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NBA season 2026-27 Preview: Seven best Duos in the NBA

The NBA moves fast. Just a couple of seasons ago, a list of the top duos would have included Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum on the Celtics, LeBron James and Anthony Davis on the Lakers, and Giannis Antetokounmpo was paired with Damian Lillard in Milwaukee. Just a season ago, a similar list would have included James Harden and Ivica Zubac on the Clippers, but by the trade deadline, both were on new teams.

Which is to say, teams need to take advantage of the windows with top duos while they can. Heading into the 2026-27 season, here are the NBA's top seven duos.

1. Nikola Jokic & Jamal Murray (Denver)

This is the most tested and reliable elite duo in the NBA — we know how well they play off each other, and we've seen them lift the Nuggets to a title. Both also are coming off monster seasons. Jokic averaged a triple-double of 27.7 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 10.7 assists per game, shot 38% from 3, and finished second in MVP voting. Murray had his best statistical season, averaging 25.4 points and 7.1 assists — both career highs — and shooting 43.5% from 3-point range, which earned him All-Star and All-NBA honors.

When Jokic and Murray were on the court together last season, the Nuggets had a +11.6 net rating. This remains one of the league's elite duos. What held back Denver last season — and the concern heading into this one — is health and the depth around Jokic and Murray. But that duo? Nobody is worried. Jokic is making midseason passes in the preseason.

2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander & Jalen Williams (Oklahoma City)

We didn't see much of this duo last season. While Gilgeous-Alexander was on his way to his second consecutive MVP award, Williams played just 33 regular-season games and five in the playoffs due to injuries. J-Dub was not himself.

Williams is back healthy this season, and he and SGA are ready to resume the form that had the Thunder with a +13.1 net rating when they shared the court two seasons ago — the season they lifted OKC to the title. Gilgeous-Alexander, 29, and Williams, 25, are at their peak, have incredible depth around them (it's really a trio with Chet Holmgren), and will have the Thunder back in title contention again.

3. Victor Wembanyama & Stephon Castle/Dylan Harper (San Antonio)

Wembanyama's standing in the game is unquestioned: He became the first unanimous Defensive Player of the Year last season, and at age 22 was the youngest player in NBA history to both make First Team All-NBA and lead his team to the NBA Finals. He is the MVP betting favorite heading into this season for a reason.

The question is who you pair with him in a duo. A year ago at this time, we would have said De'Aaron Fox, but during the regular season Stephon Castle looked like the better fit with Wemby, averaging 16.7 points and 7.4 assists per game while shooting 35% from 3, and the Spurs had a +17 net rating when they shared the court. Then during the playoffs, Dylan Harper asserted himself — especially in the NBA Finals — and looked like the future No. 2 option for the Spurs.

This season, either Castle or Harper could take over that role — but if you start to look at them as an elite trio, San Antonio becomes that much scarier. And they are all 22 or younger.

4. Jalen Brunson & Karl-Anthony Towns (New York)

If you want to argue this duo should be higher up the list, I'm not going to push back — the proof comes on opening night when Adam Silver hands them their championship rings.

The stats around this duo are impressive — the Knicks had a ridiculous +20.3 net rating when Towns and Brunson shared the court in the playoffs — but their stories are even better. Jalen Brunson has been dismissed and questioned before he even got to Villanova, and Dallas underestimated him so much he walked out the door. Town faced similar questions about whether he was really a championship big, and Minnesota shipped him out to avoid the second apron of the luxury tax. Together, Brunson and KAT bonded, eventually found a rhythm on the court and became New York legends. The Knicks need to pay up to keep this duo together.

5. Giannis Antetokounmpo & Bam Adebayo (Miami)

We haven't seen this duo together yet, but they deserve to be on the list. We may have questions about how smoothly they fit together on offense, and whether there is enough talent around them, but make no mistake, Pat Riley went out this summer and made the Miami Heat must-watch again.

What is this all going to look like?

"You got two front court guys that can dribble, shoot, pass. Who can rebound," Adebayo said on the LeBatard Show recently. "Obviously, the defensive side is what it is. We know how great we want that to be. But you got two guys going downhill that are very mobile. They have high IQ that can pass. People are underappreciating it right now because they haven't seen it, but as the time goes by people will learn to appreciate what we will do."

6. Luka Doncic & Austin Reaves (Los Angeles Lakers)

Luka Doncic is as elite an offensive player as there is in the game. An MVP-level player just entering his prime at age 27. A six-time All-NBA player who last season averaged 33.5 points, 8.3 assists and 7.7 rebounds per game.

Doncic also works best with a high-level secondary shot creator next to him, which is why the Lakers paid up this summer to retain Austin Reaves (four years and $184 million). Reaves is coming off a season where he averaged 23.3 points and 5.5 rebounds per game and showed he could run the team when Doncic is out.

