Category: Sports News

Worldwide Sports News

Posted on

An early look at Murray-Boyles’ offence and why it’s a work in progress

QUEBEC CITY, CANADA - OCTOBER 3: Collin Murray-Boyles #30 of the Toronto Raptors drives to the basket during the game against the Miami Heat on October 3, 2026 at the Videotron Centre in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. 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

The thing about exceeding expectations in professional sports is that it either buys time or raises expectations. Under normal circumstances, Collin Murray-Boyles’ rookie season purchased an entire season of leniency and patience. Met with confusion and indifference on his draft night, Murray-Boyles blocked out the noise and responded with one of the more tantalizing rookie campaigns in Toronto Raptors history.

But for Murray-Boyles’ sophomore season, the Raptors find themselves dealing with an extraordinary circumstance in the form of Kawhi Leonard’s return.

With Leonard turning 35 this past June (and having signed a two-year extension that keeps him in a Raptors jersey until 2029), Murray-Boyles (21 years old) might be required to expedite at least part of his offensive development.

If Murray-Boyles doesn’t make significant progression this year, the Scottie Barnes-era Raptors can still push into uncharted territory, but a noticeable leap raises the team’s ceiling to Eastern Conference (and maybe even the NBA Finals).

After two pre-season contests, Murray-Boyles is averaging 9.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 block in 20.5 minutes. He’s also shooting 38.8 per cent from the field (0/2 from three) and 62.5 per cent from the free-throw line.

Here are a few thoughts about the small sample size we have at our disposal:

Off-ball is still a strength

0:00 – Some of Murray-Boyles’ best offensive moments last season came off-ball, particularly when Head Coach Darko Rajakovic got him moving downhill. He’s a big body that consistently sets effective screens, and this often forces defences to respect the chaos with a switch, subsequently resulting in meaningful mismatches. It’s easy to see how this would look with Barnes in Kyle Anderson’s spot, Immanuel Quickley instead of Jamal Shead, and Ja’Kobe Walter and Leonard as the spot-up shooters

0:09 – We’ve seen how effective Barnes is in the DHO anchor role. Murray-Boyles is just as savvy in this position, especially with his processing speed. The key to enhancing this action will be discussed later!

0:22 – Regardless of who he’s playing with (Jakob Poeltl, Barnes, or Anderson), Murray-Boyles will continue to thrive as an offensive-rebounder from the dunker’s spot

0:32 – Speaking of the dunker spot, how many times did we see this beautiful floater during the playoff series against the Cleveland Cavaliers? With Barnes, Leonard and Barrett applying rim pressure, expect Murray-Boyles to continue to thrive here

On-ball needs more reps

0:00 – I think Raptors fans would like to see more of this from Murray-Boyles, especially during pre-season and contests against weaker opponents. We’ve seen him try this move from the left block before. He’s left-handed, so it makes sense he’s comfortable going away from potential help defenders.

0:10 – Regarding the DHO anchor role in the earlier video, this is the aspect of that action that Murray-Boyles can improve. It’s not a catch-and-shoot three, nor is it an off-the-dribble jumper, but having this type of range as a counter if defences take away the pass or drive would be monumental.

0:19 – This is a pseudo-face-up type of sequence, which we occasionally see from Murray-Boyles. It’s no surprise that even when he tries a finesse move, he ends up relying on his physicality. This will be one of the more fun aspects of Murray-Boyles’ development

0:29 – The obvious highlight is the pass, but that’s a known variable in Murray-Boyles’ game. It’s cool watching him attack the defence off the bounce, particularly with his right hand. The spin in traffic is also a welcome sight.

Pushing for more

It’s normal for Murray-Boyles to look unnatural or uncomfortable with the ball in his hands. However, there’s no doubt in my mind that once he unlocks those layers of his game (whatever that might look like), we’ll all look back and say, ‘Of course that happened.“

It begins with Murray-Boyles occasionally moving away from that short corner or dunker spot area, and instead spotting up in the corner. He averaged less than one three-point attempt per game in his rookie season.

Barnes has noticeably been forcing reps during pre-season, and for good reason; he’ll be relied on in the post-season to create his own shots. Even if Murray-Boyles won’t be called on to consistently generate his own offence, the same philosophy should apply to him too. The Raptors need to raise their ceiling with Leonard in town and Murray-Boyles can lead that movement.

