News broke earlier this week that an anonymous Los Angeles bar group had bet $60,000 that the Dodgers would lose the NLCS. The group operates 25 bars, many of which are located near Dodger Stadium.
Why would this group bet against their hometown team? They were hedging.
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts speaks during a press conference before Game 4 of the NLCS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs against the Milwaukee Brewers at Uniqlo Field at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
On Thursday, revealed the bar group’s reasoning for the bold decision was revealed, per Los Angeles Magazine. It explained that if the Dodgers didn’t make it to the World Series, the money they earned from the $60,000 bet would offset at least some of the ensuing loss of foot traffic and revenue they otherwise would have received.
And if the Dodgers did win the NLCS advance to the World Series, that foot traffic and revenue would have more than have made up for losing the $60,000 bet.
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani reacts during Game 4 of the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026. CHRIS TORRES/EPA/ShutterstockManager Dave Roberts of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on from the dugout prior to game three of the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026. Getty Images
It’s hard to imagine that many Los Angeles residents will be eager to watch a Milwaukee Brewers vs. Tampa Bay Rays World Series matchup.
But this bar group doesn’t have to worry about that, given their winnings earned from the Dodgers’ loss.
On Friday morning, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman was the first to report that the New Jersey Devils were working with the Winnipeg Jets on a potential deal to bring 33-year-old goaltender Connor Hellebuyck to New Jersey.
Sources: New Jersey and Winnipeg are working on a Connor Hellebuyck deal.
Hellebuyck, who helped lead the U.S. men’s hockey team to Olympic gold in February alongside Devils star forward Jack Hughes, requested a trade from Winnipeg this summer and did not report to training camp in September. His suspension for failing to report was set to expire Friday, Oct. 23.
In the afternoon, it was reported that in return New Jersey sent 24-year-old versatile foward Dawson Mercer, goaltender Nico Daws, 2026 12th overall pick Alexander Command, veteran forward Nick Bjugstad, a second round draft pick in 2029, and seventh round pick in 2027 to Winnipeg.
Last season, Mercer spoke with The Hockey News about the seemingly never-ending trade rumors that had followed his name.
“It has honestly been for a few years now, different trades, but that stuff is white noise,” he said back in January. “It doesn't matter. I don't really pay much attention to that stuff. That is all stuff out of your control. I come in here, try to get better every day, and help the team win. I love it here, so it is coming in and going out there every day with the guys.”
Mercer made his NHL debut with the Devils on Oct 15, 2021. He appeared in 410 consecutive games over the next five seasons, collecting 209 points (103 goals, 106 assists). He broke Scott Gomez's Devils/Colorado Rockies/Kansas City Scouts record when he played his 141st consecutive game to start an NHL career at Prudential Center on Feb. 25, 2023.
Selected in the fifth round of the 2012 NHL Draft, Hellebuyck has spent his entire 11-season NHL career with the Jets. Winnipeg reached the Stanley Cup Playoffs in seven of those seasons, making its deepest run in 2017-18, when it advanced to the Western Conference Final before falling to the Vegas Golden Knights in five games. Individually, Hellebuyck has earned three Vezina Trophies as the NHL’s top goaltender and one Hart Memorial Trophy, awarded annually to the league’s most valuable player.
The 33-year-old Michigan native is in the third season of a seven-year, $59.5 million contract.
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
New Jersey opened the 2026-27 season with Jake Allen, 36, and 25-year-old Daws sharing goaltending duties. The duo has helped the Devils to a 6-4-0 record through 10 games, good for 12 points and the Eastern Conference's second wild-card spot, behind the Toronto Maple Leafs. Additionally, Mehta claimed netminder Rémi Poirier off waivers from the Dallas Stars in late September.
The Devils are scheduled to face the Jets in Winnipeg for the first time this season on Tuesday, Nov. 10.
Make sure you bookmark THN's New Jersey Devils site for THN's latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 22: Nick Martinez #28 of the Tampa Bay Rays looks on during the 2026 World Series workout day and media availability at American Family Field on Thursday, October 22, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Aaron Gash/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The time has finally arrived.
The Tampa Bay Rays will take on the Milwaukee Brewers in the first game of the 2026 World Series tonight at American Family Field with the first pitch slated for just after 8:00.
A benefit of the series happening between Tampa Bay and Milwaukee is that weather will not play a factor with Milwaukee sporting a retactable roof and the playing under the domed confines of Tropicana Field, so a replay of the 2008 World Series is impossible. These games will 100% be determined by the skill of the players on the field and not by the elements
On Thursday afternoon, Kevin Cash mad the somewhat suprising announcement that All-Star Nick Martinez would be taking the mound for Tampa Bay in game one while Cy Young hopeful Jacob Misiorowski will go to the rubber for Milwaukee.
The 36-year old Martinez joined the Rays just prior to the start of Spring Training, signing a 1-year deal. Martinez signed with Tampa Bay partly due to his desire for a spot in the starting rotation and the Rays were happy to oblige. Over the course of the regular season, Martinez showcased that he was capable of being a solid member of a starting rotation, providing the Rays with an All-Star campaign, compiling a 3.10 ERA | 3.96 FIP with a 15.1 K% and MLB leading 3.6 BB%.
