Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki (11) throws a pitch in the ninth inning of the MLB National League Wild Card Game 2 between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Cincinnati Reds at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025. The Reds were eliminated from the postseason with an 8-4 loss to the reining World Series Champions La Dodgers. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co
Step one on the path to regaining confidence was figuring out ways of winning no matter what, and that defines the previous series against the Royals—a hard-fought sweep with three close games against one of the worst teams in the sport. Step two is managing to carry on these results against superior opposition such as they’ll face in this four-game set versus the Brewers, owners of the best record in the National League for the second year in a row.
As if turning Kyle Harrison into a dominant starter wasn’t enough, the Brewers have managed to develop Shane Drohan into a solid one. Drohan was acquired alongside Harrison in an offseason trade with the Red Sox that sent Caleb Durbin, Andruw Monasterio, and Anthony Seigler to Boston. Coming off his worst outing of the season, in which he allowed six runs in a loss against the Twins, Drohan will be making his third appearance of the year. Drohan twice appeared in relief when the Dodgers visited the Brewers back in May, allowing three runs, two of them earned, in 4.1 innings.
For Roki Sasaki, the Dodgers starter in this series opener, who will only be making his second start at home in the last month, the matchup with the Brewers has its appeal. The starting pitcher with the highest HR/9 currently on the Dodgers staff, Sasaki, will face the team with the lowest number of home runs in all of baseball. Milwaukee enters play today with 111 home runs; for the purposes of comparison, that’s 44 fewer long balls than the Dodgers, who are tied for sixth overall. Keeping the ball in the yard, Sasaki has a chance to improve over .500, currently with a 5-5 record.
luka doncic lakers new owners bob iger josh kushner
The news of the majority ownership of the Lakers being sold again – this time from Mark Walter to Bob Iger and Josh Kushner just 14 months after Walter agreed to purchase the franchise and 10 months after Walter officially became the majority owner – sent shockwaves throughout the NBA.
He told the Post he and Kushner intend to honor the agreement made between Walter and Jeanie Buss that stated Buss would remain the team’s Governor for at least the next few years, but added that “if things change, they’ll change.”
Iger shared details about the timing of the deal and how quickly it came together.
But many more questions remain – including what comes next for the Lakers.
Disney chief executive Bob Iger arrives at the 96th Academy Awards Oscar nominees luncheon on Monday, February 12, 2024, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Invision) AP Photo/Jordan Strauss
Unanswered Questions
Some of those questions can be answered more immediately.
After the news of the sale was revealed, Doncic posted on social media: “Being a Laker means everything to me, and I’m excited to get back on the court and bring a championship to LA. I’ve gotten used to big changes over these last few years, but I know that no matter what, there is no limit to the potential of this iconic franchise. I look forward to meeting Josh and Bob so we can get to work building something special in LA together.”
Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts on the court during the first half at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY, on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026. (Corey Sipkin) Corey Sipkin for NY Post
Iger told the Post he hadn’t spoken with Doncic as of Wednesday morning, but it appears that’ll soon change.
Doncic texted Iger and Kushner on Thursday morning and the three of them plan to meet “soon”, a source told the Post.
ESPN reported Thursday Doncic plans to have a video call with Iger and Kushner next week from Slovenia.
Beyond that, there’s still the matter of Iger and Kushner officially becoming the Lakers’ majority owners.
Lakers sale timeline pending
The transaction could take several weeks before the Board of Governors approves the deal, with the next board meeting scheduled for September in New York.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver regularly has a news conference after Board of Governors meetings.
A league spokesperson didn’t respond to a text message from the Post before publication when asked what the exact date of the next Board of Governors meeting.
Any NBA ownership sale requires approval from at least three-quarters of the Board of Governors.
The Board of Governors approved the sale of the Lakers to Walter on Oct. 30, 2025 – 4 ½ months after Walter agreed to buy the franchise. The Board of Governors approved the Trail Blazers sale to an ownership group led by Tom Dundon on March 30 after Dundon agreed to buy the Trail Blazers in mid-August – 7 ½ months after the original agreement.
Joshua Kushner (left) and Bob Iger (center) are seen on Day 10 of the 2025 US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, Queens, New York City, on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. (GC Images) GC Images
And it took five months for the Celtics’ sale to an ownership group led by Bill Chisholm to be approved by the Board of Governors.
It remains to be seen whether Kushner’s previous experience as an NBA owner could expedite the process.
Kushner became a minority owner of the Grizzlies in 2019 before selling his share to become a minority owner of the Heat in May 2025.
He’ll have to divest his stake in the Heat to take control of the Lakers.
Beyond that, as Iger put it, it’s “premature to speculate at all about what we plan to do, because frankly, we haven’t made any plans yet.”
Too early to know what this means for the Lakers’ basketball and business operations.
Too early to know what this will mean for the Lakers’ long-term plans and futures.
The nature of the Lakers’ sale – from the timing and the valuation – is unprecented.
But what is known is that the franchise is on the precipise of another new era.
After burning through their weekly allotment of runs Wednesday, the Yankees were all out of offense an afternoon later.
If Tuesday’s big, four-run inning and Wednesday’s big, 10-run game looked like the beginnings of a stirring of the Yankees’ offense, Thursday the group looked drowsy once more.
Perhaps that was the Logan Gilbert effect, but regardless of the cause, the Yankees were shut out for a seventh time this season in a 1-0 loss in front of 41,842 in The Bronx, where they could not finish off a sweep of the Mariners.
