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What we learned: Chad Tracy made bad call on Payton Tolle in Game 1 loss

What we learned: Chad Tracy made bad call on Payton Tolle in Game 1 loss originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

No matter which way you look at it, Game 1 between the Red Sox and Yankees was about one person and one person only: Cam Schlittler.

The soon-to-be Cy Young winner was dominant, allowing just two hits and one walk while striking out 10 Red Sox over 6.1 innings. He looked like a man amongst boys, and the Red Sox — who were dominated by Schlittler in last year’s playoffs and again in the regular season this year — had no answers.

Perhaps, then, it’s trivial to dissect and linger on anything else from the game. Wipe the slate, move on to a must-win Game 2, and see what happens.

But … that’s not how postseason baseball works. And the Red Sox didn’t make the playoffs by accepting defeat.

So it’s only fair to look back at a decision made by manager Chad Tracy in his first postseason game that immediately backfired.

It came in the bottom of the fifth, with starter Payton Tolle at just 83 pitches. Tolle had just retired Paul Goldschmidt on one pitch for the second out of the inning. He wasn’t dominating, but he was rolling, only allowing one run while working around five hits and a walk.

Tolle threw more than 83 pitches 20 times during the regular season. Yet Tracy decided on this night, in this spot, it was time to take out the man that he chose to be the Game 1 starter in the postseason.

It was a puzzling decision in the moment, one that you figured would at the very least come back to bite Boston later in the game when they had run out of their top bullpen arms early.

Yet as it turned out, it backfired immediately.

Tracy opted to replace the lefty Tolle with … the lefty Erik Miller, the Marcelo Mayer trade return who got off to a great start in Boston but fizzled significantly late in the year. Miller posted a 12.46 ERA and a 2.538 WHIP over his final five outings in the regular season, clearly losing whatever effectiveness he had when he first arrived in Boston.

And it only took three pitches for that to become clear, as Ben Rice — the man Tracy selected for Miller to erase in the fifth — clobbered a 97 mph fastball, sending a solo homer to straightaway center field.

The pitch was at the belt and split the plate in half.

The solo shot doubled the Yankees’ lead, and while Schlittler was in the midst of a special pitching performance, that extra cushion gave him an added margin for error in a game where the Red Sox really couldn’t afford to give him any more advantage than he already had.

What would have happened if Tolle had stayed in the game to at least get through the fifth and perhaps into the sixth (on a night when his counterpart set a career high with 117 pitches and made it into the seventh), nobody can say for sure. But the Red Sox certainly would not have been turning to career minor leaguer Alec Gamboa in the bottom of the seventh. (And the 29-year-old would have been spared from earning himself an ERA of infinity.)

In a season that was at times quite charmed, this decision by Tracy was distinctly the wrong one.

And in what is perhaps a perfect picture of how vastly things have changed in Boston, Tracy was asked nine questions before facing the obvious one: Why did you take Tolle out of the game?

“Not necessarily just the pitch count, but you’re trailing already, you’re moving through [the lineup for] the third time. [Ben] Rice had already hit a double in the gap off of him, and you have a nice lane there for for Miller. And obviously, he got him,” Tracy said. “So, just felt like it was a time to go.”

One of the main reasons Tolle was given the Game 1 start over Sonny Gray was his emotional disposition. Giving him the hook with nobody on and two outs in the fifth was deflating in and of itself. The homer that followed felt like a knockout blow.

Here’s everything we learned from the Yankees’ 9-0 win over the Red Sox in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series.

Roman Anthony got hurt

Despite an unimpressive and injury-plagued season, the Red Sox turned to Roman Anthony as the leadoff man for the playoffs. That postseason lasted all of two at-bats before he left due to injury.

Anthony struck out on a check swing in the first inning, and he struck out on another check swing in the third inning. He didn’t come out for his next at-bat, instead replaced by Andruw Monasterio.

Tracy confirmed postgame that Anthony got hurt on a check swing, injuring the same hand that kept him out of the lineup all summer. Anthony landed the injured list this year due to a check swing in Detroit in late May, tearing a ligament at the base of his ring finger that kept him out until Aug. 30.

Tracy said the hand “flared” on Anthony “and it got uncomfortable.” Tracy added that Anthony has felt occasional shots of pain in that injured hand but in this case, “some stuff happened that was more serious and was uncomfortable.”

He batted .245 with a .735 OPS in 55 regular-season games this year. Still, the Red Sox — who started Nick Sogard, Trevor Story and Jarren Duran in Game 1 — can’t afford to lose any bats, even if those bats are more about potential than production at this point in time.

Cam Schlittler used curveball to keep Red Sox guessing

Cam Schlittler is going to win the Cy Young this year, and it’s not because of his curveball usage. Schlittler primarily used his fastball, his cutter, and his sinker this season, using the curveball as his fourth pitch. It wasn’t all that successful either, with batters hitting .250 on the curveball. (They hit .162 on his fastball, by comparison.)

But in Game 1, Schlittler was using his curveball at an unheard of rate, and doing so with effectiveness. Schlittler threw his curveball 27 percent of the time in Game 1, compared to 10 percent on the regular season, with a 50 percent whiff rate when the Red Sox swung (8-for-16).

It was a wrinkle that allowed Schlittler to simply dominate Boston bats. The Red Sox mustered just two singled and a walk in 6.1 innings from Schlittler, who struck out 10 batters while setting a career high with 117 pitches.

Schlittler has owned the Red Sox since first facing them in the playoffs last year, and he utilized a secret weapon of sorts to keep that going in Game 1.

Caleb Durbin’s redemptive double play in fourth keeps game close

Through all of his ups and downs at the plate this season, Caleb Durbin has played an excellent defensive third base. It was peculiar, then, when he charged a George Lombard Jr. chopper in the fourth and whiffed. The ball took a dead hop off the dirt, and Lombard reached with a leadoff infield single.

Durbin got redemption later in the inning in a big way, though, when he caught a weird infield popup from Spencer Jones and then fired to second base to double up Lombard to end the inning.

The game was a bit shaky at that point, as Tolle walked Amed Rosario after the Lombard single. Erik Miller and Alec Gamboa both got to work in the bullpen, as the game was in danger of being broken open. Durbin’s play — aided by Lombard making a bad read on Jones’ contact — helped keep it a one-run game.

Later in the game, Nick Sogard started a spectacular 4-6-3, albeit when the game felt like it was already slipping away for the Red Sox.

Red Sox’ offensive woes are not Schlittler-specific.

Cam Schlittler shut the Boston bats down, of course, but that’s not necessarily a rare occurrence.

