Soriano: the case is based on ‘a single false accusation’
Club to appeal after verdict on more than 100 charges
Manchester City’s chief executive, Ferran Soriano, has said the guilty verdicts against the club for breaches of financial rules are based on “a single false accusation” and a “Premier League conspiracy theory”, as he maintained City’s innocence.
It was confirmed on Tuesday that City, according to an independent panel, had artificially inflated revenue and reduced costs by more than £900m over a nine-year period through “sham” sponsorship deals, which were mainly funded by Abu Dhabi United Group Investment & Development Ltd (ADUG), which owned the club. In a video sent to City staff after confirmation of the guilty verdict on more than 100 charges, Soriano said the club would appeal and fight the case.
We still have a couple of days before the San Jose Sharks take the ice for their season opener against the Florida Panthers on Thursday, but the NHL's regular season kicks off tonight with five games. For Sharks fans, it may be difficult to decide which game to watch, so let's see which teams have former members of Team Teal in their lineup.
Florida Panthers vs Carolina Hurricanes:
The Panthers have one former Shark on their roster, Jonah Gadjovich, but he's currently out indefinitely with an injury. As a result, there are no former Sharks participating in this game, but the Sharks open the season against Florida in two days, so could be a good scouting opportunity for Sharks fans.
Montreal Canadiens vs Toronto Maple Leafs:
No former Sharks.
New York Rangers vs Boston Bruins:
Vincent Iorio is technically a member of the Rangers organization, but he's currently on the injured reserve and was placed on waivers earlier this morning. The Bruins do have one former Shark as well though, Michael Eyssimont, who will likely be a healthy scratch.
Vancouver Canucks vs Edmonton Oilers:
There are three former Sharks on the Oilers blue line: Jake Walman, Ty Emberson, and the newly acquired Shakir Mukhamadullin. Walman and Mukhamadullin are expected to play against Vancouver, while Emberson is likely going to be a healthy scratch.
Chicago Blackhawks vs Vegas Golden Knights:
The final game of the night will feature the only battle of former Sharks. The Chicago Blackhawks have Ryan Donato, while the Vegas Golden Knights have Tomas Hertl and Adin Hill on their roster. Both of the former Sharks forwards are expected to play, while Hill likely won't be between the pipes for Vegas.
Utah’s plans for its blue line have taken a significant hit before the regular season even begins.
Maveric Lamoureux is expected to miss the next four to six months after undergoing surgery on his shoulder, the Utah Mammoth announced Monday.
The 22-year-old defenseman suffered a shoulder dislocation during training camp and underwent a procedure to repair the injury Monday, according to general manager Bill Armstrong. The recovery timeline puts Lamoureux on track to potentially return around the All-Star break.
Lamoureux had been competing for a full-time NHL role and was viewed as one of the young defensemen pushing for a spot on Utah’s opening-night roster. Instead, he’ll begin the season on injured reserve.
The 6-foot-6, 196-pound right-shot defenseman was originally selected No. 29 overall by the Arizona Coyotes in the 2022 NHL Draft. He was the third first-round selection made by Arizona that year, joining Logan Cooley and Conor Geekie.
Lamoureux turned professional shortly after the Coyotes relocated to Utah, making his NHL debut during the 2024-25 season. He has spent much of his development with the AHL’s Tucson Roadrunners, where he appeared in 65 games last season and recorded five goals and 20 points.
He also appeared in five NHL games for Utah in 2025-26, registering one assist.
Through 107 career AHL games, Lamoureux has seven goals, 33 points and 123 penalty minutes. He has added four points — one goal and three assists — in 20 NHL appearances, along with 44 penalty minutes.
With Lamoureux now sidelined for a large portion of the season, Utah will have another opening to fill on defense.
Andrew Peeke and Nick DeSimone could see increased opportunities, while 2023 first-round pick Dmitri Simashev will have another chance to establish himself. Prospects Tomas Lavoie, Artem Duda and Gregor Biber are also looking to make the jump from Tucson to Salt Lake City.
The Mammoth open their 2026-27 season Oct. 1 against the Chicago Blackhawks.
Andre Drummond drew interest from several other clubs around the league during the offseason, but after talking things over with his agent, he decided that joining the Knicks made the most sense.
“This was the best option,” he said Tuesday. “Being born in Mount Vernon and then moving to Connecticut very young, I’ve always been a Knicks fan -- from Amar’e [Stoudemire] to PatrickEwing, the list of greats in this organization, it’s a true honor to put the jersey on.”