When Doncic and Reaves are tight, they have a Jalen Brunson-and-Josh Hart kind of comedy vibe off the court. They also work on the court, where the Lakers had a +8.9 net rating last season when the duo played together. However, Los Angeles needs them to do that in more than 41 games (injuries limited both at times last season), and the Lakers need a lot of other things — their defense, Walker Kessler, depth — to go right as well to get to the level Rob Pelinka likes to talk about.

Anthony Edwards & LaMelo Ball (Minnesota)

Minnesota will be must-watch this season. Anthony Edwards paired with the best passer he's ever played with, LaMelo Ball, will lead to a dynamic, up-tempo offense full of highlights. Whether that leads the Timberwolves back to the Western Conference Finals is a different question, but we're not going to be able to take our eyes off them.

Edwards averaged 28.8 points and five rebounds a game last season, shooting 39.9% from 3-point range. He's going to get some easier looks now, Rudy Gobert is going to be finishing alley-oops and the Timberwolves are going to be entertaining. However, the real key to their season may be whether Jaden McDaniels takes another step forward. That and whether LaMelo Ball is ready for this spotlight and this kind of playoff pressure.

Two duos of note not on this list:

• No Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren from Detroit, who came very close to taking the last spot (from the Timberwolves). To be fair, Cunningham and Duren proved they can lead a 60-win team, but that playoff performance has given me pause (especially since Pistons management didn't fix things this offseason). It really can't be said enough: if Duren and Ausar Thompson both remain non-shooters, playing them together in the postseason is going to be an issue.

• No Philadelphia 76ers are on this list because I don't know what to do with them as a duo: Reach into a hat and pull out the names of two of Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown, LeBron James and Joel Embiid. Two of them probably should be on this list, which two is the question. The 76ers may not have the answer to their best duo until around Christmas, so they were not making the cut here before the season tips off.

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'I Tried To Take My Game To The Next Level; I Think I Did A Pretty Good Job.' — Dalibor Dvorsky Put Work In This Summer To Elevate Game For Blues

MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- Coming into the NHL as a high first-round draft pick can bring with it some loftier expectations

Dalibor Dvorsky knows all about those, which gave the No. 10 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft a clear understanding for the forward to elevate his game, he would have to take both the good results and bad results from a first full season in the NHL.

Dvorsky is coming off playing 71 games for the St. Louis Blues last season, and even though the numbers (12 goals, nine assists) won’t stand out, there was more to take home with him to his native Slovakia to help him better prepare for a sophomore season this year.

“I think I worked a lot on my speed and on my footwork and my shot,” Dvorsky said. “I tried to take my game to the next level and I think I did a pretty good job.

“I feel better for sure. I feel like a little more calm on the ice. I'd say last year I was maybe a little stressed sometimes, but now I feel calmer with the puck on my stick and I think I do better decisions.”

In other words, the game has been sort of dumbed down for Dvorsky. The NHL pace isn’t overwhelming like it may have been last season, knowing he’s going up against the best players on the planet. And so far in 2026-27, even in a smaller sample size, Dvorsky has found the net in each of the Blues’ first two games as he searches for his first three-game goal-scoring streak when the Blues (1-1-0) conclude a season-opening three-game trip against the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday.

Maybe some of that pressure and slowing the game down was helped out when Dvorsky thrived for his native Slovakia at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, where he has three goals and three assists in six games.

And if anyone in recent memory understands where Dvorsky is coming from as far as being more calm as you gain experience, it’s 2020 first-round pick Jake Neighbours, Dvorsky’s linemate to start the season.

“I think every hockey player goes through it when they transition to pro, especially to the NHL,” Neighbours said. “It’s a learning curve. I’m still learning in my fourth or fifth year, whatever it is. I think just with every year comes more comfortability. You can see that in him. He’s more confident this year. Like he said, he’s more calm with the puck, he seems to have a little more poise with it. You definitely see some improvements for sure. I think that’s normal for any young player coming into the league. Your first year is about learning, getting your wits about you. When you come into your second year, you come to expect a little more of yourself.

“There comes a point. I don’t know if it’s a certain game marker or a stretch of good play that maybe does it for you. I think everybody’s probably different. I think for me, I remember the year I scored 27, there’s just that feeling that you belong in the league and you can compete in it. Every player has that moment where they kind of figure that out. I think ‘Devo’ has a ton of confidence; he knows he’s a really good player in the league. Excited to play with him and watch him blossom this year.”

Dvorsky knows what’s out there: the hands are there, the shot is there, the foot speed and/or foot work isn’t. So he went about it on his own to work on it.

