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Detroit Tigers News: MLB proposes shortened regular season, Kevin McGonigle wins another award

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - SEPTEMBER 27, 2026: Kevin McGonigle #7 of the Detroit Tigers celebrates with teammates as he exits the game during the eighth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Comerica Park on September 27, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by George Kubas/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images

The preparation continues for this impending misery of an offseason. MLB and the players union have already been lobbing proposals at each other for months, and this will no doubt continue as either side tries to position itself and lobby the fanbase in advance of the next collective bargaining agreement negotiations this winter. MLB came back with a new round of ideas on Thursday, and the reception was tepid.

Kevin McGonigle’s march to the AL Rookie of the Year award continued as Baseball America named the Tigers’ infielder their 2026 Rookie of the Year. Their prospect tools review of the 2026 draft also had some Tigers mentioned.

Both league championship series are taking shape, and so we’ll also link you to some playoff previews as the Dodgers and Brewers prepare for an epic showdown, while the Rays await the winner of the White Sox-Guardians series. The Guardians looked cooked early in Game 4 until Jose Ramirez finally provided some of his old spark, and his teammates took it to the White Sox’s bullpen to force a decisive Game 5.

Let’s get into it.

Detroit Tigers News

  • Kevin McGonigle is Baseball America’s overall Rookie of the Year for 2026. The article points to the fact that McGonigle is so good at everything, rather than having one obvious strength, as the reason he’s already thriving at the major league level.
  • They also link of list of players 21 and under this season who accumulated at least 1 WAR per Baseball Reference. That is a record number of players that age putting up that kind of value.

7.1: Kevin McGonigle, SS, Tigers

3.1: AJ Ewing, CF, Mets

2.1: Bryce Eldridge, 1B, Giants

2.1: Konnor Griffin, SS, Pirates

1.7: Cooper Pratt, SS, Brewers

1.6: Samuel Basallo, C, Orioles

1.2:Max Clark, CF, Tigers

1.2: Luis Lara, CF, Brewers

1.1: George Lombard Jr., SS, Yankees

  • Cody Stavenhagen of the Athletic reports that the Tigers have fired Head Athletic Trainer Ryan Eubanks, as well as Assistant Athletic Trainer Chris MacDonald. The incredible number of soft tissue, non-contact injuries suffered by the Tigers this season no doubt played a role. The Tigers have already parted ways with long-time assistant pitching coach Juan Nieves, as well as first base coach Anthony Sanders. After the way this season went there are probably more changes coming. I’ll not again that the Tigers still don’t have a director of pitching in the minor leagues almost a year after Gabe Ribas left to join the Colorado Rockies coaching staff.
  • Rogelio Castillo, writing for Tigers Roundtable, considers the case of Colt Keith, who continues to be a modestly above average run producer, but still doesn’t have a defensive home.
  • Baseball America did its annual look at best tools from each team’s new draft class. As you’d expect, first rounder Cameron Flukey gets the highest marks for his fastball, which is among the best in the whole draft class, as well as his pair of breaking balls. They also mention second rounder Tyson LeBlanc’s breakout with the bat this season, calling his the best hit tool in the Tigers’ draft class, while fourth rounder Dominic Pellegrin gets high marks for his speed and defensive ability. In terms of secondary pitches, Flukey’s breaking stuff draws high marks, but Florida Gulf Coast RHP Evan Dempsey (2s) also has multiple high-quality breaking balls and advanced spin capacity overall. Another option here is the screwball-like changeup that Louisiana Tech RHP Declan Dahl (5) parachutes over the plate.
  • Jason Beck for MLB.com wrote about Framber Valdez’s first season as a Tiger, pointing to comments from AJ Hinch as to how the Tigers are trying to help him avoid the early game ambushes that marred numerous starts this year.

MLB News

  • The big leaguewide news on Thursday was a new set of proposals from MLB to the players’ union regarding the new CBA. Those proposals include cutting the season to 154 games, planning a regular day off per week for teams as a result, while using that off day to showcase one game featuring two top teams on a national broadcast. The minor leagues and the NPB already both have Monday off for the whole league outside of special exceptions. MLB also floated the idea that top seeds in the postseason should get to pick their opponent, as well as expanding the divisional round to best-of-seven formats. Simply put, they want more lucrative postseason baseball to broadcast, and cutting back regular season games allows them to trim some player payroll as well.
  • MLB also sent a memo to teams on lockout procedures that was quickly leaked, and while it’s all standard, it is also amusingly petty stuff, for legal reasons.
  • Ben Whitelaw looks at the Tampa Bay Rays increased offspeed pitch usage as the club’s next evolution. The Tigers are working in this direction as well, ranking 10th in offspeed pitch usage this season, while the Rays were first.
  • Aaron Judge wants the Yankees front office to keep Aaron Boone and go “all in” to win next season. I don’t know, maybe having their best player on the field in the postseason would do the trick.
  • RotoGraphs looks at five hitters who broke out in 2026 to see if they can be trusted next year.
  • The Orioles are firing people left and right already this offseason, including the mascot!
  • Adam Zimmer at Brew Crew Ball breaks down how Pat Murphy used the Brewers’ bullpen to take down the Padres.
  • Demetrius Bell considers where the Atlanta Braves go from here after their defeat by the Dodgers for Battery Power.
  • Michael Baumann, writing for FanGraphs, extolls the postseason brilliance of Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Enrique Hernandez for the Dodgers.
  • Lance Brodzowski looks for 2027 breakout hitters.

Finally, Manny Machado was robbed of a potential game-tying home run in Game 4 of their NLDS series against the Brewers. It was extremely reminiscent of another time Machado was robbed in right center field at Petco Park. That’s tough work from your home stadium, but those low walls do create opportunities for exciting robberies. And hey, at least there’s no roofs involved…

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Darko Rajakovic on Kawhi Leonard, Scottie Barnes and the Raptors’ championship ambitions

(Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) | Getty Images

There is a common narrative that European coaches struggle in the NBA because of their demanding and emotional approach. That it is one of the biggest things holding them back because they want to put themselves at the center of attention, while the NBA is ultimately a players’ league. They are often viewed as too tactically focused and not focused enough on catering to the people who are under the brightest spotlight – the superstars who have done the most to make the game a global phenomenon.