Posted on

Former Islanders Defenseman Signs Two-Year Deal In Europe

The New York Islanders are in the midst of a transitional year, as they look to retool on the fly into being a contender around Matthew Schaefer.

Over the last two seasons, the Islanders have tried a few different styles of depth defensemen. More often, they've utilized the more physical, veteran defender archetype.

However, on ex-Islander was not. Adam Boqvist, who spent parts of 2024-25 and the entirety of 2025-26 with the Islanders, was a waiver claim during times of major injury issues.

The Islanders claimed him off waivers from the Florida Panthers in January 2025, after he had signed with Florida the previous summer.

Boqvist, the 8th overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, had not broken out the way either the Chicago Blackhawks or the Columbus Blue Jackets had hoped.

The Islanders took the chance, but it didn't lead to a breakout or consistent playing time. Boqvist played 17 games in 24-25, in which he posted two goals and 8 points. It looked like there could be something there, but the Islanders had a crowded blue line when everyone became healthy.

In 2025-26, Boqvist could not showcase the talent. He played just 28 games, and only posted 4 assists in those games. 

Boqvist, now 26, mainly served as the team's 7th defenseman, and ultimately the Islanders chose to let the defender walk to free agency in July.

The Swedish defender could not find an NHL home, despite holding out through training camp season.

Sunday, Boqvist signed with Geneve-Servette Hockey Club on a two-year deal in the Swiss National League.

The contract ends his time in North America for the time being, as he returns to Europe and a chance to receive consistent play time.

Posted on

Mario Hezonja is embracing the challenge of returning to the NBA

Oct 8, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Mario Hezonja (33) drives to the basket during the second half of a preseason game against the Boston Celtics at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Dermer-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

CLEVELAND — Mario Hezonja’s first preseason outing with the Cleveland Cavaliers didn’t go as seamlessly as he likely would’ve preferred. Going from being the star player in Europe to trying to slot into a supporting role in a vastly different league will be an adjustment — both in terms of what he’ll be asked to do on the court and in adjusting to a completely different style of play.

“Last game (against the Boston Celtics), I didn’t do too much out of the scheme,” Hezonja said. “The lenghth. I just got to finish it maybe higher on the rim because…there’s so much space, but the length is substantial compared to Europe.”

Hezonja has NBA experience, but the game looks much different than it did six years ago when he returned to Europe.

“We’re much more quick,” Atkinson said before Sunday’s preseason game when asked about the differences between the NBA and European basketball. “We’re a quick hitter league. We play in transition. You watch a FIBA game or European game, and they’re running the whole 24 seconds.”

There’s no easy way to adjust to a style of play that is vastly different than what you’ve been used to. The way Atkinson believes the Cavs can help Hezonja in this process is by narrowing down what he needs to do on the court.

“He’s just a good all-around basketball player, so I think it’s just defining how [he’s] going to fit with this team,” Atkinson said.

Support us and Let ‘Em Know with Homage!

Anything bought from the links helps support Fear the Sword. You can buy the Believeland shirt HERE. You can also shop all of Homage’s Cavs gear HERE.

Hezonja’s second outing showed how he is a good all-around player as he put up 13 points on 5-0f-9 shooting to go along with five rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Going against a bigger and more physical team in the Orlando Magic likely helped as well.

Atkinson wants to leverage Hezonja’s well-rounded in two key ways, both of which were areas we saw on Sunday.

First, he wants to see him get in transition more since he’s “like a diesel train getting downhill.” They also think they can use size to create mismatches and deep post seals when he gets mismatches in transition. He did this on Sunday, as he got two easy baskets in transition. Someone of his size is difficult to stop when he gets a head of steam.

Additionally, Atkinson wants to see Hezonja as an impactful rebounder, especially on the offensive end. “We’d love to get him into the habit of that with that size and aggressiveness.”

Hezonja demonstrated that he could be impactful there as he cleaned up an offensive rebound and turned it into an and-one basket.

It takes an incredible amount of courage to leave somewhere that is familiar where you’ve had success. It would’ve been much easier for Hezonja to stay in Europe where he could dominate and be a superstar. Instead, he decided to come over here, adapt to a much different game, and play against competition you can’t physically overpower.

