A week before his contract was set to expire, the Yankees’ biggest pending free agent made sure he will be staying in The Bronx.
Pitching coach Matt Blake and the club agreed to a three-year contract extension, The Post’s Jon Heyman reported Saturday, keeping one of the game’s most highly regarded coaches in the Yankees dugout.
The well-earned extension comes after a season in which Blake’s pitchers led the majors with a 3.24 ERA while withstanding multiple injuries to their highest-paid starters and plenty of question marks in the bullpen.
Pitching coach Matt Blake of the Yankees walks back to the dugout against the Red Sox during the sixth inning in game 1 of the AL Wild Card Series at Yankee Stadium, Sept. 29, 2026. Getty Images
Once the Yankees decided that manager Aaron Boone would be coming back for a 10th season (on the final year of his contract) and general manager Brian Cashman a 30th (he has also agreed to a new contract), they got to work on making sure Blake would also be back in the fold.
“Our pitching group is as good as it gets, in my opinion,” Boone said late in the season.
The Yankees originally hired Blake ahead of the 2020 season, and while he had not pitched professionally or coached at all in the majors, he quickly showed his bona fides while earning the respect of his pitchers. He has consistently gotten the best out of the Yankees pitching staff, including a pair of AL Cy Youngs (Gerrit Cole in 2023 and Cam Schlittler set to win it next month) and annually turning castoffs from other teams into important bullpen pieces.
This year, that included Paul Blackburn and Brent Headrick emerging as key setup men for a bullpen that finished second in the majors with a 3.13 ERA. The rotation, meanwhile, survived injuries to Cole, Max Fried, Carlos Rodón and Ryan Weathers to post a major league-best 3.30 ERA.
New York Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler (31) speaks to New York Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake (77) during the third inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium in New York, Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“Everybody felt like they kept improving and wanting to get better as the year went on and pick each other up,” Blake said during the ALDS. “It felt like we did have a nice overall strong season from a majority of the group.”
The Edmonton Oilers have placed goaltender Devon Levi on injured reserve (IR) and called up goaltender Matt Tomkins from the AHL's Bakersfield Condors under emergency conditions. In a pinch, with Frederik Andersen still on LTIR, Tomkins could get his first taste of NHL action with the Oilers next week.
But who is Matt Tomkins?
Tomkins has played a handful of Oilers preseason games and six NHL regular-season games. The latter were all for the Tampa Bay Lightning. He's also a veteran goaltender who spent years working his way up to the NHL. He was born June 19, 1994, in Sherwood Park, Alberta, and stands 6'4". The Chicago Blackhawks drafted him in the seventh round (199th overall) in 2012.
After a few seasons on minor-league contracts in the AHL and ECHL, he continued his career in Sweden. That stretch put him back on the radar, and he represented Canada at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, posting a 2-1 record with a .963 save percentage. He also played a single game for Team Canada at the Spengler Cup.
He played six games for the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2023-24, going 3-2-1 with an .892 save percentage. In 2024-25 with AHL Syracuse, he posted a 12-10-5 record, 2.55 GAA and .907 save percentage in 26 games. Not bad numbers.
His hometown Oilers signed him in July 2025. It was a two-year, two-way deal paying $775K in the NHL and $400K in the AHL. He spent all of last season with the Bakersfield Condors (42 games) and has played three games so far this season. The Oilers actually recalled him to back up Calvin Pickard when Stuart Skinner was ill. He didn't play.
Tomkins has 136 AHL games on his resume, and he's the closest thing the Oilers have to NHL-ready in their system. He's been working hard and waiting for his shot, which it looks like he'll finally get, depending on how serious the Levi situation is.
At 32 years old, he's been waiting for a shot.
David Staples of the Edmonton Journal writes, "Tomkins had some big games for Bakersfield last season, but there was no other NHL franchise that invested such heavy AHL playing time in an old, non-prospect goalie. Edmonton has prospect goalies in its system in Connor Ungar, Samuel Jonsson, and Nathaniel Day, but they’re all in line behind Tomkins." He adds, "Perhaps Tomkins will provide steady goaltending for a game or two if he’s called on in Edmonton...".
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ARLINGTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 24: Corey Seager #5 of the Texas Rangers celebrates with teammates following thew team's win over the New York Mets at Globe Life Field on September 24, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning, LSB.
Kennedi Landry has a trio of Rangers noted as “developmental wins” after strong 2026 campaigns.
The Buzzsaw Brewers took a tight Game 1 of the World Series.
And The Athletic ran the numbers on MLB’s “competitive balance problem.”
That’s all for this morning. Have a great weekend!
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 23: Mitchell Robinson #4 of the Boston Celtics celebrates after blocking a shot from Og Anunoby #8 of the New York Knicks during the Celtics Home Opener at TD Garden on October 23, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics defeat the Knicks 107-103. 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 Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Is Mike Brown still coaching the Knicks? How’s that possible!?
Should Leon Rose trade everybody and quit on the spot? Would it be better for New York to tank the season?