Martinez has made only two appearances in the postseason thus far. He took the mound for game three of the ALDS against the New York Yankees and then again for game four of the ALCS, meaning he has only pitched three times over the past month (last regular season appearance was on September 27th).
It’s fitting that the Tampa Bay Rays will have to face perhaps the toughest pitcher in all of baseball for the first game of the World Series.
24-year old Jacob Misiorowski has been absolutely electric for the Brewers since reaching the big leagues last June. The start of his MLB career was so incredible that he was named to the All-Star game with only a few weeks of big league experience under his belt. The league learned his ways and Misiorowski struggled down the stretch in 2025 as the rookie had to adjust to figure out MLB lineups.
The adjustment was made in 2026 and it led to Misiorowksi becoming the best starting pitcher in all of baseball. Overall, Misiorowski compiled a 1.80 ERA | 2.17 FIP with a 37.9 K% & 6.6 BB% over 174.2 IP.
At the end of the 2026 regular season, Misiorowksi led all pitchers* in ERA, FIP, K%, K-BB%, AVG, WHIP, and Sierra; he should be unanimously named the Cy Young award winner.
*minimum of 100 IP
It will be an incredibly tough matchup for the Rays but there are signs that Misiorowski might be tiring. Misiorowski has made two appearances for Milwaukee thus far in the postseason, and his walks are up and strikeouts are down from the regular season. Thus far over his two outings, Misiorowski has a 3.24 ERA | 1.90 FIP with a 29.7 K% & 10.8 BB% over 8.1 IP.
Misiorowski’s calling card is his elite fastball that he routinely pumps in at triple digits. The Rays have struggled against high velocity all season long and it was evident during the ALCS that the Guardians were challenging the Rays key offensive players with velocity above the zone. The Rays were able to disrupt that strategy later on in the series, but no one on the Guardians staff had a fastball like Misiorowski.
For the pregame festivities, the Brewers will have franchise legend and MLB Hall of Famer Robin Yount, as well as former team owner and MLB commisioner Bud Selig, throw out the ceremonial first pitches, while four-time GRAMMY nominee Mickey Guyton will sing the National Anthem.
The St. Louis Blues defeated the Vegas Golden Knights by a 6-2 final score on Thursday night.
Former Montreal Canadiens defenseman Justin Barron played a major role in the Blues' win, as he had a monster game.
Barron scored a goal and recorded four points in the Blues' victory against the Golden Knights. With this, the former Canadiens defenseman had a game that he will remember for a long time.
After this impressive performance, Barron now has one goal and five points in seven games this season. This is after he had zero goals and nine assists in 52 games with the Nashville Predators this past campaign.
The Blues claimed Barron off waivers from the Predators ahead of the 2026-27 season. Clearly, after this game, St. Louis must be happy that they took a chance on the former Canadiens defenseman.
Barron spent four seasons with the Canadiens from 2021-22 to 2024-25. In 109 games with the Habs over that span, he posted 13 goals, 18 assists, 31 points, 131 hits, and a minus-11 rating.
Barron's time with the Canadiens ended when he was traded to the Predators in the deal that brought defenseman Alexandre Carrier to Montreal. This is a trade that has aged excellently for the Canadiens.
CLEVELAND (AP) — Cleveland Guardians manager Stephen Vogt dispelled speculation about his future, saying he’ll return to the club next season to chase an elusive World Series title.
“I’m here,” Vogt said at a news conference Thursday. “I’m coming back.”
Vogt has led the Guardians to a division crown in each of his three seasons, He has twice been named AL Manager of the Year. With the Seattle Mariners’ managerial spot open, there had been rumblings about Vogt possibly leaving in order to be closer to his family’s home in Olympia, Washington.
However, the 41-year-old Vogt said he has not been contacted by the Mariners, who fired Dan Wilson last month following a disappointing 76-86 season.
Vogt spent one season as Seattle’s bullpen coach in 2023 before being hired by Cleveland and that relationship helped fuel theories about a departure.
“I’ll be in Cleveland,” Vogt said three days after the Guardians were eliminated in the AL Championship Series by Tampa Bay. “I have not gotten a phone call. It was all just media (driven).”
While Vogt is adamant he’s staying, it remains possible the Mariners could call the Guardians with a trade offer. Though rare, trades involving managers in Major League Baseball are not unprecedented, with the most recent involving John Farrell going from Boston to Toronto in 2012.
Guardians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti was asked about a potential pitch from the Mariners.
“I have every expectation that Voter is going to manage here for a really long time,” Antonetti said, using Vogt’s nickname. “We don’t have any interest in Voter managing anywhere else.”
Vogt signed a multiyear contract extension with Cleveland following the 2024 season. That deal was never made public and the club’s secrecy about the contract’s terms may have played a part in the rumors about a move.
A father of three, Vogt has been open about the difficulty in being away from his loved ones over an extended period. His wife, Alyssa, and their kids join him in the summer, but the months apart are hard on him.
“It’s not just since I’ve been here. This has been my whole playing career,” said Vogt, who played with six teams from 2012-2022. “It’s very difficult living on the other side of the country, especially with my kids’ age. My daughter’s in high school, my boys are starting to get older, their activities are going up, so it’s more challenging for them to get out here on a whim.
