ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 2: Justin Hagenman #47 of the New York Mets pitches in the bottom of the third inning for his first start in 2026 against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on September 2, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Parker S. Freedman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Prior to today’s game against the Nationals, the Mets called up Justin Hagenman. To make room for Hagenman on the roster, the team optioned Jack Weisenburger to the FCL Mets. The team also announced that Xzavion Curry cleared waivers and has been outrighted to the FCL Mets.
With Christian Scott hitting the injured list and missing his start tonight, the team has been expected to call up Hagenman. While it’s unclear if he will start, Anthony DiComo mentioned that the righty “should play a significant role in tonight’s game”. Hagenman has appeared in two games this month for the Mets and has allowed two earned runs on three hits, with two strikeouts and one walk issued. This comes after he pitched 23 2/3 innings for New York across five separate stints for the org in 2025. He finished last year with a 4.56 ERA and a 3.77 FIP in those nine appearances.
Weisenburger was really solid in his two stints for New York this year, which also happened to be his first two turns in the majors. Across 12 2/3 innings, he posted a 2.13 ERA and a 1.83 FIP. He struck out 14 batters, issued three hits, and surrendered 10 hits. He pitched in yesterday’s 3-1 loss to Texas, where he got into some trouble by allowing a walk and a hit before getting out of it with a double play to finish off his outing and his year.
ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 22: Ronald Acuña Jr. #13 and Mauricio Dubón #14 of the Atlanta Braves celebrate in the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Truist Park on September 22, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
While the Braves are taking a very passive approach to their pitching this weekend in order to best align for next week’s wild-card series at Truist Park, the lineup is being kept in top condition.
For Game 1 of its final regular-season series at Miami (Friday at 7:10 EDT), Atlanta is using a lineup that could very resemble the one it opens the postseason with next Tuesday.
Drake Baldwin leads off and will be the designated hitter against a right-handed starter, while Ronald Acuña Jr., Matt Olson and Michael Harris II round out the top four in the order. Mauricio Dubón will hit fifth and play shortstop, while Sean Murphy is catching and hitting ninth.
No one on the Marlins’ active roster has ever faced Braves starter Ray Kerr. But that shouldn’t matter a ton as he’s unlikely to go much past one time through the order before the bullpen game continues with a variety of arms in use.
The Braves have had quite a bit of success against Marlins starter Eury Pérez. They’re a combined 27-for-71 (.380) against the right-hander with four homers, six doubles and 15 RBIs, walking six times and striking out 16.
Ronald Acuña Jr., Drake Baldwin, Michael Harris II, Austin Riley and Dominic Smith are all hitting over .400 against Pérez in a small sample size of nine or fewer at-bats. Baldwin has two of the four Braves’ homers off of Pérez with a sterling 1.111 slugging percentage in the matchup.
DALLAS, TX - APRIL 9: Dereck Lively II #2 of the Dallas Mavericks shoots the ball during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on April 9, 2025 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Tim Heitman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
As much excitement and potential as this year’s version of the Dallas Mavericks has, there are also many questions that will determine just how high the team’s ceiling can be in 2026-27. One of the biggest questions involves just how healthy Dereck Lively II is. After having an incredible rookie year that ended up in a trip to the 2024 NBA Finals, the fourth-year big man has been battling foot injuries ever since.
During Mavs Media Day on Friday morning, Lively gave Mavs fans an update on how he’s feeling and how his offseason recovery has gone.
“Everything’s been great,” Lively said. “It’s been a lot of focus, a lot of days in the gym, a lot of hard days working. It’s been ups and downs. Trying to keep my focus on what I can control, not worry about things I can’t keep out of my control, and just having trust in my team, having trust in the people around me, my doctors, and the people who support me.”
During every NBA Media Day, there’s always a lot of buzz about certain guys getting taller or adding more muscle. That was the case in Dallas on Friday when it comes to the height of reigning 19-year-old Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg, who is now reportedly 6-10 without shoes on. Lively, who is still just 22 years old, was asked if he’s grown a little bit as well.
“Who knows? I feel taller than everybody. I feel like that’s had to change. I know I’ve definitely put on some size. I’ve definitely put on a good amount of muscle,” Lively said. “I feel like I’ve been trying to lose as much body fat as possible, trying to stay in the right shape, no matter if that’s me on the bike, me riding the treadmill, me swimming. That’s definitely been a big change in my routine. So just doing whatever I can to make sure I keep my body right and keep my mind right.”
The biggest question for Lively, though, is: when will he be ready to get on the court again? It’s a good sign that he’s no longer in a walking boot that he seemed to be in forever over the summer, but according to a report from ESPN’s Tim MacMahon earlier this week, Lively still hasn’t been cleared for training camp yet. Lively was asked about his injury timeline on Friday, and here’s what he had to say.
“I’m happy where I am. I’m very grateful to the team for just giving me the ability to just take my time, make sure I’m doing everything right, and making sure I’m taking care of my body,” Lively said. “I’ve been running on the treadmill, been practicing jumps, been slowly getting back on the court, getting my shots up, making sure I’m still confident in my shot, and just being part of the team. Having everybody around the team, no matter if it’s the trainers, the medical staff, the team, the coaches. It’s been great just to have everybody around, having the energy again … It’s been a great time to be back with the team.”
