ATLANTA, GEORGIA - SEPTEMBER 23: Chris Sale #51 of the Atlanta Braves reacts during the second inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Truist Park on September 23, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Major League Baseball will give MVP awards for the League Championship Series and the World Series. They do not award an MVP for a Wild Card Series or a Division Series. I’m not sure why the earlier rounds don’t have their standout players honored. Let me understand this. After 162 games and 6 plus months of baseball, sets of three and five games aren’t that meaningful. Why are we playing them then? It’s almost as if it’s stupid for a team to win their division only to turn around and possibly play the second or third place team in their division en route to an additional three rounds to win the trophy. Or maybe have a sub-.500 team host one of these rounds is any better? Yeah, yeah I know. Money. Can’t you just sell another 20 games to Netflix and make up the difference?
Sorry for the aside. While I’m having my one-way argument against Rob Manfred, why not consider the difference makers of the Braves and who will come up big? Chris Sale could go a long way to putting a stranglehold on this coming series at home. I think Drake Baldwin might do something special. I have this feeling that Mike Yastrzemski might stay hot.
So who would win a theoretical NL Wild Card MVP? As long as a Brave is among the winners, anyone would be fine.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 25: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on during the game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Friday, September 25, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by CJ Lauretani/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
There are so many ways that one can describe this team right now. There is a lot of (rightful) negativity going at the team thanks to the supreme funk they have put themselves in, so let’s let it all hang out. What is the best nonprofane word that you can use to describe the Phillies right now? There are so many to choose from – frustrating, disappointing, etc. – that one can think of, but I’m sure that many of you can be a little more eloquent than I.
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 25: CJ Abrams #5 of the Washington Nationals and Nasim Nuñez #26 celebrate after defeating the New York Mets 7-6 at Nationals Park on September 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Washington Nationals will be staying out of last place in 2026! With the 7-6 win last night, the Nats officially secured 4th place in the division. While 4th place is obviously not the goal, it is a clear step forward. As long as the Nats did not get swept, they would avoid last place and that is exactly what happened last night.
One thing that made it even sweeter is the fact that it will be the Mets who finish last. Despite being a bit of a meme, the Mets actually do not tend to bottom out. This is actually their first last place finish since 2003. Given their massive payroll, that is quite a disastrous outcome. The Nats made that outcome a reality last night.
The Mets finish LAST in the NL East for the first time since 2003 🤯
It felt important to get that one win and stay out of last. With how the team played for most of this season, it would have been cruel to be in the basement at season’s end. Outside of a brutal 6 week stretch that basically doomed the season, this team has played inspired baseball.
The game last night was quite the whacky one. Andrew Alvarez has pitched so well this season, but he did not have it in this one. His command was all over the place from the jump. A combination of uncompetitive misses and pitches in the middle of the zone doomed the southpaw.
Alvarez settled in a little bit and Blake Butera wanted to get him through 5 innings to qualify for a win. However, Alvarez allowed two homers in the 5th and was pulled. Despite pitching very well this season, Alvarez will finish the year with a 2-6 record.
Unlike most Alvarez outings, the Nats actually gave him a lot of run support tonight. That started with a CJ Abrams two run single in the first. Abrams thought it was gone and watched the ball fly, but it hit off the wall. He has not done that since Opening Day, but it was not the best of looks for CJ. A wild third inning which saw 4 wild pitches helped the Nats cash in four more runs.
However, the deciding run in this game came in the bottom of the 7th. After Justin Hagenman blew a fastball by Dylan Crews to start the at bat, he tried to do it again. This time Crews was ready and hit an absolute bomb out to left field to make it a 7-5 game.
After Jack Sinclair allowed a run on a sac fly in the 8th, we were going to be in for a tense finish. The only question was who was going to close the game. After working 4 times in 5 days, Erik Tolman was likely unavailable even after the off day. That limited the options.
Blake Butera turned to a surprise candidate, Josiah Gray. The former All-Star just rejoined the big league club, and now he was being thrust into a massive spot. Gray did not have a save in his career entering last night. Now, he was being trusted to face Lindor and Soto in the 9th.
Things started very well for the 28 year old. He got Christopher Morel to pop up and then struck out Lindor. After pitching around Juan Soto, it all came down to Bo Bichette. While Bichette has not had a great first season in Queens, he has had a lot of success against the Nats, including a home run in this game.
After getting ahead 1-2, Gray got Bichette to chase a breaking ball that was nearly in the dirt. Somehow, Bichette made contact, but it was only a dribbler back to the pitcher. Gray picked it up and fired to first to get his first save. He bounced on the Nationals Park mound in triumph as he got his first ever save.
It was a very long road back for Gray, who was pitching at Nationals Park for the first time since April of 2024. You can tell he was very emotional, not only about the win. This was not just a feel good moment though. A performance like that also puts Gray in the mix for a bullpen, or even rotation spot in 2027.
Honestly, I quite like Gray in the bullpen. He can just spin guys to death with his slider, curve and sweeper. Gray only threw one fastball on the night, but he still had success. I think he has the chance to be a solid arm in the ‘pen.
Overall, this was a great night. It was fantastic to stay out of last place and do it in style with the Gray save. Today will be an early start at 12:45. The pun was intended there as Connelly Early will also be making his Nationals debut today. After last night, the Nats now have 10 more wins than last season. Let’s see how many more they can get.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - SEPTEMBER 25: Jacob Degrom #48 of the Texas Rangers reacts to giving up a run on a wild pitch against the Minnesota Twins in the second inning at Target Field on September 25, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Having moved a scheduled Saturday game against the Orioles up to Friday for a straight doubleheader, the Yankees and O’s split the twin bill. Baltimore blew out Brendan Beck and company in a 10-2 loss in the opener—an ignominious follow-up to CC Sabathia’s number retirement—but Ryan Yarbrough and Will Warren combined to lead them to 17 strikeouts in the 6-3 nightcap win. Most importantly, everyone remained healthy. Wins and losses don’t matter for the regular season at this point! Now, they wait at home for the storm to pass today and see if they can play a Game 162 tomorrow. If not … see you on Tuesday for the Wild Card Series, Boston.
Here’s what else was going on Friday among the remaining AL playoff hopefuls.
