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'Football 301' on 49ers vs. Seahawks: Brock Purdy and his offensive machine face their biggest test

It's not every day you see a Week 5 matchup as impactful as this week's NFC West clash between the San Francisco 49ers (4-0) and Seattle Seahawks (3-1) on Sunday afternoon in Seattle. With NFC playoff implications and a long-standing rivalry at stake, the stage is set for what Yahoo Sports NFL analyst Nate Tice aptly dubbed the "Hoss Fight of the Week." Tice and fellow Yahoo analyst Matt Harmon discussed the matchup on this week's episode of the "Football 301” podcast and how they expect the game to play out Sunday.

Coming into this game, the 49ers' offense has looked untouchable. Tice said San Francisco "is tipping the scales in every single stat." The Niners haven't allowed a sack all season, a feat that seems almost fictional in today's NFL. Head coach Kyle Shanahan has his offensive machine humming, QB Brock Purdy is leading the way as "the dot at the top right of every chart right now" thanks to scorching-hot efficiency and command.

The chess match between Shanahan and Seattle head coach Mike Macdonald is a heavyweight bout. Seattle's defense, loaded up front, will look to feast if the 49ers stick to what was comfortable. The Niners, meanwhile, might look to stress the boundaries with hard play-action and hope for chunk gains, but Seattle's back end has proven tough.

As Harmon pointed out, San Francisco's lack of elite wide receiver depth could show in this matchup as George Kittle and Christian McCaffrey have carried much of the load this season.

Harmon also highlighted San Francisco's tendency to "get away with it," using its creative playbook to mitigate a lack of star power on the outside. But this, he said, was a week where even the best schemers will be tested by top-level athletes and disciplined execution.

Harmon confidently predicted: "I feel like this is the week that the no sacks taken streak gets broken." Why? The Seahawks' defense is starting to find its groove, especially in the trenches, and this would be the toughest front the Niners have faced this season.

The Seahawks have been one of the league's best against the run, ranking third in running back stuff rate and allowing just 0.5 yards before contact on running back carries. Explosive runs? Nearly non-existent. Pass defense? Even better — only eight explosive passes allowed all season compared to the league average of 18.

The Niners' renowned ground game will be tested, especially with Kyle Juszczyk expected to be out with a knee injury. Tice wonders how Shanahan might adapt, given that Seattle has devoured zone runs this season, allowing just two explosive plays and leading in stuffs against zone concepts. But gap and duo runs offered a glimmer of hope, as Seattle was only average against duo.

A critical subplot involved the Seahawks' near-total embrace of zone coverage: "90% zone rate on all downs, 90% on late downs — the lowest rate of Cover 1 in history," noted Tice. If there's an edge for Shanahan, it might be in leaning on play-action away from those cloud corners, as the Chargers managed a few times.

Harmon dubbed the Seahawks' run offense vs. the 49ers' run defense "movable object versus a stoppable force" as both units have struggled this year. The Seahawks have cycled through running backs with injuries to Zach Charbonnet and George Holani. Emanuel Wilson had flashed some effectiveness, but the team has largely languished near the bottom of the league in efficiency stats.

Seattle might be able to find some explosive runs on the duo concepts that have troubled San Francisco. But would Seattle call enough of them? Gap concepts, jet sweeps and creative use of speedy playmakers like Rashid Shaheed (lined up as a running back for change-of-pace plays) could be the X-factor.

In the passing game, QB Sam Darnold will need to be aggressive, Tice said. The 49ers are vulnerable to chunk plays if you challenge the middle of the field. But Darnold is a high-variance player — sometimes brash enough to make those throws, sometimes a little trigger-happy and error-prone.

Both Tice and Harmon leaned toward the Seahawks pulling this one out, with Harmon predicting Seattle to cover the 3-point spread. "A little more sound sometimes," Tice said of Seattle, noting their discipline and ability to avoid breakdowns. Both hosts agreed: Seattle's defense was at worst the second-best in the league, and the Niners' offense hadn't yet faced a test like this.

But, just as crucially, the Seahawks' offense, though full of questions at running back and right guard, still "do the things you want to do — explosive passes" and, sometimes, that's what it takes to win.

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LeBron James, 76ers' loaded starting 5 play preseason game: Did we learn anything?

NEW YORK — LeBron James, just like always, walked to the scorer’s table.

And, just like always, he picked up the bottle of talcum powder, dusted a tiny bit off to his right and left sides, and then he caked his right hand. It was the same chalk toss, the same staccato claps and the same strut toward center court. The jarring difference, of course, was the bright blue uniform bearing PHILA across the chest.

It’s a new era, indeed.

James made his 76ers debut Thursday, Oct. 8 in Philadelphia’s second preseason game against the Brooklyn Nets, in which all five starters played together for the first time in a competitive game. And with that, coach Nick Nurse and the rest of the NBA world caught the first glimpse of the revamped Sixers, who wield arguably the best starting five in the world and who enter the 2026-27 season with massive expectations — championship ones.

