PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 12: Miguel Sime Jr. #55 of the Washington Nationals looks on prior to the 2026 All-Star Futures Game Presented by Nike at Citizens Bank Park on Sunday, July 12, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Nats had a lot of prospects take meaningful strides in 2026, but the one I want to talk about today is Miguel Sime. When the Nats took Sime in the 4th round of the 2025 draft, he was a raw but electric prospect with a massive fastball, but not much else. There is still rawness in his game, but Sime took big steps in the right direction this year.
The development of Sime’s slider is the biggest story of this season. Heading into the year, Sime had a curveball and changeup to go with his triple digit heater. Both pitches had promise, but neither were refined yet. In the offseason and during Spring Training, Sime worked hard to find a slider grip that worked for him. He talked about this in an interview last month.
⚾️ Changed his SL grip 5 throwing sessions into the spring based on the tech of the edgetronic cameras and spin axis balls they started using this year. Found inefficiency.
Once he found the right grip, the pitch came naturally to him. The slider became Sime’s go to weapon, even throwing it more than his fastball at times. Sime’s slider has deceptive downward movement that makes it difficult to pick up. Hitters often think the slider is coming and by the time they realize their mistake it is too late.
The development of the slider gives Sime two elite pitches. His body type, pitch mix, velocity and control woes remind me a lot of Jarlin Susana. Like Susana, Sime generates a ton of swing and misses. For the season, his strikeout rate was 41.3%, or 16.18 K/9. Even as he got aggressively assigned to High-A, that strikeout rate remained around 40%.
miguel sime jr. since getting called up to A+: 2.15 ERA (11 ER/46.0 IP) 14.87 K/9 (3rd highest in @MiLB in that span, min 40.0 IP) pic.twitter.com/J81EbB3q58
— Nationals Player Development (@Nats_PlayerDev) August 29, 2026
That mid-season promotion told me a lot about how much the Nats believe in Sime as both a pitcher and competitor. They easily could have left him in Low-A to develop for the rest of the year. However, the organization wanted to challenge him and Sime responded well.
His numbers were actually much better despite facing better opposition. In Low-A, Sime struck out over 45% of hitters, but posted a 4.44 ERA due to a 21% walk rate and some bad luck. Once he got to Wilmington, Sime posted a 2.15 ERA with 76 strikeouts in 46 innings. His walk rate was still an alarming 19.9%, but it did not matter because opponents hit under .150 against him.
Obviously, control is the biggest thing Sime needs to work on. We knew his control was not pinpoint heading into pro ball, and we saw that play out. However, his stuff might be even better than expected. Sime’s fastball shape is very good and as mentioned, the slider has become a lethal weapon. At the Futures Game, Sime’s raw stuff might have been the best of any pitcher.
The pitcher with the best stuff from the Futures Game was none other than the Washington Nationals' Miguel Sime Jr. Once he figures out the command, the ceiling is endless. pic.twitter.com/AIVr4OwMUj
Between the Futures Game outing and his Spring Breakout appearance, the stuff models loved his pitches when there was Statcast data. He has velocity, movement, deception and several different nasty offerings. At 19 years old, there is still plenty of time for the control to come around.
However, that lack of present control does give him a lot of relief risk. If I had to bet right now, I do think the bullpen is Sime’s ultimate home. That is no sure thing though, and the Nats will and should give him every opportunity to prove he can start. With how young he is, we have plenty of time.
Despite his youth, there is a chance that Sime starts next season in AA as a teenager. He showed that his stuff can overwhelm High-A hitters. While he has walk problems, they have not mattered that much yet. In Double-A, those control issues are likely to hurt him more and force him to adapt.
Overall, Sime is a high upside arm with triple digit velocity and a nasty slider. His huge physical presence gives him an intimidating look on the mound. All of these things scream future closer, but his ultimate home is still to be determined.
If the control trends in the right direction, Sime could be one of the top pitching prospects in baseball. Even with shaky control, he has loud enough stuff to make him a fairly safe bet to pitch in the big leagues for a long time. Sime’s first year in pro ball was a resounding success. Now I am excited to see what he can do in year two.
MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 12: A general view of American Family Field during sunset of Game Two of the National League Championship Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday, October 12, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The World Series begins tonight.
Normally, when the Dodgers aren’t involved, I generally ignore the proceedings, reveling in the de facto time off before being absorbed by the many tasks I launch into during every off-season. With this year’s offseason likely to be much longer due to the own goal that is the impending lockout, I have embraced something I generally disdain: procrastination.
The baseball hipsters are drinking their figurative oat drink lattes and living well by reveling in the pending matchup between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Tampa Bay Rays. The list of teams that have never won a title should decrease to four.
As both stadiums are domed, if there are weather delays, something weird has happened. The play on the field should entertain, as the venues themselves are not that picturesque. Still, if you want more information, updated with recent travel, we shall oblige.
Before this year, the last time the Brewers made the World Series, I was gestating in utero (October 1982 vs. January 1983). I know folks in Milwaukee losing their figurative minds about something some started to take for granted in Los Angeles.
I’d tease about their enthusiasm, but unalloyed joy is a good thing. After all, how much of a moron do you have to be to do something to catch my attention by screwing up when everyone is either literally waiting or celebrating?
Timeless…well, Mostly Timeless Tickets
11 years ago, the Milwaukee Brewers sold their Timeless Ticket. For $1,000, one would get a personalized brass ticket that was good for one use only to “any future Brewers home game at American Family Field. Whether it’s this season, the year 2050, or the 7th game of the World Series, all are valid games to redeem a Timeless Ticket.”
Only 1000 tickets were produced, and they allowed for redemption “subject to ticket availability at the time of redemption.”
The Brewers lay out the procedures for redemption, which allow for one ticket and the option to purchase three additional tickets at full regular retail price.
In the fine print, the Timeless Ticket cannot be used for any hypothetical All-Star Game in Milwaukee or any MLB game at American Family Field where the Brewers aren’t playing. On its face, if you suddenly were reminded of Forever Stamps from the U.S. Postal Service, that’s by design, per Darren Rovell of ESPN:
In late October, the team announced it would sell 1,000 “Timeless Tickets” for $1,000 each. They come in 1-pound bronze tickets with the owners’ names engraved on them.
…[A]s the offer went online for the first time, the team announced that it would add another nine timeless tickets to each deal, which would be redeemable for any regular-season game in the team’s future, except for Opening Day games.
The original bronze ticket is good for any single game, including say, a World Series home game at Miller Park, or whatever stadium the Brewers happen to be playing in should they return to the Fall Classic. The team’s only appearance came in 1982.