Over their final 21 games, the Red Sox averaged just 2.7 runs per game. They were shut out once, scored a single run five times, and scored two runs in four of those games.

So an offensive dud in this spot — against an elite pitcher or otherwise — certainly did not come out of nowhere.

The Red Sox managed to deliver just three hits in this one: A first-inning bloop single by Adley Rutschman, a seventh-inning single from Wilyer Abreu, and a double from Trevor Story with two outs in the eighth inning, the first and only time the Red Sox reached second base all game.

Brayan Bello had a chance to prove something; he did not

In what’s been a weird season for the Red Sox, nobody’s season has been weirder than Brayan Bello. He was an ineffective starter, he required an opener, he spent an extended time in Triple-A, and he was tremendously effective for a stretch.

When he entered a 4-0 game in the bottom of the eighth inning, the game was well in hand. Still, he had an opportunity to show he could be trusted to get outs in an adverse environment. He didn’t pass the test.

Bello entered the game with the bases loaded and one out, after Wyatt Olds loaded them up with a single and two walks. Needing to get a double-play ball to keep it close, Bello surrendered a sacrifice fly to No. 9 hitter Austin Wells.

A sacrifice fly wasn’t the end of the world, as the score was still somewhat manageable at 5-0. But Bello then walked Paul Goldschmidt before serving up a no-doubt-about-it grand slam to Ben Rice.

A once-competitive game turned into a laugher in a hurry, and Bello’s mystifying season added yet another sour chapter.

Speaking of Ben Rice …

Ben Rice killed the Red Sox in Game 1, going 4-for-5 with six RBIs.

He had three of the hardest-hit balls of the night, as he was all over just about everything he saw — right from the jump, too. His double in the first inning was the hardest-hit ball of the entire game at 110.3 mph. His grand slam had an exit velocity of 108.6 mph, and his solo homer was at 108.0 mph. Rice’s other hit — a single — had an exit velocity of 106.4, harder than all but one ball hit by the Red Sox all night.

So while Schlittler was the Red Sox’ biggest problem in Game 1, Rice was a very close second — and he’s someone the Red Sox will actually have to deal with in Game 2, when their season hangs in the balance.

Wilyer Abreu off the mark with second-inning throw to plate

What the Red Sox lack in offensive oomph they somewhat make up for in outfield defense, as Ceddanne Rafalea and Wilyer Abreu are two of the best outfielders in all of baseball.

Abreu, who will win the Gold Glove for a third straight year, flunked his first chance to show off his defensive prowess in the second inning. Austin Wells singled cleanly through the right side with Lombard on second base. Abreu was able to charge the ball, field it cleanly, and fire home. But his throw sailed up the third base line, allowing Lombard to score easily.

A great throw would have gotten Lombard easily. A good throw would have gotten him, too. Even a decent throw would have had a chance. Unfortunately for Abreu, he simply threw a bad one.

Payton Tolle carries quote from his late mother on glove

Payton Tolle lost his mother to colon cancer in 2024, and he honored her on Tuesday night with one of her quotes stitched into his glove: “You’re so pretty.”

That message is always on Tolle’s glove — it was a message his mother would say to him when he pitched in high school in order to keep him loose — but Tuesday’s start gave it some national attention.

History not on Red Sox’ side

As has been mentioned many times before, only once since the new Wild Card format was adopted in 2022 has the loser of Game 1 gone on to win the best-of-three series. The Red Sox know that history all too well, as they were the lone Game 1 winner to go on to lose the series a year ago in New York.

At the very least, though, they know that losing Game 1 is not a death sentence for the season. And the Sonny Gray-Max Fried matchup is a bit of a fairer fight than anyone vs. Cam Schlittler.

Fried pitched eight shutout innings with nine strikeouts against the Red Sox at Fenway in late April, but he allowed a run on three hits in 3.2 innings in his other start against the Red Sox in late August — his first start after spending time on the IL.

Gray faced the Yankees twice in June, allowing 3 runs in 6.1 innings at Yankee Stadium and pitching 7.1 shutout innings back at Fenway later that month.

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Knicks ready to ‘do a lot of different things’ in title defense — which could mean some role changes

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns during practice at the Madison Square Garden Training Center in Greenburgh, N.Y, Image 2 shows New York Knicks forward Og Anunoby shoots a basketball during practice, Image 3 shows New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson speaks at a press conference wearing a blue and yellow beanie
Knicks

Last year’s playoffs might have only been an appetizer. 

The postseason brought out a new version of the Knicks offense — one that fueled a historically dominant championship run. But it was born out of desperation, a change made on the fly after they fell to a 2-1 series deficit in the first round against the Hawks. Now, the Knicks have a full training camp and preseason to practice and experiment with it. 

And, ideally, take it to a new level. 

“I feel like we can do a lot more, do a lot of different things,” Jalen Brunson said after the first Knicks practice of the season Tuesday. “I think we unlocked something last year in the playoffs at a time of need and it worked. It’s gonna be fun to kind of integrate it from the beginning of the season, too.” 

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson speaks at a press conference when the New York Knicks practiced Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, at the Madison Square Garden Training Center in Greenburgh, N.Y. Robert Sabo for NY Post

The most important change was the well-documented decision to alter how they used Karl-Anthony Towns in the offense — having him serve as a “hub” at the elbows and facilitate with the ball in his hands. It allowed Brunson to play a bit more off the ball and took some of the playmaking burden off his shoulders. It amplified Towns’ prowess as a passer — in turn dragging opposing centers out of the paint — and also allowed OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges to thrive as cutters and screen setters around Towns. The Knicks’ offensive efficiency exploded as a result. 

That role for Towns will continue to be a focal point going into this year, with a few potential new twists. 

“Obviously playing with KAT at the elbow a little bit more than what we did [in the regular season last year],” coach Mike Brown said Tuesday. “Being with this group for a year now, you get a better feel of what players can do what. Like I didn’t know if OG could be as effective as he was in the pick-and-roll game. Same with Mikal. So to try to continue to find ways to get those guys involved at the top of the floor is something that we’ll take a look at. 

“We have great cutters that have tremendous size. We’ll continue to mix that in, and we all know that KAT is a really good facilitator at the elbow. Maybe Andre [Drummond] is too? I don’t know. Maybe we move OG to the five a little bit more than what we did last year. So there are a lot of different ways we can go with the team on both ends of the floor. The biggest thing is knowing that nothing’s set in stone.” 

