MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 11: Fans look on prior to Game One of the National League Championship Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Sunday, October 11, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Denis Kennedy/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The World Series kicks off in two days. And some number of days after that, we will have debutant champion in Major League Baseball. Yes, for the first time since 1980, the World Series is being contested by two teams that have never won it before.
So who are you rooting for?
This is an easy decision for me. I’ve spent time in both Tampa and Milwaukee, and I’ve gone to games at both ballparks.
Milwaukee is one of my favorite mid-size cities in the whole country. It’s downtown is essentially a miniaturized replica of Chicago’s. It’s outer environs are dotted with great little neighborhood bars where patrons play a game called Stump, which entails nothing more than hammering a nail into a giant tree stump — it’s delightful. And, while it can feel way too dark and heavy on the grayscale, Miller Park is fun place to watch a game, thanks to fact that almost always filled to near capacity with fans who know baseball and are into it.
Tampa, on the other hand, is an overgrown strip mall with only one cool neighborhood that’s miles away from their perpetually empty dump of a stadium.
Let’s go Brew Crew.
Use this space to talk about the World Series, delightfully absurd bar gams, or whatever else you want and, as always, be good to one another.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 26: Zack Gelof #20 of the Athletics celebrates a single in the bottom of the seventh inning against the Houston Astros at Sutter Health Park on September 26, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Justine Willard/Athletics/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to Wednesday, A’s fans.
The 2026 World Series matchup is set. The National League champion Milwaukee Brewers and American League champion Tampa Bay Rays, who posted the best records in their respective leagues this season, will clash for the Commissioner’s Trophy. The winner of the best-of-seven series, which begins Friday in Milwaukee, will capture its first title, while the losing team’s drought will continue.
The small-market standard-bearers rely on stellar coaching, player development and analytically driven, cost-efficient front offices to compete against big-market opponents with higher payrolls. Milwaukee and Tampa Bay’s success has led other teams to poach baseball operations executives from these organizations in hopes of replicating their success.
For example, on Monday, the Athletics announced Taylor Smith as their new president of baseball operations. The 31-year-old began his career with the Rays before serving as an assistant general manager with the Boston Red Sox since 2024. The A’s are not the only team looking to these well-run organizations for their next general manager. Brewers Assistant General Manager Matt Kleine is one of the leading candidates for the Houston Astros’ general manager opening.
The prospect of an owner-imposed lockout beginning on Dec. 1 will likely affect the pace of the free-agent and trade markets, with some players signing early and others choosing to wait until a new labor agreement is in place. The Athletics have an offensive core capable of making a playoff run, but desperately need pitching help. If he declines his player option and hits the open market, starter Clay Holmes could be a particularly good fit for the Green and Gold, given his elite ability to induce ground balls.
However, it remains unclear whether owner John Fisher will give Smith the financial resources needed to make a splash in free agency. Players may also spurn the A’s once again because they understandably do not want to play at a minor league ballpark.
If that happens, the team should turn to the trade market. From established players such as Zach Gelof and Shea Langeliers to less-proven youngsters such as Joshua Kuroda-Grauer, Tommy White and Max Muncy, the A’s have a surplus of hitters, some of whom could be traded for pitching in the right deal.
What should Smith do first as he looks to help the Athletics go from last to first in the AL West? Who is your dream A’s acquisition this winter?
The 2026 World Series between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Tampa Bay Rays has a chance to be an all-time classic. Who do you want to win their first title?
The Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays will face off in the 2026 World Series!
This is the 4th time since 2000 where the World Series matchup will be between each league’s top seed 👀 pic.twitter.com/pKErHt8mfj
Update on how some Athletics prospects are faring in the Arizona Fall League.
Checking in on how some Las Vegas Aviators players are doing so far in the Arizona Fall League: – RHP Jared Johnson: 3.1 IP, 0.00 ERA, 3 H, 3 K – C Davis Diaz: .318 (7/22)/.467/.500, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 7 BB, 5 K – C Cole Conn: .261 (6/23)/.419/.522, 1 RBI, 7 BB, 3 K, 3 SB#Athletics
Teenager produced man-of-the-match performance against Villarreal and has learned from Salah, says Reds captain
The shot sailed wide of Peter Gulacsi’s top corner and into the Kop, affording Villarreal much-needed respite at 4-2, but for Andoni Iraola it was a standout moment in a scintillating Champions League display from Rio Ngumoha. To a coach that called for versatility from all of his wingers this summer, here was a significant step forward among many from the 18-year-old at Anfield.
There were questions over how Ngumoha would adapt to playing on the right even before Liverpool increased the likelihood by signing Bradley Barcola for £123m from Paris Saint-Germain. On his fifth start under Iraola on Tuesday, which his side ultimately won 4-3, Liverpool witnessed an answer: quickly, incisively and confidently. The teenager’s willingness to cut inside from the right and shoot from distance with the left foot captured Iraola’s imagination as much as the devastating run that created Alexis Mac Allister’s second goal of the game.
Former world No 1 vows to show ‘fighting qualities’
‘I see the light now that I couldn’t see before’
Mark Allen has revealed he spent 10 weeks in a mental health clinic before discharging himself to play in this week’s Northern Ireland Open. In a long statement posted on X, the 40-year-old said he was “not OK” but vowed to show his renowned “fighting qualities” as he continues his recovery.
Allen’s 4-2 defeat by his friend and compatriot Jordan Brown on Tuesday was his first match since his world championship semi-final loss to Wu Yize in April, when he missed a black off its spot that would have given him the win.
NEW YORK — Late in the night, there was a moment of honesty – vulnerability? – from Joel Embiid.
The Philadelphia 76ers locker room had all but cleared out, and Embiid was the last player fielding questions from an atypically large horde of reporters. With a 106-100 victory, the Sixers had just wrecked the coronation of the New York Knicks, who raised a banner here in Madison Square Garden for the first time in 53 years and who, prior to tipoff, had wedged championship rings the size of golf balls onto their fingers.
