The New York Islanders underwent minor changes throughout the 2026 summer. The organization decidedly focused on leaving as much roster flexibility as possible for youth, such as Victor Eklund.
Undergoing that type of decision led to the departure of solid NHL players.
One of those became Marc Gatcomb, one of the hardest-working players on the Islanders in recent years.
Gatcomb signed a two-year, $1.75 million ($875k AAV) contract with the Vegas Golden Knights this past summer.
Gatcomb, 27, played 88 games over the last two seasons with the Islanders, posting 11 goals and 16 assists in that time.
He stepped up in times of injury or when the Islanders needed a spark in their bottom six, with his best success coming on New York's fourth line.
Gatcomb worked his way up from being undrafted, playing four years of college hockey, then parts of four AHL seasons before the Islanders gave him the call to the NHL in his fourth professional season.
The depth forward became a victim of the numbers guy in New York, with an excess of forwards on the team.
However, for a cap-strapped contender like the Golden Knights, it's a perfect fit.
Gatcomb's shown strong ability in semi-limited opportunities, and forced his way into Vegas' opening night roster.
He posted one assist in his Vegas debut on opening night, all while showcasing his strong two-way play.
Sunday night in Vancouver, the first team to give him a professional contract with the Abbotsford Canucks, Gatcomb buried his first goal with Vegas.
The style of goal shouldn't be any surprise to Islanders fans. Gatcomb excelled at finding the soft spots within team's defenses, consistently poaching rebounds and gritty, hard-working goals.
The more Gatcomb plays his way, the more success he will have.Â
Max Strus left the Los Angeles Clippersâ preseason game against the Golden State Warriors early at the Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, on Sunday, Oct. 4.
Strus suffered a non-contact right foot injury after seeing limited action as he tried to cut across the top of the key to receive a pass from guard Darius Garland during the first quarter.
He was seen limping back to the locker room. Strus saw just five minutes of action, missing his only shot attempt. He did collect a single rebound.
Strus averaged 11.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and two assists per game in 12 games played last season. He suffered a Jones fracture in his left foot during offseason training in 2025 while he was with the Cavaliers.
EL SEGUNDO, CA - SEPTEMBER 28: Collin Sexton #10 of the Los Angeles Lakers talks to the media during NBA Media Day on September 28, 2026 at UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo, California. 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 Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
At last, the Lakers will play their first preseason game on Monday against the Kings in Sacramento. It will be the front end of a back-to-back and the first of three games in four days this week.
Start time and TV schedule
Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Sacramento Kings
When:Â 7:00 p.m. PT
Where:Â Golden 1 Center
Watch:Â NBA TV
After lots of talk during training camp, the Lakers finally take the court on Monday to kickstart a busy week of preseason action.
Despite controlling their own scheduling, LA will open with a back-to-back this week before playing a third game on Thursday. Itâs a bizarre choice, and one that head coach JJ Redick doesnât seem to love, but it will give fans plenty to digest in a short period of time.
It also means, however, that there will very likely not be full rosters available for any of these games. In previous preseasons, the team has played their superstars in just one of the three games. With a younger team looking to build chemistry, perhaps that changes. But there is a precedent of how things could play out.
Still, starting on Monday, weâll have our first chance to see lots of new players donning the purple and gold for the first time.
Injury updates and notes
Because itâs the preseason, teams are not required to release injury reports, meaning we almost certainly wonât know who is and isnât playing until the pregame pressers for coaches.
We have an exciting new feature in our app this season. Itâs easier than ever to chat in our game threads. Each game, this post will become a live chat and will be easy to find at the top of the Lakers community page, so be sure to download the app and give it a try this preseason!
HONOLULU, HI - OCTOBER 4: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors drives to the basket during the game against the LA Clippers during the 2026 NBA Preseason game on October 4, 2026 at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. 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 Jay Metzger/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
âTwas only the first game of the preseason, but if it was a portent of the season to come for the Golden State Warriors, it wasnât a particularly hopeful indicator.