The idea is the brainchild of Brewers chief operating officer Rick Schlesinger.
“I was at the post office and got caught up with the idea of forever stamps,” Schlesinger said. “So I wondered what we could do to offer our fans something where we could give them the promise of being able to go to any game.”
In theory, speaking from personal experience, it’s a banger of a deal and a heck of a gimmick. I have certainly spent more money on more frivolous Dodgers-related purchases.
Fast forward eleven years, and one would think the Brewers have a public relations layup just waiting for the positive press. “Grandpa bought a Timeless Ticket, and now in his twilight years he gets to see his beloved Brew Crew play for a title after beating those crumbum Dodgers. Also, he bought three additional tickets at full price for his family.”
The positive copy writes itself. Considering how much goodwill there is in Cream City right now, you’d have to be an absolutely incompetent moron to blow it now.
When folks tried to redeem their Timeless Tickets this time, they were presented with the option of Terrance Level seats (Upper Deck) or Standing Room Only. Speaking from personal experience with the venue: ouch. For a Dodger Stadium equivalent, imagine buying a one-time pass that should allow you in the best available seat, including Field Level or the Loge, and instead you have to settle for a seat in the rafters of the Upper Deck.
Back in 2018, Timeless Ticket holders had the option to try to redeem their Timeless Tickets for a potential World Series berth. Some fans were able to secure seats behind home plate at field level. Cody Bellinger and Yasiel Puig had other ideas, making these reservations moot.
It turns out that the Timeless Ticket holders’ position in the queue was bumped at some point. Rather than selecting seating after the season ticket holders, the holders were placed behind the general public, seeing seating options that they could not select.
“Back in 2015, that was a big selling point from the sales people about this,” [Danny] Fochesato said. “They really touted, ‘Hey, this is going to be the best available seats. You’re getting the priority just behind season-ticket holders. Anything the season-ticket holders don’t have, you’ll have dibs at it for the World Series.’ That’s kind of the story they sold.”…
“We had a form, and it only had 400-level or standing-room options,” Fochesato said. “We couldn’t even know what game we had. We just had to put a preference of which ones we wanted, and then we had to submit the form and just sit and wait for them what we got. I immediately was like, ‘No, that’s bogus.'”
Going from “any game, best available ticket” to “hope and pray for the game you want.” We have a word for that situation, but it is unprintable in this generally family-friendly publication. So we will instead use the time-honored substitute of “malarakey,” with indications of another word: “fraud.”
Rather than have to analyze and explain Wisconsin contract law or write about impending lawsuits (I will leave our cousins at Brew Crew Ball to handle that story if it ever comes), the Brewers acknowledged that they screwed up.
Brewers president of business operations Rick Schlesinger said Tuesday that several hundred fans had indicated they wanted to redeem their Timeless Tickets for a World Series game. Schlesinger acknowledged that “we subsequently erred in our internal communications on the logistics of fulfilling the requests.”
“While we were able to accommodate all with seats, we received feedback from some that they were unhappy with their seat locations,” Schlesinger said. “Clearly, even with extraordinary limitations on available seats, we did not live up to the spirit of the program, and we have been working through a resolution.”
Schlesinger said any Timeless Ticket holder who applied for World Series tickets before the deadline will now get to keep those World Series tickets while also being able to retain their Timeless Ticket to redeem for another game in any future season.
“We regret our mistake and look forward to welcoming them to American Family Field for their World Series experience,” Schlesinger said.
[Emphasis added.]
To be a fly on the wall of the Brewers’ Legal Counsel’s office over the past week…Whether these patrons are satisfied is another question entirely. This situation is right out of a law school textbook. But you might think, well, they still get to go; why throw a stink at all?
If I pay for something and you don’t give it, there’s a problem. Or if you change the deal, it better be in a movie, or you’re going to have a problem on your hands.
In short, the Brewers went full Michael Scott; you never go full Michael Scott.
Having to be publicly shamed to do the right thing by their most loyal fans — that’s a move right out of monetizing Dodgers Fan Fest to the gills. If there is a moral here, it is: do not overpromise and then underdeliver.
Sticker shock
World Series ticket sticker shock is emanating from both Milwaukee and Tampa. Direct sales are long gone, leaving the secondary market as supply and demand go into overdrive.
The get-in price for tonight’s Game 1 in Milwaukee is north of $2,000, and the get-in price for Game 3 in Tampa is north of $700. Some Milwaukee fans are likely finding it cheaper to go to Tampa, in which case, welcome to the brotherhood of traveling fans. It’s neat.
No one should have to make what is essentially a rent payment to sit in the upper deck of any game. I am mindful that ticket prices are like real estate: it all comes down to location, location, location.
I understand that sitting at the Loge at Dodger Stadium should cost more than the upper deck. But should that cost equal a small used car (about $2,500 to $3,000, based on current listings on the secondary market)?
I have often decried the “Dodger tax” that I have to pay when I go see the Dodgers on the road. The truth is that it is often significantly cheaper for me to go see the Dodgers elsewhere than in the confines of Our Blue Heaven unless I am willing to entirely abandon a decent view of the game.
It is okay to pay for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
But no one should have to go into debt to enjoy something that they love.
My reaction now: I was being naive, or, if one requires a meme:
It’s not that I don’t have sympathy; it’s that some fans are caught in the gears of a system designed both to pay the players and line the owners’ pockets, especially if the series goes beyond the minimum length.
MLB sets the baseline purchase price for playoff and World Series tickets, which serve as the basis for creating the playoff prize pool that gets split amongst all of the participating players, with the World Series winners getting the largest share.
Spending what I spent to go see regular-season games in Tokyo is one thing, and frankly should not be repeated unless I was living in Japan. But the World Series is different. Last year, I spent around $3,000 USD on the secondary market just for the ticket for Game 7 in Toronto. Remember, I’m not bona fide; I have to pay my own freight. All things considered, I got a heck of a seat for the price.
I could have spent less for a seat farther away from the action, but when it matters, you pay the extra expense to see your team in action. Maybe you see history, maybe you don’t, but at the end of the day, seeing your team on that final stage is what matters. Everything else is silence.
Good luck to the Brewers and Rays in what should be an entertaining and exciting series.
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After dropping their season-opener against Philadelphia, the New York Knicks are back in action tonight against another team looking for their first win.
The Boston Celtics host the Knicks tonight, Oct. 23, for the first NBA on Prime game of the season.
On Tuesday, the Celtics opened the 2026-27 NBA season with a road loss against Detroit.
New Celtics center Mitchell Robinson will face his old team tonight, too; Robinson signed with the Celtics in the offseason after winning the NBA championship as a Knick.