One coach who has managed to bridge the gap between the European and American approaches, preserving the essence of both and doing so successfully, is Darko Rajakovic. Highlights of his emotional exchanges with referees often make the rounds, but so do his moments with the media, such as when he called Scottie Barnes a future face of the league after what he described at the time as Barnes being treated unfairly.

At the same time, Rajakovic is widely regarded around the league as a player’s coach, someone who knows how to connect with stars. Russell Westbrook is perhaps the best example back when both were in Oklahoma City. And since becoming the head coach of the Toronto Raptors, Rajakovic has shown that he can successfully balance those two sides of coaching — perhaps his greatest strength.

However, the upcoming season will put him to a much bigger test and bring a different kind of pressure than he has faced previously. The reason is clear: the arrival of Kawhi Leonard has shifted the Raptors’ trajectory more firmly toward championship aspirations. FanDuel has Toronto with the sixth-lowest championship odds entering the 2026-27 NBA season.

“We entered the rebuilding process two years ago, and in a relatively short period of time, we managed to make significant progress. The core of the team was made up of young players we drafted and developed within our system, and with a few additions from outside, we took another step last season, going from 30 wins to 46,” Rajakovic told SB Nation, explaining how this team was built.

Along with all of those qualities, the Serbian coach is also known for his ability to develop young talent. Barnes is gradually approaching his full potential, while Collin Murray-Boyles has already begun showing that he can be a very valuable addition.

“That progress came through building our culture, developing different habits and establishing the style of play we wanted. So we give a lot of credit to our young players, who took a big step forward last season. Our ambitions are now as high as they can be. We want to get the Toronto Raptors to a point where we can compete for championships, compete against the best teams in the league and try to achieve the best possible results. Everything we do is geared toward that.

“That’s why we made the decision to make an important trade and bring in Kawhi Leonard. He’s a proven NBA champion who has already won a championship here, and that brings another level of seriousness and quality to our team. The ambitions remain as high as ever — to raise our level from game to game, compete with the best and see where that takes us. We expect this to be a good season for us.”

Rajakovic also had a demanding summer. The Raptors emerged as a potential destination for Leonard before the situation became entangled in an investigation. That complicated Toronto’s preparations for the season, but ultimately, everything ended the way the organization had hoped.

“We focused on what we could control. We did a great job with our young players, who worked extremely hard throughout the summer. We had certain expectations and wanted everything to work out in the best possible way for us and for Kawhi to come. Unfortunately, that process took 76 days before he finally arrived. It disrupted our plans a little bit when it came to integrating him with the team and having him around his teammates more during the summer. But it is what it is. Training camp has started, and we’re going to make the most of this time to prepare for the season,” Rajakovic said.

Many have compared Leonard and Barnes. Both can defend multiple positions, neither is a natural-born scorer, and both have built up their offensive games through hard work. They appear to complement each other well, while also sharing several similarities in their games.

“Kawhi’s arrival is going to have a really positive impact on Barnes, on the team in general, and on RJ Barrett, Quickley and all of our young players. We’re a very young team. Kawhi is 35 years old, he has a tremendous amount of experience, and I think all of our players have a great deal of respect for him and everything he has accomplished.

“He has matured a lot, both as a person and as a player. He’s going to bring a great presence to the locker room, be a good leader and be able to help our players individually, but also our coaching staff and the team as a whole. If we didn’t believe that, we wouldn’t have brought him in. He’s going to have a really positive impact on our entire team, bringing a new level of seriousness and accountability. All of our players can benefit tremendously from having him here and from growing alongside him.”

Early in his NBA career, Rajakovic was a scout for the San Antonio Spurs and was in attendance at the 2011 NBA Draft, when Leonard was selected 15th overall by the Texas franchise. He has therefore been familiar with Leonard’s abilities from the very beginning of his career.

“Kawhi is a generational talent, a player who has left his mark on the NBA over the past 15 years. When he’s healthy and on the floor, he makes an enormous difference. I’m glad he came back home. The Toronto Raptors are his team and his home. We hope he plays here and finishes his career with this team, that one day his jersey will be retired and hanging in the rafters of our arena. He’s a player who has accomplished so much individually, and he also helped both the Toronto Raptors and the San Antonio Spurs win championships.”

The Raptors will have a difficult path toward their ultimate goal. The Eastern Conference appears deeper than it has been in a long time, especially following LeBron James’ arrival in Philadelphia and several other major moves around the conference, as Rajakovic discussed.

“The NBA has never been stronger. There’s a group of veterans led by LeBron James who are incredibly good players and can make a huge difference, while at the same time, there are a lot of young players bringing tremendous quality, and many of them are capable of playing at a high level from the moment they enter the NBA. So I think the level of talent across the entire league is extremely high. The Eastern Conference is incredibly strong with the trades and players coming over from the Western Conference. 

The Knicks won the championship last season, Philadelphia is very powerful, Boston has a great team, Detroit, Cleveland, us, Atlanta got better, Orlando got better… Miami with Giannis is there, too – I don’t want to forget anyone. There’s a group of young teams that are extremely talented – Chicago, Washington, Charlotte… The competition is fantastic, and this season is going to be one where nobody is going to tank, nobody is going to intentionally lose games. So it’s going to be an extremely competitive season, and I’m very excited about all of it. I can’t wait for the season to start,” Rajakovic told SB Nation.

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Watch highlights of Sixers new starting lineup, LeBron James’ preseason debut and more vs. Nets

BROOKLYN, NY - OCTOBER 8: Tyrese Maxey #0 and LeBron James #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers talk during the game against the Brooklyn Nets on October 8, 2026 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Philadelphia 76ers headed north on Thursday night to continue their preseason campaign with a matchup against the Brooklyn Nets.

The most exciting part is that it served as a first real glimpse of the new Sixers’ Big 5 — LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe — starting a game together. Of course, it’s preseason, so while not exactly a true representation of what we might see later this month when the regular campaign begins, it’s the closest thing to the real deal that we’ve gotten so far! The starting five had two first-half stints on the floor all together against the Nets, providing a look at how the offense may be run and the type of ball movement they’re aiming form together.