Granted, both Steph Curry (10 points) and Draymond Green (two assists, two steals) played a shade under 15 minutes and saw a grand total of zero second-half action. But the depth behind them, while showing flashes of promise, did not inspire confidence.
Rookie Yaxel Lendeborg had a measly four points on 1-of-6 shooting but was able to haul in nine boards. A particular aspect of his game that showed some intrigue was his passing in the pick-and-roll:
Head coach Steve Kerr did, however, emphasize the need for Lendeborg to be more aggressive in terms of scoring and looking for his own offense. Considering the dearth of offensive options on the team, itâs imperative that Lendeborg establish his role on the pecking order immediately on that end of the floor.
Steve Kerr mentioned an early third quarter Yaxel Lendeborg mistake where he tried to fit in a pass instead of attempting a layup, leading to turnover and transition 3.
âWe need him to have an aggressive scoring mentality and thatâs something we are going to work with him on.â https://t.co/oN8SJ4eSUj
It was a sentiment that Curry echoed after the game:
Asked Steph Curry how Yaxel Lendeborg needs to balance his feel for the game with aggressiveness: âWe donât want anything passive.â
Really insightful breakdown in his full answer https://t.co/4E5xGkP25g
Offseason signing Brandon Williams was reportedly very speedy and shifty â with an incredibly high motor, to boot â during practices. Needless to say, he lived up to his rather rapid billing immediately, while promising to bring the much-needed change of pace in the halfcourt that the Warriors have sorely needed:
Dubs go to their "Thumb out" set for Brandon Williams. The get action gives him the downhill momentum for the paint touch and finish at the rim. Such a welcome addition heâs been proving to be so far. https://t.co/0eqPjqYH8w
All in all, save for a few eye-catching moments, this collective performance was overall nondescript. Few things stood out as legitimately mouthwatering. The advertised â5-outâ offense that Kerr promised was obvious in the manner in which it was clearly a work in progress. One of the more intriguing aspects of that revamped approach was directly using the five-man as a bring-up ball handler, flowing into an inverted pick-and-roll with the floor spread, and dishing to the screener for a three, as shown below involving Al Horford as the ball handler and Curry as the screener â leading to Curryâs first preseason three:
Going straight into a spread inverted ballscreen for Steph Curryâs first preseason three. https://t.co/Jy74aQkUlS
There was also this exquisite after-timeout (ATO) set drawn up by Kerr, using Williamsâ speed and downhill momentum to create a paint touch and lob opportunity for Gary Payton II:
Nasty "Finland" -esque set with the rip screen for GP2, weak-side corner emptied, and Williams with the lob for GP2. Again, the downhill actions will favor Williamsâ speed, motor, and ability to do damage in the paint. https://t.co/sliF4npcHu
Not much else can be said of the tilt, with second stringers, third stringers, and camp invitees rounding out the rest of the game in what was, to no oneâs absolute surprise, a meaningless result. The process, however, provided some early insight behind what is to come during the regular season.
Needless to say, they will have their work cut out for them if they hope to garner, at the very least, a play-in appearance â let alone, a playoff spot.
The Warriors will next meet the Los Angeles Lakers at Chase Center on Tuesday, the front end of a preseason back-to-back slate.
BOULDER, COLORADO - OCTOBER 4: Lauri Markkanen #23 of the Utah Jazz passes the ball to Keyonte George #3 in the first half of a preseason game against the Denver Nuggets at CU Event Center on October 4, 2026 in Boulder, Colorado. 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 Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The grid-bound streets of Salt Lake City are ablaze â the Utah Jazz have won an NBA basketball game.
Shout it from the rooftops, sing it from the mountains: the Utah Jazz are a winning basketball team once again. But maybe leave out the fact that this was a meaningless preseason game in which most of the starters were pulled by halftime.
Itâs an odd feeling to have a basketball game turned on its head like this. Typically, the first and second quarters are the least interesting half of any given contest, with the stakes truly setting in as we approach the final buzzer. In the preseason, when the result of the game is meaningless, itâs quite the opposite.
We got to see Will Hardyâs first starting lineup of the year: Keyonte George and Darryn Peterson at the guard line, Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. holding down the forward slots, and Jusuf Nurkic anchoring the center position in Walker Kesslerâs absence.