Tampa Bay Rays (97-63) 2, Philadelphia Phillies (87-73) 0
We’ll only take a minute on this one since—with all due respect to the playoff hopes of our friends in Philly (but boy is it suddenly getting tense with the Diamondbacks hot on the trail)—it really doesn’t mean much with Tampa Bay locked into the top AL seed. The Phils got a really nice outing from ace Cristopher Sánchez, who fanned 10 Rays in seven innings of work. But he did allow an RBI single to Jonny DeLuca in the first and a solo shot to catcher Nick Fortes in the second, and with the Phillies absolutely sputtering … yeah, that was it. Freddy Peralta blanked Philly through 5.1 before a quartet of relievers completed the four-hit shutout, Bryan Baker notching his 41st save of the season.
Boston Red Sox (86-74) 4, Chicago Cubs (88-72) 3 [Game 1]
It took a little longer than anyone expected, but the Red Sox officially locked themselves into the No. 5 seed in the American League and a date with the Yankees in the Wild Card Series. The best-of-three will begin on Tuesday with all games in the Bronx. At first, it seemed like Boston’s odd skid would continue when the Cubbies plated three within the first four outs. Tyrone Taylor had doubled in Seiya Suzuki following a one-out walk in the first, and the trio of Matt Shaw, Michael Busch, and No. 9 hitter Miguel Amaya continued the mini-parade against Alec Gamboa in the second with with a single and a pair of doubles, Amaya’s going off the Green Monster to drive in a pair.
Part of that rally had involved Shaw getting thrown out on a grounder to third though, and Chicago never scored that fourth run. They would rue that result, with typical starter Jake Bennett getting his first relief appearance in anticipation of the Wild Card showdown and throwing 3.2 scoreless. Greg Weissert and Raymond Burgos continued to keep the Cubs off the board for the rest of the game as their offense rallied off Clay Holmes. A rare error by Dansby Swanson brought in the first Boston run in the fourth, and Holmes allowed a leadoff single to former Yankees teammate Isiah Kiner-Falefa in the fifth, followed by a Roman Anthony double. He got one more out, but Caleb Thielbar entered and allowed a game-tying knock from Adley Rutschman.
The Red Sox took the lead in the seventh, breaking the tie off Aaron Civale when Anthony tripled and Connor Wong doubled him in. With Weissert and Burgos silencing Chicago, that was all she wrote. The only downside for Boston was that surprise story Mickey Gasper had to leave the game early with biceps discomfort.
Boston Red Sox (87-74) 2, Chicago Cubs (88-73) 0 [Game 2]
The weather got gloomier as the day went along but the Red Sox left Fenway with a clean doubleheader sweep. Boston kept Brayan Bello in playoff tune-up mode despite coming off an outing of eight innings of 11-K, one-run ball, and they still twirled a shutout. Bello blanked Chicago through four, departed with his pitch count at 58, and gave way to rookie Jedixson Paez, making his fifth career appearance. Paez outpitched Bello, fanning five in five shutout frames to earn his first career win.
David Peterson’s own five zeroes for the Cubs were in vain. The scoreless tie was broken up in the eighth with IKF and Jahmai Jones (another former Yankee) on base after walks. Wilyer Abreu cracked a double off Ryan Rolison to plate both runners. That was all Boston needed. The Cubs had hoped to host a Wild Card Series at Wrigley, but that’s looking unlikely now with the Padres a game and a half ahead of them. Game 162 will determine their flight path, and they’ll need a flight just to play it. The nor’easter is not supposed to get any better in Beantown over the weekend, so the Sunday game will be at a neutral site: Tropicana Field. Let’s get weird.
When Jacob deGrom was rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, opportunities like this one undoubtedly drove him. Yes, the AL West is lousy, but the Rangers can easily win it and they had deGrom out there against a team playing out the string in the Twins. Even with Joe Ryan on the bump opposing him, they felt great. Instead, Minnesota clobbered deGrom and tallied six in the second, Luke Keaschall delivering the big blow on a two-run triple. The two-time Cy Young Award winner was tagged for eight runs in four innings of work. The news got worse for the Rangers learned that top bat Josh Jung broke his hand on a hit-by-pitch; he’s likely done for 2026. This one had to hurt, and deGrom was furious at himself in the postgame, saying multiple times that he was “embarrassed.”
Well don’t worry Jacob because remember: the AL West is lousy. The Rangers lost while the Astros were still playing on Friday, so they had a golden opportunity to seize control of the AL West, especially because they own the tiebreaker and were facing a terrible A’s team. Said terrible A’s team held off Houston and won, 6-5. A six-run sixth proved to be enough for the A’s offense as Hunter Brown’s once-solid outing went by the wayside with awful relief from Bennett Sousa, who failed to record a single out and allowed three runs. Henry Bolte smacked a two-run triple in the frame and the A’s had a commanding 6-1 lead.
Houston did fight back, in part because the A’s bullpen is horrific. Cam Smith homered and a rally in the eighth broke the score to 6-5 with runners on second and third after a wild pitch. Baby Bomber alum Luis Medina fanned Smith though and Houston was held at bay. Nelson Velázquez got a one-out walk in the ninth to put the go-ahead run on against Hogan Harris, only to be erased on a Jeremy Peña double play ball, stranding Yordan Alvarez in the on-deck circle. For the first time in MLB history, we are guaranteed a full-season division winner with either a .500 record or worse because neither Houston nor Texas can be better than 81-81.
Cleveland Guardians (84-76) 12, Kansas City Royals (68-92) 9
Funky one in KC. The Guardians maintained their hot streak and withstood rallies from the Royals to win late without actually getting all that many hits. They had a dozen runs scored but only nine hits. Carter Jensen slugged two homers and drove in five for the Royals, but it wasn’t nearly enough, even with a tied-up ballgame at 7-7. Six walks and a fielder’s choice in the eighth led to Cleveland plating three without a hit before the surging Angel Martinez drove in two with a double to make it a 12-7 game. Salvador Perez’s 324th career homer cut into the lead in the ninth, but the Guardians held on to maintain their one-game lead in the AL Central.
Chicago White Sox (83-77) 6, Colorado Rockies (57-103) 1
Munetaka Murakami clobbered a pair of dingers to reach 35 in his rookie MLB season, and both came off countryman Tomoyuki Sugano, who he’d homered against twice in NPB play. Sean Burke threw 5.1 innings with one run allowed, and all that was easily plenty for the Pale Hose to take care of business on the South Side. They’ll just need some help from KC if they’re going to pass Cleveland for the division again.
Sep 25, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; New York Mets right fielder Carson Benge (3) dives back to first base against the Washington Nationals during the third inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Meet the Mets
The Mets fell to the Nationals 7-6 in what was an sloppy game for both teams, but a disastrous third inning that featured four wild pitches—two of them forcing in runs—sealed the Mets’ fate. On the bright side, with his 20th home run last night, Carson Benge became the first Mets rookie to have a 20-20 season.