So, let’s see what the next era of Sixers basketball looked like on Thursday night. We’ll also take a specific look at LeBron in his preseason debut for Philadelphia after he missed their opening contest the other night. Plus, catch up with the entire squad with a full game highlight reel.

Let’s get into it.

The new Sixers’ Big 5

This is what we’ve been waiting for! Well, kind of. Of course, it’s just preseason, but this was our first chance to see the new starting five of the Sixers all together. Thursday night provided a bit of insight into the pace of play this lineup seems to be looking for, the progression of their offense, off-ball movements and more.

A couple of things I noted in real time watching the game: the clear desire to get out in transition as often as they can, combining the speed of players like Edgecombe or Maxey with the excellent passing and awareness of someone like LeBron; Maxey and Edgecombe looking perfectly comfortable getting open off the ball with LeBron finding them for assists; and how often young teams like the Nets are going to have to resort to fouling when faced with trying to stop Brown, Embiid and LeBron under the rim.

There’s still a lot of work to do — especially on the defensive end and with overall sloppiness — to get this five all in better sync with each other, but they certainly seem to be on the right track so far.

LeBron James makes his preseason debut for the Sixers

The King made his Sixers preseason debut on Thursday after missing their opener on Monday. Biggest theme that stood out to me was that James immediately went to work diming up everyone he could, whenever he could. He was clearly not focused on forcing shots up himself, scoring 10 points on just 1-for-1 field goal shooting, notching the rest of his scores at the line. James instead seemed laser-focused on racking up assists for his teammates, more often than not finding them in stride of their cuts right to the rim. I think players like Edgecombe, Maxey and even Jabari Walker are going to find a ton of opportunities to flourish as off-ball scorers with James around.

Of course, that’s just one thing that James did right, too. He had a few good high-effort plays, drew some fouls and shot well from the line. Seems like this guy is pretty good at basketball, huh?

Game highlight reel

Catch up on the entire contest, from the stars tipping off down to the final whistle, with the game highlight reel below!

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The Suns are giving Ryan Dunn another chance to prove himself

DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 5: Ryan Dunn #0 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball during the game against the Detroit Pistons during a preseason game on October 5, 2026 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Preseason rotations can offer insight into how a coaching staff plans to construct its rotations once the regular season begins. They can also serve as an evaluation tool, giving us chances to see what individual players can offer, whether their offseason development translates to the court, and how those performances might shape decisions as the season approaches.

One interesting wrinkle we’ve seen through the first two preseason games is that Ryan Dunn has gotten the nod over Rasheer Fleming in the first wave of substitutions. With 3:41 remaining in the first quarter against the Pistons on Monday, Dunn entered the game for Dillon Brooks. The same pattern followed against the Bulls on Wednesday, when Dunn checked in with 3:46 remaining in the first.

So the question becomes whether this is something head coach Jordan Ott is simply experimenting with early in the preseason or a precursor to what we’ll ultimately see when the regular season begins on October 23 against the Portland Trail Blazers.

I think it makes sense. And that’s coming from somebody who’s a card-carrying member of the Rasheer Fleming fan club. While I certainly want to see Fleming receive opportunities this season, I believe the responsible approach is to give your third-year wing, a player whose fourth-year option you recently picked up, an opportunity to demonstrate whether meaningful development is occurring.

Because when you look at Ryan Dunn’s performance last season, he didn’t necessarily regress. He plateaued. His first and second seasons were remarkably similar, especially when you begin digging into the statistical analysis. The production was largely the same, and the developmental leap you hoped to see never really materialized.

That free throw percentage. Oof.

The question now is whether Year 3 will be when that potential growth finally materializes. And the only way you’re going to determine whether Dunn carries value moving forward is by giving him opportunities and putting him in the best position to succeed. That position? Coming off the bench with the second unit, a group fortified by the three-point shooting of Collin Gillespie and Luke Kennard.

Because ultimately, that’s where Dunn is going to earn his paycheck. His ability to be an effective defensive player alongside shooters who can generate offense while he’s on the floor is what makes him valuable. And if he starts knocking down three-pointers? Jordan Ott begins looking like a genius, and the front office and player development staff can start patting each other on the back. Because if Dunn can become a legitimate three-and-D player, he’ll earn rotational minutes this season and potentially for years to come.

Through the first two preseason games, we’ve seen the instinctive defensive abilities Dunn showcased at the University of Virginia, the same instincts that have earned him opportunities early in his NBA career. Playing alongside Jordan Goodwin, the two have created havoc for opposing offensive players, bringing an impressive level of energy and disruption to the second unit.

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As for the three-point shooting? He’s still not there, going 0-of-3 through the first two games.

I expect Dunn to continue receiving these opportunities when the regular season begins, even if we see less of him as the preseason progresses and the coaching staff gives Fleming more opportunities to showcase his abilities.

Ultimately, it will be on Dunn to earn the right to remain in that rotation. Because if he falters, Fleming is waiting right behind him, eager to take advantage of whatever opportunity becomes available. That’s a good luxury to have if you’re the Phoenix Suns. But it’s only a luxury if those players can actually produce.

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Roundtable: The gang makes some season predictions (Part II)

LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 23: (L-R) Actors Glenn Howerton, Kaitlin Olson, Rob McElhenney and Danny DeVito act during a dance scene on the set of "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia" on May 23, 2007 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Yesterday, you read Part I of our first Roundtable for the year, where we talked shop: Bucks record, offensive and defensive ratings, team MVP, and who will make the biggest leap. You know, the more typical season predictions. Part II similarly predicts what’s ahead—but gets a little bolder. Enjoy!

Who (or what) will be the biggest surprise—for better or worse?

Jack: If my “Rollins will put himself in All-Star consideration” answer doesn’t qualify, I will say that Myles Turner has a career-best season. I feel like Turner’s role last year was really suboptimal. He was basically asked to stand out on the three-point line while GA drove to the rim, and then, in the few opportunities he actually got the ball, he was expected to make shots. Doesn’t work that way. You need guys to feel like they’re involved in the game—I think MT will get that this year.

Jackson: I think Myles Turner is due for a resurgence this season. Anyone who followed my articles or ramblings on the podcast know that I was hammering the table for Turner to be used more as a floor spacer on offense and more than just a drop coverage guy on defense in the pick-and-roll. I think he has so much more to offer, and I think he’ll trend back to being an underrated player in the NBA, rather than a potentially overpaid one.