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On a day the Rays were idle, the Yankees (68-53) fell to a season-worst 6 ½ games behind in the AL East before trips to Toronto and Baltimore.
Games like this series finale — in which the Yankees finished with four hits, went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position and watched Max Fried and even their ‘B’ bullpen (Ryan Yarbrough, Yerry De los Santos and Fernando Cruz) deal — have become commonplace for a team that just has not scored enough with its best bats hurting.
And yet they somehow have won 18 of their past 29 games, sweating through each narrow victory and narrow defeat.
Yankees center fielder Spencer Jones (78) reacts on the dugout fence in the sixth inning of a game against the Seattle Mariners on Thursday, August 13, 2026, at Yankee Stadium. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“It’s been playoffs every day, it feels like,” manager Aaron Boone said of a club whose last three defeats have come by scores of 1-0, 2-1 and 3-1. “I got people on the street saying, ‘Hey, it’ll turn around.’
“I’m like, ‘We’re doing all right.’ ”
The rallying cry from the clubhouse during an extended period in which just about every game is a toss-up is that these anxieties should help later.
Yankees center fielder Trent Grisham (12) singles but is out after review when he tried to stretch it into a double during the third inning of a game against the Seattle Mariners on Thursday, August 13, 2026, at Yankee Stadium. Robert Sabo for NY Post
“Games like this are battles,” said George Lombard Jr., who was again impressive with his glove but went 0-for-4 with a strikeout. “And that’s how games are in October. So just practice finding a way to win those tight games.”
Their offense had shown signs of breaking through in the first two contests against Seattle, which boasts one of the best pitching staffs in the sport, but Gilbert (six innings, four hits, seven strikeouts) and the Mariners bullpen were overwhelming.
With Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and Cody Bellinger watching from the dugout, the offense they left behind did not muster many chances and did not do anything with the few they did.
Injured Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton reacts on the dugout fence in the sixth inning during a game against the Seattle Mariners at Yankee Stadium in The Bronx, New York, on Thursday, August 13, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“I thought early on we had some good at-bats against [Gilbert], right from jump with [Trent] Grisham and [Spencer] Jones smoking balls for outs in the first inning, and then [Luis] García [Jr.] leads off the second with a double, gives us a good scoring opportunity,” Boone said. “But from there, we just weren’t able to do much.”
After his double, García (the only Yankee with multiple hits) watched Lombard (foul out), Jazz Chisholm Jr. (one of his three strikeouts) and José Caballero (pop out) go down in order.
Their best opportunity probably came in the third, when Ali Sánchez sliced a one-out single down the right field line before Grisham drilled what looked like a double into the same area. But Grisham’s momentum took him into and briefly off second base, and a Mariners challenge found that he had been tagged out coming off the base. After a Ben Rice ground out, Sánchez was stranded on third.
New York Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. (13) reacts after he strikes out swinging. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
No other Yankee reached scoring position until the seventh, when a rally formed around Caballero walking, reaching second on an error and stealing third to pair with a Ryan McMahon walk. But a pinch-hitting Amed Rosario became the third Yankees batter to be punched out on a Mariners automated ball-strike system challenge.
Wasted was a solid, if not efficient, effort from Max Fried, who allowed one run on five hits and two walks in five innings, not throwing enough strikes (55) during an 88-pitch afternoon.
His only blemish was a second-inning, 2-2 cutter to Weston Wilson, who turned on it and clobbered a home run to left field. In Fried’s first 14 starts this season, he had allowed just one homer while facing 312 batters.
New York Yankees pitcher Max Fried during the third inning on Thursday afternoon. Robert Sabo for NY Post
And that was the game. Such is the Yankees’ margin for error.
“We’re just grinding through it right now,” Boone said after another series victory that did not quite feel like one.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 13: Logan Gilbert #36 of the Seattle Mariners pitches during the first inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on August 13, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I sincerely hope nobody reading this recap took a friend, family member, or romantic partner to this afternoon’s Yankees game, hoping to make a baseball fan for life in the process.
Last night would have been a great game for that sort of thing. The Bombers clawed their way back from an early deficit and beat the brakes off the Mariners in a 10-5 thriller. It’s a fallacy to think in these terms, but it seems as if they expended all the remaining offense they had in their stores for the homestand in that evening tilt. The only scoring either of these two lineups could produce was a home run for Seattle’s Weston Wilson with the bases empty in the second—the rest of the afternoon was dominated by pitching. Logan Gilbert led the charge with a six-inning scoreless performance, outdueling Max Fried as the visitors avoided the sweep and ended their six-game slide with a 1-0 final.
As mentioned, all the offense you would get if you bought a ticket for this getaway day game was a solo home run in the second inning. It was just the second round-tripper allowed by Fried in 2026—and it came against Weston Wilson, a bench bat for Seattle who only had three long balls on the year. Inserted into the lineup over promising regular Cole Young, Wilson fell to two strikes with two outs before a misplaced cutter from Fried gave him a chance to sock one over the left field wall.
An inning later, it looked as if the Yankees had a splendid scoring opportunity. A single from ninth-place hitter Ali Sánchez was followed by a double by the suddenly scorching Trent Grisham, giving the Yankees two runners in scoring position with just one out for Ben Rice.