New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) during practice on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, at the Madison Square Garden Training Center. Robert Sabo for NY Post

Those potential new roles for Anunoby and Bridges are particularly interesting. Brown’s system for most of last year emphasized Anunoby and Bridges staying in the corners for kick-out 3-pointers — or as Brown calls them, “sprays.” Bridges and Anunoby led the NBA in corner 3-point attempts during the regular season last year, taking 199 and 198, respectively, per the league’s official tracking stats. It was a core tenet of the Knicks offense. 

But both grew as ball handlers and slashers — creating their own shots — during the playoffs. Anunoby, in particular, at times carried the offense, showing an ability to score off the dribble and delivering some of the best production of his career. 

Maybe letting him spend time away from the corners and in the middle of the floor can help bring out the best version of him — an All-Star-caliber version. The idea of increasingly using Anunoby as a small-ball center is also notable given Drummond is the only backup center behind Towns that is a lock to make the roster. 

“There’s a lot that will carry over for this year. We’ll also experiment with some new things here and there, but the stuff that we had in the playoffs may not work during the regular season. So we have to be ready to evolve or pivot as the year goes along and hopefully come close to playoff time, we’re trending upwards so that we feel we’re in a pretty good spot with the confidence needed to take off from there.” 

That ability to adapt is critical. It only happened because a veteran-heavy group was willing to come together and adjust their own roles for the greater good. It hinged on a close-knit team’s ability to communicate honestly and openly. 

New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby shoots around during a practice at Frost Bank Center, Thursday, June 4, 2026, the day before Game 2 of the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs. Jason Szenes for The New York Post

“I think as a group, we figured out that we need each other to win, obviously, and we need each other to be on the same page,” Brunson said. “You never know when things are going to turn for you, when things are gonna click for you. But as long as you keep putting the work in every single day, you keep tapping the rock, tapping the rock, eventually it’s going to break.” 

Now, there’s a new rock to tap. 

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Mike Brown sets Knicks’ regular-season expectations as adversity awaits reigning champs

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown speaks at a press conference, Image 2 shows New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) and center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) during a team practice
Knicks

It’s hard to imagine a better version of basketball than the playoff finish by the Knicks: 13 wins in the final 14 games — several in utterly dominant fashion. 

But as the encore got underway this week at the Tarrytown practice facility, coach Mike Brown twice pumped the brakes on the idea that the steamroll will persist. At Monday’s Media Day, he cautioned that adversity is inevitable.

The Knicks certainly experienced that during a 2-9 stretch last season in January. 

And after Tuesday’s first practice, the championship coach acknowledged the impossibility of maintaining the near perfection of the playoffs. 

“We’re not playing at that level for 82 games,” Brown said. “You know, we played at a pretty high level, and … that’s not going to happen over 82 games. You know, for me, the 82-game season is about trying to find your way.” 

New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown speaks at a press conference at the Madison Square Garden Training Center in Greenburgh, N.Y., Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026. Robert Sabo for NY Post

Indeed, the Knicks aren’t predicted to smash any regular-season records. The East is too good and the veteran Knicks have clearly learned about pacing toward a sprint finish. A year ago, the young Thunder were coming off a championship and quickly threatened 70 victories (amid injuries, Oklahoma City finished with a 64-18 record). New York’s Over/Under for wins this season is in the low to mid-50s, depending on the sportsbook. 

Part of the early adjustment will be trying to recapture the efficiency of an offense with Karl-Anthony Towns as the hub, a strategy that will become more difficult to implement when the opposition studies enough film to counter. The Knicks benefited from the element of surprise during the playoffs. They also weren’t dealing with tense contract negotiations — a reality facing the Knicks now, as extensions for Towns, Josh Hart and Miles McBride remain unoffered or unsigned. 

“You don’t want that trickling into the season. Because whenever there’s uncertainty, there’s gonna be a lot of questions, there’s gonna be a lot of rumors,” Hart said. “At a human level, sometimes that can wear people down, and it can affect how you go out and handle business on a day-to-day basis.” 

Another potential early hurdle, at least for the start of the season, is a rusty Jalen Brunson. The star point guard is coming off left wrist surgery that disrupted his typical summer routine. 

“I don’t want to say I’m catching up,” Brunson said. “I feel good, but also I know that it wasn’t just my normal summer.” 

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) and center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) during a team practice Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, at the Madison Square Garden Training Center in Greenburgh, N.Y. Robert Sabo for NY Post

Surgery to his left hand two years ago — after he fractured it in Game 7 of the 2024 Eastern Conference semifinals against the Pacers — was less of a hindrance because the rehab started earlier in the offseason (his procedure was in May). This time, Brunson didn’t know surgery was necessary until July. 

“I was shooting earlier [two years ago] than I was this time. I was in a cast longer this time than I was before when I broke my hand,” Brunson said. “Plus it was a little bit earlier, I think I got surgery right after it happened [two years ago]. I didn’t get surgery for my wrist until like three weeks later because I didn’t know it was a necessity.” 

It was also a once-in-a-lifetime type of summer for Brunson, who didn’t shy from the off-the-court limelight and opportunities that come with ending a 53-year title drought. He found it hard to relax. 

“It exceeded expectations, honestly,” Brunson said about being a champ in NYC. “Winning in New York was no joke. It was a really cool experience. … Have I decompressed at all? Not really. I’m gonna be honest with you, not really. But I’ve had times where I had time to relax. I enjoyed that. I spent time getting away from everything. Most times, it was rehabbing. Once I was out of the cast and cleared, I had obligations I had to go through, so I did all of that. But I feel good. And I know where to go to get to my happy place. I know where to go when I need to decompress. I’m good.” 

Brunson was obviously more than “good” in the playoffs. He was extraordinary. So were the Knicks. But they’re not making that the regular-season baseline. 

“We’re gonna face new challenges throughout the course of the year. We’re gonna hit adversity, which, you know I said this last year, we’re gonna embrace it,” Brown said, “but we’re gonna hit adversity in an 82-game season.”

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Giants remain non-committal on wearing Pride Night hats months after protest

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows San Francisco Giants pitcher Landen Roupp throws to a Chicago Cubs , Image 2 shows San Francisco Giants pitcher Ryan Walker #74 delivers a pitch during a game at Oracle Park, Image 3 shows Buster Posey speaks into a microphone with the San Francisco Giants logo during a press conference

The biggest story of the Giants’ nightmarish 2026 season was the Pride Night controversy.

Four Giants pitchers protested the team’s annual celebration of the LGBTQ+ community on June 12. Months later, the team declined to answer whether it intends to continue sporting the rainbow-colored “SF” hats on Pride Night next season.