Zac: Nate Ament’s arrival. Folks were largely down on Ament when the Bucks drafted him—even before they drafted him, really—and since then it’s almost become widely accepted as fact that he’ll play most of his basketball this season with the Wisconsin Herd and will be largely ineffective against the big boys in the NBA. Call me overly optimistic, but I see Ament being thrown into the fire—and being all the better for it. He’ll find his niche with this group as a stretch forward who can attack closeouts, earn minutes on the regular, and find a way to have the naysayers rooting for him.

Imagine the wrath of a scorned Kryptonian. That is what the NBA has to look forward to this season… Thanks goodness Superman landed in Milwaukee.

Nate

Aiden: I see the biggest surprise for this Bucks team being fan favourite AJ Green slipping out of the rotation and possibly being traded. I love AJ Green; he has been one of my favourite players over these last few years—his card is one of my favourites in my personal collection. That being said, we have a logjam at the guard position, with the departure of Giannis his skill set has become expendable, and playing him at the three just isn’t feasible. He will be an enticing player for contending teams hoping to add an elite shooter, and the Bucks will be able to get some value from him.

Nate: Kel’el Ware, for better. Imagine the wrath of a scorned Kryptonian. That is what the NBA has to look forward to this season. Ware has had his motor questioned really since college, but his freakish athleticism has never been questioned. While motor issues are nothing to write-off, at 22 years old I am of the belief there is an element to his motor issues that deal with his processing of the game and decision making. That has shown signs of steady improvement each year he has been on our radar throughout college and his two seasons in the association, and this year will be his breakout year. I got the sense at media day he was very ready to start a new chapter, and I think that Jenkins will know exactly how to maximize his strengths. Thanks goodness Superman landed in Milwaukee.

Dax: Jaime Jaquez Jr. will surprise fans this year with his likability. While he may not “wow” in any specific statistical category, he’s a Swiss Army knife and one of the best at that—he took second in 6MOY voting last year. Though he can’t be the Mayor of Milwaukee, he can be Budget Bob. Not to mention, his flow goes crazy.

Jon Horst pulls off another trade deadline move. What is it? (Format as a Shams tweet)

MILWAUKEE, WI – JANUARY 24: General Manager Jon Horst of the Milwaukee Bucks talks to the media before the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on January 24, 2024 at the Fiserv Forum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 2024 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images). | NBAE via Getty Images
BROOKLYN, NY – JUNE 25: Shams Charania looks on during the 2025 NBA Draft – Round One on June 25, 2025 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. 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 Evan Yu/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Jack: BREAKING: The Milwaukee Bucks are trading Myles Turner to the Toronto Raptors for Jakob Poeltl and a 2028 first-round pick, sources tell ESPN.

Jackson: BREAKING: The Milwaukee Bucks are trading Tyler Herro to the Dallas Mavericks for Max Christie, Zacchaire Risacher, a 2028 first round pick via the Oklahoma City Thunder and a 2029 second round pick via the Houston Rockets.

Zac: BREAKING: The Milwaukee Bucks are Trading Myles Turner to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for Jakob Poetl and a first round pick, sources tell ESPN. Turner’s agent, Austin Brown of CAA Sports, and Poeltl’s agents, Michael Tellem and Sam Goldfeder of Excel Sports Management, were pivotal to the deal going through.

Aiden: BREAKING: The Milwaukee Bucks are trading AJ Green to the Denver Nuggets for Zeke Naji, Julian Strawther, and two second-round picks.

Nate: BREAKING: The Detroit Pistons are finalizing a deal to send Jalen Duren to the Milwaukee Bucks for Myles Turner, Kevin Porter Jr., and the 2031 Miami Heat unprotected first round pick. Duren agreed to a four year, $172 million dollar deal with a player option on year 4. (This might age like milk in 12 hours).

Editor’s note: It did.

Dax: The New Orleans Pelicans are trading Zion Williamson to the Milwaukee Bucks for Myles Turner, Kevin Porter Jr., Pete Nance, and Miami’s 2031 first-round pick.

Stephen A. Smith calls you up as a guest panelist on First Take. What’s your hot take for the season ahead?

Jack:

Jackson: Brayden Burries wins ROY over the top three draft picks of the 2026 class.

Zac: The Clippers, Nets, Kings, Hawks, and Mavs aren’t the only ones Brayden Burries is going to make look stupid for letting him slip to 10. I don’t give a damn! AJ Dybantsa, Darren Peterson, Cam Boozer, and Caleb Wilson better be All-Stars, ’cause Burries is comin’.

Aiden: My GOAT, LeBron James, will lead this 76ers squad to a championship this season, securing his fifth ring.

Nate: Stephen A: If the Charlotte Hornets don’t give Brandon Miller a rookie-scale max extension it will be a travesty after the breakout year he is having.

Dax: The 2026-27 Milwaukee Bucks will be more fun than the 2018-19 Brooklyn Nets.

We’ve garnered the community’s perspective of this—and Camille Davis’ too—so finish this sentence:

I will judge this season a success if…

Jack: there is an easily identifiable direction with the team and franchise.

Jackson: the rookies look pretty good and the pieces the Bucks got from Miami pan out in some degree.

Zac: the Bucks are fun to watch again.

Aiden: the Bucks surpass the 20-win mark, and if Brayden Burries makes an NBA All-Rookie Team.

Nate: the Bucks exit the season with a discernible identity.

Dax: the Bucks beat the Heat on national television.

That’s a wrap on our preseason Roundtable, folks. We’ll reconvene like King Arthur’s men again in December for an early-season identity check. In the meantime, join the table by sharing your answers in the comments.

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MLB News Outside The Confines: The Rays are spreading the news

Good morning.

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Jaiden Lo Re and DJ Layton made some noise in their first professional season

Jaiden Lo Re of the Delmarva Shorebirds hits the ball during a Minor League Baseball game at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium in Salisbury, United States, on August 2, 2026. (Photo by Dan Squicciarini/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images

The Orioles haven’t made a lot of noise outside the early rounds of the draft under Mike Elias. Of the Elias draftees currently on the 40-man roster, only Coby Mayo was drafted outside the top 100 picks of a draft (Mayo was pick 103 in the 4th round in 2020). However, with fast-rising prospects Jaiden Lo Re and DJ Layton, Elias may have found some mid-round picks that could turn into future major leaguers.