“Some things off the ice,” he said. “On the ice, just have those quick first three steps, working on that.”

And having those quicker steps has perhaps slowed the game down for the 21-year-old.

“Yeah but maybe it comes with me being more calm with the puck and also I think I know what to do without the puck better than I did last year,” Dvorsky said. “Obviously I still have to learn so much, but I feel like I'm a smarter player than I was last year.”

“Probably like every detail matters. Every player (is) so good and one small mistake, it costs a goal. Every time I'm out there, just make the most of it.”

Blues coach Jim Montgomery has noticed the calmness to Dvorsky’s game and feels it’s the player is asking more advanced questions to take his game to the next level.

“Calm is a good word to describe it,” Montgomery said. “He seems to understand how we want to play, the questions he’s asking are more advanced and basic as far as what we’re trying to accomplish.

“They’re just getting comfortable, right? Being in the NHL’s intimidating when you first come up. It’s intimidating about who’s in the locker room, it’s intimidating about the size of the arena, it’s intimidating about how great a life we have on the road with the nice hotels. There’s a lot of things to digest for it to become normal, and then you’re going out and you might be out there and ice the puck, now MacKinnon and McDavid are coming over (the boards) on the ice. But you’ve just got to get used to that, right? There’s definitely a learning curve there and adjustment mentally to, ‘I’m playing against these guys.’ It’s not, ‘Oh wow, look who’s on the ice.’ It does happen.”

There may have been some of that last season, especially playing as a second-line center behind Robert Thomas. But with the acquisition of Mason McTavish, Dvorsky can perhaps get some better matchups and fuel his game in the process, and in his case, hopefully avoids any sort of ‘Sophomore Slump’ while thriving with Neighbours, Jonatan Berggren or whoever may be on that line.

“MacT is a great player and a great guy off the ice, too,” Dvorsky said. “It helps me, and it helps the team a lot.

“Both Jake and Bergy are great players. Jakey is very strong on the puck and so strong in battles and very smart. Bergy is so skilled and can find players. So yeah, it's really good and easy for me to play with those two guys.”

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Aleksander Barkov injury update as Panthers await answer on captain

The Florida Panthers and their fans will have to wait another day to find out how long captain Aleksander Barkov will be out.

Barkov injured his left leg Oct. 1, during a game against the San Jose Sharks. He was playing in his second NHL regular-season game since missing all of the 2025-26 season after having ACL surgery on his right knee.

The Panthers originally hoped to have an answer on Oct. 2, but the team was on the road and the center went to see a doctor on Monday, Oct. 5 after returning home.

"He's in with the doctors today, and we hope to have a more solid answer for you tomorrow," Coach Paul Maurice told reporters.

Maurice didn't put credence in a report that Barkov would miss 10 to 12 weeks.

"Do not bet your hard-earned money on that one," Maurice said. "I know you can bet on everything these days, but hang onto your cash, truly. If I don't don't know, nobody else does."

Aleksander Barkov injury update

Barkov, a three-time winner of the Selke Trophy as the NHL's top defensive forward, was seeing a doctor on Monday.

Maurice said an announcement should be made on Tuesday.

"We need a certain amount of information before we can make our best estimate, and we don't have that information yet," Maurice said.

Barkov was placed on long-term injured reserve on Oct. 2, meaning he'll have to miss at least 10 games and 24 days.

The 2024 and 2025 champion Panthers missed the playoffs last season because of injuries to Barkov and other key players.

It will be hard for the 1-0-2 Panthers to adjust to Barkov's absence, but they're a deep team. Plus, Brad Marchand, who was expected to miss October rehabbing from an injury, returned on Oct. 4.

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Aleksander Barkov injury update as Panthers await answer on captain

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Cal Raleigh and Josh Naylor undergo offseason surgeries

TORONTO, ONTARIO - OCTOBER 20: Cal Raleigh #29 of the Seattle Mariners is greeted by Josh Naylor #12 after hitting a solo home run during the fifth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays in game seven of the American League Championship Series at the Rogers Centre on October 20, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Seattle Mariners announced Monday that both Cal Raleigh and Josh Naylor have undergone surgery to address nagging injuries that impacted them throughout the 2026 season. Both players are expected to be fully healthy and ready for the start of Spring Training.

Raleigh underwent surgery on his left (non-throwing) shoulder for debridement of his AC joint. The injury was just another ding on Raleigh’s disappointing 2026, which saw him make his first trip to the injured list for an oblique strain he’d attempted to labor through. Raleigh looked far better in the season’s second half, mustering a 120 wRC+ after a dismal 72 during the first half, so this seems to have been a more genuinely manageable ailment than the oblique issue in the early parts of the year. While foreknowledge of the shoulder trouble was not known, it may have played a role in some of Raleigh’s defensive difficulties in 2026, and hopefully a winter of proper rest will see the Big Dumper back in better stead.