He’s accepting and embracing a challenge that he chose to undertake.

“As a challenge, literally, because it’s a lot different,” Hezonja said after Sunday’s game. “Different basketball, different I can go on and go on. There’s so many different things.

“But as I said since the first day that I arrived here, I know how to play, I know basketball, I know the sport. I might be away from the NBA, but I was never away from the game. So, I know what to do, what not to do, especially what type of team we are, what type of help they need. So just trying to fit the role. Thank God I’m super versatile, so I can fit many, many roles on a team and literally whatever they need. I just want to be an impactful winning player for them and help them as much as I can.”

Posted on

Rico Garcia had a season with more highs than lows

Aug 22, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles pitcher Rico Garcia (50) reacts during the tenth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: James A. Pittman-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Rico Garcia is everything that’s right with baseball. At 5-foot-9, he certainly doesn’t have the physical appearance of a hard-throwing, major league reliever. And coming into this season, the back of his baseball card looked more like a guy hanging onto the fringes of a 40-man roster for dear life than someone leading one of the league’s better bullpens. But now, coming off of a career-best campaign at age 32, he might be headed for the first offseason of his professional life where he can feel pretty confident that he is making the Opening Day roster at the other end of it.

Coming into 2026, Garcia had appeared in 59 total major league games, spread across five seasons and seven different franchises. That included two stops in Baltimore. The first came back in 2022, when he pitched in six games for the big league squad, but spent most of the season down on the farm. He would be released after that season and then bounce around the league again until landing back with the O’s near the end of the 2025 campaign.

Garcia’s showing in 2025 with the Orioles laid the groundwork for the success to come for him in 2026. Over 20 total appearances last season he had a 2.84 ERA while striking out 20 over 19 innings. Some of the peripherals weren’t great. For example, he also had 1.421 WHIP and 4.03 FIP while leaving an unsustainable 92.1% of runners on base. But it was enough to give him an edge in the bullpen competition that played out back in the spring.

The diminutive righty was dominant down in the Grapefruit League. He worked 5.2 innings in which he never gave up a hit, walked just one, and struck out seven. He made the Opening Day squad with ease, and would end being the most dependable member of the group.

Garcia’s 75 appearances and 67 innings led all Orioles relievers, as did his 19 holds and 68 strikeouts. He also ranked second on the team in saves (10), behind only Andrew Kittredge (11), and ahead of Ryan Helseley (8).

This time around, the secondary numbers largely supported the top line metrics. His 3.09 ERA was slightly worse than his 2.92 xERA, though still quite a bit better than his 3.89 FIP/3.77 xFIP. He left a more reasonable 75.4% of runners on base. And he had a decent strikeout (9.13 K/9) and walk (2.96 BB/9) numbers.

These “good, not great” numbers feel like a fair reflection of a season that saw Garcia oscillate between elite reliever early on, to walking disaster midway through the year, before finally settling late as a nice, solid bullpen option.

His month-by-month ERAs paint a clear picture: 0.66, 0.77, 6.97, 4.91, 3.75, and 2.16. Home runs were an issue for him in June and July. He gave up nine long balls all season, eight of them came in that two-month span. Those were worrying times for Garcia, as home runs had sunk him before in his career, and it was entirely possible that a reliever, the most fickle of all MLB players, could be spiraling out of usefulness.

Instead, Garcia got back to work. He didn’t allow a home run over his final 25 appearances, and gave up a run of any kind in only three of those games. His ERA didn’t move much due to one implosion on August 10, where he allowed four runs without recording an out, but his FIP dove from 4.47 on July 29 to 3.85 at season’s end.

Garcia’s pitch mix was tweaked quite a bit as the season wore on. Early in the year, he led with his four-seamer (38.5% of all pitches in March/April), followed with the slider (24.7%), then the change up (21.8%), and finally his curveball (14.9%). But in September he had almost flipped that on its head. His curveball (40%) became his most-used pitch, followed by the change (32%), then the fastball (22.4%), and at the very bottom was his slider (5.6%).

That change in approach did come with fewer strikeouts. His K rate dropped from 32.6% in the season’s first month down to 24.2% in September. But he actually got more chases and more swing and miss than before. Exit velocities also dipped from their June high of 89.8 mph down to 80.3 in August, before jumping back up in September.