When do the Knicks play again?
The Knicks are back in action tonight, Oct. 23, against the Boston Celtics.
Knicks vs. Celtics start time
Knicks vs. Celtics will tip off at 7 p.m. ET.
How to watch Knicks vs. Celtics for free
Tonight’s Knicks vs. Celtics matchup streams exclusively on Prime Video nationwide, so you’ll have to be an Amazon Prime subscriber to watch the game.
If you aren’t a Prime Video subscriber yet, you can get started with a 30-day Amazon Prime free trial, including Prime perks like the Prime Video streaming service, free two-day shipping, exclusive deals, and more. After the free trial, Amazon Prime costs $14.99/month or $139/year.
TRY PRIME VIDEO FREE
All 18- to 24-year-olds, regardless of student status, are eligible for a discounted Prime for Young Adults membership as well, with age verification. After a six-month free trial, you’ll pay 50% off the standard Prime monthly price of $14.99/month — just $7.49/month — for up to six yearsand get all the perks.
NBA on Prime: 2026-27 Knicks schedule
The Knicks have 10 scheduled NBA on Prime games for the 2026-27 season, not including any potential NBA Cup knockout games.
This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping, Page Six, and Decider.com. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on every streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. When she’s not writing about (or watching) TV, movies, and sports, she’s also keeping up on the underrated perfume dupes at Bath & Body Works and testing headphones. Prior to joining Decider and The New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 22: Tyrese Maxey #0 and LeBron James #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers react against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Xfinity Mobile Arena on October 22, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The 2026-27 NBA season is here.
The Boston Celtics blew a big lead Tuesday afternoon to open the year 0-1. The Philadelphia 76ers have knocked off last year’s Eastern Conference champs and runner-ups in three days. Tyrese Haliburton dropped 23 points and 12 assists in his return to action. And the Lakers opened the season by blowing out the Warriors and helping make Yaxel Lendeborg’s rookie debut a memorable one.
Here are some of the best stories of the opening week of the season as well as key news you may have missed.
The Buffalo Sabres, losers of three of their last four games and tied with Montreal at the bottom of the Atlantic Division, head out on a four game road trip, starting with their first meeting with former teammate Alex Tuch in Washington on Saturday. The club will then head west for a swing through California to finish out the month of October against San Jose, Anaheim, and Los Angeles, but they could be without one of their key youngsters.
Forward Jiri Kulich was struck by a puck at the start of practice at KeyBank Center on Friday. The 22-year-old was bloodied and helped off the ice.
"(It) didn't look good. I don't have an update,” Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said after practice. “We'll get (an update) as soon as he's been evaluated, but he's at the doctor now."
The 22-year-old has three points (1 goal, 2 assists) in eight games. Kulich had his minutes limited in training camp after missing most of last season with a blood clot issue and has missed two of Buffalo’s 10 games, including last week’s 5-4 overtime win over Toronto because of precautionary reasons
#Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff on Jiri Kulich getting injured at practice "(it)didn't look good. I don't have an update....he's been evaluated. pic.twitter.com/N6mLwDL467
In other Atlantic Division injury news, Canadiens center Nick Suzuki is expected to be out two-to-four weeks with a hand injury. The Habs are tied with the Sabres at 10 points after losing to San Jose 4-3 in overtime on Tuesday, and have been looking to add a second line center since last season. The Suzuki injury leaves Montreal stretched thin even more up the middle, with Oliver Kapanen, Alex Newhook, and Kirby Dach likely have to move up into top six roles.
The Ottawa Senators got defenseman Jake Sanderson back against Florida on Wednesday, but lost former Sabres goalie Linus Ullmark to a groin injury in the third period. Ullmark was place on injured reserve on Thursday, but it is unknown how long he will be out.
The Sabres will have to keep pace in the competitive Atlantic playing on the road the rest of the month, as they trail first place Boston by seven points, and a cluster of three teams (Tampa Bay, Ottawa, and Toronto) at 14 points.
It’s been a wild 2026 ride to the Fall Classic. Cubs fans were treated to the first 40-40 season in franchise history. They were also treated to one of the biggest rollercoaster rides in the 150-year history of the team as the Cubs won 10 games in a row twice while also losing 10 games in a row. Ultimately, that inconsistency hit the Cubs at the wrong time as they were swept out of the Wild Card round by the Padres. As some astute commenters noted during the Championship Series previews, there really aren’t a lot of guys on either the Brewers or Rays rosters who have experience on the North Side of Chicago. It’s basically Trevor Megill and a whole lot of guys we’ve never seen in the Cubs system. With that in mind let’s take a closer look at the small market matchup set to begin in Milwaukee tonight.
Brewers vs. Rays: One ring to rule them all
For the first time since 1980 the World Series features two teams who have never won a ring. That means regardless of whether fortune favors the Brewers or the Rays some fanbase is going to experience the ecstasy of a championship for the first time. It’s understandable that a lot of Cubs fans have a soft spot for the Rays in this matchup given our collective frustration at finishing second to the Brewers year, after year, after year, after year:
Look, I’m sure I’ll find some reason to roll my eyes and cheer against the Brewers by the time this World Series is over, but right now I’m just excited for great baseball. If great baseball determines that the Brewers finally win a World Series, I think I’m okay with it. Jake Bauers considering retirement but returning to baseball for the healthcare coverage only to do this is great stuff, regardless of your primary team allegiances [VIDEO].
And don’t get me wrong, there should be some great baseball. As I discussed yesterday in looking at the small market nature of the 2026 World Series, these two teams are perennial success stories in MLB. The Brewers have eight Postseason appearances in the last decade and the Rays have six, these are two of the more successful teams in baseball who are only missing a championship ring.
On the pitching side the Brewers have likely NL Cy Young Award winner Jacob Misiorowski in Game 1 facing off against the Rays Nick Martinez. In Game 2 the Brewers will send Logan Henderson to the mound against Rays ace Drew Rasmussen. While Game 3 starters have yet to be named, it seems likely that would be former Brewer, and ALCS MVP, Freddy Peralta for the Rays and Robert Gasser for the Brewers. Peralta has been excellent this postseason [VIDEO]:
And then it’s a question of bullpens. Both teams have solid bullpens with a clear eye towards who their high leverage guys are in a pinch. That means the Brewers should expect to see a lot of Bryan Baker, Kevin Kelly, Tyler Wells, Cam Booser, and Ian Seymour, while the Rays will likely see Megill, JoJo Romero, Dustin May, DL Hall, Aaron Ashby and Abner Uribe. One wildcard to keep an eye on is the addition of Brewers starter Brandon Woodruff to the World Series Roster:
Brandon Woodruff is on the Brewers World Series roster! He's been sidelined since July 4 with right shoulder inflammation. pic.twitter.com/betTyjgy8b
On the hitting side of the equation, the hottest bats in the Brewers lineup during the League Championship Series against the Dodgers were MVP Bauers and second baseman Brice Turang, catcher William Contreras and outfielder Garrett Mitchell [VIDEO].