For Naylor, the surgery was TFCC (triangular fibrocartilage complex repair) on his right (non-throwing) wrist, which the Mayo Clinic describes as “minimally invasive” and carrying a recovery timeframe of at least 1-2 months before returning to normal activity and utilization. The wrist issue was more well-known from an early point in the year, and impacted Naylor obviously in his swing and approach at the plate. Adopting a more slap-hitting style and hitting the final two of his 10 home runs on August 8th, Naylor attempted to compensate with his knack for base stealing and improved glovework at first base, but still failed to meet the mark in his first full year with the M’s.

Both players managed 95 wRC+ on the year, down 15-25 points from their career lines as comfortably above-average bats, and Seattle will need them to return to those lines for next year to offer a proper bounce back to form.

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Pistons vs. Suns: Jalen Duren and the Detroit Pistons kick off preseason

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JANUARY 29: Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons drives to the basket against Dillon Brooks #3 of the Phoenix Suns during the first half at Mortgage Matchup Center on January 29, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images

We can finally put contract drama behind us and focus on some honest-to-goodness, doesn’t quite count, but it’s still great because it’s basketball basketball. In other words, the preseason starts tonight as the Detroit Pistons face the Phoenix Suns.

This game will be at Little Caesars Arena and will feature zero blown coverages by the Detroit Lions’ secondary, so we can all take a little comfort in that. The game will also feature the Detroit Pistons, including superstar Cade Cunningham and the newly signed duo of Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson, who received a collective $355 million from the Pistons this offseason.

This is also the first year of our post-FanDuel lives, so remember that the Pistons have transitioned to games being on local, free channels in many Michigan markets. That includes TV20 in Detroit. For those looking at a streaming option, the team also signed a deal with DAZN to carry games (and replays) digitally.

Game Vitals

When: 7 p.m. ET
Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan
Watch: TV20 Detroit (TV), DAZN (Streaming)
Odds: Pistons-3.5

Analysis

Tonight’s game will also be a chance to see just how different this offense and defense will look. Detroit has added some serious shooting. While Duncan Robinson was one of the best, most prolific, and most reliable shooters in the NBA last season, he was just one man. What if two?

Robinson will be joined by Isaiah Joe, and while they won’t start alongside each other, I wouldn’t be surprised if they share plenty of minutes on the floor. Joe joined Robinson as one of the NBA’s premier movement shooters last season, and the hope is that the threat of those two shooting from deep opens up the floor for Cunningham, Duren, and Thompson.

Those weren’t the only shooters Detroit added to its roster, however. New starting power forward John Collins is a perimeter-shooting upgrade over Tobias Harris, and Taurean Prince offers some corner shooting off the bench. Heck, it’s preseason, the time when we can still dream that Kevin Huerter is going to rediscover the deadly shooting stroke that has somehow abandoned him for the past few years.

Defensively, the team has many more questions than answers. Not that they still shouldn’t be a very good defense, but they were one of the best last year. But the team lost its interior defensive anchor in Isaiah Stewart, and while Thompson is perhaps the league’s best perimeter defender, there are concerns about how vulnerable the paint could be. That means that Duren needs to take his game to yet another level. He went from awful and a bit lost on defense in his first few years to passable last season. This year, passable just won’t be good enough. He needs to read and react quicker and put much more mental energy into that side of the floor for the Pistons to have the kind of success they’re hoping for.

Elsewhere, we’ll get our first looks at things like Ausar’s offensive responsibilities, rookie Ebuka Okorie, and what Daniss Jenkins can do after coming out of nowhere as a two-way player last season.

Projected Lineup

Detroit Pistons (0-0)

Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, John Collins, Jalen Duren

Phoenix Suns (0-0)

Devin Booker, Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Miles Bridges, Oso Ighodaro

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SnakePit Post-season GDT, #6

Oct 7, 2019; Minneapolis, MN, USA; A general view of the ALDS logo on the field in game three of the 2019 ALDS playoff baseball series between New York Yankees and Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Probably safe to say that both results in the National League Division Series went in the way most readers of the SnakePit wanted, with the Padres and Dodgers both losing. The NL gets a travel day today, as the series relocate to San Diego and Atlanta respectively, before resuming on Wednesday. So, today, it’s the American League’s time to shine, with the Rays and White Sox both seeking to build on their victories in Game #1. The latter was probably more of a shock, but Chicago appear so far to be taking inspiration from the 2023 D-backs. They are currently 3-0 in the post-season, all their games on the road and against teams with more wins in the regular season. Maybe it’s a papal thing?