Ryan Walker of the San Francisco Giants pitches at Oracle Park on June 12, 2026. Getty Images

Sam Hentges chose to wear the Giants standard baseball cap, rather than the custom hat for the event. JT Brubaker, Landen Roupp and Ryan Walker added a Bible verse to the side of their rainbow-colored caps.

Their actions sparked much backlash from the San Francisco community and beyond, which kickstarted a debate about the entire event.

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred was forced to get involved and pointed blame at the Giants for failing to clarify to its player that wearing the Pride Night hat wasn’t mandatory.

Giants president of baseball operations Bustery Posey speaks during the team’s press conference. Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via AP
San Francisco Giants pitcher Landen Roupp with a Bible verse on his Pride Night hat. AP Photo/Scott Marshall

“MLB agreed to allow them to utilize the hats/uniforms with the emblems provided that no player or uniformed staff would be required to wear them, and that the team would speak to the players to make sure they were comfortable with the apparel,” Manfred wrote.

“Unfortunately, this year the Giants’ communication with players was inadequate and not clear. Some players apparently did not understand that they had the option to wear their normal uniform and elected to add messages to their hats bearing the pride logo as a result. The Giants players were allowed to wear the hats with the biblical references for the entire game. After the game had concluded, my office issued a routine oral warning about the uniform policy violation – unfortunately it was issued before we became aware of the Giants’ lapse in communication.

“The players were neither fined nor disciplined, nor will they ever be.”

In late June, the buzz surrounding the Giants’ Pride Night controversy still hadn’t rolled over. President of baseball operations Buster Posey, however, refused to answer questions about the scandal when asked by the media.

It appears the team has taken the same silencing tone over Pride Night at the season’s end.

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Why isn't Jazz Chisholm playing? Volpe in Yankees lineup vs Red Sox

NEW YORK — Jazz Chisholm played in 137 games and hit 19 home runs for the New York Yankees this season. Yet the looming specter of Boston Red Sox rookie lefty Payton Tolle was enough to send Chisholm to the bench for Game 1 of the American League wild card series Tuesday, Sept. 29.

While Tolle has at least partially reverse splits, his dominant fastball might overwhelm Chisholm, who has gone from crushing fastballs a year ago to performing meekly against them this season. And former shortstop Anthony Volpe has been too effective down the stretch for Yankees manager Aaron Boone to roll with Chisholm.

Boone's perspective? It will take all 26 men to defeat the Red Sox in this best-of-three sprint.

"My expectation is he'll be ready to go and could play a crucial role as early as tonight," Boone said Tuesday to Yankees beat reporters before his nightly press conference.

Chisholm struck a confident tone a day earlier, telling reporters Monday in New Yor that he would be "ticked off" if he didn't start Game 1.

"Yeah, who wouldn't be?" he said. "As a competitor, who wouldn't be? It's the playoffs. You want to play."

Chisholm has a .170 batting average, three homers and a .607 OPS in 24 career playoff games. Volpe is at .252 with no homers and a .728 OPS in 21 career playoff games.

Yankees starting lineup today

  1. Paul Goldschmidt (R) 1B
  2. Ben Rice (L) DH
  3. Heliot Ramos (R) RF
  4. Cody Bellinger (L) LF
  5. George Lombard Jr. (R) SS
  6. Amed Rosario (R) 3B
  7. Anthony Volpe (R) 2B
  8. Spencer Jones (L) CF
  9. Austin Wells (L) C

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why isn't Jazz Chisholm playing? Volpe in Yankees lineup vs Red Sox

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Austin Reaves, Luka Dončić are leading the Lakers into a new era

EL SEGUNDO, CA - SEPTEMBER 28: Austin Reaves #15 and Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers pose for a portrait 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

The hole left by LeBron James’ departure is a wide-stretching one within the Lakers.

On the court, the team will have to replace roughly 20 points, six rebounds and five assists per game along with the intangible impact he had on a nightly basis. Off the court, and perhaps more to that point about the intangibles, the leadership void will likely be the biggest.

No matter what his role or status was during games, LeBron was The Guy for the Lakers. He was the star around which all others orbited. Even if the team was moving into the Luka Dončić era, LeBron was still, at the very least, a leader of the team.

His departure, then, leaves a massive leadership void that the pair of Luka and Austin Reaves will be tasked with filling this season. For Luka, it’s a role he’s very familiar with. For Austin, it’s unchartered waters.

“People lead in different ways,” Austin said on Monday at Media Day. “I’m not someone that’s going to sit out here and scream at people. I like to talk to people one-on-one, have a real conversation. That way, people will never feel like I’m trying to embarrass them in front of people.

“If it’s practice, whenever we have a down period of time, pulling people to the side, talking to them about what I see, what I think they can do better. Just trying to give everybody my input and how I see things to help them moving forward.”

It’s not necessarily a natural role for Austin, who has spent much of his basketball career scrapping for his spot even before entering the league. Rarely are former two-way players ever looked upon as leaders, but it’s even rarer for two-way players to earn the nearly max deal that Austin Reaves got this summer.

Big contracts bring big expectations. Reaves can no longer be The Other Guy on a roster, hiding behind Luka or LeBron.

“I think he improved a lot,” Luka said of Austin’s leadership. “He talks more to a lot of people. Obviously, the new players, they’re going to look up to him, asking things. I think he took a big step forward.”

As for Luka himself, while this is a new role for him in the purple and gold, it’s one he’s very familiar with. Not only was he the leader in Dallas from an early age, but even his time in Europe as a teenager saw a lot placed on his shoulders.

“I was in this position in my career a lot of times, so it’s not new to me,” Luka said. “But I feel great. I feel excited and, like I said, I’m ready to go. It’s been a long time since I’ve played basketball so I’m ready.”

The often-goofy, always-competitive duo might not be seen as natural leaders, but the Lakers are banking on that competitiveness to be the driving force.

“Obviously, together, they’re immature,” Jarred Vanderbilt said. “But the maturity level, I’ve seen it rise since I’ve been here and seen both of them together. They know that there’s a lot that comes with the position that they’re in.

“I think with both of them, they’ve done a great job of, in their own rights, cultivating the culture and showing the new guys the way.”

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.

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What time do MLB division series start? See game times, potential matchups

Major League Baseball has set the broadcast schedule for the 2026 Division Series, beginning Oct. 3.

The complete matchups are not yet set as four teams are waiting in the playoff shadows after earning a first-round bye through the 2026 Wild Card Series.