We got our first taste of Darryn Peterson against legitimate NBA talent (even if it still took place on a college court). We witnessed Will Hardyâs dynamic offense function without restraint. We even got a Mo Bamba Sighting (TM). And though the result of the game was largely irrelevant for the final 24 minutes, we saw the Utah Jazz build and maintain a lead against an NBA Finals contender and the current best player on the planet, Nikola Jokic.
No one is counting preseason wins, but everyone will take stock of individual performances.
In my eyes, three Jazzmen deserve the lionâs share of acclaim for Sunday nightâs success.
3 Utah Jazz Impact Players vs. Denver (10/4):
Lauri Markkanen
Stats: 17 points, 2 rebounds, 1 steal
Lauri Markkanen is the rock of this Utah Jazz team. Utahâs success is largely predicated on Markkanenâs effectiveness as a scorer and defender, and what we witnessed on the basketball floor of the University of Colorado, Boulder, was nothing short of vintage.
He hit 3 of his 7 three-point attempts, and attacked the basket early and often. Was it his most efficient shooting night ever? No, 5-12 is only fine for a player of his caliber, but he scored 17 points in 16 minutes and set the tone for his teammates. Utah jumped out to a 36-26 lead at the end of the first quarter, and the rest was history.
Keyonte George
Stats: 15 points, 3 assists, 4 rebounds
Efficiency, efficiency, efficiency. Keyonte is running the show like a veteran point guard and looked incredibly comfortable operating within the offense tonight. He led all Jazzmen in minutes with 21, where he converted 5-8 from the field, 1-3 from three-point land, and hit 4-5 from the stripe.
Add a dash of playmaking (3 assists to 1 turnover) to the pot, and youâve got a stew cookinâ.
For a player who entered the NBA labeled as a high-volume, low-efficiency black hole, Keyonte has turned himself into quite the effective presence in Utahâs backcourt. If he continues this level of play in the regular season, he could make some noise as an All-Star nominee.
But where Keyonte impressed the most was his defensive effort. George wasnât timid from the podium at Media Day when he addressed how his defense needed to improve â and had improved â over the offseason. And though he may never be a defensive specialist, he clearly took pride in his defensive effort on the perimeter.
Blake Hinson
Stats: 14 points, 4 offensive rebounds
Blake the Make, Hot-Shot Hinson, whatever you want to call him, Utahâs two-way standout held a flaming basketball at his fingertips in Colorado and hit 4 of his 5 three-point attempts.
When the second and third units took to the court, Hinson was the clear star, and he did what he does best: put the ball directly into the basket. Itâll be interesting to track Hinsonâs progress this season and learn if he can distinguish himself as a part of the Jazzâs short-term future, rather than as a flyer on the two-way line.
Calvin Barrett is the Associate Editor for SLC Dunk. Originally from Springville, Utah, he currently lives in Japan and has covered the NBA and college athletics since 2024.
Harris suffered a left calf strain during training camp and will miss the NBA preseason. The Spurs announced the news before their intrasquad scrimmage on Sunday, Oct. 4.
Harris did not play in the scrimmage as a result of the injury and the team said he will be evaluated after the preseason.
In July, the 34-year-old forward signed a two-year, $31 million deal to join the Spurs, who reached the NBA Finals in 2026 before losing to the New York Knicks in five games.
He spent the past two seasons with the Detroit Pistons and served as a veteran presence on one of the NBAâs youngest rosters. The 15-year NBA veteran also played for the Pistons earlier in his career.
Harris averaged 13.3 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists for Detroit in 63 games played last season and helped the Pistons earn the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference before they were eliminated by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the conference semifinals in seven games.
Major League Baseball's further-expanded postseason probably means that no playoff records will be safe in the years to come, with more October games than ever before.
All 18 of Mickey Mantle's home runs came in the World Series as the Hall of Famer retired before the introduction of the League Championship Series in 1969. Previously, the top team in each league would go directly to the World Series at the end of the regular season.