Here are the games on order today

  • Chicago White Sox @ Cleveland Guardians 2:00 pm (1-0), TBS
  • New York Yankees @ Tampa Bay Rays 5:00 pm (0-1), TBS
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ALDS Game 2 Open Thread

ST. PETERSBURG, FL - OCTOBER 03: Bryan Baker #47 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates after the Rays defeated the New York Yankees in Game One of the American League Division Series presented by Booking.com at Tropicana Field on Saturday, October 3, 2026 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Yesterday’s action in the NL saw the Braves pull even with the reigning champion Dodgers and the Brewers take a comanding 2-0 lead over Manny Machado and the and Padres. Today, we shift back to the AL, with the White Sox and Rays looking to extend their series leads.

From a former Orioles perspective, neither the White Sox nor Guardians have any former O’s in the lineup. Cleveland was the organization that gave us current manager Craig Albernaz, so let that sway your rooting as it may. In the nightcap, the Rays are a pretty easy root for against the Yankees. As is well documented, Tampa is littered with former O’s like Cedric Mullins, Jorge Mateo, Brian Baker and Tyler Wells—though neither of the position players get the start tonight.

Chicago White Sox at Cleveland Guardians, Game 2, 5pm ET

Probable pitchers: LHP Anthony Kay (10-9, 4.44 ERA) vs. RHP Gavin Williams (14-8, 3.76 ERA)

Where to watch: TBS/HBO Max

The White Sox won Game 1 behind a two-run, left-on-left home run from Munetaka Murakami against Guardians All-Star Parker Messick. Perhaps the win will give Chicago confidence to complete the upset. Perhaps its a sign that the regular season is repeating itself, as the White Sox went 1-2 in Cleveland during both road trips to Progressive Field this year.

The Guardians’ 26-year-old right-hander Gavin Williams will look to lead Cleveland to a tied series between the AL Central rivals. Williams made four starts against the White Sox this year, posting a 3.98 ERA across 20.1 IP while striking out 28—though the Guardians only went 1-3 in those games. Opposing Williams is 31-year-old lefty Anthony Kay. In his first season back in the big leagues after spending two years in Japan, Kay only faced the Guardians once, posting a line of 6 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 1 BB and 4 Ks in a 9-5 White Sox win.

New York Yankees at Tampa Bay Rays, Game 2, 8pm ET

Probable pitchers: RHP Cam Schlittler (14-6, 1.95 ERA) vs. RHP Freddy Peralta (10-11, 4.42 ERA)

Where to watch: TBS/HBO Max

After almost being not hit by Drew Rasmussen in Game 1, the Yankees will turn to presumptive AL Cy Young winner Cam Schlittler to try to keep their season alive. Schlittler faced the Rays twice in Tropicana Field this season; the first time he delivered one of his “poorer” starts of the season, allowing 3 runs over 5 innings while punching out 8 in a 5-4 Rays win. The next time, at the beginning of July, Schlittler was his usually dominant self—tossing 8 innings of one-run ball with another 8 Ks in a 5-1 Yankees win.

The future Cy Young winner will be opposed by trade deadline acquisition Freddy Peralta. After struggling to a 4.99 ERA across 22 starts with the Mets, Peralta has looked like a different pitcher since heading south to Tampa. In 10 starts for the Rays, the 2x All-Star has a 3.25 ERA with 43 Ks in 55.1 innings. He was even better across the month of September, pitching to a 0.96 ERA over 28 innings last month. Peralta faced the Yankees only once this season, posting a line of 5 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 6 BB and 4 Ks back in May with the Mets. The longtime former Brewer has a 1.69 ERA and .116 average against in the Trop this year.

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Thoughts on first two Dodgers-Braves NLDS games

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 04: Walt Weiss #22 of the Atlanta Braves talks to players on the mound during the third inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game two of the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium on October 04, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) | Getty Images

LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers are now in Atlanta in what his whittled to a best-of-3 National League Division Series, with the Braves suddenly in the driver’s seat as the home team on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Dodgers starting rotation is their biggest advantage, which is one reason Sunday night was so frustrating. Blake Snell was up against a bullpen game, but flung the Dodgers into their own relief parade with a slog of a start, wading through the muck with five walks and 90 pitched in only 3 2/3 innings. That was undoubtedly bad, but also the Dodgers as a team only allowed three runs in Game 2, the same as they allowed in Game 1’s win.

That’s a winnable game, but the offense wasn’t up to the task, facing a slew of Atlanta relievers with standout performances over the two days.

Prior to Game 1, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was asked how the Dodgers could capitalize on facing a slew of Braves relievers instead of starting pitchers.

