Fort Myers, FL - February 16: Boston Red Sox hitting coach Peter Fatse watches Reese McGuire take some swings in the cage. (Photo by Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
We’re going to hear so many different names connected to the Phillies during the offseason, but without knowing how much money they can spend, it’ll be tough to guess. Usually, we know that they didn’t want to extend beyond the final luxury tax threshold, but will those even be a thing in the post-CBA world? We’ll have to wait and see.
1981 – Behind the solid pitching of Burt Hooton, the Los Angeles Dodgers complete a World Series comeback, defeating the New York Yankees, 9-2, in Game 6. The Dodgers had trailed the Series two games to none before bouncing back to win four straight games. Pedro Guerrero drives in five runs for Los Angeles, who avenge two six-game World Series defeats to the Yankees in 1977 and 1978. It is the third time this postseason Los Angeles comes from behind to win a series: they were 0-2 behind Houston in the NLDS and 1-2 behind the Expos in the NLCS. Guerrero, Ron Cey and Steve Yeager share the Series MVP Award.
2001 – In the World Series, Randy Johnson of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitches a three-hit shutout to defeat the Yankees, 4-0, taking a 2-0 advantage in the Series. Matt Williams becomes the first player in World Series history to hit home runs with three different teams. He homered in the Fall Classic for the Indians in 1997 and the Giants in 1989, prior to doing so for Arizona today.
2007 – The Red Sox win their second Championship of the decade, with their sweep of the Rockies in the 2007 World Series. Colorado had won 21 of 22 games entering the Series before falling flat. They lose Game 4 by a 4-3 score, thanks to 5.2 scoreless innings from Jon Lester. Mike Lowell is named World Series MVP.
2010 – In Game 2 of the 2010 World Series, the Giants rout the Rangers, 9-0, but the score is only 1-0 in the seventh when Texas starter C.J. Wilson leaves with a blister on his finger. Matt Cain and two relievers combine on a four-hit shutout. Texas has allowed 20 runs in the first two World Series games in franchise history, setting a major league record.
2011 – The St. Louis Cardinals win the 11th title of their history by defeating the Texas Rangers, 6-2, in Game 7 of the World Series. Texas takes a two-run lead in the top of the 1st, but Series MVPDavid Freese ties the score with a two-run double in the bottom of the inning. Chris Carpenter then keeps the Rangers from adding to their score, while Allen Craig hits a third-inning homer off Matt Harrison. The Cards add two runs without getting a hit in the 5th and, typically, St. Louis manager Tony LaRussa uses four relievers to get the last nine outs. It is an unlikely title for a team that was 10.5 games out on August 25th and twice was down to its last strike in Game 6.
2013 – The Red Sox take a three-games-to-two lead in the World Series with a 3-1 win over the Cardinals. David Ortiz continues to be unstoppable at the plate, getting three more hits to increase his average for the Series to .733, while back-up C David Ross has the big blow, a tie-breaking ground rule double in the seventh. Jon Lester prevails over Adam Wainwright for the second time.
2023 – The Diamondbacks tie up the World Series with a 9-1 win over the Rangers in Game 2. Merrill Kelly pitches seven excellent innings but the game is close until Arizona scores seven runs over the final three innings. Gabriel Moreno opens the scoring with the game’s lone homer, while Tommy Pham has four of the D-Backs’ 16 hits. Ketel Marte sets a new record by extending his postseasonhitting streak to 18 games, breaking a four-way tie.
2024 – The Dodgers take a three-games-to-none lead in the World Series by beating the Yankees, 4-2, in Game 3 played at New Yankee Stadium. Freddie Freeman homers with one on in the first inning off Clarke Schmidt — a record-tying fifth consecutive World Series game in which he has gone deep, going back to 2021, and the Dodgers add a couple more runs before Alex Verdugo hits a two-run bomb of his own in the bottom of the 9th – but it is too little, too late.
1793 – Eli Whitney applies for a patent for his cotton gin machine, used to pull cotton fibers from the seed.
1831 – British scientist Michael Faraday demonstrates his dynamo invention, an electric generator.
1886 – The Statue of Liberty is dedicated by President Grover Cleveland and is celebrated with the first confetti (ticker tape) parade in New York City.
1900 – Summer (Modern) Olympic Games in Paris end after five months; no opening or closing ceremonies are held.
1904 – St. Louis police try a new investigative method, fingerprints.
1954 – Nobel Prize in Literature is awarded to Ernest Hemingway.
1962 – NY Giants quarterback Y. A. Tittle passes for seven touchdowns vs. Washington in a 49-34 win.
1965 – The Gateway Arch, 630 ft (192 m) tall, is completed in St. Louis, Missouri.
1978 – Bobby Orr scores his last career NHL goal against Detroit Red Wings
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - MARCH 28, 2026: President of baseball operations and general manager Mike Elias of the Baltimore Orioles looks on prior to a game against the Minnesota Twins at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on March 28, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Chris Bernacchi/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Banner comes to the Orioles with 18 years of baseball operations experience. He has spent the last six seasons with the Cubs organization, including the last two being spent as their assistant general manager.
Elias will continue to be the boss. However, he made it clear in the press conference that Banner’s role is going to be significant:
“Our setup right now is that Jared will take over everything to do with our internal players, our internal coaches, player development, performance, healthcare, all of that is going to fall under his umbrella,” Elias said. “I will then work more directly on the scouting and acquisition side of the equation — pro, international, amateur, contracts, things like that. But we will be running the whole team together and working in concert with one another. But that’s sort of the general division of management duties.”