There were plenty of reasons why the 76ers won their regular season opener Tuesday, Oct. 20. But it was a small, in-game proposal from Embiid that proves the experiment that is the 76ers might just work.
Late in the second quarter, Embiid had picked up his third foul, which came during a four-minute span late in the period. So, at some point over halftime, Embiid told the 76ers coaches that it should be the newly-acquired LeBron James to guard Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns, a six-time All-Star.
This would free up Embiid to play unencumbered. And it shows how dangerous this team can be.
"It changes everything," Embiid said after the game. "I had three fouls. I suggested that to the guys, the coaching staff, cause I just felt like the way that they were coming, I wasn’t – I was just being honest – I wasn’t going to be as aggressive as I should be on defense having three fouls. I wanted to stay on the floor."
LeBron James was superb in his role
LeBron used his size and strength – James actually outweighs Towns by two pounds – to body Towns and jam up the timing and rhythm of New York’s pick-and-rolls. The move gave the 76ers tremendous defensive versatility and stifled the Knicks’ ability to scoop up offensive rebounds, which allowed Philadelphia’s transition offense to flourish.
Towns, in the third quarter, took just one field goal attempt and scored only four points; the Knicks shot 5-of-21 (23.8%) in the period.
This is not unfamiliar for James, who can play every position on the floor. It’s also a tactic Team USA employed during the 2024 Paris Olympics, when James guarded Serbian all-world center and three-time NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokić.
Embiid was also a player on that gold medal squad, and it was Embiid’s foul trouble in the fourth quarter that prompted coach Steve Kerr to deploy the strategy.
"It was great," Embiid continued. "Another big body to guard the post. (Former 76er) P.J. Tucker was the last one we had where we could do that, that could switch off and guard those bigger guys in the post. Last year we had (Paul George), but you know PG, he did a great job, but he’s a little lighter. Having ‘Bron do that in the Olympics. We’ve done that in the past. That’s a good place to change (things) a little bit."
Vibes high in revamped 76ers' first impression
No team had a bigger offseason than Philadelphia, which also landed Jaylen Brown in a blockbuster deal with the Celtics. And the first impression of the revamped Sixers was mostly positive; the shot distribution was balanced, defensive intensity ramped up when it mattered most and the team committed just 10 turnovers, which had been an issue during the preseason.
But it was James who – as he has throughout his career – did a little bit of everything. He finished with 14 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, one steal and one block. He handled the ball and zipped passes to his teammates. He sprinted out in transition and got to the line. And he was instrumental in helping the 76ers retain their small lead throughout the fourth quarter.
It’s still so very early, and the 76ers didn’t play explicitly well; they hit just 27.5% of their 3-pointers and were outrebounded on the offensive glass by a margin of 14-6.
"I mean, it’s still going to take some time," James admitted. "It’s just one game, but obviously we can learn from the good things that we did, we can learn from the bad things we did tonight."
Though it was but one game, the vibes are high. And as far as first impressions go, these 76ers proved they should have lasting power in a loaded Eastern Conference.
It’s their versatility and adaptability that can make them a legitimate title contender.
The Boston Bruins wrapped a successful road trip Tuesday night with an overtime defeat to the Dallas Stars. They went 3-0-1 on the trip and entered Wednesday sitting atop the Atlantic Division and in second place in the Eastern Conference with a 7-2-1 record.
The B’s rank seventh in goals scored per game and fourth in goals allowed per game. The notable offseason additions (JJ Peterka, Will Borgen) and most of the young players have made a positive impact.
The schedule has been a little soft, but the Bruins, to their credit, have taken full advantage of it. They have scored four or more goals in six of their 10 games. They’ve led for almost 238 minutes — ninth-best in the league.
Let’s look at six key takeaways from the Bruins’ first 10 games of the 2026-27 NHL season.
The kids are alright
The Bruins have fully committed to giving their young players a chance to not only prove they belong in the NHL full time, but also be important contributors.
So far, the kids have played fantastic.
Six of the Bruins’ top 11 scorers are age 25 or younger. Nineteen of the team’s 35 goals have been scored by players 25 years old or younger.
Fraser Minten and Matthew Poitras are tied with David Pastrnak for the team lead in goals with four. Minten’s eight points are tied for second on the B’s. He’s on pace to shatter his career high of 35 points set last season. James Hagens has seven points (three goals, four assists) in 10 games. No rookie in the entire league has more points than him.
Hagens and Poitras both scored in Tuesday night’s overtime loss to the Dallas Stars.
James Hagens continues his hot start to the season with a goal 🚨
Frederic Brunet has been a steady, reliable presence on the blue line and ranks fourth among rookies in blocked shots. Mason Lohrei has made an impact offensively with five points to lead all Bruins defensemen.
The most encouraging part of the Bruins’ early-season success has been the performance of their young players. There will be ups and downs throughout the campaign, but the returns so far have been very impressive.
Elite goaltending
Jeremy Swayman was a Vezina Trophy finalist last season and he’s well on his way to repeating that feat. His .928 save percentage is the second-highest in the league, and his 7.7 goals saved above expected is tied for the third-best, per MoneyPuck. He also ranks fourth-best in wins above replacement (1.28) for goalies.
Michael DiPietro has played only two games in the backup goalie role, but he’s posted a solid .912 save percentage and a positive goals saved above expected. He made 26 saves against the Ducks last week for his first career NHL win.
Overall, the Bruins have allowed 7.13 fewer goals than expected — the best mark in the league and proof that Swayman and DiPietro are consistently erasing the mistakes in front of them.
Swayman is on pace to exceed the career-high 55 starts he made last season. That’s fine, especially if he continues to play at an elite level. But at some point, DiPietro needs to get in a few more games. The Bruins need Swayman to be fresh for the playoff race and any postseason matchups the team earns.
Elias Lindholm bounce back?
The Elias Lindholm signing — a seven-year, $54.25 million contract in 2024 free agency — has not delivered the desired results so far.
However, the veteran center has made much more of an impact this season.