Although Lively’s foot health is concerning, he deserves to be able to take as much time as he needs to make sure he gets 100 percent right again before stepping foot on the court. That’s the least the Mavs can do for him, given the malpractice that took place with the previous front office regime when it came to his injury management.
Adric from Coors Field | Michael Elizondo / True Blue LA
As the Dodgers embark on their final series of the regular season, let us revisit the last series where both the Dodgers won and Shohei Ohtani had an RBI, which happened to be with my mother in Denver.
We’ve had a lot of fun this year, and the campaign flew by.
Before I knew it, it was over. I’m so glad you stopped to smell the pine tar with me along the way.
As an aside, Mom and a friend of mine from law school will be joining us for the penultimate game of the year.
Rocky Mountain High
Denver was the first stop on my second circuit around the league. Ultimately, a lot of people sleep on Denver, and they really shouldn’t, as it’s a lovely ballpark. The tour of the facilities confirmed that.
Also, on the Tour, I learned that the visiting team does not have a kitchen and thus has to order all meals while playing. Afterward, the Rockies pick up and pay for the orders, and get reimbursed once the visiting team leaves. Coors Field is surrounded by restaurants with its own plaza and hotel across the street from left field.
The main delicacy of Coors Field is the Rocky Mountain Oyster, a deep-fried, breaded bull’s testicle. I meant to try it during this visit, but I found my stomach was not agreeing with me after trying some of the local restaurants. For once, I decided that discretion was the better part of valor.
Now, did Hunter Feduccia become ill during Game 2 of the series because he had a Rocky Mountain Oyster or had a bad reaction to Denver takeout? I have no earthly idea; sadly, I’m not a credentialed reporter, so the big questions like this one get unanswered while everyone focuses on why Kyle Tucker dropped that fly ball.
Considering the follies that arose from our choice of hotel in Los Angeles in 2025, Mom finally listened to me and was willing to split and splurge on The Rally Hotel at McGregor Square.
The hotel was quite nice, and the service was excellent, but it was a little pricey for my budget. Yes, the convenience of just walking out the left field gate only to be right at the hotel is amazing when the weather is muggy and/or you are surrounded by fans.
The Mountain Ranch Bar and Grille is an interesting option if you want to eat at a buffet in the ballpark, overlooking batting practice. Again, best views are the effectively closed-off areas of the ballpark that open up two hours before first pitch.
Mom enjoyed herself both at the games and on the tour. Sometimes there is the temptation to try and make more of experiences than what they were at face value.
Sometimes a ballgame is just that, and I continue to remain grateful for the company.
But there are times one has to admit a personal truth, and if you are indifferent to me venturing into foul territory for a bit, you can stop right here.
No longer walking the line
I need to make a confession. For five years, I have steadfastly said that I walk that line between serious journalist and hardcore fan. But that sentence isn’t true anymore.
The cost of experience is wonder. At some point, I learned too much, experienced too much, and I somehow became more journalist than fan. I don’t know when it happened, but I do know when I realized it happened; the fact that this change did happen is noteworthy.
For most of my life, you could define a significant portion of my personality by my fandom of the Dodgers.
26 years ago, I attended a summer program at UCLA for business students. I had no desire to go into business, but I needed to do something to pad out my transcript as an underachieving A-student from a rural Central Valley town that I was desperate to get away from.
The highlight of the program was an outing at Dodger Stadium on July 20, 2000, where the Dodgers were set to face the Colorado Rockies. Before the game, I had cornered some Fox/Dodger executive, and I was peppering him with questions as I was genuinely thrilled to be there.
I fully admit that I have an awkward social manner, and it was much worse when I was younger. And maybe he was having a bad day. I think his last name was Chase, but I wouldn’t testify to it. Anyway, he blew his stack at me loudly, wondering why I didn’t just grow up, and finished his rant by saying, “It’s just a job, man. Grow up.”
I felt like I had been slapped. I must have looked crestfallen. The room went quiet. I apologized meekly, went to finish my dinner, and the silence of the room was broken up by Gary Sheffield hitting a first-inning homer.
Who says that my life lacks poetry? But the moment was transformative, as public humiliation often is. In some ways, I grew up.
17-year-old me would be appalled at that sentence. 43-year-old me, who has literally been around the world to cover this team and to every MLB ballpark to watch this team, would think I’m being ridiculous.
I’m not bona fide. And that’s okay.
Apart from some of the sponsored posts (…don’t stop, I need the money…), I have been proud of everything I have created during these five seasons.
I try not to revel in being right, because when I’m wrong, oh Lord, do I miss the mark.
As I described above, when I realized I was more journalist than fan at this point was when I told Melissa Myer of the podcast Talk Dodgers to Me that at some point, I became an actual journalist and columnist by feeling vindication about being right about the Dodgers’ handling of Ohtani. She was moderately appalled at my vindication.
Ms. Myer is adamant that she is always fans first, and her podcast with Jaclyn Ruiz reflects that approach. The lineup of people who have gone on, including players, broadcasters, and other luminaries, is impressive. It’s hard not to feel a little envy when I have to kick and scream to be noticed on even minor topics. You won’t see hard topics on that podcast, but if you want to indulge your inner fan, have at it.
I realized I know too much. I have spent too much time on the figurative slaughterhouse floor watching how the sausage gets made. I have no problem calling things as they are, including any health code violations in this metaphor, and having a Greek salad afterward.