It’s not easy for any major leaguer to make such dramatic in-season adjustments and see success, let alone a 32-year-old that had finally found some big league footing after a decade of clawing his way up the professional ranks. The fact that Garcia was able to make tweaks is a positive reflection of his work ethic and determination, as well as the organization’s ability to make the most out of relief arms they get their hands on.

As a group, the Orioles bullpen was pretty good in 2026. They finished with 5.8 fWAR overall, which was sixth in MLB, and that is while throwing the fourth-fewest innings of any bullpen in baseball, so this was not an accumulation thing. The group limited walks and home runs, and the organization was willing to cycle arms in and out as needed.

The unit goes into this offseason in pretty good shape. Félix Bautista got back at the very end of the season, and is expected back in the mix following what will hopefully be a healthy winter. Helsley has a player option for ‘27 that he is probably going to pick up following an injury-plagued campaign. If he is 100% come spring, that gives the O’s two proven, but physically questionable, vets for the late innings. Yennier Cano had a nice bounce-back year and signed an extension midseason. He should be back. And optionable and projectable arms in Anthony Nunez, Alex Hoppe, and Grant Wolfram give the unit some flexibility.

Garcia is a late-bloomer at 32 years old. He won’t be arbitration eligible until next offseason, and is not set for free agency until after the 2030 season. He has no options, but that should not be be a problem given the makeup of the relief corps laid out above. Unless the Orioles get blown away with a trade offer, they have no incentive to move Garcia after a rock solid campaign. He has shown an ability to get big outs, close games, and make adjustments. That’s an arm you want in your bullpen moving forward.

Posted on

How will the Braves use Didier Fuentes in 2027?

ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 30: Atlanta pitcher Didier Fuentes (72) pitches during the Philadelphia Phillies versus the Atlanta Braves in game 2 of the National League Wild Card Series on September 29th, 2026 at Truist Park in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

(Of course, pending the existence of a 2027 season, after all…)

Alex Anthopoulos said a whole lotta nothing in his latest presser, though this isn’t really surprising considering A) his approach to press is “how do I divulge as little information as possible in as much time as possible” and B) the Braves haven’t done their post-season debriefs yet, so I’m not sure what there is to say, or why this presser even existed at this time.

Anyway, one of the things that did come out was that Didier Fuentes’ role was probably not going to be locked into “high leverage fireman” the way things played out in 2026. It was basically a season ago, but Fuentes didn’t actually start out being a pure-play reliever in 2026: he made the Opening Day roster, pitched a four-inning mop-up appearance following a Grant Holmes start (in the Braves’ first loss of the year), then went down and made three starts at Triple-A, then came up and had a three-inning start against the Nationals (7/1 K/BB ratio, but a homer allowed), and then settled into a high leverage multi-inning relief role afterwards. Actually, settled into is not great diction: he was pretty much thrown right into it. His first full-time relieving month was May, and by leverage, his 11 outings went:

  • almost high
  • high
  • low
  • almost medium
  • high
  • garbage time
  • almost medium
  • almost medium
  • almost high
  • high
  • almost medium

He finished that month second to Robert Suarez in average leverage when entering a game, though he took a step back on the totem pole a bit after that, until the post-Trade Deadline stretch run.

He also provided decent length. From May-on, after his dalliance with starting, 19 of his relief appearances were multi-inning — basically a third (37 outings of one inning or less). Add those up, and from May-onward, Fuentes:

  • Finished tenth in innings pitched among relievers
  • Finished 17th in batters faced among relievers
  • Finished tenth in fWAR among relievers (one of only three non-dedicated closers in the top ten)
  • Put up a 50/62/70 line, which was good for 22nd/20th/16th respectively among the 160 relievers with the most innings in that May-onward span.

But, just because of that demonstrated success doesn’t mean he’s definitely pigeonholed as a fireman from here on out. Similar production, or slightly worse production, over more innings would be of even bigger benefit to the club. At minimum, the Braves could try it, and move him back into a fireman role if they feel that’s warranted.