On the Knicks’ slow start and still figuring out the team’s identity:
“I haven’t even looked at 50 wins, or 45 or 52 or anything like that. I’m still trying to figure out this team a little bit. I know everybody is like, ‘Whoa, it’s the same team as last year. New season, new team, new challenges, and so I’m not even sure who I wanna play yet, you know? Trying to figure the little things out.”
On Mikal Bridges’ shooting struggles against the Celtics:
“Mikal had three or four wide-open 3s. And obviously we want him to make half of them if they’re open. But he’s got to keep shooting. And hopefully they’ll eventually go in — sooner than later. But he’s getting the looks that he needs to get. He just has to knock them down now. And he’s got to make sure he’s physical on the defensive end.”
On Bridges and the Knicks needing to play more physically on defense:
“He’s got to make sure that he’s physical on the defensive end. And he, as well as everybody else because it was all of us, are laying on screens when we get hit, and that when we do switch, there’s a level of physicality to the switch so that they’re not able to take advantage of us.”
On what went wrong for the Knicks in the 107-103 loss to Boston:
“It was a physical ball game, and we have to give Boston credit. They had the advantage with the physicality.”
On Jayson Tatum’s 36-point performance against the Knicks:
“Jayson Tatum did what Jayson Tatum does. You just take your hat off and say, ‘Good D, better O.’ But that’s not why we lost the game. We lost the game because we didn’t handle their physicality on both ends of the floor for too many stretches that were too long.”
Knicks start season 0-2
First time since Leon Rose's first full season in charge 6 years ago
On the Knicks’ progress despite starting the season with two losses:
“I think we took a stride, just not big enough strides. There’s positives and negatives to take from this game. We know what we have to do, and the things I think are glaring to us are controllable. So that’s a positive we can take from this.”
On how the Celtics helped shape the Knicks into a championship team:
“The way they were playing, and I guess how they’re still playing, kind of helped shape our team. They were obviously a dynamic force. And obviously the past couple years with injuries and personnel changes and stuff like that, things are different. We were trying to figure out how we can beat those guys.”
On Mitchell Robinson not watching the Knicks’ championship ring ceremony:
“We know Mitch is a competitor. He’s a person who wears his emotions on his sleeve … that’s just Mitch being Mitch.”
On Robinson leaving the Knicks for the Celtics:
“It’s definitely bittersweet. He’s a good friend. I’m just happy he was able to get a nice payday.”
On having limited involvement in The Roommates Show’s Polymarket sponsorship agreement:
“To be honest, we really don’t have much of a say in terms of a lot of the sales and who they reach out to. I don’t wanna say we know nothing, but we don’t know much about all that stuff.
“I know they sit there and talk about, it’s trading; it’s not gambling.”
On being surprised by the controversy surrounding the Polymarket sponsorship:
“Last year, we had BetMGM. I don’t really know too much around the controversy of it or whatever. I saw some things on Twitter, and I was just like, ‘Oh, I didn’t know people felt that way.’
“I saw a little bit of it the last couple days, and I was shocked — and it might be a little ignorance on my part because I don’t know, but yeah.”
On taking advantage of sponsorship deals to pay the pod employees more:
“When it’s the pod and that, I kind of play ball a little bit because there’s other people depending on that. So it gets brought to us at the very end and for me personally, I’m just like other people are depending on this. So I play ball with that.”
“I know it ain’t no fun no more. I know. I just brought so much light to this team.”
On feeling unwanted by the Knicks during free agency:
“They didn’t want me? Yeah. That’s what it felt like. I was like, cool. There wasn’t bad blood behind it. Man, fresh start.”
On signing with the Celtics despite their rivalry with the Knicks:
“The only thing that was kind of different was going to the rivals. But you know me, man. I like to troll. Nobody was happy with that move. But I was.”
On learning to treat the NBA as a business after years of trade rumors:
“Anything can happen, I can be traded at any moment. I was in so many of those trade talks. I’m like, ‘I just got to see it as a business. You can’t let your feelings in it.’ That’s kind of what I did.”
On his understanding of the NBA’s second-apron salary cap restrictions amid his Knicks exit:
“Not too much. But it is what it is.”
On having a more active offensive role with the Celtics:
“I’m a lot more active. Constantly moving on the offensive end. It’s actually going pretty great. I got to bring the energy.”
NEWS: The Knicks say using the allure of rings for a cybersecurity test was "an unfortunate mistake." They reveal plan to hand out 275 championship rings worth over $3.7 million.
On using a championship-ring bait in an employee phishing simulation:
“The company had previously sent out an email to its corporate team as a simulation of a phishing attack designed to strengthen our security against hackers. MSG was recently hacked and extorted using an employee login and password obtained through a similar phishing attack. Using the rings as a lure to gain employees attention was an unfortunate mistake.”
On the narrative about the Knicks’ wrongdoing:
“There is a great deal of misinformation regarding the championship rings. The plan has always been to distribute more than 275 rings and jewelry to the people in the organization who were part of last season’s success. As is common with many teams, the players were always supposed to get their rings as part of the opening night ceremony and then everyone else will receive theirs in about 4-6 weeks. Regarding the phishing email, the process of securing and reminding our employees to protect our IP was not a mistake but the choice to use the ring to do so was a mistake and we apologize to our employees and the fans.