These days with a 12-team postseason field, a team can play up to 22 games â compared to seven in Mantle's day â meaning plenty more opportunities to accumulate stats on baseball's biggest stage.
But Manny Ramirez, who last played in the postseason in 2009, still holds the record with 29 home runs in the postseason. Jose Altuve ranks second in history with 28 â including one in the AL wild card series â but the Houston Astros will have to get back to the postseason
Here's a look a the all-time leaders in career postseason home runs:
Roostersâ halfback among six debutants in Waltersâ Australia squad
Jillaroos veteran Ali Brigginshaw left out of womenâs team
Isaah Yeo will delay pectoral surgery to captain Australiaâs menâs Rugby League World Cup campaign, after coach Kevin Walters revealed his 23-player squad that includes Sydney Roosters halfback Sam Walker.
One of six debutants in the squad, Walker will be locked in a four-way battle with Cameron Munster, Tom Dearden and Mitchell Moses for a spot in the Kangaroosâ halves.
LOS ANGELES â Josue De Paula's plans for October originally included a trip back home and three weeks off to spend time with family before picking up his offseason training regimen. That was until he got a call from Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts a few days ago.
Instead, the 21-year-old rookie will spend the month on the Dodgers' postseason roster, waiting in the wings for when Roberts calls his number.
"I was shocked. I was happy," De Paula said. "There was a lot of emotions going on at the same time. A lot of thoughts going into it, like envisioning how this is going to be. I'm just going along for the ride and see how everything comes to me."
De Paula's role will be primarily as a lefty bat off the bench, and Roberts has mentioned there aren't many guys in his lineup that he'll pinch-hit for, so his opportunities will be limited as the Dodgers attempt to make history in their push for a third consecutive World Series championship.
It's not a position he's used to; De Paula admits he's only been a pinch hitter once or twice in his entire minor league career, the most recent of which was in 2024 with High-A Great Lakes. He pinch-hit once in his first big league series on the road in Cincinnati and recalls liking the adrenaline that came with it. To build on that, De Paula has been leaning on the vets in the clubhouse to try and keep everything as close to his normal routine as possible despite the unfamiliar role.
Still, the organization's co-minor league player of the year made such an impression on both Roberts and president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman in his first 11 big league games in September that they have full trust in De Paula to be their "bullet off the bench" in big situations. If needed, they won't hesitate to go to him.
"To have somebody like that, those two people to have so much confidence in me, it just kind of gives me extra confidence. Obviously I feel like I have a lot of confidence in myself to go out there and handle business, but to have those guys backing me, it's like, 'Oh, yeah, let's get it started,'" De Paula told USA TODAY Sports. "'Let's fight.'"
His poise at the plate and calm demeanor both in the box and with the media is balanced out by the energy De Paula brings out once he does square up a ball or draw a walk. The utter joy with which he approaches his game made every at-bat must-watch viewing over the roughly two-week span he filled in for an injured Shohei Ohtani.
Not that he planned to become a fan favorite; it's just who De Paula is. And it makes him contagious.
"At the end of the day this is a game," he said. "And I just try to make sure everybody's having fun while we're doing it. Why not kick butt and have fun at the same time, you know what I'm saying?"
Playing time is going to be scarce, so De Paula's using the time to his advantage. He's worked with Roberts on shagging flyballs, he's taken grounders from third base coach Dino Ebel, and he's picking the brain of six-time Gold Glove outfielder Mookie Betts.
Last October, De Paula was watching the Dodgers repeat from Miami. This time, he's in the dugout at Dodger Stadium, soaking up every moment he can as he waits for his postseason moment.
"I just feel like you can't replicate it anywhere else," he said. "Seeing it on TV and being here is two different worlds."
The Montreal Canadiens lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins in overtime by a 6-5 final score on Saturday night.
After being down 5-1 at the 15:32 mark of the second period, the Canadiens scored four unanswered goals to force overtime. However, they fell just short, as Penguins forward Tommy Novak would score the overtime winner to give Pittsburgh the win.