That said, I do think the Braves will give him a fair bit of rope as a starter for two dovetailing reasons. First, the Braves are not fans of engaging in the increasingly-bloated starting pitching market. Yes, there’s uncertainty about what the new Collective Bargaining Agreement does to the free agent market, but it’s hard to speculate what that’ll mean for the team’s approach, so I’m setting that aside. If the Braves have a goal of “go into Spring Training 2027 with n starter-ish guys,” then I fully anticipate them penciling Fuentes in as one of the n, reducing the need to go outside the organization by one guy. On the flip side, the Braves have had almost no compunction about spending on relievers, so if moving Fuentes to the “presumptive starter” column means they need to sign another reliever, including one that could be a good fireman (David Bednar, Jonathan Loiasiga, Adrian Morejon immediately come to mind), I can see that.

Anyway, I’ve blathered enough that it’s now 8:55 am and this post goes up at 9am, so have at it.

Posted on

Monday Morning Texas Rangers Update

SCOTTSDALE, AZ - SEPTEMBER 30: Paxton Kling #21 of the Texas Rangers poses for a photo during the 2026 Arizona Fall League media day at Scottsdale Stadium on Wednesday, September 30, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Good morning.

Remember Austin Wynns? Shawn McFarland didn’t when recapping the season behind the dish for the Texas Rangers in 2026 where mid-year addition Elias Diaz was pretty much the lone bright spot.

Jonathan Mayo writes about right-handed Rangers prospect Jacob Johnson working on his repertoire at the Arizona Fall League.

And, MLB Pipeline’s Jesse Borek places Rangers outfield prospect Paxton Kling on the first week All-AFL team, a team that also includes former Rangers prospect Tekoah Roby.

Have a nice day!

Posted on

Guardians News: Let’s Do This

CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 10: The Cleveland Guardians pose for a photo on the field after defeating the Chicago White Sox in game five of the American League Division Series at Progressive Field on October 10, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The ALCS starts tonight… and the Guardians are in it!

We reviewed the ALDS and previewed the ALCS last night on the Disgusting Baseball Podcast. It was a fun conversation with five great Guardians fans/analysts.

Zack Meisel has a review of how the Guardians got to the ALCS here, and a preview of the ALCS here. Staff predictions everywhere have the Rays as the heavy favorite, which only makes sense. The Rays have been a much better baseball team all year. Let’s see if that changes or not at 8PM ET tonight.

The Brewers beat the Dodgers 2-1 in game 1 of the NLCS. Game two is today at 5PM ET.

Posted on

England split cricket coaching setups and hand out record 39 central contracts

  • Robinson, Duckett and Smith get one-year deals

  • Eric Simons hired as Test fast-bowling coach

Rob Key believes he can now “map out the next two years” for the England men’s teams, having handed out a record 39 central contracts and unveiled new split coaching setups under Stephen Fleming and Brendon McCullum that he hopes will produce homegrown candidates for the top roles in future.

The retirement of Ben Stokes mid-summer, plus Zak Crawley being dropped, has allowed Key, the England team director, to stretch the pot of money for player contracts further this year. Thirty main deals have been issued – up from 26 last year – while nine players have been handed development contracts that top up their county pay.

Continue reading...
Posted on

Mets Morning News: Double Day

MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 02: A fan of the Milwaukee Brewers jokes with a fan of the New York Mets prior to Game 2 of the Wild Card Series presented by T-Mobile 5G Home Internet between the New York Mets and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Wednesday, October 2, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Aaron Gash/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Meet the Mets

Mark Feinsand listed the Mets as a potential suitor for free agent Alec Bohm. Sorry, I don’t make the news, I just report it.

If you really want to consume vaguey-Mets-y content, the Mets uploaded a video that is one hour of silence occasionally broken up by Bartolo Colon hitting a home run.

Around the National League East

They won the NL East, but the Braves aren’t exactly what you would call a full and complete team, and Alex Antopoulos is going to have some work to do in and around the margins.

If there is one thing for the Nationals, and most teams, to take away from the playoffs, it’s that you don’t need a massive payroll to get far into October.

Around Major League Baseball

Game One of the 2026 National League Championship Series goes to the Milwaukee Brewers by a 2-1 score.

In the second game, the Dodgers will turn to playoff terminator Yoshinobu Yamamoto, which has worked out pretty well for them in the past.

The other half of the Championship Series kicks off in the American League as Foster Griffin and Drew Rasmussen take the mound for the Guardians and Rays, respectively.

Earning his second career win in the postseason, D.L. Hall has tied the all-time Brewers record.