Lindholm has seven points (three goals, four assists) in 10 games. He picked up the primary assist on David Pastrnak’s tying goal in the third period against the Ducks last weekend, and five minutes later he scored the game-winner.
Elite puck movement from the Bruins leads to an Elias Lindholm goal! 👀
Lindholm has taken the fourth-most faceoffs (190) in the league and has won an impressive 58.9 percent of them. He’s also played well defensively and has proven to be a good fit with Hagens on the third line.
It’s unlikely Lindholm will perform at the level of a typical top-six center. But could he be a very good No. 3 center who makes a positive impact in all situations? For sure.
Power play must improve
The Bruins have the 15th-ranked power play with a 21.1 percent success rate. On paper, that doesn’t seem too bad. But all six of their power-play goals have come in two games — three against the Utah Mammoth on Oct. 8 and three against the Ducks on Oct. 16.
In the other eight games, the B’s have not found the back of the net a single time with the man advantage.
The Bruins have generated only two shots in their last six minutes on the power play over the last two games.
Not only are the Bruins failing to score on the power play, they aren’t earning many chances, either. The B’s rank 23rd in total power-play opportunities and 30th in power-play ice time per game.
The Bruins had the ninth-best power play last season. This year’s roster is better. There’s no reason why the power play should be so inconsistent.
Balanced scoring
The Bruins have relied on David Pastrnak far too much in recent seasons. He’s delivered on his end with four straight 100-point seasons, but no one else on the Bruins has tallied more than 68 points during that span.
The scoring depth has been far better for Boston this season. Six players have scored three or more goals. Ten players have at least two goals. Eleven players have tallied five or more points.
Sturm wanted more offense from his defensemen this season. That group already has six goals.
The Bruins are getting meaningful scoring contributions up and down the lineup. That is perhaps the most important aspect of the team’s hot start and why it ranks seventh among 32 teams in goals scored per game.
Bruins need more goals from Pastrnak, Geekie
James Guillory-Imagn Images
Pastrnak and Geekie have combined for one even-strength goal so far.
David Pastrnak tallied 100 points last season, but his 29 goals were the fewest in any season in which he’s played 55-plus games. Three of his four goals this year have come on the power play. The B’s need much better offensive production from him at 5-on-5.
Morgan Geekie scored a career-high 39 goals last season. He has one goal this year, and it came on the power play. Geekie also has tallied just 10 shots on net in 10 games. He has one game with multiple shots.
For a player with such a great shot, one per game is nowhere near acceptable. Geekie has never been a huge shot quantity player, but he still needs to be much more aggressive in looking for his own offense.
The Bruins have not suffered much from Pastrnak and Geekie’s lack of 5-on-5 goals because the young players have exceeded expectations offensively. But for this team to reach its maximum potential, veterans like Pastrnak and Geekie must lead the attack.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 20: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks shoots a contested jump shot during the third quarter of the game against Joel Embiid #21 and Vj Edgecombe #77 of the Philadelphia 76ers at Madison Square Garden on October 20, 2026 in New York City. 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 Sarah Stier/Getty Images) | Getty Images
While it may have been hard to predict just where the Sixers would shake out in a loaded Eastern Conference, it felt easy to forecast what their glaring strengths and weaknesses would be. They have an overwhelming amount of offensive talent, hopefully enough to overcome defensive issues that can come with relying on aging veterans with shaky injury histories.
You can imagine everyone’s surprise when their first win of the season was going into Madison Square Garden and defeating the defending champions in a grind-it-out slugfest on Banner Night. Both teams shot under 42% from the field and both of them went 33% on their three-point attempts.
It might not have been what the average viewer expected, but it’s the type of performance the Sixers will have to put together often to achieve the lofty goals they have for this roster.
“Defense is what kept us in the game,” said Jaylen Brown after the game. “Defense is what we’re gonna have to continue to hang our hats on. [If] we keep a team around 100, we’ll always have a chance to win, so it’s a non-negotiable — gotta play defense.”
Tyrese Maxey, who finished the game with three big steals as well as three blocks, thought the team was really good at communicating and switching assignments for their first game out there as a new unit.
“It felt pretty good,” Maxey said. “This is a very competitive group. We take pride in being able to switch and kind of guard the yard, and we’re gonna help each other as well.”
The big adjustment the Sixers made in the second half was taking Joel Embiid off of Karl-Anthony Towns and having LeBron James guard the big man. This put Embiid on a non-shooter in Josh Hart, allowing the center to become a roamer.
“It’s kind of common to put a four-man on KAT because there’s so many pick-and-rolls with him and [Jalen] Brunson,” head coach Nick Nurse explained after the game. “That gives you some versatility to play some other coverages.”
That’s a look the Sixers have tried to employ in the past against the Knicks since they’ve acquired Towns — they’ve just lacked the four strong enough to not get pushed around by Towns.
“P.J. Tucker was the last one that we had who could do that, that can switch off and guard those bigger guys in the post,” said Embiid of James’ performance guarding Towns.
Embiid made sure to point out the Sixers have had some good defensive fours since Tucker departed in 2023, they just weren’t quite right for the Towns matchup.
“Last year we had [Paul George], but PG, he did a great job, but he’s a little light,” Embiid said.
For as encouraging as the Sixers cohesiveness on defense was, the best sign of the night may very well be how Embiid was moving around to defend the paint, especially in the second half. After Andre Drummond had a bit of renaissance in the first half, Embiid shut that down in the second. He was navigating around the paint and deterring every Knick shot attempt in a way he hasn’t looked like since 2023.
Knicks are 12-31 in the paint with Joel on the floor tonight. Had a couple of big blocks on Drummond.
After the game, Embiid said he told Maxey, “we’ve been going against these guys for the last couple of years, and tonight felt a little different.”
For as many additions as the Sixers made to this roster, what Embiid meant by that statement was how he felt physically. In those previous battles against the Knicks, especially their two playoff series in the past three seasons, Embiid was severely compromised due to varying health issues and it especially impacted his play on the defensive end of the court.