The Rays bats were a bit quieter during their series against the Guardians, but look for slugger Junior Caminero to show up on baseball’s biggest stage with his speedy sidekick, Chandler Simpson who hits for average and runs like Pete Crow-Armstrong. I’m personally looking to see how Yandy Díaz performs. Yandy is one of the most underrated hitters in baseball this side of Seiya Suzuki and he’s a big reason the Rays will be in the World Series [VIDEO].
With both teams looking for their first franchise championship, tickets to games in Milwaukee and Tampa Bay are going for prices not seen since the Cubs and Cleveland faced off in 2016. It does not seem like those prices are coming down as game time approaches. The cheapest tickets to get into American Family Field for Game 1 are hovering around $2,900 for an obstructed view seat:
Whether fans can afford to join the action in person, watch with friends at their favorite neighborhood tavern or follow from the comfort of their couch, the vibes around a team’s first World Series win are priceless. Who are you cheering for as action kicks off in Milwaukee tonight?
PHOENIX, AZ - OCTOBER 16: Devin Booker #15 of the Phoenix Suns looks on during the game against the Utah Jazz on October 16, 2026 at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Suns’ 2026-27 season kicked off Wednesday evening with a 124-83 pasting by the Portland Trail Blazers. Booker finished the humiliating night with 23 points on 7-of-13 shooting. It is the beginning of the age-30 season for Suns legend Devin Booker, who reaches that mark on October 30th. Booker will continue his assault on the franchise career leaders this season and likely take the top spot in areas such as career minutes played, field goals, and free throw attempts.
If Booker ends up staying with the Suns throughout his career, he will essentially end up owning that record book.
Records aside, what kind of season can Suns fans expect from the player that undeniably must perform to his fullest capabilities if the Suns want to dream about more than a first-round playoff exit?
Here is a list of other active players during their age-30 seasons. I didn’t include players that had won an MVP (Harden, Westbrook) or that played PF or C. There are wings and guards represented here.
There aren’t a lot of close comparisons to go off. On the list above, Lowry (6), Butler (6), and George (9) have more All-Star appearances than Booker (5). Players like McCollum and White aren’t in that All-Star category but have been solid players throughout their careers. Those players cumulatively averaged 3.8 points, 1.1 assists, and 1.0 rebounds, higher than their career averages in their age-30 season. Every player on that list was above his career scoring average.
Booker’s career averages are 24.6 points, 5.3 assists, and 4.0 rebounds per game. If he averages those numbers vs. his career totals, he would be at 28.4 points, 6.4 assists, and 5.0 rebounds per game. Those numbers would be a career-high scoring average, the 4th-highest assist average, and tied for the highest rebounding average.
That season would also give him the Suns’ season single-scoring record. Tom Chambers currently holds the record at 27.2 ppg, while Booker averaged 27.1 in his best season. My guess is Booker would be happy to get that one in his portfolio. Tom Chambers set the single-season scoring record in…his age-30 season.
There aren’t really any recent examples from the Suns to use for comparison. For the guards, Kevin Johnson was an All-Star (non-MVP) who spent his age-30 season with the Suns. He averaged 20.1 points, 9.3 assists, and 3.6 rebounds that year. Definitely a good season, but not the best for a player who averaged 20/10 three times in his career. Walter Davis was 40 years ago, and he was injured and barely played in his age 30 season. Steve Nash won the MVP in his 30th season, but I didn’t include MVPs in the table above. It would be less likely than a case of lightning striking twice for Booker to pull off the same feat. Charles Barkley won his MVP in Phoenix in his 29th season, but still made the 2nd team All-NBA the next year.
Other great guards that played for the Suns didn’t have their age-30 season in Phoenix. Players like Jason Kidd, Chris Paul, Stephon Marbury, Connie Hawkins, Jeff Hornacek, Dan Majerle, etc., weren’t Suns at that age. It’s a common theme that the Suns don’t seem to keep players into their 30s. Booker becomes an exception.
Going back to the table and looking at BPM, three of the seven players (Lowry, Holiday, and McCollum) had the highest box plus/minus of their career. White’s was the second highest.
Booker has reached the age where athleticism begins to wane, and experience has to make up the difference. The age 30 season gains importance because the clock begins to tick cacophonously. After the age of 30, only Karl Malone, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Steve Nash, and Wilt Chamberlain have won MVPs. It has been 21 years since Nash achieved the feat.
That would be a bar set too high, but there isn’t any reason to think Booker can’t make a push for the franchise single-season scoring record, return to All-NBA form, and be the leader for a team that is very dangerous come playoff time.
On Friday morning, before the Winnipeg Jets traded Connor Hellebuyck to the New Jersey Devils, sources told The Hockey News that the New York Islanders could serve as a third team in a potential Hellebuyck deal, depending on the destination.
The Jets have also been scouting the Islanders over the last few games.
Ultimately, New Jersey and Winnipeg completed the blockbuster without needing a third team to asbord salary or take on player for roster purposes.
However, had Hellebuyck landed elsewhere, a third-party facilitator may have been necessary.
The deal: Winnipeg traded Connor Hellebuyck to the New Jersey Devils for forward Dawson Mercer, injured forward Nick Bjugstad, goaltender Nico Daws, 2026 first-round pick Alexander Command, a 2029 second-round pick, and a 2027 seventh-round pick.
The Islanders, off to a 5-3-2 start through 10 games, are missing that elusive goal scorer and still have questions about their defense.
General manager Mathieu Darche currently has $1.986 million in available space, but the Islanders can create additional flexibility by moving on from injured defenseman Alexander Romanov.
Under the new CBA, the Islanders could receive up to $3.97 million in relief by placing Romanov on LTIR. They also have the option to place him on Season-Ending LTIR, which would give them $6.25 million in relief, but he'd be ruled out of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs if the Islanders qualified.
Darche has been involved in the trade market this season but has yet to take part.
The Dodgers know they have an aging roster. They know they have to incorporate younger players into their lineup before too many of their cornerstones become too old to remain competitive.