Well, until the Mariners challenged, and upon review it was abundantly clear that Grisham had slid too hard into second, bunny-hopping off the base and permitting Leo Rivas to apply the tag on him while he was suspended in midair. Abra-cadabra, the double turned into a big second out for Logan Gilbert, who rolled Rice over to second to neutralize the threat. I gave my fair share of grief to the now-demoted Jasson Domínguez for falling in love with the headfirst slide and subsequently giving away outs, but there’s an art to the footfirst slide too—Grisham did not practice it there. Can we get some drills going?
Like his last start on Friday, Fried was sharp, but his counterpart was sharper. Max scattered five hits and did some of his best work with two outs to prevent any crooked numbers, but Logan Gilbert mowed his way through the Yankee lineup to make the one misplaced cutter to Wilson stand up.
While Randy Arozarena and Julio Rodríguez failed to combine for a run in the fifth, they collectively saw enough pitches with two out to force Aaron Boone to the bullpen the following frame. Ryan Yarbrough did his best Fried impression with a perfect sixth, striking out a pair.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Yankees’ mission was as follows: get somebody into scoring position for Luis García Jr., who was the only guy in the lineup to solve Gilbert multiple times. He doubled to lead off the second, then singled with one out in the fourth, but the Yankees failed to advance him in either instance. He was due up fourth, so the Bombers needed to get somebody on and ideally somebody over.
Well, the Bombers got a man on, as Ben Rice worked a four-pitch walk. But thanks to the power of ABS challenges, the Bombers failed to get him over; Jhonny Pereda made two successful challenges on outside fastballs with two strikes to give Gilbert a pair of big Ks. García came up and battled Gilbert to the hilt, but ultimately fell on the pitch which gave the home team fits all afternoon: the splitter. The tall Seattle righty finished with six scoreless innings, scattering four hits, the lone walk to Rice, and striking out seven.
More frustration followed in the seventh, even as the Yankees built a two-out rally from dryer lint and a couple of Cheerios. In other words: Eduard Bazardo issued a pair of two-out walks, permitting a chance for Amed Rosario to tie the game off the bench. But Rosario quickly slipped into an 0-2 hole, then fell victim to yet another successful challenge of a borderline pitch by Pereda, who probably deserved game MVP honors among position players given the triumvirate of punchouts he reclaimed for his pitchers. The Yankees at least managed to get their fans to stand up in considerable number before getting them to sit back down again.
José A. Ferrer made quick work of the Bombers and pinch-hitter Heliot Ramos in the eighth, setting the stage for the ninth. Seattle closer Andrés Muñoz faced all three Juniors in succession—García, Lombard, and Chisholm. García bounced one to second, Lombard struck out on three pitches, and Chisholm swung through a slider to cement a 1-0 dud from a Yankee lineup which sorely missed Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger, and Giancarlo Stanton.
If you thought, boy, the Yankees sure played like they had a flight to catch…well, they did. Get ready to learn Toronto dialect, buddy. That’s where the Bombers are headed: north of the border to Rogers Centre to kick off a road trip. The Blue Jays did the Yankees a massive favor by taking at least three games from the Red Sox earlier in the week—now New York will try to communicate their gratitude by defeating them. Isn’t that nice? Gerrit Cole will take on Shane Bieber in the series opener tomorrow night at 7:15 PM on Apple TV+.
Stephen Curry has said he wants to play his entire career with one team. Golden State — from ownership through the entire front office — has said it wants Curry to retire a Warrior.
However, when the Warriors struck out on landing LeBron James this summer, or making any other significant roster upgrades, speculation started. Curry is entering the final year of his contract and hasn't signed an extension, could the Warriors trade him? Could Curry chase a ring elsewhere?
"No, no, no. I don't think that is even a thing. This is just a clickbait thing from all these people that do this kind of thing these days, and there seem to be a lot of them. I don't believe any of that is true. I'm very close with Steph -- he lives right near me, he's incredibly happy with the organization, with his life… I've never heard a word about that, and I can't imagine it. We certainly don't want him to go anywhere. I just think people are completely making a bunch of crap up."
The Warriors have tried to make big moves, including chasing Giannis Antetokounmpo and having talks with the Clippers about a Kawhi Leonard trade at the deadline last February. This summer they tried to chase LeBron. None of that came together, something Lacob discussed.
"We have to make a good trade, we have to make a trade that makes sense. If we thought we had a great trade in front of us, and by the way, without talking a little bit too much more than I should about secret dealings that went on in the offseason, we made at least two very big offers in the last six months, let's put it that way. Between the trade deadline and the summer, at least two... They didn't work out, the cost was too high to be justifiable or we weren't selected. These things happen. I've told all of our fans from day one, we're going to go after pretty much anybody who is a good player and check it out."
Lacob also doesn't get the pessimism around this team. Once Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody return from injury during the season, Lacob believes the Warriors will be a threat.
"I'm actually excited about our team. I don't understand what all the negativity is about. There are those out there that are very critical, of course, about everything. Everyone has an opinion. They have the right to their opinion — at least we're being talked about."
While the 2025-26 season was ultimately a success for the Philadelphia Flyers that ended with an appearance in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, they have their work cut out for them if they want to make it back there again next season.
It wasn't for a lack of effort that the Flyers ended up making few moves this offseason. Their $90 million offer sheet to Leo Carlsson would have changed the team's outlook, both in the present and the future, drastically, but the Anaheim Ducks stood their ground and retained their franchise player.
