The Milwaukee Brewers are one win away from a return trip to the NCLS.
And for the second consecutive game, Jackson Chourio played the role of hero.
In Game 1, Chourio hit a two-run home run to tie the game early, opening the door for a solo shot off the bat of William Contreras for the eventual 3-2 win over the San Diego Padres on Saturday night. But Sunday in Game 2, Chourio and the Brewers walked it off for the win, against one of the best closers in all of baseball.
San Diego took a 3-2 lead to the bottom of the eighth inning, and the Padres called on closer Mason Miller to try to shut the door over a two-inning stint, and even the series before a return trip to the West Coast. Miller worked a perfect eighth inning, with a pair of strikeouts and a fly out, pushing the game to the ninth inning.
But that is when Miller got himself into a bit of trouble. After opening the inning with a groundout, Miller walked Christian Yelich and then walked Sal Frelick. A flyout for the second out of the inning pushed the Brewers to their final out, but that is when Miller walked catcher Gary Sánchez to load the bases.
And bring Chourio to the plate.
The Milwaukee outfielder fell down in the count 1-2, and after a foul he held off on a slider low and outside of the zone to even the count to 2-2. That’s when he jumped on the fifth fastball of the at-bat — all of which topped 100 miles per hour on the radar gun — lacing a 101-mph fastball up the middle for the game-winning hit:
The single up the middle brought both Yelich and Frelick to the plate, and sparked bedlam on the field and in the stands as the Brewers emptied the dugout and the bullpen to celebrate with the hero of the moment.
The series shifts to San Diego for Game 3, with the Brewers needing one more win to clinch a spot in the NLCS. Game 3 is set for Tuesday, October 6 at 9:30 p.m. Eastern.
SAN ANTONIO, TX -SEPTEMBER 28: Tobias Harris #23 of the San Antonio Spurs addresses the media at the San Antonio Spurs Media Day at Victory Capital Performance Center on September 28, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Not long before the Silver and Black scrimmage, the Spurs announced the first injury of the season. Lone free agency acquisition, forward Tobias Harris, suffered a left calf strain during training camp and will be reevaluated after the preseason. He is considered questionable for the regular season opener.
Tobias Harris has a left calf strain that occurred in training camp. He will not play in today’s scrimmage and will be reevaluated after the preseason, per the Spurs. Harris is questionable for the regular season opener.
Harris was signed in free agency after averaging 13.3 points and 5.1 rebounds for a Detroit Pistons squad that won the East in the regular season before flaming out in the playoffs. He fills arguably the one weakness the Western Conference Champion Spurs had last season, which was size and offensive versatility at the power forward position. The good news is the Spurs can afford to let Harris take his time, as they have plenty of depth at the position with last season’s starter Julian Champagnie, plus Harrison Barnes and Carter Bryant.
The Spurs have not provided an update on rookie Jayden Quaintance, who underwent knee surgery following the draft to fix an injury that had been nagging him since his freshman year at Arizona State.
The Knicks hit another gear during the postseason last year, particularly after falling to a 2-1 series deficit to the Hawks in the first round. So much has been written and said about how the Knicks subsequently pivoted to an offensive system that featured Karl-Anthony Towns as a “hub” and facilitator at the elbows, a decision that sparked one of the most dominant championship runs in NBA history.
That decision was a result of an openness within the coaching staff and locker room for dialogue and change. Towns told Mike Brown and his assistants that he wanted the team to give him a chance at the new role. Assistant Chris Jent, who is in charge of the Knicks offense, was also involved, pushing for the Towns-centric system.
Andre Drummond (0), Jalen Brunson (11) and OG Anunoby look on during practice at their training facility, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, in Tarrytown, NY. Corey Sipkin for NY Post
Collaboration and the willingness to try new things were major considerations during the coaching search ahead of last year, which resulted in Brown taking over. And it’s hard to argue that it didn’t play a significant role in the championship run.
The Knicks’ effectiveness in communicating with each other during the playoffs helped fuel their championship.
“I think as a group,” Jalen Brunson said, “we figured out that we need each other to win, obviously, and we need each other to be on the same page.”
