If the choice to ask Nic Maddinson to open in Durban was a bust, the upside for Australia was that it pushed Matthew Renshaw down to number five. From there, the Queenslander returned from 10 years on the periphery to the centre of the spotlight in the first Test against South Africa, with an innings of 190 that saved Australia from peril, settled them into stability, then lifted them to dominance.
Staunch support from the lower order was the other part of the equation, as Renshaw batted through two extended sessions until he was last man out, just after tea, with Australia’s 390 followed by South Africa’s 27 for one before stumps.
From the Warriors' perspective this feels like smart business, they hang on to someone they see as part of their future without impacting cap space.
Golden State fan favorite Brandin Podziemski is staying in Golden State after the sides agreed to a five-year, $110 million rookie contract extension, ESPN’s Shams Charania reports. There is a mutual option for both the player and the team in the fifth year.
That's solid starter money for the 6'4" guard who played in all 82 games for the Warriors last season (starting 43) and led the team in mintues, averaging 13.8 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game while shooting 37.1% from 3-point range. He's also a solid perimeter defender, which the Warriors need next to Stephen Curry, even if that pair doesn't always feel like the most natural fit (like Klay Thompson was). That said, Steve Kerr and the Warriors staff clearly trust him by how much they have him on the court.
While the Warriors could have held out to try and get Podziemski to sign for less as a restricted free agent, they wanted to keep a fan favorite and not risk another team making an even larger offer next summer to try and poach him.
This contract will start at $18.9 million next season, reports Anthony Slater of ESPN. Podziemski's cap hold for next summer would have already been $17 million, so this contract doesn't really eat into the $55-60 million in cap space the Warriors expect to have next summer to chase a star or stars to put next to Curry (or re-sign Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green).
Podziemski becomes the fifth player from the 2023 NBA Draft class to reach a rookie-scale extension so far, joining Victor Wembanyama, Amen Thompson, Ausar Thompson and Keyonte George. The deadline for extensions for anyone else in that class is Oct. 19.
The New York Islanders and their fans have been holding their breath on the status of captain and star forward Bo Horvat. But they can breathe a sigh of relief, as he'll play on Saturday night against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
On Saturday, GM Alexander Steen announced that forward Dillon Dube will miss the next eight weeks with a neck injury.
Dube was involved in an awkward collision with San Jose Sharks forward Will Smith. Dube hit the boards head-first, and it immediately looked bad for his neck.
The Blues went on to lose 3-2 in overtime after Dube scored a shorthanded goal. The goal was Dube's first goal of the season and his first since Nov. 16, 2023. Dube played three games before his injury, scoring the lone goal and averaging 11:32 of ice time.
With Dube injured and heading to the injured reserve, he joins Logan Mailloux, Tyler Tucker, and Alexey Toropchenko on the injured list. Zach Dean is expected to join the Blues lineup in Dube's absence.
Dean has skated in one regular-season game with the Blues this season and has played 10 NHL games in total. The 23-year-old plays at a fast pace and looks to dish the puck as a playmaker.
Dean will have the opportunity to step into the lineup tonight against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
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With injuries to Aleksander Barkov and Brad Marchand, the Florida Panthers lineup is beginning to look different once again.
The team has moved players up and down, and off-season acquisitions are finding their way into the lineup.
Today, that will be veteran forward Sam Lafferty.
Lafferty is an NHL journeyman. The 31-year-old has played 378 career NHL games with five teams, and the Panthers will be his sixth. He's potted 41 goals and 92 points in his career, with his career high coming in the 2023-24 season, when he scored 13 goals and 24 points.
Lafferty is known for his speed, defensive work, and penalty-killing effectiveness. On occasion, Lafferty can wow opponents with slick hands off the rush, but for the most part, he is effective on the forecheck and by getting his 6-foot-2 frame in front of the net.
As Lafferty takes the fourth-line center role, Lars Eller moves on to center Brady Tkachuk and Sam Reinhart. Eller is off to a strong start this season, posting three assists in four games.
The Wild enter tonight's game after losing their previous two encounters. Like the Panthers, they're dealing with the injury bug and will be without Filip Gustavsson, Brock Faber, Nick Foligno, and likely Olli Maatta.
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Paul Seixas ended his breakout season as a history-making Monument winner with a stunning victory at the Giro di Lombardia. The 20-year-old French prodigy became the youngest winner of the Classic of the Falling Leaves and the fourth-youngest winner of a Monument.