“Winning the championship was a great moment for all New Yorkers. Those who choose to focus on the negative are missing the joy that comes with the team’s accomplishment.”
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 23: Scottie Barnes #4 of the Toronto Raptors plays defense during the game against the Washington Wizards on October 23, 2026 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. 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 Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 23: Scottie Barnes #4 of the Toronto Raptors plays defense during the game against the Washington Wizards on October 23, 2026 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. 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 Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Toronto Raptors improved to 2-0 on the season after defeating the Washington Wizards 112-102 at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. It marks Toronto’s first 2-0 start since 2019, the season the franchise won its first NBA championship.
While the final score may suggest a convincing win, the Raptors’ performance was far from perfect. Inconsistent three-point shooting, communication issues and fouls remain areas for improvement as they look to build on this result in their upcoming games.
Scottie Barnes led the way with an impressive double-double, recording 28 points and 14 rebounds. RJ Barrett also delivered a strong performance, finishing with 23 points and nine rebounds, while Kawhi Leonard contributed 16 points and eight rebounds.
Both teams came out looking to establish their perimeter game, with the first five shots of the contest all coming from beyond the arc. After the early attempts went unanswered, RJ Barrett connected from three-point range to get Toronto on the board, before Kawhi Leonard followed with a three of his own on the Raptors’ next possession.
Toronto continued to look for opportunities from deep, attempting eight three-pointers within the opening minutes of the game. Their offence remained productive thanks to contributions from across the lineup.
The Raptors defensive intensity helped set the tone throughout the quarter, limiting Washington’s key offensive contributors and making it difficult for the hosts to establish a rhythm.
A scoring run from the bench, led by Ja’Kobe Walter, Jamal Shead and Allen Graves, helped the Raptors extend their advantage.
Toronto closed the quarter with a 34-21 lead, establishing early control of the game. However, six turnovers in the opening frame highlighted the need for better decision-making in transition and improved communication moving forward.
The second quarter opened with both teams trading baskets as the Wizards began to find their rhythm offensively.
Toronto’s communication continued to be an issue, as Trae Young knocked down back to back wide open three pointers to cut the lead to eight, forcing Darko Rajaković to call a timeout. However, the sloppy play persisted, allowing Washington to gradually chip away at the advantage.
Foul trouble also became a concern, with Kawhi Leonard, Immanuel Quickley and Colin Murray-Boyles each picking up their third personal foul.
The Raptors eventually settled down, with a timely scoring run from Ja’Kobe Walter, Scottie Barnes and Leonard helping rebuild their lead to 13 late in the quarter.
Anthony Davis began to find his footing after a relatively quiet first half, scoring late to bring Washington back within single digits.
It was far from a convincing first half for Toronto, but the Raptors did enough to take a 60-52 lead into the break.
WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 23: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors dribbles the ball during the game against the Washington Wizards on October 23, 2026 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. 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 Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Toronto’s struggles carried over into the third quarter, as continued fouls and miscommunication allowed the Wizards to cut the lead to three.
The Raptors’ offence, which had looked disjointed throughout the night, eventually found some momentum through Immanuel Quickley, Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett, helping rebuild a six-point advantage.
Washington continued to respond with baskets of its own, but Jamal Shead provided a spark for Toronto, playing a key role in a run that extended the lead to 10 as the Wizards began to get sloppy.
However, Washington answered with an 11-2 run late in the quarter to close the gap once again. Toronto’s three-point shooting remained a major concern, going just 1-of-12 from beyond the arc in the frame, with Jamison Battle finally connecting from deep with 12 seconds remaining. The Raptors entered the fourth quarter clinging to an 81-77 lead.
Quickley gave the Raptors an early spark in the fourth, converting a tough floater through contact to extend the lead to six. Leonard followed with a three-pointer, while Barnes also found the basket, providing encouraging signs for a Toronto offence that had struggled to find consistency throughout the night.
WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 23: Head Coach Darko Rajakovic of the Toronto Raptors reacts during the first half against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena on October 23, 2026 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Todd Olszewski/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Scottie Barnes continued to make his presence felt on both sides of the court, but the hosts refused to go down without a fight, knocking down back to back three pointers to keep the pressure on Toronto.
Barnes briefly appeared to be dealing with a knee issue, holding his knee before making his way to the bench under his own power. After a short spell on the sidelines, he returned to the game late in the frame.
Despite the Wizards’ late push, Toronto did enough to close out the contest, securing the victory.
The Raptors were shown a much tougher battle against the Wizards and they can expect another test on Sunday as they travel to Minnesota to face the Timberwolves. Tip-off is set for 7pm.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 27: Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers dribbles the ball against Ryan Rollins #13 of the Milwaukee Bucks at Xfinity Mobile Arena on January 27, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Bucks 139-122. 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 Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s SEGABABA time for the first time in 2026-27! Yes, the day after playing their home opener, the Milwaukee Bucks travel to Pennsylvania to take on LeBron James and the star-studded Philadelphia 76ers. Yesterday, the Bucks lost a close one to the Chicago Bulls in a showing that offered plenty of promise, but also raised some red flags—namely, point of attack defence and ball security. Tonight, against a much tougher opponent, can the Bucks step up and win one for the little guys?