“But my wife’s incredible and she reminds me every day that I’m where I’m supposed to be and I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing. And she jokes, ‘We don’t need you anyway.’ Not joking. It’s the worst part of my job.”
As for the job he did this season with Cleveland, Vogt deserves praise.
One of the league’s youngest teams, the Guardians regrouped from a sluggish first half and, bolstered by several trade deadline acquisitions, caught Chicago and won the division. They then rallied from a 0-2 deficit to stun the White Sox in the Division Series.
Cleveland’s magic disappeared against the Rays, extending baseball’s current longest World Series drought to 76 years.
Through it all, Vogt believed the ’26 Guardians would prevail.
“There was a belief that we were just going to do it,” he said. “We were never out of it. It wasn’t like ’25 where we did this historical comeback, needed a bunch of help. We controlled our destiny and we went out and grabbed it and took it.”
Vogt, Antonetti and general manager Mike Chernoff addressed several other topics, including:
— Pitching coach Carl Willis will return for a 15th season in two stints with Cleveland. Willis, 65, has helped develop five Cy Young winners during his career.
“He’s given a ton to this organization and is insanely competitive,” Antonetti said. “He really wants to win a World Series in Cleveland for Cleveland.”
— Vogt reiterated that the curious lack of postseason use for starter Tanner Bibee was because the team wanted to lean on its left-handed pitchers. Vogt said he spoke with an “upset” Bibee before Game 6 of the ALCS.
“We ended up talking about a lot more than just baseball and had a similar conversation in his exit interview,” Vogt said. “It was very candid. It was very open. He spoke his mind and we gave him our reasoning. Tanner’s going to be a huge part of this team for a long time and I’m really excited about that.”
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 22: Brandon Woodruff #53 of the Milwaukee Brewers speaks to media at a press conference during a workout day prior to game on of the 2026 World Series between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on October 22, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The World Series is here!
It’s been over a week since the Brewers dispatched the Dodgers in the NLCS. Since then, we’ve watched the Rays defeat the Guardians for the American League pennant and done plenty of speculation about whether Brandon Woodruff would be healthy enough to make the Brewers’ World Series roster.
Woodruff, whose season appeared over after he exited his last start on July 4th with a new injury to his already surgically repaired shoulder, has gotten surprisingly close to game-shape. After it was determined that his shoulder did not need surgery as originally anticipated, Woodruff opened the door to a late October return. During the NLCS, he threw a bullpen session. Earlier this week, he faced live hitters.
It wasn’t a straightforward decision, though. The league has rules about replacing players due to injury in the postseason, and per their rules, a player can only be replaced on the roster in the event of a new injury, meaning that if Woodruff were to pitch (or try to pitch) but reaggravate the shoulder, the league likely would not allow the Brewers to replace him. That would make the inclusion of him risky, as there would be a very real possibility that you’d be leaving yourself a man short.
It turns out that the Brewers were willing to take that risk.
Woodruff has made the Brewers’ World Series roster, at the expense of Chad Patrick, who was on the roster but did not pitch in either of the team’s first two series. Here is the full roster:
Brewers:
Catchers (2): William Contreras, Gary Sánchez
Infielders (6): Jake Bauers, David Hamilton, Joey Ortiz, Cooper Pratt, Brice Turang, Andrew Vaughn
Outfielders/DH (5): Jackson Chourio, Sal Frelick, Luis Lara, Garrett Mitchell, Christian Yelich
Pitchers (13): Aaron Ashby (L), Shane Drohan (L), Robert Gasser (L), DL Hall (L), Kyle Harrison (L), Logan Henderson (R), Dustin May (R), Trevor Megill (R), Jacob Misiorowski (R), JoJo Romero (L), Antonio Senzatela (R), Abner Uribe (R), Brandon Woodruff (R)
On the position player side, there is, unsurprisingly, no change. There was perhaps a world in which the Brewers chose to go with Bo Naylor as a third catcher, which would free up Gary Sánchez for more pinch-hit duty, but Milwaukee has opted to stick with 13 pitchers.
Harrison, like Patrick, has been on the roster but hasn’t appeared in a game. Senzatela did not pitch in the NLCS, but had a couple of appearances against San Diego in the NLDS. Drohan had a shaky, short start in game four of the NLCS. Milwaukee has been leaning heavily on basically four pitchers in their bullpen: Megill, Uribe, Ashby, and Hall, with Romero playing a nice role as well. The Rays’ two best hitters are both right handed in Junior Caminero and Yandy Díaz, but they’ve got a couple of good lefties, too—Jonathan Aranda and Victor Mesa Jr.—so the Brewers will have to pick and choose how they play matchups in the bullpen.