The Vuelta champion Enric Mas took second place, 48 seconds back, with Giulio Ciccone rounding out the podium just over a minute behind the winner.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 21: David Bednar #53 of the New York Yankees enters the game in the ninth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium on August 21, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The New York Yankees defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 3-1. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A generation of Yankees fans have been spoiled. First, it was Mariano Rivera — when “Enter Sandman” began to echo through the halls of Yankee Stadium, the game was effectively over. David Robertson “the Houdini” and Andrew Miller “the Game Enderer” locked down the ninth inning so effectively in their one-year stints as the closer that nobody really noticed a difference. Aroldis Chapman exasperated fans, for, well, a lot of reasons, but he’s got a Hall of Fame resume for a reason, and there’s a non-zero chance he ends up there with a Yankee cap. Clay Holmes spent the better part of three seasons as the Yankee closer, making two All-Star appearances, and in his brief stint in the job in 2024, Luke Weaver was a big reason they made the World Series.
In truth, only one closer in the last 30 years has been an unmitigated disaster, and his performance prompted the Yankees to make a swing for his replacement — today’s birthday boy, David Bednar.
David Jeffrey Bednar Born: October 10, 1994 (Pittsburgh, PA) Yankees Tenure: 2025-present
Born in Pittsburgh and raised in the extremely small town of Mars (the Pennsylvania borough, a part of the greater Pittsburgh metropolitan area, has fewer than 1,500 inhabitants), Bednar played baseball for his local high school but — perhaps unsurprisingly, given the size of the school — went undrafted. From there, he went to Lafayette College in Easton, PA, and was en route to Massachusetts after his junior year to play in the Cape Cod Summer League. He never made it there, however, as the San Diego Padres instead made him the 1,044th pick of the 2016 MLB Draft — a pick that, since Rob Manfred shrunk the draft to 20 rounds, no longer exists.
According to the school newspaper, he was just the fourth player ever drafted out of Lafayette, and when he made his MLB debut as a 40-man roster call-up in 2019, he became just the second Lafayette alumnus to make The Show. Between that month and the abbreviated 2020 campaign, Bednar struggled in limited time with the Padres, allowing 13 runs in 17.1 innings across the two years. As such, the Padres had no problem including him as part of the seven-player deal that brought Joe Musgrove to Southern California.
Now with his hometown Pirates, Bednar spent the entire 2021 season in the Majors, and he established himself as one of the league’s most reliable relievers. He posted a 2.23 ERA in 61 games, striking out 77 en route to a down-ballot Rookie of the Year vote. He then took over the closer’s job on a permanent basis the following year, compiling 58 saves and a pair of All-Star nods across the 2022 and 2023 campaigns.
An awful start to 2024, however — he allowed 14 runs in 10 innings in April — prompted the Pirates to remove him from the closer’s role after a disastrous August (10.97 ERA), and when he struggled out of the gate in 2025, they wasted no time and optioned him to Triple-A in the first week of the season.
When he returned to the Majors in late April, though, Bednar recaptured his All-Star self. From April 19th through July 28th, he allowed just seven runs and struck out 50 batters in 37 innings. It was on the back of this dominant performance that the Yankees, eager to rebuild their bullpen, made Bednar a priority at the trade deadline, sending a package centered on catcher Rafael Flores to the Pirates to bring “Renegade” to the Bronx.
Bednar’s introduction to the Yankees was, like that of every player the Yankees acquired at the 2025 deadline, a disaster: called on to bail out fellow acquisition Jake Bird, he allowed two runs on four hits (including one home run) to hand the lead to the Miami Marlins. Fortunately, his second inning of work in that game, in which he struck out two while retiring the side in order, would be much more emblematic of the rest of his 2025 — he allowed just four runs in 23 innings across the final two months of the season, as he brought stability to a closer role that had seen Devin Williams and Luke Weaver struggle. He remained his dominant self that October, allowing a grand total of three hits across six innings, earning the final out in each of the two Wild Card wins as the 2025 Yankees became the first team since the new playoff format was introduced to advance to the ALDS after dropping Game 1 of the Wild Card.
Bednar began 2026 by joining Team USA for this year’s World Baseball Classic, and while the United States squad embarrassed itself in pool play against Italy and ultimately lost in the championship to Venezuela, none of that was his fault: he provided four scoreless innings in middle relief as part of a stacked bullpen, allowing just six baserunners and striking out eight. Unfortunately, following the tournament, he got off to a shaky start to the season, culminating in a disastrous blown save against the Mets on May 17th in which he allowed three runs.