And if this first look is indicative of where the 76ers are as a collective, it’s clear there are issues to smooth, like turnovers and slight miscommunications. But it’s undeniable that the offensive structure in place has the potential to ascend to the upper tiers of the league.

How did LeBron James do?

James, for the most part, served as point-forward, facilitating offense and deploying his exceptional vision to whistle passes all over the floor. At this stage of his career, it’s what he does best.

The 76ers missed their first shot of the game, a 14-foot turnaround jumper from Joel Embiid. After that, Philadelphia converted its next 7 field goal attempts. By that point, James had not put up a single shot; he had, however, dished out 3 assists by then.

James made his only shot attempt but drained all 8 free throw attempts to finish with 10 points — second-most among starters and behind All-Star point guard Tyrese Maxey’s 14 — 5 assists, 4 rebounds and 2 turnovers. All 5 assists came in the first quarter.

“It’s a small sample size, and we’re still trying to learn each other on the floor,” James told reporters after the game. “We’re still trying to put each other in the position to be successful and complement each other the best way we can on the floor. But it’s going to take some time.”

When given a crease, James was aggressive in attacking the basket, though everything was under control. He played his game, patiently waited for players to get open.

The luxury Nurse now has is three superb ball-handlers in James, Maxey and shooting guard VJ Edgecombe. Each can initiate actions, though Brown and Embiid are both more than capable of effective spurts of on-ball play.

“Some good, some bad,” Nurse told reporters when asked to characterize the play of his starting unit. “Good to get them out there for the first time. Obviously, it’s kind of what the preseason is for. I think there was some really good things happening right off the bat; some back cuts and good passing, et cetera.

“But then I think there were segments where we turned the ball over a lot, which we can never do. A little clunky in segments, too, but it’s preseason. First time they’re together.”

What 76ers still need to work on

Despite that abundance of creators, turnovers and timing plagued Philadelphia, which committed 14 turnovers in the first half, against only 12 assists on 16 made field goals. For Philadelphia to compete, that figure is way too high, and it turned into 16 Nets points off of those turnovers, seven of which were on Embiid.

They were most often the product of crowded spacing, passes slightly off target, or slight timing misjudgments, all of which should be corrected with time. After all, this group is still learning how to play together, and it’s requiring some players — Brown, chief among them — to adapt to entirely new roles.

Though Embiid, Brown and Edgecombe were on the floor to start the second half, James and Maxey were not. None of the five starters played the fourth quarter as the Nets went on to win 114-108.

Philadelphia 76ers forward Lebron James (23) defends Brooklyn Nets forward Julius Randle (30) during the first half at Barclays Center.

In the first half, the 76ers made 57.1% of their shots, and it became clear that Nurse wants this group to play with space, looking for outlets on skipahead passes to compromise the opposing transition defense.

If there was any play that flashed the promise of this experiment, it came just minutes into the game.

Maxey brought up the ball and slipped to the right wing before delivering a behind-the-back bounce pass to Embiid, who was at the top of the key. Embiid fielded the pass, but quickly skipped it over to James, who was on the left wing. James carved his way into the lane and zipped a no-look bounce pass to Edgecombe, who was cutting along the baseline: wide open dunk.

It wasn’t even a set play, and all the communication was nonverbal.

“It’s just all a read,” Edcombe said. “When there’s someone like (James) who demands so much gravity and attracts so much attention, I just have to play off him. … We made eye contact, and I went to the rim.”

As long as the Sixers can play like that, fluidly and decisively, with clean passes, they might just live up to their massive expectations.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: LeBron James, 76ers' loaded starting 5 play preseason game: Did we learn anything?

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Jordan Clarkson happy to do his part with Knicks — and knows role

An image collage containing 1 images, Image 1 shows Jordan Clarkson shoots a jumper during the Knicks' preseason game against the Wizards on Oct. 8, 2026 at Madison Square Garden

Unlike a year prior, Jordan Clarkson’s free agency included no buyouts or last-minute calls.

He experienced the Knicks and wanted more of that.

“It was pretty chill, honestly,” Clarkson said of his summer. “I knew I wanted to come back here, so it was easy.”

No other meetings or offers were considered by Clarkson or his representative, Rich Paul.

“We really didn’t listen to anything else,” the guard said ahead of Thursday night’s 111-109 preseason loss to the Wizards at Madison Square Garden. “I told my agent and everybody that I wanted to come back here, and if the money situation worked out, I wanted to come back. Not do anything else.”

It worked out for a second straight year, as the unrestricted free agent signed a veteran-minimum deal with the Knicks. In 2025, he first had to negotiate a buyout with the Utah Jazz and agreed to the Knicks deal while attending Wimbledon. There were alternatives back then.

This time, Clarkson’s one-year, $3.9 million deal arrived later in free agency — July 9 — but without much surprise.

The Knicks, according to sources, appreciated his locker-room presence. Even if Clarkson doesn’t play, he’s encouraging his teammates, getting along with everybody, going with the flow.