Karl-Anthony Towns (32) speaks with head coach Mike Brown during practice at their training facility, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, in Tarrytown, NY. Corey Sipkin for NY Post
The early adversity is hard to remember considering the Knicks won 13 of their last 14 games — many in blowout fashion. But there was a time, after three games in the first round, when it was DEFCON 1 around the team.
It tested their mettle, but they came together and brought out the best in each other. It’s why Brown actually wants more hard times.
“A lot of people tend to shy away from adversity,” Brown said. “And especially early on, because you get scrutinized, and sometimes it can be tough dealing with that. I actually, I yearn for it. I yearn for it early, because I want to make sure that not only myself, but we as a group can handle it.
“And early on, especially when you have a new group, it’s tough to deal with. It’s extremely tough to deal with, but that will make you better, dealing with it earlier, as you go along throughout the course of the season because you have not only examples to lean on, but you still have your standard.”
Brunson and Josh Hart’s friendship is well-documented, but that the Knicks as a whole are genuinely so close to one another — and are all on the same wavelength, with a comfort level with each other — is a real advantage.
Head coach Mike Brown surrounded by staff after the Knicks practiced on Thursday, October 1, 2026 at Madison Square Garden Training Center in Greenburgh, NY. Robert Sabo for NY Post
They can handle the bad times — and more importantly, use them to get better.
“The first couple of weeks or whatever of the season is going to show us who we are and where we are,” Brunson said. “No matter what we’re doing, whether we’re playing great, playing bad, how are you going to be able to learn? We’ll find a way. We’ll hold each other accountable, just like we did last year, and then we’ll be better.”
There was little change this offseason to that close-knit unit. Ten of the top 11 players in minutes played last year are back, with the only departure being Mitchell Robinson.
In a league where the last eight champions failed to repeat, it gives the Knicks reason to believe they can buck that trend.
“Second year with Mike and all of our assistants, terminology is the same, we’re moving quickly into certain things [during training camp] that we weren’t even close to scratching at this point [last year],” Landry Shamet said. “That alone, all that, just from the team perspective, just breeds confidence as well. You’re stepping into a familiar environment and you feel good about one another.
“We’re just exploring, implementing some things and seeing what worked and if we can build on top of it. But for the most part, kind of knowing what formula works and how can we get back up to that speed as quickly as possible? And from there, having a second year, having a second year in the offense adds some flexibility for some variability. I think it sets us up nicely.”
Team chemistry has a real impact. The Knicks are as close as they come.
Batter makes 111 against Cricket South Africa Invitation XI
Three-match Test series starts in Durban on Friday
The indefatigable Marnus Labuschagne has responded to all the hand-wringing over whether he merits a place in Australia’s Test future by just doing what he likes doing best – scoring runs.
After a difficult year, the under-pressure 32-year-old chose the most timely moment to score his first century in any form of cricket for 11 months in Potchefstroom, just five days before Australia play their first Test in South Africa since the 2018 ball-tampering scandal.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Chris Sale #51 of the Atlanta Braves exits the game against the Philadelphia Phillies during the seventh inning in game one of the National League Wild Card Series at Truist Park on September 29, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We’re only hours away from first pitch of Game 2 of the NLDS and the Atlanta Braves will once again have another large hill to climb if they’re planning on getting a split in Los Angeles against the Dodgers.
We now know when Chris Sale’s next start will be: It’ll be Game 3 instead of Game 2, as Walt Weiss explained in the pregame press conference that he wasn’t comfortable with throwing Sale for a full start without him being 100 percent.
“We had a conversation this morning. Look, at the end of the day, we want full-strength Chris Sale,” stated Weiss. “I know him at 80 percent is really good, but that’s what it came down to. We’ve given him extra rest all year, and it’s served him very well. It allowed him to do what he did the other night, I think all the extra rest he’d gotten. He’d be on normal rest from his last start, but he had the outing in between. Not sure you’re getting the best version of him pitching today. We’re certain he will pitch in Game 3.”
Obviously, the next question from the media on hand at the press conference became whether or not Weiss regretted going to Sale while the Braves were in complete control of the winner-take-all Game 3 against the Philadelphia Phillies. Unsurprisingly, Weiss stuck with his guns in that regard and expressed no regrets about the decision and the ramifications it had for the NLDS.