Bruce Brown is Drummond's only new teammate whom he's played with before, but he does have plenty of experience competing against the majority of this roster over the years.
The most recent time, of course, was when the Knicks sent him and the 76ers packing in the Eastern Conference Semifinals last year en route to their drought-snapping championship berth.
One thing Drummond remembers from that series: New York fans completely taking over Xfinity Arena.
“It was crazy,” he said with a smile. “It felt like a road game the whole series, you guys came down and took over the Philadelphia arena, it was crazy even seeing some of the fans from there wearing Knicks jerseys too -- the Knicks fanbase is far-and-wide, it doesn’t matter where you are in the world, definitely the basketball Mecca.”
Now, the 33-year-old will get to experience what it’s like being on the other side of that passionate fanbase.
Drummond is expected to play a pretty significant role in his first year with the team, too, helping make up for the loss of beloved big man Mitchell Robinson to the rival Boston Celtics in free agency.
The Knicks know replacing Robinson's production is an awfully tall task to ask of anyone, though, so they are simply looking for the veteran center to go out and play his game.
"The best part of the situation Andre is in," captain Jalen Brunson explained. "He’s not coming in to be Mitch, he’s coming in to be himself -- we have to give him the confidence to be himself -- this is a new team and a new journey, we’re going to attack it every day.”
Though he's seen his production drop off a bit as his career has progressed, Drummond was able to pull in 8.4 boards while averaging just under 20 minutes per night across 63 games with Philly last season.
On Monday night, X user @Eggorian posted a selfie and a POV shot from where his Padres season tickets are with the caption, “Do you want to go to the #Padres / Cubs playoff game on Wednesday night with me? This is me. I sit here….dugout club section 4. Due to circumstances beyond my control, I no longer have a date for the game and want to fix that.
X user @Eggorian posting a selfie while trying to find a date to the San Diego Padres game.
“Are you: 1) Female / 2) Single / 3) Age 30-55 / 4) A Padres fanatic / If so, you qualify!,” the post continued,
“I am: 53 6’0” 180 lbs Almost divorced (4.5 years and counting. Final November hearing) 2 grown kids Business owner 25% season ticket holder If you’re interested, send me a DM. I’m dreading the trip back to Bumble/Hinge next week and hopeful this helps avoid that! #forthefaithful”.
Do you want to go to the #Padres / Cubs playoff game on Wednesday night with me? This is me. I sit here….dugout club section 4. Due to circumstances beyond my control, I no longer have a date for the game and want to fix that. Are you: 1) Female 2) Single 3) Age 30-55 4) A… pic.twitter.com/ByF3z7MdUF
This post has gone viral, amassing over 900,000 views in about 16 hours. Some of the reaction is fans being upset about how specific these dating requirements are, as if this person should not be so picky when trying to fing a date on such short notice.
A San Diego Padres fan holds up a placard after the Padres defeated the Colorado Rockies in a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026, in Denver. AP Photo/David Zalubowski
Others either find it hilarious or sad that a man is taking to social media to find a date for this Padres game.
Regardless, you can’t fault the guy for trying. Perhaps he’ll end up with a date after all.
San Diego Padres right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. walks on the field during the fourth inning of a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Petco Park in San Diego, California, Sept. 27, 2026. Wally Skalij for CA Post
El Segundo, CA, - September 28, 2026: Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) speaks during a press conference during the team's media day at the UCLA Health Training Center on Monday, Sept. 28, 2026 in El Segundo, CA. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Last year, Austin Reaves enjoyed a career-best campaign, averaging 23.3 points, 5.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game. But a pair of separate injuries interrupted his season. He was limited to 51 regular-season games (and missed four playoff outings), missed out on an All-Star berth and was ineligible for an All-NBA nod, both of which were very plausible had he stayed healthy.
As he enters 2026-27 equipped with a new, four-year, $184 million contract, Reaves understands how much attention must be devoted to taking care of his body — a lesson learned from his former teammate, LeBron James, whom he spent the first five years of his career playing alongside.
“I think that’s one of the biggest things I learned from LeBron was what he did every single day to give himself the opportunity to still play this game at the highest level,” Reaves told reporters during Monday’s media day. “There’s a lot more that goes into it than the casual fan sees. You have to do more every single day and especially the older that you get. He’s a perfect example of that. We’ve had a really good summer, put myself in a really good spot going into this year.”
Dan Woike of The Athletic also reported former Lakers strength coach Ed Streit will be Reaves’ dedicated trainer this season.