That’s not always the case with veterans who are suddenly faced with dips in opportunities — especially those with Clarkson’s resume.

He ranks seventh in the NBA in all-time bench points and needs just 39 more to surpass No. 6 Thurl Bailey.

Sacrificing with grace will probably be important again this season for Clarkson, who is part of a crowded backcourt with no guarantee of playing time.

Barring a trade, the Knicks have Landry Shamet, Jose Alvarado and Miles McBride above Clarkson on the depth chart.

Jordan Clarkson shoots a jumper during the Knicks’ preseason game against the Wizards on Oct. 8, 2026 at Madison Square Garden. NBAE via Getty Images

But Clarkson, who scored seven points in nine minutes Thursday, can separate himself as a longer body — he’s 6-foot-5 — who can press the ball handler on defense and sometimes create a shot for himself.

The big difference, as Clarkson noted, is a clearer understanding of his fit.

Whereas a year ago Clarkson was being sold a volume-scoring role off the bench, the 34-year-old now understands his path to playing time is geared toward defense and rebounding.

It took a benching to understand that last year. Now he’s ready.

“I know it’s not my regular role that I’ve played before I got here,” Clarkson said. “But it’s something I’ve fallen in love with, and I love playing my role and playing for this team and playing for each other. I think that was the biggest thing last year that I’ve learned.”

Per 36 minutes, Clarkson averaged his fewest points and field goal attempts since he was a rookie in 2014-15.

Defense was never part of Clarkson’s reputation — if anything, he was considered a negative on that side of the floor — but a transformation turned him into a rotational piece of an NBA champion.

Clarkson liked it so much he wants to do it again — even after averaging career lows in minutes, points and shot attempts.

“For us, it’s not about numbers. It’s all about winning the game and doing anything to win the game,” Clarkson said. “And I think a lot of us put things behind us to make that common goal happen.

“And that’s from the coaching staff to everybody down the line. I think we all got to understand on what it means to be a part of this team and a part of the Knicks. So I think that’s been set, and that’s why I wanted to come back. I love the standard. I love the culture here.”

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Brewers manager Pat Murphy drops gauntlet on Dodgers as NLCS rematch heats up

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy walks across the field during a game against the San Diego Padres, Image 2 shows The Los Angeles Dodgers pose for a group photo on the field after winning the National League Division Series, Image 3 shows Los Angeles Dodgers players celebrate in the locker room, spraying champagne after defeating the Atlanta Braves in the NLDS

Pat Murphy is taking the Brewers in seven.

The Milwaukee manager didn’t hold back when discussing the upcoming National League Championship Series against the Dodgers.

“We’re going to do our best to stay with them and beat them in 7 games.”

Manager Pat Murphy of the Milwaukee Brewers walks across the field after making a pitching change in the fourth inning. Getty Images

“We’re gonna be more ready than we were last time, I believe. That doesn’t guarantee anything but we got to be ready for what they say is the best team in baseball, but we think we are,” Murphy said after the Brewers defeated the Padres in the NLDS Wednesday night.

The Dodgers also faced Milwaukee in the NLCS last season, but the Brewers have played arguably better baseball in 2026. LA swept the Brewers on their way to the World Series in 2025.

This year, the Brewers have largely been unstoppable with a roaring offense and NL Cy Young candidate Jacob Misiorowski. In the same way, the Dodgers have also looking sharp with a 100-win season and a lights-out rotation full of aces.

The Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate in the locker room after defeating the Atlanta Braves in game four of the NLDS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Los Angeles Dodgers pose for after winning Game 4 of baseball’s National League Division Series against the Atlanta Braves. AP Photo/Mike Stewart

While Milwaukee boasts the best record in baseball, the Dodgers own back-to-back World Series titles to support their efforts in October.

The series won’t be easy for either team.

It’s a matchup poised for great baseball as the small-market Brewers take on the sport’s juggernaut. And the Dodgers have shown that spending money doesn’t guarantee a championship unless a team has all the right pieces.

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Tales From the Island of Misfit Toys: Remembering the Golden Knights’ Inaugural Season with James Neal

Nobody arrives in Las Vegas by accident. Some come chasing a jackpot, some come running from a bad streak, and a few come because there’s simply nowhere left to go. The inaugural Golden Knights were all three: a roster of strangers dealt a fresh hand in a city built on second chances.

With the exception of Jonathan Marchessault and Reilly Smith, who previously played together in Florida, the inaugural Golden Knights team was one full of strangers in a strange land, a land that had never had a major professional sports team to call its own.

When they arrived in Vegas, those inaugural Golden Knights all had one thing in common: on paper, they were a collection of spare parts that 30 other teams had cast aside and given up on. 

Back in 2017, James Neal jokingly referred to the team as the “Golden Misfits.” But that nickname took on a life of its own, serving as a rallying cry that turned strangers into brothers.

He loves that it’s still in circulation.