When Eric Stephen hired me five years ago, he gave me one directive: write about the interesting stuff.
I had it in my head that somehow finishing the circuit and finishing five seasons would somehow confer clout or status on me. As if the heavens would part, and there would be some deeper meaning to all this with Stephen Nelson and Orel Hershiser saying “attaboy.”
It didn’t. At least, not yet, which may not help with the deflating delusions of grandeur.
More folks say hello to me when I’m on the road, which is both neat and confusing.
Dad’s final words to me were that he loved me and a request to have fun. He never got to see Ohtani as a Dodger, or Ohtani’s Perfect Day in Miami, or The Fifth Inning, or my madcap romp to Toronto last year. As I said at the beginning of the year, when you literally experience a high that cannot be topped, one either has to come to terms with it or go mad seeking a repeat.
I got to goof on the road with people I like, respect, or both. I was an accidental witness to some of the best moments in recent Dodger history. I had fun. Originally, this essay was going to be an “Adric’s Retiring” post, but he’s not. I still have four more Guide entries to write, and he’s featured in all of them. Plus, the first question from Mom would be “Where’s Adric?” if I kept him at home.
It’s not the end, even though no one is guaranteed a tomorrow; it’s just the end of the beginning. For this next act, there will likely be more of me, rather than our unofficial mascot. It’s scary, but it’s good and, in some ways, long overdue. That’s the fun part about the second trip around the circuit; there’s absolutely no rush to complete it in a hurry.
So until next time, once more into the breach, my friends.
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 29: Brendan Beck #89 of the New York Yankees pitches during the second game of a doubleheader against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium on August 29, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Expected inclement weather of Saturday led to the Yankees and Orioles moving around their weekend regular season finale and playing two games today on Friday. Today’s opener will feature the CC Sabathia number retirement ceremony that was originally set for tomorrow. After that pomp and circumstance, the Yankees and O’s will get their three game set going.
In the first of today’s games, the Yankees will give the start to Brendan Beck, who was just called up alongside Yerry De los Santos with Luis Gil and Bradley Hanner farmed out last night. So far, Beck has made three MLB appearances since debuting earlier this season. He has an 8.22 ERA in 7.2 innings, including five runs allowed in 3.2 innings back on July 4th, which was his first career MLB start. Between the playoffs coming up and today now being a doubleheader, the Yankees more than anything will be hoping he can soak up some innings.
Backing up him, the Yankees will be running out their lefty lineup, sending out Paul Goldschmidt and Amed Rosario. Ali Sánchez will be behind the plate before switching with Austin Wells for the nightcap.
With the lefty lineup starting, the Yankees will be facing, as you might guess, a lefty. Trevor Rogers will be going for Baltimore. He has a 4.07 ERA in 165.2 innings this season. This could be his last start with the Orioles after a very up-and-down tenure that began at the 2024 Trade Deadline, as he is a free agent at season’s end.
We hope that you’ll come join us in the game thread for all of today’s action, so here’s how to watch the opener today.
How to watch
Location: Yankee Stadium – Bronx, NY
First pitch: 4:05 p.m. ET
TV broadcast: YES (NYY) | MASN (BAL)
Radio broadcast: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280 (NYY) | 98 Rock 97.9 FM, WBAL 1090 AM (BAL)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 04: Pete Alonso #25 of the Baltimore Orioles in action against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on May 04, 2026 in New York City. The Yankees defeated the Orioles 12-1. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This is it. The final series of the 2026 Orioles season. And we’ll knock out two of the three games in one fell swoop as the O’s and Yankees play a doubleheader today.
Because of this weekend’s impending nor’easter, Saturday’s scheduled game was moved up to this afternoon, giving the Orioles their second straight doubleheader. Wednesday’s twin bill against the Blue Jays went very well indeed, with a pair of 4-2 O’s wins to sweep Toronto out of the postseason race, and now the Birds will try to repeat the feat against a Yanks team that has nothing to play for. The Yankees’ postseason spot is already secure, as the first wild card winner and #4 overall seed, so they’ll likely be resting most of their regulars this weekend to prepare for Tuesday’s Wild Card Series against the Red Sox.
The Orioles, who were eliminated by the White Sox win yesterday, also don’t have anything to play for, although they could finish the season with a .500 record if they sweep the three-game series. That’s something! But not really.
Trevor Rogers takes the mound in the opener, making what could be the final start of his Orioles career, a thought that makes me sad. After a sluggish start to the season, he’s been fantastic since the start of June, posting a 2.92 ERA and looking more like the 2025 Most Valuable Oriole version of himself. In his last start, he racked up 10 strikeouts and gave up just one run in eight innings, but still got the loss because the Orioles’ offense is dumb. To quote John Malkovich from Rounders: Pay that man his money.
The first game begins at 4:05, and the nightcap will begin about a half hour after the first one ends (but no earlier than 7:05). Brandon Young will start the second game. This thread will be the place to discuss both games.
Game 1 lineups
Orioles:
RF Dylan Beavers 1B Pete Alonso SS Gunnar Henderson DH Coby Mayo 3B Christian Encarnacion-Strand CF Colton Cowser 2B Jeremiah Jackson LF Christian Franklin C Carlos Narváez
LHP Trevor Rogers
Yankees:
1B Paul Goldschmidt DH Ben Rice LF Heliot Ramos RF Amed Rosario SS George Lombard Jr. CF Spencer Jones 3B Anthony Volpe C Ali Sánchez 2B José Caballero
The Warriors might not have made many moves this offseason, but they made the most important one on Friday evening.