My understanding is that Streit will be on staff similar to the relationship Mike Mancias had with LeBron James and the one Anže Maček has with Luka Dončić. https://t.co/R3Mj9ai8Qq
Reaves is entering the prime of his career and should seriously contend for All-Star appearances and All-NBA honors, if he can stay healthy. He’s a dynamite creator, adept off-ball scorer and talented passer who thrives at all three levels and draws fouls.
Based on Monday’s comments, how he’s described his approach to the offseason and the decision to have his own trainer, it seems he fully understands the lengths he has to go to remain on the court.
Reaves and Luka Dončić are among the league’s most dynamic backcourts and the foundation of any success the Los Angeles Lakers will accomplish this season, particularly on offense (where they should be very, very good). To do so, though, they each have to play more than they did in 2025-26. It appears both recognize that and have dialed up the diligence to ensure they will be moving forward.
Here are the 26 players who will be available to face the Padres in the best-of-three Wild Card Series which begins this evening at Petco Park in San Diego. Players are listed in alphabetical order by position.
Infielders (6)
Gabriel Arias, Alex Bregman, Michael Busch, Nico Hoerner, Pedro Ramírez, Dansby Swanson
No surprises here.
Outfielders (6)
Pete Crow-Armstrong, Michael Conforto, Ian Happ, Matt Shaw, Seiya Suzuki, Tyrone Taylor
I have Shaw listed as an outfielder here, but obviously, he can also play second base or third base.
Catchers (2)
Miguel Amaya, Carson Kelly
Obviously.
Starting pitchers (3)
Matthew Boyd, Kevin Gausman, Shōta Imanaga
Not necessarily in that order, though Boyd will start Game 1 tonight.
I want to make it crystal clear that this list is my opinion and no one else’s.
Relief pitchers (9)
Javier Assad, Aaron Civale, Clay Holmes, Daniel Palencia, David Peterson, Colin Rea, Ryan Rolison, Jacob Webb, Ryan Zeferjahn
Caleb Thielbar is odd-man-out for this series (and perhaps beyond).
Holmes, who’s been a starter the last two years, has extensive relief experience, including being a closer for the Yankees for three seasons. He could be an excellent bullpen weapon.
Sep 28, 2026; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics center Mitchell Robinson (4) talks to reporters during media day at Auerbach Center. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Fresh off a slew of offseason roster turnover this summer, the Boston Celtics find themselves in a much different spot in the frontcourt than they were a year ago.
Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens ensured that rather than being backed into a corner again, the team would have options.
When asked about the three-man center rotation of Neemias Queta, Mitchell Robinson and Luka Garza, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla had one word for what he’s most thrilled about.
Robinson arrived via free agency after Boston signed the 28-year-old to a three-year, $47.39 million contract shortly after his NBA title capture with the Knicks. That added a secondary starting option, with qualifications, to Mazzulla’s group, giving the Celtics flexibility to get creative this upcoming season.
Mazzulla acknowledged that while the Celtics can’t run all three each night in Boston’s lineup, each is deserving of being rewarded for their leaps last season.
“Obviously Mitch’s resume speaks for itself,” Mazzulla said. “If you take a look at Neemi and Luka, they both are significantly better players than they were at the beginning of last season. Credit to them and their work ethic. I think with guys that you have coming back, you want them to take the next step. They both had great offseasons. They both deserve to be given more responsibility within the framework of our team. But we have three different kinds.”
Queta entered training camp as the man under the spotlight. Boston had just parted ways with Kristaps Porziņģis, Al Horford, and Luke Kornet, leaving the roster’s frontcourt thin. And with only six prior starts through three seasons, Queta quickly adjusted to his promotion and became a vital fixture — averaging career-highs in points (10.2), rebounds (8.4), and blocks (1.3) across 76 appearances.
Garza, too, carved out a role for himself behind Queta, knocking down a career-best 55 threes while sweating like a marathon runner fighting for second chances on the offensive glass.
Meanwhile, in New York, Robinson logged 16 starts in 60 appearances, finishing eighth for the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year vote.
Oct 9, 2023; New York, New York, USA; Boston Celtics center Neemias Queta (88) shoots the ball as New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (23) defends during the first half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
Being the newcomer, Robinson isn’t concerned about competing for a starting role.
“For me, it doesn’t matter,” Robinson told reporters. “I’ve started before. I came off the bench. I’ve been up and down. That don’t really bother me too much, so whatever happens, it is what it is. I’m gonna still continue to play hard and do what I do best. That’s just one of those things, like, we’ll see what happens.”
From watching Jayson Tatum and Paul George forge their bond to making amends with Mazzulla over his Hack-a-Mitch tactics, Robinson spoke highly of his early Boston experience.