Infielders (6): Jonathan Aranda, Junior Caminero, Jorge Mateo, Richie Palacios, Taylor Walls, Ben Williamson
Outfielders (5): Johnny DeLuca, Victor Mesa Jr., Cedric Mullins, Chandler Simpson, Ryan Vilade
Designated Hitter (1): Yandy Díaz
Pitchers (12): Bryan Baker (R), Cam Booser (L), Garrett Cleavinger (L), Griffin Jax (R), Kevin Kelly (R), Nick Martinez (R), Steven Matz (R), Freddy Peralta (R), Drew Rasmussen (R), Ian Seymour (L), Cole Sulser (R), Tyler Wells (R)
The Rays, on the other hand, have been using 12 pitchers the whole postseason, which continues in the World Series. In the ALCS, Tampa Bay had only two left-handed pitchers on the entire roster, but the Brewers match up well against right-handed pitching—they were second in the majors with a .759 OPS against righties, while they were 14th with a .706 OPS against lefties—so the Rays opted for an extra lefty in Garrett Cleavinger. Cleavinger didn’t have a great season, and he hasn’t pitched in a big-league game since early September; an injury kept him out of the season’s last month, though he was healthy enough to be on the ALDS roster but did not pitch. Cleavinger will, at least, take a little pressure off of Ian Seymour and Cam Booser, who we are likely to see a lot over the next week.
Beyond the Cleavinger/Hopkins switch, the Rays are going with the same roster they used in the ALCS.
ORCHARD PARK, NY - JANUARY 01: Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates with the puck in the third period of the NHL Winter Classic against the Buffalo Sabres at the Ralph Wilson Stadium on January 1, 2008 in Orchard Park, New York. The Penguins won the game 2-1 in a shoot out. (Photo by Dave Sandford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Evgeni Malkin’s demeanor last night caught some attention on social media. Malkin barely celebrated scoring a goal, and didn’t emerge from the tunnel (as the standard to take a little lap on the ice and acknowledge the home crowd) when named one of the game’s three stars. That behavior could be explained by the news today Malkin would not practice due to an illness. Forward Egor Chinakhov, dealing with a lingering minor injury that’s had him in and out of the lineup over the last week, was also absent.
Forwards Egor Chinakhov (lower-body) and Evgeni Malkin (illness) will not practice today. pic.twitter.com/IgdUUOL1pp
Practice held some intrigue, the Penguins took to the ice in blue pants and helmets to work in their gear before the upcoming Hometown Remix altenate jerseys make their debut on the November 3rd home game against Vegas.
The text is believed to be a Caeser cypher message of: “What’s old is new”.
There have been a couple of conflicting images floating around social media. One is an Andy Warhol-inspired type of jersey that frankly looks a little too out there of a concept to be an actual NHL jersey.
There’s another rumored design where the Pens will use a retro logo of the ‘fat’ Penguin crest that the team used back in their inaugural 1967-68 season. That would be a fitting touch for the club now celebrating it’s 60th year. This might have more truth behind it than the Warhol design, being as the team is reportedly already selling the logo in their store on a hat.
with the #HometownRemix reveal just around the corner, here’s what we know so far…
Going back to that first logo certainly would fit the “What’s old is new” messaging.
Whether there’s an official reveal ahead of time or not, what we do know is that the Penguins will be back in blue jerseys for the first time since 2013 soon enough. They’re scheduled to wear these Hometown Remix jerseys ten times this season, in a couple weeks on November 3rd.
TORONTO, CANADA - OCTOBER 21: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors drives to the basket against Leonard Miller #11 of the Chicago Bulls in the first half of their NBA game at Scotiabank Arena on October 21, 2026 in Toronto, Canada. 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 Cole Burston/Getty Images) | Getty Images
“Here we go,” said Darko Rajaković, igniting peals of laughter, after being asked about an inefficient night from Kawhi Leonard. Usually, such a thing isn’t necessarily a laughing matter for the Raptors. But when Toronto’s starters combine for 92 points to beat the Chicago Bulls by 43 points, there’s room for humour in Scotiabank Arena.
Wednesday night’s performance against the Bulls was one of the most lopsided contests in franchise history, and certainly, will be remembered as one of the most notable opening nights for Toronto sports. The Raptors did more than silence any doubt that they were a team capable of serious contention, rather, showed early flashes of what the new identity of the Toronto Raptors might be.
Fast. Defensive. Forcing turnovers. And shooting threes. Lots of threes. Take Immanuel Quickley, who attempted nine of his own, making four of them, looking like the shooter that he’s been paid so handsomely to be. Up from an average of nearly seven last year, it seems like volume could be the name of the game for getting the Raps to the promised land. Still, the Raptors were below average for the league, based on last year’s figures of threes attempted, so pumping those numbers is going to continue to be a priority.
As heartening as watching the Raptors make mincemeat out of the Chicago Bulls was, this game serves as an example of both an extreme outlier, and some established ideas about how the Raptors might look for the rest of the season.
TORONTO, ON- OCTOBER 21 – Jakob Poeltl #19 of the Toronto Raptors blocks a shot by Buddy Hield #7 of the Chicago Bulls as the Toronto Raptors play the Chicago Bulls in their season opener at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. October 21, 2026. Steve Russell/Toronto Star (Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images) | Toronto Star via Getty Images
While the Raptors won the night, the Chicago Bulls put in a lot of work to lose in such a spectacular fashion. After all, shooting 32% from the field and 11% from three isn’t something that happens without a lot of effort being put in from the other side.
Both teams shot under 50% from the field that night, something the Raptors will hopefully not be replicating too often down the line. Shooting efficiency varied across the board. While Quickley was lights out from three, Ja’Kobe Walter, for example, played 23 minutes, as much as many of the starters, but was one for five from three.
