, according to Statcast. Instead, he relies on a simplified pitch mix consisting of a slider, four-seam fastball and sinker, with the slider accounting for the majority of his pitches.
With this pitch mix, Okert finished the season with a 30.9% whiff rate and a 26.1% strikeout rate while limiting walks with a 5.4% walk rate. As mentioned, he does not rely primarily on his fastball. His breaking-pitch run value was 11, ranking in the 95th percentile.
Okert could address several of the Royals’ bullpen issues and would be a significant addition if Kansas City were to sign him this offseason.
Weaver pitched 19.1 innings for Kansas City in 2022, striking out 19 batters and posting a 5.59 ERA. While those figures don’t seem like anything worth being excited about, the 33-year-old right-hander had two dominant full seasons with the New York Yankees until his departure across town in free agency during the 2025 offseason.
Despite his impressive 1.84 ERA with the Mets, he would have to find a new home once again as he was traded to Pittsburgh at the deadline. Even though Weaver regressed to a 4.96 ERA through 18 games in a Pirates uniform, he still deserves consideration, especially for the Royals who could use reinforcements with starters Cole Ragans and Stephen Kolek continuing to recover from injuries.
Witt fell short of 25 home runs for a second straight year, and what’s worse were his 54 RBI (in only 143 games, but still). His data set remains impeccable, and you know he’ll be a big plus in batting average, stolen bases and runs. But he doesn’t feel like as distant of a No. 1 as he once did.
An old foe has branded Australia’s batting performance at St George’s Park on Wednesday “pretty gutless” while there were renewed calls for Marnus Labuschagne to pay the ultimate price after a Day 4 brainfade.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MARCH 18: Scottie Barnes #4 of the Toronto Raptors drives past Josh Giddey #3 of the Chicago Bulls during the second half at the United Center on March 18, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. 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 Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After licking their wounds from the lost series against the Cavaliers, Toronto Raptors fans have had to wait through the agonizing months of the Kawhi Leonard trade saga, all for what comes later today. The start of the 2026-27 NBA season.
The Raptors have been granted an interesting matchup to start off the campaign, against the new-look Chicago Bulls. Chicago, a stagnant franchise since their time led by (Raptors legend) DeMar DeRozan, has rebuilt their roster after getting rid of General Manager Marc Eversley, and VP of Basketball Operations Artūras Karnišovas.
Led by guard duo Josh Giddey and Norman Powell (another Raptors legend), the Bulls have a very well-rounded starting 5, highlighted by the arrival of rookie Caleb Wilson. Wilson, out of UNC, is considered one of the drafts’ highest-value prospects.
A 6’10” power forward who averaged 19.8 points and 9.4 boards in college, Wilson looked like a stud in Summer League, averaging 23.5 points and 7.3 rebounds on 50-40 shooting. Scary stuff. Ricky O’Donnell’s profile of Wilson in SB Nation highlighted a few things that will be worth keeping an eye on.
O’Donnell highlights comparisons to Kevin Garnett, and a more offensively focused-less defensively focused version of the Cavaliers’ Evan Mobley. While there were then-concerns about Wilson’s ability to shoot, the forward averaged almost eight attempts from downtown, and made more than three of them nightly. However, Wilson weighs in at only 215 pounds, so someone like Scottie Barnes at 237 would have a meaningful advantage when guarding him.
Nic Claxton will be re-evaluated in approximately two weeks, per Tiago Splitter
The Raptors’ biggest leg up tonight is the absence of Nic Claxton, the Bulls’ starting centre. Having a weaker 5 means that Toronto’s biggest deficiency — lack of a high-impact big man — will be felt less on the defensive end, and give the Raptors opportunities for more good looks in the paint. RJ Barrett and Scottie Barnes could have big nights, as both drive-heavy swingmen could take advantage of less opposition at the rim, paving way for some high scoring nights from the pair. Even Jakob Poeltl could put up some big numbers on the boards, matching up against 6’8”, 215 Jalen Smith extremely well.
Seeing what Barnes will do against Wilson will be exciting, as the two forwards, built in very different physical archetypes, will have to Duke it out lest Chicago give most of the Raptors a potential matchup issue. However, one of the other defensive matchups worth keeping an eye on will be that between guards Jamal Shead and Norman Powell. The All-Star is a threat from anywhere on the court, and the former Raptor will likely be walking into the arena with putting on a show for his old crowd on his mind.
Keeping Josh Giddey’s passing under control will also be a must. The point guard’s size is frustrating, and his defensive assignment might fall to someone like Ja’Kobe Walter , as both RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley could be hard pressed to keep up with the Australian.
Seeing what Kawhi Leonard looks like in the regular season will be interesting as well. Leonard is certainly capable of massive scoring outbursts, but whether or not he’ll put on a big show to start off the season, or take it easy and reserve energy, is not totally clear. Kawhi looking like a top-five offensive player tomorrow pushes the needle in the Raptors’ direction in a serious way, and this is a relatively low-pressure matchup with which to start off the season for him.
Keys to success for the Raptors will be managing both personnel and energy to maintain punishing defence on the Bulls, while getting as many shot attempts in the paint as possible. The Raptors can take this one if they defend wisely and don’t allow flamethrower Norm Powell to heat up.
This post is also where we’ll be running our game thread, a live chat to post about the game, chat, and socialize. We hope to see you there, either on the browser or in our app!
Game Information and Details
Game Time: 7:30 EDT
Watch On: Sportsnet
Injury Report
Raptors: Nate Bittle (Out – foot)
Bulls: Nic Claxton (Out – hamstring), Jordan Hawkins (Out – illness), Tobe Akawa (GTD – knee), Zach Collins (GTD – toe), Dailyn Swain (GTD – illness), Isaac Okoro (GTD – knee), Leonard Miller (GTD – right adductor strain)
DALLAS, TEXAS - OCTOBER 16: CJ McCollum #3 of the Atlanta Hawks walks to the bench during a preseason game against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on October 16, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the GettyImages License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
CJ McCollum happened to be one of the biggest additions for the Atlanta Hawks last season, and once he was inserted into the starting lineup, they became a top-tier team. They had the best net rating in the second half of the season, and it led them to the No. 6 seed and a playoff spot.
McCollum’s shot creation was a big key to the Hawks’ success, but it was evident after Game 3 of the first round that he needed more help in that department. They were able to do that in the offseason, and life may be easy for him coming into this season.
The good thing is that this will be another year for McCollum to build with the team, and having a full training camp under his belt should be beneficial.
