Los Angeles, CA - August 12: Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Hunter Feduccia (46) celebrates with Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Landon Knack (96) after closing out the ninth inning of an baseball game between the Kansas City Royals and Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA. The Dodgers won 4-2. (Photo by Ronaldo Bolaños/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Landon Knack was called up to eat innings and reset a very busy Dodgers bullpen, and he filled his role with aplomb on Wednesday night in finishing off a sweep of the Kansas City Royals. On Thursday, Knack was sent back to Triple-A Oklahoma City in favor of another fresh arm in Jonathan Hernández.
Knack got the final eight outs on Wednesday, relieving Eric Lauer in the seventh inning, and pitched scoreless baseball the rest of the way to earn the save of the Dodgers’ 4-2 win. The third save of Knack’s career was the longest save of the season for the Dodgers, and their first save of exactly eight outs since Brian Holton in 1987.
Hernández is back with the Dodgers for a third time this season. Signed to a major league deal on May 18 after opting out of a minors deal with the Philadelphia Phillies, Hernández has been designated for assignment twice by the Dodgers. Both times he cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A Oklahoma City. This time, after getting DFA’d on Monday, Hernández elected free agency but re-signed on a major league deal with the Dodgers on Thursday.
In between all those movies, Hernández pitched in 15 games with the Dodgers, nine of them finishing out either a loss or a lopsided win. The 30-year-old right-hander has a 6.45 ERA and 4.66 xERA this season with 18 strikeouts and 12 walks.
To make room for Hernández on the 40-man roster, Charlie Barnes was sent outright to Oklahoma City, two days after getting optioned. It’s the third time Barnes has been sent outright to the minors since the All-Star break.
As the Mets return to Citi Field on Friday to open a series against the Nationals, they’ll open a stretch of four of their next five series will be in Queens.
That’s hardly good news as they entered Thursday with the third-worst home record in the sport, ahead of just the A’s and their minor league park in West Sacramento, Calif., and Washington.
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And with the team hopelessly out of playoff contention, Mets fans could certainly be forgiven for avoiding the ballpark — and the TV — for the rest of the season.
But for those willing to venture to the ballpark for the rest of the summer and (early) fall, here are some things to keep an eye on:
Stay or Bo?
Bo Bichette was among the reasons the Mets got off to a season-sinking start, as he basically didn’t start hitting until early June after signing with the team in the offseason.
Two-plus months later, Bichette has looked more like the star he was for most of his time with the Blue Jays.
He has still remained significantly more productive on the road than at Citi Field, with an OPS of .643 at home and .730 away from home, but the concerns that his move from shortstop to third base would have a long-term impact on him at the plate have so far proven not to be true.
And there’s still the subject of his opt-out.
Bichette has a player option for $42 million for both next season — if and when it’s played — as well as 2028.
When he was in the throes of his early season slump, an opt-out seemed almost unfathomable, considering he wouldn’t have fetched nearly that much on the open market.
Bo Bichette has hit better after a slow start to the season, but is still struggling offensively at Citi Field. David Richard-Imagn Images
Despite his improved play, though, it has been a struggle in his first season in New York and the team has wildly underachieved.
But perhaps with better health from Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto next season, Bichette could see a strong lineup and the chance to put together a complete season offensively.
Lindor back?
Bichette isn’t the only veteran hitter who has gotten better as the year has gone on. Since July 19, only eight players have a higher OPS than Lindor’s .961.
There have still been too many odd mental (and physical) errors by the shortstop this season, but after the switch-hitter underwent hamate bone surgery in the spring, it was expected he might need some time to return to form at the plate.
If the Mets have any hope of getting themselves right next season, Lindor will have to continue his recent play.
Francisco Lindor has started to hit better as the season has gone on, but his defense has been an issue for the Mets. Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
His defense has been the worst of his career, basically by any measurable metric — including watching the games.
And at 32, it’s unlikely to improve.
Center of attention
A.J. Ewing, like his fellow rookie Carson Benge, has continued to impress on both sides of the ball. And while many people were surprised to see Ewing in left field even after the trade deadline just to accommodate Luis Robert Jr. in center, many scouts aren’t bothered by it.
“He’s just an athlete and I don’t think moving him around [defensively] will impact his development,’’ one American League scout said. “He didn’t play there much in the minors and now they know they can put him in left and he’ll be fine.”
A.J. Ewing has the Mets’ highest home OPS (.810) among qualified hitters, other than Juan Soto. Getty Images
His bat has been a bit more inconsistent than Benge’s, but both rank among the top five among rookies in stolen bases since Ewing was called up in May.
Ewing has also has the team’s highest home OPS (.810) among qualified hitters, other than Juan Soto.
Young guns
For now, Christian Scott, Nolan McLean and Zac Thornton are lined up to pitch Saturday, Sunday and Monday, respectively.
The trio of young pitchers has shown promise, although there have been bumps along the way:
Scott has a 5.30 ERA in his last four starts.
McLean has allowed five homers in his last four appearances after not given up a homer in nine of his 10 previous outings.