Now, with this loss, the Canadiens have extended an unwanted drought.Â
According to Sportsnet Stats, the Canadiens have failed to start 2-0-0 for the 11th consecutive season. Sportsnet also reported that this is the longest-active drought for this stat in the NHL.
Going 11 straight years without starting a season with back-to-back wins is quite some time. Although this is the case, the Canadiens have plenty to be optimistic about when it comes to this season. They have a strong roster and, of course, made it to the Eastern Conference Final last season.
It will now be interesting to see how the Canadiens respond after their overtime loss to the Penguins. The Habs are set to play the reigning Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday and will be looking for revenge after last season's playoff series.Â
#Habs fail to start 2-0-0 for 11th straight season. They have not won their first 2 games of a season since 2015-16 (longest-active such drought in the NHL) pic.twitter.com/o5aEQ2IwIB
DENVER, CO - OCTOBER 4: Darryn Peterson #22 of the Utah Jazz looks on before the game against the Denver Nuggets during the NBA preseason on October 4, 2026 at CU Events Center, Boulder, Colorado. 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 Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Utah Jazz beat Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets 109-97 in the preseason opener.
First things first, it was so fun to see the Jazz back in action. Itâs been probably the most eventful offseason in Utah Jazz history with winning the #2 pick in the draft lottery and drafting Darryn Peterson. That was followed by the trade of Walker Kessler to the Los Angeles Lakers that netted the Jazz another treasure trove of picks and swaps.
But all that left Jazz fans waiting to see this Jazz team in action. It was a bit of a mixed bag but overall Jazz fans have to be excited. To start, Jazz fans had to be excited to see Darryn Peterson starting, although it probably shouldnât have been much of a surprise based off what we saw at camp.
First 5 for the Jazz:
F Lauri Markkanen F Jaren Jackson Jr. C Jusuf Nurkic G Darryn Peterson G Keyonte George
Peterson looked like he was tryign to play within the offense more than he was trying to get his shots. He had solid counting stats with 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal (that assist total is deceiving because he set up some good shots on threes that didnât fall). His shot wasnât falling as much as youâd like for a debut, he was 1/5 from the field and 0/2 from three. That said, he looked mostly just tentative and got more comfortable as the game went on. His shot was mostly short. The more he gets to the basket the better.
Lauri Markkanen had a classic Markkanen game going 3/7 from three with 17 points. He was just 5/12 from the field though but it was pretty clear what Markkanenâs role might be. Markkanen is hands down the biggest luxury in the league. When he was forcing it in this one, the shot wasnât quite falling. But when he let the game come to him, he was lethal. Markkanen is a purely offball shooter and cutter. And even though he is overpaid for that role, with this team it works. And because the Jazz have handled their contracts well, and subsidized the roster with young talent in Peterson, itâs fine. It might be an issue down the road, but for now, Markkanen is the most lethal third/fourth option in the league. Utah will mostly likely evolve to have the offense run through Keyonte George and Darryn Peterson with Jaren Jackson Jr. and Lauri Markkanen playing off of them. It makes this Utah offense lethal. Thereâs no player you can double because it opens things up for everyone else. That said, there was one player that struggled in this oneâŚ
Jusuf Nurkic wasnât great in the first quarter. His defensive effort was not great in the first quarter. He also didnât finish well on offense and missed his threes. It was clear he was the player that Denver was alllowing to beat them and it was the righ strategy. Nurkic got subbed out a few times because of the need for more athleticism on the floor which came in Jaxson Hayes minutes. Weâll see if this starting lineup continues or if Will Hardy eventually moves to having Jaren Jackson Jr. start.
Speaking of Jaren Jackson Jr., JJJ was really good tonight. His ability to play on and off the ball on offense makes him valuable. He had multiple buckets in isolation on in postups and isoâs. He also found open shooters when he got double teamed. On defense he was solid as well, although it was difficult to gauge too much with Nikola Jokic passing the ball. Utah had their non centers guarding Jokic and then had their centers recovering. Jokic was fine being a facilitator and cut up the Jazz, who got confused off ball multiple times. That said, the Jazz defense looked better than last year. It looked like the difference beween the 29th best defense to the 20th best defense, but thatâs an improvement!