The second game of this weekend’s series between the Mets and Nationals, originally scheduled for 4:05pm, will be played at 12:35pm due to the rain in the forecast later this afternoon and evening in Washington DC.
“Anything that can be in the history book and done for the first time is something special,” Carson Benge said about becoming the first Mets rookie to have a 20-20 season. “I hold that close to my heart.”
“If it matters to a Mets fan, it matters to me, but deep down, if I think about it, there’s playoffs and there’s not playoffs. There’s nothing we’re going to do to get to that spot,” said Andy Green prior to last night’s game about the importance—or lack thereof—of avoiding the cellar in the NL East. “As we watch other teams celebrate inclusion in playoffs, that should leave a bitter taste in all of our mouths to get back there. That’s all I’m really concerned with.” Last night’s loss to the Nationals ensured that the Mets will indeed finish in last place this season.
Prior to yesterday’s game, the Mets called up Justin Hagenman, who pitched the bulk of last night’s game in relief, and optioned Jack Weisenburger. Also, Xzavion Curry cleared waivers and was outrighted to the FCL Mets.
The Phillies were shut out 2-0 by Freddy Peralta and the Rays, as the Diamondbacks won their game last night and inched within a game of Philadelphia for the final NL Wild Card slot (and own the tiebreaker over the Phillies) with two games to play. The Phillies were five games ahead of Arizona with eight games to play and are now in danger of missing the playoffs.
The Braves, with their NL East title already secured, were shut out by the Marlins 3-0. Eury Pérez ended his season on a high note with a one-hit shutout, striking out eight.
Around Major League Baseball
The Mets weren’t the only team whose games were impacted by the incoming Nor’easter this weekend. The Cubs and Red Sox—already originally scheduled to play a doubleheader yesterday—instead had the final game of their series moved to Tropicana Field in Tampa to avoid a soggy Fenway Park. The Yankees and Orioles preemptively moved the game originally scheduled for today and played a doubleheader yesterday.
With a 4-3 victory over the Cubs in Game 1 of yesterday’s doubleheader, the Red Sox secured the No. 5 seed in the AL and a matchup with the Yankees in the AL Wild Card Series.
“I don’t know,” said George Springer when asked whether he plans to retire after this season. “I love this organization. I loved being a Blue Jay. I’ve loved every single bit of being here. I haven’t really gotten that far yet. I’ve kind of taken every day with these guys in stride.”
“No comment,” Pope Leo XIV said with a smile when asked if he had any divine influence over the White Sox’s 2026 season. ”Great things happen in Chicago.”
MLB.com ran down the top 20 selling jerseys for the 2026 season. Not surprisingly, Shohei Ohtani was number one with Aaron Judge and Pete Crow-Armstrong rounding out the top three. Juan Soto was tenth, the only Met to make the list.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. apologized yesterday afternoon for comments he made earlier in the week in a Spanish-language interview with Veronica Batista, in which he said that he was being paid his $500 million contract for what he’d done in the past, not what he’d do in the future. “I just gave it some thought, and I felt like the comments I made the other day were not really what I wanted to say,” he said. “I felt that everyone, my fans and everyone, deserves an apology from me.”
Yesterday at Amazin’ Avenue
Vasilis Drimalitis previewed the final series of the season between the Mets and Nationals.
In a new episode of Today Your Love, Tomorrow the World Series, Brian Salvatore and Chris McShane discuss Andy Green being installed as the new permanent Mets manager and the Mets’ addition of Derek Falvey to the front office.
This Date in Mets History
The Mets became the first New York baseball team to draw 3 million fans in a season on this date in 1987, the year after their championship campaign. The Yankees would eventually do it too, but it would take another dozen years.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - SEPTEMBER 25: Nick Fortes #40 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates after hitting a solo home run in the second inning during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on September 25, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Rays stayed healthy in a game that didn’t matter to them — and won.
That’s about all you can ask for at the end of the regular season post-clinching. And they looked good doing it, sporting the sweet new Tampa Bay road grays.
Jonny DeLuca got the jump on Phillies lefty Christopher Sanchez (‘fOrMeR rAy!’ Yes, we get it.) with an opposite field RBI single, 1-0 Flappy Boys in the first.
Nick Fortes cut through the 17 MPH wind in from left field at Citizens Bank Park to extend the Tampa Bay lead to 2-0.
In the top of the third, Junior Caminero nearly left the yard but the aforementioned wind took 38 feet off the distance of his 107 MPH missile to center field, resulting in a flyout to Justin Crawford (damn I’m old).
Freddy Peralta dazzled yet again, going 5.1 IP while striking out four and only allowing four hits.
In Peralta’s last six starts, he’s gone 5-0 with a 0.79 ERA, only allowing three earned runs over 34 innings.
Freddy Peralta tonight:
5.1 IP | 4 H | 0 ER | 3 BB | 4 K | 12 Whiffs
He was up in velocity, sitting 96.2 mph and topping out at 98.5 mph. His changeup returned a 40% Whiff%, and he mixed in some sliders and sweepers.
Cam Booser, Kevin Kelly and Cole Sulser each earn holds while Brian Baker earns his 30th save in a row, a team record.
You could tell the Phillies were pressing tonight.
They have not clinched a postseason berth, and their magic number was two coming in to tonight’s game.
Not only did they go 0-6 with runners in scoring position, and the Arizona Diamondbacks, the team directly behind them in the NL Wild Card standings, won 11-4.
As expected in Philly, they got booed mercilessly at “The Bank”.
CHARLOTTE, USA - APRIL 3: Kon Knueppel from the Charlotte Hornets against Kobe Brown from Indiana Pacers during the NBA game at the Spectrum arena in Charlotte NC, United States, on April 03, 2026. (Photo by Peter Zay/Anadolu via Getty Images) | Anadolu via Getty Images
Last year, former Duke star Kon Knueppel missed a game and remarked that it was the first time he had ever missed a game. The guy is nothing if not durable.
Unfortunately, he’s going to miss a few games now, as the second-year Charlotte Hornets star has suffered a hamstring injury. It may keep him out for all of the preseason, and possibly some of the regular season as well.
It’s a tough break for Knueppel, obviously, but it’s not the worst timing for the Hornets. They’ll get a chance to look more closely at Christian Anderson (get ready for a lot of puns about his hands – Hands Christian Anderson, get it?), and how players like Grayson Allen, Liam McNeely, and the newly acquired Buddy Hield could fit in.