The Raptors are now at a point with their depth that they’re able to stagger their starters and leave none of them hanging out to dry with an impotent second unit. Subbing out Scottie Barnes for Collin Murray-Boyles isn’t exactly giving the other team a huge leg up on the defensive end, and benching RJ Barrett to get a three-point shooting specialist like Jamison Battle in doesn’t kill momentum offensively.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – APRIL 05: Members of the Toronto Raptors bench react to to three point shot scored in the second half against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on April 05, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Jaiden Tripi/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This brings back memories of the Raptors’ reserves in the late 2010s, the original Bench Mob, that lives so dearly in the hearts of Raptors fans. Jamison Battle, Allen Graves, Jamal Shead, Ja’Kobe Walter, and Collin Murray-Boyles are a fearsome fivesome that combine defence, playmaking, and shooting in the exact manner that both compliments that Raptors’ starters. The Mob serves to target the issues that can sway a game most heavily in tight moments, and will undoubtedly be a key piece in the Raptors’ victories down the line.
But unfortunately, it’s not all just a matter of good cheer in Toronto. Jakob Poeltl is a $19 million dollar man who is about to be a $27 million dollar man, and he scored three points in 22 minutes. Not great. Collin Murray-Boyles is a sophomore coming off the bench, and he out-rebounded Poeltl, eight boards to six. It’s fair to note that the other starters were heavily ball-dominant throughout the game, but in a contest where the Bulls were playing a backup centre, Toronto’s starter at the pivot should blossom, not wilt.
Today’s matchup against the Washington Wizards will see the Raptors play a reinvigorated Anthony Davis, in which our Noah Curitti projected a Raptors win. He wrote that “Anthony Davis presents the biggest matchup concern after his performance in the season opener,” and that “his interior scoring and rim protection could challenge Toronto on both ends of the floor.”
Davis had 34 points, 12 boards, and four stocks against the Milwaukee Bucks, who fielded Myles Turner against him. Poeltl is roughly in the same tier of centre as Turner, and when factoring in the type of game that the Brow had against him, major concerns arise. While the Raptors have excellent defensive personnel in Barnes and Boyles, they’re not true rim protecting centres, and expecting them to bang in the paint with the likes of Davis, Joel Embiid, and Nikola Jokic verges on the unreasonable.
The next few games will tell viewers a lot about what they can expect from Jakob Poeltl, who, by all accounts, was cleared for regular play. A month ago, Bobby Webster said that Poeltl was in “good spirits, good shape,” but if there aren’t significant improvements from Poeltl — especially in matchups like tonight — “good shape” from him might not be good enough anymore.
TORONTO, CANADA – OCTOBER 21: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors drives to the basket against Leonard Miller #11 of the Chicago Bulls in the first half of their NBA game at Scotiabank Arena on October 21, 2026 in Toronto, Canada. 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 Cole Burston/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Raptors twin stars in Kawhi Leonard and Scottie Barnes both looked fantastic – and, looked a bit like one another. During Wednesday’s game Scottie took some of these turnaround midrange jumpers that showed he had certainly picked up a trick or two from working with Leonard all summer. Barnes taking that motion, and echoing the greats like Jordan and Nowitzki, will hopefully be a herald of even more offensive prowess from the young player.
Leonard looked healthy last game, playing 24 minutes, but shot an ugly five of 17 attempts from the field. A lot of shots from him that looked like they would go in just didn’t materialize. This is something that fans shouldn’t be concerned about, however.
“I just need more reps, to learn plays,” said Leonard. “This is where you get better. You get better on the floor, and trying things, and shooting the ball when you open. You can’t wait ‘til practice and, you know, just shoot 100 shots. You need game reps, so, you know, that’s what I was looking for.”
William Lou on the Hello and Welcome Show pointed to Leonard’s delayed trade impacting his meshing with the team, and argued that even this incomplete version of the Klaw was someone who could deliver, bringing four steals and 11-11 free throws made. “This is probably gonna be the worst Kawhi we’ll ever see for the season,” said Lou. “How blessed are we, man?”
Indeed, Raptors fans were blessed with an impressive first win for the season, a look at a hyper-competent bench, and the first meaningful sample of what second-stint Kawhi Leonard can do on the Raptors. However, all that can’t mean that a severe deficiency at centre should be ignored. Tonight’s game will be a major diagnostic about how concerning that issue really will be for the Raptors, going forward. It’ll be matchups like the one against Davis that will dictate trade priorities and potentially even new starting lineups for the team.
But; the Raptors look good, and they look ready for the season ahead. A new normal for Toronto fans is set to begin this season, and those who stuck around throughout the down years are already having their patience rewarded.
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - SEPTEMBER 23: Brandon Lowe #5 of the Pittsburgh Pirates watches his hit go for a solo home run during the second inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at PNC Park on September 23, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The offseason is officially underway for the Pittsburgh Pirates and there are a lot of things they need to figure out before the start of the 2027 season. One of those things is what to do with some upcoming free agents.
Let’s take a look at some of the players that are on expiring contracts and set to become free agents, and decide whether to bring them back or let them seek other opportunities.