“The advantage for us is we have an opportunity to not let their pitching staff come up for air, and how do you do that? You have to exhaust the starter. You have to get in their pen, and you have to have them deploy arms as soon as possible and get that carousel going and continue to beat starters. Then you can suffocate them,” Roberts said Friday. “We have an opportunity to really expose them if we take the right at-bats and the right approach.”

Atlanta used bullpen games in each of the first two games but the Dodgers haven’t faced any of the 10 Braves pitchers in more than one appearance yet, so the exposure hasn’t yet materialized. But they did get shut down by three different Braves pitchers over extended stretches on Saturday and Sunday.

Let-hander Dylan Dodd pitched three scoreless innings to start Game 1, and struck out four of his 11 batters faced. Dodd totaled 49 2/3 innings in his 48 appearances this season, and the three innings matched his career high, also done on April 12 and May 23.

Ray Kerr, another left-hander, has impressed mightily since returning to the Braves in August, after missing over two years following Tommy John surgery. Kerr got 10 outs to start Atlanta’s wild card closeout win over the Phillies on Thursday, then followed up with 2 2/3 innings to start Game 2 against the Dodgers. Kerr left with two runners on base in the third inning, but Will Smith followed with a first-pitch groundout against Grant Holmes to end the inning, part of the Dodgers’ 0-for-8 performance with runners in scoring position.

None of those runners in scoring position came against Didier Fuentes, who retired 11 Dodgers in a row before Max Muncy homered against him with two outs in the ninth inning, pulling the Dodgers to within a run. They did not bring across the equalizer.

The only exposure the Dodgers got were within the same game of these bulk outings, as Dodd and Kerr each faced 11 batters and Fuentes faced 12. In the seven combined plate appearances the second time seeing these pitchers, the Dodgers got two hits (Mookie Betts single off Dodd in Game 1, Muncy home run) and a walk (Betts in Game 2 against Kerr).

Boogeyman

The specter of Chris Sale loomed over this series from the start, even though he hasn’t yet thrown a pitch. The Braves 37-year-old ace pitched into the seventh inning in Game 1 of the Braves’ wild card series on Tuesday — and was on the hook for a loss before Austin Riley rescued Atlanta with a three-run homer — and then got four outs on Thursday in Game 3 to close out the Phillies.

Sale starting in Game 2 against the Dodgers was a possibility, however remote, because the left-hander going in Game 2 could also conceivably start again in Game 5 on four days rest. A Game 2 start would have also been on four days rest, in a loose definition considering he got four outs on a “throw day” on Thursday in between. Sale hasn’t pitched on four days rest since April.

“I know him at 80 percent is really good, but that’s what it came down to,” Braves manager Walt Weiss said Sunday afternoon. “We’ve given him extra rest all year, and it’s served him very well. It allowed him to do what he did the other night, I think all the extra rest he’d gotten.”

Sale started on five days rest 13 times this season, and with six or more days rest 12 more times. In those 25 starts, the left-hander had a paltry 1.89 ERA and 31.3-percent strikeout rate. The Dodgers are well aware of Sale’s prowess, having faced him twice this season.

Los Angeles actually beat Sale on May 8 at Dodger Stadium, with run-scoring hits by three different left-handed batters, which felt like cashing in a winning lottery ticket. Freddie Freeman, who homered off Sale that night, captured the conundrum that comes with facing the 6’6 lefty.

“I would have taken a broken-bat bloop against Chris,” Freeman said. “He’s one of the toughest left-handed pitchers you can face. He’s coming from behind you.”

That was the Dodgers’ only regular season win against the Braves, with Atlanta winning each of the next five matchups, including three one-run wins in Atlanta three and a half months later. On August 27, Sale turned back to the clock to hit triple digits on the radar gun while shutting out the Dodgers with 11 strikeouts for his first complete game in seven years.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto was on the tough-luck end of that Sale shutout, having only allowed a solo home run to Drake Baldwin to open the game, but otherwise kept the Braves off the board into the seventh inning. That same pitching matchup returns in the pivotal Game 3 at Truist Park on Tuesday night.

The Braves entered the postseason in the position some semi-recent Dodgers teams have endured, simply running out of healthy and effective starting pitchers by the end of September, and into October. Right now, Atlanta essentially has two starting pitchers in Sale and Tyler Mahle, the latter an acquisition from the San Francisco Giants at the trade deadline.

Mahle while with the Giants pitched seven scoreless innings in a win over the Dodgers in San Francisco on April 22. Since joining the Braves, the right-hander allowed two or fewer runs in nine of his 10 starts, with a minuscule 1.91 ERA with 54 strikeouts against only 10 walks. That includes seven innings with just one run allowed last Wednesday in Game 2 of the wild card round against the Phillies.

After Saturday’s Game 1 loss in the NLDS, it sounded at the time like Weiss was trying to talk himself into the Braves having enough depth to survive the series.