“We needed to win that series, and that was our best chance to do it. So I have zero regrets about pitching Chris Sale in that last game,” confirmed Weiss. “For a number of reasons, we needed to win that series. I brought him in to face Harper, I believe, in the eighth. My thinking was I needed to keep him in the game because, if it happened to go sideways — and we played the Phillies a ton obviously. They’re very dangerous, especially when the lineup turns over. We saw the day before. So if it starts to go sideways and Sale is now out of the game, we’re in a tough situation. So he was going to stay in and finish that game, and I’m glad he did.”
Needless to say, there’s a bit of pressure on the Braves now to find a way to get the job done against Dodgers starter Blake Snell and the rest of the deep and talented Los Angeles pitching staff so that they can get to Chris Sale’s start with home field advantage in Atlanta instead of having their backs against the wall in another elimination game.
The pressure is evident but the team itself is trying their best to not let it affect their preparation. Ronald Acuña Jr. spoke with the media as well and he has complete faith in himself and his teammates to get the job done during Game 2. “I believe in my teammates, in the bullpen too. They do a really good job during all the season, so let’s see what happens today,” stated Acuña when he was asked about doing what it took to get a split in Los Angeles. “I would say I believe in my teammates. I think today they’ll do a really good job.”
“I love it when I face the pitchers that are superstars,” answered Acuña when he was asked about the challenge of going up against such talented pitchers that the Dodgers are liable to roll out on any given night. “Every time I go to the plate to compete, we’re trying to win, so I’m doing my best. As you know, these pitches, they’re [throwing] nasty ball[s]. We need to compete, every single pitch. So let’s see what happens.”
While he’s not in the lineup for tonight’s game, Ha-Seong Kim echoed a similar sentiment to Acuña and that leads me to believe that the clubhouse itself is remaining calm and steady heading into Game 2. “The clubhouse vibe is really good,” said Kim when he was asked about the vibes. “I think we as a group are pretty confident that we can win today and head back to Atlanta with a split here. So we’re going to make that happen.”
When Kim was also asked about whether or not he’s enjoying the moment or feeling the pressure, he chose to go in a different path. “It’s not really a matter of enjoying or feeling the pressure. It’s about just being out there and performing and producing,” answered Kim.
All eyes will be on Ray Kerr when it comes to potentially pulling off a repeat performance of Game 3 of the Wild Card Series, which is when Kerr performed and produced at a high level in order to help get the Braves to this point. While it’s definitely a tall order for Kerr to do it against a better lineup in Los Angeles, Walt Weiss and the Braves are still confident that he can pull it off.
“I’m going into the game thinking that could be the scenario. 47 pitches, two days off,” said Weiss when he was asked about the plan for Kerr. “Again, if he’s rolling, that will dictate what I do. But I go in thinking he may not go as far as he did the last time, but he could. I’m just going to watch and see what happens.”
That’s all we can do as fans, really. Hopefully Weiss will be able to push the buttons in similar fashion to Game 3 of the Wild Card Series and that things work out. Even if they don’t, it’ll also be on the players to perform to their best in order to lift up their teammates and everybody in the dugout as well. It’s tough task for the Braves heading into this contest but hopefully they’ll be able to do what it takes to make sure that this thing is all tied up heading back to Cobb County.
Andy Pages #44 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts during the fourth inning against the Atlanta Braves in game one of the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. Getty Images
That left the Dodgers with just one more challenge the rest of the game — a costly mistake that marked Pages’ latest failure with MLB’s newly instituted ABS system this year.
“We talked a lot this year about Andy’s success rate or lack thereof [with ABS],” Roberts said, after Pages lost a team-high 14 challenges this year and had a 44% success rate that ranked fifth worst among the club’s hitters (minimum five challenges).
“I didn’t revisit it before Game 1 yesterday, so that’s my fault,” Roberts added. “I did have a conversation today. So, yeah, we’ve managed that one going forward.”
Does that mean the Dodgers have told Pages not to use challenges now?
“Yes,” Roberts answered flatly.
A bad challenge from Andy Pages.
This was well into the strike zone, and it was just the second inning.
Pages had multiple challenges during the regular season in low-leverage spots; this one leaves the Dodgers with one left through seven innings.pic.twitter.com/MHbzB8yNlV
However, October was always going to pose a test for the burgeoning 25-year-old, and not just because he only recently returned from a fractured hand that sidelined him for much of September.