Eight teams will compete for an opportunity to advance to the Division Series. Wild Card teams facing each other in the American League include the Houston Astros against the Chicago White Sox and the Boston Red Sox taking on the New York Yankees.

The Wild Card round is a best-of-three. Winners go on to the next round in a best-of-five Division Series.

Here's a look at the MLB Playoffs Division Series schedule:

MLB Playoffs Division Series

See the full schedule for the Division Series during the MLB Playoffs including what-if scenarios for each Wild Card team.

* = if necessary

All times are Eastern Standard

Saturday, Oct. 3:

If the Cubs advance:

If the Padres advance:

  • Chicago White Sox/Houston Astros winner at Cleveland Guardians, Game 1 at 1 p.m. (TBS/truTV/HBO Max)
  • Philadelphia Phillies/Atlanta Braves winner at Los Angeles Dodgers, Game 1 at 4 p.m. (FS1/FOX Deportes/FOX One)
  • Boston Red Sox/New York Yankees winner at Tampa Bay Rays, Game 1 at 6:30 p.m. (TBS/truTV/HBO Max)
  • San Diego Padres at Milwaukee Brewers, Game 1 at 8:30 p.m. (FS1/FOX Deportes/FOX One)

Sunday, Oct. 4:

  • Chicago Cubs/San Diego Padres winner at Milwaukee Brewers, Game 2 at 4 p.m. (FS1/FOX Deportes/FOX One)
  • Philadelphia Phillies/Atlanta Braves winner at Los Angeles Dodgers, Game 2 at 8 p.m. (FS1/FOX Deportes/FOX One)

Monday, Oct. 5

  • Chicago White Sox/Houston Astros winner at Cleveland Guardians, Game 2 at 5 p.m. (TBS/truTV/HBO Max)
  • Boston Red Sox/New York Yankees winner at Tampa Bay Rays, Game 2 at 8 p.m. (TBS/truTV/HBO Max)

Tuesday, Oct. 6

  • Milwaukee Brewersat Chicago Cubs/San Diego Padres winner, Game 3 (FOX/FS1/FOX Deportes/FOX One)
  • Los Angeles Dodgers at Philadelphia Phillies/Atlanta Braves winner, Game 3 (FOX/FS1/FOX Deportes/FOX One)

Wednesday, Oct. 7

  • Tampa Bay Rays atBoston Red Sox/New York Yankees winner, Game 3 (TBS/truTV/HBO Max)
  • Cleveland Guardians at Chicago White Sox/Houston Astros winner, Game 3 (TBS/truTV/HBO Max)
  • Milwaukee Brewersat Chicago Cubs/San Diego Padres winner, Game 4 (FOX/FS1/FOX Deportes/FOX One)*
  • Los Angeles Dodgers at Philadelphia Phillies/Atlanta Braves winner, Game 4 (FOX/FS1/FOX Deportes/FOX One)*

Thursday, Oct. 8

  • Tampa Bay Rays at Boston Red Sox/New York Yankees winner, Game 4 (TBS/truTV/HBO Max)*
  • Cleveland Guardians at Chicago White Sox/Houston Astros winner, Game 4 (TBS/truTV/HBO Max)*

Friday, Oct. 9

  • Chicago Cubs/San Diego Padres winner at Milwaukee Brewers, Game 5 (FOX/FS1/FOX Deportes/FOX One)*
  • Philadelphia Phillies/Atlanta Braves winner at Los Angeles Dodgers, Game 5 (FOX/FS1/FOX Deportes/FOX One)*

Saturday, Oct. 10

  • Boston Red Sox/New York Yankees winner at Tampa Bay Rays, Game 5 (TBS/truTV/HBO Max)*
  • Chicago White Sox/Houston Astros winner at Cleveland Guardians, Game 5 (TBS/truTV/HBO Max)*

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What time do MLB division series start? See game times, potential matchups

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MLB Wild Card Series Game 1 preview: Chicago Cubs vs. San Diego Padres, Tuesday 9/29, 9 p.m. CT

SITE NOTE: NBC says the first pitch of this game should happen around 9:10 p.m. CT. The BCB “live” thread will post tonight at 8:30 p.m. CT.

Tuesday notes…

  • GAME 1: The Cubs were 27-26 this year in first games of series. On the road, they were 12-14. Two of the wins were on the West Coast, at Los Angeles and San Francisco, as were two of the losses, at San Diego and Seattle. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
  • ON THE ROAD: The Cubs won the first two games of seven road series, including at San Francisco. They won the first and lost the second of five, including at Los Angeles. They lost the first and won the second of eight, including at San Diego. They lost the first two of six, including at Seattle. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
  • PITCHING IS GETTING GOOD, PART 1: Cubs pitchers allowed a total of 12 runs in their last five games, with a high of four. That tied for the sixth-fewest runs in any five-game span of the season. They gave up 10 three times, the last of them April 18-22, and 11 runs twice, most recently July 29-Aug. 2. They yielded 12 runs in three earlier spans, the last July 31-Aug. 4. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
  • PITCHING IS GETTING GOOD, PART 2: In the first nine innings of games, the Cubs have given up only 17 runs in their last eight games. They surrendered six runs in the 12th inning of one of the eight. The 23 total runs in eight games tied for their seventh fewest of the season. They gave up 19 runs July 28-Aug. 4; 20, April 14-22; 21, July 27-Aug. 3; and 22 three times, all between July 24 and Aug. 6. They gave up 23 twice earlier, April 15-23 and July 27-Aug. 5. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)

Here is how important winning Game 1 of a Wild Card series is:

Cubs lineup:

Padres lineup:

Matthew Boyd, LHP vs. Michael King, RHP

Matthew Boyd has had quite the eventful season.

He made two starts, then missed three weeks with a bicep injury. He came back and threw pretty well, then hurt his knee playing with his kids (nominee for Weird MLB Injury of the Year!) and missed about six weeks.

Most important for right now is that he’s thrown well over his last six starts: 3.28 ERA, 1.121 WHIP, only one home run in 35.2 innings — and that ERA is in part the victim of a bullpen that allowed some of his inherited runners to score.

Boyd allowed three runs in five innings to the Padres June 30 at Wrigley Field, including home runs by Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado. Hold those two guys down and this could be a good game for Boyd.

Perhaps of note: Boyd has a 1.66 ERA in seven postseason games (six starts) covering 21.2 innings. He has never allowed a postseason home run.

Michael King is the Padres’ best starter and by bWAR (4.3) this was his best MLB season, though his K rate was down a bit from last year.