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Thornton, the least-heralded of the group, despite striking out just seven batters over his last three starts.
In the bullpen, after the trade deadline left it gutted by the departures of Luke Weaver, Brooks Raley, A.J. Minter and Huascar Brazobán — and now the shoulder injury to Devin Williams — the Mets will be hoping someone emerges as a candidate to be a reliable arm the rest of the way.
Could one of them be Kodai Senga?
It seems unlikely, given his track record.
Nate Lavender has struck out five batter and allowed just three baserunners in 3 ¹/₃ innings so far. The 26-year-old was a 14th-round pick by the Mets in 2021.
Chris Devenski, who appeared in 13 games — including a start — for the Mets a year ago, is back in the organization and pitched a scoreless inning with Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday.
The right-hander, 35, was designated for assignment by the Pirates last week.
Beal’s deal is said to be worth $13.2 million and will have a player option for the second year.
The three-time All-Star played in just six games during his debut season in Los Angeles before suffering a season-ending left hip fracture and undergoing surgery in November 2025. He initially left a game against his former team, the Phoenix Suns, during the first half because of hip soreness.
Beal averaged just 8.2 points, 1.7 assists, and 0.8 rebounds in his six games played last season.
He's averaged 21.4 points, 4.3 assists and 4 rebounds per game through the first 14 years of his career.
Grading Bradley Beal signing
Beal will add a veteran presence to the Clippers’ locker room, which could prove beneficial for a fairly young roster.
The Clippers drafted Keaton Wagler with the fifth overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft and he is likely to see significant time as the starting shooting guard, with Beal serving as the primary backup and mentor to Wagler.
ANAHEIM, CA - AUGUST 12: Evan Carter #32 of the Texas Rangers rounds the bases during the game between the Texas Rangers and the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on Wednesday, August 12, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Tony Macon/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
LOS ANGELES — Dodgers manager Dave Roberts provided some encouraging news, if only a glimmer of it, regarding Shohei Ohtani’s ability to resume pitching.
Though the Dodgers have indicated they expect Ohtani to pitch again this season, the team has offered no timeline. It would be most critical to get him back when the playoffs start.
Ohtani hasn’t pitched since July 3 because of inflammation in his left knee. He’d been brilliant on the mound until the knee issue surfaced.
The knee problem hasn't kept Ohtani out of the lineup as the team’s designated hitter. He leads the Dodgers with 26 home runs, a slugging percentage of .544 and an on-base percentage of .393.
Roberts indicated he expects Ohtani to play all four games against the Brewers and will evaluate him before the Dodgers start a three-game series at Colorado Aug. 17.
Los Angeles, CA - August 10, 2026: Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (18) watches the action against the Royals at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA on Monday, Aug. 10, 2026. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
The Dodgers and Brewers continue their long weekend series on Friday night at Dodger Stadium.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto takes the mound on Friday, coming off his 5 2/3 scoreless innings last Saturday in Arizona. That game needed extra innings to decide thanks to Edwin Díaz’s blown save, which snapped a streak of 14 consecutive starts for Yamamoto with a decision, the longest streak by a Dodgers starter since Chad Billingsley in 2012.
Rookie left-hander Robert Gasser starts for the Brewers. Milwaukee has won his last four starts, with Gasser allowing seven runs in 20 2/3 innings, with 18 strikeouts against four walks.
WASHINGTON, DC - AUGUST 13: Cade Cavalli #24 of the Washington Nationals high-fives teammates in the dugout in the eighth inning after allowing only one hit in eight innings pitched against of the Chicago Cubs at Nationals Park on August 13, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Coming off of two losses where the pitching got shelled, the Nats needed a great performance from Cade Cavalli, and boy did they get it. The right hander flirted with a no-hitter and dominated one of the best lineups in baseball. It was a masterclass by a pitcher who is coming into his own.
Cavalli has been solid all season long, but lately he has taken things to a different level. Across his past 10 starts, Cavalli has a 2.43 ERA. Even more impressive to me is the fact he has gone at least 7 innings in his past 7 starts and in 9 of his past 10 outings. His transformation into a front of the rotation arm has come.
The story of this game was Cavalli’s flirtation with a no-hitter. He threw 6.2 innings without allowing a hit, before giving up a bloop single to Michael Busch. The idea of a no-no was actually on Cavalli’s mind very early in the game for a funny reason.
A couple days ago Jake Irvin gave Cavalli his notes on the Cubs hitters, something they don’t normally do. Cavalli said he told Irvin, “If I throw a no-hitter, I am going to need these from you every time”. Of course that was in a joking manner, but as Cavalli and Irvin saw each other in the tunnel they shared a big smile according to Cade. I would venture to guess that Cavalli will be looking at Irvin’s notes again before his next start even though he did not get the no-hitter.
Overall, it was just pure domination from Cavalli. He had such great feel for his breaking balls and was bullying Cubs hitters with them. His curveball and sweeper were actually his two most used pitches on the afternoon.