Los Angeles Dodgers center fielder Andy Pages (44) walks out of the dugout after a loss in a game between the Milwaukee Brewers and Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium, Sunday, August 16, 2026, in Los Angeles. Carlin Stiehl for CA Post
That’s why Saturday’s ABS challenge was so alarming, serving as one of several signs to Roberts that Pages was “trying to do too much” during his 0-for-4, three-strikeout Game 1 performance.
“I just want to see him kind of slow down a little bit,” Roberts said. “Because, again, he came into this postseason really good.”
Moving forward, he will have at least one less dynamic to worry about.
For now, he’s been given the red light on ABS challenges.
After picking up a win on Saturday, the Vancouver Canuck are back in action at Rogers Arena on Sunday night. For the first time this season, Vancouver will play a non-Alberta team as they battle the Vegas Golden Knights. Here are the lineup notes for October 4, 2026.
The only projected change in Sunday's lineup is in net as Kevin Lankinen returns to the crease. The 31-year-old has had a tough start to the campaign, allowing 13 goals on 57 shots. During his career, Lankinen is 3-5-2 versus the Golden Knights with a save percentage of .899.
Prior to the game, Manny Malhotra also provided an update on Jake DeBrusk. The winger missed Saturday's game due to illness and is not expected to play Sunday night. According to Malhotra, DeBrusk will travel with the team on their upcoming road trip.
Apr 6, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks goalie Kevin Lankinen (32) makes a save behind leaping Vegas Golden Knights forward Jack Eichel (9) in the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Was it real, or just a Chad Tracy-assisted mirage?
Were the 18 runs on 26 hits the Yankees exploded for in their wild-card series proof they could survive postseason games without Aaron Judge, or just the result of feasting on a Red Sox bullpen after Tracy pulled his starter early in both games?
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The Yankees’ performance against Drew Rasmussen in Game 1 of the ALDS suggested the latter, though the Rays ace shoving against them is nothing new. They must quickly prove it was Rasmussen’s hex rather than their bats disappearing against terrific starting pitching to win three of the next four games and keep their season alive.
The best news for the Yankees on Monday is that Freddy Peralta will be on the mound and not Rasmussen, who looms for a potential Game 4. But Peralta has been sharp in his own right after the Mets traded him to the Rays, pitching to a 2.26 ERA in his last nine starts of the regular season.
The Yankees were held to one-hit in their Game 1 ALDS loss to the Rays. Charles Wenzelberg for New York Post
While the Yankees will answer by sending their ace, Cam Schlittler, to the mound, they will need their bats to come alive for that to matter.
So on Sunday, an off-day with no official workout, some of them went to their spring training home at George M. Steinbrenner Field to hit off the Trajekt machine and get other work in to prepare for Peralta, who has faced the Yankees just twice in his career.
“Some of our guys have experience against him, so hopefully that serves us well,” manager Aaron Boone said Sunday on a video call. “But we’ve got to go out and obviously put some pressure on them and hopefully support Cam in a good way.”
Rays pitcher Freddy Peralta (51) throws a pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies during the first inning at Citizens Bank Park. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
That has proven more difficult against starting pitchers this season and into the playoffs.
During the regular season, the Yankees hit just .223 (which ranked 30th in the majors) with a .699 OPS (26th) and 358 runs scored (26th) against starting pitchers. They were much more productive against relievers, batting .250 (seventh) with a .748 OPS (sixth) and 381 runs scored (seventh).
That has carried over into the small sample size of the postseason. Before Tracy pulled Payton Tolle and Sonny Gray early, the Yankees scored a combined three runs in 9 ¹/₃ innings against them — then did their damage against the Red Sox bullpen — before Rasmussen completely shut them down in Game 1 of the ALDS.
“You just got to come out here and work hard the next day and keep it going,” Jazz Chisholm Jr. said. “I think we had a lot of competitive at-bats. I think they had a lot of great plays on the field. I think a lot of guys squared up a couple balls. They played great [Saturday] and [we] lost by one.”
Drew Rasmussen struck out 10 Yankee hitters in Game 1. Charles Wenzelberg for New York Post
As far as moves that Boone could make to jump-start the offense, there may not be much. Against righties Gray and Rasmussen, he has used the same lineup featuring all eight of his left-handed hitters, with George Lombard Jr. (who had two of the best-hit balls off Rasmussen) in the middle. Peralta is another right-hander that Boone said the Yankees view as neutral against righties and lefties.