To mark the start of the NLCS, Fox debuted a new scorebug and graphics package.

Though they are now up 1-0 in the series over the Dodgers, nobody really knew whether the Brewers or the Dodgers were the better bet to win. Well, maybe they still don’t.

The Yankees lost in the playoffs, the Yankees have a new group of Baby Bombers to hope for a better future with. The cycle continues.

This Date in Mets History

On this date in 2015, we wanted Utley.

Posted on

Atlanta Braves News: Alex Anthopoulos Year End Press Conference, Arizona Fall League, More

Alex Anthopoulos made his end of year comments on Sunday, speaking on many different topics from the 2026 season. Per usual, there was not much in terms of specific focuses or future actions given away. However, Anthopoulos did speak on some names. This includes the lack of reliability moving forward on names such as Spencer Schwellenbach or Spencer Strider when it comes to the 2027 season. But also, there is a good chance Didier Fuentes will get a chance to start in 2027. And as Mark Bowman notes, Anthopoulos also had plenty of positive things to say about many of the Braves pending free agents.

Braves News

Among other notable Braves prospects, Tate Southisene made his debut on Sunday in the Arizona Fall League.

MLB News

Many wondered how this year would be different compared to the Dodgers dominating the Brewers in the 2025 playoffs. Well, one different factor is an even more dominant Brewers bullpen. They starred in a 2-1 victory over the Dodgers in Game 1 of the NLCS.

Posted on

The week ahead: Some tough opponents are waiting for the Pittsburgh Penguins this week

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 3: Ben Kindel #81 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates in the third period during the game against the Montreal Canadiens at PPG PAINTS Arena on October 3, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) | Getty Images

It was not always pretty, but the Pittsburgh Penguins were able to at least get something out of this past week by taking three out of four points against the Columbus Blue Jackets and Dallas Stars on Friday and Saturday.

Even though the week got off to a bad start with back-to-back losses against the Winnipeg Jets and Washington Capitals, there were times where you could get a glimpse of what this team is capable of when they really start playing their game.

After no-showing the first 25 minutes against the Capitals, I thought they mostly carried the play over the remainder of that game. The numbers largely backed that up. Capitals goalie Logan Thompson was simply amazing.

After no-showing the first 40 minutes against Columbus, they at least rallied on the scoreboard and put together a passable third period. Not great. Maybe not particularly good. But passable.

The game against Dallas on Saturday was probably their best game of the season when you take into account the quality of the opponent (one of the best teams in the NHL), the fact they were playing a rested team on the second half of a back-to-back with travel, and the way they completely locked everything down and played a mostly clean, solid game. It was not the most exciting game they have played so far this season, but that is probably what they needed.

Now it is time for a new week with three more games and the start of a very difficult road trip.

The big questions that need answered this week:

  • How the lineup continues to shake out. Ville Koivunen sat on Saturday with Elmer Soderblom taking his place. I have been higher on Koivunen so far than most, but will that lineup change continue?
  • Andrei Kuzmenko figures to return soon. Who comes out for him? Is it Soderblom and Koivunen?
  • Is Nicholas Robertson going to stay on the fourth line with Blake Lizotte and Connor Dewar? He deserves a higher spot in the lineup given the way he has played, but that line has also been dominant together, accounting for a 2-0 goals advantage, a 66.1 percent expected goal share in 23 minutes of 5-on-5 ice-time, and doing all of that despite having only one offensive zone start to 18 defensive zone starts.
  • Will the top line ever get going as constructed? It has objectively been the worst of their lines right now, with each of the other three all putting together strong shifts, creating chances, and creating goals. The first line is not doing any of that, despite getting mostly all offensive zone starts.
  • How will the goalie rotation play out, and how much Sergei Murashov will we see vs. Arturs Silovs? Both goalies had really great games this past week.

As for the games ahead…

Things start on Tuesday night with the road trip beginning against the Chicago Blackhawks.

You do not want to take anything for granted at the NHL level, and there is no such thing as a “should win” game, but this is a game you really want to win. Especially given the rest of the road trip. Chicago is still one of the youngest teams in the league as part of its rebuild, but it is also, by every objective measure, still one of the worst teams in the league by a very significant margin.

They have been lousy so far.