Cavalli got a good, but not spectacular 14 whiffs on the day, with 8 of them coming on his breaking balls. However, he was able to get 21 called strikes, which is an extremely high number. A bunch of those came on his two breaking pitches which the Cubs could not pull the trigger on.
Fittingly, his outing came to a climax in the 8th inning when he froze Michael Conforto on a 3-2 sweeper. Cavalli was fired up coming off the mound, screaming into his glove as he completed the best start of his career. It was a moment of pure jubilation for the righty who turns 28 tomorrow.
As the season has gone along, Cavalli has matured so much as a pitcher. Keibert Ruiz talked about how impressed he has been with Cavalli’s command and the way he can move his pitches around the zone. Blake Butera also lauded his ability to go deep into games.
However, this game was not just about Cade. After a slow start by both offenses, the Nats were the group who was able to figure things out. They were getting flummoxed by Kevin Gausman’s fastball/splitter combination the first time around. As they faced him a second time though, the group adjusted.
That started in the 4th inning when the Nats got on the board thanks to an RBI double by Dylan Crews. However, the 5th inning was when the Nats really broke things open. They got one run across thanks to a sac fly, but with two outs and a runner on 1st, it seemed like that would be it.
The boys had other plans though. CJ Abrams snuck a single through the hole which brought up the Nats new star Abimelec Ortiz. The breakout slugger launched his third homer in the last four games out to right field. That blew the game open and made it 5-0 Nats.
To say Ortiz has had an instant impact with the Nats would be an understatement. The rookie is hitting .333 with 4 homers and a 1.122 OPS through his first 11 games. I thought Ortiz would not take long to acclimate to the big leagues, but this is just out of this world. He just looks like the complete hitter so far.
The Nats may have lost the series, but it was good to avoid the sweep and finish the home stand on a high note. With that win, the Nats secured a 4-2 homestand which sets them up nicely moving forward. They are now 4.5 games out of the Wild Card, and the schedule sets up nicely the rest of the month, at least on paper.
After a tough start to the month, this group has found their bearings again. Now it is time to build off of this and head to New York ready to roll. Today was a Cade Cavalli masterclass with some Abimelec Ortiz lighting strikes mixed in. That is something all Nats fans love to see.
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 24: Disney CEO Bob Iger gives a thumbs up on the court before a game between the LA Clippers and Phoenix Suns at Intuit Dome on October 24, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Jordan Teller/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images) | ISI Photos via Getty Images
Given how pricey these NBA teams are getting, they are typically owned by a group of people with someone serving as the de facto face.
When the Buss family owned the Lakers, Jeanie was front and center after her father’s passing. Mark Walter, during his brief time in charge, mainly took a backseat role and kept Jeanie as the public figure.
But one thing that became apparent in the immediate aftermath of the pending sale: Iger will be the one most actively involved with the Lakers once the sale becomes official, a source told the California Post.
Even early on, it appears clear that Iger is the new face of Lakers ownership. He’s already demonstrated this by having this exclusive interview. This is in stark contrast to Walter, who never really spoke to the media or made meaningful statements on behalf of the team.
This is all still very fresh, but it’s likely that whenever a statement from ownership comes out, Iger will be the one doing the talking.
It’s important to understand the hierarchy, especially at the very top of an organization. If everyone knows that Iger is the face and voice of ownership, then it’s easier to know who people need to go to for direction.
Considering Iger and Kushner bought the team within 72 hours and don’t have plans for the future worked out yet, they probably haven’t figured out all the details either. Hopefully, as the dust settles on this transaction, the Lakers will come out better for it.
A day after Westbrook announced he's bidding adieu to basketball, Durant took to X on Thursday, Aug. 13 to write a heartfelt post to the point guard, who played 18 seasons in the NBA. The duo spent eight years together early in their NBA careers. They took Oklahoma City, which moved from Seattle the summer Westbrook joined the team, to the playoffs five times. They reached the Finals in the 2011-12 season, where they lost to LeBron James and the Miami Heat.
In his reflection, Durant gave insight into who Westbrook is as a player and person.
"A lot of people looked at the emotions on the court and thought Russ was loud, nah to me, he was quiet and methodical," Durant said. "He lead by example and once the lights were bright, he let everything out and experienced pure freedom. It was inspiring as his teammate and everywhere I went, I seen it inspire people from all walks of life, crazy thing is, he didn’t say much, he just showed up."
Durant is a 16-time All-Star and won two championships after leaving the Thunder in 2016. Westbrook was named an All-Star nine times and became the NBA's triple-double king upon his own departure from Oklahoma City in 2019. They played together during the 2016 NBA All-Star Game when Westbrook was named MVP.
The Slim Reaper recalled how he and the former UCLA standout developed a friendship. He said they encouraged each other through the highs and lows of their careers and the everyday moments, "bus rides, plane rides, card games, jokes and arguments," and concluded, "the whole thing, memorable!!"
Durant shared a story of when he asked Thunder assistant coach Maurice Cheeks if it's harder to work out before or after practice because he saw Westbrook coming in to train before. When he remembered Cheeks saying, "coming in before practice is probably harder," Durant took on the challenge that his point guard set the tone with, saying "since then, it’s been my routine."