In his three years and 77 starts with the Padres, though, he has never made a regular season start against the Cubs. His only appearance vs. the Cubs as a Padre was one inning of scoreless relief in Game 3 of last year’s Wild Card Series. He struck out Dansby Swanson, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Matt Shaw.

In looking up various batter vs. pitcher matchups, small sample sizes are always caveats. I was, however, struck by the fact that Alex Bregman is 7-for-8 with two doubles and two walks against King. That’s not nothing. Perhaps it will mean something tonight.

Here is the weather forecast for the area around Petco Park.

Today’s game is on Peacock and NBC Sports Network.

Here is the complete MLB.com live streaming page for today.

MLB.com Gameday

Baseball-reference.com game preview

Please visit our SB Nation Padres site Gaslamp Ball. If you do go there to interact with Padres fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.

The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.

You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).

At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.

The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.

You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.

Discuss amongst yourselves.

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AL Wild Card GDT: Let them fight!

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - SEPTEMBER 22: Payton Tolle #70 of the Boston Red Sox walks through the dugout before a game against the Cleveland Guardians on September 22, 2026 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Go Rays!

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AL Wild Card Series Game 1: Cam Schlittler vs. Payton Tolle

Cam Schlittler, pitches in the fourth inning, Monday, May 4, 2026, at Yankee Stadium. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co

After the 162-game marathon that is the baseball regular season, we have now reached the sprint that is the baseball postseason. Tonight, the Yankees will begin their quest to add another championship to their illustrious history. As always, the road there will be tough, and there’s an added element to this year’s opening series.

For the second-straight season, the Yankees will host the Red Sox in the AL Wild Card Series. Last year, the Yankees won the matchup in a decisive Game 3, thanks to a humungous effort from pitcher Cam Schlittler. This time around, they’ll be relying on him in Game 1.

After a season that has him as the favorite for the AL Cy Young Award, the Yankees will give the ball to Schlittler for Game 1. In last year’s aforementioned Game 3, he threw eight shutout innings, allowing just five hits as the Yankees advanced. One thing to note about Schlittler’s 2026 is that he has been worse at home — 2.98 ERA vs. 1.16 ERA on the road — but he has shown a knack for big moments over his young career.

Facing a lefty opposing starter, the Yankees have gone with their lefty-hitting lineup, including the likes of Paul Goldschmidt and Amed Rosario while Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Ryan McMahon go to the bench. There’s no Giancarlo Stanton or Trent Grisham in the lineup following their addition to the roster, while Anthony Volpe gets the nod at second base.

For Boston, they’ll give the ball to Payton Tolle. While not as dominant as Schlittler, Tolle has also been very good as a young pitcher, putting up a 3.03 ERA and a 3.04 FIP in 26 starts. He’ll likely be in the AL Rookie of the Year race. He was very good in his two starts against the Yankees this season, allowing just one run in 13 innings. While the Yankees are playing their lefty lineup, that’s been an issue they’ve had this season, exemplified by those two Tolle outings.

The big news in the rest of Boston’s lineup is that Willson Contreras is in there. Contreras missed a good chunk of the end of the regular season with a right hand injury, and only made a brief appearance in the final game of the regular season.

We hope that you’ll come join us in the game thread as we kick off another postseason matchup between these two historic rivals!

How to watch

Location: Yankee Stadium – Bronx, NY

First pitch: 8:00 p.m. ET

TV broadcast: NBC

Radio broadcast: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280 (NYY) | WEEI 93.7, WCCM 1490 AM (SP), WESX 1230 AM (SP) (BOS) | ESPN Radio (national)

Streaming: Peacock

For updates, follow us on BlueSky, Twitter, and Instagram, and like us on Facebook.

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'This is a meritocracy': Lakers open training camp with mandate of competition

Lakers forwards Adou Thiero (left) and Jarred Vanderbilt (center) and guard Bronny James interact during the team's media day
Lakers forwards Adou Thiero (left) and Jarred Vanderbilt and guard Bronny James (9) interact during the team's media day Monday. On Tuesday they joined teammates in their first training camp practice. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)

Walker Kessler wasn’t focused on the stats. He wasn’t really counting the number of shots he swatted — “one or two” — or lobs he dunked — “like four probably” — in his official Lakers practice debut Tuesday.

The only thing the star center cared about was the competition on the court. He and his teammates delivered on that, Kessler said with a smile.

The Lakers opened training camp Tuesday with a focus on competition as the new-look team takes shape. Six of the team’s top nine players from last season are gone. A month’s worth of practices and five preseason games are the stage as players audition to fill the vacant roles.

“This is a meritocracy,” coach JJ Redick said. “You got to earn your minutes, and you cheer for your teammates while you’re doing it.”

Redick can confidently lock in three starters in Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Kessler. The other two starting positions, and even the last spots on the roster as the Lakers need to trim at least one player to reach the NBA-maximum of 15 guaranteed contracts by the Oct. 21 season opener, remain up for grabs.

That’s how players prefer things.

Read more:Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves ready to take charge of new-look Lakers

“Everybody has something to prove,” forward Sandro Mamukelashvili said at media day Monday. “Everybody’s very excited for the season. The guys are hard workers.”

Mamukelashvili, praised for his versatility and ability to be what Redick called “a connector” on offense, is in the mix for the starting power forward position along with Jake LaRavia, Jarred Vanderbilt and Ziaire Williams. The stiffest competition comes on the wing, where the Lakers lauded their depth between offseason additions Quentin Grimes, Collin Sexton, Matisse Thybulle and Williams, rookie Cameron Carr and progressing second-year forward Adou Thiero.

Redick said he has tried to give players clearly defined roles for them to earn minutes, and the depth of the wing group makes for a minuscule difference between fulfilling those requirements to stay on the court and falling short and sitting on the bench. After one day, Redick proudly reported the group “understood the assignment.”

“That was exciting,” Redick said. “They set the tone for us defensively. There was a lot of physicality, a lot of grabbing and holding, a lot of disruption without gambling.”

After general manager Rob Pelinka reset the roster to match the timelines for the 27-year-old Doncic and 28-year-old Reaves, the group of almost all 20-somethings was eager and receptive to the first day of camp, Redick said. Players who were not participating in live play still peppered coaches with questions.

Redick, entering his third season as a head coach, relished the buy-in and interest from the young team.

Read more:How a healthy and motivated Walker Kessler could transform the Lakers' defense

“In terms of myself, the teaching part of it was something that I’ve maybe grown a little bit since like the very first practice I coached two years ago,” Redick said. “It’s a little different now.”