The right-handed-hitting Paul Goldschmidt has had success against Peralta from their days together in the NL Central, batting 9-for-35 (.257) with an .887 OPS against him. But it is doubtful that would be enough to replace one of the Yankees’ best left-handed hitters, Luis García Jr., in the lineup.
Ryan McMahon, meanwhile, is 1-for-14 in his career against Peralta. Would the Yankees dare start Anthony Volpe (2-for-4, home run) at third base for him in Game 2?
Those are the questions Boone was left to ponder Sunday, staring down a 1-0 deficit in the series and needing his team to hit to its capabilities Monday to avoid going home for Game 3 with its season on the brink.
“We know they’re a tough opponent, and they’re going to land some blows,” Gerrit Cole said. “You got to take blows in the postseason and you got to dish them out too.”
For the second consecutive playoff game, Michael King flirted with a no-hitter and while he ultimately couldn't preserve it, San Diego Padres outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. made sure the possibility remained in play.
By the bottom of the fourth inning of NL Division Series Game 2, the Milwaukee Brewers had zero hits, no base runners and a perfect game certainly creeped into the ralm of possibility. And then, Jackson Chourio took a 82 mph sweeper out to right field where Tatis came flying in from the outfield to make an acrobatic, sliding grab to preserve a hit ending in a flyout.
King eventually lost his bid for perfection an inning later, though he still held a 2-1 lead. That was similar to his outing in Game 1 of the wild-card series, where he carried a no-hitter through 6 1/3 innings against the Chicago Cubs, eventually settling for seven shutout innings in the Padres' 3-0 victory.
Beautiful sliding catch by Fernando Tatis Jr 👌📺: FS1 https://t.co/o8Ae5d1tN4
There have only been three no-hitters ever pitched in MLB postseason history.
The very first no-hitter was a perfect game that happened in 1956 during the World Series between the New York Yankees and Brooklyn Dodgers. Yankees pitcher Don Larsen threw a perfect game in a win. The next no-hitter came 54 years later when Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Roy Halladay threw a no-hitter in 2010.
The most recent no-hitter was a team effort by the 2022 Houston Astros in Game 4 of the World Series.
Brandon Williams is small, shoots poorly from distance, will struggle on defense and might be the answer to an issue that has cost the Warriors in recent seasons.
Williams brings the kind of dazzling quickness Golden State has lacked since Jordan Poole’s lamentable exit three years ago. Though he doesn’t have Poole’s comprehensive offensive skills, Williams is an asset because he has the speed to get to the rim as a matter of routine.
That was plainly evident Sunday during the Warriors’ 104-101 loss to the LA Clippers at the Stan Sheriff Center on the University of Hawaii. It was an utterly defective performance by both teams, as is typical for an NBA preseason opener, but Williams’ Golden State debut was among the encouraging elements.
“We haven’t had anybody like Brandon here since I’ve been here,” coach Steve Kerr told reporters in Honolulu. “Just the on-ball speed and the ability to get into transition . . . he’s a real weapon.”
Playing 16 minutes off the bench, Williams submitted 11 points, three assists, two rebounds, one steal and a team-best plus-16. The 6-foot-1 guard shot 4 of 9 from the field and missed both attempts from deep.
“That’s why they brought me here,” Williams said. “Play free, get out in transition, keep the team organized, especially in that second unit, and limit the turnovers. That was pretty a big thing today.”
The teams combined for 38 turnovers, with the Warriors committing 16 to gift the Clippers with 24 points. Williams committed only one but, knowing Kerr is emphasizing reducing turnovers, admitted it’s an area that will need work.
“We got lots to improve on,” Williams said. “Today was pretty nasty; we turned the ball over a lot as a team. It was going to happen. We were expecting that today, so as the preseason keeps going, hopefully we can cut down those turnovers and play more together as a team.”
As Williams came off the floor with six minutes remaining, he was greeted by Kerr, who was smiling as they exchanged daps. Williams will be a test case of sorts; someone the Warriors hope can offset his weaknesses by punishing opponents with his quickness.