Lo Re was one of the true breakout players throughout the organization. The high school SS out of Scottsdale, AZ wasn’t one of MLB.com’s top 200 prospects for the 2025 draft, but caught the eye of Elias and his scouting department. Baltimore took the now 19-year-old with the 154th pick in the 2025 draft and signed him for an above-slot-value $562,500 to lure him away from a BYU commitment.

Despite being drafted in July of 2025, the 5’11”, switch-hitting infielder didn’t make his minor league debut until the start of the 2026 season. The Orioles chose to start him off in rookie ball, as he made his pro debut in early May. Lo Re only lasted 20 games in the Florida Complex League, however, thanks to his red-hot start to the year. In 65 ABs at rookie ball, Lo Re slashed .354/.421/.462 while walking 9 times against 6 Ks and adding 7 stolen bases.

That impressive showing earned Lo Re a step up to Low-A Delmarva at the beginning of June. In his first month with the Shorebirds, the infielder continued to be an on-base machine. In his first 20 games with Delmarva, Lo Re hit .333 with a .471 OBP, as he collected 23 hits and walked 18 times against just 8 strikeouts. July in Salisbury saw the 19-year-old cool off just a little, as he only slashed .299/.377/.433, but did start a 12-game hitting streak.

He started to show a little more pop in August, launching 6 doubles and a triple while hitting .343 and posting a .926 OPS. That final hot stretch for the Shorebirds earned Lo Re a late-season promotion to High-A Frederick. In his first seven games with the Keys, the teenager definitely showed signs of going through an adjustment. In his first 19 ABs for Frederick, Lo Re hit only .158 with a .638 OPS. However, he turned it around to end the year, slashing .387/.406/.484 across his last 7 games of the year to truly establish himself at High-A.

The former 5th-round pick also went from high school infielder to professional utility man in his first season as a professional. Split across the three levels he played at in 2026, Lo Re logged 100+ innings at 2B, SS, 3B and CF. One professional season in A-ball is far from enough to know if he’ll make it to Baltimore one day. But early returns on the Arizona native paint a picture of a Blaze Alexander-like player.

Charting a similar path in 2026 was fellow utility man DJ Layton. The 20-year-old came to the Orioles’ organization as a 6th-round pick (189th overall) in the 2024 draft. He was another high school SS whom the O’s paid over slot value for, giving out a $715,800 bonus to get Layton to forgo his Southern Miss commitment. The 2025 season saw little to write home about for Layton, who hit .183 with a .597 OPS in 40 games in rookie ball.

Despite that inauspicious start to his professional career, the Orioles promoted Layton to Delmarva to begin the 2026 season. Early on, that move paid off for Layton and the Shorebirds. Through his first 22 games with Delmarva, Layton hit .284 with a .896 OPS while walking 20 times and stealing 8 bags.

The 20-year-old’s performance dipped in May, with his average dropping to .250 and OPS dipping to .765. Those struggles continued into June, with his average dipping further down to .214, his power nearly non-existent with a .343 slugging percentage and a still declining OPS at .732.

Layton began to turn it around as the calendar turned to July, eventually earning a promotion to Frederick at the beginning of August. Over his last 30 games with the Shorebirds, his average ticked up to .242 while posting an elite .390 on-base percentage. When the switch-hitting utility man was promoted to Frederick on August 11th, he signed off on a Low-A career that saw him slash .247/.396/.389 with 73 walks and 32 stolen bases.

The North Carolina native opened up his High-A account with a 3-for-4 night that included his first Keys home run. He’d settle back to being much the same hitter he was at Low-A after that. Over 25 games with Frederick, Layton slashed .238/.390/.393 while walking 21 times and stealing 13 bases.

At this point, Layton is more projection than production. He’s a high-level athlete with 65-grade speed and a 60-grade arm. Eventually, that may turn into more over-the-fence production, but that’s yet to show up. In 117 games across the two levels of A-ball, he only hit 8 homers while collecting 25 doubles.

What he does extremely well already is get on base and create havoc on the base paths. He walked 92 times in 489 PAs, an 18.8% walk rate that would’ve led the majors by almost two whole percentage points. His 45 stolen bases were also one more than 80-grade speedster Enrique Bradfield Jr. His athleticism should also allow him to stick at a premium position long term, with Layton playing 500+ innings at SS in 2026 while also seeing significant time in CF and at 2B.

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Columbus Blue Jackets (2 pts) vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (4 pts) Game Preview

The Columbus Blue Jackets are back at home tonight after a 5-day break to play the Pittsburgh Penguins at Nationwide Arena. 

Pittsburgh Penguins - 2-2-0 - 4 Points - Lost 2 - 4th in the Metro 

Columbus Blue Jackets - 1-1-0 - 2 Points - Lost 1 - 5th in the Metro

Team Notes Per CBJ PR

  • The Blue Jackets have played a league-low 2 games so far this season, and haven't played since October 3rd. 
  • This is the first of two back-to-backs this month as they travel to St. Louis on Saturday. 

Player Notes Per CBJ PR

  • Charlie Coyle has tallied 7-15-22 with four multi-point efforts in 38 career GP against Pittsburgh and has points in seven of his last nine games (3-5-8).
  • Conor Garland has picked up 3-4-7 in 13 career matchups vs. Pittsburgh with points in three of his past four matchups (1-2-3).
  • Sean Monahan has collected 6-9-15 in 27 career games against the Penguins, with points in four of his last five games (1-4-5) and 3-6-9 in his last 11 overall.
  • Dmitri Voronkov has tallied 6-1-7 in 11 career contests against Pittsburgh, with all points in his last seven games.
  • Zach Werenski has earned 6-12-18 in 25 career games vs. Pittsburgh, including points in three consecutive contests (2-3-5), as well as having 4-6-10 in his last eight matchups against the Penguins.