After that day, though, Bednar became lights-out, surrendering just 11 runs (eight earned) in his final 44 appearances of the season, with just two blown saves in that stretch. While his early slow struggles kept him from making his third career All-Star appearance, he ended the season tied for fifth in saves (35) and 14th among relievers in fWAR (1.9). Sure, he needed his emotional support baserunners far too often for my liking, but at the end of the day, few relievers were as reliable as he was in 2026.
At the end of this season, Bednar hits free agency, and at this point, it’s not clear whether the Yankees will look to retain their closer — after all, they haven’t really signed a reliever to a big long-term deal in half a decade, and on top of that, Bednar is on the wrong side of 30. (That’s a discussion for another day.) Whether he stays or goes, though, he was one of the bright spots in the Yankee bullpen over the last two seasons.
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 27: Andrés Chaparro #87 of the Washington Nationals rounds the bases after hitting a home run in the fifth inning during the game between the New York Mets and the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on Sunday, September 27, 2026 in Washington, District of Columbia. (Photo by Alyssa McDaniel/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
This season, the Nationals had a lot of hitters emerge. However, you could make a strong argument that Andres Chaparro was the best of the bunch after the All-Star Break. After struggling to get things going as a part time player in the first half, Chappy burst on to the scene down the stretch.
In the first half, I wondered why Chaparro was even on the team. The 27 year old seemed like the ultimate Quad-A player who could dominate in AAA but couldn’t replicate that success against big league pitching. With a .586 OPS in the first half, and big league struggles in the past, it just seemed like Chappy was not that guy.
Things changed in the second half though, and I think you can point to one swing as the turning point. The Nats were playing in Sacramento when Chaparro absolutely unloaded on a Jose Suarez fastball. He sent the pitch 467 feet, hitting the ball over everything.
That swing unlocked a new version of Chaparro. During that first road trip after the break, Chaparro hit 3 homers and gained a ton of confidence. Before that swing, Chaparro was just trying to show he belonged. However, that monster blast proved to him that he could compete and thrive at this level.
There were more big swings to come from the Nats hulking slugger. Chaparro hit .299 with a .998 OPS in the second half. He also crushed 12 homers, including two on the final day of the season. It was a shocking and awesome reversal of fortunes.
One of my favorite things about Chaparro is just how majestic his home runs are. When he gets a hold of one, you usually know it is gone. With his steeper bat path, his homers tend to hang in the air longer than most. The best example of that is his first homer on the last day of the season. I was at that game, and it felt like time stopped as we waited for that home run ball to reach the seats.
It is really tough not to be blown away by what Chaparro did in the second half. That generational run gave him great season totals. For the year, Chappy hit .263 with a .360 OBP, an .885 OPS and 13 homers in just 83 games. He only had 198 AB’s, though it felt like it was more than that. His impact in that smaller sample was very loud. Chaparro’s 141 wRC+ is an elite number.
Heading into next season, I would like to see Chaparro get a shot at every day playing time, or at least something close to that. Despite his reputation as a lefty masher, Chaparro had very even splits. He had an .888 OPS against lefties and an .880 mark against righties.
The Nats showed they are willing to turn platoon guys into everyday players if it is earned. We saw that with Curtis Mead, and I think Chaparro could be another example of that. He was facing more right handed pitching at the end of the year, and I hope that carries over. We actually wrote about how he could be more than a platoon guy during his monster run.
Like Curtis Mead before him, Andres Chaparro is transitioning from a platoon bat to an everyday guy. With his success, Chappy is gaining confidence by the minute https://t.co/PzV3SIq9f9
Right now, Chaparro’s primary competition for at bats against RHP is Abimelec Ortiz, who struggled mightily down the stretch. Even though Ortiz is left handed, I think Chaparro is the better option against righties. That could change as we get into the 2027 season, but right now, Chaparro is much more proven.
The biggest drawback for Chaparro is his poor defense. Ideally, Chaparro would be a DH who plays first base occasionally. This season, Chaparro mainly played at first base, where he did not look great. He also got a few games at third, where I do not think he can play.
However, if he hits like he did this season, you simply have to get his bat into the lineup. Chaparro demolished fastballs, does a great job pulling the ball in the air and takes his walks. He is not a contact hitter by any means, but a 23.2% K rate is totally manageable.