Golden State is Williams’ fourth stop in the NBA. Undrafted coming out of the University of Arizona in 2021, he began with a 10-day contract from Portland, took one year in the G League, returning in September 2023. He lasted six weeks with Orlando before being waived, after which he landed in Dallas, where he spent three seasons.
As a Maverick, Williams was a threat in the paint, shooting 55.2 percent inside the arc last season and 57.8 percent in 2024-25. His 3-point shooting, however, was a profound weakness. In 116 games with the Mavericks, he shot 27.4 percent from deep.
Because of his shoddy 3-point shooting, defenses tended to sag Williams, practically daring him to launch. Sometimes he did. Other times, he still was able to sprint past defenders and penetrate all the way to the rim. He’ll get similar treatment until he proves his 3-ball.
“I’m just taking what the defense gives,” he said. “I know there’s a few times where I turned (down the shot), and Steve told me to let it go, so I’ve just got to play the game and just be natural.”
From the looks of it, he’ll still be able to get to his favored spots, which is the key to generating individual offense.
Aug 12, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves left fielder Lane Thomas (20) celebrates after a home run against the New York Mets in the second inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
After returning to the Braves roster for the NLDS round against the Dodgers but sitting out Game 1, Lane Thomas will be back in action for Game 2 of the series Sunday night at 8 p.m. (FS1) in Los Angeles.
Thomas had been sidelined since Sept. 7 with a strained left intercostal muscle, leaving Atlanta without half of its typical left field platoon. He’ll hit ninth and play in left for his first game back.
Also of note for Sunday’s lineup, Sean Murphy is not catching but is still in the lineup as the DH, hitting seventh, after homering Saturday. Ozzie Albies, who has homered in each of the last two games, is batting cleanup behind Drake Baldwin, Ronald Acuña Jr. and Matt Olson. Mauricio Dubón moves back to shortstop in place of Ha-Seong Kim and will hit sixth.
The Dodgers are running back a nearly identical lineup to the one they used in Saturday’s Game 1. The only change, either in batting order or the players in the lineup, is plugging in Miguel Rojas at third base and in the eight hole for Max Muncy, who homered yesterday to make it a 5-1 game in the sixth at that time.
Members of the Braves’ NLDS roster are a combined 19-for-96 lifetime (.198) against Dodgers starter Blake Snell. Ozzie Albies (4-for-12, .333) and Sean Murphy (3-for-8, .375) are the only two hitters with averages above .286 against Snell, although Ronald Acuña Jr., Mauricio Dubón and Murphy have all homered off of him. Matt Olson is 4-for-18 (.222) with a pair of doubles and a team-high five RBIs against Snell despite being at a left-on-left disadvantage.
Overall, the Braves have struck out 34 times and walked 14 against Sale.
At the other end of the spectrum, the Dodgers have minimal experience against Braves opener Ray Kerr. Los Angeles’ active players are a combined 1-for-10 against him in five relief appearances from when he was with the San Diego Padres in 2022-23. Mookie Betts has the only hit but it was a three-run double. Los Angeles’ hitters have also worked more walks (two) against Kerr than strikeouts (one).
That doesn’t mean much in the scheme of things, however, as Kerr threw 47 pitches Thursday and could available for as little as one inning of work. The more telling trends as far as Sunday’s game is concerned are how the pitchers who could replace Kerr have fared against the Dodgers. Los Angeles’ hitters are a combined 8-for-35 (.229) against right-hander Grant Holmes with two homers and five RBIs, and have never faced Braves rookie right-hander JR Ritchie, another candidate to eat some bulk innings in Game 2.
The anticipated return of former Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram to Buffalo with the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday did not come to pass, as the blueliner had to attend to a family matter, but ex-Buffalo winger Jordan Greenway did receive a nice round of applause from the sold out KeyBank Center.
After the first week of the NHL season where Alex Tuch scored twice in his first game with the Washington Capitals, and JJ Peterka has scored two goals for the Boston Bruins, the latest former Sabre to make his mark for another team was goalie Devon Levi.
The 24-year-old was shipped off the Edmonton Oilers during the offseason for a draft pick, and started the season as the backup to starter Tristan Jarry, but after the Oilers surprising loss to Vancouver in their season opener, head coach Mike Babcock starter Levi in the rematch on Thursday. The two-time Mike Richter Award winner allowed seven goals on 22 shots in a 9-7 win, but fared much better in his second straight start against Seattle.
