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From collapse to clinch, Phillies survive ‘living hell’ of last week and win final NL wild card

PHILADELPHIA — Kyle Schwarber belly-flopped more than he actually slid headfirst into second base and popped up with his uniform smudged in dirt. He punched his right fist in the air and shouted something in exhilaration toward a fired-up Phillies dugout.

Schwarber delivered with a clutch two-run double, yes. He also showed the fire, the fight that vanished from the Phillies during a treacherous week that sent them from the brink of a wild-card clinch to the edge — and yes, the bottom was crumbling — of an all-time franchise collapse.

His slide had Phillies fans roaring from their feet — perhaps more than a few who wore brown paper bags over their heads a night earlier — and instantly all felt right on a soggy day inside Citizens Bank Park.

Zack Wheeler pitched a gem against Tampa Bay and untangled a few thousand knots inside the stomachs of Phillies fans, and even from those inside a mostly solemn clubhouse. The Phillies survived their perilous five-day scare and indeed are headed to the playoffs for the fifth straight season after beating the Rays 7-3 to clinch the final NL wild-card berth.

“We didn’t play the best baseball we could in September,” slugger Bryce Harper said. “Should we have clinched two weeks ago? Probably, right? But we didn’t. We clinched today.”

Jhoan Duran struck out Nick Fortes to seal it. Duran pounded his mitt and was greeted by teammates for a fairly muted celebration on the field.

The Phillies got more rowdy inside the clubhouse and sprayed cheap beer and bubbly as bottle caps floated in booze-soaked puddles on the carpet while Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive” was cranked to 11.

Philadelphia did indeed survive a freefall that coincided with the Arizona Diamondbacks getting hot over the final week of the season. The Phillies’ slam dunk of a playoff spot morphed into something much more tenuous.

Interim manager Don Mattingly said ahead of Wednesday’s game — the first day the team could clinch — that, yes, Philadelphia would wait until midnight if needed to pop the bubbly if it beat Milwaukee and the Diamondbacks lost a time zone away to Colorado.

The Phillies lost that one. Then came three more defeats, capped by a 12-1 embarrassment against the AL East champion Rays.

Mattingly’s presumed wait of a few hours to celebrate was not complete until 5:19 p.m. Eastern on Sunday, Sept. 27.

The Phillies only scored three runs during their four-game losing streak. They needed an unearned run on Saturday to snap a 21-inning scoreless streak.

Schwarber’s double in the second inning made it 4-0, and that all but erased the significance of the Diamondbacks’ outcome in San Diego. Philadelphia entered the day needing a win or an Arizona loss to make the playoffs.

J.T. Realmuto slogged through 34 straight hitless at-bats. He also ripped an RBI double in the second inning.

Bryson Stott batted cleanup for only the seventh time in his career. He also hit an RBI double that scored Schwarber in the first inning.

Harper lined a solo shot into the first row of the right-field seats, and Edmundo Sosa added a two-run homer for a 7-1 lead in the seventh.

Slumps were busted. Losing streaks were obliterated. Corks were popped.

“It was kind of a living hell in slow motion,” Phillies managing partner and CEO John Middleton said of the final week.

Wheeler allowed one run and threw 97 pitches over six innings to earn his 14th win of the season on a rainy day that stirred memories of the 2008 World Series between the same teams.

The Phillies, though, likely took a loss by pushing the clincher to the 162nd game. With Game 1 in the best-of-three Wild Card Series set to start in Atlanta, the Phillies almost surely will have to beat the Braves without a start from Wheeler.

The Phillies’ rotation has been a strength this season, and Jesús Luzardo and Cristopher Sánchez are in play for Games 1 and 2. Andrew Painter or Aaron Nola could make a Game 3 start, if necessary.

Mattingly had goggles wrapped around his backward cap and laughed when he said it was “too early” to announce a Game 1 starter.

NL East champion Atlanta won the season series 9-4 and finished six games ahead of second-place Philadelphia.

The Phillies were 9-19 when they fired popular manager Rob Thomson in April after he led the Phillies to four straight playoff appearances, including the 2022 World Series, and consecutive NL East titles.

Mattingly, hired in the offseason as bench coach, is back in the playoffs a season after he was on the staff of a Toronto team that lost the World Series in seven games to the Los Angeles Dodgers. He’s tasked with leading the franchise to its first championship since 2008, the second year of a five-year playoff stretch for the Phillies.

That was a record, until this year’s team matched it.

“You wouldn’t think that, right, with everybody’s opinion of us,” Harper said. “I think as a team, as a group, pretty cool. The job’s not done, the job’s not finished. We’ve never finished the job before.”

The Phillies did all they could to try and blow their lead.

Philadelphia had a 6 1/2-game lead over Arizona for the third NL wild card on Sept. 1 before going into a tailspin that spurred painful memories of the 1964 season. Those Phillies lost 10 straight games to blow a 6 1/2-game lead and the NL pennant with 12 games left.

This year’s team will be able to raise a playoff flag on opening day (whenever that is in 2027).

The Phillies also must try and prove their late-September meltdown was nothing but a blip in a long and successful October.

That’s a problem to start to solve on Monday.

On Sunday, it was hugs and high-fives and a collective exhale that more playoffs were on the horizon.

“We know our team,” Schwarber said. “We know that we have a lot of experience. We’ve got talent. When we’re playing our game, and we’re executing what we need to do, we’re a really hard team to beat.”

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The 2026 Washington Nationals had a season to be proud of

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 27: Jacob Young #30 of the Washington Nationals celebrates after the Washington Nationals defeated the New York Mets at Nationals Park on Sunday, September 27, 2026 in Washington, District of Columbia. (Photo by Alyssa McDaniel/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

The book is now closed on the 2026 Washington Nationals season. They finished the season 77-85, making an 11 win improvement from last season. This was a true step forward season, but there is still a way to go. James Wood summarized the season well when he told me, “We should be proud of how far we’ve come, but there is still a lot more to improve on”. 

As we wrap up the season, I want to focus on the positives. While there are some areas that will need to be improved, the Nats exceeded expectations. The betting markets are not gospel, but on BetMGM, the Nationals over/under win total was 65.5 games. They were expected to be a bottom feeder team.

Those expectations were not misplaced in my opinion. The Nats were coming off a disastrous 66-96 season, where the final record was flattering if anything. Last season, the Nats had a -212 run differential. Based on that run differential, they should have been a 100 loss team. Instead of adding pieces, the Nats traded their best starter and reliever in the offseason.

Hopes were not high in the offseason. In addition to the betting markets, the local media was bearish on this team. Mark Zuckerman got local reporters to predict the Nats win total, and nobody had the team winning more than 75 games. I was not included in this, but I had the Nats having a similar record to last season.

I was hopeful that improved player development and strides from core players would help them avoid a 100 loss season. However, the Nats just seemed outgunned in a competitive NL East division. Most pundits thought that Blake Butera and his group were in for a long year. 

However, that did not turn out to be the case. It did not take long for fans to realize that this offense was going to be special. Even as the pitching struggled, the bats were firing on all cylinders. James Wood and CJ Abrams both had great seasons, but there were so many different heroes along the way.

We saw so many players take major strides offensively. Luis Garcia Jr. and Curtis Mead took monster leaps before being traded. Jacob Young got to 10 home runs on the season, and that might not even be a top three offensive success story of the year. I thought Keibert Ruiz was damaged goods, but he turned in a career year. 