The Task Ahead
These aren’t your father’s 76ers—and they certainly aren’t the 76ers of recent years either. No, after acquiring five-time All-Star Jaylen Brown and 22-time All-Star LeBron James to pair with seven-time All-Star Joel Embiid and two-time All-Star Tyrese Maxey, these 76ers are quite legitimately an All-Star lineup. Next to them in the starting lineup is 2025-26 All-Rookie team selection VJ Edgecombe. Yeah, these guys are stacked. But as history has shown over and over again—see the Durant/Harden/Irving Nets, the Kobe/Gasol/Howard/Nash Lakers, and the Shaq/Kobe/Malone/Payton Lakers—putting a troupe of All-Stars together doesn’t automatically mean they’ll run away with the league. So, are these 76ers any good?
Thus far, the answer is yes. The 76ers are undefeated in the young season, beating the reigning-champion New York Knicks 106-100 on Opening Night and the Eastern Conference-finalist Cleveland Cavaliers 114-106 on Friday. And they’ve been doing it while shooting poorly. Over the two contests, Philadelphia is shooting just 44% from the field and a paltry 27% from deep, but all that star power has helped them get to the free throw line a whopping 28.5 times per game (a number that would’ve ranked first in the league last year). Milwaukee’s task is to therefore defend without fouling. They struggled with this against the Washington Wizards, conceding 41 attempts, with Anthony Davis and Trae Young combining for 30 of those. While the Bulls don’t present star power akin to those two—and certainly not compared to the 76ers—2025-26 All-Star Norman Powell did have seven first-half free throws on his way to nine for the game yesterday and the Bulls took 30 altogether.
Ariel Hukporti: Out (right Achilles tendon rupture)
Player to Watch
Despite being the fourth-biggest name on his own squad, Tyrese Maxey is quickly emerging as the 76ers’ best player. It’s fitting too, dude is grease lightning. A blur across the hardwood and even quicker with the trigger, Maxey has gotten off to a blistering start this season, averaging 30.0 PPG, 5.5 APG, and 2.5 SPG thus far. What’s more, he’s averaging 15.0 PPG in the paint. With the Bucks struggling defensively at the point of attack and at the rim, giving up 65.0 PPG in the paint so far, don’t be surprised if Maxey ups those numbers in this one. Ryan Rollins, what ya got?
Projected Starters
Bucks
Position
76ers
Ryan Rollins
PG
Tyrese Maxey
Tyler Herro
SG
VJ Edgecombe
Jaime Jaquez Jr.
SF
Jaylen Brown
Kyle Kuzma
PF
LeBron James
Myles Turner
C
Joel Embiid
Game Details
Who: Milwaukee Bucks (0-2) vs. Philadelphia 76ers (2-0).
SCOTTSDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 19: Dax Kilby #11 of the Salt River Rafters runs home during the game between the Desert Dogs and the River Rafters at on Monday, October 19, 2026 in , United States. (Photo by Norm Hall/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
Week 3 is in the books in Arizona, and even as temperatures cool across the country, things are heating up. Salt River entered the Friday offday with a 9-7 record at the halfway point of the season, sitting just a half-game back of a first-round bye in the postseason. In their 3-2 week, no star shined brighter than Yankees’ top prospect Dax Kilby, who crushed a home run and four extra-base hits as he continued to level up his power. As a reminder, if you want a quick rundown on who’s in the desert this month, check here.
October 17 (Rafters 5, Solar Sox 0): It was a very quiet shutout victory for Salt River to start the week last Saturday, as only one Yankee got into a game. Core Jackson, who had struggled mightily through two weeks, went 1-for-3 with a walk, stolen base, and a booming home run that traveled 421 feet and was 105.4 mph off the bat. By far the best swing he’s had all fall.
October 19 (Rafters 7, Desert Dogs 1): In another strong win for the Rafters, the other two Yankees’ hitters got into the game. Kyle West made another start at first base and went 1-f0r-3 with a walk, with his single registering at 104.9 mph. Monday was more known for the start of the Kilby show. The top prospect went 2-for-4 with a walk, two stolen bases, a double, and a triple. His triple was hit just 95.4 mph down the right-field line, but the double went off the top of the wall in center field, 420 feet away at 103.5 mph.
October 20 (Rafters 10, Javelinas 11): Six different Yankees played on Tuesday and were very involved in the outcome. Jackson (playing second base this time) went 0-for-3 with a walk, a stolen base, and two strikeouts. West went 1-for-3 with a strikeout and a stolen base; Chris Veach allowed a run in 1.2 innings with two strikeouts; Anthony Mena pitched around some command woes to only allow one run in 2.2 innings, and Antonio Gomez threw a scoreless eighth. The main attraction was Kilby once again, who blasted an early home run a staggering 107.1 mph and 410 feet before tying the game at 10 in the ninth on a 109.8 mph RBI double. He also contributed to the walk-off loss, unfortunately, as he was thrown out at third on a fielder’s choice to end the inning.
October 21 (Rafters 7, Scorpions 5): After seemingly everyone got into the game on Tuesday, it was calmer on Wednesday. West went 0-for-3 with a walk, Jackson walked thrice in four plate appearances (and stole his ninth bag), and Mack Estrada took the win by getting the last two outs of the fourth.