Levi made 19 saves in a 3-1 win over the Kraken, and may in the short term have won the Oilers starting job, until veteran Frederik Andersen is healthy enough to get into the Edmonton goaltending mix.
Tuch and Peterka were both held off the scoreboard on Saturday, but former Sabre Connor Clifton registered an assist in a 4-1 Minnesota win over Boston.
HONOLULU – Fewer than three months removed from leading the Warriors to a Las Vegas Summer League championship and taking home MVP, Yaxel Lendeborg found himself in new world during Sunday’s last-second preseason loss to the LA Clippers.
Vegas and Hawaii are different enough. Going from sharing the court with a group of other young players who either have little NBA experience or who are grinding through the G League, compared to being in a starting lineup with multiple players destined for the Hall of Fame, can make a player’s head spin. Lendeborg isn’t lost; he’s learning.
The lesson the Warriors want him to take from his NBA preseason debut is to be more aggressive. Steve Kerr stressed it after the Warriors’ 104-101 loss at the Stan Sheriff Center at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, as did Steph Curry, in their own positive ways.
“Yaxel was good,” Kerr said. “We need him to be more aggressive.”
Lendeborg started as the Warriors’ small forward in a lineup that featured veterans Curry, Draymond Green, Al Horford and fourth-year guard Brandin Podziemski. Four days removed from celebrating his 24th birthday during training camp, Lendeborg played 19 minutes and scored four points on 1-of-6 shooting. Kerr highlighted a specific play early in the third quarter as the perfect example he wants Lendeborg to learn from.
The strong and long forward ran down the floor like his coaches and teammates want him to. He out-jumped his defender to snatch a pass out of the air for what looked like two points from a layup, dunk or a trip to the free throw line.
Instead, Lendeborg tried to force a pass to Warriors center Charles Bassey, who was in close range next to him under the basket. Unselfishness can be applauded, but good intentions don’t always mean the best outcome.
The result was a Warriors turnover on one side and a Clippers 3-pointer on the other.
“That’s got to be a layup,” Kerr said. “We need Yaxel to have an aggressive scoring mentality and that’s something we want to work with him on, because he can make plays and he can score.”
Feel for the game is one of the reasons the Warriors were so high on Lendeborg going in the NBA draft. Though he’s a late bloomer who has paved a unique path to the pros, Lendeborg can see the game in the same light as Warriors teammate Jimmy Butler. He connects the game like the Warriors always have loved, and his passing ability was seen Sunday with three assists, including two instances where he perfectly played the pick-and-roll game with Bassey.
But with Butler sidelined for at least a few more months while recovering from a torn ACL, the Warriors need Lendeborg to unleash his inner beast. They need him to power through players and use his 6-foot-9, 241-pound frame as a scorer, just like he did in coming down with a game-high nine rebounds. They need his inner trust to ooze and know that if he needs to scale back, he’ll be told when to.
Al Horford won the opening tip and got the ball in the Warriors’ hands. It eventually wound up out of bounds from Lendeborg fighting for a rebound over multiple Clippers, but it remained in the Warriors’ favor. After being the Warriors’ indound passer, Lendeborg let a corner three fly in rhythm for the first points of the game.
Lendeborg took five more shots the rest of the game but couldn’t covert. The Warriors couldn’t care less and never want that to sway his confidence in the wrong direction.
“The balance for a young guy who’s expected to have an impact is to walk that fine line of aggressiveness but being OK knowing you’re going to make mistakes and not get deflated and to move on to the next play,” Curry said. “But we don’t want anything passive, and I think he’s been answering that call early. You saw the first possession him taking a shot when he’s open. Grabbing offensive rebounds, driving – I know he wants a couple of those possessions back, but we want him applying pressure on both ends of the floor, but especially offensively being able to create good offense for us.”
Curry even used himself as an example. Now entering Year 18, the all-time great once was a young first-round pick with a spotlight all over him. He still looks back at getting the space to make mistakes as one of the keys to his ultimate success.
“It’s not going to be perfect. He’s going to make mistakes,” Curry said. “I think that he can hopefully thrive off the fact that he can play through those, similar to what I was – well, more expectations as a team – but similar to my rookie year, I got to play through that stuff early.”