“I think that Jared is very tremendously experienced in those areas, very successful in those areas. I think he’s better than I am in those areas. And this will also allow, hopefully, the club to leverage me a little bit better and allow me to spend more of my time on the acquisition side of things.”
That’s a big job ahead of Banner. The responsibilities being handed to him are in many of the areas in which the Orioles have struggled under Elias. And he is taking it on with just about a month before the current CBA expires. Without a new deal, clubs and players on the 40-man roster cannot communicate. So, any sort of offseason training will need to be mapped out ahead of time. No matter how experienced the new GM may be, that is a lot to sort out in just a few weeks.
It is possible that additional shakeups will be coming in the organization’s player development structure, though nothing was revealed on that front. Obviously, Matt Blood, the team’s former vice president of player and staff development, left the organization last month. Banner seems to be coming in, absorbing Blood’s old responsibilities, and likely taking on a few more.
Elias said a few weeks ago that he expected to expand the front office this offseason. Adding Banner while losing Blood would not seem to represent an expansion itself, so something more could be coming. Whether that means allowing Banner to fill out a bigger developmental staff, or if Elias himself gets more deputies on the player acquisition side. It remains to be seen.
No conclusions can be made about Banner or the decision to hire him. Many in the fan base think the clube needs someone other than Elias to lead them. Clearly, ownership disagrees. At the very least, it is good that the Orioles identified weaknesses. They believe that Banner can help solve them. Whether that is true or not won’t be evident until the team starts playing baseball again. Right now, we don’t know when that will be.
Orioles Notes: Front Office, Rotation | MLB Trade Rumors Elias says, once again, that the rotation is a priority going into the offseason. It is true that every team wants more starting pitching. But it is a tad annoying that the Orioles are trying to find an ace or ace-adjacent arm every single winter. If you have to say you’re looking for that kind of player every year then you failed to find them the previous year.
Corban Joseph turns 38 today. The utility man played for five teams across parts of three big league seasons. That included a 14-game stay with the Orioles in 2018.
Nate McLouth is 45 years old. Signed in the middle of the 2012 season, McLouth stepped right into the Orioles left field role and help the organization back to the playoffs for the first time since 1997. He stuck around for 2013, where he was worth 1.9 bWAR.
Juan Guzmán is 60 today. The Orioles acquired him from the Blue Jays at the 1998 trade deadline. Over the next year he made 32 starts and was then traded to the Reds at the 1999 trade deadline. That swap with the Reds would land reliever B.J. Ryan in Baltimore, where he would develop into one of baseball’s better closers.
Bob Melvin is 65 years old. The former catcher had a three-seasons stint in Baltimore from 1989-91. He may be better known by modern fans as a manager, a role he held for several clubs between 2003 and 2025.
The late Sammy Stewart (b. 1954, d. 2018) was born on this day. He was an important member of the Orioles pitching staff from 1978 through ‘85. In that eight-year span he threw 866 innings, a mix between the rotation and the bullpen, and even led the league in ERA (2.32) in 1981.
This day in O’s history
Nothing of note has happened in Orioles history, according to Baseball Reference. So, here are a few things that have occurred outside of Birdland:
1886 – The Statue of Liberty is dedicated by President Grover Cleveland.
1919 – U.S. Congress passes the Volstead Act over President Woodrow Wilson’s veto. This paves the way for Prohibition to begin the following January.
1942 – The Alaska Highway first connects Alaska to the North American railway network at Dawson Creek in Canada.
CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 26: James Harden #1 speaks with Meleek Thomas #15 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the game against the Utah Jazz on October 26, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Lauren Leigh Bacho/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
CLEVELAND — It takes a certain level of confidence to proudly proclaim to a room full of Cleveland media members that you’ll unashamedly be rooting for the Pittsburgh Steelers this weekend. Then again, nothing about what Meleek Thomas does on and off the court lacks confidence.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have had a frustrating start to their season. They’ve simultaneously shown how dangerous they can be by building large leads against the Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets, but have also demonstrated they’re far from a finished product by losing one of those games and nearly blowing the other.
The Cavs found themselves on the back foot on Monday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves — arguably the hottest team in basketball. The Timberwolves were the aggressors in the first few minutes, and the Cavs couldn’t make enough shots to stem the tide.
Instead of turning to a more veteran presence in Craig Porter Jr., head coach Kenny Atkinson went with Thomas midway through the opening frame for his first NBA minutes. The Pittsburgh native didn’t know that he was getting into the rotation beforehand, but he was prepared for the moment. And it was exactly what the Cavs needed.
“We didn’t have energy, we’re flat, we’re playing the wrong way, we weren’t doing the right things. For him to be the spark in his first game of the year is not normal,” Donovan Mitchell said. “That speaks to his confidence, his concentration, attention to detail.”
Thomas looked like an established veteran in his career debut. He didn’t hesitate when the ball swung to him on the perimeter. If there was an opening, he was going to take it without hesitation. He was decisive in his cuts to the basket both on and off the ball. This allowed him to put up 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting, which included knocking down two big threes in the third quarter to help the Cavs retake the lead.