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman smiles during a workout ahead of Game 3 of baseball’s National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers, Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026, in Los Angeles. AP Photo/Jae C. Hong
The team is too good to blow up, but also too old to keep together and expect next season to end any differently than this one.
The Dodgers were the oldest team in baseball this year, and they could be even older next year. Depending on when next season starts – owners are expected to lock out the players on Dec. 1 and the work stoppage could extend into the season – the Dodgers could field an opening-day lineup in which every one of their players outside of Tucker and Pages are 32 or older.
Freeman will be 37, Muncy 36, Betts and Hernández 34.
So much for a youth movement.
On the surface, this might seem like an easily-solvable equation.
The Dodgers’ farm system has a number of high-level prospects, headed by 21-year–old outfielder Josue De Paula, who was called up to the major leagues in September and made the playoff roster as a pinch hitter.
In practice, the situation is more complicated.
The Dodgers could address their long-term concerns by replacing their aging players with prospects, but they can’t do that without compromising their short-term goal of returning to the World Series.
“We’ve talked about the challenge of a team with our expectations, of how to phase in young players,” president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said. “It’s really difficult because you can’t phase in three guys (and) expect them to hit the ground running.”
There are no guarantees with prospects.
As talented as De Paula is as a hitter, what if the Dodgers open a place for him in their outfield by Hernández only to learn his defensive shortcomings outweigh his offensive production?
Eduardo Quintero, Mike Sirota and James Tibbs III have shown great promise in the minor leagues, but that doesn’t always translate to success in the major leagues. Who remembers Gavin Lux?
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Josue De Paula celebrates his RBI double against the San Francisco Giants during the sixth inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, in Los Angeles. Wally Skalij for CA Post
Then again, if the Dodgers wait too long to offer these players chances to break into the team, they could find themselves a couple of years with more rookies in their lineup than they would like. The contracts of Freeman, Muncy, Hernández and Tyler Glasnow aren’t guaranteed beyond the upcoming season.
While the Dodgers season ended with them being swept by the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Championship Series, they were still the second-best team in the major leagues.
They won’t revamp their roster for the sake of revamping it.
“If we started the season tomorrow,” Friedman said, “we feel really good about the roster and team that we have.”
The last major overhaul of the Dodgers transformed them from a team built around Corey Seager, Justin Turner and Cody Bellinger to one with Ohtani, Freeman and Betts as their centerpieces. The process didn’t happen overnight.
Before the 2020 season, the Boston Red Sox were looking to move Betts, who was in his walk year. The Dodgers pounced, picking up Betts in a bargain and signing him to a 12-year extension.
Following the 2021 season, the Dodgers lost Seager, who signed with the Texas Rangers as a free agent. They found a left-handed-hitting replacement for him in Freeman, who was out of contract with the Atlanta Braves.
The next winter was marked by the departures of Turner and Bellinger. Ohtani signed with the Dodgers a year later.
Andrew Friedman, President of baseball operations for the Los Angeles Dodgers, speaks to the media prior to Game 1 of the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. Getty Images
The upcoming transition won’t be as seamless, particularly with the free-agent market being barren of elite hitters.
The Dodgers don’t have as much financial flexibility as they had back then, as they now have a number of long-term contracts on their books. Anticipated changes in the collective-bargaining agreement can lead to greater restrictions on how much they can spend on players.
Their best way out of this predicament would be to trade for players in the primes of their careers – say, Elly De La Cruz of Cincinnati Reds, or CJ Abrams or James Wood of the Washington Nationals. Players like that would inject youth into the lineup but wouldn’t require on-the-job training.
Of course, the cost for a player such as De La Cruz or Abrams would be prohibitive. Whether their teams would even be open to trading them will almost certainly depend on the details on the next labor agreement.
The Dodgers won’t really know what they’re dealing with until the next CBA is ratified. Their roster makeover will have to wait until then.
They can do so with the knowledge they still have one of the better teams in baseball – but also with the fear of that not being enough to satisfy their demanding fan base.
Cubs fans celebrate a win during the World Series at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois, United States on November 2, 2016. (Photo by Emily Molli/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images
Everything in the world is different than it was in 2016 — sometimes I am paid to say the obvious. Ten years ago we saw multiple curses end, billy goats and black cats forever exorcised, as Kris Bryant threw to Anthony Rizzo and the Cubs had finally won it all. Bryant was the MVP of the National League that year, a seven and a half win season in his sophomore campaign. Anthony Rizzo was just 26 and finished fourth in that MVP race, Addison Russell was 22 manning shortstop and he also received votes for the league’s top individual honor.
That Cubs team is known for their collection of home grown bats, but the pitching staff was talented in its own right, albeit a little more mercenary. Jake Arrieta wasn’t quite the Cy Young winner he was the year before but the Cubs had four three-win starters in their rotation, and while Kyle Hendricks was the only one under the age of 30, the combination of a very good rotation, elite homegrown (read: cheap) position players, and a big market with the capacity to spend…surely the North Side would see more than one pennant from that group.
And well.
Ten years on the Cubs did make the playoffs five times, with two division titles, but that’s mostly it. Anthony Rizzo’s career effectively ended when Fernando Tatis Jr.‘s hip slammed into his head, Kris Bryant has become one of the great baseball tragedies of our era, and Russell abused his wife and is playing in the Mexican League. The Cubs are a playoff team again, and flags fly forever — especially ones tied to 108 year old poles — but you kind of have to think that proto-dynasty left something on the table.
A year later, the Yankees themselves seemed on the edge of a dynasty. Aaron Judge should have been MVP, Luis Severino was one of the three best pitchers in the AL, Greg Bird wasn’t just locking down first base, he was creating playoff memories, and Gary Sánchez seemed to be a foundational piece of a winning team for a decade to come. That decade’s nearly come and gone, Aaron Judge has lived up to that potential, but as for the rest of what seemed like an ascendant group…let’s put it this way, Sánchez might well win a World Series before Judge does.
The Yankees haven’t had a losing season in my lifetime. The seasons when they do miss the playoffs stand out like scars, for the entire time I’ve been aware of the concept of baseball, the team’s pretty much been in the so-called window of contention. They could have won the World Series this year, they could have last year, could have the year before, and on and on.
The Red Sox got their ring, like the Cubs, before doing the unthinkable and dealing away one of the best players in franchise history over money. They’ve remained a playoff team, even knocking the Yankees out of the postseason in the so-called Baby Bombers era.
The World Series starts tonight, with two teams built on the cheap, that came out of their respective leagues as the top seeds. The Brewers have been in the so-called championship window for two seasons now, the Rays seem to enter and swiftly exist theirs nearly year to year. The Cubs and Red Sox had to learn sometimes you only get one, no matter how sustainable things look. The Yankees haven’t even gotten one, and stare down an uncertain 2027 with an aging roster.