“I feel like they’re gonna get the best out of me,” Robinson added.
So far, Robinson and Queta are on the same page as the Celtics begin training camp. They recognize their similarities and differences, but also understand how their contrasting skill sets can strengthen Boston’s frontcourt.
Robinson has competed against the Celtics 22 times over the last eight years, and the organization is thrilled to bring that to an end.
“Mitch is a great guy to be around,” Queta told reporters. “He’s gonna make us a lot better. I’m excited to have him as a teammate way more than having him as an opponent. And he’s going to give us a different look, being able to rebound at a really high level, defend one through five. He’s a great guy to be around too, and he’s gonna help us get to the next level.”
Boston also has second-year product Amari Williams and incoming rookie Chris Cenac Jr., both in the early stages of their development.
Queta looks forward to watching them get their opportunities as well, working alongside the veterans in an environment similar to the one the Celtics cultivated last season. He’s even got a name for Boston’s new big-man group: “Big Fella University.”
“Just made that up. Big Man University,” Queta chuckled. “Those guys should be pretty reliable, and night in and night out, whoever gets called upon, I got 100 percent confidence that we’ll deliver.”
The 2026 MLB postseason has finally arrived. Starting with chaos in the Wild Card Series on NBC, Peacock and NBCSN, the field is packed with October veterans, the reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers and youthful squads looking to make statements.
Stay up to date with every game with our tracker below.
2026 MLB Playoffs bracket
The bracket is set and the quest for October magic begins!
DENVER, COLORADO - SEPTEMBER 20: Gabriel Landeskog #92 and Taylor Makar #16 of the Colorado Avalanche celebrate their 4-1 win against the Utah Mammoth at Ball Arena on September 20, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Andrew Maclean/NHLI via Getty Images)
To celebrate the start of the 2026-27 season, we are recording our final thoughts and predictions as we are set for the first Colorado Avalanche puck drop tomorrow night. Will any of our predictions come true?
Let’s start easy: Who will score Colorado’s first goal of the season?
Jackie: I feel like this is going to be a big year for Cale Makar, so he’s going to be the one to start the team off.
Matthew: I think Brock Nelson scores the first Avs goal this season.
Brennan: It would be perfect to see T.J. Hughes score the first goal, with as much work he has put in over the summer.
Jess: I’ll throw Nazem Kadri out there; seeing him score the first goal after being traded back to Colorado last season would be so much fun.
Adrian: My original answer was Logan O’Connor, but he won’t be playing in game one. Since that was my unconventional pick, I’ll pivot to the most conventional pick. It will be Nathan MacKinnon, but I’ll make it bold by saying it comes on the first power play of the season.
Which trophies (if any) will the Avalanche win in the 2026-27 season?
Matthew: Nathan MacKinnon will win another Rocket Richard Trophy, much to the chagrin of Montréal Canadiens fans (again).
Jess: I think Makar has a good shot at another Norris this year, and I agree with MacKinnon winning the Rocket Richard as well.
Jackie: Continuing the theme of a big year for Cale Makar would mean he’s in line to win his third Norris trophy.
Brennan: I agree with Jackie have to say that Makar will get the Norris.
Adrian: I predict that Brock Nelson will, in fact, win the Selke this year and that the goalie tandem will repeat as Jennings winners as well. All of that, minus major scoring and MVP awards, will mean Jared Bednar finally earns a Jack Adams this time.
Which youth movement candidate will score the most points in burgundy and blue?
Matthew: As much as I want to believe it’ll be T.J. Hughes, I’m going for Fedor Svechkov.
Brennan: If Zachary L’Heureux can stay in the lineup and stay healthy, I think he is shaping up for a career year.
Jess: I’ve been impressed by T.J. Hughes through camp and preseason; I think there’s a good chance he’ll score quite a bit this season.
Adrian: I’m gonna say T.J. Hughes for most points from the youth movement, especially considering he’s seemingly going to get power-play opportunities. L’Heureux for most penalty minutes.
Jackie: I’m going real bold and believe it will be Taylor Makar.
Surprise team to make and/or miss the playoffs?
Matthew: Choosing one team from each conference on this question – Chicago and Columbus make the playoffs, while Anaheim and Florida miss the playoffs.
Brennan: Ottawa will make the playoffs, and just in the Wild Card, but in the top three of the Atlantic with Brady gone. Nashville is in a position to make a jump into the playoffs with six former Avalanche players on the roster as well.