Ace Bailey was a part of that defense. He was one of the bright spots in the game with his size, athleticism and scoring. Bailey looked like an impact defender and rebounded the ball well. His 10 points, 5 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block night was really promising. Thereâs no doubt heâs going to earn more and more minutes as the season goes on.
Finally, Keyonte George looked realy good in a point guard role. He scored 15 points with 4 rebounds and 3 assists but made the right read multiple times. He also manufactured 5 free throws, something that heâs so good at doing. His defensive effort was also there making that contract look good so far. Another smart decision for this Utah Jazz front office that has put together a fun, athletic, young team that is going to surprise some people this season.
This is why itâs always cool to see Mamiko out in public, particularly when sheâs at Dodgers games.
Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers and his wife Mamiko Tanaka walk on the red carpet ahead of the 2025 MLB All-Star Game at Truist Park on July 15, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Matt Dirksen/Getty Images) Getty Images
All of these wives posed for a photo together pregame, which was posted on the @ladodgerwives Instagram account.
âGame 2, little less hot but weâre still [bringing] the heat ,â the post was captioned.
Mamiko Tanaka can be seen in the second row, on the far left. Sheâs wearing a black top in the photo.
Shohei Ohtaniâs wife, Mamiko Tanaka, poses for a photo alongside other Los Angeles Dodgers WAGs. (Instagram/@ladodgerwives).
Tanaka also appeared at NLDS Game 1 on Saturday. She was rocking a similar outfit in the WAG groupâs photo, but this time she was posing in the front row and holding a Seeâs Candies bag.
Shohei Ohtaniâs wife, Mamiko Tanaka, poses for a photo while holding a Seeâs Candies bag. (Instagram/@ladodgerwives).
Ohtani and Tanaka have two children. It looks like they were able to get a babysitter for these two games, especially because it might not have been safe for them in the insane heat Los Angeles is experiencing this weekend.
Los Angeles Dodgersâ Shohei Ohtani is seen during practice at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles, Friday, Oct. 2, 2026. Wally Skalij for the CA Post
Ohtani and his teammates are looking to turn up the heat on Atlanta by going ahead 2-0 in the series.
Kyle Tucker started the season as the Dodgersâ No. 2 hitter.
Thereâs a chance he ends it batting in that spot.
No joke.
By the time the Dodgers reach the World Series, Kyle Tucker â yes, that Kyle Tucker â could be back in the heart of their order.
That probably wonât happen over the remainder of the National League Division Series against the Braves. But making the $240 million disappointment a focal part of the offense will be something the Dodgers might have to eventually consider, especially if their two best left-handed hitters prove to be physically compromised.
Los Angeles Dodgersâ Kyle Tucker celebrates his two-run home run with Teoscar Hernandez against the Atlanta Braves during the sixth inning of Game 1 of the NLDS in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. Wally Skalij for the CA Post
Ohtani batted second for the Dodgers in the first two games of the NLDS, and Freeman batted cleanup. Each of them collected a single on Saturday in their 5-3 win in Game 1, with Freeman also drawing a key fourth-inning walk that set up a two-run home run by Teoscar Hernandez.
Manager Dave Roberts isnât about to drop Ohtani or Freeman in the order. The more games the Dodgers play, however, the more Ohtaniâs and Freemanâs bodies could feel it, and that could require Roberts to rethink whether Tucker should continue batting in the bottom half of the lineup.
Batting sixth, Tucker was 2 for 4 with a two-run home run that was ultimately the difference for the Dodgers in Game 1, but the idea of him taking a more prominent role in the offense shouldnât be viewed as an overreaction to an isolated incident.
This was the version of Tucker who quietly emerged over the second half of September as the Dodgers cruised into the postseason.
Over his final 17 regular-season games, Tucker batted .333 with five home runs and 11 RBIs. He registered an OPS of 1.072.