“He was a big part of why we ended up getting this win,” Mitchell said.
Both Thomas and Atkinson have talked about him needing to focus on the defensive end in the lead-up to the season. Whether or not he would get rotation minutes relied on that.
This has caused Thomas to focus his energy on and off the court on getting better defensively any way that he can — even if that means reaching out to an established veteran like Mitchell.
“He texts me all the time saying, ‘All right, what about this clip?’” Mitchell said. “He says, ‘Why’d you rotate here? Why did I do this? Should I do this?’ This morning, he was working on shows. Like, what rookies are working on shows?”
This desire to improve has led to Mitchell taking Thomas under his wing.
“I think Donovan has taken a special liking to Meleek,” Atkinson said before the season. “He almost feels like, ‘I have to build that relationship, build that trust,’ and then coach them up.
“Player development coaches get way too much credit. It’s having really good, smart vets that elevate guys. We do our little part, and I think we try to put them in the right places. It’s really the coaching from your best players that elevates younger players.”
There are some parallels between Mitchell and Thomas’s games — particularly early in Mitchell’s career. Both are score-first two guards, who weren’t expected to make a huge impact on their teams as rookies. Mitchell wasn’t a fixture in the starting lineup at the start of his career with the Utah Jazz, but proved early on that he was destined to be a star.
We don’t know what the future holds for Thomas. What we can say now is that Mitchell seems invested in Thomas’s growth. And that means something to the rookie.
“For them to take me under their wing and give me all of the game and just constantly help me, constantly stay in my ear, it just goes to show that they see the potential that I see in myself,” Thomas said. “It means the world to me.”
From the outside, a rookie second-round pick coming in and making an immediate impact in their career debut would’ve been surprising. Yet, no one on the Cavs was, especially not Thomas. He carries himself like someone who’s been there before and expects to be a mainstay on this stage.
“Confidence really don’t come from nobody else,” Thomas said. “It’s either you got it, or you don’t. You got heart, you got dog in you, or you don’t. And I got everything that I need. It’s just a matter of time before it’s shown.”
DALLAS, TEXAS - OCTOBER 27: Left wing Joel Kiviranta #22 of the Dallas Stars shoots as defenseman Luke Hughes #43 and goaltender Connor Hellebuyck #37 of the New Jersey Devils defend in the third period at American Airlines Center on October 27, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Here are your links for today:
Devils Links
Connor Hellebuyck gave up just one goal in a strong debut on Tuesday as the Devils took a dominant 5-1 win over the Stars. [Devils NHL]
“The last time Jack Hughes played in front of Connor Hellebuyck, back in February at the Winter Olympics, he had his teeth knocked out by a high stick, returned to score a goal and helped his team win. Eight months later, in Hellebuyck’s debut for the New Jersey Devils, Hughes repeated the feat. Unfortunately for him, every last bit of it.” [The Athletic ($)]
“It’s early, but the team looks different than the past couple of seasons. They’re controlling play at five-on-five and outshooting their opponents by significant margins. It’s not just the Devils’ top players who are excelling, either. Their depth is contributing plenty. With that, let’s look at 10 stats that have stood out from the Devils’ start to the season.” [Devils on the Rush ($)]
Hockey Links
Five minutes!
Matthew Schaefer just became the first player to play ALL FIVE minutes of an overtime per Elliotte Friedman 🤯
Here's him still getting back on defense to stop a breakaway with 40 seconds left ❌ pic.twitter.com/DNxFaF8FC3
“Larkin, who has a full no-trade clause, has opened up the list of teams for which he would waive it to include 10 destinations: the Devils, Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Vegas Golden Knights, Minnesota Wild, Dallas Stars, Carolina Hurricanes, Washington Capitals, Utah Mammoth and Colorado Avalanche. And on its face, that’s a decent number of teams. The issue for the Red Wings: Which of those teams are in a position to make a deal for Larkin? And of those who can, how motivated are they to do so?” [The Athletic ($)]
Which teams around the league have the most interesting goalie situations? [Sportsnet]
Feel free to discuss these and any other hockey-related stories in the comments below.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - APRIL 09: Michael Hage #19, Will Horcoff #44, Jayden Perron #18 and Malcolm Spence #27 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrate Perron's third-period power-play goal against the Denver Pioneers in a semifinal game of the NCAA Division I men's ice hockey championship at T-Mobile Arena on April 09, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
October is the usual first full month for many hockey seasons around the world. With all the interest in the Penguins burgeoning and growing prospect pool, we’re going to use today’s off day in the NHL to put the attention on how things are going across the organization for their prospects and young players, based off last summer’s list of the top 25 young players and see how their seasons have started out across the globe.
A player that didn’t even make the Pensburgh Top 25 deserves a special spotlight right off the bat. Carter Sanderson (sixth round pick, 2025) has been lighting up the WHL with a league-high 15 goals in 11 games. Sanderson is second in WHL scoring with 21 points. Major junior hockey isn’t now what it once was due to all the talent going south to the NCAA, and at 19 Sanderson is one of the older players at that level, but that type of production is enough to still stand out as a big deal. Add in a strong showing at the USA’s summer showcase and Sanderson has a real chance at making the World Junior team in a couple months. Really nice glow up for him lately, he’s definitely one of the fast-rising draft picks within the organization these days.