Blue Jackets Stats 

  • Power Play - 40.0 - 2nd in the NHL
  • Penalty Kill - 66.7% - 26th in the NHL
  • Goals For - 7 - 10th in the NHL
  • Goals Against - 7 - 5th in the NHL   

Penguins Stats 

  • Power Play - 30.8% - 10th in the NHL
  • Penalty Kill - 90.0% - 6th in the NHL
  • Goals For - 18 - 3rd in the NHL
  • Goals Against - 13 - 25th in the NHL

Series History vs. ThePenguins

  • The Blue Jackets are 13-11-6 at home against Pittsburgh, and 20-30-11 all-time.
  • Columbus went 2-0-2 in 2025-26.
  • Columbus has earned points in four consecutive games against Pittsburgh (2-0-2), tying for the longest run of that kind in franchise history (2nd instance, other: 2/17/01 - 12/31/03, 2-0-2).
  • The Jackets have earned points in seven of the past eight games (5-1-2) and have earned points in nine of the last 13 contests in the overall series (6-4-3).
  • 15 of the last 17 games in the overall series have seen the winning team score 4-plus goals (including SO goals).

Who To Watch For ThePenguins

  • Tommy Novak leads the team with 5 points. 
  • Sidney Crosby has 0 goals and 2 assists. 
  • Erik Karlsson leads the Pens with 4 assists. 
  • Artūrs Šilovs is 2-1 with an .859 SV%.  

Injured Reserve & Other Injuries

  • Dante Fabbro - Broken Hand - IR - 2 Games Missed
  • Isac Lundestrom - Achilles Surgery - LTIR - 2 Games Missed
  • Ivan Provorov - Lower Body - IR - 2 Games Missed

TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 10

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 Pittsburgh Penguins tonight at 7 PM.

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Five reasons why the Yankees keep losing in October against top competition

ST. PETERSBURG, FL - OCTOBER 03: Austin Wells #28 of the New York Yankees slides into third base during Game One of the American League Division Series presented by Booking.com between the New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on Saturday, October 3, 2026 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Another year, another disappointing postseason exit for the Yankees, who were swept by the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL Division Series after another frustrating and heartbreaking defeat on Wednesday night. The Bombers haven’t won it all since 2009, and they are evidently falling behind other organizations in recent years despite their high payroll.

What’s preventing the Yankees from lifting the World Series trophy again? What’s keeping them from competing toe to toe against the very best? That’s a long, complex question, but from this particular writer’s perspective, five reasons stand out. This is not meant to be a ranking, rather a full accounting of possible causes. There’s no one cure-all; most, if not all, will need to be addressed come 2027.

Underachieving in the regular season

Since 2021, the Yankees have failed to win at least 90 games just once, when they were 82-80 in 2023 and missed the postseason. However, they have captured the division just twice out of those six seasons.

Home-field advantage is big in October, and failing to win the division means they won’t get it if they advance to the Division Series. Of course, winning on the road is a must for every top-tier contender—the 1996 Yankees famously went 8-0 on the road en route to their championship—but higher-seeded squads who additionally play most of their games at home are notoriously hard to beat, as the Yankees have repeatedly found out.

The Yankees haven’t enjoyed home-field advantage in any of the postseason series they’ve lost, dating all the way back to the beginning of this run with Aaron Judge in 2017. Houston somewhat infamously had it in the 2017, 2019, and 2022 ALCS battles; Boston had it in 2018 and 2021; Tampa Bay had it in 2020 (albeit at empty Petco) and 2026; the Dodgers had it 2024; and the Blue Jays had it in 2025. Obviously the Yankees have had issues fending off top playoff foes in their own ballpark anyway, but that’s also all after falling behind the eight-ball in a hurry in so many of those early-series games.

Failure to consistently put the ball in play

Unlike the Jays-Yankees 2025 AL Division Series, the home run output of both the Rays and the Yankees in this year’s matchup was fairly close, with Tampa Bay winning the battle 3-2. However, they struck out 18 times, and the Yankees 31. New York also lost the strikeout battle in that 2025 series vs. the Blue Jays, 37-24. Those are some lopsided totals. You can’t strike out that much and expect to win, especially if the power production isn’t there.

Yes, power is huge in the postseason. It’s almost always a deciding factor. But in instances in which pitching is so good, every detail counts. Putting the ball in play matters, too, and that’s a department in which the 2026 Yankees often failed: in the regular season, they were second in home runs, but 26th in batting average (.235) and fourth in strikeout percentage (K%, at 24.7 percent).

Lack of elite up-the-middle defense and athleticism

Junior Caminero, Jonathan Aranda, and Ryan Vilade—just to name a few—aren’t particularly good defenders (Caminero did make some strides this year). However, they are all corner guys. Up the middle, they have mostly elite defenders such as shortstop Taylor Walls, second baseman Richie Palacio, and outfielders Chandler Simpson and Jonny DeLuca.

Walls finished the 2026 campaign with 21 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) at shortstop, while Simpson had eight DRS and eight Outs Above Average (OAA) while playing mostly left field. DeLuca racked up five DRS and 13 (!) OAA in 787 innings in the outfield.

The Yanks had Trent Grisham and his -8 DRS and -6 OAA, clearly having lost much more than a step in center. Spencer Jones could be a bit of an adventure out there, too. The promising, but still inexperienced and erratic George Lombard Jr. was at shortstop. And, well, Jazz Chisholm Jr., doesn’t always make the best decisions on the field.

View Link

True contenders should have elite athletes making plays on the field and helping their pitching staff.

Flaws in player evaluation

At this point, it’s clear that the Rays have the clear edge here and make excellent use of their resources and modern approach to player analysis and evaluation. The Yankees, on the other hand, appear to be a step behind the elite and need new voices, methods, and practices. Whereas they have a good handle on their pitching apparatus with Matt Blake, James Rowson’s work since taking over the job at the start of 2024 has been a mixed bag, especially when Aaron Judge wasn’t available. No team plays at its best without its top player, but the Yankees were a bottom-10 offense from June 1st onward. Their ALDS was the worst of any offense in franchise history.

You see the difference between the two organizations in the seemingly ‘little’ things such as picking the right manager, lineup construction, defensive alignment, player development practices, coaching, and more. They are definitely not ‘little’.

Lack of fundamentals

Let’s face it: the Yankees lack fundamentals. We are not talking about playing small ball, executing sac bunts, hit-and-run, moving the runners, or things like that. We mean making the routine plays, swinging with purpose at the right pitches, laying off those outside the strike zone, running hard to first base and putting pressure on the fielders, playing defense the right (and smart) way, and exercising controlled aggressiveness on the basepaths.