“I got traded in January. I got here, met the team on a road trip, and kind of jumped right into the season, which was difficult, but I think I’m most excited about being able to go through a full training camp,” McCollum said at Media Day.
McCollum is the oldest player on the Hawks, and he’ll probably still be one of the most relied-on players on the Hawks. Though they’ve added some help in the creation department, and Jalen Johnson looks to have taken another step, McCollum is still set to have the ball in his hands most of the time.
Another area where McCollum seemed to have a good season with the Hawks is on defense. He was never known as the defensive type, but he did his job last season, and Quin Snyder has never been shy of letting everyone know.
“I think he was one of the guys who embraced the defensive mindset,“ Syder said at Media Day.
McCollum was in all of the closing lineups for the Hawks last season, but that may not be the case this time around. In the event that they do need stronger defense on the floor, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Dort took his place down the stretch in some games. At the same time, if the Hawks are still missing some juice on offense, McCollum will continue to be in those lineups.
It’ll also be interesting to see how Snyder plans on managing McCollum’s minutes this season, and if he plans to at all. At age 35, it wouldn’t hurt to have him under 30 minutes again, which is what he averaged in 41 games last season with the team.
McCollum might also find himself in a teacher role this season as well, lending a hand to Kingston Flemings in his rookie season.
It should be another solid season for the veteran guard, and he’ll have a big impact on their success.
DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 20: Paul George #13 of the Boston Celtics shoots a free throw during the game against the Detroit Pistons on October 20, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
DETROIT — If you didn’t know any better, you may have thought you were watching the Paul George of old.
In his Celtics debut at Little Caeser Arena, George shot lights-out, hitting three after three while the Celtics’ bench rejoiced. Most of the night, the 36-year-old looked like the best player on the floor, carrying the load offensively while taking on tough defensive assignments on the other end.
George erupted for 12 points in the second quarter, and followed that up with a 17-point third. In total, he finished opening night with 38 points, 5 steals, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists, hitting 7 of 12 three-pointers and 12 of his 21 shot attempts.
George also set a new record for most points by a Celtics player in his debut, surpassing Kristaps Porzingis’s 30-point debut in 2023.
“He was unbelievable, just the confidence he played with,” said Jayson Tatum. “Obviously, made plays on defense, but just kind of getting to his spots, his ability to defend, and get on the run and be able to space the floor and attack certain matchups.”
PAUL GEORGE JUST SET THE RECORD FOR MOST POINTS IN A CELTIC DEBUT:
George’s tremendous individual performance ended up not mattering; the Celtics blew a 22-point second-half lead, in large part due to a 23-0 Pistons fourth quarter run and a 15-point Duncan Robinson fourth quarter.
As such, George made clear that the final outcome soured the way he felt about his otherwise-spectactular debut.
“I’m not a moral victory guy, so it means nothing,” he said. “We lost. Just got to get ready for the next one.”
Still, though the Celtics’ demonstrated a litany of issues in the regular-season opener — they were outrebounded, for one — George’s performance was a significant bright spot, and a great way to turn the page on a couple of injury-riddled years.
Paul George has maintained all year: he’s the healthiest he’s been in years
George said he hasn’t felt this healthy since he was with the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2023-2024 season, and it showed.
“I was pretty healthy to finish my last year there, and then honestly, going to Philly, I just had a bad hyperextension that really set me back, and I couldn’t quite shake that one — it was an ongoing thing of my leg, my knee not feeling strong, and it was rough, right?” George said. “Because I was trying to rest, but I was also trying to be available for the team, and just couldn’t quite find the time to let it all come together.”
Asked Paul George when the last time was that he felt this healthy:
“My stint in LA. I was pretty healthy to finish my last year there, and then honestly, going to Philly, I just had a bad hyperextension that really set me back, and I couldn't quite shake that one — it was an… pic.twitter.com/6jqmbROmSm
But, George has since made a full recovery, and he’s beginning to show the world what a difference full health makes on his ability to play on both ends.
“This summer was huge,” he said. “I had a great summer, had time off, and coming into this year, I knew it was going to be a big one. It was going to be a fun one, a great opportunity, and so I was just happy that I was able to attack this summer with working on my game, more so than rehabbing and working on my body.”
Still, despite the clean bill of health, George was candid in sharing that Celtics training camp marked a significant transition.
“It’s been a rough camp for me, I would say – just trying to figure out new concepts, new terms, new plays, playing off other guys, just finding rhythm within that,” he said Wednesday, adding that part of it was also just getting back into game shape.
“The camp legs were just heavy. I was winded a lot of times. So it was taking away the ability to kind of do things when I just felt a little heavy and sluggish, but I’m getting my wind back. I’m getting my legs back. I feel like I’m getting my pop back, and so that was kind of the difference-maker.”
George has credited his teammates for helping him adjust over the past few weeks, and for empowering him to have such a big debut.
“It was fun to watch,” Derrick White said. “Obviously, he got super hot and trying to find him in different ways. But everything, even defensively, causing turnovers and being disruptive, it was a lot of fun. He played a hell of a game.”
Mazzulla, who has praised George through training camp, said he appreciated how the veteran approached the opener.
“He made some great reads throughout the game,” Mazzulla said. “He was able to find advantages for himself and others and be aggressive, and we just have to continue that.”
As for George, he gave a lot of the credit to his teammates and coaches, who have instilled confidence in him since he arrived in Boston.
“Credit to these guys, though, they did an amazing job keeping me in the loop, making me feel a part of the team at all points throughout this process,” he said. “[Credit to] Joe for making you know the game easier for me, D-White, Payton, JT, all of those guys. The bigs freeing me up, all of them are collectively a part of me feeling confident and playing with rhythm out there.”
George, like the rest of the Celtics, will look closely at what went wrong in the 121-113 loss.
And, he won’t overreact in either direction.
“There are good days, and there are bad days,” he said. “I’m always even-keeled. I won’t get too high on this. It’s a long season. It’s more so about being consistent for these guys.”
Jakub Dobes was back in net on Tuesday as the Montreal Canadiens hosted the San Jose Sharks. The Habs, who had a 4-3-1 record going in, were hoping to finally be able to get a regulation win and climb up the standings. Only one of the Sainte-Flanelle’s wins since the start of the year had come in regulation, and even Martin St-Louis acknowledged after the last game that his team needed to put games away when they had a lead.
Montreal started strong and kept the Sharks from even exiting their zone early in the first frame. Still, they couldn’t manage to maintain that dominance for very long and ultimately, an all-too-familiar scenario would play out at the Bell Centre.