Golden State signed superstar point guard Steph Curry agreed to a contract extension, the team announced.
A true legend of the Bay, here to stay.
The Golden State Warriors have signed four-time NBA champion and two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Stephen Curry to a contract extension. pic.twitter.com/hhjygBvN0Q
The new deal is for two years, $116 million and includes a player option for the 2028-29 NBA season, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Friday, citing sources.
BREAKING: Golden State’s Stephen Curry has agreed on a two-year, $116 million contract extension with the franchise, with a player option in 2028-29, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/KSdyNDCsRx
Curry became eligible for an extension of up to two years and $136.7 million on Aug. 29 coming off his current one-year, $62.6 million expiring deal. But he took $20 million less to continue his career in the Bay.
After the Warriors missed the playoffs following an up-and-down 2025-26 season, there was speculation, as there always is, that Curry could look elsewhere and be more competitive as he reaches the tail end of his career.
But the speculation was just that, as the two-time NBA MVP will continue in Year 18 with the only NBA team he’s known.
And, like the rest of the team, he could return with a vengeance.
Curry missed nearly 30 games over two months dealing with runner’s knee. His co-star, Jimmy Butler, also dealt with his own injury, although it was a season-ending ACL injury in January.
There is strong belief within the organization that had Curry and Butler not been injured, the Warriors’ 2025-26 season would have ended much differently.
But the past is the past. Curry and his Dubs now are focused on the present and getting back to the top of the West.
Last season, Curry averaged 26.6 points on 46.8-percent shooting from the field and 39.3 percent from 3-point range, with 3.6 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.1 steals in 34 minutes through 43 games.
With NBA training camps opening up next week, news around the league is starting to pick up. While a lot of it is the standard signing of players to Exhibit 10 deals then releasing them — targeting said player for the franchise's G League team — there is some other news of note, here are the highlights.
Grizzlies release D’Angelo Russell
Memphis has a roster crunch, with 19 players on standard contracts heading into camp, but only 15 can make the opening roster. Cuts are coming.
D'Angelo Russell is the first one, the team announced Friday. This was expected around the league, it had been reported back in July that the Grizzlies were working with Russell to find a trade to a new home for him. That didn't work out, so they waived him, and it was done early enough for Russell to find a new home before the season starts. Russell had a $5.9 million contract for this season that the Grizzlies will likely eat (they could waive and stretch it to lessen the per-year hit, but they are under the salary cap as it is and can afford to just pay it now).
Russell played 26 games for the Mavericks last season, averaging 10.2 points and four assists per game. Dallas traded him to Washington as part of the Anthony Davis trade, but Russell worked it out with the Wizards and never reported there. This offseason, the Wizards traded Russell to Memphis, which has now released him.
Latest on Mavs bigs Powell, Lively
We have a couple of updates on the Dallas Mavericks big man front.
First, and as expected, the Mavericks have signed Dwight Powell to return to the team, something first reported by Marc Stein. Powell, 35, has played the last 12 seasons in Dallas, and while he doesn't have a huge impact on the court — 3.3 points and 4.1 rebounds per game in 63 appearances last season — his real value to a young team is as a mentor who shows players how to be professional. This contract is only guaranteed for $500,000 until he makes the opening night roster, Powell will have to stay healthy to get paid.
Dallas may need Powell at the start of the season because center Dereck Lively has not yet been medically cleared, reports Tim MacMahon of ESPN. Lively played in just seven games for Dallas last season before undergoing foot surgery last December. If he can get healthy, he would be an interesting fit next to Cooper Flagg.
Cooper Flagg card sets record
While we're on the topic of Mavericks star, the Cooper Flagg Topps Rookie Debut Patch Card has officially sold through Fanatics Collect's September Premier Auction for $8.04 million. The auction drew 83 bids over the two-week process.
BREAKING: The Cooper Flagg NBA Debut Patch autograph card has officially sold in our auction for $8,040,000.
This sets the record for the most expensive Cooper Flagg card of all time, surpassing the previous record of $366,000.
New York Islanders' Pierre Engvall pursues New York Rangers' Alberts Smits during the second period at UBS Arena, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in Elmont, N.Y.
When the Rangers routed the Islanders 6-1 on Friday in their preseason finale, it served as “the closest thing to a full lineup that we’ve had of any of the exhibition games to this point,” head coach Mike Sullivan.
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And that means that fourth-line winger Matt Rempe and rookie defenseman Alberts Smits are seemingly in the driver’s seat for the final two spots for the Blueshirts’ opening-night group. Nothing will become official until the Rangers make their final cuts by Monday, but the scene at UBS Arena that essentially served as a dress rehearsal was telling. Rempe was with the fourth line and picked up an assist on Tye Kartye’s goal in the second period.
Smits skated with Braden Schneider and logged 18:18 of ice time.
While Sullivan didn’t provide many hints about the final calls, he said that Smits — drafted No. 5 overall in June — has “certainly made a compelling argument through his play that he’s capable of playing in the NHL.” Smits impressed Sullivan with his physicality and sharp passing as an 18-year-old, but similar to the Rangers’ call with Gabe Perreault last training camp, when they sent him to AHL Hartford, they want to ensure that Smits can be an impactful player on their roster.