“Look, you’ve got Sale and Mahle still, a much more rested bullpen,” Weiss said Saturday night. “I don’t have any worries about that, about having enough pitching. We’ve got plenty of pitching.”

Now in a tied series and his two actual starting pitchers rested and ready to go, Weiss is looking more and more correct. The Dodgers have their work cut out for them in Atlanta.

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Monday ALDS Open Threads

ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 03: Drew Rasmussen #57 of the Tampa Bay Rays delivers a pitch against the New York Yankees during the first inning in game one of the American League Division Series at Tropicana Field on October 03, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) | Getty Images

We have just two games today.

White Sox @ Guardians 5:00 Eastern: White Sox are up 1-0.

Lineups:

Today’s Lineups

WHITE SOXGUARDIANS
Sam Antonacci – LFSteven Kwan – CF
Kyle Teel – CJose Ramirez – 3B
Miguel Vargas – 3BChase DeLauter – RF
Munetaka Murakami – 1BJo Adell – DH
Andrew Benintendi – DHNathaniel Lowe – 1B
Tristan Peters – CFAngel Martinez – LF
Braden Montgomery – RFTravis Bazzana – 2B
Chase Meidroth – 2BPatrick Bailey – C
Colson Montgomery – SSBrayan Rocchio – SS
Sean Burke – RHPGavin Williams – RHP

Yankees @ Rays: 8:00 Eastern. The Rays are up 1-0.

Cam Schlittle 14-6, 1.95 ERA vs, Freddy Peralta (10-11, 4.42).

The lineups aren’t up as I type this.

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ALDS Gamethread: 10/5/2026

ST. PETERSBURG, FL - OCTOBER 03: A general view during the national anthem prior to Game One of the American League Division Series presented by Booking.com between the New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on Saturday, October 3, 2026 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Ali Overstreet/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Today, we switch to the American League Division Series. Two games:

  • White Sox at Guardians, Game 2: 5:00 pm
  • Yankees at Rays, Game 2: 8:00 pm

Let’s talk about it.

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ALDS, Game 2: Schedule, probable pitchers, and open thread, 10/5/26

Starting pitcher Anthony Kay #18 of the Chicago White Sox pitches during the 1st inning of the game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on September 22, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (
Anthony Kay | Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

White Sox at Guardians

White Sox lead, 1-0

First pitch: 5:00 PM EDT
TV: TBS/truTV
Probable pitchers: Anthony Kay, LHP (CWS), Gavin Williams, RHP (CLE)

Yankees at Rays

Rays lead, 1-0

First pitch: 8:00 PM EDT
TV: TBS/truTV
Probable pitchers: Cam Schlittler, RHP (NYY), Freddy Peralta, RHP (TB)

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MLB Division Series: White Sox at Guardians, Yankees at Rays

After an odd little off day Sunday (largely because of NFL games that MLB didn’t want to compete with on TV), the American League Division Series resume today.

4 p.m. CT: White Sox at Guardians (White Sox lead series 1-0)

TV: TBS, truTV, HBO Max (streaming). Announcers: Alex Faust, Ron Darling and Lauren Jbara.

Anthony Kay, LHP vs. Gavin Williams, RHP

Kay pitched 1.1 innings on Saturday and threw 22 pitches so he’s likely an opener here.

MLB.com Gameday

Baseball-reference.com preview

7 p.m. CT: Yankees at Rays (Rays lead series 1-0)

TV: TBS, truTV, HBO Max (streaming). Announcers: Brian Anderson, Jeff Francoeur and Lauren Shehadi.

Cam Schlittler, RHP vs. Freddy Peralta, RHP

MLB.com Gameday

Baseball-reference.com preview

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Boston Celtics Daily Links 10/5/26

PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 30: The sneakers worn by Nick Sang during the game between the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers during Round One Game Six of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 30, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

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CLNS Media/YouTube Hugo Gonzalez: Charleston Trip Has HELPED Celtics | Celtics Practice Interview

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Locked on CelticsMazzulla’s Message | Pritchard Free Throws | Scheierman 1-On-1

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Matt Olson named finalist for 2026 Hank Aaron Award

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - OCTOBER 01: Matt Olson #28 of the Atlanta Braves celebrates a home run against the Philadelphia Phillies during the seventh inning in game three of the National League Wild Card Series at Truist Park on October 01, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The author of some of baseball’s most beautiful swings has not gone unnoticed for his 2026 campaign: Matt Olson has been named a finalist for the 2026 Hank Aaron Award. Established in 1999, this honor recognizes the most outstanding regular season offensive performer in each league.