Durant reflected on the exclusive nature of being an NBA player and the understanding he and Westbrook have for each other and the game. He expressed hope that his teammate will continue his legacy, calling his career "iconic."
"This basketball life is sacred to us as professionals, what we put into that court means everything," he said. "Some of us wish we could go back and do things with a little more intent and some can just wipe their hands and be satisfied with the time spent. Who u gonna be? We know what zero was on … keep inspiring in the next phase of life champ. ... much love and Congratulations on a iconic career."
The Los Angeles Lakers’ complete 2026-27 schedule was released on Thursday, Aug. 13, and coach JJ Redick's team has a starting point for how it can remain a contender in the Western Conference.
Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves will lead the Lakers during a season that starts with eight of the first 10 games against Western Conference teams, including the two games each against the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Toronto Raptors and Miami Heat will be the two out-of-conference opponents during the early portion of the schedule.
The Lakers will play 14 back-to-back games this season, including at the start of November against the Raptors and the Heat in Los Angeles.
The Raptors have the potential to be one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference, if the trade with the Clippers for Kawhi Leonard is finalized and made official. Miami will pose a challenge for the Lakers with the Heat fielding a lineup that includes Bam Adebayo and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Doncic and the Lakers will be featured in 34 nationally televised games, which is tied for the most in the NBA. Of the 34 nationally televised games, 18 of those games will be played at home, which is also the most in the league.
The Lakers' longest road trip will take place from Jan. 28 to Feb. 8, with a seven-game road trip that will include visits to Madison Square Garden to take on the defending NBA champion New York Knicks.
It will be just one of three times the Lakers will play the Spurs this season. The Oklahoma City Thunder also appear on the Lakers’ schedule just three times.
The Lakers also will serve as a host to several teams, having three five-game homestands during the season.
In total, the Lakers will also have three instances where they are playing five games during seven days on three different occasions, which is the most in the league.
He'll be batting cleanup when the Dodgers open their four-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers at Dodger Stadium starting Thursday, Aug. 13.
“He just texted me this morning and said he was good to go,'' Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told the media before the game. "A little sore, but won’t compromise his performance today. Which was very encouraging.’’
Freeman fell while chasing a foul ball in the top of the eighth inning and stayed in the game until the bottom of the eighth.
“Kneecaps are sore, shoulders are sore, wrist is sore,’’ Freeman said Wednesday after the Dodgers beat the Kansas City Royals, 4-2. “I mean, I fell.
“I didn’t hit my head, so that was the key part there.’’
Both teams are vying for the best record in the National League and for the No. 1 seed.
The lineup shows Freeman will be batting in the four-spot. He's hitting .306 with a team-best 27 doubles and 15 homers and 74 RBIs, second only to Andy Pages.
“I think it’s one of those things where Freddie’s just of the mind where he just doesn’t give himself an out. He’s played through worse and he’s signed up to play and there’s just no other options," Roberts said.
The Dodgers appear to be back on track after sweeping three games from the Royals and winning four of their last five games. That followed a stretch during which the Dodgers lost eight of nine games.
The Brewers had the best record in baseball, but they lost that distinction after getting swept by the San Diego Padres earlier this week.
Other notable changes in the Dodgers lineup: Mookie Betts and Max Muncy start the opener on the bench with Miguel Rojas getting the start at shortstop and Kiké Hernández getting the start at third base.
Dodgers starter Roki Sasaki will face off against Brewers starter Shane Drohan.
New York Yankees center fielder Spencer Jones (78) reacts on the dugout fence in the 6th inning in The Bronx, New York.
In the small sample size of 29 plate appearances, Spencer Jones has gone 8-for-25 with two home runs, two doubles, a triple and a 1.134 OPS against left-handed pitching.
The lefty slugger will have to prove more to remain in the game when matched up with particularly tough southpaws.
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In a one-run game in the eighth inning Thursday, manager Aaron Boone lifted Jones for righty-hitting Heliot Ramos against Seattle lefty José Ferrer, who is one of the game’s best relievers at neutralizing lefty hitters.
“That’s one of the reasons we brought Heliot Ramos in was his presence against [lefties],” Boone said of the trade-deadline pickup, who grounded out and has not started well with the Yankees (2-for-25).
Entering play, Ferrer held fellow lefties to a .553 OPS with zero home runs in 109 plate appearances while righties (.913 OPS with five home runs) have crushed him.
In that way, Boone said Ferrer is “unique” because he has “really struggled with right-handed hitters.”
This was the type of scenario GM Brian Cashman may have envisioned in acquiring the former Giant, Ramos entering the at-bat hitting .271 with a .795 OPS against southpaws, and became Boone’s choice over Jones and Paul Goldschmidt.
For one August game, it didn’t work.
Spencer Jones looks on from the dugout during the sixth inning of the Yankees’ 1-0 loss to the Mariners on Aug. 13, 2026 at the Stadium. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
After going 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored Wednesday, George Lombard Jr. was moved up to fifth in the lineup and went 0-for-4 with a strikeout. He had batted from sixth through ninth in his first seven major league games.