Even in this last game of the season, we saw the fruits of this offensive turnaround with another breakout star. Andres Chaparro looked like your typical slugger who was too good for AAA but not good enough for the big leagues. He turned into a monster in the second half with an OPS over 1.000 with 12 homers and a .306 average. On the last day of the season, Chaparro hit two home runs to finish his breakout year in a big way.

You have to give a lot of credit to the Nats new hitting coaches. Matt Borgschulte leads the way, but he works very closely with Andrew Aydt and Shawn O’Malley. Blake Butera talked about how those three work so well together and have such complimentary skillsets.

Borgschulte has been a hitting coach in the majors and minors. Despite being 35, he is highly experienced. Meanwhile, Andrew Aydt is an expert on the biomechanics side of things. He came from Driveline and put together plans on how to maximize a hitter’s swing. If anybody needed advice mechanically, Aydt was the guy. Meanwhile, Shawn O’Malley cut his teeth in the Mariners system as a hitting coach. He is also the only one to have big league experience.

This group was such an upgrade on the Darnell Coles operation we saw for years. It shows you that coaching does in fact matter. The 2026 season was truly evidence that it sometimes is on coaching. This coaching staff truly elevated the players.

There were a ton of positives this season, but as James Wood said, this group wants more. Blake Butera felt like he was in two different minds at the end of the season. He knew this was a step forward season, but there was also this tinge of disappointment because he knew it could have been better.

He is already putting together a plan for this team to have another 11 win improvement in 2027. Butera stressed the importance of this offseason. He told me,  “With the strides we made this season, we need to make sure those players come back next season not only the same, but better”.

While players such as James Wood and CJ Abrams had monster years, there are still hitters with more in the tank. On the pitching side, Butera said they have moved in the right direction but they still need to see further improvements. 

For his part, James Wood said that another 11 win jump starts with improving the little things. He told me he wants to find ways to help get the team one or two more wins. Wood also mentioned that he needs to improve defensively and he cost the team runs at times.

With such a young team, if each player just gets a little bit better, it could go a long way. However, this should also be an opportunity for the team to bring in outside help. Blake Butera has downplayed the role of veteran leadership, but he said it obviously would not hurt. I think it would be a real sign of intent to go out and truly augment this core.

For the first time in a while, this team looks to be on the cusp of something special. That run differential, which was -212 last year, was +6 this season. This season was not a fluke, it was a transformational year. However, they will need to capitalize on this success.

Obviously, they will have a big decision to make with CJ Abrams. The Nats shortstop/second baseman has been in trade rumors for a while. That did not stop him from putting together a career year though. He hit 33 homers, stole 34 bases and drove in 106 runs. Hopefully the Nats can build around Abrams and make the playoffs with him in DC.

I think this is possible if the right moves are made. The blown save record was a big talking point this season, and rightfully so. If the Nats can find a way to solve the bullpen puzzle, they could pick up several more wins just by doing that. At the end of the year, guys like Erik Tolman and Jack Sinclair stepped up. However, I still think this team needs a true closer.

With all of the heartbreaking losses, this Nats team had to show their true character. In fact, Blake Butera told me the thing he was most proud of this season was “the resiliency”. He admitted there were times this season where he was not sure how they would respond. 

In Ted Lasso, they talk about being a Goldfish and having a short memory. Butera brought that up and said he has “A bunch of Goldfish”, who can quickly turn the page after a tough loss. Hopefully that resiliency won’t have to be tested as much next year.

There were ups and downs, but this was the best Nationals season since 2019. I know the bar is low, but this was still a lot of fun. After years of concern, I finally feel optimism around the Nats. Now it is time to capitalize on that in the offseason. Thanks for a great season. The best is yet to come under Blake Butera and Paul Toboni!

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Jalen Duren to skip Pistons training camp as contract deadline looms

The clock is ticking for Jalen Duren and the Detroit Pistons to reach an agreement on a new contract and end the contentious negotiations that have consumed the team's offseason.

Duren, a restricted free agent, is not planning to attend the Pistons' media day on Monday, Sept. 28 or the start of training camp on Tuesday, according to multiplereports. Duren has reportedly declined the team's most recent contract offer and there's a looming deadline this week for him to sign a one-year qualifying deal.

The 22-year-old center is coming off the best season of his NBA career, becoming an All-Star for the first time and earning third team all-NBA honors while the Pistons soared to the best record in the Eastern Conference. But Duren's playoff performance didn't match his regular-season production, creating an increasingly contentious contract standoff in recent months.

Here's the latest on the Pistons' contract situation with restricted free agent Jalen Duren:

PISTONS SEASON PREVIEW: Lineup, roster and 2026-27 season prediction

Jalen Duren contract update

Duren is eligible for a five-year, $287-million supermax extension based on his all-NBA selection last season. The Pistons' most recent reported offer was five years, $200 million and also included a weight clause. Duren turned it down, according to ESPN and The Athletic.

Since Duren is a restricted free agent, Detroit has the ability to match any contract offer an outside team makes. Those teams can also only offer Duren a four-year deal that's capped at $177.4 million.

Duren has until Thursday, Oct. 1, to sign a one-year qualifying offer worth $9.6 million that would make him an unrestricted free agent after the 2026-27 NBA season. If he doesn't sign the qualifying offer, he would remain a restricted free agent. The Pistons could also choose to extend the qualifying offer past the deadline, according to ESPN.

Why Pistons, Jalen Duren remain far apart on contract

There are several factors that have put the Pistons and Duren at this impasse, beginning with Duren's postseason performance.

After averaging 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game during his breakout regular season, Duren couldn't produce at that level during the Pistons' abbreviated playoff run. His struggles to replicate that in high-leverage playoff moments raised concerns about whether it was prudent to give him a supermax commitment.

The dichotomy in his play last season, combined with the NBA's collective bargaining agreement and the league's second apron, has put the two sides at odds for months.

The Pistons already have star Cade Cunningham signed to a supermax contract extension and recently gave guard Ausar Thompson a $155 million contract extension. Awarding Duren a supermax would limit the front office's future salary cap flexibility as it builds a contender around a core of Cunningham, Duren and Thompson.

Duren has not received an offer sheet from another team to this point and the Pistons have not yet been open to sign-and-trade opportunities, according to the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network.

As a restricted free agent, Duren's only leverage is to make this uncomfortable for Detroit and eventually sign a one-year qualifying offer on Oct. 1. That path would allow him to reach unrestricted free agency after the 2026-27 season, but it would also expose both sides to significant risk.

The Pistons could potentially lose their star center for nothing because Duren could become an unrestricted free agent after the 2026-27 season. Any prospective trade option would either need to sign Duren to a new contract, or take him on as a rental, which could limit his value at the trade deadline.

It's even riskier for Duren as he could be forfeiting an enormous amount of money if he gets injured or can't match what he did in the 2025-26 regular season. The Philadelphia-area native could also continue his upward trajectory and earn the max extension he and his representatives sought this offseason.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jalen Duren to skip Pistons training camp as contract deadline looms

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Blues' Logan Mailloux, Tyler Tucker To Start The 2026-27 NHL Season On The Injured Reserve

The St. Louis Blues are starting their season with some difficult injury news.

On Monday, the team announced that Logan Mailloux and Tyler Tucker will start the season on the injured reserve.

Mailloux underwent hand surgery on Sunday, Sept. 27, and will be re-evaluated in eight weeks. Mailloux suffered his injury during a physical encounter with the Chicago Blackhawks. The 23-year-old dropped the gloves with enforcer Cole Smith in the first period. The two were charged with five-minute majors, and Mailloux exited the game and did not return following the fight.