“Yeah, I definitely still get a kick out of hearing it,” Neal laughed. “Hearing it just brings back a lot of really good memories of all the guys getting together. [We hadn’t] been in a situation like that ever really… You kind of had a fresh start after coming from a position or a team that wasn’t too fond of you, or you kind of felt like they gave up on you. So it was kind of a fitting name at the time. It was kind of a joke that turned into something where we kind of put our backs against the wall, and went out there, and played for, and became proud of.”

You might not remember this, but the Golden Knights weren’t supposed to be good that year. They were supposed to be pretty bad, actually. Broadcasters and analysts projected that they’d finish as a lottery team. 

“I just went in with an open mind,” Neal said. “I didn’t put any crazy expectations on it; I just wanted to go in and enjoy it. For me, it was a contract year, and it was kind of like, you know, they’re gonna stack up on some older guys, and they’re gonna trade us because we weren’t going to be that good. So there were just a lot of different things going through my mind coming into it.”

Neal was fresh off hand surgery after a tough loss in the Stanley Cup Final, and he couldn’t take part in training camp. In fact, he wasn’t even sure he’d be ready for the first game of the regular season. But when the season began, he was in the lineup.

“I sure am glad that I was healthy enough and ready to go for game one, because it was a fun, fun first game,” said Neal. “ I think those first two games in Dallas and Arizona kind of set the tone for how our season was going to go.”

Of course, Neal didn’t just play in that first game in Dallas. He also scored the Golden Knights’ first goal, cementing his legacy in franchise history and ensuring he’d be the answer to trivia questions for years to come.

“It’s really cool,” he admitted. “It’s definitely something I talk about and joke about to people. It’s something I’m very proud of. In the moment, in the game, you don’t realize how you’re going to look back on things… It was pretty surreal, and a really cool moment. And after I scored that goal, I’ll never forget going back to the bench and just seeing the excitement on the guys’ faces. Guys were just so excited and so fired up, for our team, for us, just for each other.”

The players’ excitement for each other didn’t waver as the year went on. That year, the “Golden Misfits” proved that they were far more than the sum of other teams’ parts. Their regular-season record of 51-24-7 was the best of any NHL expansion team, and it was enough to finish first in the Pacific Division.

Of course, it helped that many of those Misfits enjoyed career years. William Karlsson scored 43 goals, a single-season record that still stands 10 years later. Jonathan Marchessault recorded 75 points. Reilly Smith hit 60 points. And at age 33, Marc-André Fleury recorded 29 wins and an average save percentage of .927, which was, at that time, a career-best. 

“Everyone was so excited for each other,” said Neal.

Neal attributes some of that historic success to Gerard Gallant, the first head coach of the Golden Knights.

“The way he brought us in, and the way we went to practice every day, it was pretty simple,” Neal said. “It was ‘play hard, work hard for each other, and the rest will kind of take care of itself ’… And if you do that, good things are going to happen, for yourself and for your teammates and for your team.”

Neal said he’d always remember the passion with which the city of Las Vegas embraced their first major professional sports team.

“The way the city embraced us, the fan support… And then the rink, going into T-Mobile every night, the place was rocking,” he said. “You couldn’t get more energy and more excitement out of a rink than we did at T-Mobile.

“You didn’t realize how many people were from Las Vegas, didn’t realize how many people were dying for a sports team to root for,” Neal continued. “They were kind of dying to grasp onto a team that was theirs. And for the Golden Knights to be the first team to come there, I think everyone kind of grasped onto us. And then for us to have success and do what we did just kind of made it even better. And we hit the ground running, and it was fun.”

That inaugural season was a whirlwind. It was historic. It was a year of redemption. 

But like Neal kept repeating, most of all– and most importantly– that year was fun. For many of the players, that inaugural season was about falling back in love with the game they played as kids.

“I just remember going to the rink excited every day, going to the rink with a smile on my face, and having fun,” Neal said. “Yeah, it was just a whole different atmosphere. I think guys were used to kind of going to the rink, you know, maybe pissed off or not in the best moods. And it was kind of a complete 180 for everybody.

“It was a special year all around,” he continued. “Everybody just became so close so fast; right from the first get-together, we all went out, had dinner, and kind of got right to it. From the first win all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals, it was just an enjoyable year… Every day, we just enjoyed each other.

“And I think if you ask all the guys the same question, what was their favorite year playing hockey, I would say 95% of them would say the first year with Vegas.”

Saturday will be the 10th anniversary of the first Golden Knights home game. To celebrate, they’re going all-out in true Vegas fashion. The Welcome to Impossible Weekend festivities begin at 11 a.m. on Friday with a free autograph session during the team’s practice at City National Arena. 

Fans will also have another chance to get autographs from members of the inaugural team at Fan Fest, which runs from 4-6 p.m. on Saturday before the Golden Knights’ home game against the Los Angeles Kings.

James Neal is one of the players returning to Las Vegas for the festivities. The others? Well, you’ll have to wait and see.