When Knueppel gets back, the Hornets could be better for the experience.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 25: Tarik Skubal #29 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches against the San Francisco Giants in the bottom of the first inning at Oracle Park on September 25, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Tarik Skubal’s final regular season tuneup went about as well as he and the Dodgers could have hoped, with 10 strikeouts in seven scoreless innings on only 75 pitches, with no walks against the San Francisco Giants on Friday night. On the season the left-hander had a 2.72 ERA and 3.06 xERA in 158 2/3 innings, including a 2.61 ERA, 3.15 xERA, and 23.2-percent strikeout-minus-walk rate in 10 starts for the Dodgers.
“It’s awesome to be a part of something where the standard is winning a World Series. That’s the way everybody goes about their business, from ownership to president to GM to manager to players, and then you talk about support staff and the chefs in the kitchen, the flight attendants … They all go out of their way to make sure you have everything you need to go out there and perform. I feel like everyone in this organization is rowing in the same direction and everybody wants a World Series just as bad as the players do.”
Jarrett Seidler at Baseball Prospectus ranked all 30 MLB front offices and wrote many words about his hierarchy over the last few weeks. After writing about Nos. 21-30 and Nos. 11-20, Seidler on Thursday wrote about his top 10 front offices, with the Dodgers No. 2 overall, one of three teams in his top tier along with the top-spot Brewers and No. 3 Rays. From Seidler:
The Dodgers remain the best team around at trades, both buying and selling. They remain at or near the top in draft acquisition, player development, and research. They are going to be one of the best teams in baseball deep into the 2030s on an annual basis. They got Shohei Ohtani to sign with them. So there’s a lot going for them.
But I just don’t know how one can call the guys who signed the Kyle Tucker deal seven months ago—a deal that is currently trending towards being the literal worst contract in the history of the sport—the best front office in baseball, ultimately.
Other Dodgers minor leaguers named All-Stars at their level were James Tibbs III as designated hitter in Triple-A, third baseman Jake Gelof in Double-A, Davalan and pitcher Zach Root in High-A, plus third baseman Chase Harlan and outfielder Jaron Elkins in Class-A.
Triple-A end-of-season awards should be announced on Saturday, with the Triple-A title game coming at 7:05 p.m. PT in Las Vegas between PCL title-winning Oklahoma City and Rochester, the International League champs.
As the Vancouver Canucks continue to trim their roster, one familiar name remains. After missing most of the 2025-26 campaign with injury, defenceman Guillaume Brisebois is focused on becoming a full-time NHLer. The 29-year-old fan favourite has performed well through the pre-season and could be on the verge of making Vancouver's opening-night roster.
Brisebois's journey with the Canucks has been a roller coaster. The organization drafted him in 2015, but constant injuries have derailed any momentum he's tried to build at the NHL level. Over a decade since he was drafted, Brisebois remains motivated and ready to do whatever he can to impress the coaching staff.
"I approach it pretty much the same way," said Brisebois. I want to make the team and just trying to work hard and keep going. I've had some injuries. I've been battling some stuff. So feels good coming into this camp being healthy. So I don't have to really think about that anymore."
The injury issue has been a major problem for Brisebois. Since making the jump to the pros in 2017, he has played 306 AHL games and 30 NHL games, including just nine AHL games in 2025-26. As Brisebois explained, dealing with injuries is difficult, but his love for the game keeps him motivated to keep playing.
"It's been really hard. But at the same time, it's my passion for hockey. I love hockey, and I want to get better. So every time I come back from injury, that's what I'm trying to do. I'm trying to get better, and I try to persevere through it."
This past off-season, Brisebois signed a one-year extension with Vancouver. In fact, as of contract signing date, he is the longest-tenured player in the organization. When asked about his continued loyalty to the organization, Brisebois mentioned his bond with the Canucks new GM.
"Just the way they treat me and the way they've been treating me, especially through injuries. They've been there through those tough times. With Ryan Johnson also, I've been with him for the past 10 years that I've been here. We've had a really good relationship, and that's what keeps bringing me back. They help me get to the player I am and also the person, so I am really grateful for that."
If Brisebois is going to make the NHL lineup, he needs to impress not just Johnson but also his former Abbotsford Canucks coach, Manny Malhotra. The two had success in the AHL, including winning the 2025 Calder Cup. As Brisebois explained, Malhotra is not just a strong coach on the ice, but off it as well.
"He brings positivity to the group. He's an amazing leader. He's a great human. So I think the whole combination of being a good human, being a good like he's got really good hockey knowledge. So when you mix everything together, it's a really good mix, and especially for that group. I think it's going to be really beneficial."
As mentioned, Brisebois has become a fan favourite within the organization. Whether he is playing in the NHL or AHL, he receives a lot of support from Canucks Nation on social media. Brisebois is well aware of how fans feel about him with the constant support being one of the reasons he chose to re-sign yet again.
"I obviously appreciate it. I am very grateful for that, and I'm happy that they're behind me. It helps a lot. Especially through tough times, when they could say some stuff about the injuries and everything. But they've been really good to me, and everyone's been great in Vancouver. That's also a reason why I wanted to come back and make it through with them and not with another organization."
Overall, Brisebois has a simple goal this season. He wants "to play games" and wants "to be healthy". A player who is easy to cheer for, Brisebois will make an impact this year regardless of where he plays.
Dec 28, 2024; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Guillaume Brisebois (55) shoots during warm up prior to a game against the Seattle Kraken at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
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Congratulations to the Chicago Cubs for making the playoffs!
Best wishes to Taylor McGregor at ESPN!
Hooray for Bleed Cubbie Blue!!!
Okay. That’s enough. For now.
Just like with No. 39, Stolen Base No. 40 was easily swiped by PCA on the first pitch. As has been said, the only way that PCA wasn’t going to get to 40/40 was if he didn’t stop hitting home runs. But as hard as it could be to imagine, this accomplishment was just one of a number of them Thursday.
Matthew Boyd added yet another stellar performance in the Wild Card clincher. Boyd allowed one run on five hits and two walks in seven strong innings while having struck out three.
Going into the bottom of the fifth, down 1-0 to the Marlins, it was beginning to look like runs were going to be at a premium. Then Seiya Suzuki’s 26th home run tied up the game at 1-1.
The Marlins blinked again in the sixth, when Ian Happ hit a triple to right-center and was driven home on Nico Hoerner’s RBI single for a 2-1 advantage. Daniel Palencia and Ryan Zeferjahn teamed up for scoreless eighth and ninth innings to head to the playoffs.