Matt slashed .251/.321/.507 with his second straight 40-homer season, 93 RBI and an .823 OPS. He is in a tie for sixth in MLB in homers with 41, just four shy of the pair leading the league (fellow NL finalists Pete Crow-Armstrong and Kyle Schwarber with 45). He was last nominated in 2023, where he lost to fellow teammate and unanimous MVP Ronald Acuña Jr.

Winners are determined by a fan vote and panel of Hall of Famers and announced on Wednesday, November 11 at the MLB Awards – you can see the full list of nominees and vote for Olson here. Congrats, Matt! Hoping for more of this Matty O to resurface in the postseason as the NLDS continues at Truist Park tomorrow night.

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Chris Sale wanted the ball, but Braves said no. Now comes the payoff.

LOS ANGELES — Atlanta ace Chris Sale not only told his bosses he was available, but that he felt strong.

He volunteered to pitch in Game 1 of the National League division series on short rest Saturday against the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

He was more than willing to pitch Game 2 on Sunday instead of relying on another bullpen game, knowing he would be on regular rest as a starter, although he did throw 24 pitches in relief Thursday in the NL wild-card series against the Philadelphia Phillies.

"I really felt confident in myself in starting Game 2," Sale said. "I felt confident in my ability to go out there and be able to perform at a high level. I reiterated that plenty of times to them."

Alex Anthopoulos, Atlanta's president of baseball operations, and Atlanta manager Walt Weiss listened to him after their Game 1 loss, knew that he was willing to do whatever they wanted, but sorry, it made no sense to take that kind of gamble. Sale had pitched on four days' rest only twice the entire season.

MORE: Atlanta's Cy Young gambit pays off with sucker punch to Dodgers in NLDS

"If you have Sale in Game 2 and Game 5, as people were screaming about," Weiss said, "we saw it as you're getting a diminished Chris Sale twice at that point. We wanted to get a full-strength Chris Sale, and that's Game 3. Then, possibly impacting the game in Game 5 like we saw in the Phillies series.

"That's what it came down to. We didn't want to have a somewhat diminished Chris Sale twice because it would have been regular rest, but he had the (relief) outing in between, and it just didn't make sense to us."

Now, they have a fully-rested Sale, the former Cy Young winner and still one of the finest lefties in the game, starting for the first time in a week Tuesday in Game 3 against the Dodgers and World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto at Truist Park (6 p.m. ET on FS1).

"As we sit here today, it's the best-case scenario that we could possibly have," Weiss said. "Now we win the bullpen game, and now we have a fresh Chris Sale ready to go."

And now they silence all of the keyboard warriors and critics, who somehow believe they know Atlanta better than the folks who make a living running the team, and know their players better than anyone.

"Look, I know it's professional sports, man, and in professional sports, you're only a success really in the moment that you're having success," Weiss said. "That's it. Then you have to do it all over again.

"That's why you've got to be mentally tough, man, if you want to sit in my seat, Alex's seat, because it can get pretty vicious out there."

Braves pitcher Chris Sale gets a hug from third baseman Austin Riley (27) after defeating the Phillies in Game 3 of their National League wild-card series at Truist Field in Cumberland, Georgia on Oct. 1, 2026.

Certainly, no one is putting champagne on ice, or even hinting that they might now have an advantage over the powerful Dodgers, but Weiss and company know that a fresh Chris Sale is a dangerous one. He pitched an old-fashioned shutout against the Dodgers the last time he faced them in August. Sale has a 2.13 ERA this season when having six days of rest.

And if there’s a Game 5, guess who’s ready to come out of the bullpen? Yep, just like 2018 when Sale came in relief and closed out the World Series title for the Boston Red Sox.

"I think it just reiterates the all-hands-on-deck mentality," Sale said. "It's really where I learned it. I've never been in the postseason before I got to Boston. When you get there, and you're around winners and that mentality and that kind of culture, you see what winning at all costs looks like.

"I even got a text from (former Red Sox manager Alex Cora) that night of Game 3 of the wild-card game, and even just getting a text from him was awesome because he was someone I learned a lot from as a manager. Talk about a winning mentality and all hands on deck and just the love for your teammates, the willingness to sacrifice yourself to do whatever it is for the team.

"The conversation just always kind of comes back to the feeling we have with this team is a very similar feeling I have to that '18 Red Sox team."

Who knows, with a rested Sale, a rested Tyler Mahle, who has a 1.99 ERA since being acquired at the trade deadline, and a lights-out bullpen, no wonder why Atlanta now believes they might have something special going on, and could shock the baseball world.

"We have a lot of work to do," Sale said. "It's not over yet. You can't start getting ahead of yourself, but we're confident in who we have in our clubhouse, and we're confident moving forward."

Follow Bob Nightengale on X: @Bnightengale

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Chris Sale wanted the ball, but Braves said no. Now comes the payoff.