Sanderson is committed to play at the University of North Dakota in 2027-28, where he would be a teammate of the Ruck brothers if all comes to pass and the three end up going through with that plan.
In other news, Joona Vaisanen (who missed most of last season with a major injury) is back at Western Michigan and has seven points (2G+5A) in five games. Vaisanen dropped out of the Pensburgh rankings due to the unknown around his injury, it’s nice to see him on the path to play his way back into the picture with a strong start and get back to his form from 2024-25 when he was quietly one of the top defenders in college.
With those very deserving honorable mentions out of the way, let’s go back to this summer’s Top 25 Under 25 list and catch up with the young players early in the 2026-27 season.
#25: Chase Pietila (Wilkes-Barre, AHL) — Modest stats in Wilkes-Barre (0G+2A in five games), earned his first call-up to the NHL recently, though he’s yet to play. Arrow looks to be pointed up as the organization keeps seeing progress from the 22-year old with his defensive work and physicality.
#24: Ryan Miller (University of Denver) – Has been playing mostly third line left wing so far in his freshman year. Not much statistically to speak of (1G+1A in six games) as he gets started in his college career. The positive for him should be working with head coach David Carle and one of the top programs in the country.
#23: Finn Harding (WBS, AHL) — A two-point game over the weekend has Harding up to four points (1G+3A) in seven games in the AHL. While his style of play doesn’t draw a ton of attention, quietly he’s become a key figure for the AHL club.
#22: Peyton Kettles (Kelowna, WHL) — Shoulder surgery robbed most of Kettles’ 2025-26, he’s back and looking pretty decent (1G+5A, a fight) in his return early this season.
#21: Zam Plante (Minnesota-Duluth) — Nine points (4G+5A) in eight games is good but below last year’s rate of production (51 points in 40 games). Zam’s Hobey Baker winning brother Max has only played two games on the season, they’ll likely get rolling more as the year goes along.
#21: Brady Peddle (Michigan State) — MSU is stacked with a lot of highly drafted talent. Peddle has a couple assists in five games, he has been playing on the second pair and partnered with seventh overall 2026 pick Chase Reid. Looks like a good place for Peddle to gain experience as he gets his collegiate career off the ground this year.
#20: Melvin Fernstrom (WBS, AHL) — Fernstrom is back from the shoulder injury that ended his 2025-26 season and kept him out of training camp. Hasn’t done much (1G+0A in five games) so far this season but is still just getting going and been in a lower line, limited role as he gets up to speed with what will be his first extended action at the AHL level.
#19: Tanner Howe(WBS, AHL) — Only one goal and one assist for Howe to start this season, he was playing mostly in a third line role for Wilkes so far and now is injured with an unknown return time. Injuries have unfortunately been a big part of Howe’s career story so far, it looks like more adversity could be ahead.
#18: Tomas Galvas (Liberec Bili Tygri HC, Czech) — Galvas has no goals and just three assists in his first ten games back in Czechia this season. Given how deep the Pens are in the minors at defense it’s understandable why they’re giving him an extra year to develop overseas, especially now that he hasn’t produced at the same rate as last season. Still early yet, but you’d like to see a little more there as a runway to join the AHL club by the end of the season.
#17: Pierce Mbuyi (Owen Sound, OHL) — Mbuyi (10G+9A in 14 games) is seventh in scoring in the OHL at the end of last weekend. He’s been dangerous and doing his thing as an offensive weapon to an impressive degree at the start of the season, very nice start to the year for him.
#16: Jake Livanavage (WBS, AHL) — Livanavage (2G+5A in seven games) ranks second among AHL rookie defensemen in scoring. Impressive start to his first full season as a pro.
#15: Owen Pickering (WBS, AHL) — Pickering scored a GWG over the weekend to boost his statline (2G+1A) on the season. Has been playing lately with team captain Phil Kemp in a more defensive role. In the big picture he seems to be behind Ilya Solovyov and Ryan Johnson on the depth chart as he continues his crucial draft+5 season off to the side as far as the NHL outlook goes.
#14: Tristan Broz(WBS, AHL)— It’s the story of Broz’s career, good AHL stats (3G+5A in eight games), still a bit off the NHL radar at the moment. That could change in an instant, for now it’s nice to see that at least Broz is holding up his end of the bargain and doing well in Wilkes. The challenge for him now is to keep that up and see when or if he gets an NHL opportunity.
#13: Avery Hayes (WBS, AHL/PIT, NHL) — A great AHL start of nine points (4G+5A) in six games plus injuries on the wings in Pittsburgh opened up an NHL look. Might be short-term this time around but it looks like Hayes is on track to become an NHL regular sooner or later by the end of this season given how things are going for him.
#12: Ville Koivunen (PIT, NHL) —The Pens have been patient with the $32 million man, giving him some games in a decent role and he’s starting to come through. Production was a problem last season (2G+5A in 37 games), Koivunen is almost to that level already (2G+3A in ten games). Koivunen is showing more frequent glimpses these days of why the Pens were willing to place a long-term bet on him. Has to be one of the more encouraging opening months of the season for all their young players in the organization.
#11: Hendrix Lapierre (PIT, NHL) — Interesting season for Lapierre as the Pens try to figure out what they have with him. He’s been a healthy scratch for four games and at times deep depth. Lapierre also has six points (2G+4A) on the season in just eight games and now is getting more looks. Where he might fit if/when the team gets healthier is still to be determined. driven largely with what he makes of the current chance to play.