They enter Tuesday’s game with a 1-5 record, have been outscored by a 26-12 margin, and have managed only a 38.8 expected goal share during 5-on-5 play. The San Jose Sharks (31.5 percent) and Philadelphia Flyers (30.4 percent) are the only two teams with a worse mark.

There is not a lot of experience here, and there is still some doubt as to when Connor Bedard will return to the lineup. It is possible he plays Tuesday to make his 2026-27 season debut against the Penguins, but that is still not yet known.

Bottom line: This team stinks, at least by NHL standards. It does not do anything well, and even with a lot good, young, talented players on the roster, they are at times overmatched and clearly flawed. Bowen Byram has also had a miserable start to the season after Chicago traded the No. 4 and 45 picks in the 2026 NHL Draft for him, and then gave him $12.5 million per season over the next six years.

You really want to win this game. It is not getting any easier after this.

The road trip continues on Friday with the first half of a back-to-back against the Colorado Avalanche.

Colorado will be coming off two consecutive games against Dallas before playing the Penguins, but it has won three of its first five games to start the season. As expected, the offense has been nearly unstoppable. Colorado has already scored 24 goals in five games, including three different games with six goals or more.

This is going to be one of the biggest challenges yet for a Penguins defense that has struggled through the first two weeks. Whichever goalie starts this game is also going to have to put a lot of important work in.

Nathan MacKinnon already has 10 points in the first five games, while defenseman Cale Makar is already up to seven points.

The Penguins then have to play 24 hours later against another Western Conference Stanley Cup contender in the Vegas Golden Knights.

Vegas will be rested in that game as the Penguins travel into Vegas after playing the day before, and that is only going to add to the challenge. The Golden Knights enter the week having won five of their first six games, and their stars are shining already. Jack Eichel has 12 points in his first six games, while Mark Stone already has seven points. Mitch Marner, Victor Olofsson and Tomas Hertl all have five points each.

The one thing that might work in the Penguins favor in these two games is the fact both Colorado and Vegas have had some early goaltending issues. The Penguins forward depth might be able to exploit that a little bit.

The Penguins only managed to get three out of a possible eight points this past week, and this week is going to be an even bigger challenge given the opponents. You really want to get those two points in Chicago on Tuesday night. From there, you just have to hope to find a way to get two more the rest of the week. Whether that is splitting the back-to-back, or finding a way to get at least one point in each of the Colorado and Vegas games, you would really like to find a way to hang with these teams. The game against Dallas looked like an encouraging step in that regard. Now they have to build on it.

Posted on

Kansas City Royals news: How will the Royals upgrade the bullpen?

HOUSTON, TEXAS - AUGUST 30: Manager Matt Quatraro #33 of the Kansas City Royals looks on during a mound visit against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on August 30, 2024 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Jack Gorman/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jaylon Thompson writes about how the Royals can aggressively upgrade their bullpen.

The Royals still must try to be prudent in fixing their relief unit. And there are big names set to become available after the World Series.

All-Star left-hander Adrian Morejon is one of the best available free agents. Morejon, 28, formed a top-tier duo alongside Mason Miller with the San Diego Padres. He posted a sub-3.00 ERA his last three campaigns as a setup guy.

Another top option is David Bednar. The two-time All-Star posted 35 saves with the New York Yankees and registered a 2.47 ERA with 76 strikeouts in 69 and 1/3 innings.

If the Royals are serious about revamping their bullpen, both pitchers have the ability to significantly bolster the entire unit. “We plan to be aggressive in acquisition,” Picollo said. “I don’t want that to be mistaken for aggressive in payroll.”

Corbin Young at Fangraphs looks at some breakout seasons from hitters, such as Carter Jensen.

In Jensen’s tiny 2025 rookie sample of 69 plate appearances, he teased us with a 14.5% barrel rate per plate appearance and the 6th-highest (105.7 mph) Exit Velocity 50 (EV50) among hitters with 25 batted ball events in 2025. Jensen’s continued to hit the ball hard for barrels (46). That led to a 7.6% barrel rate per plate appearance. Though Jensen’s EV50 fell to 102.1 mph (No. 43), he crushes the ball when he hits it.

Jensen’s underlying exit velocity data supports his home run boost, as a hitter who pulls the ball into the air. For context, Jensen had a 23.1% pulled air rate this season, a couple of points above his career average. If Jensen maintains consistent playing time and power, it’s hard to avoid being excited about him in 2027.