New York Islanders’ Pierre Engvall pursues New York Rangers’ Alberts Smits during the second period at UBS Arena, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in Elmont, N.Y. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
“It’d mean a lot,” Smits said postgame when asked what it’d mean to make the roster, while leaving the decision as to whether he’s done enough up to the coaches and saying that he has to show daily that he’s ready to make the jump.
The presence of Rempe alongside Tye Kartye and Joe Veleno continued the trend throughout training camp of the 6-foot-9 forward settling back in after being limited to just 26 games last year. He underwent two procedures on his left thumb, limiting what he could contribute with his stick. Rempe would need to clear waivers too, while Jaroslav Chmelar can get assigned without the risk of being picked up by another team.
New York Rangers’ Alberts Smits pursues New York Islanders’ Mitchell Chaffee (26) during the second period at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y., Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
Rempe knew entering training camp that he had a lot to prove, said he “wants to be here bad” and then collected eight hits during the Rangers’ preseason game against the Devils on Thursday. And Sullivan, who reiterated that Rempe simply needs to play games, said Friday that the 24-year-old can be more than someone capable of fights and a few hits.
“I think he has to be,” Sullivan said. “When you look at the nature of how the game’s being played today, if a player, if their value is only in their ability to fight, how many fights does the average NHL fighter get in the course of a season? Half a dozen?
“So if he’s only gonna make an impact five or six times a year … you would all say that there needs to be other elements to a player’s game. And I think Remps brings other elements.”
Igor Shesterkin made 15 saves and nearly delivered a preseason shutout against an Islanders team of mostly AHL players before Pierre Engvall’s shot beat him with just over eight minutes left. … Perreault, Oliver Bjorkstrand, J.T. Miller, Will Cuylle and Mika Zibanejad scored the Rangers’ other five goals. … Nathan Aspinall, Liam Greentree, Drew Fortescue, Cole Beaudoin, Jackson Dorrington and Carey Terrance were all assigned to the Wolf Pack. Anton Blidh, Marc Del Gaizo, Glenn Gawdin and William Trudeau were placed on waivers, according to multiple reports.
With just one preseason game left to play, the Philadelphia Flyers have all but decided on their final 23-player roster ahead of the start of the regular season.
On Friday, the Flyers announced four more cuts to their training camp roster, sending surging prospects Jett Luchanko and Cole Knuble back to the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms, alongside power forward Jacob Gaucher and top defense prospect Oliver Bonk.
The Flyers' current roster now stands at 26 players, and they need only make three more cuts to finalize their roster ahead of opening night.
For Knuble and Luchanko, it is a bit of a shame, as Knuble had two goals and an assist in his three preseason games with the Flyers, while Luchanko recorded an assist in each of his three preseason games, too.
This is the unfortunate result of a numbers game for both players, though this was a decision largely made in the best interest of Luchanko's development ahead of time, too.
In an offseason Q&A with The Hockey News, Danny Briere had already strongly indicated that Luchanko would spent the season in the AHL with the Phantoms unless he had clearly established himself as one of the Flyers' 12 best forwards.
With Trevor Zegras, Christian Dvorak, Noah Cates, and Sean Couturier all still ahead of him in the pecking order at the center position, Luchanko will spend the season in the AHL until if and when the injury bug strikes.
Jett Luchanko recorded an assist in all three of his preseason appearances for the Flyers. (Photo: Kyle Ross, Imagn Images)
At the same time, Bonk was not especially impressive in the preseason and made a few uncharacteristic mistakes that undermined his standout hockey IQ, his top trait as a pro player.
That's fine, though, as Bonk hasn't even played a full professional season yet after missing the start of last year due to injury. The Flyers will be happy to let him marinate for another year.
Projecting Flyers' final cuts
So, the Flyers have three more cuts to make, and they are all fairly obvious moves, depending on the health of the rest of the team.
Prospect Aleksei Kolosov, the Flyers' de facto No. 3 goalie, remains on the roster with Dan Vladar temporarily on the shelf with an upper-body injury.
If and when Vladar is healthy, Kolosov will return to the Phantoms and reprise his role as their starting goalie, working with Carson Bjarnason as his backup.
On defense, Helge Grans remains on the roster for now after suffering a lower-body injury in Thursday night's 2-0 preseason win over the Boston Bruins.
Grans played his best game of the preseason in the brief 1:29 he skated for before exiting with a dubious injury, and he will require waivers to be assigned to the AHL. Perhaps the Flyers are waiting until other teams all make their cuts at the same time to reduce the chance Grans is claimed.
Veteran tough guy Garrett Wilson remains as the one notable AHL player yet to be cut by the Flyers; Wilson fought Dylan McIlrath in the Flyers' first preseason game against the Capitals, and that's been about it for him since then.
And, in the event the Flyers need roster flexibility, Carl Grundstrom already cleared waivers earlier this week, which protects him for the next 10 games he plays or for the next 30 days on the roster, whichever comes first. Then, he'll need to clear waivers again.
Knuble and Luchanko were the two toughest remaining cuts for the Flyers, and now that the decision has been made, the Flyers' NHL roster ahead of opening night is virtually set in place.