While St-Louis adjusted his power play by bringing Zachary Bolduc on the first wave in the last game, the strategy hasn’t changed. The players are standing their ground and passing the puck around, but their lack of mobility makes the penalty killers’ job easy. Keeping an active stick when you don’t need to move isn't that challenging.
Furthermore, they lack creativity, and the passing has become predictable. Granted, the unit misses Ivan Demiodov, but waiting for his return won’t cut it, especially since he is still wearing a walking boot. The forward was spotted chatting to Andrei Markov just outside the Canadiens’ room after the game. The two times the Canadiens had a man advantage in the first frame, it actually killed their momentum rather than building it.
First Line Takeover
While the power play didn’t generate much, the Canadiens’ first line was dominant at even strength. Juraj Slafkovsky put up multiple points for the second game in a row, and his individual effort gave the Habs a 2-1 lead less than two minutes into the second frame. From then on, San Jose looked like a team playing a second game in as many nights, which they were, but that goal was a gut punch.
Caufield doubled the Canadiens’ lead thanks to a heads-up play by Lane Hutson, which gave his teammates a four-on-two. They couldn’t convert on the initial chance, but Nick Suzuki deflected the puck on net, then picked up his own rebound and fed the sniper from behind the net, giving Nedeljkovic no chance to stop it. On that play, Slafkovsky was in the box after he and Kaiden Guhle got involved in some extracurricular activity by the Sharks’ bench.
It Should Be Over (Again)
The Habs seemed in full control at the start of the third frame, and for a while they pressed on, but then they gave the game away. It all started when Hutson was dispossessed in the offensive zone, which led to an odd-man rush that San Jose capitalized on.
Less than five minutes later, Arber Xhekaj and Michael Kesselring tussled, both hanging on to each other. Still, the Habs player was the only one to drop the gloves, then punch Kesselring in the stomach after the linesman stepped in, earning an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Without that, the Sharks wouldn’t have had a power play on which Tyler Toffoli tied the game.
Jakub Dobes gets called for interference in OT... the Sharks head to the power-play. pic.twitter.com/f9F5TkbUv6
Fast forward to overtime, and Dobes takes a bad penalty: interference, as his team regained possession in the defensive zone. Three unanswered goals by a team that looked like it had a knee down on the mat in the second frame. Alexandre Carrier said it best:
We knew they’re a team that can come back from behind if you give them opportunities, and we knew we had to play the right way, but once again we made mistakes that cost us dearly, and when you give them life, they pick up momentum, and that’s dangerous. They have the skills to do it.
- Carrier on the defeat
From the outside, it almost looks like the Canadiens panic when they feel the game slipping away from them, but Carrier didn’t agree:
No, it’s not panic; it’s more frustration because it’s happened many times already. We know we have to fix this, and yet we did it again tonight.
Speaking to the press after the game, the coach looked like he was trying hard not to name names:
We’re leaving points on the table, and it’s our fault. You have to understand the game's score. We have 80 attempted shots against 40, maybe 50…We’re finding ways to leave points on the table, and it’s our fault. […] We were dominant at the start of the third, but there were actions that helped them. You have to cut down on the actions that help the other team. That’s all they want.
- St-Louis on the defeat
It was initially thought Dobes would be available to the press after the game, but it was ultimately decided he wouldn’t come out. That’s hardly surprising, given how the game ended. The Czech netminder wears his heart on his sleeve, and this defeat after a strong game will be hard to swallow. The coach himself hadn’t spoken to him, and he wasn’t sure whether he'd do so before the next game, or leave it in the capable hands of Marco Marciano.
Even if that kind of penalty is not always called, St-Louis has been saying over and over that players cannot give the referee the opportunity to make a call, and that’s exactly what Dobes did in overtime. He enjoys competing and being aggressive in net, but it cost him and, by the same token, the team.
Turnovers and bad penalties never win you games, no matter how well you played up to that point. In three of four games, the Canadiens gave up a third-period lead, and this time, they couldn’t find a way to win. Macklin Celibrini finished with two goals and an assist, showcasing how good a player he is, and for the third time in a row, the Sharks got two points against the Habs, this time thanks to a 4-3 overtime win.
The 21-year-old left winger had a three-point night and a plus-three rating for the Leafs, all while playing just 13:38 of ice time. He scored his first career shorthanded goal, giving Toronto a 4-1 lead in the second period.
"Yeah, I had a decent shot there," Cowan said of his goal post-game. "I think the goalie was favoring (William Nylander), which I probably would too. So, yeah, I just picked my spot."
Cowan also added a pair of assists - one coming before and after his shorthanded goal - proving to be a fit on the top line next to Auston Matthews and Jack Roslovic, who both scored off a helper from Cowan.
Following Tuesday's performance, Cowan now has four goals and 10 points in 11 games, putting him on pace for an impressive campaign in terms of his production.
But beyond his ability to score, he's been a two-way presence and an effective forechecker for the Maple Leafs. And with that, he's caught the eye of his teammates and coach.
"I can't say enough good things about him," head coach Jim Hiller said of Cowan. "Honestly, he's exceeded my expectations, and I had high expectations for him. And I've told you, he told me this is what he was going to do, and so he's living up to his end of the bargain. Now he's a regular penalty killer, and yeah, he's a good player, and he's going to have a great career.
"It's hard to fulfill those expectations this early, especially some of the stuff with his game that he had to change a little bit. But he's done it. He's done it so far."
Coming out of the OHL with the London Knights, the understanding was that Cowan was someone who could put up points (scoring 39 points in 17 games in his final OHL playoff campaign). But underneath that is his work ethic and ability to hunt down pucks and be a two-way player, which makes him even more effective at the NHL level.
"He quietly has a work ethic that you don't really see," defenseman Marshall Rifai said. "I think he got to go home over the summer, and it was evident when he got back to camp. He's taking a step. He's more confident. He's quicker, more assertive. He's a really nice player we have. So I'm happy for him, and he scored a beautiful goal."
"I think it's just the physical maturity and understanding how the NHL works," Hiller explained, as the biggest change for Cowan over the past year. "It's one thing how Jr. works. It's one thing how college works. It's one thing how the American League works. How does the NHL work? And he kind of got to understand that. And I think he's gotten there."