“First off, I can’t believe it’s already been 10 years. That flew by,” Neal chuckled. “I’m just looking forward to coming back and seeing old faces. I know that Turk, our coach, is coming… I was excited to hear that he was coming back because of the role that he played in bringing the guys together right from the start; I was excited to see that. And getting on the group text and shooting guys messages and seeing everybody excited to come back was pretty cool. I’m really looking forward to it.”

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Logan O’Connor Steps Away From Avalanche After Father’s Sudden Death

Logan O’Connor was getting close to returning to the ice. Now, hockey can wait.

The Colorado Avalanche announced Thursday that O’Connor’s father, Myles, had died suddenly at age 59. The news came just hours before Colorado was set to face the Calgary Flames.

Myles had played in the NHL himself. A defenseman, he spent time with the New Jersey Devils and the then-Anaheim Mighty Ducks between 1990 and 1994. He appeared in 43 NHL games, recording three goals and four assists.

He continued playing after leaving the NHL, eventually heading to Japan to join the Nippon Paper Cranes. In the 1997-98 season, he had four goals and 11 assists in 31 games.

His son went on to make his own mark in hockey. Logan played at the University of Denver before making his NHL debut with the Avalanche in the 2018-19 season. He was also part of Colorado’s Stanley Cup run in 2022.

Since then, O’Connor has put up 45 goals and 60 assists in 356 regular-season games. Colorado signed him to a six-year extension in September 2024.

He had been working his way back from a lower-body injury and was in contention to make his season debut against Calgary. That return is on hold as he steps away to be with his family.

The Avalanche shared their condolences with O’Connor and his family. The team will look to honor Myles during Thursday’s game.

Colorado lost 3-2 to Winnipeg on Wednesday, despite putting 34 shots on goal to the Jets’ 19. The Flames are next, with less than 24 hours between games.

Colorado has had the better of Calgary lately, winning 12 of their last 15 meetings. Last season, the Avalanche won all three matchups and outscored the Flames 15-4.

Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas combined for 14 points in those games. Kadri will face his former team, while Scott Wedgewood is expected to make his first start of the season in goal.

Now the mission is to win one for Myles.

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George Lombard Jr. could be silver lining for this dreadful Yankees’ end

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows New York Yankees shortstop George Lombard Jr. reacts after the final out of the ninth inning during Game 3 of the American League Division Series against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium, Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026. The Tampa Bay Rays defeated the New York Yankees 4-3 to win the ALDS and advance to the ALCS, Image 2 shows New York Yankees shortstop George Lombard Jr. hits a single in the second inning during Game 3 of the ALDS against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium, Wednesday, October 7, 2026, Image 3 shows Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero grounds out to New York Yankees shortstop George Lombard Jr. in the fourth inning of Game 3 of the ALDS, Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at Yankee Stadium
George Lombard during Game 3 of the ALDS

Several minutes after both the predictable and unthinkable — another team celebrating on the Yankee Stadium turf, this time the Rays after sweeping through the ALDS — three Yankees lingered on the top step of the dugout. They stared. They absorbed. They stored what will be used as fuel. 

Paul Blackburn peeled off the railing and began making his way to the clubhouse. Soon after, Aaron Judge followed. 

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And finally, the last Yankee to force himself from watching the revolting sight was the youngest: George Lombard Jr. 

“I’m going to have to learn from it and keep this feeling with it and use that in the work next year,” Lombard said after the Yankees were eliminated Wednesday night in The Bronx. “… It sucks. It hurts. There’s a lot of things that go into it, but yeah, it’s definitely a feeling that you don’t want to feel after your last game. 

“It’s definitely going to be on my mind a lot.” 

The Yankees will not fondly remember 2026, when Judge and Giancarlo Stanton missed much of the season, their replacements did not adequately replace them, and yet another campaign ended in disappointment, but it is at least possible it will be recalled as the year Lombard earned his shot. 

A year that started in Double-A Somerset, where Lombard did not even last a month, ended as the everyday playoff shortstop for the Yankees. 

George Lombard Jr. stares out to the field after the Yankees’ season-ending Game 3 loss to the Rays in The Bronx. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

He showed flashes of brilliance defensively, and his fourth-inning highlight — in which he charged a chopper that had leaped over Max Fried, barehanded it and slung a throw to cut down Junior Caminero — might have been remembered if the game had finished differently. He also showed that he is 21 years old, both with his six-game error streak and in being part of the Game 2 defensive meltdown. 

Offensively, he performed better than expected. The Yankees would welcome further steps, but a prospect known more for his glove and headiness hit .237 with a .699 OPS in his first 42 games before holding his own in October. 

George Lombard Jr. throws out Junior Caminero during the Yankees’ Game 3 loss to the Rays. Robert Sabo for New York Post

Lombard’s first playoff run, albeit brief, finished at 6-for-18 (.333) with six singles and four strikeouts. On Wednesday, he was a bright spot in stroking a hard-hit single, adding another on a slow roller to third and later walking, using an automated ball-strike system challenge — which has been a strength of his — to earn the trip to first. 