Summer league isn’t the preseason, and the preseason isn’t the regular season. Lendeborg is five training camp practices and one preseason game into his NBA career. The Warriors are gifting him the grace of learning from mistakes, and a more aggressive mindset being his biggest negative is a positive in its own right.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 20: Miguel Rojas #72 of the Los Angeles Dodgers swings during the game against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium on September 20, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Whether Chris Sale was going to get the ball or not was the big point of contention before this Game 2, but with Atlanta opting for another left-hander, Ray Kerr, the Dodgers’ lineup is mostly unchanged from the Game 1 victory. The only difference is Miguel Rojas filling in for Max Muncy, and even that one comes with minimal disruption in the order as Rojas takes the same spot batting eighth, only in front of Tommy Edman.
Kerr is unlikely to go deep into the game, having pitched 3.1 innings in his appearance in the previous round against the Phillies. Either way, Muncy, who homered in yesterday’s win, figures to play a role in this game at some point, easily being the Dodgers’ biggest threat off the bench versus right-handed relievers.
One of the better players for the Dodgers in the regular season, Andy Pages’ defensive value alone makes his presence worthwhile. Coming off a worrisome showing in this series opener, though, not only for the results—0 for 4 with three strikeouts—but also for just how overmatched he looked in those at-bats, the Dodgers’ starting center fielder has something to prove in this second game.
Meanwhile, Mookie Betts remains in the leadoff spot with Shohei Ohtani batting second. Betts didn’t score or drive in a run in Game 1, but he carried on his top form to end the regular season by reaching base twice in four plate appearances. The balance of this look against left-handed pitching is looking better and better.
Led by Pages’ three strikeouts, the Dodgers as a team were punched out nine times in Game 1. Kerr might not be a big strikeout pitcher, but Atlanta is likely to use their top relievers in this one, increasing the challenge for Dodger bats.
While the Detroit Red Wings finally found the back of the net, it was their penalty kill that let them down Sunday afternoon.
The Winnipeg Jets jumped out to a 3-0 lead, with all three goals coming on the power play, before holding off a late rally attempt to secure a 3-2 regulation win at Little Caesars Arena.
With the loss, the shorthanded Red Wings are now 0-2 to begin the 2026-27 campaign after being shut out by the New York Rangers on Friday.
They've played both games without Dylan Larkin, who could potentially return on Tuesday, and Simon Edvinsson, who is in his native Sweden admist his contract stalemate.
The Red Wings were also without Marco Kasper, who suffered an upper-body injury during Friday's game.
Winnipeg struck first on the power play, with Cole Perfetti credited with the goal after the puck deflected into the air and past goaltender John Gibson.
Michigan native Kyle Connor extended Winnipeg's lead to 2-0 shortly afterward, maneuvering through Detroit's defense before beating Gibson with a backhand shot that found the glove side.
Connor then scored his second power-play goal of the game at 5:41 of the second period, burying a rebound of Josh Morrissey's shot past Gibson.
At that point, the crowd at Little Caesars Arena was growing restless.
The Red Wings finally gave them something to cheer about late in the period when newcomer Viktor Arvidsson deflected a centering pass from Andrew Copp off his skate and past Jets goaltender Stuart Skinner.
At the 4:56 mark of the third period, Detroit pulled within one after Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, who nearly scored his first NHL tally a moment earlier, fed Emmitt Finnie from behind the net. Finnie tapped the puck over the line, picking up his first goal of the season.
The Red Wings then began pressing for the tying goal, generating multiple prime scoring chances with Gibson on the bench for an extra attacker as time wound down in regulation.
Unfortunately for Detroit, the Jets withstood the late rally, sending the Red Wings to their second straight regulation loss.
Gibson made several key saves, including a breakaway stop on former Red Wings forward Vladislav Namestnikov, and finished with 24 saves.
Stuart Skinner, who is Winnipeg's starter amid Michigan native Connor Hellebuyck's contract holdout, picked up his first win as a Jet with 33 saves.
Forward Keegan Kolesar dropped the gloves for the first time as a Red Wing, though he took several punches to the face from Tyrel Bauer and briefly left the game before eventually returning.
The Red Wings will continue their homestand Tuesday evening when they host the divisional rival Ottawa Senators in search of their first win of the season.
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