With his big finish to the season, Andres Chaparro positioned himself nicely heading into next season. I think he deserves a shot at everyday playing time. It took him a while to establish himself, but like so many other Nats hitters, he took a major step forward this season.
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 8: Sandro Mamukelashvili #54 of the Los Angeles Lakers, Dylan Cardwell #32 of the Sacramento Kings and Matisse Thybulle #26 of the Los Angeles Lakers look on during the game on October 8, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
First impressions are important.
Whether it’s your appearance during a job interview, how your jokes land on a blind date or the execution of an offensive set in a team’s preseason game, a lot could be garnered from that first blink.
That said, it’s also easy to get too lost in the noise of small samples. It’s understandable to have knee-jerk reactions, both good and bad, but sifting through the context and finding kernels of truth is the best way to navigate the maze that is the NBA preseason.
Players miss games, rotations are out of whack, effort levels range wildly and playbooks are still a work in progress.
That’s all been the case for the Lakers in their three preseason games.
And yet, there have also been flashes of validity worth keeping an eye on. Let’s examine some of those things that could carry over into the season.
The good
With so much roster turnover and the natural identity shift that comes with LeBron James’ departure, there were expected growing pains heading into the Lakers’ exhibition period.
That’s been seen in various areas already. However, it’s not been as severe as previously assumed. In fact, there has been an immediate and innate chemistry seen on the floor that has been encouraging.
First-time teammates are flowing and jiving with one and other despite the lack of time together. Whether improvised or organized, the new and returning players are exhibiting a natural chemistry on offense.
Errant passes and missed defensive rotations are still ongoing. But the intent is there. And the overall enthusiasm has leaped from the screen.
A big reason for the clean fit is that there is no misconception about roles. With James gone, there is no confusion about the pecking order in terms of shot creation. And as a result, the rest of the team can settle into natural duties and expectations.
New players like Matisse Thybulle, Ziaire Williams and Sandro Mamukelashvili have specifically benefited from this.
By embracing their 3-and-D roles and low usage on offense, Thybulle and Williams have stood out as seamless fits next to Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves.
Whether it’s making the extra pass, grabbing and going or just opening up the floor with his spacing ability, he’s filled in whatever gaps the team has needed.
Look at the spacing from the Lakers without Luka/Reaves in the lineup. Mamu just feels like a gadget player that can boost a lot of lineups post starters. Good drive and kick from Bronny James to get Mamu a 3. pic.twitter.com/kWhbQG0Z08
There are many hurdles the Lakers will have to leap throughout the year as a new team and roster. It’s early, but at least on the cohesion front, they appear ahead of schedule.
The bad
Determining what is real or fake from preseason basketball often depends on how much things would change if regular lineups were used in a game.
The Lakers, for example, have yet to have all of their core players and expected starters available at the same time through their first three games. Despite this, the absence of players, most notably Walker Kessler, has actually highlighted a concern many had for the team dating back to the summer.
The question of how the Lakers will fare in non-Kessler minutes feels even more pressing now that we’ve seen their options in action.
Kevon Looney has done a serviceable job in Kessler’s absence, but his minutes have also displayed where his athletic limitations will hinder his impact the more he’s relied upon.
Head coach JJ Redick has also experimented with going small by playing Mamukelashvili at the five spot. The offensive upside definitely improves, but there’s a clear defensive ceiling to those groups and likely will be better in moderation.
Kessler’s absence has also highlighted the team’s overall rebounding deficiencies.
While preseason stats definitely should be taken with a grain of salt, the lineup and roster construction show some validity to why the Lakers have allowed the fourth-highest offensive rebound percentage in the preseason thus far.
Things may have also been exacerbated by Redick’s preference to use his bigger wings/forwards as point-of-attack defenders. This often leaves the guards tasked with helping secure boards against their bigger opponents.
Kessler won’t solve the team’s rebounding concerns on his own, but he will surely help considerably. The issue is that if he ever misses any significant time this season, this weakness could turn into a severe flaw.
The murkiness
As is typically the case with the preseason, there are still lingering questions that will require answers. Chief among them is what the rotation will actually look like once every one is available.
Safe assumptions can be made given the types of lineups Redick has deployed thus far. A player like Williams, for example, seems to be in the lead to secure the final starting spot.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, Jarred Vanderbilt appears out of the immediate rotation given being used sparingly and mainly in garbage time despite the number of players the team has missed.
The team must also still shed at least one player prior to opening night to remain in league compliance.