Mailloux was slated to start the season on the top pair with Philip Broberg after showing strong chemistry with him through the end of the 2025-26 season. This is a major blow for both Mailloux and the Blues' defensive core.

As for Tucker, he has been labeled week to week with a lower-body injury. He sustained the injury during practice, forcing him to leave early. He has not resumed skating and will be sidelined.

Tucker seemingly lost his NHL opening-night lineup spot to Theo Lindstein, but was set to be the seventh defenseman to start the season. With a week-to-week timeline, it's unclear when we might see Tucker healthy. The Blues will hope for the best, but in the meantime, they've made moves to counter the injuries.

Blues' Tyler Tucker Tweaks Knee In Practice; Will Be Re-Evaluated In A Few DaysBlues' Tyler Tucker Tweaks Knee In Practice; Will Be Re-Evaluated In A Few DaysSt. Louis Blues defenseman Tyler Tucker tweaked his knee in practice, according to coach Jim Montgomery, and it won't be a day-to-day ailment. The 26-year-old will be re-evaluated in a couple of days, and no timeline has been provided.

Over the weekend, the Blues claimed right-handed 24-year-old defenseman Justin Barron off waivers from the Nashville Predators. He joins the Blues with 208 games of NHL experience, including a 52-game campaign last year.

They also recalled 2024 first-round pick Adam Jiricek. The 20-year-old looked stellar in his pre-season action, showing he is closer to being NHL-ready than most had presumably thought. 

He could easily find himself in the opening-night lineup on Friday and, if given the opportunity, run with it and be a key contributor all season long. The Blues will, of course, remain patient with his development, but so far, Jiricek has given no signs that this is too much for him to handle. 

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Bucks Reacts Survey: What should Bucks basketball look like?

SACRAMENTO, CA - MARCH 17: Head Coach Taylor Jenkins of the Memphis Grizzlies looks on during the game against the Sacramento Kings on March 17, 2025 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, 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 Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Bucks fans and fans across the country.

New coach. New team. New identity. With a malleable roster full of youth and potential, the Bucks could look any number of ways in the season ahead (and beyond). At points I’m sure they’ll look a number of different ways in a single game—or even quarter. But, overall, who should they become? More pertinently, who do you want them to become?

With 2021 feeling like a codeine dream and the Bucks playing the last few years as John Doe—or at least without an identity we could be proud of—this might be hard to determine. So, let’s revisit some of the more distinguishable identities of recent eras.

Run and Gun (think Seven Seconds or Less Suns)

Mike D’Antoni and Steve Nash revolutionised NBA basketball in the mid 2000s, eschewing conventional post play and double bigs for a run-and-gun philosophy that became the foundation of the modern game. The key, play fast. Always. While the Bucks don’t have Nash—or Amar’e Stoudemire—they do have a garage full of cars with low mileage and full tanks of gas.

Defend to Death (think Going to Work Pistons)

In juxtaposition to the Suns, the Ben Wallace and Chauncey Billups-led Pistons ground games to a halt, holding teams to fewer than 70 points on the regular—and bringing them to celebratory fist pumps if they got there (even if they lost by 18). Built on toughness, grit, and good old-fashioned hard work, these Pistons weren’t reliant on individual brilliance but a collective hive mind that protected the nest. At all costs. Stylistically, this seems the most natural fit for Taylor Jenkins and these Bucks—and there’s actually a lot of archetypal overlap in the potential starting lineup (save Big Ben).

Poetry in Motion (think The Beautiful Game Spurs)

Have you ever seen a team change so much? The Twin Towers Spurs metamorphosed from a pound-the-paint defensive juggernaut to a team built on grace and fluidity. And they destroyed the league doing so. Equal parts ballet and jazz, these Spurs moved the ball so beautifully you’d marvel at the extra pass’ extra pass. Of course, these Bucks are nowhere near those Spurs, but that doesn’t mean they can’t begin to try.

Aerial Attack (think Lob City Clippers)

Rim-rockin’, gravity-defyin’, highlightin’, these Clips cut clips for clicks. But they were legitimately good too. The formula? The lob, the jam! Beyond that simplification, spam the pick and roll to attack the paint, vertically space, and deter help with shooters. Again, these Bucks have a ways to go individually—they certainly don’t have a point god—but the raw ingredients are there. For one, they have willing and capable lob throwers. Two, they have a pair of lethal dunkers ready to catch bodies—Kel’el Ware finished eighth in the league last year with 137 dunks, while Jericho Sims finished 26th with 95 (while leading the league in percentage of field goal attempts that were dunks at 57.8%, more than six percentage points higher than second best).

There you have it, four potential team identities the Bucks could embody. Which do you want? Cast your vote below and, as always, share your musings in the comments. 


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Ferguson retains Rangers dream but Bologna exit never close

Lewis Ferguson says he was never close to leaving Bologna this summer amid reports of interest from boyhood club Rangers.

But the Scotland midfielder, 27, does retain aspirations of an Ibrox return at some stage in his career.

Ferguson was released by Rangers at 14 and made his way to Serie A in 2022, via Hamilton Academical and Aberdeen.

He has captained Bologna since 2023 and led them to their first Coppa Italia in over 50 years in 2025.

However, starts became sparse last term under Vincenzo Italiano, making just 17 in the league.

Asked about links to Rangers, Ferguson said: "I had a long think after the World Cup about my future and I was a little bit unsure but nothing was ever that close."

And he added: "When I went back for pre-season, we had a new manager [Domenico Tedesco] and it was like a fresh start.

"We changed again since [with Raffaele Palladino], so I've had three new managers in the last two months [including Sebastien Pocognoli with Scotland].

"I had a long think about what my future was going to look like and in the end it was still at Bologna.

"I've loved every moment that I've had there. It was just about continuing that journey and seeing where it takes me."

'Always something in the back of mind'

Ferguson, who is under contract until 2028 with the option of a further year, has played every minute of Bologna's five Serie A games so far this season.

His father, Derek, and uncle, Barry, both played for Rangers with the latter captaining and at one stage managing at Ibrox.

In July, newly-installed Rangers manager Derek McInnes spoke of an "obvious link" with Ferguson, having worked with the player at Aberdeen.

On his bond with Rangers, Ferguson said: "It's no secret that I grew up a fan and my family is involved in the club.

"It was a dream of mine as a kid and that's not changed but I don't want to speak about that while I'm a player at Bologna.

"In the future, you never know. It might happen, it might not, but it's always been something in the back of mind."

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Kings Reveal Their 2026-27 Broadcast Team, Bringing Back Several Fan Favorites

The Los Angeles Kings are bringing back plenty of familiar voices for the 2026-27 season, with John Kelly once again leading the television broadcast alongside longtime analyst Jim Fox.

ABTV and the Kings announced their broadcast team Monday, confirming Kelly will return for his second season as the team’s lead play-by-play announcer. Fox, one of the most recognizable voices in Kings history, will once again join him in the booth.

Kelly has been calling NHL games since 1989 and is entering his 39th season as an NHL broadcaster. Josh Schaefer will also return to handle play-by-play duties for select games throughout the season.

Fox will serve as the team’s lead analyst. He has spent more than four decades with the Kings organization, first as a player and later as a broadcaster.

Former Kings Jarret Stoll and Daryl Evans will also be part of the coverage, providing analysis during “LA Kings Live” pregame, postgame and intermission shows. Both will rotate into the analyst role for select games during the season.

Patrick O’Neal and Carrlyn Bathe are returning as hosts of “LA Kings Live,” while Bathe will also report from rinkside during broadcasts.