Jess: I think Utah will finally get into the playoffs this year, by way of either a Wild Card spot or the third spot in the Central Division. I think there’s a chance the Kings miss the playoffs, but I also don’t see them bottoming out and being as bad as some other bottom teams in the Western Conference. Out in the Eastern Conference, I think the Islanders make it this year, and the Senators end up missing.
Adrian: I think the Blackhawks will steal a wildcard spot, but mostly because of how bad the Pacific will look, in my opinion. I think the Central will earn both wild-card spots by year’s end.
Jackie: The New York Rangers will make the playoffs and the Buffalo Sabres will miss.
Guess a big-name player who will get traded in-season?
Matthew: Connor Hellebuyck gets his wish and finally gets traded out of Winnipeg…and lands in Utah.
Brennan: Hellebuyck, but he will go to an Eastern Conference team based in the U.S.
Adrian: Quinn Hughes is headed to New Jersey, right?
Jess: Not to jump in and give the exact same answer, I think Hellebuyck gets traded this season and lands in Buffalo; that’s the location that’s been widely talked about when discussing him getting traded since the NHL draft.
Jackie: Now that things are moving in Columbus, I’ll say the Blue Jackets revisit the Zach Werenski situation that was supposedly smoothed out over the summer and trade him by the deadline.
Who will win the Stanley Cup?
Matthew: After sixty years, the Toronto Maple Leafs finally end the drought, and the jeers of “1967” will be replaced with cheers of “2027”!
Brennan: Do I dare say the Canes repeat (and of course I would love to see the Avs take it).
Jess: I’ll be an unashamed homer and take Colorado; for a more fun, underdog pick, seeing Buffalo go all the way would be really fun
Adrian: The Colorado Avalanche will win the Stanley Cup on the back of a dominant commitment to defense and netminding. Defense wins championships.
Jackie: For some reason, I’m feeling the Washington Capitals.
What are your predictions? Let us know in the comments!
James famously took Reaves under his wing after the Lakers signed the guard to a two-way contract after he went undrafted in 2021.
Only Anthony Davis played more games alongside LeBron James in a Lakers uniform than Austin Reaves. NBAE via Getty Images
Reaves signed a standard NBA contract with the Lakers just before the start of training camp entering the 2021-22 season.
Only Anthony Davis (296) played more combined regular season and playoff games as a teammate of James’ than Reaves (284) during James’ eight seasons in L.A.
The time Reaves and James spent as teammates allowed for Reaves to pick up on one of the key aspects of the NBA as he becomes the Lakers’ unquestioned co-star behind superstar guard Luka Doncic: The work that’s required to stay healthy and be available to your teammates for an entire season.
“One of the biggest things I learned from LeBron was what he did every single day to give [himself] the opportunity to still play this game at the highest level,” Reaves said. “There’s a lot more that goes into it than the casual fan sees. You have to do more every single day, especially the older you get. He’s a perfect example of that.”
LeBron James’ impact on Austin Reaves is present even though they aren’t teammates anymore. AP Photo/Chris Szagola
He holds the NBA’s records for most regular season games played (1,622), most playoff games appearances (302), most regular season minutes played (61,030) and most (12,446).
And James is still going, entering an unprecedented 24th NBA season after leading the Lakers to a first round playoff series victory over the Rockets in the spring.
This is the kind of example that was set for Reaves for five years.
In the spirit of taking care of his body, Reaves will have his own trainer starting this season: Former Lakers strength and conditioning coach Ed Streit, as first reported by The Athletic.
Streit worked for the Bulls from 2015-17, eventually joining the Lakers in 2019 as an assistant strength and conditioning coach.
He was promoted to the franchise’s head strength and conditioning coach ahead of the 2023-24 season before departing the Lakers last year.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves has taken steps to take better care of his body. AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
Streit is expected to be on the Lakers’ staff similar to how James’ longtime personal trainer, Mike Mancias, was on the Lakers’ staff as an athletic trainer/athletic performance liaison.
“I’ve had a really good summer,” Reaves said. “Put myself in a really good spot going into this year.”
The Lakers will need Reaves to not only be more available but also more durable after signing a four-year, $180 contract with the franchise.
Even though Reaves played at an All-Star level in 2025-26, he’s coming off playing a career-low 51 games because of a Grade 2 left calf strain that sidelined him for 1 ½ months (late December-early February) and a Grade 2 oblique strain that had him out of the lineup for the final five games of the regular season and first four games of the playoff series against the Rockets.
Reaves returned for the Lakers’ final six playoff games before they were swept in the second round by the Thunder.