Even more severe than Vanderbilt, Dalton Knecht’s playing time opportunities seem to be slim at best, making him the leading candidate to be cut if the Lakers opt to go that route.
The other potential victim of the roster crunch could be Jaden Hardy. The guard has struggled in his chances this preseason and may cut into the minutes of the younger backcourt players on the roster. What is in Hardy’s favor in making the final squad is the helpfulness of his expiring $6 million contract for potential trades down the line.
Answers to these questions will naturally arise as we inch closer to the regular season. And while the games technically won’t matter until then, there are still moments and decisions now that could have important ramifications when they do.
All stats courtesy of Cleaning the Glass unless otherwise stated. You can follow Alex on Bluesky at @alexregla.bsky.social.
The Chicago Blackhawks are back in Chicago with a 1-4-0 record. They won their only game at the United Center, but are winless on the road through four tries. Now, they are returning home to take on the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes (3-1-1).
If the Blackhawks are going to get a second win at home, they need to be on top of their game. They would need to play better than they did in any game so far this season.
Scouting Carolina
The Carolina Hurricanes have a ferocious attack, and they defend as well as any team in the NHL. They finally broke through in the playoffs last season with their current core, winning the Stanley Cup for the second time in franchise history.
There is not one forward or defenseman who drives the bus offensively, but they have a ton of talent and defend well as an overall unit.
Carrier - Aho -Svechnikov
Hall - Stankoven - Blake
Ehlers -Staal -Martinook
Kotkaniemi -Jankowski -Robinson
Slavin - Chatfield
Miller - Walker
Gostisbehere - Reilly
Bussi
Kochetkov
The Hurricanes are missing Seth Jarvis, who has yet to play this season because of off-season surgery. He is close to returning, which will be a big boost to their already stacked lineup, but it won't be against the Chicago Blackhawks.
Whether it is Bussi or Kochetkov in the net, they play strongly in front of them, allowing them to play their game and simply make saves.
Their top nine forward group is so strong. There are Olympians on all three lines who could drive the offense as well as anyone on the team. On any given night, one of them can be the trio that beats you.
On defense, they have three strong pairs. With that said, Jaccob Slavin is the best defensive defenseman in the NHL. He doesn't put up a lot of points, but he may be the hardest to play against in the league. When he's on the ice, the Blackhawks will have thier hands full when it comes to trying to create.
Projected Lines, Defense Pairs, & Goalie For Chicago
The Blackhawks are still without Connor Bedard, who is recovering from shoulder surgery. They are also without Frank Nazar now, who will miss the next two games serving a two-game suspension for an illegal check to the head.
The good news for them is that Teuvo Teravainen is good to go after missing Thursday's game with an injury.
Lardis-Greene-Kane
Kantserov-Frondell-Bertuzzi
Smith-Moore-Greenway
Donato-Toninato-Teravainen
Byram-Levshunov
Vlasic-Cole
Kaiser-Rinzel
Knight
Injuries and suspensions are forcing Jeff Blashill to make changes regularly. Ryan Greene is getting a chance to be that top-line center with Patrick Kane. Nick Lardis, who hasn't had a strong start, is getting a chance on that line as he tries to break out of it.
The rest of the forward lines are jumbled up, but Anton Frondell and Oliver Moore are getting their chance to serve as centers.
On defense, the pairs remain the same as in the last game. For now, this might be the group that works for them. Spencer Knight is going to start in goal.
How To Watch
The game can be heard locally on AM 720 WGN in the Chicagoland area. It can be seen locally on CHSN. Nationally, you can stream it on ESPN+. The puck will drop shortly after 6:00 PM CT.
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Russell crashed out of sprint when leading on lap one
While Red Bull and Max Verstappen were very much on a roll at the Singapore Grand Prix with victory in the sprint and then pole position, Britain’s George Russell was left having to roll with the punches. His vanishingly slight title hopes took another blow after he crashed out of the sprint race on the streets of the Marina Bay circuit.
Verstappen’s pole was a mighty lap to beat the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc into second by five-hundredths of a second as the Dutchman enjoys his best form of the season. A 50th pole, his first in Singapore coming on the back of a pole and win at the last round in Malaysia and pole and victory in the sprint at Marina Bay.
On Saturday morning, the Chicago Blackhawks announced that Ed Olczyk will be a team ambassador. He is joining Denis Savard, Chris Chelios, Jeremy Roenick, and Pat Foley in that role.