Boone downplayed the ascension, chalking it up to his “obsession with trying to create a little balance.” The righty swinger hit between lefties Luis García Jr. and Jazz Chisholm Jr. for a lineup that alternated handedness from Nos. 4-9.
Regardless, Boone needed a righty to bump up and chose Lombard over José Caballero and Ali Sánchez.
George Lombard Jr. fields a ground ball during the Yankees’ loss to the Mariners. Robert Sabo for New York Post
“His approach has been excellent,” Boone said of Lombard.
Giancarlo Stanton and Cody Bellinger, who both had run the bases — typically a significant step that leads to a rehab assignment — the past two days, came through fine, Boone said.
Pitching with Double-A Somerset, Rodón struck out seven while allowing two hits and a walk.
Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodón. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
Yerry De los Santos (1 ²/₃ scoreless innings, three strikeouts) has not allowed an earned run in seven of eight appearances this year.
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The Yankees held a ceremony before the game honoring Goldschmidt, who is this season’s club nominee for the Heart and Hustle Award, which “is presented annually to an active player who demonstrates a passion for the game of baseball and best embodies the values, spirit and traditions of the game.”
On Thursday, after a few days of gradual reveals, the NBA schedule came out in full, aside from the two to-be-determined games in December pending the results of the NBA Cup. The Knicks now know where and when they’ll be playing the other 29 teams that spent the entire offseason trying to figure out how to take down our NBA champion Knickerbockers.
Today I’m going to highlight individual games, stretches, and notable parts that you might miss glossing over the schedule, because let’s face it: a schedule where you play everyone multiple times doesn’t have much luster.
Ring Night – 10/20 vs. PHI
PHILADELPHIA, PA – MAY 10: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks dribbles the ball during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers during Round Two Game Four of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 10, 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
One of the several games we were already aware of, the single most anticipated regular season game maybe in franchise history, will also be used by the NBA to introduce the new-look Sixers and their 41-year-old shiny new toy, LeBron James.
He’s likely the reason they got the nod over the last team to beat the Knicks in the postseason with a returning All-NBA guard, but I’ve also just recently thought of the other reason: there are no guarantees that their vaunted starting five will be healthy for extended stretches of time with you know who in the middle. Opening Night is maybe the only time they can guarantee that.
Of course, the main course of the night for us will be the pregame festivities. Ariel Hukporti will be in town to get his ring, as will at least 12 of the 18 men who enjoyed the festivities in June (will Dillon Jones or Kevin McCullar Jr. return on two-ways?). Over/under 2.5 new banners in the rafters; call it now.
Holidays – 11/27 vs MIA, 12/25 vs SA, 12/31 @ PHX, 1/18 vs MIN, 3/17 vs SAC, 3/28 @ ORL
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – DECEMBER 23: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks & Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves talk after the game on December 23, 2025 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
You’ll get to enjoy Knicks basketball on plenty of special occasions this year, starting with their first look at Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Miami Heat on Black Friday and the already-revealed Christmas clash with the Spurs.
For the second straight year, the Knicks go out west on New Year’s Eve for a game that will likely end close to midnight over here in Phoenix at 9:00. You can probably guess why, but the Knicks haven’t hosted a game on NYE since 1968 against the Baltimore Bullets.
A 5 pm matchup with Anthony Edwards and the T-Wolves on MLK Day, a St. Patty’s Day game against the Kings, and an Easter matinee in Orlando round out the holiday slate.
Longest Homestand – 5 games (Nov 21-29)
There’s only one homestand longer than four games for the Knicks, and it comes early, as the Knicks will play five consecutive games at the World’s Most Famous Arena to end November. It’ll start with a back-to-back against Portland and Indiana before two days off leading into a pair of NBA Cup games that’ll surround Thanksgiving. A Sunday night game against Atlanta will round it out
Longest Road Trip – 7 games* (Dec 1-21)
This is a really weird schedule. The Knicks go from a five-game homestand directly into a seven-game road trip. Then, after spending a week at home in late December surrounding the blockbuster Christmas matchup against the Spurs, they go out west for a six-game road trip.
That 7-game stretch is certainly something, but it also needs an asterisk due to the NBA Cup. As scheduled, the Knicks will play a back-to-back in Chicago and Milwaukee to start, before a 10-day gap. In that gap, the NBA Cup knockout round will commence. After it does, the Knicks will head to Miami on December 12 before ping-ponging around Houston, New Orleans, Washington, and Cleveland.
This could wind up being a five-game road trip, or could be a ridiculous 10-game stretch without any games in MSG depending on the context:
12/1: @ Chicago 12/2: @ Milwaukee 12/4 or 12/5: NBA Cup QF 12/8 or 12/9: NBA Cup SF 12/11: NBA Cup Final (Indy) 12/12: @ Miami 12/14: @ Houston 12/16: @ New Orleans 12/18: @ Washington 12/21: @ Cleveland
There is a guaranteed six-game road trip that begins nine days later for good measure. The Knicks head to Utah on December 30, spend New Year’s in Phoenix, look to repeat recent dominance in Denver to start 2027, and then play three consecutive 10 pm games in Portland, Golden State, and Sacramento. What a six-week stretch.