The window’s never as open as you think it is. Gotta climb through now.
LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 02: Members of the Boston Red Sox celebrate after the Boston Red Sox defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium on Sunday, August 2, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Nicole Vasquez/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Every season has a couple of different high-water marks. The first is obvious and mathematical; and for the 2026 Red Sox, it came on September 7th after a win against the Angels. That victory pushed the team a season high 15 games over .500, and to an 80-65 record.
But a more indelible high-water mark came about five weeks earlier near the end of the team’s astounding 32-5 midsummer heater. Here, the Red Sox had just swept the Dodgers, moved to within five games of the division and American League leading Rays, had the trade deadline to improve even more in the next 24 hours, and were surrounded by delightful rumors suggesting that both Roman Anthony and Garrett Crochet might return for a stretch run healthier than they actually did.
For me, this is somewhere around the moment where my “I think the Red Sox can win the World Series” meter peaked in my head. (The only other competition was after Opening Day before everything went haywire.)
It’s not just that the Sox swept the mighty Dodgers, it’s all the other tidbits surrounding it. The LA sweep came at the end of the second west coast road trip in a month, where they went a combined 15-1. Furthermore, they had now swept the Dodgers, Yankees, Rays and White Sox in the last five weeks, all of which were in first place when the sweeps started. This meant the Sox were now 13-0 since June 25th against a lineup of teams they were likely to see on their path to a championship.
Within these games, things were even crazier. Ceddanne Rafaela launched four home runs over the weekend in the Hollywood spotlight, and bumped his OPS over .800 as the calendar flipped to August.
If he could do this now, what might the Sox lineup look in a few weeks if they traded for Adley Rutschman (rumors were swirling), got Roman Anthony back, and got Willson Contreras healthier? Surely they wouldn’t be the worst offense in baseball in the month of September, right? ….. RIGHT?!?
Speaking of Contreras, he didn’t have a hit in this series against the Dodgers. Instead, he was hit in head early in Game 1, which caused him to leave and miss Game 2, and then when he returned for Game 3 before an off day (probably against everybody’s better judgement), he went 0-5 with two strikeouts despite the four guys surrounding him in the lineup reaching base a combined ten times. The point is that while Contreras was the team’s best hitter all year, they essentially put up 20 runs in three games against the Dodgers without him.
And while it was obvious they certainly didn’t run into the true teeth of the Dodger rotation for most of this series, they did beat Yoshinobu Yamamoto in the middle game, who despite going eight innings, only stuck out three Red Sox all night.
The winning pitchers in this Dodger series were Brayan Bello, Justin Slaten, and Jake Bennett, and five different players had at least one RBI in both the first and last game, which is all a great window into how everything the Sox touched was turning into gold at this stage of the season. The future was unknown, and ultimately, that’s what made the peak of the summer so magical.
We didn’t know Ceddanne Rafaela was going to cool off to the tune of a .520 OPS after August 17th. We didn’t know Adley Rutschman was going to post an OPS under .700 after joining the Sox the following day. We didn’t know the Roman Anthony we were about to get back was a guy who had only improved enough to play hurt down the stretch. We didn’t know Garrett Crochet wouldn’t pitch again in the regular season. And we didn’t know just how fleeting the magic of the summer would be once the team took its foot off the gas in late August.
Instead, in this moment, in a place made for dreams, a World Series run seemed as close as ever. Unfortunately, as the team prepared to go home and turned east towards the California desert in the direction of Fenway Park, those dreams turned out to be nothing more than a mirage.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 22: LeBron James #23 celebrates with Jaylen Brown #7 and Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers during the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Xfinity Mobile Arena on October 22, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In the first half of their home opener on Thursday night, the Sixers were being serenaded by boos. And they deserved it, as LeBron James later admitted.
After Tyrese Maxey tied the game at 11 early on, the Cleveland Cavaliers rattled off a 24-7 run to finish off the first quarter. The Sixers fell into a 29-point deficit in the second quarter and headed into the locker room down 69-45 at halftime.
At that point, the Sixers had two choices. They could have gone through the motions in the second half and decided it just wasn’t their night, particularly if the Cavs started the third quarter off strong. As Joel Embiid said after the game, past Sixers teams “would have just laid down and tried to move on to the next one.”
Instead, the Sixers opened the third quarter on an 11-0 run and got right back into the game. The end result? The biggest comeback win in LeBron’s career, the Sixers’ biggest comeback win in the past 30 years, and what Embiid first called a “top-five night for me since I’ve been in Philadelphia.” (He later amended that to top-three before admitting that he “just kind of made it up.”)
After the game, reporters naturally asked everyone on the team about the mood in the locker room at halftime. To a man, they responded that they viewed the halftime deficit as an early-season litmus test.
Nick Nurse: “There’s some veteran guys in there, and the voices at halftime were like, ‘It’s still a game. Settle down, and let’s start playing our game.’ They were pissed. They were down and pissed both. Getting over what just happened, realizing, ‘Oh my God, we’ve gotta snap out of it.’ And then getting ready to go to work.”
VJ Edgecombe: “We know that we’re gonna face a lot of adversity this year. That was one of them. It’s all about how we respond. That was the main thing when we went in the locker room. How are we gonna respond to being down 30 points, 29 points? How are we gonna respond?”
Tyrese Maxey: “My only message that I had, I said, ‘Well, it’s time to see what we’re made of.’ We gonna be some frontrunners and give in and only be happy when stuff is good? Or when stuff is bad, are we gonna fight and be resilient? We did that.”
Jaylen Brown: “I think I said it’s a great opportunity for us to respond to adversity. There’s gonna be ups and downs all year long. How we respond is gonna be 80 percent of the battle. It’s a good sign that we came out, being down 30, we could have been pointing fingers. We got after it, so I like that.”
LeBron James: “It was basically just saying, ‘Let’s see what we’re made of at this point of the season.’ I don’t think we’ve got a locker room full of lay-down guys, there’s a lot of game to be played. We answered the call.”
They did indeed.
After turning the ball over 14 times in the first half—which led to a 22-3 Cleveland advantage in points off turnovers—the Sixers had only two giveaways in the second half. They completely flipped the script on the Cavs by scoring 19 points off turnovers in the second half compared to zero for Cleveland.
That ball security also allowed the Sixers to get their half-court defense set more often. With Maxey ramping up the ball pressure and hounding James Harden, the Cavaliers’ free-flowing offense from the first half was nowhere to be found in the third quarter. The Sixers trimmed 16 points off their 24-point deficit in that quarter alone, getting the Xfinity Mobile Arena crowd back into the game after their dismal first half.