“It was definitely a good experience for the first year,” said Lombard, who replaced Anthony Volpe and José Caballero at shortstop in early August. “I’m going to take everything with me because it’s not the way we want to end going forward.” 

There is little known about the 2027 Yankees infield. Can they really bring back Ryan McMahon, who is owed $16 million for next season, made a costly error in Game 2, was benched in Game 3 and simply did not hit enough this season? Is Jazz Chisholm Jr., who also was benched for the elimination game, a goner as a free agent? Are the Yankees serious about Luis García Jr. possibly getting work at second base, which would open first for Ben Rice? Is Paul Goldschmidt, who wants to keep playing, still an option as a lefty-killer at first? Where do Volpe and Caballero fit? 

George Lombard hits a single in the second inning of the Yankees’ Game 3 season-ending loss to the Rays. Robert Sabo for New York Post

The best bet among the group is that Lombard, a 2023 first-round pick whose first taste of major league life included more promise than problems, will be back at shortstop. 

And motivated. 

“Definitely a lot to take from it,” said Lombard, who was particularly upset about Judge, Stanton and Goldschmidt coming up short of a title. “It just sucks to go out like this.”

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ALDS Game 4 thread: Chicago White Sox vs. Cleveland Guardians

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - OCTOBER 07: Fans arrive prior to game three of the American League Division Series between the Chicago White Sox and the Cleveland Guardians at Rate Field on October 07, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Hey folks, if you are doing a full detox from baseball in wake of the Yankees’ ugly elimination last night at the hands of the Rays, I totally get it. However, in case anyone here wants to chat about the one playoff game on tonight, I figured that I would throw a thread up, just in case!

The surprising White Sox lead their ALDS, two games to one, but unlike the Yankees, Cleveland won yesterday to force a Game 4. The aggressive White Sox bullpenning finally hit a wall of sorts, spoiling the fun of the first playoff game on the South Side of Chicago in five years. If the Guardians turn the trick again, we’ll be guaranteed of at least some baseball between now and the start of the Brewers/Dodgers NLCS on Sunday night. Game 5 would be Saturday in Cleveland.

With the Yankees out of it, I’m fully rooting for maximum-length series to squeeze however much competitive baseball I can out of the 2026 season, so go Guards. Either way, I’ll be hoping for a miracle in the ALCS and that one of these underwhelming AL Central teams can pull off an upset over Tampa Bay. A lad can dream!

Today’s Matchup:

American League Division Series Game 4

Chicago White Sox vs. Cleveland Guardians (CWS leads 2-1)

Time: 8:00 p.m. EST

TV: TBS/HBO Max, TruTV, Univision

Venue: Rate Field, Chicago, IL

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ALDS Game 4 open chat

CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 07: Chase Meidroth #10 of the Chicago White Sox and José Ramírez #11 of the Cleveland Guardians talk during Game Three of the American League Division Series presented by Booking.com between the Cleveland Guardians and the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jessie Alcheh/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Three of the four Championship Series teams are set, and so far the postseason has gone straight chalk. In the National League, the #1-seeded Brewers and #2 Dodgers will square off for the second straight year. In the American League, the top-ranked Rays are ALCS-bound after sweeping the Yankees, to everyone’s delight. The Rays will wait to find out what opponent they’ll face, which could be decided tonight as the #6-seeded White Sox have the chance to crash the party of top-ranked teams.

Guardians at White Sox, 8:00 PM (TBS/HBO Max) — White Sox lead 2-1

LHP Parker Messick (CLE) vs. LHP Hagen Smith (CWS)

The White Sox failed to sweep the series yesterday, as the Guardians’ offense erupted for nine runs — four more than any other team has scored in the Division Series round — to keep Cleveland’s hopes alive for another day. As you might have heard, it’s been a minute since the White Sox clinched a playoff series at home. To be precise, it’s been 120 years, since the 1906 White Sox won the World Series over the crosstown Cubs at South Side Park. That was before there was televised baseball. Or televised anything. You could only keep up with sports or current events by reading something called a newspaper. Truly wild times.

Anyway, the White Sox have another chance to end that drought tonight. As has been their custom in this postseason, they’re just going to cobble together a bullpen game instead of using a real starting pitcher. The White Sox have used an opener in five of their six playoff games so far, including this one, where rookie lefty Hagen Smith will do the opening honors for the third time. He has pitched 5.2 scoreless innings in his two previous outings as an opener this postseason, so it seems to be working.

The Guardians, by contrast, have a strong starting rotation, and none are stronger than tonight’s hurler, Parker Messick. The 25-year-old lefty was an All-Star this season, going 12-9 with a 2.56 ERA in 32 starts. In his Game 1 outing against the White Sox, though, he labored for 87 pitches in 4.1 innings and gave up two runs in a Guardians shutout loss.

I don’t have a strong preference for who wins this series. I suppose it would be nice for the White Sox to finally celebrate a postseason series win at home after all this time, but if they do, that means we won’t have any more baseball until Sunday. If the Guardians win today, it’ll force a winner-take-all Game 5 in Cleveland on Saturday.