Aside from that, Joseph Woll, if and when healthy, should be a considerable upgrade over Sam Ersson at the goalie position, and Noel Acciari replaces a declining Garnet Hathaway with the added bonus of positional flexibility.
The Flyers did, however, get slightly worse defensively, replacing the puck-moving Emil Andrae with a stereotypical bruiser in Simon Benoit.
That is not something that will help their average transition game and abhorrent power play, even if Andrae was never really given power play opportunities anyway.
Simply put: other teams in the Metropolitan Division improved more than the Flyers did, and upgrades for Philadelphia are going to have to come from within.
Here's an example: the Washington Capitals finished last season outside of the playoffs, had the eighth-worst power play in the NHL, and allowed the third-most shorthanded goals.
Then they went out and added Jordan Kyrou, Alex Tuch, and Boone Jenner in free agency.
If the Flyers want to be back in the playoffs, with a team like that on their heels, they cannot have the worst power play in the NHL again, and they cannot allow the fourth-most shorthanded goals in the league again.
Rookie Porter Martone enters the 2026-27 season as the de facto replacement for Bobby Brink, who was traded to Minnesota for David Jiricek at the NHL trade deadline.
Martone and Jiricek, 19 and 22, respectively, have clear paths to making meaningful long-term impacts for the Flyers, and players with their talents need to do some major damage on the power play, too.
While Martone's roster spot is all but guaranteed, Jiricek will need to fend off Simon Benoit and/or Oliver Bonk for a roster spot and playing time, but his offensive exploits should give him the leg up heading into training camp next month.
A full season of a more experienced Martone and a breakout from Jiricek should position the Flyers nicely to, at the very least, crawl out from the NHL's power play basement with upside for more.
No. 2: Health is wealth
We'll come back to the power play and offense shortly, but as mentioned above, Joseph Woll, when healthy, is a massive upgrade over Sam Ersson.
Ersson was just 14-11-5 in 29 starts and 33 games played for the Flyers last season as Dan Vladar's understudy, and while he did end on a higher note, the overall performance wasn't good enough.
Vladar, 28, played 52 regular season games for the Flyers last year, but between 2021 and 2025, played no more than 30 regular season games in a single campaign.
Injuries and a lack of a featured role were factors in that, but the Flyers will need Vladar to stay on the ice and then be able to replicate last season's 29-14-7 record, 2.42 GAA, and .906 save percentage.
For Woll, the story is no different.
The ex-Toronto Maple Leafs warden played 39 games last season, 42 the year before that, and 25 the year before that.
The 28-year-old has obvious talent, but consistency and injuries have hampered his development.
Ultimately, the Flyers will be depending on both goalies equally to stay fit and on top of their game, because the alternative is the inexperienced Aleksei Kolosov if anything goes awry.
No. 1: Matvei Michkov
Indirectly related to the power play struggles mentioned above, the Flyers need Matvei Michkov, and perhaps more than they would publicly admit.
Michkov, 21, was the Flyers' leading scorer after the Olympic break last season, and that directly correlated with their late-season surge into a playoff berth in Game 81.
Before that turnaround, the Flyers had that infamous 3.8% chance of making the playoffs, according to MoneyPuck.
Now, the Flyers have paraded that around because nobody believed in them, and that's fair, but it wasn't because everybody hates the Flyers. It was because the Flyers were legitimately that mediocre at that point in time, and they didn't come back to life until Michkov and a few other players got on their horse for the last three months of the season.
Michkov still finished a "bad" season with 20 goals, 31 assists, and 51 points in 81 games, scoring four fewer power play goals and five fewer power play points than he did in his rookie season.
A summer filled with vigorous training, a clear outline of where he needs to improve physically, and a second full season of development and adjustment under his belt should put the Russian phenom in pole position to make Year 3 his best yet. It'll be up to him and the coaching staff to ultimately work this one out.
And the Flyers need it, too, because without Michkov, their offense looks even more toothless.
While the Los Angeles Dodgers say Mark Walter's sale of the Lakers will have no impact on the baseball club and there are no plans to sell the back-to-back World Series winners, their best player's record-setting contract is tied to the current owner's presence in the organization.
As part of Shohei Ohtani's 10-year, $700 million contract deal for the 2024 season (with $680 million deferred), the four-time MVP has the ability to opt out of the contract if Walter or Dodgers president Andrew Friedman leaves the organization.
Ohtani's contract states that if there is "specific change in Dodger personnel, player may opt out of contract at end of season the change occurs," USA TODAY Sports reported in 2023.
It was believed to be the first time such a "key man" provision had been included in a player contract.
“When you sit down with people and you form a bond and a partnership," Ohtani's agent Nez Balelo told USA TODAY, “it’s important that you keep the band together.
"If the band falls apart, at least you have options. We felt like it was important to say that as long as everyone stays together, we’re all in."
The news that Walter was selling the Lakers a year after buying the team came as a shock on Wednesday, Aug. 12 and immediately led to speculation that it was a harbinger of something to come with the Dodgers.
But CEO Stan Kasten insisted that the Lakers transaction was "not really a Dodgers story" and said "they're completely separate. There are no changes here or contemplated here."
Walter and his company are currently facing a federal probe by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for alleged loan fraud using insurance money from policy holders to pay loans to undisclosed outside business ventures.
In the 10-year, $700 million contract he signed with the Dodgers before the 2024 season, Ohtani included a “key-man clause” that would allow him to opt out of the deal if either Walter or president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman left the franchise during his tenure with the club.