From there, the Sixers started hunting mismatches.
Midway through the fourth quarter, Embiid went on a personal 7-0 run to put the Sixers ahead for good. Brown then took over with a 6-0 run of his own, as it looked like he took it as a personal slight that the Cavaliers dared to have Sam Merrill try to defend him. (Perhaps he took cues from Luka Dončić’s response to Yaxel Lendeborg on Wednesday?)
As Steve Jones of Yahoo Sports noted after the game, the Sixers figured to show that type of problem-solving in the playoffs, when it’s easier to create opponent-specific game plans. Their ability to figure it out on the fly only two games into the regular season is eye-opening.
For the second straight game, one major adjustment was sticking Embiid on a non-shooting wing on defense and having LeBron and Brown able to guard up. Once Dean Wade is back in the fold, he’ll likely get a crack at those types of assignments as well. That defensive versatility is a tool that few other teams can match.
The Sixers still have plenty to figure out, as they all readily admit. They’re still developing chemistry with one another, still figuring out where everyone should be on offense and still learning how to pick and choose their respective spots. But their refusal to lay down and quit against Cleveland spoke volumes about this team.
“It’s great to know that deep down, we’re not gonna have that quit mentality,” LeBron said after the game. “You never want to feel like that. You never want to look around and be like, ‘OK, guys gave up.’ It’s great to know that we’ve got that. But you don’t want to put yourself in too many of those situations.”
Dating back to media day, they all preached about needing to develop championship habits from day one. As the New York Knicks proved during the 2026 NBA Finals, the ability to stay resilient amidst that type of adversity is the very definition of a championship habit. After all, the Knicks would have headed back to San Antonio tied 2-2 had they not overcome a 29-point deficit in Game 4.
The Sixers once again had a dismal night from long range (7-of-28), but the three-point shot is the great equalizer in the modern NBA. We’ve seen time and again throughout the league that almost no lead is safe. Teams have to run hard through the tape or they risk coughing up leads that once seemed insurmountable.
After Game 4 of the Finals last year, Brunson explained the secret behind the Knicks’ never-quit mentality.
“We just keep fighting,” he told reporters. “And now we’re going to continue giving it everything we got. Regardless, even if we don’t win Game 4, I feel like the habits that got us back into the game could have carried over into Game 5.”
On Thursday, the Sixers showed that exact type of resilience against the Cavaliers. Although they’d be far better off not falling into a nearly 30-point hole in the first half, their ability to battle back from that and emerge victorious bodes well for this group moving forward.
Jent, Brunson and O’Connor will get their real rings “shortly,” said a league source, who added that the distribution of 275 championship rings was always the plan. All the Knicks assistant coaches will eventually receive championship rings, league sources said.
The NBA Championship Trophy along with the Knicks Championship rings on the court before the ring ceremony. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“The company is gifting more than 275 championship rings and jewelry to players, coaches, employees and other members of the Knicks family, worth more than $3.7 million, in recognition of their contributions and celebrating this achievement,” an MSG spokesman told The Post.
The Garden also acknowledged an error involving a mass email sent to MSG corporate staffers several weeks before the ceremony. The email asked the staffers to click on a link to be fitted for a championship ring, sources confirmed. However, the link led to a mandatory cybersecurity class – a tactic the Garden deployed as response to a hacking incident.
Jalen Brunson #11 receives his ring from Knicks alumni Walt “Clyde” Frazier in a pregame ceremony. Carlos Toro for NY Post
An MSG spokesman called the use of rings an error.
“The company had previously sent out an email to its corporate team as a simulation of a phishing attack designed to strengthen our security against hackers,” an MSG spokesman told The Post. “MSG was recently hacked and extorted using an employee login and password obtained through a similar phishing attack. Using the rings as a lure to gain employees attention was an unfortunate mistake.”
New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) smiles after receiving his championship ring before an NBA basketball game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Madison Square Garden in New York, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
All current Knicks players received championship rings before Tuesday’s home opener against the Sixers, as did former Knick center Ariel Hukporti, who was at the arena with his new Philadelphia teammates. Team executives Leon Rose and William Wesley also got their rings Tuesday.
To the relief of many in NHL circles, the saga swirling around goaltender Connor Hellebuyck has finally come to a close, as the Hart and Vezina Trophy winner was dealt to the New Jersey Devils on Friday for center Dawson Mercer, goalie Nico Daws, 2026 first-rounder Alexander Command, forward Nick Bjugstad, and a pair of draft picks.
Until the very end, the Buffalo Sabres were connected to the gold-medal winning netminder, as recently as this week leading up to the deal, but Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said on Thursday’s 32 Thoughts podcast that the Sabres and the Utah Mammoth were hoping that Winnipeg would feel the pressure of moving Hellebuyck prior to the end of his suspension on Friday, and that they were waiting for the asking price would come down.
Hellebuyck trade confirms that Sabres believe Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is their goalie going forward.
The rumors may have understandably caused a distraction with Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who reportedly could have been part of a trade for Hellebuyck around the NHL Draft in June, and may have been moved elsewhere had GM Jarmo Kekalainen been able to consummate a deal.
"(You) kind of learn to deal with (the rumors). You can't escape it," Luukkonen said after being informed about the trade. "I don't go automatically to read (trade rumors), but I think anybody who says that they don't see it or they don't read it. They're lying, because you can't really escape it nowadays. If I'm not on social media, my friends will send it to me. So you can't escape it and I think and it's a stupid mentality to think that ' if I don't see it, it's not happening.' "
Luukkonen is focused on being more consistent after an up-and-down start to the season, something that head coach Lindy Ruff is looking for from his starter, who is expected to make his fifth start in a row against Washington on Saturday.
" I think there's been just key saves at key times in the games for us that has really made a difference. We know that there's kind of a threshold (Luukkonen) gets to when he plays a number of games, and then we need to get somebody else in the net." Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said. "I think any time a goalie gets to roll a few games in a row, he gets a little bit of momentum and starts to feel good about parts of his game."
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 22: Nick Martinez #28 of the Tampa Bay Rays participates in workouts prior to game one of the 2026 World Series between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Tampa Bay Rays at American Family Field on October 22, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The World Series begins tonight with the Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays each looking for their first championship. The Rays have gotten close with two pennants before – they fell to the Phillies in five games in 2008 and in six games to the Dodgers in 2020. Because of their roster churn, the only player from that pennant-winning club six year ago that is still on the team is Yandy Díaz.