The Kings will also have two familiar alumni joining the television coverage for select games. Tony Granato and Alec Martinez will appear as analysts during the season.

Granato spent seven of his 13 NHL seasons with Los Angeles before going on to coach the Colorado Avalanche, Team USA and the University of Wisconsin. Martinez, a 16-year NHL veteran and three-time Stanley Cup champion, will make his broadcasting debut with the Kings this season.

The first Kings broadcast of the season is scheduled for Sept. 26, when Los Angeles faces the Anaheim Ducks in the preseason finale. That game will be available for free on the DAZN app.

Regular-season coverage begins Oct. 3, when the Kings visit the San Jose Sharks.

ABTV will be available through participating cable, satellite and streaming providers, including Spectrum, DIRECTV and Cox.

Fans who do not have a traditional television subscription can also stream available local Kings games through DAZN, subject to national broadcast restrictions. Some fans whose television package includes ABTV may also be able to access games through the DAZN app using their provider credentials.

The Kings are also expected to have select games available over the air this season, with the full schedule and station information to be announced at a later date.

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Chicago Cubs update: Seiya Suzuki, Alex Bregman, Pete Crow-Armstrong

The good news is that the Cubs allowed only 20 runs in the six games over the past week, and six of those were in the 12th inning on Tuesday. So in general, the pitching staff did its job.

The bad news, unfortunately, is that the Cubs scored only 15 runs over the six games, and six of those were on Sunday. They got shut out once.

Hopefully, the pitching staff does well against the Padres and the bats come out of their slumber.

Here’s who was hot and not for the Cubs over the past week.

Three up

After a slow September, Seiya Suzuki had himself a nice week

Coming into the week, Suzuki had batted just .188/.333/.297 (12-for-64) over 18 September games with just one home run and 17 strikeouts.

He came out of that by batting .350/.435/.550 (7-for-20) with a double and a home run in five games played against the Marlins and Red Sox. His 81 walks tied him for third-most on the team this year (with Ian Happ).

Let’s hope he keeps that hitting going in San Diego.

Alex Bregman is just a beast

After the frightening injury a week ago, Bregman didn’t play until Friday and appeared in just two games this week, both against his former team, the Red Sox.

I’d say that .500/.556/1.375 (4-for-8) with a double, two home runs, three runs scored, four RBI and a walk is a pretty good performance from a guy playing with facial fractures.

Here’s his four-hit day Sunday [VIDEO].

Bregman has played in 102 postseason games and hit 19 home runs. That’s the kind of production the Cubs will need going forward.

Pete Crow-Armstrong joined the 40/40 club

PCA went just 5-for-19 and did not homer, though his 45 home runs tied him with Kyle Schwarber for the MLB lead. The last time a Cub had led all MLB players in home runs was in 2000, when Sammy Sosa had 50.

PCA also stole three bases over the week, giving him 41 for the year. Here’s the 40th, at Wrigley Field on Thursday, that got him into the elite 40/40 club [VIDEO].

There’s absolutely no question he should be elected NL MVP unanimously.

Honorable to Shōta Imanaga, who threw six innings in two games this past week, allowed two runs and just one home run, and struck out 10. He could be a very important pitching weapon in the postseason, as could Daniel Palencia, who threw 2.1 scoreless innings in two games against the Marlins and had his four-seamer hitting 100 miles per hour multiple times.

Three down

Dansby Swanson had a quiet week

Swanson, still recovering from his oblique injury that kept him out a month, went 1-for-18 with eight strikeouts in playing five games against the Marlins and Red Sox. He did homer in the game just before that, against the Reds on Sept. 20.

It hasn’t affected his defense, though [VIDEO].

That’s a heads-up play by both Swanson and Nico Hoerner, showing the value of those two in the field. A run scored on that play, but that defense likely prevented a much bigger Red Sox inning.

Edward Cabrera, yikes

Cabrera’s bullpen appearance on Tuesday against his former team, the Marlins, was just awful. He entered the game in the 12th inning with the team down 4-2, still possibly a manageable deficit, and the first five hitters who faced him: walk, hit batter, walk, single, single. Four more runs scored before Cabrera managed to finish off the inning.

He won’t be on any postseason roster and the Cubs will have decisions to make regarding his status for next year and beyond. He’s under team control for two more years.

Nico Hoerner’s bat went quiet

Nico, who had a tremendous start to his season in April, didn’t hit much most of the rest of the season and batted just .200/.304/.200 (4-for-20) in the six games against the Marlins and Red Sox, all singles. It would be nice if Nico’s bat got going in the Wild Card Series.

You can see the heads-up defense he always plays in the video above, taking a throw bare-handed from Swanson. As always, defense will be key for the Cubs’ chances in the postseason.

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Yankees Birthday of the Day: Whitey Witt

1924 New York Yankees: Outfielder Whitey Witt. (photo by: HUM Images/ Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

World Series champion with the Yankees.
Best friends with Babe Ruth.
Walter Johnson’s kryptonite.

That’s one heck of a three-line resume. It belongs to a diminutive speedster who patrolled center field and held down the leadoff spot for the Yankees in the early 1920s: Whitey Witt.

Witt came to New York via Philadelphia after falling out with legendary Athletics owner/manager Connie Mack. He only wore pinstripes for four seasons, but it was an eventful era, and Witt left his mark on Yankee history. Oh, and to justify that remark about Walter Johnson, for his career, Witt hit .345 off “The Big Train,” with 39 hits in 113 at-bats, with more walks than strikeouts. He did all that against the most dominant pitcher of baseball’s first century and an inaugural Hall of Famer.

Lawton Walter “Whitey” Witt
Born: September 28, 1895 (Orange, MA)
Died: July 14, 1988 (Salem County, NJ)
Yankees Tenure: 1922-25

Whitey Witt debuted with the Philadelphia A’s in 1916 at the age of 20. Immediately a full-time player, Witt struck out more than he walked that rookie season. It was the only time in his major-league career that happened.

By 1921, he really had his feet under him. Witt hit .315 that season while leading the Junior Circuit in plate appearances. Philadelphia, however, was putrid, as Mack had long since dimantled his famed “$100,000 Infield” dynasty that won a trio of championships in the previous decade. These A’s finished the season 53-100-2, good for last in the American League. That offseason, the Yankees came calling. The New York Times reported that the Yanks paid Philadelphia $16,000 for Witt’s services but Miller Huggins, the Yankee skipper, refused to corroborate the price.

1922 was an eventful season for Witt. A fixture at the top of the lineup (he led off 138 times), Witt racked up a .400 OBP, thanks to 89 walks, a number that led the American League. “Get on base and let Babe Ruth drive you in” seems like an all-time great baseball strategy, honestly. He also only struck out 29 times. Imagine a 3:1 walk-to-strikeout ratio in today’s game.

In the final series of the season, Witt was the victim of an unfortunate and scary incident. Playing in St. Louis, in the first game of a three-game set to decide the pennant, Witt was struck in the head by a Coca-Cola bottle, allegedly thrown by a fan. “Knocked me out, and they had to carry me off the field bleeding on a stretcher,” Witt recalled. “It was a really nasty crowd, and after I got hit, a riot almost broke out.”

He missed the penultimate game of the season but returned for the finale and drove in two runs in the Yankees’ 3-2 win that clinched the pennant for the Bronx Bombers. (Days later, the New York Times reported that a 10-year-old boy was the culprit.) It was the Yanks’ second flag in a row after securing their first in 1921, but also for the second year in a row, they were matched up with their Polo Grounds landlords, John McGraw’s New York Giants. The Yanks were dusted in what was essentially a sweep, with only a tie sparing them from full ignominy, Witt held to a 4-for-18 (.222) showing in the Fall Classic.