Last season, the Lakers relied on vocal veteran leaders such as LeBron James, 41, and Marcus Smart, 32. Now they have just one player in his 30s: That’s 30-year-old Kevon Looney, who smiled at the thought that he is suddenly the elder statesman of the team.

While Redick has emphasized the importance of Doncic and Reaves growing into larger leadership roles, Redick still set the tone from the coaching staff for the first day of practice.

“In film, I was ready to go fight somebody or something,” Kessler said, raising his fists with a smile. “He’s such a good motivator. He’s incredible. He’s really incredible. Having someone that’s done it for 15 years playing and now three years coaching, it’s easy to see why he’s so successful.”

Beyer retires

Lakers assistant coach Bob Beyer retired this offseason, Redick confirmed Tuesday. The longtime assistant was a key part of Redick’s coaching staff when the first-time head coach was hired. Redick played for five seasons under Beyer in Orlando and then again in New Orleans.

“He’s, like, someone I explicitly trust and believe in,” Redick said. “He’s an incredible teacher. He was an incredible mentor for a lot of our young coaches and an incredible example.”

While the retirement took Redick by surprise because Beyer shared the news late in the offseason, Redick said he understood the reasons. The 64-year-old Beyer joked he was “basically retired” by the time Redick called with the Lakers’ job in 2024. Two seasons later, he was ready to retire for good.

“He’s a legend,” Redick said. “We all love him. We’re so appreciative of everything you did for us.”

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Atlantic Division watch: The Nets are still looking for a way out

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 29: Michael Porter Jr. #17 of the Brooklyn Nets handles the ball as Stephen Curry #30 and Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors plays defense during the game on December 29, 2025 at Barclays Center in New York City, New York. 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 Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Let’s get it Dub Nation. As training camp begins and the Golden State Warriors are getting back into the swing of things, I’m continuing my review of what the rest of the NBA has done, division by division.

We’re still in the Atlantic Division right now, and I’ve already covered the Boston Celtics and the Toronto Raptors. Next up on the list is the Brooklyn Nets, fresh off of winning their third straight title with the super trio of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden.

Wait wait, you mean to tell me those three stars have been gone for hella long and the franchise is a wasteland that hasn’t won anything since Dr. J was playing? Whoaaa.

Last season the Warriors went 2-0 against Brooklyn. On December 29th at Barclays, Golden State won 120-107. The rematch at Chase on March 25 was tighter, 109-106, and the leading scorer was Gui Santos with a career-high 31. Santos detonating on Brooklyn was a pretty clear indicator of how badly the non-Knicks New York team was spiraling.

These guys eventually collapsed to a 20-62 finish as their season mercifully ended. Brooklyn walked into the summer trying to figure out a new identity, which can be an exciting thing! But perpetual rebuild mode is enough to break the hearts of even the most hardened fanbase. I wonder if the Nets are ready to play an inspired brand of basketball that would keep all of their supporters from burning their jerseys and bandwagoning the champion orange and blue of their neighbors.

Nicolas Claxton left for Chicago, Ziaire Williams went to the Lakers, and the draft brought in Mikel Brown Jr., Joshua Jefferson and Tyler Bilodeau. Also, financial freedom! Isn’t that what everybody wants if you’re not winning championships?? Per Nets Daily:

Who can forget flexibility!?! To recap, Brooklyn still has $4.9 million in cap space, the $9.4 million room exception, the full $8.5 million in cash considerations plus 32 draft picks. You know the math … or should by now! 13 firsts, 10 of which can be traded, and 19 seconds, all of which can be traded. And at the moment, no Nets player has a contract that extends beyond 2027-28.

And then they traded for Julius Randle.

CBS Sports’ Sam Quinn was confused too:

Brooklyn’s front office probably faces the biggest disparity between perception and reality of any in basketball. The prevailing narrative surrounding the Nets is that they’ve been poorly run and their outlook is bleak. True, they haven’t yet found any truly foundational players, but they have a clean cap sheet and a six-pick first-round draft surplus (not including swaps, though in fairness they owe their 2027 swap to the Houston Rockets). The reality is that this is a pretty promising blank slate if you’re willing to take the long view.

The Julius Randle addition makes no sense. He’s an expensive floor-raiser in his 30s. The Nets don’t need their floor raised. They don’t control their own pick this year, so the relegation zone isn’t a concern. He overlaps positionally with Michael Porter Jr. (whom they have neither traded nor extended, strangely). He’ll take the ball out of the hands of their many young players who need it.

I gotta admit, I do enjoy seeing Michael Porter Jr. pull up with zero conscience and fire up shots from beyond the arc like a real flamethrower. It reminds me of Klay Thompson sometimes; except less accurate. I can see a world where certain nights MPJ and Randle thrive off inferior defenders and light up the scoreboard. I also am curious to see how the Nets win games if they aren’t both clicking. But is Porter Jr. really just trade bait for a potential contender?

Per Sports Illustrated, here’s MPJ’s thoughts on the topic: “I’ve voiced that I’d love to be in Brooklyn and that I’m enjoying playing with these guys. And I think we’ll be a lot better this year, obviously. … The way these young guys have gotten better just in one year, I’m excited to see what we can do. So that’s where my mind is at and I’m not even thinking about anything else.”

I’ve seen the Nets take two major swings at the title in the last dozen or so years. There was the time they assembled Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Deron Williams, and Joe Johnson for an aging superteam back in 2013. Then there was that KD-Kyrie-Harden trio that the pandemic and injuries washed away. To see this franchise struggling while their NY neighbors guzzle championship champagne shows just how close despair and success live.

I expect the Warriors to give these guys the business when they meet this season. And with how stacked their division is, it’s gonna be tough to make some noise. They’ve got the athletic Toronto Raptors, the chip-on-their-shoulder Boston Celtics, and the new and improved Philadelphia 76ers all staring down at them in the standings. And whenever Brooklyn needs a break from looking up at the division, it can glance across the East River and watch the Knicks hang a banner.

Have fun with that, Brooklyn.

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Lakers roll with changes to kick off Luka Doncic era: ‘A great first day’

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick speaks to the media at a press conference, Image 2 shows Los Angeles Lakers player Walker Kessler speaks into a microphone during media day in front of a backdrop featuring the team logo, Image 3 shows Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic speaks at a press conference

When the Lakers opened training camp with their first practice on Tuesday in El Segundo, there were a lot of new faces inside the building. 

And many familiar faces were nowhere to be seen.

Gone were LeBron James, the league’s all-time leading scorer who spent eight seasons in Los Angeles before joining the 76ers.