However, even in the case of a hypothetical sale by Walter, the four-time MVP would seemingly be unlikely to exercise that option, a source with knowledge of the situation confirmed to the California Post.
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani is congratulated by teammates in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals on Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026, in Los Angeles. (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
That transaction, Dodgers president Stan Kasten insisted repeatedly, is not expected to have any impact on the Dodgers, nor served as any signal Walter could now try selling the baseball club.
Still, given the ongoing federal investigation into Walter’s business empire, and another Wednesday report from Bloomberg that the businessman had been seeking to raise capital to pay back loans being probed by the Securities and Exchange Commission, a potential Dodgers sale didn’t feel implausible.
And if one were to happen, it would leave Ohtani with a decision.
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani hits a two-run home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals on Thursday, August 13, 2026, in Los Angeles. (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
Since joining the Dodgers, Ohtani has won two MVP awards, two World Series, accomplished the first 50/50 season in MLB history, and found an apparent comfort level with the team after a six-year run with the Angels.
His decision to defer $680 million of his contract has also worked out as intended, allowing the team to surround him with layers of superstar talent.
Mark Walter, chairman and controlling owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, acknowledges a fan prior to a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, in Chicago. (FR172025 AP) AP Photo/Melissa Tamez
Circumstances could always change, especially given all the questions that continue to linger around Walter.
But for now, Ohtani is clearly content in Los Angeles; so much so, even if he had the chance to use his opt-out, it’s unlikely he would do so.
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It will be here before you know it. The Cleveland Cavaliers have their full schedule for the 2026-27 NBA season, and you have a chance to mark your calendars and prepare for another year of Cavs basketball.
Let’s get a few notes out of the way.
Cleveland will have 17 national TV games. Six on ESPN, four on Peacock, four on NBC, and three on Prime.
The Cavs play on multiple holidays this year, including Halloween (against Milwaukee), New Year’s Eve (at home versus the LA Clippers), Martin Luther King Day (versus the Detroit Pistons), and Valentine’s Day against the Phoenix Suns.
Plan your V-Day celebrations accordingly if you want to watch Donovan Mitchell get into another fight with Dillon Brooks.
The season opens on the road against the Philadelphia 76ers on October 22nd. The Cavs play their home opener two days later, on October 24, against the Brooklyn Nets. Cleveland gets a three-game home stand here, hosting the Minnesota Timberwolves and Washington Wizards next.
From there, the start of the season is pretty brutal.
Cleveland plays New York four times before Christmas. Then the 76ers and Thunder twice before Thanksgiving. The Cavs also play the Indiana Pacers and Miami Heat twice each before the New Year. There will be no time for slouching in the ‘ber months.
The Cavs aren’t being viewed as the same juggernaut they were going into last season. There’s a general sentiment that the Eastern Conference has passed them by. From huge splashes from the 76ers, Heat, and Raptors to the return of Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers. The league isn’t considering Cleveland as much as they did before.
That should be used as motivation. Every game the Cavs play against an opponent who has ‘lapped’ them should be a chance to debunk the narrative. This tough stretch to open the season could be incredibly rewarding if Cleveland hits the ground running.
A few other dates to keep in mind.
Darius Garland makes his return to Cleveland on New Year’s Eve. LeBron James plays in Cleveland on November 6th and March 1st.
And, lest we forget, the Cavs’ first preseason game begins at home on October 8th against the Boston Celtics.
The Texas Rangers travel to take on the Los Angeles Angels as -148 favorites at Polymarket.
With Jacob deGrom on the mound, we're backing Texas in our Rangers vs. Angels predictions — let's see them exact some revenge after losing a full game in the Wild Card race last night.
Let’s dive into my MLB picks for Thursday, Aug. 13.
Who will win Rangers vs Angels tonight: Rangers (-148)
After getting nickel-and-dimed to death last night, Jacob deGrom will be looking to get the Texas Rangers back in the win column — and he's the right man for the job.
The Rangers ace has notoriously owned this Los Angeles Angels team over the course of his career, striking this lineup out at a 32% clip across 72 at-bats.
With the Angels among the bottom-five teams for wRC+ in all of baseball, I expect the Rangers to squeeze this one out in a low-scoring game.
I'd price this closer to -155.
COVERS INTEL: How bad is it in Los Angeles? The Angels rank in the bottom 10 not only in wRC+, but home runs, OPS, hits, and strikeouts. Runs will be tough to come by against the Texas veteran.
Rangers vs Angels Over/Under pick: Under 7.5 (-116)
We know what deGrom brings to this matchup against the putrid Angels offense, but what about Los Angeles starter Walbert Urena?
Well, his numbers against the Rangers are pretty damn good: Texas has managed just two hits and owns a sub-.100 xBA against Urena over 30 plate appearances.
Prior to his last start against the Miami Marlins, Urena had allowed just two earned runs across his last 22 innings pitched. This should be a strong pitching matchup tonight, so let's ride the under.
I'm playing this up to -130.
Rangers vs Angels home run prediction: Zach Neto (+414)
Zach Neto has dialed in his timing against deGrom, boasting two home runs (two doubles and five hits overall, .595 xSLG) in just 12 career at-bats off him.
With deGrom elevating his four-seamer early in counts, Neto's pull-side swing path gives him our edge to clear the wall.
It's a perfect night for baseball at Angel Stadium, with clear skies and temperatures expected to sit at 69F.