Since he’s come back from the injury caused by the Jonathan Kuminga fall, he just hasn’t been the same paint deterrent he was for his entire career to that point.
After a healthy offseason where he was able to trim down his figure quite a bit, Embiid is feeling great about where he is as a defender, going so far as to say he’ll be back to an All-Defensive Team-caliber player after the game. He hasn’t made an All-Defense team since 2020-21.
“I think a lot of it falls on me. I put it on me,” he said. “If I want to be All-Defense like I used to be, that changes everything for our team. So if I can play that way every single night, which I will, [it] changes everything.”
Another big theme from the Sixers after the game was that it is just one game and they still have a lot to build on. Getting through that building phase all in one piece will be one of the most important parts of it. If the Sixers keep getting that version of Embiid on defense on a regular basis, it gets easier to believe they can achieve all that they want to.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 07: Owners Kwanza Jones and José E. Feliciano of the San Diego Padres attend game four of the National League Division Series against the Milwaukee Brewersat Petco Park on October 07, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The 2026 World Series begins on Oct. 23 with Game 1. It is a best-of-seven series and can end no later than Oct. 31. Five days after the end of the World Series is the start of free agency for all players who qualify. Teams have an exclusive window during that time to re-sign their players before full free agency begins.
During this period, qualifying offers are submitted to eligible players, with players having 10 days to accept or reject them.
The General Manager meetings take place Nov. 9-12 and will be much more interesting this year with the impending lockout that will begin if no CBA is reached by Dec. 1 at 11:59 pm with the lockout following the next day.
Owners meetings take place Nov. 17-19. Fans are not sure what to expect from this meeting, as the CBA negotiations will determine whether the owners have any real business to decide.
Nov. 20 is the non-tender deadline for players on the 40-man roster who have fewer than six years of major league experience. If a player isn’t offered a contract by that date, they are free agents.
The scheduled Winter Meetings are Dec. 7-10 and will not take place if the league is in a lockout. Same for the Rule 5 draft and the draft lottery.
A stressful first offseason for the new owners
New San Diego Padres owners José E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones are about two months into their ownership of the team. This offseason will not be a normal one in baseball, with a work stoppage a very real possibility.
The last lockout took place in the 2021 offseason. From Nov. 2 to Dec. 2 of 2021, the teams of Major League Baseball went on a rampage, signing players to contracts totaling over $1.9 billion to get in under the lockout. Teams were very busy before the lockout occured.
It remains to be seen if that same attitude will prevail this offseason. With a contentious negotiation sure to take place, it makes sense to get important players locked up before the blackout occurs. If teams wait for the conclusion of the CBA battle, the season will come quickly and signing players will be competitive and pressurized.
What to expect from Kwanza and José
The Padres’ new owners sent a letter to season ticket holders soon after the team’s elimination from the playoffs. It contained their pledge to further the legacy of the late Peter Seidler while continuing to pursue a World Series championship for San Diego.
“We said we were All IN, ” the letter read in part, “We meant it then. We mean it now.”
“While we felt the sting of this season ending too soon, we gained an even deeper appreciation for the championship dream you’ve carried long before we arrived,” they wrote later in the letter.
They added, “Your faith deserves more than words; it deserves action. We’re committed to earning your trust through the decisions we make and the work we do alongside Padres leadership.”
The key thought could be that their actions need to speak as loudly as their words. So far, their actions have been fun to watch. They attended games, sat in the stands with fans, and interacted. They dressed in team colors, participated in postseason celebrations, and talked to the media during those celebrations. Their enthusiasm and energy were obvious and noted.
What should they do while we all wait to see what happens with the new contract?
In that time between the end of the season and the start of the impasse, action needs to happen to prove to the fan base that they mean what they say.
Locking up Ty France would make a statement
First baseman Ty France has expressed a desire to stay here. He is at the end of the prime years of his career and probably won’t be getting top-tier money. Feliciano and Jones can make a big impression if they direct president of baseball operations A.J. Preller to begin negotiations and try to sign France before Dec. 2. A trade or a free agent signing of a pitcher could also signal to the fans that they are looking forward to 2027 and hope for another playoff run for the Padres.
Both Michael King and Adrián Morejón have big money ahead of them. There is a real possibility that the Padres will not be able to win a free-agent bidding war for either of them. If King opts out of his Padres contract and Morejón rejects a probable qualifying offer from the Padres, a bidding war for their services is almost guaranteed.
The Padres have a glaring hole in the place of a starting rotation for 2027
The first two acts of their first offseason as owners should be to sign France and a starting pitcher or two for whenever the 2027 season begins. Those actions would go a long way toward reassuring the Friar Faithful of their desire to keep the playoff cycle going. We should all understand this won’t be a normal offseason, but the fan base needs some tangible proof that 2027 won’t be a lost season because of labor unrest.
If José and Kwanza give Preller the power to do some work before any lockout occurs, it signals that when the labor situation is settled, the Padres will be busy filling out their roster.
Getting ready for Spring Training 2027 will be an easier job if some of the work happens early in the offseason. Feliciano and Jones can set a budget and give Preller early success with action soon after the World Series ends.
Padres News:
Luis Campusano got some support from new Padres manager Craig Stammen as soon as he took the job and Campusano rewarded Stammen with his best season in MLB.
Ethan Salas made his MLB debut at the end of the 2026 season and showed he can play at the game’s highest level, so what should be expected of the young catcher in 2027?
SAN ANTONIO, TX - OCTOBER 20: Stephon Castle #5 of the San Antonio Spurs handles the ball during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on October 20, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
After the Spurs lost the NBA Finals to Mariska Hargitay, Timothée Chalamet, and Anne Hathaway, my spiritual sports non-corporeal self went on a mental vacation, like Tom Hanks in Castaway. I filled my brain with movies directed by Michael Bay. It wasn’t the healthiest thing to do, wouldn’t you say?