Truly elite squads rarely give away outs on the basepaths, as Austin Wells did in Game 1. They don’t commit four errors in a postseason game (and even more misplays) as the Yankees did on Monday. They don’t try to force plays where they just don’t exist, or expand the strike zone so much.

View Link

For years, the Yankees have lacked fundamentals. It’s time to invest time, energy, and resources to change that.

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Prep talk: Milwaukee Brewers are filled with former Southland standouts

Former Westlake High star Christian Yelich leads the former Southland products playing for the Brewers.
Former Westlake High star Christian Yelich leads the former Southland products playing for the Brewers. (Charles Rex Arbogast / Associated Press)

If the Brewers are going to take down the heavily favored Dodgers, their group of Southland products will be key in the National League Championship Series that begins Sunday in Milwaukee.

Former Westlake star Christian Yelich is Mr. Brewer. He’s a three-time All-Star and the National League MVP in 2018. He’s always been willing to come back to the community and make contributions.

First baseman Jake Bauers is a Marina High graduate who lost in the Southern Section Division 1 championship game at Dodger Stadium to Jack Flaherty and Harvard-Westlake 1-0. Here’s a look at Bauers this season.

Former Marina first baseman Jake Bauers has 21 home runs for the Milwaukee Brewers.
Former Marina first baseman Jake Bauers has 21 home runs for the Milwaukee Brewers. (Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times)

Here’s a story from 2013 when Bauers was showing off his hitting prowess.

Closer Trevor Megill also played at Marina. Pitcher JoJo Romero went to Oxnard High.

Second baseman Brice Turang was a star at Corona Santiago. In 2015, he started his freshman season eight for 12 at the plate.

Center fielder Garrett Mitchell, who went to Orange Lutheran and UCLA, has overcome Type 1 diabetes while needing an insulin pump. Here’s a story from 2019 when he was playing for UCLA.

Infielder Joey Ortiz was a standout at Garden Grove Pacifica.

It all makes for an interesting homecoming when the Brewers come to Dodger Stadium next week.

This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.

Sign up for the L.A. Times SoCal high school sports newsletter to get scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Flyers, Still Lacking Juice, Lose 5th Straight in Michael Bunting's Debut

Although they played their best game of the season overall, the Philadelphia Flyers' best still wasn't good enough, losing 2-1 to the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre on Thursday night and dropping their fifth straight game.

Now 0-3-2, the Flyers will face the Boston Bruins in Boston on Saturday afternoon, and if they can't win that one, they will return home Sunday still winless. And on Sunday, they host Carolina... again.

The schedule isn't getting any easier for the juiceless Flyers, who were shut out at 5-on-5 for the second time already this season. In five games, the Flyers have scored just four times at 5-on-5, and the five teams tied with them (Calgary, New Jersey, Los Angeles, Anaheim, and Columbus) have all played four games or fewer.

Nick Cousins got the Senators on the board following the expiry of an Ottawa power play, deflecting a Tyler Kleven shot past Joseph Woll after beating Cam York to the front of the net. Despite the fortunate bounce, the Flyers actually out-shot the Senators 11-8 in the opening frame.

The Flyers repeated the feat in the second period, out-shooting their opponents 11-9 with Matvei Michkov tucking in a loose Trevor Zegras rebound on the power play to tie the game at 1-1.

In the third period, the Senators punched back with a 9-7 shots advantage, which is generous to the Flyers, who generated the bulk of their offense trying to tie the game in the dying few minutes.

Carter Yakemchuk scored the game-winning goal for the Senators in a dark twist of irony, as Michael Bunting, the player signed to give the Flyers a spark, took the penalty that gave the Senators their fifth power play opportunity of the night, and one they didn't squander, in his first game action of the season.

So, while the Flyers finally didn't get crushed by their opponents in the run of play, it shouldn't be celebrated as progress or a building block. That's the expectation every night for all 84 games.

That's how the Flyers got in this mess, with conversations about "compete" and complacency a week into the 2026-27 campaign.

Stats dump and line changes

Matvei Michkov is the only Flyers player with multiple goals this season, and now he's playing center on the power play, too. (Photo: Eric Hartline, Imagn Images)
Matvei Michkov is the only Flyers player with multiple goals this season, and now he's playing center on the power play, too. (Photo: Eric Hartline, Imagn Images)

I was a bit surprised to see David Jiricek move up to the second pairing next to York after his high-profile backbreaker against Tampa Bay on Monday night, but he handled the added responsibility, including time on PP1, very well.

Jiricek recorded two shots on goal and played 18:25 (third to only Travis Sanheim and Jamie Drysdale). According to Natural Stat Trick, the Flyers out-shot the Senators with Jiricek on the ice at 5-on-5 in terms of attempts, unblocked attempts, and shots on goal, though scoring chances were 6-5 in Ottawa's favor.

With York on the ice at 5-on-5, though, scoring chances were 10-3 in Ottawa's favor. The 25-year-old's uncharacteristically poor play at both ends of the ice has dragged down his defense partners early on this season.

Matvei Michkov took over as the de facto center on PP1, winning four of seven faceoffs (57.1%) in place of Trevor Zegras.

There was once a time in the not-so-distant past that the Flyers refused to have the two on the same power play, and now Michkov has wrested another job from Zegras just five games into the season.

Tyson Foerster has just two goals, his only two points, in his last 15 games, including the playoffs. He is a -8 in that span.

Porter Martone has been held off the scoresheet through his first five games this season, though it's worth noting he's averaging just 12:55 of ice time a game.

Comparatively, Martone averaged 17:02 in his nine regular season games with the Flyers at the end of last season, and 16:48 in the playoffs.

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Bernie’s Dugout Open Thread: 10/9-10/15

Sep 10, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; General view of the helmet used by the Milwaukee Brewers before the start of the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-Imagn Images | Stan Szeto-Imagn Images

Greetings, Brew Crew Ball community. The Brewers are back in the National League Championship Series for the second consecutive season and the third time in the last nine years, and they’ll face the Dodgers once again — the third time facing L.A. in the NLCS, and their fourth time facing them in the postseason. Milwaukee was swept a season ago, but they’ve improved from last season, while the Dodgers mostly maintained their status quo. Does the Crew have what it takes to get past them this time?