Tucker had a number of teases over a grueling regular season, showing flashes of the hitter he used to be, only to immediately revert back to his season-long slump. Statistically, he finished with his worst regular-season numbers since becoming a full-time player, as he batted .233 with 17 home runs and 70 RBIs.Â
Los Angeles Dodgersâ Kyle Tucker hits a two-run home run against the Atlanta Braves in the sixth inning of Game 1 of the NLDS in Los Angeles, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. Wally Skalij for the CA Post
Because they had a bye in the wild-card round, the Dodgers had a five-day break between their regular-season finale in San Francisco and their opening game of the NLDS. Considering how many stop-and-gos Tucker experienced in the regular season, the fact he was able to maintain his form over five days of inactivity was a promising sign.
âEveryone stayed ready,â Tucker said. âJust did some intrasquads and live BPs, just practice in general. Everyone was prepared for what we needed to do once these games started. Theyâve been doing it for a while now. Everyone kind of has an idea of what they need to do once these games roll around.â
Tucker wasnât the same after breaking his right hand while playing for the Cubs last year, and Dodgers coaches think they have unlocked something to offset the physical changes that he might have undergone then. If they did, they might have found a luxurious insurance policy for Ohtani and Freeman.
Given where Ohtani and Freeman are physically, Tucker could be positioned to provide something they might not be able to: power.
The Dodgers are generally a home run-dependent team, and the low-scoring environment of the postseason will make them even more so. To that point, every run they scored in Game 1 was scored via the home run.
Regardless of whether Tucker moves up in the order or just adds length to the lineup, the Dodgers will be delighted if he continues to hit â delighted for not only the team but also for Tucker individually.
Los Angeles Dodgersâ Kyle Tucker hits a two-run home run against the Atlanta Braves in the sixth inning of Game 1 of the NLDS, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, in Los Angeles. Wally Skalij for the CA Post
âI think we all know the struggles he had this year,â Roberts said. âI give him a lot of credit for grinding through it, not running from it, always posting and kind of getting to the other side of it.â
He might now be ready to deliver for the Dodgers when they need it most.
MILWAUKEE, WI - AUGUST 10: Bango, mascot of the Milwaukee Bucks, poses for a 'selfie' with fans before the announcing and unveiling the team's new uniforms featuring the Harley-Davidson logo as part of their new sponsorship agreement during a press conference at the Harley-Davidson Museum on August 10, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 2017 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
After trading away a global superstar in Giannis and anticipating a major loss in viewership, the Bucks have made the effort to return the focus back to the local Wisconsin sports market, giving fans more control over how they can watch the games than theyâve had in quite some time. On October 1st, the Milwaukee Bucks announced Bucks+, the teamâs new streaming platform where fans in the state of Wisconsin will be able to watch all locally televised match-ups (out of market fans will still need to rely on the NBA League Pass). Bucks+ comes in addition to those same games being available over the air on your local My24 station and will also carry podcasts for subscribers, including Behind the Bucks and Hear District.
The decision to launch Bucks+ is a distinct one. Doing so, the Bucks join the Oklahoma City Thunder as the only other team to offer their local games on an in-house, direct-to-consumer streaming app. Many of the teams previously on FanDuel have sold their streaming rights to DAZN, but the Bucks chose to forgo the $2m deal to test the waters with another small-market team on the opposite end of the championship-window spectrum. The app will be managed by the Wisconsin-based marketing company Good Karma Brands, which also owns 620 WTMJ and ESPN Milwaukee (94.5 WKTI), among other stations around Wisconsin (and stations in other states as well).
The last time the Bucks games were completely accessible over the air was the 1994-1995 season, with regional sports networks then taking over broadcasts and only leaving occasional games for over-the-air broadcasts, until FSN took full control in the 2007-2008 season. While to some it may seem like an obvious choice to make after potentially losing part of its international fan base, by doing so the Bucks are at least actively putting their money where their mouth is and making this season about the fans, which is certainly refreshing given how frustrating last season felt. One of the best moves the organization can make at a time like this is finding ways to involve the local community at the same level it did before the Giannis eraâincluding finding ways to make the team itself and spaces like the Deer District accessible and community focused. The moves to keep the game broadcasts locally focused is a great first step in that effort.