But when the unchecked optimism of Opening Night went astray some time during the second quarter, a little humble pie might be exactly what I needed. Or just pie. I skipped dinner. But the Spurs. Our beloved Spurs. They just needed to shoot better. It’ll be fine (more on that later). It’s all good.
Stephon Castle led the team with 24 points, along with 7 rebounds while Dylan Harper contributed 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists. Victor Wembanyama had a night to forget field goal percentage wise, but he continued his dominance on the defensive side.
Victor Wembanyama knows what he needs to do to bounce back from his 1/13 shooting performance vs. OKC on opening night. pic.twitter.com/UB1D4pN1Rf
There’s an old baseball adage that the first pitch of the season foreshadows how the entire season will unfold. I like to think the same applies to basketball. So in the highlight below, we have the Spurs offense set up in the half court, flowing through Victor Wembanyama, who then finds Devin Vassell wide friggin’ open for the corner three.
That’s it. That’s the season. Spurs shoot 100% from three the rest of the 81 games left and steamroll into the playoffs like this score says, winning in the scoreboard, and keeping their opponents to ZERO POINTS. Elite defense. So if you didn’t read the headline to this article, and you haven’t watched the game, you can stop reading. That’s all folks!
OK, I guess we’re all too smart to fall for the ol’ jump to conclusion (RIP Richard Riehle) without any prior evidence. Sure, the Spurs may have lost this game, but that does not mean we cannot enjoy some highlights amidst the dumpster fire that was the first half of this game, with the exception of this beautiful full-court pass from Dylan Harper to a streaking Stephon Castle.
I watched this entire game with the same energy as that couple calmly sitting outside a Paris cafe while the city behind them was aflame with social unrest. This is fine. It’s all fine.
Dylan Harper literally and metaphorically and poetically, AND metaphysically weaved his way through a field of arms and legs before he found a cutting Luke Kornet for the open jam. Harper picked up where he left off last postseason but is now running with the starters. The three-guard lineup may need some subtle adjustments or we may see Wembanyama running point, Devin Vassell posting up as center, Stephon Castle taking up power forward, and De’Aaron Fox slotting into small forward because what is positional basketball but a social construct.
Speaking of glorious mustaches, we can stop referring to Keldon Johnson as “The Mustang” but rather as “The Mustache” in honor of his new look. Did you know his middle name is “Wilder.” It’s like his parents knew they would have a son who plays basketball with complete reckless abandon, so much so that his celebratory punch sent a 7-foot, 1-inch Luke Kornet tumbling to the floor in the wake of his excitement.
I love Victor Wembanyama. You love Victor Wembanyama. We all love Victor Wembanyama. Let’s take a step back, ignore that our dude went 1-13 from the field, and instead just bask in the glory that he’ll return to sender any ball in his stratosphere, especially if that ball came off the fingertips of that special someone whose name rhymes with Dolph Lundgren.
Seriously, I think (North) Americans liked Dolph Lundgren in Rocky IV more than Wembanyama likes Chet Holmgren. Even the Soviets won a round in that movie, so let’s chalk up tonight as a win for the Oklahoma City Soviets. No, I am not comparing the Oklahoma City Thunder to a one-party Eurasian state dominated by the Communist Party from 1922 to 1991. What I am saying is that the Supersonics should have never left Seattle.
What a pretty pirouette. Just a ravishing rebound. With a picturesque put-back. And such a handsome hustle of a play.
Is my brain still rattled from the fog of an NBA Finals loss followed by a disappointing loss on Opening Night? Nah, I just appreciate alliteration. Can’t a man have hobbies?
Thankfully, the second half Spurs stuffed the first half Spurs into the lockers and came out blazing to get the game more competitive. Also, don’t stuff people into lockers. Hide behind a keyboard like any modern day bully does.
Now is a good time as any to remind everyone that the Thunder are a very good team. Jalen Williams appears to be fully healthy this year, and they have a sniper in Jared McCain coming off the bench. Still a deep, talented team that remains a top title contender. So this second half push by the Spurs was impressive in of itself.
What? A sprinkle of optimism in the first game out of 82? How dare we.
De’Aaron Fox went a little craft beer with this hoppy and bouncy move to the basket, which was so sweet that it would make a bearded hipster blush through his beard and red flannel shirt.
For you, the day Victor Wembanyama went 1-13 from the field was the most important day of your life. But for him, it was Tuesday. Literally. That new Street Fighter movie doesn’t look half bad either.
If you missed the game because you were too busy looking for the old Street Fighter music video starring MC Hammer, Deion Sanders (yeah, I’m not kidding at all), and Jean-Claude Van Damme, here are the full-game highlights:
Aaand here is that aforementioned music video:
Next up, the Spurs take on the Houston Rockets at the Frost Bank Center on Friday, October 23, 2026 .
There was too much possibility and hope and potential for the Warriors to dismiss Kristaps Porziņģis, a 7-foot-3 center whose talents would add immense value to their roster. A healthy Porziņģis is an All-Star.
So, they weighed the substantial risk that would come with signing the 7-foot-3 center barely an hour into NBA free agency. They couldn’t wait. Didn’t want to wait. Neither did Porziņģis.
And now the Warriors are paying the steep price that always was conceivable.
“The Warriors have egg on their faces,” a Western Conference executive told NBC Sports Bay Area Wednesday morning.
Though the Warriors in recent days have privately questioned whether Porziņģis would return, they weren’t ready to give up on the possibility. His offensive skills – 3-point shooting, crafty passing, massive length – would have made him one of the lead characters in the revised offensive scheme under coach Steve Kerr.
Porziņģis, 31, would bring strong value to the defense, too. When associate head coach Frank Vogel, who will coordinate the defense, commented on KP’s potential impact Monday, there was so much trepidation that it felt he was crossing all his fingers.
“That’s obviously the big answer,” Vogel told NBC Sports Bay Area. “We’re still hopeful to have him back, but we’ll see. But that size? You can’t teach size, right? And I’ve always excelled at coaching bigs, working the angles and the commitment to rim protection and doing it without fouling. Doing it non-recklessly. I feel like I could do a lot with him in our defensive system if we’re able to get him back.”