#10: Markus Ruck (Medicine Hat, WHL) — The second round Ruck leads currently leads Medicine Hat in points (4G+9A in nine games). The scoring rate is down a bit from last year, but this season isn’t going to be much more than placeholder in the big scheme of things for the twins with a step up in competition expected next year at NCAA North Dakota.
#9: Mikhail Ilyin (WBS, AHL) — Ilyin has been productive (2G+5A in eight games) in his first full season in North America. Given his age (21) and ability, this will be a nice development season for him and it looks like it’s going pretty well so far as he gains experience and is working into becoming a key player at the AHL level.
#8: Joel Blomqvist (WBS, AHL) — Kyle Dubas admitted the shortened preseason “sucked” for someone in Blomqvist’s position. He’s off to a poor start in the AHL (1-2-1 record, 3.26 GAA, .871 save%) by the standards of his typical output down there. Doesn’t look like he’s pushing to get into the NHL picture any time soon.
#7: Liam Ruck (Medicine Hat, WHL) — The first round Ruck only has 2G+5A in nine WHL games. Not terribly impressive, but not the biggest deal at this point either since 2026-27 isn’t going to reveal a lot about the Ruck twins for the future. The lack of a great statistical start will make it easier to keep him off Canada’s WJC team, to which he was already on the outside of the equation by not being invited to the summer camps.
#6:Will Horcoff (U of Michigan) — Scoring a goal with 0.1 seconds left in a game is pretty cool. Horcoff has been playing first line left wing for most of the season, has a solid point-per-game average (3G+4A in seven games) to start his draft+2. Horcoff is an interesting prospect in that he doesn’t drive possession or often stand out as a top player, but he also has very good hands and offensive ability and still finds a way to make an impact more often than not, perfectly exemplified with this highlight goal.
#5: Bill Zonnon (WBS, AHL) — Decent output so far (3G+2A in eight games) for a player who has been put in a third line center role as a young 20-year old rookie in the AHL. Zonnon’s progressing according to plan, he just needs more time to keep growing and gaining experience for the time being. He’s getting that in spades right now down in Wilkes, exactly what one would want and hope to see.
#4: Rutger McGroarty(WBS, AHL/PIT, NHL) — McGroarty was dominant at times in the AHL (nine points in six games) and earned an NHL call-up when some recent winger injuries have hit. Now is the time for him to impress and stack some good games to enhance his position within the organization, it might take some more time still but you would figure he’s in a spot where he’ll get a long look in the second half of 2026-27 if the team remains outside of the playoff picture.
#3: Sergei Mursahov (PIT, NHL) — Murashov has settled into more of a backup than 1B type of role early in the season, but he’s still in the NHL and doing decently well. Something to be said for that as a goalie at age-22.
#2: Harrison Brunicke (WBS, AHL) — Brunicke only has two points (0G+2A) in his first eight AHL games. He’s been moved around the lineup on different pairs and roles. For a guy who made the NHL out of camp at age 19, nearly made it at 18 and was a final cut this season, it’s had to have been difficult to go back to the AHL and seen other defenders like Pietila get called up first (though he hasn’t played NHL games). Patience and more time looks required in this situation.
#1: Ben Kindel (PIT, NHL) — Kindel started the season injured, returned looking great, fell off a little and then had to go through a medical incident on the team plane. Tumultuous year, the least of which has been a rotating (and often time not that talented) group of wingers being placed by him. Here’s to hoping for good health news and him getting to settle in for the next month of the season.
BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 27: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics celebrates after making the game-winning shot against the Brooklyn Nets on October 27, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
On the second night of a back-to-back, the Celtics were 38-15 under head coach Joe Mazzulla. And thanks to Jayson Tatum’s game winner in overtime to beat the Nets 125-124, that’s now 39 wins. Mazzulla would later say after the game that when the team hits the film room tomorrow, they’ll treat it as a loss after another turnover-plagued game with multiple mental mistakes. But hey, you can’t win-lose them all.
Why the Celtics won
Not unlike Monday night’s Bulls, the 0-3 Nets are also a rebuilding team trying to define themselves. After selecting four first round draft picks in 2025 and another this summer, nearly half of their roster are rookies and sophomores.
Brooklyn does however have two capable scorers in Julius Randle and Michael Porter Jr. Before the game, Joe Mazzulla spoke with NBC Sports Boston’s Drew Carter about Brooklyn’s vets. “Their off-ball movement is huge,” Mazzulla said. “Porter is one of the best reading body position, whether it’s back cuts, whether it’s creating separation coming off screens and dribble handoffs. We’ve had our difficulties guarding him over the last couple of years. Obviously, Randle’s ability to get to the free throw line.”
Mazzulla’s scouting report couldn’t have been more prophetic, particularly concerning MPJ. The former champion was 4-for-7 from behind the arc, curling off down screens and coming off of dribble hand offs. It didn’t matter who was guarding him. He finished with a team-high 27 points hitting half of his dozen triples.
Fortunately for the Celtics, they got hot from three, too. After making just 2-of-16 and falling behind by five points in the first half, they caught fire in the third quarter. Five consecutive makes from Sam Hauser, Baylor Scheierman, and Tatum gave Boston the lead heading into the final frame.