The end of the line for a future Major League Baseball Hall of Famer comes on Saturday afternoon in Detroit.
Three-time Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander will make his final career start for the Tigers in a celebratory day against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The 43-year-old righty pitched only one game in March this season due to left hip inflammation and a left hamstring strain, hampering an emotional return to Detroit.
Verlander was one of the most dominant pitchers baseball has seen over the last 50 years, totaling a career 81.8 WAR, 266 wins, and a 3.33 ERA.
He’s a member of the 3,000-strikeout club and ranks eighth all time with 3,554 punchouts in 21 seasons.
Verlander won the Cy Young in 2011, 2019, and 2022, the latter two with the Houston Astros.
A two-time World Series champion with Houston in 2017 and 2022, Verlander still consistently threw upper-90s with his fastball and was the Astros’ ace during two historic runs in the playoffs
The 2006 AL Rookie of the Year also won the ERA title twice, won the pitcher Triple Crown in 2011, and was a 10-time All-Star selection. Rob Manfred named Verlander an honorary All-Star for the game in Philadelphia this past summer.
Pirates manager Don Kelly told me he will not take it easy on his former team mate Justin Verlander when he pitches for the final time tomorrow. Hear the full interview in the comments! pic.twitter.com/apvqAjvOFg
The 2011 AL MVP pitched one of the most incredible seasons of all time, leading the AL in WAR (8.6), starts (34), wins (24), innings (251), ERA (2.40), ERA+ (172), WHIP (0.92), and strikeouts (250).
Verlander told AJ Pierzynski of Foul Territory that he’s going to throw “until my arm falls off” in his final appearance. The Tigers are honoring Verlander on Friday and giving away Verlander bobbleheads to fans coming to watch the Detroit great.
First pitch is at 1:10 p.m. as baseball says goodbye to one of the game’s all-time great pitchers.
While LeBron’s Lakers tenure didn’t end in the way fans had imagined, he still brought the franchise a championship.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) during the first half of a basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets at the Barclays Center, Sunday, March 31, 2024, in Brooklyn, N.Y. Noah K. Murray-NY Post
But Los Angeles didn’t get to celebrate that championship in the way teams and cities get to every other season. James revealed he’s still upset about this during an episode of his “Mind the Game” podcast that was released on Friday.
“I still think about like not being able to do the parade. That bothers me,” James said when reflecting on the championship he won in 2020. Los Angeles wasn’t able to have a championship parade due to the COVID pandemic.
“Like, [on a scale of] 1 to 10 [on how much it bothers me]: 20… It would have been super duper dope, man,” James added.
LeBron James, owner of Team AlUla, looks on during the E1 Series Luanda GP in Luanda, Angola, Sept. 13, 2026. Getty Images
James spoke glowingly of his time with the Lakers and the franchise during the podcast. At one point, he said, “When I came to the Lakers, [a lot of people said] I was just coming to be in Hollywood and do movies. But I’ve always loved a huge challenge, and to come to a historical franchise that has some of the greatest basketball players that we’ve ever seen in the history of sports. To be a part of that one was like a super duper big thing to me. It was super cool and humbling at the same time.”
He later added, “The expectations around here in Los Angeles when it comes to the Lakers is like, ‘Let’s win championships.’ And I heard that, and I understood that. And for us to be able to win one, that was something I would never forget. [To win] with that group, with that team, for this city.”
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James is on the court during the third quarter of a game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026. JASON SZENES/ NY POST
Regardless of how fans feel about James taking his talents to Philadelphia, he did more than enough to earn a standing ovation from his former franchise and fan base when the 76ers come to Crypto.com Arena on Christmas Day.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone provided some updates ahead of the team’s doubleheader against the Orioles…
No Lagrange
Consider any talk of Carlos Lagrange joining the Yanks shut down.
Boone said that the righty could potentially be an option down the road, but he isn't on their radar at the moment.
“It’s not real,” the skipper emphasized. “He had an injury and he’s just starting to throw lives again, he threw one just two days ago, so he’s not in play right now.”
Lagrange was expected to get a shot in the Yankees’ bullpen during the second half, before being diagnosed with a capsular sprain of the right shoulder in late-June.
After a six-week shutdown he returned to throw an inning down in Triple-A last week.
The 23-year-old has put together a bit of an up-and-down season when healthy, pitching to a 4.48 ERA while striking out 85 batters across just 64.1 Triple-A innings.
Weathers on the mend
While the Yanks won’t be adding Lagrange, they appear to be close to getting another big piece back from injury.
Boone said that Ryan Weathers looked healthy, touching up to 96 mph on his fastball while throwing a one-inning simulated game in the Bronx on Friday afternoon.
Boone wasn’t ready to fully commit to the left-hander being ready for the Wild Card round, but it’s certainly another encouraging step in the right direction.
“He looked like Ryan stuff-wise,” he said. “He was a little scattered there in his inning, but from my vantage-point on the side his stuff looked good, look forward to flushing it out a bit.”
Weathers has been sidelined since late-August due to a left forearm flexor strain.
Though there was big concern at the time, the Yanks have always expected him to be back contributing in some capacity before the season comes to a close.
Rodon in the pen?
It appears Carlos Rodon could potentially be joining Weathers in the Yankees' bullpen.