Two days later, the Warriors are basically giving up on having Porziņģis, who might be giving up on his career.
The worst outcome, no KP at all, has landed at the feet of the Warriors. They are now exploring paths to shed the two-year, $40 million contract – $20 million this season, only $3 million guaranteed next season – he signed less than four months ago.
Before Porziņģis played one game, or participated in one practice.
This is a hit to the “five-out” offense that Kerr is committed to implementing. It’s a hit to the explosive partnership that would have been Curry-Porziņģis. It’s a hit to Green, who gets an automatic and not entirely embraced boost in minutes at center.
It’s a hit to, above all, the Warriors being the team they wanted to be this season.
Golden State’s health/performance chief, Dr. Rick Celebrini, was going to have his hands full trying to manage KP through the regular season in hopes of reaching the playoffs. It was a plus that Porziņģis in March expressed full confidence in Celebrini’s restorative powers.
All signs point to those powers being directed elsewhere on a roster that, frankly, will keep Celebrini plenty busy. The most delicate member of the team has one foot out the door. Retirement would surprise no one.
While there's a lot of uncertainty regarding what this season will look like for the Clippers, it raises the question: can the team salvage what is expected to be a nightmare season?
The organization appears to have fallen on hard times, having been a consistent playoff-contending team to one that likely will drop near the bottom of the Western Conference as a result of its offseason.
The league announced disciplinary action against the team in early September after an external law firm completed enough of its investigation and shared its findings with league commissioner Adam Silver.
The Clippers were fined $30 million and were told to forfeit five first-round draft picks (2029–2033). Clippers owner Steve Ballmer and two of the team’s executives were also suspended.
The Clippers also used the offseason to create a younger roster. The team traded Kawhi Leonard and moved on from Nicolas Batum (37) in free agency, while adding players such as Brandon Ingram (29) and Gradey Dick (22). The Clippers were one of the oldest teams in the league, with an average age of 33.2 years last season.
Ingram will not be available for the season opener, leaving coach Tyronn Lue with the task of figuring out how to get the most out of this team.
“We put in a lot of stuff offensively to see what works for this team and see what will stick and we scrapped a lot of it already,” Lue said. "We are just trying to see what works with this team.
“We have some new players and guys in new positions, so we are just trying to see what works."
In the first game, Lue wants to get a better idea of what his team is good at and what he can still work on.
Figuring out what can work well could go a long way in determining how this season will play out.
The Clippers won’t have the manpower needed to put together a championship run. If the team struggles this season, it might not necessarily mean they have a favorable draft pick to look forward to either.
The Oklahoma City Thunder maintain favorable control over the Clippers' first-round pick as part of a previous trade.
Instead, the Clippers can look to produce a solid product in order to increase the trade value for some of its players while working some of its younger players into the rotation and gaining experience.
Predicting 2026-27 Clippers’ season
USA Today projects the Clippers will finish near the bottom of the Western Conference with a 31-51 record.
ST. PETERSBURG, FL - OCTOBER 19: Junior Caminero #13 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates as he rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run in the seventh inning during Game Six of the American League Championship Series between the Cleveland Guardians and the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on Monday, October 19, 2026 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Happy Wednesday, everyone! The World Series stage has now been set as the Tampa Bay Rays dominated the Cleveland Guardians on Monday to head to the World Series against the Milwaukee Brewers. Can’t say that we in Camp AL Central were sad to see the Guardians get crushed, but it would have been nice to be the ones doing the crushing. Still, this makes for a very interesting “small market” matchup, featuring two teams who both have never won a World Series championship. Whoever you’re cheering for, history is going to be made over the coming week.
We’ve got lots of postseason-themed news and other little tidbits waiting for you in today’s links, so let’s get 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.”
Have bat, will travel: Caleb Bonemer is learning the outfield in hopes of finding a faster path to Chicago.
Caleb Bonemer spent the summer giving baseballs a one-way ticket out of the yard. Now, the White Sox are trying to figure out where to put his glove. After a 37-homer season between High-A Winston-Salem and Double-A Birmingham, Bonemer has made a pretty convincing argument that his bat deserves attention. Finding a place for it in Chicago is the next part of the assignment, and some extra mileage in the outfield could help.
That work has continued in the Arizona Fall League, where Bonemer is getting more opportunities to learn the grass while giving Glendale plenty to like at the plate. The Sox haven’t settled on his defensive home, but they’re giving themselves options. With an increasingly crowded infield, that’s probably a good idea.
Bonemer finished the regular season with a .251/.380/.550 slash line and a .930 OPS across the two levels. Along with those 37 long balls, he drew 84 walks in 595 plate appearances, good for a 14.1% walk rate. There’s power here, obviously, but there’s also a willingness to take the free pass when pitchers won’t give him something to hit.
And the production continued after his promotion to Birmingham. That matters. Beating up on High-A pitching is fun, but carrying an offensive profile into Double-A gives the Sox more reason to consider how soon he might help the big league club.
Of course, there’s still some swing-and-miss to address. Bonemer struck out 161 times during the regular season, a 27.1% rate. More than a quarter of his trips to the plate ended without a ball in play, and better pitching will keep testing that part of his game. The goal is to make more contact while keeping the damage that makes him dangerous. The walks help, but getting a hittable pitch and doing something with it will become increasingly important as he moves closer to Chicago.
So far, the fall has offered encouraging results. Through 39 at-bats, Bonemer has hit .282/.349/.590 with a .939 OPS, four doubles, a triple, two home runs and nine RBIs. He has also drawn four walks against eight strikeouts. It’s a small sample, because pretty much everything in the AFL is a small sample. Still, we’ll happily take the extra-base hits.
The more interesting development, though, might be what happens between his plate appearances. Bonemer’s outfield experiment began before he arrived in Arizona. He worked with Doug Sisson in Birmingham in late summer and made his first center field appearance on Aug. 26, giving him some experience before taking the assignment to Glendale. He started nine games in center for Birmingham, handling all 28 chances without an error over 79 2/3 innings.