The following season saw Witt permanently earn his place in the Yankee history books. On April 18, 1923, Witt strode to the batter’s box to lead off the bottom of the first in the Yankees’ home opener… at the brand new Yankee Stadium.

The first Yankee to bat in “The House That Ruth Built,” Witt grounded out. Witt was also standing on base two innings later when Ruth hit the first home run at the new park. When Witt touched home plate, he became the first Yankee to score a run at the Stadium. Not bad claims to fame. He had a career year, hitting .314/.386/.408 with a 107 OPS+ in 146 games, good for a career-high 3.2 rWAR with the Yanks winning their third-straight pennant.

That fall saw Witt win his one and only World Series championship, as the Yanks got their revenge and beat the Giants in six games. Witt later remarked that capturing the title with Ruth, one of his best friends, was the greatest possible thrill.

Witt played two more seasons with the Yankees before they replaced him with Murderers’ Row stalwart Earle Combs. That, of course, meant Witt was in New York long enough to see the ascent of Lou Gehrig, who Witt held in the highest respect.

His Yankee career ended the way it started, with another scary incident. In November 1925, he went goose hunting with—appropriately—Goose Goslin, a Hall of Fame outfielder for the Washington Senators. Goslin’s shotgun exploded, lacerating his left hand, prompting Goslin to forswear hunting until after his playing days ended. He and Witt were supposed to go on a quail hunt the following week.

After bouncing around the minor leagues for a few seasons, Witt went home to New Jersey where he spent the rest of his life. Witt died in his home on July 14, 1988, at the ripe old age of 92. The day before, he’d played a round of golf, a sport he loved almost as much as baseball.

Whitey Witt did not have a long Yankee career. But it was a memorable one. He won a World Series title and was the first Yankee to bat at Yankee Stadium and to score a run there. Witt’s tenure in pinstripes saw him rub shoulders with Ruth and Gehrig and the rest of the legendary figures of the 1920s iteration of the Yankees.

Happy 131st birthday, Whitey Witt.

See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.

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Kristaps Porzingis to miss Warriors training camp with ‘health issue’

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Kristaps Porzingis #7 of the Golden State Warriors dribbles during the first half of an NBA game against the Los Angeles Clippers, Image 2 shows Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr on the court during the play-in rounds of the 2026 NBA Playoffs

SAN FRANCISCO — Kristaps Porzingis is dealing with a “health issue” and won’t participate in Golden State Warriors training camp that begins Tuesday in Hawaii.

General manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. dropped the unfortunately unsurprising news Monday morning at the team’s media day. He said that the 7-foot-4 center would be out “indefinitely” and would not board their flight Monday afternoon to Hawaii but couldn’t share more details.

“I’m not marking him down as being out to start the season or anything like that,” Dunleavy said. “He’s just not available this week. … Disappointed that he won’t be out there tomorrow, but it’s early, so don’t want
to overreact to anything.”

Porzingis was limited to only 15 games last season after the Warriors acquired him from the Atlanta Hawks but ended the season healthy in Golden State’s play-in loss. He averaged 16.1 points and 5.3 rebounds in 23.7 minutes per contest, providing an interesting combination with Steph Curry.

Kristaps Porzingis #7 of the Golden State Warriors dribbles during the first half of an NBA game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Intuit Dome on Sunday, April 12, 2026, in Inglewood, California. Getty Images
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr in the second half against the Los Angeles Clippers during the play-in rounds of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, Wednesday, April 15, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Dunelavy said that Porzingis was in the building, cleared medically and working out on the court as recently as last week. He said that he wasn’t informed of Porzingis’ issue until Sunday.

Coach Steve Kerr learned when Dunleavy called him Sunday night.

“It was surprising,” Kerr said. “This is all part of the season. The health of the team, things happen. So you just roll with it and keep moving forward. We don’t really know what it means. I don’t have a whole lot of information for you. We .. fully expect him to be with us at some point.”

Availability has been an ongoing issue for the 31-year-old Latvian. He has played 60 games just once since 2017 and has missed more games than he has played the past two seasons. He was diagnosed with a rare nervous system condition called POTS that has kept him off the court for stretches, though Dunleavy could not say if that’s what was bothering him now.

The Warriors have two other significant pieces recovering from injuries in Jimmy Butler III (ACL surgery) and Moses Moody (patellar tendon surgery). Both players have progressed to light on-court activities and will join the team for training camp but will not be ready to start the season.

“Forget one, but having two guys that aren’t going to be ready to start the season that are key rotation players, really good players,” Dunleavy said. “We’re in a bind in that regard, but I think we’ve done the
best we could at improving the roster to a point where we have some depth and we could to hold down the fort until those guys come back.”

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NHL Pacific Division Power Rankings 2026-27: Golden Knights, Oilers, Sharks and Every Team Ranked After Preseason

Training camp offered possibilities. The preseason provided evidence. Now the Pacific Division is ready to answer the questions that actually matter.

An offseason filled with coaching changes, significant roster turnover and an influx of young talent has reshaped a division that suddenly looks far less predictable. Established contenders remain near the top, but several emerging teams used the preseason to demonstrate that last year’s standings may not provide much of a roadmap for what comes next.

Some clubs exited camp with greater confidence in their depth and goaltending. Others watched prospects accelerate timelines and force difficult roster decisions. A few enter opening night still searching for answers after uneven exhibition performances exposed familiar concerns.

Preseason records alone shouldn't determine expectations. Lineups constantly changed, veterans were rested and organizations prioritized evaluation over results. But how teams performed, which roster battles were won and whether offseason additions addressed existing weaknesses provided valuable clues.

With the exhibitions complete and opening-night rosters taking shape, here’s how the Pacific stacks up heading into the 2026-27 season:

1. EDMONTON OILERS

  • Last year’s record: 41-30-11
  • Division finish: 2nd, Pacific
  • Head Coach: Mike Babcock

Nobody in the Pacific finished camp better. Edmonton went 4-0-0, completing its perfect preseason with a convincing 4-1 win over Calgary. Connor McDavid and Kasperi Kapanen each produced a goal and assist, Zach Hyman scored on the power play and Devon Levi stopped 23 shots.

That matters because Edmonton's questions were never about McDavid or Leon Draisaitl; they centered on goaltending, depth and adapting to Babcock. Camp provided encouraging answers. Tristan Jarry stopped 25 shots in a 2-1 victory at Vancouver, while Levi looked sharp against Calgary. Isaac Howard also made a strong impression, scoring against Vancouver.

A perfect exhibition record guarantees nothing, but Edmonton's established stars looked ready and its secondary pieces contributed. The Oilers enter opening night with the division's best combination of elite offensive firepower and preseason momentum.

2. VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS

  • Last year’s record: 39-26-17
  • Division finish: 1st, Pacific
  • Head Coach: Ryan Craig

Vegas drops one position, but this is hardly a downgrade of the defending Pacific champion. The Golden Knights won their first three preseason games before San Jose handed them a 4-2 loss in Saturday's finale, leaving Vegas 3-1-0.

The established nucleus remains formidable: Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner, Mark Stone, Tomas Hertl and William Karlsson up front, with Shea Theodore, Noah Hanifin and Rasmus Andersson providing high-end ability from the blue line. Hertl scored Saturday, and Nic Dowd tied the game in the third before San Jose pulled away.