The Brewers have only gotten this far once before, way back in 1982 when the mustachioed Rollie Fingers was closing games for ‘Harvey’s Wallbangers.” They were a group of boppers that smashed 216 home runs (a lot in the dead ball 80s!) and featured two future Hall of Famers in the lineup – Robin Yount and Paul Molitor.
The matchup of small market clubs may not be what TV executives are looking for, but no one should have any sympathy for TV executives! Besides, MLB and its TV partners will be fine. Although World Series TV ratings have been slipping for years as people have more options (including distractions on their phones), it is still one of the most-watched events on TV.
Here are four reasons why Royals fans should tune in to this year’s World Series.
Small market solidarity
The Rays play in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area, a mid-sized market, but their antiquated stadium in a poor location has depressed attendance. The Brewers play in Milwaukee, the smallest market in Major League Baseball. The two teams ranked among the bottom ten in player payroll, each spending less than what the Royals did on talent this season.
Their success story may undermine the argument put forth by owners that baseball needs a salary cap to increase competitiveness, although on the other hand *hand waves at all the Dodgers dominance the last few years*. But it is fun to root for the underdogs, the teams that don’t have the lavish resources the coastal clubs enjoy. The Rays and Brewers got here through smart player development, shrewd trades, good coaching, and players making the most of their opportunities. Royals fans can be forgiven for being a bit jealous.
Local connections and old friends
The Brewers feature two Kansas City kids on their pitching staff. Jacob Misiorowski graduated from Grain Valley High School, and later Crowder College in nearby Neosho, before the Brewers selected him in the second round of the 2022 draft. He now features the most electric fastball in baseball that allowed him to post a 1.80 ERA that was the lowest in baseball, and he is the odds-on favorite to win the Cy Young.
Jacob Misiorowski started the game with 21 consecutive fastballs. ⛽️
Aaron Ashby went to Park Hill High School in Kansas City before attending Crowder. His uncle Andy was also a Park Hill and Crowder grad that spent 14 years pitching in the big leagues. Aaron led the Brewers in games pitched with 75 and is one of the most valuable relievers in baseball as a groundball pitcher who gets a 50 percent whiff rate on his breaking balls.
The Rays have lefty reliever Garrett Cleavinger, who pitched for Lawrence High School as a “Chesty Lion” before going to Oregon. Cleavinger made 60+ relief appearances in the last two seasons before regressing this year with some injuries. Cleavinger did not make an appearance in the ALDS, and was left off the ALCS roster, but is back on the World Series roster.
Neither World Series roster includes any former Royals, but a few old friends made appearances with each team. The Brewers had pitcher Angel Zerpa, who missed most of the season with an injury, and outfielder Blake Perkins, who once played in the Royals’ farm system. The Rays had pitchers Jonathan Heasley and Aaron Brooks – who was on the Royals pennant-winning teams in 2014 and 2015. Royals reliever Craig Kimbrel also pitched briefly for the Rays this year.
Small ball is back, baby
The Brewers finished second in all of baseball in runs scored, while the Rays finished twelfth. But neither has taken the “grip it and rip it” approach that has dominated much of the game. Each team hit fewer home runs than the Royals. Instead, they tied for tops in baseball in batting average. They are both in the top five in on-base percentag. They are both top five in hitting the ball on the ground, and they are the top two teams in hitting the ball to the opposite field. Milwaukee is the best team in baseball at drawing walks. Tampa Bay is the best team in baseball at not striking out.
They also like to run on the bases – both teams are top five in baseball in stolen bases. A total of 12 players on both teams stole ten bases or more this year. They were also the top two teams in most sacrifice hit attempts and two of the most successful teams in productive outs. They find ways to score runs, which can be a huge plus when you’re facing dominant pitching staffs in the postseason.
This success has been interpreted by some as a refutation of analytics. However, these are actually two of the most analytical teams in the game!
Three teams left, and all three have bigger-than-average analytics staffs.
Brewers: 46 (2nd in MLB) Rays: 39 Guardians: 30 League average: 28.5
The Phillies have the biggest staff in baseball, and they're already home. Like payroll, it's one input. Everything else combined… pic.twitter.com/EbV5BXkpnr
They are also two teams that invest in scouting more than most teams in baseball. And that just shows smart teams use all information to make their decisions. And if the data says zig where other teams have zagged, that’s what these teams do, with great success.
A battle of the best teams
The World Series just hits differently when it is the actual top two teams that make it through the postseason gauntlet. The Brewers won 103 games, most in club history. The Rays won 98 games, five more than any other American League team. In the Wild Card era, this is just the sixth time the teams with the top record in each league have met in the World Series.
1995 Braves (90-54) over Indians (100-44)
1999 – Yankees (98-64) over Braves (103-59)
2013 – Red Sox (97-65) over Cardinals (97-65)
2020 – Dodgers (43-17) over Rays (40-20)
2024 – Dodgers (98-64) over Yankees (94-68)
And their records are no accident. These are balanced, deep teams built for a championship run.
The Brewers have been one of the biggest spenders in the Latin American free agent market, and it has paid off with star hitter Jackson Chourio. Chourio hit a walk-off single in the NLDS against the Padres and led off Game 3 against the Dodgers with a home run. He is a power/speed threat, becoming the first player in Major League history to achieve three 20-homer, 20-steal seasons before turning 23 years old. William Contreras, who was acquired in shrewd three-way trade from the Braves in 2022, has a patient eye and has been a steady presence at the plate. First baseman Jake Bauers has had a late career renaissance after trying to retire two years ago, smacking 26 home runs this year and helping the Brewers to lead the league in offensive production at first base.
Misiorowski paces the pitching staff, but the Brewers have relied heavily on their bullpen in the postseason. Brewers relievers had the second-lowest ERA in baseball at 3.51 with the highest strikeout rate in baseball. Milwaukee also gets some help for this series with the return of veteran pitcher Brandon Woodruff, who has been out since early July with a shoulder injury.
The Rays are led by MVP candidate Junior Caminero, who has one of the highest hard-hit rates in baseball. His 42 home runs were tied for the fourth-most in the game. The Rays also get pop from Yandy Diaz and Jonathan Aranda, each of whom hit 20 home runs this year. Chandler Simpson provides the speed, leading all of baseball in steals (46) and infield hits (42).
Rays pitcher Drew Rasmussen, a former Brewers pitcher, has been one of the top arms in the American League this year, leading the league in strikeout-to-walk ratio. Nick Martinez won 15 games and has the lowest walk rate among qualified pitchers. Closer Bryan Baker has been lights out with 41 saves, tied for the most in baseball.