With the team only needed three starting pitching for the Wild Card series, we should expect to see some mixing-and-matching with the pitching staff.
Cam Schlittler, Gerrit Cole, and Max Fried will obviously be their three starters.
New York Yankees starting pitcher Carlos Rodon (55) pitches against the Tampa Bay Rays during the second inning at Yankee Stadium. / Brad Penner-Imagn Images
With that in mind, Boone said that Rodon is "very much in the conversation" to work out of the bullpen if needed during the three-game series with the Red Sox.
The left-hander has been tremendous for the Yanks since returning from another injury, allowing two runs or less in each of his last seven outings of the season.
He’s made just five relief appearances over his 12-year big-league career.
Stanton making the cut?
Giancarlo Stanton was one of the batters who dug into the box to face Weathers during his sim game.
Stanton has been sidelined since late April due to continued calf trouble, but Boone recently told reporters that he’s knocking on the door at a return.
So, what exactly would it take for him to be an option in the WC round?
“A lot of that comes down to how many position players we decide to go with,” Boone explained. “Those are the conversations we'll be having over the next couple of days -- we’ll talk to G and see where he’s at physically and mentally, and then we’ll do the best we can to make the right decision.”
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 14: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns on the court during the first half of a game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Mortgage Matchup Center on December 14, 2025 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. (Photo by Mike Christy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I felt it for the first time when I went outside last night to play with the dog. For the first time in months, I could walk outside without getting blasted in the face by the oven-like air that the Phoenix metropolitan area has to offer. Yes, for the first time, it felt like fall. And that means Phoenix Suns basketball is right around the corner.
With Media Day this upcoming Monday and training camp starting Tuesday, we’re about to rev up the engine and start getting answers to the questions we’ve been asking ourselves all summer long about this team.
Which brings me to another Bright Side Roundtable opportunity for our writers to answer a simple question: What is the biggest question you need answered during the first 10 games of the Suns’ season?
Of course, we’re not going to get answers to everything. The season is 82 games long, and thinking that the first 10 games will tell us everything we need to know about this team is somewhat obtuse. Still, those first 10 games will provide insight into what we can expect, whether that’s schematically, how the rotations take shape, or how the new pieces fit into the puzzle.
And for me, that’s what I primarily want to see. How does this puzzle fit together from a rotational standpoint? Rotations will continue to evolve throughout the season. Injuries will present themselves, players will exceed expectations, others will fall short, and adjustments will be made based on opponents and production.
But those first 10 games should begin answering one question I desperately want answered: How does this organization perceive the progress Rasheer Fleming made this offseason?
Sure, he was a second-round pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, but he’s somebody the Suns moved up to acquire. They spent assets to get him because they believed in what he could become. And in his limited opportunities last season, Fleming flashed the potential to provide size, athleticism, defense, and three-point shooting off the bench. For a team that has desperately needed a quality power forward since Amar’e Stoudemire played for the organization, Fleming could begin filling that role this season. That’s why I want to see how and when he’s utilized throughout the first 10 games.
In Year 1, he was a rookie learning to adjust to the speed of the NBA while developing his basketball IQ. Year 2 should be about building upon that foundation and demonstrating whether he’s made the developmental leaps we all hope he has. How much does the coaching staff trust him? Where does he fit into the rotation? And how much opportunity will he receive to showcase that growth? We should know quite a bit more after those first 10 games.
So what does the rest of our Bright Side Roundtable panel have to say about it? Let’s get into their answers.
Kevin Humphreys: Will we get to see the Suns’ core four players play together to begin the season?
Last season, we only got to see the Big 3 play 10 regular-season games together, and now Miles Bridges is getting thrown into the mix. If we can just get all four of those guys healthy through 10 games, that will be a huge win. If that happens, then what kind of hierarchy, if any at all, is developing between Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, and Miles Bridges?
Bruce Veliz: The biggest question I need answered in the first ten games is how Jordan Ott’s play style will evolve into year two?
Last season, they were a scrappy and physical team that never gave up on the defensive end, and on offense, it was mainly three-point centered, focused on the drive and kick. Without Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale, the team has lost part of that identity, so how will he adjust and benefit that to fit this team? Will there be any changes, or will they stick with what worked last season?
Holden Sherman: At least two wins against one of the Thunder, Nuggets, Spurs, or Rockets. Phoenix went 4-12 against these teams last year, including going 0-7 against Houston and Denver. These teams were four of the five top seeds in the West and are ones the Suns will have to compete with if they are serious about being top-six in the Conference. The team needs to finish games against these teams stronger; it’s not just about playing them close. All of these teams Phoenix suffered close losses to, and Denver should be worse this year, considering they traded Peyton Watson, a main contributor from a season ago, and only received draft compensation in return. The Suns need to play their best against the best.
SoSaysJ: How much are the Suns going to take the kid gloves off Khaman Maluach? During the first five months of last season, Maluach averaged 5.5 MPG. That ticked up to 13.9 MPG over the last two months of the season. During NBA Summer League, he (not surprisingly) played 27.4 MPG – and thrived, averaging 19.5 PPG, 12.8 RPG, and 2.0 BPG, while shooting 40.0% from three and 53.2% overall.