That makes the AFL an extension of work already underway. One of the biggest reasons for sending him was to get more defensive reps, and he has spent time at all three outfield positions, mostly in center. There’s plenty for the 21-year-old to learn. Reading a ball off the bat, choosing an efficient route and knowing when to call off another outfielder take practice. So does getting the ball back to the correct base without giving runners an extra 90 feet.
Bonemer has one error in eight chances this fall, but that tells us very little about how the transition is going. An error total won’t tell you whether a late jump turned a catchable ball into a double or whether a good route made a difficult play look routine. Those are the details worth watching.
Maybe an offseason conversation with Tristan Peters would help, too. The former Savannah Banana gets some terrific jumps, and Bonemer could do worse than picking the brain of the guy currently patrolling center on the South Side. Peters also complicates any assumption that Bonemer’s assignment comes with a future starting job attached. Chicago’s rookie center fielder hit .265/.337/.437 with a .774 OPS, 12 home runs, 56 RBIs and 31 doubles while making the All-Star team. The Fielding Bible credited him with five Defensive Runs Saved. That’s a pretty solid case for keeping his spot.
The corners offer more questions. Braden Montgomery finished with zero DRS in right and had his struggles at the plate. Sam Antonacci, another infielder learning the outfield, finished at -9 DRS in left. That gives the Sox reasons to keep developing alternatives. It doesn’t tell us which player, if any, Bonemer might eventually replace.
Josh Barfield told Scott Merkin that outfield work adds versatility; Bonemer remains an infielder. Keeping both possibilities alive makes sense. With the big league infield crowded, the outfield could offer Bonemer a quicker route to Chicago, an opportunity he has acknowledged and embraced. A player who can handle multiple positions is easier to work into a lineup, particularly when his bat gives the manager a reason to find room. But he has to be able to handle them. Writing three extra positions next to his name won’t help much if the Sox can’t trust him to play there.
There’s also the trade question. A power bat with several possible defensive homes could interest another organization, and maintaining his infield work preserves those options. That’s a potential benefit of the development plan, though there’s no reason to treat it as evidence the Sox are preparing to move him. For now, there’s enough to follow without trying to predict a transaction or pencil him into the 2027 lineup.
Watch where Bonemer gets his remaining AFL starts. Watch whether his reads, routes and throws become more comfortable as the innings accumulate. At the plate, watch whether he keeps pairing power with walks while cutting down the Ks. Then comes his assignment to open next season, which should give us another clue about how close the Sox believe he is.
Bonemer has already given Chicago a reason to think about finding room for his bat. The work now is making sure his glove gives them somewhere to put it.
ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 07: A catchers mitt in the dugout during the NLDS game 4 between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves on October 7, 2026 at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Okay, this functionally works as news and not a question, but…
Last night, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reported that current Braves assistant general manager Ben Sestanovich was in the running for the Houston Astros’ vacant front office head honcho position.
The Braves are no strangers to having their Alex Anthopoulos proteges depart to baseball ops departments with… tricky… ownership situations. Perry Minasian was the top of the card in Anaheim, for better or worse, until he wasn’t. Dana Brown went to Houston, where he was sacked a couple of months ago, leading to the current opening.
It strikes me as odd that Astros owner Jim Crane would show Brown the door, only to then hire another guy from the Braves’ front office… but Crane does Crane things, so that perhaps fits.
Sestanovich is one of five guys with his “assistant GM” title at present, with a focus on player development. He was the Padres’ head of player development before the Braves offered him the promotion and brought him on ahead of the 2020 campaign. If he does end up moving on to Houston, it would be the second time that Crane handed his keys to a Braves staffer focused on non-MLB talent, as Dana Brown was the Braves’ vice president of scouting.
While the Braves are fairly coy about specifics on what their staffers do and achieve, my main Sestanovich nugget is that he was the guy that helped Kyle Wright break out by having him change his pitch mix to be an east-west, sinker/curve guy. (Having Wright do this was a popular plea in the comments around here for quite a while before it happened, but apparently Sestanovich was the guy who broke through in this regard.)
Anyway, what do you think? Is Sestanovich going to be Brown’s replacement in a time is a flat circle way?
ST. PETERSBURG, FL - SEPTEMBER 16: Jake Bauers #9 of the Tampa Bay Rays looks back at the referee after safely sliding into second base during the second inning against the Oakland Athletics at Tropicana Field on September 16, 2018 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Joseph Garnett Jr./Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Milwaukee Brewers are set to face off with the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2026 World Series, as both franchises are searching for their first championship. As a pair of small-market teams with analytics-heavy philosophies, it should come as no surprise that these two squads have plenty tying them together. Let’s take a quick look at the players (and executives) that have overlaps in this series.
Jake Bauers
The lone Brewer player on this list, Bauers began his career with the Rays. Drafted by the Padres in the 13th round of the 2013 MLB Draft, Bauers was sent to Tampa in December 2014 as part of the return for Wil Myers. He entered 2015 as the team’s No. 24 prospect and, after batting .272/.342/.418 with 11 homers and 74 RBIs across 128 games between High-A and Double-A, remained in the team’s top five prospects through the 2018 season, when he made his debut. Across 96 games with the Rays that year, he slashed .201/.316/.384 with 11 homers, 22 doubles, 48 RBIs, and 48 runs, compiling 0.5 bWAR.
After the conclusion of the season, he was flipped to the Cleveland Indians in a three-team deal that also featured a young Yandy Díaz (who went from Cleveland to Tampa) and veterans Edwin Encarnacion (who went from Cleveland to Seattle) and Carlos Santana (who went from Seattle to Cleveland).