October 22 (Rafters 8, Scorpions 15): Salt River ended a solid week on a bad note by allowing 15 runs on 18 hits and eight walks, but none of the five pitchers on the roster appeared in the game. Kilby went 1-for-5 with a strikeout and a 104 mph flyout, while Jackson ripped a long triple to center field and stole his 10th base in a solid day for him.
AFL totals thus far
Dax Kilby: 12-38, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 6 2B, 3B, 3 BB, 4 K, 4 SB Core Jackson: 5-33, HR, 2 RBI, 2B, 3B, 12 BB, 11 K, 9 SB Kyle West: 7-32, 5 RBI, 6 BB, 7 K, 3 SB JT Etheridge: 6 IP, 5 H, 3 R (2 ER), 3 BB, 9 K Mack Estrada: 4 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 4 BB, 2 K Chris Veach: 7.2 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 BB, 10 K Anthony Mena: 7.2 IP, 7 H, 4 R (3 ER), 4 BB, 6 K Antonio Gomez: 3.2 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 3 BB, 3 K
DENVER, COLORADO - MAY 7: Francisco Alvarez #4 of the New York Mets looks on as he catches in the eighth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on May 7, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
At the beginning of the year, many questions surrounded Francisco Alvarez. People wondered whether he could stay healthy, whether he would maintain the offensive momentum he showed in 2025, and whether he would show the hoped-for defensive improvements. Unfortunately, 2026 did not turn out like anyone hoped, for Alvarez or the Mets, and while his offense was better than his defense, it was not the breakout year some desired.
Alvarez started the season strong with the first successful ABS challenge in Major League Baseball and hit his first home run of the season on Opening Day. Things were looking up until he tore his right meniscus on May 12 during a plate appearance and was expected to be out for six to eight weeks. However, in keeping with his custom of quick healing, he returned less than four weeks later, on June 9.
Given the number of injuries on the team, Alvarez spent more time as designated hitter than expected at the beginning of the season. Offensively, the season was a mixed bag for him. He had a good start to the season, but some of the same issues that have plagued him in the past came up. He struggled with identifying the best pitches to hit this year. He took more pitches in the zone than he should have, whiffed more on pitches outside the zone than the team average, yet his chase rate was right around the team average. Alvarez hit a long slump after the trade deadline, when his strikeout rate jumped from 26.4% before to 39.4% after. His OPS was .777 before the trade deadline and .579 after the deadline. He ended the year hitting .233/.311/.399, and his wRC+ was 99.
Defensively, Alvarez struggled again this year. He split his time behind the dish with Luis Torrens, starting 82 games as catcher and playing a total of 88 games at the position. His DRS was -5 (-6.9/1000 innings), and his FRV was -2 (-2.8/1000 innings) in 720.0 innings, despite being slightly above average at 2.2 framing runs. His cERA was 4.54. He did not benefit from comparisons to Torrens, one of the best defensive catchers in the game. Overall, his fWAR clocked in at 1.4.
At the end of the season, it did not feel like much had been resolved. It’s been pointed out that Alvy is only 24 years old, which is fair. He has spent four full seasons in the majors, which is also fair. Who knows, maybe next year will be the year of realizing stuff when it comes to questions about Francisco Alvarez.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 23: Junior Caminero #13 of the Tampa Bay Rays and the Milwaukee Brewers infielders look on during a play review in the ninth inning in game one of the 2026 World Series at American Family Field on October 23, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Happy Saturday, everyone!
The World Series continues later this evening at 5 p.m. PDT, with the Brewers hosting the Rays in Game 2 at American Family Field in Milwaukee. Here are some links to kick off your morning.
Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski broke the record for fastest pitch in World Series history with a 103.5 mph four-seam fastball to Yandy Díaz to begin Game 1. Though Misiorowski only went five innings allowing one run and striking out three, it was enough for a winning decision.
In Mariners news…
Voting for the Fifth Annual Lookout Landing Awards has been extended to October 31! If you have not voted yet, a link directly to the form is provided here. Sign-in to a Google account is required to vote.
Randy Arozarena appeared alongside other MLB stars in a promo for Marvel Studios’ “Avengers: Doomsday” that debuted during Game 1 of the World Series, marking one of, if not the last time he is seen in a Mariners uniform before hitting free agency.
With the salary cap debate between the players and owners ramping up, Evan Drellich and Eno Sarris of The Athletic examined competitive balance in MLB and looked at potential next steps with the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) set to expire on Dec. 1.
The St. Louis Cardinals are reportedly moving on from hitting coach Brant Brown, who previously served as the Mariners bench coach and offensive coordinator for 58 games to begin the 2024 season before being fired on May 31 of that year.
Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman of Yahoo! Sports ranked their top 50 free agents available in the coming offseason.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - SEPTEMBER 02: Alex Lange #56 of the Kansas City Royals pitches during the ninth inning against the Miami Marlins at Kauffman Stadium on September 02, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
KC can learn a lot from both the Brewers and the Rays. Essentially, the Royals are trying to replicate what those franchises do so well these days.