Lakers coach JJ Redick quickly established what he’s looking for from his team during training camp before preseason exhibitions start next week. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Same with Rui Hachimura, who spent 3 ½ seasons with the Lakers before joining the Clippers, as well as Marcus Smart, Deandre Ayton, Luke Kennard and Jaxson Hayes, all of whom played important roles for the Lakers’ playoff series victory over the Rockets in the spring. 

Enter nine new players on the Lakers’ roster and a lot of new possibilities as the franchise fully establishes itself in the Luka Doncic era.

Doncic lobs to marquee free-agent addition Walker Kessler? Check, with Kessler saying Doncic threw him around four lobs on Tuesday, quickly establishing a connection. 

“It was great,” Doncic said. “We had a lot of fun, a lot of teaching points, and everybody I think felt that it was like it was a great first day.”

The beginning of a battle for two of the Lakers’ open starting spots? Check, with the team’s wings competing for minutes establishing the defensive physicality during the first practice.

Lakers guard Luka Doncic liked what he saw from the team’s first practice of training camp. AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill

“We went after it from Day 1,” Kessler said. “So it’s fantastic.” 

Outside of the new faces, which included shakeups on coach JJ Redick’s staff after longtime assistant coach Bob Beyer’s retirement, the first practice of camp didn’t look much different than it did during Redick’s first two years as coach. 

The installs and teaching for this portion of preseason will look the same, with Redick acknowledging his growth as a teacher, continuing to build off the small-group sessions players had in August and throughout September. 

The excitement for what this new group can be is palpable.

“They are a very receptive group, eager group,” Redick said. “Even a couple of the guys that sat out a portion of the live play were constantly asking questions, and they want information. and they want to learn and they want to be better.”

Walker Kessler is impressed with the Lakers’ connection early on in training camp. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

And there’s also clear goals for camp ahead of the first preseason game against the Kings in Sacramento on Monday: establish their defensive principles, continue to establish their early offense (which was their main priority for all of September) and get in “great shape.” 

“We’ve gotten terrific buy-in over the last several weeks,” Redick said, “and [Tuesday] was very additive to those three things.”

But with so many new faces in the building, it led to a key question: Are there ways to fast-track on-court chemistry so everyone’s in sync when the games start to count beginning with Opening Night against the Warriors in three weeks (Oct. 21)?

“That’s a hard question — I honestly don’t know,” Doncic said. “Some things [we’re] going to figure out quicker; some things are going to [be figured] out later. I feel like we had a great first practice. A lot of teaching points. It was a great practice.”

And for now, that’s all Tuesday needed to be. 

With a lighter preseason schedule compared with the previous year (five exhibitions instead of six), the Lakers will have more time to work out the kinks that could come with such drastic roster turnover. 

Their teamwide trip to Slovenia, which Doncic led, helped fast-track the players’ connections with each other.

And that connection, which was felt on Tuesday, already has most of them believing they can compete with not just the best teams in the Western Conference but throughout the NBA.

“No question — undoubtedly,” Kessler responded when asked whether the Lakers can be NBA title contenders. “We have a lot of great tools and a lot of versatility. The guys are already getting along. Connection makes championship teams, and we definitely could be a contender.”

Redick established that no team is already at a championship level to start training camp. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Like Redick mentioned last week, no team is a championship-level team on Sept. 29. 

And they likely won’t be on Sept. 30, either. 

The journey to becoming a contender is an ongoing process that lasts from the early fall all the way through the following spring. 

But the Lakers felt great about Tuesday being a step forward in that process. 

Which is all that the first practice needed to provide. 

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What happened to Alex Bregman? Scary injury can't keep Cubs slugger from MLB playoffs

SAN DIEGO — Just nine days after suffering eight broken bones in his face, third baseman Alex Bregman was back in the Chicago Cubs' lineup Tuesday facing the San Diego Padres as the designated hitter for Game 1 of the National League wild card series.

Bregman, who began taking ground balls the past few days after suffering the injury Sept. 20 when a foul ball by teammate Michael Busch hit him in the face while standing near the on-deck circle, tried to convince Cubs manager Craig Counsell that he was good enough to play third base with the swelling in his face dramatically reduced.

Yet, Counsell said that Bregman’s bat is too valuable to take the risk of Bregman being back in the field.

“I played it safe, I'll be honest with you," Counsell said. “I just think this is a man seven days off of facial fractures, and I want his at-bat. I think his at-bats are the most critical thing for our team is that he gets his at-bats this series. That's what's most important.

“I feel like this is a better way to guarantee that he gets these at-bats. There's just more risk playing the field. Could it go fine? Yeah. Does he want to play the field? He does. This is just a safer way to go to make sure he gets all his at-bats."

Still, just the fact that Bregman is back in the lineup so quickly, his teammates say, is a huge boost for their morale, much less their lineup, where he’ll bat second.

“That fires you up,” Cubs MVP Pete Crow-Armstrong said. “Knowing him and how wonderfully crazy he is, just about his work and how much he loves the game, it’s not really surprising. Not to put a damper on how cool it is that he’s coming back after facial fractures and whatnot, I’m just not that surprised.

“He lives for this kind of baseball. Most importantly, I’m glad he’s healthy enough to do what he loves. …Simply put, Alex Bregman makes our lineup better. So, it’s huge that he’s getting himself game ready.”

Certainly, he proved in the Cubs’ season-finale that his bat is just fine, going 4-for-4 with two home runs.

“I’ll do whatever it takes,’’ said Bregman, who finished his first year with the Cubs hitting .265 with 28 homers, 93 RBI,  and an .819 OPS in 155 games. He had a sensation second half, producing a 1.010 OPS compared to a .696 OPS before the All-Star break.

Now, he becomes the 11th player in MLB history to play in 10 consecutive postseasons with the advent of the wild-card.

“He's the man, to be honest,’’ Cubs reliever Jaco Webb said. “That's tough to do. That's really cool and shows the kind of character that he has going through such a crazy injury.

“I mean, you're putting your career on the line at that point, but he knows what he's doing. The biggest thing is he wants to be here. He wants to win."

Cubs starting lineup today: Game 1 vs Padres

  1. Pete Crow-Armstrong (L) CF
  2. Alex Bregman (R) DH
  3. Michael Busch (L) 1B
  4. Seiya Suzuki (R) RF
  5. Ian Happ (S) LF
  6. Nico Hoerner (R) 2B
  7. Pedro Ramírez (S) 3B
  8. Carson Kelly (R) C
  9. Dansby Swanson (R) SS

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What happened to Alex Bregman? Scary injury can't keep Cubs slugger from MLB playoffs