In the end, they shot well under their league-leading efficiency from 3 (42.4%) by making just eleven of their 41 attempts, but when they needed it most, they dialed up their calling card to put them over the top.
Numbers game: 22
That’s how many free throw attempts Jayson Tatum had in the overtime win. That’s the highest total of trips (22) and makes (18) of his career.
Love them or hate them, FTs are the mark of the NBA elite because on a night where he was mortal from the field (10-of-20 and 2-of-7 from 3), those points from the charity stripe padded a 40-ball. He also had eight assists and zero turnovers with maybe his biggest dime below.
Must C’s
In a win like last night’s, let’s allow for two plays of the game courtesy of Jayson Tatum.
In what should have ultimately been the game winner, Tatum hit Derrick White on a back cut for an and-1 dunk.
That should have sealed the game in regulation, but some missed free throws — including one from Tatum and two from Mitchell Robinson — pushed the game to OT.
After playing 42 minutes — the most he’s played in the regular season since returning from his Achilles tear — Tatum put the cherry on top of another near triple-double. If his PR team is trying to make an MVP case, this was Exhibit 1.
Who said what
“Throughout the game, I thought he was playing the right way. I thought he trusted both ends of the floor. He was patient. He was getting downhill. Some of the shots he missed, I thought they were great shots. Defensively, he was active getting rebounds.
I thought he gave the game exactly what it needed and stayed present in the moment and you got to see his greatness.” — Joe Mazzulla on Jayson Tatum
After raising their record to 3-1, the Celtics are now in a four-way tie atop the Eastern Conference with the Pistons, Hornets, and 76ers. They’ll next host the Bulls again on Friday in the first contest of the NBA Cup before heading out on the road for another back-to-back in Orlando and Houston starting on Sunday.
After Houston’s win over the Atlanta Hawks, we finally got a long-awaited update on Steven Adams’s availability. In the post-game press conference, Ime Udoka said: “Marcus is day-to-day, game-to-game. We’re hoping to have him back, possibly next game. Steven will be out for at least a week or two.“
This means that Adams would return sometime between the Celtics game on November 2 and the Nuggets game on November 9.
This raises an interesting question: Can the Rockets trust Steven Adams to be a reliable piece of the rotation? This is the third season he’s missed time with injury, but for more, check out James’s piece here.
If you want my opinion on the matter, I feel that it is complicated. Houston should not be relying so heavily on a 33-year-old Steven Adams in the first place, and it was Rafael Stone’s job to acquire another backup center during last year’s trade deadline or offseason if he can’t trust Clint Capela to play a similar role. But then again, the NBA is not NBA 2 K; you can’t just throw a trade together, snap your fingers, and have it work. There are logistics to the matter that are unfathomable to the average fan from a contract perspective.
Additonally, I love Steven Adams and have enjoyed having him on the team, but my desires don’t exactly matter when the purpose of the NBA is to win a title, which is likely a good thing because a team of “guys Holly likes” would likely consist of players such as Adams, Gerald Green, and Victor Oladipo.
To try and conclude my jumble of emotions and thoughts, my opinion on the Adams injury is that it is unfortunate for both the team and for Adams himself, as being injured SUCKS!
Houston will be back in action next versus the Milwaukee Bucks, but in the meantime, let me know what you think about the Adams injury, and as always, be sure to check back at The Dream Shake for all things Rockets news.
The Montreal Canadiens were facing the St. Louis Blues in the third game of their four-game road trip on Tuesday night. Once again, Martin St-Louis elected to give the net to Jacob Fowler, who had won his last five games. Meanwhile, Jakub Dobes was sitting out and hasn’t played since his ill-timed penalty against the San Jose Sharks a week ago at the Bell Centre.
For the third time in the last four games, Detroit Red Wings assistant manager Kris Draper was watching the Habs’ game. With Adam Engstrom inserted into the lineup, some wondered whether that was for his viewing pleasure. For Josh Anderson, it was NHL game number 700. The power forward has been one of the bright lights so far this season, and he fully deserves the A stitched to the front of his jersey. Speaking of which, in Nick Suzuki’s absence, Cole Caufield also wore an A tonight, taking over for Jake Evans.
After Zach Bolduc gave the Canadiens the lead a little under nine minutes into the second frame, the Blues attacked desperately and had the Habs on their heels, running around the defensive zone. St. Louis had eight attempts on goal in under two minutes; Fowler stood tall and made four big saves, protecting the lead and helping the Habs regain their composure.
Having a goaltender who can shut the door in crucial moments is invaluable. When an opponent comes right back after you score, momentum swings back their way instantly, and you don't get the full effect of taking the lead. After 40 minutes, Fowler already had 22 saves.
By the end of the game, though, he had more than doubled that number. As the Blues attacked relentlessly in the final frame, he stood on his head when needed and stopped all 24 shots. As for the Habs, they had only three shots in the third as they struggled to get out of their zone.
The Canadiens’ top unit may be missing both Suzuki and Demidov, but they still have talented players on the ice and should capitalize on opportunities. Caufield and Lane Hutson still look loose and confident, but Juraj Slafkovsky and Oliver Kapanen look like they panic at times and try to make high-risk plays. Those no-look backhand passes must be driving the coach crazy, since they are the “almost” plays the bench boss mentioned last week.