Feel free to use this thread to chat about (almost) anything you want: video games, food, movies, non-baseball sports, the Brewers, you name it. As long as it’s appropriate and is allowed by our moderators, it’s fair game here.

You know the drill.

This is now an open thread:

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Phillies News: Jonathan Bowlan, Free Agents, Shortened Season Proposal

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - SEPTEMBER 30: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies reacts after a home run against the Atlanta Braves during the eighth inning in game two of the National League Wild Card Series at Truist Park on September 30, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Edward M. Pio Roda/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The NLCS is set. The ALCS isn’t. The Senior Circuit’s juggernaut is still in play, while the Junior Circuit, regardless of the outcome of the Division Series, will be sending an underdog to the Fall Classic. (Can you really call the Rays an underdog when they’ve been one of the best teams in baseball this season? That’s a semantic question I don’t particularly care to get into).

On to the links.

Phillies news:

Who will the Phillies consider for the manager position?

The Inquirer staff look at the Phillies who are about to hit free agency and weigh in on who should stick around and who should be given their farewells. ($)

Three relievers who could become starters, including Jonathan Bowlan. ($)

MLB news

MLB has made a proposal to shorten the season and lengthen the division series, along with allowing the division winner in the Wild Card round to pick their opponent.

All of the impending free agents. All of them.

Jimmy Fallon is publishing two kids books about baseball: one for Dodgers families, one for Yankees families. Someone oughta write one for Phillies kids.

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Orioles news: Another wave of top 100 prospects

BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 05: A general view before the game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Boston Red Sox at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 5, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Hello, friends.

There are 166 days remaining until the next scheduled Orioles game. Whether an Orioles game (or any MLB game) happens on that date or any time close after is not something we are going to know until probably mid-February, when spring training begins. I’m already dreading having nothing going on in December and January, not that I expect anyone reading this to share the particular concerns of running a baseball blog.

For now, there are the playoffs as a diversion. Except, there won’t be any games played today. Both National League series wrapped up in four games, setting up a Dodgers-Brewers NLCS rematch. Their division series would have played Game 5 today. That wasn’t needed after all.

There will be one more division series game played on Friday. The Guardians-White Sox series is going five games. They will be traveling today. Cleveland piled on the runs against Chicago to knot their series at 2-2. They staved off elimination after losing both games at home to start the series. It won’t mean much if they lose their last home game as well. This Game 4 happened to be the first time all postseason that a team that scored at least four runs lost the game. The White Sox managed this because they gave up many more than four runs in the process.

Seeing these games play out, it really calls to attention what the good teams and good-enough teams have that the Orioles do not. Maybe if they had managed to sneak in, they might have had enough to knock off the Astros, and you could probably argue there’s better pitching in the O’s stable than what the White Sox have been able to bring to bear this postseason. Mostly though, the Orioles aren’t on this level. Certainly not on the level of most of the teams that will play in the league championship series round.

Can it be better next season? That’s the question we all want to know the answer to. The labor situation means that this is not a great offseason to be a team trying to enact different plans for your players, because coaches and management will not be able to check in with anybody after the lockout hits on December 1. It will take until spring training – whenever that comes along – to start to see who really did the work and who was, as Chris Bassitt recently put it when assessing the 2026 team, just checking the boxes.

Orioles stuff you might have missed

What process are the Orioles trusting? (Defector)
It’s always worth reading when Defector turns its sights on the Orioles, even though you know this only happens when things aren’t going well.

Orioles missteps testing limits of fan support (The Baltimore Sun)
The team managed to draw around 25,000 more fans this year than last year. If things don’t improve early next year, I wonder what that picture is going to look like.

Six Orioles ranked in MLB Pipeline’s top 100 (MASN)
Is this worth anything? Here’s an indirect way of answering that: The last time the Orioles had six top 100 prospects on this list was at the start of the 2023 season. These were the prospects: Colton Cowser, DL Hall, Jackson Holliday, Heston Kjerstad, Grayson Rodriguez, Jordan Westburg. You don’t need me to tell you what those six players collectively contributed to the 2026 Orioles.

2026 Orioles draft report card (Baseball America)
Subscription required to see the thoughts on this year’s draft. People like it! For now.

Birthdays and Orioles anniversaries

Today in 1966, the Orioles won their first World Series title by finishing a sweep of the Dodgers. Frank Robinson hit a home run that scored the game’s only run; Dave McNally pitched a four-hit shutout as the O’s knocked off the defending champions.

In 1971, the Orioles beat the Pirates in Game 1 of the World Series. McNally featured again, throwing a three-hit complete game as the O’s won, 5-3.

In 1996, Jeffrey Maier happened. I’m never going to be over it until the Orioles win a title in my lifetime.

In 2014, the Orioles reached a contract extension with J.J. Hardy in between the division series and ALCS rounds of the postseason. Although this seemed exciting at the time, Hardy had negative value in two of the three years of the new contract.

There are a few former Orioles who have birthdays today. They are: 2015-16 reliever Chaz Roe, 2013 four-game outfielder Jason Pridie, and 2001-13 infielder Brian Roberts. Today is Roberts’s 49th birthday, so an extra happy birthday to him.

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday to you as well! Your birthday buddies for today include: French scandal figure Alfred Dreyfus (1859), baseball Hall of Famer Rube Marquard (1886), The Beatles member John Lennon (1940), movie maker Guillermo del Toro (1964), University of Maryland basketball standout Juan Dixon (1978), and professional organizer Marie Kondo (1984).

On this day in history…

In 1806, Prussia launched the War of the Fourth Coalition against Napoleonic France. Nine months later, the war was over and Prussia lost half of its territory in the peace settlements.

In 1919, the Cincinnati Reds beat the Chicago White Sox in the World Series, a series that is now known for the Black Sox scandal.

In 1986, The Phantom of the Opera opened in London. The musical is still continuously running in the West End, though its record-setting Broadway run ended in 2023. Phantom is only the second-longest-running West End musical, trailing the previous year’s Les Miserables – also still running continuously there since its premiere.

**

And that’s the way it is in Birdland on October 9. Have a safe Friday.