Bauers compiled negative WAR in parts of each of his next few seasons with the Indians/Guardians, Mariners, and Yankees before landing with the Brewers in 2024. He had a strong finish to the 2025 season, hitting .360/.458/.560 with two homers, four doubles, nine RBIs, and 11 runs over 22 games in September and .308/.357/.615 with a homer and double over six games in the 2025 postseason. He continued that trend in 2026, turning in a career-best season at age 30 (he just turned 31 a couple of weeks ago) as he hit .266/.389/.484 with 26 homers, 22 doubles, 86 RBIs, 93 runs, and 11 steals over 144 games, totaling 3.3 bWAR. He then turned in two of the best at-bats (here and here) we’ve seen all postseason in the NLCS, earning NLCS MVP honors to guide the Brewers to the World Series.
Freddy Peralta
We’re all familiar with the fan-favorite Freddy Peralta, who gave us the best of moments but also some of the most frustrating with his inconsistencies and short starts — overall though, things were very positive. Across his first seven seasons in Milwaukee, Peralta compiled 9.3 bWAR and one All-Star appearance, reaching the 200-strikeout mark in both 2023 and 2024 while leading Milwaukee’s rotation.
In 2025, his final season with Milwaukee, he took a big step forward. Across a career-high 33 starts, the 29-year-old right-hander went 17-6, pitching to a 2.70 ERA and 204 strikeouts across 176 2/3 innings, earning his second All-Star appearance and finishing fifth in NL Cy Young voting. Set to be a free agent after 2026, the Brewers opted to trade him while his value was the highest, sending him to the New York Mets in January alongside Tobias Myers in return for a pair of prospects in right-hander Brandon Sproat and utility man Jett Williams.
Things didn’t go great for Peralta in his stint with the Mets, as he got the ball on Opening Day and made 22 starts for New York, going 5-9 with a 4.99 ERA, 4.46 FIP, and 113 strikeouts over 113 2/3 innings, totaling -0.5 bWAR, his first negative WAR season since 2019. The Mets, who had a dismal season, then flipped him again at the trade deadline, sending Peralta to the Rays for pitcher Gary Gill Hill, outfielder Aidan Smith, and shortstop Émilien Pitre. He was solid down the stretch, going 5-2 with a 3.25 ERA, 3.93 FIP, and 43 strikeouts over 55 1/3 innings, earning the AL Pitcher of the Month Award in September. He’s been even better in October, making four appearances (three starts) with a 2-0 record, 1.08 ERA, 3.88 FIP, and 12 strikeouts across 16 2/3 innings, earning the ALCS MVP with strong starts in Games 2 & 6.
Drew Rasmussen
Another star pitcher for the Rays, Drew Rasmussen was a sixth-round pick by the Brewers out of Oregon State in 2018. He quickly rose through the minors, making his debut as a reliever with Milwaukee in the COVID-shortened 2020 season. He then made 15 appearances out of the bullpen in early 2021 before being sent to the Rays alongside J.P. Feyereisen in the trade that netted Milwaukee shortstop Willy Adames and right-hander Trevor Richards.
Rasmussen immediately had success with Tampa, making 20 appearances (10 starts) with a 4-0 record, 2.44 ERA, 2.86 FIP, and 48 strikeouts across 59 innings. He continued rolling (albeit with some injury troubles) over the next few years, with a sub-3.00 ERAs in each season since that time. He was named an All-Star in both 2025 and 2026, finishing ninth in AL Cy Young voting a year ago and likely to finish top 10 once again here in 2026, when he pitched a career-high 172 innings with a 2.67 ERA, 2.82 FIP, and 174 strikeouts. Like Peralta, Rasmussen has been solid in the postseason, starting three games with a 1.29 ERA, 2.58 FIP, and 23 strikeouts across 21 innings.
Matt Arnold
The Brewers’ general manager and president of baseball operations began his career with an internship with the Dodgers before stints with the Rangers and Reds. He caught on with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2007, spending nine seasons with Tampa in various roles, including assisting Andrew Friedman and Matt Silverman with roster decisions. In an analytics-heavy front office, “he worked to develop the process of integrating science, biomechanics, and human movement analysis within all levels of baseball operations,” per his Brewers bio. His tenure with Tampa included four postseason appearances, including an AL pennant in 2008, the franchise’s first World Series appearance. Arnold was promoted to director of professional scouting in November 2009 and to director of player personnel in June 2015.
After the Brewers hired David Stearns as the team’s new general manager in September 2015, Arnold was hired away from Tampa as vice president and assistant general manager. Arnold was promoted to senior vice president and assistant general manager in 2019 before being named as the franchise’s 10th general manager in November 2020. After Stearns stepped down as president of baseball operations to join the Mets’ front office, Arnold became the leader of Milwaukee’s front office in October 2022. He was then promoted to president of baseball operations in October 2025. The Brewers have won at least 92 games in each of Arnold’s four seasons as the head of the front office, winning the NL Central each time and winning a franchise-record 103 games in 2026 en route to the NL pennant. Named MLB Executive of the Year in 2024 and 2025, Arnold is the first executive to receive the honor twice, also earning MLB Executive of the Year by The Sporting News (2024 & 2025) and Baseball America (2024). Safe to say he’s one of the better executives in the league.
Bonus Names
Here are a few players who you won’t see on the World Series roster, but I felt like they deserved to be mentioned anyways, either because of recency or because I just felt like it.
Oliver Dunn (2024-25 with Milwaukee, 2026 with Tampa Bay)
Danny Jansen (2025 with Tampa Bay, traded to Milwaukee at trade deadline where he finished his season)
J.P. Feyereisen (Wisconsin resident, 2020-21 with Milwaukee, traded to Tampa Bay with Drew Rasmussen for Willy Adames and Trevor Richards, 2021-2022 with Tampa Bay)
Willy Adames (2018-21 with Tampa Bay, traded to Milwaukee with Trevor Richards for Drew Rasmussen and J.P. Feyereisen, 2021-2024 with Milwaukee)
Brett Phillips (one of my favorite Brewers ever, even if he didn’t really pan out; 2017-18 with Milwaukee, 2020-22 with Tampa Bay, including this key moment in the 2020 World Series)
James Guillory-Imagn Images