As an ambassador, he connects the franchise's past with the present. He is also tasked with helping grow the game across Chicagoland. He will also participate in many events over the years.
"Eddie Olczyk is part of the fabric of this franchise and this city. From the kid who grew up cheering in the stands, to the player who wore the sweater on home ice, to the voice that brought Blackhawks hockey into Chicago homes for years, few people have meant more to our fans," said Blackhawks President of Business Operations Jaime Faulkner. "We're thrilled to welcome Eddie home as a Blackhawks Ambassador, and we know our fans will be just as excited to see him back where he belongs."
Olczyk is a Chicago native who also played for the Blackhawks. He was their third overall pick in the 1984 NHL Draft. He also won the Stanley Cup as a member of the New York Rangers in 1994. Throughout his playing career, he also had stints with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Los Angeles Kings, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Winnipeg Jets. He recorded 794 career points over those tenures.
When he retired, he did some coaching. He served as the head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins for Sidney Crosby's rookie season. After that, he had a long 16-year run as a color analyst on TV.
The Blackhawks announced that he will return to the television screens as part of this as a studio analyst on CHSN. That will be for select games, including Saturday night's game against the Carolina Hurricanes.
"The Blackhawks have been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I grew up in Chicago dreaming about this team, and I got to live that dream by pulling on the sweater as a player and telling the story of this franchise as a broadcaster," said Olczyk. "To come home and represent the Blackhawks as an ambassador means more to me than I can put into words. I want to thank Danny Wirtz and Jaime Faulkner for welcoming me back and making this possible. Chicago is my home, the Blackhawks are my team, and my family and I are thrilled to be back with our fans."
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Frank Chance, player/manager for the 1908 Cubs | | Photo by Chicago History Museum/Getty Images
We’re setting the BCB “Wayback Machine” pretty far back today, all the way back to one of the Cubs’ World Series wins in the early 20th Century.
That win might not have been possible without the team’s tremendous rally in the top of the ninth inning in Game 1 in 1908.
The Cubs had quite a rough road to even get to the 1908 World Series. They had to win the makeup for the famous “Merkle Game,” played in New York in September and declared a tie after the final play descended into chaos at the Polo Grounds. That game was played Oct. 8 in New York and Mordecai Brown outdueled Christy Mathewson. The Cubs’ 4-2 win put them in the World Series against the Tigers, who also had to win their final regular season game to take the AL pennant.
But the Tigers had done that Oct. 6, so they had three days to get ready for Game 1 of the World Series in Detroit. The Cubs, meanwhile, had to take a train from New York to Detroit and had only one day off. Ed Reulbach was given the start for Game 1.
I.E. Sanborn of the Chicago Tribune noted that the entire game was played in a constant steady rain:
The battle took place under the most wretched conditions imaginable, as it was started in the early stages of a rain storm which never ceased and it was finished on a field so soggy that footing was insecure and the base lines almost two inches deep in mud.
Reulbach allowed the Tigers a run in the first inning, and in the top of the third, the Cubs responded with four of their own, adding a run in the seventh to lead 5-1 with just nine outs to go.
When Reunlach allowed Detroit three runs in the seventh, Orval Overall was summoned to put out the rally, but when he issued a leadoff walk in the eighth, Cubs manager Frank Chance called on Brown on one day’s rest. It did not work. Brown began by throwing a wild pitch and after an error put runners on first and third, gave up a single that scored the tying run. Another Cubs error gave Detroit a 6-5 lead, so they needed just three outs to win Game 1.
Here’s how Sanborn wrote up the Cubs’ ninth-inning rally.
When Rossman cut off Evers’ grounder to start the ninth and succeeded in retiring the Trojan without help the roars of the crowd increased as apparently victory became assured. But a frightfully rude awakening was in store for them. Schulte rapped a bounder to O’Leary, who cut it off in deep short, but was unable to throw the fleet footed Dutchman out.
Chance turned the tide of defeat back right there with a ringing single to center. That put the Tigers in the hole and sent their rooters’ hearts into their throats, for a one run lead looked small enough with Cubs on second and first with one out.
Here came Steinfeldt and completed the despair of the crowd by smashing a single into left. McIntyre came in on it and his good throw held Schulte on third. Still Detroit had a lead of a run, but the sacks were full and some determined Cubs were coming to bat. Hofman settled the verdict with a liner into left on which Schulte and Chance both rode home in safety. McIntyre made a desperate throw to the plate trying to stop the winning run, but the ball shot past Schmidt behind Chance as he flashed across the pan.