Prospect blogger Tobey Schulman names his Royals all-minor league team.

A 17th round pick in the 2025 draft, Luke Pelzer was another breakout name in the Royals organization. He’d steal the second most amount of bases behind Angeibel Gomez, and finish top-five in the organization with his .337 batting average.

Pelzer would play the majority of his season in High-A, where he stole 28 bases while only getting caught stealing four times. Upon a Double-A promotion, he’d continue to hit for average while limiting strikeouts effectively.

He’s yet another example of a bat that limits whiff very well. It seems like a common trend with the top hitters in this system, especially the breakout ones from the 2025 class.

Philip Ruo at Royals Keep grades Royals outfielders and designated hitters.

A Royals ballpark is just part of downtown’s changing landscape.

Guardians pitchers strike out 21 White Sox hitters to send the team to the ALCS.

How Cleveland’s Travis Bazzana turned his season around.

Rays pitcher Shane McClanahan is out for the remainder of the postseason.

Offense is at a record low in these playoffs so far.

Max Muncy is not scared of the haunted hotel in Milwaukee.

Where do the Yankees go after another disappointing ending?

Could the Yankees part ways with Giancarlo Stanton?

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has laser eye surgery.

Phillies exec Sam Fuld turns down an offer to run the Athletics.

Did the Orioles extend the right pitchers?

The Rockies had their worst attendance in over 20 years.

Oklahoma stuns #1 Texas in the Red River Rivalry.

The Arizona Cardinals trade Marvin Harrison Jr. to the Houston Texans.

Girl bands from southeast Asia are rising in popularity.

Retailers are trimming their assortment of products.

Remembering all the fake shows and movies from 30 Rock.

Your song of the day is Greg Freeman with Indu.

Posted on

NLCS Game 2 viewing guide

MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 14: Yoshinobu Yamamoto #18 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws to first base for the out in the ninth inning during Game Two of the National League Championship Series presented by loanDepot between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Tuesday, October 14, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Aaron Gash/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Repeating the score of last year’s Game 1 of the NLCS, this time around the Brewers got the better end of a 2-1 result. The home team survived a short Jacob Misiorowski outing with outstanding work from its bullpen, beating a Dodgers offense that could not get on the board after the second inning.

The good news for the Dodgers is that there is no one better who they’d want to take the ball in a pressure spot than Yoshinobu Yamamoto—the reigning champs hope to avoid a 2-0 series deficit before getting back to Los Angeles. Dating back to last year’s World Series, this will be Yamamoto’s fourth straight playoff start following a Dodgers loss, having led them to victory in each one of them.

Even though Milwaukee utilized its bullpen rather aggressively, don’t expect them to push youngster Logan Henderson as a result of it. The extremely talented rookie only tossed 72 pitches in his postseason debut, earning the win in Game 2 of the NLDS against the Padres.

As threatening as seeing Yamamoto on the other side of this matchup can be for a rookie, the last time Henderson faced the Dodgers, he outpitched Tarik Skubal in a Brewers win at Dodger Stadium. The numbers for the young righty speak for themselves, having allowed no more than three runs in any of his 19 starts, including two or fewer in 16 of them.

NLCS Game 2 info

  • Teams: No. 2 seed Dodgers at No. 1 seed Brewers
  • Series: Brewers lead 1-0
  • Ballpark: American Family Field, Milwaukee
  • Start time: 2 p.m. PT
  • TV: Fox (Joe Davis, John Smoltz, Ken Rosenthal, Tom Verducci)
  • National radio: ESPN Radio (Jon Sciambi, Doug Glanville)
  • Local English radio: AM 570 (Stephen Nelson, Rick Monday)
  • Local Spanish radio: KTNQ 1020 AM (José Mota, Luis Cruz)

Join the conversation!

Sign up for a user account and get:

  • Fewer ads
  • Create community posts
  • Comment on articles, community posts
  • Rec comments, community posts
  • New, improved notifications system!

Download the SB Nation app on iOS or Android.

Posted on

MLB News Outside The Confines: Three Davids and one Goliath

Good morning. This is written before the end of last night’s Game 1 of the National League Championship Series, so there’s nothing on how that game turned out. I assume you know who won by now.

Also, before we start (Bluesky link):