The Royals plucked manager Matt Quatraro from the Rays organization in 2022. And they got their hitting coach, Connor Dawson, from the Brewers. Other unique crossovers include starter Michael Wacha — a former Ray — and former Brewers rookie Isaac Collins.
If the Royals want to reach the next level, however, they will need to rely on their own farm system and prospect development.
For what it’s worth, if they trade Pasquantino, that’s fine. I think it would relieve some roster tension. But I also think a lot about trading him doesn’t quite add up for me. Say what you want about the way he starts a season. The numbers always seem to be there in the end. By OPS+, he’s been 114, 118 and 113 the last three seasons. By wRC+, it’s 109, 116 and 109. The slow starts absolutely have to be figured out. Nobody is arguing that. But that’s a bat that needs to be replaced. Given that they already need at least one corner outfielder anyway, if you move Pasquantino, you now need two for sure. And where is that player? There’s no doubt they could throw money at the problem, but that’s easier said than done. There aren’t a ton of players available for a trade. Finding two middle of the order bats in essentially one position in one offseason is a very tall task.
Unlike the others, Black does not have the right to elect free agency. This is his first career outright and his service clock is under three years. He also isn’t eligible for seven-year minor league free agency because he has only participated in five minor league seasons.
The Royals can keep him in a non-roster capacity and try to get him back on track.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 23: Jacob Misiorowski #32 of the Milwaukee Brewers walks off the mound during the 5th inning against the Tampa Bay Rays in game one of the 2026 World Series at American Family Field on October 23, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With it being the World Series, we’re bringing you some of the key quotes and storylines from each game following the postgame press conference.
Pat Murphy
In his postgame press conference, Brewers manager Pat Murphy discussed what he was most impressed by, specifically shouting out Milwaukee’s star catcher.
“[William] Contreras was incredible. If anybody doesn’t notice the contributions of Contreras, he was the player of the game. We had a lot of good performances, a lot of good things,” Murphy said. “Contreras was unbelievable. The two caught stealings, the ABS, the hits, calling the game.”
“If people aren’t noticing Contreras, like he was maybe the MVP, like should have been co-MVPs. He was maybe MVP of the Dodgers series. He was maybe MVP of the Padres series. I don’t think they pick one for that, do they? But this guy has been incredible, and he does both sides of the ball. And the side that you can’t measure, I don’t know what his numbers are, but he does so much for the team. He’s incredible. That’s all I could tell you. He’s incredible. We wouldn’t be in the position we’re in without Contreras,” Murphy said.
Murphy added that Jackson Chourio, Christian Yelich, and the bullpen were the other heroes of the night, and he was also impressed by Jacob Misiorowski’s performance despite striking out just three.
“This is the best team in the American League. They proved that during the regular season and proved that in the postseason so far. One of the ways they do that is to make contact better than anybody in baseball,” Murphy said. “For Miz to go five innings the way he did, give up only a few hard contacts, only walked one guy, [he] was great.”
Murphy also spoke on the overturned call at second base that initially ended the game before Trevor Megill was required to get one more out, explaining that he’s glad reviews like that are part of the game.
“No, we want to get it right, man. We’ll be doing the checked swing there later on. The obstruction play will be replayed. MLB makes rule changes for the better. They just do. Then things happen, and then they make another adjustment and another adjustment. Even if we gave up two runs there and we lose the game and we’re sitting here and we’re all dejected, the rule is put in place for the right reason, to get it right. I don’t know if they got it right. I’m assuming they did. There’s a lot of people that have better vision than I,” Murphy said.
Jacob Misiorowski
Jacob Misiorowski discussed how he felt in the high-energy environment of American Family Field, specifically noting the adrenaline of the moment and his fastball-heavy diet early.
“[The atmosphere was] electric. The fans were — it was crazy. It’s everything I dreamed of. It’s really cool that we got to do it here in Milwaukee. It’s been awesome to feel the city and feel just the atmosphere they’ve been creating. It’s been amazing,” Misiorowski said. “The adrenaline kind of took over, and I tensed up and threw it hard. Then I settled down, and that was the game plan to settle in and do me. Don’t try and overdo it. I think that’s also a part of what I’ve been doing this postseason not trying to overdo stuff and understand I have a whole defense behind me to help me out.”
After pitching just 78 pitches and being pulled after five frames, Miz was asked if he felt like he had more in the tank. Being the gamer that he is, he said that he would “want to throw 130 [pitches].”
“I’ll keep going. It’s the World Series. I’ve got more rest to come,” Misiorowski said. “No, the situation we had looked better going to the pen and turning it over that way. You have to trust the staff and understand that they’re making a decision for later in the game.”
Jackson Chourio & William Contreras
Jackson Chourio and William Contreras, two of the Brewers’ biggest stars, did a joint presser after the game, where they were also asked about the environment and their performance on the field, especially Contreras’ in-game management of his pitchers.
“That was something for me that this year I definitely took it a little bit more personal and upon myself to make a point of that and to go out there and talk maybe a little bit more stern to the pitchers,” Contreras said. “It’s kind of my way of giving them some confidence and giving them a boost, the lift they need whenever they’re out there on the mound. I’m not sure how some of the guys take it, but that was something for me that was a priority of mine coming into this year and something that I made the adjustment on.”