The biggest name is definitely second baseman Brandon Lowe. Lowe has only been in Pittsburgh for one year but that year was fantastic. The veteran leads the team in RBIs and home runs and he is a National League gold glove finalist. The issue is with the season he had he is going to ask for an expensive contract and the Pirates front office is known for not wanting to spend that type of money.
Lowe will be a free agent this winter, and it’ll be interesting to see what he signs for, whether it’s with the Pirates or somewhere else.
I think it is important for Pittsburgh to bring him back. He brought much needed power to the lineup this year after the Bucs were dead last in home runs in 2025. The Pirates had a formidable offense this year and a lot of that is because of the addition of Lowe. He also brings veteran leadership which is huge because of the young team that is around him.
Pittsburgh signed Gregory Soto as a free agent last offseason, and now the 31-year-old is set to hit the open market once again. Soto had a respectable season with the Pirates in 2026. He posted a 3.63 ERA with a 1.16 WHIP. His strikeout rate of 27.7 percent in 2026 was also an improvement from a year ago.
Soto was thrown into a closer role for a bit of the season with 22 save attempts converting on 16 of them. He struggled in that role but Soto is an important piece to bring back, they can use him in relief situations like in the seventh or eighth inning.
Still, the Pirates need more bullpen depth, and Soto’s experience as a veteran reliever could be nice to have on a still-young team. If Pittsburgh doesn’t re-sign Soto, there will likely be another team interested in adding him.
Kirby Yates’ contract is indeed expiring, making him a free agent. The veteran pitcher is in a very different situation than the two players mentioned earlier on this list. Yates confirmed after game 162 that he is retiring from baseball at the conclusion of the season.
Yates’ time in Pittsburgh didn’t last long. He pitched in 15 games after the Pirates traded for him ahead of the deadline in early August.
Yates’ career is over but the other two players are going to start a lot of important front office conversations in the offseason in Pittsburgh. The Pirates have to ask themselves is this the year to spend money and bring back both Lowe and Soto?
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 21: Waka Flocka Flame performs during the game between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Washington Wizards on October 21, 2026 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Kenny Giarla/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Washington Wizards are 1-0. We are looking forward to seeing the team go 2-0 tonight against the Toronto Raptors. But in the meantime, this home opener’s atmosphere was solid. While there wasn’t a sold out crowd, it was close and Anthony Davis was pleased.
But there’s more to opening night than game intros and the basketball. What about the halftime show?
Rapper Waka Flocka performed at halftime for the crowd. You can watch some of the highlights below.
In past years, the Wizards had their Concert Series which has often been a positive experience for fans though these concerts are typically held after the game. Hopefully we’ll have more of those (and halftime concerts) as the Wizards’ 2026-27 season continues.
The Chicago Blackhawks (3-6-0) are finally going to be back in game action following their six days away. During that time, they practiced hard and had some rest, as there is a lot of the season- nearly 90%- in front of them.
The Montreal Canadiens (4-3-2) are in town for their one trip to the United Center. They have a better record than the Blackhawks, but they would tell you that they are off to a lackluster start. After making it to the Eastern Conference Final in the spring, they have high expectations.
Scouting Montreal
The Montreal Canadiens will be without their captain, Nick Suzuki, for 2-4 weeks, starting with their match in Chicago. This ends his Ironman streak of 546 consecutive games. With Suzuki missing, this is how their lineup is projected to look:
Slafkovsky – Kapanen – Caufield
Anderson – Newhook – Kreider
Bolduc – Danault – Texier
Dach – Evans – Beck
Hutson – Dobson
Carrier - Guhle
Xhekaj – Engstrom
Fowler
Dobes
This projected lineup is good, but there is a massive hole at center without Suzuki in the mix. They are also without winger Ivan Demidov, who has been missing for most of the season so far. Chicago fans who enjoy the draft know Demidov well, as he was an option for the Blackhawks in the 2024 NHL Draft, but they opted for defenseman Artyom Levshunov.
Even without those two, guys up front like Juraj Slafkovsky and Cole Caufield can carry the weight. They aren’t as dynamic a team without Suzuki and Demidov, but they are trying to push through with what they have.
It’s a good group on defense, but Lane Hutson is a budding superstar in this league. He has the offensive tools that may allow him to win a Norris Trophy or two in the future. His partner, Noah Dobson, is also a very good two-way defender. Dobson makes it easy for Hutson to play his game without worry.
If the Blackhawks are going to win, they must exploit Montreal’s weakness down the middle, make life hard on the top pair of Hutson-Dobson, and get traffic in front of whichever goalie gets the start.
Projected Lines, Defense Pairs, & Goalie For Chicago
The Blackhawks are as healthy at forward as they’ve been all season. They have the full group available to them for this game. That includes Andrew Mangiapane, who skated in a regular-contact sweater during practice on Thursday, but he is expected to be a healthy scratch.
On defense, Bowen Byram has been missing for a few games with what the team is calling an upper-body injury. They have recently said that he is trending in the right direction.
Kantserov-Bedard-Kane
Bertuzzi-Frondell-Teravainen
Moore-Nazar-Donato
Smith-Greene-Greenway
Vlasic-Cole
Kaiser-Levshunov
Del Mastro-Rinzel
Knight
You can expect Ethan Del Mastro to continue skating in Byram's spot on defense. He won’t be on the top pair like Byram, but he would be the guy to dress. Kevin Korchinski, who can’t seem to buy ice time in games that count, would be the healthy scratch.