It’s all about reading the play, and on paper, a power play gives you extra time to make those reads, even if the penalty killers turn up the pressure. Furthermore, you can’t score if you don’t shoot. After three power plays in two periods, the Habs only had two shots; that’s not enough. And with a player like Chris Kreider who has mastered the art of deflection, you have to give him the chance to do what he does best. He hasn't found the back of the net this season, and the Habs’ reluctance to shoot and tendency to pass over and over is a big factor.
Xhekaj Opens His Account
The Habs led 1-0 at the start of the third frame, and while one Xhekaj watched the game from above, the other, Florian, was on the ice. In just his ninth career game, the 22-year-old doubled his team’s lead. `
While a video review was needed to confirm he hadn’t tipped the puck too high, the tip wasn’t the only good thing about that play. The goal came because Xhekaj hit Adam Jiricek, not only knocking the puck loose but also immediately going to the front of the net to obstruct Jordan Binnington’s view, and it paid off. It was a textbook play and the kind of performance that will help him stay in the lineup.
In the end, the Canadiens won 2-0, improving their record without captain Suzuki to 3-0-0, something nobody would have predicted. It’s Fowler’s sixth straight win and his second shutout of the season. He was in the net for all but one of the Habs’ wins so far. Montreal will now head to Dallas to take on the Stars on Thursday before heading back home for a Halloween tilt with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 27: Ben Williamson #15 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates with teammates after hitting an RBI Single during the twelfth inning to defeat the Milwaukee Brewers in game four of the 2026 World Series at Tropicana Field on October 27, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Milwaukee tried their best to secure the first World Series sweep since the 2012 San Fransisco Giants bested the Detroit Tigers, but it was to no avail. After 12 long innings the Rays came away with their first win in this Fall Classic, and their first World Series win in the Trop since 2008. Now they’ll have to reset and do it all over again or their season will end all the same, but either way this will be the last game Tropicana Field sees in 2026. It’ll be ace against ace, with Jacob Misiorowski squaring off against Drew Rasmussen, who is getting the ball on short rest after the Rays used Nick Martinez just to survive in Game 4.
Matt will take you through all the twists and turns of Game 4 in the Roundup to start the day, and then he’ll return to give out a report card to John Schreiber and his fine work in the month and change the Yankees had him for. Jonathan takes us back to the days of Joe Page and the late 40s Yankees for our latest birthday, and then later in the day Peter takes a stab at responding to some offseason keys for the Yankees to follow.
Today’s Playoff Matchup:
World Series Game 5 (Brewers lead 3-1)
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Milwaukee Brewers (RHP Drew Rasmussen vs. RHP Jacob Misiorowski)
Time: 8:00 p.m. EST
TV: FOX/FOX One/Fox Deportes
Venue: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL
Questions/Prompts:
1. Was Tampa’s 12th inning victory in Game 4 a last gasp or can they push this series back to Milwaukee?
2. What does The Miz have in store for what will likely be his last impact on this postseason run? (Barring a Game 7 relief appearance or something crazy.)
MIAMI, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 26: Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks drives to the basket against Bam Adebayo #13 of the Miami Heat during the first quarter at Kaseya Center on October 26, 2026 in Miami, Florida. 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 Megan Briggs/Getty Images) | Getty Images
On Monday night, the Dallas Mavericks played the Miami Heat, and recorded a 113-109 victory over the winless Heat.
Cooper Flagg showed signs of growth in this game. He racked up a tremendous stat line, with 29 points, 6 rebounds, 11 assists, 5 steals, and 3 blocks.
For a guy who is now reportedly 6-10 1/2, Flagg, who is still 19, moves with incredible guard-like skills. He’s disruptive defensively, and he can dominate on that end, as he showed against Miami.
He’s also able to dominate on the offensive end, and for a guy who’s pushing 6-11, his agility is pretty amazing. In some ways, he reminds us of Toni Kukoc, who rose to greatness with the Jordan-era Bulls, but he’s got a meaner streak than Kukoc had.
PITTSBURGH, PA - OCTOBER 10: Ben Kindel #81 of the Pittsburgh Penguins looks on against the Dallas Stars at PPG PAINTS Arena on October 10, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Here are your Pens Points for this Wednesday morning…
Ben Kindel returned to full-contact practice Tuesday, one week after losing consciousness aboard the team plane following a vasovagal episode that forced an emergency landing in Salt Lake City. The 19-year-old forward, who has missed two games, said he feels good and is focused on moving forward. [PensBurgh]
Ville Koivunen is showing signs of turning a corner, with improved confidence, stronger offensive contributions and promising chemistry with fellow forward Hendrix Lapierre, giving the Penguins reason for optimism that the young forward can translate his strong AHL production into consistent NHL success after signing an eight-year, $32 million contract this offseason. [PensBurgh]
Forward Elmer Soderblom has been sidelined by an undisclosed upper-body injury and is considered day-to-day. The 25-year-old missed practice Tuesday as the Penguins prepare to host the Utah Mammoth on Thursday. [Trib Live]
News and notes from around the NHL…
Former Winnipeg Jets defenseman Dustin Byfuglien’s family shared an emotional message after returning to Winnipeg for the team’s alumni game and the 2026 Heritage Classic, describing the weekend as the farewell they never got when his NHL career ended abruptly in 2020. [TSN]
The ECHL’s Savannah Ghost Pirates, a Florida Panthers affiliate, unveiled a Halloween jersey featuring a skeleton design. The spooky look extends across the uniform, with bones printed on the sleeves, pants and socks. [NHL]
University of Michigan defenseman Landon DuPont, the projected No. 1 overall pick in the 2027 NHL draft, is among 28 players to receive an A rating on NHL Central Scouting’s preliminary list of prospects to watch for next summer’s draft. [NHL]
SCOTTSDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 04: Pitching coach Sean Buchanan of the Surprise Saguaros poses for a photo during the 2024 Surprise Saguaros Photo Day at Scottsdale Stadium on Friday, October 4, 2024 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Pittsburgh Pirates made an offseason change to the coaching staff, hiring former Houston Astro pitching coach Sean Buchanan, according to The Athletic.