When asked about Murphy’s faith in him, Contreras explained that he expects to play everyday, even if that’s unconventional for a catcher.
“I think Murphy’s always been someone that’s very special to me. I think in a lot of ways we share some similar personality traits. We want to win, and I think any time Murphy’s had to say something to me, he’s been very honest with me, and he’s told me directly to my face. That’s something I appreciate, and I think that’s something we share in common,” Contreras said. “I think when it comes to playing every day, that’s something I’m always going to prepare to do. That’s always a goal of mine. Why I work so hard in the offseason is to — if I feel good, if I feel ready to play, I’m going to expect to be in there.”
Chourio spoke about the build-up to the World Series after the weeklong layoff, also mentioning how it compared to the World Baseball Classic, which Chourio and Contreras won with Venezuela earlier this year.
“Honestly I think in these games today, there’s a little bit less pressure, it felt like, compared to maybe the World Baseball Classic. Some of the pressure was removed maybe in some of the earlier rounds of the playoffs, and I felt a little bit more free just to go out there and play my game,” Chourio said. “I think on my end, for me it’s always been a little bit of a question of more anxious feelings than pressure. I think I’ve always seen it in that light. Yeah, I think with these series and with the days off in between, I think there was some anxiousness for the games to begin and ready for the games to begin and get them — we know that these are the last games of the season here.“
Kevin Cash
While Rays manager Kevin Cash mostly spoke about his team in the postgame press conference, he did get asked about Contreras catching two baserunners after the Rays were previously perfect in stolen base attempts this postseason.
“Look, [Contreras is] a very talented player on both sides of the ball. We knew that coming in. Not surprised by anything that he did, but that’s not going to change our aggressive approach, certainly on the bases,” Cash said.
Cash also talked about the difficulties of facing Misiorowski and the Brewers bullpen.
“Look, he’s so talented. He’s such a special pitcher. I felt like for him to be out of the game at five innings, there’s a small win in that,” Cash said. “The problem is when you knock him out of the game, you’ve got just an elite bullpen that can match up and come in the ballgame like they did and kept us quiet there between Uribe, Ashby, and at the end with Megill.“
AUSTIN, TX - OCTOBER 23: Amen Thompson #1 of the Houston Rockets make the game-winning block against Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs during the game on October 23, 2026 at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas. 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 (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Coming off a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder to start the season, the Spurs traveled to the Moody Center in Austin to host the I-35 Series against the Houston Rockets. Both teams traded fast and furious buckets in the first quarter, with the Rockets taking a five-point lead into the second. The Spurs trailed by as much as 11, but managed to claw their way back before halftime and cut the deficit to two thanks to a Fred VanVleet buzzer-beating three. The third quarter was tough and gritty, as both teams struggled from the field but managed to get to the free-throw line.
The bottom line: the Rockets controlled most of the contest until just over six minutes left in the fourth. The Rockets’ fourth-quarter offense mostly consisted of spamming Alperen Sengun in the post, and the Spurs could not stop it. The Spurs fell behind by five late, but put together a few clutch stops and buckets to get within one possession. With five seconds left, Victor Wembanyama caught the ball in the post and put up a layup, only for Amen Thompson to immediately block it. The Spurs ultimately lost heartbreakingly, 114-110.
Victor Wembanyama bounced back offensively after his worst shooting performance of his career against OKC (1-13 FG). He dropped another double-double: 25 points and 13 rebounds, along with two blocks and two assists. Vic played with more confidence and was not afraid to let it fly. However, he was late on multiple defensive rotations and was beaten on backdoor cuts too frequently for the reigning Defensive Player of the Year. After the game, he was asked if he would have done anything differently on the layup attempt to end the game. He simply said, “I would have dunked the ball.” Knowing Wemby, he’ll take that Thompson block personally the next time they match up in late January.
Wemby dropped a highlight reel of mostly dunks throughout the game. For the Spurs’ first points of the game, he skies in from outer space to clean up the mess.
The return of Area 51 had the Moody Center in a frenzy. Stephon Castle dropped 15 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and a steal. A couple of his dimes came on lobs like these to the Alien.
De’Aaron Fox had another solid game with 19 points, nine assists, and two steals. He’ll look to clean up his turnover problem in Dallas, but first he’ll lob this dime to a cutting Wemby for the alley-oop.
Dylan Harper dropped 20 points, three rebounds, and two assists in his second straight start to the season. Late in the game, he took over and brought the Spurs within two on this fast-break poster on Sengun.
Tennessee guard Dalton Knecht (3) reacts after hitting a three-point shot during an NCAA college basketball game between Tennessee and Kentucky in Knoxville, Tenn., Saturday, March 9, 2024. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co
Dalton Knecht’s frustrating time with the Los Angeles Lakers has come to an end. The team waived Knecht earlier this week, finally freeing the former Tennessee Volunteer to explore better opportunities. On Friday, he found one with the defending NBA champions.
Knecht signed a two-way contract with the New York Knicks, according to multiple reports. The two-way deal will allow Knecht to go back and forth from the Knicks to the team’s G-League affiliate.