Rangers vs Angels odds
Moneyline: Rangers (-148) | Angels (+138)
Run line: Rangers -1.5 (+122) | Angels (-127)
Over/Under: Over 7.5 (+108) | Under 7.5 (-116)
Rangers vs Angels trend
The Under is 6-0 in deGrom's last six starts with four days of rest. Find more MLB betting trends for Rangers vs. Angels.
How to watch Rangers vs Angels and game info
Location
Angel Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
Date
Thursday, August 13, 2026
First pitch
10:07 p.m. ET
TV
RSN, ABTV
Rangers starting pitcher
Jacob deGrom (8-7, 3.87 ERA)
Angels starting pitcher
Walbert Urena (7-8, 2.83 ERA)
Rangers vs Angels latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
The Montreal Canadiens have signed one of their recently acquired new forwards.
The Canadiens have announced that they have signed forward Sasha Pastujov to a one-year, two-way contract for the 2026-27 season.
The Canadiens acquired Pastujov from the Anaheim Ducks earlier this off-season in exchange for forward Sean Farrell.
Pastujov spent all of this past season in the AHL with the San Diego Gulls. In 71 games with the AHL club in 2025-26, he posted 21 goals, 36 assists, 57 points, and a plus-3 rating. With numbers like these, the 23-year-old forward was a solid part of the Gulls' roster.
Pastujov also recorded 17 goals and 45 points in 43 games with the Gulls during the 2024-25 campaign. With that, he has had some success at the AHL level and has the potential to be a good pickup for the Laval Rocket.
Pastujov was selected by the Ducks in the third round of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, 66th overall. In 160 career AHL games over three seasons, he has posted 48 goals, 77 assists, and 125 points. The 6-foot forward has yet to make his NHL debut but will be looking to change that with the Habs.
Cue the “Law & Order: SVU” theme music for Jalen Brunson.
During an appearance on the “Today” show on Thursday, the television show’s star and Knicks fan Mariska Hargitay revealed you could see the NBA Finals MVP on screen soon.
“Don’t tell anyone but see him on ‘SVU,'” she whispered to Savannah Guthrie on Thursday. “Don’t tell anyone but we got some things in the works.”
Actor Mariska Hargitay joins “Today” on Aug. 13, 2026. Hargitay discussed preparing to host the Primetime Emmy Awards and hinted at NBA champion Jalen Brunson making an appearance in the new season of “Law & Order: SVU.” The Today show/NBC
Guthrie knew quickly in her gut it must be true since Hargitay admitted she tells the host “a lot of secrets.”
“I like that! Well, you tell me then, it all comes true,” Guthrie said.
Following the Knicks first NBA championship since 1973, Brunson revealed his offseason plan involved getting on “Law & Order: SVU” alongside Hargitay.
“I don’t know if you’ve heard, but he’s a world champion, he can do whatever the hell he wants,” Meloni said.
Brunson and Hargitay have formed a strong friendship over the years.
Jalen Brunson and Mariska Hargitay attend the New York Knicks ticker-tape parade along the Canyon of Heroes on July 18, 2026 in New York City.
Erik Pendzich/Shutterstock
Hargitay, 62, is a big Knicks fan and holds down courtside seats at Madison Square Garden.
The two hugged on the court and Hargitay was heard saying, “I love you so much, I’m so happy!”
Prior to that, she sprinted onto the court to embrace Brunson’s father, Rick Brunson, who is an assistant under head coach Mike Brown and was a member of the ’99 Knicks squad that reached the Finals.
Hargitay was also on Brunson’s float for the championship parade in lower Manhattan along with her son, August.
Jalen Brunson supported Mariska Hargitay at her new Broadway show “Every Brilliant Thing” on June 26, 2026. Bruce Glikas/WireImage
He, along with his wife Ali, visited Hargitay backstage after the show and her husband, Peter Hermann, was also there for the meet-up.
It’s a special bond that even long-time Knicks fan and actor Ben Stiller envies.
“The love that Mariska Hargitay gets from you postgame is the envy of every other Knicks fan, Knicks celebrity fan. She gets a hug after a loss,” Stiller said on Brunson’s “Roommates” podcast with Josh Hart.
HOUSTON, TX - NOVEMBER 3: P.J Washington #25 of the Dallas Mavericks and Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks boxes out Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets during the game on November 3, 2025 at the Toyota Center in Houston, 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Houston Rockets and the rest of the NBA are deep into the 2026 offseason, with all the major roster moves and most of the major NBA stories (outside of Russell Westbrook’s recent retirement announcement) concluded at least before the start of the new season.
Players are taking part in their personal workouts, and organizations are preparing for another shot at a championship. That means it is pretty quiet in NBA circles, but that changed Thursday morning with the arrival of the 2026-27 schedule, as the Rockets and the rest of the NBA now know their opening-night matchup, last regular-season matchup, and everything in between.
Like every offseason ahead of the schedule, we know some of the early games. Unlike last season, the Rockets will not take part in the NBA’s opening-night games. Those two matchups will be Boston Celtics vs. Detroit Pistons and Philadelphia 76ers vs. New York Knicks.
The Rockets do know a few of the games they will be playing, including an early-season game in Austin vs. the Western Conference Champions, the San Antonio Spurs. With Thursday’s schedule drop, we now know every regular-season opponent for the Rockets. Let’s take a look at some of the interesting games and break down the key details of the Rockets’ 2026-27 schedule.