See more of The Hockey News on Google — Save us as Preferred Source
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - OCTOBER 17: Dylan Larkin #71 of the Detroit Red Wings looks on against the San Jose Sharks during the second period at Little Caesars Arena on October 17, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Here are your links for today:
Devils Links
Luke Evangelista had two points in his return to the lineup while Declan Chisholm, Arseny Gritsyuk and Jesper Boqvist also tallied. The Devils took a 4-3 win over the Avs on Tuesday. [Devils NHL]
The list of early NHL trade candidates features some easy-to-identify names: players who have asked for trades or been the subject of rumors for months. But what about would-be trade targets who might be less obvious? [The Athletic ($)]
“At least three teams remain in the mix to trade for Connor Hellebuyck, sources told ESPN, though there’s no guarantee the Winnipeg Jets goaltender will be moved before his team-issued suspension ends Friday. If a trade doesn’t materialize this week, the Jets are likely to resume paying Hellebuyck while keeping him away from the team, according to sources.” [ESPN]
More history for Connor McDavid:
Connor McDavid (6-20—26 in 9 GP) required the fewest games in NHL history to reach 20 assists in a single season. 🍎 #NHLStats
Lakers center Walker Kessler understands the pressure that comes with playing for the iconic NBA franchise. His competitive nature embraces the opportunity. (Eric Thayer/Los Angeles Times)
The last name of iconic Lakers centers is placed above their number on a wall at the team’s practice facility. Centers who have dominated the NBA on their way to the Hall of Fame.
Each day at practice, new Lakers center Walker Kessler has cast his eyes toward the wall, marveling at those names and numbers, unable to look away from a group of big men who left an indelible mark on the sport of basketball.
“Yup, they got some bigs up there, some great bigs,” Kessler said.
He chuckled.
There is Gasol (16), Mikan (99), Abdul-Jabbar (33), Chamberlain (13) and O’Neal (34).
“You know, obviously, there’s a certain legacy that comes with being a Laker big,” said Kessler, who wears No. 14. “But honestly, it’s just what an opportunity this is to play for a franchise that has had just historic bigs. I think that Lakers fans, when their bigs are at that level, they fall in love with them. So, what an opportunity.”
Lakers center Walker Kessler, looking to block a shot by Warriors center Yaxel Lendeborg during a preseason game last week, has averaged 2.4 blocks a game in his young career. (Ethan Miller / Getty Images)
Starting with George Mikan to Wilt Chamberlain to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to Shaquille O’Neal to Pau Gasol, all of them have won championships playing for the Lakers and all of them have had their jerseys retired by the franchise.
Kessler is the next center in line, the next big man who will try to live up to those lofty standards.
Surely, Kessler was asked, he has to feel some inherent pressure to follow in the footsteps of that majestic group, starting Wednesday night when the Lakers open the regular season at Crypto.com Arena against the Golden State Warriors.
“I think it depends on how you look at it,” Kessler said. “If you do look at it as an approach of, ‘Oh my gosh, I got to perform this certain way.’ But, I think it’s twofold. With pressure or with opportunity comes somewhat a level of pressure. But to focus on the opportunity and being grateful for the ability to be in that position, you know?
“If I talked to my 8-year-old self telling me, ‘Hey, you’re going to be the starting Lakers center,’ it puts it in perspective. So what an opportunity. I’m just so grateful to God. I mean, it’s fantastic.”
Pressure is something Kessler feels equipped to handle, even while acknowledging that the stakes are high and that all the noise about the high price the team paid to acquire him only increased the volume.
The Lakers got Kessler from the Utah Jazz in a sign-and-trade deal in which L.A. sent two first-round draft picks and two first-round draft swaps for him. Then the Lakers gave Kessler a four-year, $130-million deal.
“I think I try to put pressure on myself because at the end of the day, it is a sport and I play my best version of myself when I go out there and compete every night and just play with joy,” Kessler said. “I think pressure kind of steals that. So for me, again, it’s just focusing on the opportunity. The Lakers’ fan base is obviously a massive global presence, so to have a chance to have that backing is pretty exciting.”
After meeting Kessler and having several conversations with him, Lakers coach JJ Redick has no worries about that pressure.
Besides, Redick is part of Kessler’s support system.
“Well, I think he wants to embrace that. I think that’s why he wanted to be a Laker,” Redick said. “And why he wanted to be here was because of the fact that there are stakes every single night when you wear a Lakers uniform. We’ve had a number of conversations.… We had a long conversation the other day about it. I think the awareness is there, how you navigate that early on and how you navigate that in your first year. There’s no way to predict that because you’ve never dealt with it before.
“But he’s got great support around him. … I’m here to help him. We’re all here to support him. All these guys that haven’t gone through it, there’s nothing like it. And I think they all want to embrace it. They all have a chip on their shoulder about it. They want to make Lakers fans proud, and I know they will.”
Lakers center Walker Kessler, driving to the basket against two Kings defenders during the final preseason game last week, has averaged nearly 10 points and 10 rebounds a game in his career. (Ben Liebenberg / Associated Press)
Redick wanted Kessler on his team.
Lakers president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka wanted Kessler on his team.
At 7-foot-2, active and mobile, they all felt he was the perfect fit to play alongside Doncic. Kessler is the lob threat, rim-runner, screen-setter and defender Doncic has thrived with in the past when leading the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA Finals.
“It’s extremely humbling,” Kessler said. “Again, just so grateful to have a franchise that’s this historic to show that they want you and show that they value you. And then having Luka, arguably the greatest player in the league right now, saying that he wants me specifically. … Yeah, just very, very grateful.”
An injured shoulder limited Kessler to only five games last season with the Jazz.
And, he’s only started in 125 out of the 201 games he has played in over his first four seasons in the NBA.
But over that time, Kessler displayed his skill set, averaging 9.5 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.4 blocks and 1.2 assists a game.
Lakers center Walker Kessler, at 7-foot-2, towers over guar Collin Sexton as they walk onto the team's practice court for media day. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)
Many around the NBA think Doncic can unleash even more out of Kessler, and that’s why the superstar guard wanted him on the Lakers.
“I’m very excited,” Doncic said. “Obviously [I was] kind of involved, not signing him but there was a lot of communication with Rob and JJ about him, so I’m very excited to just share the floor with him.”
Kessler said his love for the game of basketball grew so much after he was forced to miss 77 games last season recovering from having surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder.
He’s ready to show Lakers fans his worth.
“I’m fully healthy. I feel fantastic body-wise,” Kessler said. “The only thing, like I was saying before, is kind of the rust and kind of getting back into the game feel in a sense. The NBA, you’re playing against the best players in the world. You’re not going to your local YMCA.”
Basketball runs in his family.
His dad Chad, brother, Houston and uncle, Alec, all played basketball at Georgia. His dad was drafted by the Clippers and his uncle played for the Miami Heat.