The Lakers will need Austin Reaves (left) to be more durable as he becomes the franchise’s undisputed co-star behind Luka Doncic (right). AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
Improved durability should help the 28-year-old maintain his performance in the postseason after injuries have hampered his last two playoff appearances.
He averaged 20 points, 5.8 assists and 4.0 rebounds during the playoffs, but shot just 40.7% from the floor and 25.7% on 3-pointers.
That came a year after he averaged 16.2 points (41.1% shooting, 31.9% on 3-pointers), 5.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists in the Lakers’ five playoff games during the 2025 first round loss to the Timberwolves while he dealt with a toe injury.
Houston won the AL West with the worst record (81-81) of any playoff team in history and are in the postseason for the 10th time in 12 seasons. Meanwhile, the White Sox reached the playoffs for the first time since 2021, just two years after setting the MLB record with 121 losses in 2024.
Both teams will open the game with their bullpens, as rookies AJ Blubaugh gets the start for the Astros and Hagen Smith for the White Sox. The right-hander Blubaugh made 64 appearances with a 3.66 ERA in 96 innings in the regular season. Smith, the fifth overall pick in the 2024 draft, made 18 appearances after being promoted to the majors, racking up 41 strikeouts in 28 innings with a 1.29 ERA.
Follow for live updates:
Where to watch Astros vs White Sox: Channel, live stream
First pitch between the Astros and White Sox is scheduled for 5 p.m. (ET) on Tuesday, Sept. 29.
The Astros host the White Sox on Tuesday, Sept. 29. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. ET.
The plan for facing Yordan Alvarez
03:23 PM ET, September 29 2026
How do you pitch -- or not pitch -- to Yordan Alvarez? White Sox manager Will Venable said his team is prepared to pitch both to and around the Astros slugger, who hit .316 and won the American League batting title while staking a claim as an AL MVP candidate.
"We do have an attack plan in which we know that there's parts of the plate that we want to attack. We also know that there's going to be situations in this game in which we don't want to mess with him at all and potentially will walk him," Venable said. "So we're going to walk that fine line throughout this series and try to do the best that we can with having the understanding of the situation and the information we have, who we have on the mound, game state, all those things will factor in."
Rob Manfred begins the playoffs in Houston
03:22 PM ET, September 29 2026
Rob Manfred is at Daikin Park for the first day of the MLB playoffs. Before first pitch, the commissioner spent time talking to Astros owner Jim Crane.
White Sox shortstop Colson Montgomery is batting ninth in the order for the first time this season in Game 1 against the Astros. Montgomery, who for most of the season hit cleanup or in the middle of the order, slugged 31 home runs this season but also set an unenviable MLB record for single-season strikeouts with 227.
His second half was especially rough, and he finished the season 8-for-81with 42 strikeouts and two homers in his final 24 games.
“I don't care where I'm at as long as I'm in the lineup,” Montgomery said pregame Tuesday. “That's the mindset I feel like you have to have. I know I batted ninth, I think, one time against the Cubs last year. So I don't see it any different. Just being in the lineup, that gives me the confidence that that's where they want me to be and I'm OK with it.”
White Sox manager Will Venable said his decision to move Montgomery down in the order should not detract from the contributions the 24-year-old made all year.
“I kind of feel like it's a choice on how you view Colson,” Venable said. “You can view the fact that he now leads the league all time in strikeouts, or that he hit 31 homers from the shortstop position, which I'm pretty sure leads Major League Baseball, and has done incredible things to help our team get to this point.
"So when I talk to him, it's a combination of both of those things, to make sure that he understands that this is tough and it's going to feel tough, but that myself, the organization, the people that watch him play are viewing the guy that has gone out and hit a bunch of homers, played really good defense, and helped a team make it to the playoffs when no one else expected us to. So those are the types of conversations we're having.”
Jose Altuve going for Manny Ramirez's record
02:47 PM ET, September 29 2026
Jose Altuve hasn't homered in a playoff game since Game 7 of the 2023 ALCS, a ninth-inning solo shot off Rangers reliever Jose Leclerc in an 11-4 loss that sent Texas to the World Series.
That was his 27th career playoff home run. He needs two more to tie Manny Ramirez's record of 19 playoff home runs and three to own it.
Ramirez got there in 111 postseason games across three teams. Altuve has 27 in 105 games, all with Houston, the most ever by a player with one franchise.
Altuve, 36, hit .250 with 16 homers this season, his fewest in a full season since 2018. But he did take the White Sox deep last week, a first-inning, two-run homer off Luis Castillo.