Up front, Connor Bedard, Anton Frondell, Frank Nazar, and Ryan Greene are getting the reps at center. Although Roman Kantserov and Oliver Moore are more than capable of playing the position, Jeff Blashill enjoys having them on the wing. Only time will tell if that’s actually the best course of action.
Speaking of Kantserov, his line with Connor Bedard and Patrick Kane has been good. Even against the Dallas Stars, who shut down the Hawks all game, the Bedard line had a great chance or two.
Overall, Montreal isn’t Dallas, but that’s especially true as they navigate through injuries. Weaknesses are there to be exposed, and the Blackhawks have shown they can do it to the non-elite teams. Against middle-of-the-pack squads, they have a chance. Montreal is likely better than that, but they haven’t started the season playing like an elite team, and the Blackhawks are trying to take advantage.
Spencer Knight will start in goal for Chicago. This will be his 5th straight start and 8th start over the first 10 games. The break between games 9 and 10 play a role in that, but they rely heavily on their number one goalie.
How To Watch
The game can be heard locally on AM 720 WGN in the Chicagoland area. It can be seen locally on CHSN. Nationally, you can watch it on NHL Network. The puck will drop shortly after 7:00 PM CT.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive, and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting on the article below on THN.com or by creating your own post in our community forum.
The vibes inside Madison Square Garden were immaculate on ring night, with the first banner in 53 years going up to the rafters, the sudden appearance of an NBA Cup 2025 championship banner, Jalen Brunson getting his deserved love, OG Anunoby getting the second-loudest ovation (historic tip-ins will do that), and the crowd barking at coach Mike Brown (who has an odd love for the song "Who Let the Dogs Out"). Even a loss to the 76ers didn't spoil the mood much.
But owner James Dolan is trying to. Dolan still hasn't sprung for the rings for the Knicks assistant coaches, who received empty ring boxes during the ceremony and didn't open them, a story broken by Joe Varden at The Athletic. It's also unclear whether head coach Mike Brown got his ring.
Seven league sources, all speaking on condition of anonymity so they could talk freely about a sensitive matter, said the Knicks assistant coaches did not get rings on banner night. Two of those sources told The Athletic that the assistants learned earlier Tuesday that they would not be getting their rings that evening, which came as no surprise because they had not yet been fitted for one and that boxes without their rings were a late addition to the ceremony.
Those coaches are at various levels of pissed off — and they have every right to be. It's also worth noting that assistant coaches don't always get their rings on ring night — the Thunder assistants didn't last year. However, for most teams, they get their rings that night, but at least they'll get them. Someday.
Tradition with championship teams is that a number of the teams' staff also get rings — faces you know, like the broadcast team, but also the people who do the hard work on the business side of the operation as well. Usually, deeper in the team staff, those rings don't have all 80+ diamonds and all the baubles, but they get real, meaningful rings.
Not in New York. With the Knicks, those people not only didn't get rings — they got a phishing scam about the rings.
Those Madison Square Garden employees got their hopes up at the end of September when the Knicks sent an email to a long list of employees, which gave recipients a first glimpse at their would-be championship rings. Atop the email, a copy of which The Athletic has obtained, was a graphic of two differently styled rings...
But the email was a fake-out, a phishing test Madison Square Garden sent to see if those employees would click, multiple team sources said.
Clicking the link in the phishing scam meant those employees got to go to a cybersecurity class. Congratulations!
Viewers of the ring night ceremony on NBC and Peacock may also have noticed that NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, who usually addresses the crowd and shakes players' hands as they get their rings, did neither. That's just the latest installment of the long-running feud between Dolan and Silver.
Ring night in New York was still special, but only Dolan could find a way to take a little shine off the event to save a few bucks.
MILWAUKEE — Brandon Woodruff's two-month sprint to return for the Milwaukee Brewers' World Series run paid off in the biggest way.
Woodruff, the Milwaukee Brewers' senior member of the pitching staff, was included on the 26-man roster submitted to Major League Baseball hours before Game 1 of the World Series on Friday, Oct. 23, a significant surprise since he hasn't pitched since July 4 due to a shoulder capsule injury.
Woodruff replaces right-handed reliever Chad Patrick on the roster.
Woodruff, 33, initially believed the injury would require surgery. But he and medical professionals determined in August that he could rehab the injury and avoid surgery, and began a throwing program knowing the Brewers were playoff locks.
Yet rostering Woodruff does not come without risk for the Brewers: While injured players can be replaced mid-series, they must remain on the roster if the injury was, essentially, a pre-existing condition.
That concept came up Thursday evening when Woodruff talked with manager Pat Murphy and club president Matt Arnold. And he stressed that he wouldn't be doing this if he couldn't help them win the World Series.
"I didn’t want this to be a charity pick," Woodruff said a few hours before Game 1 Friday. "I wanted to be on the roster so I could help win. I was very straightforward about that. I just wanted to help win and give innings as much as possible.
"That was the message."
Woodruff pitched a live batting practice session this week and Murphy said Thursday that Woodruff impressed hitters. Just as Woodruff impressed the Brewers in his comeback attempt.