The most encouraging camp development was Braeden Bowman remaining in the NHL conversation, while Trevor Connelly also received an extended look as Vegas searched for inexpensive young scoring around its veteran core. Earlier cuts sent Matyas Sapovaliv and others to Henderson.

Ryan Craig inherits a contender, not a construction project. Age and health remain legitimate concerns, but Vegas has depth, experience and enough elite talent to make another Pacific title entirely plausible.

3. SAN JOSE SHARKS

  • Last year’s record: 39-35-8
  • Division finish: 5th, Pacific
  • Head Coach: Ryan Warsofsky

To be quite honest, San Jose entered camp as our No. 5 team. It leaves at No. 3.

The Sharks finished 2-1-1, but their final two victories mattered more than the record: a 10-0 demolition of Anaheim followed by Saturday's 4-2 win at Vegas. Macklin Celebrini and Mason Marchment each had a goal and assist Saturday, Michael Misa scored, and Yaroslav Askarov stopped 28 shots.

That's particularly significant because goaltending was San Jose's biggest concern entering camp.

Meanwhile, Ivar Stenberg became one of the NHL preseason's breakout stories. The No. 2 overall pick followed an impressive debut with a hat trick and four points against Anaheim, further strengthening an extraordinary young collection surrounding Celebrini, Will Smith and Misa.

Celebrini was also named captain after scoring 115 points last season. San Jose has supplemented its kids with veterans including Marchment, Dmitry Orlov, Jacob Trouba and Darnell Nurse.

The Sharks aren't merely interesting anymore. The question entering the season is how quickly this young talent can turn potential into consistent wins.

4. ANAHEIM DUCKS

  • Last year’s record: 43-33-6
  • Division finish: 3rd, Pacific
  • Head Coach: Joel Quenneville

Anaheim's preseason produced extremes. Beckett Sennecke opened it with a hat trick in a 6-2 victory over San Jose. Later, San Jose crushed Anaheim 10-0, and the Ducks concluded preseason with a 6-2 loss to Los Angeles.

Don't allow those ugly exhibition losses to obscure the roster's upside.

Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, Mason McTavish and Sennecke give Anaheim an impressive collection of young forwards, while Tristan Luneau is positioned to assume a larger role on a remodeled defense. Anaheim's challenge is transforming exciting individual talent into consistency.

The final cuts also provided clarity. Anaheim reduced camp to 27 players Sunday, assigning Nico Myatovic, Stian Solberg and Noah Warren to San Diego while placing Laurent Brossoit and Travis Mitchell on waivers for assignment.

The Ducks remain dangerous because their best young players haven't reached their ceilings. But compared with Edmonton's polished preseason and San Jose's surge, Anaheim exits camp with more questions than it had when camp opened.

5. SEATTLE KRAKEN

  • Last year’s record: 34-37-11
  • Division finish: 6th, Pacific
  • Head Coach: Lane Lambert

Seattle quietly produced one of the Pacific's better preseasons, finishing 3-1-0 despite losing Saturday's finale 4-3 at Vancouver. Brandon Montour had a goal and assist, Bobby McMann scored and Berkly Catton converted a beautiful third-period rush.

Catton is particularly important. Seattle desperately needs internal offensive growth after finishing near the bottom of the NHL in scoring last season, and its younger players consistently made noise throughout camp.

The Kraken also have more potential scoring depth after acquiring Mackie Samoskevich and signing McMann long term. Samoskevich arrives after career highs of 20 assists and 32 points with Florida.

Matty Beniers and Shane Wright still need to take major steps for Seattle to challenge the division's top teams, but the supporting cast appears to have improved.

The Kraken's 3-1 preseason shouldn't be overvalued. What matters more is *how* they achieved it - with contributions from young players and depth pieces they will need once the games count.

6. LOS ANGELES KINGS

  • Last year’s record: 35-27-20
  • Division finish: 4th, Pacific
  • Head Coach: Peter Laviolette

Los Angeles saved its strongest statement for last, crushing Anaheim 6-2 Saturday. Scott Laughton, Alex Laferriere, Adrian Kempe, Andrei Kuzmenko, Quinton Byfield and Corey Perry supplied the goals.

That offensive variety is exactly what Peter Laviolette wants.

The Kings' identity is changing after Anze Kopitar's departure. Byfield now carries substantially greater responsibility at center, while Kempe and Kevin Fiala become even more important offensively. Drew Doughty assumes the captaincy and remains the defensive foundation.

Veteran additions Mats Zuccarello and Erik Haula should help offset some of the experience lost with Kopitar, although Zuccarello's status was one of the issues monitored during camp. Los Angeles also conducted a major 21-player cut after giving its bubble players multiple scrimmage opportunities.

Enough established talent here to finish considerably higher than sixth. But the Kings must prove their new offensive approach works consistently while navigating the franchise's biggest leadership transition in years.

7. CALGARY FLAMES

  • Last year’s record: 34-39-9
  • Division finish: 7th, Pacific
  • Head Coach: Ryan Huska

The Flames went 1-2-1 and lost 4-1 to Edmonton in their finale. Matt Coronato scored Calgary's only power-play goal, while Dustin Wolf made 24 saves.

Coronato's development is particularly important because Calgary's central problem remains offense. The Flames finished last in NHL scoring last season, meaning incremental improvement won't be enough. They need meaningful production from Coronato, Connor Zary, Morgan Frost and a healthy Jonathan Huberdeau.

The defense is more interesting. Simon Nemec gives Calgary another young, high-upside piece, while Jake Middleton adds experience and physicality. Wolf can still mask some deficiencies if he rebounds from last season.

The concern coming out of preseason is that the basic equation hasn't changed. Calgary can defend, Wolf can steal games and the Flames have intriguing young pieces - but who consistently finishes?

Until that question is answered, Calgary remains behind the Pacific's deeper offensive teams.

8. VANCOUVER CANUCKS

  • Last year’s record: 25-49-8
  • Division finish: 8th, Pacific
  • Head Coach: Manny Malhotra

Vancouver finally gave Manny Malhotra something tangible to build on in the finale.

After starting preseason 0-3, the Canucks beat Seattle 4-3 Saturday behind their established offensive players. Jake DeBrusk had three points, while Brock Boeser and Elias Pettersson each produced a goal and assist. Vancouver rallied from 2-0 down and won late.

That was precisely the response Malhotra wanted after a near full-strength Vancouver lineup had previously lost 2-1 to an Edmonton team loaded with youngsters.

Another concern heading into opening night: Filip Chytil has been placed on injured reserve and is expected to miss the start of the season after a preseason injury.

Pettersson remains capable of dramatically changing Vancouver's outlook, and the finale offered evidence that he, Boeser and DeBrusk can generate offense together. But one good exhibition game doesn't erase the questions surrounding a team coming off 25 wins.

Malhotra has a foundation. The Canucks still have the most to prove.

PHOTO CAPTION

Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (97) shoots against the Vegas Golden Knights during the second period at T-Mobile Arena.

W.G. Ramirez is a veteran sports writer from Las Vegas and a Contributor at TheHockeyNews.com. Follow him on X at @WillieGRamirez.

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How to Play Fantasy Basketball 2026-27: Beginner's guide and draft tips

It's that time of the year again. With training camps set to open, fantasy basketball drafts will pick up. If you're experienced, an article like this won't do much for you. However, plenty of basketball fans may be getting into fantasy basketball for the first time. For those people, welcome. This article aims to introduce you to fantasy basketball in a way that hopefully makes your experience positive. Let's get into how to play fantasy basketball.