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CLEVELAND, OH - SEPTEMBER 30: The MLB Wild Card and Postseason logos appears on the dugout wall prior to the Major League Baseball 2025 American League Wild Card Series Game 1 between the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Guardians on September 30, 2025, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Named the above to separate it from the SB Nation Gameday Thread, which I believe will also be making an appearance on the page at some point today. But there may be fans of other teams appearing in there and we all know how icky they are. 🙂 Anyway, the 2026 post-season gets under way today, with four games in the wild-card round. Here is the schedule for your viewing pleasure, with all times Arizona
Philadelphia Phillies @ Atlanta Braves (0-0): 11:00 am, NBC
Chicago White Sox @ Houston Astros (0-0): 2:00 pm, Peacock
Boston Red Sox @ New York Yankees (0-0): 5:00 pm, NBC
Chicago Cubs @ San Diego Padres (0-0): 8:00 pm, Peacock
SAN DIEGO, CA - SEPTEMBER 08: Andrés Chaparro #87 of Washington Nationals celebrates with teammate CJ Abrams #5 after hitting a home run in the eighth inning during the game between the Washington Nationals and the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on Tuesday, September 8, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Ryan Levy/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Throughout the season, the offense was a major story for this Nationals team. It was the unit that carried this team and made them so exciting to watch. I wanted to break down what made this offense so special and dive into some of the numbers.
Part of what made this offense so special was how surprising it was. Last season, the Nats ranked 24th in OPS, 20th in runs and 24th in home runs. Simply put, this was not a very good offense in 2025. However, this team made it very clear that 2026 would be different.
The offense was slugging early and often this season. They got off to a hot start and never looked back. This offense scored 10 runs on Opening Day, which was a sign of things to come. For the season, the Nats finished 3rd in OPS, 6th in homers and 3rd in runs scored. That is truly an elite offense.
The Washington Nationals offense finished third in runs scored, 6th in homers, 3rd in OPS, 3rd in slugging, 8th in OBP, 7th in hits 12th in average and 4th in doubles. What a unit this was in 2026. Crazy what good coaching can do
Seeing those kinds of strides in one season is very rare. It is not like the Nats added a ton of outside help either. This was all existing players making strides forward. A lot of that credit has to go to the coaching staff and front office.
In the offseason, the new regime made it clear that they wanted to modernize on the offensive side of the ball. They brought in new technology like the Trajekt Arc machine and hired coaches with analytical backgrounds. New hitting coach Matt Borgschulte was known as a bright, young mind in the industry. Meanwhile, assistant hitting coach Andrew Aydt came from Driveline and is on the cutting edge of modern hitting.
Between swing changes, approach tweaks and bat speed increases, Nats hitters had way more success in 2026. That was easy to see right away as well. Through one month, things can be shrugged off as a fluke, but when the Nats were leading baseball in runs by Memorial Day, this was hard to ignore.
We’re 2 months into the season and the Nationals are:
1st in Runs (294) 4th in HR (70) 5th in SB (53) 4th in OPS (.745) 4th in wRC+ (110)
So many individual players improved. One of the most drastic overhauls came with Jacob Young. In 2025, Young had no power and was hitting the ball on the ground over 55% of the time. This offseason, he worked with Driveline to fix his swing. With that outside help and the work of Nats hitting coaches, Young hit 10 home runs, despite only having 5 in his career before this season.
A big reason for that is his ground ball rate went down to 39.4%. Instead of trying to hit balls through the infield, Young was up there to do damage. That strategy worked and made him a very respectable hitter. In 2026, Young hit .252 with a .708 OPS. Those numbers are not mindblowing, but when you combine that with his great defense, Young posted 2.3 fWAR.
Another insane turnaround came from Keibert Ruiz. At this time last season, Ruiz’s career looked to be in jeopardy due to concussion issues and poor play. This season, he had a career year, hitting .280 with a .759 OPS. He accomplished this by pulling the ball in the air a ton. His 33.9% pull air rate was second in all of baseball behind Pete Crow-Armstrong. This allowed him to make the most of his middling exit velocities and become a productive hitter.
Andres Chaparro is another hitter who broke out due to pulling the ball in the air. Despite Chaparro struggling in the first half in limited playing time, the organization stuck with him and that paid off in a big way. In the second half, Chappy hit 12 homers and posted an OPS of .998.
Seeing one of these guys have this type of breakout would be one thing, but there are so many players improving. It is absolutely not a fluke. These are just three of many examples. Paul Toboni decided to cash in on the breakouts of Curtis Mead and Luis Garcia Jr. at the deadline to get much needed pitching help.