Steinfeldt went to third on the play to the plate and Tinker scored him with a bunt which did not go twenty feet from the plate, but which completed the utter rout of the Tigers. Schmidt tried to chase the bunt and cover the plate at the same time, as Summers made no move to help him do either. But it was a useless effort. While Steiny scored, Tinker reached first and Hofman second. Then Artie and Joe got together and showed the Tigers up still further by ringing in a double steal in the mud. Kling scored them both with a single into center, which made the fifth run in the inning. Brown bunted, but Sheckard’s fly closed the session.
They don’t write ‘em like that anymore, that’s for sure. The Cubs led by four, and Brown put two Tigers on base with one out by a walk and a single in the bottom of the ninth, then retired Sam Crawford on a fly ball and Ty Cobb on a comebacker and the Cubs won Game 1 of the 1908 World Series 10-6. They would go on to win three of the next four, two by shutout, and take their second straight World Series title.
This rain-soaked rally happened 118 years ago today, Saturday, Oct. 10, 1908.
CALGARY, CANADA - OCTOBER 08: Jaden Schwartz #71 of the Colorado Avalanche and Scott Wedgewood #41 celebrate their 7-3 win against the Calgary Flames at the Scotiabank Saddledome on October 08, 2026 in Calgary, Alberta. (Photo by Leah Hennel/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After coming home with a split on the road, the Colorado Avalanche are back on home ice for another Saturday night showdown!
Tonight, the Toronto Maple Leafs make their only regular season visit to Denver, with a few new faces in their lineup!
Colorado Avalanche (3-1-0)
The Opponent: Toronto Maple Leafs (2-2-01)
Time: 5:00 P.M. MDT/7:00 P.M. EDT
Watch: ALT, ALT+ (Avalanche Local Broadcast Area), NHL Network, NHL Center Ice (Outside Regional Broadcast Areas – US), SN+ (Canadian National Broadcast)
Listen: Altitude Sports Radio KKSE-FM 92.5 FM
Colorado Avalanche
The Avs return home after splitting their first pair of back-to-back road games. They lost 3-2 on a (literal) last minute goal this past Wednesday against the Winnipeg Jets, but rebounded with a strong showing against the Calgary Flames in a 7-3 victory this past Thursday. The loss in Winnipeg was the first for Mackenzie Blackwood this season, while Scott Wedgewood earned his first win in his season debut against Calgary.
Jaden Schwartz scored three goals across both contests. Fedor Svechkov scored his first goal in an Avalanche sweater against Winnipeg. Zachary L’Heureux, acquired with Svechkov from Nashville in the offseason, made his Avalanche debut against Winnipeg and recorded his first assist on Nathan MacKinnon’s eventual game-winning goal in Calgary. L’Heureux also had his first fight for the Avs in a short bout with Calgary’s Matt Coronato.
Devon Toews, who had a career-low three goals last season, scored a pair of goals against Calgary. His defensive partner in Cale Makar also scored a pair of goals against his hometown team.
T.J. Hughes also recorded his first point of his NHL career, assisting on Schwartz’s first goal on against Calgary.
Head coach Jared Bednar said this of his third line in comments after the Calgary game. “That line’s found a little bit of chemistry. A couple of points each [Wednesday] night, again tonight. Schwartz and [Svechkov] and our young guy Hughes on that line, they’re doing some good things, and if we can keep building that chemistry, I like where that line’s going.”
When asked about what Hughes and L’Heureux have shown to this point in the season, Bednar said, “Hughes has fit in in all kinds of ways for us, including on the top power play. He’s a smart guy, doesn’t throw the puck away, really good passer. I think he he thinks the game really well, got a great brain and hockey sense. Can play on the top end skill guys and make plays.
“L’Heureux, this is kind of our first look at him here on this back to back […] He’s a rugged guy, straight-line player, will play through you, kind of fits the identity of our fourth line. He had a good night again tonight. I really liked his game [Wednesday] in Winnipeg. […] We’re excited about our team and some of those young guys being able to come in and help us. [Svechkov] is another young player that’s really showed up nicely for us here at the start of the season.”
While the Avs remain perfect on the penalty kill, the power play has gone three games without a goal since going 4/5 in the season opener against Los Angeles on September 30.