1. Decide who you want to play with.

For some, playing with people they know will be the best course of action. If there's an entry fee, it should (in theory) be easier to collect everyone's money before the league starts. For others, simply entering an online league with strangers that does not charge a fee will be the preferred entry into fantasy basketball. The good news is that fantasy managers have plenty of options.

Regarding the money, here's an important tip: only put up what you're willing and able to lose potentially. The good thing about season-long fantasy leagues is that the possibility of falling into the trap of chasing one's losses is off the table. Committing money that you can't afford to lose financially (or mentally) is a good way to make the fantasy experience a bad one.

2. What kind of league do you want to compete in?

If you're entering online leagues, you make this decision when sifting through available options. Do you want to compete in a category league or a points league? For the latter, point values are assigned to each category (points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and turnovers). For Yahoo! default points leagues, here are the values for those categories:

Points: 1

Rebounds: 1.2

Assists: 1.5

Steals: 3

Blocks: 3

Turnovers: -1

Understanding the scoring will impact how you approach your draft, especially in the later rounds. Also, do you want to compete in a head-to-head league, which offers weekly matchups with other managers, or a rotisserie league? In the latter, a slow start could be harder to rebound from. That also means managers may need to be more open to making a major trade earlier in the season.

Also, do you want to compete in a redraft league or a dynasty league? For redraft leagues, you'll pick your team every year. Dynasty leagues have a first-year draft, usually including players who are currently in college, and run for multiple years. If you don't want to commit to a league for multiple years, the redraft format is usually preferred.

3. What kind of draft do you want to have for your league?

Snake drafts are the most common, but the question is whether it includes a reversal every two rounds. That means the person with the final pick in the first round, for example, would have the first pick in the third round, and the order would alternate every two rounds. Another question for snake drafts: do you want to complete this in one sitting, as in-person drafts do, or hold an online slow draft? For slow drafts, managers will have more time to make their picks, and they usually run for multiple days.

Word of advice: set up email alerts for when you're either on deck or on the clock. Filling your queue with a few potential options is something else to consider doing, but most managers will prefer to look at the board before making a pick.

If you don't want to go with a snake draft, you can also do a salary draft. In this format, you're given a salary cap, $200 in default leagues, and can spend the money however you like. Want to spend $75 (or more) on Victor Wembanyama or Nikola Jokić? Go right ahead. Managers can either choose to splurge on a couple of stars and fill out the roster with low-cost options, or take a more balanced approach. From personal experience, salary drafts are far more efficient online than in person.

For in-person drafts, regardless of format, instituting some penalty for those who consistently try to select or nominate players already off the board would be a good idea.

4. Do your research before draft day.

Finding time to research players before draft day can be challenging. But the worst approach is to take a rankings sheet and go off that alone. We'll have preseason articles available throughout the coming weeks, and there are other good resources out there as well, whether in written or podcast form. The reason research matters: injuries, potential rotation battles, and coaching changes will all impact a player's value, and those discussions aren't included on a rankings sheet.

If you prefer the "cheat sheet" method, don't fret: we've got those for you, too.

5. Don’t be afraid to participate in a few mock drafts before your big day.

You can certainly do this before finalizing the kind of league you'll be competing in, but it makes more sense to do mock draft exercises afterward. Mocks aren't perfect, but they can help you get used to surprises that may come up in a draft. For example, if someone uses a first-round pick on a frequently injured player, here's how you can potentially pivot to take advantage.

Mock drafts are also helpful in salary leagues because they can show you how players are perceived price-wise. And it also allows you to figure out the approach that's best for you, as noted in the third point. Spend it all on a few stars, or spread your cap dollars more evenly? Testing this out in a mock draft or two ensures that you won't be flying blind on draft day.

️ 6. Once the season begins, set aside some time to set your lineups.

Life can get busy, making it easy to forget to set your lineup each day. Leagues can allow a new lineup every day, or you may have to set your lineup for the entire week before Monday's games start. Regarding daily lineups: does your league have a weekly games cap? If so, paying closer attention to matchups and how many games a player's team has scheduled becomes even more important.

The optimal approach for leagues that allow for daily lineups: one check in the morning, and a second in the afternoon/early evening to account for any potential absences due to injury or suspension.

7. If you have to shift your strategy, don’t be afraid to do so.

Panicking after one week of fantasy basketball wouldn't be wise, but there may come a point when you have to make major moves to salvage the season. As noted above, it can get "late" earlier in roto leagues than in category leagues. Is the change as simple as a few waiver-wire pickups? Or do you need to make a major trade?

If a trade is needed, please don't get into the habit of trying to get over on other managers. Trades should benefit both parties, and trying to fleece other managers is a good way to ensure no one wants to do business with you in the future. Also, if your league has a trade block, use it. Not just to list players you're willing to give up, but also to list categories that your team is either struggling or excelling in.

8. Last but not least: this is supposed to be fun. Don’t ruin the experience for others by sabotaging the league.

This is especially important if you're playing for money and sharing the league with people you know. Sure, "it's just fantasy basketball." But that's exactly why colluding and cheating should not happen. Real relationships shouldn't become strained or severed over fantasy sports. If you approach it the right way, a league can last for years, and strangers can become friends.

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Islanders Anxiety – Episode 380 – Proving Us Wrong

Mike and Dan wrap up the Islanders preseason and prepare for the start of real games, while making two big announcements for this week.

The Islanders went 1-3 in the preseason, with some standout performances, a few injuries, a slew of guys sent to Hamilton and one free agent signing – hulking defenseman Logan Stanley. The games themselves didn’t do much to get us excited for the season, and some of the moves also left us feeling a little bit of deja vu. The Islanders are asking a largely holdover crew to reverse the path they’ve been on for several seasons. They can start by once again becoming hard to play against, something they haven’t been in a long, long time. It’s possible that they surprise us this season – waiving Pierre Engvall was one surprise – but we find ourselves on the doubting side when we should be at our most joyful.

In the second half, we talk about the games against the Maple Leafs and Devils that kick off the new campaign, and how beating two good but flawed teams would do wonders for our mood. The Islanders have only won 14 of 53 home openers, which is a pathetic number. It would be great to get No. 15 this Saturday. We also take a quick look around the rest of the NHL and see who we think will be good, bad, disastrously funny or fun to watch without the worry we always bring to Islanders games.

Be sure to come to Zofia’s Hideout, 84th Street in NYC on Wednesday for a meet up and viewing of the Islanders’ season opener. Or say hello to us on Saturday at the Islanders home opener at UBS Arena against the Devils. We’ll be in Sect. 101 in between periods.

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Cavs player preview: Meleek Thomas – How will the Cavaliers balance development and need?

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 14: Meleek Thomas #15 of the Cleveland Cavaliers poses for a portrait during the 2026 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot on July 14, 2026 at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers traded out of the first round in this past year’s draft. At the time, there was frustration for a team that has very limited opportunities over the next five years to take first-round talent. With the 34th selection, the Cavaliers were able to take Meleek Thomas, whom draft experts had in the first round of their mock drafts.

The Cavaliers were immediately validated for their trade down and selection of Thomas in the Summer League. He set Las Vegas ablaze to the tune of 27.3 points per game. This not only led all players in the circuit but also earned Thomas a spot on the Summer League First Team. Thomas was the only non-lottery player to earn this selection.

It’s early, but the Cavaliers appear to have selected a player with a solid foundation.