NBA Cup – 10/30 @ PHI, 11/13 @ IND, 11/25 vs CLE, 11/27 vs MIA
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 29: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks drives against Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers during Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals at Madison Square Garden on May 29, 2025 in New York City. 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 Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s only right that the reigning NBA Cup champions get drawn into maybe the hardest group possible. This is taking Group of Death to another level. If you’re wondering how this is possible, the NBA tries to “balance” groups by using last year’s standings, and because of how bad Indiana was in their gap year along with the mediocrity of both Philly and Miami, this is what you get.
We start off by facing the Sixers for the second time before October is over in MSG Philly Xfinity Mobile Arena, face Tyrese Haliburton and company for the first time since Tom Thibodeau was on the sideline two weeks later in Indy, and then head home for back-to-back Cup games around Thanksgiving against the Cavs and Giannis-led Miami Heat. It’s funny how the only one of these games on regular TV is an ECF rematch, just to tell you how much the league respects those Cavaliers now.
Vaunted Back-to-Backs
The Knicks are tied for the fewest road back-to-back games with five, according to NBA Today, so that’s nice. Still, there are 12 back-to-backs on the schedule, but the Knicks are fortunate to have a number of them stay within the confines of Madison Square Garden.
Here are some of the tougher ones on the schedule:
Oct 27-28th: vs. DET, @ CHI Dec 30-31th: @ UTAH, @ PHX Jan 13-14th: @ BOS, vs. MIA Feb 3-4th: @ DET, vs. TOR
(There is also a possibility of a December 11-12th back-to-back from the NBA Cup Final and a trip to South Beach, not great).
Coffee Games
Good news: the NBA has once again spared us of the 11:00 games that they’re doing on weekdays for some ungodly reason.
Bad news: there’s still a bunch of late games.
Here’s a list of every game starting 9:30 pm EST or later:
Mon, Jan 4: @ Portland (10:00) Wed, Jan 6: @ Golden State (10:00, ESPN) Fri, Jan 8: @ Sacramento (10:00) Sun, Feb 7: @ Oklahoma City (9:30, NBC) Thu, Mar 4: @ Dallas (9:30, Prime Video) Wed, Mar 10: @ Clippers (10:30) Thu, Mar 11: @ Lakers (10:00, Prime Video)
Old Friends Returning To MSG
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 20: Immanuel Quickley #5 passes to RJ Barrett #9 of the Toronto Raptors during the first half against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on January 20, 2024 in New York City. 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 Sarah Stier/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Ring Edition:
Ariel Hukporti (PHI): October 20th (NBC) Jeremy Sochan (POR): November 21st Trey Jemison III (TOR): January 20th Mitchell Robinson (BOS): March 14th (ABC)
OAKAAK Edition:
Julius Randle (BKN): Nov 2, Dec 27 RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley (TOR): Jan 20, Feb 4 Mario Hezonja (CLE): Nov 11, Nov 25 Obi Toppin (IND): Nov 22, Apr 11 Jericho Sims (MIL): Nov 10, Feb 28 Trevor Keels, Bobby Portis, Tim Hardaway Jr. (MIA): Nov 27, Jan 14 Donte DiVincenzo (MIN): Jan 18 (won’t play due to a torn Achilles) Isaiah Hartenstein (OKC): Feb 25 Kristaps Porzingis (GS): Feb 13 Quentin Grimes (LAL): Jan 30 Precious Achiuwa (SAC): Mar 17 Taj Gibson (MEM): Mar 2
Notable Individual Games
DETROIT, MI – MAY 1: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks scores the game winning 3-point basket during the game against the Detroit Pistons during Round 1 Game 6 on May 1, 2025 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Fri, Oct 23rd @ BOS (7:00, Prime Video): Mike Brown is required to playfully do the Hack-a-Mitch as soon as he walks on the court. His mentor would be proud.
Tues, Oct 27th vs. DET (8:00, NBC): Man, you really forget that the Pistons were the best team in the East all year last year, huh? I can’t imagine they’re going to win all these games by 30 again, right?
Fri, Oct 30th @ PHI (7:30, Prime Video): This is an NBA Cup game, but the more important thing to me is seeing if LeBron is enough to stop Knicks fans from invading. Who am I kidding? Sixers fans cried poor at $100 playoff tickets; they’re not spending $500 to go to this game.
Sun, Nov 22nd vs. IND (8:00, MSG): Did you know that neither Pacers/Knicks game in New York is nationally televised? That feels like an oversight. This will be Tyrese Haliburton’s first game at MSG since that Eastern Conference Finals matchup immortalized him as a villain. The other game at MSG will be a meaningless Game 82, most likely.