Former Lakers forward Dalton Knecht has agreed to sign with the New York Knicks on a two-way NBA contract, his agents at Excel Sports Management tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/1gePugMy3Z
Knecht averaged 7.1 points per game during his time with the Lakers, appearing in 132 games. He made 16 starts during his rookie season, where he averaged over nine points per game. Knecht shot 36.8 percent from three point range during his two seasons. Somewhere along the way, Knecht fell out of favor with the Lakers and struggled to find the floor.
The Lakers had a trade in place to move Knecht to Charlotte, but the deal fell through after center Mark Williams failed his physical. Los Angeles ended up waiving Knecht 20 months later.
At Tennessee, Knecht put up one of the most prolific offensive seasons we’ve ever seen. The fifth-year senior transferred in from Northern Colorado and averaged 21.7 points per game while shooting over 39 percent from three-point range. Knecht took over several games for Tennessee down the stretch, helping push the Volunteers to another Elite Eight appearance.
Knecht now lands in New York, where he’ll wear No. 99 for the Knicks. We’ll see if he can find new life, now finally with a fresh start.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 23: A general view inside the stadium prior to game one of the 2026 World Series between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on October 23, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) | Getty Images
If you’re hoping that the league and the Players Association might extend their current agreement to avoid an impending lockout, don’t hold your breath.
Vegas Golden Knights- 8-4-0 - 16 Points - Lost 2 - 2nd in the Pacific
Columbus Blue Jackets - 3-5-0 - 6 Points - Lost 2 - 8th in the Metro
Team Notes Per CBJ PR
Teams have split the season series in five out of the eight seasonal matchups since the 2017-18 campaign (DNP in 2020-21).
Kent Johnson scored in three straight games from Oct. 10-17 (3-0-3), tying his single-season career-long (3-0-3 from Oct. 22-25, 2022). He leads the team in goals, while also ranking third in shots on goal (20) and fourth in points with 4-1-5 in eight games. During the 2025-26campaign, he had not scored his fourth goal of the season until Jan. 8, 2026 (42nd game).
Cole Sillinger, ranks second-T on the team in points (3-3-6 in 8 GP), had his three- game point streak snapped on Oct. 17 after scoring in each of his previous two games and posting his first multi-assist outing of the season on Oct. 9 vs. Pittsburgh (0-2-2). He set single-season career highs in assists, points (tied), and games played in 2025-26 with 8-25-33 in 81 GP.
Player Notes Per CBJ PR
Valeri Nichushkin has posted 4-2-6 in his past 7 games against Vegas while notching 6-4-10 in 24 career matchups.
Charlie Coyle has registered 5-7-12 in 17 career games against Vegas, with 1-3-4 in his last five matchups against the club, as well as posting 2-6-8 in 10 career games when playing on home ice.
Conor Garland has tallied 7-12-19 with four multi-point performances in 28 career matchups against the Golden Knights, including assists in back-to-back games (0-2-2).
Matthew Knies has notched all career points in the form of multi- assist outings (0-2-2) in his last two games against the club (six career GP).
Cole Sillinger has collected 4-2-6 in nine career games against Vegas, with points in two of his past three contests overall (1-1-2).
Zach Werenski has 1-9-10 in 14 career GP against Vegas, including assists in seven of his past eight matchups overall (0-8-8). He has tallied 1-3-4 in seven home contests when playing at Nationwide Arena.
Blue Jackets Stats
Power Play - 8.7% - 32nd in the NHL
Penalty Kill - 67.9% - 25th in the NHL
Goals For - 19 - 32nd in the NHL
Goals Against - 29 - 11th in the NHL
Golden KnightsStats
Power Play - 25.0% - 9th in the NHL
Penalty Kill - 96.4% - 1st in the NHL
Goals For - 45 - 3rd in the NHL
Goals Against - 36 - 26th in the NHL
Series History vs. TheGolden Knights
The Blue Jackets are 7-6-1 overall, and 4-3-1 at home vs. Vegas.
Columbus went 0-2-0 in 2025-26.
The home team has recorded points in eight of the past 10 meetings (6-2-2).
Who To Watch For TheGolden Knights
Mark Stone leads the VGK with 8 goals.
Jack Eichel leads the team with 13 assist and 19 points.
Goalie Carter Hart is 4-3-0 with a SV% of .888%. His last start was on 10-20.
Adin Hill is 4-1-0 with a SV% of .882%. His last start was on 10-22.
Injured Reserve & Other Injuries
Dante Fabbro - Broken Hand - IR - 8 Games Missed - Skating and could return next week.
Isac Lundestrom - Achilles Surgery - LTIR - 8 Games Missed
Ivan Provorov - Lower Body - IR - 8 Games Missed - Lightly skating.
TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 28
How to Watch & Listen: Tonight's game will be simulcast on The Blue Jackets Hockey Network and 97.1 The Fan, with Steve Mears behind the mic doing the play-by-play.
TV: CBJHN (Spectrum HD Ch. 320/1320; IP Ch. 349; Prime Video, Fubo)
Next Up For Columbus: The CBJ take on the Vegas Golden Knights tonight at 7:00 PM.
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