What stands out about the Rockets’ 2026-27 schedule
When looking at the Rockets’ schedule for this upcoming season, a few things stand out. The Rockets were the darling of the NBA last offseason, and their 28 nationally televised games reflected that. However, after a disappointing end to their 2025-26 season, the Rockets saw their nationally televised games drop to 21 for the upcoming season.
The Rockets started on the road last season, playing opening night in Oklahoma City against the then-defending champions. This season, the Rockets open at home against the upstart Dallas Mavericks. They should be welcoming back Kyrie Irving as he plays his first regular-season game with Cooper Flagg.
The Rockets have 14 back-to-back games this season, with four of those at home, which is a huge advantage for any team. The Rockets also have a home-heavy schedule to start the season.
The Rockets have 15 of their first 25 games at home, pending the results of the NBA Cup tournament, which could add additional home games to their December schedule. In the Rockets’ first 10 games, they will play 7 against teams that made the playoffs last season.
One of the teams that didn’t make it, the Mavericks, is expected to be much better than last season, and the Rockets face them twice in the first 10 games.
When it comes to the road, the Rockets’ longest road trip of the season is five games, from January 18th to the 26th. The Rockets will also have a stretch of 20 of 32 games on the road from December 18th to the All-Star Break.
The Rockets are hoping that, with a fully healthy roster, they can finally advance past the first round, and that quest begins October 21st at home against the Dallas Mavericks.
The Field of Dreams Game is tonight, with the Minnesota Twins taking on the Philadelphia Phillies in Dyersville, Iowa. Minnesota is currently listed at -103 odds via Polymarket.
I have you covered for my Phillies vs. Twins predictions and MLB picks for Thursday, Aug. 13, spearheaded by Minnesota closing the gap in the AL Central race.
First pitch is set for 7:30 p.m. ET from the Field of Dreams, with the game airing LIVE on Netflix.
Who will win Phillies vs Twins today: Twins (-103)
Mr. Bradley could be in the better spot, as he’s quietly put together a very underrated season, sporting a 3.76 ERA, 3.55 xERA, and 1.25 WHIP. Nola, on the other hand, has struggled, allowing plenty of hard-hit balls while posting a 1.45 WHIP this season.
Both teams enter pretty hot, with both offenses sporting wRC+ marks above 115 and a wOBA above .337. This is going to be an all-out brawl from start to finish, but I like the Twins in this spot.
If Bradley can find his rhythm and hit his spots, expect the right-hander to have a fairly solid outing against the Phillies.
COVERS INTEL: Over his last 30 plate appearances against right-handed pitching, Minnesota infielder Royce Lewis is batting .357 with a .571 SLG and .971 OPS, while generating a 50% hard-hit rate and 15% barrel rate.
Phillies vs Twins Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (-107)
Both offenses have started to heat up over their last six games.
The Twins own a 119 wRC+, .340 wOBA, .756 OPS and 10.7% walk rate over that span, while the Phillies have posted a 115 wRC+, .344 wOBA, .761 OPS and a shockingly low 15.9% strikeout rate during that stretch.
With humidity sitting above 90%, conditions should be favorable for hitters, so I’m expecting a higher-scoring affair.
Phillies vs Twins home run prediction: Kyle Schwarber (+276)
The one guy that stood out the most in this matchup is easily Kyle Schwarber, who has been heating up over his last 10 games.
During that stretch, the slugger owns a .500 SLG and .235 ISO while generating a 47.6% hard-hit rate and 14.3% barrel rate.
The Phillies slugger enters Thursday with the No. 1 matchup rating on Batters-Box. On top of that, he is covering more than 90% of Bradley’s entire pitch mix. Over the last three seasons, in 283 elite-rated games, the big fella has hit a home run 26.5% of the time.
Bradley has looked a lot better since joining the Twins. However, he has struggled against left-handed hitters. Overall this season, he has allowed a 45.2% hard-hit rate, 13.7% barrel rate, and 33% ground-ball rate.
Temperatures in Dyersville should hover in the mid-70s, with humidity around 90%.
Phillies vs Twins odds
Moneyline: Phillies -107 | Twins -103
Run line: Phillies -1.5 (+158) | Twins +1.5 (-175)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (-107) | Under 8.5 (-103)
Phillies vs Twins trend
Philadelphia has hit the game total Over in eight of its last 14 games (+4.75 Units / 31% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Phillies vs. Twins.
How to watch Phillies vs Twins and game info
Location
Field of Dreams, Dyersville, IA
Date
Thursday, August 13, 2026
First pitch
7:30 p.m. ET
TV
Netflix
Phillies starting pitcher
Aaron Nola (3-9, 5.47 ERA)
Twins starting pitcher
Taj Bradley (9-4, 3.76 ERA)
Phillies vs Twins latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
After three days of gradual releases, the entire 2026-27 NBA regular season schedule was released on Thursday. That offers another resource for fantasy managers to consider when crafting their draft strategies for the fall. Below are a few takeaways from the schedule, beginning with the reigning Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs.
Of course, it isn't just about how many rest days a team gets, but also about where they land on the calendar. The Spurs, who improved their depth this offseason with the signing of Tobias Harris and selection of Tarris Reed Jr. (Jayden Quaintance is coming off another knee surgery), will have 94 rest days during the 2026-27 regular season. That should help keep Victor Wembanyama relatively fresh after he needed a waiver to be eligible for postseason awards in 2025-26.