Somehow, Walker ended up going to Auburn. Nevertheless, his family is always around for advice.
“My dad and brother are some of my biggest supporters. They’re incredible,” Kessler said. “They didn’t put pressure on me to go one way or the other way. My dad even texts me after every game. Yeah, before the game, after the game, my brother, we talk all the time. So they’re fantastic.”
When asked what he likes to do when he’s just chilling, Kessler laughed.
“Getting to the real stuff now,” he said, smiling.
One thing that stood out was that Kessler said he likes to play board games, particularly Catan.
Is he as competitive playing Catan as he is when he plays basketball?
“What do you think? I’m a psychopath,” Kessler said, laughing. “So are my buddies, though. It’s a good time. We sometimes get a little heated, but it’s good though. It’s all in fun. So, yeah, Lakers fans should know that I’m competitive. Very competitive.”
TUCSON, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 10: Ike Irish #10 of the Baltimore Orioles bats during a game between the Mesa Solar Sox and the Peoria Javelinas at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium on Saturday, October 10, 2026 in Tucson, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning Birdland,
As we wait for the World Series to begin on Friday, there may be a baseball-sized hole in your evening entertainment. That reminded me that the Arizona Fall League does, in fact, exist, and there are a handful of intereting Orioles prospects in action. So, I wanted to check in on them.
All of the players that the Orioles send to the AFL are on the Peoria Javelinas, alongside youngsters from the Cardinals, Mariners, Padres, and Reds. Through 14 games, the Javelinas are 7-7, though they lead the league with a +25 run differential.
Vance Honeycutt is tied for second in the league in home runs (three) and is sixth in slugging percentage (.652). That has been accompanied by 11 strikeouts and 10 walks against 23 at-bats, so any hope of him shaking the “three true outcomes” label has fallen short. But at least he is getting more of the positive outcomes than he was early on in the regular season.
Ike Irish has been one of the top overall hitters in the league so far. Across 34 at-bats the former first-round pick has a .353/.421/.559 slash line with two homers, three walks, and five strikeouts. It’s been an encouraging recovery from the torn meniscus that ended his regular season in late July.
Brandon Butterworth is hitting .233/.410/.433 with three doubles, nine walks and 10 strikeouts. The 24-year-old spent about a month at Triple-A this year, but saw his bat fall off after the promotion. He could be in the mix for a utility role at the big league level in the near future.
The pitching stats are a bit less interesting to look at, because the volume of innings is pretty low across the board. But here are some highlights: Braxton Bragg has thrown six shutout innings. Patrick Reilly has a 1.29 ERA across seven innings and was named Pitcher of the Week just a couple of days ago. Kiefer Lord has allowed four runs in three innings of work. Teddy Sharkey has two strikeouts and three walks across 2.2 frames. And Kailen Hamson has four walks and four strikeouts in three innings.
The AFL is an interesting rung on the developmental ladder that usually serves to give extra in-game looks to players that missed time with injury. The workloads are truncated because the rosters are packed with players from all 30 organizations trying to accomplish the same thing. So, you don’t want to overreact any which way. But it is interesting baseball nonetheless.
Orioles Sign Jayvien Sandridge To Minor League Deal | MLB Trade Rumors Sanbridge, born in Hagerstown, is a a 27-year-old lefty that spent most of the year injured, but did pitch in six games with Norfolk. The Yankees called him up to the big leagues in 2025 for a cup of coffee, so this would seem to be another depth signing aimed at reinforcing the bullpen.
This, that and the other | Roch Kubatko Not much to talk about here. Kubatko mentions that Cade Povich had a left elbow debridement procedure, in case you missed it. The southpaw is an interesting figure heading into 2027. He’s had some intriguing moments as a starter, but not with the consistency that the Orioles would need start to start. For me, he fits well as a “swingman” type, making shorter spot starts or providing length out of the bullpen a couple of times a week.
Oriole fans have Rays’ rooting interest in World Series | Baltimore Baseball Every team in the AL East has at least made it to the World Series in the last decade, except for the Orioles. The Rays this year, the Blue Jays in 2025, the Yankees in 2024, and the Red Sox in 2018. So far, only the Red Sox have won the thing. Am I going to root for a division rival, even one with a bunch of familiar faces on it, to do the same? I’m torn.
Orioles birthdays
Is it your birthday? Happy birthday!
Matt Krook turns 32 today. The lefty pitched in one game for the Orioles back in 2024.
The late Valmy Thomas (b. 1925, d. 2010) was born on this day. He spent eight games as a catcher with the Orioles in 1960.
This day in O’s history
Nothing of note has happened in Orioles history, according to Baseball Reference. So, here are a few things that have occurred outside of Birdland:
1940 – The first edition of Ernest Hemingway’s novel For Whom the Bell Tolls is published.
1959 – The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum opens to the public in New York City.
1973 – Fred Dryer of the Los Angeles Rams becomes the first player in NFL history to score two safties in the same game.
1983 – The meter is defined as the distance light travels in a vacuum in 1/299,792,458 of a second.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MARCH 30: William Contreras #24 of the Milwaukee Brewers rounds third base after hitting a two run homer in the sixth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at American Family Field on March 30, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The ALCS is over, and in many ways, we’re about to witness the Spider-Man meme of World Series. The Brewers and Rays are opposite-league doppelgängers, teams that come from similar backgrounds (Matt Arnold came to Milwaukee from the Rays’ front office), have crossover in their past (the Drew Rasmussen-Willy Adames swap looms large in this series), face many similar challenges (they both come from small-ish markets and are in the bottom half of the league in revenue and payroll), and have exceeded expectations to the point that their success could even disrupt the owners’ push for a salary cap in collective bargaining negotiations this winter.
Because of the ways in which these teams have to approach team building, this will be a very different series from the one that the Brewers just finished with the Dodgers. While there are plenty of familiar names for baseball diehards, the series lacks the Q-rating that a series with wealthier teams might provide. Still, there are young superstars on both sides, solid and interesting pitching, big bullpen figures, and a couple of the best managers in modern times.
As we did before the Dodgers series, let’s break down each position to see which team has the advantage. Since I already talked about the Brewers players a bit in the Dodgers preview, I’ll focus more on the Rays here.