Despite this great season, this offense cannot rest on their laurels and neither can the front office. Paul Toboni talked about how he can’t necessarily rely on the offense repeating this and that he still needs to act in order to improve the team. I think that is a very good point.
This offense should continue to be good, but it is worth pointing out that this was probably one of the higher end outcomes. There is no guarantee that they will be this good next year. Even with James Wood missing time, this offense was fairly healthy and a lot of players had breakout years.
Even so, I do not think this offense was a fluke or anything. One of my favorite stats is xwOBA because of how it takes quality of contact into account. The Nats actually finished third in that stat, meaning that they were not getting insane batted ball luck.
They might not be top 3 in runs next year, but the foundation is there to be a good offensive team for years to come. More pieces would obviously be helpful, but between the stars at the top of the lineup and all the depth, the offense is in a good place.
One of those stars is James Wood, who had a good season. He played at an MVP level in the first half before falling off down the stretch. Wood will need to find a way to finish seasons strong, but the talent is so obvious with him. The ball just comes off his bat differently, and the exit velocity data shows that.
Wood and CJ Abrams are a formidable big 2 at the top of the lineup. This coaching staff and front office has shown they can find bats to be productive around them. With a lot of young offensive talent in the system, this offense should be the core of the next iteration of Nats baseball. The offense gets an A+ for this season. Now it is time to find the right guys on the mound to surround them.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 28: A detailed view of signage on the field before National League Wild Card Series workouts by the San Diego Padres and the Chicago Cubs at Petco Park on September 28, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The 2026 MLB regular season ended this past weekend, meaning it is now time for playoff baseball. The defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers are in pursuit of a historic three-peat, while the rest of the postseason field hopes this is the year they win the World Series.
The best-of-three Wild Card round gets underway today, with eight of the 12 teams in the bracket in action. The other four teams—the Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, Tampa Bay Rays and Cleveland Guardians—earned first-round byes as the top two seeds in their respective leagues.
In the American League (AL), the New York Yankees will host their bitter rival, the Boston Red Sox, for a second consecutive October. The other matchup pits the 81-81 AL West champion Houston Astros against the visiting Chicago White Sox, who surprisingly but deservedly made the playoffs after two consecutive 100-loss seasons.
In the National League (NL), the San Diego Padres will face the Chicago Cubs once again, but this time in San Diego instead of Chicago. On the East Coast, the Atlanta Braves will host their division rival, the Philadelphia Phillies.
Braves vs Phillies (2:00 PM EDT)
These two senior circuit juggernauts will each send standout left-handers to the mound to open the series. Former Athletic Jesús Luzardo (14-5, 2.86 ERA), who was just reinstated from the injured list, will make the start for the Phillies. He will be opposed by Atlanta ace Chris Sale (14-9, 2.16 ERA), who put together another strong season for the NL East champions.
Houston is using a bullpen game, with right-hander AJ Blubaugh making the start. That allows the Astros to preserve Hunter Brown for Game 2. The White Sox are also using a bullpen game as both teams look to take advantage of favorable matchups. Left-hander Hagen Smith will get the start for the South Siders.
Both of these historic franchises feature two of the best rotations in the league. AL Cy Young Award frontrunner Cam Schlittler (14-6, 1.95 ERA) will start for the Yankees, while the Red Sox will turn to left-hander Payton Tolle (9-6, 3.03 ERA) to open the series.
New York knocked out Boston in three games last year. Will history repeat itself, or will the Red Sox oust their division rival? Aaron Judge not suiting up for the Yankees will have a drastic impact on this series, as his presence makes the Yankees’ lineup much more intimidating to opposing pitchers.
Right-hander Michael King (12-10, 3.21 ERA) will start for the Padres, looking to shut down NL MVP favorite Pete Crow-Armstrong and the rest of the Cubs’ strong lineup. He will be opposed by Cubs left-hander Matthew Boyd (10-5, 3.91 ERA), who will be tasked with keeping Fernando Tatis Jr. and Jackson Merrill off the basepaths.
If the Padres are in front after five innings, the Cubs could have difficulty coming back against the Padres’ elite bullpen. Left-hander Adrian Morejon and arguably the best closer in baseball, Mason Miller, form a dynamic late-inning duo. This season, A’s fans often wished Miller was still in the team’s bullpen instead of the parade of relievers the Green and Gold employed in his absence.
Chicago knocked out San Diego in three games last year. Will history repeat itself, or will the Padres advance this time around?
What are your playoff predictions? Which team will win the World Series, and which players will make a name for themselves on the national stage?