Considering his production during Summer League, the fact that he has one year in the NBA under his belt, and the injury to Mark Williams, extended minutes certainly seem warranted during the regular season, but to what degree? Will he start? Will he play 20+ minutes? 25+ minutes? Regardless of whether Khaman or Oso is the starting center when the regular season begins, I will be particularly interested in Maluach’s playing time during those first 10 games and the game situations in which he is on the floor.
For the Suns to enjoy any near-term success beyond what we saw last season, Maluach will have to develop and play a significant role on both sides of the ball. I think the first 10 games of the season should give us an idea as to how ready the coaching staff thinks he is to step into that role.
Brandon Duenas: The first 10 games are all about experimentation and seeing what you have as a group. That being said, I am looking forward to seeing how each individual player, especially those in the starting lineup, adjusts their game to this group. The potential glaring issue with this team is the lack of playmaking/floor spacing in the starting unit. I will be paying very close attention to the shot distribution and the roles that Green, Brooks, and Bridges naturally take.
I excluded Booker because I believe he can fit in any environment, so I’m more curious as to how those other three play off each other (and Book) and if there’s more “team ball” than “me ball.” Will Brooks and Bridges sacrifice shot attempts and make quick reads? Does Jalen Green take on more of a downhill playmaking threat this year? There are plenty of solutions to mix and match the right units on the Suns’ bench, so it will be an interesting dynamic to follow. Green and Brooks didn’t share the court a ton last year, and Bridges is the newcomer. This is why they pay Jordan Ott the big bucks.
Mark Bowser: I agree with Brandon’s specific dynamics above and how that results in the flow of the overall offense. My main question is in the intangibles category. Last year, the Suns were gritty more often than not. They dove for loose balls, scrapped on defense, and crashed the offensive glass. With new parts added and several high-effort players signing new contracts, will the effort dip? Or will it go up a notch? The extended players (Brooks, Goodwin, Gillespie) all have this in their DNA. The new acquisition, Miles Bridges, is the wildcard. Reviews of his effort fluctuate, generally positive when his team is doing well. Can he enhance the Suns’ reputation in this regard, or will his addition disrupt the chemistry?
Tom Mildenberger: In the 2024-25 season, the Suns started 8-2 before Budenholtzering their way to a 36-win season, so I’m not getting caught up in wins and losses. The Suns will bring the same coach back for a (gasp) second year in a row, so despite swapping Allen and Royce for Bridges, I think we mostly know how the team will look, stylistically and culturally.
What I’m going to be watching for in the first ten games is which Devin Booker we get. Are we going to get the make-the-right-play, Devin Booker? Or are we going to get the flame-throwing Booker who sets arena points records? There are reasons to think that the former version of the Book might be better suited for the Suns’ current roster than the latter, but if I’m being honest, I don’t want to see Devin Booker pile up hockey assists or get to the free-throw line thirty times a game this season. I want to see the Booker that the defense knows is going to shoot, but still can’t do anything to stop. Can he still be that Booker? I’m not sure, but I think we’ll know in the first ten games.
There’s no shortage of things to watch when the Suns finally take the floor, which is exactly what makes those first 10 games so valuable. We won’t have the answers yet, but we should have enough evidence to start forming better questions. How much has the roster evolved? Who has earned trust? Which combinations work? And perhaps most importantly, what does this team look like when the experimentation begins to give way to an identity? After spending the summer imagining the possibilities, we’ll finally get to see which ones survive contact with actual basketball.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - SEPTEMBER 21: Yohandy Morales #28 of the Washington Nationals celebrates his eighth inning two run home run against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on September 21, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In what has been a tumultuous season with plenty of exciting highs and crushing lows, the last series of 2026 is finally here. With just two games separating these two clubs for the 4th and 5th spots in the National League East, the battle for the basement of the division has taken us all the way to games 159-162. It once looked like Washington could be in the mix for a playoff spot, but those dreams have been dashed in recent months. The Nats have won or tied their last 4 series (3-0-1 series record) and are looking to salvage a rough second half with one last positive mark before an offseason of uncertainty begins.
The Mets, once again sitting near the top of the league in payroll, will conclude the 2026 season without a playoff appearance. Their second half was more impressive than Washington’s, but their disastrous start to the year and myriad of injuries made October baseball impossible. They too have won each of their last 2 series, and are also in the market for moral victories as the season comes to a close.
Game One – Friday, 6:45 PM ET
WSH: LHP Andrew Alvarez (2-6, 3.16 ERA) NYM: TBA
Alvarez’s season has been far beyond any expectations placed on him, and he has a chance to end it off with a fantastic exclamation point. The Mets are likely to throw multiple long relievers at the Nats’ lineup, giving Washington a chance to start the series off hot.
New York’s funky young righty has 1 super outing sandwiched by 2 4-run appearances since being called up in September, and is still working through the growing pains of being a rookie arm. With experience on their side, the Nats’ lefty hitters could jump on Tong and hopefully get backed up by some long-awaited stabilization from the veteran Irvin.
Game Three – Sunday, 3:05 PM ET
WSH: LHP DJ Herz (0-1, 9.00 ERA) NYM: LHP Sean Manaea (6-7, 4.67 ERA)
Essentially a full reversal of the middle game, the matchup of righties going into Game 162 gives New York the veteran edge, although, once again, both pitchers haven’t seen much success this season. Herz could be an MLB option in the future for Washington, and it would be quite favorable for him to end his brief 2026 campaign on a high note.