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SnakePit Post-season GDT, #9

HOUSTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 30: The postseason logo is seen prior to game two of the American League Wild Card Series between the Houston Astros and the Chicago White Sox at Daikin Park on September 30, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) | Getty Images

And then there was one… Three of the Division Series finished yesterday. The Brewers and Dodgers both finished off their opponents in four games, and will face off again – as they did last year – starting on Sunday. Milwaukee are 0-3 in NLCS’s: as well as losing to LA in 2026, they did so in 2018, and the Cardinals in 2011. It has been 44 years since the Brewer last World Series appearance: the Pirates (47 years) and the Mariners (never) are the only franchises with a longer pennant drought. Meanwhile, in the American League, the Rays get to chill out until Monday, waiting for whoever prevails betwen the Guardians and White Sox.

If the White Sox win today, there’ll be no baseball until the NLCS kicks off Sunday. So I guess let’s hope for a Guardians victory, so we’ll have something to do over the weekend!

  • Cleveland Guardians @ Chicago White Sox (1-2): 5:00 pm, TBS/truTV
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Thursday Guardians @ White Sox ALDS Game

CHICAGO, IL - JULY 27: General view of the Southside sign as the downtown skyline is visible before an MLB game between the Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox on July 27, 2025 at Rate Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Game four of the Guardians/White Sox series. White Sox are up two games to one. They win, they take on the Rays.

Lineups:

Today’s Lineups

GUARDIANSWHITE SOX
Steven Kwan – CFChase Meidroth – 2B
Jose Ramirez – 3BRandal Grichuk – LF
Chase DeLauter – RFMiguel Vargas – 3B
Jo Adell – DHMunetaka Murakami – 1B
Nathaniel Lowe – 1BTommy Pham – DH
Angel Martinez – LFBrenton Doyle – CF
Travis Bazzana – 2BKyle Teel – C
Austin Hedges – CBraden Montgomery – RF
Brayan Rocchio – SSColson Montgomery – SS
Parker Messick – LHPErick Fedde – RHP

The MLB wants to cut the season to a 154 games in the future.

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Matt Barnes rips cursed Clippers, suggests name change after scandal

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows Steve Ballmer sitting in the stands at the Intuit Dome, Image 2 shows Matt Barnes #22 of the Los Angeles Clippers reacts to a defensive stop during a game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Image 3 shows Matt Barnes #22 of the Los Angeles Clippers points after scoring a basket and being fouled against the Golden State Warriors

Matt Barnes told Steve Ballmer to change the Clippers’ name when he bought the team in 2014.

Everybody laughed at Barnes, but he thinks the franchise is cursed and the idea might be worth revisiting following the salary cap scandal.

Matt Barnes told Steve Ballmer to change the Clippers’ name when he bought the team in 2014. Getty Images

“I do think the Clippers are cursed,” Barnes said to TMZ Sports. “I told [Steve] Ballmer to change the name when he first got here and everyone kind of laughed at me.

“They definitely need to change the name. This…energy is still on this franchise.”

A makeover certainly wouldn’t harm the Clippers as the franchise strives to reclaim the trust of its fans.

Beyond the NBA’s punishments for circumventing the salary cap — which included five first-round picks being taken away, a $30,000 fine and a one-year suspension for Ballmer — the organization lost its franchise player in Kawhi Leonard.

There’s much work to be done and the Clippers have already started the repair process at the team’s media day.

Steve Ballmer received a one-year suspension. AP Photo/Ryan Sun
“I do think the Clippers are cursed,” Barnes said to TMZ Sports. Getty Images

“Our fans deserve to hear from us before this, and for that we’re sorry,” interim president of basketball operations Trent Redden said. “We’ve been listening to the thoughts, the concerns, and feeling the emotions of our fan base. They mean everything to us. … We hope to fulfill our promises to them, to build their trust and move forward through this time.

“This franchise often has done its best work with its back against the wall … We hope to represent our fans the same way we always have in dark times, by coming out fighting.”

The Clippers have been clothed in scandal before Ballmer owned the team. The NBA banned Donald Sterling for life following leaked racist remarks, which pushed the $2 billion sale of the team forward for Ballmer.

The organization hasn’t been able to escape its stained past, but a name change doesn’t seem like it could cause any more harm than what’s already been done.

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Wild's Olli Maatta A Late Scratch With A Lower-Body Injury; David Spacek Takes His Place

The injury bug continues to plague the Minnesota Wild, with Olli Maatta joining Filip Gustavsson, Brock Faber, and Nick Foligno on the injured list.

The Wild PR revealed that Maatta would miss tonight's game against the Tampa Bay Lightning with a lower-body injury, just half an hour before puck drop.

In three games this season, Maatta has recorded one assist and is averaging the team's third-most ice time at 21:22.

David Spacek is entering the lineup for the Wild in place of the injured Maatta. The 23-year-old defenseman is making his season debut tonight and is dressing in just his third career NHL game.

Spacek played both of his NHL games in January 2026. In those games, Spacek failed to record any points and averaged 10:45 of ice time. 