Bucks+ is available for $19.99 a month or $99.99 for the entire season. You can catch the first game on it tomorrowâpreseason kicks off against the Minnesota Timberwolves!
Mason Miller threw Jackson Chourio a 100 mph fastball to begin the biggest at-bat of the Milwaukee Brewers season.
Then he threw him a 102 mph and a 104 mph fastball for strikes.
As Miller continued to throw gas up in the zone, Chourio did his best to battle them off knowing that the San Diego Padres closer was baiting him and soon going to throw a slider.
Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Jackson Chourio (11) is embraced by his teammates after hitting a game-winning RBI single during the ninth inning of their National League Division Series game, Monday, Oct. 5, 2026, at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Milwaukee Brewers beat the San Diego Padres 4-3. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
On the fifth pitch he did. A hanging slider that was low in the zone. Chourio remarkably laid off it to stay alive. With the count 2-2, Miller threw another 101 mph fastball up in the zone. This time Chourio was ready and he beat the best closer in baseball.
Milwaukeeâs 22-year-old star lined Millerâs 101.3 mph fastball through the middle with two outs in the bottom of the ninth Sunday, scoring Christian Yelich and Sal Frelick for a stunning 4-3 walk-off victory over the Padres in Game 2 of the NLDS.
Milwaukee Brewersâ Jackson Chourio hits a walkoff hit off San Diego Padresâ Mason Miller during the ninth inning of Game 2 of a National League Divisional baseball playoff series Sunday, October 4, 2026, in Milwaukee. AP Photo/Chris Carlson
It was less a rally than it was a jailbreak.
The Padres entered the ninth with a 3-2 lead and a 98% win probability, handing the baseball to a pitcher who had spent October turning opposing hitters into strikeout statistics. Miller retired Milwaukee in order in the eighth, giving him 12 strikeouts among his first 15 batters faced this postseason â an MLB record.
After Miller retired the first batter of the ninth, Yelich walked and stole second. Frelick walked. Andrew Vaughn flied out, bringing San Diego within one out of escaping Milwaukee with a split.
Instead, Gary SĂĄnchez worked a full-count walk to load the bases.
Up came Chourio.
San Diego Padresâ Mason Miller reacts during the ninth inning of Game 2 of a National League Divisional baseball playoff series against the Milwaukee Brewers Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026, in Milwaukee. AP Photo/Kayla Wolf
Miller attacked him with the kind of velocity that has made October at American Family Field resemble a drag strip. His fastball registered 104 mph. Chourio eventually fell behind with two strikes but refused to become another name on Millerâs growing list of strikeout victims.
On the sixth pitch of the at-bat, Chourio barreled a 101.3 mph fastball back through the box, just beyond Jake Cronenworthâs desperate diving attempt. Yelich scored. Frelick followed. The Brewers poured from their dugout while Miller walked off the mound having experienced something few hitters have managed to give him:
Defeat.
Milwaukee Brewersâ Jackson Chourio celebrates after hitting a walkoff hit during the ninth inning of Game 2 of a National League Divisional baseball playoff series against the San Diego Padres Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026, in Milwaukee. AP Photo/Kayla Wolf
âHappy I could come through with that hit there,â Chourio said through an interpreter. âIâve got my family here in the stands, so I dedicate this one to them.â
At 22 years, 80 days, Chourio became the second-youngest player in MLB history with a postseason walk-off hit, behind only Edgar Renteria in 1997.
And this was no ordinary arm he conquered. Miller and Brewers flamethrower Jacob Misiorowski have helped turn this NLDS into baseballâs velocity series. Through two games, the teams have combined for 83 pitches of at least 100 mph, already an MLB postseason series record and it isnât even close.
The previous record was 56 back in 2016 in a four-game series between the Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants. The Padres and Brewers have almost doubled that total in half the games.
But the 83rd and final pitch of over 100 mph in Game 2 of the NLDS on Sunday was the only one that mattered. The Padres were one strike away from tying the series. Instead, Chourio turned into a 2-0 Milwaukee lead to send the series to San Diego where the Padres will need to make some history of their own.
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