MacKinnon leads all skaters in points (8) and assists (5), while also sharing the team lead in penalty minutes (5) with L’Heureux. He also leads the team in goals (3), along with Makar, Schwartz, and Artturi Lehkonen.
The Avs have split every season series against Toronto going back to the 2017-2018 season. Their last victory on home ice came against Toronto was in a 7-3 victory on March 05, 2025.
Projected Lineup
Forwards: Artturi Lehkonen – Nathan MacKinnon – Martin Nečas Gabe Landeskog – Brock Nelson – Nazem Kadri Jaden Schwartz – Fedor Svechkov – T.J. Hughes Parker Kelly – Nicolas Roy – Zachary L’Heureux
Defense: Devon Toews – Cale Makar Brett Kulak – Sam Malinski Josh Manson – Brent Burns
Between the Pipes: Mackenzie Blackwood Scott Wedgewood
Toronto Maple Leafs
The lottery balls finally bounced Toronto’s way this offseason, giving them the first overall pick in this year’s NHL Draft. At the draft in June, they selected left-wing Gavin McKenna, whom many projected to be the top pick of the draft. McKenna scored his first goal and assist of his young NHL career this past Tuesday in a 5-4 overtime victory over the Nashville Predators.
The draft was one of many offseason transactions for Toronto. They sent a fifth round pick in this year’s draft to the Tampa Bay Lightning for defenseman Darren Raddysh on June 19; Raddysh signed an eight-year, $68 million dollar contract with Toronto as part of the transaction. Toronto also acquired center Nick Paul from Tampa in exchange for goaltender Dennis Hildeby and a pair of draft picks in 2027 & 2028 on July 01.
As free agency began, Toronto’s overhaul continued. Free agent goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky signed a three-year, $21 million dollar contract (more on him later). That same day, noted Avalanche killer Colton Sissons also signed to a two-year, $8.5 million dollar contract, and former Avalanche forward Brandon Duhaime also signed a three-year $7.8 million dollar contract.
Shortly before the start of the season, Toronto made their biggest move: they acquired right-wing Kirill Marchenko, goaltender Elvis Merzlikins, and former Avalanche forward Miles Wood from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for left-wings Matthew Knies and Steven Lorentz, defenseman Emil Andrei, and a 2027 second round pick. Marchenko, 26, scored his first (and so far, only) goal with Toronto in a 3-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators on October 03.
With an overhauled roster come overhauled expectations. Toronto has risen to the occasion in the way only a Toronto-based hockey team can: playing .500 hockey. They are 2-2-1 to start the season, and are coming into tonight’s game off a 4-3 defeat against the Vegas Golden Knights this past Thursday. After jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the first period, Toronto did the Leafiest thing possible in allowing Vegas to score three unanswered goals to tie the game and lose in the shootout round.
The loss was Bobrovsky’s third of the season, and since joining Toronto, he has yet to post a win. Anthony Stolarz, who was Bobrovsky’s backup in Florida during 2023-2024 season, has recorded both wins for Toronto this season.
Head coach Jim Hiller spoke on the challenge of facing the Avs ahead of tonight’s game. “They play a pretty unique style of game, I would say. They are a really dynamic rush team. The defense probably skate as well as six [defenders] as any other group in the League, so it presents some challenges defensively for sure.
“For us, I think, we’ve got to continue to focus on being in the offensive zone and tight support. We’ve seen some good strides that way. That’s the best defense, really: if you can just hold onto pucks and be dangerous and tire people out—which Vegas did to us—we weren’t able to create any offense because we were too tired, so that’s kind of the game we have to play against Colorado.”
Hiller also mentioned that he does not expect John Tavares to play against Colorado tonight due to the birth of his son Tucker on Friday.
William Nylander and Auston Matthews are tied for first among all Toronto forwards in points (6). Nylander leads the team in goals (3), while Matthews leads the team in assists (4).
Toronto’s last victory over Colorado came on January 12th, a 4-3 overtime victory at Ball Arena last season.
Projected Lineup
Forwards: Kirill Marchenko – Auston Matthews – Jack Roslovic Easton Cowan – Nick Paul – William Nylander Gavin McKenna – Teddy Blueger – Colton Sissons Brandon Duhaime – Zack MacEwen – Bo Groulx
Defense: Jake McCabe – Chris Tanev Morgan Reilly – Darren Raddysh Oliver Ekman-Larsson – Troy Stecher
Between the Pipes: Sergei Bobrovsky Anthony Stolarz