The Astros are losing Triple-A pitching coach Sean Buchanan to the Pittsburgh Pirates, sources tell @TheAthletic. Buchanan’s exact role is still being determined, but he will reunite with longtime Astros pitching coach Bill Murphy in Pittsburgh.
The Bucs will reportedly use Buchanan in the upper levels of the Minor Leagues, which would make sense with Buchanan coming over from Triple-A in the Astros program. There with the Sugar Land Space Cowboys, Buchanan helped lead the team to the fewest runs allowed in the league, with the third-lowest ERA at 4.97, along with the lowest BAA at .248, and they had nine shutouts, the most in the PCL.
During his five years with the Astros organization, he’s also spent time with Double-A Corpus Christi in 2024, High-A Asheville in 2023 and Astros Blue in 2022. Before that, he also spent some time with Lehigh, Albright College, Bard College, SUNY New Paltz, DeSales University, and Ave Maria University.
Buchanan comes with a good reputation and this is considered a bit of a steal for the Bucs for their Minor League system. And the Bucs must like what they see in the Astros system, taking their second coach from Houston in as many years after Bill Murphy came to Pittsburgh last year.
Nevertheless, the Bucs have a strong pitching staff at both the Major and Minor League levels, so it’s understandable why it’s an attractive job. And keep an eye on Buchanan in the Minors next year. We could end up seeing him in the Majors at some point.
The Warriors are open for business, but they won’t rush into trading Kristaps Porziņģis.
While the veteran center remains away from the team indefinitely with an illness, ESPN reported last week that Golden State has started exploring trade routes for the 7-foot-2 big man.
And while the Warriors likely are open to most moves that allow them to shed Porziņģis’ $20 million salary for the 2026-27 NBA season, they are willing to remain patient and let the market materialize, ESPN’s Anthony Slater reported in a story published Wednesday, citing league sources.
“Right now, the Warriors are showing a willingness to remain patient with the Porziņģis contract and let the market materialize, league sources said. If Porziņģis proves willing to give back a large chunk of money in a buyout, his expiring $20 million deal could become even more financially appealing for an eventual trade partner attempting to gain some financial benefit.”
Porziņģis, if healthy, would have been the Warriors’ starting center this season. Without him, Golden State has relied heavily on Draymond Green, Al Horford, Graham Ike and Charles Bassey at the 5.
The former No. 4 overall pick also has averaged 19.5 points per game over his 10-year NBA career, and would have been a large piece of Golden State’s offense alongside superstar Steph Curry.
Now it appears the Warriors are hoping to flip Porziņģis in a deal that could land them a player that can help fill the void at the position.
ST. PETERSBURG, FL - OCTOBER 03: Cam Schlittler #31 of the New York Yankees speaks to the media 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 Mike Carlson/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
MLB.com | Bryan Hoch: After a dominant end to a dominant season, Cam Schlittler will be receiving the 2026 American League Cy Young Award, and although it’s unlikely he will be the first pitcher to take home MVP honors since Clayton Kershaw in 2014, he has a good shot at being named one of the three finalists. He will not be the only Yankee with a chance at bringing home hardware, however: Ben Rice is a finalist for the Hank Aaron Award and will presumably be a Silver Slugger finalist, Cody Bellinger has already been named the recipient of the 2026 Fielding Bible Award for left field and is one of the three Gold Glove finalists in left, David Bednar and Brent Headrick will be on the short list for reliever of the year, and both Paul Blackburn and Gerrit Cole have outside shots to be Comeback Player of the Year. Even with Aaron Judge missing most of the season, the Bronx will get to celebrate some personal accomplishments this year.
ESPN | Jorge Posada: While a guest on a New York Post podcast, former Yankees catcher Jorge Posada expressed a belief that the Yankees organization does not want him around — a belief that appears to date back to 2011, when the team moved him out from behind the plate and utilized him almost exclusively as a part-time designated hitter. Throughout the interview, he also discussed the Yankees’ postseason woes, his time in the Marlins front office and as the Team Italy bench coach during the World Baseball Classic, and his belief that his “no-nonsense approach” could prevent him from pursuing a coaching career in Major League Baseball.
The Athletic | Jim Bowden: (subscription required) With the offseason imminently upon us, sportswriters everywhere have begun to project how they think the winter will go. Here, former general manager Jim Bowden breaks down the top 40 free agents. He believes that the Yankees will be in on Japanese star third baseman Teruaki Sato, engaging with the Red Sox in a bidding war, expects Bednar and Blackburn to remain in the Bronx, and sees Ryan Jeffers as a realistic possibility.