Manager
Brewers: Pat Murphy
Rays: Kevin Cash
I won’t give an advantage to either team, here: I just wanted to point out that only three managers have ever won back-to-back Manager of the Year awards, and two of them are in this series (Murphy has won each of the last two years and has a good shot at a third in a row; Cash won in 2020 and 2021). Cash was known early on as an analytics guy; he famously pulled Blake Snell earlier than Snell would have liked during the 2020 World Series, another one of those stupid moments that put “analytics” under the microscope. This is Cash’s second World Series appearance, and he’s now completed 12 years as Rays manager — assuming he comes back next year, he’ll surpass 1,000 wins early in the season.
Murphy, as mentioned, has a good shot at winning a third straight Manager of the Year, which has never been done, so it is perhaps needless to add that Murphy has only been an MLB manager for three years (outside of a half season as interim manager of the Padres back in 2015).
Murphy and Cash go about things in different ways, but they’re pretty clearly two of the top managers working in the league right now.
Liam Hicks (LH): 3.3 WAR, 126 OPS+ (0.7 WAR, 129 OPS+ in 41g with Rays); PS: 31 PA, .222/.300/.259
Nick Fortes (RH): 0.8 WAR, 89 OPS+; PS: 3 PA, 0-for-3
Hicks has had a really nice season — he was hitting .282/.363/.432 with 14 homers in 101 games with Miami when the Rays acquired him at the deadline, and he was even better in Tampa, with a .288/.379/.440 line in 41 games. He has struggled during the postseason, but he’s a good hitter. Fortes is unlikely to see much action.
Contreras has been the Brewers’ best hitter in the playoffs. He hit .375 with two homers in four games against San Diego, then hit .357 with a homer and a double against the Dodgers. If he continues to hit like he has, the Brewers will be in really good shape.
Advantage: Brewers. Hicks had a better regular season than Contreras, but Contreras has been far superior in the postseason, so we’ll let recency bias rule.
Andrew Vaughn (RH): 1.5 WAR, 130 OPS+; PS: 9 PA, .286/.444/.429
Rays:
Jonathan Aranda (LH): 2.2 WAR, 121 OPS+; PS: 40 PA, .257/.333/.343, 1 HR, 5 RBI
Bauers won NLCS MVP after going 4-for-14 with two of the biggest at-bats in team history: a 12-pitch walk against Yoshinobu Yamamoto in Game 2 and an 11-pitch two-run home run off of Blake Snell in Game 3 that flipped the scoreboard. In a continuation of his regular season, Bauers has been taking a whole bunch of walks (seven in 34 plate appearances this postseason) and doing damage when he puts the bat on the ball. He’s been huge.
Vaughn has also recreated his regular season: his appearances have been limited, but he’s played well when given chances. He’s only got nine plate appearances in the postseason, but he’s got a couple hits and a couple walks in there, including a double. Vaughn’s appearances are going to continue to be limited in the World Series, as none of the expected starters for Tampa Bay are left-handed, but he can definitely play a major part as a high-leverage pinch-hitter.
Aranda is a good hitter. He had 22 homers and 27 doubles this season, and he walks a little. He’ll hit near the top of the Rays’ lineup, and he’ll get his hits; Milwaukee will just have to try to limit the damage.
Advantage: Brewers. As I said, Aranda is good, but Bauers won NLCS hardware, and Vaughn is a potential weapon in this series.
Ben Williamson (RH): 0.8 WAR, 74 OPS+; PS: 11 PA, .125/.364/.125
At 29 and in his fifth season, Palacios is one of the more experienced Rays. He’s been really good this postseason, but he’s definitely been outperforming his about-league-average numbers of the regular season. Williamson is a defensive specialist who will probably get a few at-bats against left-handed pitching.
Turang, of course, is one of the league’s best players. After struggling in the NLDS versus San Diego and continuing a worrying offensive trend from last postseason, Turang had a great series against the Dodgers: he was 4-for-11 with a double, a homer, and five walks for a sterling .364/.563/.727 batting line. He’s also one of the best defensive players in the sport.
Ortiz and Hamilton are a solid platoon. Ortiz has looked lost most of the postseason at the plate, but he looked much better in Game 4 of the NLCS, when he picked up an RBI single and hit the ball hard a couple other times. Hamilton was a surprising spark plug during the NLCS, when he had a couple of huge moments and was a major catalyst.
That being said: Caminero is a superstar. He’s only 23 and he’s hit 87 home runs across the last two seasons, and he will probably finish in the top five in MVP voting in the AL this season. He might have the quickest bat in the league. He’s Tampa Bay’s Jackson Chourio, the catalyst for everything they do offensively. Caminero’s defense is a little sketchy and he’s led the majors in double plays grounded into in each of the last two years, so there are some holes in his game, but he’s the most dangerous offensive player left in the playoffs.
Advantage: Rays. Ortiz and Hamilton should do fine, but Caminero is one of the main characters of the series.
Shortstop
Brewers:
Cooper Pratt (RH): 1.7 WAR, 99 OPS+; PS: 30 PA, .310/.310/.345
Rays:
Taylor Walls (SH): 3.5 WAR, 71 OPS+; PS: 31 PA, .148/.233/.148
Jorge Mateo (RH): -1.0 WAR, 8 OPS+ with Rays; PS: 4g, 0 PA
Walls is one of the league’s best defensive players — he led the majors in Baseball Reference’s dWAR this season — but he can’t hit at all. Mateo has appeared as a defensive sub a couple times but hasn’t had an at-bat this postseason; it is hard to blame the Rays after he hit .141/.181/.205 in 84 plate appearances after the Rays picked him up following a release by the Braves.
Pratt has gotten his hits this postseason — a good thing, as his typically solid defense has been shaky, especially early in the playoffs. The Brewers are hoping that Pratt is past the defensive hiccups that he’s had already; if he can keep up his hitting (nine hits in 29 at-bats, one double) it would be a bonus.
Advantage: Wash. Pratt’s offensive upside is probably higher and he’s feeling it at the plate. Walls is a defensive stud, but if Pratt can avoid the mistakes he’s made so far this postseason, he could be just as good.
Outfield
Brewers:
Jackson Chourio (RH): 4.9 WAR, 129 OPS+; PS: 38 PA, .171/.211/.343, 2 HR, 7 RBI
Ryan Vilade(RH): 0.8 WAR, 108 OPS+; PS: 7 PA, .200/.429/.800, 1 HR
The Rays have an interesting mix in the outfield. Simpson is perhaps the league’s fastest player, a left-handed slap hitter who has zero homers in over 1,000 career plate appearances. He doesn’t walk as much as you’d like for a player with his speed, but he gets a ton of infield hits and bunt hits, and once he’s on the bases he steals bases (he led the AL with 46 this season). Simpson has also worked hard to improve his defense, and is a plus defender in left field.