Sat, Jan 2nd @ DEN (5:00, MSG): Here’s your yearly reminder that the Knicks have outscored the Nuggets by a whopping 66 points the last two times they’ve played at “the toughest road atmosphere in basketball”
Thu, Jan 28th vs. ATL (7:00, Prime Video) Sat, Jan 30th vs. LAL (8:30, ABC): This is being categorized as “Rivalry Week”. There are at least six teams I would name as bigger rivals than the Lakers (who we haven’t played a meaningful game against in 50 years) and the Hawks (who got embarrassed last April by their main antagonist in Washington now).
Wed, Feb 3rd @ DET (7:00, ESPN): This is the 2027 NBA Pioneers Classic, a now-annual event by the NBA to honor the memory of the first black players to integrate the league in 1950. The Bucks and Celtics played the inaugural edition last year with commemorative patches and pregame warmups. There’s also a trophy at stake if we want to keep collecting.
Sun, Mar 7th @ SA (7:30, NBC): Will the Spurs’ PA sound guy dare to play the goofy music after being walked down in their own building three times in a row last June?
Sat, Mar 20th vs. WAS (7:00, MSG): This is the only time the Wizards head to town this year, and there are a few questions here. AJ Dybantsa will be a treat to watch, for sure, but will we actually get to see Trae Young and Anthony Davis play? In a hyper-competitive East, it wouldn’t be shocking if they were shut down by now if the Wizards had some growing pains.
Seattle Mariners rookie shortstop Colt Emerson watches from the dugout during a Major League Baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians on Saturday, June 27, 2026, in Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland won, 4-3, as Emerson drew a walk in four at-bats. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co
The Mariners are shaking things up with their lineup, sending struggling shortstop Colt Emerson back to Triple-A and selecting longtime super-utility infielder Brock Rodden to take his place, per Ryan Divish.
It’s a tough but necessary step for the 21-year-old shortstop, who has been struggling of late on both sides of the ball. Never one to strike out much – his career strikeout rate in the minors is around 17% – Emerson has been struggling to adjust to big-league pitching, striking out at double the rate he was in the minors. He’s been especially susceptible to high fastballs, frequently expanding up, but has also struggled with catching up to big-league fastballs on the plate. He’s striking out on fastballs over 50% of the time; his Statcast bat-tracking data shows how often he’s late on fastballs, and how often he’s swinging under them rather than on-plane.
Emerson is also struggling on breaking and off-speed pitches, although maybe not as much as one might expect; however, the fastball issue isn’t getting better, and pitchers continue to exploit his weakness there. It’s a big ask of a 21-year-old who is also playing the most demanding position on the field – non-catcher division – but it’s become apparent that Emerson hasn’t been able to make an adjustment, even when the attack plan for opposing pitchers is clear. He’s simply being overwhelmed at this moment by big-league pitching, which is not an uncommon thing for a rookie getting their first taste of the big leagues, especially those who were pulled up to fill in for injury, as Emerson was to patch over the injured left side of the Mariners infield. But Emerson’s defense has also been an issue.
Always a steady-handed shortstop in the minors, Emerson’s defense has been inconsistent at the big-league level. Athletic, fast, and rangy, Emerson is capable of making highlight-reel plays, and has logged a few of those, but he’s also booted several routine ones – as Perry Hill calls them, the plays “in the box”, the ones that have to get made. There’s a certain degree of learning curve that’s to be expected for young infielders – big-league infields play much faster than minor-league ones between the quality of contact off big-league bats and the maintenance of the fields themselves – but Emerson has noticeably scuffled, even on routine plays. From the vantage point of someone who has watched Emerson play infield for years, he’s made mistakes with footwork or transfers that he simply wasn’t making in the minor leagues, perhaps feeling the pressure of needing to produce on at least one side of the ball.
It reminds me of the level of defense we saw at times out of Cole Young last season, another steady defender in the minors who initially struggled with the transition to a big-league infield. Like Emerson, the Mariners gave Young a blow as he struggled down the stretch on both sides of the ball, replacing him with Jorge Polanco for the playoff run. Unlike Emerson, Young had a team of offensive producers around him and was able to slip quietly into the background, while Emerson’s struggles have unfortunately been magnified by the struggles of the team as a whole.
Moving Emerson back to Triple-A will hopefully slow the game back down for him and allow him room to breathe and adjust and get back to the player he is. For someone who has always prided himself on sticking to his plan at the plate and not striking out, it’s been a frustrating and unfamiliar experience for Emerson to struggle at this level, even as he’s worked hard to maintain a positive attitude every day.
Giving Emerson a blow is the best move for the player, but it’s also the best move for the team. With the rest of the Mariners lineup failing to produce consistently, Emerson’s bat is too much of a liability right now to be a consistent zero out of the nine-hole. And with some porous infield defense, especially on the left side, if Emerson’s bat is holding him back from being his best self defensively, then both sides are well-served by a change. With J.P. Crawford still on the shelf with wrist soreness with no timetable for his return, the Mariners have called up superutility infielder Brock Rodden.