Wednesday saw the Cubs lose their second straight to Miami, but that was after Kevin Gausman’s yeoman efforts on and off the mound. Gausman fired off 101 pitches in 5.2 IP, 67 by strike, having allowed two runs on six hits and a walk while having added seven strikeouts. On pitch 101, Gausman went to cover a vacant third base, took the throw from first and made an awkward tag for the putout. It is hopeful that the non-pitching shoulder soreness won’t delay his return next week.
Offensively between the two games, with only four runs scored, there weren’t any big numbers. But leaders were Suzuki, 3-for-7 with a walk and HR, and Happ, Hoerner and Pedro Ramirez all went 2-for-7. Happ had a walk, two runs scored, a double and a triple. Hoerner had the GWRBI. In addition, Michael Busch went 2-for-4 with a run scored, and Michael Conforto had a double, both on Wednesday.
I appreciate your reading.
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Matthew Trueblood (North Side Baseball): Powered By Departing Heroes, Cubs Clinch Playoff Berth in Last Chance Before Home Fans. “In what might have been his final home game as a Cub, Ian Happ hit a clutch triple and scored the winning run. The Cubs clinched a trip to the postseason, on a sun-splashed day that gave a valiant team a fitting sendoff as they prepare for the tournament.
Jordan Bastian (MLB.com): Cubs punch return trip to postseason on banner day for PCA. “No team is immune to trials and setbacks, but the 2026 Cubs were battered with injuries and obstacles that tested the group and created some drama when it came to finally punching the ticket to the postseason.”
Jordan Bastian (MLB.com): Cubs fall to Marlins, still in pursuit of elusive playoff spot. “The Cubs took the field Wednesday night with a chance to clinch their spot in the National League postseason field. They headed back into the clubhouse with uncertainty still hovering overhead, even as a trip to the playoffs remained the probable outcome.”
Tyler Courtney (LastWordOnSports): How the Cubs Playoff Rotation is Shaping Up. “With the MLB postseason race shaping up, the Chicago Cubs’ playoff rotation is becoming clearer.”
Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation): Two Great Items on Pete Crow-Armstrong. “As we await his entry into the 40-40 club – and his eventual coronation as the most glaringly obvious NL MVP – I happened upon a couple great Pete Crow-Armstrong items I thought you might enjoy.”
Chris Pownall (DaWindyCity): Craig Counsell delivers concerning Alex Bregman injury update as Cubs face crucial stretch. “The Chicago Cubs desperately need Alex Bregman back in their lineup, but his recovery isn’t going quite as smoothly as they’d hoped. Craig Counsell delivered an injury update Thursday that included some encouraging progress at the plate, along with a lingering concern that could complicate his return.”
Jesse Rogers (ESPN): Counsell says Cubs at disadvantage after schedule change. “Cubs manager Craig Counsell was quick to point out the disadvantages his team faces this weekend after the league moved Sunday’s contest against the Boston Red Sox to Friday due to a poor weather forecast.”
Gaye Adegbalola was born on March 21, 1944, in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Adegbalola’s father, Clarence R. Todd, was the first Black school board member in Fredericksburg, as well as a jazz musician. Adegbalola’s occupations after college included being a technical writer for TRW Systems, a biochemical researcher at Rockefeller University, and a bacteriologist at Harlem Hospital where she was also the local union representative. She helped her father direct the Harambee Theater, sometimes acting in performances herself, until his death in 1977. That same year, Gaye began studying guitar.
Saffire – The Uppity Blues Women was first formed as a duo in 1984 by Adegbalola and her guitar teacher, Ann Rabson, with Earlene Lewis joining later to form a trio. Adegbalola later became a full-time blues performer and in 1990 the band recorded its first album for Alligator Records. During the 1990s, Adegbalola held workshops on various aspects of blues music and worked as a blues music reporter for the World Cafe program on National Public Radio. Her first solo album, Bitter Sweet Blues, was recorded in 1999. In addition to her own original compositions (“You Don’t Have to Take It (Like I Did),” “Big Ovaries, Baby” and “Nothing’s Changed”), the album had cover versions of songs by Bessie Smith, Smokey Robinson, Ma Rainey and Nina Simone.
Please be reminded that Cub Tracks and Bleed Cubbie Blue do not necessarily endorse the content of articles, podcasts, or videos that are linked to in this series.
DENVER, COLORADO - SEPTEMBER 20: Jake McCarthy #31 of the Colorado Rockies hits a triple in the sixth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Coors Field on September 20, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning, Purple Row!
There are two games left in the 2026 season, and there is absolutely nothing left for the Rockies to settle in the standings.
There is, however, one oddly specific statistical chase still worth watching.
Jake McCarthy enters Saturday with 30 doubles, 13 triples, 15 home runs and 32 stolen bases. He needs two more triples over the final two games to reach 15 in all four categories.
Individually, none of those numbers jumps off the page, but putting all four together is rarer than you might think.
Corbin Carroll has done it this season and in 2025, accounting for the only two 15-15-15-15 seasons in the last 10 years.
That makes just eight such seasons by six players over the past 21 seasons.
McCarthy still needs two triples in two games, so it is very much an outside shot. But it gives the Rockies one more quirky statistical chase before the season ends.
Beyond Colorado, there are only three real races left in the standings.
In the American League, Houston and Texas enter Saturday tied atop the West at 79-81, with the Astros holding the tiebreaker. Cleveland also holds a one-game lead over Chicago in the AL Central.
In the National League, Arizona has stormed to within one game of the sputtering Phillies for the final Wild Card spot. The Diamondbacks have won six straight while Philadelphia has dropped three in a row.
There isn’t much left to the regular season, but there are still plenty of reasons to keep tuning in.
Thomas Harding digs into Colorado’s biggest offseason problem: a rotation that has spent the season near the bottom of just about every meaningful category and helped drive a brutal late-season collapse. The Rockies are expected to be aggressive in free agency and on the trade market, while also considering more creative ways to piece together innings with the pitchers already in the organization.
Sugano’s season gets a C-minus from Miguel Mike Medina, though the grade was handed out before he actually made his final start of the year. He then closed things out Friday by allowing four earned runs over 6.2 innings, putting the finishing touch on a season that had some legitimately strong stretches before falling apart late. The grade is a little harsher than I probably would have gone, but it is still a useful look back at Sugano’s uneven one-year run in Colorado.
Sam Phalen looks ahead to José Quintana’s return to the South Side, where the longtime White Sox starter could now complicate Chicago’s push for the AL Central. Quintana spent six seasons with the White Sox from 2012-17 and built a reputation there as one of baseball’s steadier starters before bouncing around the league, making Saturday a pretty fitting setting for what could be his final major-league start.