The 7-foot-4 phenom played in 64 regular-season games for the Spurs, finishing third in MVP voting and winning Defensive Player of the Year. Wembanyama is in the conversation to go first overall in fantasy drafts, along with Denver's Nikola Jokić, and those rest days may lead some to go with the younger talent when crafting their rosters. However, it's important to note that San Antonio will play two back-to-backs in its first five games of the season. Given the timing, that should not be a significant issue, but you never know.
The Knicks are tied for the fewest road back-to-back games with five.
Having to play the second game of a back-to-back on the road is never great, but it's a reality for all teams. New York will only have to do this five times, which should be good news for their key fantasy options. Head coach Mike Brown took the necessary steps to reduce the workload of his key players last season, and that approach contributed to the Knicks winning their first title in 53 years.
All five Knicks starters appeared in at least 66 regular-season games, and three (Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges) appeared in 74 or more. Those road back-to-backs may be most impactful for streaming options, whether it's guards Miles McBride or Jose Alvarado or second-year wing Mohamed Diawara. But it should not change anything regarding the Knicks who qualify as must-draft players.
The 76ers have the fewest stretches of three games in four nights.
Given the addition of LeBron James and Joel Embiid's injury history, this is good fortune for the 76ers and fantasy managers who wind up rostering their key players. While he has played 23 NBA regular seasons, James appeared in 60 or fewer games in five of his eight seasons with the Lakers. He played in 60 games last season, which made him ineligible for postseason awards. The good news for fantasy managers was that he missed just four games in March and April, the playoff time for most fantasy leagues.
Embiid's situation is more suspect, as he's appeared in 39, 19 and 38 games his last three seasons. He appeared in a total of five games in March and April last season, including Philadelphia's final three games of March. Having the fewest sets of three games in four nights could bode well for Embiid, and the 76ers need it to be, given the options currently behind him on the depth chart (Adem Bona and Ariel Hukporti).
Denver won’t have its first back-to-back until November 29-30
The Nuggets were done a favor on two fronts regarding back-to-backs. First, they'll only have to navigate 12, which is tied for the fewest in the NBA. Also, the Nuggets won't play their first back-to-back until November 29-30. Jamal Murray (75 games) and Nikola Jokić (65) played enough to qualify for postseason honors in 2025-26, but there are other Nuggets who may benefit from the 2026-27 schedule.
Aaron Gordon, Cam Johnson, Christian Braun and Peyton Watson (who remains a restricted free agent) all played 54 games or fewer last season, negatively affecting the season-long fantasy values of each. If a lighter back-to-back workload can benefit them, that would be good news for fantasy managers.
The Lakers are one of three teams with three sets of five games in seven nights.
Those congested schedules in which teams are required to play four games in five nights or five in seven can be very demanding, and not just on the players. For some, that may require finding a capable streamer to cover for a player sitting out due to injury management. The Lakers are one of three teams that will have to play five games in seven days on three separate occasions this season.
Luka Dončić (64 games in 2025-26) and Austin Reaves (51) are coming off a season in which they missed extended periods due to injury, and offseason acquisition Walker Kessler only played five games before undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery. While there may not be much margin for error in the middle of the Western Conference, there may be times when a Lakers star gets a night off, opening the door for someone else to step up as a potential streamer.
The Pelicans have two back-to-backs in their first five games.
The Spurs aren't the only team that will have to play two back-to-backs in its first five games. New Orleans is also on that list, and there may be greater concern for them given their injury history. Zion Williamson appeared in 62 games last season, a step in the right direction, but there will always be concerns about his availability. Trey Murphy and Herb Jones have dealt with injuries in the past, but the former did appear in 66 games in 2025-26. And Dejounte Murray did not return from a ruptured Achilles tendon suffered in January 2025 until after the All-Star break, appearing in 14 games before being shut down in early April.
In addition to those two back-to-backs to begin the season, New Orleans will play nine before the calendar flips to 2027, and they have the most instances of three games in four nights (27). Figuring out the direction the Pelicans are headed can be tricky, especially with the need to further incorporate Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen. Beyond the back-to-backs, this may be a team to keep an eye on at the trade deadline, given its mix of veterans and young players.
Boston, Dallas and New Orleans lead the league with 16 back-to-backs.
In recent years, the NBA has made strides in limiting the number of back-to-backs teams are asked to play. All 30 will play between 12 and 16 in 2026-27, with the Celtics, Mavericks and Pelicans leading the way. Dallas is a team to watch here due to Kyrie Irving missing all of last season while recovering from a torn ACL, and centers Daniel Gafford (55 games played) and Dereck Lively II (seven games played) missing extended time due to ankle and foot injuries, respectively. Those back-to-backs may not give Irving much room for error regarding postseason honors, while the availability of the post players will impact rookie Morez Johnson Jr.'s fantasy ceiling.
As for the Celtics, Jayson Tatum appeared in 16 regular-season games upon returning from a ruptured Achilles, and Paul George totaled 78 games in two seasons with the 76ers. Of the two, Tatum is the one who will merit first-round consideration in drafts, especially with Jaylen Brown in Philadelphia. As for George, while the Celtics' offensive system could benefit him, the availability concerns may still knock him down most draft boards.
COVERS INTEL: How bad is it in Los Angeles? The Angels rank in the bottom 10 not only in wRC+, but home runs, OPS, hits, and strikeouts. Runs will be tough to come by against the Texas veteran.
Kurt Helin