Rodden, a long-time favorite here at LL where he’s known as “The Brocket Ship”, was a fifth-round draft selection in 2023 out of Wichita State; his ascent has been slowed by some unfortunately-timed injuries, but he’s produced at every level in the minors, consistently running an OBP of around .350. For fans of scrappy lil’ players like Dustin Pedroia or the Mariners’ own Shawn O’Malley, the 5’9”, switch-hitting Rodden – whose jersey is always dirty – will be a quick favorite. Rodden can also play all over the infield, and won a minor league Gold Glove at second base in 2024. Despite his short stature, Rodden also has some sneaky pop – he has 19 homers at Triple-A this season already, beating the 14 he notched in Double-A in 2024, his last fully-healthy season. Standard PCL caveats apply, but he’s hit some that are decidedly not cheapies:
With J.P. Crawford still out, Leo Rivas will likely get the bulk of Emerson’s starts, but Rodden will certainly be given an opportunity to show what he can do. For a team that’s lacking offensive consistency and continually struggling to put runners on base, Rodden’s on-base skills will hopefully help lengthen the lineup (and did I mention he’s a switch-hitter?). If nothing else, he’s a fun player to watch, hustling out every single infield grounder and playing with the kind of high energy many have noted this team to be lacking of late. It will also be interesting to see how the team slots him in defensively – second base, not short, is Rodden’s natural position, and Cole Young is capable of playing short, but Rodden could also be used at third to spell Brendan Donovan. He’s played second, third, and short for Tacoma this season, offering Dan Wilson flexibility in penciling his name into the lineup. If Rodden’s on-base skills from the minors transfer to the bigs, he could be a boon for a struggling ballclub on both sides of the ball.
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - JULY 30: Dansby Swanson #7 of the Chicago Cubs steals second base against Masyn Winn #0 of the St. Louis Cardinals in the seventh inning at Busch Stadium on July 30, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The St. Louis Cardinals looked to be going the wrong direction after the All-Star break, but the resilient Redbirds continued to show this rebuild is unlike most others. A tough end to July knocked the Cardinals out of the Wild Card spot and under .500, but the team battled in the last three series to remain in the postseason race.
The Cardinals are coming off three straight series wins, two of which came against favorites to be playing in October. After taking care of business against the Yankees, Rockies, and Phillies, the Cardinals hit the road to take on postseason contender and NL Central rival Chicago Cubs at Wrigley field. The series kicks off with an Apple TV afternoon game on Friday and concludes on Sunday afternoon on ABC.
Another series win could put the Cardinals back in the thick of postseason contention
The two teams meet as both are in the middle of a little hot streak in the dog days of summer. With 41 games remaining, the Cubs are where they expected to be, in the middle of a playoff race, while the Cardinals are continuing to exceed preseason expectations. With most outlets putting the Cardinals as a 67 win team, St. Louis can surpass that total with another strong couple of weeks. The Cardinals will also be putting their three series winning streak on the line at the Friendly Confines, where St. Louis won the series when they last met in Chicago over the July 4th weekend.
GAME ONE (1:20) : MATTHEW LIBERATORE VS. CLAY HOLMES
GAME TWO (1:20) : MICHAEL MCGREEVY VS. MATTHEW BOYD
GAME THREE (2:15) : HUNTER DOBBINS VS. SHOTA IMANAGA
In the first game, Matthew Liberatore will look to show he belongs in the rotation for another handful of starts despite the down year. The Opening Day starter has struggled for much of the season and looked to turn a corner with a dominant showing two starts ago. Unfortunately, he followed up his seven strikeout, six shutout inning start with another blow up as he gave up five runs for the sixth time this season. We will likely see Libby taking the ball every fifth day for the rest of the season, but he will have to impress the staff to be written into the starting rotation next year.
In game two, Michael McGreevy will attempt to end a five start winless streak as his command has faltered a little in the second half. The increase in free passes has also been met with more hits allowed, so McGreevy will have to find ways to limit a powerful Cubs lineup to give the Cardinals a chance to win. He will be opposed by lefty Matthew Boyd who currently sits at 8-1 despite a middling ERA. The last time he faced the Cardinals, though, he was dominant. Boyd threw seven shutout innings, allowed just four hits, and struck out five batters in the victory. He has given up some runs of late, however, so the Cardinals hope to get to him early and often on Saturday.
In the teams’ final meeting of the 2026 season (postseason not included), the Cardinals will turn to their newest rotation showcase arm. Hunter Dobbins will be out of the hot and humid Busch Stadium where he struggled with his grip in his last outing to face the Cubs in his third consecutive start at the big league level. Like Liberatore, Dobbins is auditioning for next year’s rotation but may be more of a lock than the lefty Libby. Facing Dobbins is Cubs de facto #1 Shota Imanaga, who is in the midst of a mediocre season. In his last start against the Cardinals, he got the loss after giving up two runs in 4.2 innings.
A series win against the Cubs will not do much for the overall Wild Card as the Cubs have a massive hold on the first runner-up spot, but depending on how the others in contention do, the Cardinals could be in position to make a late run. St. Louis sits within three games of the final postseason spot and could find themselves in striking distance again with five games against the Reds before another series against the Phillies.