Mesa Jr. is a 24-year-old rookie who played well for the Rays after he was called up in late May. He only played in 79 games this season, but Mesa’s 127 OPS+ was second on the team. DeLuca is a 28-year-old in his fourth season, and he splits his time between center and right. DeLuca has reverse platoon splits this season — he’s better, fairly significantly, against right-handed pitchers — and has some pop, with 11 homers and 24 doubles in 370 plate appearances during the regular season.
Vilade is a utility presence for this team. He’s just 27 but is already playing on his fifth MLB team, even though he’d played just 28 games at the big-league level prior to this season. Vilade was a positive offensive presence this season while appearing at both corner outfield positions, first, second, and third. Mullins is this group’s veteran presence: he’s in his ninth big-league season and once finished in the top 10 in MVP voting when he was in Baltimore. That was five years ago, though; Mullins has lost a step and hasn’t had an above-average offensive season since 2024.
On the Brewer side, Chourio and Mitchell have both had huge moments this postseason. Chourio has managed to be productive despite what could be the worst batted-ball luck I’ve ever seen; he’s been killing the ball all postseason, he’s just been hitting it straight at people. Mitchell, of course, had huge homers in the third and fourth games of the Dodger series, including the one that put Milwaukee in the lead in the clincher.
Advantage: Brewers. No one on the Tampa side has anywhere close to the level of star power that Chourio has, and I think you’d rather have Mitchell than any of the Rays’ outfielders, too. It would be nice if Milwaukee could get some production from whoever plays right field, but thus far solid defense has been enough.
Designated Hitter
Brewers:
Christian Yelich (LH): 0.1 WAR, 91 OPS+; PS: 27 PA, .292/.370/.333
Díaz, quietly, has been one of the league’s best hitters for some time now: since he became a Ray in 2019, he’s a .291/.370/.448 hitter (130 OPS+) in almost 1,000 regular season games, he won a batting title, he’s made a couple of All-Star teams, and he’s gotten MVP votes three times. He led the American League in hits this season while putting together another typically solid season. Díaz doesn’t hit with a ton of power but he’s got plenty of pop (as evidenced by his big home run in Game 6 of the ALCS); he’s what we once would have called a “professional hitter.”
Yelich had a poor season, but he’s been holding his own this postseason. He hasn’t shown any power, but he’s gotten timely hits, most notably the two-run single that immediately followed Bauers’ epic 12-pitch walk against Yoshinobu Yamamoto in Game 2 of the NLCS.
Rasmussen and Peralta, both players with ties to the Brewers, have been, by far, the best 1-2 punch in the postseason thus far. Rasmussen, who the Rays acquired from the Brewers in the Willy Adames swap in 2021, has averaged seven innings per start — no Brewer has gone even six innings in a start this postseason — and has allowed just three runs while picking up 23 strikeouts to just three walks in those 21 innings. He threw an absolute gem against the Yankees in the ALDS: eight shutout innings, one hit, 1o strikeouts. This caps a season in which Rasmussen emerged as one of the league’s best pitchers: after injury issues over his first five seasons, Rasmussen has reached 150 innings two years in a row and has made back-to-back All-Star Games, and he led the AL in WHIP and strikeout-to-walk ratio this season. He could finish in the top five in AL Cy Young voting this season.
Peralta, one of the most popular pitchers in Brewers history, suffered through an awful four months in New York and was acquired by Tampa Bay at the deadline. What followed was perhaps one of the more embarrassing turns in a series of embarrassing moments for that Mets front office: after a couple of starts to settle in, Peralta has been arguably the best pitcher in baseball since September started; he won the Pitcher of the Month award in the season’s last month, and has been fantastic in the postseason, taking home ALCS MVP honors.
Martinez has been a solid presence all season. The 36-year-old has been around a long time — he debuted in 2014 with Texas, pitched there for four seasons, spent the next four years in Japan, and returned stateside as a much better pitcher. He made his first All-Star Game this season when he had a 3.10 ERA in 31 starts. He doesn’t walk anyone — he led the majors with just 1.3 walks per nine innings — but he also doesn’t strike batters out, and there are some underlying metrics here that might give the Brewers some confidence.
Jax has been one of the more extreme “good FIP, bad ERA” pitchers in baseball over the last seven years. He was a high-leverage reliever for the Twins before the Rays acquired him at last year’s trade deadline; this year, they converted him into a starter, where he had moderate success. He’s made one start and one relief appearance this postseason but has walked three batters and given up four runs in six innings.
The Brewers will, of course, hope that the long layoff between starts will give Misiorowski a chance to look more like the pitcher he was during the regular season. He hasn’t been bad, but his ability to miss bats has diminished in the postseason and he has struggled to put batters away, leading to a ton of foul balls and extremely high pitch counts, limiting him to just 8 1/3 innings across two starts. He’s still been relatively effective, but he hasn’t looked like the guy who is going to win the Cy Young Award.
Henderson and Gasser have filled important roles for the Brewers; Henderson hasn’t been quite as good as he looked for most of the regular season, but Gasser has made two huge starts for Milwaukee. May hasn’t been good; he might start Game 4, but he’s had his issues in the postseason and isn’t likely to play a major role.
Advantage: Rays. This isn’t the gauntlet that the Dodgers could boast in the NLCS (whom the Brewers handled quite easily), but Rasmussen and Peralta are both pitching quite a bit better than any starter on the Brewers right now. But they’ve also faced two offenses — the Yankees without Aaron Judge and the Guardians — who didn’t pose nearly as big a threat as the Brewers do. You have to give the Rays the advantage based on postseason results thus far, but if Misiorowski and Henderson benefit from their rest and the Brewer offense continues to whir, this could easily flip.
Baker is the linchpin here. He led the majors with 41 saves (tied with Cleveland’s Cade Smith) and pitched to a sparkling 1.44 ERA. The 3.07 FIP number is a little less scary, though; Baker isn’t as overpowering as some closers (he sits at 96 mph with has fastball and has relatively pedestrian strikeout numbers) but he did a great job all season at keeping hitters off balance and limiting hard contact. At this point, the 31-year-old Baker is a one-year wonder: over five previous seasons, he’d pitched to a 3.86 ERA and 3.47 FIP in over 200 appearances, but the magic certainly hasn’t worn off yet, as he has five saves in seven scoreless appearances this postseason.
Seymour finished the season as a member of the Rays’ rotation but has moved into relief work in the postseason. He’s been their most-used lefty so far this October — he gets a lot of strikeouts, but he’s given up a couple of homers in seven outings this postseason. Cam Booser (not to be confused with Cam Boozer) will be another prolific lefty for Cash, but he’s more of a LOOGY type.