A brutal 7-28 finish makes the Rockies’ progress a tough sell, and Troy Renck argues that the biggest culprit is a familiar one: starting pitching. He also digs into Josh Byrnes’ support for Warren Schaeffer and a front office willing to rethink everything from rotation usage to unconventional pitching arrangements as Colorado searches for answers heading into 2027.
Anthony Volpe getting a look at third base could further squeeze former Rockie Ryan McMahon out of New York’s postseason plans. McMahon still brings value with the glove, but his offensive struggles have become increasingly difficult to overlook as the Yankees experiment with other options at the hot corner heading into October.
Johnny Flores Jr. puts the AL West’s mess into historical context: Houston and Texas are both 79-81 with two games remaining, meaning the division champion can finish no better than 81-81. That guarantees MLB will have its first playoff team from a full 162-game season without a winning record.
The Brewers reached 100 wins for the first time in franchise history and locked up the No. 1 overall seed. They did it in unusual fashion, too: Milwaukee became the first 100-win team in MLB history without a winning streak longer than five games, and now heads into October trying to avoid the early exits that have tripped up most recent 100-win clubs.
Just days after taking a foul ball to the face and suffering multiple fractures, Alex Bregman was already back in Chicago’s lineup Friday. He went hitless in four plate appearances, but simply getting through a full game was a big step for a Cubs team that will need him healthy for October.
Arizona just keeps applying pressure. Steve Gilbert breaks down the Diamondbacks’ sixth straight win, an 11-4 rout of San Diego that pulled them within one game of Philadelphia for the final NL Wild Card spot. Arizona still needs some help, but it owns the tiebreaker and has turned what looked like a long shot into one of the last real races of the regular season.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 12: Rafael Devers #16 of the San Francisco Giants hits a two run home run at Oracle Park on September 12, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Andy Kuno/San Francisco Giants/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning, baseball fans!
The final weekend of San Francisco Giants baseball is upon us, and as we have spent the rest of the season picking the Player of the Week, I thought today we would make our picks for Player of the Year.
BUT, before we get started, there is to be no stat checking whatsoever. This is strictly based on your memory of the season that was. The time will come for player reviews and further introspections. This is not that time. This is the time for vibes.
So, based on my recollection of this season and having picked players every week of it, my pick absolutely has to be Rafael Devers. I don’t keep stats on how many times I pick players during the course of a season, but I know for absolute certain that I picked Devers more than any other player. He was a rare bright spot in a season of dark clouds. So he’s my guy.
Who is your pick for Player of the Year?
What time do the Giants play today?
The Giants play game two of this three game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers this afternoon at 1:05 p.m. PT.
Welcome to Inside the Suns, a deep down analysis of the current Phoenix Suns team in which the Fantable — a round table of Bright Siders — give their takes on the Suns’ latest issues and news.
Fantable Questions of the Week
Q1: This Monday is Media Day. What are the top 3 questions you would ask IF you were guaranteed to get 100% honest answers to them?
zenzino: Oooh! 100% honesty? Who shot JR? Where’s the beef? The mind boggles. (Yeah, I’m an 80s kid)
This is actually pretty tough. 100% honesty doesn’t help if they honestly don’t know the answer. You can’t ask about how players will work out. Most things they’ll just try and see.
Here’s my try at it:
Jordan Ott: What are the key things you learned from your first season as a head coach, and what are you changing this season based on that?
Mark Williams: Why do you keep breaking? Jordan Ott: Do you think Maluach and Fleming are ready to make significant contributions this season? If not, what do they need to show you, and what is the projected timeline?
Devin Booker: You’ve been dedicated to the Valley your whole career, and Mat Ishbia says he is ride or die with you. Is there any reasonable situation where you would consider asking to be traded?
Ashton: To start, I hope it is live-streamed on YouTube, as the comment section can be hilarious and stupid at the same time. Also, I hope that BSotS is well represented in this one and can get a question in or two. But Monday is going to be softball week for questions with long Mat Ishbia dialogues. I like the fact that this question asks for 100% honest answers and that could make me as ruthless as a reporter with a hypodermic syringe full of CIA-grade truth serum under the bright media lights. Ah, who am kidding? I would just need a bucket of water and a towel.
But I would not do that (I think), but I am sure the commentators might. Let’s get the softballs out of the way.
Coach Ott: Do you see a scenario where your starting line-up includes Collin Gillespie?
Coach Ott (again): Now that we know that Mark Williams will miss most of the season, what is the strategy for the front court? Will there be smaller lineups?
Devin Booker: The modern NBA has shifted to more of a three-point shooting offense. Where do you see yourself in this offense? As a 3pt shooter or a ball-moving facilitator?
The entire room: I actually want this one answered with a pre-and-post truth serum injection. You get the softball answer, and then after the truth serum, you give your real answer. Let’s include media in this as well.
How many games do you honestly expect the Suns to win this season?
BSoT writers, I hoped it helped, but you should just pull a Dave King-like article asking the board for questions.
Rod: First off, I’d like to state that I wouldn’t waste one of these questions on Mat Ishbia. A lot of the things he says sound like pure hype, but I’m not at all certain that he doesn’t actually believe them himself and, as with anyone, what people actually believe is true isn’t always factual. I believe Jordan Ott’s views of this team would be the most realistic.
To Ott: What do you see as the most realistic goal for the Suns this season?
Also to Ott: Do you think a Jalen Green/Devin Booker backcourt has a real chance of actually working out well?
To Book: How does this team compare to the 2020-21 Suns team that went to the NBA Finals?
Q2: Preseason games start in just over a week. What are you most looking forward to seeing in the first game?
zenzino: SUNS BASKETBALL!! Next question.
Between NBA and NFL, I think preseason is getting increasingly pointless, with starters often being mostly or even completely held out. I would like the new-look starting lineup to get some minutes together in preseason rather than start to work it out as the season begins.
What I hope I see is the Suns play at least the first half of each preseason game as it matters. I’d like to see an old-school preseason so the Suns can hit the ground running when the regular season starts. I don’t think they (or any team in the West) can afford a slow start while they figure things out.
That being said, I’m looking forward to seeing the young guys getting minutes with full NBA players to see if they can continue what we saw in Summer League.
Oh, and no injuries!
I’m looking forward to seeing the new-look starting lineup and how they mesh together. And Oso making some free throws.
It would be interesting to see if he can take that year-two leap into being a starting center.