The Cavaliers have shuffled their bench this offseason, leaving some question marks. When Summer League ended, the bench still consisted of Max Strus and Dennis Schröder. With both now residing on other teams, the bench has a lot of “mystery box” players. Mario Hezonja, Tyrese Proctor, Craig Porter Jr., Khalifa Diop, and Nae’Qwan Tomlin are all interesting players; however, they are a far cry from what you would call “stable” or “safe” options.

This is where the Cavaliers will enter a conundrum early in Thomas’s career. It is more likely than not that one or more of the players listed above will not meet the expectations or needs the Cavaliers have for them in their role at the start of the season. If so, Thomas will be thrust into meaningful minutes.

Thomas has already shown a knack for putting the ball in the basket. In Summer League, Thomas accompanied his 27.3 points per game with sizzling .500/.438/1.000 shooting splits over four games. Thomas is a natural scorer, but don’t expect the level of efficiency and opportunity that was present in Summer League.

In Vegas, the Cavaliers had one true prospect to showcase, and that was Thomas. That wouldn’t be the case in the regular season. With James Harden and Donovan Mitchell, Thomas will need to be more complementary. At Arkansas, he did something similar with fellow NBA draftee Darius Acuff Jr.; however, the opposition now is much more formidable.

The worst-case scenario for Thomas is that the Cavaliers whiff on quite a few of their mystery-box role guys, and the pecking order on the bench needs major renovations. Thomas will get less of the Jaylon Tyson treatment from a few years ago — one where he got to develop and play in garbage time to get his feet under him — and instead be thrust out there to salvage poor decisions made by the front office in constructing the bench. That may not be best for his overall development.

Thomas is a natural scorer, which should help in the early returns of his first minutes in the NBA, and is his most likely role if he does get thrown into early minutes. However, it would be a disservice to Thomas to isolate his development to solely being a scorer. Koby Altman hinted at the draft presser that the Cavaliers want to allow him to develop his facilitating and offense-running capabilities. It will be nearly impossible with one of the two All-Star guards also on the floor. It will be interesting to see how the front office and coaching staff toggle Thomas between a project and a break-glass-in-case-of-emergency role.

The Cavaliers are in win-now mode, so they are more likely to sacrifice long-term upside for an opportunity to improve the roster now. Therefore, Thomas could be put in a position where he will need to sink or swim this season, even if it isn’t what’s most beneficial for his development.

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Scanning the waiver wire for intriguing options

PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 28: Samuel Girard #49 of the Pittsburgh Penguins carries the puck against Colin Blackwell #15 of the Dallas Stars at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 28, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images

The Penguins would probably figure to not use waivers to boost their lineup, given all the depth they already have. However with four players placed on IR yesterday plus the statuses of Bryan Rust (injured) and Andrei Kuzmenko (personal) still up in the air for the start of the season, the waiver wire could hold a little more intrigue now than it might have recently given the outflow of bodies from the roster in recent days.

The timing for this works out, there are currently 71 player on waivers today that could be claimed and announced at 2pm eastern. Waiver claims are typically used by NHL teams as short-term patches and temporary fixes for the sort of issues that a team like Pittsburgh is dealing with right now. The majority of players waived at the beginning of the season tend to go back on the waiver wire once claimed, which would presumably be the situation in Pittsburgh since the main goal would be to get to the other side on the injuries their players are dealing with at the moment.

Here are some currently available candidates that stand out. The Penguins currently have 48 of their 50 available pro contracts spoken for, giving them the ability to add one player via waivers if they really wanted to do so.

Colin Blackwell, C, Dallas Stars

Blackwell is a speedy, pesky fourth-line grinder with legitimate defensive value. He’s only 5-foot-8, but he plays way bigger than that, with a gritty motor and a physical edge.

Blackwell is a black hole offensively (only four goals in 70 games and poor offensive play-driving metrics), but his defensive metrics are very solid, and he’s a high-quality penalty killer, having averaged over two minutes per game on Dallas’ 13th-ranked PK last season. He’s worth a look for a team that wants some shorthanded help and fourth-line speed.

Blake Lizotte was already back at practice yesterday, and if the team senses his absence will not last much longer then adding another player in that same sort of mold wouldn’t make much sense. However, given the current centers from practice yesterday were players who aren’t traditional PKers in Sidney Crosby, Tommy Novak and Hendrix Lapierre, plus the injured Lizotte, it’s not difficult to see that that if the Penguins were to dip into waivers at all for a temporary replacement if would be someone exactly like Blackwell who is known for his PK work and defensive impacts and can work as a center. Blackwell also adds some value of being a right-handed center, which the Penguins currently don’t have any of with Ben Kindel on IR.

Pittsburgh could always choose to go with what they’ve got, but if they don’t quite like the situation of PKers around at the moment (or if they need a fairly capable stand-in for Lizotte at that fourth line center spot for a couple of days or games) then grabbing someone like Blackwell would make sense, even if they’ll have to turn around and waive Blackwell themselves in the near future.

Sam Lafferty, C, Florida Panthers

Lafferty has appealing physical traits with a heavy 6-foot-2 frame and blazing-fast speed. He can serve as a fine fourth-line winger to play an uptempo north-south, dump-and-chase style and can play center in an emergency.

Lafferty is very limited, though — his offensive value is almost nil, and he doesn’t provide the PK value that another waiver option like Blackwell does.

Lafferty is a former Penguin, though he’s been gone since 2021 and the entire coaching and management has turned over in Pittsburgh since then to render those ties moot at this point. There is some connective tissue from the past, Kyle Dubas acquired Lafftery for Toronto in 2023 that’s probably more relevant than his previous Pittsburgh stint.

Much like the Blackwell note, this would be contingent on the statuses of Rust and Lizotte. If the team is pretty confident that one or both of those players will be back soon, they wouldn’t need Lafferty. If that’s not the case, then there could be some value in picking up a veteran option who is used to bouncing from team to team and providing some speed, energy and PK to tide the team over until their own options get back.

John Beecher, C, Florida Panthers

Beecher is never going to be known for his point production, but he’s a big forward who is a top skater in the league. His puck game is a significant issue, though, and he generates his value through his speed and compete. He could have value as a depth forward for a team.

The Pens seem to like their own internal options similar to Beecher (specifically, Elmer Soderblom and Fillip Hallander) more than someone like Beecher. Still, the same notes above apply for adding a 6’3”, 220 pound center who has some speed and ability to join the PK unit as a patch is out there if they want it.

Dylan Garand, G, New York Rangers

Garand has been inconsistent as a pro after a sterling junior career. He has the quickness, technique and reads of a legit pro goaltender, but he is on the smaller side, and although he moves well, he isn’t the truly premier athlete you would want for a barely 6-foot goalie. I see the argument for a pickup, but he’s probably a No. 3 goalie for an NHL team.

The Pens seem content and even eager to let Sergei Murashov have a shot at the NHL. Right now would be a way to pick up a goalie for free, though. Garand is 24 years old, he wouldn’t offer a lot of experience (his three career NHL games are even less than Murashov) so it might be off the table. But Garand has the ability and upside to think that some NHL team might take a chance and put a claim in for him. Dubas has been no stranger to accumulating mid-20’s talent and seeing what happens with the opportunity and it’s not like the current Penguin goaltending situation is solid enough to let this opportunity pass without even having a discussion.

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In the end, the smart money might be on no activity this afternoon for the Pens. The appearance of Lizotte back in practice goes a long way in the hopes that his missed time won’t amount to enough to make it necessary to grab a replacement caliber player to fill in. Given the total quantity of injuries it’s at least a topic worthy of some debate to figure out just how the Penguins want to get through the early part of the season until some of their important depth players return to the lineup.