Spacek has spent the last three seasons with the Iowa Wild in the AHL. Last season, Spacek scored seven goals and tallied 36 points in 59 games. In the pre-season, Spacek beat out Carson Lambos for a roster spot.

At six feet, 174 pounds, Spacek is a confident defender who excels with the puck on his stick. Drafted by the Wild in the fifth round (153rd overall) in 2022, Spacek has been a great developmental story and now has the chance to make his mark in the NHL. 

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Warriors rookie makes shocking statement in preseason

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Golden State Warriors forward Yaxel Lendeborg dribbles the ball past Los Angeles Lakers forward Adou Thiero during a game, Image 2 shows Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry high-fives forward-center Draymond Green

The Warriors had back-to-back exhibition games on Tuesday against the Lakers and Wednesday against the Trail Blazers. 

Here are our takeaways:

1. Yaxel Lendeborghas arrived

In Tuesday’s game against the Lakers, Yaxel Lendeborg was the main story. The Warriors’ 11th pick in the NBA draft looks ready to contribute, which is music to Golden State’s ears considering it will be without Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody for the first few months of the season and Kristaps Porzingis indefinitely. 

Lendeborg had 17 points in the first half on 7-for-11 shooting from the field, including going 2-for-3 from deep in the Warriors’ 124-98 win over the Lakers. He also had nine rebounds for his second straight preseason game. 

The Warriors are going to need the 6-foot-9 Lendeborg to make an immediate impact as a scorer and rebounder. That’s why they drafted the 24-year-old forward. He appeared NBA ready. 

So far, he has lived up to those expectations.

He led the Warriors to a championship in Las Vegas in summer league play while winning the MVP Award. And he has delivered in the team’s exhibition games, making a strong case for him to get some big NBA minutes as a rookie. 

Golden State Warriors forward Yaxel Lendeborg, right, brings the ball up the court against Los Angeles Lakers forward Adou Thiero during the second half of an NBA preseason basketball game Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026, in San Francisco. AP Photo/Jeff Chiu

2. The Warriors could have some depth

Steph Curry looked good against the Lakers, finishing with 16 points in 14 minutes. Draymond Green looked sharp, finishing with eight assists, three points, two rebounds and one steal in 15 minutes.

But what was most impressive is that the Warriors won handily with their star players hardly playing. 

Four players scored in double figures, including Curry, Lendeborg, Brandin Podziemski and Brandon Williams. 

The Warriors finished with 44 rebounds, 32 assists and only 10 turnovers. 

It’s only preseason, so you can’t read too much into any of this. But if Butler looks good when he returns from his torn ACL in a few months, maybe the Warriors will be better than everyone thinks. 

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) high-fives forward center Draymond Green (23) after scoring a 3-pointer in the first period against the Los Angeles Lakers during an NBA pre-season basketball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026. Yalonda M. James/San Francisco Chronicle via AP

3. The guys fighting for roster spots were put on blast

Nine players didn’t travel to Portland for the Warriors game against the Trail Blazers on Wednesday, including Curry, Green, Al Horford, Podziemski, De’Anthony Melton, Gary Payton II, Gui Santos, Georges Niang and Lendeborg. 

Meanwhile, the Trail Blazers fielded what could be their starting lineup in Deni Avdija, Toumani Camara, Donovan Clingan, Damian Lillard and Ja Morant. 

The Warriors put up a fight in their 123-118 loss, with a few guys making notable contributions.

Dalen Terry nearly recorded a triple-double with 23 points (9-for-18 from the field, 4-for-5 from 3), eight rebounds, nine assists and four steals in 43 minutes. He’s on an Exhibit 9 contract and is trying to earn a roster spot. 

Miles Kelly, who is eligible for a two-way contract, added 24 points (8-for-16 from the field, 6-for-11 from 3), seven rebounds and six assists in 28 minutes. On the other side of the spectrum, two-way player Malevy Leons struggled, finishing with as many turnovers as made shots (two). 

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MLB Division Series 2026 discussion thread: Day 6

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - OCTOBER 07: Jose Ramirez #11 of the Cleveland Guardians celebrates after hitting an RBI triple against the Chicago White Sox during the eighth inning in game three of the American League Division Series at Rate Field on October 07, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The League Championship Series matchups are almost set.

Wednesday saw the Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers move on in the National League, while the Tampa Bay Rays completed a three-game sweep of the New York Yankees in the American League. Now, all eyes turn to Chicago, where the Cleveland Guardians — who won 9-3 yesterday — try to even the series against the White Sox to force Game 5 on Saturday.

Now, let’s get to the details.

Cleveland Guardians (0-2) at Chicago White Sox (2-0) — 6:00 PM MDT

Pitching Matchup: LHP Parker Messick (12-9, 2.56 ERA) vs. LHP Hagen Smith (3-3, 1.29 ERA)

TV: TBS/HBO Max

SB Nation Sites:Southside Sox, Covering the Corner

Lineups:

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