Wells is the other player here who has had a lot of success. He started the season with Baltimore and pitched to a 2.67 ERA in 54 innings, then got even better when the Rays acquired him at the trade deadline; after the trade he gave up just three earned runs in 18 innings (1.50 ERA).
Sulser, Matz, and Hopkins are the Drohan, Patrick, and Harrison of the Rays’ pen this postseason: they’ve combined for two appearances in nine games. Hopkins has pitched only six times in the majors: he was a top 40 prospect via Baseball America coming into the season but didn’t have a great year for Triple-A Durham and clearly hasn’t yet earned a place on Cash’s trust tree.
The big question remaining for Milwaukee: will Brandon Woodruff take one of these spots? That’s been covered on our website, but it’s really the only remaining roster question for this team. If he does work his way into the mix, expect him to take the roster spot of either Harrison or Patrick.
Advantage: Brewers. The Rays have one of the game’s best closers, but so do the Brewers, and the Brewers are in better shape in front of Megill than the Rays are in front of Baker; I’d take Uribe and Ashby before any non-Baker reliever on the Rays, and I’d consider Hall in that conversation, too.
Wrapping Up
Here’s the tl;dr version:
Catcher: Brewers, slightly First Base: Brewers, slightly Second Base: Brewers, big time Third Base: Rays, big time Shortstop: Wash Outfield: Brewers Designated Hitter: Rays Starting Pitching: Rays Bullpen: Brewers
I’ve got the Brewers as better in five areas and the Rays better in three, with shortstop being more or less a wash. The Brewers appear to me to be a more complete team, and even in some of the areas where I favor the Rays — starting pitching being the primary example — it’s not hard for me to imagine a situation where the Brewers outperform their opponents. The great equalizer is Caminero, who is the best hitter in the series, though one could say the same about Misiorowski on the other side.
Happy birthday to George Bell, and a mighty host of others.
Today in baseball history, in 1975 – Carlton Fisk breaks up one of the best games in World Series history with a home run in the 12th inning to give the Boston Red Sox a 7-6 victory against the Cincinnati Reds, forcing a seventh game to decide the winner of the 1975 World Series, and other stories as well.
Today in baseball history:
1925 – Marv Goodwin, a former pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals who joined the Cincinnati Reds at the end of the season, is killed in a plane he is piloting. At age 34, Goodwin is the first active player to die from injuries sustained in an airplane crash. Goodwin was one of the original spitballers who was “grandfathered.”
1964 – After just 11 years in Milwaukee, the Braves’ Board of Directors votes to ask the National League for permission to move to Atlanta. Milwaukee County officials sue to block the move.
1976 – With a 7-2 victory, the Cincinnati Reds win the World Series, completing a four-game sweep of the Yankees. It is the Reds’ second straight World Championship. Johnny Bench hits two home runs for five RBI. He finishes with a .533 batting average and is named Series MVP. Yankees catcher Thurman Munson has six straight singles to tie a World Series mark. Cincinnati becomes the first and only team to win a World Series using the identical batting lineup in every game of that Series, with no pinch-hitters, pinch-runners, or defensive replacements making an appearance. Cincinnati also becomes the first team ever to go through an entire League Championship Series and World Series without a defeat.
1995 – Atlanta beats Cleveland, 3-2, in Game 1 of the World Series behind star pitcher Greg Maddux. Fred McGriff homers for Atlanta, while Kenny Lofton of Cleveland becomes the first player since 1921 to steal two bases in one inning of a Series game. The two teams combine for only five hits, tying a World Series record for fewest hits by both clubs.
2015 – The Mets complete a sweep of the Cubs in the NLCS with an 8-3 win at Wrigley Field. They score four runs in the first and two in the second to run away with the game, while Daniel Murphy, who is named MVP of the series, sets a new postseason record by homering in his sixth straight game.
2017 – The Astros win Game 7 of the ALCS, 4-0, over the Yankees to clinch their-first ever American Leaguepennant. Having also won one in the National League in 2005, they become the first team to have done so in both major leagues. In the game, the Astros get a great combined pitching performance by Charlie Morton, who goes the first five innings, and Lance McCullers, who pitches the last four, limiting the Yankees to just three hits. Evan Gattis and Jose Altuve hit solo homers and Brian McCann drives in two runs, as CC Sabathia is charged with the loss.
1520 – Explorer Ferdinand Magellan and his fleet reach Cape Virgenes after transiting the Strait of Magellan between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, becoming the first Europeans to sail into the Pacific.
1797 – The USS Constitution (Old Ironsides) is launched in Boston.
1959 – Guggenheim Museum, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, opens in New York City.
1964 – Abebe Bikila of Ethiopia runs a world record 2:12:11.2 to beat Briton Basil Heatley by more than 4 minutes and win the men’s marathon at the Tokyo Olympics; he is the first athlete to win the Olympic marathon twice.
1973 – Fred Dryer of the Los Angeles Rams becomes the first player in NFL history to score two safeties in the same game.
2024 – Findings are published of a massive collision of Earth with a large meteorite, four times the size of Mt. Everest, 3.26 billion years ago, so big it boiled the oceans and may have kickstarted early life.
Today in music history:
1858 – Jacques Offenbach’s operetta “Orpheus in the Underworld” (Orphée aux Enfers) premieres in Paris and includes “Infernal Galop” (can-can tune).
1975 – Asylum Records releases “Nighthawks at the Diner,” the third studio album by singer-songwriter Tom Waits; the double LP was recorded with a live audience in a simulated nightclub setting.
1978 – Rock musician Frank Zappa serves as both host and musical guest on NBC’s Saturday Night Live, appearing in several sketches and performing his songs “Dancin’ Fool,” “The Meek Shall Inherit Nothing,” and “Rollo.”
2001 – “United We Stand” benefit concert for September 11, 2001, terrorist attack victims is held at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C., organized and headlined by Michael Jackson and featuring Aerosmith, Mariah Carey, and The Backstreet Boys.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - SEPTEMBER 30: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies reacts in the outfield against the Atlanta Braves during the seventh inning in game two of the National League Wild Card Series at Truist Park on September 30, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Let’s not kid ourselves. The World Series featuring two of the best, yet smallest market, teams in the game really isn’t going to have much of an effect on the labor negotiations. Team owners are not going to continue crying poor, that they can’t spend any money to keep up with the Dodgers. Maybe it slows down the momentum of missing games, but that’s about it.