Ashton: After Mark Williams’ injury, my attention completely pivoted to the C position. I normally would have inserted Miles Bridges into the starters here (my Fantable peers will cover me), but now I am looking at the Big Men in Oso and KM. I would not mind a two-fer as an answer to this question with split minutes between them both, but I will take Khaman Mulauch as the one to watch.
It would be interesting to see if he can take that year-two leap into being a starting center.
Rod: I want to see how well Book. Green, Brooks, and Bridges mesh in the starting unit. Obviously, we still have no idea whether Oso or Khaman will be the 5th starter yet, and whichever one does start will have an impact on how well the starting unit plays together, but due to injuries, we never really got a good look at how well a Booker/Green backcourt would work together, and the addition of Bridges adds yet another new wrinkle.
And while the starting unit is weak in three-point shooting, I wouldn’t call it “bad”…but it is something to be concerned about. Seeing how they play as such will be something I’ll keep an eye on. They’ve got some guys who can get hot from three in the starting unit, but will they rely on the uncertainty of that happening and fire away from three or concentrate on getting to the basket more?
Q3: To keep Doup Reath on the regular season roster, the Suns would have to waive Bouyea or Highsmith OR one of the two-way contract players (Brea, Huntley & Spencer). If they decide to keep Reath, who would you waive to create a roster spot for him?
zenzino: This would be super easy to name a knee-jerk person.
It seems like most people think Bouyea would be the obvious choice. But I say, “Not so fast!” Bouyea got his chance on a roster loaded with guards because of injuries. The Suns are still loaded with guards, but not as much as it appears. We lost GA and gained Kennard. While the 3-point bump was improved, the rest of what GA brought will be mostly missing. I don’t see Kennard bringing the versatility GA brought.
Granted, Kennard filled in admirably for the Lakers in the playoffs, but that is a small sample size against a team missing their best facilitator and best scorer. And, as soon as they put Thompson on him, he was shut down.
While many are high on Spencer (I also think it was a good signing), I still think Bouyea is a proven asset within this system and with these players. Especially if we get the pre-concussion version.
Unless health is an issue, I am not swapping Highsmith for Reath. Nope. A healthy Highsmith is the 3-and-D this team needs off the bench.
That leaves the two-way spots. I’m sure we’ll see some Spencer in pre-season. I’m not sure about Brea and Huntley. Brea was so good shooting in college; I would love to see him find the range in the NBA. Especially since the Suns offloaded almost half of their 3-point shot-making and replaced them with one shooter who barely shoots 4 a game. I suspect there will be more than a few games this season where the Suns die by the 3.
Because of Huntly’s injury, we didn’t get to see him in SL. I have no idea where he’s at with his development or how much runway he’s going to get.
To sum up: No for Bouyea and Highsmith. If Reath does really well in camp (and preseason?), I’d like to see him on a 2-way. I’ll let the coaches decide whose spot he gets.
Ashton: I am really not sold on any of the names given and wouldn’t lose sleep if any of them were waived. I would say keep Highsmith for size, and Bouyea is just a fan favorite all around. I have not seen enough of Spencer to have any type of judgment, and maybe I should have made him the focus of Q2 as the Suns will need 3pt shooting, badly.
When it is all said and done, I guess Huntley is the odd-man out, as I hold out hope the Brea’s long-range shooting percentages increase.
Rod: Since Mark Williams will likely return about the time a two-way player’s eligibility would run out, I’d prefer that the Suns waive one of the two-way players and sign Reath to a two-way contract. If it was done that way, I’d waive Brea to open up a spot for him. Out of all the possibilities, Brea has just impressed me the least and would likely not be missed…even by the Valley Suns. It’s also possible that they could bring Brea back on a G League contract to play for the Valley Suns as they did with Huntley last season.
If they want to get him on a standard NBA contract, the decision becomes a little harder. I think Highsmith might be the more valuable player overall, but I’d hate to lose the PG depth by waiving Bouyea…but then the Suns also have Spencer on a two-way contract, so the need to hang on to Bouyea might not be as great as some might think. All things considered, I suppose I’d go with waiving Bouyea, unless Highsmith’s still not back to 100%.
As always, many thanks to our Fantable members for all their extra effort this week!
Suns Trivia/History
On September 27, 1972, Al McCoy called his first game for the Phoenix Suns, a 128-102 preseason win at the ABA’s Utah Stars to move to 3-0 following 2 wins vs NBA teams in Puerto Rico. The game was played under ABA rules, which included the three-point line __ years before the NBA adopted it. Utah was 0-10 from 3 with the Suns not even attempting a shot from downtown.
On September 27, 1983, the Suns signed Paul Westphal as a free agent to a 2-year contract. Three years earlier, Westphal had been traded by Phoenix to Seattle for Dennis Johnson. He would play only one more season with the Suns before being waived and subsequently retiring.
On September 28, 1993, Phoenix signed 30-year-old power forward A.C. Green as an unrestricted free agent. Green, who played his first 8 seasons for the Lakers, played 3.5 seasons for the Suns and averaged 10.6 ppg and 7.7 rpg while starting 162 of 273 games played.
On October 1, 1991, the Suns traded Xavier McDaniel to the New York Knicks for Jerrod Mustaf, Trent Tucker, a 1992 2nd-round draft pick, and a 1994 2nd-round draft pick. McDaniel had been acquired by Phoenix the previous season from the Seattle SuperSonics for Eddie Johnson, a 1991 1st round draft pick, and a 1994 1st round draft pick.
On October 1, 1997, as part of a 3-team trade, the Phoenix Suns traded a 1998 1st round draft pick, a 1999 1st round draft pick, a 2000 2nd round draft pick, a 2001 1st round draft pick and a 2002 2nd round draft pick to the Denver Nuggets and then sent Tony Dumas and Wesley Person to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavaliers sent back a 2005 1st-round draft pick, and the Nuggets sent Antonio McDyess to Phoenix.