"It's almost incredible that the kid has worked his way back," Murphy said Thursday, noting roster deliberations were going to be challenging. "His mind was on this. He was very quiet about it, but his mind was on this.
"It's kind of incredible, and he threw the ball really well."
Woodruff has pitched nine seasons with the Brewers, sitting out the 2024 season due to shoulder injury. He last pitched July 4 but posted a 2.98 ERA in his nine starts.
As he prepared for surgery, noted orthopedist Keith Meiser viewed Woodruff's charts and his progress and had a different message in late August: Start throwing.
"As we started getting later and things started playing out, that became a conversation," Woodruff says of the World Series. "Just dangling that carrot in front of your face. I know it’s in front of me.
"There’s risk there. But that’s something I was willing to take."
One of the most important matters of business for the Yankees this offseason is on the way to being taken care of.
Pitching coach Matt Blake and the team are in the midst of negotiating a new contract and moving toward a deal, The Post’s Joel Sherman reported Friday, which would ensure that the Yankees hang on to one of the best at his job in the game.
Blake, who was working on an expiring deal this season, oversaw a pitching staff that led the majors with a 3.24 ERA despite dealing with key injuries to their rotation and a largely no-name bullpen.
That was the strength of the Yankees all season, and while it still culminated in an ALDS ouster against the Rays, retaining Blake was an essential move for Aaron Boone, who is also coming back for a 10th season as manager next year.
New York Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake, right, conducts a mound visit to talk to shortstop George Lombard Jr. (96), starting pitcher Cam Schlittler, left, and catcher Austin Wells. AP Photo/Frank Franklin II
The Yankees originally hired Blake in 2020 with no major league experience, but he quickly squashed any concerns about that and earned the respect of his pitchers with his knowledge and easygoing demeanor. While they have plenty of well-paid pitchers in their rotation, the Yankees almost annually take relievers off the scrap heap and turn them into important contributors, largely a credit to Blake and the pitching group (this year made up of assistant pitching coach Desi Druschel, bullpen coach Preston Claiborne and director of pitching Sam Briend).
“I think he’s pretty damn good at his job,” Will Warren said of Blake late this season.
This year, which was Blake’s seventh on the job, the Yankees withstood injuries to Gerrit Cole, Max Fried, Carlos Rodón and Ryan Weathers in their rotation, in large part due to the emergence of ace and soon-to-be AL Cy Young winner Cam Schlittler.
In the bullpen, closer David Bednar was the only established reliever (aside from Camilo Doval, who was traded at the deadline as a rare exception of an arm the Yankees could not fix), but the unit still finished second in the majors with a 3.13 ERA.
Matt Blake of the New York Yankees celebrates defeating the Boston Red Sox in Game 2 of the American League Wild Card Series. Getty Images
“I would say if you told me the way the injuries were going to play out and maybe who the names were [in the bullpen], I’m not sure I would have guessed we would have led the league in ERA and be in the top three or four of a lot of the main peripherals,” Blake said during the ALDS. “But it’s not totally surprising when you see we got the best out of a lot of them and they picked each other up and we had a great culture in the group this year. It felt rewarding to show up to the field every day. I feel like they were invigorated in a lot of ways. The starters rallied around each other, the bullpen had a great dynamic, so it did feel like we had a strong, core group that carried us for the year.”
Los Angeles, CA - California - September 04: Pitcher Edwin Diaz, center, speaks with pitching coach Mark Prior of the Los Angeles Dodgers as bullpen catcher Hamlet Marte, left, along with first base coach/infield coach Chris Woodward, right, looks on during a simulated batting practice prior to a baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Washington Nationals at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, September 4, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images
Shohei Ohtani also plans to pitch in 2027, and the Dodgers very much want him to do so. But it’s fair to wonder just how many starts on the mound they can expect from someone pulling double duty, and coming off a season in which injuries ground his production to a halt by mid-August.
Keep in mind also that Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow have an injury history that requires taking a seat before reading in full. That duo combined for 29 regular season starts in 2025, and only 22 in 2026. If we add in Ohtani to make a trio, that’s 43 starts in 2025 and 36 in 2026. Depth will obviously be needed here.
In theory, Christian Zazueta or Jackson Ferris could pitch their way into relevance here, whether or not they are added to the 40-man roster in November.
Right-handed relievers (10)
Edwin Díaz Edgardo Henriquez Brock Stewart (arbitration eligible) Will Klein (coming off elbow surgery) Kyle Hurt Ben Casparius (last 5+ months of season on IL with shoulder inflammation) Seth Halvorsen Paul Gervase Bobby Miller Jake Cousins (arbitration eligible, on IL all year after June 2025 Tommy John surgery)
Left-handed relievers (3)
Tanner Scott Jack Dreyer Ronan Kopp
Looking at it another way, only nine of these pitchers were active for the Dodgers during this postseason. Jack Dreyer’s exclusion in October was notable because he was used so regularly during each of his first two major league seasons, and was active during the entire 2026 postseason as a rookie.
More moves will be made this offseason regarding Dodgers pitching. But today’s question is this — What is one pitching roster move you’d most want the Dodgers to make before the 2027 season?