Important Future Dates
Sept. 28 – Media Day Sept. 29 – Training Camp opens Oct. 5 – Suns @ Pistons (preseason) 4:00 PM Oct. 7 – Suns @ Bulls (preseason) 5:00 PM Oct. 10 – Suns vs. Spurs (preseason) 7:00 PM (ESPN2) Oct. 14 – Suns @ Spurs (preseason) 5:00 PM Oct. 16 – Suns vs. Jazz (preseason) 7:00 PM Oct. 20 – 2026-27 NBA Season Begins Oct. 24 – NBA G League Draft Oct. 26-Nov. 5 – NBA G League Training Camp Nov. 6 – NBA G League Tip-Off Tournament begins Dec. 15 – Most players signed to new contracts can be traded Jan. 5 – 10-day contracts may now be signed Jan. 10 – All NBA contracts are guaranteed for the remainder of the season Jan. 15 – All players signed to new contracts can be traded Feb. 11 – Trade Deadline Feb. 19-21 – NBA All-Star 2027
PORTLAND, OR - DECEMBER 14: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on December 14, 2018 in Portland, Oregon. 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 Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The NBA is a league defined by legacy. Who has a ring, and who doesn’t. Who beat who in what finals, and what makes them the real G-O-A-T. Fans don’t just care who the best player was at any given time, but rather, what they represented, what they meant to a city, and whether or not they stuck around for the long haul. If a player is lucky, the team invites them back when they’re old and grey to sit courtside and pose for photos, as younger men play in the colours they wore in decades past. If they’re luckier, when they go back to the stadium they sweat and bled in throughout their twenties and thirties, they’ll be able to look up and see a banner with their jersey number on it, maybe even the year they hoisted the Larry O’Brien for their team.
And if they’re the luckiest, then maybe, just maybe, their likeness will be immortalized in stone and granite in front of the arena, a monument to their greatness like they’re some kind of god of basketball. Or, if they’re really unlucky, they hire a sculptor who screws up their face, and people squint in the Miami sunlight trying to see if that really is them. Sorry D Wade.
TORONTO, CANADA – NOVEMBER 2 : Vince Carter speaks to media during a press conference before NBA basketball game between the Toronto Raptors and the Sacramento Kings at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on November 2, 2024. The Toronto Raptors will retire the No. 15 jersey of eight-time All-Star Vince Carter on November 2. (Photo by Mert Alper Dervis/Anadolu via Getty Images) | Anadolu via Getty Images
Toronto has never really had a player get to a point where that was a concern. Vince Carter was a young love who left the franchise too early for it to count. His jersey number hangs in the rafters of Scotiabank Arena, but there’s a threshold of meaning to the organization that he never quite crossed. DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry never got it done together, and while in time, they will both go on to receive those same honours, the Compton-Philly tandem did not immortalize themselves in the annals of basketball history. And then, there was Kawhi Leonard… Kawhi, who had the greatest single season with the greatest single team in franchise history, who brought the franchise its first championship before leaving for sunny California, and home. A few months ago, Kawhi Leonard’s legacy in Toronto would have been a confusing mess for the next generations of fans to parse out, before ultimately deciding that he was simply the one who got away, a “what if” who was no good dwelling on.
Obviously, things are different now.
Shams Charania has indicated that Kawhi Leonard believes he has reached the final destination of his NBA career. In other words? The Klaw will retire a Toronto Raptor.
“Mercenary” was a term thrown around to describe Leonard, selling his talents to the highest bidder (and in the case of the Aspiration accusations, perhaps taking the latter sentiment a little too literally). But, by coming home to Toronto, Kawhi is not merely ring chasing with an established core, but attempting to establish an undisputed legacy of service to a singular team. Toronto is a place of family ties for Leonard: his son was born here, and he has a Scarborough basketball court dedicated to him. And, the cheers of fans proved that the people of Toronto wants Kawhi in town just as much, if not more, than he does. Leonard, who left both San Antonio and Los Angeles under messy circumstances, might get to write an ending to his story where things don’t go up in flames. And Toronto might finally have a superstar that they didn’t draft or trade for, but rather, who chose them.
The story between Kawhi Leonard and the Toronto Raptors can be best understood as a burning romance a-la The Notebook. There are moments of passion, and long periods of distance, and people hurt, and are hurt in turn. But ultimately, the storybook ending for Leonard’s career could only really happen in Toronto, where he won his most important championship. And the Raptors, while they certainly could have ascended to the heights of the National Basketball Association without him, are both advantaged by Leonard’s return, and might very well have some psychological scars from 2019 finally healed. Leonard gets a real legacy rooted in a single place, and Toronto (maybe) gets a championship, but certainly gets the gratification of knowing they were chosen by the player who seemed like he never would.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - SEPTEMBER 22: Mickey Gasper #30 of the Boston Red Sox runs after hitting a home run during the eighth inning of a game against the Cleveland Guardians on September 22, 2026 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As sleuthed out by our own Jacob Roy prior to last night’s game, the Red Sox-Cubs series has officially been moved to Tampa. Despite the fact that the teams flew out last night, though, the final game of the season won’t take place until Sunday at 3 PM, maintaining MLB’s recent practice of all 30 teams playing the final game of the season at the same time. (Jordan Bastian, MLB.com)
While Sunday’s game will be played at the Trop, it will technically be a Red Sox home game. And the Rays stadium production crew is going to do it’s best to make it feel like one. “The Rays staff will handle the in-game production and present it like a game at Fenway Park, so expect to hear the odd-for-the-Trop sounds of “Sweet Caroline” playing during the game and “Dirty Water” and “Tessie” afterward if the Sox win. ‘We’ll have some fun with it,‘ Rays CEO Ken Babby said. (Marc Topkin, Tampa Bay Times)
But the more important scheduling news to come out of yesterday’s action was the fact that the Sox and Yankees officially locked themselves into a Wild Card Series battle. We’ve known this was coming for a while now, of course, and the players sound up for it. “You can definitely tell there’s just a different level of buzz with [Red Sox-Yankees], just with the atmosphere of the stadium and everything going on,” said Red Sox catcher Adley Rutschman. “So definitely, it’s a little bit more elevated, and I’m sure in the playoffs, it’s going to be even more than that.” (Ian Browne, MLB.com)
And while it might seem like a case of deja vu with the Sox and Yankees meeting each other in the first round two years in a row, there has been a lot of roster turnover in the last 12 months. (Daniel Chavkin, NESN.com)
Unfortunately, the Sox are going to have to take on the Yankees without one player who became one of the most surprising stories of the season. Mickey Gasper suffered a biceps injury on a swing during the first game of yesterday’s doubleheader and the subsequent MRI didn’t look good. It sounds like he’s done for the year. “At this point, it looks like a significant biceps injury,” said Chad Tracy. “He’s gonna still be seeing more doctors and stuff like that. “We’ll get a final conclusion, but it’s a pretty significant biceps injury. It’s probably gonna take him out.” (Kayley Brown, Boston.com)
Alex Bregman nearly missed this Red Sox series with a series injury of his own — a facial fracture. But he really wanted to make it back in time to play in Fenway again. “So many lifelong friends and just memories and friendships that are all cherished forever,” Bregman said. “And obviously, playing here is so special. Love playing here. Fans here are awesome. So, great experience.” (Tim Healey, Boston Globe)
